Warlord of the North

Published by Sword Books Ltd 2015

Copyright © Griff Hosker First Edition

The author has asserted their moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.
 

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A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

Cover by Design for Writers

Thanks to Simon Walpole for the Artwork.

The German Sea December 1135

As we toiled up the east coast of England through the most vile gales I had ever experienced my mind was on one thing; the succession.  King Henry of England, the Duke of Normandy, had been poisoned.  History would say he ate too many lampreys.  I knew different.  I had been there when he was murdered. I had killed his killer. He had been poisoned on the orders of King Louis of France and with the complicity of King David of Scotland. The nobles of Normandy and England had sworn to support the claim of the King's daughter, Maud, but I knew that Stephen of Blois was already heading to London to claim the crown. I would have gone there to stop him; at the cost of my own life if needs be, but I had discovered that my castle and my people were threatened by the Scots. I might regret my decision but I had some chance to save my castle.  Stephen of Blois had taken many of his knights with him and I was alone.  I might be King Henry's Champion but I knew that I would die needlessly. I would save my home and then wrest the crown from the usurper.  I had sworn an oath to the Empress Matilda and I would die before I would be foresworn.

My mind tossed along with the ship I had hired.  I had with me six men at arms I had hired in Normandy.  I had sent already Wulfric and my men at arms and archers home to England. There was danger there too. I knew none of the men I had hired. They had, however, been recommended to me and would have to suffice until my ship docked on the Tees. I was not worried.  They were only needed if we were attacked at sea.

The rest of my men were either at my manor on the Maine or on the Tees at Stockton. Until I reached my men I was vulnerable and I was helpless. And I had to get home and get home as quickly as this merchant ship could manage it. Although he had not been party to the murder of King Henry, Stephen of Blois would benefit more than any other.  As soon as he had heard of the death of King Henry he had sailed for England and his brother, Henry the Bishop of Winchester.  He had been quick. I just prayed that there would be barons in England who would remember the oath they made to make Matilda  the Queen of England. I hoped that there would be others such as myself who would oppose his anointment.

I was not hopeful.  I had met too many who looked for themselves before their country.  I would have to fight to regain the throne for my Queen. Henry, the son of Maud would become king.  I had promised myself that my son would rule and I was never foresworn.

Walter, the captain of the
'Lion'
,  the cog on which we sailed, was a nervous man. He knew the problems the death of the King of England and Duke of Normandy would create. The closer we came to England the more nervous he became.  We had had a swift voyage and reached the Channel within a day of leaving Normandy. As we passed the Thames estuary he joined me as I looked westwards. "My lord, may I speak with you?"

"Yes Walter, what is the problem?"

"I have sailed the waters close to your home, my lord.  I know them well."

"Which is why I hired you."

"I know, my lord, but with the King dead the Scots will flood from the north and who knows what we may find. What if your home is now under Scottish control?"

"It will stand and it will be defended." He looked fearfully north as though the Scots would appear over the horizon at any moment. "What is it you say? Speak plainly."

"My lord I would take you to York rather than Stockton. York is far from King David's clutches. I would feel happier and York is not far from Stockton along the road, is it not?" He smiled weakly, "I would give you half of your money for the voyage back, my lord. I beg you." He pointed to the scudding clouds. "And it will be safer too, my lord.  The wind is coming from the north.  At this time of year that brings snows and blizzards.  We would be sheltered if we travelled the Humber."

"Walter you are a pathetic apology for a man.  Perhaps I am used to fighting alongside my own men who have blood coursing through their veins and a backbone." My voice was filled with anger and he recoiled. Shaking my head I said, "It is fortunate for you that I am also a knight.  Take us to York but I shall ne'er use your ship again."

He looked like a puppy which has just been rewarded.  "Thank you my lord!  Thank you."

I waved over my men at arms.  They were huddled beneath a cloak playing with dice. "There is a change of plans.  We are to land at York and complete the last sixty miles on horseback."

The six of them were an unknown quantity.  I had been forced to hire them by events beyond my control. As my son had gone to my manor in Maine with my remaining men at arms, servants and archers I had been left alone. Robert, Earl of Gloucester and King Henry's son. had advised me to hire swords to protect me. The six I had hired were the best that Caen had to offer.

Abelard, who regarded himself as their leader, nodded and smiled, " I, for one am, pleased that we will be off this ship. I fear it has the worm." He seemed as happy as the captain that we were heading for York. I was the only one who was not. "I have never been to England, my lord, but I have been told that the weather in December is oft times inclement. "

"Aye, that is true but we are men and we are hardy."

