A KING’S RANSOM AND MORE RANDOM THOUGHTS
I just finished Chapter 33 of Ransom, which ended well for Richard, not so well for the French king. The happiest day of Philippe’s life had to be the day that Richard died at the siege of Chalus. But I am taking a quick breathing space to put up a new blog. I thought you might like to read some brief excerpts from Ransom since the ones I’ve posted in the past were well received.
Aboard the pirate ship Sea Wolf, November 1192.
* * *
The ship shuddered, like an animal in its death throes. Its prow was pointing skyward, so steep was the wave, and the men desperately braced themselves, knowing the worst was to come. The galley was engulfed, white water breaking over both sides, flooding the deck. And then it was going down, plunging into the trough, and there was nothing in their world but seething, surging water. Richard heard terrified cries of “Jesu!” and “Holy Mother!” Beside him, Arne was whimpering in German. The bow was completely submerged and Richard was sure that the Sea Wolf was doomed, heading for the bottom of the Adriatic Sea.
“Lord God, I entreat Thee to save us, Thy servants!” Richard’s voice rose above the roar of the storm, for he was used to shouting commands on the battlefield. “Let us reach a safe harbor and I pledge one hundred thousand ducats to build for Thee a church wherever we come ashore! Do not let men who’ve taken the cross die at sea and be denied Christian burial!”
* * *
Aboard the pirate ship Sea Serpent, December 1192
* * *
At last the shoreline came into view, greenish-grey under an overcast, dull sky. The pirates were manning the oars again. As soon as they had reached the shallows, they plunged into the water to beach the galley. The ground was marshy and they sank into it almost to the tops of their boots, but even a quagmire seemed like Eden to them after their ordeal on the Sea-Serpent.
The pirates were positioning the anchors to keep the galley from being caught in the next high tide and cursing among themselves as they confirmed that the rudder had indeed broken off. The wind had a bite and the men began to shiver. A silence fell as they looked around at the most barren, bleak landscape any had ever seen. No trees. No vegetation, just salty marsh grass. No sounds but the surging of the surf, not even the cries of sea birds. No signs of life.
Richard spoke for them all when he said at last, “Where in God’s Holy Name are we?”
* * *
Austria, December 1192
* * *
By late afternoon, they could see castle walls in the distance. Even before Gunther pointed toward it and said, “Durnstein,” Richard knew that he was looking at Leopold’s “impregnable stronghold.” It cast a formidable shadow over the valley, perched high on a cliff above the Danube, as rough-hewn, ominous, and impassable as the surrounding mountains. Richard would normally have assessed it with a soldier’s eye, seeking its weaknesses and weighing its strengths. Now he saw only a prison.
* * *
London January 1193
* * *
Eleanor was sitting up straight now, no longer slumped back in the chair as if her bones could not bear her weight, and Andre saw that color was slowly returning to her cheeks; that sickly white pallor was gone. As he watched, it seemed to him that she was willing her body to recover, finding strength from some inner source that defied her advancing years, and he felt a surge of relief. It had shaken him to see her looking so fragile, so vulnerable, so old. She was on her feet now, beginning to pace as she absorbed the impact of the emperor’s letter, and when she turned to face Andre, he saw that her hazel eyes had taken on a greenish, cat-like glitter, reflecting nothing at that moment but a fierce, unforgiving rage.
“They will not get away with this,” she said, making that simple sentence a declaration of war. “We shall secure my son’s freedom, no matter what it takes. And we will protect his kingdom until he can be restored to us, Andre.”
* * *
Marseilles August 1193 Joanna’s first meeting with the son of the Count of Toulouse, who was a controversial figure because of his tolerance of the Cathar heretics.
* * *
There was so much tension over Raimond de St Gilles’s impending arrival that Mariam joked privately to Joanna, “It is as if we are expecting the Anti-Christ.” Joanna smiled sourly, for her sense of humor seemed to have decamped as soon as she’d learned of Alfonso’s double-cross, for that was how she saw his surprise. Soon afterward, she found herself seated on the dais with Alfonso, Sancha, and Berengaria, awaiting the Anti-Christ’s entrance.
There was a stir as he entered the hall, for he was accompanied by a rising troubadour star, Ramon de Miravel. Joanna never noticed the troubadour, though, for she saw only Raimond de St Gilles. He was taller than average, with a lean build and the easy grace of a man comfortable in his own body. She had never seen hair so dark—as glossy and black as a raven’s wing—or eyes so blue, all the more striking because his face was so deeply tanned by the southern sun. He was clean-shaven, with sharply sculptured cheekbones and a well-shaped, sensual mouth that curved slightly at the corners, as if he were suppressing a smile. He was not as conventionally handsome as her brothers or her husband, but as she watched him approach the dais, Joanna’s breath caught in her throat, for the first time understanding what the troubadours meant when they sang of a “fire in the blood.”
* * *
Now, on to those random thoughts. Sometimes it can be a good thing to be late to the party. I was very, very late to the George R.R. Martin party. I had not read any of his Ice and Fire novels until HBO began running the Game of Throne series. I would follow Sean Bean anywhere so I tuned in, and was hooked. Naturally I then moved on to the books. But I was spared the endless waits between books, six years for one of them! And now it has happened again. I did not watch Downton Abbey when it first aired. Once I did come to the Downton party, I enjoyed myself enormously. It reminds me of one of my all-time favorite series, Upstairs, Downstairs. And no waiting—I can move on to Seasons Two and Three. I know many of my readers share my fascination with Game of Thrones. Are many of you fans of Downton Abbey, too?
I hear there is going to be a television series in the U.K. based up Philippa Gregory’s novels, The Cousins’ War. And of course the media remains keen on stories about the king in the car park. I will admit that I hope Sunne benefits from this surge of interest in the Wars of the Roses! I have already been given a rare opportunity—I was able to make revisions for the new hardcover edition of Sunne coming out in September. Nothing drastic; Richard still loses at Bosworth Field, I’m sorry to say. But Sunne was a learning experience for me, it being my first novel, and I subsequently concluded that when it came to writing medieval dialogue, less is more. I have also written
a new Author’s Note;, for how could I not discuss the remarkable discovery of Richard’s lost grave. I will try to include the new Sunne cover in this blog, but no promises, for Melusine has been her usual contrary self lately, joining Demon Spawn on the dark side. I don’t mean to brag, but I doubt that anyone has the sort of computer troubles that I do.
April 5, 2013
I am a fan of Downton Abbey. I have developed a big soft spot for Thomas. Before you worry about me too much, just wait until the end of the third season, you will love him too.
I repeat myself very often that I am a patient woman and that genius takes time, but reading about Raimond above tries that patience a little. ‘Fire in the blood.’ Need I say more 🙂
I already have my new copy of Sunne pre-ordered from the book depository. If I have my way, the sales of the new edition will outstrip the first. Your books look good in best seller lists.
Further to above, Sunne would be a good stocking filler for Christmas, a good birthday present, good for many celebrations. Is there going to be a limited number printed Sharon? Or will they print more if the demand is great? Maybe I should pre-order a few more….
Thank you, Paula. I think they do, too.
I just finished Season One of Downton Abbey, only to find that my cable company no longer is offering Season Two in their On Demand Feature. So it’s off to Amazon, I guess.
