The Bloody Border

by Griff Hosker

  Dick knew that his mother was coming and as the wagon entered the lower bailey, he broke free from Anne and ran towards the wagon. The reunion was touching. I nudged my horse close to Anne, “Thank you, Mistress Anne. “

  She nodded and linked her husband, “Aye, lord, but the trouble is that I now wish one of my own. So far God has denied us one. Perhaps my good deed will stand us in good stead.”

  “I will pray for you both. You are good people and deserve children.”

  Tam nodded as Brother Paul and Alan of Bellingham approached, “They will stay here for a while then, Sir William?”

  “I think, Tam, that they wish to say here permanently. That may change once they have got over their incarceration but I do not know. I do know that I will not throw them out.”

  My reeve and priest had heard my words and their nods showed their approval. “Do not worry, my lord. We can cope. I have been going over the accounts while you were abroad. Thanks to the Bishop’s dispensation we have more funds available this year. We have another year before we pay tax. I thought to buy more sheep.” I dismounted and handed my reins to John. Alan saw the question on my face. “The inner and lower bailey can be used for all the year grazing. I saw that was possible when we cleared the snow. You have many women here and they can both milk the sheep and weave their wool. When I went to Morpeth, I saw that the woollen goods fetched a high price.”

  “Thank you, Alan of Bellingham. You were a warrior priest but I can see that you have a clever mind.”

  “I think that I was chosen to end my days here. If I can make Elsdon stronger than it was then that will be a monument. I fear that the Holy Land is lost to us and all those who died there, died in vain.”

  Brother Paul said, “And if you need a potion to help you sleep then ask me. They told me of the wound you suffered.”

  I pointed to the women and children who were climbing from the wagon. “They suffered more and for longer. The Scots will come and they will seek vengeance. I will try to visit my farmers tomorrow. I will need to explain why they will have to suffer.”

  “No lord, you do not. Rafe and the others know that this is the right thing that you did. They will be vigilant!”

  The next days were filled with so much work that I had no time to worry about my wound. We had new dwellings to build. Alan and some of my archers went to Morpeth to buy the sheep. I wrote another letter to my father and one to the Bishop. I explained what I had done. I knew I was leaving written evidence which could come back to haunt me but I had done the right thing and that was all that counted. The worst that could happen would be if I lost the manor. The people would not suffer. I found myself dreading such a loss. I now felt as though these were my people yet I barely knew them.

  Tam made new weapons. Matthew made me a leather hauberk to go under my mail. My men at arms planned new defences and, each day, two riders rode to Otterburn and back. I had already spoken with my farmers and they knew what was expected.

  What I did not expect was the visit from Sir Eustace of Rothbury. A week after my return, when I could move a little more freely and the new homes were started, he and six riders appeared. I recognised Godfrey of Etal. Sir Eustace’s face was as black as thunder.

  I smiled, “Welcome to my castle, Sir Eustace.”

  He jabbed a finger at me, “Listen to me you arrogant young cockerel! I am here to ask you what you have done!”

  I was taken aback at the vehemence of his words. This was my castle and my manor! I squared up to him, “And I will ask you to speak civilly to me or I shall be forced to use my sword.”

  “You would threaten me?”

  “You are a baron as am I and I will be treated with respect or know the reason why. What will it be? Do you moderate your tone? Leave? Or do we draw swords! Any are acceptable to me!” His men’s hands were edging towards their swords and I saw my men at arms drawing close. “Make your decision quickly or this will become a bloodbath and I would hate to have to explain to the Bishop why I had to slay you!”

  He was outnumbered. He waved a hand to his men, “Sheathe your swords. Sir William and I will retire inside his keep so that we may speak in private.”

  I smiled, “If I invite you in.”

  I saw the anger on his face but he saw the futility of his position, “I beg leave, Sir William, to enter your keep.”

  “Of course. Matthew, fetch us some wine. John, see to his lordship’s horses. Roger Two Swords, entertain our guests, would you?” I said nothing until we were in my hall. I gestured to a chair. They were still the crudely made ones. We had had no time for better. I saw the look of distaste on Sir Eustace’s face.

