by Griff Hosker
I had bloodied the Scots, “Probably, Highness.”
“I like Alexander but many of his lords are devious and seek power. We need to remind him and his lords that they now owe fealty to me. When that is done, I will take a ship from the New Castle. I have business in Gascony.” I felt my heart sink. Such a voyage normally meant a war. Was he going to order me and my archers to accompany him? His next words brought joy to my heart. “As much as I might need your men and your archers my intentions are peaceful. I seek alliances. However, I know that the Scots still regard Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmoreland as their own land. I go to let King Alexander know that they are English and will remain so. Your presence will reinforce the notion. I do not think he will risk your ire.”
I nodded, “I will ever protect England and its people.”
He stopped and turned, “I do not want war. I will need all of my barons and lords when we eventually retake Normandy! I need my northern barons to be as a wall of steel. I want the Scots to fear us rather than risking the petty thievery they engage in. Bishop Poore thinks highly of you as do I. You are the one I leave in command of the north. You protect this border. I give you the power of Earl Marshal of the Northern Marches. I do not want you to go to war but I would have you ensure that my people and lords there are safe.”
“Are there not others, closer to the border, whom you could leave in command, Highness?”
He stopped and looked at me, “You are the one man I can trust. The Earl Marshal’s son showed me that I have to be careful about the men who are given power. I would not have it abused. You are sometimes too honest and plain-spoken.” He smiled, “This is just such an occasion. There are many northern barons I trust but there are others of whom I am suspicious. You are the right man and the fact that you live so far from the border is an inconvenience. You, alone out of most of the northern barons, know the value of horses and your mounted archers are a legend. You will be the Earl Marshal of the North!”
I had refused the title of Earl Marshal before. The King’s voice left me in no doubt. I could not refuse this command, “It would be my honour!”
His smile was genuine, “Good. I know that you will make a good job of this and you would rather be here than traipsing around Gascony with me, wouldn’t you, Sir Thomas?”
I nodded, “Yes, your Highness!”
“See, honest and forthright! You cannot help yourself! Others would have flattered me and given me a comfortable lie. I have an appetite now. Let us eat!”
The journey north was a real test for our new squires and John. Thus far their rides had been in the bailey or on the green. Riding north they were under the scrutiny of lords and their King. I was proud of my grandson for he helped them all he could. I heard him offering advice as he rode behind us. I was just three riders behind the King. This was the first time he had been so far north and I saw him observing all that he could. I had no doubt that he took in the fact that it was barley and oats growing in the fields and not wheat. He saw sheep and cattle grazing together in fields. What he did not see were castles. After mine, the next one he would see was the mighty fortress of Durham. It would show him how frail was our grasp on this land.
The Bishop had been warned of the King’s arrival and we were warmly greeted. The days of conflict between the King and the Bishop of Durham looked to be over. The cavalcade which had followed us from Stockton had to camp on the green before the cathedral. The King was a pious man and he entered the church with the Bishop where they prayed alone. I took the opportunity to speak to the knights he had chosen to bring with him. They seemed eager to speak to an old warhorse like me and they appeared to be good men. Battle would be the real test. They were largely young knights. I wondered at that. Did that mean he did not trust the older ones or had they chosen not to come with him?
Matthew, Mark and our pages found stabling for the horses. What our squires lacked in breeding they made up for with common sense. I saw other squires who just lounged around, waiting for the orders to stable their mounts. Ours had the best stalls for they reached them first. William came over to me, “I had expected dukes and earls to be with the King.”
“As did I. Perhaps he is making his own court. We will just do as he orders.” I smiled. “We are being used as a threat to frighten his brother in law. It would be best if we said little. Silence might intimidate the Scots more.”
He shook his head, “It has taken us all day to reach a place we normally ride in less than a morning. Norham might as well be in Normandy! This will be a long journey.”
I shrugged, “It is how kings travel. He will have his crown jewels with him as well as all of his armour. He does not mean to fight but he will need it When he goes to Gascony, he will have to be prepared for anything. A month or so and we will be back home again. The King will still be abroad. It is the way of kings.”
That evening, as we ate, I found myself, along with my son, on a lesser table than the one with the King, the Bishop and the Sherriff of Northumberland. I saw the King and the Bishop with their heads together. The last time I had been at such a gathering of lords was just before we had headed north to punish the Scots. That was when I had first met Sir Robert of Elsdon. So much had happened since then. William had just been my squire and now he was a knight. I smiled as I watched our squires and John the Smith’s son as they hurried to fetch in more platters of food for us. I saw the youngest of them, Henry Samuel. He looked to be the one who was in control. This was his world.
When I saw the Bishop pointing to me, as he spoke, my heart sank. I was being singled out again. The problem with dining in the same hall as the King was that you could not leave before the King. It was at times like these that I wondered why I left my family. When I had first gone to war it had been out of necessity. I had to earn coin. Then, when my lands were taken, I had to fight to get a home. I had a home now but instead of enjoying time with my children and grandchildren I was enduring a meal with men I did not know.
