[Norman Conquest 01] Wolves in Armour (57 page)

Alan smiled amiably at this typical example of their partnership. He dealt with the military aspects associated with his position with the assistance of Hugh, Brand and the other warrior leaders, and with most of the political matters- although the latter in consultation with Anne and Osmund. His military duties and judicial duties, with him dealing with them properly, together with his ‘tinkering’ in the workshop, left him little time during the day and he was determined that the time after the evening meal at Vespers was his own family time.

Anne dealt with the household and business matters. Administration of the estates was dealt with as a joint responsibility, although in practice Anne made most of the decisions after consultation with Alan and Osmund. They viewed themselves as partners not just physically but also intellectually and economically.

“I’ve invited some ladies for tomorrow afternoon, while you and most of their husbands are off at the Hunt that the king has arranged,” said Anne. “Some are friends I have made at court functions, others may become friends and some will be politically advantageous to be involved with. They’re all either from the same clique, that of the de Grandmesnils, or not associated with any group. A few are English ladies.

“We’re having a poetry recital. Osmund will handle the Latin and French poems and he’s found a suitably impressive speaker to perform some English poems. I’ll host a few more similar events over the next couple of weeks, so I can ‘spin a web’ amongst most of the ‘French’ ladies. I know that description isn’t really fair, as many of them are Flemings, Angevins, Danes and so on, and that the Normans and their language are quite different to the French.

“Many of the ladies have close ancestors or relatives who are Anglo-Saxons, Anglo-Danes or Danes. Most are at best semi-literate and wouldn’t know a good poem if it was a charging horse that ran them over. But with their social pretensions, a poetry recital is both novel and something they can’t resist being seen at, as it proves their intellectual and discerning nature. Some of them I like, and it should be fun.

“I’ll go out this afternoon and arrange some suitable food to be delivered tomorrow morning. Wilda says that she can do a good dish of braised quail in white wine, fruit pies and custard tarts. I’ll order some small gourmet pies, pasties, small sausages and pastries and get some mead and some herbs to make teas. We have plenty of good white and red wine, of course, as well as aged cheeses and candied fruits. Ladies aren’t used to ‘fine dining’ as usually they’re left at home while their husbands go out, so I am sure the food and drink will ‘dazzle’ them, and that going out for a social function while their husbands are doing the same will be attractive, even if some of them have no idea what the performers are saying.”

Alan smiled and nodded at the astuteness of his wife. While they had no political pretensions, the goodwill of the influential families, both their male and female members, could only be of benefit for the future.

Osmund had arrived several days previously following Alan’s request that he contact each of the people from whom they had received depositions with allegations against Bishop William, Earl Ralph and Engelric. Alan had thought that the trio would take steps to resolve the allegations against them and was determined not to be embarrassed by making allegations that would be responded to by the waving of a counter-deposition advising that the matter had been resolved. Alan’s mediocre political position would be seriously damaged by making several dozen complaints if William, Ralph and Engelric had taken steps to resolve them.

“Never trust anybody to do what you expect, especially your enemies,” Osmund had commented in agreement when he had departed on the mission, and his report had shown that Alan had been correct to harbour his suspicions. Each of those who had provided a deposition had been visited by a minion of one of the trio and with many expressions of regret at the misunderstandings and mistakes made, Heriot amounts had been decreased and threats withdrawn. Complainants had been inveigled to sign new depositions stating their satisfaction and sworn to secrecy.

“What do you intend to do?” asked Anne.

Alan shrugged and replied, “We’ve achieved what we set out to do- obtain justice for those being oppressed. The fact that justice was handed out by the malefactors themselves, out of fear of the consequences if they didn’t do so, doesn’t change that fact. Hopefully others will also have benefited already, or may benefit in the future, if the wolves feel something of a collar around their neck- a collar of hemp rope- and modify their behaviour even a little. There appear four or five matters outstanding, which I’ll leave to the Chancellor and the king to investigate. They both know the true state of affairs from my report, so I’d expect these to be resolved quickly. I expect the king to keep a closer eye on things now- not because he’s concerned about the welfare of the cheorls or thegns but because he was being cheated out of the money being extracted. I’d look silly and vindictive if I raised just one or two cases against each malefactor in the Curia, so I’ll let things slide- with a certain amount of relief I must admit.”

Robert de Aumale arrived on time as the sun was setting. It was snowing gently outside and he was rubbing his leather-gloved hands together and shedding drops of water from his cloak as he was ushered into the warm and by now quite richly-furnished Hall. Aidith took his cloak to dry and warm by the kitchen fire as Robert stood by the fire, removed his gloves, which he tucked into his belt, and rubbed his hands together over the red glow of the fire.

The room had been set up with a small table, able to accommodate six, on one side of the central fire and two larger tables for the household staff and soldiers, the three tables arranged in a triangle around the fire. Anne and Alan followed the usual convention of eating together with the household, except of course the kitchen staff and serving maid, and Robert’s eyes widened slightly as eight huscarles swaggered into the Hall and took their places at one of the tables.

“Two are on guard duty,” said Alan as Aidith brought wine for the high table and ale for the others.

“You seem to think that you have some who are not your friends, to have such protection for your house,” commented Robert.

“We know that we have some who are not our friends,” replied Anne firmly as platters of fresh bread, still hot from the oven, were placed on the table, quickly followed by a thick and delicately-seasoned bacon and vegetable pottage. The noise level in the Hall rose as the huscarles and household members consumed their ale. Many a comment was made in a friendly manner to Aidith, but all in the house knew to keep their hands to themselves and that over-familiarity would be tolerated neither by Aidith nor their masters.

