by Griff Hosker
I was about to pay the bill when the angry man suddenly backhanded the emaciated youth across the room, “You fool! You spilt my beer!” I noticed that he had an accent.
I stood as the man raised his hand again, “Hold your hand!”
The man faced up to me. He was as tall as I was and he had a long scar which ran from his eye to his mouth. I doubted that he would ever be able to smile. “This is my servant and I do with him as I like.” As if to prove the point he punched the boy so hard in the face that he burst his nose and the boy fell to the ground. The man grinned. It was a challenge.
I stepped close to him. “You are not a man. I am Baron William Strongstaff and not without influence in this town. I command you to cease hurting the boy!”
He laughed, “I care not for lordlings. I am Jean of Caen and I do as I wish to my servants. Gilles, get to your feet.”
I turned and held out my hand to help the dazed youth to his feet. “Gilles, would you leave this man’s service?” I saw the frightened eyes flicker from me to the Norman and back. “If you wish I can take you from him and make you safe.”
I sensed rather than saw the right hand as it swept towards my head. I heard shouts of warning but I needed them not. When I was a child, I had learned to duck the blows from my father. I blocked the blow with my left hand and then brought my right hand hard into the ribs of the Norman. I heard bones crack. I pulled it back and hit him again to make certain that I had hurt him. Then I pulled back my left and hit him hard in the stomach. He dropped to his knees, winded.
Thomas had jumped to his feet and stood next to me, “Thomas, guard the boy.”
Will the innkeeper shouted, “Shall I send for the watch, my lord?”
I shook my head, “I need no watch to deal with scum like this. Is he staying here?”
Will shook his head, “He has a horse which is in the stable. The boy walked.”
The Norman was still trying to get his breath, with broken ribs it was hard. I turned to Gilles, “Answer me, boy. I can offer you safety. Will you take it?”
The boy looked frightened but he said, “My master will not let me go.”
Thomas said, “Did you not hear my father? He is never foresworn. If you come with us then you will be as safe as though you were the King’s jewels.”
The boy nodded. I asked, “Has this man anything that you need?”
“My blanket.”
I smiled, “That you will not need.”
The man rose, “Get here boy! I have not done with you.”
“You have! Pay your bill and leave. Quit the land around here or I will have you brought before the assizes.”
“He is my property!”
I turned to Gilles, “Did he buy you?”
The boy shook his head, “He killed my father and took me when our farm was raided. He and the others used my mother and she died.”
“In Normandy?”
He shook his head, “Poitou, my lord.”
“Pay your bill and leave!”
Harold, James, John and Harry had all stood in solidarity with me. I did not need them. The man glared at me. “This is not over and one day you will pay.” He threw a handful of coins on the counter.
I said, “James, Harold, go and make sure he does leave.”
Thomas said, “I will go with them for I do not trust him.”
When they had gone, I said, “Gilles, sit. Landlord, ale and a pie for the boy. He looks as though he needs it.”
My men returned. “It is a good job we watched him, lord. I think he might have hurt our horses else.”
“Which direction did he take?”
“He went out of the west gate.”
Gilles smiled and said, “He is heading north, lord, to Lincoln. He seeks work.”
While he ate, he told us his tale. He had been with the sword for hire for two years. Jean of Caen was angry in every way and his company had tired of him. Gilles had been taken as a servant and dogsbody. He had seen thirteen summers but was so thin that his body looked younger.
Thomas asked, “Gilles, what did you do for this Jean of Caen?”
“Cared for his horse, cleaned and sharpened his weapons and cooked and fetched his food.”
Thomas gave me a curious look. He leaned back and, sipping his ale, said, “When Ulf the Swede was wounded, he spoke to me of some strange beings who wove together the threads of men’s lives. I thought it was a fairy story yet Ulf believed in them. I now see something in the story. This Gilles was sent here for a purpose. If it had not been such inclement weather my mother would have been here and we would not have visited this inn. We were meant to intervene and to save this boy. Gilles, I am to be knighted soon and I have need for a squire. Would you be my squire?”
“But I know not what to do.”
“Do that which you did for Jean of Caen except that you will not be beaten and you will enjoy good food and be dressed in finer clothes. What you do not know then I will teach you.” He turned to me, “This is good is it not?”
I put my hand on his shoulder for I could not have been prouder, “Aye, my son, it is.”
“Well, Gilles?”
The youth’s eyes widened and his face beamed, “Aye, my lord. I will!”
Thomas smiled, “Not a lord yet but soon!”
The new ostler was as hard a working man as I had ever seen. His maimed hand did not impair his work and he was so grateful to have employment that he sang as he worked. He endeared himself to all in the household, including my wife! We needed as many hardworking people as we could as we had a ceremony of knighthood and a wedding to plan. The King had not replied and I assumed he would not be attending but, on the off chance that he would, my wife made certain that the guest quarters for Mary and her family were fit for a king!
Chapter 10
My wife liked Gilles the moment she laid eyes upon him and when she heard his tale she burst into tears. “We have raised a good son.”
“Aye, that we have.”
