by Griff Hosker
As William took my dagger and shield from me Sir Robert said, “I see what you mean, Earl. Had I fought then I would now be lying in the widening pool of blood.”
I sheathed my sword and took off my helmet. “Aye he was a fool for I gave him the chance of life.”
The King said, “And he fought on?”
“He knew that a trial of his peers would have seen him lose everything and possibly his life.”
I looked at the two knights and three squires who had watched their lord die. “Do you yield or will there be more bloodshed this day?”
They looked at each other and held their swords, hilt first, to the King, “We yield, your majesty. We are your men to command!”
I saw the King nod, “Then you do yield to the Earl. He has the power of life and death over you now! We will decide on your punishment later.” He shouted to the men on the roof, “Come down and open the doors. This is now my manor!”
The heads disappeared and then the garrison, all twenty of them trooped out. I waved for Henry Youngblood to take my men inside. I did not trust that all would have obeyed. There would be treasure in the hall and some of them might have thought to take it.
“William and Walter, take the horses to the stable.”
Even as we entered the hall we heard the clash of steel on steel and then a cry. Henry was wiping his sword on the surcoat of one of the two sergeants at arms who had tried to take some treasure. Henry pointed at the five cowering girls. “It seems, lord, that the Lord of Skipton is not the only knight with venal habits.”
“Care for them, Henry.”
“Aye lord. Come my little chicks. Don some clothes. Your trials are over now. The Earl of Cleveland will see that you come to no harm.”
We spent some time at Sawtry for there was, like Skipton, much evil to be undone. The King had not been at Skipton. He knew the term rebel and he understood dissident lords. The reality was manors like Sawtry. As soon as Sir Roger was dead then the farmers and folk who worked in the village came to us and dropped to their knees in thanks. The fact that the priest fled before we could speak with him told us a great deal. Many priests would have gone to a lord who was doing wrong and intervened but this one had turned his head and allowed the suffering.
“Why did the Sheriff of Cambridge not intervene?”
The King asked a good question, “He may not have known. Do not forget King Henry, the war ended only recently. I am not exonerating him, he may be palpable but do not judge. That is partly the purpose of this progress. You do not know your land nor your people. This is your opportunity to do so.”
Sir William d’Urberville had impressed the King. We sent one of King Henry’s new men back to Knebworth to ask the young knight to come to Sawtry and put its affairs in order. We waited until we returned before we left. While the King and his baron were closeted I spoke with the Captain of the King’s Guard.
James of Corfe should have been a knight. He had been a squire and he had been trained as a knight. He had gone on crusade with his father and his brothers. We had much in common for his brothers and father had been killed. James had had to fight for pay. He had honed his trade and returned to England towards the end of King John’s life. The family manor had been given to another and so James had had to fight for pay once more.
“I have been trying to speak with you in private for some time, James.”
“Aye lord.”
“Our stories are similar and so I hope you will not object to my bluntness. Like you I lost my family lands and I resented King John. Although I did not fight against him directly I opposed him. What are your feelings towards the King?”
“Thank you for your honesty, my lord. My father was a deeply religious man. We went on crusade when my mother died. I hated King John when I found that our lands had been given to another but the deaths of my family were not his fault. I was in the Holy Land and the manor needed a lord.”
It was a plausible answer but I detected that there was more to it. He had an honest face. It was like a map showing his life. There were scars and there were signs of the sun. Flecks of grey were in his beard but his eyes showed that he was hiding something. “What did the King say when you made representation to him?”
His head dropped, “That I was not a knight and could not be lord of the manor.” I remained silent. “When I heard that you were in London then I headed for the city. I hoped to join your men for all have heard of the hero of Arsuf. Then, when the news was spread that the King sought men at arms it seemed to me that it was a sign from God. You fought for your land and I will fight for my knighthood. I am a gentleman by birth and it is in the hands of you and the King to knight me. I will try to impress you.”
