The Fallen Crown

by Griff Hosker

  As John and I worked the castle came to life. Those who had travelled long distances such as Wulfric and Philip left first. Hugh of Gainford had not travelled. His wife was with child again. I would visit with him. Erre and Edward, along with Sir Richard of Yarm were the last to leave. They would each be home within an hour of leaving. All knew that we would be campaigning again soon but as I had only taken Dick and Sir John with me they did not mind in fact they relished the opportunity. War was what they did and brought profit for we were successful.

  When I had been in York I had paid old Isaac the Goldsmith to send me any news which reached the city. Four days after Easter a rider arrived with a letter. It brought the news that the church had accepted Matilda as the Lady of England and Normandy. Once she was crowned then my work would be done. The coronation would be in June or July; old Isaac had been unclear on the date. There had been no official proclamation. I would have to wait until Sir William, who was close to the Empress, sent me word.

  My thoughts seemed to be prescient for even as Isaac's messenger left and I began to think of my trip to London on the 'Adela', Aiden and his men rode through my gates. Their faces told me that they had news.

  Chapter 16

  I led them up to my hall. Sir Tristan, Sir Harold and Sir John knew of their errand and, along with Dick, they followed to listen to my scouts' news. Aiden began without preamble, "The men who preyed on the people of Durham are no longer there, lord. They are now north of the Tyne. The Scots are ridding themselves of any who do not swear allegiance to King David and his son. We passed whole villages of corpses. The foxes and the crows grow fat and bold."

  "And what of Durham?"

  "It seems, from what we heard, that King David is no longer a supporter of Cumin. The priest we spoke to said that the Pope had refused to sanction his appointment. He squats, like a toad within Durham's walls."

  "But he does not hurt those who live in the Palatinate?"

  "He taxes them and extracts coins as though he was trying to draw blood from a stone. The people are hungry but they live."

  "Thank you, you have done well."

  "There is one thing more, lord. We travelled to Hexham. All of Sir Hugh's family are now dead. His wife died, it is said, of a broken heart and his sons were hunted down like animals and slain. Many of his men live as outlaws in the wild forests by the wall."

  "You met them?"

  "We met them. They begged you to bring aid to them."

  "When you have rested I would have you return and tell them that any who wish it can serve with me. When the Empress becomes the Queen of England I will lead her armies north to rid the land of this Scottish plague and there will be a lord of the manor at Hexham."

  Sir Harold, who had been an outlaw himself, asked, "What do we do now, lord? Do we wait for the coronation and then go with the support of England and her queen?"

  Sir Tristan nodded, "That would be the wise thing to do lord."

  "It would be wise and it would only mean a delay of three or four months but I have been tardy by almost a year. Sir Hugh and his family were slain before I went south to aid the Empress. The people suffer. That is what you said, Aiden is it not?"

  "Aye lord. The ones who prosper are the Scots whom Prince Henry draws into our land."

  "Then we do that which is not wise but which is right. We ride with all the knights that I can muster. We take men at arms and we take archers. We show Prince Henry that this land is not his. The tide has turned and will sweep the Scots back across the Tweed where they belong!"

  My knights banged the table and made such a racket that Alice and John burst in to see what the commotion concerned.

  "Fear not, my knights are just pleased that we ride north. We leave in two days time, John. Dick, have your men ride to my knights. I want them to gather at Barnard Castle three days from now. I do not want their castle's garrisons. I only want mounted men. We ride swiftly."

  The castle became a maelstrom of activity. Alf's forges became white hot as new weapons were sought and bought by men richer thanks to the battle in Lincoln. Had I wished I had enough gold from my ransoms to buy three new hauberks. I would wait. My ship arrived the day after Aiden had returned. There were six new men and many goods. I spent an hour with William of Kingston and John my Steward. I dictated letters for the Empress and my son. Before he returned to his ship I said, "I need you back here by the middle of June so that I can attend the coronation of the Empress."

