The Road to Agincourt

by Griff Hosker

  My familia was still intact and to my left. The Duke and his standard-bearer had become isolated and were surrounded by the men of Armagnac. If the standard fell then the battle was lost. Duke John was not only fearless, but he was also reckless. I shouted in English, “To me! To me!” My familia would hear my words and follow.

  I rode at the Frenchman whose back was to me and who was raising his war axe to hack into the Duke. I rammed my spear as hard as I could. There was no besagew at the rear of the knight’s armour and I was travelling slowly enough to be able to aim accurately. It slid into his mail and tore open a hole to allow the broadest part of the spearhead to punch a hole as wide as my hand in his back. This time his falling body took my spear with it.

  Thomas, Harry and the rest of my knights tore into the huddle of surprised French knights as I drew my sword and stood in my saddle. My knee screamed in pain but I bore it as I brought down my sword to break the arm of the Frenchman who was trying to take the standard from the mortally wounded standard-bearer. As the Frenchman withdrew the standard began to fall. Stretching out my left hand I managed to grab it. The top dipped but I pulled it up and braced the bottom against my sabaton. A sudden wind made it flap and snap above my head. I saw the Duke turn and smile for, like me, he had an open-faced helmet.

  I was suddenly the target for the men of Armagnac as it was I who now held the standard of Burgundy. My shield protected the standard but I could no longer move. The Duke and I, along with my familia, were an island in a sea of Frenchmen trying to kill us. I heard Thomas shout, “Shield wall!” It was an old-fashioned formation but it would work. As my men at arms raced to join us my knights turned their horses to face the enemy and make a barrier of horses, shields and steel. It protected the left side of the Duke and I. The knights of Armagnac could attack our right but the Duke’s own men were rushing to his aid and the Duke and I could use our swords.

  I hacked, chopped and slashed at all who came near to me. Forty years of fighting had taught me how to survive. I was older than all of the men I fought and I was tiring but the same spirit which had made my father so hard to kill came to my aid and I found reserves of strength I did not know I had.

  Even so, things might have gone ill with us had not Owen the Welshman, seeing that there were no more foes before them, turned the archers to loose them into the knights who were fighting us. I had never been so close to bodkin arrows striking plate armour and it terrified me. It was though the steel was parchment. The accuracy of the English longbow was such that a red and white fletched arrow went into the side of the helmet of the knight fighting the Duke. The sudden savage rain of death broke the already weakened men of Armagnac and the Écorcheurs. They turned and rode away.

  Duke John shouted, “After them!”

  I had to ride with him, despite my injury for I had the Burgundian standard. We faced no foe for their backs were to us. The Écorcheurs were all slain for most wore just mail. Some of the knights of Armagnac surrendered while others were slain. Duke John stopped only when we reached their tents for the enemy had all fled. The army had simply disintegrated.

  We reined in and Duke John shouted, “Surrender or die!” The handful of men in the camp threw their weapons to the ground. We had won for the ordinary warriors and the mob were either dead or fled and, taking off his helmet he turned to me, “Sir William, I am in your debt. You not only saved my life but the battle and the honour of Burgundy! I shall reward you.”

  I smiled, “My lord, I have been protecting kings since I first became a warrior. It is in my blood.”

  He nodded, “And your archers. I wish I knew who was the archer who struck that knight for I would reward him.”

  I pointed to the archers who were moving over the battlefield relieving the dead knights of their plate and their treasure. “It was a man called Owen the Welshman, lord.”

  He looked stunned, “How could you possibly know that?”

  “I recognised the arrow. Owen makes and fletches his own arrows and the red and white fletch is his. I could identify, perhaps six of my archers’ arrows.” I shrugged. “They are like my family.”

  He pointed to my familia who were still unhurt and had gathered behind me, “And your own family are as brave and fearless a group as any. Tonight, you and your men will dine with me for I would speak to each of you.” He rode off to speak to his lieutenants.

  My archers and men at arms had joined us as well as the rest of the English contingent. The three leaders looked as though they had not even used their weapons. The Bishop’s mace hung from his saddle and had no marks of war upon it.

  The Earl of Arundel nodded, “You did well, Sir William, and I am guessing that your act of bravery will have earned respect as well as reward from the Duke.”

  “Yes, Sir Thomas, although I suspect that the Duke expects more from me and, perhaps the rest of you, for my men and I are to dine with him this evening.”

  “Better and better. This has worked out well for both the King and the Prince.” Sir Thomas was a good man but he was a politician. He saw the victory differently from me.

  I looked around the battlefield and saw the many dead who littered it. We had been lucky. My men had skill and training and that had helped but it could, so easily, have ended in disaster. I had lost few men and for that I would give thanks to God. We headed back, once we had taken all that there was to take from the tents and the baggage of the Armagnacs to our own camp. Of course, my men were more laden than the others for we had been the first into battle and as such they had had the first pick. Our squires had managed to capture loose horses and I saw that eight of them had chamfron fitted. Such metal headgear for horses was expensive and meant we would all be better protected next time we went to war. The archers and men at arms who had followed me had also gained treasure.