I really had fun with Raimond, who was that rarity in the MA, a free spirit. Sadly he would pay a high price for it.
I love the way you think, Paula! No, I am sure it is not a limited run edition, although I don’t know the print run yet. I’d warned them that readers outside the UK would want to buy it, since most of us prefer to have hardcover editions of books we love. I certainly do. If I read a book on my Kindle and really like it, I want it in hardcover, too, then.
Do your publishers get feedback on pre-order numbers? I think I shall keep recommending The Book Depository and pre-ordering. There was a discount when I put my order in. That is worth mentioning to folk, and I think I shall mention it!
I discovered your novels last summer, and ran through them in a few months. Should have paced myself. Now I’m hanging on waiting for Ransom, but it was great going right to the next book in the Welsh trilogy and the Plantagenets series. Have I told you how much I appreciate the research you put into your books? You’ve nudged me into “research” of my own. Two BIOS on Henry II and three on Eleanor. And, yes, Downton Abbey is great!
I disliked Thomas for most of the first season. However, when Mrs. O’Brien turned against him I started to change my feelings. If O’Brin didn’t like him, he couldn’t ba so bad! Anyway, he is turning out to be not such a bad fellow afterall…:)
So he stays on in the next season, Lana? I just finished Season One and he was going off into the army, or the medical corp so he wouldn’t have to get shot at. I thought he was a total jerk in Season one, and O’Brien was just as bad. People talk about the Angevins being dysfunctional, but Mary and her sister Edith could teach the Devil’s Brood a lesson or two.
I, too, fell in love with Downton Abbey! I thought is was extremely well done and I love the relationships between the Family and the servants. I’m still not a fan of Thomas, although I did feel sorry for him in this last season. The relationship between the sisters is contentious at best and sometimes jaw-dropping in the things they say and do to each other! But I’m hooked on the show and can’t wait for the next season! Just as I can’t wait to read Ransom! Thank you for posting these enticing tidbits!! And I’m also very excited about the re-release of Sunne! So much to look forward to!!
Sharon, I love it that you loved Upstairs Downstairs. I used to watch it each week by agreement of my Mum because of homework. I had to do it to watch it, so that was a no nonsense night. Yes I also have enjoyed Downton Abbey.
Have you seen the new Upstairs Downstairs, it did not have the same feel as the original, but had Jean Marsh in it.
Sharon, I’m already hooked on Raimond 🙂 And it’s just an excerpt of the novel. Sadly, he and Joanna were not given much time. I highly recommend the text by Laurent Mace in ‘The World of Eleanor of Aquitaine’ (ed. by Marcus Bull and Catherine Leglu) concerning their only child, Raymond VII. I love its title: “Raymond VII of Toulouse: The Son of Queen Joanna, ‘Young Count’ and Light of the World”.
As for today’s anniversaries, sad day indeed, but I’m sure you’re going to write more about it. Till the afternoon then… (which is your morning of course :-))
I recommend The World of Eleanor of Aquitaine, too, Kasia. The young count was devoted to Joanna’s memory and asked to be buried beside her at Fontevrault when he died; since he was only two when she died, his father must have kept her memory alive for him.
Today’s Facebook Note; I suspect you all know the subject matter!
There are so many incidents in which the death of one man changed the course of history. Abraham Lincoln, Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great all come to mind. England’s history would certainly have been different if Richard III had not died at Bosworth, or if Edward VI had lived to a ripe old age, denying the throne to his half-sister Elizabeth. The death of Henry I’s sole legitimate son on the White Ship sinking is another example. As is the death of Richard I.
The Lionheart died at 7 PM on Tuesday, April 6th in 1199. He was forty-one and had reigned less than ten years. I always thought it surprising that he’d lived as long as he did. In Lionheart, I had a scene where Richard was gravely ill with what they called quartan fever and we call malaria. He was hallucinating and in his fevered dream, he was tormented by his brother John and the French king, who boasted of what they planned to do to his kingdom once he was dead. He was then visited by Brother Geoffrey, who explained cheerfully that, unlike John, he’d have been willing to wait to claim the crown. “Face it, Richard, you’ll never make old bones. Other men lust after women. You lust after Death, always have. You’ve been chasing after her like a lovesick lad, and sooner or later, she’ll take pity and let you catch her.”
And at Chalus, she did.
Richard’s death was a great shock to his contemporaries, and obviously had a dramatic impact upon English and French history. But it also affected German history and the history of the region of France known today as the Languedoc. Heinrich von Hohenstaufen’s sudden death at the age of 32 was also one of those deaths that changed history, resulting in the election to the imperial throne of Richard’s nephew, Otto, son of his sister Matilda. Otto gained the crown in large measure because he had the backing of his uncle; Richard used both his political clout and his money to make it happen. But Richard’s death took away that support. Compared to Richard, John was a weak reed, and when Otto’s troubles began, he did not have the help of the one man who might have been able to right his sinking ship of state.
The fate of Languedoc is even more closely tied to Richard’s careless encounter with that Chalus crossbowman. Ten years later, Languedoc would be ravaged by the so-called Albigensian crusade, one of the darker episodes on the history of the medieval Church, in which the threat of heresy was used as an excuse to steal the lands of the southern lords and to introduce the Inquisition. This would nor have happened if Richard were still alive in 1209. He would never have permitted French troops to invade a land he considered within the Angevin sphere of influence. The Dukes of Aquitaine had claimed Toulouse since the time of Eleanor’s grandmother, and the ties were even stronger by 1209, for they were blood ties; the Count of Toulouse was Richard’s brother by marriage and his young son was Richard’s nephew. Had Richard been alive to cast his formidable shadow over Toulouse, the Albigensian crusade would not have happened—at least not then. I think it was inevitable that the south would have been conquered; its culture was too worldly, its society too tolerant, its lands too rich. But these horrors would have been visited upon later generations, and the people ruled by Count Raimond, the young Viscount of Carcassonne, and the lords of 13th century Languedoc would have been spared the persecution, the massacres, and the Inquisition.
Richard’s death had personal as well as political consequences, of course. It devastated his mother, who was with him when he died. His sister Joanna was said to be inconsolable. His illegitimate son was reported by one chronicler to have slain the Viscount of Limoges, whom he blamed for his father’s death; although that chronicler, Roger de Hoveden, is one of the most reliable of the 12th century historians, historians in our age tend to discount this story because no other source confirms it. But that it was believed by some shows the depth of a son’s grief and rage. Although Richard had pardoned the man who’d shot him, after his death, Mercadier had the man put to a gruesome death, indicating this cynical mercenary mourned his king. And the one and only time that Berengaria ventures from the shadows, the only time that we catch a glimpse of the woman, not the queen, comes from the account of St Hugh of Lincoln, who stopped by her castle at Beaufort en Valle to offer her comfort on his way to preside over Richard’s funeral at Fontevrault Abbey. Here is what was written of that meeting:
“Hearing, however, that Queen Berengaria was staying in the castle of Beaufort, he left the high road and journeyed through a wild forest region to that town in order to comfort her for the death of her husband. His words went straight to the soul of the sorrowing and almost broken-hearted widow and calmed her grief in a wonderful way.”
