Enemy at the Gate (20 page)

In the end it took longer to prepare the retinue of the two Sheriffs.  My men were chafing at the bit but the two Sheriffs did not have enough horses.  I even gave them some of the ones we had captured. We were about to leave when a messenger arrived from Sir Brian fitz Court.  He dropped to his knees before me, the Empress was still within.  "My lord, The Earl of Chester has been visited by King Stephen."

Even before he uttered his words I knew what was coming. "Gilles, fetch the Empress, Sir Miles and Sir Pain." I smiled at the messenger.  "Wait until the Empress arrives.  This news should be heard by her too. Rise"

The three of them came together.  Young Henry was with his mother. I nodded to the messenger, "Empress the Earl of Chester has joined with King Stephen. Lincoln is back in the hands of the enemy." He seemed uncertain what to say and just said, "I am sorry."

The Empress was ever gracious and she smiled, "You are the messenger only and not the turncoat. Go into the kitchens and have some food.  When he had gone she said, "You seem prescient, Earl. Did you know?"

"Let us say that he is a hard man to understand.  Lady Maud will not be happy." I shrugged, "It changes nothing."

"It does for me Earl.  I shall send Henry back to the Count with Judith.  It may not be safe for him here any longer."

"I will not go! I want to fight alongside the  Earl!" Henry stamped his foot and crossed his arms.

I knelt and held his shoulders in my hands, "And you shall but I said before you are too small yet to fight but I promise that when you are big enough I shall send for you and you shall serve alongside Gilles and Richard." He pouted.  "A good soldier follows orders." I saw his lip quiver and then he nodded.  He did not trust himself to speak and rushed away to Judith who stood with arms outstretched.

I turned to the two Sheriffs.  "We ride now with however many men are mounted. Our enemies think that this will discomfit us and make us afeard.  It will not.  My lady I leave you here with your knights and those men of the two sheriffs who are not mounted.  Send news of this to your brother.  He is pig headed but even he may come to our aid." I saw Margaret and Judith smile at my words.

The Empress came closer and kissed me on my cheek. She whispered as she did so, "Take care my love.  There will be other battles."

As I stepped away I said, "I have never run away from a battle yet.  When a man begins to do that it is time to hang up his sword."

My scouts had already found us a good route and my conroi led the column as we headed east towards Wallingford. There was a castle at Stanford.  It was held by the Earl of Derby.  I had fought alongside Robert de Ferrers at the battle of the Standard.  Stephen had seen fit to make him an Earl after the battle, the Earl of Derby.  Although he had lands in Warwick too our scouts had reported that he was at Stanford.  I knew not why.  It was a wooden castle and guarded the road from Gloucester to Wallingford. I doubted that they would expect us to strike at such a target and I wanted to make a statement to Stephen that even his closest allies were not safe from the wrath of the warlord.

I knew much about the castle before I arrived.  I had not wasted time while my sheriffs had been gathering their forces. I knew that they had no natural features to use and the mound was just the spoil from the ditch. It was a large structure and could hold over a hundred men.  I  had almost two hundred men under my command. My plan was simple: I would surround the castle and cut it off. The nearest manor house was at Serengford but it was not fortified. I had but twenty extra archers and I gave Ralph of Wales the captaincy.  He led the archers off and disappeared from sight.

Despite the fact that I had many illustrious knights with me, I kept my household knights and my men at arms close by. We managed to get within a quarter of a mile before we were spotted. I saw the standard flying; the Earl was at home. I saw them hurriedly pull up the bridge from over the ditch. That did not worry me over much.  There were many houses nearby and I would use their crude doors as a makeshift bridge.  The important fact was that they were trapped. Henry Warbow approached us from the east.  "Two riders were sent for help lord.  They are dead."

I turned to Sir Miles.  "Have ten of your men at arms go to the east end of the road and watch for enemies.  I do not think there will be any but we need my archers."

We dismounted and Gilles and Richard took the horses to the field which had a convenient gate.  They would graze. I gestured to the two Sheriffs.  Come we will see if the Earl of Derby is in the mood to surrender."

I had no archers yet and so I halted well beyond crossbow range.  I took off my helmet, "Robert de Ferrers, Earl of Derby, I call upon you to surrender this castle to the Empress Matilda, heir to good King Henry and rightful ruler of this land.  What say you?"

In answer a crossbow bolt flew from the walls and landed twenty paces from me.

"You have allowed yourself to be deluded by a moment of glory, Earl.  This is not Northallerton.  Prepare to die!"

