He was expecting some panegyric such as monarchs were accustomed to
receiving on such occasions when, to his amazement, this squire began to read out a list of complaints against the King and the manner in which the country was ruled.
‘Bring back that woman,’ he said, for the masked rider was already at the
door.
She was captured and immediately gave the name of the knight who had
paid her to deliver the letter to the King.
The knight was brought before the King who demanded to know how he
dared behave in such a manner.
The knight fell on his knees. ‘I wish to warn you, my lord. I am as good and loyal a subject as you ever had. But the people are murmuring against you and I believe you should know it. I meant the letter to have been read by you in private. I was ready to risk my life to tell you.’
A deep silence fell on the hall. Edward was uncertain. The Queen spoke to
him softly.
‘You must let him go as you did Messager. To punish him would arouse the
fury of the Londoners.’
Edward saw the point. He had no wish for trouble from his capital.
‘You may go,’ he said to the knight. ‘I like not your conduct but I know it was done out of no ill wish to me. Another time speak to me yourself. You need have no fear of that. Let the woman go too. The matter is over.’
It was the only way to deal with such a situation.
But it showed the mood of the people.
BANISHMENT
LIFE was not going smoothly for the Earl of Lancaster. He was President of the Council and the people were complaining about his bad rule; he was
commander against the Scots and the state of affairs at the border went from bad to worse. Edward Bruce was reigning as King of Ireland and people were saying that he, Lancaster, who had been full of criticism for the manner in which the country had been governed under Edward, had made as much a disaster of
affairs as Edward himself had.
It was time Lancaster was put out of office. This was the opinion of John
Warenne, Earl of Surrey and Sussex, and he was ready to join with the King to bring about that desirable state.
Warenne was not the most reliable of allies; his loyalties wavered, not so much because he sought his own gain as that his opinions changed from time to time. He had hated Gaveston from the time the latter had humiliated him at the Wallington joust but he had disapproved of Gaveston’s murder and had been of the opinion that the favourite should have been brought to trial as had been promised him.
His domestic affairs gave him great cause for concern as he hated his wife Joan of Bar and had been trying for some time unsuccessfully to divorce her. He had several children by his mistress Matilda de Nerford and being devoted to her and to them, was anxious to see her securely provided for. The King had been sympathetic to him on these matters and at this time Warenne was veering
towards Edward.
It was on Warenne’s advice that the King called together a council at
Clarendon. Here it was decided in secrecy that an attack should be made on Lancaster, and Warenne himself would be in charge of this.
In due course Warenne with a selected band of troops marched north to
Pontefract but as he approached Lancaster’s country and realized the wealth and power of his opponent he suddenly took fright and made up his mind that if he attacked at that point he would most certainly encounter defeat.
He called a halt and decided to return south and think up some other plan of action.
On the way he was joined by one of his squires who had been travelling in
the south-west. This man had stayed at Canford in Dorset where Lancaster had estates, and while there had been the guest of Lancaster’s Countess. He had quickly realized that she was an unhappy woman.
‘She confided in you?’ asked Warenne in surprise.
‘In a manner,’ was the answer. ‘Of course, my lord, it is no secret that the Countess finds little satisfaction in her marriage.’
Warenne nodded in commiseration. He of all people knew what it meant to
be unhappily tied to someone from whom it was difficult to escape.
‘A most charming and beautiful lady, my lord. And in despair, I think.’
‘I am not surprised. Lancaster must make a sad bedfellow.’
‘So it would seem.’
‘I should like to meet the lady,’ said Warenne.
‘There is a whisper, my lord, that the lady has found a lover.’
It was then that the notion came to Warenne. ‘We will ride to Canford,’ he said. I should like to meet the lady. I would condole with her and perhaps help her in some way.’
She was most hospitable, my lord.’
‘Would she not be to her husband’s enemies?’
‘Doubtless especially so to them, for if they were his enemies they might be her friends.’
Warenne laughed aloud.
‘You have a point there, my friend.’
—―――――――
Alice de Lacy welcomed the visitors.
The Earl, she told them, was in Pontefract. She had heard there had been an assembly at Clarendon which he had not attended.
She was indeed a beautiful woman and sprightly. Lancaster should have
counted himself lucky, since as well as all that charm and dignity she had brought him Lincoln and Salisbury.
That she hated her husband was obvious.; his name only had to be
mentioned and there would be a flash of contempt in her eyes.
Warenne’s sympathies were touched. These arranged marriages could ruin
one’s life. How different it would be if he had never been married to Joan and if he and Matilda had met before he had been forced into marriage. Then he would have stood against all coercion. It would have been so simple. All this fuss with all the frustrations could have been avoided. The children would have been secure― Life would have been so much more smooth and easy. Yes, he had
great sympathy with Lancaster’s wife.
‘The Earl is rarely under your roof, my lady, I believe.’ he said.
‘Tis so, and thankful I am for it,’ she replied.
He did not press the matter then, but as the evening wore on and the
minstrels sang songs of hopeless love, he talked of his own predicament.
‘Married when one is too young to protest, and then to find oneself unable to escape. My dear lady, I have been unhappily married for years. I get no help from Rome. I have a lady who is devoted to me, who has given me the home I have ever really cared about. There, does that shock you?’
‘Indeed it does not. I rejoice for you, my lord. You have been bold and your boldness is rewarded. Have you any children?’
‘Yes, Matilda and I have a fine family. Would my son could inherit my title and lands. Our laws can be ridiculous at times. Would you not think that if two people were suited it should be the easiest thing in the world to untie the knot?’
‘Alas my lord,’ sighed the lady. ‘You are not the only one who is in this
position. I can think of one who is far less happier than yourself. What think you it is like to be married to Lancaster?’
Warenne nodded gloomily as though there was no need for words.
‘I had no wish for the match,’ she went on. ‘It was made for me. My father thought it good for me to be allied with Lancaster and Lancaster had his eyes on Salisbury and Lincoln.’
‘They greatly enriched him.’
‘They did not make him more acceptable to me. I would I could be free of
him. You at least my lord are not forced to live with a partner you so dislike.’
‘No, I left my wife. I went to Matilda and we share a home. I found someone who I could love and cherish.’
‘And I―’ said the Countess and stopped short.
Warenne allowed a short time to pass in silence.
‘I talk too freely,’ said the Countess.
‘My lady, you may talk to me as you will and I promise what you say will
go no further than these four walls.’