So we know that Berengaria grieved upon learning of Richard’s death, but did she weep for Richard himself? For what might have been? Perhaps for herself, envisioning a hard future without Richard’s protection? Or for all of those reasons? We do not know, for she took her secrets to the grave. She was just twenty-nine when Richard died, but she never married again, her long widowhood stretching more than thirty years. Richard had provided generously for her, but John treated her very shabbily, and it would be the French king, Philippe, who would eventually come to her aid. She settled in Le Mans, where today there is a street named after La Reine Berengere, and her lovely effigy rests in the abbey that she founded in her last years, on the outskirts of the city.
Richard, of course, rests at Fontevrault Abbey, having asked to be buried at his father’s feet as a gesture of repentance. Eleanor is buried there, too, as are Joanna and her son. The interloper is Isabelle d’Angouleme, John’s second wife, who died at the abbey after having to seek shelter there from the wrath of the French king; originally buried in the nuns’ cemetery, she was moved into the church with her Angevin in-laws at the request of her son, Henry III. When I’ve been at Fontevrault, I’ve sometimes thought that Berengaria belonged there more than Isabelle. But would she have wanted that? Whatever her feelings for Richard might have been, I suspect she might not have wanted to share eternity with Eleanor.
I have finally just now had a chance to read this blog, Sharon. I think my favorite snippet is where we see Eleanor come back to herself after hearing about Richard’s capture. Oh, Eleanor, how I’m going to miss reading about you!
So excited for next year when we get to read it all! What a treat this was. Thanks so much for posting these appetizers!
Kasia, I posted a link to your newest blog article to Sharon’s Facebook fan page for you. We’ll get you those new followers one way or the other!
Downton Abbey: I didn’t get into Downton Abbey until the second season. I watched the first show of Season 1 and decided I didn’t like any of the characters. I think I was expecting it to be more like ‘Upstairs, Downstairs,”It was only after the media blitz when Season 2 started that I went back to it. Now, like other ‘Upstairs, Downstairs” fans, I’ve been converted.
Sharon, thank you for this fascinating insight into the circumstances surrounding Richard’s death. I have never before come across the story of Richard’s illegitimate son’s revenge. How interesting, especially that Roger was indeed very well informed and eyewitness to many events during Richard’s reign (the first part of his Annals is not always reliable, but he must be excused, for he only repeated what he had heard). Was it him who accopmpanied Richard on the Crusade? Or have I just mixed the chroniclers? I have no time to check, babysitting my two spoilt children and my equally spoilt niece 🙂
Stephanie, thank you! You are Henry’s (or this time Richard’s) FB guardian angel 🙂 I think I will join you there some time in June (c. the 11th) to mention Henry’s untimely death at Martel.
Roger de Hoveden did accompany Richard on crusade, Kasia, but he returned to England soon after Richard’s arrival at Acre, about the same time as the French king gave it up and went home. Fortunately I had four other chroniclers to draw up, two crusaders and two Saracens. I am looking forward to your blog about Hal’s death at Martel. Interestingly, the Viscount of Limoges apparently did die in 1199, but I’ve yet to find a modern historian who gives credence to Roger’s story that Richard’s son killed him. I guess they assume that would be a big “news event” and it would have been mentioned by other chroniclers.
Sharon, this was an amazing blog (I especially liked the part with Raymond of Toulouse, he’s a very interesting figure) and the post about Richard was simply wonderful.
“I suspect she might not have wanted to share eternity with Eleanor” – Yes, but in the same vein, I suspect Eleanor did not want to spend eternity with Isabelle.
Lastly, I will add that today, Louis IX of France, known as Saint Louis, lost the Battle of Fariskur to the Ayyubids, decisively ending the 9th Crusade, and being captured himself. The French had to pay a ransom of 400,000 dinars to get him back, and it was also mostly organized by his mother, Blanche of Castile, who was regent in his absence – she was Eleanor’s granddaughter, the daughter of Leonora.
Lastly, the great Matthias Corvinus of Hungary died today. He was instrumental in repelling the Ottomans from Europe, founding the Black Army of Hungary, allying with Vlad III Tepes and even with his rival, Stefan Cel Mare (the great) of Moldavia, who had defeated him in the Battle of Baia, where Matthias was wounded thrice.
What an interesting blog & all the comments! That carrot is coming closer & closer & when we do finally have Ransom in our hands, we’ll be shivering with excitement. I also love what you posted, Marcia Daniels….”nudged” into research of your own. Marcia, Sharon nudged me into catapulting myself into Britain’s MA where I now live!!
I’d better not get started on Downton Abbey…..I’ve watched the reruns so often I could play a part. Love the story, cast, characters (Maggie Smith has the best lines), all the melodrama, the grand house & all the fashions as they change over the years. And what I really love about BBC productions is that our favorite actors come back again & again. Loved the new Upstairs, Downstairs as well…..thought Keeley Hawes was extraordinary!
Hi Sharon,
You’ve been an inspiration to me as a budding writer and your series about Wales was extraordinary! They take pride of place on my bookshelves.
best wishes
Jeanette Harvey
http://www.sisterofthebruce.worpress.com
I can’t wait to read King’s Ransom- However I have ordered Lionheart and the revised edition of The Sunne in Splendour for reading.
I’ve just finished watching the 1997 mini series of Sir Walter Scotts Ivanhoe. It had a wonderful scene with Eleanor of Aquitaine (played by Sian Phillips of ‘I Claudius) trying to mediate between her sons Richard and John.
Koby, I’m so glad you liked the blog. Raimond was a very interesting man who was horribly maligned by the Church and the French to justify their aggression against Languedoc, and sadly, there is no Raimond de St Gilles Society to try to clear his name like the one for Richard III. So I will do my best for him in Ransom and in the AN, and blogs.
I never saw the Ivanhoe mini-series, Theresa. Steven, I agree with you; the characters in Downton Abbey were not as likeable as in Upstairs, Downstairs. But the writers show how they evolve and mature–at least some of them!
Here is my Facebook Note. Sorry I can’t post the two photos here, but at least I can show the link to the video.
Nothing medieval to report on April 7th—at least nothing that interests me! So I am going to post two photos that are sure to bring lots of smiles, courtesy of my friend, Max. And here is a great video of a white lion cub in Australia and his best pal, Honey, who happens to be a dog.
http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/white-lion-cub-befriends-zoos-resident-dog?WT.mc_id=Outbrain_13787641
Sharon, it will not surprise you that I enjoyed Geoffrey’s visit to Richard during his fever. I think you are correct that Geoffrey would have been sensible enough to wait for Richard’s inevitable careless death – had his own careless death not intervened.
If Geoffrey had not died in the tournament, would Richard have chosen him as heir over John? Or would he have viewed Geoffrey as being too closely aligned with Philippe to succeed him. Certainly after Richards death, I have the feeling that conflict between the two younger brothers may have resulted in another civil war much like the one fought by Stephen and Maude. But who would have been the victor in this case?
That is such an interesting What if, isn’t it? So much could have changed if Geoffrey had not taken part in that tournament. We’ll never know, of course, but in a war between Geoffrey and John, I think my money would be on Geoffrey. He had more battlefield experience than John, had the resources as Duke of Brittany that John did not, and had the support of the Breton lords, too. I have always thought Geoffrey was the most clever of the brothers. Malcolm, do you agree with me?
Geoffrey all the way for me. I think he would have been Richard’s heir and I think he would have more than held his own against John. But, I am a Geoffrey fan and think he can do no wrong.
