by Griff Hosker
Hal’s father dropped to one knee, “I beg you reconsider, Highness!”
“I have made my decision. Both of you are no longer Dukes of the Kingdom. Those titles are forfeit. When, cousin, your time of exile is over, we will reconsider your position. The two of you have a week to put your affairs in order. Henry, say goodbye to your father.”
Hal embraced his father. Words were exchanged but they were so quietly spoken that none knew what passed between them.
“Henry, come with me, as for the rest, disperse. We have suffered your presence enough!”
Henry Bolingbroke looked to his father but the Duke of Lancaster was not a well man. He alone out of the assembled lords was the one who might have spoken out for his son but he had not. Henry Bolingbroke turned to me, “Will! You are the only one who can do this. I beg you go to the King and intercede on my behalf. Plead with him, beg him, do all that you can.”
I nodded, “I will try, my lord, but I think that you overestimate my influence. Any I had died with the Queen. He is a changed man and we both know that.”
“I know but I beg you try. I will be forever in your debt.”
“Come, Tom.” I knew the palace well. I headed to the small hall the King liked to use. I recognised the guard on the door. Stephen of Andover was a good man. Somewhat dull of thought he was a reliable sergeant at arms. “Stephen, I need to speak with the King. Tell him that I wait without.”
Had I not once commanded him, when he had been a young man, I think he would have sent me hence. Instead he nodded saying, “I owe you this, lord, but it may cost me my stipend.” He opened the door and went inside. He was back remarkably quickly. He smiled a relieved smile, “The King will see you, lord.”
When I entered, I saw that there were just two pages and a scribe along with Hal and the King. King Richard smiled. It was a genuine smile. He was pleased to see me. “You must be some sort of wizard, Will. I was just dictating a letter to you. I was going to summon you to my side.” He frowned, “You were in the Hall?”
“Aye, Highness, I was here to deliver some news to the,” I was about to say ‘the Duke’ and then stopped myself, “the Earl of Northampton.”
He looked relieved, “Then you know that Henry is my ward. I would have you as his…” the word he sought was gaoler but he said, instead, “his protector. There will be those who seek to do him harm. You were once my bodyguard and I know that you have been training Henry. It will be no hardship, will it?”
There were many reasons why I should have refused but far more reasons for me to agree. “Of course, Highness. Will I protect him at my manor?”
The King laughed, “I want both of you close to me! You will both be by my side at all times. This will be good for your son, Will. He can see how a great king rules this land.”
I nodded, “Tom, go to Roger and tell him what has happened. Ask him to return with my war gear and clothes. It seems we will have a new home for a while.” He looked up at me and, while my back was to the King, I mouthed, ‘speak to Duke Henry, tell him the news.’
Tom nodded and rushed off.
The King continued, “Will, you know your duties better than any. You and your son will share a chamber with Henry. He does not leave the confines of the castle without my permission. You may continue to train him. England will need young lords who can fight as well as you.” He waved me forward, “We have heard that Louis, Duke of Orleans, plots against the father of our Queen, King Charles of France. We will need to do something about him when we have settled all the scores which remain in England. He threatens our peace. Godfrey, take our guests to their chambers. We will see you when we dine.”
As we left the chamber, I put my arm around Hal’s shoulders. “So long as I am here you are safe.”
“But my father!”
“Is a resourceful man. This is not over. I can feel the spirit of your great grandfather, the Black Prince. He wishes me to watch over his land still.”
Chapter 19
When Tom returned to us, he told us that he had told Hal’s father the news. “He seemed quite happy about it, my lord. He said that so long as Will Strongstaff was by his son’s side then Henry of Monmouth was safe.”
“Good, and now we make the best of a situation I could not have seen when I left Weedon this morning. We have little else to do and so the three of us will spend each waking moment becoming better warriors.”
We had a week at the palace and then the King took his court to Shrewsbury where he summoned Parliament. There he shocked all by making the terms of the merciless parliament null and void. There would be no restraint which could be legally enforced upon the king. It delegated all parliamentary power to a committee of twelve lords and six commoners. The lords were all men recently appointed by the King. The King became, in that one parliament, the absolute ruler with no need to summon England’s Parliament again. He had become a despot, a tyrant. Yet, as we rode back to London, he seemed the same man he always had been. He chatted happily to Hal and Tom. He seemed genuinely interested in their hopes and aspirations yet he was now a King with an iron fist.
We had Christmas at Windsor. I missed my family but I made the best of it for the benefit of my two charges. We had no snow and so, in the short days of December, we practised still. It was February when we heard the news that John of Gaunt had died. Although he had been ill his presence had been a force for good. Had he not been ill then he might have prevented the Parliament of Shrewsbury.
We returned to London for the funeral. The Duke was buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral next to his first wife, Blanche of Castile. It was a month after the funeral that we had the news that another who was seen as heir to the English throne, Roger Mortimer, was killed in Ireland. The manner of his death was suspicious for he had ridden forth in disguise, apparently, and been ambushed. Whatever the reason, the King flew into a rage. He summoned the nobility of England. When assembled, he told them that we would punish the Irish so that they would never rebel again. We set off for Chester. Our departure confused me for I had lived with him for many years and the King Richard who organised our Levin was not the one I had known. Strangely, the King not only took all of his nobles except for the Duke of York, he also took the crown jewels. Many thought the King was fleeing England. I knew that not to be the case. It was just that the King no longer trusted anyone. He ranted on about the Celts and their deceitful nature. He would punish the Irish once and for all.