  When we were alone with our squires, he became angry once more, “What possessed you to attack the Scots?”

  “There were captives who needed rescuing.”

  “You could have negotiated!”

  “And they would have been moved. As I recall neither you nor Sir Ranulf showed much interest in helping me when the captives were taken. I sent messages, I wrote you letters telling you of the attacks. You did nothing.” His silence told me that I had been deliberately ignored. This was not an oversight. “I will say this, Sir Eustace, I am a knight who has been brought up to be both chivalrous and loyal. If you had sent to me for aid then I would have come. I will not make the mistake of relying on you again. I will deal with the Scots, with bandits and with my enemies, my way,”

  “You risk making this border run with blood! There has been enough fighting. We should speak with the Scots. We could have bought back the captives!”

  “Paying bandits and thieves encourages them! That is appeasement and it rarely works.”

  “And what of the Bishop?”

  “I told the Bishop what I intended. It is sad that a young knight and an old one are the only two who will stand up to this brigandage and banditry!”

  He downed his wine, “You go too far, Sir William.”

  “When we were in my bailey, I gave you the opportunity for satisfaction. I do so again.”

  “I am not afraid of you! I have won tourneys.”

  “I think, Sir Eustace, that you are afraid. If you were not then our blades would be clashing already. I have wasted enough time on you. I would like you to leave my castle. I believe the Scots will seek vengeance. I intend to be ready for them.”

  He stood, “You are a fool!”

  “Probably but I am a fool who still has his honour. Can you say the same?”

  He and his squire hurried out of my keep. Sir Eustace was in such a hurry that he almost tripped. It would have been unfortunate had he fallen. It would have added to the indignity he felt. Sir Eustace and his men galloped out of my castle. We were now enemies. I had one friend left, Sir James. I had made another enemy but part of me wondered what was his real reason for not coming to my aid. Sir Ranulf had had the excuse that he and his wife were ill. It still did not excuse him for he could have sent his men but it was an excuse. Sir Eustace had not even offered one.

  Garth and Roger wandered over to me. Roger said, “That was interesting, lord.” I cocked my head to one side. “A year since the Earl of Fife paid a visit to Rothbury. He went hunting with Sir Eustace. It may be innocent, lord. The sergeant at arms did not try to hide the fact. He was trying to impress us with the powerful friends Sir Eustace has.”

  That set me to thinking. I invited Alan of Bellingham and Brother Paul to dine with me. I needed to talk. We first discussed the plight of the women and children. Brother Paul was worried about the young girls. “Newminster Abbey has healers who might be able to minister to them.”

  Alan of Bellingham shook his head, “The solution to the problems of the girls does not lie with men who know nothing about women. We have good women here, Anne, Alice, Dick’s mother, Mary, they will know the right words. We can make their house a house of women until they choose to live with a man. I think Sir William has had the right idea. Give them sanctuary and give them purpose.”

  Brother Paul was a monk
and a clever man but he knew little about women. “I expect you are right. Your father, Sir Thomas, solved the problem of the women who chose not to stay in Durham by taking them back to Stockton.”

  “Now my next matter is more delicate. Sir Eustace did not come to our aid when we asked for his help. Now I have learned that he entertained the Earl of Fife last year. What is your opinion?”

  Alan of Bellingham leaned back in his chair. “Lord, if I tell you that before you came the only knight to visit us and offer help was Sir James then you know my opinion of Sir Eustace.”

  “That is honest. Brother Paul?”

  “I know nothing about him but like you, Sir William, I know that the Earl of Fife seeks to be the Earl of Northumberland. If he is a friend to Sir Eustace then I do not trust him either.”

  “Keep this news to yourselves and listen for any other information which might help us. As soon as the accommodation for our guests is finished then I intend to begin to add stone to our walls. We and Sir James are on our own!”

