Baron's War Read online

  “I swear that I shall.” I would keep that oath for one did not break an oath to a dying man.

  Stephen of Tours and Fótr arrived. Fótr held out a goblet. Sir Guy drank deeply. He handed the goblet to Fótr. Holding out his hand he clasped Stephen’s arm, “Stephen I am doomed to die. Do not grieve for me. I died as I lived, with honour. Sir Thomas has sworn to find you a knight to serve. I leave you my mail and my horses. I would that my sword be buried with me. I am the last of my line.” It was too much for Stephen. He broke down and sobbed. Fótr put his hand on the squire’s shoulder. Sir Guy smiled, “This is good wine, lord, I shall have, with your permission, a little more.”

  “Of course, and I shall join you.” I picked up a goblet from the altar rail and poured us both a good portion., I saw the shock on Fótr’s face that I was using the goblet for the sacrament. It seemed appropriate to me. “Here is a toast to good causes and knights to fight for them. Death to those with no honour!”

  “Good causes and knights to fight for them. Death to those with no honour.” Guy’s voice was strong despite his wound. He was a true knight.

  Sir Guy was drunk just before the end came. He had no pain. The four of us spoke long into the night and when he passed I knew that he had died as peacefully as was possible. We buried him the next day in my churchyard. Sir Richard attended. As Stephen of Tours prostrated himself on the grave I said. “Sir Richard you have no squire. What say you to taking on Stephen of Tours?”

  He nodded, “Lord, it would be an honour.” Stephen of Tours was happy too.

  I sent riders to inform my knights of the loss of Tours. It meant that we could expect a French army as well as Brice the Chamberlain. The time of peace was over. It was now a time of war.

  The men of Angers arrived two days later. They marched behind two banners: the familiar banner of Anjou and a red standard with a pair of yellow axes upon it. As I could see a warrior wearing the same design as a surcoat I identified Brice the Chamberlain. I thought it foolish. If Sulpice d’Ambroise had taken Tours then there would be another army coming for Angers. That would not help us and we had the bastion south of the river well manned. Every ship we had was ready at the river bank to ferry men back if the bastion fell or to take reinforcements across if they were needed. I stood on the wall with Sir Richard and my best men. Ralph of Appleby commanded my castle.

  As we watched them approach Sir Richard said, “This makes no sense, lord. They will lose men attacking us. They should be defending their own castle.”

  I nodded, “And there is a reason. I think that King John has told this mercenary to make an example of me. Perhaps he has put a price on my head.” I pointed. “They bring no rams and only pavise and ladders. They intend to take this bastion and close the river. When they attack they will come for me.”

  David of Wales commanded my archers, “He will have to endure a storm of our arrows if he is to do so. We have more than sixty archers and they are the finest I have ever commanded.”

  The approach of the men of Angers was ponderous. We would be outnumbered but there were no archers and remarkably few knights for us to fight. It looked to me like an army of mercenaries. Angers had a full treasury. They had emptied it to pay for hired swords. They must had spied out my land for they knew of the water filled ditch which was the southern defence. They used pavise and willow boards to cross it. When the ditch had been dug we had known that it would not hold an enemy for long. Its purpose was to slow up an attack for, as men approached it they came within range of my archers.

  David gave the command and the arrows flew. They were mercenaries who were attacking us. Some had been more successful than others and that was reflected in their helmets and mail. I saw one man struck in the helmet by an arrow and the tip penetrated his skull. Others with superior mail and helmets fared better. Save for an arming cap I was bareheaded for I wanted to see clearly the attack unfold.

  I heard David shout, “Ware crossbows!” My archers not only hated crossbows they recognised their danger. Standing behind my parapet we were a target for them. Brice the Chamberlain brought up his crossbows in an attempt to slow down the arrow storm. The tactic worked although it cost him his crossbows. My archers switched targets and slew the crossbow men. The warriors with the pavise and willow boards managed to make the bridges over the ditch and ones with the ladders poured across. The closer they came to the bastion the less effective our arrows would be.

