Irish War (Anarchy Book 16)

by Hosker, Griff

  We had one of the Fitzalan family. He had been the knight whom Alf had captured. “What is your name?”

  He looked at me sulkily. Wulfric growled, “Listen, pup! You have surrendered and to a squire, no less. You speak with civility to the earl or you will be treated as a man at arms and sold as a slave!”

  The words, combined with Wulfric’s fierce face had the desired effect. “I am David Fitzalan. I am the Mormaer’s nephew.”

  “And will he pay ransom for you?” His downcast face told me that he might not. “Then you are in a parlous position. Tell me all you know of your uncle’s plans and I might consider treating you as a knight and selling you back to King Malcolm!”

  He looked appalled at the thought. “That would be humiliating, lord! I beg you do not do that. My wife can raise a ransom.”

  “Have you a squire here?” He pointed to a gangly youth who had a wounded arm. “Did you yield?” He nodded. “Then take your horses and ride to your mistress. Tell her to send whatever ransom she has to Norham. If your lord cooperates then he might be here to be ransomed. If not, he could well be in Dorestad at the slave market!” In truth we did not deal in slaves but, as a threat, it often worked.

  He jumped to his feet, “Aye lord.”

  “Alf, go with him and get him a horse. Make sure that he is not killed by our men before he brings you your coin!”

  “So, David, where will your uncle go? Berwick?”

  He shook his head, “No, for Berwick is held by Donnchad, Mormaer of Fife and they are great rivals. My uncle thought to make Northumbria his own.”

  “Then Norham?”

  “Aye.”

  I gestured to John and Henry son of Will. “Take him and put him with the other knights. Feed them but make sure that they are watched.”

  When I was alone with Dick and Wulfric I said, “Now we have Bamburgh. Tomorrow morning, I want you two to go with Sir John and begin to besiege Norham. I will bring the rest of the army there when we have taken Bamburgh.”

  “We will be stretched thin.”

  “I know but winter draws on and we must strike quickly. We will use these prisoners to persuade Bamburgh to surrender. We have enough of Fitzalan’s knights to ensure that he cannot cause too much trouble. Had he been in Berwick then I would have been worried. When we take Norham and Fitzalan I will give him his freedom and life. That way he will crawl back to King Malcolm with his tail between his legs. We have stirred up enmity between two Scottish lords. That is as good as a battle won.”

  It was a cold night with a hard frost. The next morning as my three knights and their men rode away, I left Sir Gilles to watch the sea gate. I marched the rest of my men and the prisoners around to the south gate and Sir Roger’s camp. I saw faces on the walls watching us. I had the knights and other prisoners, each guarded by one of my men, line up forty paces from the gatehouse. As they were shuffled into position I saw the damage to it. We could use the ram. Before we tried the ram, I was determined to attempt to negotiate their surrender.

  I stepped closer to the gate. Alf held my banner. “I am Earl William of Cleveland. I would speak with whoever holds this castle.”

  A face appeared. “I am Robert of Berwick and I hold this castle for Lord Fitzalan.”

  “Know you that King Malcolm has returned all the lands given away by King Stephen to King Henry of England. You are in breach of that treaty. Leave now and you and your men may return to Scotland without further harm.”

  “Our walls are high and thick. We will stay behind these walls.”

  I gestured to the men we had captured and walked to David Fitzalan. “These are all that remain of Lord Fitzalan’s army. You recognise this knight?” He seemed to see the young knight for the first time. He nodded. “Know this, if you stay within your walls we will bring up a ram and we will break down your gate. We will enter the castle and I will slaughter everyone within do you understand?”

  The castellan shouted, “Sir David, is it true?”

  The knight nodded and shouted, “My uncle and his household knights fled to Norham. The burn by Budle is surrounded by our dead. We have lost, cousin.”

  I watched as Sir Robert’s shoulders slumped and he nodded in resignation. “I have your word, Earl William, that we can go free?”

