The death of the red kin.., p.1
The Death of the Red King, page 1
Letter to the reader
History has always fascinated me. I see my stories as a time machine. I want to intrigue you with a murderous mystery and a tangled plot, but I also want you to experience what it was like to slip along the shadow-thronged alleyways of medieval London; to enter a soaringly majestic cathedral but then walk out and glimpse the gruesome execution scaffolds rising high on the other side of the square. In my novels you will sit in the oaken stalls of a gothic abbey and hear the glorious psalms of plain chant even as you glimpse white, sinister gargoyle faces peering out at you from deep cowls and hoods. Or there again, you may ride out in a chariot as it thunders across the Redlands of Ancient Egypt or leave the sunlight and golden warmth of the Nile as you enter the marble coldness of a pyramid’s deadly maze. Smells and sounds, sights and spectacles will be conjured up to catch your imagination and so create times and places now long gone. You will march to Jerusalem with the first Crusaders or enter the Colosseum of Rome, where the sand sparkles like gold and the crowds bay for the blood of some gladiator. Of course, if you wish, you can always return to the lush dark greenness of medieval England and take your seat in some tavern along the ancient moon-washed road to Canterbury and listen to some ghostly tale which chills the heart . . . my books will take you there then safely bring you back!
The periods that have piqued my interest and about which I have written are many and varied. I hope you enjoy the read and would love to hear your thoughts – I always appreciate any feedback from readers. Visit my publisher’s website here: www.headline.co.uk and find out more. You may also visit my website: www.paulcdoherty.com or email me on: paulcdoherty@gmail.com.
Paul Doherty
THE DEATH OF THE
RED KING
PAUL DOHERTY
Copyright © 2006 Paul Doherty
The right of Paul Doherty to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.
First published as an Ebook by Headline Publishing Group in 2013
All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cataloguing in Publication Data is available from the British Library
eISBN : 978 0 7553 9584 2
HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP
An Hachette UK Company
338 Euston Road
London NW1 3BH
www.headline.co.uk
www.hachette.co.uk
Contents
Cover
Letter to the Reader
Title Page
Copyright Page
About the Author
Also by Paul Doherty
Praise for Paul Doherty
Dedication
List of Principal Characters
Main Dates
I Matins
Historical Notes
II Lauds
Historical Notes
III Prime
Historical Notes
IV Terce
Historical Notes
V Sext
Historical Notes
VI Nones
Historical Notes
VII Vespers
VIII Compline
VII & VIII: Vespers and Compline Historical Notes
About the Author
Paul Doherty is one of the most prolific, and lauded, authors of historical mysteries in the world today. His expertise in all areas of history is illustrated in the many series that he writes about, from the Mathilde of Westminster series, set at the court of Edward II, to the Amerotke series, set in Ancient Egypt. Amongst his most memorable creations are Hugh Corbett, Brother Athelstan and Roger Shallot.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough. He studied history at Liverpool and Oxford Universities and obtained a doctorate at Oxford for his thesis on Edward II and Queen Isabella. He is now headmaster of a school in north-east London and lives with his wife and family near Epping Forest.
