Baron's War

by Griff Hosker

  I sighed, “Good. Do you have archers?”

  He looked confused and then waved a vague hand at the men on the road behind us. “Some of the levy do.”

  “No, I mean real archers. My men are just that and they are mounted. I will send my archers ahead. When they find the Scots, they will send their arrows at them. They will annoy them. They will wound and kill them and, hopefully, the Scots will decide to chase them from the field and we will be waiting here to ambush them.”

  The young knight said, “Sir Thomas there is a better place lower down. It is flatter and will allow us to use our horses. The river will protect our right flank.”

  “Good!”

  Baron de Vesci said, “What if they do not come?”

  “Then my men will slaughter them and we will have won. They will come for us.”

  He reluctantly agreed. As we moved towards the site which Baron Rothbury had suggested I rode with David of Wales. “Take four of my men at arms as horse holders. Hurt them David.”

  “They will follow us, lord. You have come up with a good plan and we have plenty of arrows.”

  When we reached the site, my men rode off. Baron de Vesci said, “What now?”

  “We put the horsemen on the left. We have twenty knights and fifty men at arms. Your ten dismounted men at arms and your levy make a shield wall with their flank by the river. Those archers you spoke of can be behind the spearmen and they can rain death on the Scots.”

  We prepared. I mounted Dragon and Petr took Skuld to the baggage. Fótr held my standard. The men were still strung out along the road and while the horsemen were ready the four lines of men who would have to hold the Scots were perilously thin. They would be reinforced as more men arrived. We had to buy them time. The castle was just a mile away and the flat ground meant that we could not see the Scots. We did see the arrows as they soared into the air. Annoyingly we did not see the effect. I kept my helmet hung over my cantle. I needed to see all. I looked again at Baron Alnwick. He did not look like a reckless young warrior and I wondered what had prompted his decision to leave the army and make a suicidal attempt on the Scots. I had no doubt that if I had not rushed after him he and his knights would not lie dead and his levy would be spread to the four corners of the land. More arrows soared and then I heard Scottish horns and the drums that they liked to use.

  I knew what was coming and I shouted, “The Scots come! Stand to!”

  Baron de Vesci looked at me, “How can you be so certain?”

  “The horns and the drums. Besides I have seen my archers at work. They will have sent three hundred arrows at the Scots. Those who wear no mail will be hit. Two hundred men could be wounded or worse. The Scots cannot afford to take those kind of casualties. They will chase my archers from the field and David of Wales will lead them here.”

  “You have a great deal of confidence in your men.”

  I said, simply, “Of course I do. They are my men.”

  We heard the clamour and furore of the Scots above the hooves which thundered towards us. David of Wales would lead them to the middle of our line and move obliquely across our front to help us flank them.

  I saw my archers and the four men at arms. There were no empty saddles. The danger would be a horse which might fall as they galloped over the uneven ground. Behind them I saw the Scottish knights and mounted men at arms. They also had hobelars on small horses. They were armed with javelins. The horses prevented me from seeing the men on foot but I saw the banners and standards waving as they hurried towards us. We would be outnumbered but all that we had to do was hurt them and David of Wales and my archers could begin to slaughter them once more.

  I donned my helmet. “Prepare to charge!”

  I had left Godwin of Battle to command the men on foot. He would hold them in line. I needed every other mounted man at arms and knight that I could. Charging in a single line I hoped to sweep the Scottish horse from their mounts and discourage them.

  The Scots were two hundred paces from us. They were a whirling mob of angry men. Some of the wilder men on foot had managed to keep pace with the horses. It was time. “Charge!”

  I spurred Dragon. The other knights and barons had war horses but Dragon was a seasoned mount. He had fought in France and Anjou. He was a warrior. I rested my spear on my cantle. We had caught the Scottish knights without spears and lances. They had just mounted their horses and hurtled after the archers who had caused them so much damage. I ignored the hobelars. They wore no mail and had no helmets. My archers would slaughter them and the shield wall would hold them. It was the knights we needed to destroy. The knights were the leaders. The more we killed the more of their men would leave. Despite my need for coin I was not worried about ransom. When I struck it would be to kill.

