by Griff Hosker
In most cases such an action would end a battle and men would surrender. These warriors hearkened back to an earlier age and the rest of the crew threw themselves at us. None of these had mail. Most did not even have a helmet and their short swords were no match for our steel blades. One of them brought his sword down towards Thomas of Piercebridge’s head. Thomas held his own sword up and could not believe it when the Frisian’s sword bent! Ralph’s sword went through the Frisian. After that it was butchery. We now outnumbered them and we relentlessly worked our way through them. They all died. It was a waste although as pirates they would probably have been hanged anyway.
I heard Masood shout, “Earl, they are fleeing!”
I hurried to the stern and clambered up onto the deck of ‘Rose of Hythe’. I saw a huddle of men being guarded by Sir James and Roger of Bath. They looked to be four men at arms and they had been the defenders. The second pirate ship was sailing east under oars. Her scuppers ran with blood.
I saw Duke Richard furiously waving his fist at them. He shouted over, “The bastards ran before we could kill more of them! I barely made it back! I lost two knights!”
I waved and, cupping my hands shouted, “We will see to this crew and follow you.”
I saw the captain having his wounds dressed at the steering board. He tried to rise, “Stay there. Did you lose many men?”
“Four of the crew but that was four too many. Had it not been for our passengers then we would have all been killed. I owe them much. They fought ferociously.”
I wondered why Sir James and the others were guarding them. The rest of the deck looked like a charnel house. It had been a bloody battle. I saw at least ten dead men at arms and more than twenty pirates.
“Can you make it to Southampton with your passengers?”
“Aye lord but they wished to be landed at Tilbury.”
“I will have the pirates thrown overboard and then you can sail with us to Southampton.”
“But they wish to go to Tilbury.”
I smiled to soften my words, “Captain I will make that decision.” I wandered over to the men. I saw that they were all tanned. Their mail and surcoats showed that they had had a hard life. The kettle helmets they wore were popular in Outremer. I began to see why Sir James had them watched. “Why are they guarded, Sir James?”
In answer Sir James held up a chain and there was a metal disk attached. It was the sign of the Templars. “If I have done wrong, lord I will apologise but I think that these are swords for hire.”
I unsheathed my sword and used it to raise the head of the sergeant at arms, “Who are you?”
He smiled and I saw the lie in his eyes even before he had uttered a word. “We are just warriors returned from the crusades. We have had enough of war and we return to our home, England.”
He made a mistake for his accent was French. He spoke good English but I knew that he lied. “You are a Templar?”
He shrugged, “I won that at dice.”
I pricked his throat with the tip of my sword. A tendril of blood trickled down his neck. “I went on crusades, do not lie to me. A Templar rarely gambles and he would never give this up. Either you slew a Templar and took it or you were a Templar. I reached under his coif and took out the cross I knew hung there. “Swear on this cross and I might believe you.”
The smile left his face and he shook his head, “I am a Templar, what of it?”
“Had you said so straight away then I would have said nothing but you lied. Templars lie, I know that but there has to be a reason for this lie. You owe us your lives. I will have the truth or I will feed you to the fishes.”
“And if I tell the truth will I live?”
I was the product of my father and his men. I would not lie even to one I suspected of being a traitor. “That depends upon your words but I will know the truth when I hear it.”
He suddenly seemed to see my surcoat for the first time. “You are the son of the Warlord!”
“I am Earl William of Stockton.”
“I served with your father when he was a knight of the Empress. He was a good warrior.”
“He is a good warrior.”
I saw the debate which raged in the man’s head. Sir James said, “I think that you have all been hired to come to England and stir up mischief in London.” Perhaps the memory of my father had shaken the sergeant but whatever the reason he gave a sharp, surprised look at Sir James who pushed home his advantage. “I think you serve a knight, D’Oilli? Guiscard? De Mamers?” The shocked look on the face of the sergeant gave me the answer but I asked anyway. “De Mamers is your leader?”
“Lord Hubert de Mamers will have my tongue torn out if he discovers this.”
“He will not learn it from me. What were your instructions?” He hesitated, “Come. I know there is an army of hired swords in London and that they mean harm to the King. My father is there and I will do anything to prevent injury to him.” Masood had joined us. “You recognise my scout? You know he comes from the Holy Land?” He nodded. “And you know how skilled they are with knives. Tell me all or he will peel your skin from your body piece by piece.”
“Do not let the savage near us, I will tell you and then you can give me a warrior’s death.” I nodded and waved the captain closer so that he could hear. “We were to meet at Tilbury and we would be taken from there to Windsor. We were told that others would join us. The Tower would be taken and with Windsor in our hands then London would fall.”
I nodded. His words rang true, “Captain these men’s lives are in your hands. For what they have admitted I could have then hanged here and now but you say they saved your ship.”
He nodded. “I am indebted to them and would have them live.”
“Then take them to Anjou and put them ashore.”
“I will do so.”
“And you will swear never to come to England on pain of death. You know that I mean it.”
“Aye lord.”
I turned to Roger of Bath. “Throw the pirates overboard and then rejoin us. God speed Captain and you, sergeant, had better protect this crew for their captain has just saved your life.”