  We were spurred on by the thought that we were alone. Our patrols found no sign of the enemy and we worked during the increasingly long days. By the end of April, our new sheep had arrived and the women were weaving. Gradually they showed that they were happier. It was not a quick process. They were referred to, collectively, as the Yalesham widows. The women from Byrness were included in the group. Their captivity and the hurts they had endured bonded them. The boys who had come to us were keen to help protect their mothers and we trained them to sling stones. There was little training needed. Boys loved to throw stones.

  I also received letters from the Bishop, my father and my mother. I read mother’s first. It was chatty and asked how Matthew and John were faring. The letter made me smile. My father’s letter was more serious. He told me he was still looking for archers but King Henry’s mission in Gascony meant there were few to be had in England. He asked me if I wished him to come. I did not honestly know. Could I embroil him in this bloody war? Would he be damaged by it? He had lost all once before and I would not be the cause of losing it a second time. I decided to write a letter which would make him less anxious.

  The Bishop’s letter was more comforting and yet disturbing at the same time. He supported my action and he approved of my decisions but he warned me of enemies both in England and in Scotland. The King’s absence in Gascony and the illness of Sir Ranulf and the Sherriff had encouraged those who saw Northumberland as Scottish. Was Sir Eustace a traitor? If he was then his visit was even more sinister. Was he spying out my defences?

  I tossed and turned that night but, when I woke, I knew what we must do. I had the horses hitched to the two wagons and, leaving just four archers at my castle, I took the rest to Otterburn. “Sir James, I intend to take some of the stones from the Roman fort to build a stone gatehouse at my castle. If you wish some too…”

  He laughed and patted the walls of his tower. “This tower is made from the stones of the fort. Yours is a good idea.”

  I waved my men off and then took Sir James to one side. I told him of the encounter with Sir Eustace and the information my men had gathered. “I had heard rumours but I took them to be malicious gossip from those who were envious of Sir Eustace. I will keep a good watch. You should know that I intend to ride to the New Castle to plead with my nephew. I have no child and I would like this manor to be kept in the family otherwise my life would be wasted.”

  I headed down the road. I did not think that he was right but I could understand his feelings. The walls which faced the Scottish border I would leave. We might need them for defence again. Sir James and the farmers had already demolished some of the walls. We laboured all morning and loaded the stone into the wagons. It was good, well-cut stone. I had a stone keep and I intended to make the gatehouse of stone. As we rode back, I explained to Roger and Wilfred what I planned to do. “In addition, we will make the bridges across our ditches so that they can be raised. It will, in effect, make a double gate. Our ditches can also be deepened. I want to make it hard for an enemy to get close to our walls.” When the wagons had been loaded, I had examined the Roman ditches. Although eroded over time and over-grown with vegetation you could still see the shape. Ours were better than they had been but they could be improved even more.

  Alice had given birth in April and David of Amble now had a son. Rafe’s sons had cleared land. The spring lambs on Cedric’s farm meant that the women of Elsdon now had more work. They were happy working together. The captives had endured much together and it had bonded them. Had they been men I would have said that they were shield brothers. We did not take our goods to Morpeth market. Alan of Bellingham wanted to take them to the market at the New Castle where they would fetch a higher price. We were waiting until we had a wagonful.

  It took until May to build the stone abutments for the gatehouse. The top was still made of wood but there was now a stone lintel over the gate. We had been lucky to find the lintel. John had gone wandering off to find stones to use for slingshot and he found a piece of stone sticking out of the ditch. When we excavated it, we found a perfectly preserved lintel. We had wood above it for now but the lintel meant we could add stone to the upper course of the wall. I joined my men to build. The only ones who did not toil were my patrols. They still rode to Otterburn each day.

  The close proximity of my builders and the women meant that liaisons began to develop. It was the younger men and those women who had been barely wed when they had been taken. Mary, mother of Dick, would never take another man. She had confided as much in me. She was older than the others anyway but she now lived for her son. He had been her youngest and was all that was left to her. She acted almost like a mother superior to the Yalesham widows. She kept the relationships under her watchful eye. I told my men that the women were to be treated well. I did not mind any marrying but it would be done properly under the watchful eye of Brother Paul.