William was astute, “This will pass, father.” He nodded towards the kitchen door. Henry Samuel was organizing Matthew and Mark. “See my nephew! You would not see this in Stockton. Geoffrey, your steward, would have taken the task from him. This is good for Sam. He is in no danger and yet he is growing and taking his first steps on the path to becoming a warrior.”
“You are right and it may well be my age that makes me fret so.”
When we left, the next day, the Bishop did not come with us. The King did not ask for me to ride next to him and I wondered what that meant. He sat in close conference with the Sherriff. Our next halt was Prudhoe and when we departed that castle the Sherriff left us. Hexham Priory was our last stop before Norham. There we were close to the lands which were claimed by the Scots. The houses of the barons we passed each had a tower. There were defensible ditches. I saw that the farmers worked in the fields but their bows were close to hand. This was the border. It was at Hexham that William and I were summoned to sit with the King and the Prior.
The King was never one for idle chatter. When he had something to say he came directly to the point. “When we were in Durham I spoke with the Bishop about the border. The Palatinate has many manors there. I asked why some were empty. Such an oversight allows those who wish to cause mischief, avenues which they can exploit to cause harm.”
I nodded, “Aye, Highness, it caused the trouble the last time.”
The King frowned. I had interrupted him and that was the wrong thing to do. He drank some wine and continued. “You, Sir William, are recently knighted. You are of your father’s blood. The Earl Marshal was your grandsire. You need a manor. More, I need a baron who can protect my lands. Your father has other duties.”
I knew what was coming and my spirits plummeted.
“Yes, Your Highness. I hope that my father may give me one in the fullness of time when I have earned it.”
The King shook his head. He and my son were of an age and yet the King looked and sounded like a much older man,
“England needs you now! I spoke with the Bishop in Durham and the Prior has confirmed what I had heard. The northern border is still lawless. Bandits and brigands raid from the debatable lands to the Tweed and Jed Water. You are to be the new lord of Elsdon. Many people have left the valley for the Scottish bandits and border raiders still cause havoc. I command you to make the manor of Elsdon safe for our folk. You will ensure that Scottish forces do not use the road to attack the lands of England.”
My son had no choice in the matter, he bowed his head, “I am honoured, Your Highness.”
“You will need to provide twenty men. The manor will not support such a number yet for the manor has been raided too often. The Bishop will pay you forty pounds for two years to allow you to strengthen the manor. There will be no taxes for those two years.”
Forty pounds would not even buy a destrier. Rouncys cost five pounds. His men would need to be mounted. The forty pounds sounded generous but it was not. As Sir Robert had discovered, Elsdon was a poisoned chalice. The difference would be that my son had no wife. He would not have to worry about a family.
My son was quick-witted, “And losses, Highness? I have fought these border bandits before. They hamstring horses. It will be expensive not only in terms of weapons such as arrows, spears and shields but also horses.”
The King frowned. He did not like spending his own money. The Bishop of Durham was funding the manor. “Make an account and send it to the Bishop. Prior, I would have you write to the Bishop and ask him to make good any losses incurred by Sir William.” The Prior nodded. The King then smiled, “Do this, William of Stockton, and there will be greater rewards in the future.”
I bit my tongue. This was no reward. The pampered knights he had brought north with him would never have consented to such a duty. He was using my family. We never refused to serve England. The kings of England since the first Henry had done so.
“Thank you and what are the other manors which are close by?”
The King had the information readily to hand. “There are two. Sir Eustace at Rothbury and Sir James at Otterburn. Yours, as I am sure you know, guards the crossroads which leads to Morpeth and the East as well as Hexham and the south. Yours is the one which must be held.”
I knew Sir James. He was an older knight. He had held his tower when the Scots had last invaded south. Sir Eustace was a new lord of the manor. His predecessor had died at the battle to recapture the captives. He was an unknown quantity. Sir Ranulf of Morpeth was an established lord. I wondered why he had not been asked to manage the border.
“You will come with us to Norham, Sir William. I have no doubt that your father will wish to visit the castle at Elsdon with you.” He smiled, “He has a rare eye for attack and defence. His experience will stand you in good stead.” He stood, “And tomorrow we leave before dawn. I have had enough of this snail’s pace. We ride for Alnwick and the castle of Sir William de Vesci.”
He swept out of the room. It says much about my son and his sharp mind that he did not dwell on his new circumstances but asked the question which was in the back of my mind. “Why did the king detour to Hexham when we could have stayed on the north road and stayed the night in Morpeth which was not far from Alnwick?”
I turned to the Prior. I knew him and he appreciated what had been done by my men and me when we had come north. Some of the captives we had rescued had stayed to live close to the Priory. “Prior, the King must like your Priory to come so far west when our business in the north is so urgent.”
I saw him shift uncomfortably, “My lord, do not be so disingenuous. That is not the question in your heart is it?” I shook my head. He sighed and leaned forward, “The King came here to remind me that this priory exists because he allows it to. We need to pay more taxes for the privilege.”
