Baron's War

by Griff Hosker

  “Will son of Robin will do. He does not suffer fools gladly.”

  “We use the dismounted men at arms to attack the walls and we will surround them with the horsemen. The walls are not high. No one has ever attacked Jedburgh. It is a royal residence but not a place of war. They think the presence of the monastery protects them.”

  Sir Edward nodded, “And that is why they have chosen you, lord.” I frowned. “You killed a Bishop. They think you have no respect for the church.”

  I smiled, “I had not thought of that. King John is cleverer than I thought.”

  Sir William said, “More devious, lord.”

  “And when we have it?”

  “Then I leave all of the men without horses and our baggage there. We will make that our fortress. When we go north we go mounted. We strike first at Galashiels and then Lauder. It is but fourteen miles to Galashiels and another five to Lauder. With luck we can drive those from Galashiels to Lauder.”

  “Where there is a castle or a tower at least.”

  I nodded, “Edward, I have no intention of attacking a castle with horsemen. We play the fearful knight. We make it look as though we are ready for a siege but David of Wales’ archers will keep watch and as soon as King William appears then we withdraw. They will eagerly pursue the banner which has been the bane of Scotland. We make him attack his own walls which will be defended by our men.”

  “And King John?”

  “A good point, Fótr; I am not sure that he will hurry. He may want our numbers thinned and me, possibly killed. If our numbers are diminished then so will the Scots and his victory will be all the greater. I am doing him a favour by drawing the Scots south. He will not have as far to travel.” We spent some time working out the things I had overlooked and then I summoned the leading barons and told them of our plans. They were not thrilled!

  “But we have fewer knights than the King.”

  I nodded, “Perhaps if all the barons had responded to the Bishop’s command we might not be in this dilemma. I expect all of you to obey both my orders and my commands! Petr, my squire will use the horn to signal you and Alfred my other squire will use the standard. Make certain that you have one of your men with an eye to me. I will not be difficult to find. I will be at the van leading you.”

  For some reason that seemed to make them happier. I suspect some thought about being tardy. What they did not know was that I intended to have one of my men at arms at the rear watching for such actions.

  “If we prosecute our attack with vigour then we will win. The battle which attacks Galashiels and Lauder will be mounted. Our speed will surprise them and we shall be able to withdraw in good order.”

  The Baron of Sherburn, which was close to Durham, said, somewhat sarcastically, “You seem to be confident about taking Jedburgh.”

  I looked at him, “Baron, I have been fighting enemies like the Scots since I was twelve years old. I may not be tactful nor does my face inspire confidence but the wounds I suffered have made me a stronger knight. If all of you were my own men then I would have total confidence in our ability to win. It is for you barons to prove that you are as good as my men at arms!”

  That upset them. I saw my own knights smiling as the barons complained about impugned honour. I nodded to Ridley the Giant who banged his sword against his shield. It was like the crack of doom.

  “For those who say I have impugned their honour then I make this offer; when this is over I will meet any and all of you in a place of your choosing and we will allow a trial by combat settle the matter.” I smiled. “I cannot say fairer than that.” They were silent. None wished to cross swords with me. “We leave at dawn. I would be camped at the Tweed before dusk. Tomorrow the knights of the Palatinate go to war.”

  When we were alone Sir William could not contain his laughter, “I honestly thought that some of those barons were ready to run back to Durham when you made the offer.”

  Sir Edward asked, “Aye, but will they fight?”

  “They will fight. They may not do it as well as our men but they will fight. It is our battle which will decide the outcome of this attack. We will ride together and we will take Jedburgh.”

  This time, when we moved, it was faster. My words had spurred them. My archers rode ahead and ensured that the ford across the Tweed was not defended. We made a cold camp with no fires. Again, there were no complaints. I think they feared I might make good my promise earlier rather than later. Mordaf and Gruffyd scouted out the town and the abbey. They reported that although there was a greater number of sentries than we might have expected there was no sign of preparation for war. The presence of King John close to Berwick had ensured that.

