"Open up there." "Make way!" "Be that the royal party on the way to Coventry?" "Get your sheep out of the way." "Make haste, man." "You're delaying King Edward and the Duke of Normandy." "I understand, but the sheep do not." "Son, explain it to the animals." "Get them out of the way." "Welcome to Coventry, sire." "Forgive the poor animals." "They don't know you're the King." "You see how it is in England, Cousin William?" "Shepherds and sheep alike are an independent breed." "Yes, Count Eustace has been trying to explain that to my niece." "Oh!" "M'lady, be you Lady Yolande, the Norman bride chosen for m'lord Leofric?" "Count Eustace!" "Your pardon, sire." " Mayhap it be you?" " Fool." "I am sister of the King." "Ah." "Then you be already married to Count Eustace." "You, back to your sheep." "Pursuing a husband!" "It is humiliating." "I wish I had never left Normandy." "Your uncle is already weary of your complaints, Lady Yolande." "A barbarian husband in a barbaric country." "I have good reason to complain." "Your alliance with a Saxon earl will someday be important to William." "Did you get a look at her, Milord Leofric?" "Aye, I did." "I got a very good look, shepherd." "What a gruesome prospect for a cold night!" "I have two sheep just like her, all bones and no meat." "She's far too frail a wench to bear strong children." "Have no fear, she'll bear no children of mine." "Ride hard, Humbert." "It would be ungracious if the royal party arrived at my castle with nobody to welcome them." "I'll do me best, M'lord." "And, Humbert, make them feel the warmth of our hospitality." "Then tell the King, sweetly and gently, that I am freeborn and of an age to choose my own bride." "And when shall you be there, M'lord?" "When shall I be there?" "Not until they have gone!" " Goodbye, shepherd, and thanks." " Good hunting, Milord." "Speak up, man, or else go away and let me eat in peace." "Sir, when I was a soldier for Earl Leofric, I once served table in his tent." "If I did not know it were impossible, I'd swear you were milord." "Why is it impossible?" "I know, everybody knows," "Earl Leofric is in Coventry being married this very day." "Not this day or any other!" "But yesterday, the Earl of the West Saxons and his sons stopped here on their way to the wedding." "Godwin?" "Here in my domain?" "Please, sir." "This is the only good table I have left." "Look here, sir." "Look." "Another war with the West Saxons near broke out in my tavern." "We'll be the day clearing up." " What did Godwin do?" " It was his sons." "Four of them were lamenting at being forced to go to your wedding." "If you'll forgive me, Milord, they said they'd much sooner go to your funeral." "Then someone threw a barrel and the fight was on." " Who won?" " I only know that I lost." "By the time the Sheriff arrived and dragged your men away, that was the condition of my furniture." " And Godwin?" " He went on to your wedding." "But only one of his sons was in condition to go with him." "If there is a bed unbroken, prepare a room for me." "Milord." "Milord." " My Sheriff." " Your Lordship." "Your Sheriffship." "Speak up, man." "Well, what is it?" "Milord, I've just received an order from the King." "The same order has gone to every sheriff in the domain." "I'm..." "I'm commanded to take you into custody." "When next I see King Edward, which I hope will not be for some time," "I shall tell him you did not see me." "Now, sit down." "Ale for the Sheriff of Lincolnshire." "The King commands that you be brought to Coventry by force if need be." "Good Sheriff, what think you will happen when my men-at-arms behold you marching me by force through the gates of my own castle?" "No." "Unfortunately, they are a hot-blooded lot, and very good swordsmen." "Well, I could forget ever having met Your Lordship." "But should I let you go and the King learn of it, my life would be forfeit." "Would you please do me the honour to accompany me to Coventry?" " No." " No?" "Well, then..." "Would you at least promise to stay here until I receive further orders from the King?" " No!" " No." "Well..." "Then, Milord, I must ask you to..." "Please do me the honour to consider yourself my prisoner." "You are very persuasive." "Your Sheriffship." "Again I beseech you, Milord." "There's no need for you to be locked up in a foul dungeon." "You've only to pledge me your word you'll attempt no escape." "I will pledge you nothing." "But it may be two or three days until word comes from the King." "Certainly, you'll be more comfortable in my house as my guest." "But I might be tempted to bash in your head and leave." "Be grateful you have a strong dungeon." "Oh, rest easy, Sheriff." "When I see the King, I shall commend your efficiency." " By what name are you known?" " Thorold of Bucknell, Milord." "Thorold?" "That's an excellent name." "It's a musical name." "Rolls off the tongue with the smoothness of an oath." "Thank you, Milord." "Should ever I become the father of a son, I shall name him after you." "Milord!" " Unless, of course, I am first married." " Thank you, Milord." "By my faith!" "A new tenant." "Speak up, friend." "What crime beings you to our happy household?" " None." " Oh!" "An innocent." "Tell us your sad story so we can weep for you." "And what crime, then, did you not commit?" " Poaching?" " Highway robbery?" "A little murder?" "Not that it's any of your affair." "I refused to be forced into a marriage." "I said he was a poacher." "I merely mistook the type of game." "If she be one of our local wenches, I'll wager we know her." "Yes." "And if not, we'd like to." " And what is her