He nodded, "It is just that we have thin cloaks, my lord and no furs."

I was not used to such whining from my men. "I will get new cloaks for you at York but I confess, Abelard, I like not this attitude."

He smiled, "We are good warriors, my lord, and we will protect you. You can trust us to do as we were ordered."

I dismissed them and went to the stern where I could be alone with my thoughts. Abelard and his five companions were not my problem.  Stephen of Blois and King David were.  They were two separate problems and I was hurrying north because Walter was quite right, King David would not wait for a new King.  Once he heard of the death of King Henry of England and Duke of Normandy he would seize the opportunity to grab as much land as he could.  He would then negotiate with whoever took over from a position of strength. I had sworn an oath to support the claim of Matilda and her son Henry but I had also sworn an oath to protect the border. It was that oath which I would now honour.

As well as my six men at arms I had also hired a youth to look after my horses, Scout and Hunter. He came from a village close to Rouen and was the son of Guy of Tours who had been a man at arms. Guy had once served me and served me well.  A slashed hamstring had cost him his livelihood and he now ran an inn close to Rouen.  It was strange but I trusted Gilles, even though he was not yet a man, more than Abelard and my hired swords.  I had already decided that I would pay them off once I reached Appleton Wiske.  That was a mere twelve miles from home.

I descended below decks to speak with Gilles. I did so silently.  I heard his voice before I saw him. He was grooming Hunter and speaking to him in Norman. "So, my friend, what is this England like?  Although you, like me are Norman, I know you have been there." Hunter stamped his foot and Scout whinnied.  "I know, what is it our master calls you, Scout?  You know England but I am speaking to this fine warhorse. My father says the Earl is an honourable man and a fine knight which a soldier can follow to hell and back, but England?  I have heard that it is wild and there are naked warriors who paint their bodies blue and are savage. You are a noble horse what do you say?"

Hunter raised his head as though he was nodding. 

"Ah so you too have heard of these savages. Then I will keep my father's short sword by my side and sleep with one eye open."

I smiled.  Many people would regard speaking thus with horses as madness.  I knew it was not true. The more you spoke with a horse the closer you became.  I had ridden Scout now for fifteen years. I had known him longer than any of my men at arms and archers.  He was like an extension of me when I rode him. I spoke to him the way that Gilles spoke to both of my horses. Gilles' words to my horses comforted me.  They told me much about his character.

I coughed as I descended.

"My lord."

"How are they Gilles?"

"They would prefer to be running in the open, my lord, but they are calm in this floating coffin."

"You like not the ship?"

"To be truthful my lord, no.  I cannot swim.  I stay here, below decks, so that I do not have to look at the waves and the sea."

"Well I came to tell you that we will be landing sooner, rather than later.  The Captain will sail to York.  We will be there in two or three days.  The river runs high at this time of year. You will need to have our horses ready. I should warn you that horses take a day or two to regain their legs after a voyage at sea."

"My father told me. Thank you for the warning my lord." He continued grooming.

"Will you not miss your home, Gilles?"

"If I am to be truthful, my lord, no. At home I am the ostler and I stable and groom horses I see for one night and they are gone.  It is dull."

"You crave adventure?"

"I do not know. I would not be a groom for my whole life." He suddenly seemed to realise what he had said. "I am sorry, my lord, I meant no disrespect."

"You will learn, young Gilles, that I value truth and honesty above all else." I could not help liking the earnest young man. "Have you skills with that sword?"

He nodded, "My father may be crippled and cannot use his legs as he once could but he has trained me to use a sword and a buckler."

"Then when we get to Stockton I would continue your training.  You will care for my horses but until I have a new squire then you will follow me to war. How say you?"

His eyes glowed, "It would be an honour, my lord."

"Good." I ascended the ladder to the deck.   The King had knighted my son just before his death.  My other two squires, John and Leofric were now also knights. For the present I had no squire. It was a minor consideration.  I had many doughty men at arms but a squire was a necessary tool for a knight. In battle he would bring fresh weapons and horses and he could also guard a knight's back. I would see if any of my barons had sons who could fulfil that function.

As I stood looking west, to England, I wondered if I would have any barons left when I returned home. Stockton was a strong castle as was Durham but my other knights had wooden walls and not enough men to withstand an attack by the Scots.  There were many rebels who had fled to Scotland and whom we had trounced who would take this opportunity for revenge.  What would I find back in England?

