by Griff Hosker
William would have to wait. I sheathed my sword and helped James to lift the heavy bar. As we started to pull the gates open I saw Sir James and Roger of Bath. They were leading Duke Richard’s knights.
“James of Oxbridge help me pull William to safety.” The two of us manhandled the unconscious squire to the stairs which led to the fighting platform. “Stay with him.”
“Aye lord.”
I turned and hurried after Harry Lightfoot. He swung his war axe one handed and smote a man at arms’ skull in twain. He pulled it out as I reached him. He frowned, “You should be wearing iron, lord! It is not safe for a lord to fight like that. Stay behind me! You have one wound already.”
I had forgotten the cut. I could taste the salty blood, “Fear not Harry, I will use my speed and I promise that I will not tangle with knights.” I pointed my sword. “Head up this road. Duke Richard is attacking towards the Moorgate.”
“We know, lord, Sir James told us and the Duke’s oathsworn are keen to protect their lord.”
John, his brother James, Brian, Davy, Dick, Peter Pig man and the other men at arms all joined me as we followed the wall of metal as we headed towards the Moorgate. I saw that the Londoners were exploiting the dead. Mail was being stripped from bodies and their purses searched. I did not blame them. As Mary Soft Breast had told us the ones who had remained had suffered at their hands. Our archers followed behind taking their chances as they came. I heard horses ahead.
Sir James shouted, “Shields!” The street was narrow but Hubert de Mamers and four other knights led a conroi to charge with couched lances at Sir James and Duke Richard’s household knights. It was a vain attempt to dislodge us for they locked shields and braced themselves against the wall. Lances shattered and horses screamed as they were hacked. I heard a voice shout, “Fall back!” De Mamers, his squire, standard bearer and eight others escaped the wrath of Duke Richard’s knights. They fled north west along Watling Street and in their haste not only trampled some of the own men onto the cobbles but also created a gap into which Sir James ran.
I heard Roger of Bath’s voice, “Sir Samuel, open the Moorgate!”
“Stockton, on me!” There were fewer men before us and no knights. In fact, it seemed to me that the best of the men who were left had fled with Sir Mormaer. Unless Duke Richard could reach them in time then they would escape to Windsor through the Newgate and we would have to winkle them out of there. My visage, with its bloody scar must have terrified some of those we came across. They did not know I was a knight and so they did not surrender but there was little honour in their defeat and death. The last men did us a favour for they opened the gates and attempted to flee. They were ridden down and lanced by Duke William and my father.
I pointed west, “De Mamers is heading west.”
My father shouted, “Men at arms, follow my son! Keep him safe! The rest, we ride to Windsor.”
There were just eight men at arms who joined us but, with the archers and Sir James and his men we had enough.
“John, secure the gates.”
“Aye lord.”
The eight men assigned by my father dismounted. I knew what I had to do. “Come with me. James of Oxbridge, help Sir James scour the city.”
“Where do you go, lord?”
“I go rat catching!”
We strode to the Augustine Priory. It lay close to the Moorgate. The door was open and we strode inside. It was deserted. Someone had left in a hurry. I headed to the church. The door was closed.
“Open the door in the name of the Earl Marshal! Hurry for my patience wears thin.” I heard a whispered conversation within and then bolts were pulled back. When the doors swung open I saw the friars prostrating themselves. “The Abbot has fled lord! Do not harm us, we beg of you! We are just simple friars!”
I sheathed my sword, “You will forgive me if I do not believe you. The last time we were here then betrayal was in the air and men whom I loved died.” I turned to the men I had brought with me. “Search the priory and leave no stone unturned. If that snake is hiding here then I would know of it.”
I went into the open air. The smell of incense in the church turned my stomach. William, his head bandaged and guarded by Henry Warbow and Ralph arrived. “Sir James sent me, lord. The city is back in our hands. Those who surrendered have been stripped of weapons and valuables. They have been taken to the tower to wait the judgement of your father.”
I nodded and I waited for my men. They returned shaking their heads. “He is not here, lord, nor is the treasure of the priory. Four friars rode with him. They left yesterday and headed west.”
“Then I know where they will be! If there is food in here bring that. The friars can enjoy a fast to teach them to be loyal.”
We left and headed for St. Paul’s and the Cheap. Sir James, Roger of Bath and the knights of Duke Richard were there. The mercenaries had used it as their camp. They had billeted themselves in the church and their stink was everywhere.
As we passed the merchant’s hall I saw a sight which turned my stomach. Alan of Hauxley and the other guards had been crucified against the wall of the hall. He had been loyal to the end and paid the price for that loyalty. “Cut those men down! They were brave warriors!”
“Aye lord!”
Alone I strode on to meet with Sir James. I had black thoughts in my mind.
Sir James came over to me. He looked at my face, “A healer!”
“It is fine!” I was still distracted and thinking of Alan of Hauxley.
“It is not and we have good doctors. I would not have you disfigured for your lovely wife.” He laughed and shook his head. “I am guessing that your father did not give you permission to accompany John of Oxbridge.”
