by Griff Hosker
As the last Breton fled, I shouted, “Secure the horses and put a Breton body on the back of one. We need evidence for the King.”
Just then Alan of the Woods rode in, “How did we miss these?”
“It was not your fault. They came up the road after you had turned north. Now we need two of your archers as a rearguard. We are still close to Sycharth and Welsh knights might well fancy some sport. We will ride hard. We do not stop until we reach the Dee!”
Edgar had found a Breton who had died falling from his horse. We slung his body over his pony and led the other seven horses we had taken. I knew that the quicker thinking sergeants and archers would have taken coins and weapons from the dead but we did not have time for a thorough search. We galloped north as the sun began to dip in the west. In theory, there should have been no more enemies before us but the Bretons had surprised us and I stayed close to Owen and Alan of the Woods. I was lucky, Hart was a strong horse but I knew that some of the new men would be struggling. Their horses were not as good.
We had covered ten miles when I heard a shout from the rear, “My lord, Lol, son of Wilson says there are knights and they are chasing us.”
I turned my head and shouted, “Tell them to close up. When they catch us, I would have us all together.”
“Aye lord.”
“Harry, you stay as close to me as you can. This is not the time for glory. We have news we need to deliver to the King and the Prince.”
“Yes, my lord.”
We passed the road to Wrecsam and still they closed with us. I could hear their hooves now but the twilight hid them from us. All sorts of ideas flashed through my mind. I thought to take a side turning and hide while they galloped past. I thought to find a bend and ambush them but the news we carried was so important that we had to reach Chester without any delay and that meant no tricks. In the end, they gave up as we rode across the crossroads between Buckley and Broughton. Perhaps they feared an ambush, I know not but Lol shouted, “They have stopped, lord. I can no longer hear their hooves.”
We rode hard for another mile and then I slowed to a walk. There was little point in killing our animals for we had just ten miles to go. We would still be exhausted but we would deliver our news and then rest. I turned to Harry, “You did well, squire. That ride would have tested the mettle of many experienced riders.”
He nodded and shifted uncomfortably in his saddle, “I am not sure that my body would agree with you, father!”
When the gates of Chester gaped open, I patted Hart, “You will rest for a week, my beauty! You have earned it!”
Neither the King nor his son were abed and were eager to know my news for I had arrived back sooner than they had expected. “Well, Strongstaff?”
The Prince went to the table and poured a goblet of wine, “Your Majesty, it is obvious that the Baron has ridden hard to get here and, from the blood spattered on his surcoat, he has had to fight. A few moments while he drinks some wine cannot hurt.” He handed me the wine.
His father nodded, “It is a sad day, Strongstaff, when a man is reminded of his duties by his son. He is right but I am anxious to end this rebellion.”
I drank all of the wine. I would have preferred ale as it would have quenched my thirst and the wine merely reminded me that I had not eaten since dawn. However, I could drive hunger from my thoughts, “We found Glendower and his knights. They were at Sycharth. I have men following his army but they went in a different direction.”
The King’s eyes lit up, “Then we have him. Sycharth is but a day of hard riding away. If he just has his knights then we can take him and end the rebellion.”
“It is not just him, lord. There are French and Breton knights with him. The blood you see is Breton blood. We ran into them south of here and I brought a body back to be examined. I have to say that we were pursued by the knights from the castle and we only lost them close to Buckley.”
The joy left his face and Prince Henry shook his head, “The French are ever ready to exploit threats to us. Were there many of them?”
“I counted a handful of knights and there were more than thirty Bretons but they are like fleas on a dog, Prince Henry, they will multiply.”
The King nodded, “You have done well. We will speak again in the morning.”
“I am not yet done, lord, there is more.” Prince Henry poured some more wine for me and the King leaned forward in his chair. “I spoke with Fitzalan and he confirmed that Mortimer surrendered far too early in the battle. I saw Mortimer at Sycharth. He did not look like a prisoner to me. He and Glendower were riding with knights and he had a sword. I may be wrong but I do not believe he is Glendower’s prisoner.”
This time the King became more animated, “I knew it! You have done well, Strongstaff. I was right to withhold the ransom!”
I sipped the wine more slowly. My stomach rumbled and complained. It wanted food. I ventured a comment for it had troubled me on the ride north, “And that begs the question does it not, King Henry, what is Percy’s involvement?”
“Aye, there’s the rub. What are your thoughts, my son? Of late you seem to have seen that which was hidden in a fog to me.”
“The Earl of Northumberland, Percy’s father Henry, was partly responsible for giving us the throne. If he is against us then we are in trouble for his brother, Thomas, is Earl of Worcester and that city is the gateway to the west. We must tread carefully there. As for Hotspur? I agree with Sir William here; I think he seeks a crown. It may not be the crown of England but it is a goal of his.” He poured himself a goblet of wine. “Perhaps we can play them at their own game. If the Earl of Northumberland wishes a crown why not tempt him with Scotland? It is closer to him than is London. You could make him Lord of the North and encourage him to strengthen the border. His son is a doughty fighter and the Scots are weak. With Dunbarre at his side, they could succeed.”
