Devilʼs Brew: The Janna Chronicles 5 (29 page)

Her father was in sight now, and Janna abruptly slowed her flying footsteps to a sedate walk. They were all waiting for her, standing in a small, tight group that said they were a family and she was the outsider. Janna faltered; her hand went up to tidy her hair, and down to smooth the folds of her gown.

Her feet hurt in their tight shoes. Her heart was sore. She longed for a kindly word, an affectionate gesture. She tilted her chin, knowing that any hint of self-pity would bring another storm of tears. She would not show herself vulnerable to these people.
She would not.
So she walked steadily toward them with a smile fixed on her face, a smile that told them – told the world, and most especially her father – that she was a strong and independent young woman who knew exactly who she was, where she was going, and, most importantly of all, that she had the determination and courage to decide her own future.

The Janna Chronicles are set in the 1140s, at a turbulent time in England’s history. After Henry I’s son, William, drowned in the White Ship disaster, Henry was left with only one legitimate heir, his daughter Matilda (sometimes known as Maude). She was married at an early age to the German emperor, but for political reasons and despite Matilda’s vehement protests, Henry brought her back to England after her husband died, and insisted that she marry Count Geoffrey of Anjou, a boy some ten years her junior. They married in 1128, and the first of their three sons, Henry (later to become Henry II of England) was born in 1133.

Henry I announced Matilda his heir and twice demanded that his barons, including her cousin, Stephen of Blois, all swear an oath of allegiance to her. This they did, but when Henry died, Stephen rushed to London and was crowned king. Furious at his treachery, Matilda gathered her own supporters, including her illegitimate half-brother, Robert of Gloucester, who became her commander in chief. In 1139 she landed at Arundel Castle in England, prepared to fight for her crown.

Civil war ravaged England for nineteen years, creating such hardship and misery that the
Peterborough Chronicle
reported: “Never before had there been greater wretchedness in the country…They said openly that Christ slept, and His saints.” The civil war mostly comprised a series of battles and skirmishes as the principal players fought for supremacy, while the barons took advantage of the general lawlessness to go on the rampage and claim whatever land and castles they could, some of them changing sides several times in the hope of advantage.

The year 1141 marked a turning point in Matilda’s fortunes. Two brothers, the Earl of Chester and William de Roumare, seized and occupied Lincoln Castle by first tricking the guards into admitting their wives. The Earl of Chester subsequently changed sides to support the Empress Matilda – a welcome move, as the Earl of Chester’s daughter was married to the son of Matilda’s chief supporter, Robert, Earl of Gloucester. After some negotiation, Stephen eventually mustered his troops and went to reclaim Lincoln on an ill-fated expedition. According to the chronicle of Henry of Huntingdon, when Stephen heard Mass and, following the custom, offered a candle to Bishop Alexander, it broke in his hands. Henry wrote: “This was a warning to the king that he would be crushed. In the bishop’s presence, too, the pyx above the altar, which contained the Lord’s Body, fell, its chain having snapped off. This was a sign of the king’s downfall.” And so it came to pass. The king was defeated and imprisoned in Bristol Castle. The empress met with the papal legate, Bishop Henry of Blois (Stephen’s brother), who promised his support, along with several other bishops and archbishops. There was also a meeting between Matilda and Archbishop Theobald in Wiltune shortly before Easter, at which time the archbishop held off promising allegiance until he had spoken to the king and sought his permission to “act as the difficulties of the time required” (to which Stephen actually agreed!). Matilda then made her way to London for her coronation, supposedly with Bishop Henry’s support. Shortly before her coronation, she was chased out of London by the queen’s troops and the Londoners who had turned against her. She fled to Oxford, and spent July there, rallying forces and making promises to the barons, giving gifts of land and titles in return for their support. She had alienated many of them with her high-handed ways, including Bishop Henry, and when Robert of Gloucester visited Henry in Winchester in mid-July to settle their differences, he achieved little. He finally returned to Oxford to muster the empress’s army.

