So, the plans were set. Brother Simon would travel to the court of Prince John in London and make representations for an audience during which he would give him a holy gift on behalf of the church. It was decided he would travel with The Trust as far as the familiar surroundings of William and Maud's farm. Brother Simon's brother, Edgar, would also accompany them.
Edgar and his family had really enjoyed working alongside John Scarlet and they relished the time they had spent with his brother, Simon. All the old family ties and bonds had been re-established and both men had come to partially regret the years they had spent separated from each other's company. Edgar's family adored the Mongols and although they did not know the true reason they were here in England, they liked the strange looking men from across the seas immensely. Edgar and his family had quite given up trying to pronounce Guragchaa's name and now everyone called him Hood, even Jebe and the others.
The Trust waited at the farm while Brother Simon and Edgar went to try and see the Prince. The two men made all haste to the Temple to retrieve their gift to Prince John from the safe keeping of the Templars. All went seamlessly.
The White Tower, built over a hundred years ago by William, the Norman King, stood high on the ground, dominating and intimidating the whole scene for miles around. Richard had completed a curtain wall around the Tower several years earlier and the two new arrivals were in awe of the sight of the stronghold. Just as its architect had intended people to be. Edgar allowed Brother Simon lead the way through the streets of the surrounding buildings and markets, he followed a few steps behind him, vigilant that no one was paying any attention to the cloth wrapped bundle his brother had tied to his back. He had no idea why Brother Simon wanted to go and try and gain an audience with the Prince, but was more than happy to make the journey. He had never been to London before and his mind was swamped with the sights, sounds and smells of the city. He kept pinching his arm to keep his mind on the job in hand and remain alert. Simon had told his brother he had been given a holy relic while in Jerusalem which he wanted to gift to the King and the best way to do this was through his brother, Prince John. This seemed a reasonable story to Edgar who was proud of his brother for the lengthy pilgrimage he had made to the Holy Land. He was a little jealous of the wonderful stories about the people he had met and the grand places he had visited on his journey, but he was heartened when he remembered how Simon had recently told him that it was he was envious of the life Edgar had made for himself. He had married a beautiful woman whom he totally trusted and loved and had proven to be the perfect mother to his adored children. As they walked through the throng of people, Edgar realised both brothers had been very fortunate in the paths their lives had taken. Edgar asked his brother to stop, which he did and upon turning, looked back towards his kin.
"What is it Edgar?" asked Brother Simon inquisitively.
Edgar had stopped and was kneeling next to a small boy with a dog tied onto a piece of rope. Man and boy talked for a few moments in whispered tones and Edgar placed his hand into his cloak and retrieved a small coin which he passed over to the boy. With that the boy dropped the rope holding the dog and ran off. Turning as he ran away laughing, shouting over his shoulder, "He's yours now mister, I was only watching him for someone."
Smiling at the cheek of the little boy, Edgar said "I have another present you can give to the Prince." he smiled as he bade his brother to lead on.
The two men walked around the edge of the castle walls, both noticing how the temperature had dropped when they got into the shade of the stone curtains. They were met at the gatehouse by a throng of uniformed guards all stood idly around chatting to each other. The two men were ignored by all and sundry. Brother Simon said to Edgar, "Will you wait here for me? I will go and see the Prince on my own."
"Of course," said Edgar, silently handing the rope with the dog attached to his brother.
"What is this?" said Brother Simon.
"I told you, it is another gift for the Prince."
"Don't be so stupid," said Simon shortly. "What would Prince John want with a mangy cur like this?"
As the two men were talking a guard idly sidled up to them and joined their conversation. "He's right you know," said the guard sagely, "The Prince would like the dog, he sort of, well, umm, I suppose you could say he collects them," he smiled.
"There you are" said Edgar laughing at his brother. "I may be from the country but even I know more about what the Prince likes than you!"
Brother Simon looked mystified and told the Guard he would like to request an audience with the Prince as he has a Holy Relic he would like to pass on to him. He explained he had brought it on foot all the way from Jerusalem.
The guard gave a kindly but patient smile and explained he could enter the precincts of the castle after being searched for weapons but then he would have to report to the Steward of the household and join the queue of petitioners. He explained how some people wait for days and are never granted an audience. "I'm sure he would like your relic brother and I'm positive he appreciates your pilgrimage, but he does have his brothers Kingdom to look after, so he is a busy man."
