The Star of Lancaster - Plaidy Jean (бесплатные онлайн книги читаем полные TXT) 📗

It was a glittering occasion, and a happy one, for it was such a pleasure to go into combat against the French in a joust d, Plaisance, and it transpired that the two champions were Henry of Bolingbroke and his half-brother John Beaufort. Honour was done to them and they were cheered and feted.

Louis de Clermont, Duke de Bourbon, who was among

the knights present, was greatly impressed by their prowess and he invited them to come to his tent where he promised to entertain them royally.

Many of the French nobles were gathered there and the guests were served with special delicacies and fine wine such as the French produced better than any other nation; and during the feast Louis de Clermont talked at great length about an expedition he was going to launch.

1 have had a deputation sent to me from the rich merchants of Genoa,' he explained to Henry and John. *It appears they are plagued by Barbary pirates who waylay their ships and rob them of their merchandise. They say the menace grows and they plead for help.'

'What do you propose to do?' asked Henry.

It would be profitable for all those who took part,* went on Louis. 'It would be a great adventure. We should be helping to promote trade. The merchants are doing good work. But they cannot go on if this wicked piracy continues. You ask what I propose, my friend. It is to take out a band of brave and adventurous men and attack El Mahadia, the home of the corsairs. They sail from there; they have their homes there. Mahadia grows richer as Genoa grows poorer. The robbers are winning the battle against honest traders.'

It sounds a worthy project,' said John Beaufort.

It is, indeed it is. What I need is men who know how to handle a sword. They are desperate men, these corsairs. It would be a fine adventure. We should recapture the spoils which have been stolen from the merchants and let me tell you, the merchants would be so grateful to see the end of the corsairs that the goods would be our reward.'

'Are you inviting us to join your expedition?' asked Henry.

'I should be glad of your company,' was the answer.

John Beaufort's eyes were gleaming. The thought of that treasure was very attractive to him.

Henry was more cautious. 'Let us think about it,* he said. 'It is not a matter to be lightly decided.'

Louis de Clermont agreed. He was pleased; he felt certain that these two young men, who certainly knew how to handle a sword, would be members of his party.

When they were alone in their tent Henry and John discussed the proposition and John listened with the utmost respect to what his half-brother had to say.

'Our father thinks that I should not become embroiled in politics,' said Henry. It might be a good plan to go to El Mahadia, particularly if there are good profits to be made.'

John enthusiastically agreed.

'We have given a good account of ourselves at the joust,' he said. 'Why should we not do the same and reap some profit with it?'

'Then let us go,' cried Henry.

'Together,' echoed John.

'We should return to England with all speed. We shall need to equip ourselves and that will take a little time.'

'We could leave for England tomorrow.'

'Then let us do it.'

Louis de Clermont was overjoyed at their promise to join his expedition and as soon as the tide permitted they set sail for Dover.

Henry was back in England in time for the birth of his third son. He was named John. So now he and Mary had three boys and their grandfather was delighted to have this one named after him. Young Harry was three years old and showing a decidedly rebellious character. The fact that he still had a tendency to be delicate meant that he was spoilt a little by Joan Waring who rarely let him out of her sight. He was undoubtedly the king of the nursery, which was understandable on account of his seniority, but there was that about Master Harry which implied that nothing would deter him in the business of getting his own way.

Mary was disturbed when Henry told her that he was going to attack the Barbary pirates. She had been pleased for him to go to the joust at St Inglebert. He had stressed that it had been a Plaisance and she had thought, It is just a game really, jousting with blunted lances or those fitted with special heads which rendered them harmless. Why could they not always fight like that—if fight they must? But the Barbary pirates WTre different. They were desperate men. There was real danger there.

Henry tried to soothe her; he gave her an account of the jousts at St Inglebert and stressed his own success and that of his half-brother, in the hope of implying that they would know how they would defend themselves. But Mary could

not be comforted and was very uneasy, although she tried to hide this.

While Henry was mustering the knights he would take with him and giving instructions to Richard Kyngeston, the man whom he called his 'treasurer of war', as to what weapons and stores would be needed, he did manage to spend a little time with his family.

He delighted in his sons and in particular in Harry. This eldest son of his was so bright, a boy to be proud of. The fact that he was constantly in some kind of mischief amused his father. Of course the child being of a quick and lively mind, had already grasped his importance. Joan Waring might scold and even deliver the occasional slap but she was always ready to follow that with a cuddle and an assurance that naughty as he was he was her very special Lord Harry.

He would climb onto his father's knee and Henry told him about the joust, and how he had tilted his lance at his opponent and thundered to meet him.

Harry listened, brown eyes alight with excitement. He was dark for a Plantagenet, but handsome none the less, with an oval-shaped face and a nose which was long and straight. He was too thin but Joan Waring had reported that he was the most lively agile child she had ever encountered and it was her opinion that he would grow out of his childhood delicacy.

*Go on. Go on!' Harry would shout if his father paused and even went so far as to thump him on the chest if he were not quick enough, which should have brought a reproof but Henry was so pleased to see his son excited that he let that pass and obeyed him.

*We scored a great victory over the French. We were honoured throughout the country. I and your uncle John Beaufort were the heroes of the hour.'

Harry did not take his eyes from his father's face and Henry wondered how much of what he was told he understood. He had a notion that Harry just liked to be seated on his father's knee because his father was the most important person in the castle—apart from Harry himself of course—and Harry liked to be made much of by him.

His father watched him ride his little pony, on a leading reign naturally. There must be no risk to the heir of Lancaster even though he had two sturdy young brothers. Henry,

like everyone else in the household, felt that there was something rather special about young Harry.

His father went down to the field to watch him ride with his riding-master. Round and round the field they went. Harry was flushed with excitement and every time he rode past his father he looked at him sharply to see whether his full attention was given to the marvellous prowess of his son.

One day Henry was standing with one or two of his men watching the riding lesson when Richard Kyngeston came out to speak to him. There had been a hold up of some of the supplies and they would not be leaving for Dover for a week.

Henry turned aside to discuss this with Kyngeston just as Harry rode by and seeing that his father's attention was not on him, Harry suddenly, by some trick which he had obviously learned, disengaged himself from the riding-master, and broke into a gallop.