Earl Marshal

by Griff Hosker

“Why is she called the Virgin then?”

  “She looks young yet she has seen seventeen summers. The men who use the inn and pay the girls know that. It is a name. We have two Marys and two Mauds. Men like to have the same girl.”

  The four girls reappeared with both ale and river water. We would not need to be blacked up any longer. Mary Soft Breast came to me and she gently began to wash the soot from me. The girls must have washed in rosemary water for she smelled sweet. I found myself becoming aroused. She giggled, “I have never had a lord before.”

  I shook my head. I knew that, despite my years I was blushing, “I am sorry, Mary but I am married and have a son.”

  She shrugged as she began to dry me with a piece of drying cloth. “If the men who used us were all single then we would have no business at all. It is the married men with coin in their pockets who can pay us. The single ones just look.”

  Another girl brought some ale for me. To take my mind off the aptly named Mary I said, “Tapster, is there a way for us to get to the wall unseen?”

  He nodded. “We have a wharf where we land the barrels. This a labyrinth of buildings and paths. Our inn goes east behind other shops. They are only occupied during the day. Anne sells her pies next door and beyond that is Sal Shellfish. They do not live above their shops. Those are the rooms my master uses for guests. They are empty now. There is a path which leads to the city wall. It emerges between the turret and the postern gate. The women will come before dawn but by then you will be at the gate, I am thinking.”

  I nodded, “The wharf is inside the walls?”

  “Aye lord, the Billing’s Gate is opened at daylight to allow boats in. The bridge is often crowded and our gate is used by small fishing boats to land their catches. When daylight comes then the shops will be busy for people like Anne’s pies. She uses spice in them. You had best be gone an hour before dawn.”

  I was about to ask when that would be when John of Oxbridge said, “By my reckoning, lord, that would be soon. Men who come from a night watch relax and do not look beneath their feet. We can wait beneath the fighting platform.”

  I nodded, “Then lead on tapster and I thank you ladies. When this is over you shall be rewarded.”

  “Thank you, my lord, and God speed.” Mary Soft Breast threw her arms around me and kissed me hard on the lips. She said huskily, “I could give you a night, lord, such as you would remember your whole life.”

  I gave her a weak smile and stroked her cheek, “That I doubt not but I am married and I am not like those who use this inn.”

  She looked sad, “Then I will have to imagine the pleasure we would have enjoyed. It would have been a change to lie with a man who shaved and did not stink of fish. A man who spoke gently and had a soft caress. I will think of you Sir Samuel of Stockton.” Her hand stroked mine as I left.

  I followed John of Oxbridge and we descended some stairs. The ceiling was low. I did not know how the tapster avoided cracking his head. The passage twisted and turned. There were openings to the left and right. The different smells in each chamber indicated a different purpose. The passage. I realised, was wide enough for a barrel to be rolled. Then we began to climb and the floor became earth and compacted. The tapster pulled back a bolt. I had expected it to creak but it was greased. John stepped out and waved us through. I clasped the arm of the tapster. I swore to myself that when this was over I would return for these people had risked all for us and deserved a reward.

  The darkness of the passage had prepared our eyes for the night. John led us swiftly to the wall. Above us I could hear the watch as they prepared for the day. The men in the turret walked down the platform towards the postern gate. The two small turrets over the gate also contained men and I heard the five of them above us as they had a conversation. If they had looked down between the cracks then they would have seen us. I know not what we would have done but we had luck or God on our side and they did not look down.

  “Someone said the men we were expecting from Tilbury are not coming.”

  “That is a rumour Frederick! Do not spread them! The men who came from the east yesterday were a handful is all! The rest will be here soon.” The voice had a Scottish burr I knew so well.

  “Aye the captain is right. We expected the ones in the Tower to be reinforced. We took the gate once and it will be weaker now. We can take it again. With the west subdued his lordship can bring the men from Windsor.”

  “Still, they have held out longer that we thought!”

  “You are right Sven. It is that damned Warlord, the Earl Marshal! He must have made a pact with the devil! My father and grandfather fought him in Anjou before I was born.”

