by Griff Hosker
We rode at the front, as William had predicted. We were not, however, scouting. We rode the main road, and we were a strong company. It would have taken a brave or perhaps foolish man indeed to challenge us. We wore the livery of the son of the king of England. We went with banners furled. Cloaked against the cold, we would look like what we were: ordinary men at arms and archers. Sir John wished the presence of the knights a secret.
The castle at Ashby was a wooden one. It was a motte and bailey. It had been expanded beyond the one built just before the civil war. The knights and squires were accommodated in the hall, but we had to make do with the stables. With so many horses we were overcrowded.
Peveril Castle had a commanding view. I could see why King John had liked it so much. The land around it fell away. It was sheltered by a huge rocky outcrop, and the road which reached it wound up the steep slope. An enemy would be subject to missile attack all the way up. I could see nowhere that could accommodate a war machine capable of reducing the walls. It was triangular, with a huge keep at the narrow end, furthest from the gate. The stairs to the entrance of the keep were outside of it, meaning it could be defended. Inside, however, it was run down. It showed neglect. It had been a royal castle since before the reign of King John, but following the death of that most unhappy of kings, it had fallen into disrepair. The castellan, and that was a grand title for someone who was, in essence, a caretaker, was an old sergeant at arms. Miles Beauchamp. He was older than even my father had been. He had rheumy eyes and had run to fat. He gave his quarters to Sir John, and he and the rest of the garrison joined us in the barracks. Despite his age he had a good sense of humour and, even more importantly, knew the land around.
Miles was not a noble and spoke easily with Captain William and I. “The de Ferrers family are nothing more than robber barons! They are both grasping and cruel. It is time someone took them on! I wish I was young enough to ride with you.”
“What can you tell us about the castles around here?”
“Badequelle is the closest of the de Ferrers’ manors. It has a small castle there and a church. Then there is Matlac. That is a rich manor. They have a fortified hall there. It is rich farmland. South of us is Buxton, which has a wooden castle. One knight is lord of the manor there, and he has twenty men serving him.” He shook his head. “Piss-poor lot they are. They are only fit for raiding farms!”
“Is that it?”
“The land all about is de Ferrers’ land. There are many farms, and there is much livestock. Sheffield, which is his, is the big castle on the other side of Stanage Edge. That is held by Thomas de Furnival. He supports King Henry, but he is away fighting with his cousin in the Marches.”
I wondered why Prince Edward had not asked de Furnival to join this raid. Then I realised that it was a game they played and too complicated for a humble archer. We would just do what we had been asked. We were obeying our lawful lords and could not be held accountable for any wrongdoing. The pope himself had blessed King Henry’s endeavours. Simon de Montfort and his allies, like de Ferrers, were trying to upset the natural balance and questioning the God-given right of the king to rule.
With our war gear stored and our horses stabled we prepared for our raid. Sir John had also spoken with Miles and knew almost as much as we did. I suspect Miles’ language had been a little more flowery for the young noble. Captain William and I knew the calibre of men we would be dealing with. They were absolved outlaws! Sir John told us that we would be attacking the land around Matlac first. He had grown since I had first met him. I dare say I had too, but he now thought a little more about things.
“I want you two captains to take your men and raid Matlac. To get to it, you will have to pass Badequelle. There is a castle there. Just pass it on your way to Matlac. I want them to think that you are all that we have and that you are afraid of taking on their castle. With luck, they will send a rider to fetch men from Derby, Leicester or Nottingham; perhaps even Tutbury, which is Earl Ferrer’s favourite castle. After Matlac we will take Badequelle, but I hope that we can keep the presence of so many knights hidden. When that is reduced we will head to Buxton, and our work should be done.”
Captain William was more outspoken than I was. “With respect, my lord, you are asking a lot from us.”
He stiffened. “These orders come from Prince Edward!”
I spread my arms. “What Captain William is saying, lord, is that while I can see why we should keep the knights and squires hidden, there are men at arms who could swell our ranks.” I was talking about those who served the other knights.
I saw him relax a little. “You may be right. They do not look as smart as you, and if they accompanied you it would make you look less suspicious. After we take Buxton, then we take Chesterfield. We want de Ferrers’ land to be a wasteland and draw him back from Gloucester.”
The men we were to take with us were a mixed band. Some were solidly dependable men. We had spoken to those on the way north. Others were not. They were more like the men Miles had told us about – “piss-poor warriors”. None were archers and so it would be Captain William who had to keep them under control.
We left after dawn. It was a grey day. Dark clouds threatened rain and the wind was in our faces, from the north-east. It was a lazy wind. It did not go around you, it went straight through you. Such a wind did not suit archers. It made hands numb, and archery was about touch and feel. Miles Beauchamp had told us where the king’s land ended and that of de Ferrers began. The first farm we saw had a small field which was being used for crops. It was winter and none were growing but there were two pigs rooting in the soil. In another field there were two dozen sheep and a couple of cows. As farms went it was poor and I felt guilty. I saw the farmer and his family look up at the sound of our approach. They did the right thing. They ran.
