David the Prince - Scotland 03 (42 page)

David slipped away.

They remained three days at Culross, with David acting for his brother on certain matters brought by the Chancellor and other officers of state. Alexander improved only slowly, the coughing lessening in intensity but still producing blood. It was clear that he would be in no fit state to be moved for some time yet. David could not linger indefinitely, with many issues requiring his attention in the South and left suddenly.

At their parting, on the fourth morning, Alexander indicated that he wished to speak with his brother alone. "Davie," he said, "if this should yet go ill with me, watch you for Angus, Ethelred's elder son now that Duff is dead. Now Earl of Moray. Young Angus MacEth, he calls himself, Malcolm's brother. I am told that he has ambitions to be king. Claims that as son of our elder brother, he has the right. Also his mother was Lulach's daughter. So he represents the old line. Watch him, I say. Malcolm is well enough, I think - but watch Angus!"

"The lad may dream dreams, Alex. But you are crowned on the Stone of Destiny. You are undoubted High King. That is all that signifies."

"While I live, yes - while I live, perhaps . . ."

They left it at that.

* * *

It was as well that David returned to Caer-luel when he did, for it was to find major developments in train. First of all, sadly, his viscount, Richard d'Avranchcs, had broken his neck in a buck-hunting incident, leaving a major gap to be filled in the Cumbrian leadership as well as a personal loss. Then Bishop John had at last arrived back from his prolonged exile-pilgrimage. He came back in modest triumph, his cause vindicated. Pope Calixtus was dead and Honorius the Second reigned in his stead, a very different man who was no friend to Henry Beauclerc. Now the Vatican had confirmed that Glasgow was the pontifical see of Cumbria and that John was lawfully bishop both in Scotland and England. At first it had seemed as though there would be no success, for on John's arrival at Rome he could by no means again an audience with Calixtus - who admittedly was ill but who also was unsympathetic towards his cause. He was told to wait, and wait again. So, partly to fill in the time of waiting and partly to register protest, he had gone off on an onward pilgrimage to Jerusalem, as great a joy and privilege as it was a device. And when he returned to Rome, Calixtus was dead and Honorius was Pontiff - and was engaged in undoing much of his predecessor's work. He made no difficulties over John's plea, ordered him to return to his see; and at the same time declared against Eadmer's retiral from Scotland as neglect of duty, pronouncing that if Eadmer refused to resume his episcopal duties in Scodand and the primatial see, he was unworthy to be Bishop of St. Andrews, and another must be appointed. So all was well, and the Scottish episcopate was endorsed. Incidentally Eadmer's own domestic position was no longer secure, for as John had learned only a few days previously, Ralph of Canterbury himself had died. When a new Archbishop came to be appointed, King Henry would find it more difficult to get his nominee endorsed by Honorius. So the situation was improved on all counts.

Most of this much pleased David, needless to say. But Bishop John's other news was less satisfactory. King Henry was back in England, indeed in the
North
of England. He was apparently engaged in something which he had never previously thought to do - visiting York and Northumbria and the word was that he intended to come to Cumbria also, thereafter.

John had another item of information regarding Henry. Possibly a
s a counter-stroke to his reducti
on of influence at the Vatican, he had just married his sole remaining legitimate child, Matilda, to the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry the Fifth.

David was, of course, much exercised over the news of Henry's northern tour, especially the prospect of his coming to Cumbria. This was something quite new and presumably significant, meaning — what? Henry had for long seemed to be more interested in Normandy and France than in England. Also in the past when he had wanted to see his subjects, he summoned them to his presence, did not go visiting them. So far as David knew, he had not been further north than Woodstock for years. York, Northumbria, Cumbria - what did it mean?

Confi
rmation reached Caer-luel presently. The King was at Durham with a large train, and was expected to cross the spine of England, by Weardale and Gilderdale, into Cumbria. Durham — Flambard!

To show that he was not lacking in courtesy any more than in due alertness, David despatched a welcoming party to meet the monarch at the Cumbrian border - although Henry had sent
him
no intimation of approach. He made what preparations he could for Henry's reception, doing so not without some sense of foreboding.

When the King's cavalcade eventually arrived at Caer-luel, David was surprised at its size-and splendour- even though he had been warned that it was large. It was indeed a royal progress, a Court on the move, with earls and barons and bishops as well as officers of state, together with two members of his own family, illegitimate as they were, Robert and Elizabeth; although notably his new young wife, still disappointingly childless, was not of the party. Henry had allegedly taken a vow that he would never smile again, on hearing of the drowning of William the Atheling; nevertheless he was now showing a sudden and marked interest in his hitherto neglected bastard Robert, aged sixteen, for whom he had found an heiress wife, and created Earl of Gloucester. Of the girl, Elizabeth, aged a year or so younger, David had not heard.

The King's greeting to his former brother-in-law was carefully civil but not warm. He was looking his age of fifty-five and inclining to fat - although nothing like the dimensions of Bishop Flambard, who bulked massively behind him.

"Ah, David - it is good to see you, good to catch you!" he exclaimed. "I feared that we might not, that you might be . . . elsewhere. So busy a man! Ever on the move, I am told."

"I have large territories to govern, Sire. I hope that I see you wel
l? Not fatigued with y
our much travelling?"

"Why should I be, man? I am none so old, yet!" That was quick. "I am very well. Sufficiently well to look to my kingdom. To look closely!"

"I rejoice, my lord King. And hope that you approve what you see?"

"Not altogether, David - not altogether!" Henry turned. "Ha - here is the fair Matilda - so blooming, so altogether a delight! How excellent a wife I found for you, David!"

"That I have never questioned, Sire. Although I thought that I had found her for myself!" David managed a smile at that.

"More fool you, then! I planned it before you thought aught of it, man!"

