To Murder a King Read online

  “Yes mother!”

  I took Star from the stable. My former war horse was now too old for war but a short ride to Towcester might be just the thing for him. “Come Peter.”

  “Aye Captain.”

  We reached Towcester sooner than I might have hoped. Star enjoyed the opportunity to gallop. Peter’s poor horse had already ridden far that day and was lathered and sweaty when we arrived. Master Henry must have spied us from afar. He came to the gate house. I could see that some of the older buildings had already been demolished.

  “Well?”

  “Well Captain.”

  “Sorry, well Captain? Did you succeed?”

  “We have men. Is your grandfather within?”

  “He is.”

  I told Sir Robert of the men I had recruited but not the manner nor their stories. He did not need to know. “Can they be paid fifteen pennies a day, my lord?”

  “Aye.”

  “I have laid out money for twelve horses but I will need another six at least. I should have eight in case I manage to get another sergeant and archer.”

  Sir Robert said, “Peter, tomorrow I would have you ride to my tenant Thomas of Towcester. Tell him that in lieu of service to me he can provide eight good horses otherwise he will do service as an archer.”

  “Aye lord.”

  “The men I lead are yours, Sir Robert, and should be attired accordingly. The Earl may already be unhappy that he does not have knights to follow his banner. We should ensure that they are all dressed well.”

  “I have already thought of it. When do you leave?”

  “In three days.”

  “Then I will send over the tunics in two days’ time. I have ten surcoats being made for the sergeants. They are pale blue and yellow with my crest and the archers have the halved tunics also in blue and yellow. I have pale blue archers’ caps for them. Will that do?” I knew not how to mention the fact that they needed leather shoes nor that I was short of saddles. There also remained the question of arrows. He smiled, “Do not be shy with me, Captain William. I know that war is expensive. I have a duty. I am no warrior and if men go to fight on my behalf the least I can do is to make sure that they have the equipment.” He took coins from his purse. “Here is ten pounds. Use this for whatever else you need.”

  “Thank you, lord. The men will need arrows. And you, Master Henry, are you equipped?”

  He nodded, “Aye Captain and I am ready to come now.”

  His grandfather shook his head, “Your grandmother wishes to make the most of each moment. You and Peter can take the surcoats and tunics in two days.”

  He nodded.

  As I prepared to take my leave I said, “And you, Master Henry, have two days to continue with your exercises and training for once we reach Southampton then we are warriors for the working day!”

  I headed towards Stonebrook as the sun began to lower in the sky. I reached it at dark and the farm was already in darkness. It looked abandoned. I led Star to the trough and tied my horse there to drink. I shouted, “Richard of Stonebrook, it is William Strongstaff. Are you within?”

  The door opened and I saw that my tenant farmer had been weeping. “Aye sir, I am within but not for long.”

  I said, “I am sorry for your loss. What will you do?”

  He shook his head, “I cannot stay here. I pray you release me from my tenancy. If I stayed here then the sadness would eat away my heart and I would not wish such a slow death.”

  I saw, in the corner of the desolately empty room, his war bow. I spied hope for both him and for me. My father had been torn apart from within. He had been deeply unhappy and that was because of a wife. If I could save Richard from such a life I would do all in my power. “You are an archer are you not, Dick?”

  “Aye sir. I served for six months with Sir James of Buckingham. Why?”

  “I have need of an archer for six months. We go to Castile. It pays fifteen pennies a day.”

  He said, “The pennies do not interest me. Castile? Is that abroad?”

  “It is in Spain.”

  “Then I would be far from here. I would have no memories to tear at me. I would not have to look at the green trees and the brooks. I would not see an English sunrise. I will join you sir. I may find some relief there from the pain which eats me from within.”

  I looked around. “I think it best if you leave this night. The others are in my barn. Fetch your gear. Your new life starts this night.”

