Stewart Binns - Anarchy

The battlefield was strewn with bodies; fresh puddles of rainwater had filled the hollows we had made and blood was beginning to seep into them, turning them into pools of crimson. I could see some men still moving in agony, or breathing their last. Our men were already among the corpses, collecting weapons; the scavengers from the burgh were robbing the dead of anything they could find.

‘Eadmer, I want burial parties organized immediately. All the dead are to be buried – friend or foe. And get rid of those ghouls robbing the dead.’

The burgh was in chaos; fires were still burning, and there were still the harrowing screams of rape and looting to be heard.

‘Find the senior burgesses and the Dean of the cathedral; we have to help them restore order.’

I thought back to my reflections in Aquitaine many years previously about the price people have to pay in pursuit of a cause. Even if a cause is worthy and just, a war on its behalf unleashes the beast in us and, once free, it’s almost impossible to get the rampant creature back into its cage.

England had lost the peace and security of its rigid Norman rule; the Normans were now fighting among themselves. But one of them was a woman who was so precious to me, and who carried the English blood that I also cared so much about.

I just hoped that the price so many were paying was worth it.

It took us several days to complete our tasks in Lincoln, and another week to march back to Gloucester with our quarry. Stephen was still being awkward and Earl Robert, feeling sore from his wound, lost patience with him and had him put in chains. When Stephen continued to abuse the Earl, he had him gagged, made him go barefoot, dressed him in sackcloth and had his head and beard shaved like a common criminal. Stephen still shouted abuse when his gag was removed, so Robert made him walk at the back of his cart, which in winter, and without shoes, was a painful experience. Still he would not be cowed and slowly earned the grudging respect of his guards and the whole army.

When we reached Gloucester, Maud had organized a guard of honour to greet us. She summoned Miles, Brien, Ranulf and Robert to congratulate them, and she thanked her High Command for all that had been achieved. After this, she asked that Stephen be brought before her.

When he arrived, she was visibly shaken by his chains and filthy appearance, but she chose to say nothing in front of him.

It was Stephen who spoke first.

‘Cousin Matilda, I can’t say I’m delighted to see you. But were circumstances different, I would of course be thrilled–’

Robert, still infuriated with his behaviour, rounded on him.

‘Behave yourself, man! You are defeated, and you’re in the presence of your future Queen. Show some dignity!’

‘Don’t talk to me about dignity, Robert of Gloucester! What do traitors know of dignity?’

Maud commanded them both to be quiet.

‘Enough! I will not have men bickering like boys in a nursery! Stephen, you treated me well when you came to Arundel. I will make you the same offer now: safe passage to your brother, Theobald, in Blois, if you relinquish the throne to me. Otherwise, you will languish here – not to “feel my wrath”, as you so elegantly put it to me at Arundel, but at my pleasure. You will be confined, as Robert Curthose was by my father, for the rest of your life.’

Stephen started to laugh.

‘That is an empty threat. My supporters still hold the Treasury at Winchester, and all the earldoms east of Oxford. London will not turn against me. Make the threat again when you’re Queen.’

He continued to jeer and taunt as Maud ordered him to be taken away. As soon as he had gone, she turned to Earl Robert.

‘Please, take him to Bristol, I don’t want him here. But hear me clearly: I want him to be well treated. I want him fed and clothed appropriately and confined in a secure chamber befitting his status, with a garderobe, not in a filthy dungeon. He is to be given a fire, candles, books and vellum – and servants, as necessary.’

Maud sounded like a monarch, as was her birthright. But Robert began to argue.

‘Matilda–’

‘That is my name when we are together as friends, in private. This is a matter of the realm; my title is “ma’am”.’

Robert bristled, but he knew Maud was right.

‘Very well, ma’am. But if I may, perhaps I can make a plea regarding the defence of the realm?’

‘Of course.’

‘Order his execution, ma’am–’

‘I won’t hear of it!’

‘While he lives, he’s a threat. As he said, there are Winchester and London to win. And then you have to be crowned by Theodore of Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, if your coronation is to be recognized by the English magnates – and he’s Stephen’s man.’

‘Stephen’s man! He’ll turn to me when he knows he has to. I will not have my cousin executed, and be accused of cold-blooded murder.’

‘He has committed treason! He usurped your throne and, as you have said, probably had your father poisoned. He deserves to die.’

‘Would you say that of my father? He also grabbed the throne when Rufus died. I’m content that I now have the crown within my grasp. Let Stephen fester in Bristol for a while.’

Then Maud made a statement that took me by surprise, though it was probably a wise thing to say to her closest supporters.

‘I hear my relationship with Hal is the subject of much speculation, and that Stephen made lewd accusations about our friendship at Lincoln. Let me say this to all of you in private; it is a state of affairs that I am happy is known to those close to me. But after I have made the position clear, it need no longer be the subject of rumour and innuendo. Count Geoffrey and I have lived apart for many years. Hal has become my closest friend and taken my children under his wing, as well as taking charge of my own happiness and welfare. I would like it to be known that I am very happy with that arrangement.’

The others nodded their understanding.

I smiled at her carefully chosen words. My clandestine life was no longer a secret – at least, not from those close to Maud – which meant I could have a more honest relationship with our children. The dilemma of their paternity remained – an issue that would have to be dealt with at some point in the future – but for now, I was content with Maud’s declaration and impatient to complete her capture of the throne.

Fulham Palace, 29 September 1187

Dear Thibaud,

It is the feast of St Michael and All Angels today and I managed to make it to St Paul’s to say mass. I have been feeling better these past few days; the mild weather has helped. Today is Saturday, but I don’t think I will return to St Paul’s tomorrow; that will be too much for my present state of health. We will have a quiet mass here, and invite the local clergy to celebrate it with us. One must tend one’s flock!

We are drawing near to the end of Harold’s story. You will find it fascinating to hear how easily fortunes change; there is much intrigue and plotting, and it saddens me to see so many actions that are motivated by greed and avarice. I fear this is a salutary lesson for us all.

I’m afraid that as I approach the end of this tale, my output is slowing down. Apart from rare excursions like today, I am now almost bedridden and not much use to my flock. The autumn is already beginning to bite hard. I think this may be the last time I will see those glorious autumn colours.

My only incentive now is to complete what I have started. Please pray to God that I am able to do so.

Leaving Stephen under Earl Robert’s watchful eye in Bristol, I escorted Maud to Winchester to negotiate with Henry, Bishop of Winchester. As Stephen’s younger brother, the holder of the keys to the Royal Treasury, the Pope’s legate in England and the most powerful cleric in the land, he was vital to our cause.