To Murder a King
Page 28
A cry from behind made me turn. I saw Sir Hugo’s squire galloping to his master’s aid. Sir Hugo would have to turn his horse. I braced myself for the spear which was coming towards me. Dick Stone Heart sent an arrow at the squire. It hit his shield and made the squire flick his face to the left. It was enough. Holding my shield before me to make his horse flinch I hacked into the horse’s neck. As it fell it threw the squire from its back.
Dick Stone Heart pulled back his bow to end Sir Hugo’s life and shouted, “Captain!” Even as the arrow flew Sir Bohemund’s squire’s spear skewered my archer.
I turned and saw Sir Hugo bearing down at me. The arrow had struck his horse but still it came at me. It was a war horse and it was angry. It did not matter for I was angrier. Dick Stone Heart had found hope and it had gone with the spear thrust from the squire. This was down to Sir Hugo. He had drawn his sword and rode directly at me. This time I would not move. His horse was so weary that it could no longer gallop. It was doing a fast walk and so the knight tried to make the horse rear. Its two wounds made it a feeble attempt but it allowed the knight to have greater momentum with his blade when it came down. I held up my shield to block the blow and, as he came down, thrust up with my sword. His blade almost broke my left arm. My shield dropped to my side held only by my shoulder strap. My sword went beneath his cuirass and into his mail. His downward movement drove my sword deep within him. I pushed harder knowing I had to end this quickly. When blood flooded down my blade then I knew he was dead.
Behind me I heard the clash of steel on steel and a horse whinny. As I turned I saw Sir Bohemund catch Roger of Chester in the chest with his sword. As Roger’s horse wheeled around, Sir Bohemund hit him across the back knocking him from his saddle.
As Roger lay struggling to get to his feet Sir Bohemund pulled on his reins to allow his horse to trample my sergeant. I ran at the horse and rider. As the hooves came up I hit the horse’s hindquarters with my shield, edge of my blade and my body. Already off balance the mighty horse tumbled to the ground. I slipped my shield from my shoulder and allowed it to drop and walked over to Sir Bohemund. He had fallen to the ground and the impact had knocked the helmet from his head. He was spread-eagled on the freezing earth. His horse struggled to its feet and one of its hooves caught the knight’s knee. He screamed. I was weary and I was hurt. I held my sword in two hands above me. The knight saw me approach and shouted, “Yield! I yield!”
I inverted my sword and as I drove it into his skull said, “Tell that to the Devil when you meet him.”
I turned around. Having seen their two leaders slain the rest of the men began to flee. Edgar and Lol led the men from my walls to encourage their departure. I ran to Roger. He shook his head, “I am hurt but a little. I am slipping Captain. Time was I would have had that villein for he was all strength.”
“Are you hurt?”
He put his hand to his chest and it came away bloody. “I will need a new hauberk!”
I laughed, “Then take that of Sir Bohemund and his armour too. You have earned it.” I put down my arm and helped him to his feet. I surveyed the battlefield and counted my men. Some had died. Joseph Woodman and Robert son of Tom would no longer ride behind me and James Warbow had escaped the woods of Sherwood only to die in the garden of England. He and Dick Stone Heart had both been killed.
John son of Jack had survived. He stood over the body of Sir Hugo’s squire. He had a wound to his cheek but it was not mortal. He grinned, “Do I get to have his mail, Captain?”
“Take all for you have earned it.” Edgar and Lol strode towards me. “Are all safe within?”
“Aye, Captain, for you came just in time. The attack began shortly before we spied you. Had you not sent Lol here to warn us then it might have gone ill.” Edgar grinned, “Your wife is a force of nature, Captain. She had all of the women armed and ready to fight on the walls!”
“Have the wounded and our dead taken within the walls. Strip the enemy of mail and treasure. Fetch kindling and we will burn the dead before the carrion come.”
I passed the body of poor Jack. My horse had carried me faithfully for a long time. He had died to save my life and I would honour him by naming my next horse Jack. As I walked through my gate my wife ran to me. She ignored the blood and gore on my tunic and hands and she embraced me and then kissed me. “You are a good man! Welcome home!”
I said, “I fear this Christmas will not be a merry one.”
She shook her head, “It may not be a merry one but it will be cause for thanks. We will feed the whole of the village this Yule for God has brought us all together for a purpose. Let us celebrate life and the man who keeps his word and has honour intact. You are a great man!”
My wife was right, I had kept my honour and my word but at what cost? Four of my men had died and my horse slain. The Earl of Oxford still lived and I had work yet to do.
Epilogue
I do not think that the Earl of Northampton and Derby was happy when we did not reach London until the end of January. I cared not. We had had dead to bury and walls to mend. Henry’s grandmother had died and it had saddened us all. I did not take all of my men to London. But ten of us rode into the city. We stayed in ‘The Blue Company’ inn. The Duke was staying with his uncle at Westminster. I did not ride directly there, we had an evening in the inn. It proved informative. John and Tom knew a great deal about the events in London. The King had been forced to accept that he would still be guided by his Council, the Lords Appellant. He had little choice for his only hope, the Earl of Oxford, had fled to France. The suspicions I had had seemed justified. He had been stripped of all his titles. There would be no Duke of Ireland. So many men had been lost that no one mentioned Sir Hugo and Sir Bohemund. It was assumed that they had perished in the marshes.
