Earl Marshal Read online

  “Prince Dafydd I will need you close by me. When our horsemen charge and break through we should win but…”

  “But?” The Prince looked worried.

  “If every battle went the way it was planned I might be able to guarantee that you will be safe. Keep your bodyguards around you. As for the rest of you, obey Sir Harold! That is my last command.”

  Thomas brought me my horse and I mounted. I smiled and waved at Samuel. He did not look worried. He had fought alongside me since he had been little more than a page. He had more experience than the Prince or his lieutenants. As the sun came up behind us I saw that the two brothers had arrayed themselves behind four lines of men on foot. On one flank, their right, were their horsemen while the Irish were on their left. When our knights charged much responsibility would lie with the men at arms and archers who would have to endure wild attacks. I nodded to the Prince’s standard bearer and he sounded the horn three times. The men at arms moved forward. When they were two hundred paces from the Welsh the Welsh archers began to send their arrows towards our advancing men. My men at arms were ready and they held their shields above them. Some, not the ones from the valley, showed their inexperience by having the shield too close to their heads. One died when the arrow came through his shield and into his head. When the men at arms were one hundred paces from the Welsh they stopped, ostensibly to dress their lines. The Welsh sent every arrow they had towards my men at arms and then Ralph launched his own arrow storm. It was not aimed at the mailed men at arms but the archers who had no protection. Every arrow found a victim and then Guiscard led my men at arms forward. We had lost men but dressing the lines had filled the gaps. There was a clash of wood and steel when they came together. Now that the Welsh archer threat had been minimized our archers sent their arrows into the men at arms. They did not kill as many as we would have liked but when some of the horsemen had their mounts struck then the Welsh reacted.

  Their horn sounded twice. The whole of their line attacked. Our men were ready and they fled to the sides of the valley. On each side three hundred men were standing behind ditches and stakes. The sudden, apparent rout took the Welsh by surprise. The men on foot were slow to react. The horsemen and the Irish reached the men at arms before they had formed lines and men began to die as our own archers’ arrows took their toll.

  “Now Sir Harold!”

  The horn was sounded and our knights, squires and horsemen galloped down the valley. They were not charging formed ranks. The Welsh were rushing to get at the Warlord. By the time they realised their predicament and tried to form ranks it was too late. I saw Sir James, Sir Harold, Sir Richard and Sir Samuel strike with the spears so quickly that their arms were almost a blur. Many of the men they struck had their backs to the horsemen. Others were trampled to death. A Welsh horn sounded. The knights tried to disengage but the Irish had their blood up and they fought on.

  It was hard to sit and just watch the battle but my fighting days were done. What was worrying me was the success the Welsh knights were enjoying. Already some of the men at arms who fought for Prince Dafydd were being slaughtered by knights with lances. I was about to ask for the horn to sound when I saw Sir Harold look up. He shouted orders although I could not hear them. Sir Hugh led half of the knights towards the two Welsh Princes on the hill while Sir Harold wheeled the rest around. Sir Harold had first been my squire when his only skill was with a bow and arrow. Now he was a master horseman. He raised his spear and steadied his line. They calmed their horses and then he lowered his spear and they charged up the hill towards the Welsh horsemen.

  Even Prince Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd was impressed, “Your knights have superb control, Earl Marshal.”

  “It is years of training and Sir Harold has been fighting at my side for almost fifty years. My grandson has fought in two wars. They know their business.”

  Sir Harold led them to plough into the rear of the Welsh horsemen. Riders were knocked from saddles and the men at arms and archers took heart. They rallied. Suddenly the fyrd spilled through the stakes and the ditches. They were like a tidal wave. They were ill armed but they saw lords who could be beaten and they all wanted to be part of that.

