Baron's Crusade

by Griff Hosker

  We stayed for three days. We had goods and animals to sell and the healers wished to give our wounded the opportunity to recover. None wished to stay in Jerusalem and so we rode, as a body, north and west towards Acre. The three days of rest and good food in Jerusalem had wrought dramatic changes in the captives. They now looked like the men they had once been. I knew that it was not just the food, the rest and the clothes which had made them change; they had fought together and defeated their enemies. The humiliation and degradation they had suffered were now expunged. They were all tougher for their experience. Geoffrey had been there the shortest time but he told Mark and me, as we rode to Acre, that even if he was surrounded by enemies he would fight to the death and not surrender for he had seen what that meant, here, in the Holy Land.

  Chapter 17

  The captives were found accommodation in the town of Acre by Jean, who had become their unofficial leader. Sir Philip took his men directly to the port for he was anxious to take a ship and return to his home as soon as he could. That he was unable to leave was not his fault for there were no ships to be had and his enforced presence meant a better ending to this crusade. I took my archers, men at arms and the two squires into the castle. I had expected the castle to be emptier, for King Thibaut, Duke Peter and their men had departed for home, but it was not. Simon de Montfort and his barons had arrived. I realised that was the reason my father had not been there to greet me. He was meeting with the first contingent of the men who would replace us. It gave me the opportunity to show Geoffrey around the castle. Padraig and Richard Red Leg were still using the hospital in the castle. We went to fetch them. Padraig and Richard were as saddened as any by the news of the loss of Matthew.

  Padraig looked old, “He was a fine lad and I have shared many a beaker of ale with his father. I have seen enough of travelling, Sir William. When I volunteered for this crusade, I thought to save my soul and to protect the young sergeants at arms. As just four of us remain and Master Matthew is dead, I have failed. Your father has offered me the farm at the Ox Bridge in Stockton and I will take it. I do not know what kind of farmer I will make but it will be better than the warrior I have become.”

  Mark shook his head, “You are wrong, Padraig! You made us the men we are becoming. The journey is not yet over but you have steered us in the right direction. My brother died not because he was badly trained but because he was doing what you would have done; he was trying to save two of his comrades. He died well. We will all meet again in heaven and my brother will be able to hold his head up when he meets you for he died a warrior and not just the son of a tanner.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Tell me, Padraig, does the arrival of Simon de Montfort mean that we go home now?” Mark was keen to get home now and see his family. The death of his brother had made them far more important than they had been.

  He shook his head, “The King’s brother, Richard, Earl of Cornwall, travelled a different way lord. I believe there was discord between the Baron and the King’s brother but you will have to ask the Earl about that, Baron de Montfort’s men are a close-mouthed lot.”

  I smiled for that was Padraig’s way of saying he did not like them. I nodded, “Well, you and Richard can rejoin our men. We make plans to go for it will soon be October and if we do not leave during the autumn sailing then we will be stuck here. If Baron de Montfort is here then we can go.”

  Padraig grinned, “Those are the words I wished to hear, lord. Your father is with the Baron and his brother. They are in the upper courtyard. Sir Thomas will be pleased to see you.”

  John and Henry Samuel were waiting on my father and so, when I left Geoffrey and Mark with my men at arms, I went alone through the castle to the upper courtyard. I knew why they were there. At this time of day, it was the coolest part of the castle, for the sea breeze kept it so. The two pages were seated outside the courtyard along with two other squires or pages. I took them to be de Montfort’s. I frowned as this was not my father’s way.

  John and Sam were delighted to see me, “Sir William, your father will be delighted to see you, Uncle!”

  “And I am pleased to be back. Rather than cooling your heels here, go and join our men. Mark will tell you all that there is to know.” I felt a little cowardly for I was asking Mark to give them the bad news.

  John frowned, “And Matthew?”

  I gave a sad smile, “Let Mark tell the tale. I have much to tell my father.”

  One of the squires stood and barred the entrance, “My lord, I was told to bar the entrance of any knight. I must ask you to stay without.”

  Before I could speak, Henry Samuel stood and faced the squire, “Know your place, squire! Do you not know who this is? This is Sir William of Elsdon!” He swept a hand around, “Ask any in this castle or the Holy Land about him and you will know that you are not fit to lick his buskins! Your master’s brother would still be a prisoner but for him.”

  The squire recoiled in the face of my nephew’s verbal attack but I saw his eyes flare with anger, “Peace nephew and cut along.” I turned to the squire and spoke quietly but with menace in my voice, “If you were able to stop me then I would be impressed, squire, but you are not, so move yourself from my path for I have had a long ride and I tire of this nonsense!”

  The squire nodded and moved. I walked through into the cool air of the lemon-scented courtyard. My father stood and grinned. Simon de Montfort said, without turning, “Did I not make myself clear! I said that…” He stood and turned, “Sir William I…”

  My father embraced me and said, “Baron de Montfort is under the impression, now that he has married the King’s sister, that he is an important person. He is quickly discovering that he is wrong.”