  “You have my word.”

  “Open the gates! We surrender!”

  I turned to my men at arms, “John of Chester, have the knights and squires taken to the camp. They will be coming with us.”

  “Aye lord.”

  I gestured for Sir Roger to come closer, “Sir Roger you can use the men at arms we captured. Set them to work repairing our damage. If they satisfy you then you may let them go; without their arms, of course.”

  I looked at the fyrd, “You who foolishly fought against the rightful rulers of this land go now but if ever you fight me again you will pay with your lives.”

  They needed no urging and they took to their heels. With winter coming their farms needed attention. Some would not even make it home. I guessed that some had come from north of the Tweed. They would have to avoid Norham and would have to spend a night in the open.

  I turned to the men at arms. “You men at arms will be set to work by Sir Roger. You will be fed and housed until the work on the gatehouse is complete. Then you may leave. If any of you give Sir Roger trouble or attempt to flee then you will be hunted down and hanged. When the work is finished you will take ship and leave England or return to Scotland…. and never return” I stared at each and every man. Most could not hold my gaze. You know that I could have all of you killed. This is my mercy. Do not abuse it.”

  One of them, an Englishman by the sound of his voice spoke up, “Lord some of us here are just swords for hire. Lord Fitzalan paid us well.”

  “Then next time choose your master better.”

  “We would serve you.”

  Wulfric, standing next to me, shook his head and said, “They fought for the Scots, I would not trust them.”

  I held up my hand, “How many of you are English?” Twelve of them lifted their arms. That made thirteen, an unlucky number. I thought quickly, “Then if you will swear an oath to me and satisfy Sir Roger then I will take you on as men at arms.”

  For some reason that seemed to please them. They took the oath and I had Brother Peter write down their names.

  I left a handful of men to disassemble the ram and the onagers. They, with the servants, would bring them north when they had finished. It would not be for at least one day.

  We left fifty men with Sir Roger and Brother Peter. The presence of my priest would help to cow the men at arms. I led my remaining knights and the prisoners, north to Norham. It was early afternoon when we neared the last stronghold on English soil. My knights had surrounded the castle. Dick and Wulfric had fought here with my father and knew both the land and the castle. The river crossing was in our hands and the castle was under siege. The Bishop of Durham, who had built the castle, had begun to use stone. When it had been taken by the Scots all work had stopped. This was not Bamburgh.

  My men had made their camp to the south and west. The eastern side had a ravine and the river lay to the north. If refugees had reached Berwick and reinforcements were on their way they would have to march upstream. The prisoners had told us that the wooden bridge at Berwick had been damaged in an autumn storm. It explained why Fitzalan had headed west.

  I rode to Dick and Wulfric. “Have they been given the chance to surrender?”

  “Aye lord. They said they had been ordered to hold by Lord Fitzalan.”

  “We will await our siege engines. We now hold Bamburgh and I am loath to lose men taking this last castle in England.”

  “The nights are getting colder, lord.”

  “There are trees aplenty. Cut them and we will keep fires going.”

  We dug ditches and used stakes to fortify our camp. We were close to the enemy and I did not wish us to be surprised. Dick and our archers were running out of arrows. We co
uld have sent back to Stockton for more but that would be a five or six-day journey. Our men and horses were showing the effects of a long campaign. This was the time for negotiation rather than fighting. I suspected that the will to fight had evaporated from the Scots. Those in Norham would feel increasingly isolated. I would have more men arriving the next day. I had plans in my head. I hoped that they would work and allow me home for Christmas.

  The next day David Fitzalan’s squire rode in with three men and two horses. One of the horses had saddlebags, He threw himself from his saddle and said, “Lord, I bring ransom. There are two hundred gold coins in the bags.”

  I nodded to Alf who went to examine them. He nodded. “Sir David you may leave.” I saw the disappointment on the faces of the others knights and squires. “When you reach Scotland then tell the families of these knights and squires that when ransom is paid they may return to the bosom of their families.”