My wife had Gilles and Harold deloused and cleaned as soon as they arrived. The boy and the old soldier appreciated it. Their old clothes were burned and they were dressed in good quality garments. The two waifs and strays soon began to show the effect of clean clothes, good food and a bed. As my son and I schooled our horses I spoke to him of his new squire, “It was a noble gesture but if you have second thoughts, we can find a place for Gilles. You need not have him as a squire if you do not wish to.”
“I know but I think of the stories you tell of the Blue Company. Who knows what Gilles might achieve? He has few skills yet but, father, think what he endured. There is potential there. I have had an easy time as your squire; perhaps this is my quest to do as Red Ralph and the others did with you and turn you into a gentleman.”
I knew he was right but he was beginning his life as a knight with many obstacles in his way. What it meant was that, instead of preparing for the ceremony and learning what he ought, my son spent every waking hour teaching Gilles how to behave as a squire. The boy had been badly treated and abused; he needed lessons in the simplest of tasks. My son was patient and Harry, surprisingly, helped his elder brother. Perhaps he saw what he might need to do when he became a knight.
Although it was winter the Great North Road was kept open and I used Sir John’s squire, Ralph, to ride to Middleham a week before the ceremony just to ensure that the preparations for the wedding were proceeding apace. It also afforded Ralph the opportunity to speak with his family. I had promised when Ralph had joined my service that I would do. I left Ralph with his family for a few days and Harry and I returned home first. After I returned from the north I did not see Ralph to speak to until after the ceremony for I had much to do.
We had no chapel at my hall for Weedon was a small manor and so we used the church of St Peter and Paul in the village. Monks had owned the village until it was given to me and they had built a fine church. Dressed in his white shift Thomas spent the night before the ceremony knelt before the altar
with his sword. One disadvantage of the timing was that it was incredibly cold in the church but Thomas was philosophical about that and felt it would make him a stronger knight. Two of my men at arms, along with Harry, volunteered to guard the door. The next morning, which heralded a cold and cheerless day, he was brought back to the hall. Guests like Sir John and Ralph arrived as dawn was breaking. My daughter, Alice, now with child and Sir Richard stayed in the new and almost completed wing. My men at arms and archers were also invited to the hall and so it was cosy. Sir Richard asked me, later on, why I had invited hired swords and bowmen. I had given him the truth; they were part of my family and it bound us all closer together.
As soon as Thomas rose Harry and Ralph slipped his new surcoat over his shoulders. I handed him his spurs and Sir John strapped on his sword. As we all stepped back there was a huge cheer and my wife was the first to rush to him and embrace him. I allowed others to offer their congratulations before I did. As Eleanor and Mary rushed off to organise the food and the drink Thomas came over to me. “I thank you for this, father.”
“It is no more than you deserve. You could have been knighted on the field of battle but this, I think, is better.”
“It is for I am surrounded by a sea of warmth which fills me with joy.”
I nodded and Harry joined us, “Aye, family is all.” I meant each word for I had had little family when I had been growing up.
Harry said, “Sir Thomas of Weedon!” I could see that Harry was delighted for his brother. There was not a hint of jealousy.
I saw a question forming on Thomas’ lips. The ale and the food had been brought in and that created space around us so that we could talk. “Father, I know that mother has built the guest wing and Mary and I will use that but…”
“But you would like your own hall.” He nodded. “I will be blunt, my son, you have not enough coin to pay for a hall.”
“Mary’s mother is giving us a dowry. Ralph told me that.”
“It will still not be enough. I have the land for you already marked out but there is nothing there but fields.” We had discussed the land he would have as an income. I owned and farmed the best land in Weedon. Some of my men at arms and archers farmed small plots and the result was that there were a number of fields separated from my land by these plots. Eleanor and I had decided to give one as a wedding gift to Thomas and his bride but it was bare earth. Some of the fields were bean fields while he had a field for animals and three fields for cereal.
Thomas smiled, “I am not afraid of hard work and I have two men who serve me as well as my squire. I still need someone to manage the land for me but I thought when the new grass comes to erect a small hall on the land so that we can live there.”
“But your mother has had a wing built for you!”
“And it will take some time for me to make my home fit for my bride. We will use it but you see why I need to be my own man. My home will be Lower Weedon, eh?”
I smiled, “Aye, it is well and now, young Harry, you are my only squire so about your duties! You have gossiped enough! There is ale and food to be served.”
His face fell, “I had forgotten. I cannot wait to be knighted, brother.”
“And that will not be for some time, my son, now go and join the other squires in their work.”
Sir John, Sir Roger and Sir Wilfred came over. I could see that they wished to speak with my son and I gave them space. I wandered over to the fire. I was aware that I had no ale. As I turned to shout over Harry, Ralph appeared with an ale, “Lord, I told Harry I would fetch it for I need to speak with you.”
I saw that his face was serious. I feared there was something wrong with his sister or his mother.
“After you had gone and I was riding the pastures one of the Earl of Westmoreland’s knights came to speak with me. He had a message for you. He said that the Earl did not wish to commit it to paper and so I had to memorise it.”