Brother Simon said he would be prepared to wait and so the guard gave him directions after searching him and watched for a minute as the good Brother walked with an assured pace into the environs of the Keep. A Christian Brother with a dog on a piece of rope made a queer spectacle he thought as he turned slowly shaking his head and sauntered over to his companions and re-joined their conversation.
Brother Simon saw two other servants of the King's assemblage before the Steward deigned to interview him. The Steward of the house said he would see what he could for Brother Simon and he motioned to the Brother to stand at the end of a line of two dozen or so other men who all hoped to gain audience with the Prince on some business or other. The Steward turned and muttered as he left, "You stand a better chance than most here, at least you have a gift the Prince might actually want and are not petitioning for something from the Prince." He lowered his head and started muttering, "Everybody seems to want something from him," as he walked off to attend to business.
Three hours passed in silence. Brother Simon had learned the value of patience and was used to standing for long hours in the heat with nothing to drink, not that this was hot compared to Acre, but most of the others were not pleased at this small ordeal. He heard murmurings and whispered comments from the people in the queue saying how dare they be treated like this. The steward just smiled at these silly people, all full of their own arrogance and self- worth. Did they really expect the next King of England to drop everything and scurry to the side of these unannounced petitioners to resolve their petty grievances or grant them some tiny favour? He knew none of them would ever be seen and they would all eventually give up and go home.
Another long hour passed when a group of four men, obviously of noble birth came out of the main door to the Keep and walked towards the group of petitioners. A handsome, stocky man of about thirty with an average height led the way towards them and Brother Simon could see the men were in good humour as they approached the waiting line. They looked as if they were in a hurry to go somewhere. The man next to him whispered, "It is the Prince himself."
The party drew level with the line of men, who by now recognising the approaching man, had all stood in silence with bowed and deferred heads. The leader said curtly but with no malice, "I am Prince John, I know you have all come to see me, I can't see any of you today, try again tomorrow." He continued on his way with his small entourage and then suddenly stopped, once again turning to the line of waiting men. "You there, the Brother with the dog, have you brought me a gift?" Prince John knew Brothers rarely came needing something but more usually with something to have blessed or a small gift. He had decided to talk to the Brother; after all he did have a dog with him.
"Yes My Lord I have two gifts. I have a holy relic and this dog."
"I knew it," shouted the Prince, I knew the dog was for me. After all have you ever seen a Brother waiting in a line of petitioners with a dog?"
"Brother, what is your name?"
"Brother Simon my Lord."
"Well Brother Simon, come and walk with us."
Brother Simon ventured forward and as he did so the Prince and his men turned and strode on as manfully as before. One of the Knights with the Prince held out his hand to Simon as if to take the rope from him, so Simon passed the dog on as requested.
"Tell me Brother, where have you come from?" asked the Prince looking over his shoulder as they walked swiftly on.
"My Lord, I have come from Jerusalem and Acre but most recently from Winchester."
"Ah, I see, the Holy Land. Tell me Brother Simon did you see my brother there?"
"Indeed my Lord, I saw the King many times on my pilgrimage."
"Ha!" John exclaimed, "You have probably seen him more often than I in this last ten years," he shouted jovially.
Brother Simon immediately liked this man, he had no idea why, but his instinct was usually correct.
The men came to a high walled enclosure and stopped. One man fumbled inside his surcoat and produced a key which he started to place into the lock. "Brother Simon, I want you to answer me a question. I want it answered truthfully now," warned the Prince playfully waggling a finger in front of Simon's face as if he was addressing a naughty child. "How did you know to bring a dog with you?"
Brother Simon blushed. He felt the redness coming and could not control it. He knew his neck and face were turning crimson. The Prince and the Knights laughed at his obvious discomfort, Simon knew he had not blushed like this since he was a child and Edgar teased him about a village girl named Matilda.
"My Lord, I did not know about the dog, I still have no idea about the dog. My travelling companion told me it would be a present you might appreciate, but he failed to inform me as to why you would like it."
"I like your companion," smiled the Prince. "Do you always trust companions Brother Simon?" enquired the Prince.
"I do when he also happens to be my brother," said Simon sheepishly.
