Lord Edward's Archer

by Griff Hosker

  I heard Captain Jack give the same command.

  I shouted, “Release!” We would only have time for four flights. After that we risked hitting our own knights. I heard cries and screams from the front of the charging knights. The squires had a better view than we did, and when I saw eight of them gallop off, I knew that they had seen their lords unhorsed by Welsh archers and were racing to help them. Just then Tom shouted, “Captain! Horsemen!” He pointed to our flank. It was what I had feared: the light horsemen were charging us.

  “Turn to face the threat! Kill their horses!” We needed to make the horses and their riders a barrier. There were too few of us to hold them. We did not want to be ridden down by stampeding, riderless horses. I nocked an arrow, drew back and released. The mass of horsemen was a big target. We were no longer fighting as one band; we were each in our own rhythm. However, because we had fought together so often, our training took over and our arrows soared at the same time. I heard the screams of wounded and dying horses. I saw horses and riders tumble over, and yet still they came. The secret was not to panic. We had to believe that we could slay them all. Nock, draw release; all the years of training had brought us to this point and the muntators died. Their horses were slain.

  Inevitably some survived, and the closer they came to us, the more chance they had of killing us. One had been protected by whatever charm or cross he wore around his neck. As I drew another arrow, I saw him fewer than twenty paces from me. I nocked, and he was fifteen paces from me. I drew, and he was ten paces away. I could almost feel the breath of his small horse. I released. At five paces he was almost upon me. My arrow hit him so hard in the chest that he was thrown from his horse. His dead hand clung to the reins and the horse’s head jerked to the side. Its tail flicked my face as it fell to the ground. I drew another arrow but the wild horsemen had had enough. The survivors were fleeing. I sent an arrow into the back of one. I saw the bodies of archers. Some would be the archers of Cheshire who had fought with us, but some would be my men. I forced myself to ignore that thought. The battle still raged.

  I turned and looked at the knights. They were closely engaged. If we sent our arrows towards them then we might hit our own. Captain Jack came over to me. “That was close, Gerald!”

  I looked at the dead man I had just slain and the horse whose neck had been broken in the fall. “You are right. And now we cannot help our lords.”

  Captain Jack turned to look at the battle ahead of us. The horses were no longer tightly packed. There was a melee. It was hard to see where one side began and another ended. All of our men wore a red cross on their surcoats. That was the only way to differentiate. The captain echoed my thoughts,“They are all closely engaged but we have arrows enough. We can go amongst them. What say you?”

  I laughed, “I am game! Prince Edward’s archers, rally on me!” My men surrounded me. There were ten of them. We would bury our dead when all was over. “We have some sport this day! Let us go amongst the men on horses and see what mischief we can make. Take no risks, just Welsh lives!”

  I ran towards the thin line of squires waiting with remounts. If my men chose not to follow me then I would understand. What we were about to do was unheard of. I ran with an arrow nocked. Captain Jack had been right, there was room in which to move. I just needed to have quick reactions. Those reactions saved Sir Ranulf, for I saw a Welsh archer draw back his bow. The Welsh were doing as we were. My arrow hit him even as he began to release. Sir Ranulf did not know his saviour. I did, and that was enough. I nocked another and ran. I used the bodies of archers and horses to protect me. Their archers were more dangerous to our knights, and so I hunted Welshmen. It was almost too easy. They were trying to slay knights and did not see the winged death of my red-fletched arrows.

  Horses and knights were becoming exhausted. My shoulders burned. Both commanders decided that they had had enough. Almost by mutual consent, horns sounded and both sides disengaged. I kept an arrow nocked. As our horses trudged back towards me, I saw a Welsh archer pull back. I released. My arrow flew so close to Prince Edward that he turned to look. My arrow struck the Welshman between the eyes. He fell back, as though struck by a war hammer. I nocked another and watched for more such treachery.

  “Thank you, Gerald War Bow. Once again, I am indebted to you. I am pleased that you disobeyed orders. Your arrows, few though they were, thinned out some of the archers. Next time we will keep you closer.”

