The Conqueror by Georgette Heyer

Author:Georgette Heyer [Heyer, Georgette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Part IV

(1063–1065)

THE OATH

‘Harold, ye cannot deny that ye swore an oath to William upon holy relics.’

Speech of Gyrth Godwineson

One

Now tell me it all, right from the start,’ Edgar said. ‘Holy Thorn, but you are burned as brown as a nut! You took no hurt?’

‘Not so much as a scratch.’ Raoul thrust a hand through his arm. ‘And you? What has chanced since I saw you?’

‘Oh, nothing!’ Edgar said. ‘Rouen has been like a tomb since you all rode away to Maine.’ They walked on slowly through the palace gardens. The ground was hard with frost, and a fringe of snow lay on the edge of the grass. ‘I had news out of England a month ago,’ Edgar said. ‘My father writes of Harold’s victories. While you have been conquering Maine he has conquered the Welsh.’ His cheeks showed a faint flush of pride. ‘Harold carried Griffyd’s head and the beak of his ship back to London,’ he said. ‘Think you that was well done?’

‘Very well done,’ Raoul agreed. ‘He must be a mighty warrior. What other tidings?’

‘Little enough. Wlnoth has taken a leman. Tell your tale. Is it true that the Duke entered Le Mans without a blow?’

Raoul nodded. ‘He kept that for the last. You know his way. We wanted no more bloodshed than had need be. But who holds Le Mans holds Maine.’

‘Was Walter of Mantes in command there?’

‘No, it was held for him by the chief among his friends. Geoffrey of Mayenne was one. I knew that dog would never keep faith.’

‘Well, let me hear how it went!’ Edgar said impatiently. ‘I have been wishing myself beside you all these weary months.’

Three years before, after the death of Martel, Heribert, the youthful Count of Maine, had become Duke William’s man. Freed from the Angevin tyrant he yet did not feel himself strong enough to stand against Martel’s two successors. He approached William, for whom he cherished a deep respect, and entered into an engagement with him to hold Maine as Normandy’s fief in accordance with the charter granted to Duke Rollo in ancient times. A treaty was drawn up between the two princes; Count Heribert’s sister Margaret was formally betrothed to Lord Robert, the heir of Normandy, and Heribert pledged himself to wed Adeliza, the Duke’s eldest daughter, as soon as she should be of marriageable age. Duke William was found to be an over-lord of a very different kidney from Martel, so that Heribert, a man of feeble health, thought he could do no better for Maine than to make a will bequeathing it to the Duke, should he himself die without lawful issue. In two years this possibility had come to pass. Count Heribert, on his death-bed, warned his nobles against such tyrants as Walter of Mantes, the spouse of his aunt Biota; and Geoffrey, the hungry Lord of Mayenne; and with his last breath commanded them to submit themselves to Duke William.

It was not to be expected that the Manceaux could be united in desiring a foreigner to be their Count.

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