  I rode towards the right-hand side of the Scottish knight with the blue shield and the white fusil. I hung my spear at my side and invited a blow from his sword. He stood in his stirrups and leaned forward. I lunged with my spear. It caught him under the arm. He was standing and I lifted him higher. He lost his balance and tumbled from his saddle. I changed my grip and held it overhand for the next knight was approaching quickly. He had a war hammer. He would not stand in his stirrups, he would swing sideways just above my horse’s head. As I brought my shield across my saddle I thrust down with my spear. It went through his chausses into his thigh and stuck in his saddle. The spear was torn from my grip as his dying arm smashed his war hammer into my shield.

  I saw that we had penetrated their front line and now it was time to draw them back to our archers. “Fótr, sound fall back!”

  The three notes sounded and all of my men and my knights reined in, turned around their horses and galloped back. Some of de Vesci’s knights kept charging and were cut down by the wild, half-naked and tattooed warriors on foot. As we rode back I saw that at least twelve Scottish knights lay on the ground. Those that were not dead already soon would be. The reckless men on foot had also been cut down. My men at arms did not miss such easy prey. There were small horses wandering the field for my archers had scythed the hobelars down. One had the rider being dragged by his heel. He did not care. He was dead.

  Even as we approached I saw the arrows soar over our heads to pick off reckless horsemen who had followed us too closely. When I heard the Scottish horn sound then I knew this battle was over. Knots of Scots and Northumbrian knights, eager for glory, still fought but the majority of the warriors obeyed the horn and withdrew. I saw that Sir Edward had taken a prisoner. One of the Scots had surrendered to him. The man was lucky for Edward rarely gave them the opportunity to do so.

  Baron de Vesci took off his helmet and walked his blood spattered mount towards me. I took off my helmet. “You were right Sir Thomas. They had many more men than I thought. Rothbury is lost.”

  “Not yet, Baron. Have you ever tried to take a castle?” He shook his head. “It is not easy and they have a problem, us. They know not if this is our whole army. When Sir John and Sir Richard arrive it will give them something to think on.”

  Baron Rothbury shook his head when he returned. He was leading his limping war horse. It had been badly cut and his shield was dented. “They are anmimals! Poor Sir Roger was too reckless. I have lost a knight.”

  “Next time, Baron, heed the horn. I sounded it for a purpose.”

  He flashed me an angry look. It was nothing to do with me. He was angry for his horse had been burt and he had lost a knight. “Why are you here Sir Thomas? Your manor is not even threatened.”

  “True but if you lose, and looking at the strategy I saw employed this day then that is likely, then my valley would be unprotected. I fight here so that my land and my people are safe.”

  He stared at me and then led his horse off. Baron Eustace said, “A little brutal Sir Thomas.”

  “The truth often is. This is not a game, Baron. Men died out there and there is little glory to be gleaned from an axe through your leg. I do not fight for honour. I fight to win.”


  He nodded. “And what now?”

  “Have your men cut stakes and make a barrier before us. When the rest of the army comes we can make camp and then work out how best to destroy this Scottish rabble.”

  “Scottish rabble?”

  “They are badly led. There was no order to their attack and no one took charge. They are a warband. If King William thinks they can gain him Northumbria then he is truly deluded.”

  After Petr had led Dragon off to be unsaddlled and cleaned, I joined Edward and Ralph at the river. We stripped off our surcoats, mail and gambesons. We stepped into the icy water. Other knights looked at us as though we were mad. We were not. The refreshing river washed away the blood and the smell of death. The icy water numbed our bodies and took away the hurts. We had all taken blows. They had not bled but that did not mean that they did not cause hurt.

  It was late in the afternoon when Sir Richard led the rest of the army to join us. As the men erected tents, Sir Eustace and I told him and Sir John of the action. “I believe, from what David of Wales told me, that more than a hundred of the Scots fell to arrows. Twelve of their knights died and eight squires. Thirty hobelars perished and another twenty of their men on foot. We lost two knights and six men at arms. We were lucky. Eight knights are wounded and may not be able to fight tomorrow.”