name?" " Don't you dare!" "Don't you dare tell them!" "You've done the poor girl enough harm already without bragging about it." " Bragging?" " You think it's great sport, don't you?" " I assure you..." " But if you had a shred of honour, you'd..." "But no, rather than marry, you hide out in this dungeon." "And if it were up to me, I'd give you a lash, a hundred lashes." "Still that tongue, woman!" "I have no concern over your opinion of me." "But I have wronged no innocent maiden." "In truth, I have seen her but once." "Ha!" "And that once was enough." "From a distance." "I was never even close to her." "Oh..." " But I thought..." " It is clear what you thought." " This marriage is a whim of the King's." " What is this new King of ours?" "A marriage broker?" "Only today, he married off our own Lord Leofric." " And to a Norman!" " Save your sympathy." "Our good Lord Leofric is happy now and married to a Norman power." "Were he half the Saxon that we think, why, he'd rot in a dungeon first before..." "You're Lord Leofric?" "Forgive us, Your Lordship." "Tell me, how long has it been the happy custom of sheriffs to keep female prisoners in the same dungeon with men?" "You think I'm a prisoner?" " Why you!" " Godiva!" "Now..." "It's not surprising." "Everyone's heard about our gay Lord Leofric." "How would you know about such as me?" "You and your highborn careless ladies!" "Your Spanish tavern singer from Dover!" "Let me tell you, Lord..." " Contain your temper." " Let me go!" "In heaven's name, who is this she-wolf?" "She's no prisoner, Milord, but Godiva, the sister of the Sheriff." "Oh." "Well..." "Then I beseech your pardon." "But, if it is safe to ask, pray tell me, what is the sister of a Lord High Sheriff doing in a dungeon with three men?" "Well, she beings us food." "Maybe Your Lordship is hungry." "Aha!" "The Sheriff of Lincolnshire dines his prisoners well." "Oh!" "My brother doesn't know about it." "Oh, these three are old friends." "He carved my fist doll." "And when I wanted a dog, these two got it for me." "Stolen, it turned out to be." "If I had half a wit, I'd forget that I ever met them." " Oh." "Grimald." " Milord." "And this..." "This lad here is Oswin, my nephew." "Oh, and Pendar." "And three greater troublemakers never existed in your entire domain." "Pay no heed to her words, My Lord." "In truth, our greatest wish is to uphold the peace." "It seems we were in the Ox and Bow quietly drinking ale when Earl Godwin..." " Oh, you were part of that brawl?" " We were all of it!" " Against Godwin and his five sons?" " And their 15 men-at-arms." "Lucky there was no more of them." "We might have lost the fight." "It's a shame we meet in jail." "Such heroism as theirs should be rewarded with wine." " Wine?" " Wine!" " We accept." " Don't talk with your mouth full." "After curfew, we'll all go down to the Ox and Bow." "No." "Pay no attention to them, Milord." "Men in prison have strange dreams." "But, Godiva, you've taken us there in the past many times." "Yes." "The tavern keeper's our friend." "He lets us in after hours." " That's right." " And he has good wine and never informs." "And he's a fine man." "Someday we may even pay him." "Aye." " No." " Oh, but..." "Do you fear I will escape?" "Even as I would, Milord, were I in your position." "I would not pledge your brother, Godiva, but I'd gladly pledge you." "On my honour I will attempt no escape." "Please, Godiva." "Gossip is common in Coventry that many a lady has lived to regret milord's promises." "Do you want me to plead with you?" "Right now, I don't know exactly what I do want." "Now, now, judge fairly, Milord." " Which was the harder blow?" " It was a tie again." "Try once more." "Aw, that was the third time." "Try again." "All right." "You have not answered me, Godiva." "Just a short walk in the garden." "I want to see which is brighter, the stars or your eyes." "Hey." "I like not the look in His Lordship's eye." "Nor I." "Had I realised how much beauty was to be found here in Lincolnshire," "I would not have delayed my visit so long." "It is the most beautiful countryside in all England, Milord." "And it's time you saw it." "Milord, we have rules among us where Godiva is concerned." "Oh, we go to look at the Lincolnshire countryside." "But there are so many beautiful sights to be seen." "And we shall all point them out to you on the way back to the dungeon." "Come on." "We'd best hurry." "We told him, didn't I?" "Godiva." "Until now, the morning has been long and dull." "If your brother expects me to enjoy his dungeon, you must come earlier and stay much longer." "You have more important problems, Milord." "The King's soldiers will be here today to take him back to Coventry." "Oh?" "Well, at least you worry about me." "No more than I would about any Saxon being forced into a marriage with a Norman." " I've been planning your escape." " So have we!" "Why, with enough time, we could take this place apart with our bare hands." " Sure." " I've got better plans for you three." "Should I escape, Godiva, your brother will be held to account." "Not if he first turns you over to the King's men." "You know the road back to Coventry, where it narrows between overhanging cliffs?" " A few miles from here." " Our favourite place." "Many a tax collector..." "We've escorted through there to save them from highwaymen." "We'll have you away from the King's men, and thank you for the sport of it." "I'll get you horses and weapons." "But you must come back here as soon as you've set His Lordship free." "That we pledge." "Godiva." "When my intended bide tires of waiting and