The clerks scratched away, making notes. The smoke from the incense burners caught in Thomas’s throat. Behind him,Otto suppressed a harsh cough against his clenched fist. Thomas looked round at him briefly. His brother was sweating, his fair hair lying in dark strands against his scalp. Thomas experienced a frisson of anxiety. The pestilence was rife in the city. Thousands of victims lay rotting in mass graves. Pope Clement himself sat in his chamber between two fumigating fires just like these and allowed no one to approach him closely. Everyone attended church and made confession at least once a day and regular penitential processions chanted through the streets, ringing bells and crying to God for forgiveness, mercy and protection.
Just before he left for Avignon, the English court had been cast into deep mourning by the news of the death of Princess Joan, just fourteen years old. Travelling to her marriage in Castile, she had contracted the pestilence during a stop in Bordeaux. And then the new baby, William, whose birth had been celebrated at the Windsor tourney, had also died – not of pestilence, but of a fever. Perhaps it was indeed the end of days, as many were saying.
He was worried for Jeanette, and his family. A merchant had arrived in Avignon two days ago and told them that the pestilence was ravaging London, and no matter how much people prayed and were penitent, the relentless spread continued unchecked.
Having given his evidence, Thomas sat down on the bench beside Otto. The latter rose to take his turn, and swayed as he adjusted his belt and straightened his tunic. He approached the Cardinal and the clerks and cleared his throat again with another cough. Amid wafts of eye-stinging incense smoke, he gave the papal committee his statement in a hoarse and gravelly voice. ‘In all my life I have never been more certain of a fact – that my dearest brother Thomas Holland was married in the presence of all these witnesses at the Abbey of Saint Bavo. Ican vouch for everyone here. I know that the marriage was consummated, for my brother told me so, and I trust his word. He would not lie to me, and I do solemnly give my oath to my statement.’
Master John, the Montagus’ attorney, raised his brow. ‘You may trust your brother’s word, but if you were not present in the room, then you cannot vouchsafe that part of the proceedings. All you can say is that you were present at a marriage that was conducted by a friar who is now “unfortunately” deceased.’
Otto flushed. ‘I stand by my word. Master Heath will confirm what I say through the sworn testimony of the lady herself.’ He turned to look at Jeanette’s attorney, and suppressed a bout of coughing.
Master Heath shuffled his documents. ‘Indeed, the lady has made such a statement. She declares that the marriage was consummated on several occasions and that she was coerced into the match with William, Lord Montagu.’ Master Heath submitted the document. ‘I spoke to her in person and she confirmed all this to me in person.’
The Cardinal passed the documentation to a clerk and summoned the next witness, Henry de la Haye.
Otto returned to his seat on the bench and slumped, head down, lips pressed together. When Thomas laid a hand on his forearm in concern, Otto waved his hand in a gesture to say he was all right, but clearly he was struggling.
Henry de la Haye gave his witness statement, then John de la Salle, and then lastly Hawise stepped forward, her chin jutting and her face pale.
‘I have attended my lady for many years,’ she said. ‘I served her in Flanders when she was a lady in Queen Philippa’s chamber, and I was present at many of the meetings between herself and Messire Holland before they were married. I witnessed that marriage; indeed I was married myself that day.I attended my lady on occasions when she went to her husband, Messire Holland, and I assisted her when she had need. I state clearly that Messire Holland was her carnal husband and a great wrong has been done by forcing her into a marriage that was beyond her powers to refuse.’
Thomas looked at Hawise with pride and gratitude and swallowed emotion at her staunchness in his and Jeanette’s defence.
William’s attorney, Master John, folded his hands around his cloak edges. ‘I am sure these witnesses all think they know what happened,’ he said, ‘but we have the sworn testimony of no less than the Lady Elizabeth Montagu – the former Earl of Salisbury’s mother – the Countess of Salisbury, and indeed the lady’s own mother, the Dowager Countess of Kent, that the bride was a virgin when she married William Montagu. All of these good ladies attest that they witnessed the sight of her virginal blood on the sheet and upon the bride’s thighs on the morning after the consummation of the marriage to William Montagu her husband. I would welcome the opportunity to conduct further investigation into this matter, for clearly there are two versions of events very much at odds with each other.’
Thomas stood up again, frustration burning in his chest. ‘Then clearly one is wrong,’ he said, ‘and I, and these people here, know which one. Please excuse me, Your Eminence, with your leave, when I married my wife she was carrying my child, and Mistress Hawise will confirm that I tell no lie.’
‘Indeed, it is true,’ Hawise said. ‘My lady miscarried the child after the Countess of Salisbury gave her certain herbs in a tisane. The event was covered up, but that makes it no less real.’
Master John narrowed his eyes. ‘None of this is reported here.’ He turned to Jeanette’s attorney. ‘Master Heath?’
The latter shook his head. ‘I would have to say that the lady made no mention of this when I spoke to her.’
‘Then we do not know whether it is the truth, or yet more fabrication,’ Master John said forcefully. ‘Not until we question the lady herself.’
Cardinal Adhemar surveyed the gathering with weary exasperation and clasped his hands on the table. ‘This is a tangled matter indeed. I have listened to the claims and counter claims and must weigh them carefully. I cannot give you a judgement today, for this matter requires further investigation and clearer documentation. I am not satisfied with either testimony and I wish to know the true circumstances without hearsay. I will not require the witnesses again, but I do require further full depositions from all attorneys by Lent of next year. This is too important an issue for mistakes to be made and I want to be satisfied on all counts.’
Thomas pressed his lips together, striving to remain stoical and steady as the Cardinal swept from the room followed by his assistants and scribes. In reality he wanted to upend tables and smash things.
‘It was less than I had hoped for, but not a complete disaster,’ Robert Beverley said, joining him. ‘I think the Cardinal favours our case, but since your wife is the King’s cousin and the opposition is the Earl of Salisbury, the judgement must be sound and without room for repercussion.’
Thomas exhaled with irritated anger.
‘I understand your ire, my lord,’ Beverley said, ‘but a sound judgement now without room for error will set matters in stone. Should Lord Montagu choose to wed again, he will need to show documentation to prove that he was never married to the lady. The matter has great implications for inheritance.’
‘I have no doubt that it does,’ Thomas growled, ‘but I do not see why it should take so many more months to sort out.’
He turned at a sudden commotion behind him and saw Otto dash from the chamber, and then an instant later came thesound of heavy retching. Thomas left his attorney and hurried outside to his brother, who was doubled over.
Thomas touched Otto’s brow. ‘Dear God, your skin is burning,’ he said. ‘We should get you back to our lodgings.’
‘I am all right,’ Otto wheezed. ‘There is nothing wrong with me – it’s all that damned smoke in there!’
‘Mayhap, but we should do as I say. There is nothing here for us at the moment.’
Thomas took his arm, and looking at the others of their party, saw the same fear in their eyes that he felt within himself.
Once at their lodging, Thomas laid Otto down on his pallet. His brother’s teeth were chattering as though he was frozen to the marrow, but his body was scorching to the touch. Thomas stripped him to his shirt and braies while Hawise fetched a bowl of tepid water and a cloth to wipe him down.
