The Dunston Blade (20 page)

Stephen returned with Aelfraed who had brought his wife and two large well built sons with him as well as four pack horses loaded with reeds. John greeted
them and thanked Aelfraed who said it was a small price for the weapons John had sent. He also told him he now had spies established along the coast and in
Yarmouth where he could receive advance knowledge of shipping activity. When his guests had settled in, John and Aelfraed walked the battlements talking of
the coming trial and the possibility of other people trying the same scheme as Hausman. Aelfraed said he was nervous at standing before a court but John
assured him the case was already proven against Hausman and it was just a formality to prove his guilt. That night the evening meal was a jolly affair as
Aelfraed had an unending repertoire of tales from the Fens, most of them not repeatable to children! During the meal an unexpected guest arrived, it was
Gavin, with a message from Sir Cedric. Joan was obviously well pleased and made room for him to sit at her side as John broke the seal and unrolled the
message, but made no comment as to it’s contents. Later, in the privacy of their room, Tania asked what was in the message.

“It is just information about the trial, there will be two other noblemen present from court, and he sent Gavin because he could not stand his lovesick
face around the Castle. The puzzling part is that he wants me to travel in full armour as a show of strength.”

Tania said she would tease Joan tomorrow about Gavin but she was pleased that Joan had an admirer.

Early the next morning Jack arrived at the Castle with the last part of John’s armour, the shield. When John saw it he smiled broadly and thanked his
father for it was a shield to be proud of, the design on the front was as they had discussed, a mailed fist holding a broadsword with a background of
green. The Castle came to life with everyone preparing for the journey to Wymondham. John went back to his room where Tristan helped him dress for John was
wearing his new armour and all the men with him were dressed in chain mail and helmets, it was to be a show of force. Tania and her ladies left first with
Stephen and an escort, an hour later the prisoners were brought to the Bailey and secured on their horses. Tristan brought out Hammer and assisted John to
mount, he did not find it easy in his armour and hoped he would get used to it. Tristan had John’s lance and helm the latter now proudly displaying green
and golden plumes from the crest. They made a fine show as they left the Castle and there were a few villagers at the roadside who cheered them on, not
really knowing what it was all about. Riding through Wymondham was a different story, there were crowds lining the streets and everyone was wanting to know
what was going on at the Castle. There were all the Lords up from London and now John’s entourage arriving with prisoners, rumours were rife.

John and his retinue rode into the Castle Bailey and were met by Sir Cedric and a group of men, most of whom were richly dressed apart from one man in
black and a cleric. The Earl stepped forward and greeted John who dismounted from Hammer, with Tristan’s assistance.

“You make a fine sight, John, no one would think of attacking you.” And Sir Cedric winked at John. “Come in and change then come to the hall and meet our
guests.”

Later when John entered the hall he the group of men he had seen on arrival fell silent. Sir Cedric stood next to him. “I would like you all to meet Sir
John of Dunston who captured Hausman and uncovered this plot.” The first to greet him was Alfred of Ely who introduced him to two Barons from London. A
short plump man, richly dressed, just nodded to him and the man in black stood back and said nothing, but then turned and spoke to the cleric. Sir Cedric
moved to the edge of the room and said to John.

“The man who did not speak to you is Philip of Southwark, he has interests in Flanders and I am not sure why he came. The man dressed in black is a Judge
from London as I have a vested interest in the proceedings and could influence the outcome. The cleric is Father Boniface who is always with him.”

The Earl suggested they all sat down and they could discuss the coming day’s programme.

The evening meal was more convivial although John could feel the sharp looks that came from Southwark and wondered why, he had never seen the man before so
could not understand the ill feeling. When John eventually retired he was glad of the fact that Tania was there to make him forget the day.

John was up and dressed when Tristan came for him to attend Sir Cedric in the hall. The great room had been turned into a courtroom with a raised platform
for the Judge and a section for a jury. People from Wymondham were filling up the seats at the sides and John saw Tania and the ladies coming in to sit at
the rear of the room. Sir Cedric called him into a side room where he found Aelfraed already seated. Stephen and Aelfraed’s sons were there too looking a
little nervous.

It was their first time in a Castle and they looked as though they were on trial not just witnesses. John could see through the half open door that the
hall had filled up and the Judge was taking his place.

John was called to state what had happened in the fens, then it was the turn of Stephen. Aelfraed and his sons to corroborate the facts. The two farmers
were called one at a time to give account of what happened and there were discrepancies and differing facts of what happened. They also blamed each other
and Hausman for getting them into this mess. When Hausman took the stand he complained that as a foreign subject he could not be tried by an English court.
The judge pointed out he had committed a crime on English soil and he would be tried by this court. Philip of Southwark spoke for Hausman saying it must be
a huge mistake and John capturing them had frightened them into saying things that were not true. The last part of the drama was when Sir Cedric produced a
letter that John had given him, it had been written by the Flemish officer and given to Stephen before he left with his men. The letter explained how they
had been employed by Hausman and had not known the true nature of the expedition until John had captured them. The letter also stated that this officer had
been approached by other men to carry out similar raids.

The Judge instructed the Jury to go to the side room and consider their verdict and return to their seats when ready. They had only been gone for twenty
minutes when they returned.

“Who speaks for you?” asked the Judge and a man stood up and touched his forelock.

“It’s me sir,” he said.

“Have you reached an unanimous decision from what you have heard here today?”asked the Judge.

“We have sir,” answered the man.

“Do you find the prisoner, Hausman, guilty of the charges or not?” said the Judge, looking down at him.

“Guilty, sir!”

There was an outburst of cheering which was quickly suppressed and the Judge then asked for a decision on the two farmers and the verdict was again
‘Guilty’. The Judge proclaimed that he would set the sentence after a break for half an hour. Half an hour later the Judge returned and called for the
prisoners to stand before him, he spoke to them.

