Success followed success, castle after castle was recaptured in the name of the King and David was complacent, and as he had not yet been called upon to take part in any really serious battles his lack of judgement was not obvious.

He was surrounded by strong men and there seemed little doubt that victory was in the air.

It was hardly likely that Edward would allow matters to go on in this way.


* * *

Edward and Philippa determined that that Christmas should be a memorable one.

‘We have promised it to the children,’ said Edward. ‘Isabella was insistent that we all spend it together.’

‘And,’ added Philippa, ‘last Christmas poor little Joanna was in Austria.’

‘Well, there shall certainly be revelry this Christmas, otherwise I shall be in trouble with our daughter.’

‘Not too much indulgence, Edward, I beg of you.’

‘Oh, they are young yet. Let them be happy while they can. It will be necessary to arrange marriages for them soon. That is something I cannot relish.’

The plans began to be carried out and there was a great deal of excitement in the Princesses’ apartments. Joanna was embroidering gifts for her family—a pastime in which she delighted and she knew that her parents appreciated what she did. There were purses for them both decorated with dragons and birds, worked with exquisitely coloured silks. Isabella was not inclined to do such work; she sent her treasurer to buy gifts for her parents. They revelled in their new gowns—scarlet and purple scattered with pearls. They would wear their hair hanging down their backs because that was how their father liked it. They had surcoats of fine cloth of gold with patterns of birds and beasts on them; and beneath these they would wear a close-fitting gown of very fine material. Isabella loved to try on her gowns and indeed she had a great admiration for herself. As for Joanna she was so happy to be home that she was ready to laugh at everything—even Isabel- la’s vanity and her determination to have the best whenever there should happen to be a choice.

Never mind. This was Christmas in the palace of the Tower and a rare occasion because for once the entire family were all altogether.

Philippa was contented to be with her children and she was expecting another in June. She had a fine family and she was proud of it. One of the joys of her life had been her ability to give Edward these children whom he so dearly loved.

Perhaps some women would have been jealous of his devotion to them. Not Philippa. She rejoiced in it.

So it was indeed a happy Christmas. Edward had summoned the most talented of his minstrels, a man named Godenal who was famous throughout the Court for his music, his singing, his mimicry and his ability to amuse.

The pleasure of the children was a joy to behold, even young Edward joined in and they remarked afterwards that he was growing up fast and none would believe that he was only eleven years old.

I could die tomorrow, thought the King, and I should have a worthy successor.

But he had no intention of dying. There was so much he must do. More children to have. He was a man who could not have too many children. The more he had the more dear they would become to him. He hoped this one was a little girl. They had Edward, Lionel and John; and little girls were so enchanting.

Isabella was now nestling up to him and he drew Joanna close lest she should think he favoured her sister more than he did her, which perhaps he did, but he loved them both dearly.

Godenal’s performance was greeted with great joy by the children and the King whispered to them that they should reward the minstrel with a present.

‘Six shillings and eightpence from each of you I believe would be adequate,’ he said.

He smiled benignly as the children gravely paid the minstrel for his services.

That was a happy Christmas. but soon after came news from Scotland which was disturbing.

Edward realized that there was no help for it. It was no use leaving others to deal with the Scots. He must go and do so himself.

He reflected sadly that the last time he had gone his chief companion had been William Montacute Earl of Salisbury. Poor William, still languishing in a French prison! He had made several attempts to bring about his release. but Philip must know how great his friendship was for the Earl and he was determined to demand a great deal for his release.

Whatever it was, it must be paid.

But Philip was dilatory. After all, why should he put himself out to please the King of England?

After Christmas it was necessary to say good-bye to the children. They would remain in the palace of the Tower until the Queen left for Langley where she had decided she would go for her next confinement.

Edward in the meantime must busy himself with getting an army together to march on Scotland.

In June at Langley, Philippa’s child was born. Another boy—healthy and with as good a pair of lungs as any of his brothers possessed. He was named Edmund.


* * *

Edward marched north and was encamped at Berwick. The months passed with neither side making much progress. Edward was prepared to make a big onslaught after Christmas and in the great fortress of Berwick his thoughts went back to the happy Christmas he had spent with his family the previous year. How different in Berwick! He was determined to settle the Scots; but then of course he had the French matter to deal with.

Philippa would like him to stay in England, to govern that country well and forget Scotland and France. But Philippa was a woman, devoted to her home. He thought of her as she had been when he had first met her in her father’s castle of Hainault and what a happy domesticated atmosphere there had been there.

The old Count had not been ambitious—neither had his wife albeit she was a daughter of a King of France. Dear Philippa—rosy-cheeked, strong, plump, born to be a wife and mother.

And, by God, he thought, where could I have found another such as she has been to me? I have been singularly blessed in my marriage.

Often he thought of his mother who was now living in some luxury at Castle Rising but he rarely visited her. He found that too depressing, but when he did so, he gathered that her lapses into mental confusion were less frequent and that although she was not at Court she lived royally. When he had been with her he had been surprised at the plenteous and expensive foods on her table. Swans, turbot, lampreys and other delicacies abounded. She said that the people of the neighbourhood delighted in giving her presents. They were so pleased to have a Queen in their midst.

He wondered if she ever thought of Mortimer, that lover to whom she had been so passionately devoted, or of his father and did he still come to haunt her dreams?

He would go to see her when he left the North. She was after all his mother.

One of the guards came to tell him that a young man had ridden to the camp and was begging to be allowed to see him. ‘What young man is this?’ demanded the King.

‘Scarcely more than a boy, my lord. He said he comes from the Castle of Wark which is under heavy siege by the Scots. He has come to beg your help.’

‘Wark. Why that is Salisbury’s place. Bring him to me without delay.’

The boy was brought. He had a look of his father. Edward was concerned to see him so distressed.

‘My lord,’ stammered the boy, ‘we need your help. My mother and I have tried to hold the castle and have done so. We cannot hold out much longer. I fear they may take my mother as a hostage.’

‘You may be sure,’ said Edward, ‘that I shall drive the Scots away and save your mother from falling into their hands. There is no time to lose.’


* * *

Catharine Montacute, Countess of Salisbury, deeply mourned the absence of her husband. Theirs had been an unusually happy marriage but like all wives she had had to accept the fact that there would be times when they were separated. William had long been in the service of the King and although she herself had never met Edward she felt she knew him well from William’s talk of him.

There was a bond between Edward and William. They were both happily married—rare in their circle where marriages were often made in the cradle which was likely to result in certain resentments as young people grew up and found they had no choice in whom they should marry.

How fortunate she had been.

As Catharine Grandison, daughter of the first Baron Grandison, she had been considered a suitable wife for the eldest son of the second Baron Montacute. William was a man of great charm and Catharine would have been guilty of false modesty if she had not admitted to being a beauty. In fact wherever she went her exceptional good looks aroused attention. She was not only a beautiful woman, she was wise, possessed dignity, courage and a lack of vanity which in one so gifted was particularly admirable.

Their union had been blessed with several children, two of whom were sons, William and John. William the eldest at this time was almost fourteen years old.

Her husband had gone far in the King’s service for Edward had taken a fancy to him from the first and when he was little more than a boy it was William whom he had taken into his confidence when he had realized he must rid the country of Mortimer.

It was William who had found a way into Nottingham Castle and had been present at the arrest of Mortimer. The boy King had looked to the older man for friendship and advice for William was almost eleven years older than he was. It had been a lasting friendship and a few years before Edward had shown his appreciation by creating him Earl of Salisbury. He had chosen William to go to France to state his claim to the French crown; and Catharine knew that Edward had been most distressed to hear of his capture.