When we reached Westminster the Earl of Northampton greeted us as naughty boys who had stayed out too late. “I thought you had ignored me! I wished you here almost a month since!”
“Sorry, lord, but we had many matters to deal with. Master Henry here lost his grandmother and we had men to bury.”
He frowned, “But we won the battle!”
“There were other battles to be fought. They are fought and we are here.” I sounded enigmatic. I did not care.
“As it happens this is fortuitous. There is to be a dubbing of knights in five days’ time at Westminster Cathedral. You and Master Henry will be knighted. You have both done all that was asked. Now can we build England again and, perhaps, retake France.”
“And the King?”
“I have hopes for him now that de Vere is gone. We have spoken to him and I have also done so privately. You need not fear, William, we are friends. He greeted me warmly. He would not do that if we were enemies. You and Henry must stay here with me until the ceremony.”
“Lord we have rooms in an inn and our men are there.”
“Good, then they will not require chambers here. I insist!” There was steel in his voice. “When you are dubbed then you can leave.”
He was keeping us close and I could not work out why.
The ceremony was an impersonal one. The Earl of Northampton dubbed ten of us. I saw that some of those he knighted were not warriors. He was building up those who would support him. We feasted in the palace but Henry, Sir Henry now, and I drank little.
The next morning, he drew us apart. “Sir Henry you have Shottery but when your grandfather passes on you shall have Stratford. Sir William I have a manor for you but it is a delicate situation. The lord who died has a relative who claims it.”
I shook my head. “It matters not, lord, I am content with what I have.”
“Good, then I will send to you when I need you again. You are a man of your word and now that you are a knight then my enemies and those of the King will fear you! Enjoy your title Sir William!”
When we reached the inn Harold Four Fingers said, “Captain…”
Henry said, “He is a lord now.”
Harold looked delight
ed and grinned, “Sorry, lord, it is not before time. Three days since we met Dick of Craven in the inn. He came yesterday to tell us that the King wishes you to visit with him when you return.”
I nodded, “Prepare our horses. I will visit with him now and then we will leave for home. Henry you had better come with me. Peter and John, you shall be our squires for the day.” John would be my squire but I did not know if Henry would have such a low born man for his. I was not even sure that Peter would enjoy the position.
The King was eager to speak with me. When we arrived at the west gate we were taken straightaway to the Tower and the Great Hall. The King and Queen sat on their thrones and they held hands. They rose when we entered. He gave me a sad smile when he saw our spurs, “I see that my cousin has bestowed that honour which we hoped would be ours.”
Now I understood why we had been kept in the palace. Henry was still plotting. He might not harm the King but he would keep him weak.
“I am sorry, sire. I would that you had been the one to lay the sword on my shoulders.”
The Queen beamed, “But I can bestow upon you the title of Queen’s champion. That the Duke cannot steal.” She handed me a ring. It had upon it the Queen’s sign.
I bowed, “Then you have given me the greater honour.”
That seemed to please them both. The King said, “You have always been loyal to me. It is a pity that you and the Earl of Oxford did not get on. He has deserted me you know?”
“I do, sire.”
He grinned and leaned forward, “They think that I am beaten but I am not. There will be vengeance. Mowbray murdered my Constable and he will pay. My uncle executed some of those who advised me and imprisoned others. There will be an accounting for this but you, my wife’s champion and most staunch of friends, will ever be our rock. Know that when I send for you that you must come. Now is not the time for vengeance. Now is the time for King Richard to play a part as other dissemblers have played one before. When the time comes then I will need you.”
I saw the look of fear on the Queen’s face. She was frightened of the changes in her husband.
I dropped to my knee, “Know, your majesty, that I swore an oath to your father and to you both. Sir William Strongstaff does not break his word. When you need me I shall be here.”
Sir Henry dropped to his knee too, “And I swear that I am your man unto death.”
The King stepped from the throne and, taking our hands, lifted us to our feet. “Then on this dark winter day you have brought summer sun and hope. Thank you, my friends!”
As we headed north from London up Watling Street I wondered what the future held. I had two cousins both of whom were relying upon me. One day I would have to make a choice and I prayed it would be the right one. One thing was certain. I would not have the peaceful life my wife dreamed of. I had been born into the world of warriors and that was still my path.
The End
Glossary
Ballock dagger or knife- a blade with two swellings next to the blade
Begawan- a metal plate to protect the armpit
Bishop’s Clere -Highclere Castle
Chevauchée- a raid by mounted men
Galoches- Clogs
Hovel- a simple bivouac used when no tents were available
Mêlée- a medieval fight between knights
Pursuivant- the rank below a herald
Rondel dagger- a narrow bladed dagger with a disc at the end of the hilt to protect the hand
Sallet bascinet- medieval helmets of the simplest type: round with a neck protector
Historical Notes
This is a work of fiction. There is no evidence to suggest a plot to murder either the King or his cousin. Equally there is no evidence to suggest that men did not try to kill them. Anne of Bohemia was the love of Richard’s life. When she died, he changed. I could find no reason why they could not have children but they did not. For a medieval king that was a disaster. I have made up the plot line involving some sort of potion to stop her conceiving. They had such treatments. I chose a sinister motivation.