  I turned to the Prince’s standard bearer. He had the horn, “Sound the general attack! Let us end this! Come Thomas, we have been spectators long enough.” I drew my sword and spurred White Star towards Sir Hugh and the knights who were battling their way through the Welsh protecting their princes. Guiscard and his men at arms had massacred the Irishmen and they made a huge wedge to drive down from our right.

  Thomas and I almost caught up with Sir Hugh and his men. The Welsh defenders were dying to protect their princes. Thomas was a little eager and when the Welshman who had been feigning death suddenly rose and swung his axe, my grandson’s squire almost met an early death. When I was younger men said I had the quickest hands they had ever seen. They might have slowed a little but I was still more than quick enough to swing a back-hand blow into the back of the Welsh neck. Thomas looked around in shock, “Thank you Earl Marshal! I owe you a life!”

  “You owe me nothing! Just be more alert.”

  I reached Sir Hugh’s squire. The Prince and his bodyguards were with us. Sir Hugh and the other knights were tiring. Our seven fresh horses and sharpened blades made all the difference. I had no shield but White Star was a clever horse and he twisted and turned like a mountain stream. I had not fought for some time but my body knew what to do. I used the weight of the blade and the sharpened edge to do the damage. I struck at the weak points. I hit to cause damage, not necessarily to kill.

  One of the squires of Prince Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd saw an opportunity for glory and he rode at me. He had an open helmet and scale armour. He galloped at the white bearded old man and he raised his sword to end the battle and win it for his lord. I watched the sword come down and, just as it was about to strike my helmet I spurred White Star as I jerked her head around. The squire struck space. I brought the flat of my blade around hard and struck him in his unprotected back. His shout was like that of a vixen in the night. He angrily whirled around. He jerked his horse’s head so savagely that the bit tore into the animal’s mouth and made the horse rear a little. The squire struggled to control it. I brought the flat of my blade hard against the back of the squire’s hand. I heard bones break and the sword was dropped.

  “Yield, you have lost and I do not want to kill a young man who has so much to learn.”

  Two of my men at arms were approaching and he nodded. “I yield!”

  I sheathed my sword for I could see that the two princes had lowered their standards. “A word of advice, young master, train your horse better and be gentler. You will live longer. You could have died twice this day. You are a squire and I used the flat of my blade.”

  “There will be no ransom!”

  I laughed, “Live young squire and I will forego the ransom. When you reach my age, you see that there are more important things than coin!”

  Chapter 3

  There had been great slaughter, especially close to the two joint leaders. Sir Hugh had lost three of his knights and he was in an angry mood. He glared at Owain and Gruffydd who had managed to avoid committing their own knights until victory was assured. Prince Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd basked in the glory of a victory with which he had little influence. He had sat next to me and trotted forward while Thomas and I had charged. I had done as I had been asked but there was a sour taste in my mouth. King Henry had been short sighted. One day we would have to come back and conquer this land just to keep England safe. For the moment, however, I was Earl Marshal and I was the King’s man.

  We entered the town and I rode directly to the hall which Rhodri and Maelgwn had used as their stronghold. Prince Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd would not afford them the title of prince for they had rebelled. He had them bound and brought before me in chains. I was weary and my head hurt. I desperately needed to take some of the draught. It would have to wait until I had passed judgement.<
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  I took the right-hand seat of the two which stood on the raised dais. I did not wait for Prince Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd. I was flouting convention and insulting the Prince but I cared not.

  “Bring forth the rebels!”

  The two princes and the twenty knights who had surrendered were brought forward. “You have rebelled against your lawful lord.” I was not sure that I had spoken the truth but no one questioned my word and I continued. “Prince Rhodri and Prince Maelgwn, your lands are forfeit. There are reparations to pay to the men of Cheshire and the knights of Sir Hugh. I deem that to be one thousand gold pieces. Until that amount is paid in full you will be held in Chester.” I saw Sir Hugh smile and nod. He and the other lords were satisfied. They would be recompensed for their losses and even the fyrd would go home happy. The Welsh dead had been stripped of all that was vaguely valuable. I had also done the two princes a favour. They would be safer in Chester. I feared that Prince Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd might wish them harm.