  I disengaged and saw that de Montfort had reddened. “He will learn, father, for this is not the court where a baron can grease a palm.” I saw that my barb had struck home and de Montfort was not happy. I had made another enemy but I cared not!

  “Sit and take refreshment. You are back and I thank God for that but were you successful?”

  I nodded, “There is a tale to tell!”

  De Montfort said, “But I have not finished!”

  My father gave him a cold look, “You mean that you have not finished trying to assassinate the character of Richard of Cornwall before he arrives to take command. I am sorry, I thought you had or were there more poisonous words you wished to add?”

  De Montfort stood, “Come, brother, I can see that Sir Thomas is just what I expected, King Henry’s lackey!”

  I turned to the young Baron and put my hand on his chest, “I will excuse your rudeness once, de Montfort. If there is a second time then you and I will cross blades and not words.”

  He should have answered my challenge but he did not, “Come Amaury, the air grows foul in here.”

  Before he left I said, “Baron Amaury, I managed to rescue one of your men at arms, Alan of Chester.”

  He looked at me blankly, “I thank you although I cannot put a face to him. Is he well?”

  I looked into his eyes; he neither knew nor cared about his men, “He is now for he serves me!”

  The Baron nodded, “Then all is as it should be.”

  They left. My father laughed, “That went well! I confess that I have been distracted in your absence else I would have said that a while ago.”

  “What is that all about?”

  “Richard of Cornwall is unhappy that de Montfort has married his sister. I have yet to speak to the Earl for he has yet to arrive but I think it is because he questions the motives of de Montfort. I think that de Montfort sees this marriage as a way to gain power. Do you know he brought his wife with him? She waits for him at Brindisi.”

  My shoulders slumped, “Then he does not intend to stay here for long?”

  “It seems not, mind you, his brother is unwell. I think his sojourn in Egypt did little to improve his health.”

  “And the Duke of Burgundy?”

  “The Duke felt he had no
t yet done enough and so he rode south with his men to rebuild Ascalon and make it a fortress once more; I admire him for that and he has more character than the de Montfort brothers. The other lords left as soon as they could. They did not gain the lands and glory they thought. The lords who remain, in the main, are here to carve up the Holy Land. Richard of Cornwall is due here within the week and I will be glad to quit this land.” He smiled, “So, tell me of the rescue!”

  The smile left his face as I gave him the details. The conditions in which the prisoners were kept and their treatment at the hands of the Muslims both angered and saddened him. When I told him about Matthew, I thought he would burst into tears. I knew then that his wound had changed him. He shook his head, “But there is satisfaction knowing that he died well and that you saved the one man you wished to save. This was all meant to be, my son. Come, I must speak with my men,” he smiled, “or should I say, your men for I think that is what they now are.”

  There were no ships in the harbour. Sir Philip could not take ship nor could we. The men who had been ransomed had taken them all. We would have to wait until Richard of Cornwall arrived and hire those ships. Simon de Montfort kept well away from us but on the second morning after our arrival, I found Henry Samuel and John. Mark and Geoffrey were tending to their hands and faces; they had been fighting.

  “What happened, nephew?”

  Sam looked shamefaced. “Tell him, Henry Samuel or I shall.” Mark had taken over as senior squire and Sam nodded.

  “The squires of Baron de Montfort found us and attacked us. They said it was a punishment for the way you treated them.”

  I began to turn for I would not condone such behaviour. Mark said, “Hold, lord. The wrong has been righted. These hurts are nothing compared with the wounds they inflicted on their attackers. The Baron’s squire needed the attention of a healer for John, here, broke his nose and his jaw. He will not be eating well for a while.”

  I looked at the son of the blacksmith. He had arms like young oaks. “However, Mark, I want you and Geoffrey to go armed and do not let these two out of your sight for if they are like their master, these squires will be vindictive and without honour.”

  “Aye lord, for Stockton looks after its own.”

  The next day a small cog arrived in the harbour with the news that Richard of Cornwall, along with the rest of his barons and knights, was a day away, labouring across the sea. My father and I went to the Castellan to tell him that we would be moving from the castle to quarters closer to the town. The Knights of St. John had a small hospital by the waterfront. It was only used when there were too many brothers to be accommodated in the castle. It was now empty and the master had offered it to us. None wished to stay because the arrival of Simon de Montfort had cast an unhealthy atmosphere over the whole castle.

  “In that case let me hold a small feast for you, Sir Thomas. I do not think that the other lords have accorded you enough honour for your actions in the Battle of Gaza and of your son in the recapture of Jerusalem, not to mention the heroic rescue of captives abandoned by their betters.”

  “You have no need, my lord.”

  We could not, however, refuse and so we ate in the Great Hall. Our squires and pages also ate with us. Simon de Montfort’s squires were there. The one John had defeated had his face swathed in bandages. It was obvious that he would have to endure a liquid diet. The other squire, whom Henry Samuel had fought, bore blackened eyes and a misshapen nose. They had learned a valuable lesson; do not assume others are as ill-trained as you. De Montfort and his brother kept apart from us. My father and I had deduced that Simon de Montfort had been attempting to suborn my father and gain his support to take over the English barons. I felt depressed as we ate for instead of hope with the arrival of Richard of Cornwall, it would be more of the same, plots and politics. There would be conspiracies and there would be alliances. The true purpose of the crusade would be forgotten.