Chapter 10
I had much to ponder as we spent the next two days fighting the winds north. This was bigger threat than my father had assumed. The greatest and most loyal of King Henry’s knights were in France fighting to hold on to his father’s empire. There was just my father left in England. I had delayed too long! If I had come immediately I heard the news then I might be in England now. Who knew what mischief was abroad. The two castles of Windsor and the Tower guarded the two ends of London. From what the sergeant at arms had said they already controlled the Tower. How? If they had an army at Tilbury and another at Windsor then my father was in serious trouble.
I had to confide my fears to Sir James. He nodded, “Your father was in control of the Tower when I left, lord. He is a canny leader. I cannot see him losing his grip on the city.” He hesitated, “Not unless he is betrayed.”
Of course, Sir James had been away from my father for a long time. Anything could have happened. Who was there left to trust?
The coast of England was never more welcome than that cold morning when the Isle of Wight loomed up on our larboard side. This would be but the first part off our journey home. We had hours to go before we reached Southampton and then we had to find horses. The last part of the journey would be a very long ride to London. We would not be there for another day or two at least.
The winds which had failed to cooperate all the way north continued to be an annoyance. We did not reach Southampton until late in the afternoon. We would not be able to leave until the morning. Southampton Castle was a royal residence. The constable, John of Winchester, could not do enough for Duke Richard. I had not told the King’s son of my news. I wished us to be alone with him when I did so. He dismissed all of the knights so that I could speak openly for my face and demeanour told him of the import of my words.
When I had told him
what I had discovered he was stunned. I had rarely seen him lost for words. “I can see a greater conspiracy here than a simple attempt to murder the Earl Marshal..” He rubbed his red beard. “I had thought my brother was at the back of this treachery.”
“He still might be. Holding London might be the first stage in a coup which is greater in scale than any of us imagined.”
Richard was a shrewd general. “And, of course, we do not know who lies between us and London. If I was this Hubert de Mamers I would have men watching all of the ports.”
“I had wished to ride this night but that will be too dangerous. I have good scouts. I will send Masood and some of my archers out before dawn to scout the road north.”
“You know Earl I envy you your men. You took that one ship with a single knight backed by your men at arms and archers. I tried with a covey of household knights and lost knights and men at arms. When this mischief is over then you must tell me how you do it.”
“To do that, Duke Richard, you must ask my father for he taught me all that I know as he taught your father and your grandfather too. Geoffrey of Anjou was a callow and reckless youth until my father showed him how to lead. When he is gone England will lose part of her soul.”
He crossed himself and said, “Amen to that.”
When we spoke with the constable we realised that the danger was not just in London. There was unrest in Hampshire. Even with a royal castle close by there were still many incidents of disorder. Travellers had been attacked. Trade had suffered. Ships were waiting in Southampton for cargoes which did not arrive. King Henry had not understood the serious of the threat to the crown. Young King Henry should have stayed in England. I could not understand that shallow young man. For all his faults Duke Richard appeared to have the welfare of his homeland as a priority. His elder brother had been given England but because he had not been given all of the coin he wished he had absolved himself of responsibility to spend the time jousting and hunting. King Henry had made a grave error of judgement in having his son crowned.
I sent Masood and four archers out before dawn. We had eighty miles to go and, under normal circumstances, that would take two days. These were not normal circumstances. We would acquire new horses at Farenberg. Ralph of Wales was with my scouts. If the road was clear then he would ensure that there were sufficient horses waiting for us.
The unrest was evident as we thundered through the land. Even though our names were known people were wary. The revolt by the King’s sons had done irrevocable damage to England. It would take another generation to repair. Gibbets in every town showed that there were men who would commit serious crimes for they thought they could escape justice. The castles we passed were poorly garrisoned. Some were empty save for a token handful of men. The barons and their men were either in France with the King or on crusade. I kept seeing myself, many years earlier. I had done that and I had left my father to try to hold together this broken land. He had done so and more. He had reclaimed the crown for Henry. Even now, as we hurried north, he was still trying to heal the fragile realm.
We reached Farenberg safely and that was where our luck deserted us. There were just twenty horses to be had and none were as good as the ones we would be leaving. There was no castle in Farenberg and the lord was on crusade. The reeve was apologetic especially when Duke Richard began to rage. This was no time for histrionics. I spoke calmly to soothe the situation, “Duke, we take twenty horses. The rest wait here and join us tomorrow. Whatever the danger to London and my father we will be at his side within the day.”
“Very well, Earl. I will heed your advice but we had best leave quickly.” Duke Richard wanted to take all of his household knights.
I shook my head, “With respect Duke we need to take a mixture of men. We leave our squires here.” He nodded. “We need Masood and some of my archers.”
“No, Earl. We do not need your scout. We need knights if we are to aid your father. Your scout can do nothing in London and your men at arms are not the equals of my household knights. You may bring four archers for I have seen their skills.”