  The one they had called Frederick said, “I have heard that he cannot be killed. He has a sword which is magic. Some say the sword was touched by Merlin.”

  “And that, is nonsense. He is a man and any man can be killed. If he comes close enough to me then my war hammer will end his life.”

  “Aye Captain, you Scots like your war hammers.”

  Just then we heard feet climbing the stairs. The Scottish captain said, “All quiet, my lord. we saw a wherry on the river but it looked to be manned by but two men.”

  “Did you not send for his lordship?”

  “There was no need. It was not going to the Tower it was heading for the south of the river.”

  “Then you should have told someone. It could have been going for help.”

  “I am sorry, my lord. We were told that we would only have to hold the walls for a couple of days. Fighting each day and watching each night makes a man’s judgement flawed. Next time I will disturb his lordship’s rest.”

  The feet above us shuffled and tramped and then, as the night watch descended the stairs there was silence. The sky began to lighten. From the shellfish and pie shop we heard the sound of shutters being opened and the murmur of voices as the women and the children who worked them prepared for trade. I had not done this before but I knew that this was the crucial time. Once the streets were busy we would be able to move more easily. Until then the eight of us, armed with swords, would stand out. We huddled under the wooden platform with fingers on the hilts of our swords. We waited for the sound of the horns which would make every man on the walls alert and then we would strike. A stone pillar hid the postern gate from us but we knew that on the other side was a wooden stair leading to the fighting platform and a gate manned by two or three men. We had to kill the men and those on the gatehouse and then hold until Aelric and his men arrived. I prayed to God that we were good enough.

  Chapter 17

  Dawn had still to break fully but I could hear the city coming to life. I moved away from the wall and headed to the stone pillar. John of Oxbridge had done the leading up to now. I was the knight and I would take over. William followed me. He would watch my back. John nodded as I passed him. It was an accolade for it showed that he trusted me. I drew my sword and my dagger. We had to be ruthless. Hesitation would be fatal. From what the girls had told us the men we were fighting were less than men. They were mercenaries. The longer they stayed in England the more harm that they would do. The gate would not be opened until dawn at the earliest and so far we had seen that the only time they opened it was when they were about to attack. I was hidden by the stone and I was in its shadow. I peered out when I heard the murmur of conversation and heard the tramp of feet. I saw six crossbowmen heading from the direction of the East Cheap. They would man the arrow slits in the towers. Time seemed to drag as we waited. I hoped Duke Richard, whom I did not know at all, would do as my father had ordered. The whole plan hinged on his initial action. Even if Roger of Bath and our men had not reached the bridge by dawn they would not be far away. The sky had lightened enough for me to see the supports under the fighting platform above me. It was almost time.

  When I heard the three notes I felt like cheering. The effect was instantaneous. I heard the captain of the watch above us shout down. “Watch through the slit in the door lads. These are s
neaky bastards and may try to come up from the ditch. They are attacking to the north and there is a chance they might try to take the postern.”

  There were two small slits in the postern door. It allowed those inside to inspect any visitors. This was our chance. William and I leapt out. Two men had their heads pressed against the slits. The third turned as he sensed our movement. Even as he opened his mouth to shout the alarm I whipped my sword backhanded across his throat. The blow stopped any call of alarm. William stabbed the other two, one with his sword and one with his dagger. John of Oxbridge led the rest of our men up the steps to the fighting platform. All those above us had their attention fixed upon the Tower. I heard a scream and a crash as one was hurled to the ground on the other side of the wall. Then there was the sound of deadly combat. My men had the advantage that they had come upon the sentries from behind and I knew that John of Oxbridge would have sought the captain of the watch first.

  “William, get the gate open.”

  I stood facing Tower Street and the road which led to the East Cheap. The crossbowmen had come from there and it stood to reason that there would be other men heading down to the fighting platform in response to the alarm. Above me was the sound of steel on steel but my men had the advantage. They knew the numbers of the opposition and the defenders did not. The men with crossbows could not use their weapons for fear of hitting their own men. To the north and west of us I heard the noise of men shouting and running to face the threat that was Duke Richard. My grandfather’s plan was working. All attention was on the north and we had a small chance now to gain entry to the city.

