by Griff Hosker
“I expected more anger but I think he was calm because he had already heard the news. There is a spy in Chester.”
His face screwed up in irritation rather than anger, “I should have known. They were always Richard’s men. What were his exact words for I see you come without parchment?”
“He would not commit to writing. Let me think.” I closed my eyes so that I could hear them again, “‘I have not yet asked for ransom, however, when I do, then the ransom will be for me and my men for we earned it through force of arms.’”
“He is being clever. He does not disobey me nor does he obey me, but I can see from your face that there is more.”
“It seemed to me, King Henry, that Earl Douglas was content to be in Warkworth. He might not have been as easy as Mortimer with Glendower but he did not seem to me like a beaten man.”
“Then this is a conspiracy. They think to trap us between two stones; Wales and Scotland. And now the French are involved, I am surrounded by enemies.” He stared at the fire and then suddenly turned, his hawk-like eyes fixed on me. “He let you go?”
“He sent men to kill us, twice.”
The King laughed so loudly that the lords all turned to stare at him. “I knew you were the right man to send.” I thought it a little cold. It suggested that he expected me to die. He must have realised that. “I am sorry, Strongstaff, but I knew that you had enough men to escape any trap he set.”
“I took but eight men and a squire, Your Majesty.”
He looked genuinely shocked, “Then I am sorry. I assumed you would take all of your men.”
“I did not go to start a war, Your Majesty, unless that was your intention.”
He shifted uncomfortably, “No, of course not. Was there more?”
“He laid the trap so that the blame would be at the doorstep of the Earl of Westmoreland.”
“You have proof it was Percy’s men?”
I took out the three pieces of horse furniture. “These were on their horses and they had French and Welsh coins in their purses. It is not conclusive but…”
“You are right. So, I need to do something to drive a wedge between the Percy family and the Douglas clan.”
“They seemed very close, Your Majesty.”
“Not the son, the hothead. He is lost to us now. It is just the manner of his death which is to be decided, no I speak of his father the Earl. I have a mind to give him the lands of Douglas in Scotland.”
“Are they yours to give, King Henry?
“Enough of them are and the simple act will drive a wedge between them. Keep this to yourself Strongstaff. I am thinking aloud and I may not do this yet.” I nodded. “I value your opinion. You knew more than I did in Lithuania. How do you see this situation?”
“I think Your Majesty has it aright. There is a conspiracy. There is too much coincidence here for it to be other. The question is the timing. This seems to me like the time Simon de Montfort and his son had two armies and thought to crush Prince Edward.”
He leaned forward, eagerly, “Aye and the Prince turned the tables on them defeating first one and then the other.” He leaned back again and I saw him planning and plotting. I said nothing. He turned to me after a while and said, “My son has asked for you to go to him in March.” I nodded, “Just take your men. I would have your knights await my pleasure for I will use Northampton as my base. My son will be bait but I am neither callous nor heartless. I know with that defender of kings at his side, you, Strongstaff, he will not come to harm. It has taken me a long time to realise this but I know it now. When this is all over and England is at peace then I will reward you properly. I have not done so yet but you deserve more.”
“You need not, King Henry, for everything I do is for England and its King. I have done it my whole life and I cannot change now.”
“And that is why I will reward you for you do not ask when others do less and demand! Enjoy the time with your family!”
Christmas was joyous. I had my first grandson, William, for he was born while I spoke with the King. Sir Richard and Alice joined Thomas and Mary at my home. I had not had many Christmas celebrations but this one made me wish to enjoy such a one every year. It was perfect. My children were all at home and I was accorded honour, love and laughter. What more could a man wish for? I had something I had never had while growing up. I had a family. My extended family, my men at arms and archers also enjoyed the celebration. My wife had an old cow butchered and we feasted as we had never feasted before. The twelve days of Christmas were celebrated in every way possible. When it was over and my daughter, grandson and Sir Richard returned home, I felt an emptiness inside. Of course, it was soon replaced with anticipation for Mary was also with child. I would have a second grandchild! God was smiling on me.
