by H A CULLEY
‘Well, I would like my brother Edgar’s help with the task you have given me.’
‘That’s fine with me but William Keith has to agree. He may not be keen to lose Edgar as his squire; I know how pleased he was to get him back.’
‘I have someone I hope he will take as a replacement.’
Two days later Simon left Berwick with Edgar by his side and Rollo followed on with the packhorse. The boy was full of excitement at the thought of battles at sea. Niall stayed in Berwick as squire to Sir William Keith, content to learn his new role and to train with weapons in the relatively quiet environment of Berwick Castle. William had been reluctant to release Edgar but he didn’t feel that he could say no, especially as Niall seemed an adequate replacement. A mason and his two apprentices brought up the rear of the cavalcade. Simon had engaged the mason to build his new hall house. It was to be ready in six months; by then he hoped to have beaten the English at sea and have returned to marry Bridget.
He was soon to learn that life invariably failed to live up to his expectations.
Chapter Five – The War at Sea
June to September 1318
There was, Simon discovered, a great deal more to fighting at sea than he had imagined. His first surprise was the difference between the fighting cogs and the galleys. He very quickly learned that converted merchant ships, called cogs, were a useful platform from which to attack enemy ships using the two castles fore and aft manned by archers. The disadvantage was that they were completely at the mercy of the wind, both for speed and direction.
On the other hand the galleys were really only useful as platforms from which to board the enemy and capture them via hand to hand fighting. They could use both wind power and rowers. However, the sail they carried was quite small and the mast was much shorter than those on a cob. This meant that they weren’t as fast as cobs under wind power alone. Furthermore, whilst the rowers could propel them into the wind, or even if there was no wind, they couldn’t do this for any great distance or at significant speed without the rowers becoming exhausted. Once he had grasped these essentials, he began to plan how he could use his fleet to best advantage.
It was Edgar who identified another vital strategic factor. The merchant ships travelled when they, and the wind and tide, were ready. They relied on the vastness of the sea to hide themselves in but, if they were spotted, then they invariably ended up being captured. They were more heavily laden than the fighting cogs and were therefore slower.
Edgar suggested that several travelled together and that Simon used his war ships to either escort them or wait for the convoy to be attacked and then ambush the enemy. The one flaw in this idea was the intransigence of the merchant captains. They were in competition with each other and the first one to market got the best prices. Sailing together would mean a glut on the market when they arrived.
Eventually Simon decided to ask a cog carrying wool and one carrying whiskey to sail together as they weren’t competing for the same buyers in Flanders. He sent the galleys ahead, as they could return to the merchantmen against the wind if necessary, and shadowed the two merchantmen with his three cogs. By trial and error the armed cogs stayed just over the horizon whilst the galleys stayed mast high ahead of the merchantmen with a lookout at the top of the mast.
The first crossing was made with no sign of the English but, on the return trip with three ships carrying iron ore, wine and woollen clothing respectively, they were intercepted by four English cogs. The merchantmen surrendered after a short chase , which allowed the galleys to come up hull down a few miles from them. The victorious crews were so busy imprisoning the sailors and putting prize crews aboard that they didn’t notice the arrival of the galleys until it was too late. As the galleys boarded three of the four cogs, the other one, together with the prizes, tried to slip away. The fourth galley gave chase and soon caught the fighting cog whilst Simon directed his own cogs to retake the heavily laden prizes. That evening he sailed back into Berwick with the merchantmen, his own fleet intact and four more cogs to add to it.
It was a start but he found that his next problem was finding crews and archers for the captured cogs. Experienced seamen were in short supply. Those that were looking for work preferred to sail on the merchantmen, whose captains were always looking for trained seamen. The pay was better and it was less dangerous.
‘Where am I going to get the men to man the enlarged fleet of cogs from, Edgar? If we could man all our ships we could escort individual merchantmen. Even if they were attacked we could turn and fight the enemy so that they could escape.’
‘There are plenty of men in Berwick looking for work, why not split up the experienced crews and train the landsmen at sea? There are also boys hanging around, starving because their parents were killed during the sack of the town, and consequently stealing to stay alive. Sir William hangs them at the moment when they are caught; why don’t you ask him to give them the option of signing on as ship’s boys instead?’
Simon looked dubious. ‘Wouldn’t they be a hindrance rather than a help?’
‘Only until they learned the ropes. There are plenty of jobs on board that need brawn, not brains.’
‘What would the boys do?’
‘Fetch and carry, take the archers barrels of arrows for example, carry the wounded below, learn from the seamen so that in a few years they will become trained sailors themselves, a bit like squires learning to be knights.’
‘It’s worth a try, I suppose.’
For the next few days the galleys escorted the merchantmen whilst the seven cogs went to sea with their mixture of trainees and trainers. The ships weren’t handled as efficiently as they had been before but, after a few weeks, both new and old hands were at least working well together and Simon decided that the cogs were ready.