I turned my horse around, "How do we attack this, my lord?"

"We use archers first and then my men at arms and knights."

Sir Pain said, "We are not cowards lord! We know how to fight."

"Have you assaulted a castle like this before, my lord?"

"No but we are warriors all."

"Then let my men and I show you how we do it and next time we assault a castle you can do as we do now. I do not want to waste men on a fruitless attack.  We will get this done."

"Yes lord."

"Ralph, in a moment I want the walls clearing of defenders."

"Aye lord."

"Edgar, fetch the doors from the houses.  We will use them as a bridge."

"Aye lord."

"Dick, the knights will lead."

"Of course." He turned, "Leopold fetch me an axe.  I may not be as big or as ugly as Wulfric but I fancy I can wield an axe as well as he."

The wait worked in our favour for the defenders on the outer wall watched as we prepared. They would be nervous for we moved with purpose. Eventually we were ready, We moved towards the ditch and the walls.  Those within the castle would have wondered at the small number of men who approached. I turned to the two Sheriffs.  "Have the knights ready to follow when we breach the gates.  We must move swiftly and take the second gate before they close it."

"Aye lord."

I turned to Gilles and Richard.  "Leave the standard here.  You will follow the men at arms.  I want each of you to have two spare spears."

"Aye lord." Gilles showed me that he had already anticipated me and he raised his two weapons.

"Good.  This day we may get more weapons for you!" I turned, "Ralph, clear the walls! Edgar fill the ditch!"

My men worked as one.  The defenders were suddenly assailed by fifty arrows and then another fifty.  Any face which peered over the walls was struck.  Edgar and the men at arms raced forward and skilfully made a bridge as I led my knights forward. My men at arms then tucked in behind the five of us.  John and Dick carried axes.  We ran across the crude bridge. It was barely stable but we made it.  Our archers ensured that no crossbow or javelin came our way. Harold, Tristan and I held our shields above the heads of Dick and John as they began to hack at the gap between the gates.  It was a single bar which held the gate closed.

Dick said, "It is weakening, lord."

"Ready, then we will push!" They both made one last strike and then I said, "One, two, three!" We hurled ourselves forward and the weakened bar gave way and we spilled inside.  The Earl had been naive.  He had no men waiting behind the gate. "Spears!"

Our squires gave us spears and we raced up the slope towards the main gate.  The defenders were trying to reach it too but they had left it too late to descend.  Had I been the Earl I would have ordered the gates closed but he kept them open.  Tristan and Harold were young and they were fast.  Along with John and the squires they raced to the gate.  Too late someone gave orders to close it.  I was twenty feet away and I hurled my spear.  It struck the man trying to close the gate in the chest and he fell backwards dragging the gate open. I saw Gilles and Richard as they raced ahead and thrust their spears into two men who raced to help their fallen comrade and then the inner gate was secure.

I turned and yelled, "Come! The men of Stockton have secured the gate! Now secure the keep!"

There was a roar and the two Sheriffs raced up the slope with their men.  They were eager for some honour and glory too. I reached my two squires as they, along with Harold and Tristan, fought off the knights who ran to kill them and then close the doors. Richard had no mail and was an easy target but he was young and he was lithe. He sidestepped the sword which found not flesh but fresh air and he rasped the edge of his short sword behind the knee of the knight.  The hauberk did not cover that part of his leg and when the tendons were slashed the knight fell.  I reached him and put my sword to his throat.  "Surrender to my squire!"

"I yield!"

"Richard, Gilles, hold the prisoners here."

The Earl of Derby realised he and his men were in grave danger and I heard a horn sounded.  A dozen men made it into the wooden keep before the gate was slammed shut.  Those who were without yielded as we flooded up the hill. Sir Miles and Sir Pain led their men to the door.  This time there were no archers to clear the walls and crossbows claimed the lives of seven men before the two sheriffs ordered their men to take cover.

I shouted, "There is no hurry! Do not waste lives."I turned to Gilles, "Go fetch Ralph and my archers."

Dick and my knights gathered around me. Dick grinned as he gestured with his bloody sword towards Richard, "A feisty cockerel that one and fast too. That was a clever blow."

I nodded, "I am glad that I made him my squire. I see now that something stayed my hand."

"It would have been easy to slay him."

"You are right Harold.  A cool head is needed in such situations."

