Hoodsman: Hunting Kings

by Smith, Skye

  The king was out of sight for a moment, until he climbed up onto the raised throne. The back of his head was in clear view, a clear target, and only forty paces away. It was not too late. The king could be killed in a moment. Pick up the bow.

  The gang plank was now constantly filled with lords and ladies of the highest order. Dukes and Barons and Counts then. Some looked down on him. He must have looked a strange sight standing there in the old but newly decorated punt, wearing silk, and holding a cheap scroll in his hand. His head was bowed while he stared at the scroll as if in a trance.

  A scroll that could ease the lives of hundreds of thousands, if it was enacted. A scroll that would protect widows. A scroll that would even forgive him for murdering King William Rufus just five days ago.

  He stood there for a long time. The king sat there for a long time. The Seljuk bow glistened in the sunlight on the floor of the punt for a long time. Time enough for all of the lords to be loaded and sat on the barge. Lines were slipped, and the big sweeps pushed the royal barge out away from the embankment and into the deeper water of the Thames and into the current that would take it down stream and passed every Londoner who wanted to see Henry, the new King of the English.

  "Oye, I told you to get that boat out of here," came a voice in French from the bank.

  "Leave him be." said another French voice, more respectful of this well dressed elder. "He left it too late and couldn't move while he was bowing to the king and all the nobles. Oye. You may as well stay where you are now, so you don't get in the way of the other barges."

  Raynar looked up and waved to them, and then stood there and read the scroll again. He must return to the Domus as soon as possible. He must show this to Wylie. He wanted to cheer. Well why not. This was a coronation after all. With one strong push on the pole he glided after the royal barge cheering all the way.

  A long rowboat with six pairs of oars and two arbalesters in the bow swerved towards him and told him to get away from the royal barge, so he poled into the shallows along the bank and followed the barge at a discrete distance. All the way to the River Fleet, he was the second boat in the royal procession. And why not. After all, he had put this king on the throne by killing his brother, and he had just spared his life --- for the second time in a week.

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  THE HOODSMAN - Hunting Kings by Skye Smith

  Chapter 11 - Hereward Returns, Wallingford in April 1067

  Wigod spent some good times with young Raynar during every week in December. Every week there was news of importance to the Shirereeve.

  William had met with Edgar and Edwin.

  Edgar had submitted and offered the crown to William.

  They had all traveled to London together.

  London was handed to the Normans.

  There were riots in London, brutally crushed by the Normans.

  William had been crowned at Westminster on Saint Nicholas's day.

  William was holding court at Westminster palace, and Edgar, Edwin, and Morcar were in residence with him. In other words, well guarded guests.

  Earl Odo of Kent had been made Lord Chief Justice, and therefore a Norman now presided over the highest court of appeal.

  One day there was news that William had proclaimed a change in the order of land lordship. The crown was now the ultimate land lord and all others lords were therefore tenants at the crowns pleasure. Wigod made the observation that if anyone would fight this in the courts the case would eventually rise to the highest court and be decided by Odo. It was after that news that Wigod, himself, suggested that Archbishop Stigand must have been bowing either to the Pope's pleasure, or to William's wealth.

  Wigod had come to like and trust Raynar. He appreciated Raynar's fast mind and his curiosity for knowledge. He explained to Raynar about the Norman system called feudalism, and the relationships of serf to lord to baron to king. He told him how Norman knights were the equivalent of English huscarls. Both were professional warriors, but the difference was that knights were granted land and serfs and were therefore expected to pay their own expenses, whereas huscarls were paid from the earnings of their lord's estate.

  In return for this insight and for many cups of French wine, Raynar told Wigod about the Norman method of replacing landlords through the strategy of Dead and Bed. Raynar used a very personal example that included Wigod by name. It was the same example Hereward had told to Edwin using Edwin's name.