goes home," "I will make my peace with the King." "Then, I will return here." "We should know each other so much better." "If Your Lordship hadn't spent so many years knowing so many women so much better, you might have found yourself a good Saxon bride and have avoided facing these problems." "He's in here." "Reverend Prior." "Humbert." " Do you accompany the King's soldiers?" " No, we came alone." "The King in his anger ordered soldiers to come for you." "But after prayer, repented his rashness." " He feared it might cause bloodshed." " So he sent us instead to get your pledge." "That you'd return with us peaceably." "So... my own prior and my own steward have turned against me." "I would rather rot here than return to Coventry." "I promised the King that I would being you back." "We shall leave in the morning after mass." "Well, whether it be a wake or a wedding, ale is ale." "Confusion to the bride!" "I assuredly will keep her confused for the rest of her life." "You resign yourself too easily, Milord." "This marriage could yet be avoided." "I could fall upon my sword." "Suppose you were to inform the King that there's another whom you wish to marry." "He'd know I was lying." "But... surely you must have met one of our own Saxon women whom you've found desirable." "You have said yourself you've been to Edward's court with your brother." "Have you ever beheld such delicate creatures?" "They are no different from William of Normandy's niece." "All women are not at court, Milord." "But it seems to have become the custom to ape the Norman women with their vapours and faintings." "The tavern grows cold, Milord." "The table was too far from the fire." "It's much lovelier outside, Milord." "I'm not given to vapours, Milord." "Nor have I ever fainted." "By the rood, Godiva, never have I met a woman like you." "I told you, Milord, we have rules about Godiva." "Forgive me." "Laddie." "Why you, you idiots!" "When I have need of your protection, I'll tell you." "Oh, Leofric!" "Sheriff!" " Quiet, you knaves!" " Sheriff!" "Quiet!" " What's the cause of all this?" " His Lordship is gone!" " During the night he disappeared." " The King will have my ears." "Plague take your ears." "Worry about your sister." "Where he is, she is." "Impossible!" "I heard her stirring in her room a few moments ago." "Her room?" "Earl or no earl, we will kill him!" "Arise, Leofric and Godiva, as man and wife." "And may heaven help you both." "Life at Coventry castle!" "Today, quarter staff and wrestling." "Yesterday, wrestling bears." "The day before, a contest between fighting dogs." "At last." "Our host honours us with an appearance." "Sire, milord's, m'ladies." "I apologise for my delay, but the matter was urgent." "May I present the Lady Godiva... my wife." "Wife?" "This is the last humiliation I shall endure from my earls." "You summoned me to a throne I did not ask for." "I will not submit to your arrogance to keep it." "I would have been content to live out my years in the quiet of a Norman monastery." "But you, Godwin, reminded me of my Saxon blood." "You insisted I was the one man who could unite the earls and being peace to England." " Sire..." " But there is no peace!" "Only hatreds' and petty jealousies." "Each earl with his own army ready to plunder his neighbour." "Perhaps, Milord, if you had no powerful army of you own, you would not have dared so arrogantly to disobey me." "It shall not happen again." "From you nor from my other earls!" "My cousin William is right." "A King must rule or be ruled." "From this day I, and I alone, will rule England." "There shall be one army in the realm." "Mine!" "All others will be disbanded." "I have sworn you my fealty, sire." "I stand at your side." " You, Siward of Northumbria." " I, too, sire." "And you, M'lord Leofric?" "Sire... before the royal council is a petition from Earl Godwin claiming lands which are mine." "Since Godwin is also related to you by blood," "I may need my men-at-arms to obtain justice." "I will tolerate no defiance." "Unfortunately, sire, I think as you do." "A man must rule or be ruled." "And I shall rule over the domain which is mine... all of it." " Why..." " Sire." "I will pray for divine guidance." "I should not have come here." "It would've been better if I had stayed where I belong." "Where I am is where you belong." "Come." "My son Harold and I could not wish you well in front of the King without offending him." " We do so now." " Thank you." "It is a small compliment to us, Godiva." "M'lord Godwin never did approve of the idea of my marriage to the Lady Yolande." "It frightened him." "Anything arranged by Count Eustace is cause for all of us to be frightened." "He is closest to the King and Norman influence at court grows stronger every day." "Then your influence grows less, which can only be to my advantage." "Nothing has changed, Father." "Words are wasted with him." "I advise you to enjoy your marriage while you may, M'lady." "Leofric, it is important that you and I quarrel no longer." "We offer you our friendship." "Do you also withdraw your claim to my lands?" " You took them by force." " I merely took them back." "They lie within the ancient boundaries of my earldom." "By your stubbornness, you play into the hands of our enemies." "The enemy I must watch is here in England." "You have no reason to distrust me." "For proof, I stand ready to disband my army as the King commands if you will pledge me the same." "My only pledge to you is that I will keep what is mine." "Rather than disband my army, I intend to double it." " What now, Eustace?" " Your Grace can be