  We became almost isolated. It was the folk of Otterburn we knew for no other came near. It was almost as though we had leprosy or the plague. We no longer needed Morpeth market. We had our own grain and animals. The spring had been a bountiful one and many of our animals had birthed. Our small flock and herd had done better than most. They had had the advantage of the walls of Elsdon during the winter. It was Phillip the Priest, David of Amble and Rafe’s sons who needed help and I gave each of them animals. It meant my herd and flock did not increase but I did not mind. My people prospered. I had been in the manor less than a year and yet we had achieved much already.

  We had not heard from the Bishop for a month or so. I fretted a little about that and so Brother Paul rode to Durham. John and Matthew went with him. I made do with Dick as a servant. Mary was keen for the boys who had been captives to be kept busy and so they acted as servants to my warriors. It pleased all for the boys enjoyed the company of warriors. Rafe’s daughters had duties at the farm now that their brothers had departed and so the young females worked in their place. My keep was cleaner and tidier. It was a comfortable life. The wound in my back had healed. It no longer caused me pain at night. Tam had repaired the hauberk so that it was even stronger than it had been. That and Matthew’s new hide gambeson would keep me safer in battle. Of course, we knew not when war would come. Each day could bring the sound of alarm. Each day brought us closer to another confrontation with the Scottish clan who were our neighbours.

  When Brother Paul returned, he brought with him the news that the Bishop of Durham was in London. That explained why he had not written to me of late. There appeared to be nothing sinister in the visit. Even better was the fact that John had been able to buy some metal for Tam. I had given him coin and the son of the smith knew how to buy metal. As summer began Elsdon was a happy place.

  Chapter 11

  It was the middle of June when we spied the column of men riding from the south. We had had so few visitors that their arrival stopped work in the castle and drew all eyes to the gate. It was the husband of my sister, Sir Robert,
and he led twenty men into my castle. He dismounted and I embraced him. “This is a joyous meeting, Sir Robert.” I looked up, “Where is Richard?”

  He smiled, “You mean, Sir Richard. Your father knighted him.” He handed his reins to a young warrior, “This is Edward, Sir Ralph’s son.” He looked up towards the keep. “You have been busy! This looks stronger now than when I was castellan here.”

  “What brings you here? Do not get me wrong, I am more than happy for you to visit but I know that you would not just abandon Isabelle. She is well?”

  “She is and it was at her behest and your father’s that I came here. I will become a father again in less than six months and Thomas has shown me that is a busy time.”

  I led him up the path to the bridge into my castle. “And my father?”

  His face fell a little. “He would have come, in fact, we planned for him to be with us but he is hurt.” My heart sank. My father was a rock. He could not die. Robert saw my face, “He fell from his horse while out hunting. He broke his leg. It was well set by your father’s doctor, Erasmus of Ghent. He will recover but he is no longer a young man. He will limp. He is like an angry bear. Your mother is at her wit's end. Sir Thomas has ever been active and now this forced idleness does not sit well. Henry Samuel and he play chess. That is the only diversion which calms him. Your nephew has grown.”

  We passed through my gate, “I took stone from the Roman fort north of here. The men my father sent were put to good use. We rescued the captives and did not lose a man.”

  Sir Robert waved a hand towards the lower bailey where the men he had brought were unsaddling their mounts. “Your father has secured six archers and four men at arms for you.”

  “That is good but I am not sure that I can afford them.”

  “They are paid for a year. At the end of that time, if you cannot afford them, then they are happy to return to Stockton. Your father plans for the future.” He lowered his voice, “The King has a marriage which is close to being arranged. Eleanor of Provence will be his bride. It strengthens the King’s position in Gascony. Your father is certain that the King will try to retake his lost lands and that the King will call upon the knights and men of Cleveland to fight. The wedding will not be for a year or two. The maid is but eleven years old. The King plans for the future.”