Baron's War

by Griff Hosker

  The Scots had managed to mount their knights. Their hobelars, armed with javelins, charged us to give the knights the opportunity to form a line. It was brave but it was foolish. The light horsemen galloped across our front. They hurled their javelins. Those who did not close with us wasted their missiles which either bounced from our mail or fell ino the earth. The braver ones who tried to close were speared. Their riderlesss horses hurtled back towards the knights who were forming up. It would disrupt their lines further.

  I reined Dragon back a little to allow our line to regain its integrity. I prepared my spear for we were less than two hundred paces from the Scots and the knights were moving towards us. Knights often prefer to fight other knights. There was more honour in that. Our three standards showed the Scots that we were the only knights who were facing them and they came for us. The rough line they had formed became an even rougher wedge as the knights jostled to hit the three English knights who faced them.

  I pulled back my spear as the first Scottish lance lunged at me. It was a good strike and, as his lance was longer than my spear, he hit me first. He wore an open helmet and, as his spear splintered on my shield, his face showed the triumph he felt. My shield was a good one and I had angled it so that most of the impact went behind me. In contrast, I rammed my spear at his middle rather than his chest. The spear struck his side. The head came away bloody. I had no time to choose my next opponent for he chose me. A Scot had come at my right side. I had no shield there to protect me. I was only saved by his inexperience. He went for my chest but the rough ground meant that he struggled to control his lance. It hit my helmet. It made my head ring but my helmet was well made. I had no opportunity to do anything other than swing my spear at his body. We passed each other. I later discovered that Fótr had speared the knight.

  I reined Dragon in for I did not want to get too far ahead of my men. Dragon was a powerful beast. He enjoyed war. His snapping jaws and his flailing hooves were deadly weapons. More knights approached but these were in an even looser formation. I saw one coming towards me. He intended to attack my spear side with his lance. At the last moment I pulled Dragon to my right so that we were shield to shield. A lance is a difficult weapon to control. He reined his horse in but I was already standing in my stirrups and with an overhand grip I stabbed down at his neck. It was not the cleanest of strikes but it tore through his ventail and into his throat. As he died his body pulled the spear from my hand.

  Three more knights charged me and I did not have the time to get another spear from Fótr. I drew my sword. Glancing to my side I saw that Sir Edward had just slain a Scottish knight. His horse’s muzzle was close to my horse’s rump. He was close enough to aid me. The three Scottish knights thought that they had me. They had lances and I just had a sword. They saw blood on my surcoat. They did not know it was not mine!

  Knowing that Sir Edward was on my right I aimed Dragon to ride between the two Scots to my left. They both thrust their lances at me. My instincts took over. I did not even look at the one to my left. I had my shield held tightly. Unless he aimed at my leg then I would be unharmed. I used my sword to smash away the lance from the knight on my right. It was relatively easy for the lance’s tip wavered up and down. The lance missed me and I was able to lunge at the knight as he passed. My sword tore into his shoulder. I began to turn to attack the other Scot when I saw him fall from his saddle and Sir Ralph pulled his spear from him.

  The three of us were stopped. Suddenly we heard the sound of the Scottish horns. They were withdrawing. I looked around and saw that many of their knights and mounted men at arms were between us and our own camp. The three of us turned. The knights would have to run the gamut of our swords and spears.

  This time they were at a disadvantage. The ground was covered in wounded, dying and dead men. Riderless horses milled around. We did not have to move. We formed a line like beaters driving game towards hunters. One man at arms, without a spear and with his sword still in its scabbard, was so focussed on the ground that he failed to see my sword sweep towards him and take his head. I turned Dragon sideways so that I could bring my sword around into the back of a man at arms who swerved to avoid me.

  Then it was over and we had won. The men of the other barons cheered. Mine did not. We had lost three men at arms. We had won but three men was too high a price. We walked our horses back to the camp. The other three leaders were there already. Their notched and bloody swords told their own tale. They were, however, joyful at the victory.

  Richard de Percy said, “You were right, Sir Thomas. The plan worked.”

  I pointed to the Scottish camp. “And yet they have not fled the field. They will lick their wounds and try us again.”

  Barond de Vesci said, “Your archers were magnificent. They slaughtered the Scottish levy.”

  Baron de Clavering nodded, “We were able to attack the men at arms in the centre and we slew many. Thank you, Sir Thomas. Your advice was sage and I apologise for my comments. They were ungracious and ill-deserved.”

  I smiled, “Words have never hurt me. We had best see to our wounded. Have your men take the mail and weapons from their dead and recover our dead.”

  De Vesci said, “Why?”

  “Because, if we do not then the Scots will and tomorrow we will face men in mail who would otherwise have none.”

  My men had already begun the task and, unlike the other conroi, had collected all the spare horses. When we returned home we would have a fine herd.

  That evening as we ate the dead horses Richard de Percy said, “And what now?”

  “We cannot try the same tactics tomorrow. It would not work. They will be up before dawn and they will have their own plan to defeat us. We will rise before dawn and see what they have planned. At least we are eating better than they are. We have bloodied their noses twice. If we can do so again tomorrow then they will leave.”

