Crécy

by Griff Hosker

  A Scottish man at arms, mailed from head to foot and with plated greaves advanced towards me. He had a war axe and a shield. “Michael, stand back!” This would be a hard fight for the archers behind me had no clear target and I could not allow the men of Hartburn to risk death against this warrior. I had to use my two skills: speed and strength. I feinted with my sword and made as though I would jab to his head. As he swung up his shield, I hacked my hand axe at it and bit a large chunk from the bottom of his shield. I quickly stepped back onto my right leg as he swung his own, longer axe. It barely missed me. However, the swing could not be easily stopped, and I brought my own sword down and struck his shoulder. He grunted as something cracked. I stepped forward and swung my axe at the centre of his shield. An ominous crack appeared. I knew he was hurting for instead of swinging his axe at me, he tried to head-butt me, and I pulled my head back out of the way before he could connect. Knowing I had the advantage I swung again at his shoulder. He could not raise his arm and my sword slid along his mail and bit into his coif and then his neck. With blood spurting, he fell in a heap. The archers continued their arrow storm and the Scots endured it for as long as they could but, defeated they fell back.

  As the men around me cheered I looked and saw that one battle, the one which had not engaged, now left the field. They had seen what we had done to one battle and were not brave enough to risk almost certain death. They would head north and plunder their way home! We now outnumbered the Scots!

  Lord Neville shouted, “Archers, surround them and rain death upon them. Make the sky look like thunder and deliver England’s wrath upon them!”

  I grabbed my bow and a bag of arrows which had been brought up and I ran with Robin to stand with the archers of Lancashire. We sent so many arrows into the Scotsmen that we ran out and more had to be fetched. While they did so our men at arms entered the fray. Hitherto they had just watched but now they participated, and they attacked the larger number of Scottish knights and men at arms. When our arrows arrived, we picked off the Scots who were further back. I heard a Scottish voice order a retreat. It was what we had done so successfully at the start of the battle. The Scots did not have the same discipline and within a short time, the retreat became a rout as men tripped and fell. While the men at arms ran back for their horses, the rest of us ran after the Scots. This was too good an opportunity to spurn. Running, stopping and loosing arrows, we went on until we had no arrows left. I slung my bow and drew my axe and my sword. With Michael close behind me, we ran on catching and slaying the slower of the Scots until the mounted men at arms overtook us.

  I raised my arm, “Now we can stop.” I saw that I had most of the men of Hartburn with me. I smiled at them, “Today you all became warriors. When we return to the battlefield take what you need from the Scottish dead for that is the price they pay for failure and is your reward for courage. You will be better equipped so that if they are ever foolish enough to come south again, then you shall meet them well armed and equipped.”

  When we reached the battlefield Captain Philip was helping the healers to tend to the wounded. Walter of Whitton had had his arm laid open and he was being stitched. He had been lucky for a yeoman who lost a limb lost his livelihood. I went back to the man at arms I had slain. I stripped the mail from his body as well as the greaves and metal sabaton. His war axe would also be handy as would his helmet and coif. I knew that I had a helmet but having a spare as well as an extra suit of mail could not hurt. We were still on the battlefield, scavenging, when a wounded King David was brought in. His capture made the victory complete. We left the battlefield after dark and took the food the Scots had brought to cook.

  Michael did not feel that he had done enough and so he insisted upon cooking. Many of the wives of the burghers of Durham also helped for we had saved their city! Robin and I were both happy. We had not been paid for our service, but the rewards had exceeded that which we might have been paid. We had no knights for ransom but the ones we had killed and whose bodies we had stripped had more coins on them than we expected. None of Captain Philip’s men had been killed although there were wounds which might take until after Christmas to heal but all things taken into consideration, we had surprised even ourselves. With half the number of men at arms compared with the Scots we had not only defeated them but driven them home and they would not return in my lifetime!

  After we had eaten Captain Philip was summoned to meet with Lord Ralph. We knew that most of the knights and men at arms were still pursuing the Scots as they fled north. The army would be disbanded, and Captain Philip was being given his instructions. He returned close to midnight; the cathedral’s bells tolled it. He smiled at Robin and me, “You two must be a good luck charm.” He tossed us each a purse of coins. “Lord Ralph gave ten pounds to each of the Lancashire archers and you two! For myself, I have twenty pounds and can now afford to buy materials which will allow me to finish my hall.” He turned to the others, “We return home tomorrow. There are some captured wagons and horses. His lordship has given one to us for the wounded and the booty we take home. By this time tomorrow, we can all tell tall tales to our wives and sweethearts! We were at the battle of the Saxon Cross!”

  The next morning, as we rode back to Hartburn, Captain Philip said, “And what are your plans now?”

  “We came north for some peace and, as yet we have had none. I thought we might help you to rebuild your home. I need to work on my archery and your land seems as good a place as any. Of course, if we are in the way then…”

  He laughed, “Believe me you will not be. I am grateful that you were with us. At the battle, John, you drew the Scots to you and not the farmers of Hartburn. I do not want you to think that you have to work. We will enjoy your company.”