  I turned my attention to the knights. They had all surrendered. “The ransom for your knights will be set by Sir Hugh and he will hold you at his castle at Mohald.” Sir Hugh’s smile became even broader. “You will swear allegiance to your new prince and the King he serves, Henry of England.” Prince Dafydd flashed me an angry look. Perhaps he did not realise that marrying the half-sister to the King made him subservient to the King of England. I cared not. My pain was worse.

  I rose, “And now I will prepare for my journey south. I leave on the morrow. I have done my duty and obeyed my King’s instructions. I am done with Wales.”

  I strode from the hall. My knights and Sir Hugh followed me. Sir Hugh said, as we stepped into the fresh air, “Thank you, Earl Marshal! That was a masterful demonstration. What do I do with your share of the ransom?”

  I waved a hand at my knights, “Send it to Cleveland with the share of my knights. I give mine to the archers and men at arms and a quarter for the town of Stockton.”

  He looked surprised, “None for you, Earl Marshal?”

  Sir Harold gave him a disappointed look, “This is the Earl Marshal, Sir Hugh. Do not expect the behaviour you see in other lords!”

  As we headed back to our camp Sir Samuel said, “Are you unwell, grandfather?”

  “Just a little tired. I will lie down in my tent. Make sure that we are ready to leave in the morning. I wish to reach Leek by dark. I would make Leicester in two days.”

  “What is the rush?”

  How could I tell him that Brother Peter had measured my life in months and not years? “I am keeping my knights from their families. The sooner you reach London with your charge the sooner you can return to Stockton.”

  Once in my tent I took some of the draught, lay down and fell asleep. It was a troubled sleep for I was haunted by faces from the past. Names and knights I had not thought about for more than forty years filled my dreams: de Mamers, d’Oilli, Guiscard. All of them had been slain by me but not before they had hurt my family. De Mamers had been responsible for the death of my father. In my dream he pulled down my castle, stone by stone until all that remained was a hall. When I woke it was dark and I could hear men outside laughing and joking.

  As I stood a shadow rose from the dark, “You had a troubled sleep, grandfather.”

  It was Samuel. “So, you are a chamberlain now. You had no need to watch over me. I feel refreshed after the sleep. As for being troubled that is ever the way with old men. It is the young who sleep well for they have clear consciences. When you get to my age you reflect on all your mistakes. Old men spend much of their time regretting actions.”

  “Not you, surely.”

  “Aye, Samuel, even me.”

  We stepped out of the tent and looking down the valley I saw that the sun was setting. Our knights and men were all seated around a communal fire and they cheered when I stepped into the evening air. They were all in good humour. Some had wounds but none had been lost. Even before they received the coin from me they were richer for they knew where the treasure lay on a battlefield. I could smell the horse meat they were cooking. They loved their horses but the ones they ate were the slain ones which had belonged to the Welsh.

  Samuel led me to a spot between Sir James and Sir Harold. “I will fetch food and ale.”

  I smiled, “Not too much food. I have little appetite these days.”

  Sir Harold flashed me a concerned look, “You are ill?”

  “You know better than any, Harold, men of our age eat less.”

  He nodded and waved his arm towards the Welsh camp. “We did the King’s bidding but I enjoyed it not. The Scots are poor enemies but the Welsh are even worse.”

  Sir James spat a piece of gristle into the fire and then wiped his hands upon the grass, “You cannot choose your allies, Sir Harold. One thing I learned when I served my uncle, the Bishop, was that all men have hidden motives. King Henry could have married his half-sister to any of the princes. He cared not which one so long as Gwynedd was tied to England. Thanks to the Earl Marshal Scotland is safe. It is why the King stays in France.” He looked at me. “And you have to maintain order in an England which is still riven with petty jealousies and the rebellion of ungrateful sons.”