  The bastion itself was only twenty paces square and just two stories high. There was no gate on the southern side. There was one entrance and that was on the river side where it could be protected from attack by the town walls. The single entrance had been a risk but it gave the bastion a strength which belied its small size. It would soon be time for my men at arms. “Sir Richard take the west wall and I will take the east. Ridley the Giant, you and David stay on this wall but send some archers to the east and west walls. Come Fótr!”

  The enemy, grateful that the arrows had slowed were eager to climb the walls of what they saw as little more than a glorified hall. I drew my sword and swung my shield around from my back. Fótr asked, “Will you not need your helmet, lord?”

  “No Fótr for we shall be striking down on the enemy. You use your spear.”

  “Aye lord.”

  Ascending a ladder with a shield and a sword is never easy. Most of the those who climbed had their shields around their backs and carried their swords. I saw one of my men pitch from the walls as a spear struck him in the chest. These were mercenaries. They had skills with many weapons. I was just grateful that they did not know how to use the bow. The first man up the ladder was close to Fótr and I swashed his sword above his head. It clanged and clashed off my sword. Fótr chose his moment and, as the man’s head came level with the top of the ladder he rammed his spear into the chest of the man. Even though he wore a hauberk, the spear was sharp and Fótr strong. My squire twisted the shaft of the spear as it entered the man and he fell, screaming from the ladder. His fall took two men from the ladder.

  Dick, Sir Richard’s son was fearless and he joined in with the men pushing the enemy from the walls. He was young but when he grew he would be a fine knight. Now that his father had a new squire Dick was keen to show that he was worthy to fight alongside his father. Stephen of Tours stood on the other side of Sir Richard and the three of them fought valiantly.

  I saw that the archers on our walls had gone to the corners of the bastion so that they could send their arrows into the sides of the men climbing. They began to thin out the attackers so that the one or two who reached the top were easily dealt with. When the horn sounded and they began to fall back then I knew that they were regrouping. They pulled back beyond the ditch and out of bow range. They had brought up more crossbows and they were giving the survivors some cover as they pulled back. I went to the south wall again and peered at the knot of knights who gathered around Brice the Chamberlain. I saw men pointing to the south west. Something had happened. His few knights and mounted men at arms suddenly turned their horses and galloped off in the direction of Angers. The others followed.

  Sir Richard joined me. “I do not understand this, lord. He lost less than a hundred and odd men. He has many more than we do. Why did he break off the attack?”

  “I know not. Let us not speculate. It will not give us the answer. Have the wounded despatched and clear the bodies. Take anything of value. If this war goes on we may need even base metal! I shall return to the castle.”

  Just then Stephen of Tours ran up to me. He looked not at me but Sir Richard, “Lord, Dick was killed in the last attack. A lucky bolt struck him. He knew nothing of it.”

  It was though Sir Richard had taken the blow himself. He ran to his son and cradled the body in his arms. We stood by him and said nothing. He had lost his wife, his lands and now he had lost his son. We buried him the next day. Sir Richard kept himself busy repairing the bastion while we wondered why Brice the Chamberlain had broken off the attack. The presence
of Stephen of Tours helped Sir Richard. They had both lost someone dear to them and, in their grief, a bond was made.

  Two days later we had our answer to the puzzle. One of our ships had tried to sail downstream but was prevented. There were warriors there. William des Roches had brought an army and was besieging Angers. Unlike Brice the Chamberlain he had war machines. I sent messages to my knights at Bazouges, Saint-Jean and La Lude. With Tours fallen and Angers under a siege we were surrounded.

