Spy in Chancery

small, dark figure beside the French king; the man was glaring at him, not bothering to hide the malice glistening in his eyes. Corbett looked again in disbelief but there was no mistaking Amaury de Craon, special envoy of the French crown. Corbett had encountered him in Scotland some years earlier and, judging by the malice in de Craon's stare, the French clerk had not forgiven nor forgotten the way Corbett had outwitted him. Corbett glanced away, gathered his thoughts and hid his surprise beneath an inscrutable, diplomatic poise.
    Philip IV ensured his scribes were seated behind him at a small table and began the usual courtly courtesies: Introductions and anxious enquiries about the health of his 'dear cousin, Edward of England.' Corbett looked sideways at Lancaster who found this all too much, nearly choking on his fury but the French king sitting rigid in his chair, his eyes staring at a point above the English envoys' heads, continued in a dry monotone. Philip IV, not even bothering to pause so Lancaster could answer, starkly presented the Gascon's situation as he saw it: he was overlord of the duchy, Edward may be king of England but, as Duke of Gascony, he was the French king's feudal subject: Edward's Gascon lords had attacked French property, the feudal bond was broken by Edward, therefore the duchy was forfeit to his overlord the French king. At this Lancaster could contain his anger no further.
    'Your Grace,' he rudely interrupted. 'You may have good cause to seize the duchy but, by what right do you hold it?'
    'Oh, that is quite simple,' de Craon silkily interjected, 'French troops are all over the duchy, so,' he spread his hands in an expansive gesture, 'we wait with bated breath for your reply.'
    The English envoys had already discussed the strategies and tactics they should employ when they met the French and Lancaster, overcoming his dislike of Corbett, had asked him to intervene when he thought fit. Corbett now believed it was opportune.
    'Your Grace,' he replied quickly before Lancaster made further rash remarks, 'does that mean that our two countries are at war? In which case,' he extended his hand in mimicry of de Craon, 'our meeting is over and we beg to withdraw.'
    'Monsieur Corbett,' the French king's face flickered in a smile, 'you have it wrong, de Craon was only describing the situation as it is, rather than what it should be.' The English eagerly seized on the phrase 'should be' and a long protracted discussion took place on future negotiations. Corbett sat, detached and objective, aware that both de Craon and his master, Philip IV, were quietly studying him. The phrases 'allodial', 'fief, 'feudal rights and suzerainty' were bantered like feathers round the room and Corbett believed the French intended to hold on to the duchy for as long as possible. Yet, both he and Lancaster, who communicated with him in hushed whispers, also came to the conclusion that the French were not just playing for time, their seizure of Gascony being only part of a greater game.
    The arguments swept back and forth across the table until both sides agreed to continue the debate at some future date. However, there were other points to raise and Lancaster came rudely to the point.
    'Your Grace,' he said brusquely, 'The English agent in Paris, Simon Fauvel, has disappeared.'
    'Not disappeared,' de Craon sardonically observed. 'Monsieur Fauvel, I regret to say, is dead. He was killed, probably by one of the beggar bands who roam the streets.' His words shocked the English into angry murmurs of protest.
    'This is unacceptable!' Lancaster retorted. 'We are' attacked outside Paris, the English king's agent is murdered in the city! Is the French king's writ so worthless that the sanctity of protected envoys can be so easily violated?'
    'Monsieur Lancaster!' Philip exclaimed, 'Look at the facts, our envoys have been attacked in England: the assault outside Paris was most regrettable and you have our apologies and our assurances that the City Provost is searching high and low for the culprits. As for Monsieur Fauvel,' he added crisply, it would appear that your agent ignored our advice. He was out alone, at night, and contrary to our ordinances, walking the streets after curfew. Of course we regret these incidents, but there are only two, are there not?' Lancaster saw the trap and neatly avoided it. Philip was baiting them, hoping they would make some reference to the attack on the Saint Christopher and the death of