magnanimous." "We sought one ally and found a better one." "Dissension." "With a little encouragement, Leofric and Godwin will destroy each other." "I shall take Lady Yolande back to Normandy." "I leave it in the capable hands of you and Bejac to provide the little encouragement." "I have brought you a sad dowry, Leofric." "Trouble and perhaps danger." "Danger and trouble I have always had." "Tomorrow remind me of them and I may find a moment to worry." "Clear a path here." "Fit arrows." "Aim." "Arrows away!" "It's been the same these many weeks, Milord." "Hundreds of expert archers and not one arrow found the target!" "You, Alfred the Fletcher." "I have seen you being down a hawk in flight." " The sun was in my eyes." " The sun is behind your back." "You, John the Cooper." "You won every prize in my archery contest last Easter." "It was the wind." "There is scarce enough wind to ripple a lily pond." "Take them back to their quarters." "They hope to wear me down, do they?" "Cut down their rations." "Take away their ale." "I'll turn them into fighting men if I have to do it at sword's point." "Not even at sword's point, M'lord." "If this were a cause in which they believed, they would serve you gladly and well." " Our cause is just." " Only to you." "Godwin is your enemy, not theirs." "That's why you have to go into their homes and take them out by force." "There are times, Godiva, when you think like a man." "This is not one of them." "Being born of the people, Milord," "I cannot help but think of those who do the fighting and dying." "You should concern yourself with gentler thoughts, Milady." "I, too, miss the laughter." "Coventry has changed a great deal in the past month." "Are we in town to see the weaver or did you have another reason for bringing me here?" "The weaver's shop is just around the corner." "Oh, Milady!" "Milady, don't let them take him away!" "Of what crime is this lad guilty?" "He's been in hiding, to escape your service." "Do you not know the penalty?" "50 lashes and an extra year of duty." "Last month they took my father." "With no one to run the smithy, my family would starve." "I will take your lashes, Milord, but I'll not serve you." " Take him." " Milady!" "I pray you, Milord." "I cannot prepare for war without causing some hardship." "You can dispense with the lashings, Captain." "And with the extra year of duty." "But that is as far as I will go, Godiva." "Bless you, Milady." "I will see that your family is cared for until your return." "Thank you, Milady." "Your warm heart does you credit, Godiva, but it is necessary that my people have regard for the law." "My greater concern is that your people have regard for you, Milord." "You could end this misery." "Earl Godwin has offered to disband his army and he only awaits your pledge to do likewise." "We've been through this many times before, Godiva." "I know..." "I have bade you not to concern yourself with such matters." "The waging of war is man's affair." "Then wage war in your way, Milord, and I'll wage war in mine." "Godiva?" "Thank you." "You may go." "Godiva?" "Godiva, the door is bolted." "Yes, M'lord, I bolted it." "Then unbolt it!" "The door will remain locked until you meet with earl Godwin." "What manner of childish play is this?" "Unlock this door!" "Godiva!" "Godiva!" "Shouting will only make you hoarse." "You'll need your voice to talk with Earl Godwin." "What of Her Ladyship?" "She again ordered her food brought to her chambers." "Did you tell her I expect her to join me in the hunt this morning?" "Yes, Milord." "She again pleads an indisposition." "By the saints, I have taken all of this that I intend to." " Being me wine." " At so early an hour, Milord?" "Am I or am I not master of Coventry castle?" "Godiva, unlock this door." "Unlock this door!" "His Lordship is earlier than usual." "You may leave!" "From now on, there will be no locked doors between us." "You are coming down to join me at the table where you belong." "Sit down!" "I brought you to Coventry castle as my wife not as my political advisor." "And by the saints, that is the way it is going to be." "Go ahead." "Scream!" "Rant!" "Rave at me!" "But say something!" "Milord, what would you like me to say?" "Oh!" "You win, Godiva." "I promise you I will discuss the matter of disbanding my army with Earl Godwin." "Now." "What now?" "You have not yet spoken to Earl Godwin." " In due time, I will arrange it." " I've already had the Prior write to him." "You dared invite Godwin here?" "Against your wishes?" " Never, Milord." " Well, I will not go and see him." "I wouldn't expect that." "That's why I arranged the meeting in Lincolnshire at the Ox and Bow." "Arranged a meeting?" "What right had..." "By my faith." "Never in history has there been a woman like you." ""And whereas said Godwin, Earl of the West Saxons," ""doth assent to said agreement as hereinbefore set forth by said Leofric," ""Earl of Mercia and of Coventry." ""And whereas said Leofric doth assent to the agreement as heretofore set forth" ""in behalf of said Godwin, whereas both Earl Godwin and Leofric do mutually assent" ""and declare this instrument to be their true desire and intent, and whereas Eustace," ""Count of Boulogne, as emissary of Edward, by the grace of God, King of England," ""doth hereinafter sanction and accept this instrument in the King's name." ""And whereas the intent of this..."" "Reverend Prior, I can stand no more of these "whereases"." "Does this document without end state that the disputed lands shall be deeded to the Order of Saint Benedict?" "Yes, M'lord." "And my order shall use the revenues