  “I am your captain of archers, lord.”

  I moved forward and began to search the dead who lay on the field. I kept my eye open for any enemy who might do the same. I took the good arrows from the dead Welsh archers and the purses from all the dead. I saw that the knights who had died had fallen to Welsh arrows. Their squires and their men were already taking them back to our lines. Many of the Welsh levy had been slaughtered, but they had little on them. I did not venture too close to the Welsh, and when I was burdened enough, I turned and went back to my men. I saw that some of them had profited too.

  I reached the dead muntator I had slayed and his horse. My men wearily joined me. I looked at Jack of Lincoln. “Who was lost?”

  “Roger Peterson, Rafe Oak Arms and Peter of Wakefield.”

  I looked up. Peter had been one of Jack of Lincoln’s oldest companions. “I am sorry, Jack.”

  “Do not be, Captain. Since we joined you our life has had purpose. We are no longer just surviving day to day. We have lived. There is ale and there is food. There have been women and, occasionally, a comfortable bed. We would not have survived much longer in the forest. It was good that you found us. We will bury them.”

  We searched the bodies and collected the purses of the horsemen we had slain. We hacked a haunch of dead horse for that would be our meal. We trudged back to our camp. It was a sombre camp. Captain Jack brought his archers to join us. He too had lost men. He nodded towards the camp of the knights. Prince Edward had not gone inside the castle. He was wise enough to know that sharing his men’s privations endeared him to them.

  While the haunch was cooking, we collected and then divided the purses we had taken. We shared our dead comrades’ goods too. We were a company. I had a leather sack for mine. It was quite heavy. Some of the others had less than I, for they had spent it. In the case of the ones who had been outlaws, it was goods which the rest of us took for granted: decent boots, a better cloak, a fine dagger. John of Nottingham brought over the ale skin and filled my beaker. “What do you plan for your treasure, Captain?”

  I shrugged. “I need for nothing yet. However, I do not like carrying it around. When we return to Windsor or somewhere civilised, I will bury it. If our camp had been taken we would have lost it all.” I swallowed the ale. “There will come a time when I am no longer needed. It happened to my father. I would do as he did and buy some land. The difference is, I hope to have more coin and buy a better piece of earth.”

  “Men envy good land. You might have to fight to keep it.”

  “Then I will sire sons to help me.”

  “Sire sons! First, Captain, you must find a woman, and the last time I looked there were few on the battlefield.” He stood. “We will take the mail and swords we found and see if Captain William and his men wish to buy them. If not, there are other men at arms who may wish to be safer in battle.”

  Captain Jack came over and our men gave us some privacy. “There will be a truce and the prince will speak with the Welsh king. Their archers killed too many of our knights.”

  “Then all of this was in vain?”

  “No, my young friend. We keep what we have taken. Mold is ours and we will have Denbigh returned to us. We may have lost knights and squires, but our men at arms were untouched. Many Welsh archers were killed. Winter draws on, and the Welsh cannot afford their men away from their fields. They have animals to bring in for the winter.”

  I was disappointed. “I hoped for a better conclusion. This was ill done.”

  “You will get used to it. Prince Edward did be
tter than many lords. His father is less decisive. It bodes well. You know that the prince dallied with those like Montfort, who challenged the king?”

  “I had heard.”

  “When we are done here, you will be returning to Windsor, for Prince Edward goes to the aid of his father. Things will come to a head. De Montfort has the backing of London and the Midlands. I fear that we will have to stay here to guard the Welsh border, but you my friend, will be in the thick of it.”

  “And I have lost archers. The prince seems to think that an archer is like a man at arms, they can be found anywhere. But I am well aware of the skills of my men.”

  “And that is why you watch over them. You are wise.”

  He was right; I did watch over my men. We left five days later. Ransoms had been paid for the knights we had captured and the two castles were garrisoned. We had shared out the money from the sale of the mail and swords. We had spare horses now, as we had lost men, and we carried all of the arrows we had taken from the castle with us. If war was coming then we would be prepared.