Daniel of Tilbury laughed. “Right lads, let’s have some sport! Who wants the women?”
William’s voice was commanding. “Hold! Let them go. We are here for the animals and anything of value on this farm.”
The man at arms, who served Sir Richard of Deal, laughed. “The most valuable things on this farm are those two pigs and that tasty young lass!”
Captain William drew next to the man at arms. “Let us get one thing clear. I give the orders. One more word from you and you will be sent back to Peveril!”
“Suits me! I did not know we were raiding with a bunch of priests!”
Captain William nodded. “I warned you! Back to the castle.”
“But…”
Captain William turned his horse around. “I have wasted enough time with you. Go!”
Daniel of Tilbury’s hand went to his sword but my hand was quicker and my dagger was pressed against his neck before the sword was halfway out. “Do as the captain says,” I smiled. “Just to please me, eh?”
He jerked his horse’s head around and galloped off.
There was precious little on the farm. The owner was a poor farmer. He was obviously a freeman. His lord and master, de Ferrers, must not have treated his tenant well. William sent two of his men and two others back with the animals, and we rode on to the next place. This time it was a small village. Eight houses and huts made up Badequelle. The castle was a small one, but the church was made of stone. As we approached, the villagers fled across the ditch and into the castle, driving their animals before them.
It was annoying to ride past the castle. It was poorly maintained. I could see the palisades showed wear and tear from the harsh weather of the region. I dug my heels into my horse’s flanks and joined Captain William. “We could take that!”
“I know, but to be fair to Sir John, this is the right plan. We can take Matlac easily. Whoever is in that castle will send a rider for help. The message will say that a warband of men rode past the castle. It will not mention knights. That gives us the element of surprise.”
In fact, Matlac gave William a surprise. It was just a fortified manor house, but it was defended. As we galloped t
owards it, men left the fields to flee inside the hall. Women grabbed their children and quickly followed. William sent the men at arms he did not know to watch the rear of the hall. We dismounted and he said, “We will use our men for this. Then whatever we find inside is ours.”
I nodded. “Archers, string your bows.” We tied our horses to the fence, which penned in the village pigs. It would be too far to drive them back to Peveril. We would slaughter them. Carcasses were more manageable. “How do we do this?”
“You and your archers keep your heads down. There looks to be just one entrance. There are steps up to it, but the cross-slits above might cause us a problem.”
I nodded and waved my men to me. “We cover the men at arms. Hit anything that moves.”
I saw the end of a crossbow appear from one of the cross-slits below the upper wall. A hand emerged to place a bolt. I aimed at the middle of the cross. It was only sixty paces from me and not a difficult strike. The crossbow disappeared. I had no idea if I had killed the crossbowman, but I had deterred them. I saw that there was a sort of balustrade close to the roof. I realised there must be a trapdoor when I saw a helmet moving along it.
“Look to the roof!” I nocked another arrow. My eyes had been tracking the helmet. As soon as I saw it rise, I released. At the same time John of Nottingham sent an arrow towards one of the cross-slits. My arrow struck the defender in the chest as he cleared the balustrade. He and his bow fell over the side.
Captain William and his men had wasted no time. They were already assaulting the door with axes. Robin of Barnsley sent an arrow towards a seemingly unoccupied cross-slit. Even above the sound of axes striking wood, I heard the scream. He nocked another arrow. “I saw a flash of something. I have used one of those arrow slits before. It is possible to use a bow if you stand well back. I took a chance!”
The blows on the doors intensified. My men sent more arrows towards the balustrade and the cross-slits. We had plenty of arrows, and when we captured the hall there would be some we could recover. A crash followed by a cheer told me that we had gained entry to the hall. Our work was done, and we moved a little closer to the hall. Screams, shouts and the clash of weapons told us the story of the battle for the hall. It would be an unequal battle. Captain William and his men at arms were seasoned warriors.
After a short time the sergeant at arms, Ralph Dickson, emerged. The other sergeant at arms, Matthew, had died at Mold. Ralph waved me over. “It is ours, Captain. Captain William asked that you slaughter the pigs and prepare to leave. I will go and fetch the others.”
“Did we lose any?”
He laughed. “No! They had courage but no skill. Three of their warriors lie dead but the captain spared the rest. We are not butchers.”
We had slaughtered the pigs and put them on the backs of the horses we had found by the time the villagers had been ejected from the village and sent on their way. They trudged north-east to Chesterfield. We fired the hall and the village, and with the cows and sheep, along with chests from the hall, we headed home. I rode with Captain William.
“He was a rich one, I will say that. I found a chest of coins.” He winked at me. “I have them safe. We will divide them between our men at Peveril.”
“Yours did the hard work.”
“We are all Prince Edward’s men! Besides, you and your archers slew as many men as we did. You did your part.”
The village of Badequelle was still empty when we passed through it. The gates of the castle were still barred. The sight of us driving animals and with laden horses would ensure that the villagers would still be inside the castle the next day. They would not risk returning home while we were raiding. Miles Beauchamp looked happy as we dismounted. “Pigs! I hope you found salt, my lads!”