There was a strange silence in the castle.  Save the occasional moan from an unattended wounded man it was deadly quiet.  We were waiting. The bodies with the bolts in them were a salutatory lesson.  The men of Hereford and Gloucester had been too eager.  They had thought the battle won.  I heard feet as my archers ran through the gates. Dick shouted, "'Ware crossbows!"

Ralph nodded and they took shelter alongside the buildings. "Edgar, shields!"

My men at arms stepped out and with overlapping shields made a narrow shield wall two shields high. Bolts thudded into the shields but the men behind them were safe. Ralph and eight archers ran from shelter and hid behind the shield wall. Edgar took command.  He peered over the top of the shield. The only target was his eyes and it would take a lucky strike to hit him.

"Now!" Five archers released their arrows.  I watched as three men fell from the tower. "Now!" The second four released theirs.  Two men fell and then a line of heads appeared as they thought my men had finished. "Now!" All nine released at once. I heard cries and saw four crossbows and their owners fall to the bailey. The ramparts were emptied of targets.

Ralph turned to me, "Clear, lord!" The rest of my archers ran to stand behind their comrades and all of them knocked an arrow.

"Sir Miles, Sir Pain, the walls are cleared. Take the gate!"

With a roar the men of Hereford and Gloucester raced up the slope towards the gate.  There was  no ditch here but the gate was a man's height above the ground and they had pulled up the ladder. Sir Miles ordered the bodies of the dead crossbowmen gathered and they made human bodies into steps as they ascended to the gate and then began to hack and chop their way through the wooden door.

I heard a cry from the top of the tower. "We yield! The Earl is dead! Mercy, lord! Do not visit your vengeance upon us!"

"Sir Miles, hold.  You in the tower come out with palms showing and no helmets." I turned to Ralph, "Watch them for tricks."

Dick said, "Another castle taken! And with few losses.  This will hurt the enemy."

I shook my head, "Not yet but it is a start. We now have a lines of supply to Wallingford.  We begin the fight for England here."

We had many prisoners and I sent them back to Gloucester with an escort of Sir Miles' men.  The treasure we shared.  My share was a horse and suit of mail. After the hall was emptied we had the bodies of the enemy dead placed in the ditch around the castle.  It was a crude grave. Then I ordered the castle and its walls to be burned. When we rose, the next morning the wooden remnants of the castle looked like blackened teeth.  Our men pulled them down into the ditches and it was as though the castle had never been.  If the family of Robert de Ferrers wished to rebuild their castle they would have to dig up the rotting corpses of the Earl and those who had fallen.

We left after noon and marched to Wallingford. Our messengers had kept Sir Brian informed of our progress and we were greeted as heroes.

"Now, with your men, Earl, we can begin to destroy the enemy around us."

The four of us were seated in his Great Hall. We had strategy to plan. "Had the Earl of Chester not defected then I would have agreed but we cannot count on his men and, until the Earl of Gloucester stirs himself then our four conroi constitutes our whole army."

"You are not suggesting that we sit on our backsides here behind my walls?  I have done that for too long as it is." Sir Brian was a man of action.

"No my fiery friend we do not. We use our men judiciously. Of the four of us I am the one who knows Stephen the best. He prefers to buy men rather than fight warriors.  I have no doubt that the Earl switched sides because of new titles."

Sir Brian nodded, "I have heard, from defectors, that was the case. So how do we use this to our advantage?" He swallowed  half a beaker of wine, wiped his mouth and said, "Earl, you know me to be a bluff soldier.  I do not use subtlety.  You will need to explain in clearer terms."

I smiled, "You are honest, Sir Brian, and that is what we need.  I propose that we head north to Oxford.  It is but fifteen miles away.  It is a rich city. The churches there are the ones which were endowed richly. We take the city and hold it to ransom. By taking the money from Oxford we deny it to Stephen and enrich the Empress."

Sir Miles questioned, "Will it not make an enemy of the Church?"

"Which church? There are factions within the church already.  The Pope himself sides first with Matilda and then Stephen.  The churches in Oxford are the result of rich guilds and noblemen endowing them. The Church does not see their gold but their clerics live well.  Besides," I smiled, "I am the Warlord and the Wolf of the North.  It is expected of me."

"You gamble with your soul, my lord."

"No Sir Pain for I am not foresworn.  When others broke their oath to King Henry then they put their souls in jeopardy.  I believe that any sins I commit against the Church will be forgiven.  I do not do it for gain."

"Even so when judgement day comes my lord you might face hell!"

I waved a hand around as though encompassing England, "And this is not? But you need not worry, Sir Pain, your soul will be safe for you are carrying out the orders of your lord.  I gamble just my soul."