That made sense. The Augustines were not an order which espoused poverty. There were relics which pilgrims came to see. That generated an income for the town and the Priory benefitted. He had brought us here so that the Prior could see that the King was spending money for the defence of this land. The King knew the value of coin. He used it carefully. He was more cavalier in his use of men.
We retired to our chamber. The Priory was not huge and we had a canon’s cell for the six of us. Only William and I had a bed. The others made do with the floor. For Matthew, Mark and John, this was no hardship but Henry Samuel was not used to such privations. William and I spoke as Sam tried to get comfortable.
“I will need men, father.”
“Of course, and you shall have them. I have more than enough and I do not need them as much as you. I will have Ridley the Giant choose some. They will, perforce, need to be single.” Any other knight would have struggled to make men leave the comfort of Stockton for the wilds of the north and the bloody border but I knew that my son was held in high regard by my men. They would come. “I have coin enough. When we get to the castle do not be afraid to ask me for money. It will need improvement. We still have money from Aunt Ruth.”
I saw the weight of his task sink in. He shook his head, “Am I ready for this?”
“No one would be ready for this task. If Sir Fótr were given the task he would struggle. The King is not being fair, neither is the Bishop. They have neglected this border. We have been given an almost impossible task. I fear this is because of my name and the reputation of our family. We keep our word and we do our duty. I am sorry.”
He laughed, “Do not be. I may not be the Warlord but I have his blood and yours. God has set me a challenge. When I prayed during my vigil I asked for a sign. He has answered me. If I do not relish the task it is not God’s fault. I did not specify an easy life!”
The four youngsters had managed to get to sleep. I looked at them before I blew out the candle, “John can be your page. I do not think that your mother would approve of having her son and grandson both in such a parlous predicament.” I would train Henry Samuel myself. William’s fate was a warning. My grandson could be used too.
“Amen to that!”
We reached Norham two hard days riding later. We had met with de Vesci and William and I had been relegated to a lower table again. We knew our place. We left before dawn. Many of the knights had struggled with the pace. It seemed that the King was keen to complete his task and then head for Gascony. Norham was a fine border castle but it was no palace. We camped. The constable had had a pavilion erected so that the two kings could meet. Berwick was not far away and the Scottish King and Queen would be accommodated there.
Our squires had led sumpters with spare clothes. A knight did not meet a King and his Queen wearing a soiled surcoat. This was the sort of expense Robert of Elsdon worried about. Now, of course, he would be Robert of Redmarshal. My son was the new lord of the northern outpost he and his brother had left. We washed and changed into new surcoats. Our squires and pages were learning that serving a knight meant far more than practising with a sword. They had to wash the dirty surcoats and find some way of drying them.
That night the King dined with just twenty of us. He needed to impress upon us all the tone he would adopt. He wanted no one to disrupt his plans. He meant, of course, me, “Earl Thomas, I must insist that you curb any desire to seek vengeance upon the Earl of Fife. He may well be present at this meeting. I have told you already about my suspicions. Remember the words I spoke in Stockton! I wish peace on the border but peace on my terms. I cannot have petty squabbles disrupting it.” I bit my tongue. Petty squabbles to the King, safe in London, but matters of life and death here in the north. “I intend to let King Alexander know that I will not condone border raids. The lands his lords seek are English. It seems our last embassy did not work.” He smiled at me, “Not your fault, Earl, they thought me distracted by Poitou. I will show them differently. They think I am still a boy. I will show them a man! They shall not ignore my words this time.”
The other knights applauded and banged the table.
The King turned to me, “I would have you and your son present seriou
s faces. Your visages can appear belligerent but your voices will be silent.”
King Alexander and Queen Joan arrived at noon. King Henry had been kept waiting since the early morning. I knew he was unhappy at the slight. I saw, in the entourage, Malcolm, Earl of Fife. There were other nobles against whom I had fought. I studied the faces. Would I be fighting them soon? I saw my son doing the same. He was being introduced to his enemies!
King Henry was clever and he greeted his sister warmly. It was a snub to King Alexander but one which could not be contested, “Sister! How does the clime here suit you?”
“It is not Gascony, that is certain, but it does have its charm. It is good to see you, brother.” She saw me and gave me a smile. For some reason, she seemed to like me.
The King took her to the throne which had been placed for her. His throne was the largest and I saw King Alexander take in that fact. His face showed his displeasure and his voice was almost petulant when he spoke, “So, King Henry, we have come as we were requested. What is it that you wish?”
“When I sent the Earl of Cleveland to speak with you about the border raids, I thought that I had made clear that Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmoreland are all English. I have heard of more raids across the border and, worse, I have heard that some of your lords,” he stared at Malcolm, the Earl of Fife, “have also expressed the opinion that those lands are still Scottish.”
The King of Scotland cast an irritable glance at his earl who just stared belligerently at me. “Brother, I cannot control what my lords think and I cannot ensure that bandits, who are of both English and Scottish blood, will not commit crimes. All whom we catch are tried and sentenced.” There was deceit in his words. The sentence should have been death but the Prior of Hexham had told us that most of the bandits caught by the Scots were fined. “Perhaps you should make your side of the rivers stronger.”