Captain William laughed. “This is not our first raid! Of course we did, and I hope you have someone who can do justice to these fine beasts! We would enjoy one this night.”
“And this is not the first pig I will have roasted! We have the last of the windfall apples in store. I can promise that we will have a feast in the barracks this night!” Captain William went with Miles to choose the pig we would eat. It would be the biggest, and after another had been selected for the knights, we would have the rest salted and preserved.
Sir John emerged with Geoffrey as we began to unpack the horses. “A good raid.”
I nodded. “See for yourself, my lord. Captain William set the hall and houses afire. The castle at Badequelle is barred, with the villagers within. It is all as you commanded.”
“Good.” He looked over at Captain William, who was leading a horse, along with Miles, towards the kitchens. “What of this man at arms? He said Captain William threatened him.”
“No, lord, Captain William just sent him back. It was I who threatened him when he thought to draw sword against the captain. He wanted to use and abuse the girls and women from the first farm. We do not do that.”
“He did not say that.”
I laughed. “Of course he did not, lord. He ran bleating to his master, who came bleating to you. When you run with a pack of dogs, you must expect that not all are the beasts you would choose.”
He nodded. “And the castle at Badequelle?”
“It is not well made, lord.”
“Are the men able to ride again on the morrow?”
“They could ride again now. It was only Captain William’s men who did any real work. The ones we ejected will be at Chesterfield soon, lord. They will probably bring more men to reinforce the castle at Badequelle. If we do not attack and reduce Badequelle soon, then it will be reinforced and our task will be twice as hard.”
Richard seemed outraged at my impertinence. “Archer it is not your place to advise Sir John!”
“Nor is it yours to defend me! Captain Gerald is quite right. I was given a task, and if I am to complete it then I must be decisive.”
My conversation had meant that the horses had all been unpacked by the time I led mine to the stable. Captain William was waiting for me. He handed me a bag of coins. “Here is the share for your archers. I did not count it, I weighed it.”
I nodded. “It matters not. We did little.” I put the bag in my tunic and we headed back to the barracks. “We attack Badequelle tomorrow.”
He nodded. “I like not this way of war. I am a warrior and would prefer to make war on another warrior. These are poor people we fight.”
“The lord we killed today was not poor, but you are right. It is winter and the people we sent north will suffer. We are just doing what our lord tells us. We have committed no sin.”
I told him of Daniel of Tilbury’s complaint. “Then I will have to lay down the law. We cannot have such divisions.”
As we walked into the barracks we knew that something had happened. Daniel of Tilbury was rising from the floor. Two of his friends were helping him. His nose was spread across his face. I saw Jack of Lincoln with bruised knuckles and it did not take much imagination to picture what had happened.
John of Nottingham came over to speak to us. “That Daniel of Tilbury made threats against your lives. Jack has a short temper.”
I nodded. Captain William shouted, “Listen to me! I command the men at arms here. All of the men at arms! You may serve a lord, but until this chevauchée is ended, if you have complaints then bring them to me.” He glared at Daniel of Tilbury. “If you be men, then act like it. Tomorrow we go to take a castle. It will be the men in this barracks who have the task of taking those walls. We will all be shield brothers. There will be no more talk of vengeance. Is that clear?”
There was a murmur of approval. “I cannot hear you!”
“Yes, Captain!” they roared.
“And you, what happened to you?” He pointed at Daniel of Tilbury.
“I had too much ale and fell over going for a piss.”
“Good.” He took a silver penny from his purse and tossed it to him. “Here, this is for your troubles.”
Daniel nodded.
&nb
sp; I would not share the coin we had taken in front of the others. I would wait until we were alone. There was enough bad feeling without aggravating it.
When we rode forth the next day we had knights and squires with us. This time, we had my archers as scouts. Heading out first allowed me to share out the coins as I’d planned. It was an incentive for them to repeat what we had done the previous day.
We did not ride along the road. I divided my men and we rode across the fields and used as much cover as we could. Sir John would lead the main body along the road. He knew that if there was any danger then we would warn him. This way we would get close to Badequelle without being seen.
As we approached Badequelle I saw that men were in the fields. It was too good an opportunity to miss. I drew my sword and dug my heels into my horse’s flanks. We galloped over the recently ploughed field. The hooves stuck a little in the sticky morass but that made our approach less noisy. We were two hundred paces from them before they saw us. A cry went up and women grabbed children and ran for the bridge over the ditch. The men ran too, but they found the muddy fields more difficult than we did. I did not wish to kill them. Using the flat of my sword I smacked it into the back of the head of the first villager I reached. He fell face down in the mud. Jack of Lincoln used his fist in the face of the man he followed, for the man he chased turned around. Five of the villagers were felled in a similar manner.
“Robin of Barnsley, secure the men! John of Nottingham, search the houses. The rest of you, to the bridge.” We had caught them unawares. They had been forced to leave the bridge in place, for Matty Straw Hair had dismounted, and as one of the garrison tried to raise the bridge, Matty slew him with an arrow. The other three ran back into the gate, which slammed shut.