The Heart of the Lion (7 page)

When he heard of what had happened to Benedict of York he sent for the man and when Benedict arrived he found Richard surrounded by his prelates. Benedict had had time to ponder on what he had done and he was ashamed that in a moment of panic when a particularly cruel death had stared him in the face, he had abjured the faith in which he had been brought up and to which he would in secret cling throughout his life.

As soon as he entered the hall his eyes went at once to the King. Richard from his chair of state commanded Benedict to come and stand before him. They took each other’s measure and there was a bond between them. Richard thought: This man denied his faith when faced with death. It was not a noble thing to do yet how can any of us judge him?

‘Benedict of York,’ he said, ‘yesterday you declared your intention of becoming a Christian.’

‘I did, my lord.’

‘That was when certain of my subjects were on the point of killing you. I gave no orders for these riots. I deplore them. Although I excluded members of your race and creed from my coronation I did not command my people to destroy you. You have been baptised. Are you a true Christian, Benedict of York, and will you continue in the faith in which you have so recently been baptised?’

The clear cool eyes of the King which proclaimed his courage to the world inspired Benedict.

He said: ‘My gracious Lord and King I cannot lie to you. Yesterday I was on the point of death and suffered ignoble fear. To save my life I protested that I wished to become a Christian and I underwent baptism. I am a Jew. I can never be a true Christian. The faith of my fathers must be mine and now that I am calm and have had time to think, I will tell you the truth even though I die for it.’

‘So you are more ready to die today than you were yesterday.’

‘I have overcome my fear, my lord.’

‘Then what happened yesterday was not in vain. I respect your honesty. Go from me now. Forget your baptism. Continue in the faith of your fathers and live in peace . . . if you can.’

Benedict fell on his knees and thanked the King.

Richard sent for Ranulph de Glanville.

‘Go through the country,’ he commanded. ‘Protect the Jews. Put an end to these riots. Let it be known that these disturbances were no wish of mine.’

And Ranulph de Glanville having quelled the violence in London rode out to the provinces but it was some days before peace was brought to the country.

Richard was indignant. ‘This matter has spoilt my coronation,’ he complained. ‘A fine beginning to my reign!’

‘You have conducted yourself with dignity,’ his mother told him. ‘The people will see that they have a strong king who is determined to govern them.’

The King remained uneasy. His thoughts carried him far away from England.

Chapter II

ALICE AND BERENGARIA

H
e had come home; he had been crowned King; now he would set in motion that plan which he had always intended to carry out. Eleanor was distressed; she tried to remonstrate with him.

‘I know you have taken an oath to go to the Holy Land,’ she said. ‘That was before you were King, but now you have a kingdom to govern.’

He snapped his fingers and his eyes shone with a fanatical light. ‘I have one desire, Mother, and that is to fight the Infidel.’

‘There is so much for you to do here.’

He shook his head. ‘I tell you this: I would sell London if I could find a purchaser. I need money . . . money . . . money to take me to the Holy Land.’

‘You are rich in worldly goods, Richard.’

‘I need so much more. Much of my riches is such that cannot be realised.’

‘I see you are determined to go,’ said Eleanor.

He seized her hands. ‘While I am away you will guard this realm for me.’

‘I will with all my heart, but I am an old woman. What of John?’

‘You mean make him King during my absence?’

‘Indeed I do not. Once you did that he would never relinquish the power you gave him. Your father made one of the biggest mistakes of his life when he crowned your brother Henry King. Never make that mistake, Richard.’

‘Have no fear of it. I had no intention of giving John that power. He has his estates to look after. He has plenty to do, and I trust you to guard my realm. I have good servants.’

‘They are scarcely tried yet.’

He turned to her. ‘Make no mistake of this, Mother. Nothing will turn me from my purpose.’

‘I know well your nature. I realise this urge in you. What of your marriage? That will be expected of you.’

‘I shall marry in due course. Forget not that I must free myself from Alice first.’

‘And claim Berengaria.’

‘You will do that for me, Mother. You will go to Navarre and take Berengaria from her father. Readily he will give her to you, and when I am free from my bond with Alice I will marry her.’

‘And your crusade to the Holy Land?’ asked the Queen.

‘I can marry her there as well as anywhere else.’

‘The people will expect . . .’