  He mounted the spare horse, “Thank you lord. I will tell them.”

  It was late afternoon when the wagons with the war machines lumbered and creaked their way to our camp. I knew the effect that would have on the garrison. They would see reinforcements arriving to bolster our numbers.

  It took two days to assemble the war machines. During that time, the first snows of the year fell. We were close enough to the coast for it to be a mere flurry but it was a warning. I sent archers out to hunt. I wanted us well fed. The night before the assault would begin I gathered my depleted number of knights. “We will use the same method as on the previous sieges. Men at arms will use their shields to protect archers.”

  “This will be harder lord. The ram will have to be pushed up a slope.”

  “I know Sir John. That is why I intend to use both onagers and batter their gate into kindling.”

  As Norham was a smaller castle I had scouts watching the crossings of the Tweed. It could be forded in many places. As we lumbered the onagers into position and the archers loosed their first arrows, Rafe rode in. “Lord there are Scottish riders approaching.”

  “A relief force?”

  Rafe had been with Dick a long time. He was reliable and I could trust his judgement, “I think not lord. There are but twenty of them and they have a wagon. I spied a couple of priests.”

  “Dick, continue with the assault. Sir John and Alf come with me. John of Chester and Henry son of Will get your horses.”

  We rode along the road which paralleled the river and met the men a mile from the castle. I noticed that the banners were those of Donnachada, the Mormaer of Galloway. We waited for them to draw close to us. There were two knights with the priests and two squires and the other eighteen were men at arms.

  They halted close to us and one of them removed his helmet, “I am Angus, Mormaer of Kirkcaldy. I serve Lord Donnachada. You are Earl William?”

  I nodded, “Do you come to fight or is this a peaceful mission?”

  “We do not bring enough men to face the wrath of the son of the Warlord. We are here to ransom the knights who foolishly followed Lord Fitzalan.” He waved a hand at the wagon.

  “Sir John, go and inspect the wagon. See if it is enough.”

  “What does the Mormaer of Galloway wish with the land to the east?”

  “Nothing. But some of his younger brethren decided to fight you Normans. They are foolish but they are the king’s kin. He is paying for them. He will need them.”

  I lowered my voice and nudged Alciades closer, “To fight England or King Malcolm?”

  He laughed, “You are as clever a warrior as your father. You will not be offended if I keep that counsel to myself.”

  “If you do come then know that I am a lord who neither forgives nor forgets.”

  “Fear not, the King has no desire to make war on the Tees Valley nor Northumbria.”

  Sir John came back and nodded, “Then let us ride to our camp. Your knights have been well treated. Would you wish to stay the night?”

  He shook his head, “We spent last night at the monastery of Jedburgh and we will do so this night too.”

  The ransomed knights were pleased to be rescued. Although we had treated them well their defeat must have rankled with them. They had not managed to hurt a single knight or squire. They had been badly led and they had discovered that we were far better warriors than they were. The sight of my knights was a reminder of their failure.

  As my men unpacked the ransom I said, “Is your king a friend of Fitzalan?”

  “No, Earl. They are rivals and enemies.”

  “I would ask a favour then. Would you ride with me and tell the castellan what you do?”

  “You mean persuade my countrymen to surrender?”

  “No for that is dishonourable. I would have you speak the truth and tell them that you are here to ransom their captured knights and take them to Galloway.”

  I saw him wrack his brain to discover the trap in my words. There was, of course, none and he nodded, “I can see no reason why not.”

  We mounted our horses and I shouted, “Cease the assault!”

  Every archer stopped instantly. The onager crews began to adjust their ropes ready for when I gave the command to begin again. I saw that the fighting platform above the gatehouse was destroyed. I had taken off my helmet and I took off my coif. I shouted, “Ho, Norham. I come to speak.”

  An older knight took off his helmet, “I am Robert of Selkirk. I am castellan. What do you wish?”