  “And you know me, Captain, I shall not sit idly by while others labour.

  And so, we spent two months working every hour in the ever-shortening days. Robin and I hunted in the woods of Coatham and Michael learned sword skills. We enjoyed playing with John, Captain Philip’s son, and Michael picked up tips on cooking from Anna the cook and Mathilde. It was a perfect time. We stayed until Michaelmas and I enjoyed Christmas. Even when I had lived at home, I had not enjoyed Christmas despite my mother’s best efforts for the looming presence of my father and brother had ensured that it was a miserable time for me.

  I think that we would have stayed there for longer had we not visited Durham where the Bishop had returned. He spied us as we prayed in the cathedral and sought me out. “What are you doing here, John Hawkwood? I thought you would have been at the siege of Calais.”

  “We were sent home at the end of August, my lord, surplus to requirements.” We told him of our part in the battle which was now known as the Battle of Neville’s Cross for Lord Ralph had erected a new cross at the site of the battle.

  The Bishop nodded, “Then you should know that as a result of that King Edward has sent for every archer in the land to meet at Southampton. Calais still holds out and he needs archers to take it.” He then told us how Lord Henry Plantagenet had increased the English holdings in south-west France and that there was a hope that soon the French would capitulate.

  Of course, when we told Captain Philip, he told us to go, “England needs you two and I would not sleep at night if I thought I kept you from this most complete of victories! We shall miss you, of course, but England’s needs are greater than an old soldier who is now as content as any man!”

  We left my chests of coins with the Captain for safekeeping. I told him to use any he needed to, but he said that the reward from Lord Neville and what he had taken from the field of battle meant he had the coins he required. I kept just enough from my chest to pay my way, I could always get more from Basil of Tarsus.

  Chapter 16

  With horses which had been taken from the Scots, we made the journey south to Southampton quickly. The winter weather helped for the ground was hard and we were able to travel faster than had it been wet and muddy. While Robin found us a ship
, I went to Balin of Bitterne and picked up my mail. He had also made me a coif. The suit fitted perfectly, and I was also able to sell him the mail I had captured at Neville’s Cross. Both of us were happy for we each thought we had had a fair deal and that, in my experience, was rare.

  It took three days to get to Calais thanks to inclement weather and when we arrived, we reported to Captain William who now commanded the archers. “I am glad that you two are here for we need men with your experience. I would have you both as vintenars.”

  I looked at Robin and he nodded.

  The Captain gave us the money which bound us to King Edward until released.

  Things had changed since we had left and a spit of land to the north of Calais had been fortified which meant that the town was now completely cut off. Ships could no longer supply the garrison and they were starving; besides, our artillery could now batter that side of the town. We went to the camp to find the archers whom we would lead. As soon as I saw Ned and discovered that he, too, was a vintenar, then I felt happier. That happiness evaporated when I learned of the fate of Rafe the Dull. He had been hanged for the murder of a whore. Ned told me that it had been an accident. The huge giant had become overexcited when they had been copulating and she had died as he did not know his own strength. His slow wits hanged him for he could not explain to the court the real events; he did not have the words. Had King Edward not let us go then Rafe would be alive for we knew how to look after him. That was another lesson I learned about leadership; a leader looked after his men.

  We learned, in the camp, that the French King was trying to bring an army to dislodge us. Until King Edward had built the fortification the French had been able to keep Calais supplied. Now that it had stopped the French tried to send their own raiders to disrupt our siege lines. The bulk of the new army was still in England and, one day in early May, King Edward and his son sent for me.

  “Vintenar, we understand that you fought in these lands, towards Poperinge before Crécy.”

  I nodded, “Aye, my lord, I fought under Captain Philip and I have some idea what the land is like. It is flat and it is without any place to ambush!” I said that for I knew what he expected.

  Prince Edward smiled at me, “And yet I know you, John Hawkwood. You have skills which we need if we are to win this land. I wish you to take fifty archers and harass any French army which comes near us.”

  “With fifty archers, my lord?”

  “The fifty you take will make the enemy halt and that way you can send a rider to alert us. The time you buy will be sufficient for us to bring an army and meet them in the field. You may choose your own men! For this, we will pay you as a centenar.”

  “Thank you, Prince Edward.” As I headed back to our camp, I knew that the men I led would be happy to be away from the siege works. Each day was monotonously similar to the day before. Unless we had the night watch we stood to and sent arrows at any Frenchman foolish enough to show himself above the parapet. As we had few targets we just peered at the walls of Calais.

  My selection was easy. I took Robin and Ned as my vintenars. Michael would be my extra man. Since Crécy, he had grown, and I had had to buy him a larger horse. His pony helped carry our increasing war gear. Having bought the mail I wore that as I rode but I was aware that the days of Megs carrying me to war were over for I would be too heavy for her. To that end, Michael carried my spare sword in a scabbard tied to his saddle. He was becoming a squire to me although, as I was no knight, that was the wrong title.

  It was as we were riding towards Poperinge that Ned observed, “You know, Captain, you no longer look like an archer. With that fine helmet and coif, not to mention your mail and greaves, you look like a man at arms.”

