bath for the first time since we had left Calais. We were made welcome with gifts of rich Burgundian wine and Countess Jacqueline and her mother were kept busy receiving many visitors and restoring old alliances. Duke Humphrey was treated with deference but it was easy to see the tension and distrust behind the insincere smiles of the Hainault nobles.
There was time to explore the city while we waited for the diplomacy to take its course. Countess Jacqueline was proud to show her husband her capital and insisted we visited the castle and the gardens of the archery guild. Humphrey was recovering from the illness that troubled him on our journey from Calais and was keen to learn as much about Mons as he could. He asked many questions and impressed our hosts with a generous donation towards the completion of the guild’s new chapel. We climbed the hill in the park to have the best view of Mons and for the first time I realised the scale of what Humphrey wanted to achieve, for the lands he was claiming as his by right extended to the distant horizon.
I remember it was on the first day of December that the nobles of Hainaut finally convened to discuss Humphrey’s claim. Some still questioned the legitimacy of his marriage to the countess and were reminded that she had a dispensation from Rome. The duke was now her true and legitimate husband, so he should be recognised as Regent and Protector of Hainault. The dissenters argued long into the night on detailed points of precedence and legal procedure. Jacqueline explained this was typical of her people and was unsurprised when we were told that they were unable to reach agreement.
We learned that the objectors had absented themselves, meaning that those who remained had no authority to make such an important decision. It was just a matter of time. Three days later the nobles, aware of the fact our restless army was camped outside the city gates, agreed to send letters to the Duke of Brabant renouncing allegiance to him.Humphrey was greatly relieved that he had achieved this without the need to use force, although it was far from over, as we knew Holland and Zealand would not give in so easily. Jacqueline’s mother also pointed out that many important Hainault nobles still refused to acknowledge Humphrey as Regent, including the powerful Count of Conversan and the Lord of Jeumont, whose father Duke William had been amongst the many nobles murdered by the English after surrendering at the battle of Agincourt.
There was little that could be done about those who had always opposed Countess Jacqueline and remained loyal to the Duke of Brabant. Humphrey decided we would visit those towns which had accepted him as the declared governor of the county and Lord of Hainault. We also returned to Valenciennes, which he had so nearly attacked when we had previously been barred from entry. This time the gates to the old city were thrown open and the nobles and merchants greeted us with a cautious welcome. Humphrey promised to guard the citizens and respect their laws.
It was in Valenciennes that Humphrey found his way to my rooms one night, something which he had not done since we left England. I of course understood how he had needed to show his loyalty to Jacqueline but now he shared his true feelings with me. He was angry with the nobles who acknowledged him merely as regent for his wife. I remember him telling me the only way he was going to truly inherit her lands would be on her death. There was menace in his voice as he said this and I wondered if this marked the end of our adventure in Hainault.
I will never regret what I did then, as it was clear he was never going to be accepted. I reminded him of a promise he had once made to me. The details are hard to recall, as we had drunk more than a little wine and it was late, but he took my hand and asked me to marry him. I pointed out he was already married and he laughed, as for having spent so much time and energy proving his
There was time to explore the city while we waited for the diplomacy to take its course. Countess Jacqueline was proud to show her husband her capital and insisted we visited the castle and the gardens of the archery guild. Humphrey was recovering from the illness that troubled him on our journey from Calais and was keen to learn as much about Mons as he could. He asked many questions and impressed our hosts with a generous donation towards the completion of the guild’s new chapel. We climbed the hill in the park to have the best view of Mons and for the first time I realised the scale of what Humphrey wanted to achieve, for the lands he was claiming as his by right extended to the distant horizon.
I remember it was on the first day of December that the nobles of Hainaut finally convened to discuss Humphrey’s claim. Some still questioned the legitimacy of his marriage to the countess and were reminded that she had a dispensation from Rome. The duke was now her true and legitimate husband, so he should be recognised as Regent and Protector of Hainault. The dissenters argued long into the night on detailed points of precedence and legal procedure. Jacqueline explained this was typical of her people and was unsurprised when we were told that they were unable to reach agreement.
We learned that the objectors had absented themselves, meaning that those who remained had no authority to make such an important decision. It was just a matter of time. Three days later the nobles, aware of the fact our restless army was camped outside the city gates, agreed to send letters to the Duke of Brabant renouncing allegiance to him.Humphrey was greatly relieved that he had achieved this without the need to use force, although it was far from over, as we knew Holland and Zealand would not give in so easily. Jacqueline’s mother also pointed out that many important Hainault nobles still refused to acknowledge Humphrey as Regent, including the powerful Count of Conversan and the Lord of Jeumont, whose father Duke William had been amongst the many nobles murdered by the English after surrendering at the battle of Agincourt.
There was little that could be done about those who had always opposed Countess Jacqueline and remained loyal to the Duke of Brabant. Humphrey decided we would visit those towns which had accepted him as the declared governor of the county and Lord of Hainault. We also returned to Valenciennes, which he had so nearly attacked when we had previously been barred from entry. This time the gates to the old city were thrown open and the nobles and merchants greeted us with a cautious welcome. Humphrey promised to guard the citizens and respect their laws.
It was in Valenciennes that Humphrey found his way to my rooms one night, something which he had not done since we left England. I of course understood how he had needed to show his loyalty to Jacqueline but now he shared his true feelings with me. He was angry with the nobles who acknowledged him merely as regent for his wife. I remember him telling me the only way he was going to truly inherit her lands would be on her death. There was menace in his voice as he said this and I wondered if this marked the end of our adventure in Hainault.
I will never regret what I did then, as it was clear he was never going to be accepted. I reminded him of a promise he had once made to me. The details are hard to recall, as we had drunk more than a little wine and it was late, but he took my hand and asked me to marry him. I pointed out he was already married and he laughed, as for having spent so much time and energy proving his
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