I shook my head. “James, the King and I need you to be the leader of these men. These are early days. Thankfully none have had to draw sword yet. That will come. I am pleased that you were honest with me for I have to trust you as I trust my men.”
“They are good men, my lord. I have spoken with them. They are very loyal to you.”
“And that is because they have been with me a long time. Some fought alongside me in the Holy Land and Sweden as well as Poitou and Anjou. The bonds were sealed in blood and with steel. You know how hard they are to break.”
“Then I will attempt to do the same with the men I lead.”
“Until we have fought alongside them and know their mettle you will be the one to speak to me of any flaws you find in them. The Baron of Sawtry had flaws in his metal and it cost him his life.”
“I will lord.”
“And when there is time we need more men to be hired as the King’s Guard. We have too few at the moment.”
“I will seek more men. Like you, lord, I have seen deception and know how to recognise it. I will choose good men only.”
We left for Lincoln. Sawtry was the first decision the King made without the advice of the Bishop, de Burgh or the Cardinal’s man. In the greater scheme of things, it was not particularly important but the boy king made a good decision and bound a knight and two manors to him. In lieu of the losses incurred by Sir William the King allowed Sir William to have the income from both manors until such time as a new lord of the manor was appointed. The knight was charged with protecting the land and ensuring that a new priest was appointed so that the people could have God’s grace once more. We were all in more confident mood as we neared Lincoln.
Chapter 7
Newark
Lincoln was a joy for Nichola de la Haie was a strong woman and a good constable. Even the King’s father had been impressed by her. She liked the young King. I had to smile for she did not treat him as King but as a favoured nephew come to visit. The only sour note was introduced by one of the guests at the feast. Hugh of Wells was Bishop of Lincoln and he was a good man. I knew he had something on his mind for he was quiet during the early part of the celebration of the King’s visit.
While the King was being entertained by the Lady of Lincoln’s stories of the war I said, “Bishop you know who I am and that I can be trusted. I beg of you to say that which is on your mind.”
“I would, Earl, but when we heard the King came north I hoped for a larger force of men.”
“There is trouble?”
He nodded, “Newark.”
“The Lady Nichola told me last time that it was filled with those who wished the King harm. I thought to visit there on our way north.”
“The Lady does not have the whole of it, Earl. There is a mercenary, Robert de Gaugny. He holds the castle and the town. It is my manor and he refuses to hand it over to me. He is like an old-fashioned warlord. Newark castle is well built and hard to take.”
I nodded. He was right. I knew the castle having visited it before the Battle of Lincoln. The river bounded one side and the town the other. King John had died there. “How many knights can you raise, Bishop?”
“No more than twenty and that would take some days.”
“Men at arms, archers, fyrd?”
/> “I believe that there are sixty men at arms who serve my knights. We have about the same number of archers. The fyrd? If we mustered all who owe service then almost a thousand.”
I nodded and stared at the fire for I was thinking. This de Gaugny had a town with a wall around it. That would be his first line of defence. If we could take the town quickly then we might catch many of his men in the town. I knew that there was limited accommodation within Newark Castle’s walls. He would not have supplies for a lengthy siege.
“How many men does he have?”
“I confess that I do not have an exact number but I would say no more than one hundred and fifty. That is still enough to hold the castle against attack.”
“The castle and town are less than twenty miles from here. If you summon your knights, men at arms and archers then I have a plan which might gain us the town and, possibly the castle.”
The King suddenly laughed at something the Lady of Lincoln had said and the Bishop said, “And the King?”
“I will speak with the King. Do not worry about him, Bishop. He may be young but he is learning well. The Earl Marshal has asked me to take him under my wing and help him to become a better king than his father.”
The Bishop made the sign of the cross and said, “Amen to that.”
I excused myself from the table and sought James of Corfe and Henry Youngblood. They were in the warrior hall where the Lady of Lincoln, who appreciated men at arms more than most, had provided them with a good feast and fine ale. As I would have expected the two of them had not indulged as much as many of the others. Henry knew me well, “Yes lord? Is aught amiss?”
