Robert de Bellême Part Two: Agnes de Ponthieu by Jennie Hart

Part 2

Characters

Robert de Bellême: built Bridgnorth Castle in the 11th Century

Agnes Comtesse de Ponthieu : wife of Robert de Bellême

Guillaume de Ponthieu 1093-1172 : son of Agnes de Ponthieu

Josephine: nursemaid to Guillaume

Edmund: the soldier who rescues Agnes; nephew of Lord Ralph de Mortimer.

Arthur: Edmund’s family friend who takes Agnes to Dover

Lord Ralph de Mortimer of Ribbesford: uncle of Edmund. Provides carriage and gold for the journey

Adela Comtesse de Blois: close friend of Agnes de Ponthieu and sister of Henry 1

Stephen 1096-1154: son of Adela Comtesse de Blois and future King Stephen 1 of England

Agnes de Ponthieu

Agnes remained exhausted for many days after the long, tortuous journey to Dover and terrifying crossing of the English Channel. She would always be indebted to Edmund, the loyal soldier, who freed her from incarceration in Bridgnorth Castle, and to Arthur, Edmund’s family friend. Arthur and his coachman ensured the young family’s safe arrival in Dover.

Edmund was a nephew of the elderly Lord Ralph de Mortimer of Ribbesford and Lord Ralph had willingly agreed to provide a road-worthy carriage to safely transport Comtesse Agnes to Dover. He also gave gold coinage to pay for any costs incurred. Lord Ralph was a worldly man whose estate at Ribbesford had been given him by William the Conqueror for his services during the Conqueror’s reign. Lord Ralph had no admiration for Robert de Bellême and called him an uncouth man.

Deep ruts from previous wagons had striated the sodden earth. During the first part of the journey, a forceful gale had threatened to upturn their carriage, but Arthur and the coachman skilfully kept it upright. Guillaume had been frightened but Agnes held him close. Edmund had ridden alongside the wagon through the foulest of nights, and towards dawn, found a suitable hostel along the route to Coventry. Edmund said goodbye, leaving the family in Arthur’s good hands, and returned to Bridgnorth, praying his absence had not been noticed at the Castle. Arthur entertained Guillaume telling him funny stories. He gave him an apple he found in his pouch, pulled silly faces to make him laugh. They became the best of friends. Meanwhile, everyone was rested and the horses were fed, ready to pull the carriage on the next stage to Dover.

The roads were often rough dirt racks and sometimes a fallen tree or abandoned cart obstructed their path. Arthur and his driver had their pistols loaded and ready should a highwayman hold up their carriage, but days later, after further stops and fresh horses, they reached the Channel safely. Arthur had previously accompanied Robert on a visit to his French castles so remembered the route, which as well as rough terrain, was interspersed with stretches of solid road built long ago by the Romans.

Arthur was a familiar figure around the port as he had skippered a boat for many years in his younger days, and on this occasion, soon found a captain that knew him. Arthur gave five sovereigns provided by Edmond, and the captain promised to keep the young women and child safe. He would find a good carriage from Calais to take them by road to Ponthieu.

It was dusk by the time the young family and nursemaid were assisted on to the vessel. The boat lacked comforts but was robust and sea-worthy and Agnes despite her fears, felt a rush of excitement as they stood on deck alongside the towering masts. Her thoughts were only of Ponthieu. They were all still recovering from their journey to Dover, but Guillaume was excited and had thought it an adventure. He had leaned out to touch children begging by the wayside, longing for a friend to play with, and sometimes, passing coachmen had waved to Guillaume when Guillaume’s coach had slowed down to let another pass.

The ship’s captain was unused to taking unaccompanied female passengers across the channel and, had gleaned from her poise and stature that Agnes was a lady of some standing. Arthur informed him she was the wife of a powerful lord whose name he could not reveal. Arthur knew of Robert de Bellême’s ruthlessness in pursuit of his objectives and did not want to betray the family. It was not a passenger ship, so the captain ordered the first and second mate to give up their own bunks for their important guests and to post another member of the crew to duty-watch over them. The bunks were filthy and stank of body odours, but Agnes in any case was too agitated to sleep; she had been afraid that Robert’s men would arrive before they left port. The nurse and child curled up under heavy, grimy covers and slept a disturbed sleep while Agnes stole back to the deck to watch the powerful waves lashing the boat. The sailor on duty urged her to go below lest she get washed overboard, but her life had taught her to be strong and she refused to leave.

At one point the boat was lifted almost out of the water and Agnes clung to the rails until the seaman, angered at her stubbornness, half-dragged her below. Her hooded cloak, her woollen gown and hair were sodden and her soft leather boots mired in all manner of sea debris, but she had escaped from her captor and that was all she cared about. Josephine and Guillaume had tumbled from their bunk as the boat rocked and rolled but Guillaume wasn’t afraid; he

liked the tempest; it reminded him of the story Josephine had told him, where a brave boy rescues a horse that had been swept into the river. Like his maman, Guillaume wanted to watch the enormous waves, but dawn was breaking and the storm was passing. Now the sea lapped gently against the prow and bright rays of sunlight filtered through lingering clouds illuminating the welcome shores of Calais. Summer was nearly over but the air was still warm and soon Agnes’s clothes would be dry. She felt a deep sense of hope.

The second mate was a cheerful young man and brought beer and sweet biscuits for their breakfast. He delighted Guillaume by swinging him round, throwing him up in the air and pretending to let him fall. Guillaume asked him to do it again and never to stop; he wasn’t used to having fun. With unimaginable relief, they disembarked at the Port of Calais and there, the captain entrusted his passengers to a reliable coachman. After another bone-shaking journey with two further stops, the majestic Chateau de Ponthieu, on its wooded hill, came into view. Agnes’s mother was overcome by her daughter’s return with no warning and was enthralled by her young grandson. Compte Guy de Ponthieu, Agnes’s father, had been away many weeks visiting his other estates and did not return during her stay.

Some weeks later, she was surprised and touched at the arrival of her childhood friend, Adela. Adela Comtesse de Blois was the sister of King Henry the First of England and Adela had learnt that Agnes had made a dangerous escape from Bridgnorth back to Ponthieu. She pleaded with her friend to accompany her to the family chateau in the Loire Valley where Agnes could stay for a while in safety. Adela knew Robert would soon trace them to Ponthieu but would not easily learn of their new whereabouts. She had brought her son Stephen, who was younger than five-year old Guillaume, but as soon as they were introduced, they started to play. Guillaume desperately wanted a friend, but would have been surprised to know then, that his new chum, would one day become King Stephen of England

More long, dreary journeys followed, but this time Agnes was comforted by Adela’s lively company. Too soon, Agnes knew, Guillaume would be taken from her care to begin a training suitable for a noble boy, but not before he was seven years old. She knew her separation from Robert de Bellême, her husband, would not prevent Robert from having influence over his son’s upbringing. It was customary for a young boy from a noble family to serve first as page boy to a lord, and following on from that, bgin his squire-hood. Guillaume would learn to serve as a knight and receive training in combat and horsemanship. Agnes could not bear to think of Guillaume taking part in battles but it was inevitable. Already Guillaume was receiving education in history and religious studies from a tutor who was travelling with them to Blois, but she knew Robert de Bellême would be already making plans for his son’s future.

Agnes was unaware that King Henry had knowledge of Robert’s ruthless behaviour and treatment of his citizens. One day, he would be summoned by the King to Winchester with forty-five charges against him. At some point, Robert would be forced to surrender and be imprisoned for the rest of his life.