from the land entrusted to us to erect houses of God on both your domains." "And do we both agree to disband our armies and surrender our arms and Armour to the King?" "If you wish, M'lord, I'll read that portion again." "Heaven forbid." ""Earl Godwin's arms are to be stored in the Royal Armoury at Gloucester," ""and yours in the Royal Armoury at York."" "Then let us sign the document and have done with it." "I sign for myself... and my sons." "Do I misjudge you, Count Eustace?" "Or does it displease you that my father and Lord Leofric have settled their differences?" "A brash question, Harold, but an interesting one." "What do you say, Count?" "I am bid to tell you in the King's name that he is grateful." "He pledges you will not regret this day." "I trust that nothing, or no one, will interfere with the King's pledge." "Your pardons." "Thank you, Leofric." "Tell me, Godiva, deeding those lands to the Order of Saint Benedict was that truly my prior's idea or was it yours?" "I thought it was yours, Milord." "The guards would not let us in." "So we came over the rooftops." "With Godwin here, we made it our business to be near you in case you had need of us." "This is just like olden times, Milord." "Food, wine and old friends." "How quickly the hours will go by!" "But we'll need more wine." "Innkeeper, go being some more wine!" "Oh!" "Saint Benedict himself could not have inspired better artisans." "Until they're hung in the convent tomorrow, you'll not hear their true tone." "Milady, could not you and Lord Leofric leave for London a day later?" "If I had my way about it, we would not be going to London at all." "It's the King's birthday." "After all, it's only once a year." "I would be more than content never to attend court again." "Life cannot be perfect always, even for us." "The King will be pleased that you no longer disobey him." "I go only to please you." "But I still wish we were staying home." "Remember, while at court you are no longer tavern roisterers." "Conduct yourselves accordingly." "Why, as peaceably as three monks at their prayers, M'lord." "Oswin, Pendar." "The King will see you now." "My apologies." "I did not plan this illness to spoil your stay at court." "What say the physicians, sire?" "Physicians are ever the same." "They promise nothing." "I believe they know nothing except to let the blood from a man's body." "May the saints grant you a speedy recovery, sire." "Amen." "There are some here who do not say "Amen" to that prayer." "No blood-letting can cure the poisonous whispers of the intrigues that fill the air of my court." "The ambitions that can only be satisfied after my death." "Sire, your midday meal." "Gruel!" "And water thin." "Is this the full meal?" "I have consulted with other learned physicians as to the King's treatment." "All that is permitted is pigeon blood and wine and light food." "Oh!" "Sire, I am born of the country people and we have need to cure our ailments without learned physicians." "So we eat hearty, get well soon and return to our work." "Why, even I stifle in this gloom!" "By your leave, sire." "Godiva." "You've need of sunshine, sire." "And food hearty enough to return your strength." "With your permission." " Fetch a joint of beef." " Beef?" "Very well, I'll find the kitchen and fetch it myself." "And some good Saxon ale to wash it down." "Ah, you're right!" "And it should also be served rare and not burnt to a crisp." "Oh!" "Madame!" "Milord." "I think it is important that you understand the King's bitterness towards me." "I, erm..." "Grimald, find the wine cellar and fetch me some ale." " Ale?" " Ale?" " For the King." " For the King?" "I must confess I found the King's mood very disturbing." "Forgive me." "Edward is the last of his line." "But unless he names his successor his cousin William of Normandy has the same claim to the thrown as I have." "And you spoke to the King about this during his illness?" "I knew it would rouse his anger and being the enmity of Count Eustace out into the open." "But Edward had need to be reminded that a Saxon must succeed him and not William the Norman." "But..." "What of Count Eustace?" "He is the King's bother-in-law." "They're not related by blood." "Eustace and his wife have a great influence with the King." "But as I once warned Leofric, their only true allegiance is to William of Normandy." "What you're asking me to do is to get my husband's support for you." "No." "My guilt for the bitter feuds of the past is too great." "England needs a King who will unite the realm." "I've already spoken to Siward of Northumbria." "He is willing that my son Harold be named heir to the thrown." "I would not suggest that you speak to Leofric, Milord." "There's a century of hatred between your houses." "Leofric must decide upon Harold for himself." "With a little time, perhaps, I can help him reach that decision." "Father." "I seek the Captain of the Guard." "Count Eustace would speak with him." "I think it better that we do not return to the King's chamber together." "It matters not." "What Bejac knows, Eustace knows." "Milady, whatever fate is planned for me, I am grateful for your friendship." "You'd better leave some for the King." "We just wanted to see if it was fit for him to drink." "That's all." "So Pendar was talking to the innkeeper while Oswin and I sneaked around to the back of the biggest wine cask, poked a hole in it and filled up our flagons." " I should have the three of you hanged." " That would be a mistake, sire." "Honest men you can find aplenty, but three such as these are rare." "That is very fortunate for my