  We were up in the middle of the night and, after we had eaten, we walked our horses to the place we had begun the battle the day before. Sir Edward said, as we watched the sun rise above Rothbury. “This is unlike the Scots, lord. When we beat them then they run back across the border. Why do you think they are still here? If we fight them again then they cannot defeat us. We might not be able to beat them from the field for there are still many of them but we killed more than twenty knights this day.”

  “I know not. It has me puzzled too.”

  When the sun broke we saw the Scots arrayed before us. They had their mounted men in two blocks. One was by the river and the other, the larger one, faced us. Between them they had their warriiors who fought on foot. They seemed quite belligerent still. They hurled insulst at us and some even dropped their breeks. Petr was mounted, as were the others who had standards and he suddenly said, “Lord, I can see banners approaching Rothbury.”

  Edward turned to me, “Now we know why they waited. They are being reinforced.”

  I shook my head. “That cannot be. Scotland is behind us. It is Morpeth and the New Castle which lie in that direction. We will wait and see.”

  When we saw consternation in the ranks of the Scots we knew that it was not their allies. We saw the standards. The High Sherriff had brough an army. The Scots surrendered!

  The High Sherriff

  Chapter 16

  Robert son of Roger, the High Sherriff, Baron de Clavering, Baron de Percy and Baron de Vesci negotiated the peace. I was not upset that I was not involved. I was not a knight of Northumbria but it was obvious to me that Robert son of Roger had done this deliberately. I was not sure if it was just a snub or something more sinister. I took the opportunity of sending half of my men back to Stockton with the horses we had captured and the booty we had taken. We would catch them up. I did not want to leave without discovering more about the Sherriff. The men who left with the horses also included our wounded. Fótr led the men. He was pleased with the responsibility.

  Petr was cleaning the blood from my mail when the four barons returned. Robert son of
Roger, the High Sherriff was not a pleasant man. Part of it was his face. He looked like a bulldog with a down turned mouth but it was more than that. He did not speak, he hectored. The other three barons were in high spirits but the High Sherriff was not. When they spoke, I watched him.

  “We made the Scots pay an indemnity. They will pay us ten thousand silver pieces!” Baron de Clavering could barely contain himself. “And we have ransom from the knights who surrendered.”

  Baron de Percy said, “You will be rich, Sir Thomas.”

  Robert son of Roger, the High Sherriff, frowned. It made him even more unpleasant to look at, “Sir Thomas is not a knight of Northumbria. He is the Bishop’s man.”

  De Percy laughed, “Then you do not know either man, Sherriff for there is little love lost between them and, besides, we would not have won if it were not for Sir Thomas. He led us. He will get an equal share.” I saw the other two barons nod vigorously.

  The Sherriff was even more like a bulldog for he would not let the bone go. “His share should come to the crown.”

  Baron de Vesci shook his head and when he spoke there was real anger in his voice, “The Crown already gets too much. If you had arrived sooner, Sherriff, then we might not have lost the men we did. You are getting a fifth of the settlement. Do not dispute how we divide it or you may get none.”

  “You speak of treason, de Vesci.”

  “Do not push us, Sherriff. This is not treason. We divide the spoils of war amongst those who earned them! King John is many miles from here. There are barons here who feel we are over taxed for land which is not as rich as that in the south. We pay the same as those manors which yield wheat. We eat barley and oats!”

  The High Sherriff looked around. We were united. He had only brought twenty knights. The bulk of the men were the one thousand men of the levy. Had the Scots known that fact they might not have surrendered. I suddenly realised how little support and power Robert son of Roger actually had. The High Sherriff of York had much more power. I saw now that this unrest among the Barons of the north was understandable.

  He had to save face and so he nodded, “As Sir Thomas has helped to drive these Scottish raiders north I will agree but, Sir Thomas, in future stay close to your manor. It will be healthier for all; especially you.”

  His words troubled me. The last part sounded like a threat. I did not have time to get beneath his words for we all moved to Rothbury. The garrison were praised by Baron de Vesci for their hardy defence of the walls. There had been but fourteen of them. It was a remarkable feat. We ate in the Great Hall. There was not enough room for all and Sir Edward and Sir Ralph ate with the other knights at the new camp. Robert son of Roger was a taciturn man. He said little. He reminded me of Brice the Chamberlain. Perhaps these were the men the King chose to do his bidding. Maybe they were mercenaries who were more malleable than knights.

  I waited until most of the barons had left the table to stand around the roaring fire for it was a chill evening. I approached the Sherriff. “What did you mean earlier when you said, ‘healthier for all’?”

  “I can speak plainly now, baron, for we are alone. I meant that there are many who wish you dead. There are many who wish you gone. Your manor is where you are safe.”

  “You threaten me? Know that I am a knight who does not take threats well.”

  He gave a cruel smile, “You have a young family. The young are vulnerable. Better that you watch over them and keep your nose out of business that does not concern you.”