Snap Sharon! We were writing and posting at the same time. How exciting 🙂
Geoffrey was clever and didn’t have the trust issues that John had. I could have foreseen a future in that scenario where John managed to get himself locked up for life. Richard had to work with him as he needed him as an heir. If Geoffrey had Arthur, John would have been given no slack.
I do agree with you about Geoffrey, Sharon, of course. Even the peevish description of Geoffrey by Gerald of Wales grudgingly acknowledges Geoffrey’s cleverness, putting the Welshman’s own negative spin on this characteristic. Paula, though he was clever and for the most part sensible, Geoffrey did do wrong from tome to time. Joining young Henry in the 1183 rebellion (which began as a joint aggression against Richard) was not his finest moment. Then, the pleasure he found in tournaments proved fatal. (While writing about the Angevin Duke of Brittany, I am listening to Nollwen Leroy, the Breton songstress recommended by John Phillips.)
I did think that John may have appealed to the English barons who may have thought he would be ‘easier’ to deal with than Geoffrey (although that turned out to be wrong) Perhaps Geoffrey may have used Richards imprisonment to his advantage as well. Although I believe Eleanor would not have allowed this.
Malcolm, your appearance on Sharon’s blog is the proof of telepathy indeed! I’ve been wondering these past few days where Malcolm Craig could be and here you are… And in what great style! Triggering a fascinating discussion about younger Angevins. Of course I’m here to defend the eldest one, that is why I will insist that Geoffrey’s part in 1183 rebellion could be called in gentler terms (this is what we call ” woman’s logic”). I would not call it a “mistake”. He just gambled and lost. Great minds do from time to time. After all, in 1183 the greatest loser turned out to be Henry the Young King himself (although sometimes I think it was Henry II).
I highly admire Gerald’s flowery style, in spite of the fact that when describing the Angevins he was usually at his malicious best (with the notable exception of Henry the Young King, whom he treated surprisingly gently). But I do agree that the words he used to characterize Geoffrey should be taken as a compliment, especially ‘…his sweet and persuasive eloquence has enabled him to dissolve the firmest alliences and his powers of language to throw two kingdoms into confusion”. Geoffry himself would be delighted, I daresay 🙂
Geoffrey has been so neglected or maligned by history–one modern historian of considerable repute described his actions as “mindless malice”–that I am happy to see that he has his supporters, we few, we brave band of brothers, here.
Kasia, that was a wonderful blog on your website about Richard. Please thank Richard for me, the author, not the Lionheart! It has already been posted on one of my pages, but I am going to share it. The more people who know about your blogs, the better.
Nothing to interest me on the medieval front today, but here is a lovely heartwarming story of a little boy with brain cancer and a college football team composed of unlikely angels. I am now a Cornhusker fan.
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/06/seven-year-old-battling-brain-cancer-scores-td-in-nebraskas-spring-game/
I would have loved to see the kind of king Geoffrey would have made. I wonder how much influence Constance would have had on him, if any? At least the Geoffrey as portrayed by you, Sharon. I bet he would have been better able to hold on to his father’s lands.
Kasia, I really hope you get a lot more traffic on your blog!
Stephanie person, there is one sure way for more people to read about the Young King. He has to join FB. Would you accept him if he applied to joinh the SKPFC?
Thank you, Sharon. I’ll write to him. He’s going to be very happy (BTW, he is your great fan). I too love his text. It’s very well written. Richard and I made friends here, on your blog, so I’m really grateful to you!
Thank you Stephanie! You’re right- there were many visitors!
Hi Ken 🙂 I have never denied that FB works wonders and that the Young King needs it to boost his popularity. Believe me, I’m well aware of the fact. I’m just waiting for the right moment.
Kind words everywhere. I’d be hard-pressed to reply to them all, except that I’m getting a good heads-up (thanks, Kasia).
Stephanie – I’ve never cared much for Geoffrey’s personality… or at least, what we’ve seen of it – but I think he’d have made a good king. Much better than John, I think, who seemed to have his brother’s faults without the reedeming features.
Yes, Kasia, Geoffrey might have appreciated the backhanded compliment, considering the source. Sharon’s portrayal has given him a fine sense of humor, which we hope the real Geoffrey actually had. Very busy time of year for me, with coaching youth baseball (and compiling statistics for all 10 teams), the Florida Legislature in session, the need to do my income tax return and help our sons with theirs, and working on the 50th reunion of my high school class. (A year ago, I went to lunch with 15 female classmates, and the charming ladies signed me up. One of them dubbed the photo of our luncheon gathering as Malcolm in the Middle.)
In regards to A Kings Ransom, will the drama of Philippe Auguste’s second wife Ingeborg be told. Surely Richard and Eleanor will be having some laughs over the French Kings matrimonial woes? Philippe comes across as an unpleasant character in Lionheart- however I have heard that the Emperor Heinrich is even worse.
I love that–Malcolm in the Middle.
Only in terms of gossip, Theresa, with the Angevins laughing at Philippe’s mounting marital woes. I do, however, show her wedding, and through John’s sardonic eyes. He may be Philippe’s ally, but that does not mean they like each other. And yes, I think Heinrich does come off worse in Ransom, for Philippe was not a sociopath and I honestly believe Heinrich was. He does some awful things in Ransom, especially in Sicily.
Today’s Facebook note.
The Yorkist king, Edward IV, died on April 9th, 1483, just weeks from his forty-first birthday. We do not know the exact cause of death, though pneumonia has been suggested, and it has also been suggested that his health had deteriorated because of his self-indulgent lifestyle; Philippe de Commines claimed it was apoplexy. I saw no reason to doubt Mancini’s report that he’d caught a chill while boating on the river and it grew progressively worse. He lingered for ten days before dying, and his death would have dramatic repercussions. Had he not died so prematurely, the history of England would have been drastically different, for had he lived until his eldest son and heir came of age, I do not think there would have been a Tudor dynasty, which would have been catastrophic for screen writers and historical novelists, and not so good for a playwright named Shakespeare, either. I have always seen Edward as one of those men who were at their best when things were at their worst and vice versa. Historians have differed in their assessment of his reign, but I can say for a certainty that he was great fun to write about. He was buried at Windsor in the Chapel of St George; sadly, his tomb of black marble was never completed, for his dynasty would not long survive him. Here is Edward’s death scene in Sunne, page 662-663
* * *
“You’d best prepare yourself, my lady. It’ll not be long.”
She knew he meant to be kind, but she had to fight the urge to spit at him, to scream that he was wrong, that she didn’t want to hear it. She touched her fingers again to her father’s face, and as she did, his eyes opened. They were glazed a brilliant blue with fever, were sunken back in his head. But they were lucid, looked at her with full awareness for the first time in hours.
“Bess….”
“Yes, Papa, yes! I’m right here.”
“Sorry….so sorry….”
“For what, Papa? You’ve nothing to be sorry about, nothing at all.” She could see him straining to speak, and knew she should urge him to be still, but she could not; these last moments of coherent communication were too precious to lose.
“Sweet Bess….so loved.” He made an uncertain movement; she knew he was searching for her hand and quickly laced her fingers through his.
“Don’t worry, Papa. Please don’t worry.”
“Do you know….what be the worst….worst sins?”