Sir Brian said, "Know you, Earl, that my wife's uncle is constable at Oxford. Her father was Gilbert D'Oyly who built the castle there."

"You can stay here if you wish.  I would not drive a wall between husband and wife."

He smiled, "No lord.  There will be no problem but I wanted you to know my connection.  There is no treachery in this castle."

"I know Sir Brian and I appreciate your honesty."

We left three days later.  Again I just took mounted men.  The rest we left at Wallingford as a garrison. Sir Brian came with us and we had over a hundred and fifty knights.  The banners alone would cow the city. The gates of the castle were closed to us. It mattered not I had the castle surrounded.  I sent my men at arms into the churches.  The clergy had fled into the castle and they were empty. They gathered the treasures from within. There was gold and there were relics.  I had them brought to the main gate.

The city had no lord of the manor but a Governor and a Constable The four of us rode to the gates and dismounted.  Taking off my helmet I shouted, "Sir Nigel D'Oyly."

A knight appeared, "I am he.  Sir Brian, I am surprised to see you here."

"And why is that?  I serve the rightful heir of England and you support the Usurper. Your only surprise should have been that it took me so long to come here.  This is the Earl of Cleveland. He commands this battle."

My name was known in these parts but not my device and I saw the priests crossing themselves when they heard my name. "You are far from home, Earl."

"England is my home and Matilda my Queen."

"What do you want?" He pointed to the relics and the treasure.  "Are you brigands who come to desecrate churches?"

"You know me not Sir Nigel.  I had my men bring these here to show you what we could do.  Your priests and monks can take them back to their churches when we have gone."

"You would leave?"

"We will leave when I have done what I came here to do."

"Which is?"

"You will surrender to us.  You may keep the castle and keep the town if you swear allegiance to the Empress and pay taxes not to Stephen but to the Empress."

I had surprised Sir Nigel. "I will come down and speak with you.  Do I have your word that I will not be harmed?"

"Of course.  I said that I came here with peace in mind."

He disappeared from the walls.

Sir Miles was surprised, not to say shocked and he asked, "Why does he come down to speak with us?"

Sir Brian laughed, "Simple, Sir Miles, he wishes to negotiate and does not want others to hear. You are clever, Earl. You threaten and yet no blood is spilled."

"Perhaps.  The negotiations are not over yet."

The Constable came out flanked by a richly dressed man and a priest. Sir Nigel had taken off his helmet. The seven of us were out of earshot of all, including my men.

"What do you propose, Earl? We could agree to your terms and, when you leave, refute the truce."

"And then I would come back, raze your castle and your town and slaughter everyone within the manor." I said it calmly and dispassionately.  The priest crossed himself.

The richly dressed man said, "I am John of Oxford and master of the Guilds of Oxford. Tell me, Earl, if we agree to this what is to stop King Stephen attacking and punishing us?"

"The same thing which stopped the Scottish Army at Northallerton and helped King Henry defeat the French and the Flemish in Normandy; me. I will protect your town and if Stephen the Usurper comes then I will defeat him."

The priest pointed to the treasures we had taken, "And if we agree we get to return these to the churches?"

"I gave you my word and I am never foresworn." The three of them looked at each other. "I need an answer now."

Sir Nigel nodded.

"Good then you need to send the first taxes to Wallingford by the end of the week."

"Is the Empress at Wallingford then lord?"

"No, Sir Nigel but Sir Miles will ensure that the money is safely taken to the Empress."

He nodded, "You are an interesting man, Earl. I had heard much about you.  You are not what I expected."

"I never believe what I am told about any man.  I judge with my eyes. I am not afraid to be judged on my actions." I looked at the priest, "In this world or the next."

We returned to Wallingford.  Sir Brian said, "I am almost disappointed.  That seemed too easy."

"We have poked one of the rat's holes.  He will strike somewhere else.  We have to be ready to respond.  I want the three of you to send out scouts to find the enemy. Stephen will react to this and when he does we must respond equally quickly."

One of the treasures we had taken from the Earl of Derby was the hauberk his squire wore.  It fitted Richard and I felt happier having him better protected. When we had been in Gloucester I had used some of the ransom we had received to buy new surcoats for my men. I had learned that my livery and my device sometimes gave me an advantage.  Now that our reputation was spreading in the south I wanted to exploit it. I also had a new war horse.  This one had belonged to the Earl of Derby.  It as an unusual golden colour and reminded me a little of Scout.  I could not give him the same name as a horse which still lived and so I called him Copper for his coat seemed to shine like burnished Copper.  Leofric also rode a horse called Copper but he was in Anjou.