“Henri Hausman. You are found guilty of a crime against our King and Country which is Treason, therefor you are sentenced to be taken from here and hanged
by the neck until you are dead, and may God have mercy on your soul.”

The Judge then pronounced the sentence on the two farmers that they were to be flogged and banished from the King’s lands for ever, the younger of the two
fell to the floor. The guards marched the prisoners back to their cells and people began to disperse.

John sat on a bench with his head down, it was different when you are in battle and you killed a man but this was too clinical and he regretted not ending
it in the Fens. Sir Cedric found him and asked him to come to his room. When they were seated the Earl said that the verdict and the sentence was right and
would send a signal to anyone else that tried that they would get harsh treatment if caught. Hausman would be dealt with at dawn tomorrow but the two
farmers he felt should be punished at Dunston to also send a signal. John was silent for a moment while Sir Cedric spoke to him.

“This will strengthen your position at the Castle and the surrounding lands and show the Tenants that you are willing to punish wrong doing severely.”

John nodded in agreement but felt a little apprehensive inside. When he awoke in the morning Tania tried to lift his mood, all night he had twisted and
turned and only slept in short periods. He met Stephen on his way to the Bailey where they joined Tristan and Sir Cedric. Night had not receded yet and a
black gloom hung over the Castle as Hausman was led out to gallows that had been erected overnight. The priest accompanied him and read prayers as the
noose was placed over his head. Hausman remained silent even when asked if he had anything to say. As the weak sun rose the trap was sprung and Hausman
dropped, there was complete silence with all the faces turned towards the swinging body.

Gradually everyone walked back into the Castle and made their way to the Hall to break their fast, it was a sombre meal even though they all knew it had
been a just decision.

“He will be buried outside the Castle,” said Sir Cedric to John. “Have you made plans for your journey back to Dunston?”

John replied that he had arranged to leave at noon and arrive at Dunston in the evening, he could then carry out his part of the sentence at dawn the
following day. Tania and Joan came into the Hall and said they were not hungry, they had watched the execution from a window.

“We shall be leaving at noon,” said John. “I must inform Tristan and Stephen to be ready.”

After saying his farewells to Sir Cedric, John and his party departed for Dunston. This time Tania and her ladies rode with him, they made good time and
arrived just as night began to darken the skies. When John had changed from his armour Boorman informed him that Roderick wished to see him.

“Well, Roderick, what news?” asked John. “Have you found new Tenants for the vacant land.”

“Aye sir,” answered the Reeve. “Two of Thatcher’s shepherds will do nicely and we will have no further trouble, they can work together to make both farms
profitable and share some of the costs. What is going to happen to Thatcher and Carpenter?”

John explained the Judge’s verdict, the flogging would be in the morning and they would be taken to Yarmouth, put aboard a ship to take them to the
farthest land away from England.

“I’ll move Thatcher’s wife and child back to her folks in Stowmarket. Carpenter had no family but his cottage will need a good clean as he lived like a
pig,”said Roderick.

“ See that Thatcher’s wife has this money,” said John, passing him a small pouch. “It is part of what he would have been paid for the fleece.”

John joined Tania for their meal and began to feel calmer knowing that after tomorrow he could get back to running his lands as he wanted to.

As the sun rose on the next day Stephen and Tristan stood either side of the two prisoners who were tied to fence rails in the Bailey. At John’s signal the
flogging started, 100 lashes each. Carpenter soon lost conscience and Thatcher was barely alive when they had finished, they were dragged off and cold
water sluiced over them.

John spoke to the Squires. “Let them have the rest of the day to recover then tomorrow I want you, Stephen, to take them to Yarmouth and book passage to
Italy, an edict has gone out to all ports to bar them from entering this land again.”

With that John turned on his heel and strode back into the Castle and calling Roderick to him told him he would ride with him to visit all the Tenants
within the next few days. In fact it took longer that anticipated as John wanted to spend time with the men who tended his land and raised his sheep and
cattle. They discussed the coming fair, the market and collection of wool, many asked when they would have their own wool fair and John said he had already
written to London asking that they could obtain a charter which would bring foreign traders to Dunston. Staying the night as a guest in some of the houses
John realised he must improve the economy of his land so that Tenants could improve their living standards. Overall the trip was a success and John felt
revitalised and started to make plans to improve the Castle.

Tania had settled to married life at the Castle and on the next visit from Sir Cedric she was the perfect hostess. After the evening meal during that visit
the Earl sat in front of the fire in John’s room and said he was worried at the murmuring he was hearing from Norwich, the Barons were unhappy that the
King had neglected the City, but still demanded high taxes. Sir Cedric knew that if there was an uprising the King would expect him to put it down as he
was still in Wales. It crossed John’s mind, as they talked, that if that happened he would be involved too. That night he needed the love of his wife to
take his mind off the thought that he might be fighting again. Sir Cedric departed the next morning and after a few weeks life became calm again and John
remarked to Stephen that no news must mean good news, but keep the men practicing and in readiness.

John, Tania and Joan were visiting Jack and Matilda and John noticed the women, when they were talking together, often cast glances at him, when he asked
Tania what it was about she blushed and it was nothing. However nothing became something one night when Tania was laying in John’s arms and he said as he
was stroking her belly. “You are eating too well wife you are getting quite plump.” Tania smiled at him. “ I have to eat well as there are two of us to
feed now.”

John thought for minute then sat up and looked at her. “ You mean….?”

“ Yes,” she said, “we are going to have a baby.”

II

Water dripped down on his helmet as he tried to find shelter against the stone wall.

“Dam this Welsh weather, does the sun never shine, I’ve been soaked to the skin for the last month.” A disgruntled Roger exclaimed to his companion.