The King shook his head, “That would make him a threat to us. King of the North? Would his eye not be drawn south?”
“You forget Mortimer. Mortimer may be Percy’s brother in law but he is also the uncle of a potential claimant to the throne.”
The King nodded, “I will think on this for we have not heard yet from the last of the scouts. When Sir William’s men return then we will make a decision but I thank you both for your counsel. I know that you two are to be trusted.” Almost as an afterthought, he said, “Did you lose any men, Strongstaff?”
I smiled, “No, Your Majesty, but thank you for your concern.”
He laughed, “I know how you feel about them. Do you still have that fellow who risked his life in the snow for the boy?”
“Harold Four Fingers? Aye, he married Magda and the boy is now the squire of Sir Roger.”
“You are like a family.”
Prince Henry nodded, “I served with the family and they are a band of brothers. It is a model I seek to use. When I go to battle, I will surround myself with those whom I trust. They may be small in number but loyalty counts for more in battle than numbers.”
I nodded, “You speak truly there, Prince Henry.”
After a hurried few mouthfuls of bread and cheese I almost fell into my bed. Harry had prepared it and was eager to speak. I indulged him for he had acquitted himself well in the skirmish. I answered his questions honestly although I did not reveal the entire conversation. “Why does the King reward those who are his enemies? I do not understand it.”
“So that he can take away what he has given when he is displeased. He did so with Conwy and Anglesey.”
“But does that not make those men more likely to be enemies?”
My son had it aright but I tried to rationalize it, “He came to the throne with the help of the Percy brothers and he had to reward them, now those titles are a hostage to fortune. Now it is time for sleep. I am weary even if you are not.”
As the candle was blown out, he said, “And it is the likes of us who pay the bill, eh father.”
“Aye, son but keep those wor
ds for my ears only eh? I would not like to see you in the Tower for such comments. Prince Henry might understand them but King Henry would not!”
My two riders returned three days later. They looked weary and I think that they had broken their mounts. As soon as they entered the gates they were brought before King Henry and his son. As their lord, I was with them.
“We followed their trail, King Henry, to Machynlleth. There is a mighty army gathering there.” David looked at me, “It is larger than the one we found when we raided, lord.” I nodded and David looked again at the King, “There were French ships in the estuary. There were just three of them. We went into the town on foot and pretended to be seeking work as warriors. We were offered coin and places in the households of many lords. Men are flocking to Glendower’s banner.” He hesitated.
Prince Henry knew my sergeant at arms and he smiled, “Speak, David, for you will not be censured, that I can promise you.”
David nodded, “Prince Henry, the people are angry. They do not like the laws which Parliament passed.”
Those laws were contentious and had little to do with King Henry. They were draconian: Welshmen were barred from buying land in England, they could not hold any senior public office in Wales, they could not bear arms, either hold any castle nor defend any house, no Welsh child was to be educated or apprenticed to any trade, no Englishman could be convicted in any suit brought by a Welshman, Welshmen were to be severely penalised when marrying an Englishwoman, any Englishman marrying a Welshwoman was disenfranchised and all public assembly was forbidden. Now the King saw the effect his Parliament had created.
The Prince nodded and I saw the King reflecting on the problem. The Prince said, “And the land through which you passed to reach us, how lies it?”
He was emboldened by the words of the Prince and he was honest, “Prince Henry we hold the castles all else lies in the hands of the rebels. This is the first time we have spoken English since we parted from Sir William.”
The Prince took a purse of coins and handed it to David, “Here is payment for the two of you. You have earned it, for now we can see the picture more clearly. The fog has cleared has it not, Your Majesty?”
The King roused himself and smiled, “Aye, you have and now if you would leave my son and me, we need to have conference about this matter. I will send for my senior lords and bishops.”
As we left, I knew not what they could do. It was now September. They could not begin a campaign before winter. The vastness that was Wales would be protected by a blanket of snow and ice. It would be Spring before they could muster an army and Glendower would merely grow stronger. We went to the stables to look at the two horses my scouts had ridden. They would need the winter to recover. I spoke with the horse master. I was in a privileged position for I was known to be close to the King and his son. I procured two replacements for my men. Who knew when we would need them again?
It was the seventeenth of the month when the rider from the north rode in. He was from Sir George. Henry Percy had had a great victory over the Scots at the Battle of Homildon Hill. Douglas and five earls had been captured. Many hundreds of Scots had been slain. The north was safe and perhaps my pessimism was misplaced. Two days later I was summoned to the King and his son. Sometimes a stone is thrown into a pond and the ripples travel further than one can imagine. So it was that day. The stone was the battle but the effect could not even be imagined!
I was excluded from the discussions but the King, the Prince and his advisers were closeted together in the Great Hall. Nobles arrived each day. I was summoned after they had spent a day hidden in the Great Hall. This was not a private meeting. There were senior lords and bishops making it a formal court. The King sat on a throne and his son just behind him, flanking them were the senior lords and bishops. I knew them all and all knew me. I saw that the Earl of Stafford had been summoned as well as the Dukes of York, Surrey and Kent. This was partly due to the problems with the Welsh rebellion but I also suspected that the news of Hotspur’s victory was on the agenda. I wondered at the great conclave. We had had a victory against the old enemy but this gathering seemed to have a hidden meaning.