  We had news from the north of the war. It was not going well for King John. He was having to cling on to Normandy. Maine had gone. The presence of William des Roches and King Phillip had proved too powerful a combination. King John was now in Argentan trying to stem the loss of barons who were deserting him. William des Roches had come south and King Phillip had taken those barons who had defected to him, north to face John. There were now few barons who were loyal to King John. His cruelty had worked against him. His father had been a hard man but he had been strong and knew how to both persuade and force his barons to his will. The Warlord had taught him well. John had never been taught. They used a phrase about the Plantagenets style of rule, ‘vis et voluntas’. It meant force and will. It needed someone who was strong to be able to rule in that manner. John had not been expected to be King. He had not been trained. He had been indulged. When Richard had gone on Crusade he had been able to enjoy all the trappings of power without any of the responsibilities. Richard’s death had been a surprise.

  When Angers fell, a few days later, William des Roches sent a message to me that my ships could use the river once more. That was all that the message said but I also took it to mean that he would not attack me. There was still another army to the east and Sulpice d’Ambroise owed me nothing. He would attack.

  Saumur and Chinon also fell to the French. Their Breton allies, now fully behind the French King following the murder of the rightful lord, Arthur, were advancing towards Caen. John held Argentan but with the French coming from the recently captured Chateau Galliard it was only a matter of time before he would have to fall back to Rouen. Those were black days.

  Refugees fled west to my town as Sulpice d’Ambroise headed towards us. That was our salvation. The refugees slowed up the advance and kept us apprised of his whereabouts. Most were trying to get to the sea. They were heading for Poitou and Aquitaine. Ships’ captains soon heard of this and my town was filled with ships eager to make money from those barons and their people who had made the wrong choice. Many of those who spoke to me before boarding ships told me that they had estates in Aquitaine. I knew then that Aquitaine would remain loyal to King John.

  I sent for Sir Henry and Sir Edward. “I want your mounted men. I do not intend to allow La Lude to be besieged. I will strike at this French army and defeat it before it reaches La Lude.”

  Edward was happy about that but Sir Henry had recently taken a wife, “What of my castle?”

  “You are to the west. William des Roches will not attack you. Leave a strong garrison. I do not need your archers but I want your mounted men.”

  He nodded, but he looked less than happy, “Aye lord.”

  I sent David of Wales and all of my archers to La Lude. They would help to protect Sir William and his family. I led my mounted men to the woods north and east of La Lude. The river would dictate the approach of the French and I would use the land to defeat them. I would be behind their line of attack. I only had, including myself, four knights but I had twenty men at arms who were as good as knights and another forty who were almost as good. Most importantly every man who rode with me was mailed and all had a good horse. None was forced to ride a sumpter. Knowing the area as well as I did I planned on using a deep ford to attack the French in the flank as they approached La Lude. Men on foot could not use the ford but we could.

  We waited in the woods while Robert de La Flèche scouted out the enemy. There was little point in crossing the river until the French were close. The woods afforded cover. We reached them at noon and we dismounted to rest our horses. I went to make water and when I returned I heard a heated debate between my three knights. “He is our lord and we should support him whatever he does!”

  “Sir Edward you do not have a family to consider.”

  In response to Sir Henry’s words Edward jabbed a finger at Sir Richard, “And neither does Sir Richard!”

  I stepped between them, “Stop! Sir Edward you have gone too far! Sir Richard has recently lost his son. You will apologise.”

  Edward looked contrite. It had only happened recently and yet he had forgotten the death of brave Dick. “I am sorry, Sir Richard, my words were ill advised. I just do not like to see Sir Thomas treated in this way.”

  I shook my head, “My feelings are unimportant. This is unseemly in any man but more so in knights! I will not have this dissention! Why are you arguing? We are here to stop the French from attacking a brother knight. This will not decide who goes and who stays.” I turned to Sir Henry and Sir Richard, “I am disappointed in you two. You, Sir Henry, have not had to fight yet. You Sir Richard have been victorious in all of our battles and yet you now seem to lack confidence in our cause.” I pointed west. “If you cannot fight alongside me then return to your castles. I would fight with men who are loyal to me. I will have no doubters.”