The Prince roared again and his laugh was infectious and soon all the men around him were laughing. "A man and his brother always have a special bond. Henry, give the good Brother a silver penny to give to his brother, who is truly a wise man!" The Prince had now stopped and was stood before Simon eyeing him slowly from head to toe. "Well Brother Simon of Jerusalem, Acre, Winchester and now the Tower of London, I will show you why the dog is such a fine gift. John strode to the unlocked door in the wall and pushed it aside, bidding Simon to enter first. Simon went into the enclosure and at first all he could see were thick Iron bars running vertically twelve feet high and embedded in a two foot high, thick stone wall. Simon was stood in some sort of prison within a walled enclosure, a sort of prison within a prison. Was this where the Prince kept his most valuable prisoners? Simon had assumed they would be kept in deep vaults or a dungeon far beneath the castle walls. Maybe it was a place of exercise for them, as he was pondering the possibilities, he noticed the Knight who had taken the dog unlocking a small gate in the plain ironwork and pushing the dog into the caged area. The Knight quickly re-locked the gate and stood once more beside the Prince.
"May I ask what this place is Highness?" ventured the Brother feeling a little ill at ease.
Suddenly and unexpectedly out of the darkness opposite them came a high speed snarling fury of fur and claws, which leapt across the void in one bound, smashing itself into the bars in front of the men, causing them all to spring back as one. "He is feisty this morning," said the Prince more to himself than to the others near him. The lion was straining and roaring hunched down, trying to get its front leg between the bars to grab its quarry, the claws were extended like daggers towards them. Its eyes white with rage. The lions deafening deep throated roar came from deep down inside its body and was accompanied by the putrid smell of rotting flesh from within its stomach. All the men froze in awe at the spectacle which was striving to kill them, just feet from their faces. The dog barked at the beast and backed away against a wall. The sudden noise stopped the lion in its tracks and it retrieved its fearsome claw back into its domain and slowly turned to face the crouching, terrified, barking dog. The lion slouched low and stood its ground eyeing up the poor animal and half crouched and tensed its body so the muscles stood out proudly from its form, then wiggled its hind quarters slightly and sprang the full fifteen feet through the air in the direction of the dog. Brother Simon quickly crossed himself yet marvelled at the movement of the muscles and the sleek lines of the magnificent beast as it silently pounced on its prey. The dog did not even have time to bark before it was dead.
The Prince and his Knights clapped and excitedly talked about what they had just witnessed. Brother Simon had seen and heard many conversations like this during the Crusades, where men talked of their gallantry and the respect they held for their enemies, all of course being a release from the mixture of fear and relief men felt after being involved in or witnessing death at close quarters.
"Did you see that Brother, did you see it!" exclaimed the Prince animatedly, "truly one of Gods most wonderful creations."
"I once saw a lion in Acre but he was a very sad looking animal. For the price of a flagon of ale you could poke him through the bars of his tiny cage to make him roar," Brother Simon recalled, "but I had no idea there were any in England, especially any in such amazing condition!"
"I have six," said the Prince proudly. I have other strange animals from many parts," he said in a matter of fact tone. Not all are as vicious as the Lion or the Tiger but many other animals which are both mysterious and beautiful. I keep them here safely at the Tower. I have people who look after them. They are men who have travelled widely, learning how to look after their charges correctly. It is said that once, long ago, lions roamed England and were as numerous as the deer and the boar."
"Now you know why your inventive gift of the dog appealed to me," smiled the Prince, watching the lion devour what was left of the dog's carcass. "A cat would have had the same result," he smiled. "Sometimes cats can be fun, they are very agile and of course they have the chance of escape through the bars. Yes Brother Simon, I have come to the conclusion it would be safer to be a cat than a dog in London! Now tell me of your other gift," said the prince leading the Brother around the cage until they came to some chairs. Prince John extended an arm gesturing Simon to sit. The Knights stayed where they were, giving the Prince some degree of privacy, but being close enough if they were needed for any reason.
"My Lord, here is another gift," he said uncertainly as he pulled the old box from beneath his robes. The Prince looked at the box and opened the lid, his attention momentarily drawn from the great beast before him.
"I am very disappointed Brother Simon," he said taking out the wood and turning it in his hand. "No, don't tell me, let me guess. This is a piece of the table used by our Lord at the last supper. No wait, don't tell me, it is a piece of Noah's Ark, wait, wait I can see from your face that's not right, then let me guess again. It is, let me think, it is, umm, it is, yes I have it now, it is a piece of the one true cross," he smiled, he had not wanted to tease the Brother, but could not stop himself from having a little fun at the Brother's expense. He was presented with more holy pieces of wood in a year than was needed to keep the kitchen fires going. "Brother I hate to tell you, but this relic, like all the others presented to me, is a fake. I hope you did not pay too much for it, but at least the little box will be useful for something," he smiled tolerantly as he handed the box back to its owner.