I feared treachery. The Earl had not spoken with Ralph, it had been an intermediary. Even before I heard the message, I was suspicious. “Did you know the man?”
He nodded, “Aye lord, it was Sir William Neville, the Earl’s nephew. He had spoken with Sir John on a number of occasions when we campaigned in Wales. I believe that he can be trusted.”
“Go on.”
“He said to tell you that Sir Henry Percy is recruiting men. He said that this is not the campaign season and most lords are letting men go. Sir Henry is filling the newly refurbished castle of Warkworth with men. He thought you should know.”
I nodded. I knew that I had to make the time to speak with the King. “Thank you, Ralph.” He looked relieved to have unburdened himself. “And the preparations for the marriage are still moving well?”
He grinned, “Aye, my lord. My sister is excited and cannot wait to come south. I know that my mother will be upset but she has other children who are not like Mary and myself. They will stay by the farm. She will enjoy their children.”
“And you, are you ready for knighthood yet?”
“Perhaps, my lord. Sir John has suggested that I might be dubbed but I know that I do not have enough coin…”
“Your mother has promised a large dowry to my son.”
He nodded, “And that is right but I am no catch and there will be no dowry from the woman I marry. I will have to hope that we go to war and I am rewarded. I am a patient man, my lord. I have risen beyond expectations already and if I rise no further I have done well for myself.”
His father had grown a family late in life and he had been happy. I hoped that Ralph would be too.
The day ended well and our guests departed. We now had preparations for Christmas but this would be a quieter time. Alice and her husband were at their hall and Thomas’ head was filled with his new manor and forthcoming marriage. Mary, my daughter, had attracted the eye of Sir Richard’s squire, his brother, James and was distracted. It suited me as I had much to think on. I knew that King Henry liked to spend his winter at Windsor. Once he would have been happy with his estates in Monmouth but since the Glendower rebellion, there was too much danger. Eltham Palace, which had been a favourite of King Richard, was too close to the fickle London mob and so he stayed in the huge castle of Windsor which was surrounded by a great park which could be used for riding and hunting. More importantly, he was safe there from those who wished him harm.
I spoke with my wife on St Stephen’s Day. I had already told her what the Earl of Westmoreland had told me. “Harry and I will need to ride to Windsor to speak with the King.”
“But it is winter!”
“And the last time I was not prompt with news I was chastised. I have to go and you know it.”
My wife was a realist who knew that our prosperity was dependent upon King Henry, “You are right. The King does not deserve such a loyal and faithful knight as you, husband.”
I laughed, “Of course he does for I am his subject and, despite his many faults, he does try to do the best for the Kingdom.”
I saw the doubt in the eyes of my wife but she said nothing.
I took two of my new men with me, Rafe and Kit. They were single and the other men at arms either had wives or liaisons. This was a chance for me to get to know them and we would not be away long. It was just two days to the castle and two days back. We would be away for no more than six days.
Ralph had brought back a new horse for me. Hawk was a stallion and a courser. He was a present from Mary. I would pay her for him when she came to the wedding. I did not need charity and he was a fine horse. This seemed a good opportunity to get to know him. There would be no danger and we would be using a good road. I allowed Harry to ride Hart. The new men were nervous for they knew the responsibility they had. To make it easier for them I rode between them so that we could speak. I learned of the lords they had served and the wars in which they had fought. I already knew, from their mail and lack of plate armour, that they had not had great success before they came to me. I would not judge them on that fo
r if they had a poor lord then they could not be expected to prosper. The fact that they had survived without wounds or scars wearing only mail hauberks spoke well of them. We stayed in an inn in Aylesbury. This was a royal manor and I was known here having stayed in the town when Richard was King of England. Although we paid a fair price, I knew that I would not be robbed. The landlord knew of my connection with King Henry and his son. My new men questioned my spending the money for beds for them. I learned that both their previous lords would have expected their men to sleep in the stables.
I smiled, “I began life as a common soldier. When I am able I make life easier but I have slept, quite recently, beneath the greenwood. This is better.” I was also confident that King Henry would reward me for the news I brought.
The King had lost his wife some time ago giving birth to his last child. He had not remarried. I knew that he would but it would be a political marriage. When he had married Mary de Bohun, he had not been King nor even close to the crown. Now he would marry one who was related to a royal house in France, Spain or Portugal. He had sons enough. That had been the downfall of King Richard as he and his wife had failed to produce an heir either male or female. Although it was December, we had had no snow yet. That did not mean it was good weather, far from it but it did mean that the King was not abroad hunting or hawking. He was in his Great Hall, for once not engrossed in papers. Harry had taken the two men to the warrior hall as he knew his way around the castle and, after leaving my cloak and helmet with Harry, one of King Henry’s pages, Paul, took me to speak with the King.
He did not smile but frowned, “This is most unexpected, Strongstaff. Does your visit herald trouble?”
I shook my head, “No, King Henry, although I was asked by you to fetch any news which came my way as soon as I received it. I have such news.”