  Sir Richard looked appalled, “Lord you misunderstand! Sir Henry and I merely said to Sir Edward that we hoped we could come to an arrangement with King Phillip.”

  I now saw why Edward had been angry, “Is King Phillip here? Is he even close? It seems to me that you go into this battle half-hearted. Decide now, both of you or leave me. We stop this French army. We stop every French army which comes our way until we face one which would result in the destruction of all that we hold dear. I do not fear Sulpice d’Ambroise. Do you?”

  They shook their heads.

  “Then no more talk of arrangements. Go and speak with your men. Put their minds at rest. I would have us all fight as one this day!”

  An hour later Robert rode in, “Lord, their army is six miles from La Lude. They are making a camp.” I nodded. “There is more. They have sent forty knights with men at arms. They are mounted and I think they are heading for this ford.”

  That changed everything. I should have known that they would have scouted out the river. They intended to try to take the bridge to La Lude. A mounted force could do so. I turned, “Mount and prepare lances. We wait in the woods and when they cross the ford we hit them hard.”

  The horses could swim the river both up and downstream from the ford but I doubted that they would do so. Knights and men at arms preferred their mail dry. Cleaning rust was a time-consuming activity. Fótr handed me my helmet and spear. We were far enough from the edge of the woods to be hidden. We would see their banners when they crested the rise and then they would drop down to the ford. The bank on our side was also steep. We would have momentum when we struck them. Some would escape and warn Sulpice but that could not be helped. Forty knights would be a loss to the French and might weaken their resolve. I had not misled my knights. Until King Phillip himself arrived then I was convinced that we could hold the French.

  I did not don my helmet. I held it. I heard the French before I saw them. The jingle of mail, the hooves of the horses and the noisy chatter of men confident that they were safe told me that they were close. Then I spied their banners as they crested the rise. They rode in an untidy muddle of knights. They were relaxed. None wore helmets. Their shields were hanging from their cantles and their spears were with the baggage. I could understand their over-confidence. They had taken Tours and Saumur with ease. They had driven the last barons west and all that they faced were five barons in four small castles. Once our enclave was gone then only Chinon would remain free and that would soon fall. They had no scouts out and they halted at the edge of the deeper water to allow their horses to drink. There was laughter. Men took out wineskins and food. They had made the ford. It was the middle of the afternoon and they would reac
h the bridge, unseen, after dark. In their minds it was a perfect plan.

  I waited until the first riders had forded the deep part and were heading towards the other bank before I spurred Dragon. My men had been watching me and their horses were just a heartbeat behind. The river was just a hundred and ten paces from us. In the time it took to cover that distance the first four riders had clambered to the bank and the majority were still in the river. I pulled my arm back and punched my spear at the surprised French lord. I twisted and pulled after my spear head had entered his body. The other three were taken by my knights and squires. Dragon slithered down the slippery slope to the water. I almost lost my balance but I managed to hold on to my spear and it rammed into the face of a knight who turned to look at the mass of men descending towards him. I was lucky the spear held.

  Once Dragon was in the water the going was easier. The French knights and men at arms had drawn swords. We held the advantage for my men all had spears. I hit one knight in the shoulder. He had good mail and the head did not penetrate but I caught him sideways on and he fell into the deep water. His mail was heavy and he did not surface. Horses milled around and all was confusion but we had hit them hard.

  One French knight, still on the other bank shouted, “Back! Fall back!” The men at arms needed no urging. I noticed that they had held back. They turned and fled. Those were not yet in the middle turned and rode up the muddy bank. The ones close to us were in deep water and they had no option. They could fight or die. Had they been fighting knights alone they might had had the option of surrender. My men at arms would not benefit as much from ransom. They killed knowing that the treasure on the dead would be theirs. In just a few strokes it was over.

  The Battle of La Lude

  Chapter 6

  “Robert, take ten men and make sure that they do not regroup. Gather the horses. We will cross to the other side.”