  Sir Richard said, “Do we have a plan?”

  Baron Eustace nodded, “Aye beat the bastards!”

  I was warming to the Lord of Alnwick.

  They all looked to me. I suppose because I was the most experienced. “It seems to me that now that we have the knights of Warkworth and Hexham we can use them to destroy their horse. At the same time we can use our archers, behind an advancing shield wall of the levy, to break the hearts and spirits of their men on foot. The danger to the levy is the hobelars. The men at the front need long spears.”

  Baron Eustace said, “But your archers are much better than what we have brought.”

  “I will put Captain David in command. He knows how to use even the poorest of archers.”

  We spent some time speaking of the logisitcs. I insisted that the wounded knights be with the levy. They would give the farmers some backbone. There was little point in mounting men who could not fight on a horse.

  David of Wales arranged our own sentries to watch our horses and our lines. I sat with Sir Ralph and Sir Edward. “Is there much ransom in your knight, Edward?”

  “I know not. I was about to skewer him when he shouted, ‘I yield’. I thought he was going to shit himself!”

  We both laughed for Edward was so serious. “I confess that I could do with ransom but I am not certain that these Scottish lords have much money.”

  “Some have for they have estates in England. Part of the purpose of this raid is to recapture land which was given to Scottish lords in times past.”

  Edward finished his ale. “The lads did well stripping the dead. The other knights were not bothered and most of their men at arms were just glad to be alive. David and Ridley shared it equitably. And we have ten of the hobelar ponies and four war horses. Not bad for a skirmish. Perhaps on the morrow we may do even better.”

  I did not sleep well. I worried about the lords with whom I fought. If they were conspiring against King John then their performance on the battlefield did not bode well. I was glad that I had not committed my self. I woke early and went to the river to make water. Petr and Fótr joined me.

  “We fight today, lord?”

  “We do. Petr you will carry the standard for I need Fótr to be behind me. We are short of knights and men at arms. Are you ready, squire?”

  My squire nodded, “I am, lord. I promise that I will not let you down.”

  “The thought never entered my head.”

  It was cold fare we ate. While Petr went to saddle the horses Fótr helped me don my mail. When I returned home the blacksmith would need to replace a couple of links on my hauberk. A blow from one of the Scots I had fought the previous day had broken one of them. With my arming cap and ventail hung around my neck I sought de Percy and de Vesci. They were warming themselves at the night fire the sentries had kept burning.

  Baron de Percy pointed to the skies. “The men who live up here tell me that there will be a chance of rain today. The ground is already muddy. If the rain comes in the morning it will harm our attack. The horses will struggle.”

  “And the archers will not be as effective. There is no sign of imminent rain. We attack sooner rather than later. If I were you, lord, I would rouse the men.”

  I was not in command. It was down to Baron de Percy to do so or Eustace de Vesci. They looked at each other and Baron Warkworth shrugged, “Sir Thomas seems to know what he is doing and I would rather get this over with and have Rothbury safe and the Scots gone from my land.”

  “I would do so quietly, my lord. No horns and shouting. The Scots may well be resting after a forced march and a battle they were not expecting. If we can achieve surprise then so much the better.”

  I did not need to give such commands to Sir Edward and Sir Ralph. They, along with David and Ridley, were already shaking awake those who still remained alseep. Of course it was not a silent procedure. Horses neighed and the sound of jingling mail could be heard but the Scots would, I hoped, put that down to the camp rising. Horns and clamour would suggest battle. The sun rose although there was so much cloud cover that it was still gloomy.

  Petr brought my horse. Keen to be part of the battle Petr already wore his open face helmet. He handed me Dragon’s reins and gave Flame’s to Fótr. He hurried back to the horse lines for his own. I saw that de Vesci had one of his men help him to mount. He was older than I was but I could never remember my grandfather, even when he was a greybeard, needing help to mount. I pulled myself into the saddle. My shield hung from my cantle. I lifted it and slipped the long strap around my shoulder and let it hang over my left leg. I hung my helmet from my cantle. Fótr offered me a spear. I shook my head. “Later. I need to see if the enemy are making their own preparations.

