Read Online Plantagenet 1 - The Plantagenet Prelude by Jean Plaidy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jean Plaidy
Ads: Link
who could not satisfy her intense longings. She had her crown from him but had grown accustomed to that now, and she wanted a strong man whom she could find some pleasure in subduing. Louis was too easily managed although in this matter of war he was proving obstinate. It would not be for long; she would make him agree shortly and there was a certain stimulation in urging him. She enjoyed the battle with him while his repulsion to war infuriated her.
Petronelle and Raoul were smugly content with each other; and she was determined that they should remain together. She was not going to give way.
Meanwhile she badgered Louis. Was he a coward? Was he going to allow little rulers of small provinces to outwit him? Would he stand by and see the sister of his wife dishonoured? It was tantamount to dishonouring his wife.
Louis implored her to be patient, and then another matter arose which demanded his attention.
The Archbishopric of Bourges had fallen vacant and Eleonore and Louis had chosen the man who was to fill the post. He was ideal, being a friend of theirs. Then to their consternation a message came from the Pope that he had chosen Pierre de la Chatre for the office.
‘How dare he interfere in matters which concern us and us only!‘demanded the Queen.
Louis supported her. He was the King. It was for him to say who should be his Archbishop.
‘Not so,’ retorted the Pope. ‘I have appointed Pierre de la Chatre and none other shall have it.’
Louis, prompted by Eleonore, replied that as long as he lived de la Chatre should not enter Bourges.
Then the Pope made a remark which when reported to Louis raised his anger.
‘The King of France is a child,’ said the Pope. ‘He must get schooling and be kept from bad habits.’
‘You see,’ cried Eleonore when this was reported, ‘they have no respect for you. It is because you allow people to insult you. You have been over-lenient. Look at Theobald of Champagne. If you had marched into his country and laid it waste the Pope would not have spoken to you as though you were a schoolboy.’
Louis was silent for a few moments then he burst out: ‘It would have meant war. Killing brings such suffering to innocent people.’
‘A fine way for a king to talk,’ commented Eleonore scornfully.
Theobald played right into her hands by supporting the Pope’s choice and letting it be known.
Eleonore was furious. ‘What now?’ she cried. ‘Will you stand by and allow this?’
Louis knew that he could not, and when the Pope excommunicated him he knew that he had to take action.
He prepared to march on Champagne in order to subdue the Count who had dared take sides against his King.
Eleonore rode out of Paris beside her reluctant husband. There was to be war with Champagne and Louis knew that such conflicts enriched no one but the soldiers who plundered and pillaged while innocent people suffered.
The Queen however was adamant and he had after much persuasion agreed that Theobald must be taught a lesson.
It was not a very impressive army that marched into Champagne. Many wandering adventurers joined it, and because it was not very large the King was glad to welcome any who followed him, even though he knew they were out for the spoils which would come their way.
As they marched deeper into the terrain of the man the Queen detested, the rougher elements of the army plundered the villages against the King’s order. Louis heard the cries of protesting villagers who sought to protect their crops, their houses and their family. He saw his rough soldiery ordering the villagers from their houses, illtreating the women, raping, feasting, drinking and acting in a manner of which he had heard much and which had made him hate the thought of war.
He endeavoured to stop their cruelties; they did not heed him.
Eleonore regarded him with contempt. What sort of a king was he whom men would not obey and who shuddered at the prospect of war? She could only remember that this was
Petronelle and Raoul were smugly content with each other; and she was determined that they should remain together. She was not going to give way.
Meanwhile she badgered Louis. Was he a coward? Was he going to allow little rulers of small provinces to outwit him? Would he stand by and see the sister of his wife dishonoured? It was tantamount to dishonouring his wife.
Louis implored her to be patient, and then another matter arose which demanded his attention.
The Archbishopric of Bourges had fallen vacant and Eleonore and Louis had chosen the man who was to fill the post. He was ideal, being a friend of theirs. Then to their consternation a message came from the Pope that he had chosen Pierre de la Chatre for the office.
‘How dare he interfere in matters which concern us and us only!‘demanded the Queen.
Louis supported her. He was the King. It was for him to say who should be his Archbishop.
‘Not so,’ retorted the Pope. ‘I have appointed Pierre de la Chatre and none other shall have it.’
Louis, prompted by Eleonore, replied that as long as he lived de la Chatre should not enter Bourges.
Then the Pope made a remark which when reported to Louis raised his anger.
‘The King of France is a child,’ said the Pope. ‘He must get schooling and be kept from bad habits.’
‘You see,’ cried Eleonore when this was reported, ‘they have no respect for you. It is because you allow people to insult you. You have been over-lenient. Look at Theobald of Champagne. If you had marched into his country and laid it waste the Pope would not have spoken to you as though you were a schoolboy.’
Louis was silent for a few moments then he burst out: ‘It would have meant war. Killing brings such suffering to innocent people.’
‘A fine way for a king to talk,’ commented Eleonore scornfully.
Theobald played right into her hands by supporting the Pope’s choice and letting it be known.
Eleonore was furious. ‘What now?’ she cried. ‘Will you stand by and allow this?’
Louis knew that he could not, and when the Pope excommunicated him he knew that he had to take action.
He prepared to march on Champagne in order to subdue the Count who had dared take sides against his King.
Eleonore rode out of Paris beside her reluctant husband. There was to be war with Champagne and Louis knew that such conflicts enriched no one but the soldiers who plundered and pillaged while innocent people suffered.
The Queen however was adamant and he had after much persuasion agreed that Theobald must be taught a lesson.
It was not a very impressive army that marched into Champagne. Many wandering adventurers joined it, and because it was not very large the King was glad to welcome any who followed him, even though he knew they were out for the spoils which would come their way.
As they marched deeper into the terrain of the man the Queen detested, the rougher elements of the army plundered the villages against the King’s order. Louis heard the cries of protesting villagers who sought to protect their crops, their houses and their family. He saw his rough soldiery ordering the villagers from their houses, illtreating the women, raping, feasting, drinking and acting in a manner of which he had heard much and which had made him hate the thought of war.
He endeavoured to stop their cruelties; they did not heed him.
Eleonore regarded him with contempt. What sort of a king was he whom men would not obey and who shuddered at the prospect of war? She could only remember that this was
Similar Books
