by Griff Hosker
My son said, "We should have scouts and archers to eliminate their scouts and to warn us." I nodded.
The Count said, "Sir William, arrange it." I could see that he was shaken. He had drunk too much to think clearly and he was delegating.
I rose and accompanied my son. He turned and said quietly, as we left the fire, "You still think that one of us betrayed the Count?"
"Not you but one of the others? Aye."
"And who would you guess?"
"If I was putting money on it then I would say Sir Stephen of Azay."
"Why?"
"He was the only one who did not appear surprised by my comments and he was the only one whose face betrayed nothing. I would have expected something: derision, shock, surprise but there was nothing."
We reached William's camp and his sergeant at arms stood, "My lord?"
"Henri there is an enemy out there and they are going to attack on the morrow but there may be a spy in the camp. I want our men at arms watching the horses. If anyone tries to leave then restrain them."
"Aye lord."
We went to Raymond of Chinon. "Raymond, I want the sentries on alert this night. No one is to leave. If any resist then slay them."
It says much for my son's authority that Raymond nodded and said, "Yes, my lord. None shall leave."
William turned to me, "I will have the archers put under the command of Griff of Gwent, " he smiled. "There is no one better and your men, above all others, are trustworthy."
"Thank you, William."
When I reached my camp my men were all alerted and awaiting me. "Griff, I want you to take the archers and those of my son to watch for the approach of this army. Stay hidden but stop their scouts becoming aware of our preparations. We defend on foot."
"Aye my lord."
"Get what sleep you can."
I slept but an hour and then I went, with my son, to begin to clear the ground and plant it with stakes. We wanted the land before us to be killing ground. I took my men at arms as William's were guarding the horses. Using whatever we could we cleared away the scrubby bushes and then chopped the upper halves of the trees leaving branches facing east and south. We used the branches we felled to make a spiked barrier which would deter horses. If the enemy had two hundred horses then they outnumbered us. We had but one hundred and fifty knights and men at arms. William and I were the only ones with mounted archers. Many of the Angevin lords had dismounted men at arms. Fighting on foot would play to our strengths. Finally we dug small pits. They were not deep; many were but a hand span deep. Others were as deep as man's arm. The purpose was simple. When a warrior charged at an enemy he looked for weapons and not his feet. Uneven ground could hurt as much as a weapon. By dawn we were ready.
William's Sergeant at Arms, Henri approached us. "Yes, Henri? Did anyone try to leave?"
He looked uncomfortable, "I think they tried, lord but they did not succeed."
"Tried?"
"Louis heard the horses make a noise. When he reached them he saw a shadow disappearing back into the camp. I am sorry lord but we only had twenty men to watch the entire herd."
I nodded, "Do not worry, Henri. We will discover the traitor soon enough. We stopped word reaching the enemy and that was your appointed task. You and your men have done well."
He nodded and left us.
"He failed in his task, father. I would have reprimanded him."
"And had you been in command would you have discovered the traitor? Would you have seen in the dark?"
"I would have..."
I waited for him to think about it and then smiled as I said, "Looking back is easy, William. If we had had more men then we would have had a better guard. The traitor would not have even got close to the herd for he would have seen the guards. This is good. The enemy approach and know not what we know."
"A wise head as ever. How is the wound you received? It is but a month since you were hurt."
"I will be fine. The Empress had a good healer in Abelard." It was not quite the truth. The wound had been seeping but Gilles had not smelled anything which might suggest something sinister. I was a warrior and warriors ignored such inconveniences.
Our men were amongst the first to approach our new lines. Raymond of Chinon had reported to us that the Count had left a few men watching the two gates at the castle and the rest were preparing to join us. The men of William and I had mail and good weapons. The wheel had been used to grind sharp edges upon them and when we reached the killing ground they were there, ready. Our archers would be the last to arrive. I made sure our men ate and drank well. This could be a long day.
It was mid morning when the archers began to arrive. It was Robert of Derby who brought us the news. "They come my lord. We slew their five scouts. They will not know that we are ready. Griff and the others are hard on my heels."
William nodded, "Well done." He turned to Guy of Bayeux, "Find the Count and tell him the enemy comes."
We had arranged it so that our men held the centre. The Count's men would be to our left. They soon began to filter towards us. Each of our men at arms had a spear. William and I stood in the second rank with our squires and banners behind us. The Count appeared and frowned. "Why is my banner not in the centre, Sir William?"
I answered for him, "This way we guard your right, lord." I pointed to young Henry resplendent in a mail hauberk and open helmet. "The future King of England will be well protected by the English Knight and his son."
I decided to use the name given to me by the Normans and Angevin. It seemed to work. "Very well. Henry, go and stand by the Earl's squires." He looked at Gilles and Richard. "I charge you with the responsibility of watching over my son."
"We will, my lord."
