by Griff Hosker
I went to Ayeton and Guisborough myself to collect taxes. I made them as fair as I could. When I was there I told the burghers of both places that I would happily offer employment to any who wished to fight for me. Surprisingly I had many who wished to take me up on the offer. It was known that I paid well. Seven young men came back with me. Wulfric and Dick would assess their skills and decide how best we might use them.
I sent my ship back to my manor in Anjou with letters for the Empress, the Earl, my castellan and my son. I had waited to write them as I wanted a considered reply to them all. I asked Captain William to see if he could hire any men when he was in Anjou. Gilles had told me that my name still commanded respect. Sir John thought I should use that to my advantage. It was not my way but I conceded.
By the end of May we had added thirty men to our garrison. The Scots had not attacked again and the allies of the Earl of Gloucester were succeeding in their Kentish rebellion. It was June when we heard of movements in the west. Sir Hugh's scouts had grown bold and using the fine weather had travelled as far as Carlisle to spy upon the Scots. There they saw the royal banner and an army gathering. Sir Hugh knew that it did not bode well and he sent a messenger to me.
I sent for Sir Edward and we sat with Wulfric and Dick to discuss the problem. John, my Steward was also present. I began. "We do not need to hasten to Barnard Castle this time for Sir Hugh has made it stronger but we still need to prepare for a campaign."
"The problem, lord is that it is summer. Farmers are in their fields and all else are working from sunrise to sunset."
Sir Edward shook his head, "We will not take the fyrd. We will leave them at home! We pay men at arms and archers to fight."
"But lord, if you take the men then we have to man the walls of our castles with those who live in the borough. They cannot do both and we need them as sentries. With the Earl's men away we are vulnerable."
I saw the dilemma. "You are saying that the twelve men of my garrison are not enough." John, nodded. "I daresay that Sir Edward, Sir Tristan and Sir Harold will be even worse off for many of their men at arms had farms too."
Sir Edward looked glum. "The book keeper is right, lord. I had forgotten."
I smiled, "Do not berate yourself. I have a plan. If I take the knights from your three castles, your squires and half of your men at arms and archers I will have enough men to slow an enemy up and ascertain the danger."
John looked flustered, "But lord what about Stockton?"
"I am coming to Stockton. I will take Sir John but leave eight men at arms and Philip of Selby's archers. That is enough to defend the White Tower!" He looked relieved, "What say you Wulfric? Will that work?"
"Aye lord although if it is the whole Scottish army we may be outmatched."
"Gilles, go to my chamber and fetch me the parchment with the map upon it."
He quickly returned with the calfskin vellum. John, my Steward, had a fine hand. He had copied the map from an ancient one we had see in York. He had not copied all of the detail for we had not had time but it had sufficient for my purposes. At the time I had been welcome in York for it had been when King Henry still lived. Gilles spread it out.
I jabbed my finger at the map. "We are mounted and we will be faster than any enemy. We concentrate at Bowes. We know that the King of Scotland is in Carlisle. If we are threatened then he must come through Bowes. It is his only route east. We can cover both roads and delay an army long enough to fetch our people within our walls. It will buy time to sow the fields and tend animals. Life has to go on."
Dick nodded, "I agree with you, lord. The land is perfect for my archers. There are forests aplenty. We can ambush and delay an army. If the Scots send their men into the forests then the beasts will feast well on their corpses. We have spent the winter laying in a great store of arrows. We have good fletchers in Stockton."
"Then we leave but we will not take warhorses. I would travel light. Philip of Selby may well need every man to man the walls; even horse holders and carters."
My counsel of war ended and I think that all were satisfied with the plan. They would have to be for I had no second in case it went wrong.
When we left for Bowes we could only take one long spear each. We were travelling light/ When that spear shattered we would have to rely on our swords. We would use Barnard Castle for food. It was by a few miles away from Bowes. The battle I led was mainly my men. However my three knights had chosen their best three men at arms and best three archers to accompany us. We would have no peer in combat. The five banners, for Sir Hugh of Gainford would join us, might confuse an enemy and suggest a larger force of men. Scouts tended to count banners and make assumptions about numbers.
Sir Hugh, when he joined us, brought more news about the Scottish force, "It is led by the King's nephew, William Fitz Duncan."
"Do we know anything about him?"
"Nothing lord."
We reached Bowes by the end of the first week of June. The old Roman fort was just a ruin but I saw that it would make a good site for a castle. If we had the men I would build one but this was not the time for building. We needed Matilda or young Henry on the throne first. I kept that information in my head. I had to remember that there would be a future when this anarchy was but a distant memory. If I did not have that hope then I would go mad.
Dick and his archers hunted the land around the deserted fort. It allowed them to spy out the terrain and watch for the enemy whilst filling my men's bellies. We had been there for some days when a handful returned earlier than expected. Will Red Legs led them. "My lord there are men at arms fleeing this way."
"Fleeing?"
"Aye, lord, Dick and the others are watching. They are coming from the west up the old track way from the southwest. They are five miles from us."
