by Griff Hosker
I saw why, immediately. The first of the long spears were already coming towards Sir Richard and the dismounted men at arms. I watched Harry’s distinctively fletched arrow smack into the forehead of the spearman trying to skewer Sir Richard. I aimed at a man two spears back and the reason I did so was that I had a clear sight of him. I gained great satisfaction when my arrow was driven deep into the side of his head. The knights all wore mail and did not wear helmets but used a simple coif. Against spears, it was all the protection they would need. Their long swords were able to hack through the wooden shafts of the long spears and that rendered them useless. The men at arms’ long kite-shaped shields afforded protection for most of their body. Only our front rank had been engaged and when the schiltron was hacked and savaged by sword and arrow the Scots broke.
Sir Richard shouted, “Archers, pursue them. The rest mount and pursue!”
We had been outnumbered when the skirmish had started but now, we were almost evenly matched. As we saw backs turned towards us, we sent as many arrows into them as we could. The long spears had obscured the men but now there was nothing to stop the barbed war arrows from driving deeply into flesh.
Dai said, “Drop your bow and arrow bag. This is time for your sword!”
I did as I was told and ran. I was the youngest and, it turned out, the fastest. This would be a test of my newly learned skill. Ralph of Malton had drilled into me that every blow I took should be one intended to kill. “A half-hearted blow will come back to bite you on the arse. Each time you swing then expect to kill or, at the very least, to maim for believe me your opponent will be doing the same!”
I was the first archer to catch up with the Scots and the wounded spearman had but a moment to look behind him and see my swinging sword before I hacked so hard into his neck that I half severed his head. I heard, behind me, the hooves of the knights and men at arms as they began to gallop to support us. The Scots who ran before us began to hurl down their cumbersome spears, but it was of little use for we were catching them. The effort of carrying the long spear and attacking had sapped their energy and I learned that day that defeat disheartened a man and made him easier to catch and kill. As I hacked across the spine of another Scot, I saw Harry and Simon each slash across the backs of two more Scots. The Scottish horsemen could have intervened but the sight of our knights and men at arms racing forwards had made them think twice and they joined the flight west.
Once our horsemen overtook us Dai said, “We can do no more. Let us see what treasures we can garner from these apologies for soldiers.”
We turned and walked back through the men we had slain. The weapons were poor ones, but they and the poor helmets could be melted down to make arrows. There was a weaponsmith at Carlisle and proper moulds. We would have many bodkins! Some of the Scots had coins and metal crosses. We took all that they had. So many had been slain that the few coins we took from each Scot began to add up and as there were just twenty of us who had the whole of the battlefield to loot without sharing, we all did well. It was dark by the time our horsemen returned and by then we had fires burning and food was being cooked.
When they reached us, I saw Harry seek out Jack of Southwark. He stood there grinning and held out his hand. I wondered if there would be trouble and then Ralph of Malton decided the matter, “We all heard you, Jack of Southwark; do not embarrass the rest of us who were too wise to let our mouths impoverish us.”
The coin was handed over and, as we had found some of the distilled liquor the Scots like to make and drink, we slept well that night!
The next day we rode the last few miles to Ayr. Most people had fled for they knew we were coming and there was little for us to take. That was a mistake for we took it out on the small port and burned it and its quays to the ground. The boats we found were also wrecked and burned and the fishing nets we found were piled on to the fire. I was learning lessons which would stand me in good stead when I became a leader of men. We headed south and east and made our way back to Carlisle. When we reached it, we were all richer and the land for thirty miles north of the border had been ravaged. The last animals we took we did not slaughter but drove them, instead, back to the castle. We had also been lucky enough to capture ten horses and as our vintenar, it was left to Robert to decide who would have them. The five of us became mounted archers and our pay doubled in that instant. Life was good!
There was good news when we arrived. King Edward was heading north and our time in the garrison was almost over.