  He nodded, “Aye sir and I hope that the next tenant has more good fortune than I did. I lost a child and a wife in this farm. I leave it and my name. I am no longer Richard Stonebrook. I shall be Dick Stone Heart for that is how I shall be.”

  As we left to walk through the dark to my hall I hoped that I would be able to change both him and his mind. My father had found redemption at the end. I would try to give Dick a new life which would save his soul.

  Chapter 4

  Sir Robert was as good as his word. The pale blue and yellow tunics, along with the caps and arrows arrived with Henry. He had a sumpter to carry his war gear as did Peter. I had bought the leather and my archers had made their own shoes as well as arm protectors and archers’ gloves. There was enough left for Stephen the Tracker to make a leather arrow bag. The others used canvas ones. When my wife discovered how much the leather had cost me she determined to tan our own hides. She was ever practical. Dick’s recovery began as soon as he met the other archers. He learned of men who had had misfortune which was almost as bad as his and discovered that they could recover. For their part they were pleased to have another archer in their ranks. We left for Southampton. Stonebrook would remain empty for there were no other tenants. Eleanor determined to hire men to work it. She saw the opportunity to make even more coin.

  “Come back safe, husband. You are of little use as a farmer but your wife and children need you.”

  “And you take care. May God watch over you all.”

  And then we were gone on the one-hundred-mile ride to Southampton. Master Henry was excited. He wore my surcoat rather than his grandfather’s. I wondered how his grandfather felt and then I realised that it had been Henry’s father who had been the warrior. When Henry became a knight, he would have his own livery. He was riding better these days. He had realised it was an important skill. His sword work had improved but he could not use a lance at all. He seemed unable to coordinate his shield and the lance along with a horse. That training would need to wait until after we had fulfilled our contract. He led Goldheart and that helped his training. My courser did not like being led and Henry had to learn to give commands to a war horse. Peter led our sumpters. He, alone out of our company, had no livery. His faded red cloak covered his tunic and mail.

  My archers wore their new tunics but they too were covered in a faded cloak. The former outlaws had used natural dyes and their cloaks were a muddy green. In the woodland they would be hidden. Sir Robert had meant well buying arrows but I knew that my archers would rather have made their own. Livery arrows were unpopular because they were mass produced by men who did not have to rely on them. I had purchased for them some shafts. Most were poplar although some were good ash which my archers preferred. We had goose feathers and we had bodkin and war heads. My men would only fit the heads when we knew the target and the heads would be held in by wax. I had served with the Free Companies in Spain and I knew that arrows became as valuable as gold. If we could recover the arrows then new heads could easily be fashioned. We had also purchased a quantity of hemp strings. The archers kept these under their hats. We had spares of all that we needed now. Our spare sumpters carried the arrows and feathers. We had a long voyage which would take at least eight days. The archers had more than enough time to fletch their arrows. My only worry was the lack of swords. We would need to buy some but I remembered that Spain had better swords and, normally, they were less expensive than in England. Dick Stone Heart rode next to Peter. He was melancholic. Peter’s humour and stories helped Dick to dwe
ll less on his dead wife.

  Henry bombarded me with questions. My father would have given me a clip or worse for annoying him but I remembered Peter the Priest and Red Ralph. They had been patient and answered all of my questions. I had to explain the hierarchy of a campaign. I was just above the sergeants and men at arms. My men would call me Captain but often the archers would be taken from me to form massed banks of bowmen and I would not lead them. I think he was disappointed that I would not be privy to the counsels of the lords. I think he believed that a campaign would be well organised. He saw long columns of men marching with precision. Nothing could be further from the truth. Armies moved from one town to the other as best they could. Some would be given the most unpopular of tasks, guarding the baggage train. Stuck at the back with the slowest animals and surrounded by horseshit and piss it was a duty my men would not enjoy. The Blue Company had been with the vanguard. Although more dangerous it was more popular. The vanguard reached towns, water, shade and treasure faster than others.

  I explained to him how he should address others. He would be called sir as he was an esquire. All above him would either be captain or my lord.