“Sir William Strongstaff, let all present know that you are held in high esteem by ourselves and the crown. There is no knight in the realm who has shown himself to be braver or more loyal than you. It is for that reason that we entrust you to deliver this missive to our lords in the north.” The Bishop of Chester stepped forward and handed me a parchment with the King’s seal upon it. “You are to deliver this to Sir Henry Percy who has recently defeated the Scots. Although we are most pleased that the foul barbarians have been repulsed, we forbid our lords from asking for ransom without we know. The letter makes it clear, Sir William, that any such act would be considered an act of treason and would be punished accordingly.”
I saw, in that moment, that the formal court was deliberate. All had been party to the letter but by speaking it aloud to me, it became public knowledge. Someone would tell Percy before I reached him. I wondered if I was to be the sacrificial goat for I knew that Henry Percy would live up to his name and he would not sit idly by and allow the greatest ransom since Richard the Lionheart’s to go to a King who had done nothing to gain it. I had more questions than an inquisitive five-year-old but the setting precluded them. King Henry was a very clever man.
I bowed and said, “I will do all that I am bid and when I am done, Your Majesty?”
“Then you may return to your manor having served us well.” He nodded and Prince Henry handed me a leather pouch. “Here is a reward for the service you have done us thus far. We will need you again, of that, I am in no doubt. And now we will retire to our chambers. This gathering is ended and you may all retire to your homes. I will now leave Chester and return to Northampton.”
Thus dismissed, there would be little opportunity for the dukes and earls to discuss the events. Prince Henry bowed and stayed close by me. When we had space around us and could speak, I said, “Is this well done, Prince Henry?”
“Perhaps it is not well done but it is necessary. In this, I agree with my father. We need the coin from the ransom although I doubt that we will be given any but if Percy gets it then he will be rich enough to fund a second rebellion in the north. He is related to Mortimer. Your news was most disturbing, Sir William. When you speak with Percy do all that you can to rein him in. I would not have us fight the most powerful leader in the north. It would be a war which would tear apart this land. The French are already seeking to widen our divisions. Help to heal them, Sir William,”
I knew that I could be honest with Prince Hal and say that which would upset King Henry. “Am I a sacrifice, Prince? It is well known that Percy does not like me and that he has a temper. I could end up as a hostage.”
He tapped the parchment, “This makes you a royal herald. To injure you would be treasonous.”
He was right; a formal attack would be treasonous, but the miles from Warkworth to Weedon afforded many places for an ambush by men who might not wear a livery but would be acting under the orders of Hotspur.
“Then I will take my leave of you, Prince Henry.”
“Sir William, come March I will need you and all of your knights for I intend to move against Glendower. You will fight under my banner and I will guarantee scutage.”
I nodded, “You know we will be there.”
“Aye, with or without the coin. You are a true knight and a model I try to emulate. I am still learning.”
“That is true and you have a heavier burden upon your shoulders than a couple of manors. You have Wales and England to carry!”
He smiled, “Do not forget France and Normandy for I have not!”
It took two days to reach Weedon. I was not disobeying the King for the better road passed close by my home. The royal warrant meant we could stay at royal residences. I would avoid York and stay at Middleham which was closer to the northern road in any case. My men and Harry knew my mission and they were all in
telligent enough to know the dangers.
Edgar said, “So we take these men and the rest with us, lord?”
“No, Captain; you and Alan will stay at Weedon. We go to war again in April and we need more men. I have coin from the King. I will take Harry, four sergeants and four archers only. Any more might constitute a threat to Sir Henry and I know that my presence will anger him enough as it is. Such a small number means it is a bodyguard only.”
Edgar shook his head, “The men of Northumberland are both tricky and cunning, lord. They have to be to fight the Scots. I do not like it.”
“Nor do I but it is a royal command and I will obey it.”
My wife was also unhappy. “Husband you have been away from your family for so long of late. Our daughter is due to give birth any day. Can this not wait?”
I shook my head, “As much as I wish to see my first grandchild this is an instruction from the King. When this is done then I will be at home. You have me all winter!”
She gave me a sharp look, “Which means you will be gone again in spring!”
I would not lie and I nodded, “I fear so.”
We left before dawn the next day. I slipped from my bed and dressed without waking my wife. Harry was already up. He now knew the import of what we did and was a more serious squire than when he had helped his brother Thomas. My four sergeants were in the stables with James the horse master. Geoffrey of Gisburn, Stephen of Morpeth, Richard son of Richard and Oliver the Bastard were all from the North. Indeed, Stephen of Morpeth had served the Percy family. My four archers were also experienced and all but Gurth were single: Simon the Traveller, Gurth Garthson, Harry Fletcher and Walter of Sheffield. We took one sumpter with spare arrows, cloaks and emergency food. We would be housed in castles but who knew what lay ahead for us?