  A pair of men at arms appeared just a hundred paces from me, “Hurry William!” I heard bolts sliding back. The two men conferred and then ran. I heard them shouting the alarm. De Mamers had not made many mistakes thus far. We had beaten him because my grandfather was cleverer. Would he see our threat as the very real one? Men screamed above us. The captain of the watch fell to the ground just two paces from me. His entrails lay on his stomach like an untidy nest of worms and snakes. The bar on the gate was thrown down and it creaked open. Aelric and Atheling were through before it had swung fully open. They each had an arrow nocked and the two of them turned and sent their arrows into two crossbowmen. They raced up the stairs to the fighting platform. As Henry Warbow and the others entered they took to the fighting platform. Our archers could keep us covered whilst clearing the walls towards the Aldgate and Bishopsgate. Our men at arms raced in. Peter Pig Man shouted, “Your father has gone with Duke Richard, lord. He said to take the bridge gate and hold.”

  I nodded, “Prepare shields.”

  We waited. John of Oxbridge led the men at arms to join me. Captain Robert and his four men also entered through the gate. I looked at him questioningly, “It is my city, lord. I helped to lose it. Let us take it back for you.” I nodded. “The Earl Marshal said you might need us. He has a sharp mind that one!”

  I nodded. “We stay together. They have been warned that we are here. We wear no mail and have no helmets. Let us use our skill and our unity to aid us. Peter have your men with mail before us. John and James, flank William and I. We will head towards East Cheap and then try to help Roger of Bath.”

  I knew that Ralph and five archers would be racing along the fighting platform towards the London Bridge gate. They would reach there quicker than we. We marched down the street. There was a mixture of workshops and houses. The closer we came to East Cheap the more dilapidated were the dwellings. We managed to cover two hundred paces unopposed before we ran into trouble. I had just sent Peter the Pig Man and the men with mail down a side alley to see if it led to the gate. A handful of sergeants appeared from the road which led to the Cornmill. They came without any order and that aided us. They ran at us for without helmets and mail they did not see us as a threat. Perhaps they thought that the city had risen against them. I know not. A sergeant with a crusader shield and round helmet ran at me. He pulled his sword back and I saw him preparing to punch with his shield. His comrades were a couple of paces behind. It was not much but it was enough. William swung his sword to smash against the shield of the sergeant. At the same time James of Oxbridge swung at the sergeant’s sword. He had to block the blow and my left hand darted forward to pierce his throat. He fell gurgling blood from a mortal wound.

  The next men saw the danger and one, an older man shouted. “Shields!” They presented five shields and the other four stood behind them.

  The ancient city were a labyrinth of alleys and tiny streets. None knew them better than Captain Robert. “Captain, use the streets and get behind them.”

  “Aye my lord!”

  As the mercenaries advanced Dick, Brian and the others poked their swords over our shoulders. This would be bloody. Just then an arrow flew between my head and William’s. A surprised man at arms suddenly found that an arrow had sprouted from his chest. He slid to the ground. I did not look around but I knew that some of our archers had been left to watch our backs. I took advantage of the shock. The other four raised their shields over their faces and I blocked one sword which flailed blindly and then rammed my dagger up under the sword arm of the sergeant facing me. I saw the tip emerge from his shoulder and he screamed. John of Oxbridge brought his sword from on high to hit his opponent on the helmet. He fell, stunned. I knew what the enemy did not. Our archers could no longer help us for we were too close. Three men lay dead and John and I stepped forward as William and James tried to manoeuvre their daggers into the unprotected parts of the enemies’ bodies. I saw more men joining the enemy. Where was Captain Robert and where was Peter and our men at arms?

  The men behind were watching us and a sword came straight for my face. I blocked it with my dagger but the edge sawed across my cheek. I saw the joy on the man at arms’ face as he drew first blood. It did him little good for I punched him with the hilt and crosspiece of my own sword and I took out an eye. A man can fight with just one eye but it takes training and this man brought his hands up for protection. My dagger tore up under his surcoat and I gutted him. He fell writhing to the ground.