"The fake wood cost me three silver pennies actually," smiled Simon.
"You do not look disappointed that you bought a piece of rubbish Brother Simon?" asked the Prince. This intrigued him.
"I knew it was a fake my lord, what I have to give to you is no fake."
"Let me guess, you have brought to me a nail which was used in the crucifixion of our Lord and it cost you five silver pennies, I think that is the going rate at the moment. In fact we melted down the nails from the crucifixion we were given last year to make this cage," he laughed.
"My gift cost considerably more my Lord but I am not the true giver, I am just the bearer."
"Ah then it is from your village or flock, so impress me Brother Simon, how much did it cost?"
"The gift I have for you is beyond price, although, the giver paid a considerable sum for it."
"A considerable sum you say, how considerable a sum?"
"Two hundred thousand silver marks."
Silence and stillness reigned between the two men and then the Prince looked Simon in the eye and said quietly.
"Quite impossible of course," said the Prince calmly, "No one has two hundred thousand silver marks to buy a gift for someone!" Then as if his patience had ran its course he stood up and looked down at the Brother and barked aloud, "You are lying to me Brother!" On hearing Prince John's raised voice, the Knights stopped watching the lion and looked towards the Prince and the Brother.
"Is everything alright my Lord?" asked Henry.
"Yes all is fine," said the Prince gathering his composure and sitting down "The good Brother is jesting with me," he shouted to the Knights. Their attention then returned to the lion, still pacing his cage.
"I do not jest my Lord. Over the years it has also cost many lives"
"Then tell me who gives me such a fantastic gift."
"The person who has given you this gift has many names, some call him Temujiin, some The Ironworker, but most people know him as..."
"The Great Khan," finished Prince John. "Are you saying the Great Khan from the East has sent you to me carrying a gift worth two hundred thousand silver Marks?"
"Not quite my Lord. I have been sent, along with others to give this gift to your brother King Richard. We have decided it would be safer to deliver it to you in person in the relative safety of this island rather than in France, where others may want to steal it for themselves, if they knew of its existence."
"What does the Great Khan want in return for this gift?" asked Prince John suspiciously.
"He wants an alliance between his Empire and the English Crown."
"But his Empire is many thousands of leagues away in the East, why does he want with an alliance with England?"
"I am but a humble Brother, asked to do his bidding in this task, there are others abroad in this land who can answer your questions. The reach of the Emperor is long and should not be underestimated. He is in all lands and has influence in many European courts."
"What is this relic you have for my brother which is so valuable?"
"Ask the Knights to leave and I will show you. Don't be alarmed, I have no weapon, I have already been searched. You can always throw me to your lions if I am lying!" both men smiled at this remark and it seemed to relax the Prince a little.
Prince John looked towards the Knights and said in a raised voice, "Henry, you and the men wait outside by the door, the brother and I wish to talk in private." The men left the walled enclosure silently and obediently. The only noise to be heard was the deep hollow breathing of the great beast, which had decided to lie down by the bars of its cage as close to the men as possible. Other fainter noises wafted over the curtain wall from the streets of the city beyond.
Brother Simon took off his bundle and carefully laid it onto the floor and unwrapped the retaining cloth covering. He produced a letter and gave it to the Prince to read. It bore the seal of Gilbert Horal Grand Master of the Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon a seal which John had seen before and knew well. He studied the seal to satisfy himself it was genuine and had not been tampered with and then proceeded to break it and then read the words which gave full provenance to the relic and requesting it should be protected at all costs from harm.
"This can't be, this just can't be what it says or who it says it is from."
"It is your Highness, you must believe. Many men have risked their lives on a journey which has seen hardship, deprivation, secrecy, plotting and death to get this gift to you this day. I know you will have seen the seal of Gilbert Horal before and you will be one of the few men in Christendom who know with certainty that for many years the Order of the Knights Templar have been the custodians of this, the holiest of relics. Until today; Until this moment. The Great Khan has ensured you and your brother, the King, now bear the sole responsibility for its custody. With this responsibility comes great power and influence. This gift is now yours, along with all the might it will bestow upon the Angevin Kings."
