29 — Navigation

Juan Perez de Padilla – 22 July 1355

It was nearly half an hour before the Prince emerged from the cabin at the rear of the boat.

Juan found it difficult to look the Prince in the eye. If the Prince had just spent the night with his sister, why had the Prince asked for him to join them?


The Prince did not appear to notice his discomfiture. ‘I am really pleased you could come. Joan… the Countess of Kent?’

Juan narrowed his eyes. This really was becoming a difficult conversation. ‘Yes, Sire, I have met Joan several times.’

Yes, yes. Joan has told me about the chronicle you have started to circulate and she gave me a copy. I was surprised how far you have come in such a short time, and now I want you to help me.’

The Prince hesitated before continuing. ‘Joan will join us soon as will Al… the lady Trencavel.’ The two ladies spent the night in the same bed. I think Joan believed that Alyse was apprehensive at this new experience of sleeping on a boat. It is wonderful that they get on so well together, especially when circumstances dictate that we must spend so much time together. They are currently assisting each other to dress, but perhaps we should make a start.

Juan breathed a sigh of relief, obviously, his worries about Alyse spending the night with the Prince were unfounded.

Juan raised his eyebrows. ‘How can I help?’

‘Your chronicle could be used to inform people, citizens, at all levels of society of changes, especially changes which will benefit them.’

‘Yes it could, but that would mean I have to know and understand both the improvements and how and why they would confer benefits.’

‘And that is why you are here today. I am about to conduct a review of the improvements I have made to the navigational systems on the Gironde estuary.

One of the most boring parts of my job is telling people what is being done to help them to improve their lives. I have to tell the same story over and over again. People ask questions but then appear to be disinterested in the answers. Using your chronicle could do a lot of that hard work for me. So as we sail up the estuary, I want you to see just what improvements have been made.

Joshua Blount, our English captain advised me and so I will leave it to him to explain how 60 miles of an estuary, vital for Bordeaux’s trade, but plagued by reefs and sandbars, can be navigated more safely. We will then spend the night at Royan, right at the mouth of the estuary

Tomorrow I want to simulate an entry to the estuary from the open sea, perhaps doing it several times, to ensure that our solution leaves nothing to chance.’

Juan nodded. Privately he doubted he would understand enough of the principles of navigation in two days to be able to write about it. Nevertheless, he turned his attention to Joshua.


Joshua waved his hand towards the banks of the river. ‘ For hundreds of years, possibly much longer, this river has been navigated by a small select group of people. They avoid the sandbanks and reefs by lining up two features, such as a strip of sandy beach and a church spire and sail along that path. The winds are almost always from the south-west so very few changes of direction are needed. Obviously alignments travelling up the estuary towards the sea are different those travelling south towards Bordeaux.

The use of these landmarks requires an intimate knowledge of the estuary. It was knowledge which has been passed, quite literally, from father to son.’

There are several problems. In inclement weather it is not possible to see some of the landmarks which are more distant from the river. It is not possible to use the landmarks at night and last but not least, increases in the volume of shipping mean that there are not enough people with the knowledge to provide a pilot for every ship. The incidence of ships running aground or being wrecked on the reefs just off Royan is increasing.’

‘So what have you done?’

‘It is a question of what the Prince has done. I provided some guidance but he provided the finances. He has built a network of towers along both banks of the estuary.’ He pointed to the front of the boat. ‘You see those two vertical poles. They are sighting poles. If those are lined up with a pair of towers on each side of the estuary then we know we are in the channel. Once we sail past one set of towers we can then use another set and so on all the way up the estuary. Come with me.’ he guided Juan into a cabin which enclosed the helm. This enclosure is in itself an innovation. it protects the helmsman but it also protects these charts. He held up a chart which showed the profile of the estuary and the positions of the network of towers.

Juan raised his eyebrows.”Oh

Joshua continued. We are now passing L’Île Patiras.’ he jabbed a finger at the chart, indicating their location. ‘We can now see these two pairs of towers, one either side of the estuary. The helmsman will now steer so that he achieves an alignment on both sides. It would need really extreme weather for the towers to be hidden.’