  "Lord Wigod," Raynar began, "you are a good English Lord who is powerful because of your land holdings and because of your merited position as Reeve of a shire. If William decides your power would be safer transferred to one of his loyal Normans, the transfer would begin by creating a reason to charge you with treason against your king. The penalty for treason is death, sometimes commuted to exile.

  He would grant you exile if you willingly signed your land rights over to the crown. If you fought it in court you would lose. The highest court is now Odo. Odo would see you executed, along with your male heirs, for conspiracy against the crown.

  The new Norman Reeve of the Shire would take your widow as his wife, and your daughter as his mistress, and bed them until one or both bore him sons. Once he has a son, then his son's right to your land is stronger than that of your brothers or your cousins." It was obvious by the look on Wigod's face that Raynar's words had ruined his taste for the French wine, and ruined his day.

  "Raynar, you ferry many wealthy Wessex families who are fleeing north. Next time please invite them to visit me first. Offer them my hospitality. I would talk to some of them." Wigod was then silent and thinking. He motioned that Raynar could be on his way.

  He left Wigod's townhouse with a silver coin, and earned five more over the next week. After the fifth, Wigod asked that he be visited only by lords with more than one manor. Unfortunately, after another week there still were none who owned more than one manor, although there were rebellions across Wessex. Raynar knew the why, because he, himself, was still trading information with the manor lords who were fleeing. He was even selling them maps.

  When Wigod queried the lack of visitors, he was ready with the answer. "Simple manor lords who have chosen to flee do not have coin enough to travel to Flanders by sea, so they must flee to safety without the use of ships. That means overland to Wales, or to the North. Mercia is a good first step. You are not seeing the wealthier lords at your ford because they are leaving by ship from the ports in the south."

  "Or perhaps the wealthier lords have refused exile." Wigod speculated.

  "You are right, sire," replied Raynar. "We do not see the lords that refuse exile. That is because they are dead or waiting for death. The manor born who I have spoken with are convinced that to refuse exile is to sign your own death warrant."

  * * * * *

  Frosty nights were yielding to a warmer sun, and a few rogue wildflowers brought the promise of spring along the river banks, though as yet there were no spring floods. Though there was a great evil roaming the kingdom and preying on the manor born, there was great joy in Raynar's life. His boat was a reliable earner, but he was making more money from selling information and maps than from selling boat rides.

  It pleased him immensely to please Aelfled, and she was very thankful for any pleasure. He had taught her how to make the copies of the maps that he was selling to the migrant lords. At first she copied by rote but then, after she threatened to withhold some of his favourite pleasures, he agreed to teach her the letters of the words she was copying.

  He had wanted to spend some of the Shirereeve's silver on improving the house by turning the stick walls into wattle walls that were more secure and wind proof, but Garth just laughed at the idea. "We live in a stick hut because wattle houses melt away in the spring floods. We have to live on the flood plain to be close to the boats. Stone would last, but your silver won't go far if you build out of stone rather than wattle. Son, if you want to spend good coin on this hut, then add another room. A new clean
room for you and Aelfled. I am strong enough to help with the building of it, though I must keep down from the climbing pole."

  A week and a few silver coins later, Aelfled was sleeping in her new larger bed in her new larger room. Sounds and light still passed through the walls of the house as if they did not exist, but Aelfled had long since passed the point of being embarrassed about her lovemaking, even with her Da under the same roof. Garth was pleased to sleep in the old bed, and occasionally brought a woman back from the boatmen's ale house to share it with him.

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  Spring came and their happiness increased with the brighter days. Meanwhile the news on the river was that William was on the move to Dover, and that he had kept Edgar, Edwin, and Morcar with him. He did not leave them in the care of Earl Odo of Kent, as Wigod expected. Instead they all set sail for Normandy. An old friend told Raynar this last news.

  Raynar had been poling his last passengers and going home across the Thames. The sunset was stunning and promised better weather tomorrow. The passengers were locals with no gossip that Raynar did not know better than they, so he was ignoring them and whistling as he poled.