Lord Henry Percy, who was in charge of the English fleet in Newcastle, had been surprised when his four cogs hadn’t returned. The only reason that he could think of was that they had been captured. A merchant skipper had told him that he had seen a galley south of Berwick, so he assumed that the Scots had captured his ships using galleys. He only had eleven cogs left and so he decided to use them all and take the Scots by surprise whilst they were still in port. With any luck he would be able to destroy all their ships, whether war ships or merchantmen.
Simon wasn’t stupid by any means and he realised that a surprise attack up the Tweed estuary was a very real possibility, so each galley took it in turns to keep a watch off Lindisfarne when his fleet was in harbour. This was the ship that the English merchant skipper had seen.
When the galley returned to report the approach of the English fleet Simon set sail with all eleven of his ships. Numerically Simon had a slight advantage and his galleys would give him an extra edge.
He sent two of the galleys ahead to board the two cogs at the left and right of the enemy line and the other two to board Lord Percy’s flagship. As the two lines of cogs neared each other he ordered the archers on the forward castles of each ship to target the helmsmen and not, as was usual, the enemy archers. They took casualties as a result but four of the helmsmen were killed and, with no one steering for the moment, three of them veered off the wind and crashed into three of the other cogs. The fourth didn’t hit anything but drifted downwind for quite a distance before it was brought back under control again. It was out of the fight for now.
All eleven of Percy’s cogs were now either entangled with each other, under attack by galleys or disabled. Simon now took the unusual step of ordering his cogs to close with the enemy and board them. This was quite unexpected and the English crews hadn’t trained for close quarter fighting, nor had their archers.
Simon led the boarding party from his flagship onto the deck of one of the larger enemy cogs. He had chosen to wear full armour, despite the certainty of drowning if he fell overboard. The most difficult part was leaping onto the enemy deck clad in armour. He nearly fell when he landed but managed to recover just in time to ward off
a spear with his shield. He thrust his sword under his shield and into the belly of his attacker. Several arrows thumped into the shield before he found himself at the foot of the steps leading up to the forecastle. Killing another seaman on his way up, he started to wade into the archers there, mainly to prevent them shooting at his men.
Even protected by chainmail , he found that he was in danger of being overwhelmed by so many men, even if they were unarmoured and only armed with daggers. He felt his right leg give way under him and he raised his shield to protect himself as he sunk to one knee. He was dimly aware that a dagger had prised apart the links of chain mail and sliced into his right bicep. Involuntarily his hand lost its grip and his sword dropped to the deck. More blows rained down on his shield, then suddenly, they stopped. He cautiously lowered his shield and looked around. The deck was strewn with dead archers and the only ones standing were Edgar and five of the crew from his ship. Suddenly Rollo was at his side efficiently binding up his wounds to slow the bleeding and then he blacked out.
When he came to he was in the great hall of Berwick Castle, lying on one of the trestle tables. Rollo was stitching a long gash in his calf with catgut and a wicked looking needle. The leg hurt like hell, as did his right arm. He passed out again.
When he next came round Edgar was sitting at his side and he was in a bed.
‘What happened?’
‘Well, where do I start,’ his brother grinned at him. ‘Firstly you. You’ve lost a lot of blood and Rollo and I managed to stop the local barber surgeon from applying leaches to take even more out of you. He finally got the message when I threatened to cut off his wedding tackle with my dagger and we haven’t seen him since. Rollo and I sewed you up; he did the leg and I did your upper arm and I think my stitching is a lot neater, even if I do say so myself.’
‘What about the fleet?’
‘All safe and sound. We did lose about fifty men and three boys but all our ships came back to harbour safely.’
‘And the English fleet?’
Edgar grinned broadly. ‘Seven captured , including Lord Percy’s flagship, and one sunk. She was scuttled by her crew we think. Three managed to fight their way free’
Simon smiled in relief. The English wouldn’t be able to do much with three ships. No doubt King Edward would send replacements but, for the moment at least, trade could continue unhindered. Furthermore, he had now increased his fleet to sixteen cogs and the four galleys. The problem, again, would be to find the crews. He drifted off to sleep again.
The next time he woke up Rollo was sitting by his side but the boy ran off as soon as he realised that he was awake. He came back five minutes later with William Keith.
‘Congratulations Simon. A tremendous victory. The only pity is that Percy got away.’
‘But I thought that we had captured his flagship?’
‘Huh! It was flying his banner alright but he was on one of the other ships, apparently; one of those that got away.’ He smiled down at Simon. ‘But the main thing is that you have destroyed the English fleet that was threatening our trade with Flanders and the king is delighted.’
‘Edward will only send another fleet, and probably another admiral to replace Percy.’
‘Yes but that will take time, and by then another six galleys will have arrived with Angus Og’s brother, Donald, in command.’
‘Command the galleys you mean?’
I’m sorry, Simon but it will be some time before you are fully fit again. Donald is to take over as admiral.’
‘Oh, I see.’ Simon felt as if someone had dropped a rock on his stomach. He had thoroughly enjoyed his few months at sea and he had relished being in command. Now it seemed it was all over.
‘Never mind, as soon as you have recovered sufficiently I expect that you will want to walk Bridget down the aisle.’
Simon immediately brightened at the prospect but he couldn’t help wondering what the future now held for him. He wasn’t ready to settle down running his manor, living the life of a country laird and fathering children just yet, though the prospect of fathering children with Bridget certainly had its appeal.