The Prince had been listening intently. He now grabbed Joshua’s arm. ‘ Let me try, I want to get a feel for it.’

Joshua used his lips. ‘Certainly sire. ‘ As the Helmsman gave up the wheel to the Prince, Joshua turned to Juan.’ I know the Prince is a more than capable helmsman but he has never seen the completed system of towers before. The fact that I am prepared to let him take the wheel shows that I have total belief in the system. Ah! Here come the ladies.’

The most dangerous woman in the world

The Treasure of Trencavel

List of Characters

Table Of Contents

References

characters

List of Places

Table of Contents

Pseudo History

home

Extract from The Prisoner of Foix--Chapter 43 -The EntranceNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley-26th April 1355

 

'Looks like we are going to see a bit of excitement, John. The Captain tried to get an agreement from the Prince that if there is surf running across the channel to Arcachon we will turn back to Bordeaux, but the Prince would hear none of it. Instead, he has offered to provide insurance for all three ships. If they are damaged or sunk, the owners will be compensated and every sailor who makes the passage will be given a bounty payment. What none of this seems to take into account is that if we sink in rough, fast-flowing waters we might all drown.'

John raised his eyebrows. 'But that is what we are going to do?'

'Yes, despite the fact that surf running accross the entrance is not uncommon and the deep water channel moves continually. In the end, the Prince attacked their captains on their weakest point, their professional pride! He threw down the gauntlet. He offered to take the Sally first through the channel, and to take control during the passage.' He raised his brow. 'We are going into the Bay of Arcachon, come what may! '

Extract from The Eagle of Carcassone -- Chapter 24-- A Real GoddessNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley - 22 July 1355

An hour later John walked with Ximene close to the river along the valley below St Feriole. It was the very essence of a summer’s day. The sun was fierce but in the shadow of the trees, it was cool and fragrant. The trees and shrubs along the riverbank hid their progress, from the Château, from St Feriole.

Eventually they reached a point where John thought it was safe to emerge from cover. To his satisfaction the stream extended into a pool with a sandy beach, shaded by trees. Where the stream entered the pool there was a flat grassy area, almost circular. Behind this, the bulk of two mountain ridges provided a splendid backdrop. He looked around once more ‘Not just a good training ground but a great training ground. If the Greek heroes knew about this they might be tempted to join me, to train with me’

Ximene laughed out loud. He turned to look at her. She had removed her outer clothes and was wearing a white chemise, cut short so that it barely reached her knees. Around her waist, she wore a plaited leather belt, obviously fashioned from the multitude of leather straps to be found in the tackle room.

She ran her hands down over her breasts. ‘When you were unconscious I heard you muttering about gods and goddesses, so  I have decided that from now on, for you, I will be the goddess.’

The Prisoner of FoixVol 1 of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

Aquitaine, an English possession, is in crisis. It is under threat from neighbouring nations and internal dissension.

The Black Prince, King Edward III’s eldest son has been given the task of taking command in Aquitaine.

Suddenly there is an opportunity. Ximene Trencavel is the heiress to the lands of Occitan, to the east of Aquitaine: lands controlled by the Franks. Ximene wants independence, both for herself and for Occitan.

A union between Aquitaine and Occitan would be mutually beneficial. The Black Prince undertakes a secret journey to meet Ximene to negotiate a marriage contract. It is, however, a marriage neither of them really wants.

Meanwhile, the  Franks plot to murder Ximene to prevent ,not just the marriage, but any kind of union between England and Occitan.

The Eagle Of CarcassonneVol II of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

The loose alliance between Ximene Trencavel and the Black Prince is under threat.

The Prince invades Occitan, to show his support for Ximene but it becomes an invasion which creates more problems than it solves.

The Prince has fallen hopelessly in love with Joan of Kent and Joan is now determined to marry him and become the next Queen of England.

Joan is therefore  determined to convince Ximene that she should not marry the Prince.

Part of her strategy is to encourage Ximene’s relationship with John Stanley—one of the Princes bodyguards—not an easy task as both John and Ximene have doubts about their compatibility.

However, John is grievously injured in a battle and Ximene commits herself to nurse him back to health.