  My father sensed my mood. “You have achieved far more than we could possibly have hoped before we arrived here. Yes, there have been losses, but they were fewer than others have suffered. We go home at least as strong as we were when we arrived and, in some ways, richer.”

  “As strong, father? What of the wound which nearly killed you? What about Matthew?”

  He spoke quietly, “I am getting old, William. We both know that. True, William Marshal was older and he still fought for England but my days of fighting are done. Your quest and your journey changed you and now you can take over my mantle. King Henry has promised you a manor in the valley, Seggesfield, and I will hold him to that promise for we served here longer than he asked. I will continue to train you to take over as Lord of Stockton. There is little I can teach you of war; you have shown that you are a master both here and on the borders. You have one son and hopefully, more children will follow. I can indulge myself and be the doting grandfather. Henry Samuel has shown me what we can achieve for the blood of the Warlord is powerful.”

  His words gave me pause for thought.

  The next day we left the castle. The men who would be travelling with us left the inn and our horses, goods and weapons were fetched to the hospital by the water. The mood lightened immediately once we were all together without the hostility from others. The absence of de Montfort and his plots made everyone happier. Our men went into the town to make purchases while my father and I, our squires and our pages watched for the sails of the English ships. There was a stone bench outside the hospital and we sat there, shaded by buildings, to watch as the fleet appeared over the horizon.

  “I had planned on staying a few days, William, to acquaint the Earl of Cornwall with the situation. I think I can do that in one meeting. While I meet with Richard of Cornwall I would have you go aboard and meet with the senior captain before others can do so. Negotiate our passage. We have more than enough coin to pay the fleet and I would have us sail all the way to England. I do not wish to have to endure a crossing of France.”

  “I promised Sir Philip and Jean of Rheims that we would call in at France.”

  He smiled, “That is easy enough and they can all be in one ship.” He shook his head, “You are more like me than you know!”

  We knew that the first ship to land would be the one carrying Richard of Cornwall and that would also be the most senior captain, not to mention the best ship. There were other knights waiting to take a ship home and I intended that we would be first to claim passage; we had earned it. As the ship neared, I saw that I recognised her; it was ‘Petrel’. It was the ship which had brought us east. Fate. We stood and made our way to the quayside. I saw the other knights waiting to take ship begin to move towards it but when they recognised my father and me, their shoulders slumped. They would have to take whatever crumbs we left. I knew we were being selfish but our sacrifices had earned us that right.

  The gangplank was lowered and, as I had expected, Richard of Cornwall led the barons down the gangplank. As they stepped onto the cobbles, I smiled for their uneven gait showed that their legs were still at sea.

  My father bowed and gestured towards the bench we had just vacated, “Your Royal Highness, welcome to the Holy Land. May I offer you a bench? In my experience sitting for a short time helps a lord to regain his composure.”

  The Earl knew my father and he smiled, “As ever, Sir Thomas, you serve my family well. Has Baron de Montfort arrived?”

  There was an undertone in his voice which I knew my father would pick up on, “He is, Your Royal Highness, and while we sit, I can apprise you of the situation. My son, Sir William, will go aboard your ship for we have business to conduct.”

  “You wish to leave?”

  “Your Royal Highness, your brother, the King, asked me to wait here for a year until you arrived. It has been much longer and I am anxious to return to England.”

  “Quite so. Lead on and get me out of this sun!” My father would tell him of the attempt to suborn him.

  The Earl had an entourage of some twenty men.
Half would have to bake in the sun while their lord and my father spoke in the shade. It was a situation they would have to get used to. Captain Jack was shouting orders when Mark, Geoffrey and I boarded. We waited while he finished barking out his orders. When he turned and saw me, he beamed, “Sir William, good to see you.”

  “And you, Captain. We would like to arrange passage to England for my father and me along with our men. Further, we wish another ship to take some of our fellows to France. We will not need above three ships. Can you oblige?”

  “Aye, lord and ‘Maid of Staithes’ and ‘Stormbird’ will be available too. After what you did when we were attacked by Frisians, we could not say no but we cannot leave for two or three days at least.” He pointed to his sheets and stays, “We had storms and we have to replace rigging and canvas. The autumn storms came early.”

  I was disappointed but at least we had berths and I knew we could trust the three captains. We negotiated a price and headed back to the hospital. In the time it had taken to arrange the passage my father and the Earl had left for the castle. I went to tell Sir Philip and the others of the arrangement. That done I decided to go into the market and buy more gifts for our home. Geoffrey and Mark came with me. As we headed to the market I said, “Mark, I would buy a gift for your sister. What would she like?” Mark’s sister was the firstborn and she was married to one of my garrison. I knew that she kept house for Mark’s father and that she would be upset at losing her brother. The gift from the Holy Land might partly make up for the loss.