Also by Paul Doherty
Mathilde of Westminster
THE CUP OF GHOSTS
THE POISON MAIDEN
THE DARKENING GLASS
Sir Roger Shallot
THE WHITE ROSE MURDERS
THE POISONED CHALICE
THE GRAIL MURDERS
A BROOD OF VIPERS
THE GALLOWS MURDERS
THE RELIC MURDERS
Templar
THE TEMPLAR
THE TEMPLAR MAGICIAN
Mahu (The Akhenaten trilogy)
AN EVIL SPIRIT OUT OF THE WEST
THE SEASON OF THE HYAENA
THE YEAR OF THE COBRA
Canterbury Tales by Night
AN ANCIENT EVIL
A TAPESTRY OF MURDERS
A TOURNAMENT OF MURDERS
GHOSTLY MURDERS
THE HANGMAN’S HYMN
A HAUNT OF MURDER
Egyptian Mysteries
THE MASK OF RA
THE HORUS KILLINGS
THE ANUBIS SLAYINGS
THE SLAYERS OF SETH
THE ASSASSINS OF ISIS
THE POISONER OF PTAH
THE SPIES OF SOBECK
Constantine the Great
DOMINA
MURDER IMPERIAL
THE SONG OF THE GLADIATOR
THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT
MURDER’S IMMORTAL MASK
Hugh Corbett
SATAN IN ST MARY’S
THE CROWN IN DARKNESS
SPY IN CHANCERY
THE ANGEL OF DEATH
THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS
MURDER WEARS A COWL
THE ASSASSIN IN THE GREENWOOD
THE SONG OF A DARK ANGEL
SATAN’S FIRE
THE DEVIL’S HUNT
THE DEMON ARCHER
THE TREASON OF THE GHOSTS
CORPSE CANDLE
THE MAGICIAN’S DEATH
THE WAXMAN MURDERS
NIGHTSHADE
THE MYSTERIUM
Standalone Titles
THE ROSE DEMON
THE HAUNTING
THE SOUL SLAYER
THE PLAGUE LORD
THE DEATH OF A KING
PRINCE DRAKULYA
THE LORD COUNT DRAKULYA
THE FATE OF PRINCES
DOVE AMONGST THE HAWKS
THE MASKED MAN
As Vanessa Alexander
THE LOVE KNOT
OF LOVE AND WAR
THE LOVING CUP
Kathryn Swinbrooke (as C L Grace)
SHRINE OF MURDERS
EYE OF GOD
MERCHANT OF DEATH
BOOK OF SHADOWS
SAINTLY MURDERS
MAZE OF MURDERS
FEAST OF POISONS
Nicholas Segalla (as Ann Dukthas)
A TIME FOR THE DEATH OF A KING
THE PRINCE LOST TO TIME
THE TIME OF MURDER AT MAYERLING
IN THE TIME OF THE POISONED QUEEN
Mysteries of Alexander the Great (as Anna Apostolou)
A MURDER IN MACEDON
A MURDER IN THEBES
Alexander the Great
THE HOUSE OF DEATH
THE GODLESS MAN
THE GATES OF HELL
Matthew Jankyn (as P C Doherty)
THE WHYTE HARTE
THE SERPENT AMONGST THE LILIES
Non-fiction
THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF TUTANKHAMUN
ISABELLA AND THE STRANGE DEATH OF EDWARD II
ALEXANDER THE GREAT: THE DEATH OF A GOD
THE GREAT CROWN JEWELS ROBBERY OF 1303
THE SECRET LIFE OF ELIZABETH I
THE DEATH OF THE RED KING
Praise for Paul Doherty
‘Teems with colour, energy and spills’ Time Out
‘Paul Doherty has a lively sense of history…evocative and lyrical descriptions’ New Statesman
‘Extensive and penetrating research coupled with a strong plot and bold characterisation. Loads of adventure and a dazzling evocation of the past’ Herald Sun, Melbourne
‘An opulent banquet to satisfy the most murderous appetite’ Northern Echo
‘As well as penning an exciting plot with vivid characters, Doherty excels at bringing the medieval period to life, with his detailed descriptions giving the reader a strong sense of place and time’ South Wales Argus
This book is dedicated to the memory of
Geoffrey Reeve
a much loved son and brother who is greatly missed.
List of Principal Characters
ANSELM (1022-1109) – Monk of Bee, Theologian, Philosopher, Archbishop of Canterbury (1093-1109).
EADMER – Close friend and ally of Anselm and his successor Ralph. The author of outstanding histories: The History of Our Own Time and his Life of Anselm.
WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR (‘The Bastard’) (1027-1087) – Son of Duke Robert and his mistress Arlette. Duke of Normandy and, after the battle of Hastings 1066, King of England.
MATHILDA (d.1083) – Wife of William the Conqueror.
ROBERT CURTHOSE – Son of the Conqueror. Duke of Normandy, Crusader. Completely out-manoeuvred by his brothers, William and Henry.
WILLIAM (‘
HENRY I (d.1135) – King of the English, brother to the Red King, son of the Conqueror.
MATHILDA (‘Edith’) (1080-1118) – Wife/Queen of Henry I, daughter of Malcolm III of Scotland and Margaret, descendant of the Saxon royal line.