A chronicle from the time, the
Gesta Stephani
, suggests that the bishop might well have been behind the London uprising. The same account also suggests that he may never have supported Matilda’s bid for the throne at all. Other accounts date their falling-out from the time Matilda refused to honor her promise not to meddle in ecclesiastic affairs when she insisted on appointing William Cumin as the new bishop of Durham against Henry’s wishes. But the real sticking point in her relationship with Bishop Henry was her refusal to confirm the Honor of Boulogne, held by the king, upon the king’s son, Eustace. She may even have promised the title and lands to others.

I’ve kept to the place names listed in the Domesday Book compiled by William the Conqueror in 1086, but the contemporary names of some of the sites are: Barford St Martin (Berford), Baverstock (Babestoche), Salisbury (Sarisberie or Sarum), Amesbury (Ambresberie), Oxford (Oxeneford), Winchester (Winchestre), Ludgershall (Litlegarsele), Stockbridge (Stoche), Rochester (Roucestre), Reading (Radinges) and Bristol (Bristou). Wilton (Wiltune) was the ancient capital of Wessex, and the abbey was established in Saxon times.

Some of the most important accounts I have used while researching this series include
Gesta Stephani
(The Life of Stephen), William of Malmesbury’s
Historia Novella
,
The Empress Matilda
by Marjorie Chibnall,
King Stephen
by R.H.C. Davis and
The Reign of King Stephen
by David Crouch. For those interested in learning more about the civil war between Stephen and Matilda, Sharon Penman’s
When Christ and His Saints Slept
is an excellent “factional” account of that history. On a lighter note, I have also read, and much enjoyed, the Brother Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters, which are set during this period. While Janna’s loyalty lies in a different direction, her skill with herbs was inspired by these wonderful stories of the herbalist at Shrewsbury Abbey.

While writing medieval England from Australia is a difficult and hazardous enterprise, I have been fortunate in the support and encouragement I’ve received along the way. So many people have helped make this series possible, and in particular I’d like to thank the following: Nick and Wendy Combes of Burcombe Manor, for taking me into their family, giving me a home away from home and teaching me about life on a farm, both now and in medieval times. Author Sophie Masson, who provided the French translation of John’s letter. Dr Gillian Polack, whose knowledge of medieval life helped shape the series and gave it veracity. Garrett Sherman, who explained the process of brewing ale in medieval time. Finally, my thanks to all at Momentum for their thought, care and expertise, and for enabling me to introduce The Janna Chronicles to a new audience.

Love, revenge, secrets – and murder – in a medieval kingdom at war.

Janna and her father are finally reconciled, but she realizes that she poses a threat to her father’s family when there’s an attempt on her life. Unwilling to name the culprit, but with a secret plan, Janna accompanies her father to Oxeneford where the Empress Matilda is under siege from King Stephen. Janna finally tells her father the truth about her mother’s death, trusting that he will help her bring the murderer to justice. To her dismay, her father asks the king to negotiate a prestigious marriage for her. When the man she truly loves is accused of murder, Janna has one last crime to solve – until the siege of Wiltune turns her life upside down and changes everything.

For more information please visit
momentumbooks.com.au/books/day-of-judgment-the-janna-chronicles-6-2/
 

Felicity Pulman is the award-winning author of numerous novels for children and teenagers, including
A Ring Through Time
, the Shalott trilogy, and
Ghost Boy
, which is now in pre-production for a movie.
I, Morgana
was her first novel for adults, inspired by her early research into Arthurian legend and her journey to the UK and France to “walk in the footsteps of her characters” before writing the Shalott trilogy – something she loves to do. Her interest in crime and history inspired her medieval crime series, The Janna Mysteries, now repackaged as The Janna Chronicles.

Recently awarded the inaugural Di Yerbury writer’s fellowship, Felicity will spend several months in the UK in 2015 researching and writing the sequel to
I, Morgana
. She has many years experience talking about researching and writing her novels both in schools and to adults, as well as conducting creative writing workshops in a wide variety of genres. Felicity is married, with two children and six grandchildren, all of whom help to keep her young and technosavvy – sort of! You can find out more about Felicity on her website and blog:
www.felicitypulman.com.au
or on Facebook.

I, Morgana

Blood Oath: The Janna Chronicles 1

Stolen Child: The Janna Chronicles 2

Unholy Murder: The Janna Chronicles 3

Pilgrim of Death: The Janna Chronicles 4