involvement with the ladies of the royal court, both Norman and English, is very clever. Wives have no power to make decisions, but those women from prominent families know as much, if not more, than their husbands about politics and their views will affect what the lords decide to do. They’re politically knowledgeable and important advisers, even if they are not in the Chamber when the matters are discussed. They also have the time to plot and plan. Most have been traded as children to form or strengthen alliances and are expected to have their children do the same. They are also, almost without exception, strong characters who refuse to sit quietly in the background. Matilda of Flanders is an excellent example. A physically small woman with a strength and character as strong as her husband the king, and so well regarded by him that he was prepared to face papal disapproval to marry her. Going to war against a family with whom your wife is friendly is not an option that many lords would be prepared to consider lightly.”
After that the conversation drifted off into general matters, while a supper of smoked meats, sugared fruits, cheeses, fresh warm bread and butter was served.
The next afternoon Anne called to see Malachi the Jew, spending some time closeted with him. Several hours later she arrived at a disreputable inn called ‘The Dancing Bear’ in the Shambles. Six of her huscarles, armed but unarmoured, stood nearby just out of hearing, receiving many a look from the other patrons and certainly acting as a damper on the talk and behaviour in the Commons. Osmund sat with her at a table near the fire, a pint of poor and sour ale standing untouched in front of him and a cup of poor mead on the table before Anne. Out of respect for their health Anne had not ordered any food.
A slightly ferret-faced, tall, thin and balding Englishman named Gareth sat opposite them, dressed in clean but poor clothing, with a half-empty pint of ale on the table and a meat-bone in his hand, at which he from time to time sipped or gnawed respectively.
‘So, Gareth, what I require is information from the important houses, noble and non-noble. Norman and English. Not just here in London, but wherever the household may move. You come highly recommended and as such it’s not my place to tell you how to obtain such information. As I understand it you earn a good income from purveying information, which belies your appearance. I don’t necessarily need exclusivity of information, but that information that directly affects my interests I expect not to be provided to those with contrary interests. Obviously, the fact that I have certain information is not to be known. I would comment that suborning those who serve at table is a relatively cheap and effective way of getting good information. Corrupting the clerks is more difficult, but possible. However, you’d know more than I about these matters. I particularly want full details of what happens in the houses of the Bishop of London, Engelric and Earl Ralph the Staller. I’ll pay you?5 a month initially, and we can review that as your network grows. Agreed? Good. Now I want to make a particular point…
Two days later William Bishop of London awoke and disengaged himself from the lithesome young man on the bed alongside him. He then stared in amazement at the poniard dagger with its long thin blade plunged deep into the bed beside him. A hunting arrow lay on the bed beside the dagger. Within a few minutes Engelric and Earl Ralph, in their respective houses, woke to similar silent messages. Anne had not been able to ascertain who had attacked her husband. If she had, the dagger would have been plunged into the body and not left as a warning. Still, she was sure that all three would understand the communication.
On Christmas Day 1067 King William stood at the altar of the Winchester Cathedral, knelt for several minutes and then moved to his position near the choir. The great lords of two lands, the barons, earls and the lords who held under them, took their turn at kneeling at the altar, including Alan. Later they attended the feast arranged by King William.
Two days later Alan and his party rode north towards the Welsh border.
