Queen of Trial and Sorrow (9 page)

A look passed between us: invitation and acceptance.  He would come to me soon, no matter that it was late.

The merchants of the towns of Holland, Brabant and Flanders had been suffering from the exportation of raw wool by foreign merchants and, furthermore, were resentful of the increasingly high prices they were being charged for that wool.  To make matters worse, the burgeoning English cloth trade was a serious threat to the cloth manufacturing towns of the Netherlands.  To appease his merchants, who provided him with a considerable part of his income, the Duke of Burgundy imposed an embargo against the importation of English cloth and yarn.  Believing themselves secure because of the cordial relations that existed between their king and the duke, the English merchants were surprised and outraged.

Cloth manufacturers used large quantities of raw wool at source.  The custom duty on cloth was only two or three percent, compared to twenty five percent on wool.  As the cloth exports increased, the wool trade declined. The Merchants of the Staple at Calais, who collected the duties and were jealous of the growing power and prosperity of the Merchant Adventurers, had been actively engaged in persuading Duke Philip to ban the sale of English cloth in his domains.  Hence, within the trade war between the two countries, there was another war going on between cloth and wool merchants. 

Lord Hastings, the royal chamberlain, who had an informal and vaguely defined role as arbiter between the court and the city, dined with several of London’s most prominent merchants and said of the visit: “They grilled me, carved me up and served me on a platter with a garnish of roasted onions!”

“They found a platter big enough?” Edward wanted to know.

“Pins and combs and tennis balls, we can live without, they say, but to ban our cloth, that is a damnable act of war!”

Warwick returned to the capital soon after Epiphany and predictably began trumpeting the advantages of alliance with France.  Many a time I sat and listened to them discussing the issue.  Warwick would not give up, but Edward remained firm.

“Louis has made it quite clear that he seeks the friendship of England for one reason only: to leave him free to destroy Burgundy and Brittany.  And when he has succeeded, where will we be then?  France will still have her ancient ally on our border, but we’ll have none on hers.  We’ll be alone.  There will be no Charles, no Francis, to stir up trouble for Louis, to keep him in hand, but there will still be a James in Scotland to be manipulated according to French whim.  France will dominate Europe. I don’t intend to see that happen if I can prevent it.  The last hundred years has shown that England’s strength lies in keeping France weak.  Perhaps the best we can do today, and what I am endeavoring to do, is to maintain the balance of power that presently exists.”

Warwick’s response was predictable.  “I wish you would be guided by me in these matters, Edward, as I have a great deal more experience in government than you do, and I think you will admit I have not done too badly so far.  Think about it.  I’m sure you’ll come to see that I’m right. Louis is so desperate for an alliance he’s ready to promise
anything
.”

“He’s desperate because he knows I’ve received agents from Burgundy and Brittany and he wants me bound to him hand and foot before I can come to any arrangement with them that might prove detrimental to his future.”

“Blood of Christ!” Warwick growled.  “Charles and Francis are a pair of petty princes with less sense between them than one of Louis’ hounds.  We can’t do better than a close alliance with France.”

I thought:
Don’t let him browbeat you, Edward.  You are the king.  Assert yourself.

“Things have changed, cousin.  You seem to forget that we first sought a truce with Louis to prevent both France and Scotland from aiding Lancaster,” Edward said patiently.  “Now, with the destruction of our enemies and a truce with the Scots, I can see no benefit whatsoever in a close alliance with France.  My policy is to keep Louis neutral without entering into any close alliance with him that would enable him to make war on Burgundy.  Burgundy and Brittany are my best weapons against him, just as Scotland is his best weapon against me.  Or, rather, it was until I blunted it last spring with a fifteen year truce,” he added smugly.

I plucked a grape from a dish beside me and popped it into his mouth, whereupon he caught my hand and dropped a kiss into my palm.  We turned back to Warwick, surprising a look of derision before he stamped over to a window and stood rigidly, his back to the king and I in what was a flagrant breach of
lese majesty.
  They fell silent.  It was not a comfortable silence, as it ought to be between friends who have shared much.

