The Dunston Blade (18 page)

“I am just a traveller and I have stopped for the night, who are you?”

As he spoke he moved slowly into a position that he could see both men. He suddenly drew his sword and threatened both men.

“Now leave me alone or I might have more than rabbit lying here before me.” The men laughed and several archers appeared through the bushes led by a man
Roger recognised.

“Robert, is this how you greet a friend?”

Robert greeted him and asked what he was doing here in the forest. Roger told him of the events that had led him here. Robert was sympathetic and led the
way to their camp, which surprised Roger. The camp was like a small woodland village with a small forge and several cooking fires.

“Where did all these people come from?” asked Roger.

“They are villagers who have been turned out of their homes or are being persecuted by the Normans,” explained Robert. “We are classed as outlaws and the
Sheriff often sends men into the forest to try and capture us, but we know the forest and it’s paths and the soldiers do not.”

Robert also disclosed that they obtained money by holding up travellers who looked rich enough to have heavy purses, they would then pass some of this to
the poorer villagers.

“We are a happy community and we even have a Priest who looks after our souls and performs weddings and funerals,” said Robert. He asked Roger to join them
and as Roger sat down to a meal he thought maybe this would help to alleviate his black moods. The next day Roger realised that there was quite a sizeable
fighting force gathering in the forest. One morning as the camp was rising and preparing for the day, a lookout came in and went up to Robert to report a
small caravan of people were going through the forest. It was a bishop on his way to Nottingham and his purse would be fat, full of indulgence payments and
offerings to the Saint in his church.

“I can see he is ready to do good works for the parish,” said Robert with a grin.

The men grouped around him as he outlined how they would ambush the travellers.

“No unnecessary violence now, if they surrender peacefully we will let them go. Come with us Roger and see how we treat these fat leeches.”

The ‘hold up’ went peacefully enough as the soldiers with the bishop realised there were too many outlaws for them to fight. With loud protestations the
group were walked to the edge of the forest and sent on their way.

“That should get some of the fat off him,” laughed Robert. “By the time he gets to Nottingham he will have lost some of his lard and all of his money.”

When they arrived back in camp everyone crowded round to look at the horses and the weapons they had captured, the cash, Roger noted, went into a chest
that Robert had where he slept. Roger stayed with Robert for several months and he witnessed many travellers being relieved of their valuables. However he
decided this life was not what he wanted, it had filled a gap and increased his funds but it was time to move on. One day a group of men came into the
forest on their way to join King Edwards army in Wales and Roger decided to join them and said farewell to Robert and his band of outlaws. With his new
companions Roger travelled to Wales to join the King’s army.

II

John stayed another day discussing plans with the Earl and enjoying the evening with Tania and Joan who were planning the wedding. He thought that when it
was all over and they were settled in Dunston he would have the time to organise his tenants and land to provide the maximum profit for all to enjoy. His
plan was that all his Tenants should work to a common goal with a fund that could be accessed by all, under his watchful eye. By sharing the wealth that
they created there would be more purpose to their lives and an incentive to increase living standards.

John and Stephen with their men arrived back in Dunston to find John’s father waiting for them.

“Did you have a good journey?” said Jack.

“Yes, thank you,” replied John as he handed his horse to Stephen. “Is there some trouble?”

“Not at all John, I wanted you to have this gift I made. It was really for your investiture but I did not finish it in time.” Jack paused and led John into
the Castle and into the Hall. Supported on a stand was a beautiful, complete, suit of armour, it had been tempered so that it glistened in the candle
light, a blue black colour. John was overcome and clasped his father to his breast.

“Thank you father a truly magnificent gift, I must try it on.” John stripped to his undershirt, he asked Stephen, who had just come in, to fetch his
protective suit that he wore under armour. Stephen assisted John to don the armour and it fitted perfectly. John stomped around the hall stretching his
arms and making jabs in the air.

“ It is so light, can it be strong enough to deflect a blow?”

His father laughed and answered him, “I have worked with metal all my life and you will find this withstands any blows aimed at it.”

John tried the Helm and again it fitted well to his head with a beaked visor and a ridge across the crown, there was a fitting for his crest when he chose
what it would be.

“I have also a shield but I do not know your crest.”

John told him he was still undecided but would tell him as soon as he had made a choice. When John had divested himself, with Stephen’s help, they sat down
to a meal together and John told his father that Joan would stay with Tania until after the wedding.

John, Stephen and Roderick rode out to visit the Tenants and see what was happening on the land, he was still waiting for news of his application to hold a
market in Dunston. The wool buyers would be visiting Wymondham soon and he wanted to make sure there was a good amount from Dunston. They rode out to their
furthest farm in the East, near to the fens, and found a cluster of cottages where the men were gathering reeds in bundles. They stopped and chatted with
the people who said, as far as they were concerned they had no landlord and paid no taxes to anyone. Their main concern was the occasional raider who
missed Yarmouth and Lowestoft and ended up pillaging their settlement. John said that if they sent a message to him he would come to their aid for the
price of a few bundles of reeds. This was acceptable to them but they would talk to their leader before agreeing. As they rode away John turned to the
other two.

“It is wise to have a lookout in this area, especially if there are raiders maybe from France. We need to be ready to protect our lands. We must meet this
leader of theirs.”

When they had completed their tour they returned to the Castle where John settled down to study the finances. Father Aldred had taught him well and he had
a good grasp of mathematics, he needed it as the Castle accounts had been poorly kept by de Brehalle, as long as the sale of their wool reached expectation
then there would be money to spare. The arable land and the cattle also needed to produce a profit so that the farms could be updated both in equipment and
their buildings. With these thoughts spinning around in his head John retired to bed. As he lay waiting for the welcome sleep to overcome him he thought of
Tania and of his approaching wedding, he was a lucky man, he prayed there were no evil happenings waiting to disrupt his plans.