Chapter 3
It was summer when the King arrived, and we rode north to relieve Stirling Castle. By the time we left, I had not only learned to ride better but also Ralph’s lessons meant I was a good swordsman and I was better than any of our company. Ralph of Malton thought that I had a natural ability and, if I chose, I could be a man at arms. The seed was planted and began to grow. At the time I only knew that when I fought with a sword, I did not expect to be beaten, the arrogance of youth.
Captain Philip returned and the King was accompanied by his household knights and bodyguards as well as the northern lords. We now rode with the mounted archers and so had a new Captain, Geoffrey of Nottingham. Perhaps the King thought the same as Dai for we had a thousand archers with us. Only one hundred were mounted but the sheer numbers made me confident that we could hurt the Scots.
We had horses and were paid more. In addition, we were the advance guard, the scouts. As we rode at the head of the column, snaking its way along the same roads we had raided in the spring, I asked Harry about sieges, “I know we can defeat their spearmen for they have no armour but those behind walls have the protection of stone and wood. Aberdeen was just wood. What if we find Scots behind stone walls?”
“When the King’s grandfather, Longshanks, came north and hammered the Scots, he was careful to take over their castles and to build new ones. Until we reach Stirling there will just be wood before us. We can use fire arrows if needs be.”
“Fire arrows?”
He nodded, “Aye, we do not like to use them as they can be dangerous to an archer as well as being difficult to use but with a thousand archers we can burn any town we find to the ground with little risk to ourselves.”
The success of our earlier raid was clear to see for no one opposed us and we reached the River Clyde and the bridge at Glasgow without incident. It was there that the men of Glasgow made the mistake of opposing us. They manned their wooden walls and King Edward ordered his archers forward. With the small town surrounded by horsemen, we began to send flights into the town. A thousand arrows make a sound like the wind and when flight after flight are sent into the air then the sky darkens. It was a sobering sight. We sent ten flights and then the order was given to cease. Silence descended and then we heard the moans and cries from within the walls. The gates opened and Glasgow surrendered without the loss of a single man such was the power of the longbow. None of us entered, just the King, his bodyguards and the senior lords and nobles entered to accept the surrender, but we heard later, from the men who were sent to recover the undamaged arrows and arrowheads, that almost every man on the wall and within thirty paces of it had been killed or seriously wounded. As we continued to head to Stirling the King sent us all a silver sixpence in thanks. It was a day’s pay in addition to the pay we had already earned! My purse was now bulging, and I could not wait to spend some of it. I knew not what I wished to buy but it was burning!
The Scots had a choice, leave the siege and disperse, effectively handing over Scotland to King Edward, or fight us. The leader of the Scots was Sir Andrew Murray, the guardian of Scotland. King David was a child and he and his child bride were in France. Sir Andrew must have decided to make a stand for when we arrived at the castle, he had his army arrayed before it and it looked as though he would give battle. He had greater numbers than we did but his spearmen were outclassed by our archers. The King placed us before the men at arms, such was his confidence and the knights formed two blocks on our flanks. I did not know
so at the time for I was too busy trying to be an archer, but I was learning about strategy and battles. I found it all interesting and while my fellow archers diced and gambled as we waited, I watched the dispositions. I realised that with mounted archers at his disposal King Edward could have mounted us and used our mobility to threaten the Scottish flank. He did not do so.
Sir Andrew Murray was a clever man, and no sooner had we arrayed for battle than he sent a herald to ask for a truce so that we could talk. The King and his advisers, as well as the bishops, rode forward and talked. I watched the sun begin to sink behind us and King Edward and his men rode back with the news that an agreement could not be reached, and we would fight on the morrow. We camped where we were stationed. The Scots did the same four hundred paces from us. Captain Philip who was in overall command of the archers was mindful of the time our camp had been attacked and so we had a strong line of sentries. Our band of archers was called upon to take the last watch of the night and I was woken for our watch by Robert of Nantwich.
I now had a sword and I would not be as helpless if attacked but, as I stood my watch and saw the flickering Scottish fires, I suddenly realised that I could not see any Scottish sentries moving around. I saw shadows by the fires but not sentries. I went to Robert, “Vintenar, there are no sentries.”
