by Griff Hosker
“Yet it is not favoured by nature.”
“What nature lacks then we will build.” He turned. King Henry was ever decisive and liked to come to the point. He had not brought me to the tower just to flatter him for his vision. “When Henry is crowned then one of my sons is secure. Richard shall have Aquitaine. Thanks to my wife that is secure.” Suddenly I saw the conversation I had had with Eleanor in a different light. “I need to look to my other two sons, Geoffrey and John.”
I looked at him, “Geoffrey is barely twelve and John just four!”
“Geoffrey is going to be Duke of Brittany. The Duchy is not secure. As for John?” He smiled. “You have but one son. I had brothers. Remember how treacherous my brother Geoffrey was? I need balance in the Kingdom. I have four sons. If one has more power then he might get ideas eh?”
“In that case why have Henry crowned?”
“You of all people should know that. Remember the white ship? The heir to England and Normandy was drowned and my mother and you had to fight a war for sixteen years to regain the throne. The French took advantage. Henry is young but he has no power. He has a title and that may help him to grow up and forget his attachment to Becket.”
Henry had changed since he had become King. It had been slow at first but now I saw a different man to the youth I had trained. He had gone beyond me. He had become cunning and calculating. Perhaps that was what power did. His grandfather had been ruthless. Perhaps my work was done and I should retire to my valley. I was about to say that when he spoke again.
“You and your knights exceeded all of my expectations in Scotland and Wales. I need you again.” I was bereft of words. Now I saw why he had asked my knights to escort the Archbishop; it was to ensure that we were all here.
“But the Scots! They may cause trouble again!”
“I do not need them all. Your son and grandson must be there. Sir Hugh, Sir John and Sir Gilles of Normanby should be enough to deter the Scots and they can return to the north.” He smiled, “I heard the reports. Sir John led the men of Durham well and Sir Hugh held off Balliol and his army. As for Sir Gilles. He was wounded was he not?” I nodded. The King was well informed. Who had spoken to him? “I need your archers and men at arms. They are a weapon the Bretons have yet to meet.”
My heart sank. King Henry was entitled to ask for forty days service each year. My son and the knights of the valley had only served for a short time in Scotland. They would be used for more than a month.
“My men at arms and archers are in Stockton.”
“Then send for them now! They can follow us. We leave the day after the wedding! We sail for Anjou. I will pay your men. They will be richer for this war.” He smiled, “Now do you wish to come hunting with us?”
I shook my head, “No, Your Majesty. I have much to do!”
I sought my two men at arms. “We are needed in Brittany.” They nodded. I need you to ride to Stockton. You are to send for Sir Philip’s archers, all of my son’s and most of the men at arms. Hire ships, John, the Earl’s steward will provide the coin. Sail to Anjou. By the time you have your horses saddled then I will have the necessary orders written.”
“Aye lord.”
As they left I realised that my son and his knights would have wished to send letters of their own. It could not be helped. I sought out the King’s scribe. “I need parchment, quill and ink!”
“I can pen it for you, lord.”
I shook my head. “I can write and it will be quicker!”
I sealed the parchment, although there was no need for I trusted Roger of Bath and Arne Arneson. I handed it to them in the inner ward. “If we are not in Anjou when you arrive then have the captain take you to La Flèche.”
“Aye lord.” They were not worried by my orders. They would cope no matter what the King ordered them to do. It took a great deal to make my men surprised.
Simon must have seen me from within and he came running out. “Is there a problem, Earl Marshal?”
“Aye, Simon. Have my knights gather by the Bell Tower. I have news for them.” The Bell Tower had been chosen by the King for our clandestine meeting because it was still under construction and there were no sentries there. They were on the walls. I would be able to speak more openly here. It took some time for them to reach me. I had time to check that there was no one in the upper floors. The ground floor would, eventually, become the guardroom and was large enough to accommodate my knights and their squires. When they arrived, I saw the questions on their faces but they knew me well enough to refrain from asked me anything.
Simon, my squire, was the last to arrive, “That is all of them, Earl.”