We spent a day or two in Wallingford repairing shields and sharpening weapons.  It allowed the scouts to ferret out the enemy and his intentions. As I had expected Stephen reacted angrily to the loss of Oxford.  He sent columns of men to capture the Empress' castles at South Cerney and Malmesbury.

The others appeared worried by such action. "It was to be expected.  Sir Miles you and Sir Pain head to Malmesbury and try to recapture those castles.  I will go to Trowbridge.  I fear that is Stephen's goal. He is heading towards the Earl of Gloucester." I sent two of Sir Brian's men as messengers to the Earl and to the Empress warning them of the danger.

"And what of me, my lord?"

"Prepare to be attacked. This raid may be a ploy to lure us away from Wallingford.  Stephen has to retake Wallingford before he can take Oxford. Be vigilant."

I split the Empress' knights into three. They were eager for more treasure.  Many of them, I knew, had accompanied the Empress in the hope of riches.  Although not mercenaries they had a mercenary attitude to war.  I cared not so long as they fought on my side. I knew their leader, Raymond of Rouen.  I had fought with him in Normandy. He was an old fashioned knight. His squire, Alan, was the same age as Harold and I had asked the knight why his squire had not been ennobled.

He had shrugged, "In Normandy there are too few manors.  My own is small.  You are lucky here in England, my lord.  I hope to gain a manor here and then I shall knight Alan.  He deserves it but it is useful having a squire who is the equal of a knight.  I never fear for my back."

The other Normans had a similar attitude to Sir Raymond.  It made them hungry.  I hoped that the Empress would reward them wisely. Stephen knew how to dispense such favours. We headed south and west towards Trowbridge.  The evidence of the passing of the army of Stephen was evident everywhere.  Houses and farms had been burned.  Animals had been slaughtered and their butchered remains littered the countryside.  Stephen was attacking the heartland of the Empress. I wondered if the Earl of Gloucester would now stir himself to defend his lands.

Having a wholly mounted force meant that we reached Trowbridge in less than a day.  The army of Stephen had  the motte and bailey of de Bohun encircled. We reached the hamlet of Whaddon before dusk.  It was a small manor and had not been burned. It was, however, deserted save for a swineherd. He told us that his lord had fled to the castle when the forces of Stephen had arrived.

"Tell me, swineherd, how is the castle defended?"

"There is a river, the Biss, around the south and west sides.  The north and east have a ditch."

"And where will the camp be?"

"T'other side of Hilperton. It is a small farm on the main road."

I turned to my household knights and Sir Raymond. "Then that means the forces of Stephen will be on this side of the castle. We try a night attack."

Sir Raymond was dubious, "A night attack?  Is that not dangerous? We will not know friend from foe."

"That is why I will attack first with my own household knights.  You and your knights will form up at Hilperton.  When the alarm is given you ride and attack the camp.  We will have slain the guards and, I hope, captured Stephen.  If we take the head of the snake then the body will wither and die. We use the password 'Adela'.  The response is 'Maud'."

He nodded, "You take a great risk, my lord."

"And if we win then a great reward."

I gathered my men.  We did not wear cloaks nor did we encumber ourselves with spears.  My archers took their bows but they were not strung.  It would be knife work. I divided my men at arms and archers between my knights. I had two men at arms and three archers with me as well as my two squires. We left our horses with Sir Raymond at Hilperton where we gathered after dark. We left them silently.  We were less than a mile from the enemy camp.

Ralph of Wales, Long Tom and Rafe went first; they were silent.  Edward the Fair followed them as a precaution.  They would take care of the sentries.  Five of us wore hauberks, carried shields and held swords.  We would deal with men who were armed more heavily. I heard nothing but I saw the dead sentries as we passed them.  Three of them had had their throats cut. Ralph was stringing his bow at the edge of the trees when I reached him.  He pointed to the fires and the tents. I nodded.

The army had arranged itself with their lords closest to the houses and their ordinary warriors closest to the woods and the insects. I recognised some of the banners but the one which was missing was that of Stephen.  I paused to take in the camp.  I could not see all of it but there appeared to be fewer men than I was expecting. The day's fighting was over and meals were being cooked. I pointed to the camp fires.  Ralph and his archers drew back their bows.  I raised my sword and led my four men, with weapons drawn, towards the fires.