  Sir Harold nodded, “London is the most treacherous part of the Kingdom. When we fought in the civil war they turned their coats so often that I swear they were double sided.” His son laughed. Sir Harold said, “I am serious. The lords of Gloucester were loyal to a man. London? They would smile and stab you in the back. I do not envy the Earl Marshal. There will be danger each time he leaves his castle. We will stay with you until we are sure of your safety.”

  I knew that I would have to tell my knights of the new threat. That would have to wait until we were on the road. I needed discretion. If this was a larger plot then I did not want my enemies to know that I had been warned.

  The road to Leek climbed from the plains of Cheshire. The lord of the manor was a supporter of King Henry and had been loyal during the revolt. Even so I would not speak of the letter there. We stopped at the River Weaver to water our horses and eat the bread and cheese we had brought. While we were alone and after we had eaten I brought out the letter and handed it around. I said nothing.

  No one spoke until all had had the chance to read it.

  “Leofric is not given to flights of fancy. This threat is a real one Warlord.”

  “I know Harold.”

  “Who is this de Mamers and why would he hate you so?” Sir James had never even heard of the name.

  “I had almost forgotten him. He was a treacherous knight in the pay of our enemies. He had been a crusader and he and a band of renegade knights working for de Brus tried to undermine the King’s authority. Tancred de Mamers was an evil man and he had with him Richard D’Oilli and Geoffrey Guiscard. They died too. When the King discovered their treachery, he took their lands from them and they fled to France.” I shook my head. “It is so long ago that I have forgotten exactly where but they left England and went from my mind. They seem like ghosts from the past.”

  James hesitated and then said, “I am sorry, lord, but is this not a little long after the event? This sounds like a serious grudge.”

  “The families gambled and lost everything. The fourth of the killers, William of Jedburgh, came from Scotland and his family lost nothing of value.”

  “A more important question, grandfather is, why now?” We all looked at Samuel. He was young but he bore a sharp brain. “It strikes me as convenient that King Henry and my father are in France. You put much hope in William Marshal but Sir Hugh thought that he is also in France with young King Henry. With you out of the way who would keep England safe? Wales and Scotland are quiet; that is thanks to you but what of those rebellious lords who supported the princes? It seems to me, young though I am, that these killers have a vested interest in your death. They gain vengeance and also have a chance to seize power while the King is away.”

  Harold nodded, “Your grandson may be
right.”

  Sir James said, “And you said there were four of them. Who knows if they were the only four. How many others were disenfranchised by King Henry? The Earl of Chester, Hugh of Cyfeiliog, is under arrest. His mother hopes that he might be given his lands back but he does not know. How many others are there in the same position?” He flourished the letter like a sword, “This is dangerous, Warlord. This is the spark that could ignite a second rebellion.”

  “When I read the name la Cheppe then I became suspicious. He was a French knight who served with Sir Edward and the other Knights of the Empress. I had not seen him for many years. I am guessing the man who was murdered was a descendant.” I took back the letter, “But who gains from all of this?”

  “You mean if King Henry the Second of England is deposed?” Sir James was the nearest we had to a politician and he saw that which I had not.

  “Young King Henry.”

  “Aye Warlord and he is in France apparently hunting and enjoying the tourney. None would suspect him. If the country was engulfed in war and the King was in France might there not be a clamour for a rightful King of England, one crowned by King Henry himself, to be offered the crown of England?”

  I wondered now at King Henry’s decision to have his son crowned King of England. It could come back to haunt him.

  “Then we need to be vigilant.” As we mounted I said, “Sir James, when we reach London I would have you ride to France to find my father. I will not commit this to a letter but I would have you apprise him of the situation. He needs to know of this plot and these killers who are loose.”

  “Aye, lord. I think it wise.”

  “We will say that you leave my service to take the cross.”

  Sir Richard asked, “Is that not a sin? To tell an untruth?”