  Chapter 14

  We did not go to Windsor. King Henry was at Oxford Castle. Since the time of the war between Stephen and Matilda, the west of the land had been loyal to the king. The nearer to London lay the greatest discontent, and London itself was a hotbed of rebellion. There the people were self-serving and greedy. That was where the de Montfort clan had the greatest support. In the Midlands, the land around Northampton, Nottingham and Leicester, lay the wealth of the de Montfort faction. By choosing Oxford, King Henry was showing just how astute he was. He could reach those castles quicker than the de Montforts travelling from London. There was no war yet. I heard a rumour, begun by Captain William, who had been close to a conversation between Prince Edward and de Warenne, that King Henry had sent an embassy to the pope. He wished to be absolved from the Provisions. I had not heard of them and so I asked Sir John when we camped one night.

  His face darkened. “Five years ago, the barons forced the king to accept a council of nine barons who would advise him and ensure that he ruled fairly. Over the intervening years, the de Montforts have taken control of this council. Do not worry Gerald War Bow, the pope has agreed to dissolve it.”

  What he meant was that we would have God on our side and the pope would instruct his bishops and archbishops to excommunicate the king’s enemies. We would be absolved from sin. We spent much of our time close to death. That was a reassurance which we needed. If we died, we would go to heaven. It was the end of autumn when we reached Oxford. It was an armed camp. Neither my archers nor Captain William’s men at arms could be accommodated within the walls of the castle, and we had to make other arrangements. We had coin and so we used it. I found a mean inn on the outskirts of the town. It was not in the best condition, but it had stables, and more importantly, it had three rooms which we could use. The owner, Dickon of Downholme, was more than happy for us to rent rooms and stalls. We did not pay an exorbitant rate, for he knew the value of helping the future king of England. His wife and daughter proved to be good cooks and we ate well.

  Prince Edward seemed to forget his archers and his men at arms. Captain William and I had to visit the castle once a week to remind him to pay us. It was not deliberate. It was an oversight. When we visited the castle, we learned more upon each visit. Although we were in a haven of peace, all around was dissent. Prince Edward had not only left a strong army in the north of Wales, his father had left one around the Severn. There was no open war, but there were raids. Individuals who supported the barons’ cause were ousted in royal areas, and royalists suffered the same fate in baronial England. It was like a pot on the fire. It was bubbling but had yet to boil over. That day would come.

  Consequently, even though it was becoming colder and the days shorter, we practised each and every day. We had fought enough times to get to know each other. That made the releasing of arrows easier. We could get into the rhythm quicker. We gradually increased the distance we could send arrows. I confess that much of that was my doing. I had the greatest range and so the others watched my technique and emulated me. My frame and my build were the biggest assets I possessed, but by improving technique we were all able to send arrows further by Christmas.

  I then pressed Captain William and his men to help train us to use swords. The attack of the muntator had worried me. That could have ended disastrously. All of my men now had a good sword. None was as long as mine, but they were well made. They all copied the way I wore my swords. They had theirs across their backs. Our belts were for our arrows.

  It was Candlemas when I was summoned, along with Captain William, to the castle. There we were met by Sir John. He now had a title: Baron of Mold. His part in that victory had been recognised. He also commanded a conroi of knights, nine of them. Richard his squire was there, along with three of his knights. Sir John was no longer the young squire we had first met in France. He was now a seasoned and respected warrior. I wondered what the meeting would bring.

  There was wine, bread and cheese on the table. We were the last to arrive, and I could see that the knights had already made inroads into the food and wine. “Now that our two captains are here, we can begin. The Earl of Derby, Robert de Ferrers, has been raiding Prince Edward’s estates in Gloucester. We have suffered enough at his hands, and the prince has instructed me to lead a chevauchée into his lands in Derbyshire. Our aim is simple. We are to take as much plunder as we can. The prince wants de Ferrers punished for his audacity.”

