Michael Jecks - The Death Ship of Dartmouth

‘Despenser attacked it in the Channel, yes. He slew the entire crew, and then stole the ship and cargo — five thousand gold pounds. And in all that time, the French would not allow him to use their ports. Ever since then, he has hated them — perhaps all the more so because they have allowed his enemy, Lord Mortimer, to take sanctuary there. Mortimer is still there, of course, somewhere. That has coloured the King’s attitude to the French as well. So all the while, Queen Isabella is growing more and more alienated from her husband. If she loved him once, it must be terribly hard for her to continue to feel any affection for him now. He looks on her as his enemy, as a spy in his own home. How could a woman of intelligence and spirit accept that for any time? I’ve heard rumours that the King might even take away her lands again, and force her to depend upon his charity. Is it any wonder that she seeks protection from another?’

‘And who might that be?’

Stapledon hesitated. ‘Her brother Charles is the King of France, and he is a great warrior. He has not been beaten in many years. We can make no dent in his great hosts. When he wishes, he overruns Edward’s lands in France and steals them from us.’

‘Again — what do you want me to do?’

‘In court I have grown to know the Queen well. She has some friends whom she trusts above all others. One of them is a good, noble lady, a woman with an estimable husband. She is honourable …’

‘Yes, yes, yes, she is good and honourable,’ Baldwin said a trifle testily.

‘I am sorry. This whole affair has thrown me into a turmoil. Well, this lady has done nothing to put herself into bad odour, but a knight fell in love with her. He thought she would be an easy conquest, I fear, and when she resisted him, he used force to violate her. And now he has left our Queen’s household to flee the land.’

‘I see.’

‘It would be marvellous news if he had left the country. I know that the Queen was distressed to hear that one of her countrymen — you see, to make matters worse, he was one of her kinsmen — could behave in such a way with a lady in her household. She would be glad to know that this wretch had fled.’

‘Could there be any doubt? Except I see in your eyes that there is more, Bishop, is there not? Why do you not merely capture this Frenchman and hold him?’

Stapledon winced and looked away again. Baldwin could see his attention was concentrated on the great fish pond that lay a matter of a hundred yards away. There was a thin mist lying over the water and wraithlike tendrils spread from it to the grass. ‘I have heard conversations …’

‘Whose conversations? Come, Bishop! If you wish me to do your bidding, at the least you could ensure that I am fully aware of the problems and dangers!’

Stapledon cast him a dark look. ‘It was young Despenser. He was discussing the Queen’s finances with the King when I walked past the room. She no longer exercises patronage, Baldwin, and she lives away from the King at all times.’

‘Why?’ Baldwin wondered.

‘This is entirely for your ears, you understand?’ Stapledon hissed. He held Baldwin’s eyes until the knight nodded. ‘Very well, then. The King is displeased with her because although all the nobles have been asked to swear an oath to Hugh Despenser, to “live and die” with him, she has refused to make the same commitment. Hugh Despenser is convinced that she intends to harm him. Now he has suggested that since her brother, the King of France, has raised the question of Gascony again …’

‘What question? He has taken it back and made a truce with us.’ Baldwin’s tone was carefully neutral. Last year, at St Sardos in the Agenais, part of King Edward II’s territory, the French had begun to build a fortified town. Edward’s Gascon subjects had attacked, killing a French sergeant, and Edward had prevaricated over sending those guilty into the French king’s territory for punishment. As a result the French took Gascony and declared the territory forfeit. Edward responded by sending a host to retake his lands.

But his captain was Edmund, Earl of Kent. He upset the Gascons by extorting money from them, and then took and raped a girl he desired. He lost a battle against the French and agreed a ludicrous truce that left the French holding most of the Duchy.

All because a French sergeant was killed.

‘King Charles is demanding that our king should go to him in Paris and do homage for the Dukedom.’ The bishop looked mournful.

‘There should be no difficulty, surely? The French king would promise safe passage.’

Bishop Stapledon glanced at him. ‘Perhaps he would. And would he then apologise if Mortimer appeared in council with him? Mortimer escaped from the Tower and fled to France, so they say. It would humiliate the King if he arrived there to find his enemy waiting. Or would he murmur his gravest commiserations after a vassal of Thomas of Lancaster had sprung forward and stabbed our King to death, or poisoned him? You know the French — they are a wily, cunning people. Anything that would make our King suffer shame or pain would be to them only a cause for celebration. And the French king has already written to say that in his realm, Despenser will be as welcome as Mortimer in this. He insults the King’s favoured adviser!’

Baldwin said nothing. His own views on Despenser were too virulent for expression.

‘So this man must leave the country — safely . Then I can tell the Queen that her lady-in-waiting is safe from the Frenchman’s depredations, and we do not antagonise the French king further. I would like you to find him if you can, and let me know where he is.’

‘I see,’ Baldwin said.

Stapledon sighed. ‘He passed through Exeter two days ago. I had a man follow him, and he has sent to me to say that the fellow is now in Dartmouth. Since then, nothing. My man has disappeared.’

The Bishop stared at the ground for a long while, and then in a quiet voice he said, ‘Baldwin, my friend, I would consider it a great favour if you would do this for me. The lad who followed him was my brother Richard’s son. If some evil has befallen him, I do not know how I shall tell my brother. There is no one else I can send on this very private mission.’

There was a long pause. Baldwin had always done all in his power to avoid becoming embroiled in the murky world of politics, but he was reminded that this kind bishop had been a good friend to him over the years — and it was not truly a political matter. What Stapledon really desired was to find his nephew, not the Frenchman.

‘Sir Baldwin,’ the bishop went on, ‘if he is harmed, my brother will be heartbroken. Bernard is his pride and his life.’

‘I shall go, naturally, my lord,’ Baldwin said. ‘Though I do not know that there can be a happy conclusion to the business. If I learn that this Frenchman has harmed your nephew, I reserve the right to track him down and execute justice. It is my duty, Frenchman or no.’

‘You are an excellent man, Sir Baldwin. A man of honour!’

‘I do not know that,’ Baldwin without a smile. ‘The Queen’s lady — she is recovered?’

‘I do not know whether she will. It was a violent attack. But we should do nothing about it — that is vital! The man must escape so we don’t further exacerbate the problems over Gascony. And the rape itself must remain secret. It would bring terrible shame to the Queen and her King, were it thought that one of her household could rape an Englishwoman and escape. Imagine how the realm would respond to that!’

Baldwin shook his head. Both as a father and as a loving husband, he felt he would prefer to destroy this Frenchman for his actions, no matter what the consequences.