“Good then see that we are not disturbed.” There was no point in trying to sweeten the pill they all had to swallow. “The day after the wedding we will all take ship for Anjou. We go to war with Brittany. The King wishes to quash the rebels. Sir Hugh of Barnard, Sir John of Fissebourne and Sir Gilles of Normanby will return to the valley. They are charged with guarding it from any enemies. I have sent for Sir Philip’s archers, the Stockton archers and the Stockton men at arms.”
I saw Sir Ralph and my grandson. Their faces fell. They were recently married. Sir James, too, looked unhappy; his wife was with child yet none spoke.
It was my son who broke the silence. “This is the King’s command?” I nodded. “And is part of our service to him?”
“It is. You have all served for six days already. He can have thirty-four days and after that he must pay you.”
Sir James burst out, “Coin cannot compensate for the time away from my family.”
My son said, “That is true for all of us. You at least have your men to guard your family. It is not fair but he is the King.”
“Blame yourselves.” They looked shocked, “You defeated the Scots so quickly that the King thinks you can do the same to the Bretons.”
None looked happy at the prospect but all would do their duty. Brittany was not their land; it was not even their King’s land. It was land he wished to appropriate. Sir Harold was now the most senior of my knights, “Well,” he said, “at least we will have fine wine, warm weather and enemies who are not half-naked barbarians trying to take our jewels as mementoes.”
The knights all laughed for the words could have been spoken by Wulfric. I looked at my former squire and nodded. He had taken on Wulfric’s mantle.
The coronation was not my first. For many of my knights, however, it was. They took in all the pageantry and the ceremony. I was watching faces. I looked at the clusters of lords who huddled together. Some, like my knights, were lords who came from the same part of the country. My eye was drawn to those who did not. I also looked for Norman knights. There were few of them. That was ominous. They were not swearing allegiance. I saw that Leicester and Norfolk were together with others who had land in Normandy. I trusted neither of them.
The Archbishop and his two bishops were nervous and it showed but we made it through the ceremony. Unlike a wedding, or even a funeral where there is celebration afterwards, when the coronation was over and we had all sworn our oaths the majority of knights left. The exception were my knights and the others who would be taking ship to Angers. Prince Richard and Young King Henry would not be with us. I thought that to be a mistake. Left together in England they would be exposed to those who wished to undermine the King’s authority. I saw that Leicester and Norfolk were amongst the first to congratulate young King Henry. I was glad that William Marshal would watch over Henry, and Richard le Breton and his three friends, Richard. Those five knights I could trust. Geoffrey was coming with us. He was just twelve but already they expected him to behave and to act like a man. John, in contrast was cosseted like a child. The Queen and her young son and daughters, Joan and Eleanor would be travelling with us to Angers. Then they would head to Mirebeau and the Queen’s favourite residence.
There was a small feast to celebrate the crowning. It was the royal family, the Archbishop, William Marshal and myself who were inv
ited. As with the other feasts I watched and I listened. The placing of the crown on Henry’s head had enlarged the gulf between the two elder brothers. Geoffrey, like me, watched. The difference was that his expression was sullen. Young Henry drank too much as did Richard and as the evening progressed the tensions surfaced. King Henry seemed to encourage the bickering and it was left to Queen Eleanor to stop it. She stood and declared the feast over. She ordered her children to bed. I had to smile as Henry and Richard, one a king and the other a youth who would be a warrior, meekly obeyed. She glared at her husband and said to me, “Warlord, you are the one my husband listens to! I pray that you can make him act more like a father and less like an eastern potentate!”
When we were alone, for William Marshal left with his charge, Henry laughed, “I married a strong woman, did I not, Alfraed?”
“She reminds me of your mother.”
“My mother? She was kind and gentle and she never raised her voice to me. My harpy has grown shriller each year.”
“You are remembering one Empress Matilda; I saw others. She was strong. She often spoke thus to your father. Good wives do that.”