  “It is a cold and harsh time of year to be raiding Derbyshire.”

  “I know, Sir James. I did not say it would be easy. Peveril Castle is subject to attacks from the garrisons of de Ferrers’ castles. By raiding de Ferrers’ lands, we ease the pressure on Prince Edward’s castle.”

  The knights began to debate the military strategy involved. Captain William turned to me. “This is to provoke war.”

  “Truly?”

  “If the barons allow the prince to do this, then they are accepting that the king has won. I cannot see de Montfort allowing that to happen. Why else do you think that the king has gathered his army at Oxford? These nobles can argue for the rest of time, but it will not change what we have to do. You have spare horses?”

  “Aye, we have enough to carry our war gear and four remounts. And you?”

  “We do not yet have enough. When we begin this chevauchée, the first thing we will need to do is capture more horses. Winter is terrible hard on horses. We need to strike and strike quickly. It is good that you have had your men practising with swords. They will need them.”

  “You are right. If it is wet then bowstrings do not send our arrows as far, and if there is fog we cannot see.”

  We were suddenly aware that the others had stopped talking and Sir John was giving me a wry smile. “It seems Prince Edward’s captains do not need to hear our plans.”

  Captain William smiled back and then answered, “I am guessing, my lord, that we will be at the front, watching for foes, and Captain Gerald will be at the rear, guarding the baggage. As for where we will go first? I am guessing close to Peveril Castle. Makeslesfeld? Chesterfield?”

  “Chesterfield. And thence the lands close by. Sheffield might be too large a castle, but we will see. Captain Gerald, you and your archers need to be familiar with the land. It may prove useful later.” He nodded. “Very perceptive Captain William, for we will be based at Peveril Castle. At the moment, the garrison is ten old men. There should be plenty of room for us!”

  With those enigmatic comments ringing in my ears, we left. We had two days to prepare. While we had been in the inn, we had become familiar with the innkeeper, Dickon, and his family. Dick, son of Robin, had become even more familiar with his daughter, Mary. There was a liaison there that promised something more than a quick dalliance in the stable. As a result, I had decided to bury my coin in the stables. When we returned from the meeting I set my men to prepare, and I took my leather bag. I took out enough coins for my needs a
nd then buried the rest in the stable. I cleared away the hay and dug a deep hole. I used a stone to cover the bag and then filled in the hole with soil. When I returned, I would know where my bag was when I found the stone. I covered it with hay. Gratifyingly, as I led my horse back into the stall, it deposited some dung there. The stables were as safe a place as any.

  David the Welshman had been on a chevauchée, and when we ate that night in our lodgings, he explained in more detail what was entailed. He was more than happy to do so. He had enjoyed the experience. It had been profitable.

  “The idea is to annoy your neighbours. You say we will be based in a castle?”

  “That is what Sir John said.”

  “Then so much the better. A chevauchée takes any animal which moves; kills any man; burns the huts and houses of all that they see and, hopefully, entices the enemy to send out their knights to stop you.”

  It all made sense now. “Sir Robert de Ferrers is busy around Gloucester and so his better knights should be there. I can see now why the prince does this, but I am guessing that it is we and the men at arms who will be doing the raiding.”

  David the Welshman rubbed his hands together. “And that means we get first pick of any weapons and coin. The people we are raiding will be poor, but they will have coins buried for their taxes.”

  I could not help glancing towards the stables. To cover my guilty look I stood. “It will be cold there. Snow may linger. Make sure you have warm cloaks and sealskin capes.”

  It was a long ride to the bleak, high land of Derbyshire, but Sir John had planned well. We were to stay halfway along our journey at Ashby de la Zouch with Sir Alan la Zouche. He was an old knight, but his family had served King Henry II and were loyal to the crown. We headed up the Great North Road. There were almost a hundred of us. The knights had brought servants and squires. Each had a small retinue of men at arms but I led the remaining archers. The men at arms who served the nine knights wore no mail, and their horses were not the best. I realised how lucky we were to have such a patron as Prince Edward.