  “I would that I was a knight! How long will it take?”

  “Your grandfather could knight you now.” He brightened. “I would tell him no. You are too inexperienced and would die in your first battle. If you have to draw your sword on this campaign then I fear I will not earn the bounty for your survival. You watch and you learn. You see how others control their horses, use their shields and swords. A battle is a frightening place. It is not like a tourney. There are no rules. You do all that you can to survive.”

  “And what of ransom?”

  “It is for fools. While you wonder if you can disarm your opponent he kills you. If they surrender all well and good but otherwise, if you have to fight, fight to kill.”

  Our last stop was at Newbury. We had not stayed in inns each night. Some were too expensive and others were full. The roads were filled with men heading to the muster. We were tired for we had ridden over thirty miles. We were close to Bishop’s Clere when I felt the horses were getting too weary to continue. There was a small village close by and normally they would not have had an inn with stables. This one, perhaps because of the Bishop of Winchester’s residence, did. It did not look large but there was a barn and a stable. We later learned that an enterprising farmer had added the inn to his farm. There were just two horses in the stables and I entered to negotiate a price for the night. I took Henry with me.

  I had just stepped into the warm and inviting inn when a familiar voice said, “Captain William! What brings you here?”

  I saw, by the fire, Roger of Chester who had been a guard with me. Another sergeant sat opposite. “Roger of Chester! This is well met! I take a band of sergeants and archers to the Earl of Derby and Northampton’s muster.”

  “Then this is truly well met.”

  I saw the farmer-landlord hovering close by, “I have men and horses. We need beds and stables.”

  He shook his head. These fine fellows have one of my rooms. I have another. It could accommodate two as for the rest…”

  “How much to sleep in the barn?” He made the mistake of hesitating. I said, quickly, “A groat for the stables and barn what say you?”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “We will need food too but I will account for that at the time. Henry go and tell the men they sleep in the barn. You and I will share the room. When you have seen to the horses then you can join me.”

  Roger had stood and clasped my arm. “It is good that you are heading for the muster, Captain.”

  “You are heading to Southampton too?”

  He nodded, “This is John Bowland. He is also a sergeant at arms. We fell in together in Chester. I was visiting my family.”

  I waved the innkeeper over. “Ale for us and also for my men when they enter. I will settle at the end.”

  He saw I did not wear spurs and he said, “Yes, sir.”

  “Sit, Roger.” I took in his threadbare cloak and buskins which had seen better days. John of Bowland looked little better. “You have a lord to serve?”

  They both shook their heads. “To speak truthfully, Captain, since I left the King’s Guards I have had little luck or perhaps it was poor judgement choosing a lord to follow. I was in Chester as I was able to help my parents around the farm and I was fed.”

  I looked at John Bowland. He shrugged. “My lord was from Lancaster and we were ambushed by Scottish cattle raiders. He fell from his horse and broke his neck. We beat off the cattle raiders and recovered his cattle but his wife blamed us, his men, for his poor horsemanship. She let us go without the money we were owed. When we appealed the Sheriff threatened us with imprisonment. I headed south and met Roger. We heard of this muster and thought to seek a lord.”

  “I am no lord but as Captain I can offer you fifteen pennies a day for forty days and then thirty-seven shillings and six pennies for each month after that.” In truth I had yet to negotiate with the Earl but we were only bound for forty days from the moment we boarded the ship.

  Roger said, “For my part I will take your hand Captain. I know you for an honest man and as good a warrior as I have met.”

  John of Bowland nodded his agreement, “And I will take the handshake, Captain.”

  I shook their hands, “I have surcoats in our baggage. You fight under the colours of Sir Robert Armistead, Baron of Stratford. His son is my squire. I am training him to be a knight.”

  Roger smiled, “Scutage! That was what we hoped. And which lord do we serve?”

  “The Earl of Derby and Northampton. You know him as Henry Bolingbroke, the King’s cousin.”

