If the capture of most of these castles did not take so very long, the destruction and demolition of them afterwards did, ten-foot-thick walling being difficult to cast down. Squads had to be left behind to work at each, a delaying process, again less than popular with the troops. However, as far as David was concerned, there was no hurry, at this stage. The expedition was a gesture in support of Maud. He had sent word of it, before starting, to Robert of Gloucester at Arundel, and anticipating suitable reaction, some co-ordinated move by the Empress's forces, he hoped that Stephen would be caught between two or more armies and be forced to retreat or negotiate. So until he heard from the south, David could afford to dawdle - and to strengthen his hold on Northumbria.
In due course they reached the Tyne, still without any word from the Earl Robert. Here Rufus's great castle, which guarded the first suitable and sheltered ferrying-place above the estuary, again yielded after an exchange of pleasantries. If many of the Scots could scarcely credit their good fortune, and the ease with which they won these strengths, David reminded them that it was an expression of the unpopularity of the usurping Stephen, here in the North at least, indicating that most in the land, Normans as well as Saxons, were in fact faithful to the Empress. It was not all some vaunted prowess of the Scots, however much they might like to think so.
But the said Empress seemed notably slow to move in her own cause - or to see that her supporters in England did so, if she was still in Aquitaine. David began to get seriously concerned at the lack of any sign of positive action against the usurper, other than his own. So much for Henry Beauclerc's oath-swearing at Windsor.
They moved on towards Durham. Northumbria stopped at the Tees, where York commenced. They would go no farther meantime.
But before they reached Durham, information at last reached them - although it was not the news they looked for. Stephen himself was on the way north to meet them, and allegedly with the largest army ever to have been seen in England. He was no farther off than York.
Decision had to be swift. The Scots gesture looked like changing character drastically. It was no part of David's strategy at this stage to fight any major battle, especially not against what sounded like a vastly superior force, and with no least indication that there was any support in the offing. He plumped for discretion meantime. He would forego any idea of taking Durham as warning to Thurstan, and move back to the Tyne, to put himself behind that easily defendable water-barrier. And he would send out scouts to try to ascertain the true strength of Stephen's array, and his intentions as far as was possible.
So retiral was made to the Tyne, and David took up his quarters in Rufus's castle. There was now a feeling of tension in the Scots force.
In due course the scouts returned with what they had gleaned. Stephen's army was indeed large, if not perhaps quite so large as suggested. They reckoned it as perhaps between twenty and thirty thousand, mainly foreign mercenaries from Brittany and Flanders, with no large proportion of chivalry. It seemed that, like Henry before him, Stephen's first act had been to seize the royal treasure chests, in which he had found no less than three hundred thousand marks in silver and gold, it was alleged. He was spending this like water, to consolidate his hold on the throne; granting bribes and subventions left and right and large pensions of as much as three and five thousand marks to powerful men who should have supported Maud; buying the clergy with gifts and grants of land to the Church; above all hiring fighting men by the score of thousands from overseas, to make up for the lack of enthusiasm in England. He and his vast host were now approaching Durham.
Digesting this news David, whilst agreeing with his lieutenants that it was serious indeed, did not accede that it warranted immediate retiral on Scotland, as some urged. He saw more than a gleam of hope in it all. A would-be monarch who was reduced to importing many thousands of mercenaries to support his cause, must be markedly unsure of his position in the country. Stephen therefore was treading on thin ice, and would know it all too well. He would be aware of marching through a land ready to rise behind him, always an unnerving experience for any commander - and Stephen was young, inexperienced, save in jousting and the like, at which he was an expert performer. And he was of an unstable character. David guessed that he would be in a very uncertain state - which must be exploited, if possible. Five thousand Scots, solidly ranked behind the Tyne, with a Northumbria hostile to the usurper all round, and a sullen Middle England behind, would be apt to give any commander pause. Stephen, at the end of a long forced march from the South, might well be prepared to temporise meantime.
