by Griff Hosker
“He is the King’s cousin, I believe?”
“Aye, lord.”
“Then you have achieved much to serve the two highest men in the land. I fear my life has been dull by comparison. Raising a family and watching over my manor have been my lot.”
The next day as we headed south, I wondered how many other men there were like the lord of Stockton. They were knights who could wield a sword but rarely had to. Then there were knights like me who seemed to be forever drawing their sword in anger. Perhaps I was due for some peace. I doubted it for I was still a warrior at heart but I had had enough of slaughtering those who were not warriors. We left Stockton and headed for Middleham. As we rode, I said, “Well, Ralph, son of Ralph, you will soon be back home. Are you pleased to be so close to your home and family?”
“In truth, my lord, I am conflicted. I would like to see my mother, father, brother and sisters but I feel that I have seventeen more brothers and I do not want to leave them.”
“Then you have a decision to make over the next few miles. Do you come with me and say farewell forever to your home, or do you bid farewell to us? There is no middle way.”
“I know, lord. I have until we pass Richmond Castle to make up my mind.”
Red Ralph greeted me while his mother and sisters greeted young Ralph. “How did he do, lord?” There was concern as a father from Red Ralph as well as the concern of a warrior.
“He is his father’s son and he is a warrior. He knows horses. He has slain men with his bow and with his sword. He did not flinch and my men are happy for him to be a shield brother.”
There was a look of joy on Red Ralph’s face. He nodded, barely able to speak, “Then that is all a man can ask. I am in your debt, Will.”
“You owe me nothing for I would be lying in the dust of Spain if it were not for you, Old Tom and Peter the Priest.”
My men were happy to be in the barn for it was warm and they had English beer. They had missed it. Magda had become their cook and she helped Mary prepare the food. John ate with my men and so I, alone, ate with the family. I saw Ralph looking nervously from me to his father and then, finally, to his mother. When we had eaten and the platters taken out, he went out to fetch in some logs. He banked up the fire. I said nothing but supped the fine ale. Eventually, Red Ralph said, “Come son, spit out the words which hide in your throat, lest they choke you!”
I smiled for Red Ralph had not changed. He was as perceptive as ever.
His son nodded, “Aye, father. I have killed and I am now a man.” I saw his mother’s hand go to her mouth and his brother and sisters giggled as though he had sworn. “I like the life of a soldier and, with your permission, I would follow Sir William.”
Mary said, quietly, “No.”
Red Ralph put his hand on hers and shook his head, “Wife, the carrot is out of the ground. You cannot return it. Our son has seen a little of the world and wants more. He has tasted battle and he is not afraid. If we made him stay, he would come to hate this life and then to hate us.”
“But we will never see him again!”
“That is quite likely but he will live and, if he serves Will Strongstaff, then I have no doubt that we will hear of him again. Who knows if we will never see him? Can you divine the future? We gave him life. Give is the word. We cannot take it away by making him stay here.”
She began to weep, “But he is my bairn! He is my firstborn. He is my little Ralphie!”
Young Ralph was close to tears. He put his arm around his mother, “And I will always be that boy but I am a man grown. I will not be foresworn and make a promise which I cannot keep but if it is possible then I will visit with you. How is that?”
I suddenly felt guilty. It was not of my doing but I was breaking up this happy family. “Mistress Mary, I will need horses from time to time. What say I send your son to buy them? He is a good judge of horseflesh. That way you can see him. It will not be regular but better than nought.”
She grabbed my hand and kissed it, “My lord, you are the kindest of men! I thank you! Forgive a foolish mother!”
I thought back to my mother who had been taken from me. I understood her feelings better than she could possibly know. Ralph went with his mother to pack his chest. I spoke with Red Ralph. “If you wish, he can become my second squire. He knows horses and it would not take much to train him.”
He nodded, “I am just grateful that all is well in my house. If he could become a squire, then that is elevation beyond my wildest dreams but if he were just to be a sergeant at arms, then I am content.”
“Whatever happens, I will let you know. It was not empty words I spouted. I will need horses and I would rather buy them from someone I trust.”
“You could never tell a lie, Will Strongstaff, not even to save a life. You are a knight with honour and I am glad that you are my friend.”
We had no snow on our way south but we had a wind which had followed us from the Baltic. As Harold Four Fingers said, “It is a lazy wind, lord. It cannot be bothered to go around us and so it goes through us!”
Magda had been surrounded by English words and had learned enough of our language now to be able to speak to us. Pyotr was fluent. I suspect it was because he was so young. He would grow up English. He had already picked up some choice phrases from my men. How strange would that be, a barbarian boy growing up and speaking English?
My wife was so pleased to see us arrive back early that she did not even notice we had grown by four for the first few hours. John and Ralph did not eat with us. They knew that I wished to speak with my wife. I told her all and left nothing out. Eleanor knew my heart. She knew that which troubled me. She patted my hand when I had finished, “You are a good man, Will. You did not need to go on a crusade to show that you are a Christian.” She nodded to the chest of coins I had brought back. “And to be paid for doing God’s work is no bad thing either. That will come in handy. I have a Reeve for this manor. John’s father, Jack, is a good man and we can trust him. All we need now are the deeds to Weedon and we can move.”