The voyage became calmer once we reached the Humber. They had had rains and the Humber had swollen and burst its banks.  It was like an inland sea as we sailed north west towards the Ouse.  I hoped that Walter knew his business.  It was difficult to see the actual course of the river. He might have been a fearful man, a coward even, but he knew his craft and he navigated us unerringly to the Ouse and York. The towers of the cathedral and the Roman walls hove into view although I saw that many of the houses which were close to the river were now inundated and under water.

When we disembarked I fretted for it was hard to see where the land began and the river ended. Gilles spoke to my horses calmly as he led them to more solid ground.

Walter came aft and knuckled his head, "I am sorry we had to land here, my lord.  Perhaps Stockton will be as wet." I ignored his words and held out my hand.  He nodded and handed me over a bag of coins.  It was the half he had promised me.

"A word of advice, Walter of Dover, if you give your word then keep it. You will gain more business that way."

He nodded and I left the boat. I saw him nod to the men at arms as they came on deck. The six of them looked like drowned rats as they mounted their palfreys.  None looked happy to be in England. I wondered, as we rode through the damp streets of York, what had made them take service with me. The unrest in Normandy would have ensured work for their swords. Perhaps they wished to serve me and despite the fact that I did not particularly like them they were all warriors and appeared to know their business.  I put that from my mind.  Thurstan, Archbishop of York, was someone in whom I could place my trust. He had been a loyal servant to King Henry.  I desperately needed his advice and counsel.

There was a nervous edge to the guards and sentries as I approached the gates to the palace on the northern side of the city. Had I not been recognised I would have been viewed with suspicion. The Captain of the Guard took my men and Gilles to their quarters and I hurried to meet with the Archbishop.

He shook his head when he saw me, "A black day, Alfraed. That such an accident should befall King Henry..."

"It was no accident, your grace, it was murder."

"Murder?"

I told him all.  He knew of Lavinia the murderess. She had killed one of his priests when she had made an assassination attempt on my life.

"That does not bode well." He looked at me.  "Henry of Blois, the Bishop of Winchester, has written to me, my lord.  I am invited to London.  He wishes to crown his brother King of England."

I looked hard at the Archbishop. "Would you condone his coronation? What of Maud, the Empress Matilda and young Henry?  You know yourself the King's wishes. He wanted the crown and the duchy to be inherited by them."

He sighed, "Do not judge an old man, Alfraed. The Bishop of Winchester makes cogent arguments. King Henry wanted a stable England.  Stephen of Blois would give such stability.  He has the support of many lords."

I began to rise.

"Sit, I pray you and hear me out." I owed him that much, at least, and I complied. "Do not be so arrogant that you judge me harshly before you hear me out. The Archbishop of Canterbury also supports Stephen. He will be crowned whether I support him or not.  However I have written to them both arguing that we need debate and that King Henry's wishes should be honoured." I nodded, "The problem is that the roads south are impassable because of the rains.  I cannot reach London soon. He will be crowned and then I must consider my position."

"We fight!"

"Who?"

"Why Stephen and his traitors, of course!"

"England has enemies closer to home than that." He sighed, "King David has taken Carlisle, the lands as far as Gainford as well as the New Castle. Had your castle not been as strong I fear that the whole of the north would have fallen to him.  Balliol has shown his true colours and Barnard Castle is now in Scottish hands.  The De Brus clan have claimed Hartness and Guisborough. Those who held lands in Scotland and England are now claiming their English lands and there is no one to gainsay them. I ask again, whom do we fight?"

He was right of course and my decision to return home was justified. "We have lost Durham?"

"Geoffrey Rufus holds the castle and Sir Hugh Manningham holds Hexham but the lands of the Bishopric are now Scots. It is merely a matter of time before Durham falls."

"Then what do we do?"

He sighed, "We hold the line at the Tees. Until you return to the valley we are blind and we are impotent. You are the only one who can stir the barons into action. I believe that those who followed you before will be loyal but I fear for the likes of Sir Hugh Manningham. He is isolated close to the border. I am surprised he has held out this long. You must return to your castle as soon as possible."

"Can I expect support from you, your grace?"

Shaking his head he said, "You judge me yet! Of course I will support you.  I have sent letters to the barons.  Should the Scots threaten the land south of the Tees we will meet them."

"But we give up the whole of the north to King David."

He ignored my words or at least appeared to.  He poured us both a goblet of wine.  "Until we have a ruler who can face King David with the full weight of our forces then my answer has to be yes." His voice became quiet, "You see now why I appeared to consider the request of the Bishop of Winchester. It is like a game of chess.  The rook we have sacrificed is Durham. We have not lost the game but we have protected..."