Northern Knight

by Griff Hosker

  The warnings of danger came from Bishop Flambard. Since we had rescued him he had been in constant touch with us. He realised that we protected his lands from the south. He was keen to maintain my loyalty and he sent gifts to Adela and Faren. He summoned me to his castle at Durham. His message, whilst guarded, told me that there might be danger. I took just Leofric while I sent messages to my knights warning them that we might require a muster. Leofric had no armour yet and it was an old palfrey he rode. He was still learning to ride well and the old horse was just the right one for someone starting to ride. I suspected that Leofric would take more time to train than Harold. Harold had grown up in a world of war and danger in the forests of Sherwood. Leofric had grown up enjoying the woods as a place of excitement. He would need to learn how to fight. He was still growing but he had a surcoat. Since we had returned from the Empire Adela had arranged for women with nimble fingers to make the garments for us. It benefitted the town and gave us better surcoats. He had his shield and a helmet but I knew that he yearned for mail. He asked me about it as we headed north on the ride to Durham.

  "If I am to fight will I be given armour, Baron?"

  "You need to earn your armour. Besides I would not risk you in combat yet."

  "What will I do then? Watch while others fight?"

  "You will carry my banner and you will watch the horses. Harold did the same. It took him almost five years to become a knight and he was already a warrior. You know hawks and you are stealthy. Those skills will serve you well. I need to make you a warrior and that will take time. You watch, you listen, and you learn. I know you know how to be silent. That was what made you a good falconer." As we neared the bridge over the Wear I said, "If it does not suit you to be a knight then you can return and be a falconer. I shall not mind. Harold was not sure at first. There is naught wrong with the life of a falconer. But you must choose to be a squire and, perhaps, a knight."

  "No, Baron, I would like to be a knight and I am sorry for my foolish questions."

  "No question is ever foolish it is just the answers which may be."

  The last time I had passed through this gate I had been in disguise and it was held by the men of Northumbria. Now I was welcomed by those within. The banner which Leofric held aloft had been sewn in the winter by Adela and her ladies. It was a larger one than before and the yellow of the star was brighter. My name and my banner were known. That could be a good thing but I knew that in combat it would draw my enemies like moths to a flame. It was important to have a rallying point on the battlefield. Our horses were taken from us and my banner left inside the gate of the keep.

  The Bishop awaited us in his Great Hall. There were servants present and a clerk, but no knights. "Ah Baron Alfraed, welcome." Leofric was ignored. He was a squire and he was treated like a servant. I smiled at his confusion. It was all part of the learning process. While I was offered a seat he stood. He was overawed by his surroundings. I noticed his face as he stared at the magnificent tapestries hanging on the wall. Then his eyes were drawn to the high roof. My humble castle had a much smaller one.

  The Bishop was a diplomatic man and he began our discourse with pleasantries. "Did you and your people prosper over the winter?"

  This was a question he already knew the answer to; Roger of Ripon had collected my taxes before he had visited the Bishop. Perhaps he was being polite or perhaps he was checking on honesty. "We have done well. I have a good steward and he manages to turn small investments into large profits."

  "And your church?"

  As a reward for saving the city I had been allowed to build a church and the Bishop had given me a priest. Father Ralph was a little more serious than Father Peter but the people liked him. They expected a priest to be aloof and distant. He was all of that. "It is progressing my lord. It will take some time before it is worthy of a visit from you."

  "Where two or three are gathered together, there is my Church.'" He smiled as he quoted the Bible at me.

  "Just so." I wanted him to get on with what he had to say. I disliked preambles of any description. He must have sensed my impatience for he leaned forward, "I have spies who travel the borders. They tell me that the Gospatric family now lives on their Scottish estates."

  "That does not harm us, surely. If they are north of the border then they cannot plot and plan."

  He shook his head irritably, "We do not get the taxes for one thing and their lands do not bring us profit but there is a more sinister aspect to this. I believe that they are colluding with the Scots for an invasion."

  "And the King of Scotland; is he part of their plans?"

  "No, he is not part of it but there are many of his lords who wish to see the lands the King's father conquered, returning to them. They all had a difficult winter. Like you, the rest of the north prospered. It is envy. The Scots wish what we have. They did not plan as well and those rebellious lords would have the lands which produce wheat."

  I waited. I could not see how this affected me. We were far to the south of the lands claimed by the Scots. However if they wished for lands which bore wheat then they would have to come through our valley. Perhaps there might be danger.

  He continued, "I know that they intend to attack my lands but I know not when. I cannot keep my men armed for they need to work their fields and their farms. I have few men at arms and, since the rebellion, even fewer knights."

  There had been a key phrase in his words, he had said, 'my lands'. He was not worried about my valley but his own lands and estates which were further north. "I know when they will come."

  He shot me a puzzled look, "You do? How?"

  I enjoyed surprising people. I knew the times because it was when I would have chosen to attack. "There are two times. The first is in the next month or so when your sheep and your cattle have given birth and they are on the hillsides. The second time is in the autumn when the harvest is in. I would guess that they will attack both times. They are the times when the fyrd cannot be called to arms for they will be busy working in their fields."