I turned to Edward, "The southwest? That makes no sense." I closed my eyes and saw the map in my head. "Unless William Fitz Duncan has headed south towards Chester."
"Then he would meet Sir Edgar Mandeville."
Sir Edgar was the new Baron of Skipton. An unpleasant and treacherous man he had been appointed by Stephen the Usurper. The men who were fleeing towards us might be his men. "That is fifty miles south of here. Why would they head north? This may be a trap. Come, we will head south to the track from the south and west."
We rode in a column of fours. We found Dick and his archers dismounted by the edge of the thinning trees. Ahead of us the moors and rocks rose to the highest point on the long ridge which ran down England's spine. I saw, in the distance, standards and mounted men as they hastened towards us. Dick pointed a half mile ahead. There were ten men, four of them mounted and the rest on foot. They were hurrying towards us.
"These were the men we saw, lord. Since I sent Will Red Legs we saw more of them." He pointed further up the slope. I saw another ten mounted men. They kept turned to charge those with standards and banners behind them. Even as we watched I saw one of them fall.
"You have good eyes. Do you see the banners?"
He peered, "The ones chasing are Scots."
"Then they are our enemies. Whoever they chase we will aid. We ride. Dick, mount your archers and sweep to the west. We will charge them head on."
We galloped south. The ten we had first seen cowered as we galloped by. They looked stunned to see our horses and banners. If we were to save the others then we had no time for pleasantries. However, as we rode by I recognised that two of them wore the livery of Sir Edgar Mandeville. I was helping a supporter of Stephen the Usurper!
The dips and folds in the land aided us. We disappeared from the view of the Scots as they concentrated upon the men they were chasing. We knew where they were. The track was little better than the moors around it and we rode in one long line. We burst over the crest and the nine men who were fleeing towards us on horses already close to death, stopped and hung their heads as though they expected death. The thirty Scots who were pursuing must have been confident of catching their foes for they rode in a sin
gle column of twos. We saw each other when we were but fifty paces apart. Instead of charging us, which was the only option I would have taken, they halted.
Sir Edward and I rode at the two leading men, a knight and a man at arms. I punched my spear at the knight and, although be brought up his shield, he could not prevent my spear striking and penetrating his shoulder. He chopped through my spear with his sword and I drew my own. He rode a palfrey and Rolf was bigger and more fierce. I swung my sword at his shield and his weakened left arm could not stop the blow. It hacked down across his neck and he fell from his horse.
His standard bearer lowered the standard and screaming, "Scotland!" charged at me with the standard held like a lance. I jerked Rolf's head to the left and hacked at the standard. Holding my own banner in his left hand Gilles brought his sword sideways to take the head of the brave young standard bearer. The rest were all quickly slain. Dick and his archers appeared from the south.
"We found four Scots who were on foot. They are dead. My archers are fetching their possessions."
I dismounted and picked up the standard. I recognised it. It belonged to Redere. I returned to the knight I had slain. Lifting his helmet I saw that he looked to be of an age with William my son. The seal he bore marked him as a knight. "He must be a son or brother of William Redere. Our lives, it seems, keep touching."
"Aye lord."
"Wulfric, collect the horses and the booty."
"And the bodies, lord?"
The moorland was dry for it was summer. I did not want a fire which might destroy this land. "Put them together and cover them with rocks." Wulfric scowled, "Wulfric, they fought well enough."
"Aye lord. You are too kind. I would have left them for carrion."
As we rode back to the men we had rescued I reflected that, perhaps he was right but a man cannot change his nature. I was not naturally cruel. I had fought men who were.
The nineteen men who had survived had joined together and stood not aggressively but apprehensively. They had dismounted for their horses could carry them no further. I took off my helmet as I approached and handed it to Gilles before dismounting. The leader of the group had a wound to his head, a blow had cut him from his eye to his chin and his ventail hung in two parts. He looked to be an older man at arms.
"Who are you?"
"I am John of Craven and I lead all that is left of the men of Skipton."
"The Baron of Skipton is dead?"
"No, my lord. " He almost spat the words out and I could hear the hurt in his words. "Sir Edgar fled the field with his brothers. They left us."
"The field? You had better start at the beginning. Gilles give them water for they look like they need it."
"Thank you lord, we have ridden for a day and a night without stopping. There were a hundred of us when we began."
"Then you have lost friends. Go on."
"Sir Edgar had word that the Scots were harrying Furness and my home of Craven. He sent my lord, Ralph de Umbraville, to investigate. We found a mighty army. We fought our way back to Clitheroe where the Baron had gathered his army. He had raised the levy and we had a good position but after the Scots charged he fled south. My lord could not leave the men of the west to die and we fought on to allow them the chance to escape the slaughter. We were surrounded. When it became clear that we could not win my lord decided to gather the survivors and fight our way out. The enemy were the weakest to the north and we broke through. My lord was heading for York and Archbishop Thurstan." He shook his head and I could see that the old warrior was upset.
Wulfric and his men returned with laden horses. "We will return to Bowes shortly. Carry on John of Craven."