  "I cannot make the winds, lord."

  "Then do not go to Anjou. Your priority is to take a message to the Empress. I need her to know what I do."

  "I will find her lord and I shall be back here by the end of the first week in June. You have my word on that."

  I am a man of action and the long days planning our campaign actually gave me energy. It was as though I had a new lease of life. This was not politics and private arrangements made behind sealed doors. This was doing something meaningful; this was given hope to those who had none. This was doing something which was right. I led a mighty host north. When last I had travelled north I had led two hundred men. Now the number, when we collected Sir Hugh and Sir Philip, would be nearer three hundred. Although we only had twelve knights and their squires we had over a hundred men at arms and a hundred and forty archers. For the first time in a long time I had both Dick and Sir Philip's archers. No matter whom we met they would be my most powerful weapon. Had we had more at Lincoln then the battle would have ended sooner.

  We had been at war so long and done this so many times that the preparations seemed simple. They were not but each man knew what they were doing. The servants who had accompanied us to Gloucester had the horses packed and ready to go in no time. We had more sumpters for the arrows we might need; it would not do to run out. We would be close enough to Barnard to resupply our food from there and we took the minimum amount required. The Tyne could be reached in a day from Stockton but I wanted to travel to the upper Tyne from Barnard Castle. I wanted to drive our enemies towards the New Castle from Hexham. I would avenge Sir Hugh first and destroy Hexham Castle. The Scots would not use it nor reap any benefit from Sir Hugh's hard work..

  Aiden returned with a message from the men of Hexham. They would join us when the leaves fell. I knew what was in their minds. They could hurt their enemies while summer lasted. They were still Sir Hugh's men. When winter came and made their lives hard then they would join me. I was not offended. I understood. I could not tell them I was coming to their aid but I hoped that they would join me before the autumn.

  Sir Hugh and Sir Philip were ready with their men. Sir Philip had brought Father Thomas as a healer. I was glad; we needed someone to care for our men and a priest always made the men feel better about going into battle. I planned on leaving before dawn the next day. The days were lengthening and I would use the daylight.

  It was just my knights who dined, that night, in Sir Hugh's Great Hall. They all waited expectantly as I began to speak. "Tomorrow we travel up through forests and the high land towards Hexham. I am not using the Roman Road. I know that is an easier route but I would be hidden from Prince Henry and his men. There are no castles between here and Hexham."

  This was the route which Aiden had taken. When he had reported back he had told me that the villages and farms were largely deserted. It would give us the chance to be invisible.

  "We destroy Hexham first. I will not use men's lives to take that which was ours. We shall use fire and arrows. We will take all that we need to make fire which will destroy the castle. Then we move down the Tyne valley to the New Castle and Prince Henry. By taking Hexham we cut his lines of communication with Carlisle. He will know we are coming. I want him to bring his forces forth so that we may destroy them in a pitched battle. We cannot reconquer our land with the men we have but I want his grip loosened so that next year when we have the crown of England on the Empress' head, we can lead a mighty army north and drive the Scots hence."

  It was what they wished to
hear. We had seen at first hand the privations that the people had had to endure. Vengeance was in our hearts. We all went to bed and slept soundly knowing that we were all of one mind and what we did was right.

  Sir Philip and his mounted archers rode north and west to lay an ambush on the road which ran along the wall between Carlisle and the East coast. Dick and his archers headed directly for Hexham and they blocked the road east. Hexham was isolated.

  I was grimly silent as we rode north. Sir Hugh had been loyal unto death. He had first built and then held Hexham against all of our enemies. He had been a rock. Sir Edward knew me well. "Sir Hugh would not want this, my lord. He died doing his duty."

  "But he did not die in battle with a sword in his hand. That was denied him. He was tricked and trapped and executed. That is not the end for a warrior."

  "Those days are passed, lord. That was what the pagans believed."