My father had told me it was Louis’ habit to try to suborn the great men of his adversaries.  Further, he said Warwick was so enmeshed in Louis’ toils that when it came to French affairs he had little value to the king.  For all the times they had discussed the matter, Warwick had not yet accepted that Edward was dead set against any kind of close alliance with France and in favor of friendship with Burgundy.  Or perhaps it would be more true to say that he simply regarded any opinion that ran counter to his own as invalid.

It was the considered opinion of the residents of Grafton that Warwick’s policy was entirely wrong.  The people
hated
the French and Louis with a visceral hatred imbibed with their mother’s milk.  They cherished it, and would never be persuaded to give it up.  They would rather have another Agincourt than a truce with France, and with a young and energetic soldier-king on the throne they just might get it.  All Warwick could see was the prestige that would accrue to his already prestigious name, both at home and abroad, if he should bring about an accord between His Christian Majesty and our king.

“You enjoy it, don’t you?” I said, when we were alone.  I wasn’t being deliberately provocative.  The king was deeply involved in foreign relations and I wanted to understand. He was pleased by my interest in politics, gratified because it proved he had not wed an intellectually dull woman. 

“Fortunately, I have a penchant for enjoyment.  Whatever life offers, we might as well make the best of it.  European politics are complex.  Every day sees new shifts and changes, so every day I have to adjust my own policies to meet new exigencies, and while I can afford to snub Louis by not sending ambassadors today, tomorrow I might be on my knees begging for his friendship.  It’s like a giant chess game, except that I cannot hope to sweep my opponents from the board, merely to hold them in check.  I enjoy Louis too.  He’s a bizarre character, cunning as a fox.  He’ll keep my wits sharp.”

………..

My husband was a tireless worker.  The only times I had him to myself, were when he came to my apartment, which he did every night to sit chatting with my ladies and watching as my tiring woman unbound my hair and let it tumble down my back.  Such was his pleasure in my hair that sometimes he would dismiss her and take up the brush himself, much to the amusement of my ladies.  He said it was like moon-glow and liked to see it cascading through his hands.  Once the fire was banked for the night, the wine and water laid out, most of the candles doused and the attendants dismissed, we were able to come together as man and wife in the dark intimacy of the canopied bed.  A few precious minutes remained between our joining and falling asleep.

Pounding the pillow under his head, he settled back against it with me nestled in the crook of his arm, my hair loose, as he liked it, and trapped between us. Having enjoyed a vigorous interlude, he was ready to sleep.  He was one of those fortunate people to whom sleep generally came easily; few things kept him from it.  One of those things was… well, me. 

“Don’t go to sleep yet,” I said, giving him a nudge.

“I’m not sleeping,” he protested sleepily.

“I hardly ever see you and when I do all you want to do is make love and then go to sleep.”

“That’s because you exhaust me with your physical demands.” He opened one eye to peer at me.  “If you want to talk to me you will have to petition the chamberlain for an audience like everyone – ”

“What!”  

“It was a joke, my love.”

Fully awake now and realizing he would get no sleep until he had heard me out, he pulled himself up against the pillows and settled me against him.  “Alright.  You have my full attention.”

Now that I had attained such an exalted position, I was determined to provide handsomely for my family.  As my mother often reminded me, it was my duty to ensure that my family was highly placed – both to protect them from enemies and to increase the base upon which the king’s own power rested.  When he came to the throne Edward had a very limited power base: virtually consisting of the Nevilles, who were his mother’s kin, and the Bourchiers, the family of his father’s sister, although both were very large families.  After his coronation he elevated a number of faithful knights to baronies: Hastings, Herbert, Stafford and Howard among them, men who owed all they had to him alone, thus increasing his own power base and at the same time – whether deliberately or not – providing a counterweight to the power of the Nevilles.  It is possible he saw my family in this light also.  It wasn’t quite a dynasty, but the foundation was in place, and once I gave my husband a son, the edifice would start to rise. 