  My mounted archers left well before dawn. The road leading to Galashiels crossed the Jed Water north of our position. Had I so wished then I could have ensured that all of those in Jedburgh were trapped but I wanted word to reach King William. I planned on sending the men on foot across the bridge to the south of the town while my horsemen swam the river. It was neither wide not deep. With Godwin of Battle leading the men on foot I led the horsemen to the river and I took the lead. It was Alfred who worried me. He had never crossed such a deep river. To that end I had Petr with him. He could swim but a sudden dousing in a dark river could induce panic.

  When our horses scrambled up the other bank I was relieved that Alfred was there. I nodded, “Now unfurl the banner. It is imperative that the Scots see it. It is the banner which will make them panic. This is why King John chose us. They will remember the Warlord and my grandfather.”

  As dawn came up behind us I saw the town. The gates were closed and men stood on the walls. The walls around the abbey were unguarded and were there to deter animals rather than determined men. I halted the line. I had Baron Stanley and Baron Spennymoor leading half of the knights. I had my men and the barons I mistrusted. I would keep them close to me. My knights and men at arms would be the front rank and they the second. None of them appeared embarrassed about following men at arms. We stood in two lines and waited. Godwin would lead the men on foot, the dismounted archers and the crossbowmen against the Abbey. If the Scots sallied to destroy them then we would be able to reach them first.

  As soon as the sun sparkled from the helmets and spears of Godwin’s men we heard the horns and drums from inside the town and from the Abbey came the sound of a bell. A rogue cloud kept us hidden but when the light hit us I saw hands pointing at us. They did not attempt to sally forth to fight Godwin and his men.

  Petr shouted, “Lord, men are leaving the abbey and heading to the town.”

  “Then sound the attack.”

  We were just four hundred paces from the town and the abbey was the same distance away. It meant we would have to charge across the men on foot who were advancing up the road. At the very least we would capture the Abbey and that was an important target. The Abbey had been founded by King David!

  As we galloped towards the priests I saw that they would not make the town gate in time. The gates were still closed. I gambled. “Wheel right!” Petr sounded the horn and Alfred waved the standard. The move caught those on the walls unawares. They had crossbows but they had not yet aimed them. The gates opened as the first, younger, priests reached the town. We were just two hundred paces away. Had they had any sense they would have slammed the gates shut but they did not. They were allowing the priests and monks to enter. A few bolts flew towards us. I saw one knight, who had been slow to raise his shield, fall from his saddle. I saw why they had kept the gates open. The abbot and his senior priests were waddling along at the back. “Petr and Alfred go and take the Abbot prisoner. Johann go with them!”

  I spurred Dragon hard and he leapt ahead of Edward and William’s mounts. Two men in mail came from the gates with spears. Their intent was clear. They would stop us from gaining entry. I aimed Dragon at one of them and then, as I came within range of their spears I switched him to ride at the other I hurled my own spear at his chest. At three paces I could not miss and
he fell backwards holding the spear. Dragon knocked two priests to the ground as Sir William speared the other guard. And then I was in the town. Panic had set in and everyone was fleeing north towards the north gate.

  I reined in Dragon. I needed him calmer and I waited for my household knights and men at arms to join me. A line of Scottish knights and soldiers formed a shield wall. With their flanks anchored next to two buildings they must have thought themselves secure. They were not. The back of a horse can be an excellent place from which to throw a spear. You are throwing downwards and can often defeat a shield. This was another reason we used spears. You could not do this with a lance. Fótr’s squire, Henry, handed me a spear.

  My men had practised this manoeuvre although we had never actually used it. I shouted, “Cantabrian circle!”