We also received news, when Sir Richard came, that Sir Edmund Mortimer had shown his true colours. He had joined the rebels of Wales and married Glendower’s daughter. It had come as a surprise to Sir Richard and his father but not to me. The battle where he had surrendered had been part of a clever plot. King Henry and his son had been proved right.
It was January when God ceased to be so benign. He sent me an ailment which brought me close to death. Had I been abroad I might have suspected poison. At first, I brought forth the food I had eaten the night before and that was replaced by shaking and shivering. I grew hot and feverous. My wife put me to bed and watched me herself. She waited two days to see if I would improve but I did not. I spent more time asleep than awake and that sleep was troubled. I saw the faces of all those I had killed in battle. Worse, I watched those I had loved die before my eyes again. Then I had a dream of a battle so terrible that I had never seen the like before. I saw the Prince, wounded and many men surrounding the King and hacking at him. I woke in the dark shivering. A hand stroked my head and I fell into a troubled sleep once more.
On one of the occasions I woke I saw, above me, the doctor from Northampton Castle. In my delirious state, I wondered if he had come to tend my wounds as he had often tended the wounds of my men. Then I realised that I could not hear his words, nor those of my tearful wife who clutched at his arm. Was I dying? I saw no priest and then thought that this was all a dream. The next I knew I was cold and clammy but my head felt as though men were hammering with war hammers on my helmet. I found I could barely breathe. It was as though a sea was washing over me and then all went black. I woke and all was dark but I knew, somehow, that I had not left my bedchamber. I tried to move my arms and move the bed covers but I had no strength in them. I tried to sit up and I did not have the strength but I did hear a voice. It was Harry’s.
“Mother, he stirs, I will fetch a light.”
I felt a warm hand on my hand, “Lord, but he is still cold!”
The room was bathed in light as the candle was lit and I saw my wife’s face above me and that of Harry. I tried to speak but it came out as a croak.
“Here, father, have some boiled water. The doctor said you would be thirsty.”
“You live husband! You live!” She leaned down and kissed my forehead.
Harry raised my head and poured some water into my mouth. I drank heavily and then Harry laid down my head. “What happened? How long….”
“Ssh, speak not, husband, and I will be the teller of the tale. Harry, go and have the cook warm the broth and send riders to Thomas and Alice. Tell them that their father lives! Tell the priest we do not need him but he should give thanks to God for bringing back our lord.” Harry went and I wondered at my wife’s words. “You were struck down with some pestilence. The doctor from the castle came and gave you a potion.” She buried her head in my chest and began to sob, “I am sorry, husband, I have failed you. I dallied and delayed instead of sending for him when you first fell ill. I thought it was a winter chill and I could heal you.”
“All is well.”
She raised her head and mopped my brow with a cloth. “You have lain between life and death these seven days. The doctor said that the ague would leave you in ei
ght days or you would be dead.”
I closed my eyes. Seven days. I had not been inactive for seven days my whole life.
I felt my wife’s hand stroking my head, “I thought I had lost you and that made me realise just how much I would miss you if you died. You go to war and death is part of war but, somehow, no matter how perilous the position, I always believe that you will return. I have not prepared myself for your death and I see now how wrong that is. Each time you return I am pleased to see you but I just look at the profit you have returned.” She made the sign of the cross. “God has punished me for my greed! We have money enough and it is people who are more important and none is more important to me than you! We have stewards and reeves who are good people. We have a grandchild and that is what we will focus upon. We have had an epiphany, husband and God has sent us a sign. We will not ignore his warning.”
I gave my wife a wan smile which she took to be a sign of my illness but I knew that I had at least one more battle to fight. I had promised Prince Henry that I would be at his side when he rooted out Glendower and I would keep my word. I had less than two months to recover my health for I could not even rise from my bed! I prayed to God that he would help me to recover in time.