‘How is Niall settling in as your squire?’ he asked, changing the subject.
‘Oh fine. I would rather have Edgar but now he has experienced a life at sea with you I don’t suppose he would be happy with the quiet life we enjoy here.’
‘Edgar; I had quite forgotten that he would be out of a job now that I’m laid up. Oh, my lord! What am I going to do about him? I doubt he will want to return to being a squire, even if I could find a knight to take him’
‘Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. Donald has offered him a post under him. He has split the cogs into two divisions and Edgar is to command one of them. That’s quite an achievement for someone who only turned seventeen a few months ago. You obviously taught him well.’
Simon was relieved that he didn’t have to worry about Edgar’s future but he couldn’t help but feel somewhat jealous that his brother had a command at sea whilst he didn’t.
Chapter Six – The Battle of Faughart
14th October 1318
Edward Bruce, High King of Ireland, sat on his horse and looked down at the Kilcurry River as it meandered its way across the plain below. The river was little more than a stream but it would have to do as it was the only obstacle to John de Bermingham’s army as it advanced towards him from Dublin. He turned to Alexander MacRuari, a cousin of Christina, Countess of Mar, and Robert Bruce’s one time mistress.
‘This isn’t the ideal place to do battle with de Bermingham but I don’t see much option if we are to stop him from crossing from Louth into Ulster.’
Alexander nodded but at that moment O’Neill, one of Edward’s most important Irish allies, rode up.
‘Sire, it would be madness to try and stop de Bermingham here. He is reputed to have twenty thousand men, a thousand of them cavalry. You only have less than half that and fewer than four hundred horsemen. We must withdraw and wait for reinforcements from Scotland.’
‘No, O’Neill, it would make me look like a craven coward. I have never shirked a battle in my life, nor have I ever lost one. We fight here.’
With that he turned his horse and galloped back towards his army, who were camped south of Newry.
The next day he organised his forces into three divisions: two thousand Scots in the vanguard were followed by the main body of Irish kerns with a thousand Irish galloglasses forming the rear guard. The Scots in the vanguard were further sub-divided into three: Edward’s forty knights and three hundred and fifty hobelars led with the foot in two schiltrons following.
Edward was so eager to reach the Kilcurry River, where he planned to engage the Anglo-Irish army, that he allowed his vanguard to become separated from the main body. When they reached the small hill from where he had studied the landscape yesterday he saw that the Anglo-Irish vanguard were already wading across the Kilcurry.
Without waiting to form his men up properly, he ordered them to advance and throw the enemy back across the river. The Scots streamed down the hill, the hobelars in the lead with the more heavily armoured knights close behind them. Alexander MacRuari looked on in despair, before following. There was no sign of the Irish as yet but Edward Bruce seemed intent on taking on twenty thousand with a tenth of that number.
So far about a thousand men-at-arms, professional foot soldiers, had managed to cross the river. When the Scots horsemen smashed into them they were forced back into the shallow waters of the river. Having seized the north bank, the Scots schiltrons took up position to repulse any further attempts at a direct attack across the river whilst they waited for the Irish to come up and join them.
However, de Bermingham had no intention of repeating the mistakes of Bannockburn. He sent his cavalry to cross the river further upstream and they suddenly appeared on the right flank of the Scots. Alexander MacRuari was in command of the nearest Schiltron and he warned his men to prepare for the charge. Just as they ha
d at Bannockburn, the cavalry charge broke against the Schiltron, which held firm. Perhaps ten knights and thirty serjeants and Irish hobelars fighting on the English side were killed or seriously wounded. MacRuari was confident of beating off any further charges but suddenly Edward Bruce led the Scots horsemen in a charge around his schiltron to strike the reforming enemy cavalry in the flank.
Edward was in the lead, instead of riding knee to knee with his other knights as he should have been, when he spotted a giant of a man riding out of the Anglo-Irish ranks to meet him. Perhaps Edward had visions of emulating his brother when he defeated de Bohun in single combat on the first day of Bannockburn, but this encounter was to have a very different outcome.
The large knight was a good six inches taller than Edward, was much younger and had a longer reach. As Edward thundered towards him on his destrier, he lowered his lance and aimed it at the centre of his opponent’s shield. The other man did the same. Both lances struck the other’s shield but, whereas Edward’s blow was a fraction off centre and slid across the shield and away, jolting the man back against the cantle of his saddle and bruising his kidneys, his opponent’s lance punched the shield back into Edward’s body and lifted him clear out of his saddle.
The Scots charge raced past at that moment but a number of them had seen their leader fall and they automatically checked their horses. This slowed the charge so that it had lost a lot of momentum by the time that the Scots crashed into the Anglo-Irish knights in the front rows. The conflict between the two sides degenerated into a melee but, as the Scots were outnumbered, it turned into more of a slaughter.
Behind them the victorious knight dismounted and, pulling off Edward’s helm and coif, he lifted the wounded king’s head up by his hair and brought his battle-axe round into his neck, decapitating him with one blow. He held the head up in triumph and grinned.