  Sir Edward joined me and my men formed two lines behind us. I knew that the other lords who were entering the gates would have no idea what we were doing. We charged towards the Scottish shield wall. Sir Edward and his column would have the advantage that their shields would protect them from the Scots. My column would not. I smiled as the Scots held their shields across their bodies and planted their spears next to their feet. They thought we intended to bowl them over. When I was five paces from them I wheeled Dragon to the left and, standing in my stirrups, hurled my spear. The Scot it struck had a surprised look as he saw the shaft of the spear sticking from his chest. He fell backwards. Sir Fótr was behind me and he hit the next man. This was the beauty of the manoeuvre, there were no wasted spears.

  I rode down the length of my column and saw the Baron of Stanley. “Take your men and charge the survivors. You can ride six abreast!”

  “Aye lord! An impressive attack!”

  I reined in at the gate. Most of the other knights just milled around. The two brothers were the only ones whose men were organised and ready to attack. I saw that we had taken out the front rank of spearmen already. As the last of my men hurled their spears I heard, “Stanley and Spennymoor, for God, the Bishop and Sir Thomas of Stockton!”

  A solid column of knights six men wide and ten deep charged the line. It was too much. They broke and fled. I saw that Godwin and his men had arrived, “Godwin, get your men on the walls. This is yours to defend!”

  “Aye lord.”

  I took off my helmet and made certain that all of my men had survived. They had. We followed the knights of Stanley and Spennymoor through the town. “Padraig take a couple of men and search the dead.”

  “Aye lord.”

  When we reached the north gate, I saw people being driven back by David of Wales and his archers. They were mounted but they had nocked bows. I rode to meet him. While his men drove their prisoners into the town I reined in and spoke with my Captain of Archers. “Well?”

  “We let the first two horsemen go. We slew the next ten and the rest seemed unwilling to risk a goose fletched arrow. We have twenty more horses.”

  “Good. When your men have eaten, give our scouts a spare horse each and send them to Galashiels. We will head there on the morrow.”

  Even the most taciturn of the barons was happy with the outcome. I had gambled and won. As Edward pointed out, later, as he chastised me for my recklessness, that was not always so. I had the knights who had surrendered and the monks and abbot placed, under guard in the Abbey. The abbot gave me ransom before I asked for it as did the lord of Jedburgh. The other twelve would be my prisoners until then. I used some of the other barons to escort our prisoners back to Norham. They would also tell King John that the first part of my plan had succeeded. We ate well and, confident that Godwin could hold the town for us, we retired.

  Alfred and Petr shared my room. Alfred would not go to sleep. “We could go all the way to Edinburgh and take their King prisoner.”

  I heard Petr laugh. I spoke gently. Alfred was young. “Son, we were lucky. This was not a castle. This was a town wall and we found the gate open.”

  “Aye father but you destroyed a shield wall! I heard the other barons talking! They could not believe it.”

  “Those barons are not warriors. Do not value their opinion. So far God has smiled on us. There will be sterner tests to come. Now sleep. We leave before dawn!”

  When we left the next day, I rode Skuld and Petr led Dragon. The scouts had reported that Galashiels was a hive of activity. There was no castle there and the palisade was even less impressive than Jedburgh. This time we would use my archers to gain entry. Eight of my men at arms had taken axes from the armoury at Jedburgh. We would break down the gates the old-fashioned way. My forty-five archers had plenty of arrows.

  Baron Stanley and his brother asked permission to ride with me. They were interested in my retinue. “You have mounted archers. Can they fight as the Turks do, from the backs of horses?

  “No, for the Turk uses a short bow made of layers of horn and wood. The war bow is too long. I mount them so that they can keep pace with my knights and men at arms.”

  “Your men at arms fight like knights and yet they are not knights.”

  I pointed at Edward, “Sir Edward was a man at arms. I knighted him. He is no different now from the days when he was as Ridley the Giant!”

  Baron Spennymoor said, “And today will be like yesterday?”