  "It is better to die fighting than to die bound like an animal waiting for the butcher!" My tone ended discussion. I did not want to feel better. I needed to feel absolved for having left Sir Hugh to his fate.

  Despite the hills and the terrain we made good time. We were all well mounted. I saw Hexham Castle and the Priory rise above the other buildings. We had been sighted for our banners fluttered above us. I knew that the constable would be bringing all the men he could from the town and manning the walls. That was to be expected. I would give them a chance to surrender. That was the honourable thing to do.

  As we headed towards the castle we met villagers fleeing. They dropped to their knees when they saw us. "Do not harm us Warlord! The Earl of Northumbria threatened death if we did not serve him."

  "Go in peace. I do not make war on such as you. The day of the Scottish invader is coming to an end. When I destroy the castle then you can return to your homes." They scurried away. "Sir Edward send ten of your men at arms to relieve Dick's archers. Sir William send ten of yours to relieve Sir Philip. We shall need our archers. Sir Wulfric and Sir Gilles take your men and make sure none leave by the north gate."

  The gates were barred. Sir Hugh had built them and I knew that they would be well made. Had the civil war not begun then he would have made the towers on either side of stone. As it was it was a wooden castle. There was a double ditch and, if they had had any sense, then it would have been well maintained and lined with traps. I had no intention of assaulting it. I rode to the outer ditch and took off my helmet. Richard rode behind me with my standard. I wanted them in no doubt who I was. Faces appeared on the wall.

  "I am the Earl of Cleveland, Warlord of the North. This castle was treacherously taken from one of my knights, Sir Hugh Manningham. If you quit it now then you may leave and return to the Earl of Northumbria."

  An older warrior with a white beard spoke, "I am Angus of Fife and I refuse your offer. Break your swords against these walls."

  "Are there any women and children who have taken shelter within?"

  "Aye."

  "Then I will give them safe passage for your refusal to quit means that all within these walls will die. I take no prisoners."

  He looked left and right. "I see no machines of war! Are you a magician?"

  "I repeat, send out any who do not fight and I guarantee them safe passage and their lives."

  "I will talk with my people."

  Dick and Philip arrived. They went to the horses with the pig's bladders on them and began to prepare for the attack. The specially made arrows lay in bundles tied with red cloth. They had their fires burning and were ready and still no one had come back to the wall. "Gilles, sound the horn!"

  Gilles blew three strident notes on the old Roman buccina we used. The Scottish constable reappeared. "We will take you up on your offer but no tricks, my lord. There are four crossbows aimed at you already."

  "I gave you my word. Do not make your death more painful than it needs to be by insulting me! Send them forth!"

  I heard the bars being removed and the gates groaned as they were opened. A priest led the women, children and old men who appeared. It seemed that many were the villagers of Hexham and they had taken shelter within. The priest stopped when he drew close. "I pray you keep your word, my lord." He had a Scottish accent.

  "If you Scots kept your word then the world would be a better place. These whom you lead are English and they know that I keep my word. If I were you then I would pray for the souls of those within for their leader has just signed their death warrant." I could see that he wanted to say more but my face made him think better of it. When he had gone I shouted, "You are brave men for you choose death over life." In answer a flurry of bolts came my way. I had expected it. They had said they were aiming at me and my shield flicked up. The four bolts hit it. I heard a rush through the air and my archers sent arrows at the walls. Three of the crossbowmen fell dead. I backed Lion towards the safety of the houses behind which my men sheltered.

  Just then I heard a cry and then a clamour of weapons to the north of the castle. Sir Harold smiled, "It seems our Scottish friends had fallen foul of Wulfric. He will be in a better humour now that he has taken a few heads!"

  "Are you ready Dick?" He nodded, "Sir Philip?"

  "Aye lord."

  "Edgar?"

  My men at arms were in pairs and Edgar said, "Always, my lord!"

  "Then begin!"