country." "The truth of it is, sire, we were as innocent as babes." "When the Sheriff, milady's brother, cruelly released us from a warm, cosy dungeon in the middle of the winter." "We had no money and naturally we didn't want to work." "It is well my wife returns from Normandy." "I will go to Dover to meet here myself." "There are matters we have to discuss." "Dover is in the domain of Earl Godwin." "He's given these Saxons the right to refuse us quarters." "I am not concerned with their rights." "I do not intend for Norman soldiers to sleep on the ground while Saxons lie comfortably in bed." "As you command, Monsieur Le Comte." "You will lodge two of my men here tonight." "Father!" "With your permission, Monsieur Le Comte, I will lodge here." "Nobody enters here without my permission!" "We are discussing two things only." "The men-at-arms who were attacked were my soldiers." "And on leaching Dover, my sister's life was endangered." "It is your duty to see that the guilty are punished." "We have had word from Dover, sire." "Our men did not attack." "They defended themselves against an unprovoked massacre." "I blame myself." "I disbanded my army and left my people unprotected." "The words of Godwin suggest that he condones rebellion in his domain." "This massacre is your doing." "It is you who should be brought to account." "In our desire for peace, Leofric and I have rendered England defenceless." " Defenceless, against whom?" " Your Royal Army." "Normans who do his bidding in your name." "Godwin, you threaten the peace of the realm." "Sire, is the Norman influence so strong that your eyes will not see the danger?" "The danger to you is clear, sire." "It lies in Godwin's defiance." "You spoke of my duty, sire." "It is to my people." "You leave me no choice." "I go to rearm them." "The penalty for high treason is death." "The bloodshed would not stop with Godwin." "It will start with Godwin if he remains in England." "Prepare an edict of banishment." "Godwin and his sons are to leave England forever... and their estates be confiscated." "At once." "Bejac, seize them before they leave the castle." "They are to be given safe conduct out of the country." "Unfortunately, treason is contagious." "Even with Godwin in banishment to protect the realm, we shall need a larger army." " To protect it against whom?" " Godwin has friends." "Siward of Northumbria left court this morning." "Was it to avoid declaring between Godwin and the King?" "Siward is no fool." "Dover proved what happens to farmers with stones against men-at-arms." "He will heed the lesson well." " And you?" " Nor am I a fool." "Besides, sire, I have never been a friend of Godwin." "By your leave, sire." "I cannot believe it." "M'lords." "The King wishes your presence, Milady." "And I wish to see the King." "Sire, is exile to be the punishment of all those who oppose Count Eustace?" "I beg you, recall Godwin before it is too late." "You see, Milord, your lack of friendship for Godwin finds little favour with your lady." "The matter is not my wife's concern." "With your permission, sire, she will retire to her chambers." "It is the concern of all of us." "Leofric, our only hope is if you stand with Godwin." "With him destroyed, you may be next." "I will help you better understand your wife, Milord." "She intrigued with Godwin to have Harold named successor to the thrown." "Ask her to tell you about it." "Are you both too blind to see that Godwin is right?" "Where stand you now, Milord?" "Now, as always, my sword is pledged to my King." "And what is your hoped for reward?" "Godwin's estates?" "Will you confine yourself to the social aspects of this court?" "Leave political matters to me." "Then take care of them both." "I am retuning to Coventry." "Pray with me, Milord." "This has been a bitter day for us both." "All you have summoned are here, Godiva." "I have just had word from my brother." "The tax collectors are in Lincolnshire and they'll be retuning to London tomorrow." "We will give them a warm welcome." "Aye!" "And where it hurts most, in their fat collections." "Aye!" " I have 30 men from Ludlow." " And 24 from Wolverton." "19 from Banbury." "We have enough men." "If only we had more weapons." "The King has already taken my father's arms that were stored in Gloucester." "But soon he will be moving Earl Leofric's from the armoury in York." "When he does, we must be ready." "Until then, we must be satisfied with tax collectors." "We'd better disperse now and quickly." "When did Harold return to England?" " He has been at Coventry castle for a week." " Coventry castle?" "A fuller purse if you find out when Godwin and his other sons land in England." "Any service I can render, you have but to call on Tom the Tailor." ""It is decreed by King Edward that the tax on Coventry" ""for the support of the Royal Army is doubled."" "I assume, Sheriff of Lincolnshire, you have no idea who is behind these raids?" " No, Count Eustace." " Nor what lies behind them?" "These outlaws steal the King's tax money." "What else could it be?" "Possibly a plan to being Earl Godwin back to England." "I..." "I know of no such plan." "And you, Lord Leofric, since this is your domain, mayhap you have an idea who foments this rebellion." "How would I know?" "I've not been away from court." "Sire, if there is danger of Godwin returning to England, every shore should be guarded." "Yet Count Eustace is preparing to dispatch a good part of your army to convoy the arms from York to London." "Sire, place a small force of men at my command." "And I promise to put an end to these disturbances and make the