He nodded. I knew that he was thinking of his mother. Her death had deeply affected all of us. “You know that my daughter, Eleanor is to be betrothed to King Alphonso of Castile?”
“I did not but she is just eight years old.”
“I know and she will not be wed until she is twelve but it is an alliance which strengthens us in the south. When I give Aquitaine to my son Richard then the French will feel pressure from all sides. That is why we must crush these Breton rebels and crush them quickly. Having a six-year-old as Duchess of Brittany is not the best solution to our problem. I know who the leaders of the unrest are. The Count of Nantes, Matthew is the one who is building alliances. Another is Mathuedoï, Count of Poher. I intend to march from Angers to Nantes by way of Poher. As de facto Duke of Brittany I will have them swear allegiance to me.” He smiled, “Now you see why I wanted your son and his men. We must be swift and decisive. This will not require large numbers of men but men who know how to win and to win quickly.”
“They are good men. They should not be wasted. In the north they can subdue many times their numbers of Scots.”
“And, Earl Marshal, I will pay them for their service. I have other knights in Anjou and Normandy I could use but yours are worth the coin.” He smiled, “That way I do not have to count the days that I use them.” He waved a hand, “Besides it will not cost me anything for I shall take the coin from Nantes and Poher! They will learn the folly of rebellion!”
As I left the cathedral I reflected on the fact that Henry, Richard, Geoffrey and John, not to mention Eleanor and Joan, were all my grandchildren yet Samuel and Ruth meant more to me than the pampered and spoiled princes whom I barely knew.
Chapter 6
When King Henry learned of my decision to have my archers and men at arms meet us in Angers he roared with laughter. “You can out think any man I have ever known Earl Marshal. I should keep you with me at all times! This speeds our journey to Anjou and means that we can reach the rebellious Bretons even quicker.”
“You realise, Your Majesty, that we have no war horses.”
“There will be enough for your knights. I will commandeer as many as you need in Angers. Besides, Earl Marshal, you will be watching your knights fight. I will not risk the architect of my success in a battle with Breton rebels.”
We sailed in a small fleet of seven ships. I was with King Henry and the future Duke of Brittany. I would rather have been with my son and grandson. I suspect the conversation and the laughter would have been better there. The voyage was, mercifully swift. It took just nine days. I got to know Geoffrey a little better. What I discovered did not impress me. What I had taken for shyness and a reticence to speak before his peers was, in fact the hallmarks of a brooding plotter. He was clever. With the parents he had that was no surprise. For a twelve-year-old he was able to think things through. Brittany was not going to be enough for him. He saw his brothers with England and Aquitaine. He wanted Normandy. Geoffrey was not just sullen, he was dull. All that he could talk of was tourneys and how many he would hold when he was Duke. Even his father tired of him and sent him to the opposite end of the ship. I was glad when we reached Angers. I had had enough of his company.
I saw no English ships at the quay. My men had not arrived. That was no surprise. They had a longer journey than we did. We had passed Nantes at night. That was deliberate. The King did not want Matthew, Count of Nantes, to know that we had come to end his rebellion. My men’s ships would probably pass Nantes during the day. Then the Breton rebels would recognise the threat. It could not be helped for the King wanted my men sooner rather than later.
We were housed in the Duke’s castle. I sent Sir Harold and my grandson to La Flèche. Despite the King’s words I wanted a war horse. Sir Leofric would provide the horses for my knights. The King was not relying on my men only. He needed more knights and so he sent orders for the knights of Anjou to muster. Henry was Duke of Anjou and could demand service from the Angevin knights. He would not have to pay them. As he had told me on the ship they had had an easy time since the time of the civil war. They had prospered and become rich. This was his way of enforcing his rule.
We had breathing space and my son and his knights were able to make purchases in Angers. Most were married and presents for their wives would mitigate their absence somewhat. Sir Harold and Samuel returned with Sir Leofric. They had ten good horses and forty men. A day later seven ships arrived from England and forty men at arms, eighty archers and their horses disembarked. My men had arrived. Once the knights of Anjou were mustered we would be ready to go to war. When the bulk of his knights had arrived, we held a council of war. The counts of Tours and Saumur joined myself, the King and Geoffrey in the King’s quarters. Geoffrey would just listen but now that I knew more of his real character I watched him in a new light.