  “I wish you to hear the words of Angus Mormaer of Kirkcaldy.”

  “Speak for I know the Mormaer.”

  “I have been sent by Lord Donnachada to ransom the knights who fought for Lord Fitzalan.”

  The old knight nodded, “Thank you.”

  The Mormaer said, “Is that it?”

  “Aye,” I held out my hand, “may God be with you and have a safe journey home.”

  He shook his head, “I know you are up to something but I cannot devise what it is.”

  I smiled, “Good. That is how I like it!”

  He turned and rode away.

  When he had gone and I remained the old warrior shouted, “Was there more?”

  “I am here to tell you that no help is coming to you. The knights who fought for Fitzalan are either dead or ransomed.” I pointed to the gatehouse. “By the end of the day you will have no gates. My men will assault and we will take the castle. You have no wooden walls. Bamburgh no longer has a keep for we burned it. I offer you the chance to take your people, with their arms and cross the river to Berwick. This is my last offer. If you refuse then there will be much slaughter and you will lose this castle. King Malcolm agreed to return it and all the other castles to England. You are the last to hold out.”

  I waited. I could see him working out how long they could defy us. He shouted, “Very well. How long do we have?”

  “I wish to sleep in your keep this night. That is how long you have.”

  “Very well.”

  I turned my horse and rode back. My knights had been too far away to hear what was being said. Sir John asked, “Do we resume the assault?”

  “No, Sir John, for I would not damage your castle any more. They are leaving. We have won.”

  The word spread and my men began cheering. What had seemed a daunting task was almost over. I knew that there would be the odd castle which was still manned by the Scots but Brother Peter’s parchment and my men would ensure that, as we headed south, they would surrender. We had the border and the coast secure. It was time for me to go home. I sent Edgar with a letter to my wife. Edgar had a change of horses and he would be home in one long day. It would take us five. We would be moving at the pace of wagons carrying wounded and treasure we had taken from the Scots.

  The Warlord

  I now appoint Alfraed of Stockton to be Earl Marshal of the Horse of England. He will be the most senior knight of the realm. Only I will rank above him.

  The Welsh Marches

  Part Two

  Stockton

  Chapter
6

  We headed for Chester when we had met with King Owain. King Henry was ebullient. Disaster had been averted. However, riders met us as we headed for Chester. King Rhys had realised that I had gone and was now making war again attacking down the valleys. Men had been killed and farms burned. The campaign was not over. It was merely postponed for winter.

  When we reached Chester, Countess of Chester, Maud, Henry’s cousin, greeted us warmly. Like Eleanor and Matilda, Maud was a strong woman. Her husband, who had died a few years earlier, had been a weak leader. He had vacillated between Stephen and Matilda. The Countess had never wavered. Her son Hugh would make a good leader one day. As it was she had to make decisions while the youth grew into his title. She would be a robust and dependable Countess.

  She hugged me, “Your son is showing that he is like you, Alfraed! He has completed his negotiations with King Malcolm and he has secured Cumbria for my son. I sent Sir Brian of Stanley with a large force to invest Carlisle. We will not lose it so easily a second time.”

  “Do you know how my son fares?” I was desperate to know how he had done. He had my knights with him but I was his father and a father never stops worrying about his children.

  She linked my arm and led me to the Great Hall. “I know that he has a harder task than Sir Brian. Many of Malcolm’s lords objected to the treaty. He remained in Carlisle to complete the handover. I have heard reports that your son has had to subdue some castles, in the east, through siege.”

  Henry frowned, “And was he aided by the Bishop of Durham?”

  “I know not, lord. All that I have heard is second hand. Your son told me of the treaty and I gathered men to send north under Lord Stanley. Since then I have heard nothing. However, with Christmas approaching I do not think that he will be campaigning, do you? Northumbria is a harsh place.” She gripped my arm, affectionately, “But then you know that better than any.”