Reasoning thus, David sent a deputation forward, under Hugo de Morville, Deputy Constable, to propose a meeting, midway between their armies, say at Chester-le-Street, where they might discuss their differences.
In due course Hugo came back with an indeterminate response. Stephen would consider the matter.
There was much debate as to what this meant. Hugo said that the size of the opposing army certainly had not been exaggerated; but it was also true that it was very obviously composed mainly of mercenaries, and of the roughest type. He had seen very few Norman English lords. Stephen had seemed uneasy, irritable as well as arrogant. His brother Henry, the Bishop, was with him, and Hugo had the impression that he was influential and counselling caution.
It looked then as though Stephen preferred to wait. For what? Reinforcements? Surely that should be unnecessary. He would certainly have scouts out who would have told him that he had four or five times the numbers of the Scots in front. Then, either he did not trust his own troops, dreaded putting all to the test of war; or else was afraid of what might be going on in his rear, of England perhaps rising behind him. David judged this to be the most likely reason for the uncertainty and delay. In which case waiting was unlikely greatly to benefit him -whilst it might help the Scots, strongly-placed behind the unfordable Tyne. If they could rouse the Northumbrian folk to rise, all over, not actually to fight but to display their sympathy with the Scots and their hostility towards the usurper, especially to disorganise, if not cut off, the necessary food supplies for his large host, which had to live off the country, then the waiting period might well prove to their advantage.
So David sent out emissaries all over the province, urging local musters and marchings, and especially rough handling of Stephen's foraging bands - in all of which the Northumbrians were well content to co-operate. He considered sending for reinforcements from Scotland, but decided against it. Larger numbers of Scots might in the end be counter-productive.
They waited for two whole weeks, the two armies facing each other at a distance of about fifteen miles, inactive - although the folk of Northumbria were busy enough with demonstrations and the like. Many of David's people grew very impatient, especially the Normans, declaring that this was no way to conduct a campaign, arguing that if the enemy was sufficiently scared not to move, it was up to themselves to take advantage, to strike first and keep on striking. Timorousness would avail them nothing. Hervey de Warenne was of this persuasion, needless to say. But David was not to be moved.
Then, at last, Henry, Bishop of Winchester himself arrived from Durham. He declared that King Stephen was now prepared to speak with King David. He would meet him at Chester-le-Street, as suggested, two days hence, one hundred men only to accompany each monarch.
* * *
It was quite a performance to ensure that both sides arrived at the venue, the site of the former Roman fort, at precisely the same moment, so that neither king could seem to have to wait for the other. All concerned were clad as though for war -although David could not rival Stephen's splendour, in crown-encircled helmet, gold-scaled armour and colourful horse-furniture.
"Mummery!" Hervey scoffed. "Play-acting! Is this what we have come for?"
"It may well be," David told him. "But we may not act quite the same play! In my mummery the costume is less important than the words!"
The two sides drew up in long lines facing each other about a scor
e of yards apart, the principals under their banners in the centre. Stephen was quick to get in the first word.
"I would greet you more warmly, King David, were you not deep in my realm in armed force."
"I am deep in Northumbria, Stephen fitz Stephen - which is scarcely the same. Northumbria has always been part of my realm of Scotland. But ... I greet you fairly."
"You have brought thousands of men to Northumbria. Why, if it is yours?"
"Five thousand only — but a fifth of yours. I could scarcely have come with less. And might have brought so many more! Is it not so? You have!"
Stephen tried another tack. "When last I saw you, you were not claiming Northumbria as yours."
"When last I saw you, you were swearing support for the Empress should her father die!"
"Conditions change. Kingdoms cannot be ruled by the testaments of dead men! You know that as well as any. The English asked me, the heir-male, to be their King, in place of a woman. It was best. For all."
"The people of England? I think that you . . . exaggerate!"
"All who matter did."