  Owen the Welshman was riding a warhorse and was grinning. “Like a proper lord, eh Sir William?”

  “Yes indeed, and when we return to England you shall be elevated to a gentleman for your arrow saved the Duke’s life and earned the English his undying gratitude.”

  “I was just doing my duty, Sir William, but I confess that this is preferable to fighting my countrymen. I do not mind killing rebel Welshmen but they are poor as church mice. These French lords go to war with more treasure upon their fingers than an archer might earn in a lifetime.”

  As we made our weary way back to our camp the same sentiment was expressed by many more of my men. If they were going to risk their lives then it might as well be for great rewards. I know that when we reached home, they told all and sundry of the benefits of war with France.

  We were so close to Paris that Duke John was able to send for food and wine from the best shops in that great city. He also sent for cooks who were eager to ingratiate themselves with the victors. Abelard did his best to clean the houppelande I had brought but I had not been careful whilst wearing it in Calais. I now saw that I should have brought more such garments. I had not anticipated great feasts and assumed that it would be like an English campaign! However, I later learned that Duke John did not worry about such matters. To him, it was not the garment but the man who wore it.

  I was seated at his right hand and my knights were spread along the table. Our squires would serve us. The Duke began by praising us, once again, and telling the assembled nobility of Burgundy that the English were his friends. He did not go so far as to call us his allies for to do that would have meant alienating some of his other allies. He told the assembled knights that his bodyguard, by which he meant us, would all receive gold taken from the ransoms for the knights of Armagnac and Orléans. He then hinted at more rewards later.

  When he sat then the food was brought in and for a short while we were all busy eating. Having risen before dawn and fought for most of the morning then this was our first opportunity to eat well and we did. When we had finished the meat and the cheese was brought in, he turned to speak with me, “Sir William, I would like to make you Count of Arles and I w
ill give to you the city for your own. What say you?”

  It was the equivalent of being given the city of York to rule and I would be lying if I said I was not tempted but I was also wary. “And that is a great honour, Duke John, but I am not certain if I could continue to run my own manors and Arles.”

  He laughed, “If a man rules Arles then he needs nothing else for the city is a rich one.”

  “And how would I continue to serve King Henry?”

  He stopped mid-bite, “You would not! You would serve me.”

  I shook my head, aware that I could be undoing all the good work we had done thus far. Talking before the meal with the Bishop I had realised that the whole point of our involvement was to make Duke John a friend who would help us to fight the French. It was obvious that he was now willing to do so. “I am sorry, my lord, but many years ago I swore an oath and I have to protect the offspring of King Edward. I know that I am throwing away the chance for riches and great power but an oath is an oath.”

  He stared at me and then put an enormous bear-like paw around my shoulders, “And you are a true knight. You are a throwback to the knights of old. Your king is lucky to have such loyalty.” He glowered at some of his own nobles, “Would that I had such loyalty! Then, instead, I grant you the manor of Sunderda which is in Brabant. It is yours to keep and there are no ties of fealty attached to it. It is small but profitable and by giving it to you I hope that, if I need you, there may be times when you can serve me.”

  “And you would have that without the manor, my lord, for we have fought together and shared the dangers of battle. That makes you a brother in arms.”

  He stood and banged the table to get silence. He pointed at me, “Let all here know that the English are now our friends and Sir William Strongstaff is an honorary knight of Burgundy!”

  To my great surprise, all the nobles stood and banged the table. I was embarrassed for I had done little enough but it seemed that the Prince’s plan had worked. We had seen war could be won by the longbow and we had a friend in the Duke.

  It was left to the Earl of Arundel to make our excuses and for us to head back to Calais, laden with French booty. The Duke did not seem to mind for we had done that which he had wished. We had destroyed the enemies of Burgundy although he was disappointed that my men and I would not be with him as he drove towards Berry and Orléans where he hoped to end the civil war.

  As we rode west my knights told me of the conversations that they had had around the table. Both our archers and my familia, as well as myself, had surprised the Burgundians. I think that when they had met the earls and their men, they thought that we would be the same. The respect we enjoyed was also reinforced by the first instalments of the ransoms which we would take back. The two earls and the Bishop, not to mention their men did not enjoy the same financial reward. The Burgundians believed in paying those who took the greatest risks and that was my men!

  Epilogue

  We reached England just a week before Christmas. As we had to pass through London on our way north, I went to speak with King Henry at Windsor. I sent my knights home to their families and I went to see if I had done that which the King intended.

  He looked as though he had had a relapse in more ways than one. His skin had become angry again and he appeared tired, almost to the point of collapse. However, he appeared to be pleased with my actions. I made a point of telling him about the offer of Arles for I did not want another to tell him. Sometimes Henry Bolingbroke could be petty. He was not surprised that I had been offered the city but he was amazed that I had turned it down.

  “You really are a strange fish, Strongstaff. Had I been in your position then I would have grasped it with both hands. You will not receive such a title from me, you know!”

  “And I have been handsomely rewarded by you and your son. I am content but, while we are alone, King Henry, I have to ask you something which has been bothering me since I visited with your son. Were you happy for me to do what I did?”

