Read Online David the Prince - Scotland 03 by Nigel Tranter - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nigel Tranter
Tags: Historical Novel
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will remain silent!" Henry cried "The next to raise his voice unbidden will be removed by the guard. Heed you - and fail to do so at your peril! There has to be a King in England. I,. Henry, have assumed the crown." He picked up the golden circlet and held it aloft. "From this moment, I am King Henry.
My brother Robert of Normandy is a thousand miles away, fighting the heathen. England cannot wait for him. Besides, he is not of the stuff of kings. And I am, my friends - I am " He stared round the gathering, head thrust forward a little, crown held against his chest now.
There was not a sound in the hall. Men scarcely breathed.
"I shall make you a good king — but a strong one," he went on. "All shall be changed. This realm shall be ruled as a kingdom, not a tyranny — and not a playground for pretty boys! Nor yet, see you, for Norman adventurers! I am an Englishman. I was born here, at Selby in York. I shall rule England as an Englishman. Normans, Saxons, Danes, each and all are assured of my goodwill - so long as they keep my peace." He paused, and glanced round at David again. "In token whereof-and that the reign of catamites and favourites is past, I announce to you that I intend to take as wife the Princess Matilda of Scotland . . ." He held up his hand as the noise swelled. "I said silence! The Princess Matilda, sister to Prince David of Scotland, here. This is my decision. She is daughter of Margaret, who was daughter of Edward, who was son of King Edmund Ironside, of the ancient line of the Kings of England. Myself, I am son of a cousin to both Edmund and Canute, who replaced that line. So I shall unite all three royal houses. So England will be ruled by England indeed." He took a sip of wine. None other raised voice - although David mac Malcolm at least had difficulty in keeping silent.
"There will be changes, I say," Henry went on. "You all are Normans here — or most." And he smiled faintly at David. "You will suffer nothing for being so. But the persecution of the English shall cease. And their lords will again take their due place in my realm. Mark that! As will Holy Church. For long the Church has been ravaged and slighted. No longer. I shall bring back Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, exiled at Bee. Others likewise. And justice will now prevail in my courts -justice not persecution, infamy, corruption. This I swear on my royal oath! As I now give you sign and token." He turned. "Sieur de Lucy - arrest me the man Flambard, formerly Chief Justice, and miscreant! And confine him in your deepest pit. Until my further pleasure be announced."
Now. there was tumult indeed, and this time Henry made no attempt to stop it. The guard-commander took four of his men from the back of the dais and descended upon the alarmed Ranulf Flambard, to march him out, protesting.
"Enough for this present," Henry declared, after an interval which allowed the excitement to subside somewhat. "You shall hear my further decisions in due course. William de Giffard, until now Chancellor, you will take a troop of men and bring me back Walter Tirel de Poix - if he has not already reached the sea and taken vessel to Normandy. He was fleeing southwards. A council will be called for two days hence — no, three. Most of the hunt is not yet returned. When these do, some shall join Flam bard! The late King William's body will lie at Romsey Abbey this night, and be brought here tomorrow for burial in the old minster of St. Swithin. There will be no ceremony. Tomorrow, also, the bells of all churches and monasteries will ring all day. Not for my accession but because Holy Church is free again in England." Henry held the crown above his head again for a moment, and then turning to de Breteuil, he handed it to him. "My Lord Treasurer and chief minister!" he said. "Come, sir. And you, David."
As they moved over to the dais-door, someone shouted "God save the King! God save the King!" And immediately the cry was taken up on all hands, even if
My brother Robert of Normandy is a thousand miles away, fighting the heathen. England cannot wait for him. Besides, he is not of the stuff of kings. And I am, my friends - I am " He stared round the gathering, head thrust forward a little, crown held against his chest now.
There was not a sound in the hall. Men scarcely breathed.
"I shall make you a good king — but a strong one," he went on. "All shall be changed. This realm shall be ruled as a kingdom, not a tyranny — and not a playground for pretty boys! Nor yet, see you, for Norman adventurers! I am an Englishman. I was born here, at Selby in York. I shall rule England as an Englishman. Normans, Saxons, Danes, each and all are assured of my goodwill - so long as they keep my peace." He paused, and glanced round at David again. "In token whereof-and that the reign of catamites and favourites is past, I announce to you that I intend to take as wife the Princess Matilda of Scotland . . ." He held up his hand as the noise swelled. "I said silence! The Princess Matilda, sister to Prince David of Scotland, here. This is my decision. She is daughter of Margaret, who was daughter of Edward, who was son of King Edmund Ironside, of the ancient line of the Kings of England. Myself, I am son of a cousin to both Edmund and Canute, who replaced that line. So I shall unite all three royal houses. So England will be ruled by England indeed." He took a sip of wine. None other raised voice - although David mac Malcolm at least had difficulty in keeping silent.
"There will be changes, I say," Henry went on. "You all are Normans here — or most." And he smiled faintly at David. "You will suffer nothing for being so. But the persecution of the English shall cease. And their lords will again take their due place in my realm. Mark that! As will Holy Church. For long the Church has been ravaged and slighted. No longer. I shall bring back Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, exiled at Bee. Others likewise. And justice will now prevail in my courts -justice not persecution, infamy, corruption. This I swear on my royal oath! As I now give you sign and token." He turned. "Sieur de Lucy - arrest me the man Flambard, formerly Chief Justice, and miscreant! And confine him in your deepest pit. Until my further pleasure be announced."
Now. there was tumult indeed, and this time Henry made no attempt to stop it. The guard-commander took four of his men from the back of the dais and descended upon the alarmed Ranulf Flambard, to march him out, protesting.
"Enough for this present," Henry declared, after an interval which allowed the excitement to subside somewhat. "You shall hear my further decisions in due course. William de Giffard, until now Chancellor, you will take a troop of men and bring me back Walter Tirel de Poix - if he has not already reached the sea and taken vessel to Normandy. He was fleeing southwards. A council will be called for two days hence — no, three. Most of the hunt is not yet returned. When these do, some shall join Flam bard! The late King William's body will lie at Romsey Abbey this night, and be brought here tomorrow for burial in the old minster of St. Swithin. There will be no ceremony. Tomorrow, also, the bells of all churches and monasteries will ring all day. Not for my accession but because Holy Church is free again in England." Henry held the crown above his head again for a moment, and then turning to de Breteuil, he handed it to him. "My Lord Treasurer and chief minister!" he said. "Come, sir. And you, David."
As they moved over to the dais-door, someone shouted "God save the King! God save the King!" And immediately the cry was taken up on all hands, even if
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