  There was a shout as Captain Robert led his men into the back of the remaining men. At the same time Peter brought my men at arms from the other side. They showed them no mercy. Even as we were recovering there was a shout from behind us and I saw the tapster from the Falconer’s Glove and other local men from the area. They had clubs and axes and they roared as they charged towards us. Had I not spoken with the tapster I might have feared treachery but I knew they were friends.

  As they neared us I shouted, “Take the weapons from the dead men and follow us! I command!”

  The tapster shouted, “Aye Sir Samuel! We are your men!”

  Now that we had more men and before the enemy could realise that there were so few of us I changed our plans. “We make straight for the gate!”

  William said, “And what if Roger of Bath and the others are not there with Sir James.”

  “Oh ye of little faith! He will be there and we will help him to gain entry. Peter Pig Man, take us to the gate!”

  “Aye lord. We are not far!”

  We turned left and headed down the road which led to the river. We passed St Mary’s church. Our sudden move south took us away from the main thoroughfares. I could hear the noise from the bridge gate as Sir James led our men at arms to try to break through. Their feet thundered on the o old wooden bridge and there was the sound of shouts and cries. It would not be easy although the archers he had with him and Duke Richard’s knights would help. As we neared the church of St Magnus I glimpsed Henry Warbow and Ralph on the fighting platform as they sent their arrows towards an unseen enemy. There was a narrow passage between what looked and smelled like a fishmonger’s stall and a money lender. Ahead I saw some of the mercenaries running to brace the gate. We had to strike quickly before they knew what we were about. Our numbers had been swollen by loyal Londoners. The enemy would not know that.

  “The Earl Marshal!” We shouted as we b
urst from the gloom of the alley into the light of Watling Street.

  I brought my sword down across the back of a knight who was just ahead of me. He tumbled to the ground and Captain Robert used his own axe to great effect. It was a crowded and confused mêlée. It was hard to see who we were fighting. As I blocked a sergeant’s strike with my sword I said, “William and James, get to the gate and open it.”

  “Aye lord!” They turned and slipped back through the ranks of Londoners eager to butcher the mercenaries. There was an incentive. Mercenaries had money and they carried it with them. I knew that some of the ones who followed us would waste time searching and stripping bodies. It could not be helped. So long as they helped us to get the gates open and secure this side of the wall then I was happy.

  I could hear axes hammering on the gate. Men fell from the fighting platform as our archers picked off men who were sending missiles at Sir James and our reinforcements. “John, Peter, we must turn them and drive a wedge between the gate and the men. James and William need help.” James of Oxbridge and William were trying to get to the gate and open it. We had to turn the attention of the men who guarded it towards us.

  “Aye lord!” He bent to pick up a fallen shield and he held it before us. Peter and the other mailed men at arms stood with him. “Brian, Dick, the rest of you, push!”

  The men at arms then put their weight behind John, Peter and the others. John swung his sword above his head. We had the advantage that the enemy were trying to get to the gate and we were hitting their side. When first one and then a second man at arms fell I stamped and stabbed on their bodies. The attack of our men at arms made a knight order his men to turn to face the threat. It created a gap which I exploited.

  I had no mail and I could move quickly. I had fast hands and two sharp weapons. Although the men I faced were mailed their faces were not and I stabbed, slashed and hacked as I used the dead bodies to spring into the air. I ducked beneath a swinging axe and, as I rose, drove my dagger into the groin of the sergeant at arms. I used his body to fend off a blow from a squire’s sword and I rammed my dagger into his knee. He fell. I saw that James of Oxbridge was trying to manhandle the bar which held the gates. William was fighting three men and he was losing. I saw that men’s backs were to me. There were just four men between me and William. Three were fighting William. As the fourth raised a poleaxe to strike over his comrades’ heads I ran up to him and slit his throat from behind. His spurting blood alerted one of William’s attackers who tried to turn. My sword rammed into his back and came out of this front. It was almost too late for William as one of the sergeants at arms headbutted him. The raised sword never reached William who was falling to the ground. My sword took his arm at the elbow and the last man who turned to face the new threat fell with two arrows in him.