Chapter 16
I was not allowed to leave my bed, save to make water, for a week. Thomas and Mary, Alice and Sir Richard all visited with me. The bairn was kept from me for fear that some part of the pestilence remained. I assured them all that I was well and on the mend. Thomas had taken over my duties as lord and that pleased me. He had ensured that all of the men of the manor had practised each Sunday. He had worked with my archers and men at arms. Although he had heard of my illness the King had not bothered to ask after me and that had angered my son and wife.
Thomas had shaken his head, angrily, “You probably picked up whatever ailment it was while on his service. He uses you like a hunting dog and it is not right!”
“No, son, he is the King and above such things. I know that I am used and it is my choice. I could refuse service for I am asked to do more than my title and duty demands but I choose to do what I do for the King. It is my choice, always remember that.”
I told him, while his mother was absent, that I would be going to Wales in March but that he and the others would not have to.
“So, we will sit safely behind our walls, as will the King, while you and Harry risk your lives with Prince Henry?”
“No, for I think the King will be heading north.” I had worked that out over Christmas. My words about Prince Edward and the machinations of de Montfort had stirred an idea in his mind.
“You are too weak at the moment to stir from this hall let alone mount a horse.”
“Let me worry about that. We have food aplenty and I know how to recover. I watched men recover from such ailments in Spain. They did not hide under their blankets; they got to their feet and fought the ailment as they would an enemy armed with a sword. My problem is your mother. She will not understand. I need your help with her. You have shown that you are prepared to take over the manor and that is good. Now you need to help me become Baron Strongstaff once more.”
He shook his head, “We will never change you, father, I can see that and the best that we can do is to keep you alive as long as we can despite your efforts, the King’s and, it appears, God’s to end your life as quickly as possible!”
When I rose, my wife tried to contain me in the bedchamber but I persuaded her to allow me the run of the hall. I ate all that was put before me. I became the child of seven summers who was always hungry and gnawed a bone through to the marrow! When my wife was absent, I took my sword and went through the strokes and moves I had had as my daily routine when I had been King Richard’s guard. At first, I was pathetically weak but a combination of determination and good food made me stronger.
God sent us good weather as Spring approached and I used that as an opportunity to leave the hall. I waited until my wife went with Mary, my daughter, to visit Alice and my grandson. I had James the horse master fetch Hart. Harold of Lincoln, now firmly established as one of my men, fetched Harry’s horse too.
“You do not think I would let you ride alone did you?” My squire grinned at me.
I confess that I was grateful. The weather had improved but after such a long time in a warm hall, the cold hit me like a slap in the face. Hart seemed to sense my condition and she picked her way on the smoothest path possible. I used the ride to speak with my son. “We will need to ride to Shrewsbury at the start of March. Your mother will not be happy and so you shall have to organise this. Call it part of your training as a knight.”
The happy go lucky boy who had helped Thomas had now become a serious young man who had almost lost his father. “Your ailment has made me realise that we all take you for granted too much. Do not fear, father, you now have a second cloak upon your back. When you ride into battle I will be as close to you as your backplate.”
I patted Hart and smiled at my son, “Hopefully, it will not come to that. Prince Henry has learned much and I am confident that together we can end Glendower and his threat.”
“I have already spoken with Edgar and Alan. All will be ready. They have a great number of arrows. The only problem is Gurth Garthson. He is eager to ride with us. Alan is reluctant to take him for his leg, while healing, does not allow him to move as quickly as he ought.”
“Then when we return, I will speak with him. I take it his wife does not share his opinion?”
He laughed, “You read minds now, eh, father? Aye, you are right. She is with child again and she wishes her husband to stay closer to home.”
