‘But I want to go now.’
‘So do I, my sweet wife.’
‘Then, Gilbert, why should we not?’ Her eyes sparkled. ‘Let us slip away … the two of us. Oh we should be alone you know. It is only right that we should.’
Gilbert insisted that it would be unwise to disobey the wishes of the King.
This made her all the more determined. She had thought, she said a little sadly, that she was the one he wished to please … not the King.
He did. He longed to please her, but the King …
‘My father will forgive me. He always does.’
She had her way as she was determined to. They slipped away early one morning before the Court was awake.
What an adventure riding through the morning with her husband beside her, so besotted with love for her that he was ready to defy the King. Not that there was anything meek about him. It was not the first time he had defied the King. In fact that was the very reason why he had won his Princess.
This gave her a wonderful sense of power and that was what Joanna enjoyed.
The King was angry. He knew this was his daughter’s show of defiance and that Gilbert had acted as he had to please her. In a sudden outburst of temper he said that her wedding outfit should be confiscated. He knew how much she loved her clothes and ornaments.
In the stronghold of her husband’s castle at Tunbridge Wells Joanna snapped her fingers. She had a rich and doting husband. Whatever she wanted – fine silks, velvets, brocades and jewels, and horses for her chariot – she only had to ask for.
Chapter VIII
EXODUS
Now that he was home Edward became energetically involved in state matters. He had married Joanna to the chief of the barons; he must now give his mind to the union of England and Scotland which he planned to do through the marriage of his heir to the little Queen of Scotland who was still with her father in Norway; there was another matter which seemed of the utmost importance to him and that concerned his Jewish subjects.
After the Norman conquest England had become prosperous and this attracted the Jews who were soon settling in large numbers throughout the country. They specialised in banking and usury and as they were shrewd and energetic with a genius for business they soon became very rich. They were in addition infidels, a fact which people claimed to use against them, but in truth it was their wealth which was envied. The traders and citizens of the big cities would have liked to see them turned out of the country, stories were circulated about them; it was easy to work up hatred against them which could result in riots, the main purpose of which was to loot their places of business and rob them of their possessions. There was a favourite rumour which was brought out every now and then which accused them of kidnapping Christian boys and crucifying them as they had once crucified Christ.
This was usually the preliminary to riots. There was a demand that they should be expelled from the country but a good proportion of their money came to the King, usually through fines or bribes, and if they were no longer in England the exchequer would suffer considerably. To Henry III they had been a source of income and his love of money and the need to satisfy his wife’s insatiable demands meant that he took little action against the Jews.
Edward was much more strongly opposed to them than his father had been. He did not approve of moneylending with high interest rates which was one of the chief methods of making money. He was zealous in his religion and had a keen dislike of all those who were not Christian. He himself was constantly in financial difficulties and had been forced to borrow heavily and to be obliged to pay back, though the amount of interest demanded, more than he had originally borrowed, riled him.
The laws against the Jews had been growing more and more severe during his reign – so much so that quite a number of them had been forced out of business. They were not a people to admit defeat and soon found other means of making money. One of these was known as clipping the coin, which meant that gold and silver were clipped so finely from pieces of money that it was rarely noticeable, but the metal taken from the coins could be sold. This was a crime punishable by hanging, and as the confiscation of goods went with it it was again helpful to the exchequer.
Edward was deeply concerned with the Jewish problem. He knew the people would be pleased to see them expelled from the land. The fines imposed on them would be missed. But he knew that there must be continual trouble between them and the Christian citizens, and at this time the rumours of Jewish atrocities were growing. He did not want trouble in the capital. He was seriously thinking of expelling the Jews.
When he went to see his mother at Amesbury she received him with great pleasure. He was shocked to see that her health was failing, even though mentally she was as energetic as ever and wanted to hear all that had befallen him during his sojourn abroad. She was delighted with Joanna’s marriage.
‘She will keep Gloucester in order,’ she said with a chuckle. Although the eldest, Princess Eleanor, was her favourite she greatly admired the lively Joanna.
‘And now it is Margaret’s turn,’ she went on. ‘A pity she is so young. I heard Brabant is something of a rake.’
‘Doubtless he will improve on marriage.’
‘It is to be hoped so.’
The Queen Mother was wistful. She hated to be shut away from events. She longed for the return of those days when she had been the centre of her family and she would never get over the loss of her doting husband. Edward was a good son but he would go his own way. She wanted to be young again, depended on.
‘I have heard rumours that the Jews are up to their tricks again,’ she said.
‘Rumours … here in Amesbury?’
‘I have visitors and they know that if they will please me they must bring me news of your kingdom. Clipping the coin … crucifying Christian boys.’
‘The first yes – the second … why, Mother, you know there is no truth in that.’
The Queen Mother’s eyes blazed. She was thinking of how she and Henry had borrowed money from the Jewish usurers and the interest they had demanded. She had always maintained that they should have given freely of their wealth to the King and Queen for the privilege of living in this country. She had always hated them.
‘You should send them out of the country,’ she said firmly.
‘Send them away! There are so many of them.’
‘All the more reason why they should go.’
‘It is a matter which needs a great deal of consideration.’
‘Meanwhile they are the reason for riots in the cities … they are reducing the value of the coinage …’
He held up his hand. ‘I know this,’ he said. ‘In fact it is in my mind to be rid of them. I am being coerced from all sides … It will bring a certain loss to the exchequer.’
‘You will prosper, Edward. I know it. Rid yourself of these people, God will reward you.’
She went on talking in the manner he knew so well. If it was something he had decided against he would listen politely, his mind made up. But with regard to the Jews he was prepared to pay attention to her tirade against them, which showed that he was ready to accept her views.
Only when he spoke to her of his intentions regarding young Edward could he get her off the subject.
‘Joanna is married; as Margaret will soon be. It is imperative that Edward is betrothed. I want the Maid of Norway brought over. I want her brought up in my kingdom and as soon as possible the marriage will be celebrated.’
The Queen Mother nodded vigorously. She had seen her son bring Wales under the English rule. Now it was the turn of Scotland, and if it could be done by a marriage alliance how much better than years of dreary fighting. Young Edward and the little Maid of Norway must marry.