LANFRANC (d.1089) – Benedictine monk. Archbishop of Canterbury. Close confidant of the Conqueror, patron and friend of Anselm.
HAROLD GODWINSON – A member of the powerful Godwin family. He seized the Crown after the death of the Confessor. He was defeated and killed at Hastings (1066).
RANULF FLAMBARD (d.1128) – Bishop of Durham. Chief Minister of William Rufus deposed and imprisoned by Henry I for a while.
WALTER TIREL – Lord of Poix. Owner of Langham in Essex. Husband of Adelicia de Clare.
ROBERT DE BEAUMONT (d. 1118) – Count of Meulan. One of the Conqueror’s companions, Chief Councillor to William the Red King and Henry I.
HENRY DE BEAUMONT – Earl of Warwick, brother of the above.
FITZHAIMO (d. 1108) – Norman baron, powerful in the southwest and along the Welsh March.
SERLO OF GLOUCESTER – Benedictine Monk, formerly of Avranches and Sees. Abbot of St Peter’s, Gloucester. Serlo sent warning to William the Red King of his impending doom.
HELIAS LA FLÉCHE – Count of Maine. Opponent of William the Red King.
Main Dates
1058 William the Red King born.
1065 Death of Edward the Confessor. William of Normandy challenges Harold Godwinson for the English throne.
1066 October, Battle of Senlac (Hastings). Duke William defeats and kills Harold Godwinson.
1087 William, the Red, becomes King.
1088 William crushes rebellions and uprisings in England.
1089 Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury dies. No successor is appointed.
1090 William the Red King holds a Great Council at Winchester regarding a projected invasion of Normandy.
1091 William invades Normandy, defeats his brother, Robert, who unites with him to defeat their younger brother Henry.
1093 The Red King falls grievously ill at Gloucester. He vows to reform if he recovers, he appoints Anselm as Archbishop of Canterbury.
1094 Quarrel between the Red King and Anselm begins over control of the Church.
1096 Duke Robert pledges Normandy to his brother for 10,000 marks to finance Robert’s participation in the First Crusade.
1097 Anselm, unable to resolve his dispute with William, goes into exile.
1097 William the Red King goes to war with Philip of France.
1097-99 The war in France continues. William invades both Maine and the Vexin.
1099 25th December: William holds his Christmas court at Gloucester.
1100 William moves to Westminster and then onto Winchester and the New Forest.
2nd August: William the Red King killed in the New Forest.
I
Matins
The Sons of Ephraim, armed with the bow.
(Psalm 77)
My master does not like to talk of demons. Anselm of Bee, Archbishop of Canterbury, smiles and hides his face when any of the good brothers talk about devilish horns and eyes which spark and burn like fiery coals through the darkness of this world. Anselm gently reminds me that Lucifer, the Morning Star before he fell from Paradise, was a great-winged spirit of living flame.
“Two wings,” Anselm commented, “one of love, the other of intellect. Lucifer fell, my dear Eadmer –” Anselm pushed his face closer, “– because he relied solely on the wing of intellect.”
We were talking in the herbarium of St Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury. A beautiful warm summer’s day, bathing in its golden glow the full-bloomed shrubs and flowers. Across the herb garden drifted the different sounds of the Abbey: the choir practising in the church nave, chanting some melodious psalm; the ringing of a distant bell; the patter of sandaled feet; the clatter of pots from the butteries and kitchens. Nearby old Brother Regnaut dozed on his bench, in the shade of a beautiful copper beech planted in the centre of the herbarium, its branches spread out to shield the shoots from the glare of the sun. The old man was talking to himself, as he often did, about the blood-soaked battlefield at Senlac. In his glory days Regnaut had been a house-carl in the retinue of Harold Godwinson. He had been present that far-off sombre October day, when the arrows fell like hail and the Saxon shield wall buckled and broke. Godwinson had staggered back with an arrow in his face and the Conqueror had broken through with mace, sword and axe, shattering bone and brain in showers of blood. A day when dreams had died and new ones were born. That was a lifetime away. Regnaut, after the battle, had become a lay-brother to house his soul and shrive his sins. Now he sat snug, fitfully dreaming amidst the summer flowers, lulled to sleep by the psalms of chanting monks. He’d wake soon enough to smack his lips at the prospect of mead-cup or a flagon of frothy ale. Poor Regnaut! On that day, the Feast of Mary Magdalene, Father Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, ‘Legatus a latere’ of his Holiness in Rome, pointed at the snoring lay-brother.