“We have to take Newark. I want six men, including Mordaf and Gruffyd, to be ready to go to Newark in disguise tomorrow. I will give them the details in the morning.” I smiled for Mordaf was walking along the table using his hands and the rest were banging the table. “I am not sure that he is in any condition tonight.”
Henry nodded, “Yet in the morning this night’s excesses will not impair him.”
“That I know. I need to know how many horses we can muster.”
“Aye lord.”
James said, “And will we be taking part, Earl, or guarding the King?”
I smiled, “Both!”
I did not speak with the King that night but, after he had gone to bed, I spoke with Sir Robert. He needed to know my thoughts. I went to bed happy that I had a plan. There was risk involved and the King might be in danger but only by being in danger and risked could the King learn to be a leader. I knew that the Council would frown upon my actions. I had been given my instructions by the Earl Marshal and his word was sacrosanct. I would do as I always had. I would serve England and its King.
I was one of the first to rise and I met Nichola de la Haie as she came from the chapel. She was one of the cleverest women I had ever met. Only my wife and Aunt Ruth were more intelligent. “Earl you and the Bishop were in conspiratorial mood last night.”
“It is Newark, my lady. I intend to take it back for the Bishop.”
“Good. Is there anything I can do?”
“The Bishop has twenty knights how many can you spare?”
“If you are leading then as many as you need. I have six knights, twenty men at arms and forty archers. I have learned the value of such men.”
“And horses?”
“We can mount half of the men.”
“Good. I thank you and now I will speak with the King.”
“He is a good boy. He has potential but he is like a piece of raw clay, Earl. Firing may reveal flaws. Be careful that you do not press too hard.”
“I know, my lady, but this task was given to me by William Marshal. It will be a test of my skills. I shall do my best.”
The King was late to rise for he had enjoyed the food and the ale which was not the small beer he had once enjoyed. I met with my chosen men. James of Corfe, Sir Robert, Henry Youngblood and Ridley the Giant attended, “I would have you go to Newark. John you will wait a mile from the town with horses. I want you to go in on foot and from different directions.” I placed a purse on the table. “Do not wear surcoats. You go as men heading south to London. The coin I give you means that you will not be treated as vagabonds. I will bring the rest of the men on the morrow soon after dawn. You have a simple task. I need to be able to bring our men quickly into the town. We can hide for part of the way but we will be seen when we are half a mile from the gates. You will ensure that the gates remain open. If you can find weaknesses in the defence of the castle then so much the better.”
I saw the amazement on the faces of Sir Robert and James of Corfe when my men nodded, took the purse and left. Sir Robert said, “And that is all you need to say? They will know what they do?
Henry Youngblood and I smiled. “Aye Sir Robert and they will think I said too much. They know their business and that business is war.”
I spent longer explaining my plan to the King. When he heard that a mercenary held an English town he was furious. I had to counsel him, “Your Majesty, I will have men watching you closely tomorrow. These men we fight care not that you are King. You are not their King.”
“But I want to fight!”
I stared at him, “And are you ready to fight, my liege? Could you stand and face a man at arms and win?”
His shoulders sagged, “No but I wish to learn. Sir Robert, from now on you teach me!”
“Aye my liege, with pleasure.”
By noon the knights summoned by the Bishop began to arrive. The ones who lived the closest were first. I had learned a lesson in London and we told none our destination. I did not know if there were spies in the town. All that they knew was that the Bishop of Lincoln, the Earl of Cleveland and the King of England needed their swords. We would not be taking our servants and so we would use their horses to mount men at arms and archers. I wanted to strike as quickly as we could. I was pleased that the King was never further than earshot from me. He was attentive and noticed how much trouble I took to get the details right.
As we ate our evening meal he said, “War is harder than it looks, Sir Thomas.”
I cocked an eye, “War, my liege? We have not yet begun to fight. This is preparation.”