roads safe." "And do you also promise to punish the leaders?" "That is most important." "Then your loyalty to the King will indeed be tested, Milord." "The leaded of the rebels is your wife." "I have proof, sire, that Lady Godiva has kept Godwin's son Harold hidden in Coventry castle." " It is they who conspire against you." " I refuse to believe that." "Which, Milord?" "That they conspire against the King?" "Or that they live together under one roof?" "Sire, it is now more than a question of treason." "My personal honour is involved." "If there is a guilt, I shall determine the punishment." "I demand that right." "I will not deny it to you." "You and your men will go with Lord Leofric." "We can ill afford to lose so loyal a servant, sire." "It's from your brother." "The messenger said it is urgent." "He rode all night." "His personal honour." "My husband has forgotten the meaning of the word." "What has happened to Leofric that he believes these lies of you?" "He is not the same man you bound me to." "You must go to the convent, Godiva." "You can claim sanctuary there." "No." "First I must stop Godwin." "He's already in England." "Harold has gone to meet him and they're on their way here." "I will get word to them somehow..." "to go to the monastery at Warwick." "They will be safest there." "You must go quickly." "Should harm come to you, the heart will go out of our people." "Little did I dream when Leofric and I built the convent that one day I would hide from him behind its walls." "I was told at Coventry castle my wife is here." " Yes, Milord." " I wish to see her." "She does not wish to see you." "By thunder, I will see her if I have to batter down the door!" "This house is consecrated to God." "Not even the King can violate its sanctuary." "There is still Harold, Milord." "I will find him if I have to level every building in my domain." "No rebel that has given him shelter shall remain unpunished." "These prisoners were taken at Warwick, Milord." "Any word of Harold?" "A report that he was seen on the road to Warwick took me there." "More than that, his father and brothers are said to be with him." "Obviously, you did not find him." "We ransacked every building in town except the monastery." "And why not the monastery?" "Knowing the King's piety, I dared not violate its sanctuary." "I do not share your scruples about monasteries, Captain." "Take all these prisoners to the dungeon." "Tell Bejac I have ridden to Warwick myself." "We reached Warwick an hour after it happened." "Leofric himself led the Normans." "They forced their way into the monastery and took all the monks prisoner." " But what of Godwin and his sons?" " No word." " That gives us hope they may have escaped." " Had they been taken, we would have heard." "Our cause is lost unless I can reason with Leofric." "Reason with him?" "Why, he is a madman." "Most of the able-bodied men in Coventry are rotting in his castle dungeon." "He loved me once." "He might still listen to me." "I will go to him." "Milady, Norman soldiers are everywhere." "You'd be killed before you reached him." "Then..." "Then find Humbert." "Have him go to Leofric." "And take a message to him that I am ready to give myself up if he will come here." "He'll come here, all right, with 50 Norman soldiers." "There is no other way." "I wish there were." "Go quickly." "Find Humbert." "You're sure they brought the message themselves?" "Yes, Milord." "Grimald, Oswin and Pendar." "They're waiting beyond the west wall to take you to Lady Godiva." "You may go." "You'd best order us killed, Leofric, for if I live, one day my hands will find your throat." "Put them in the dungeon with the others." "Milord, I served your father." "I've been loyal to you." " But in the face of such treachery..." " Take him along, too." " There's the last of your rebel leaders." " All but Godwin and his sons." "At best, they're powerless." "Unless they're fools, they've left England by now." "Let us drink to a task well done." "You can now safely order the arms moved from York." "You do not drink." "I shall send the order to York at once." "My wine cellar lies around... there." "Come, a drink for you." "Come!" "Drink." "The traitor has come to gloat over us." "Listen to me!" "Stop I tell you." "He betrayed us once." "This is some new treachery." " Aye!" " He betrayed no one." "He had us brought here because this dungeon was the safest place in England for us." "Do none of you know Earl Godwin?" "It was the only way I could get enough of my men together without rousing suspicion." "Humbert, release the other prisoners." "By morning, there'll be enough arms coming from York to furnish a Saxon army." "Three of you, come with me." "Fool!" "Tomorrow I'll have a thousand men scouring the countryside to find you." "Good night and sleep well." "Open up here." "Make way." "Be this one of the shipments of arms from York to London?" "How did you know?" "A column of soldiers approaches." "Enough!" "Away from here." "Make haste, Harold!" "Take the Sutton road." "Ride to London." "Inform Count Eustace of Leofric's treachery and that we hold him prisoner in his own castle." "You might also inform him that Godwin is now well armed." "So much the worse for you, Milord." "I wish I could be there when Count Eustace is told how you spent the night in the castle dungeon in your nightshirt." "Captain." "Have your laugh now, Milord." "Bejac!" "Leofric, forgive me for having so little faith in you." "There is nothing to forgive, except your coming here." "My gratitude, Milady." "You have saved me the unpleasant task of battering down the doors