  He frowned, “Did I not hear that they had fallen out?”

  “Let us not worry about that. You and I know, Roger, that the Royal Household is a treacherous place. The Earl of Oxford and Michael de la Pole are the two counsellors who wield the real power.”

  John Bowland lowered his voice, “I have heard of English lords who oppose the Earl and the Chancellor.”

  “Do not tread down that road, John Bowland.”

  “It was common talk in the inns of York. I tried there before Chester. Thomas of Woodstock, the Earl of Arundel and Thomas de Beauchamp, the Earl of Warwick are involved. Thomas Woodstock is Duke of Gloucester and the King’s uncle. They do not oppose the King but his chief ministers.”

  Suddenly Henry Bolingbroke’s decision to go to Castile and help his father made greater sense than before. He would distance himself from any hint of rebellion. He aspired to be King. “I will thank you not to mention such things before my squire. He is young and impressionable. All of us need to serve in Castile. We may have differing reasons but the purpose is the same. I speak no treason.”

  I heard the noise from outside as my men entered. With ale and food inside them and the prospect of just one more night in England it was a merry gathering. Henry sat and listened. He was amongst warriors. They exchanged stories of campaigns and battles in which they had fought., They spoke of weapons they had used.

  Only Dick Stone Heart remained silent. He just drank. I sat next to him, “Eat, Richard. That is a command. I cannot have an archer who cannot draw a bow.”

  “Never fear, Captain, I will not let you down.”

  “Then eat! It is good food and I have eaten in Spain. The food there is not the same. Make the most of good food while you can.”

  He nodded and ate. I caught the eye of Stephen the Tracker. While my former tenant ate I went to speak to my chief archer. “He is a troubled man, Captain.” I told him his tale. He looked again at Dick. “He is one of ours now. We will tease him from his troubles. My father’s heart was broken when my mother died of the plague. He went to the brink. I would not have another suffer as he did.”

  As I lay down to sleep that night I reflected that the Good Lord had sent me men of character. I had men who were of one heart and that was good. When things became hard in Castile then
our fellows were all we had.

  As we rode into Southampton during the late afternoon we looked less like brigands and outlaws. Wearing their new liveries, they rode proudly through the streets to the harbour. I saw the standard of the Earl of Derby and Northampton at the castle. I had, in my saddlebags, a letter for the Earl. It explained Sir Robert’s commitment. Sir Walter of Blecheley, Sir Richard d’Issy and Sir Ralph Fitzjohn had all sent scutage money to the Earl. I had thought it was both foolish and lazy. The cost of men would have been less than the money they paid to the Earl. If the men died in the campaign the lords would have saved themselves the money. I had their money on a sumpter. I rode at the fore and it was I who was recognised by Harold Four Fingers. He waved me over to an inn.

  “Here, Captain!”

  We reined in at ‘The Scallop’. It was an old inn and I could not see a stable. I dismounted and handed my reins to Henry. “No stables, Harold?”

  He shook his head, “Sorry, Captain, all the inns with stables are full. Southampton is fit to burst. It is lucky that some of the ships sail on Saturday.”

  I frowned, “But I was told we had another fourteen days before we left.”

  “Aye, Captain, but a rider came in yesterday morning and went directly to the castle. It was as though someone had smacked a wasp nest. The Earl’s herald came galloping down here. We have a good position here and heard most of it. We can’t find out why they are leaving early but half the ships will be going then.”

  “Then where do we put our horses?”

  “There is a field just a hundred paces down the river. The farmer will let you keep them there for a groat a day.”

  “We will need a watch.”

  “I will arrange that, Captain. Did you get all the men you needed?”

  “I am one sergeant short.”

  He grinned, “You are not. We found Robert son of Tom when we were on the road. You remember him from the Guard?” I nodded. “He had fallen on hard times and was acting as a whore’s watchdog in an inn in Andover. He threw in with us. He is inside now.”