"My lord could have escaped for we were well mounted but he would not leave those who were on foot. The Scots pursued us relentlessly. They picked off the weak and my lord kept turning to fight. He was a mighty warrior. He was young but he was puissant. We thought we had escaped. There were fifty of us this morning when we came towards the high ground. We were heading east when this latest conroi found us. Sir John charged them but he fell as did his squire and his young brother. The Scots hacked their bodies. I was left in command. I had heard that the Tees was safe from the Scots and I headed thence. They kept coming. Had you not arrived then I fear I would have joined my lord. Thank you Earl. We owe you our lives. At least now the perfidy of Mandeville will be known."
I now regretted the burial of the Scots. I should have treated them they way they had treated Sir Ralph de Umbraville. "Tell me, sergeant, who commands the Scots?"
"William Fitz Duncan. He had claim to Skipton through his father in law William de Meschines."
"The army you fought, how big was it?"
"I would guess, from the banners, at least a thousand men. We had but five hundred. The Galwegians had no armour but they fought well. My lord wanted to charge them but Sir Edgar declined. That cost us the chance to defeat them. We slew many but I would guess that five hundred or more survive."
"Come, you shall rest and then we will decide what happens to you."
His eyes narrowed, "Happens to us lord? Have we done wrong?"
I smiled, "No. Your scars bear testimony to your honour. I merely mean that you have, it would seem, three choices: return to fight for your land, join the Archbishop in York or join my men. If it is the first of these then I can help you no longer but if you choose the latter then I can help you."
He smiled, "I am sorry my lord. I am suspicious of great lords now. Sir Edgar was base. I should have known that the warlord of the north, the man who chose honour over riches, would be honourable. For myself I would serve you, lord. There is naught for me in Copeland or Craven now and so long as you fight Scots then I am your man."
"But there may come a time when I fight Stephen, the one you call King."
He shrugged, "Kings? Queens? Emperors? It is all the same. Soldiers like me just want a leader they can trust."
Wulfric nodded, "Then you have made the right choice, John of Craven."
We headed, not for Bowes but for Barnard Castle. The news we had heard meant that there was no immediate danger of an attack from the west. Even a thousand men could not take Barnard. The men we had rescued joined us, to a man and welcome they were. It was propitious for Sir Hugh's wife gave birth to a son, John, on the day we returned. It seemed a good omen.
However, a messenger from my castle towards the end of the month scotched that idea. "My lord, there is a message from Sir Hugh Manningham. King David himself has brought an army. Sir Eustace fitz John has declared for King David and handed over Alnwick Castle. Parts of Yorkshire around Malton have declared for King David. Sir Hugh says to prepare for war. He fears that we are the target for the enemy. "
"And any news from York?"
"Archbishop Thurstan has raised the levy in Yorkshire. There is a sealed letter for you at Stockton."
I turned to my knights. "We return to our castles. Sir Hugh, I fear that I must leave you alone and without our aid. Prepare for siege."
"Aye lord. The enemy is truly at our gates now."
Part 2
The Battle of the Standard
Chapter 6
My ship was already in port when we returned. Sir Tristan had been despatched to visit with his father and tell him our news. I summoned Captain William, "I need to keep you in port but be ready to sail at a moment's notice."
"Aye my lord. We have heard the gossip. The Scottish King himself comes. I can take families to safety if you wish."
"I do not think that any will wish to leave but I thank you for your offer. My walls are high and they are thick. The only way across the river is by ferry and we can tether that on the southern bank. No, Captain William, I need you to take a message to Anjou."
"Then I will await your orders."
John, my steward, had already begun making plans. We had amassed a great deal of salted and preserved meat. We needed no more but the first of the vegetables were now ready and he was storing the best of those. "We ha
ve a little wheat but plenty of rye, barley and oats. We will not need to ration it for a while."
"I hope it does not come to that. Keep me informed. We have new men to place on your books. They cost but, in the long run, they will save us."
"I know that now, lord."
Finally I summoned Philip of Selby. I told him, in detail, what we had learned and the parlous state of the north. "You must ride to your uncle. I believe he may wish conference with me. I will meet with him anywhere but I believe that he will wish it to be a discreet meeting. The Carthusian Monastery at Mount Grace would seem a logical choice."
"Aye, my lord. I will ride immediately."
"Take your men with you. These are dangerous times and I would not have you ambushed."
I was not yet done. I went into my town. Gossip had spread and there were worried looking burghers gathering and talking. "Lord, is it true? Does the Scottish King come?"
"He can come but we will resist him." I pointed to the walls of my castle. "Do you think he can breach those walls? You have seen my warriors; are there any better men in the land? It is the Scots who come. They are like fleas on a dog. They irritate and they bite but they do not hurt the beast. We will endure and emerge successfully." They seemed mollified and I headed for Alf. I found him speaking with Father Henry, "This is fortuitous. I can speak with you both at the same time."
"We have heard the news, lord."
I shook my head, "You have heard the gossip. I will now tell you the news!"
Father Henry nodded and Alf said, "I am sorry, my lord."