EXCERPT
The King's Retribution
Sparing no expense, the king brought Robert de Vere's
embalmed body back from Belgium.
Exactly three years after his beloved friend had been
killed in a boar hunt, Richard put him to rest in his
family crypt at Colne Priory, in Essex. He staged an
elaborate funeral, though many of the great lords were
conspicuously absent. The Lords Appellant—with the
exception of Mowbray—harbored rancor toward Robert de
Vere that extended far beyond his death. Richard's
uncles chose to ignore the king's eccentric loyalty
toward a declared traitor. Even Thomas Arundel, his own
chancellor, had sent his apologies. There was no
mistaking the disrespect: the king noted the absence of
every one of them.
On a late November evening,
services began just at the cusp of twilight. Church
bells tolled and swirling black clouds threatened rain.
Two by two the funeral procession wended its way through
the narrow streets of Earl's Colne, spaced perfectly in
a seemingly endless column. Each man wore a black robe
with a black hood drawn forward to cover his face. Every
one of them carried a torch with a tiny shield bearing
de Vere's arms below each flame. The torches cast a soft
glow as the mourners walked past silent citizens lining
the street. Finally the Archbishop of Canterbury and six
other bishops brought up the end of the cavalcade,
swinging incense burners that filled the air with
sweet-smelling smoke. Their appearance signaled the
presence of the king, also robed in black, though
instead of a hood he wore a gold crown. He was followed
by five knights: his nephew Thomas Holland, Earl of
Kent, his cousin Edward Earl of Rutland, his
half-brother John Holland, Earl of Huntingdon, Thomas de
Mowbray Earl of Nottingham, and John de Montacute Earl
of Salisbury. These five supporters of the king were
worthy of note; they were destined to be among his
closest advisors and friends, carefully marshaled to
help support his throne. Never again would Richard be
accused of elevating unworthy favorites; only earls and
dukes would grace his inner chamber.
The silent participants filed into
the church where the cypress coffin lay on its bier next
to an open grave in the floor near the altar. A row of
candles on tall iron stands threw a circle of light onto
the deceased. An unseen choir, placed behind a curtain,
filled the space with soft tones.
As the king entered the church the
tolling ceased. He took his place in a stall topped by a
crown and listened while Archbishop Courtney began the
services, echoed by his bishops. The Matins for the Dead
were followed by Nocturnes and Lauds. Then there was the
Prayer for Absolution and the Celebration of the Mass.
The candles had burnt to a nub and the air of the church
was cold before Richard was finally able to approach the
funeral bier.
With an expression of tenderness,
Richard looked down on his dear friend. The king had
paid for the best embalmer in Brittany, and Robert
seemed to be sleeping before him, his face betraying no
evidence of his violent death. The king gazed at Robert
for a long time, toying with a sapphire ring on his own
hand. Blinking rapidly, Richard drew off the ring and
lifted Robert's wrist, pushing the band gently onto his
friend's finger. He bent over the coffin and whispered
something for Robert's ears alone.
"Mine eyes have longed to see your
face," he said. "I will never forget you, nor will I
rest until we are avenged on those who drove you from my
side. Fear not, dear Robert. My resolve is firm and I
would have you rest in peace."
Although everyone nearby strained
to hear what Richard said, no one—even his closest
friends—could decipher the words. But it didn't take a
great leap of faith to guess the meaning of his
gestures. Richard's enemies would later dismiss the
legend that had grown from Robert de Vere's funeral
services, but those who witnessed it were never able to
shake a sense of foreboding.
All the king lacked was a pair of
wings to complete the picture of an avenging angel.
In Paperback, EBook, and
AUDIO
Amazon.com
Amazon UK
Universal Link