The Weaver's Inheritance Read Free Page B

been no children of the marriage and now he was dead, leaving as his sole heir his daughter, Mary, who must surely be the greatest matrimonial prize in the whole of Europe.
    I was still confused however. ‘But why does the King need to convene a Great Council?’
    Timothy heaved another sigh. ‘Use your common sense, man,’ he pleaded. ‘What do you think happened the moment the news of Duke Charles’s death reached the French court?’ When I made no answer, he continued wearily, ‘King Louis at once announced that Burgundy had reverted to the Crown of France, and our spies report that he is even now mustering his armies to take possession of it. Surely you understand what that means!’
    Of course I did. I couldn’t live in a weaving community without knowing the vital importance of Burgundy to the English cloth trade. It was one of our biggest markets.
    ‘Then it’s war,’ I said slowly, twisting my cup between my fingers. ‘This time, we shall really go to war with France.’
    Timothy Plummer shook his head. ‘It’s not that simple, my friend. You’ve forgotten the pension King Louis pays King Edward.’ My companion lowered his voice and took a careful look around to ensure that no one was listening. ‘Fifty thousand crowns a year isn’t lightly to be tossed aside by a man who has to support a greedy wife and her equally rapacious family.’
    ‘So … what’s the answer?’
    ‘A strong husband for Mary of Burgundy; someone who will devote himself to her interests and halt King Louis in his tracks. And that’s chiefly what’s worrying Duke Richard.’
    ‘In heaven’s name, why?’
    Timothy bent his head closer to mine, and his voice sank almost to a whisper. ‘Think, man, think! The Duke of Clarence is now a widower. He’s Dowager Duchess Margaret’s favourite brother. You’ve only to note how his retainers and followers are already puffing themselves up with a new-found importance to guess what’s in Prince George’s mind.’
    ‘But … would it be such a bad thing if my lord of Clarence married the Duchess Mary? It would keep Burgundy firmly yoked to England, and surely that’s in His Highness’s interest. In all our interests!’
    Timothy grunted and signed to a passing pot-boy to refill our cups, waiting until this was done before replying.
    ‘Oh, yes! It’s what every cloth merchant in the country wants, I’ve no doubt, as well as more money for his goods; something he’s not likely to get if King Louis controls the Burgundian exchequer. The Guilds are always sending deputations to London as it is, to demand that a better price be negotiated for their wares. And, I might add, none are so vociferous as the weavers and fullers and tenters from your part of the world. I had to accompany Duke Richard to London last October, and there was a company of men from Bristol there then, pestering everyone concerned, including the King, with their extortionate demands.’
    ‘Well, there you are then! If the Duke of Clarence were to marry his stepniece…’
    ‘Christ’s nightshirt!’ Timothy interrupted in exasperation. ‘Do you really think that the King or any of the Woodvilles would entertain the idea, even for an instant? Do you imagine they’d want Clarence at large in Europe, the possessor of its most s-splendid coronet?’ In his excitement, Timothy was beginning to stutter, his voice rising in despair at my lack of political nous. In spite of the noise all around us, he was attracting attention and heads were starting to turn. With a visible effort, he took himself in hand.
    ‘Just consider,’ he went on more quietly, ‘that it’s only a little over six years since George of Clarence was at the French court, an ally of King Louis; since he and his father-in-law, Warwick, returned to England to depose King Edward and restore King Henry to the throne; and something less than six years since he again turned his coat to fight alongside his brothers here, at Tewkesbury. The