  A call came across the water from a horseman in the middle of the ford. "You never could whistle that tune correctly."

  Raynar looked hard at the rider and his heart leaped. "Have you been stealing horses from the Normans again." he called back, and motioned the man to meet him on the other side.

  They led his horse to the newly enlarged hut, and tied it by the bank to graze on the fresh spring grass. Raynar called out, "Aelfled, Garth, come and meet my good friend Hereward."

  Garth stood up slowly and politely bowed to the lord. Aelfled was cool but polite.

  "Hereward is a friend from the north" explained Raynar "and he will need some food and a bed." Aelfled moved to serve, but was still cool and kept her welcomes to herself.

  "She doesn't like me Raynar" said Hereward in a low voice.

  "She is suspicious of strangers"

  "She thinks I am here to take you away. I will be lucky to pass this night without a kitchen knife in my throat. You still know nothing about women, eh."

  "Are you here to take me away?" Raynar asked.

  "I would enjoy your company on a long ride, but I cannot say I need it. I am on my way to visit my family home in Burna, and to give some sage advice to my brother there. If you are comfortable here, then stay. I know where to come when I need you."

  "Should I know this brotherly advice too?"

  "The advice is simple," replied Hereward, "Sell your land and move to a charter town. Get out of farming and into business."

  "I am not a farmer, I am in the business of boats, and this land is common, I think."

  "Is the land included in the town charter? If not, move your hut to land that is within the town charter," advised Hereward.

  "Why?"

  "Tomorrow there will time enough to explain." Hereward turned off his keen mind and turned on his charm. He had a friend's woman to win over. And he did. All he had to tell her was that he had not come for Raynar. Hereward was yawning tired, and Aelfled made him a bed on the new palette in the old room.

  She led Raynar to her bed and then, full well knowing that his friend could hear everything, she did what she called Frenchie things to him and even burying his moans in his pillow for the sake of modesty was not enough to stifle the sounds of ecstacy. It was a naughty trick to play on his old friend, which made it all the more enjoyable for her.

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  In the morning Hereward agreed to visit Wigod, but only once Raynar had assured him that Wigod thought the Archbishop of Canterbury was a traitor. Garth and Aelfled worked the boat for the day. They could manage it together quite easily. Garth was stronger every day and soon would be working the boat by himself, especially since he could now push the rafted boats using his legs rather than just his back and arms.

  As they walked along the river bank towards the town, Raynar told Hereward about the Norman crossing, and how open for attack they had been. Hereward's only comment was that no one was more frustrated than Earl Edwin.

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  THE HOODSMAN - Hunting Kings by Skye Smith

  Chapter 12 - News about Kings, Wallingford in April 1067

  Wigod received them graciously, though the Norman guards gave Hereward a suspicious look. Hereward was introduced as a traveler from Raynar's boat, with much news from Dover. After sipping the wine, and waiting for the serving girl to leave, Hereward began. "I am the sworn man of Earl Edwin of Mercia. He, Earl Morcar, Archbishop Stigand and Prince Edgar have been taken by King William to Normandy.

  Earl Odo of Kent is now regent and the most powerful man in England. I have just ridden through Kent, and Odo is more vicious even than William. Odo's rule is twisted by his greed. He is rapidly replacing all English lords with Norman ones. Have you heard of Dead and Bed?" Wigod nodded yes. "As Chief Justice and Earl, he has mastered it. The wealthy are trying to flee, but they have left it too late. There are guarded road blocks all along the highway to London and the guards are holding the wealthy for questioning."

  Wigod was visibly upset. "Does William mean to harm or imprison the Earls in Normandy, where they are beyond the help of the English?"

  "I do not like to think that way, but it is my worst fear," replied Hereward, "William swore to protect them. It may be that he could not trust them to Odo's care while he was across the Manche. Perhaps he is showing them estates in Normandy to trade them for their estates in England."