“In winter!”
She laughed, “This from the man who has just spent months in the land of ice and snow? If we go now then when the spring comes, we can plough and plant. The last bad harvest we had was a warning! Let us heed it!”
In the event, the deeds and my payment did not come for two months. My wife fretted but I did not worry. Henry Bolingbroke and his father were the richest men in England. The money he owed me was nothing to them!
As soon as the deed and my stipend were delivered by Geoffrey, my wife was eager to ride to Weedon. I pointed out that we had no real idea about the accommodation. She agreed to let me go with Ralph and John first. I deliberately went with just two men. I had seen nothing in the village which made me worry about our safety. A fat old French priest would not worry me. The deeds to the manor had been signed by the Abbot of the monastery in France. I had no doubt that some deal had been done and Henry had exchanged one of his manors in France. The church might have been able to extract taxes from a manor in England but the opposite was not true. When we had been at the siege of Vilnius, Edward had told me that the Earl had tried to go on crusade to the Holy Land and asked the permission of the King of France. The French King had refused. Now I saw why he had been so generous with the manor. He had done a deal to exchange one manor in France for one in England. I had a number of documents including an account of the monies received by the monastery in Bec. As we neared Weedon, having stayed at the Earl’s castle at Northampton the night before, I wondered if the message had reached the fat priest yet.
The journey was only eight miles and we reached it well before noon. Spring was almost upon us and men were in the fields preparing them for the new planting. It was a prosperous looking manor. The manor house was not fortified but it was four times the size of my own. When we dismounted and watered our horses the priest and his curate emerged. I think he must have recognised me. His manner told me that he had not yet had news of
our arrival. That was good. The deeds and the letter from the Earl informed me that everything in the manor was mine. The priest and his curate would have the clothes on their backs. All else belonged to the manor. I had been told that it was in my power to allow him to be the parish priest if he so chose.
He strode over, “Have we met before, my lord?”
“I passed through here last year on my way to crusade.”
He beamed, “It is good that you do God’s work. Feel free to use our water.”
I nodded and took off my riding gloves. “The last time I came here I sought only water. Now I come upon the orders of the Earl of Northampton who is also the Earl of Derby.” The flicker of a frown passed over his face. “Could we go inside for the chill of this wind reminds me of the Baltic.”
He had little choice in the matter for I was a knight of the realm. He made the best of it. “I pray you enter. Thomas, go and prepare wine.”
“Yes, father.” I saw that the curate was young and where the priest was corpulent his assistant was lean.
Inside the hall was well apportioned. There was no Great Hall but there was an adequate looking feasting hall. I was taken to what looked like his study. It was a large room but there were just two seats. Ralph and John were forced to stand. It was a deliberate act on the part of the priest. He was trying to show his authority.
I smiled, “I am Sir William Strongstaff and you are?”
“Father Raymond d’Iscarte, guardian and God’s reeve of the manor of Weedon.” He smiled back.
The pleasantries would end soon enough. I took out the deed and the letter which was addressed to the incumbent of the manor. It bore the seal of the Earl of Northampton. “And that onerous burden has now been lifted from your shoulders. The monastery of Bec in France no longer owns this manor. The Earl of Northampton does and I am the newly appointed lord of the manor.”
The curate, Thomas, walked in with the wine. He looked at the face of the priest. “What is wrong, Father Raymond?”
Ignoring the young priest, he shouted, “This is robbery! You are trying to steal my home!”
I handed the letter from the Earl to the young priest, “If you would read this out loud, for I fear Father Raymond may choke if he tries to read it.”
Father Thomas read the letter. The Earl had couched his words carefully. There could be no misinterpretation. The manor was mine and the Abbot was happy about the arrangement. When it was read, Father Raymond slumped in his padded seat. His voice was quiet, “This is my home! Where will I go?”
“You are welcome to stay.”
His face brightened, “Here?”
“No, for I have a wife and family. I will need a parish priest and I have the authority to offer it to you.”
“A parish priest! I think not.” He sounded appalled that he might have to work!
“Then you will have to return to the monastery in Normandy.” I saw his eyes dart around the room. I turned to Father Thomas. “Will you be accompanying Father Raymond?”
“I, er, that is…”
Father Raymond shook his head, “No, Thomas. I do not wish to be burdened by another mouth to feed.”
The young man’s face fell. I said, “Then would you do me the honour of becoming parish priest?”
“Of course, my lord!”
I wanted to be rid of Father Raymond as soon as I could. “Is there a sumpter?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Ralph, go with Father Thomas and prepare the sumpter. I am certain that Father Raymond would wish to be on his way as soon as possible.”
I saw Ralph grin as he left.
“I will need a wagon for all my things, Sir William.”
I shook my head and proffered the deed. “As you can see, save for personal items such as clothing all else belongs to the manor. John and I will help you pack although, as a parish priest, I cannot imagine that you will have much.”
“You mean I will not be allowed to do so privately?”