No one could blame me for using my new position to further the interests of my family.  Nothing was more natural. I had already obtained Edward’s undertaking that my father, Lord Rivers, should have an earldom and one of the great offices, preferably one presently held by Warwick who had far too many.  Also, while negotiating with Viscount Bourchier, the king’s own cousin, on behalf of my sister Anne, I had contracted with the Earl of Arundel for Margaret to wed his son and heir.  I did so, knowing full well that the Countess of Arundel was Warwick’s sister, but it was not his business after all.  It was for the boy’s parents to settle his future.  Now my focus was on my brother John.

“I have been thinking that what John needs is an heiress.”

“Oh?  And you have one in mind, no doubt.”

“It was his idea, but I approve, of course.  Anything that advances my family goes to your greater good.”

“Of course.  And who is the fortunate lady?”

“The Dowager Duchess of Norfolk,” I said hesitantly.

To me it was no more than a business transaction.  In pursuing noble spouses for my family, I was doing only what any man with a cow pasture or a mud and wattle hovel to his name would do: providing for my siblings with the intent of increasing the family’s wealth, prestige and influence.  Anyone who failed to do so would be disparaged for neglecting an important familial duty.  And no one heard the kinfolk of the noble bridegrooms screeching.  Each and every one was happy to be so closely connected to the royal house.  The only ones doing the screeching were those, like Warwick, with daughters likely to be left in the matrimonial wilderness.

Edward’s first response was a hoot of laughter.  “She’s old enough to be his grandmother!  And thrice-wed!  Isn’t young John a little intimidated at the prospect of wedding a woman who has already conveyed three husbands to the grave?”

“Not at all.  And no one is pretending it’s a love match.  The only point is to provide John with an income and estates commensurate with his position as brother-in-law to the king.  You don’t object, do you?”

“If the principals don’t, why should I?” He was no longer amused and was looking thoughtful. No doubt it had occurred to him that the dowager duchess, Katherine Neville, was his mother’s sister, which meant that she was Warwick’s aunt too, and Warwick hadn’t taken the Maltravers match too well. “But I’m wondering what young Mowbray will have to say.  Have you approached him yet?”

Young Mowbray was the third duke, a rather silly youth but technically still head of the house.

“Yes, and he was very sensible about it. He said her two subsequent marriages have taken her so far from the Mowbray name that he doesn’t care what she does.”

“I see,” he said, and stifled a yawn.  “Then if all parties are agreed, I can see no impediment.  Can I go to sleep now?”

I stroked his jaw with my fingers and then let them trail over the magnificent planes of his chest.  “My sweet lord,” I murmured, “not yet.”  And his tiredness promptly vanished.

……….

Of course Warwick had his say about the matter.  As I was leaving the chapel one day, he fell into step beside me.  I had no choice but to acknowledge his presence, which he obviously took to be an invitation to speak with his usual bluntness.

“You are to be congratulated, Madam.  You have swept up all the noble bachelors in the kingdom,” he said, affecting a tone of utterly false jocularity. 

“Naturally it is my duty to promote the interests of my family.  I note how assiduously you have worked on behalf of your brothers.  It is the way of the world and the world would look askance at a man or woman who failed in their familial obligations.”  The only difference was that the Wydevilles were ‘upstarts’

“In my opinion, Madam, some of your kinfolk are aiming too high.”

“Well, my lord.  I have come to the conclusion that at court opinions are like pins: a halfpenny for a gross.”

“Buckingham now.  A duke for sister Katherine.”

I had been granted the wardships and marriages of young Henry Stafford and his brother, who had joined my household along with my own children and younger siblings.  Because Edward adored me and wanted to please, after some coaxing, I had my way in that too.