Gurth and his wife had three children. Taking him north had almost robbed his family of their father. When we returned from the ride I called in at his smallholding. He farmed half an acre and had a few animals. His wife made cheese. He limped out to see us when he heard the horses approach. “My lord, it is good to see you well. We were worried.”
I dismounted and found myself chafed; the illness had taken my edge away. I would have to ride daily to truly recover. “And you too, Gurth. May we come in?”
“Of course, lord.” He stood aside to allow us to enter.
His wife, Anne, heavily pregnant, was trying to tidy. I waved her sit, “Mistress Anne, sit for you are with child and what I need to say concerns you too.” She looked at me. “It is a command.” She sat and the three children all stared at me. I smiled at them, “You know your father is a brave man?” They nodded. “Gurth, I saw that your wound troubles you still.”
“It will get better, lord. We ride to war and I do not have to run.”
“Yet, in battle, we cannot predict what will happen, can we? What if you fell behind and could not run? We both know that your comrades would not leave you and your lameness might be the cause of their death!”
“That will not happen, lord.”
I laughed. “It seems that illness makes us all fortune tellers. Gurth, you have a family as I do. I would have you as guardian of my hall. Your home is attached to the hall and when I am absent I would have you command the men of the hall and guard my family and my manor. They all use the bow and you would be their captain. I would pay you for the task.”
I saw gratitude in his wife’s eyes. Proud Gurth said, “You need not pay me, lord. If you wish me to do this then I will.”
“And a bodyguard is worthy of his hire. I should know for I was the King’s bodyguard. You accept?”
“Aye, lord, I do.”
“Then you will take over the Sunday training and when I go to war you will organise the watch.”
Mistress Anne rushed over and kissed my hand, “My lord, thank you. I will pray for your recovery in church.”
We left and I told Alan of the Woods of the arrangement. He was pleased for he knew the risk a lame warrior brought to a company. “And you know we will need all of the archers.” He nodded. “Allow them all the time you can with their families for I know not how long it will take to quell the We
lsh.”
“Aye, lord, they are expecting a long campaign. And it is good to see you up and about. We all prayed for you.”.
I was touched by the affection shown to me by my men. It contrasted with the way men felt about our King. His son, in contrast, was a Prince men would die for.
I had to broach the subject of my departure towards the end of February. I had expected a storm but I endured a hurricane from my wife. She wondered if I had lost my senses. She swore that the illness had affected my mind and that I should be locked up for my own safety. I allowed her to bluster as I suffered the torrent of tears and arguments.
When she had cried herself out, I said, “Wife, you told me that you did not fear my death in battle. It was an ailment which hurt me. I have given money to the church to thank God for my salvation. I go to war and there, I believe, I will survive. Tell me truly, wife, when was the last time we lost a man?” She could not think of an answer. “There you have it. I promise that I will return and I leave Thomas at home, along with my other knights. He will see his child born.”
She was slightly mollified but still upset, “And will this be your last war?”
“How do I know that? I am a Baron and I have a great responsibility. Should I have refused the honour? Would you rather I was just a gentleman?”
She shook her head. We would not have enjoyed the life we had if I had remained a knight or gentleman. She took my hands in hers, “I do not wish to lose you. I know I have taken you for granted and worried too much about crops and coin. That is over. When you return from Wales you will see a new Eleanor.”
We left on the last day of February. I had both Hawk and Hart. Harry had a new courser which James and Harold had schooled for him. We took a wagon with arrows, spears and spare mail. We had four servants. All of them had been soldiers. We headed for Shrewsbury. It was a bastion against the Welsh. The Prince had realised that Chester was too remote and Shrewsbury allowed him access to both the heart of Wales as well as the north. I hoped that my men would be accommodated in the castle but we took tents in case they had to make do with the fields. The journey took four days. When we began the journey, I was not fully recovered but the ride and the routine of a route march completed it. I knew that my arms still needed to recover their strength but that would come. I was aware of the concern of Harry and my men. They watched me constantly as though they expected a relapse.