“I will need to make an inventory of all the items, Father Raymond. This has to be done properly. I came early to give you the opportunity to ride to Northampton. There is a chapter house there and you will have the opportunity to prepare for a new life back in Normandy.”
When we accompanied him to his chamber, we watched his every move. Either John or I kept our eyes on him the whole time. I knew he had chests secreted for his eyes kept glancing to the floor in his sleeping chamber. Ralph came in and said, “Lord, we have a sumpter and an ass if Father Raymond needs it.”
The priest gave an angry look which Ralph cheerfully ignored. I said, “Take Father Raymond’s bag for him. If you would like to take a jug of wine for the journey, Father?”
He looked annoyed but still took the jug. He placed his bag on the ass and clambered onto the back of the sumpter. He waddled down the road to Northampton. I turned to John and Ralph. “Go and look beneath the bed of the priest. There will be chests hidden beneath the boards.”
Father Thomas said, “How did you know?”
I laughed, “I have searched the houses of greedy men before now.” As my men left me, we walked back into the hall. “I trust that you are more honest than Father Raymond.”
“Honest, lord?”
“You will learn, Father Thomas, that I value honesty more than anything. Speak the truth to me and all will be well.” He said nothing. “You are bound by the confessional but your eyes saw that he was not sending all of the money he collected to the monastery.” I took out the account. “I am no farmer but even I know that this manor should yield more than this.”
His shoulders slumped, “You are right, lord. Dismiss me now for I did nothing to stop him.”
“Nor could you. I do not blame you but the church in Bec. Today we have a new start and a new beginning. You will see to the spiritual matters of the parish and I will see to the rest. Now, while my men search, sit and tell me of the manor. I wish to know about all of those who are in my care.”
John and Ralph joined us after a while with four large chests. I sent them out to stable our horses and prepare food. I had learned that there were four household servants. I would see them soon enough. The next day I would ride abroad and introduce myself and then I would send for my wife. I had much to do. I was no longer just a knight. I was now a banneret. When I rode to war, it would be beneath my own banner. The next step would be to baron. My miraculous journey continued.
Chapter 11
The first years at Weedon were harder than I had expected them to be. The farmers were happy enough for there was little difference to them except for the fact that there had been no archery training. I insisted on the application of the law. They complied. This had been a law for some time. The priest had gone but they barely noticed his departure. Father Thomas had held the services. Father Thomas looked after their spiritual needs but there were forty men of the manor who had little military training. I set my men at arms and archers to training them. I hoped we would not have to use them as the levy for they had not picked up a bow for some time. Whatever we did would be an improvement. My wife saw to the farming. That was not hard for her. She enjoyed it and she was comfortable with the task.
I, on the other hand, had to deal with the taxes and the courts. Stony Stratford had so few people that we had rarely needed an assize. Here we had one every quarter. In the first year, one man had to be hanged for murdering his wife. It was distressing. In many ways, the man, Andrew, reminded me of King Richard. He could be deliriously happy one moment and depressed the next. His death, when it came, must have been a relief to him. I gave his farm to Harold Four Fingers. None of my other married men objected. They all had houses which were attached to the village and were content for each had a small plot at the rear where they could grow vegetables. Seven of my men were married and soon some of their wives were with child. It changed each of the men. They were still warriors but they now had a solid tie to the land, my land. Stony Stratford still prospered. Jack was a good reeve
and my wife’s fortune grew. I say my wife’s for I felt she had done all the work. I was still a warrior.
When I had time I worked with John, Ralph and Tom. I had promised Tom that I would train him in the art of war and a man did not lie, especially not to his son and heir. I had told Red Ralph I would help Ralph become a squire and I did so. It was hard combining the training and the running of the manor. If it was not for John, I could not have managed it. When I was busy with manorial duties, he continued their training. As our workers harvested our second crop, I spoke with John while Ralph and Tom sparred, “I am sorry that I am not yet able to offer you a knighthood. I would have to speak to the Earl and he is in the Baltic once more.”
He laughed. He was a young man now. If he was not a squire, he could have had any of the maidens in the manor for he was handsome and all were in love with him. A squire could not marry nor could a bachelor knight without the permission of his lord. “Lord, I am elevated far beyond that which I dreamed. You have given my father a position which makes him important. Even if you were not to make me a knight then I would still be well rewarded. I am content.
I had been lucky with him. I was also fortunate with my men. The four men who had been married when we arrived had all sired children by their wives: Harold Four Fingers, Alan of the Wood, Jack War Bag and Lol, son of Wilson, were all fathers. Others had married women from Weedon. Coming into contact with the fathers of maids during weapon practice had an effect. David of Welshpool, Natty Longjack and Geoffrey of Gisburn were all married to local girls and their wives expecting. It tied them to me even closer than they had been. Father Thomas grew into his role. Father Raymond had used him as a dogsbody. I used him as a priest and my parish benefitted. He had a genuine interest in the people of Weedon. They grew to like the two of us. They had resented me when I came for I made their men work on Sunday after church, and Father Raymond’s parsimonious ways had alienated them from the church. We both won them over.