“A generation gone,” he murmured, “all gone to God. Godwin’s flaxen-haired, warrior son, Harold; William the bastard. And yet. . .” Anselm paused, bony fingers grasping his stomach.
I gazed helplessly back. Father Anselm is truly dying; he is weakened by some malady within, a malignancy of the humours. Many years have passed. What? Some 74 since his birth at Val d’Aosta? In that time, like some fiery comet, Anselm has seared the skies of our souls. Anselm the theologian, the politician, the mystic, the contemplative, the recluse, the monk, the archbishop, the defender of the Church, the scourge of kings and, for me, close friend, spiritual father – and I to him? Eadmer, his faithful secretary. Father Anselm has aged. This certainly shows in his narrowed face beneath matted, white hair yet he remains luminous-eyed and merry-mouthed, still deeply involved in problems of logic, philosophy and theology, those great loves which absorb his keen intellect. He continues to wrestle with such problems delineated in his ‘De Casu Diaboli’, trying to reconcile the mysteries of God’s full knowledge with man’s free will. On that particular day Father Anselm had decided to resolve another problem, one from our past. He leaned on my arm and pointed his walking stick towards the flowering arbour at the end of the herbarium walk.
“Let’s go there,” he murmured, “so we won’t disturb Brother Regnaut. I feel tired, Eadmer, tired by my journeys, my fighting, my thinking.” He stared up at the sky. “Soon,” he added as we edged along the path, “I will be summoned to attend the Easter Court of the Lord Jesus and yet,” he sighed as he sat down in the arbour, “one doom, one death –”, he paused to cough, “– still weighs heavily on me.” He continued as if talking to himself. “Soon, in ten days, his anniversary occurs once again. I have already begun to chant the Requiem Masses.” Anselm sat, one vein-streaked hand half raised, staring intently towards the Abbey church.
“Requiem dona eis Domine . . .” he murmured. “Eternal rest grant to him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him . . .”
“Father, about whom are you talking?”
“Why, Brother, the King!” He laughed softly, “William the Red – Rufus.”
“The Red King!” I gasped. I recalled what I had written in my own History of Recent Events in England. About how we had both reacted to the news of the Red King’s sudden and brutal death in the New Forest on the sun-filled evening of 2nd August, the morrow of Lammas, in the year of Our Lord, 1100. At the time Father Anselm and I were sheltering in exile at Lyons after my master’s bitter quarrel with that same King.
“What did you write of the Red King’s death?” Anselm asked gently. “You know, in that passage where you describe the death of old Pope Urban and the accession of his successor, Paschal. Read it again for me, Eadmer.”
I picked up my leather chancery sack, opened it, and took out my own History of Recent Events in England. I leafed through the freshly-scrubbed, clearly-written pages until I found the passage Anselm had asked for.
“‘Meanwhile’,” I commenced reading, “‘a rumour spread through the various countries that Pope Urban had died. In fact, he’d died before he’d received a reply to Anselm’s case which he was expecting from the King of England. When the Pope’s death came to the ears of King William, he exclaimed: “The hatred of God rest upon whoever cares a rat for that!”’” I continued reading my finger following the words. ‘“The King went on to ask, “But the new Pope, what sort of man is he?” When he received the reply how, in some aspects, the new Pope was like Archbishop Anselm – ’” I glanced up. My master was nodding gently to himself. I returned to the manuscript “‘– the King replied, “By the Face of God, if he’s like that, he is no good, so let him keep strictly to himself, for the Pope shall not get the upper hand of me this time, to that I take my oath! I’ve gained my freedom and I shall do freely as I like.” William the Red King believed that not even the Pope of this whole world could have any jurisdiction in his Kingdom unless it was by his permission, but how he behaved after this is not the place to write of here, as I must hasten on to deal with other matters . . .’”