I had no reason to doubt their ability or their desire. They were as loyal and trustworthy as any. Strangely I did not think that Henry would be in any danger. It was the Count, his father, whom the enemy would wish to kill. William and I would have to stop that. We saw Griff of Gwent and the archers as they ran across the open fields some half a mile away. Then they disappeared into the trees before us. As soon as they picked their way through the traps, trees and stakes we were ready. We opened ranks to allow them to go behind us. I nodded to Griff. Thanks would come later; if we survived.
The ground fell away to the south and we saw their banners above the trees. They did not use horns and trumpets for they thought to surprise us but when we saw the tips of the banners and gonfanon stop moving then we knew they were forming lines. They appeared across the fields. They were closing with us. If the scouts had not warned and we had not prepared the ground then we would have been trapped between the wall and the ambushers.
Half the force, at least, looked to be knights. I had no doubt they saw us. This was the time when they could reconsider and withdraw. If they did so then it would be a victory for us. If I led them and knew we were expected then I would have pulled back. Whichever leader led them he was reckless for he sounded his trumpets now that there was no need for secrecy. I also suspected it was a pre-arranged signal for the defenders. Their time would come.
As with Griff and his archers they disappeared into the trees when they entered the dead ground below our eye line.. They would be slowed down as they picked their way through them. We heard them before we saw them. Their hooves sounded and the branches they broke rustled and cracked.
Raymond of Chinon shouted, "Stand to! Ready spears. Archers stand by!"
William looked at me and shook his head. Our archers needed no such command. Suddenly the line of horsemen appeared. The trees prevented them from riding knee to knee but they tried to form up at the other side of the felled trees. We had cleared a hundred and fifty paces of trees and undergrowth.
Griff of Gwent shouted, "Archers! Release!"
Forty arrows soared in the air. The riders were all mailed and we did not expect to kill many but their horses had no mail and they began to die. The wounded and injured ones reared and some turned to disrupt
the lines, charging away from the missiles in fear. I heard cries as riders were thrown from their mounts. Some were trampled underfoot but still the rest came on. When they reached the stakes and sharpened branches the riders had to take evasive action. Some collided with other riders. Some fell when hooves found holes and traps. Even so twenty lucky riders managed to reach our lines. Their lances jabbed down at our men at arms. I flicked my shield up as a red and yellow chequered knight tried to spear me in the head. My right hand came over and I chopped the lance in two. The rider's horse was speared by Brian and as the rider fell Padraig speared him like a floundering fish.
The survivors of the attack fell back. Our men cheered but William shouted, "Silence! That was their first attack!"
Just then a man at arms ran up to the Count, "My lord, the castle has sallied forth! We can barely hold them!"
The trumpet had been a signal. That explained the castellan's confidence. We were now trapped between two armies!
Chapter 4
I saw indecision on the Count's face. William looked to me too. "Count, take your men and face this new foe. We will hold these here."
"But my banner!"
"You banner will make them think we retreat and that their clever plan has succeeded. We will hold. Sir John and his men can fill the gap."
"Very well. Raymond!"
As a third of our army left the line we spread out so that we were just two ranks deep. The front rank was made up of knights and men at arms. The second was archers. William and the other leaders had knights in their conroi but I had none. It did not matter. As far as I was concerned the men I fought with were the equal of any knights that we would face.
A trumpet sounded behind us. I knew it was a signal from the castle. A second one sounded from before us. Someone had made very careful plans to catch us unawares. This time they did not ride at us. They had dismounted and they charged on foot. Once again the mailed men led but now they had lightly armed men following. Griff of Gwent ordered the archers to release five flights of arrows as the men on foot negotiated the killing ground. It was just as tricky for men on foot as for those on horses. They held their shields above them for they feared my archers.
As soon as they were fifty paces from us Griff of Gwent shouted, "Choose your targets! Aim for the open helmets!"
Using a flat trajectory they began to send arrows at a ridiculously close range towards those knights and men at arms who still wore open helmets. They could not miss. Fifteen fell before the shields were pulled around to protect their faces. The protection was an illusion for it stopped them seeing the pits and traps. Those who stumbled were rewarded with an arrow. By the time they were close enough to attack us they had lost half of their front rank and were not in a solid formation. However they were all armed with spears and many of ours were broken or were embedded in horses and men. I was flanked by Brian and Padraig. They were like iron walls beside me. So long as I was surrounded by my men then I feared no one. The wind was from the north west and my standard fluttered above us, occasionally catching my helmet. It drew the enemy to me. The knight who led his men towards me had a quartered fleur de lys on his surcoat. He was related to the French King. His helmet covered his face and I could not determine his age. He had four knights alongside him. They carried maces, axes and swords. That suited me.
I pulled my shield tighter. My wounded side still bothered me. My sword was the equal of any however this would be a test of my wound. My archers were releasing over our shoulders. It was effective for it meant that the approaching knights had to keep their shields up. They drew closer. Padraig had a long axe and he suddenly swung it not at the shield or the sword the knight carried but at the leg he saw below the shield. It sliced deep into the flesh to the bone. As blood spattered us he fell to the ground adding to the barrier of horses and men which lay before us. As a second knight stood on a horse and raised his sword to smite Brian, my man at arms darted his sword up under the arm. It broke the mail there driving deep within the knight's body and the sword fell to the ground. James the Stout sent an arrow almost at point blank range through the mail of the next man at arms and into his chest.