I knew that he was wrong but he would not be swayed. He was the King’s son. I took Ralph, Tomas, Grant and Henry Warbow along with Sir James. I hoped that the thirteen knights who rode with Duke Richard knew their business. After ale, bread and cheese we mounted. I left Roger of Bath to command my men. The knights whom Duke Richard had left could do as they wished.
With so few archers I could only allow my men to ride thirty paces ahead of us. It would be enough to spring a trap and that was all. Masood and his nose would have detected trouble long before it could harm us.
It was ironical that the ambush, when it came was close to the old Saxon burgh of Kingeston; it was the place where the kings of Wessex had hunted. We were just twelve miles from London. While the Duke and his knights were already relishing the prospect of a comfortable bed my senses were tingling. Dusk was approaching. Already the sky was darkening in the east. Kingeston had no lord of the manor. He had died in Ireland and King Henry had yet to appoint another. The oversight was a disaster. We had just passed through the wooden walled burgh and were heading for Mortlake when we were attacked. Even though my archers had prepared themselves for an attack the mercenaries who burst from behind the farm and wood took them by surprise. Grant’s leg was hacked in two and his horse mortally wounded before he could pull his bow from his back..
Ralph shouted, “Ambush!” before he led the other two away from the men who ran at them. I drew my sword and hefted my shield up. As well as the twelve men on foot who attacked us another ten galloped from behind us. It was a clever trap. The knights at the rear of our column had not heard the hooves which trailed us. The two at the rear paid for that oversight with their lives.
My helmet still hung from my saddle and I had no time to grab it. I knew that Ralph and his archers had not fled. They were giving themselves room to use their bows and to avenge Grant. The only one on whom I could truly rely was Sir James. He would watch my back. I galloped towards the men at arms. One was standing over Grant to take his head when my poor palfrey reached him. I brought my sword down across his back. He wore mail but my height, the force of my swing and my sword shattered the links and tore through his gambeson to slice across his back. Even as the sword from the second mercenary hacked at my shield I was standing in my stirrups to swing across my horse’s head. My sword struck the side of the man’s helmet and knocked him to the ground. I heard the clash of steel close by me as an arrow whizzed before me to hit a mercenary who wielded an axe in the chest.
Sir James had two men who were trying to get at him. I whirled the labouring horse and spurred him. He did not leap, he lumbered but Sir James had skills. He fended off one man with his sword as he ducked beneath the spear which lunged at his head. Duke Richard and his knights were busily engaged with the mounted men but we still had nine men to deal with. The thrum of three arrows diminished the threat by a third. I leaned from my saddle to sweep my sword across the back of the man attacking Sir James’ shield side. I broke his spine with the blow. The man at arms whom I had knocked to the ground now rose and ran towards me. Two more mercenaries fell to my archers’ arrows. In the gloom of dusk, I saw that the man I had struck was bleeding but he was determined for vengeance. He held his sword in two hands with his shield about his back. Had I been riding a decent horse then it would have been simplicity itself to despatch the man but my horse was old and slow. I tried to jerk the animal’s head away from the swinging sword but I failed. I heard its scream as the sword struck the side of its head. Kicking my feet from the stirrups I felt myself falling. I knew how to fall. Sir Edward had taught me that. As I hit the ground I rolled. I hit the road with my shield and that cushioned the blow but I was given no time to recover as the mercenary raced to finish me off. I lay like a tortoise on its back. I did the only thing I could do, I swung my sword blindly at his leg. It was a race of blades. I saw his coming down. I tried to raise my left arm but I knew t
hat it would be too late. Then my sword hacked into the tendons at the back of his legs. His own sword was a handspan from my head. His leg buckled and he fell to the side. The sword struck my chest but it was a weak blow. I rolled over and rammed my sword under his chin and into his skull.
I saw that my archers and Sir James had ended the threat of the men on foot but Duke Richard and his last four knights were surrounded.
“Help the Duke!”
I ran towards the mounted knights. My left shoulder ached from where I had fallen but I would worry about that later on. I saw Sir Bohun felled by a mighty axe blow from a knight. Richard was fighting like a man who had lost all reason. He laid about him recklessly. Perhaps his ferocity saved him.
Sir James thundered his weary horse into the middle of the mêlée. The Bishop of Durham’s nephew did not lack courage. I was a few steps behind and one of the knights saw me and rode at me. The knight was riding a destrier and they were trained to ride over men on foot. Even though my left arm was aching I pulled it back and punched at the horse’s head as it neared me. The blow hurt me but it also saved me. I was knocked to the side and beyond the sweeping sword of the knight. I kept my feet and as the knight turned to come back at me I ran towards his left side. He was using his left hand to pull around his horse’s head and I swung at his unprotected leg. The knight had good chausse but even so I managed to break the mail and draw blood.
At that moment one of the mercenary knights shouted, “Fall back!” His call was too late for one of his knights who fell with two arrows embedded in him. Our mounts were not good enough to pursue. We had to let them go.
“Ralph, gather the horses. Tomas search the bodies. Henry Warbow see to Grant!”
Duke Richard was incandescent with rage, “Bastards! I will have them hung drawn and quartered! The best of knights now lie dead! My brother will pay!”