"Then Your Grace had the gift of prophesy!" Matilda put in, calmly. "Moreover, you traduced one of your own earls! For the Earl Simon was still much alive when David first expressed his devotion to me. And I to him. We did nothing, nothing to injure Simon's rights as husband. But
we knew
our own hearts. Did Your Grace plan that also?"

David looked at his wife with a surge of affection and admiration, that she should speak out thus in front of all.

Henry frowned, but recovered himself quickly. "So we were of a like mind! Our judgment concurring. But. . . did we judge aright, woman? Did we judge this man aright? Was he worth it?" With that thrust Henry moved on into the castle.

Just when the King had intended to announce the reasons for his visit was not to be known. But undoubtedly it was precipitated by an encounter of the two bishops, Flambard and John, which took place whilst first refreshment was being dispensed and before the larger banquet. These two had long known and disliked each other, from Winchester days. Flambard was not long in referring John's presence there to the King.

"Here is one whom we looked not to see on Your Grace's soil of England!" he said. "The clerk John, still calling himself bishop! I had thought him . . . gone. And deservedly. At the Holy Father's command."

Henry stared where he pointed. "The tutor, yes. As such, responsible for much, perhaps!" He turned to David. "How is it that this man is still here? Was he not to be dismissed?"

"Dismissed, Sire? By whom? Not by me. Nor yet by you, surely? We scarcely can dismiss from the episcopate!"

"By the Pope in Rome, man."

"But he is new back from Rome. Confirmed in his bishopric of Glasgow, as pontifical see of Cumbria. By Pope Honorius." "What . . . !"

"Confirmed, yes. Is it not most satisfactory? For all. No further disru
ption nor doubts. Your Archbisho
p Ralph was mistaken - may he rest in peace, nevertheless, for we hear that he has died."

Henry looked at Flambard. It seemed evident whence the initiative for John's demotion had come.

"The new Pope has been . . . misled," that man said, with difficulty. "He must be informed, Sire. Better advised."

John spoke up. "His Holiness questioned me, and others more illustrious, closely, my lord King," he said. "He was well and truthfully informed. And advised by his College of Cardinals. He had no doubts as to his decision. About my humble s
elf. Or about Bishop Eadmer . .
."

"Eadmer?"Henry barked. "What of Eadmer, man?"

"He is to return to his see of St. Andrews, forthwith. Or yield it to another. A papal command to that effect was being sent to Canterbury."

The King glared around him. "This is . . . insufferable! Why have I heard nothing of it?"

None cared to answer that. But Flambard did his best.

"Your Grace will recognise that there are advantages also," he said, smoothly now. "For since the good Ralph is gone, until a new appointment is made to Canterbury, the excellent Archbishop Thurstan is Primate. And so will be the new Pope's chiefest adviser in England!"

"Ah, yes - true," Henry nodded. "So we may yet look for better things and an end to these follies. In matters of religion." He turned back, to look straight at David. "But there are other matters to be put to rights. Not involving churchmen, thank God! Matters where I alone must make decision. I find that all is not well, on my return from Normandy. I find neglect and failure - and where I should not think to look for it. Not least in my province of Cumbria, David!"

The other had been more or less waiting for this. "I regret to hear it, Sire," he said carefully. "And shall be interested to hear wherein I have failed you in Cumbria?"

"Are you blind, man? I think not. You have failed me in that you ever seek to be more King Alexander's viceroy than mine! You spend more time in Scotland than in my Cumbria. You build castles amany, as well as abbeys, in Scotland, with gold from
my
earldoms. You fortify the Scots march against England. You make a Scots bishop to have sway over my English province - as you have just shamelessly announced. None of this can you deny."

"With all respect, Sire, I do so deny." David strove to keep his voice even, reasonable. "In none of these matters has your province of Cumbria suffered hurt. The reverse indeed. All has led to the pacification of these parts. Instead of the lawlessness from which Cumbria used much to suffer. This no more - save for raids from Northumbria, which still go unchecked by those whose duty it is to halt them." And his glance switched to Flambard and the Earl Ivo de Vesci.

"That is no denial, man, but an admission. You are your brother's representative now, rather than mine."

"Can I not be both, Sire? To the advantage of all the march and border country? Which, I am assured, has never known peace and security such as it has today. Is that to your hurt?"

"It is to my hurt that you are now seldom at this Caer-luel. And still less often further south in Cumbria. The issues concerning my Cumbrian lords have to go to Scotland for decision — which is intolerable. While at the snap of Alexander's fingers, you are off to his side! He who humiliated my daughter Sybilla! Abandoned her. Then buried her on some remote island in that barbarous country, like any serving-wench!"

"Of that I know little, Sire. Save that Queen Sybilla had chosen to go her own way, for long. And now a nunnery is to rise in her memory."

"Do not fence with me, man! You, whom I cherished and made much of, from youth up. Whom I knighted and elevated to earl. Appointed my viceroy here. I say that you have failed me. At Huntingdon and Northampton, I had to take steps to see that my interests - aye, and your own - did not suffer further. Here, I see that I must do the same. As king it is my simple duty. I do not dismiss you from my service, as I might do. But the realm's interests must be safeguarded." Henry paused, and turned. "Randolph de Meschin, there, from this day is Governor of Cumbria. Governor, not viceroy. He will govern it as I require. Athelulf, Prior of St. Oswalds, has been consecrated bishop, by Thurston of York. He will be Bishop of Caer-luel, with sway over Cumbria. And the Lady Elizabeth, my daughter, will wed the Lord Fergus of Galloway - who, as my son-in-law, will not fail to protect Cumbria's northern borders. These, for the realm's weal, by my royal command!"

There was silence in that great chamber for long moments, as men sought to take it all in. Matilda moved closer, to hold David's arm tightly.