  First my archers began to rain arrows on the wall. We had brought plenty and they loosed five in rapid succession. The heads on the walls disappeared. As soon as they did my men ran forward. One of each pair carried a large shield to protect the two of them while the other carried a pig's bladder filled with warm pig fat and a faggot of kindling. The kindling was bone dry and would fire quickly. They ran to the outer ditch. I had chosen my men because I knew they had the skills for this task. The pig's bladders were hurled and then the faggots. The pig fat was merely warm. It was why we would need the faggots. All of them were thrown at the gates. One or two of the defenders tried to raise their heads and use their weapons. They were slain. As soon as my men were back then half of our archers switched to fire arrows. They were less accurate than ordinary arrows and not all would work. We would be patient. As the first arrows flew my men at arms picked up more pig's bladders and faggots.

  Some of the arrows struck the gate and one or two fell short but the rest all struck home. The defenders must have thought that the arrows had failed for there was no sudden inferno. More arrows were sent and a plume of dense smoke rose. That aided the defenders for it meant my archers could no longer see them. Some threw water to douse the fire below. It made the smoke thicker but my archers released more fire arrows and I saw, in places, that the pig fat was now afire. The water had little effect on the pig fat.

  "Edgar!"

  My men at arms ran forward. The smoke now helped them for those on the top of the gate could no longer see them. They threw more faggots and pig's bladders. This time there was an inferno when the fat and the wood struck the fire.

  "Sir Harold!"

  Sir Harold and his men at arms had two wooden bridges we had made. We actually had four but the other two were kept in reserve. Protected by the shields of Sir Hugh's men at arms they ran forward with the heavy bridges and placed one across the first ditch. The second was not laid over the other ditch for there was a risk that it might burn. It was placed close to the first bridge. My men retreated. We needed to be patient.

  A squire galloped around, "My lord, Sir Wulfric says they are trying to escape through the north gate."

  "Sir Edward, take your men and go to Sir Wulfric's aid. Sir William, go also."

  The fire was now out of control. This was summer and it spread to the walls on either side. The gatehouse could not be held. It was a towering inferno. All those who had been there had fled. We could not enter for the fire was too fierce but it would not be long before it would be safe to enter.

  "Men at arms, mount."

  There was a loud crash as the two gates fell inward. Sparks and flames shot into th
e air. The gate was open but we could not pass through the fiery towers just yet.

  "Sir Harold, the second bridge."

  Sir Harold and his men ran over the first bridge and picking up the second advanced to the ditch. The wind swirled the flames and they had to hold their shields before them to stop them being scorched and burned. As they came back Edgar shouted to James, to one of Harold's men at arms. "When you get to hell you will be ready for it James of the Oxbridge!"

  He laughed and said, "Aye and I dare say that you will be there to greet me!"

  I was anxious to get inside the castle but I needed to be patient. When I saw the defenders forming a shield wall within the outer bailey I knew that it was time. With Sir John, Sir Tristan, Sir Hugh and Sir Harold at my side we galloped over the bridges. They held and we clattered over in pairs. Sir Harold and I were the first into the bailey and I charged directly at the thin shield wall of Scots. I pulled back my spear and rammed it into the face of the warrior in the middle. Harold's spear took the next one in the shoulder and then the two of us were through the gap we had made. The other three widened it so that by the time my squires and the men at arms had crossed the bridge then the shield wall was no long a wall.

  I jerked Lion's head around and thrust my spear into the side of Angus of Fife. It tore through his mail and into his organs. I twisted as I pulled it out. It looked as though it was being attacked by snakes. He fell to the ground mortally wounded. The spear broke in two as he fell and I drew my sword. As I laid about me I saw that few of these men wore mail. It was a massacre. We had slain many on the walls and those that had survived our initial charge found themselves surrounded by mailed horsemen who gave no quarter. It ended quickly. We had won. Sir Hugh had been avenged and the Scots would use his castle no more.