She bent closer, not sure if she’d heard him correctly. “No, Papa. What be the worst sins?”
The corner of his mouth twitched, in what she knew to be the last smile she’d ever see him give.
“The worst be,” he whispered, “those about be found out.”
Bess didn’t understand. “Rest now, Papa. It will be all right for us, truly it will. Rest now.”
I too love Malcolm in the Middle! Blessed among women. But to be serious- Malcolm you are very busy these days. We are really happy you’ve found some time to pay a visit to us. We miss you here.
Malcolm, it is good to know you are doing well, indeed, excellently.
Kasia, that was an absolutely lovely blog entry, and Sharon, your post was also wonderful. Ned’s death scene is one of the most powerful death scenes I’ve ever read.
I come late to the discussion, but allow me to express my own opinion: I think Geoffrey would have been content. He rebelled against his father because Henry would not give him what was legally his; the last intrigue was caused by fear of what Richard would do when he had all the power, as heir and then King. But Richard proved himself not only pragmatic, but also generous to his former enemies. And Geoffrey himself, being just as clever, probably knew of this, and could easily come to terms with Richard, gaining as much in the bargain as John did, with the sure knowledge that he was Richard’s heir – and considering the way Richard searched for battle and his weak marriage with Benergaria, he would have been certain the throne would eventually come to him, and rather right about it. Even when Richard was captured, he would not rebel – because whether Richard dies or survives, the throne would be his. John rebelled because he had no surety he was the heir over Arthur. I also think Geoffrey living would have been far better for John – being further away from the possibility of the crown would have mellowed him, made him less ambitious, and able to build a better relationship with his family.
Today, William X ‘the Saint’, Duke of Aquitaine died on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. He left Louis VI as protector of his fifteen-year-old daughter Eleanor. No doubt they would all be amused by his name. In addition, Henry V [VI] of England was crowned today, and Lorenzo il Magnifico De Medici died today. Lastly, (and Kasia should know of this) the Battle of Legnica took place today, where the Mongols defeated an alliance lead by Polish duke Henry II the Pious of Silesia, who died on the field.
Koby, I think that is a very astute assessment of Geoffrey’s personality and political acumen. And a very interesting observation about John, too, that not being next in line for the throne might have made him a better man. I am going to repost your comments on Facebook, if that is okay? And thanks for mentioning the death of the Duke of Aquitaine and other happenings. With my narrow Yorkist focus, I missed them all.
I intended to post that I thought Koby’s remarks were very judicious, but Sharon beat me to it with her own adjective: “astute” is even better. (I can only post here from my home computer, and I was at work.) My question is how comfortable Richard would have been to leave behind a very competent brother as a potential rival when he departed for the Holy Land. With their mother looking after his interests, he did not consider John a significant threat.
That had occurred to me, too, Malcolm–great minds think alike.:-) I think that if Richard had not been able to reach an accommodation with Geoffrey, he might not have been willing to go on crusade, another way in which history could have been changed. I don’t think any of the Angevins ever took John all that seriously. Geoffrey would have been another matter altogether.
You probably know this, Malcolm, but your academic article about a third daughter for Geoffrey and Constance is listed as one of the sources for her entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
Perhaps Richard would have…compelled…Geoffrey to join the crusade. That being said, I have to agree with Koby – as Richard’s heir (and holding a much stronger claim than John enjoyed), I don’t think someone with the shrewdness of Geoffrey would have been as likely to rebel as a rather impulsive John was.
That being said, could anyone honestly picture Geoffrey playing the dutiful, loyal younger brother? He wasn’t as impulsive as George of Clarence, but I don’t think he’d have been as steadfast as Richard of Gloucester or John of Bedford. He may have known that he would likely end up with the throne…the question is, would he truly be content to wait for it?
This discussion about Geoffrey is spine tingling for an amateur enthusiast such as myself. Would Geoffrey have come to terms with Richard or would he have tried to increase his surrounding land holdings to better secure Brittany? I think Richard would have had to come to terms with him and give generous concessions. Philippe would have kept trying to get between them, but I would hope they would realise they would be a mighty force if united. Maybe Richard would have ‘compelled’ Geoffrey to go on crusade instead of him?
One of my best memories from the Eleabnor tour was the moment when I stood next to Malcolm in front of the plaque for Geoffrey in Notre Dame cathedral.
I love these What ifs of history. Richard was very generous with John when he became king, so there is no reason to think he would not have been as generous with Geoffrey. The only times that Richard did anything stupid was when he recklessly put his own life at risk, so he was shrewd enough to know how important it was to come to terms with Geoffrey–or else drag him along to the Holy Land, as Richard suggests in his post. In fact, I have a scene in Ransom in which Richard warns John that once he deals with Philippe and is free to honor his vow to return to Outremer, he is going to have John take the same vow, saying that he thinks a stay in the Holy Land would do wonders for John’s spiritual welfare. John is not thrilled by the prospect.
Paula, that is one of my best memories of our tour, too.
There were many more wonderful memories during the following days, after I was able to find the memorial plaque for Geoffrey in Notre-Dame de Paris, where I had seen it in 1974. Speaking of splendid news, I just learned on the Eleanor page that our friend Émilie has also joined the Richard III tour in September.
In regards to Johns last year as king. Was he in serious danger from losing his crown to the french prince or was it just Philippe making mischief. I remember reading that the english barons ‘invited’ prince louis to invade but as soon as John died (peaches and ale) they changed their minds and backed Johns young son.
In Here Be Dragons, John is sometimes portrayed quite sympathetically (even with some of the cruel things he did), however it looks like Ransom will be depicting him as someone who was not fit to be king.
Theresa, some of the barons remained rebellious and fought with the invaders. The royalist barons were led by the Regent, William Marshal and won victories at Lincoln and then the sea battle off Sandwich. The sea battle was fought under the command of my main man Hubert de Burgh. If I ever write a novel, it will feature Hubert and the sea battle. And, it will also feature Nicola de la Haye, the castellan of Lincoln castle.
I should add that after the sea battle Louis came to terms and left.
Theresa, John was definitely in real danger when he died; he’d been abandoned by many of his own barons and there were French troops on English soil. Some historians have said that only his death saved his dynasty, for the English could then rally around his young son. Whether he would actually have lost his crown had he lived is interesting speculation, but we can only do that–speculate. In Dragons, I was seeking to restore John’s humanity, for too often I’d seen him portrayed as a one-dimensional stage villain, the sort who twirled his mustache as the heroine was tied to the railroad tracks in silent films. I think John was quite intelligent and despite his unfortunate nickname, John Softsword, I do not think he was a coward. But I believe his greatest failing was his inability to trust others, for then they could not trust him. Ransom deals with one of the darker chapters in his history, his shameful betrayal of his brother at a time when Richard could not defend himself; his treachery was particularly unattractive in light of how generously Richard had treated him upon becoming king.
Paula, I’d love to read a novel of yours about that sea battle! One ofJohn’s illegitimate sons, Richard of Chilham, a character in Dragons, distinguished himself in that battle. It was also the first time that I’d read about lime being thrown on the enemy ships to blind the sailors.
Today’s Facebook Note.
On April 10th, 1191, Richard and his fleet sailed from Messina on the way to the Holy Land. It would have been a very colorful sight.
Here is the description of their departure from Messina in Lionheart, page 204.
