The Rest of His Days
Unsolved mysteries about British royalty continue to make intriguing grist for the fiction writer’s mill. The presumed murder of Edward II was accepted as fact, until a letter written to Edward III by papal notary, Manuele Fieschi, was discovered in 1878, its authenticity and contemporaneous origin never in question. Taylor’s novel is constructed around the events described in the letter.
In 1327, Sir Guy Bickerstaffe is the captain of the guard for Berkeley Castle’s infamous prisoner, previously Edward II, and known here as Caernarfon. Guy’s cousin, Will Makepeace, is a man-at-arms who frequents far too many taverns for Guy’s liking. To keep Will more profitably engaged, he sets him to watch Caernarfon, who teaches Will to play chess. This leads to respect and comradeship, and when the opportunity avails itself, Will helps his friend escape.
I found the early part of the story slow, and an instance of kidnapping is distracting and doesn’t contribute to the plot, but I’ve always had a fascination for the deposed kings Edward II and Richard II, so I wasn’t giving up. The latter part of the novel is a fast cat-and-mouse chase, with clues and red herrings which are well strategised. Bickerstaffe is hired by Edward III’s companion, William Montagu, to find Caernarfon. Montagu, sympathetic to Edward’s worries for his father, wants assurance of Caernarfon’s safety. Bickerstaffe’s only real interest is in bringing his wayward cousin to heel.
Historical figures play minor roles, and it was gratifying to read how fifteen-year-old Edward humored his mother until his majority, in 1330, and then dealt firmly with her and her ally, Roger Mortimer. Edward II (Caernarfon) may be another maligned figure who got a raw deal from history, perhaps because of his affection for Piers Gaveston. Here he is a sympathetic, intelligent, and devout man. Either way it’s a plausible, well-told story.