  I nudged Dragon forward and he picked his way through the stakes. I saw a slightly higher piece of ground. The rats and vermin fled from the Scottish bodies as I passed. The slightly elevated piece of ground allowed me to see parts of the Scottish camp. They did not appear to be forming for battle. I used the viewpoint to examine the ground. It was flatter towards the river. That would help our men on foot and archers. The ground to the left of me, where I intended the horse to charge, was broken up by buildings. We would not be able to use a continous line. I frowned. De Vesci should have mentioned that. It would alter our plans.

  I turned and headed back to our lines. The knights and men at arms were all mounted and gathered. They waited expectantly. “We will have to change our plans.”

  De Vesci snapped, “Why?”

  “Because until I examined the ground over which we are to charge I did not know that it was broken up by buildings and small stands of trees.”

  He looked confused, “And why is that a problem?”

  “Because we will not be able to charge in one line, my lord.” He opened his mouth and then I saw the realisation sink in. “We charge in conroi. I will take mine in the centre. Baron de Percy you take my left and Baron de Vesci the right. Baron de Clavering you will be the reserve. If one of us hits a problem them you will go to their aid. If one of us breaks through then your fresh knights exploit it.”

  They nodded but Baron de Clavering said, “You have but three knights. I have more. Should you not be the reserve?”

  “And have you charged an army before, my lord?”

  He was so young that I knew he had not. He might have fought in a mêlée in a tournament but little more. He shook his head, “You are right.” He smiled. “Your men can take the risk and my men will garner the glory.”

  I saw de Percy shake his head. De Clavering was young and more than a little arrogant. He would learn. I just hoped that his knights would not pay the price for such arrogance.


  The wounded knights who could still fight were gathered with the men on foot. They were marshalling them into their lines. I waved over David of Wales. “The locals say there will be rain later. I would end this battle sooner if we can.”

  He looked up into the sky, “Aye I smell rain in the air.” He gestured with his unstrung bow at the levy who were armed with a bow. “I have spoken with the archers I am to lead. They are keen enough but I fear we will not be able to maintain a steady stream from all. I can guarantee that our men will but these have not the strength nor the discipline.”

  “So long as their arrows fall and the spears stop the enemy closing then we have a chance.”

  I returned to the knights. The three lines of spears were ready. I nodded to Baron de Vesci. He waved his sword and the three lines moved ponderously down the valley. Although the ground was flat they would not move quickly. Their strength lay in a continuous wall of spears. They were the anvil and we were the hammer.

  I joined my men and Fótr handed me my spear. Petr, behind me, unfurled the banner. I saw that he held it in his left hand and his shield hung from his left arm. Fótr had taught him that. I raised my spear and spurred Dragon. With Sir Edward and Sir Ralph flanking me we headed towards the Scottish camp. My line of horsemen just had our squires behind us. Fótr would fill in the gap if one of us fell. De Clavering and his conroi would be fifty paces behind us. We picked our way towards the Scottish camp. We still could not see it. They would, of course, see our banners before we saw them. That could not be helped. If that was their only warning then we had a chance.

  I guessed they had seen us and that we were close when I heard horns rousing them. Then, as we passed around a stand of trees I saw the camp. They had not dug a ditch nor embedded stakes but they were awake and arming. I saw knights donning helmets as their horses were brought to them. The men who fought on foot had nothing to delay them and they were being forced into lines. The hobelars mounted their horses. They would be ready to meet us first.

  We were three hundred paces from them and I spurred Dragon. I had to trust that the lines of spears and our archers were approaching the Scots. If we had to face the whole Scottish force then we would lose. This time the one commanding the Scots had them take spears and form some sort of line. They had learned from our skirmish. I glanced down my line and saw that we were all together. I could feel the occasional pressure from the boots of Ralph and Edward. We were in as tight a line as we could get. I spurred Dragon to go a little faster. We would hit them as three conroi. It was not ideal but it could not be helped.