* * *
It was not until Wednesday in Holy Week that the royal fleet was ready to sail and most of the city turned out for the event, thankful that this foreign army was finally departing but also delighting in this extraordinary spectacle. More than two hundred ships and seventeen thousand soldiers and sailors. Large transport vessels called busses. Naves that relied only upon sails. And the ships that drew all eyes and evoked admiring murmurs from the townspeople—the sleek, deadly war galleys, painted in bright colors, their gunwales hung with shields, the red and gold banners of the English king streaming from their mastheads. The crusade of Richard Coeur de Lion was at last under way.
After such a dramatic departure from Messina, what followed was anticlimactic. The wind died and the fleet found itself becalmed off the coast of Calabria. They were forced to drop anchor and wait. After the sun set in a blood-red haze, many took comfort from the glow of the lantern placed aloft in Richard’s galley. He’d promised to light it each and every night, a guiding beacon for his ships, reassuring proof of his presence in the midst of the dark, ominous Greek Sea. The next day the winds picked up, but they remained weak and variable, and not much progress was made. Yet so far the voyage had been calm and for that, seventeen thousand souls were utterly thankful.
* * *
But two days later they ran into a savage Good Friday storm that scattered the fleet and put Joanna and Berengaria in peril when their ship ran aground off the Cyprus coast.
Thank you for the compliments! You raise good points, but I think Richard and Geoffrey could easily come to an accord, and with Eleanor there to watch over him, Geoffrey would not get into too much trouble. Indeed, if he had any wish to expand his lands, I’m sure Richard and Eleanor would encourage him to attack France. While France and Flanders were safe until Philip died and Philippe returned, once Philippe returned and disputed Baldwin’s claim, I’m sure Geoffrey would have found it very advantageous to interfere. Sharon, I am always happy to share my thoughts with others, so if you wish to post my comments, do so.
Today, James V of Scotland was born. He is mostly remembered for dying soon after his devastating defeat at Solway Moss, leaving his infant daughter Mary as his heir.
I have an old hardback copy of Sunne which I periodically re-read. I think I may just invest in the new one. The fascinating story of the king in the parking lot merits delving once again into his story! I heard that Queen Elizabeth did not want him re-buried in the Abbey (is this true and, if so, I wonder why not). I think this very unjustly maligned king may have had his last, best revenge against his detractors–after all, what’s better than being the subject of a relentless search for his burial site and then all the publicity and speculation when he is found! It’s just quite delicious, I think!
I am looking forward to finally purchasing Ransom & then losing myself in medieval times with Lionheart once again. These excerpts certainly wet my appetite for more Angevins!
As far as Downton, I was one of the hold-outs (didn’t watch Seasons 1 or 2 when they ran on PBS) but my niece finally lent me her DVD copies & I sat with my daughter to watch. After episode 1, I was hooked, enthralled, mesmerized, in love…well, you get the picture. I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone who is now watching it but MY GOODNESS–Season 3!!!!!! (everyone who’s seen it, will know what I’m talking about!). The only thing that I hate is not only having to wait months for Season 4 but having to wait until January, 2014 (and envying the Brits who get to watch in Sept of this year!). Everyone I know simply loves this series and I especially love the fact that all the characters have layers in their personalities and nuances in their actions–maybe like real-life people! No one is truly bad or truly goody-good. It’s wonderful. And the beauty of the English countryside, that gorgeous house, the beautiful costumes, well–it’s the best!
I should be sleeping right now but after reading the excerpts from Ransom and the subsequent comments, I’m too excited for slumber.
First off, the excerpts from Ransom are fantastic. I particularly love the one about Raimond and Joanna. I’m glad we will be able to read about some happy moments in Raimond’s life since the Albigensian crusade will bring him and the south of France more sorrow, defeat, loss and hardship than anyone should endure. Maybe one day I’ll set up a society to rehabilitate Raimond’s reputation.
I have been a fan of Downton Abbey since it started. I did have some fears that season 2 would turn into a soap opera but within two episodes everything was back on track. So far, season 3 is my favorite but I say this without having watched the last episode. I already know about the shocking plot twist as I accidently came upon it while reading an online UK paper but I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds. Another series I have been enjoying is “Call the Midwife” set in East-London during the 1950s. Season 2 is currently playing on PBS.
It’s very nice to see all the interest in Geoffrey, Henry’s and Eleanor’s often overlooked son. I don’t have anything to add so will just say thanks for the thought provoking comments.
Kasia, thank you for the lovely comment you made about me two blogs ago. I am honoured to be your Young Henry’s Godmother. Your blog is fantastic and always a joy to read. If one day Young Henry decides to join Facebook, I will follow you there.
Ok, I really must go to sleep.
Emilie, if you do set up a society for Raimond, I will be your first member.
I really enjoy “Call the Midwife” too. I have just watched the second episode of the second series. I was in tears for most of it. Very warm and gentle show, when it doesn’t make you cry.
Thank you, Koby; I will definitely post your comments not that I have your approval. I’ve quoted you so often in the past few years that you have your own fame on my Facebook pages; one of my friends was convinced that you must be a history professor at a prestigious university.
Emilie, what a lovely thought. Maybe after Ransom comes we can form a support group to clear Raimond’s name!
I am now watching Season Three of Downton Abbey. Because there was so much turmoil about the plot twists this season, I heard about them on-line even though I was not yet watching the series. I’m not sure whether it is good or bad that I know what’s coming!
Emilie, is it true what Malcolm said earlier, that you’ll be going on our Richard III tour? Nothing would make me happier! (Well, okay, aside from George Clooney joining us) But I remember that you weren’t able to make the dates work because of your other travel plans? BTW, I still cannot get Melusine to e-mail you; everything bounces back as undeliverable–very frustrating.
Me again. Today is the anniversary of the death of Llywelyn Fawr, but the evil Melusine destroyed my eulogy before I could post it. I am about to go out, but I did not want anyone to think I’d forgotten about the greatest of the Welsh princes, at least IMHO, and I will rewrite and repost it later today
I couldn’t be with you yesterday, so I just want to add that on 10 April 1155, what can be called the first official meeting between Henry (the future Young King) and the barons and nobles of the realm took place. Henry’s father, freshly crowned king Henry II took both his sons, two-year-old William and two-month-old Henry to Wallingford, where he held a great council, and where ‘the nobles recognized the successional rights of the Princes’, the ceremony which neither of the boys would remember, I guess.
Emilie, but you are Henry the Young King’s Godmother! Never forget about it! I won’t, that’s for sure!
I am waiting with baited breath for the eulogy, Sharon. All the recent comments & speculation about Geoffrey & his brothers is fascinating. I only know your Geoffrey & took a liking to him, an interesting man with depths that would never come to light. Very unfortunate!
I also discovered the Series 3 plot twist (the biggee) in Downton ahead of time, so to ease the blow I went online to see why “said” person was leaving the show. For me, this show is the ultimate “soap” but that’s partly why I love it so much & will keep on watching those reruns, though haven’t forgiven Julian Fellowes.
I agree with Emilie & Paula, Call the Midwife is another great series….would highly recommend it, an exceptionally realistic production. My sister is reading the books & loving them. The entire Season 1 was aired recently, 5(?) solid hours of it, so it was sob city here. But it isn’t sentimental or sappy, just an excellent portrayal of those marvelous women. And Vanessa Redgrave’s voice-over is the icing on the cake! I wish I had stories of my Italian grandmother who was midwife for years in a little village in northeast Italy.