"If this gift is what you say, why should I not just have you killed here and now and take the relic for my brother?" asked Prince John with a sparkle in his eye.
"There are many reasons my Lord. Firstly I have told you I do not act alone on these shores. I have also told you I come with this gift from the east; I present it to you as an emissary on behalf of the Emperor of the greatest Empire the world has seen. An Empire which has more power in your western world than you could possibly imagine. Just behold the letter you have in your hands from Gilbert Horal, take note, we did not take the Mandylion from Acre by force or stealth, as you can see from the testament written by the Grand Master of the Knights Templar. This gift to you was secretly paid for by many sacks of silver. My Lord Temujiin has saved the Holy Christian Order from destitution by buying the Mandylion. It is also now safe from loss to the Muslim forces. The Ironworker asks nothing in return for this gift which he now endows to you and your brother, except for you to keep it safe for the whole of Christianity, you and the King will now become its guardian. My Lord says he trusts the English King to keep the relic in trust, on behalf of all Christians. All The Ironworker needs from you in return is a written alliance between himself and the English Crown, a secret alliance which may never be called upon to be used, but never the less an alliance which could close its jaws tight on any enemy between these shores and his Empire. His token of such an alliance will be the gift I have here. Hear me well. If you were to kill me, my companions have the influence and power to strike back swiftly and without compassion. Of course if you were to kill me, my Lord Temujiin would have to be let it be known throughout the great houses of the west that the Mandylion is now in the possession of the English King, Richard. Questions will be asked by many interests. The Knights Hospitallers, the Holy Roman Empire, the Spanish, the French, the Portuguese to name but a few and before long there would be a united Holy Crusade against these English shores to regain and restore what all Christians feel is rightly theirs, a legacy held in common. I have not even talked of the Papacy and the excommunications which would follow the news you have nefariously obtained the Mandylion and are taking it upon yourselves to deprive the Roman Church of what they would regard as the Holiest of Holies. It would be perceived by everyone that you have stolen the relic from every breathing Christian. They would unite against you in all haste. So I think you can see the trouble you might find yourself in." Brother Simon let his words become clear to the Prince and then to lighten the mood added "I also think you would do no harm to a humble Brother who brought you the gift of a dog and a piece of the one true cross!"
Prince John sat staring at this humble, simple looking Brother and wondered how his life could have changed so completely within a matter of minutes. His world was now turned upside down by an unassuming looking emissary from thousands of miles to the East, from a land beyond the lands of the Muslims, from an Emperor of whom he knew little, except he was more powerful than the Roman Church and controlled lands many times the size of Europe. He had been politically and tactically out manoeuvred over a distance of thousands of miles. Prince John knew he had no option but to acquiesce to the proposed alliance, if not, then the wrath of Europe would surely descend upon his brother's Kingdom like a hammer from the Gods. Indeed, the relic could be a poisoned chalice. Although he could not at this instant see how, he instinctively knew possession of the relic would enable his brother's Kingdom to wield massive power, when the time was right. He quickly reasoned if King Richard was ever called upon to make public the alliance with the Empire to the East, he could always renege on the pledge, if it suited his cause. Maybe things were better than he had hoped. John could also immediately see the benefits of direct trade with the East. This could bring untold advantages and wealth to the Kingdom, trading with such an influential partner within a secret alliance.
While the Prince was pondering these thoughts he had not noticed Brother Simon unfolding the cloth and laying it out on the floor in front of them. The Prince was roused from his thoughts by the Brother's voice saying "Look. Behold the Mandylion. This is the true image of our Lord."
Prince John looked down in astonishment as the image of Christ was exposed under an English sky for the very first time. As he gazed in rapture at what lay before him on the floor, a simple cloth containing a painting of the likeness of Jesus of Nazareth he became aware of Brother Simon saying in an awed half whisper "It seems fitting you are looking at our Lord's countenance in a lion's den, an animal which has killed many Christians who were martyred during the reign of Rome." The image was as Brother Simon had remembered and he crossed himself as tears welled in his eyes. He had delivered safely to the brother of the English King his holy burden.
"My God" said Prince John dropping to his knees before the icon and crossing himself before clasping his hands in prayer. "My pure and sweet God," he said quietly.
Summer 1216