“Yet there is much preparation involved. I am impressed.”
I shrugged, “Some lords are lucky enough to have a man to do the organizing. When I am at home I could leave the order of horses, supplies, weapons and the like to my Steward, Captain of arms and Captain of archers. Here I do not have that luxury and some knights do not take kindly to instructions from a man at arms, no matter how skilled.”
I had the men roused an hour after midnight. This would be a night ride. The journey would take just two hours at the most for the horsemen but more than half of our men were afoot. They would only be in place as dawn was breaking. After Collingham the road ran close to the river and I sent twenty men ahead under the command of Ridley the Giant. There was a sally port on that side of the castle and with luck my men might gain entry. We waited just six hundred paces from the walls. There was a convenient wood and farm behind which we could shelter. When I led the knights to the gate I needed to be as quick as I could. There were perilously few men trying to hold the gate for me. I left Sir Robert with the King and ten handpicked guards. They would only follow when the gate was secure.
As we waited by the woods I gathered the knights around me. I had spoken to them in Lincoln but I did not know them and I wanted them to be sure that they understood my plans and orders. There were twenty-six of them. Our squires would follow but they would be behind my men at arms and those of the King. “When we enter the town gates we ride hard for the castle. Stop for nothing. If someone falls from his horse then let the squires help them. If we can gain access to the castle then we save time and, more importantly, men’s lives.” I looked at each of them. It was dark but none of us had yet donned arming cap or coif. I could see their eyes by the light of the moon. “We are mailed and I doubt that any we m
eet will be mailed. I am told that many of the garrison spend the night in the town for the accommodation in the castle is meagre. If so we have a chance. When the alarm is given they will rush to return to the safety of the walls. This is one of the largest towns in England. The Bishop tells me that there are more than a thousand people who live within its walls. There will be more innocent civilians than warriors. Remember that. The cry is ‘King Henry’!”
William nudged his horse next to mine. “Sir Robert says to tell you that he can see the first hint of dawn in the east.”
“Good. Arm yourselves. We have no banner. Follow me and if I fall then it is up to all of you to take Newark.”
They murmured, “Aye, lord.” Noise carried at night and soon the town would begin to wake.
I fastened my arming cap beneath my chin and slipped my coif above it. When I donned my helmet, I did not lower the visor. I would not need to. If we faced mailed men then I would. Until then I would be cooler and, more importantly, able to see better. I nudged my horse forward until he was in the eaves of the wood. It was a risk. When the sun rose, it might glint off my helmet. I would have to take that risk for as soon as the gates were open then we would move. There would be neither horn nor shout. Our hooves would give us away but by then, hopefully, we would be almost at the gates. I knew that I was relying heavily on the men I had sent into the town but they were the best that I had. It soon became clear that it would be a grey day for there was no sudden flaring of light. Instead it was a slow lightening of the sky. When I heard the town bell sound then I knew that they were opening the gates.
I turned, “Ready. There will be no command. When I ride then you follow.”
The town walls were a dark shadow so that when the gate opened I could see movement. I spurred Bella and she responded instantly. She opened her legs and began to create a lead. For once I did not mind. I was not charging to meet a line of mailed men. This was a race to a gate. I was seen when I was two hundred paces from the gate. The darkness to the north of Newark helped me. I heard shouts and then the town bell tolled. I was just a hundred paces from the gate when they began to close. I saw two men pitch from the gatehouse and then the gates stopped closing. I drew my sword. I could hear the clash of metal and the shouts of combat. As I galloped through I saw Padraig fighting two men. I leaned from my saddle and brought my sword into the side of the head of one of them. I took the top of his skull like a gammer eating a boiled egg. I did not pause. I dug my spurs into Bella who galloped over the cobbles of Newark’s streets. I had a moment of doubt. I was not leading my own men. I found myself laughing. This would be the ultimate joke if I reached the gates of the castle, found them open and then discovered that I was alone!