Joan, my great-grandmother was a wet nurse in the late 19th/early 20th century in Southeast Italy. It was said when one of her “kids” died at the age of 7, she wept just as hard as the birth mother. I’d love to know stories like these unsung ladies who helped in the continuation of civilization withtheir competence and quiet courage.
That being said, I just can’t get into Downton Abbey. I connected with the people of Call the Midwife immediately, but I could never become interested in the people of Downton Abbey. I just never cared what happened to them and quit the series before the first one ended.
Sharon, Émilie has confirmed to me in a private message that she will be joining us on the Richard III Tour. If I understood correctly, she will be rooming again with our friend Mary of Welsh Descent.
I would join any society devoted to clearing Raimond’s name in a trice, and may indeed demand a position – Archivist, I think.
Well, Sharon will cover Llywellyn, so that is her purview. In which case, I will mention that firstly, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March and heir presumptive to Richard II was born today – he was Duke Richard of York’s grandfather, from where came his dynastic claim to the English throne. More importantly, to my mind, the great Battle of Mohi took place today. Only two days after a smaller Mongol force crushed the Poles in the Battle of Legnica (see above), a Mongol army of some 25,000 crushed an alliance of Hungary, Teutonic Knights, Knights Templar and the Holy Roman Empire (specifically Austria). Under Batu Khan and Subutai, the Mongols used a variety of tactics, showing their mastery of all kinds of warfare. They cleared the bridge of crossbowmen using stone throwers, charged across it and held their position against the charges of armored knights with their great skill at horsemanship and hand to hand fighting, while Subutai had his engineers build a portable bridge across the river, upon which he crossed and charged the flank of the Hungarians causing them to flee back to camp, where the flaming arrows of the Mongols made them panic, utterly breaking them. Leaving a small gap for the Hungarians to escape, the Mongols then pursued them against the plains, destroying the vast majority of the 20-30,000 strong army that had fought them. Among the Christian dead were Archbishops Ugrin Csák and Matthias Rátót, Prince Coloman was made prisoner and executed, and Prince Kalman of Hungary was wounded so badly he soon died from his wounds. The Mongols invested Hungary, and the rest of Europe was spared only by the death of Ogedei Khan a year later.
I’ve only seen a couple of episodes of Call the Midwife, but really enjoyed it. Some day when it’s all available on DVD, I’ll check it out from the library.
Valerie, you are so lucky to have at least one story of your great-grandmother. I always have to wonder at wet nurses….how could you not develop an affection for every single baby. Unsung is right! Without them, there wouldn’t be a royal lineage! I have a very maternal sister who would love to have been both a midwife & wet nurse in medieval times. (I’d prefer the intriguing!)
Very nice to see that a potential Raimond Society already has an illustrious group of would be defenders. Koby, the position of archivist is yours!
Sharon, I will indeed be a part of the Richard III tour. I meant to tell you sooner but given our e-mail problems, I wasn’t sure how to reach you. I think I will try setting up another e-mail account to see if we can break through Melusine’s defenses.
Thank you, Emilie. Today, Joanna of Castile, usually known as Juana La Loca died. Her husband was Philip the Fair of Burgundy, and their son was Charles I of Spain and V, Holy Roman Emperor.
Poor Juana. Philip may have been handsome but by all accounts he was an indifferent husband to her.
Will we see more of Constance of Brittany and her son Arthur in A Kings Ransom? Arthur always seemed a tragic figure to me, although in Here Be Dragons he came across as a bit of a brat.
I was of the opinion that Constance did Arthur no favours by keeping him away from Richards court. Surely the sensible thing would have been to cultivate Richard and Eleanor.
Oh Sharon, you do lead me astray! I had a spare moment at work so I googled Raimond VI and the Albigensian crusade. I now have 6 books on their way to me from The Book Depository. One of the books is the English translation of The Song of the Cathar Wars. Sigh……. (happy sigh)
Jeanette, when you get a chance, why don’t you tell us more about your novel? We are always looking for good historical fiction to read here; one reason why we are always so broke!
I forgot about Juana, Koby; thanks. C.W. Gortner has written a moving novel about her, The Last Queen.
Theresa, Constance does appear in a few scenes in Ransom, not as often as I’d like because I had to exercise some self-control as to the length of the book, with that deadline threat ever looming over my head. Arthur is in just one scene, very briefly. William Marshal’s description of him seems to indicate he could be a bit of a brat; the Marshal called him “unapproachable and overbearing” and he was just 12 at the time! But he did not have the most stable of childhoods and he also came under the influence of the French king, never a good thing! I do see him as tragic; he was murdered at age 16, after all. I think it was a great mistake by Constance and the Bretons to have alienated Richard. If he’d gotten a chance to know Arthur, he could well have decided to name his nephew as his heir rather than John. He seems to have considered his other nephew Otto, after all, before a better opportunity came along and he pulled strings to get Otto elected as the next Holy Roman Emperor.
Here is the Facebook Note for yesterday, which was sabotaged by the evil Melusine.
Here is the post I wrote yesterday, only to have it sabotaged by Melusine.
On April 11th, 1240, the Welsh prince Llywelyn Fawr died at the abbey of Aberconwy, having taken holy vows in his last hours; this became quite popular, even fashionable in the 13th century. He was sixty-seven and had ruled Gwynedd since the age of 21. While he never claimed the actual title of Prince of Wales as his grandson Llywelyn ap Gruffydd would do, I think he was the Prince of Wales in all but name. He is one of the few figures in British history to be known by the sobriquet The Great and I think he well deserved it. He is also one-half of one of history’s better love stories. As many of you probably suspect, in my pantheon of historical characters, he is one of my favorites. Below is his death scene from Falls the Shadow, pages 114-116.
* * *
Llywelyn awoke with a gasp. He lay still for a time, listening to his own labored breathing. More and more his lungs were putting him in mind of a broken bellows, he never seemed to get enough air. He wondered almost impersonally how long they could operate at such a crippled capacity. He wondered, too, how long his spirit would be tethered like this.
A log still burned in the hearth, and as his eyes adjusted to the flickering firelight, he saw a shadow move. “I’m awake,” he said, glad of the company, and then, when he realized who was keeping vigil, his smile flashed, sudden, radiant. “I’d almost given up on you, lad,” he confessed, and Llelo moved forward, sat beside him on the bed.
(omission)
Llywelyn was quiet for some moments. “Of all the books of the Scriptures, I’ve always found the most comfort in Ecclesiastes. It tells us that time and chance happen to all men—“
“I know what it says, that everything has its season, its time—even death. Is that what you’d have me believe, Grandpapa, that it is your time?”
“Yes.” Llywelyn shoved a pillow behind his shoulders. The pain was back—by now an old and familiar foe—spreading down his arm, up to his neck. But he did not want the boy to know. He found a smile, said, “It has been more than three years, after all. Joanna grows im-patient—and I’ve never been one to keep a lady waiting.”
Llelo’s head jerked up. “How can you do that? How can you jest about dying?”
He sounded angry. Llywelyn looked at him, at last said quietly, “What other way is there?”