The royal knight brought his sword down towards my shield. That was a mistake for my shield was well made. He brought his own shield up to defend against my blow. None was forthcoming. I was looking for a weakness. He swung again and struck at my shield. I took the hit and he prepared for my own strike. Each movement weakened him for he had had to walk a long way in his heavy mail. By the fourth strike he had stopped raising his shield quite as high. Around us others were exchanging blows. Mailed men fighting with similar weapons find it hard to kill. It was then I saw his shield drop a little. He swung again at my shield but this time I pulled my right arm back and stabbed upwards towards his helmet. His shield was too low and the tip caught the helmet as his head jerked back. His helmet fell from his head revealing the face of a warrior of an age with William. He had just a coif to protect him; there was no ventail.
For some reason the loss of his helmet made him less cautious and he attacked me with renewed energy. This time the strikes showering my shield took effect. My left side had been wounded on the ride to Oxford and I felt the wound burst after another flurry of blows. I had to end this. I brought my sword sideways and sliced towards his knee. He had quick hands and he brought his shield down. I pulled my arm back for a second blow. He anticipated the move he thought I would make. As my sword swept towards his head he realised his error. My sword cut through the mail of his coif and into his skull. He fell, stunned. Those behind formed a wall around him while the two who remained from his knights hurled themselves at us. Their recklessness cost them. I took the blow from a knight's mace and stabbed forwards with every ounce of strength I had left. It tore through his mail and ripped into his gambeson and then his body. I twisted as I pulled and, gutted, he fell at my feet. The royal knight was dragged from the fray and just one of his knights remained. He was wounded.
"Yield for you have done your duty!"
"Never and I will fell the Wolf before I am taken!"
The brave young man charged towards me. As his sword struck my shield I did the unexpected. I stepped forward and punched him in the side of the head with the hilt of my sword. He stumbled backwards over a dead horse. The sword flew from his hand and I was on him with my sword at his throat before he could recover. "Yield!"
His hand reached out for his sword. Suddenly Henry Fitz Empress darted from behind Gilles and Richard to grab the sword. "Here, lord! He has to surrender now!"
Gilles and Richard raced to protect the future king but there was no danger now. The attack had faltered and they were falling back.
The knight nodded, "I yield! But that was a trick! That was not a fair blow!"
I laughed, "You are young and will soon discover that there is little that is fair in war. Richard, Henry, escort our prisoner back."
I looked down the line. Some of our men at arms lay dead or wounded but the line held. William was alive. Sir John and Sir Hugh had lost men too but, to my right, Sir Stephen of Azay and his conroi, looked to have survived intact. In fact they appeared to have lost barely a man. Behind us I could hear the Count as he fought against the defenders. The battle was not yet over.
I turned, "How are you for arrows?"
"More than enough lord!"
"Then on their next attack I wish you to shower them. There will be fewer men with mail."
He nodded and I waved him to close with me. "Yes my lord?"
"Watch our right during the next attack. If you see any danger then concentrate your arrows there."
"My lord?"
"Watch for treachery!" I walked over to William and spoke quietly to him, "I fear treachery. Sir Stephen was not attacked as heavily as we were. It may just be luck but..."
"But you do not trust him."
"No I do not. The Count thinks his rear is protected. Take your conroi and go to his aid but leave your banner here. It will fool t
he enemy into thinking you remain here still."
"I will not let you down." He nodded his head to Henry.
"Gilles, Richard, Henry. Bring the prisoner and put him and our banner next to my son."
Henry said, "Why?"
"When you are King then you shall command. Your father placed you with me and you will obey my orders!"
"Yes lord!"
Gilles hurried him to my son's banner and Richard helped the injured knight to join the standard bearers. "Padraig, Brian, you will be on the right!"
"Aye lord!"
"They come again!" Sir John's voice sounded from my left.
"Stay tight together. We must hold them and buy time for the Count!"
There was a chorus of, "Aye lord!"
I could feel something dripping down my back. I think it was blood. It was dripping slowly. I would live a while longer yet. As they approached I saw that they had weighted their line to come towards me. There were mailed men but I only saw five knights. I wondered where the rest were.
Griff of Gwent did not shout 'release' but he must have signalled for arrows flew over head. They were aiming at those without armour and at any bare flesh they saw. Men fell but still the solid phalanx of mailed men came forwards. "Steady!"
They were thirty paces from us when Griff of Gwent shouted, "Treachery! 'Ware right!"
As we turned I saw that the men of Stephen of Azay had turned and were attacking us. Had I not had my archers watching for such treachery and if my men at arms were not so well trained then we would have died there and then. The archers slowed down their treacherous attack.
"Fall back right! On me! Sir John, Sir Hugh, charge!"
I gambled. They were counting on eliminating me. Sir Stephen and their best warriors showed that. It meant that their right was weak and a sudden attack by Sir John and Sir Hugh might break their will. It was all that I could think of.