by Griff Hosker
“But that means you would have me as a spy!”
“No, I would have you as the voice of reason in a camp of hot heads. When they counsel war, you can talk of peace. We need someone amongst the barons who will speak for England. Earl, that will be you.”
He stayed for five days. I think it was a relief to be away from the plots and plans of those who sought England and King John harm. He also enjoyed the company of my aunt. They were both relics of the past. They were able to speak of those that they had both known and times which seemed simpler when King Henry and King Richard had ruled. By the time he left I had decided to do as he asked. I spoke with my knights and it was agreed that when and if I was invited to the next meeting I would attend and Sir William and Sir Edward would accompany me. They had served me the longest and would be with me at the end, should that day come.
When we celebrated Christmas that year I wondered if this would be the last peaceful Christmas we would enjoy. We made the most of it.
Chapter 10
Civil War
It was a milder winter than we had had of late. The spring flowers came early and the animals bore many more young animals than we had expected. As we were still populating the farms which had been raided by the Scots some years earlier it was a good thing. Many of those we had rescued from Falstone came to us. That was as a result of Ranulf of Hexham. He clung on to his farm, more out of stubbornness than anything else, but he knew from his daughters that life was easier in my valley and certainly safer. Many of the women and their families headed south. They were uncertain of their future save that they thought it would be better than that which they had known in the borderlands. We had many warriors now and they sought families. It was as though this was meant to be. There were weddings and some of my warriors asked to lease small farms from me and Sir William. Their new wives and children could tend the animals and the warriors had somewhere to call home.
That was in direct contrast to the news we were hearing from the rest of the country. The barons were now becoming openly hostile. Merchants who traded with us brought news of dire times ahead. Perhaps they were hoping to drive up prices but we felt somewhat isolated. None of the barons who lived within thirty miles of us were in rebellious mood. We had been spared many of the land seizures of the rest of the country. Alfred could not understand it.
“Lord if the barons have had their manors taken then how can they rebel? They will not have the men to support them.”
“Simple, son, the barons have great estates. They have not had all of their manors taken. They are still rich but not as rich as they would have been had not the King taken their lands. Some of the others have also taken money from the King. It was a way for him to bribe them. Now he demands the repayment for their disloyalty. This unrest has little to do with rights and more to do with coin.”
William was now seven and he followed Alfred around. He was keen to be a squire too but Alfred had counselled him to keep quiet on that subject when my wife was around. “Then there will be no war?”
He was keen for a war as he hoped I would take him with us when that happened. “There may be but we shall try to stay out of it. There is neither right nor wrong in this. If we side with the rebel barons then we are traitors and I would not have that name. If we side with the King then we are supporting a tyrant. We will fight, but only if England is threatened.”
We also had bad news from Durham. John de Gray had been appointed as Bishop of Durham rather than Richard Poore but he died on his way north from Canterbury. His nephew left Durham for his family estates in the south. I could not blame him but it was typical of him that he did so the moment he heard the news. My knights still made a weekly visit to Durham; they joked about it and called it St. Cuthbert’s pilgrimage. When I heard that de Gray had left I went with my men at arms, Alfred, and William to speak with the Dean.
I had got to know the Dean well over the last couple of years. He trusted me. Shaking his head, he said, “It seems the office of Bishop is a parlous one. We live in troubled times, lord.”
“We do. I can still be called upon for help with secular and military matters but religion is not something I know much about.”
“Now that the interdict has been removed then we can appoint priests. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton, has sanctioned all of my requests up to now and Richard de Gray has left us on financially solid ground. He was not a particularly pleasant man but he knew his business.”
“You know where I am if you need me.”
He nodded. Lowering his voice, he said, “I do not like to talk of such matters but I feel I can trust you lord and can confide in you.”
“Of course.”
“Some of the barons of Northumberland have tried to suborn the knights of Durham to the rebel cause. So far none have joined for they are loyal to you but I thought that you should know.”
I had expected something of the sort and so I nodded. “I will ride to Stanhope and thence to Prudhoe. I will speak with de Percy.”
Baron Stanhope confirmed for me that he had been visited by not only by Richard de Percy but also Eustace de Vesci. “Lord I am unhappy with King John’s rule but until you indicate that you will side with the rebels then the knights of the Palatinate will adhere to your standard and that of England.”
“Thank you for your loyalty. This seems to me to be a storm which must be endured and like all storms it will pass.”
“Aye, lord, but what will be the consequences?”
He was right and I rode in silence to Prudhoe. The castle had now passed to the Percy family but I remembered those days when it had held out not once but twice against the Scots. That was in the days of my grandfather and the Warlord. It was a symbol of northern defiance against the Scots. Now it seemed it would be a symbol of defiance against the English King.
I found that Richard de Percy was in residence as was Eustace de Vesci. Since King John had ordered the demolition of Alnwick and Barnard castles de Vesci had no stronghold to call his own. I was admitted to the Great Hall. De Percy was effusive in his welcome but de Vesci was more guarded.
“Sir Thomas! Does this mean that you have decided to join our cause?”