"You say so? Does not the Earl of Gloucester matter? Nor the Earl of Cornwall? Nor the Earl of Surrey? Nor even such as my son the Earl of Huntingdon?"
"I have just heard that my cousin Robert of Gloucester has accepted a pension of five thousand marks for his support of me! I bought Henry's other bastard, Cornwall, for considerably less, some time ago!"
David had difficulty in masking his expression, achieving only a sort of wooden immobility. So that was why there had been no word from Gloucester at Arundel, no move to match his own invasion. It would be, also, why Stephen had waited — for confirmation. So there was to be no uprising. Only Aw own oath apparently had meant anything at all. And he had brought his Scots force into the jaws of disaster for nothing . . .
Or not disaster, yet. The immediate situation had not changed, whatever the longer-term outlook. Hoping that his voice sounded calm, unperturbed, he spoke.
"Bastards may so behave. But I would not rely on bought men to keep their bargains, Stephen - any kind of bought men, high or low! You should watch your back, I think! There is still a lot of England who care nothing for Henry's bastards. Too many to find pensions for, with even Henry's treasure!"
"We shall see. As for you - what do you want?"
Again David had to disguise his surprise. "Want?" He swallowed. "I am not in the market-place! I want nothing that is not my own. What I have come to take. There is no buying me. I am come only for my provinces of Northumbria and Cumbria. Naught else." He hoped that his voice sounded steady.
There was a long silence, while Stephen chewed at his lip. He turned to exchange a few words, low-voiced, with his brother. At last he spoke.
"If I accede to this, in some measure, will you return to Scotland?"
The Scots could scarcely believe their ears. David inclined his head. "If the arrangement is satisfactory, yes." "You swear it?"
"I do not require to swear to keep my word, sir! And I would not have believed that you put much faith in oaths! But, in the circumstances - yes. I am willing to swear that my main armed strength will return to Scotland forthwith if you agree to cede Northumbria and Cumbria to my realm."
"No - not that, man. Not to your realm. To you. Not to Scotland — to yourself. Two earldoms — for which you would do homage to me."
"Ah! That is a different matter altogether. No, my friend - I, King of Scots, will do homage to no man. Your uncle sought that, and did not gain it. I will nowise yield it to you, for Northumbria or Cumbria or any other."
There was another lengthy pause, while Stephen conferred.
"Then I fear we must do battle!" he said at length. "I have been more than reasonable. I cannot do more. And you cannot win such battle, David. My host is many times greater than yours."
"Greater in numbers than the Scots I have brought - who did not come to fight you. But not greater than the Northumbrians! All Northumbria will rise against you, at my behest. Already they are mustering. And you have got to win across Tyne. Think you that will be easy? With an entire province against you, under Scots leadership? You will never do it."
In the further period for thought, young Henry whispered to his father that he could do fealty to Stephen for Northumbria and Cumbria, as for Huntingdon, without compromising the Scots crown. David nodded. He had thought of that, but he said to wait.
It was as though the other had heard them. "A pity to shed blood when reason could and should prevail," he called. "Your son, there, is one of my earls - Huntingdon. If he can make homage for Huntingdon, why not Northumbria and Cumbria? I will not part these from England—but could yield them as fiefs to a Scots earl."
"They are Scots soil, I say. But... it might be considered."
"Do so consider, then. Unless you desire war."
"I am not afraid of war. But not over Northumbria and Cumbria. But for my oath of support for Maud."
"Your oath was made to Henry, not Maud — and Henry is dead. Would you make war for a dead man? Consider well," Stephen waved a gauntleted hand. "I also go to consider this matter." He turned round, and rode a little way back from his line.
David, for his part, did not move, as a matter of policy. Also there was really nothing to consider. They were gaining infinitely more than they could have hoped for — Cumbria in addition to Northumbria. And without having to fight. Admittedly, not to be part of Scotland - but this in name only. Time could well change that. Young Henry's fealty would not tie the King of Scots. Even David's fire-eating Normans did not require this to be pointed out to them - although their attitudes tended to be that since Stephen, with his great army, was so reluctant to put matters to the test, they ought to fight and win the more.