The King knew exactly what to say and he made each point with an aggressive finger. He used his hands as weapons. “This will not be a chevauchée. We will not raid and then leave. I intend to ride first to Ploërmel. Mathuedoï, Count of Poher, thinks he is safe there. Now that the Count of Nantes has seen English ships carrying warriors up the river he will expect an attack. He will not expect one at Ploërmel. I will remove the Count and replace him with a lord that I can trust.”
“Do you have one in mind, Your Majesty?”
He looked at me, “There are some lords of Anjou who might suit the title. We have a hundred miles and battles to fight first. When Ploërmel is in our hands then we ride to Nantes. With luck we might not even have to fight but whatever the outcome Count Matthew will also be removed from office. My son, Geoffrey will be the new Count of Nantes.”
Henry was clever. His son could not be Duke until he married Constance. This way his son controlled the most important port in Brittany. He also protected Angers. It may have been that he sought to appease his sullen son.
Richard, Count of Saumur said, “The land around Ploërmel is not horse country lord.”
“I know and that is why we have the Earl of Cleveland’s archers. The Bretons use the crossbow and they will soon discover that the English war bow is superior. If you have never seen it being used, Count, then you are in a for a pleasant surprise. The Earl’s men helped to win my crown for me and I am grateful to them.”
Stephen of Tours asked, “And when do we leave, my lord?”
“Tomorrow. Earl William’s men all brought horses. They may not be in the perfect condition after ten days at sea but we have four days to acclimatize them while we ride through Brittany.”
The one aspect of this campaign that I was less than happy about was the paucity of local scouts. We had no Bretons with us. King Henry trusted no one from the Duchy. We would have to use Sir Leofric’s men. Although they knew the borderlands they were unfamiliar with Poher. They would have to guide us safely to a place where we could lau
nch an attack. If this was England, Scotland or Wales then the local knowledge we had would have helped us to choose a perfect battlefield. King Henry was relying on my mind to make whatever ground we found to our advantage.
It was hotter in Anjou than in England and our men at arms and archers took some time to adjust to the heat. I rode with my son and Samuel. This was my grandson’s first visit to Anjou and he looked around in awe at the terraced vineyards, gently flowing rivers and could not help but contrast it with the land of the borders.
“This is land worth fighting for grandfather. The land north of the wall is fit for nothing save trees. Why do men die for it?”
“To protect the land which we farm.”
“But the valley of the Tees cannot compare with this.”
I smiled, “The valley where I made my home?”
“I am sorry, I meant nothing by the comment. I should have thought first.”
My son shook his head, “That is true more times than you know Samuel. It is my home too. I chose to come back home from Aqua Bella. It will be your home too.”
Samuel shook his head, “You misunderstand me. I am not saying this land is better than ours. It is just different.”
I smiled. I sympathised with Samuel. “Your view, Samuel, is the same view as many of the Norman knights who came over with Duke William. They did not want the land of the north. I think that is why King Henry chose to give it to my father. My father was coming home and, to him, it was all he ever wanted. I felt like you too. I had been a pampered young lord living in Constantinopolis. I turned my nose up at ale, the cold winds, the harsh winters, the smell of warriors. Wulfstan soon knocked those airs and graces from me. Your father’s scout, Masood thinks highly of our land. When we are back home then ask him what he likes about it.”
Samuel had decided that he had said too much and remained silent.
Sir Ralph nudged his horse next to mine, “Warlord, how do the Bretons fight?”
“They fight like all Franks but they use more light horsemen than we do. The light horsemen wear no armour but they are fearless. They ride close and hurl javelins. With fast horses they will try to draw you away from the protection of your peers. If they can catch a knight on his own then they will surround him and bring him down. Do not be tempted to chase them. They have knights too and they are armoured much as we are but they have larger horses.”