“No Sir Richard, I come to warn you against rousing the knights of Durham to fight their lawful king.”
Baron de Vesci waved a derisory hand, “You were only given control over those knights to defeat the Scots and they are now humbled.”
“Yes, my lord, and the ones who drove them hence were mainly my knights. You squatted like a toad behind your walls and did not stir yourself.” His face darkened. “If you wish to dispute that then I am more than happy to give you satisfaction.”
The challenge had been issued. I saw de Vesci wondering if he could risk facing a warrior who had fought more battles than the rest of the rebels combined. De Percy ended the tension, “My lords there is no need for such confrontation or threat. We are all friends and your arrival is timely. We have decided that you are right. We need not a military solution but a legal one. The barons are holding a meeting in Northampton in May. You said that you would participate in such a meeting. This seems a perfect opportunity for you to show that are a man of integrity.”
“I do not need to meet with belligerent barons to do that lord. My deeds speak for me but I will attend with two of my knights. I do not promise to agree with what is spoken but I will listen and if I agree with your plan of action then I will support you but if this is a meeting of traitors then I will oppose you.”
They both nodded but de Vesci could not resist adding a barbed comment, “It is obvious that you have not fallen foul of King John as I did. My castle was destroyed.”
I turned to him, “My castle was destroyed and the grave of my grandmother desecrated. Get your facts straight before you insult me, my lord. The next insult will not be suffered so lightly. Heed my warning!”
As we headed south William, in particular, could not contain himself. “Would you have fought him father?
”
“I knew it would not come to that but had he not backed down then I would. I will not be a traitor and I will not have my family honour impugned.”
“And what now, father?”
“We go to Northampton, Alfred.”
“And do we come too?”
I smiled for Alfred included his younger brother. “I am uncertain. That depends upon your mother. We will see but it is a couple of months away. Let us see.”
I could tell that tensions were brewing for the visitors who passed across our ferry brought news of increasingly fractious relations between what was being called the royalist supporters and the rebels. People were taking sides. I chose my men at arms who would accompany us carefully. I wanted reliable and experienced men. We would be mixing with the men at arms of other lords and some of them would seek confrontation. I would try to avoid that situation.
My wife was concerned and unhappy that William might be coming with us. I tried to calm her fears. “My love, there will be neither violence nor war. I go to talk. If there is any hint of danger then we will return. I go because I was asked to do so by William Marshal and I feel that I should attend. I go so that civil war may be avoided.”
She nodded, “You swear that William will be safe?”
“I do but know you that soon he will be old enough to train as a squire. Alfred is close to beginning his training as a knight. Your chicks are growing. They will fly the nest.”
She nodded, “I know but I would hang onto them for as long as possible.”
I planned our route carefully. I wished to see what support the King had while travelling south. I would avoid those places which had declared for Fitzwalter. I would ride to York first and speak with the new Archbishop. From there I would ride to Doncaster. The land around that part of England was King John’s. Peveril Castle and others were nearby and they were his heartland. Lincoln was still a royal castle and Stamford was the manor of William Marshal. I was aware that my youngest son would be with me and I wanted him safe.
It took six days to reach Northampton. By which time I had a better idea of the mood of the country. They royal castles were all preparing for war. Visitors were viewed with suspicion. As we neared Northampton then there was more evidence of rebellion. Men openly cursed King John. I saw why Northampton had been chosen.
When we reached it, I was astounded by the banners which greeted me. Many had fought for King John when he had had an empire. Now they sought to bring down his kingdom. We camped apart from the other barons. Edward and William had brought good men at arms too and we had a secure boundary to our horses and to our camp. I rode with my two knights and our squires to the castle. We were admitted but it was grudgingly. The barons were becoming more belligerent. It seemed to me that I was too late. The conversation was openly about war.
I almost turned around to leave and return home when Richard de Percy saw me. He greeted me like an old friend, “You came! That is what many of us hoped.”
“This was a mistake. I have heard talk of civil war.”
He waved a hand as though shooing away an annoying fly. “And that is all it is, talk. The King will have to see reason. With you behind us then I am certain he will accede to our peaceful demands.”
He was persuasive but I was still unhappy. “I will listen. Do not try to put words in my mouth. I will not have my name used. If I choose to speak then I will do so without worrying about what I say. If Eustace de Vesci is typical of the men who are gathered then I fear blood will be shed… by me!”
“He was wrong and he knows it.” He took me to one side. “Robert de Fitzwalter arrives tomorrow. He arrived in the country not long ago. He is to speak to us on the morrow. He has news from France and Rome.”
I was glad to have the excuse to leave the rebellious camp. We headed into the town. It was as we were in a tavern that I met William Marshal’s son William. I was surprised at his presence. “Do not be, lord. My father sent me as he sent you. His name is tied too much to the royal family. We, on the other hand, are not. The King and my father hope that our voices of reason will prevent bloodshed and rebellion.”
I looked at him, “But, like me, you do not think so.”
He nodded, “They are gone too far to come back.”
“Where is your father?”