Castilian Campaign
John of Gaunt sailed from England on 9 July 1386 with a huge Anglo-Portuguese fleet carrying an army of about 5,000 men plus an extensive 'royal' household and his wife and daughters. Pausing on the journey to use his army to drive off the French forces who were then besieging Brest, he landed at A Coruña in northern Spain on 29 July.
The coinage was pounds shillings and pence. Older English readers might remember how it worked but for those unfamiliar: twelve pennies made up a shilling, twenty shillings made up a pound. A penny could be divided up into four farthings and two half pennies. A groat was a coin worth four pennies. The sixpenny piece and the threepenny bit had yet to be created.
The Battle of Radcot Bridge
This is Holinshead’s 16th century account of the battle.
In 1387, King Richard II. sent secretly to Robert de Vere, Duke of Ireland, who was levying troops in Wales, to come to him with all speed, to aid him with the Duke of Gloucester and his friends; and commissioned at the same time Sir Thomas Molineux de Cuerdale, Constable of Chester, a man of great influence in Cheshire and Lancashire, and the Sheriff of Chester, to raise troops, and to accompany and safe conduct the Duke of Ireland to the Kings presence. Molineux executed his commission with great zeal, imprisoning all who would not join him. Thus was raised an army of 5,000 men. The Duke of Ireland, having with him Molineux, Vernon, and Ratcliffe, rode forward "in statelie and glorious arraie." Supposing that none durst come forth to withstand him. Nevertheless, when he came to Radcot Bridge, 21 miles from Chipping Norton, he suddenly espied the army of the lords; and finding that some of his troops refused to fight, he began to wax faint hearted, and to prepare to escape by flight, in which he succeeded; but Thomas Molineux determined to fight it out. Nevertheless, when he had fought a little , and perceived it would not avail him to tarry longer, he likewise, as one despairing of the victory, betook himself to flight ; and plunging into the river, it chanced that Sir Roger Mortimer, being present, amongst others, called him to come out of the water to him, threatening to shoot him through with arrows, in the river, if he did not. "If I come," said Molineux, "will ye save my life?" "I will make ye no such promise," replied Sir Roger Mortimer, "but, notwithstanding, either come up, or thou shalt presently die for it." "Well then," said Molineux, "if there be no other remedy, suffer me to come up, and let me try with hand blows, either with you or some other, and so die like a man." But as he came up, the knight caught him by the helmet, plucked it off his head, and straightways drawing his dagger, stroke him into the brains, and so dispatched him. Molineux, a varlet, and a boy were the only slain in the engagement; 800 men fled into the marsh, and were drowned; the rest were surrounded, stript, and sent home. The Duke of Ireland made his escape to the Continent; and the King returned to London.
I have been as free with my interpretation of Holinshead as Shakespeare was. Three men killed in battle and eight hundred drowning sounds like a historian ingratiating himself in the good graces of a royal family!
The battle of Radcot Bridge happened almost exactly as I wrote it. De Vere stripped himself of armour and fled. The Constable was killed as I said.
King Richard was a complicated man. Some modern writers call him bi-polar. Certainly, his wife, Anne of Bohemia, was the greatest influence for good. The story will continue. Henry Bolingbroke will become Henry IVth and his son, Henry of Monmouth, will become Henry Vth. However, this story is really about the ordinary folk of England. The archers and sergeants. William Strongstaff represents those people and it is his story which I tell.
For the English maps, I have used the original Ordnance survey maps. Produced by the army in the 19th century they show England before modern developments and, in most cases, are pre-industrial revolution. Produced by Cassini they are a useful tool for a historian.
I also discovered a good website http: orbis.stanford.edu. This allows a reader to plot any two p
laces in the Roman world and if you input the mode of transport you wish to use and the time of year it will calculate how long it would take you to travel the route. I have used it for all of my books up to the eighteenth century as the transportation system was roughly the same. The Romans would have been quicker!
Books used in the research:
The Tower of London -Lapper and Parnell (Osprey)
English Medieval Knight 1300-1400-Gravett
The Castles of Edward 1 in Wales- Gravett
Norman Stone Castles- Gravett
The Armies of Crécy and Poitiers- Rothero
The Armies of Agincourt- Rothero
Henry V and the conquest of France- Knight and Turner
Chronicles in the Age of Chivalry-Ed. Eliz Hallam
English Longbowman 1330-1515- Bartlett
For more information on all of the books then please visit the author’s web site at http://www.griffhosker.com where there is a link to contact him.
Griff Hosker
October 2018
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by
Griff Hosker
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Book 8 The Last Frontier
Book 9 Hero of Rome
Book 10 Roman Hawk
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