When presently Stephen returned with his advisers, David was quick to speak first.
"What have you decided, my friend? Do we battle or do we not?"
"It is you who must decide, not me," the other answered. And then, as though that might sound weak, he went on, "I have gone as far as I can with you, man. If you promise to withdraw your array back to Scotland, and no more threaten my realm. And if the Prince your son will do fealty to me for Northumbria and Cumbria, I will convey into his hands the royal castles of Tyne and Caer-luel. Better than that I cannot do. For the friendship of our two realms."
"Rufus's new castle on Tyne is already in my hands," David returned, but not forcefully.
"Do you agree, sir?" That was almost agitated.
"I do." David spoke firmly now. "The castle of Caer-luel. My son does fealty to you for the two provinces, to Tees and Ribble. And I retire to Scotland."
"And you will no more threaten my kingdom?"
"Not unless you give me new cause, Stephen."
"Very well. We are all here witness to your promise. I shall have the documents scribed, signed and sealed. The Prince Henry, Earl of Huntingdon, to accompany me back to York, there to swear fealty with due ceremony. Then to receive the documents. Come if you will, also."
"I thank you-no. I will return to Scotland. One last matter-you will recall Ivo de Vesci, from Bamburgh? And Randolph de Meschin from Caer-luel? With all their people? I do not wish to meet either."
"Very well. They are no friends of mine." Stephen hesitated, then. "David — you have not once addressed me as King. Have you forgot?"
"No, sir. I have not forgotten my oath, to Maud."
"But I am King of England, whatever your oath, man! Duly crowned and anointed. By the Archbishop of Canterbury. And all ratified by a Bull of Pope Innocent."
"I do not greatly esteem either of your archbishops - who both also pronounced support for the Empress! And I do not recognise Innocent as Pope, but Anacletus - so his Bulls scarcely concern me!"
They left it at that.
A party of young knights were selected to accompany Henry on his visit to York. David had some advice for his son, but had sufficient confidence in his good sense to be sure that he would know how to c
ope with most that Stephen might produce.
David turned his face northwards, still scarcely believing that he had achieved, in one short hour and by mere words, gestures, what his father had spent a lifetime trying to achieve with fire and sword.
28
DAVID'S FEAR THAT it had all been just too easy was justified. At first all seemed to go well enough. Young Henry sent back word to his father that Stephen was being notably gracious. The fealty-swearing had gone off without incident and the charters of Northumbria and Cumbria duly handed over - Henry's messenger bringing these back to Scotland with him. Henry himself, at Stephen's pressing invitation, had gone south with the English army, to London, for a visit. He thought it wise to accede to this, so that he might learn more of the true situation there and the mood prevailing in England.
David was well pleased with his son.
Then stories began to come from the South presaging trouble. Stephen, feeling more secure on the throne, was beginning to act the tyrant. Instead of handing out largesse he was raking in fierce taxation again, oppressing the people, riding roughshod over the sensibilities of rich and poor, Norman and Saxon alike. He was certainly not fulfilling his promise to his subjects. Would he be any more likely to fulfil them towards David his enemy? To gain early support he had said that he would abolish most of the hated forest laws, and the worst excesses of serfdom on the indigenous population. He now did the reverse, and this served to offend both people and nobles — for though the royal forests, covering so vast an area, were to be reduced, the land involved had been promised to the nobles and clergy. Chaos was therefore developing in much of England, with little or no attempts made at good government or any firm control. As far as David and Scotland were concerned, neither de Vesci nor de Meschin was withdrawn from Bamburgh or Caer-luel, both continuing to behave as though nothing was changed. David was prepared to be patient, but he began to fear that steps would require to be taken.
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