  “I have realised, Ned, that no matter how good we are as archers we will still be used as a tool to weaken the enemy before the men at arms end the battle and garner not only the glory but the treasure. After Crécy, we scavenged the field, as we did after Bergerac and Auberoche. It was the men at arms and knights who chased and captured the knights. The fifty thousand pounds captured by Lord Henry made him the richest man in England!”

  Robin knew me well, “And that is what you wish, Captain, to be rich?”

  “No, Robin, for the coins are a means to an end. If you have money, then you have power.” I pointed to the north. “The Flemish army is there for they are allies of King Edward. If they were not, then he would have to hire them. I would have my own company of men and I would hire us out to fight for any who can afford us.”

  “Just archers, Captain?”

  “No, Michael, for I have learned that you need a balance. Without men at arms to protect us then the archers are vulnerable and without English archers then men at arms cannot win battles. We showed at Crécy and Durham, that a small and well-trained army can defeat many times their number. That is what I intend.” The winter had not been wasted and I had a better idea of how I wished to fight in the future after this war was over.

  The burghers of Poperinge no longer feared the French and that meant that we were welcomed. Since King Edward and his army had arrived the Flemish had reclaimed some of their land and the effective border was further south. I intended to use that proximity to my advantage. I spoke with the council of Poperinge and we were allowed to billet ourselves in the town. The fact that I was mailed and attired as a man at arms seemed to make me more acceptable. We then spent each day patrolling the land to the south of the town. It was twenty miles to Saint-Omer which was the largest town still in French hands. Close by was the town of Arques and those two were the furthest extents of our rides. While Robin led some men to ride to Hazebrouk and Ned rode west to Bollezille, I took fifteen men to Saint-Omer. We headed through the forests which covered that part of France and we were able to rest our horses in the eaves of the forest to examine the town and its castle.

  We dismounted and allowed the horses to graze and to drink from the small stream. I went with Walter of Barnsley and Michael to the edge of the woods where we sheltered behind the boles of some huge trees to spy out the defences.

  “Captain, will we attack the town and castle?”

  “No, Michael, but I want to know how many men are in the garrison. A small garrison means that we can come here regularly and not fear a foray from the French. It will also tell us when the French King arrives.”

  “Then should we not be closer to here rather than being at Poperinge?”

  I looked at Walter who was smiling, “Every captain should have a Michael as a chattering magpie with incessant questions!” I looked at Michael, “It is good that you ask me such questions for it shows that you are thinking and that is always a good thing in a warrior. It is true that I believe they will come this way but, equally, they could choose to use the road further north. These forests are perfect for an ambush. You were not there but we used such forests at Bergerac when Lord Henry destroyed a huge French army. Now use your eyes as well as your mind and count the guards on the walls.”

  The gates were guarded by two men wearing liveried surcoats. On the gatehouse to the town were another four. There were wooden towers at the corners of the town, but none were occupied by soldiers. A single soldier patrolled between the towers. I could just make out the keep and spied six men there. All told I counted twenty men. I doubled that to allow for men on another shift and then added half again for the Lord of Saint-Omer and his personal retinue. That meant fifty or so men. Even if they came forth to discourage my men our arrows, as we had demonstrated before, would win us that battle. Satisfied I headed back to the others.

  “We will ride back in an hour. Job of Tarporley, take a couple of men and let us see if we can steal some of the deer!”

  The chance to hunt appealed and since the incident where Job had let down the company with his archery he had improved beyond measure. He was now the equal of Ned and Walter! We were just mounting our horses when they returned with two does. We slung the larger one over Michael’s mount and the other on Job’s.
We would eat well for a couple of days. Although the burghers of Poperinge allowed us to camp they were not feeding us! The coins which the Prince had given to me might have to last a month or more.

  By the time June came we had a familiar routine established and while we varied our other patrols one of us would ride each day to Saint-Omer. That we would be spotted was obvious for each patrol took the opportunity to hunt and any who visited the woods would know that. Although not always successful more often than not we managed to bring back something. One day Ned and his men managed to bring down a wild pig! That was a feast to be remembered. Although we had a routine, I was not complacent and each time I went to the edge of the forest I went as though I expected the French to be waiting for us. The month passed.

  It was the last day of June and the days were as long as they were ever going to be. We had left after dawn and that meant we reached the woods relatively early and it was still cool. I had found the mail was too heavy and made me too hot and so I had not worn it on that day. As soon as Michael, Walter and I reached the edge of the wood I knew something was different. It was not just that there were now four men outside the gate but there was more traffic entering the town.

  Michael was his usual inquisitive self and when he saw that my interest had been piqued, he said, “It could be market day, Captain.”

  “It is not market day for that is a Wednesday and those carts and wagons are laden. They are bringing supplies. Unless I miss my guess, an army is heading this way. Before I can send the news to Prince Edward and the King then I must confirm it. Walter, we will make a camp here in the woods. Send a rider back to Poperinge and have the others join us here tomorrow. If I am right, then I want to be able to move the company quickly.”