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Authors: John Daines

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“I am William Fisher,” the man said. “We are not all thieves and villains here. We are grateful that we now have a lord and we hope the town will become
prosperous again. I and several of the town’s tradesmen would like to meet with you tomorrow sir.”

“ I welcome it,” answered John.

The following day they came and agreement was reached with them to form a town council, also selecting their own Mayor. John left Tristan in Yarmouth to
see that the new council was accepted and the Port was secure. He made one order that the Mayor’s house be cleared and left empty. Leaving Yarmouth behind
John and Stephen journeyed south to Lowestoft.

When they arrived in the town John was surprised to find a welcoming committee consisting of the Mayor and the local council. John dismounted and the Mayor
stepped forward.

“Welcome to Lowestoft Sir, we were advised of your visit and are at your service. Please accompany us to my house.”

John stopped him with a gesture. “Wait a moment, I wish to go to the harbour first.”

The Mayor bowed and led the way to the docks. There were three ships tied up at the key side and John went to the first and called for the Captain. A tall
man came down the gang plank with a fussy little man holding bundles of papers, the Captain introduced himself and said the other man was checking his
cargo.

“I hope there is no contraband on board,” said John.

The little man insisted that all was in order for all three ships. John went aboard and looked in the hold which was full of bails of wool, he checked them
off against the paper the custom’s man had and was satisfied all was in order. The party then moved off to the Mayor’s house. Looking for any signs of
deceitfulness John question the men and carefully and he was pleased when all the stories tallied. Talking to the Mayor later he found that the man was
suspicious of what was happening in Yarmouth and knew that it could not go undetected for long.

“I tightened our security and made certain no smuggling was going on here. We had heard of the events in Norwich and we also knew of your run in with
Monsieur Hausman. I am a friend of Aelfraed so we learn what is taking place.”

John smiled, this information could be important and maybe form the basis of an information network. He went on to tell John that the Flemish Traders in
wool were offering all sorts of inducements to obtain their wool cheaper or to take over flocks here in England.

“I thank you for your information,” said John. “You must keep your bailiffs alert.”

John spent two more days in Lowestoft and then left to return home.

II

It was a gloomy and windswept afternoon when they arrived back in Dunston. John was glad when he was able to stretch his legs out in front of the fire and
talk to Tania. Young Harold was now able to sit on a rug and John could see he had grown since he had been away. Hopefully he would now have time to spend
with his family. Tania told him that her father had been called to Court and had left on this day, John yawned and stretched himself.

“I am hungry, let’s eat.”

Sitting in his room later he was looking through letters that had come whilst he had been away when he spotted one from his father. Jack had written to him
to tell him what was needed to put the Castle Smithy back into production. John thought that it made sense for his father to move into the Castle, Matilda
and Joan would be on hand as companion forTania and help with Harold.

John decided to walk to the Smithy the following morning, the weather had cleared and being on his feet made a welcome change from sitting on a horse. His
father was busy at the forge when he arrived so John sat on a box, his thoughts were accompanied by the noise of the hammer and the smell of metal being
cooled in a tub. It took him back to the days of his youth when life was easier and he was not having to think of how to govern a Shire. Jack joined him
and listened to his proposal and agreed that it would be agreeable and sensible to move to the Castle, he would put William in charge here and he could use
the house as he was now married to a village girl. That settled John set out back to the Castle. This move proved to be a good decision as future events
unfolded.

Looking at the Castle John walked the perimeter of the moat and noted some areas that needed repair, he would get the men onto it before winter set in. He
met Tania at the gates waiting for him.

“There is a messenger inside with, he says, letters from my father. He won't let me see them.”

John hurried in and the messenger handed him a leather satchel which he took to a table and sat down. The satchel contained two parchments, one was from
the Earl and one had King Edward’s seal. John opened the one from the King and read that he was summoned to court, the Earl’s letter explained that the
summons was to discuss the problem in Wales and he should make haste. Tania was not pleased.

“You have only just come home and you are off again,” she grumbled.