  I put my face close to his. “Do not threaten my family Sherriff. I do not fear you. If I can sink a blade into a Bishop then a mercenary like you would not make me lose a moment’s sleep. Tell those who sent you with this message that if any of my family are harmed it will unleash such a wild beast that the Scots and the Vikings will seem as nothing.”

  He recoiled at my words. I said them quietly and coldly. Each one was like a punch to his midriff.

  The Sherriff tried to save face, “The words are my own. Stay in your manor and you will be safe.”

  I stood upright, “And perhaps the same might be true of you Sherriff. The north is a wild and dangerous place. Who knows what dangers await?”

  He nodded, “We understand each other then.”

  “I think so.”

  I had had enough of the smoky hall and I left to return to my camp. Sir Edward and Sir Ralph had left the camp fire of the knights and were with my men. When I sat I told them of the Sherriff’s words, they looked at each other and then Sir Edward said, “When we ate with the other knights, the ones who came from Morpeth and the New Castle they told us that the Sherriff only brought the men when he heard that you were present at the siege. They thought that meant that he thought well of you.”

  Sir Ralph said, slowly, “Or perhaps he thought to do you harm. We had better keep a close watch this night on the baron.”

  “That begs the question, Sir Ralph, who sent the Sherriff to do Sir Thomas harm?” There was genuine concern in Edward’s voice.

  I thought I knew. “I think that is obvious, Edward. It is King John. He is John’s man. I do not think we are in any danger here but we will ride home with caution and we will not ride back using predictable ways. I am more fearful of our home. My family was threatened.” I looked into the flickering fire. “I am resolved. When we return then I put up a curtain wall and a gatehouse.”

  “Will that not give King John the opportunity to punish you?”

  “No Sir Ralph, for the wall will be there to keep back the river and to join to the town wall. I will not be so foolish as to build the huge walls which Stockton once enjoyed. It will be there to prevent easy passage to the halls. We have enough men to keep a good watch. At the moment we are open and exposed. In the dark of night, it is too easy for men to move close to the hall using the shadows.”

  Baron de Percy came to speak with me just after dawn. “Baron, why did you not stay in the castle last night? It was more comfortable.”

  I decided that I could trust de Percy and I needed to confide in at least one of the other restless barons. “The High Sherriff has made threats against me and my family. I leave this morning to protect them.”

  De Percy did not seem surprised. “This is King John’s work. He knows of the unrest here in the north. I have a small manor. De Vesci is old and de Clavering is young. You, however, have a name and reputation which would draw others to our cause. King John knows this. If he quashed you and imprisoned you that would make you a martyr and draw more to our cause. You are still the hero of Arsuf. King Richard is spoken of as the golden king. His rule meant that the country was prosperous. On the other hand, if you were killed by unknown forces then King John could say he knew nothing of it.”

  I shook my head, “Baron, what you say about King Richard is not true. He bled the country to pay for his war in the east.”

  Baron de Percy smiled, “True but compared with John his rule seems, now, to have been beneficial to England. Certainly, the barons enjoyed more freedom. Take care Sir Thomas and know that you now have powerful friends in the north. We will not abandon you.”

  We left early. The fastest way home would have been down the coast and across the bridge at the New Castle. That way was fraught with danger. That was the land ruled by the Sherriff. He had brought with him the lords from Morpeth, Prudhoe, Ashington and the other northern castles. Ominously none of the knights from around the Tyne were with him. My other men would be well south of the Tyne and so I decided to take us further west and use the smaller roads. We left, giving the appearance of heading for the New Castle but, once we were out of sight of the castle then we headed due south rather than south and east. We headed for Matfen. It lay south of the Roman wall and was close enough to Baron de Percy’s manor that I felt safe. If we had to we could camp there but I hoped to get further south before we did.

  As we rode I reflected that we had done better than we might have hoped. We had a fine horse herd now. We had enough animals for all of my m
en and Sir Edward’s. Sir Ralph could now mount half of his men. We had chests of mail and swords. Baron de Vesci had promised that he would have our share of the reparations and ransom sent to my hall by his men. When that arrived, it would pay for the stone for my walls. We passed Matfen without incident and I decided to continue south as we had not met danger.

  I made a sudden decision which surprised my men, “We will try to make Durham castle.”

  Sir Ralph looked shocked. “Lord, you have been threatened by the Sherriff and the Bishop is no friend of yours!”

  I saw Sir Edward smile. He knew the way I thought. “Perhaps but I do not think that the Bishop is colluding with the Sherriff. The Pope has excommunicated King John. The papal interdict means that Durham is poorer as a result. I do not think that Phillip of Poitou would rebel against King John but I have a feeling that he will be more amenable than he was. Besides,” I added innocently, “we need to tell him of the great victory of Rothbury!”

  I know not if there were men waiting to ambush us on the road from the New Castle but we reached Durham safely. Surprisingly we were admitted although my knights and I were asked to leave our weapons with the chamberlain. Aimeric was there too and he looked unhappy at my presence. The Bishop was more cordial than he had been and, when he spoke I saw why.

  “It seems, Baron, that we owe you a debt of thanks. Your heroic battle against the Scots at Rothbury has saved all of us from the predations of the Scots.”