  He nodded, "You are right. Then what do I do about it? The King will not be happy if he does not get his taxes."

  I hid my smile behind my hand. The Bishop was more worried about his loss of his own income. I waved an airy arm towards the north. "There are lords further north, close to Hexham and the New Castle. The Roman wall still prevents many crossing points. The Scots could be stopped there."

  "Sadly much of the stone from the wall has been taken to make castles and after the rebellion most of the border lords were either killed or fled to their Scottish lands. The border is more fragile than it once was"

  I knew what he wanted but I wanted him to ask rather than me suggesting it.

  "Baron, I would have you and your conroi protect my estates to the north."

  "Are they not beyond the Palatinate of Durham?"

  He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, "Yes they are but they are south of the Tyne and are part of England. The King would not be happy if they were attacked."

  "He would not be happy if I abandoned the valley of the Tees to attack your enemies."

  "By protecting the north you protect the valley." He was a clever man but trying to defeat me with logic was a mistake. I had had my education in Constantinople where I had argued with the greatest of philosophers.

  "I am sorry Bishop but I cannot commit my conroi so far from home. The King charged me with the Valley of the Tees and not the Valley of the Tyne. If you are attacked and summon me then I will respond."

  "By that time it would be too late." I could hear the panic inflect his voice. "You have a worthy reputation, Baron, as someone who has a keen military mind. You showed that in your rescue of me. I need a mobile force based north of here." I saw him chewing his lip as he considered what to do. "How about this then? I will pay you and your knights to be based at my estates."

  This was a better proposition. I did not need the Bishop's gold but my knights and men at arms did and they would all be stronge
r because of the reward. "How much would you pay?"

  "One gold piece to each knight for each week they were here. Ten silver pieces for each man at arms and five pieces of silver for each archer."

  "And the same for the squires."

  "Five silver pieces?" I nodded. He smiled with relief. He must be even richer than I had thought for he had not quibbled over the exorbitant amount I had requested. "Then when can I expect you?"

  "I will need to ride south and gather my men. We will leave some behind to watch our manors. We will return in fourteen nights."

  He nodded, "I have an estate at Chollerford. It controls a crossing of the Tyne and is at the last standing section of the wall."

  "Is there a castle?"

  "No, but there are the remains of an old Roman fort."

  I nodded. That would do. "I will need authority for your steward there and to let the other lords know that I act under your orders. The manor will need to provide for my men."

  "When you return then the documents will be ready."

  "And a banner signifying that I fight for Durham rather than myself."

  "That is a good idea. It will show the barbarians and the rebels that I rule here yet." He would risk his banner but naught else

  As we left and headed south I reflected on the Bishop's words. He thought he had power but he was clinging on to the little he had. He was no Bishop Odo who had ridden about the north imposing his will on all of the land. He had been a true Prince Bishop. Flambard was more a Bishop who yearned to be the Prince. King Henry was wrong to spend so much time in Normandy and neglect the north. His son controlled the west but there appeared to be no one to do the same in the North. We needed a Marcher Lord here as well as in Wales. I knew that one day it would come to hurt us.

  We were nearing Norton when Leofric finally spoke. "My lord, does that mean that I will get five silver pennies a week?"

  I laughed, "You have got sharp little ears. No, I will be given the coins for you. As your lord I bear your expenses. You may get some coins but, as John will tell you, running a conroi is expensive. Do not worry Leofric; we will get you a mail shirt made, at least." He was delighted at the prospect.

  I was honest with my knights and I told them what they would be paid. Although the thought of spending many months away from their manors was not attractive the coins they would earn was. In addition their own manors would be spared the expense of maintaining their men. That would be borne by the Bishop from his estate at Chollerford. Most decided to go to war. Wulfstan declined to join us and I did not blame him. With three young children he wanted to spend as much time with them as he could. He had spent most of his life fighting and he did not need the money. I was happy too. He would watch my lands. The rest all agreed. I chose to take just ten men at arms and ten archers. As Adela was with child I wanted her and William protecting. Harold had yet to hire men at arms and he did not have a squire. He brought just two archers; they were young men who came from a large family. They were good choices.

  We said out farewells and left just before May day. I think the Bishop was relieved to see us return when I had promised. Perhaps he had thought I might change my mind. If he was disappointed in our numbers he did not show it. With just ten knights, thirty five men at arms and twenty archers we were not a large force but we were all mounted and I was confident that we could discourage any force which came south. With squires and servants we numbered seventy five in total. I gave the Bishop's banner to Harold who held it proudly aloft. We headed north up the road which led to Scotland.

  Hexham still remained a burnt out shell. The King's new lord of the manor had yet to be appointed. As we crossed the bridge I looked at the potential for defence. If we had to retreat then this was a good place to stop an advancing enemy. The bridge stood and my archers could stop an assault. Although the river was fordable mailed knights and men at arms would not risk such a perilous crossing.

