The Revolt of the Eaglets by Jean Plaidy Read Free Book Online Page A

speed they have the Pope’s authority to lay all your lands under edict.’
    ‘By God’s eyes,’ muttered the King.
    He knew of course that he had to go. If he did not he could lose Normandy.
    Thomas was continuing to plague him in death as much as he had done in life – and that was saying a good deal.
    He shut himself into his apartments. What must he do? It was more than a year since Thomas’s death and the martyrdom was as fresh as ever. Moreover, there were all those miracles at the shrine and he had too many enemies.
    He dare not delay. There were too many waiting to snatch his lands from him. He could not conquer the whole of Ireland as he had planned. Roderick of Connaught would have to wait.
    Leaving Hugh de Lacy behind with a garrison to hold what he had gained he sent messengers to the Cardinals telling them that he was sailing at once for England and would in due course arrive in Normandy.

    That Christmas the young King Henry decided to remind everyone at his Court that he was indeed their King. His father had sent him to Normandy when he went to Ireland, where he was to act as a kind of regent. ‘A regent,’ stormed Henry to William the Marshall, ‘why should I be a regent? I am a king in my own right.’
    William the Marshall, the Earl of Salisbury’s nephew, who had held a post of knight-at-arms to young Henry for some years, was his closest friend and companion. ‘In due course you will be so in every way,’ he reminded him.
    ‘Not while my father lives, William.’
    ‘My lord,’ answered William, ‘it is unwise to mention the King’s death.’
    ‘How can I help mentioning it? It can only be when it happens that I shall be free.’
    William the Marshall looked over his shoulder fearfully but Henry burst into laughter.
    ‘Have no fear. The people here are my friends.’
    ‘A king never knows who are his friends.’
    ‘I know that there is not a king in Christendom who has more enemies than my father. His nature is such to arouse enmity.’
    ‘I would venture to contradict you, my lord.’
    ‘Have a care, William. Remember I am your King.’
    ‘And you are my friend also. If I must flatter you as so many do I should cease to be that. What do you wish, my lord, my flattery or my friendship?’
    ‘You know, William.’
    ‘I think I do, so I will risk saying that if all men do not love your father there are few who do not respect and fear him; and sometimes it is better to be respected and feared than loved.’
    ‘The old man has bemused you with his rages.’
    ‘I beg of you, do not speak of him thus. He is your father and our King.’
    ‘I am not likely to forget that. But know this, William, he shall not keep me in this state for ever.’
    ‘My lord, you are young yet. You have won men’s hearts by your nature but you could not afford to stand out against your father.’
    ‘I did not say I would do that, William. I merely say that I want to be a king in more than name.’
    ‘But there is already a King of England.’
    Henry sighed. ‘Come, let us think of other things. This is my first Christmas as King and I intend to celebrate it as such. This Court shall have no doubt about my rank.’
    ‘This Court, my lord, knows exactly your rank. You are its King, and it is the first time in England’s history that she has had two Kings.’
    ‘It was my father’s wish that it should be so, and he can have no one to blame but himself for it. Come, I am determined that my first Christmas as King shall be remembered for ever, so that people will know how merry life will be when there is only one king in England. And I will tell you something, my friend, when I am King and have a son, a crown shall not be put on his head until I am dead.’
    William the Marshall was silent, but he wondered, as many had begun to, how Henry II could have made such a major blunder as to have his son crowned King while he still lived.
    ‘I have it,’ cried young Henry. ‘I shall invite all the knights,