And the Rest Is History(23)
I underestimated North. I always do. She briefs better than anyone. Alone out of all the History Department, she never allows herself to get bogged down in unnecessary details, or distracted by passing comments, or lost in her notes.
‘Four assignments altogether,’ she said, ‘and two months in which to complete them, which shouldn’t be a problem.’
Yes, typical North. Grieving colleagues, murder and kidnap weren’t even a blip on her radar. On the other hand, bracing unsentimentality was just what we needed.
‘The first is the shipwreck of Harold Godwinson and his house arrest under Duke William of Normandy. The second will be the oath-taking ceremony at Bayeux when he swears to support William’s claim to the throne in order to gain his freedom. The third is the Battle of Stamford Bridge against Tostig and Harald Hardrada, and the last is the big finish at Hastings.
She began to bring up images on the screen.
‘There are two main players. Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, and Duke William of Normandy – William the Conqueror…’
‘William the Bastard,’ murmured Sykes.
North swept on unheeding. ‘Edward the Confessor, King of England, has no son. William and his fellow Normans firmly believe that Edward, notoriously pro-Norman after his time there in exile, has promised William the throne after his death. Whether he has or not is immaterial because the succession is not his to control. Primogeniture does not yet exist and under Saxon law, the next king is selected by the Witan – the council of leading nobles.
‘Anyway, in 1064, Harold, for reasons which have never been entirely clear, embarks on a sea voyage. Norman chroniclers – from their position as victors, of course – claim that Harold was sent by Edward to do fealty to William, thus confirming William would be king after his death. This is generally considered to be unlikely. Some say the purpose of his journey was to secure the release of members of his family held hostage after Earl Godwin’s revolt in 1051. The Saxons will maintain he was simply on a fishing expedition and the boat was blown off course.
‘Whatever the reason, we do know he left from Bosham and was shipwrecked off Ponthieu. According to the law at the time, any victims of shipwreck were the property of the Count of Ponthieu, Guy I. It might be that initially, Guy was unaware of the status of his prisoner but, somehow, word gets to William – his overlord. Guy is subject to William’s commands and William, probably unable to believe his good luck, makes his commands known immediately. Harold is carted off to Guy’s castle at Beaurain; William arrives to claim him. And that’s where we come in. Back to you, Max.’
She sat down.
‘Thank you, Miss North. We’ll take two pods – Numbers Eight and Five. There will be three members of Security to accompany us, one of whom will be Mr Markham. You have a week or so to get yourselves off to Mrs Enderby to be kitted out. Tunics, hose and cloaks for the men. Longer tunics and cloaks for the women. Hair in long braids please, ladies, and covered with a veil. Doctor Dowson will provide background briefing and language tapes. A few words of Old French will be useful.’
‘What’s the weather?’ enquired Bashford.
‘No idea. At the moment we only know that the shipwreck took place in spring or early summer. Mr Atherton and Miss Prentiss have volunteered to act as Pathfinders. They’ll hop about until they find the date and report back to us. Remember that whatever the season, Norman halls are dark, draughty and smoky and dress accordingly.
‘Once we have the coordinates, We’ll land at Beaurain and mingle with the crowds. This is an important day for Guy – he has something William wants. And it’s a more than important day for William – his enemy has been delivered into his hands. Justice is a public affair – the actual details of the deal will be thrashed out in private, but handing over Harold to William will be done in public. Very politely and with a great deal of ceremony, and there won’t be even a hint that he’s a prisoner and a hostage to his own fortune. Everyone will smile. Hands will be clasped and wine will be drunk, but make no mistake, this is the day that Harold – and ultimately England – are stitched up for all time. With luck, right in front of our eyes.
‘Are there any questions?’
People shook their heads. Our briefings weren’t normally this subdued.
‘I propose,’ I said, ‘that since we have two main protagonists, namely William of Normandy and Harold Godwinson, we divide ourselves into two teams for these assignments. One team will focus on Harold’s part in these events and the other on William’s. In-depth observations, please – appearance, clothes, mannerisms, actions, motives, policies, everything you can think of. It will, I think, be interesting to observe the same events from two opposing points of view. Does anyone have any particular favourite?’
North immediately volunteered for William – not least, I suspected, because she was always telling us one of her ancestors had been at Hastings. On the winning side, obviously. Sykes signed up for Harold. Bashford went with Sykes – no surprise there. Clerk wanted William as well, and Prentiss and Atherton were the Pathfinders.
‘Excellent,’ I said, and it was. I always hesitate to use the expression well-balanced to describe anything related to the History Department, but they were two good teams and with a senior historian on each. I was, of course, ignoring Peterson’s absence. He could join us if he wished. I wondered if he would wish to. What would I do if he left? And what would I do if he never forgave me?