  "It is a weak reason for William to leave England at this time." said Wigod.

  "Oh that is not the reason he left," replied Hereward, "William left England because he has more important affairs on the continent. The politics of the Franks is about to change, and rapidly. Baldwin, Count of Flanders is dying. He helped William with the invasion of England by loaning him ships.

  William's wife Mathilde is Baldwin's daughter. Flanders is the richest and most powerful county on the North Sea coast. It controls the mouths of the Rhine and the earnings are rich from that river's trade route. Moreover, Baldwin is regent of France until King Philip is of age. Paris controls the Seine and Rhone trade routes. William would rather have been King of France than King of England."

  "William must be cursing. What a time to have his army stuck in England." observed Wigod.

  "To be sure he has lost a great opportunity. I think he has gone to Normandy to build another army, a continental army."

  "Do you think he means to make a claim for Flanders?" asked Wigod.

  "Certainly he will take his wife to Lille to be with her family," replied Hereward, "and he will test the waters while there. Baldwin has a grown son who will now be acting as regent until the old man dies. There is no question of succession. I think it more likely that the new army is to, umm 'protect' Normandy from the new King of France. Philip is almost old enough to rule without a regent."

  "You mean now that old Baldwin is sick, he will try to kill this you king Philip, and replace him. That will take time. How long will Odo be regent?" asked Raynar.

  "One day is too long." replied Hereward pouring himself more wine. "He will be regent until William returns, however long that takes. The English may even welcome William back after a few months under Odo. Odo is as greedy for English women as he is for English land. He is a Bishop you know, in Normandy, and he has a cleric's hunger for that which is forbidden him."

  Hereward gave Raynar a knowing look, "William is still not well. His health has suffered since he lost his saddle in the battle of Hastings road. It will take William a half a year, perhaps a year, to form an army, and to wait for the power struggles on the continent to end. In that time anything can happen. William could be shot by an archer and never return. Then what of Odo?"

  "Odo could just as easily be shot by an archer," Raynar pointed out and gave Hereward a slow smile, "he and the other bishop in Kent. Stigand."

  "If I were Odo?
" Wigod closed his eyes in thought "If I were Odo, I would replace as many English lords in Kent and Wessex with my own men as quickly as possible. In that way if William dies, he would certainly remain as Earl of Kent, and perhaps take Wessex as well. As Williams brother, he would likely become Regent of England until William's sons are of age, should they live so long with him as regent."

  "What will happen to them? The English lords of the south and their families, I mean?" asked Raynar, fearing the answer.

  "They must flee!" replied both the other men in unison. Wigod held his tongue so that he could listen to Hereward who was saying, "If they flee now, before they are taken, then they have not renounced their land by their hand. They can return and claim them from the next king. If they stay they risk Dead and Bed, or will be forced to renounce their land by their hand to buy a healthy exile. They must flee before they are taken into custody by Odo's men."

  "But," Raynar interrupted in a loud voice, "that would leave the folk to wither under Norman lords. Hereward, have you heard of serfs. That is what the freemen of England will become, serfs." Both men motioned him to quieten his voice. "No, they cannot flee. They must stay and protect their folk, protect their villages. That is their role. That is their side of the oath that is sworn between yeomen and lord."

  "In many manors it is already too late for that," said Hereward. "Many southern lords were buried at Fulford, and Stamford, and Senlac. Odo as Chief Justice is surrounded by lawyers. They have been using our own laws, Knut's laws, against us.

  English 'in-common' law uses the word crown separately from king. Under the crown is placed the rule of law, and the ongoing task of ruling. The king upholds the crown, and therefore the rule of law. William and Odo have interpreted 'crown' and 'king' as one and the same. Under English law, if a land lord dies without a clear heir, the land is trusted to the crown for a year and a day, so that all who have claims have time to petition the courts."