  I shook my head. “Do not predict what the gods of war have in store. We make plans and we hope they succeed. Make sure that you watch me when we fight. If I have to change plans then I will signal you.”

  The gates to Galashiels were closed. There was no obliging monastery nearby. Half of my men at arms dismounted and while the others held their shields they walked to within two hundred and fifty paces of the gatehouse. Eight of them had axes. They planted their shields in the ground and stood behind them. A few crossbow bolts flew from the walls and thudded into the shields. Arrows followed but they fell woefully short. They were not using the war bow. Confident that our movement was some sort of ruse or trick they stopped wasting arrows and bolts. The walls were lined with warriors and townsfolk.

  My archers arrived. They had plenty of arrows. I nudged Skuld to walk closer so that I could observe the effect of the attack.

  “Nock!” The archers had all chosen their best arrow. “Draw!” The creak from the forty-five bows was audible. David of Wales looked at me and I nodded, “Release!”

  The forty-five arrows sailed towards the gatehouse. It was as though someone had built a wall of sand and the sea had swept it away as the gatehouse was cleared. Even as I looked I heard the next forty-five arrows head towards the walls adjacent to the gatehouse. Some of those there were quick enough to duck or raise a shield but another twenty or so men fell. Ridley the Giant led my men at arms towards the gate only half had shields. The rest were left to protect the archers. I did not think it would be needed.

  “Petr, order the barons forward.”

  I watched my men run the two hundred and fifty paces to the walls. Barely a handful of arrows and bolts were sent at them. My archers now had to seek targets. There was no rain of arrows but as each Scot raised his head to throw a stone or javelin at the men hacking at the gates so they were knocked form the walls. Alfred offered me a spear. “No, I shall use my sword. You wait here with David of Wales.”

  “Aye lord.”

  The sound of the axes striking the wood was like the sound of doom to Galashiels. Suddenly I saw a standard being waved. It was white. They were surrendering.

  We rode through the gates. There was but one knight in the town. I realised, when I saw that the stable was empty, that the others had fled. They would be heading to Edinburgh. My plan was succeeding better than I might have hope but I did not allow myself to get too excited. King William had yet to respond and I knew that he would.

  The Bane of the Scots

  Chapter 20

  I had the one knight we had captured sent back to Norham. He was sent via Jedburgh. The treasure of Galashiels and the weapons were also sent to Jedburgh. I took the treasure in lieu of sacking the town. I had
no doubt that the good burghers would have treasure hidden away but we had enough to make my barons happy. Once again, we ate well and slept in comfortable quarters. I fear it made some of my barons complacent.

  The next day we headed, not for Edinburgh and Dalkeith, but Lauder. Unlike Galashiels there was a tower. It stood on a hill. There was, however, a good wall with four well-made and defended gates. We would need a different strategy. I had sent a rider directly to Norham from Galashiels but I hoped that King John was already on the march. Our movement and our success must have reached the ears of King William. If he wanted to hold on to his throne against his many rivals he could not ignore the threat to his land.

  The road along which we rode descended to a boggy stream filled piece of ground. My scouts had already reported it and so we changed to a narrower formation. We could no longer ride in three columns using the fields. We had to stick to the road. The formation meant we were strung out further along the road. It was that formation which saved us. We waited for the other conroi to form up behind as my archer scouts who had been to the north and west of us galloped in.

  Cedric Warbow said, “Lord, King William and his army are just a mile away. He has many banners and horsemen. They are heading for Lauder!”

  We had been anticipated. It was time for a quick decision. “Gilles, ride north and east. Find King John or the Earl Marshal. Tell them that King William advances and I will fall back to Jedburgh.”

  “Aye lord.”

  It took time to turn us around. I rode through my knights and barons so that I was at the fore. There was a fork in the road we had passed which would take us directly to Jedburgh. I spied, in the distance a wooded hill to the north of the road. I was just glad that my scouts had not spied Scots there. It was the perfect place from which to ambush.