“What?”
“See! I can see a couple of men by the fires but where are their sentries?”
He peered into the dark and then said, “You are right! Stand to and I will fetch the Captain!”
Captain Philip must have been already awake for he reached us in a few heartbeats. Robert pointed and the Captain nodded, “You have good instincts, Hawkwood. Vintenar, bring your men and we will investigate. We shall be silent and if we are wrong and they have hidden sentries then be prepared to fall back!” We nodded. “Draw your weapons.”
With swords in hand, the six of us headed across the dead ground between the camps. Their sentries should have been as ours were, one hundred paces from their camp but we found nothing save the signs that they had pissed and shat. They had left men, but they were just there to tend the fires and give the illusion that their army remained. They had fled!
Captain Philip’s voice roared out, “Stand to! Archers with me!”
While he shouted, we ran towards the men for there were horses and they were good ones. Once again, my speed and my youth came to my aid and I ate up the ground as I ran to the horse lines. There were ten men and animals and the Scots ran to mount their saddled horses. Silent Simon was also fast and the two of us reached the tardiest of the Scots first. One had missed his stirrup and was trying to haul himself into his saddle when Simon’s sword hacked into his back. The rider I caught had managed to mount but his horse was facing the wrong way and, as he turned, I slashed with my sword. I bit into his leg and felt my sword grate across his thigh bone. I was still new to fighting but I learned that day, that the leg is very vulnerable for there are veins and arteries there which can empty a man’s body of blood as fast as a strike to the heart. The blood fountained as the Scot fell from the horse. I think he was dead before he hit the ground. His good leg was in the stirrup still and I was able to grab the reins of the horse. Harry and Robert managed to capture a third man, but the rest escaped.
I calmed the horse and walked it, dragging the body, back to the horse lines. I tied it to the lines and then removed the body. The boots were good ones and I took them. The man had a better sword than mine for it was longer and had a good scabbard. I took that too. He also wore a good leather jerkin. Along with his dirk and his purse, I had done well but the horse was the greatest treasure for it was a palfrey and better than my own sumpter which I had from Carlisle. That had been borrowed. This new animal was mine!
There was little else to be had from the Scottish camp and I could not help but admire the way they had escaped. As I led my new horse, which I named Megs after the tailor’s wife, back to our camp I passed King Edward and his senior lords. He was not happy for we would have to chase the Scots all over Scotland to try to bring them to battle. The month we spent chasing Murray’s men was frustrating. The Scots headed north and east threatening the English garrisons. It soon became obvious that the army was too slow to catch them and so we were attached to Sir Richard once more and he led our two hundred horse archers and one hundred men at arms to keep the Scots from causing mischief. He and his ten knights were relentless in their pursuit and I learned a great deal about how to anticipate a clever and cunning enemy. We took it in turns to be horse holders. I never enjoyed that duty, but I recognised its value. Twenty-five of us each held four horses while the rest used their bows against the Scots. The men at arms would form up before us and the knights would remain mounted to charge down any attempt to attack us.
We almost caught up with them at Lochindorb where the English garrison held the small castle. The main army was fifteen miles behind them and we were greatly outnumbered. Sir Richard Elfingham did not panic, and we dismounted and strung our bows before the Scots could react to our sudden appearance. Ralph of Malton and the men at arms had their spears and shields before us even as we nocked our first arrows. The Scots saw a relative handful of men and they just launched themselves at us. Sir Andrew did not have control over his men that he needed. Our one hundred and seventy-five arrows plunged down like a snowstorm in winter and sliced into flesh. The Scots were brave, and they kept coming but we were able to release arrow after arrow and their wild charge was too uncoordinated. When their knights, who again outnumbered our knights, charged then I feared for Sir Richard and the lords he led.
Robert shouted, “Switch to bodkins and go for their knights.”