  He smiled, “Of course I was happy! Do you believe that I would do anything to harm my son? These are games that we play to deceive our enemies and, sometimes, our friends. I am sorry that you were deceived for you deserve better. The kingdom which King Edward made was almost destroyed by my cousin and that snake, de Vere. You are a warrior and fight your way. I am not a warrior and I fight my way but we both have the same end. We seek to make England great once more.”

  With that, I left but I called in at Cold Harbour to speak with the Prince. He was even more delighted and his reasons were more personal. “You have done all that I hoped and more. Now my father and I can send embassies to France to ask for the hand of Katherine of France. They will be more likely to listen to the request now that they have seen what a handful of Englishmen can do and you have exceeded my expectations in terms of the Burgundians. The Bishop told me how impressed he was with you. You are the best of fellows! And now go home and be with your family. You have earned this rest. When I go to take back my birthright, it will be with your knights behind me and then they will be richly rewarded. This is the start of an adventure which will reclaim France for the English crown and we owe it to you, Will Strongstaff!”

  The End

  Glossary

  Abermaw-Barmouth

  Aketon- padded garment worn beneath the armour

  Ballock dagger or knife- a blade with two swellings next to the blade

  Barbican-a gatehouse which can be defended like a castle

  Bastard Sword- two handed sword

  Besagew- a circular metal plate to protect the armpit

  Bodkin dagger- a long thin dagger like a stiletto used to penetrate mail links

  Brigandine- padded jacket worn by archers, sometimes studded with metal

  Chevauchée- a raid by mounted men

  Cordwainers- shoemakers

  Cuisse- metal greave

  Dauentre-Daventry

  Dunbarre- Dunbar

  Esquire- a man of higher social rank, above a gentleman but below a knight

  Familia – the bodyguard of a knight (in the case of a king these may well be knights themselves)

  Fowler- a nine-foot-long breech-loading cannon

  Galoches- Clogs

  Houppelande -a lord’s gown

  Horsed archers-archers who rode to war on horses but did not fight from horseback

  Hovel- a simple bivouac, used when no tents were available

  Medeltone Mowbray -Melton Mowbray

  Mêlée- a medieval fight between knights

  Poleyn- a metal plate to protect the knee

  Pursuivant- the rank below a herald

  Rondel dagger- a narrow-bladed dagger with a disc at the end of the hilt to protect the hand

  Sallet basinet- medieval helmet of the simplest type: round with a neck protector

  Sennight- Seven nights (a week)

  The Pale- the land around Dublin. It belonged to the King of England.

  Wolveren Hampton- Wolverhampton

  Historical Notes

  Warkworth Castle (Author’s Photographs)

  For the English maps, I have used the original Ordnance Survey maps. Produced by the army in the 19th century they show England before modern developments and, in most cases, are pre-industrial revolution. Produced by Cassini they are a useful tool for a historian. I also discovered a good website http: orbis.stanford.edu. This allows a reader to plot any two places in the Roman world and if you input the mode of transport you wish to use and the time of year it will calculate how long it would take you to travel the route. I have used it for all of my books up to the eighteenth century as the transportation system was roughly the same. The Romans would have travelled more quickly!

  The King’s Illness

  King Henry’s illness was very real and no one knows exactly what it was. It was partially a skin complaint and St. Anthony’s fire or venereal disease might have explained that but he also had fits. The common people, especially those in the north blamed it on the f
act that he had the Archbishop of York executed. In terms of the plot, it did keep him from the public’s gaze and thrust the Prince into the limelight.

  Grosmont

  Grosmont was a very prosperous town with almost two hundred houses. There was a castle there but when the Welsh came, they tore the heart out of the town and it never recovered. However, they were caught by English knights, archers and men at arms and important captives taken.

  Battle of Pwll Melyn

  After Grosmont the Welsh thought that they were close to victory and Usk castle had been allowed to fall into disrepair. Unbeknown to them it had been not only repaired but also reinforced and when the sons of Glendower came, they were chased, not west, but northeast towards a large pond where the majority were slain and Owain Glendower’s eldest, captured. It was almost the end of the rebellion.

  Battle of Bramham Moor

  The last battle of the rebellion which began at Shrewsbury took place close to Wetherby. The Earl of Northumberland did not have a large army. It was made up of the sweepings of the borders. What I found hard to understand was why the battle was fought there. The Earl and Lord Bardolf were heading for York but Bramham Moor is south of York! It was Sir Thomas Rokeby and his Yorkshire knights and the levy who destroyed the threat. This was the end of the Percy family until they were reborn many years later. The dead were hanged drawn and quartered and their parts displayed around the country. Lady Bardolf pleaded with the King for the return of her husband’s parts so that he could be buried. The King agreed.

  The sieges of Aberystwyth and Harlech

  Cannons and artillery were used at Aberystwyth and, for some reason, Prince Henry thought the siege almost over and returned to London. When he left the siege was lifted. He returned and both Harlech and Aberystwyth were besieged at the same time. For the purposes of the narrative I have changed the events slightly but Mortimer and his wife did die of starvation and Glendower did escape. However, he was never seen in public again and was rumoured to have died some four or five years later. Harlech marked the end of the rebellion.