I smiled, “He did not tell me not to. I assumed he would want a knight with them.”
“Then you have been lucky! Do not push your luck. A knight only has so much luck and I fear you have used your stock! The wound to your face could have been fatal!”
The healer who came took one look at my wound and said, “Lord, you need the doctor in the castle. I would make a mess of this. It will need careful and delicate stitches.”
Sir James said, “William needs the doctor too. Go and I will take command here.” He smiled and gave me a mock bow, “With your permission of course, my lord.”
I nodded. I knew when I was beaten. “Of course.”
My grandfather was watching me as William and I walked across the outer ward. Archers surrounded the twenty or so men who had surrendered. They were seated in the area we had felled the trees.
When he saw me the Earl Marshal shook his head, “Your father is not a happy man, Samuel. He did not wish you to be put in such danger.”
“And you, grandfather? What of you?”
He laughed, “I knew he could not stop you and I trusted that you would not come to harm. I was half right. Doctor if you leave him as handsome as he is now there is a purse of gold for you.”
“Fear not Earl Marshal, you can keep your gold. It will be an honour to tend such a hero.”
My grandfather listened while I was stitched and I told him of the battle as I had seen it. He shook his head, “Poor Alan of Hauxley. He fought with us and that makes him a shield brother. I will pray for his soul. Those battles are the hardest to fight, Samuel. I always prefer a battle where I am mounted. Is it over do you think?”
I realised he was still in the dark about the escape of the Abbot and Hubert der Mamers. “They have fled to Windsor. I am uncertain if we have enough men to deal with the problem.”
“We have enough men. I have written the order this day and raised the fyrd. London alone can supply a thousand men. From what you say they are roused already and they will wish to hurt these folk who made their lives a misery. Duke Richard’s presence is vital. We will win but I hope we lose no more men.”
My father and Duke Richard arrived back just before dark. The Duke of Aquitaine was angry. He raged and he ranted. Sir Richard told me why.
“He was ambushed as we rode through the deer park. Two of his favourite knights were killed.”
I nodded. “And the Abbot is also within Windsor. We will have more battles to fight.”
The Duke turned and pointed. He roared, “And those men outside will hang! I want them strung up and hanged. Then their heads can be displayed on the walls of London!”
My father tried to remonstrate with him, “Duke, reflect on this. We may turn their capture to our advantage.” I knew that, as prisoners, we could gain valuable information and one never knew what else their capture might yield. Death was permanent!
“I care not for advantage. Their deaths will lessen the pain for my lost knights!” This was ever his way. He was often ruthless. He rewarded loyalty well but woe betide any who betrayed him.
The Duke’s wishes were honoured and his knights and squires went outside and using whatever ropes they could the men at arms and sergeants had a noose placed around their necks and then they were thrown over the outer walls. They struggled and they kicked but eventually their jerking ceased and they were dead.
When the last man had finished jerking the Duke nodded and turned back towards the Tower, “And tomorrow we ride to Windsor and end this. I will lead the men.”
My grandfather shook his head, “Let me remind you, Duke Richard that your father left me in command of this land in his absence. I am not yet in the ground and I will command.” My grandfather wanted no repetition of the hanged men at arms.
I thought the Duke would argue but he merely nodded. He had been brought up in the shadow of the Warlord and it was understandable that he would acquiesce. My father, on the other hand, was ready for an argument. “And you are still ill, father. You cannot ride abroad. You must stay here and rest.”
Only the three of us knew that my grandfather did not have long to live but all in the room knew that he had been wounded and my father’s words must have sounded reasonable.
“Rest?” He shook his head, “Rest will not cure me and you know that, William. I would be with my son and grandson. I can ride and I do not have to raise a sword. I still have a mind and I can use that.” He held up the seal which hung around his neck. “And I have this authority. I will lead.”
Silence hung like a pall of smoke until my father, reluctantly, nodded. “But I will have two men riding with you. It would be unseemly if the Earl Marshal was to fall from his horse at a crucial moment.”
“Indeed. And there is another reason I need to go. Hubert de Mamers. He wants vengeance and my presence on a tired old palfrey might encourage him to come forth and do battle.” I saw Duke Richard frown. The Earl Marshal was patient. He was always ready to explain his actions. Sadly, Duke Richard never learned that lesson, “Apart from the Earl of Essex’s knights and those of Sir Ranulf, we do not ride war horses. We ride to Windsor on the sad and sorry beasts your brought from Southampton. We hide our archers amongst the fyrd. I lead the column. I want de Mamers to fight us outside the walls of Windsor. It is not my wish to make men bleed to take the King’s own castle. We fight with the deer park to our backs. There the archers can rain death upon them and the fyrd will be protected and safe. It is we who will bear the brunt of the fighting and it is we who will face them sword to sword.”