The day of the wedding drew near and a messenger arrived to ask John to journey to Wymondham Abbey for a rehearsal. John, Stephan, a page and six
men-at-arms set off for Wymondham. They stayed at the Earl’s Castle overnight and John sat with Tania for the evening meal, which was the closest he was
allowed. Tania and Joan kept glancing at each other and smiling throughout the meal. Sir Cedric was in a good mood and when all the ladies had departed he
joined the remaining men to enjoy drinking with them. The following morning John’s head was feeling a little sore as he walked the battlements to get fresh
air, but by the afternoon it had cleared and the rehearsal went well. On the morning of the wedding many of the guests that Sir Cedric had invited had
travelled some distance and started arriving early and the Castle was filled with talk and laughter. The weather was bright with the sun shinning and
everyone in an excited mood. When John arrived at the Abbey there were many people outside wishing him well and when he stepped through the great door he
was astounded at the number of people who had come. As he walked to the front he noticed many Lords and Ladies that he had met at the London house, they
were smiling and nodding to him as he passed. Gavin stood at the foot of the altar steps waiting for him, as John had asked him to stand for him. Just
behind were Carac and Stephen looking very knightly in their new clothes. John took his place and at that moment trumpeters sounded the arrival of the
bride. As the bride and her father entered the Abbey choir sang accompanied by several instruments, John stole a glance down the aisle and gasped as his
eyes beheld a vision floating down the aisle towards him. When at last Tania was by his side he thought his mouth would split from the smile he'd had upon
it. Joan arranged Tania’s dress and John noticed that her own dress was a beautiful golden one. John hardly heard the words of the service and had to be
prompted occasionally to say the replies. The service seemed extraordinary long to him, not that he had any recollection to go by. At last the Abbot
pronounced the blessing and with Tania on his arm John started the walk down the aisle a married man.

There were crowds outside the Abbey, everyone from Wymondham had turned out to see the couple and they shouted and cheered as he and Tania walked to the
carriage that the Earl had arranged. They drove slowly back to the Castle waving to bystanders, the carriage was not the most comfortable of vehicles but
in their euphoric state this did not interfere with their embrace although it did cause one or two giggles. The Castle staff who were not at the Abbey,
were lined up to welcome them home and guide them to the Great Hall where a wedding feast had been prepared, it crossed John’s mind that he would like to
have gone straight to their room! The guests soon started arriving and Tania and John’s arms were soon aching from all the well wishing handshakes. The
food was sumptuous and the wine and ale flowed, Sir Cedric was on good form and welcomed John into his family and not to be outdone Jack did the same for
Tania following up with the fact that she could call on Matilda at any time, specially when baby sitting was eventually needed which brought laughter from
the guests and blushes from Tania. The celebrations were reaching a raucous state when John looked at Tania and whispered that it was time leave them to
it. Amongst some very suggestive comments they tried to slip away to their room, but it was not to be as a merry crowd carried the pair saying it was a
local tradition, John was worried that they would stay. When at last everyone had gone and they were alone they stood facing each other in the large
bedroom and slowly began to undress. John beheld a beautiful woman before him and he enveloped her in his arms, their mouths met and still clasped together
they finally reached the large bed that lay behind its curtains, these will hide their first night as a married couple.

Dawn filtered through the windows and lit the embroidered curtains that surrounded the bed, John awoke and sensed the warm body laying next to him, he
thought of the previous night and his body began to react, turning he reached for Tania and thought, there is plenty of time before we need to rise. Later
that morning the two newlyweds entered the hall to find it completely deserted, a maid entered, giggled and ran out. Merek appeared and asked if they
required any food but there would be the usual midday meal in a short while, John and Tania smiled at each other and said they would wait. Merek said that
the Earl had gone hunting and would be back towards sunset. The happy couple walked out into the gardens, it was a clear day, if a little cold, as autumn
approached.

“We must go to Dunston soon,” said John. “I must find out what is going on there and we shall be shearing before long.”

Tania nestled closer to him as they walked arm in arm. “I will have to sort out the household too, I am taking some of my ladies, including Joan, so I hope
there is room for us.”

John laughed and said there was ample room and she could bring whoever she liked as long as she was happy. When they came back to the Castle Sir Cedric had
returned with a large deer, he was smiling as he saw them approach.

“You decided to awake then. I thought I might have to batter the door down to see if you were still alive.” Tania blushed and John stammered. “No one woke
us.”

The Earl laughed and walked with them back inside the Keep. Two days later John, Tania, Joan, Stephen, John’s men at arms and two ladies with four pack
horses rode off to Dunston. The day was bright and clear and as they rode through the forest they could smell the wood smoke from the charcoal burner’s
fires, it was almost idyllic. They came to Dunston as the sun was setting and a gentle mist was forming over the grass. They crossed the drawbridge and
entered the bailey where the whole Castle had assembled to greet them. Boorman, resplendent in a new coat, assisted Tania to dismount and welcomed her. A
banquet had been prepared in the Great Hall for all the staff and as John and Tania took their seats at the top of the table everyone rose and Boorman
proposed a toast to the couple. John looked down the tables and felt proud of the people who were now their people, almost like a big family he thought.
Many of the Tenants had been invited and the atmosphere was merry and light hearted. Some wandering minstrels had been hired and one of their number was an
amateur Juggler who kept them entertained. At a suitable time Tania and the Ladies withdrew and the men fell to drinking and telling stories, some of which
were quite unbelievable. John remained for a while and then made off to his rooms. Tania was in their bedroom and Joan had just finished putting away her
clothes when John arrived.

“How are you liking looking after my wife?” queried John.

“I like it fine sir,” answered Joan.