I had only practised with bodkins and never used them in anger. The Scottish knights were just twenty paces from Sir Richard when our four bodkins struck. Some of the other archers were using war arrows and I saw horses hit but I also saw my bodkin drive into the thigh of a knight. Robert’s arrow was even more successful, and his arrow drove into the skull of the leading knight. The result was that Sir Richard and his knights drove through the Scottish knights who had lost all order and cohesion. The Scots fell back, and we watched them. We had not enough men to attack and so we waited for King Edward and his army.
This time it was the men at arms who reaped the reward of our arrows. They scurried forward and stripped the dead of all that they possessed. It enraged the Scots who had retreated but we were still ready with our bows and the half a dozen men who ran to challenge the men at arms did not get within forty paces of them. Captain Philip sent three archers to butcher the dead horse which lay on the battlefield; we would eat well. When darkness fell, we dug a ditch and hewed stakes while we cooked the horse. There was enough for us all although I saw that the knights and their squires did not partake. We heard the Scots leave and even knew which direction they had taken; they were heading south and east! We did not chase them until dawn for they were largely on foot. The result was that King Edward and his army were able to close with us and were just five miles behind us as we caught up with them again. By the time we had crossed the Forth their army was disintegrating. We skirmished a little more although I was a horse holder on two of the occasions and we found ourselves at Dunbar when the Scottish army dissolved. It was a frustrating end to the campaign.
I say it was frustrating but that was only to the King. For us, it was a victory. We had full purses and better horses. We were now mounted archers and held in high esteem by our captains and the knights alongside whom we had fought. Even the King had noticed us and, as he took ship from Berwick, addressed us.
“Know you all that I am well pleased with the way you have behaved in this campaign and that I have authorised your payment to be continued for I shall need you if I am to take back France. I have written to King Philip, the pretender to the French throne and I have demanded the French crown.” He was a relatively young king, but he sounded very confident. “No doubt he will refuse, and I shall have to take it back. You s
hould all know that I have the support of the Holy Roman Emperor, Louis and the Pope. God is on our side. I am gathering an army to take back my land. It will meet at the Cinque Ports where we will embark. There you shall all be paid!”
Everyone cheered as his ships, filled with his knights, set sail. Harry was the exception, “He might be young, but the King is crafty!”
I was confused for I thought his words had sounded honest, “How so, Harry?”
“We have four hundred miles to travel and we shall have to spend our own coins to do so. Many will not make it to the Cinque Ports and the King will not have to pay them.” He shrugged, “We have done well out of this and I shall travel south if only to collect my money. Who knows, I may buy an inn!”
I was surprised that he should wish to leave our company, but Dai explained on the long journey south, that Harry was always talking about becoming an innkeeper, but it rarely lasted. He enjoyed fighting too much. We crossed the Tweed in August and reached Dover in the middle of September. I enjoyed the ride south for Megs was a good horse and much easier to ride than the nag I had learned on. I was also accepted as a warrior and as I had to scrape my face each day was considered a man. Indeed, I was almost fully grown, and I was as tall as Dai, the biggest of our companions. I managed, on the journey south, to drink too much and have to be put to bed after puking my guts out. The others were sympathetic and told me that it was something they had all experienced, but I should not repeat it. It was a warning and I heeded it. I was never drunk again! To be fair we were close to Burton on the Trent and they brewed good ale there and it was its strength which had caught me out. We reached the camp which lay close to Dover, the largest of the Cinque Ports, and Robert, as our vintenar, went to collect our pay. We had enough copper and silver coins to change some of them for gold. They were easier to carry and, while we waited for the orders to sail, I made a canvas belt which I wore beneath my tunic. The training I had with Stephen the Tailor meant that I made a good job of it and the others asked me to make one for each of them. I accepted the commission but declined the payment for I felt I owed them more than the effort it took for me to make them. I also bought some cloth and made myself a tunic with a hood. The most useful thing I made, from canvas, was a gardyvyan or haversack to carry my spare bracers, arrowheads, glue, candles, flint and everything else I would need on campaign. I had all the accoutrements now of an archer!