William Marshal grinned, “He is a cunning old bird. He is with young Prince Henry. He will keep him safe. The King might be unpopular but the eight-year-old is not yet tainted. We can trust to the Earl Marshal’s judgement.”
We saw and spoke with other moderate barons and they joined us. Some had come as we had to inject the voice of reason. Others had come because they did not wish to be left out in the cold. There were few of us. Alfred and William were the ones who enjoyed the experience the most. To them this was a game. They had not heard all of the stories of the first civil war between Matilda and Stephen. My grandfather’s accounts had been graphic. Large parts of the land had been a wasteland as a result of wars. Baron had turned on baron. Enemies had come across borders. I knew that would happen again. I began to regret coming. If civil war broke out then the treaty of Norham would be ignored. King William might not come south, after all he was now old, but his son, Alexander might. There were other Scots who sought vengeance. My place was on the border.
When I voiced my concerns, Edward was the voice of reason, “We are here now, lord. One more day cannot make much difference. Even if there is a civil war it will not happen overnight. It takes two to make a war. We do not yet know what the demands will be nor what the King will respond. You are looking on this mug of ale as half empty. Who knows, it may be half full.”
I did not think it would but I agreed. The hall was packed when we arrived. Our squires were forced to stay outside with the men at arms and our horses. Ridley the Giant would keep a close watch on them.
When Robert Fitzwalter arrived, he was acclaimed as though he was King already. He had been at the court of Philip for some time. His sudden arrival in England was no coincidence. There was collusion and there was planning. I had feared the Scots. If the French invaded then it would be even worse. They had put two large tables together so that they formed a platform on which the leaders could stand. The ones who sought power, the leaders, stood behind Fitzwalter, they were showing solidarity. I recognised them all. All were powerful men: Saer de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, Richard de Clare, Earl of Hertford, Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex and Gloucester, Eustace de Vesci, Richard de Percy, John de Lacy, Constable of Chester, William d'Aubigny, and William de Mowbray. Whatever came out of Fitzwalter’s mouth would be what all of them thought. I would not trust de Percy again. I saw now that I was here to blacken my name and to force me to be associated with the rebels. I tried to leave but the press of men behind me was too great. I would have to listen. If there was treason then I would be guilty of treason by association. I took comfort from the fact that William Marshal’s son stood with me.
The leading rebel spoke, “You have all come here because you are sick of the tyranny that now rules this land. John Lackland is a murderer. He slew Prince Arthur, the rightful king with his own hands. He abducted and raped my daughter, Matilda. He has stolen land and exiled lords. He is not behaving as a King of England should. His powers need curbing. We have sent to the Pope to ask him to arbitrate. He has not yet responded and we have waited long enough.”
Everyone cheered. I saw de Vesci and de Percy exchange looks. They were looks of triumph. Neither wanted conciliation. They wanted war. I had been duped.
Just then the men on the platform parted and, like a magician, performing a conjuring trick, Robert Fitzwalter held an arm out and Stephen Langton, the Archbishop of Canterbury appeared. “The archbishop has been advising those of us who care for this land in which we live. He has made certain that our demands are reasonable. We will send them to the King and demand that he either accepts our demands or we take his throne from him.”
The Archbishop nodded. This was the final na
il in the King’s coffin. He now had the clergy against him. The Archbishop gave legitimacy to this rebellion.
“To ensure that what we do is legal I want every baron here to renounce his feudal ties to this corrupt king.”
Barons shouted, “Aye!” There were almost hysterical. I looked at the two barons who were next to Edward. They had wild eyes. I had seen it before in men who then recklessly charged overwhelming numbers of enemy warriors.
“We have an army here. I will lead half of it to London! Let us take London. I will invite allies to come and help us in this war against the tyrant!” There were more cheers. “Eustace de Vesci will lead a quarter of our army north and they will take Lincoln. The Earl of Gloucester will lead the rest to take Exeter. The King is at Windsor and he will be cut off! He will have to accede to our demands! Our strength and solidarity will prevent bloodshed and bring about a peaceful solution.” The mob roared their approval.
I had heard enough. I pushed my way out. Edward and William helped me to force my way to the door. Edward punched the sentry who tried to stop us leaving. Behind us I heard shouts. Our departure had been spotted.
“Mount! We ride for Lincoln!” We had chosen our men at arms well and they were mounted before we even reached the horses.
Sir Edward shouted, “We will be the rear guard. Ride Sir Thomas.”
Barons were pouring from the hall. They were trying to stop us but most had not brought their horses. We had a chance. I prayed that the gate would be open. I spurred Scean. I hoped that Alfred and William were close behind. I risked a glance as we thundered through Northampton’s narrow streets. They were there and Ridley and Henry Youngblood were behind them. Even as we approached the gates I saw the sentries closing them.
I shouted, “Open them, in the name of the King!” They hesitated a moment before they realised that their orders were to stop any escaping. The pause allowed me to pull my sword and sweep it into the side of the sentry to my right. Sir William took the other and we were out. We had completed the journey south from Lincoln in two days. We would do the return to Lincoln in one. Instead of heading east to Stamford we headed north for Grantham. It would save many miles and the lord of Grantham was not a rebel.