of the convent." "The wound is not serious." "It will heal quickly." "He will live long enough to reach the gallows with you." "So touching a reunion should have the benefit of privacy." "I leave you to enjoy your short time together." "Also tell Count Eustace we have Lady Godiva." "If I had known it would being you here," "I would have forbidden your learning the truth." "I would have come anyway." "Without you, there is no life for me." "All these months, thinking that you were a traitor..." "It was my only chance to play for time." "You yourself warned me at court." "With Godwin destroyed, I would be next." "Grimald insists now that he knew it all the while." "He sent you this message." "He said you were to get a stout stick and beat me well for doubting you." "I was of that mind when I came to the convent to speak to you and you would not see me." "And now, I am too weak." "You'll be strong soon, M'lord." "You were told not to come here again." "Return to your homes." "Do you then deny, Lord Leofric, Lady Godiva, that you worked secretly to being Earl Godwin back to England?" "We freely admit it." "Then you admit you both conspired against the peace of the realm?" "It is you that has conspired against the peace of the realm, Count Eustace." "You will do well to remember who is on trial, Milord." "It is not Lady Godiva and I, but you, sire." "You were bought to the throne to unite the Earls of England." "They are united." "But against you!" "Why?" "Where have I failed my people?" "There is only one way to put down rebellion." "Destroy the leaders." "Sire, milord's, my death will be of small importance." "But execute Godiva... and she will become a martyr to the Saxon cause and there will indeed be war in the land!" "Sire, the loyalty of the Saxons is as changeable as the wind." "Not many days ago, you were hated even by your own wife." "You were Leofric the Tyrant, the foul oppressor of your own people." "Now, you are their hero." "It will be so with Lady Godiva." "Today their champion, tomorrow a tavern jest." "Count Eustace again underestimates the Saxons." "On the contrary, Milord Leofric, it is Saxon justice that I ask." "Lady Godiva and Godwin's son Harold were in Coventry castle for many weeks." "In olden days, the Saxons drove a faithless wife through the streets unclothed to prove her shame." "Let it be so with Godiva." "The people will behave as they did in the past." "A holiday will be declared with drinking and dancing." "At the end of her ride, they will stone her to death." "That was a barbaric custom best forgotten." "But think, sire, milord's, she dies in disgrace, not as a martyr." "I will have none of it." "If she dies, it will be as befits her rank." "Sire, milord's..." "Count Eustace assures you that the Saxons will desert their earls." "But I tell you that they only await the command to rise against you." "If I can prove to you, sire, how great the Saxon loyalty is to their own... will you meet in council with Earl Godwin?" "I will do anything to prevent war in my kingdom." "Then proclaim on the morrow... that I will make such a ride as Count Eustace proposes through the streets of Coventry." "Are you mad, Godiva?" "I know my people, King Edward." "There will be no holiday, no merrymaking in the streets... and there will be no person in all of Coventry who will look upon my nakedness." "Tom!" "When he gets off his knees, he will send for Godwin." "You will have one hundred of your best men on guard in the castle." "Choose them carefully." "We should be humbly grateful, Godwin." "Were it not for Lady Godiva by now you and I, in our arrogance, would have plunged our people into war." "Sire, like yours, my deepest prayer has been for peace." "But there is one great obstacle to peace which must be removed." "Order the Normans out of England!" "And suppose, Earl Godwin, the Normans refuse to leave?" "Then they will be driven out." "En garde!" "What treachery is this?" "In one move, we rid England of the troublemakers." "I pledged my word they would be heard in peace." "A pledge can also be broken, sire." "Now, I begin to see where the real treason in my kingdom lies." "I am a Saxon!" "I will rule over a Saxon England." "You have made the wrong choice, Edward." "Put up your swords or Count Eustace dies." "Bejac." "Sire!" "Grimald." "Around to the other door, you fools." "Hold him." "Hold him right there." "Even if I die, not one of you will escape." "A Norman will yet sit on the throne of England." "I have no intention of killing you, Count Eustace." "You could've come closer by almost a finger." "Fully two fingers." "As well as I could have done myself." "Now!" "Have a care." "You'll hurt the poor man." "Leofric, I pray you, stop this savage game." "Sire, it is possible to wound a man a thousand times before killing him." "What say you now, Eustace?" "Will you leave England with your Normans?" "Time runs out." "The other cheek, then the eyes." "I..." "I pledge my word." "A pledge from you is not enough." "Prior." "A sacred oath." "I vow on the Holy Cross to leave England and take the Normans with me." "Non!" "Arretez, Bejac." "Suivez-moi." "I pray God to let me reign long enough to atone for the evil I have done." "But if God wills otherwise, I appoint your son Harold my heir." "My son and I pledge you our full allegiance, sire." "But I fear you will have to be satisfied with a divided allegiance from Leofric." "Leofric, I once told you that I was not given to vapours or fainting." "Yes." "But if you'll allow me just this one faint," "I'm sure that the King will forgive our absence." "Milady!" "Godiva!"