“You know I have to obey this summons, if Matilda can manage Harold there is no reason that you should not accompany me. You can take Joan and there are
plenty of ladies in waiting at the Palace if you need more.”

They asked the messenger to stay the night, to which he agreed.

After their evening meal John sat thinking about the summons and the subject of Wales, did this mean the King was going to attack Llywelyn again. Going to
bed Tania was still chattering about having to arrange everything at short notice but she smiled and John could see she was also excited.

The journey to London was uneventful, with overnight stays with friends. John was accompanied by his two Squires and an escort of men-at-arms. They arrived
at Sir Cedric’s London house and were welcomed by the Earl himself and a very pleasant woman introduced as Lady Ann Falmouth. After they had settled in
John and the Earl met in his private room.

“Bad news I am afraid John,” said the Earl. “The Welsh have revolted and it has escalated to be a threat to the King’s rule. He is intending to organise an
all out attack against the rebels. I shall be returning to Wymondham to raise troops and I am sure the King is going to confirm that you will join me.”

John was quiet for a moment, he had hoped for a time at home after his journey to the ports but if called he knew his duty was to the King and the Earl.

“You are to come with me to court tomorrow and we will receive the final decision then,” continued Sir Cedric. “I feel the answer will be to go after
Dafydd and it will be off to Wales whatever.”

When they arrived at the court the next day, the place was buzzing with the preparations for the march to Wales. Various Dukes, Earls and Barons were
departing to their homes to assemble their forces and meet again. Sir Cedric appeared with the King and John bowed, he was rewarded with a nod of the head
from the King and a signal from the Earl to follow him. They walked to a small garden where the King stopped and said he expected John to provide
additional men for Sir Cedric and he looked to him to support his efforts in subduing the uprising in Wales. When they left the palace Sir Cedric said he
had been right and that they were bound for Wales. He told John to collect his men together and meet him at Wymondham as soon as he could.

“I am leaving now so I hope to see you within the week,” he said.

John hurried back to the London house to tell Tania the news.

“I must make all haste home but you and Joan may stay awhile with the Lady Ann, I will leave you a guard.” John found Tristan and Stephen, told them to
rouse the men and prepare to leave within the hour. Tania was not pleased that he was leaving so soon.

“It is not fair that you are going away immediately after coming home.”

John had no defence other than the King had ordered it, he kissed her and went to meet his men. They rode at a fast pace and only rested when the horses
could go no further. People in the villages they passed through kept out of the way of these grim fighting men. They sighted the towers of Dunston and
quickened their pace as in their minds they could taste the fresh cooked food and the soft beds of home.

Boorman welcomed John home and said that everything was in order also Roderick would speak to him after he had eaten and rested. John spoke to Tristan and
Stephen and told them to tell the men-at-arms based at the Castle to be in the Bailey in the morning and to go and bring in the men who were bound to fight
for him, in from the farms. Later that night John calculated he should be able to raise over 500 armed men to take to Wymondham and join with the Earl’s
troops and still leave enough men to defend the Castle. When Roderick came he assured John that all would be well whilst he was away he was now respected
by the farmers in his position.

It was not the best of days as they set out for Wymondham, an east wind was blowing and the persistent drizzle made everything soaking wet.

“It is good practice for Wales I’m thinking,” remarked John to Tristan. “They say it’s permanently wet in that country.”

They made a large convoy as they moved out with horses, carts and men. John rode Hammer and Anvil was led, all his amour and weapons were in a cart. The
column bypassed the town of Wymondham so as not to destroy their streets and finally camped outside the Castle.

They joined a large camp already there and John recognised some of the colours of Barons from north of Norwich, plus the Earl’s troops. He joined Sir
Cedric in the Great Hall which was filled with the leaders of the troops camped outside. The Earl called and they all turned towards him.

