Title: THE ACCURSED KING
Author: MERCEDES ROCHELLE
Genre: HISTORICAL FICTION
Book Blurb:
What happens when a king loses his prowess? The day Henry IV could finally declare he had vanquished his enemies, he threw it all away with an infamous deed. No English king had executed an archbishop before. And divine judgment was quick to follow. Many thought he was struck with leprosy—God's greatest punishment for sinners. From that point on, Henry's health was cursed and he fought doggedly on as his body continued to betray him—reducing this once great warrior to an invalid. Fortunately for England, his heir was ready and eager to take over. But Henry wasn't willing to relinquish what he had worked so hard to preserve. No one was going to take away his royal prerogative—not even Prince Hal. But Henry didn't count on Hal's dauntless nature, which threatened to tear the royal family apart.
EXCERPT:
Archbishop Arundel tries to talk Henry out of executing Scrope
“This court finds Archbishop Scrope, Earl Thomas Mowbray, and Sir William Plumpton guilty of treason. We will resume in the morning to determine sentencing.”
It was over. The commissioners filed out to partake of supper, which was laid for them across the hall. Few had an appetite, but there was an inordinate amount of wine consumed that evening.
Henry did not join them, He went back to his chamber and dismissed all his servants—even William. Filling a mug with undiluted wine, he hoped to drown his anger. This was just too much. Percy, he could understand. The man was a lost cause and should never have been pardoned by parliament. But Scrope? If the archbishop felt confident enough to lead a rebellion, where would it end? He assisted in Richard’s resignation, for God’s sake. He should have been one of Henry's most reliable supporters. How could such an adherent turn against him?
The wine didn't help, although he initially dozed in his chair. Henry kept waking up and lumbering to the chamber pot to empty his bladder, until finally a restless sleep overcame him. Sometime during the night his squire came back and lay down on his usual pallet at the end of the bed.
His uneasy slumber was broken by a persistent banging on his door. He was jolted awake, though his eyes didn’t want to open. The sun was just beginning to rise. Groaning, Henry propped himself up against his pillows and drew the covers around him. “Find out who it is,” he muttered to his squire who was climbing to his feet. “It must be important.”
Still half-asleep, William opened the door. He stumbled aside when a dishevelled and dirty Archbishop Arundel pushed his way in. The archbishop’s cloak was stained from the road and he even had bits of straw tangled in his hair. Henry stared at him, his mouth open.
“What happened to you, man?”
“Sire.” Arundel strode to the bed and threw himself to his knees. He was still gasping for breath. “I’ve ridden day and night to reach you before something terrible happened. Excuse my appearance; I slept a few hours in a stable before I rode the last stretch.”
“Get up, get up.” Henry reached over and plucked a piece of straw from the archbishop’s head. But Arundel refused to move.
“I’ve come to warn you—no, to plead with you. I know Archbishop Scrope has greatly offended. But please, Sire, do not be the cause of his death. The punishment you would incur in the afterlife… do not risk your immortal soul for such an unworthy deed.”
Taking his hand away, Henry shook his head. “You don’t understand. This has to stop.”
“But my Lord, think of what people will say! Look at Henry II after Becket was killed! Do you want to bring this disaster upon yourself? Do you want to be known as the man who killed both an anointed king and an archbishop? Surely not!”
“Calm yourself, Thomas. You are overwrought.”
“As your spiritual father, I claim the right to be consulted. Yes, Archbishop Scrope has erred. But leave his judgment to the Pope, or at least to parliament! At your peril, do not foul your hands with his blood!”
Coughing, Arundel leaned against the bed. Henry threw back the covers and slid aside, bending over the exhausted archbishop.
“Come, come. You are exhausted. Get up, Thomas. I hear you. Get up.” He helped Arundel to his feet. “You must go to bed. You need rest. Get some sleep. Nothing will be done without your advice. Go. Rest.”
As is often the case after a great effort has been made, Arundel was ready to collapse. Henry put an arm around his waist and walked him to the door, turning the archbishop over to his servants. "Make sure my dear friend is well taken care of," he said, holding out his hand as they shuffled away.
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What makes your featured book a must-read?
Henry IV’s usurpation put the king in a bad position. If he could usurp the throne, what’s to stop anyone else from doing the same? His most dangerous threat came from Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, who coaxed Archbishop Scrope into joining his rebellion—with fatal consequences. When King Henry executed the Archbishop he was immediately struck with a terrible disease that sapped his strength and forced him to rely on his son Hal, the future Henry V, to take up the reins of government. Jealous of his prerogatives, he fought Hal every step of the way, but his son’s destiny shone brightly. This book illustrates the genesis of England’s greatest king.
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Author Biography:
Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. The next series is called The Plantagenet Legacy about the struggles and abdication of Richard II, leading to the troubled reigns of the Lancastrian Kings. She also writes a blog: HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the Univ. of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to “see the world”. The search hasn’t ended! Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://mercedesrochelle.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/authorrochelle
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mercedes-Rochelle/author/B001KMG5P6