During the meal Robert was quietly sounded out by Anne, Osmund and Brand. Alan asked a few questions also, but was satisfied that he knew his friend sufficiently from past experience. Robert’s comments showed him to be intelligent. Although illiterate like most Norman nobles, he was he had a quite wide knowledge of the world and its principal characters, and even a reasonable knowledge of literature and poetry- although entirely memorized. As was the norm with illiterate people his memory hung onto details that many others would forget. Over the main course of barnacle-goose pie with a rich meat gravy and steamed vegetables Robert commented, “I don’t know. Perhaps I’d have been better staying in Normandy, or maybe going to Sicily or Italy. There are so many ahead on me on de Mandeville’s favouritism list that even with the Redemption defaults I expect to happen in a few weeks, that I can’t see myself getting a manor.”

“You see the Redemption defaults as a good thing?” asked Anne.

“Not as such, but they do provide an opportunity for those, Norman or English, with the cash to acquire an honour or two. That doesn’t include me,” he concluded with an evident tone of regret. As the meal progressed Robert showed himself to be a companionable man. Intelligent, without being learned; respectful without being subservient; a good conversationalist with a wry sense of humour. He showed no sign of an over-inflated sense of self-importance- quite the contrary, being modest and self-effacing and with an understanding of the need of a manor lord to work together with his English equals and subordinates. As the main course was cleared away and those at the table washed their hands in bowls of water, Alan looked enquiringly firstly at Anne, then Osmund and Brand. Each in turn gave a nod.

Toying with a piece of bread Alan looked Robert in the eyes and said, “I don’t think you need to go to Sicily. The king has just given me some manors in Herefordshire, right on the Welsh border. I need somebody who can protect and administer those estates properly, as Seneschal. I’m making no promises of a fief at this stage- that will depend on how you perform your duties over the next year. Are you interested?”

With a stunned expression Robert stammered his thanks, which Alan waved away with a comment about ‘mutual advantage’ and instructed Robert to find several men-at-arms to accompany him to the west after Christmas, promising to travel with Robert and bring a suitable company of his own men.

Alan was amongst a large party of nobles and their entourages who rode out from Newgate and along Watling Street a little before first light. Each noble was expected to have at least two men with him and Alan had chosen Owain and Roger, the former to literally ‘watch his back’. As Owain had said, a hunt was an excellent place for an accident. While Alan felt safe enough, those around him were taking what precautions they could.

The party rode the ten miles west to Hanwell on the River Brent, arriving at the forest in which William had arranged the day’s hunt a little over an hour after departing Newgate. Most of the men were by nature quiet and reserved and there had been little chatter on the way. Alan was wearing a thick jacket over tunic and trews and was well rugged up in his cloak, a scarf and gloves and with a
woollen
hat on his head.

The day dawned cold and crisp and clear shortly before they reached the village. When they arrived at the village the two taverns were already packed and busy with men who were to attend the hunt. Alan, Owain and Roger sat on a bench outside to partake of the provender that Alan had brought with them. Fresh buttered bread and cheese were washed down with a reasonable French red wine drunk directly from a wineskin they passed between them. Roger Bigod and Aethelnoth of Canterbury sat nearby with their small retinues, and the lords supped in turn from the wineskin with pleasure when offered.

After a wait of a little over an hour the royal party arrived, with King William, fitzOsbern, Odo, de Grandmesnil, de Warenne, Robert of Eu, Robert of Mortain and the other Norman nobles close to the throne. The Englishmen Edgar the Aetheling, Morcar and Edwin, all of whom William appeared to be keeping on a short leash, came trailing behind. Typically, William, still ahorse, demanded to know what they were all doing sitting around drinking and then, guided by a woodsman, led the way into the forest as the others hurriedly mounted and followed.

A mile or so into the forest they came upon the hunting site. Clearly William was not intending to ‘rough it’ and a marquee had been set up for his use and that of his immediate retinue, with food and drink laid out on tables for the chosen few- amongst whom Alan was not included. Beyond were the Hides, five in all. These were chest-high barriers of brushwood aligned east-west, each some fifteen paces long and behind which the hunters could hide as the game was driven towards them by beaters, to then be engaged by the hunters with bow and arrow. Messengers disappeared off into the forest to the north while William and his favourites chatted and ate pies and pastries in the marquee while quaffing cups of wine. Horses were taken well to the rear.

Eventually the party split into five groups, King William at the centre, and each group moved towards one of the Hides. Each Hide was some fifty paces from the next, virtually out of view between the trees and undergrowth. Alan, together with Roger Bigod, Aethelnoth, Aubrey de Vere, Robert Malet, William Peverel and half a dozen others took a Hide on the right, or eastern, side of the line.

Alan picked up a boar-spear, a long and strong spear with a cross-piece, in case something unexpected came out of the forest, but propped it against a tree as he chatted amiably with Roger Bigod, William Peverel and Robert de Aumale, leaning nonchalantly against the tree twenty or so paces behind the Hide. Alan saw the day as a social occasion. With well over 100 men standing behind the Hides, both guests and servants, and with pavilions and fences erected over the past several days, Alan expected few if any animals to make an appearance- those with any sense at all would be miles away.

To Alan’s surprise, a dozen or so deer led by a large hind suddenly burst into view close to the north, emerging from the dim and dark recesses of the forest. Those hunters behind the brushwood shouted a loud ‘Halloo!’ which spooked the animals even further, and the hunters let loose a shower of arrows. The arrows all missed, to the great mirth of those looking on, as the deer turned and fled to safety.

“They couldn’t hit a fucking barn from ten paces!” exclaimed William Peverel, still wheezing from his laughter as he clapped Alan on the shoulder. Clearly this wasn’t a serious hunt for anybody.

Moments later a sow with five piglets appeared, trotting quickly. However, the wind was from the south, and with her snout in the air she led the youngsters off to the east and safety- not that any serious hunter would trouble a female with young.