Without warning, Llelo’s eyes filled with tears. He sought without success to blink them back, then felt his grandfather’s hand on his.
“Try not to grieve too much, lad. I’ve not been cheated; I’ve had a long life, with more than my share of joys. I sired sons and daughters. No man had better friends. I found two women to love, and a fair number to bed with. And I die knowing that Wales is in good hands…”
Llelo frowned. “Davydd?” he mumbled and his grandfather nodded.
“Yes, Davydd….and you, Llelo.”
(omission)
Llywelyn shifted his position; the pain was starting to ease somewhat. He was very tired and not at all sure that he should have shared his dream with the boy. But then Llelo said, “Do you truly have so much faith in me?” and there was wonderment in his voice.
Llywelyn swallowed with difficulty. He nodded, then leaned forward and gathered his grandson into his arms. Llelo clung tightly; he made no sound, but Llywelyn could feel him trembling. “I’d be lying if I said I had no regrets, Llelo. But I was not lying when I told you I believe it is my time.” After a long silence, he said, very softly, “I should have liked, though, to have seen the man you will become.”
* * *
April 11th, 1471 was also the day upon which the Londoners opened the gates of their city to Edward IV, just a month after he’d ended his exile by landing on the Yorkshire coast with his brother Richard and a small band of supporters. Before another month would pass, the Earl of Warwick would die at Barnet Heath, the Lancastrian army would be routed at Tewkesbury, and Edward would face no further challenges to his sovereignty. Sadly, he himself would do what his enemies could not—ruin his health and doom his dynasty with his premature death.
Thank you for that, Sharon. Needless to say, I’m in tears. HBD will always be one of my favorite novels because of your portrayal of this great man.
Arthur could have turned out very differently had his birth not been posthumous. Lacking a father’s influence certainly affected his upbringing. In fact, he might have been named Henry (or Conan or Geoffrey), rather than Arthur, if his father was living when he was born.
I agree with you, Malcolm. the trajectory of Arthur’s life would definitely have changed had his father not died before he was born. As would his sister’s.
Considering how quickly Constance bore their three children, there could have been many more siblings to follow Eleanor and Arthur (and Matilda). As I have said, Geoffrey and Constance might have had a family to rival his parents’.
Indeed, though I think that would depend on Constance’s willingness to do so… Geoffrey would probably submit to her desires if he felt he had enough children. Today, Constantinople fell to the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade, and Catherine de Medici was born.
Today, The Battle of Barnet took place, early in the morning. Forgive me for not giving more detail; today is also Memorial Day here, and I am weary and heart-sore.
Perhaps (he may have disagreed though) Warwick was better off losing the battle and his life at Barnet rather than if he had won. Marguerite de Anjou would have found some way to dispose of Warwick once he had defeated the Yorkists and I think it would have been rather humiliating and unpleasant. I recall a scene from Sunne where Edward IV sarcastically informs his brother that Marguerite hated Warwick even more than him. No doubt Anne Neville would have been discarded as soon as the Lancastrians had enjoyed a victory parade through London.
Hey all, a lot of people on Sharon’s Facebook page were asking about her whereabouts, so I posted a little update. I thought I would post the update here too:
Update on Sharon – Hey all, I wanted to update you on Sharon’s whereabouts for those of you who are worried about her, because she didn’t want folks to think she’d been abducted by aliens. She’s been fighting illness since Saturday, so understandably has been absent from Facebook. Hopefully she won’t remain down for the count for too much longer, and will be back when she feels more up to it again.
Thanks, Stephanie. I’m sorry for my absence, but the last two days have drained me… I’m in a vgetative state after dinner and before bed, having to return to work tomorrow, after mourning on Memorial Day yesterday and celebrating Independence Day today, with friends, parties, and good food. In any case, yesterday, Godwin, Earl of Wessex died. He was father to Harold Godwinson, and to Queen Edith of England. All the best to Sharon, I hope she feels better soon.
Sharon, I do hope you’re getting better and will be back with us soon. We miss you here.
On this day Martin Luther appeared before the Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms. This is when he apparently made the famous remark “Here I stand; I can do no other”.
Sharon, best wishes for a quick recovery & catching up on some well-deserved sleep.
Just passing along another hello from Sharon. 🙂
Give her our regards, Stephanie, and best wishes. Thanks for taking the trouble again. Nothing happened today that I know of, but I missed Theobald of Bec’s death yesterday. He was the archbishop of Canterbury, and his eventual successor was Thomas Becket.
Thanks for the good wishes. You know I have to be sick if I can’t get on-line! I think it will take me a while to get back to normal, but today is the best day I’ve had in almost a week. Thanks for carrying on without me.
Emilie, that is such good news, and I think it did as much as my doctor’s anti-biotics to put me on the path to recovery!
I am slowly on the mend. Meanwhile, here is an article about ten good things that happened this week but were eclipsed by the Boston horrors.
http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/04/19/10-good-things-that-happened-this-week/?hpt=hp_t5
Good to hear of it, Sharon, and thanks for the good news. I’ll add some of my own: while Pierre Abelard died this day, so did the hated Henry VII [VIII] Tudor.
Yay!!! I mean, awww… poor Henry. *cough*
Did the majority of Henry VII’s subjects celebrate his passing? I always had the impression that people were glad to see the back of the old miser (and his taxes) and that they welcomed his more charismatic son as king.
Today was busy: Adeliza of Louvain, Alexander I ‘the Fierce’ of Scotland and Joan of acre, Edward I’s daughter died today.
Thanks for taking up the slack while I’m sick!
I thought I was on the mend, but I suffered a setback, so I probably won’t be on Facebook till I start to feel better. Meanwhile, here are two amusing articles about Sunday night’s Game of Thrones show. SPOILERS—do not read unless you’ve seen the show already.
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/04/21/game-of-thrones-dragon-scene/
http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/game-of-thrones-now-his-watch-ended/
Take care, Sharon. Get lots of rest.
Indeed, Sharon, I hope you are feeling better, and taking good care of yourself. Today was as busy as last time: Saint Louis IX of France was born, Blanche of Castile’s son, and so Eleanor’s great-grandson. So were Edward II of England, and the man who would help his wife depose him, Roger Mortimer.
Sharon, I hope you will be soon back with us. I miss your posts 🙂
As for Edward II’s birthday, Kathryn Warner has written yet one more fascinating text to commemorate the anniversary. Do pay a visit to her excellent blog. You won’t regret 🙂
Thanks for the recommendation, Kasia, it was much appreciated.
Today, two deaths and a birth. Conrad of Monteferrat was assassinated by two Hashshashin, only days after being confirmed as Kign of Jerusalem, leading to the throne being given to Henri of Chapagne, Richard’s nephew. To this day, the motive of the murder remains unsolved. Edward IV of England was born today, and Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland died today at the hands of a Yorkist mob led by Sir John Egermont. As Sharon noted in The Sunne in Splendour, they remembered Redmore Plain.
Hello, your articles here Sharon Kay Penman » Blog Archive » A KING’S RANSOM AND MORE RANDOM THOUGHTS to write well, thanks for sharing!
Thank you all for carrying on while I was recovering. It is much appreciated. I was finally able to get a new blog up tonight, or I will once I post this comment. It is an interview with a writer friend, David Blixt, that I am sure you all will enjoy.
Any news on Justin de Quincy?
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