“I am pleased to see such numbers,” he began. “I know there are some disputes between a few of you and I do not want that to escalate so Sir John Ivanson’s
troops will serve as camp bailiffs as I know he will deal fairly with any disputes. We will depart at first light tomorrow and I will give the order of
march later. I remind you that we are to go and fight for our King and Country so let us make the time on the march to join together as an unbeatable
army.”

There were a number of cheers and banging of tables but John could see he would have his work cut out to keep order with such a large number. Sir Cedric
waved him over.

“I know that was a surprise but I also know you have a well trained force who are loyal to you and I hope, to me.”

John said he would do his utmost to keep order and left with Tristan and Stephan to organise patrols. It was still raining which did not improve the mood
of the men, but most of them were tired from the day’s marching and soon settled down trying to find shelter and get a night’s sleep. There were a small
number who were drinking hard, but these gradually fell into drunken stupors. John returned to the Castle to sleep and left Tristan and Stephen to organise
their patrols. He was lucky to have a dry bed in a room to himself, most of the other ‘guests’ were laid out in the Hall or wherever they could find a
comfortable corner.

John woke early and went down to the camp to find his Squires, Stephen met him and told him Tristan was out with a patrol but they had had a quiet night, a
few with too much ale but nothing they could not handle.

John thanked him and said he and Tristan were to rejoin their men and prepare to move. Most of the camp were awake and loading wagons, the rain had stopped
and there a mood of anticipation of what was to come.

Soon the whole cavalcade was on the move, they were making for Bishop’s Lynn where another Baron was joining them bring their strength up to a rough count
of 3000 fighting men. Pressing on they reached Chester and there joined with the rest of the army. John’s men formed part of Sir Cedric’s force, with
two-thirds of his men being bowmen his was a valuable force. The camp outside Chester was very large and the provenders were having to go far afield to
find food for all the men.

John was summoned to a meeting in Sir Cedric’s pavilion. The Earl said to him.

“We need good intelligence John, I want you to take a group of your men and go out and find out as much as you can as to what the enemy are up to, where
they are camped and what their strength is. Keep me informed by messenger and take care of yourself.”

John went to find Tristan and Stephen, they were competing with a group of archers as to who could shoot as many arrows in the shortest time as they could,
into a hat nailed to a tree. John stood and watched for a moment when he suddenly realised it was his hat. After much laughter Tristan explained that John
was the only one with two hats, so he wouldn't miss one!

The three of them sat and discussed the Earl’s plan and Stephen thought they should form three groups, then they would cover more ground, this met with
approval from the other two so they fell to discussing who they would select. They agreed that the men should be proficient bowmen who could handle a sword
if needed. They must wear strong jerkins and light chain mail, if they could find enough, and dark cloaks with no insignia. They would need to be mounted
so that they could move quickly, and to send messages back to Sir Cedric.

They fell to selecting the men and ended up with thirty, more would be too conspicuous. With this decided they went back to their men and began to set the
plan in motion, the trouble came when they had more men who wanted to join them than they needed. Eventually the groups were formed and they began to get
everything ready as they had discussed. Before the camp was awake the next morning John’s group moved quietly out, they planned to move a group each
morning so as not to be too obvious. They disappeared into the morning mist like wraiths, their cloaks and hoods making them as the ghosts of the dead
soldiers of battles fought before. John made for the coast and the fishing villages hoping to find news, he knew that as the boats moved from port to port
freely they picked up information. Nearing the first village John sent out a scout to find out if there were enemy soldiers about. The man returned saying
the village was quiet and there were no groups of armed men in the vicinity. They moved around the village and made for the coast. As the day brightened
they tried to keep to the trees so as not to be obvious. At the next village there was more activity as people went about their daily lives, so John and
four men rode in. Fortunately one of the men in the group was Welsh and still spoke the language and could reply to the greetings they received as they
ventured up the main street. He told John that some of them asked if they were going to join David against the English, if they were they should go further
south as he was gathering a force at Hawarden. John sent a courier back to Sir Cedric with this news and gathered the rest of his men to go south and find
the Welsh.

BOOK: The Dunston Blade
7.28Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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