He laid his hand over hers. ‘This is my desire,’ he said quietly; and she knew that he was telling her that he was the King.

He was now thinking almost entirely of his crusade. His great desire was to raise money. He began by selling crown lands, which was legitimate enough, but when large sums of money were paid into the royal coffers for some post which should have gone to a more worthy applicant the practice was far from admirable. He began to think up wild schemes to raise money. It was not difficult to find men who were eager to accompany him; money was the great concern. But there were some who could not go; he would command them to join his party and then allow them to avoid the obligation by the payment of a huge fine. Nothing was too devious if it added to the funds; and the King who was honest enough in other matters grew more and more unscrupulous in his mad passion to raise enough money that there might be no more delay.

John was delighted to see Richard’s determination and did his best to foster it. With Richard out of the way he would be a very important figure. He was the heir to the throne, although people had begun to talk of Arthur of Brittany, and some said that Arthur as the son of an elder brother had more claim than John who was only a younger son of the late King. But he did not think of Arthur as a serious threat. He was only a child and was far away in Brittany. If Richard were killed in his Holy War, John was the one the people would look to.

So Richard must be persuaded to go on his crusade. Not that he needed persuading. John laughed at the thought.

His mother was uneasy and well she might be.

She talked to Richard about his marriage. At thirty-two and a crowned king he could delay no more. ‘You say,’ she said, ‘that you have a great fancy for Berengaria.’

‘All in good time,’ he said.

She sighed. She did not think he would ever have a great fancy for any woman. He was more excited at the prospect of joining up with the King of France than his marriage.

‘Richard, you must marry soon.’

‘As soon as I am free from Alice.’

‘But what are you doing about freeing yourself from Alice? You have no need to consider her. She is dishonoured. No one could blame you for breaking your betrothal to her.’

‘Remember she is Philip’s sister.’

‘As if I could forget that! But Philip’s sister or not she has been your father’s mistress and kept from you for years that he might enjoy her. It’s a preposterous situation and one at which none would blame you for snapping your fingers.’

‘You speak truth, Mother. I have long loved Berengaria, that elegant girl. Go to Navarre and let her be put in your care. I shall start off on my crusade and as soon as I have rid myself of Alice I will send for Berengaria.’

The prospect of making such a journey lifted Eleanor’s spirits. Although she was now an old woman the thought of the crusade excited her. She longed to be young again so that she could accompany her son into the Holy Land as she had once accompanied her husband Louis of France. What a time that had been! Her senses still tingled at the memory.

She could not make such a journey again, but she would enjoy the visit to Navarre. It would be a mission for her; and once Berengaria was in her care Richard would be obliged to marry her. He had every excuse for declining Alice’s hand and Philip must be made to accept this.

Well then, Richard would set out on his campaign; she, Eleanor, would go to Navarre; and Alice must be returned to her brother’s court, soiled – no longer marriageable to royalty. Perhaps Philip would find some nobleman ready to take her off his hands for the privilege of marrying the King’s sister.

As for John, she believed he was not actively ambitious. He would like to be King no doubt, but he would not want to fight for a crown. He really preferred drinking, gaming and the company of women. He could occupy himself in Ireland and with his vast estates. John would have enough to keep him busy.

So with the thought of a mission of her own Eleanor was less opposed to Richard’s departure.

Meanwhile Richard chafed against delay. The sale of posts throughout the country had naturally displeased some people; but not many were ready to raise their voices against a campaign to the Holy Land. Superstition was rife and there was a fear that to attempt to oppose the King’s desire to free Christendom from the Infidel might offend God.

People began to see or imagine they saw indications of Divine approval. At Dunstable it was said that a white banner appeared in the sky; someone else saw a crucifix there. Perhaps all that was needed was imagination and a certain cloud formation but people began assembling in market squares and announcing their intention to accompany the King on his crusade.

This was gratifying to Richard but there were delays. He chafed against them but he was a king and there was his mother to remind him of this. First the harvest had been disappointing, so much so that in some areas there was a threat of famine. Baldwin was critical of the King and did not hesitate to say so. Richard’s half-brother Geoffrey joined Baldwin against him, much to the fury of Eleanor who could never forget that Geoffrey was her husband’s illegitimate son.

Already there had arisen the recurring conflict between Church and State.