  The manor at Chollerford was not a large one and was just a few miles north of Hexham. The manor house looked as though it had not been altered since the time of King Ethelred. It was a simple wooden house with a drainage ditch running around it. It looked to be profitable. There were outhouses and buildings surrounding the hall in an untidy tangle. It looked as though we would be well fed. I saw cattle, sheep and pigs as well as fowl clucking around the yard. The steward, Ralph son of Athelstan, had a family and they lived in the manor. He read the letter from the Bishop. I saw the sadness on his face. "My family and I will move out, Baron."

  "There is no need, Ralph. We will stay with our men. There would be nothing to be gained from having a roof over our head but we will need food." I pointed to the forests which surrounded the manor; there was little land for farming. "I will have my men hunt there but we will need milk, bread and cheese."

  He brightened immediately. "It will have to be oat bread, my lord."

  I saw Guiscard frown at that. He was the one most recently arrived from Normandy. He would learn. "We can eat oaten bread, Ralph; you have ale too?"

  "Yes my lord, fine ale. It is brewed by my wife." I could see the quality from his girth and his rosy cheeks.

  "Then we will have some sent each day." I pointed across the river to the old Roman fort. "We will be based in the old Roman fort."

  His wife gripped his arm, "It is said, my lord, that it is haunted and there was a battle near here. St Oswald killed the mighty Welsh King, Cadwallon. The ghosts of the Welsh warriors wander the wall at night."

  I laughed, "We are warriors and we will endure the dead. We have sent plenty to their deaths. They do not frighten men who fight for God and the Bishop."

  We headed towards the fort which was on the other side of the Roman Road. Surprisingly the outer walls of the old Roman fort stood and looked as though they would not require much work to improve them. Edward nodded. "We can build a sort of gate here my lord and we can make shelters. This is better than I hoped."

  "And I. I think it must have been built for cavalry. They look to be stables down there." I pointed to the gate near to the river and the bridge. "I want two men on guard at the bridge at all times. Sir Richard, assign them." He nodded. "Dick and Aiden, I want you and the rest of my archers splitting into pairs. Spend tomorrow finding out what the land looks like and then the day after we begin our patrols. Right now I want you to go and hunt some meat for tomorrow. It will give you the lie of the land."

  Baron Raymond de Brus said, "But we could just stay here. The Bishop only wants us to stop an attacker. There are none."

  "When I do a job, Sir Raymond, I do it to the best of my ability. Besides that I do not want to be surprised. When the Scots come we attack them when I choose not when they suddenly appear." Thus chastened, Sir Raymond nodded and coloured. I looked at Edward and gave him the slightest of nods. I would leave it to him to explain to Sir Raymond the way I worked. I had not had the luxury of getting to know my new knight.

  We had enough tents for the knights and Wulfric organised the others to use branches to make roofs for the barracks. I hoped it would not rain over much but we were hardy men and summers were generally dry. When Ralph's wife and children came for us to tell us that food was ready we had already achieved much. We had just begun to eat when our hunters returned. From the size of their catch there had to be plenty of game in these forests. With no lord at Hexham and the Bishop in Durham no one would have hunted for some time. We would eat well.

  I had forgotten what it was like to sleep on the ground. Although it took me some time to fall asleep I would soon become accustomed to it. Leofric seemed excited when he woke me. "There are many knights here my lord and I am the youngest squire."

  "Good, then you will be able to learn from them! Remember your most important task is to look after Star and Scout. They must both learn to trust you. When I go into battle you need to be close enough to see if my mount weakens and then you bring whichever I am not riding."

  "Yes, my lord."

  Although I was being strict
with him, I liked his enthusiasm. He was young enough to see much of this as a game. My words would make him stronger. I sent Dick to the New Castle with orders to find out the disposition of the garrison. While the rest of my archers scouted I had my knights and men at arms practise some new manoeuvres. If they were disloyal then it might prove problematic. We had to fight as one. If each part worked well then the whole would have a greater chance of success. "We are mobile and we will use the charge but there will be times when we have to fight on foot." I saw the looks of disbelief on the faces of Raymond and Guiscard. "We have done this before and it can work. With archers behind us and lances held before us we can deter any enemy. If we are outnumbered then it is a tactic we will use. Get your lances and spears and let us try it out."

  We spent all morning working out the best way to face an enemy. I placed Edward and Richard on the flanks for they were the most solid and reliable of my knights and I placed my new knights between them along with Sir Guy and Sir Geoffrey. I left a proud Leofric holding my banner in the middle while I mounted Scout and rode at the conroi as though I were the Scots. Although small in number I was impressed with the appearance we presented. Our array of knights would stop an enemy; of that I was certain.

  After three days my archers had explored the land to the north, east and the west. The men at arms at the New Castle, Gospatric's retainers, informed Dick that they had been given orders to protect the river crossing. Dick had no reason to doubt them. He told me that they seemed honest enough. There were not many of them but they could easily delay an invading army. Edward pointed out that they could not stop a rebel army led by their leader, the putative Earl of Northumbria. I knew that but hoped that Gospatric would not wish to draw attention to himself. He would be more likely to have others do his bidding. As he had shown the last time he was a shrewd plotter and had distanced himself from the actual rebellion. I was certain he would do so again.