This would be my grandfather’s last battle. My father and I would ensure that, in the short time he had left, he would never have to fight again. After we had taken him to his chamber my father took me to one side. “Thank you for watching and protecting him, Samuel, but tomorrow we have to ensure that he does nothing reckless.”
“Reckless?”
“Remember how feeble Wulfric became at the end?” I nodded. “My father told me it was better to go out with a sword in your hand. Despite his words I can see how he might choose tomorrow to die. Let us prevent it eh?”
Chapter 18
The next morning as we rode to Windsor the heads of the dead were displayed on spears along the walls of the city. It was a sombre sight. We crossed the bridge and headed south and west along the river. We had over twenty miles to go. Even though we had left at dawn we would not be there before noon. Harry Lightfoot and Peter Strongarm rode behind the Earl Marshal who rode White Star. I was pleased that he was on the old familiar horse. Peter Strongarm carried the standard of the Earl Marshal and Harry Lightfoot that of Cleveland. Masood had been sent off in the night to discover the dispositions of the enemy. He would also spot any ambush. Duke Richard had lost men because he had not availed himself of the services of a scout! My father and I flanked the Earl Marshal. The Duke rode with Sir Ranulf and the Earl of Essex. He had commandeered a war horse for himself. Despite the words of the Earl Marshal Duke Richard would ride forth as a prince of the realm. He rode ahead of us for he wanted all to see him as the leader. We knew he was not.
The Earl Marshal chuckled and shook his head, “Even when I was a babe in Constantinopolis I was not so closely watched as this. Do you fear I will fall from my horse and embarrass you?”
“None would be embarrassed, father, but we would not wish you hurt.”
“But I am hurt already. Each morning when I wake I know it might be my last. I have a priest with us so that before we fight I might be shriven.” He put his hand on my father’s. “I am just happy that, at the end, I shall have my son and grandson with me. Through our veins runs the blood of the housecarl, Ridley. Our heads are filled with the knowledge of war and our hearts pulsate with love of this land, England. As Erre might have said, ‘This is a good day to die.’”
I said, firmly, “But you will not.”
“What will be will be. However, I am convinced that this day will see us end this threat to King Henry’s crown.”
My father nodded, “On that we agree but do not tempt fate. She can be wilful!”
“Remember, my son, when the Earl Marshal is no more it will be incumbent upon you two to see that Richard is protected.”
I turned and stared at my grandfather, “But his elder brother has been anointed.”
“And so was Stephen the Usurper but I still fought him. Young Henry has disappointed both me and his father. Richard is wild it is true but his heart is English. He has shown courage already. As he grows older he may become less reckless. William, he respects you. Use that. I did so with Geoffrey of Anjou and King Henry was made because of the changes I wrought in him. I cannot see young Henry ruling England.”
“Are you a seer, grandfather? Can you see through the mists of time that which will be and will not?”
“I have lived longer than any man I know. I might have become feeble but the knowledge I have in my head and the people I have met tell me that Henry will never sit upon England’s throne.” In the event he was right but by then my grandfather was long since buried.
We had over a hundred knights for, as we passed through the manors south of the river, the Earl Marshal summoned other knights. Each town we passed sent men to follow us. We grew. We raised the fyrd so that we had almost two thousand men behind us. They would not be of much use in the battle but they would give us numbers and might intimidate our foe. The three of us knew that our strength lay in the fifty archers we had with us. The majority of them were ours and we knew their worth. It was the same with the forty men at arms who rode behind us. They had been trained by the Warlord and his son. They were the legacy of the Earl Marshal. None other used ordinary and base born men at arms and archers so well as my grandfather. The affection they shared was something which was quite remarkable. Even those who had come from the Holy Land with my father fell under his sway. We would not see his like again.
Masood met us at Egham. “Earl Marshal, they occupy the castle but they have a mighty camp before it too.”
My grandfather punched his right fist into his left palm. “Then we have him! He has to fight us. How many knights?”
Duke Richard reined his horse in next to my father. Masood looked at him and then returned his gaze to the Earl Marshal, “I counted more than two hundred banners. They ha
ve crossbows in the castle and I counted enough horses to mount five hundred men.”
Duke Richard said, “Then we outnumber him!”
It was his lack of experience which spoke. Even I saw the nonsense of his words. The Earl Marshal gave a pointed look to my father who explained, “Not in the key area. They have two hundred knights and three hundred sergeants at arms. These are all veterans and they are mounted on good horses. They scoured the land to get them. In addition, these have fought the Seljuk Turk. They will not be easy to beat. We have one hundred knights and barely fifty men at arms. Will the fyrd stand against heavy cavalry?”
Realisation dawned and I saw the young prince subside in his saddle, “Then how do we defeat them!”
My grandfather gave him a sad smile, “We use me as bait. There is a deer park to the north of the castle. The river is beyond it. We put the fyrd and archers in the park and array our men before it. De Mamers will attack us.”
“We fight defensively?”
“If we wish to win then aye.”
“But if the river is so close might not the fyrd flee?”
“They might but would you wish them to die just so that we can charge?”