That journey across England showed me the fawning and false nature of the senior English nobility. They agreed with all that the King said. There was no John of Gaunt to offer counsel. Whatever idea the King had was agreed upon. Once again, we sailed from Chester. We had fewer men this time but more knights and nobles. All the most powerful men in England were with us except for the Duke of Lancaster and the earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland. The Percy and Neville family kept their distance. That worried me. Hal and I sailed with the King. Hal was excited about the prospect of the war. He had yet to participate in one. Tom, slightly older and with more experience of war, deflated him, “My lord, it is not as glorious as you might think. These Irish we fight are almost barbaric. They will gut a horse just to unseat the rider. You will have to fight for your life.”
I smiled at Hal’s face. My son had shocked him, “Do not worry, the King will not risk you and the horses we use will be the King’s.” Hart was in the stables at Chester.
As we neared Dublin the King came over to speak to us. “When last I came, Will Strongstaff, it was the kings of the west who were troublesome. Now it seems that the clan from the north, the Uí Néill clan, are the ones responsible for the death of our cousin and the insurrection. We do not have as far to travel. Who knows, this may be over within the month.”
He was wrong and, while we tarried in Ireland, events in France were sounding a warning for King Richard of England. His kingdom was threatened and he did not know it.
When we reached Dublin Castle, Hal and I were left to fend for
ourselves. The King had meetings with his lords. He needed to find out the extent of the rising against English authority. One day, as we walked down to the river, I spied some men at arms who were riding down the road. They had been on patrol. I recognised one of the sergeants. They were led by James Jameson. He had been one of the men at arms who had decided they wished to seek their fortune elsewhere. He reined in. Waving to his men, he said, “Go stable the horses. I will report to the Captain of the Guard when I have spoken with their lordships.”
He dismounted and I clasped his arm. When he had first come to me, Hal would have been surprised at the informality but now, he took it as normal. “I am pleased that you found an employer.”
He nodded, “Aye, lord. I took ship back to Ireland and they needed experienced men here. I put to good use all that I learned with you. Now I command ten men. I would still rather work for you. Are the other men here?”
I shook my head, “I am here as the guard for the son of the King’s cousin, Henry of Monmouth.” That sounded better than gaoler.
He bowed to Hal, “Pleased to meet you, my lord. Are you here to avenge the death of the Lord Lieutenant?”
“We are. What do you know?”
“That it was strange. I was with him and we were riding towards Kells for we heard that a warband of the Uí Néill clan were raiding that land. One of the young knights of the Earl of Ulster, Sir James Fitzpatrick, suggested that they don Irish garb and scout out the Irish. Lord Roger was a game ‘un, lord, and they went. They did not return and we searched for them both. We found his lordship’s horse and later his body.”
“And this Fitzpatrick?”
“There was no sign of him. The Earl took command and we chased the warband hence. When we found no trace of him, the Earl assumed that he and his lordship’s squire had been killed.”
“Lord Roger did not take his squire?”
“No, my lord, Sir James said that it would be easier with just three of them.”
“You think that Lord Roger was murdered.”
He shook his head, “My lord, I am a sword for hire. I cannot pass judgement nor make comments. You are a clever lord. I give the information freely for I would not wish harm to fall upon you or the young lord who rides at your side. Watch your backs would be my advice.”
He left us and Hal spoke to me, “I knew Lord Roger. He was a rival for the throne but I liked him. I think your man at arms is correct. He would be trusting enough to ride forth and scout. He would not believe that a fellow knight could be treacherous.”
We turned and began to walk back to the castle. Suddenly this land seemed more dangerous than it had before we had spoken to James Jameson. “We will know the truth if we find the body of the Irish knight and his squire. Until then there is doubt. I will mention this to the King when we are alone.”
I did not manage to find an opportunity to speak privately with King Richard until the next day. Henry, Tom and I rose early, as we normally did and the King was also breaking his fast. “Highness, if I might have a word?”
“Of course. Your chambers are to your liking?”
“We are more than comfortable. We need to have conference with you for we have learned disturbing news about your cousin Mortimer.”
He waved away the servants, “I do not know these men and do not trust them. I have also heard news. Tell me yours.” When I had told him he sat back, “That confirms what I heard.” He turned to me and looked afraid. “Will, there may be assassins abroad. I would have you stay close to me.”
“And Henry of Monmouth?” He was next to me.
“Henry of Monmouth, I trust and your son. They can help protect the life of the King of England. Do not leave my side. I will have you given the chamber next to mine.” He gave me a wan smile. “It will be as it was in Eltham save that my lovely wife will not be there.” I knew without him naming her that he meant Anne. He waved over his page, “Have the Baron’s gear brought to the room next to mine; your chamber.”
The page nodded, “And we will move to Sir William’s chamber. It shall be done.”
By noon the change had been affected. As the King and his senior lords planned their offensive, we were disturbed by a rider. He bowed, “My lord, the Duke of York sent me. The King of France has been imprisoned by the Duke of Orleans. The Duke of York begs you to return to England. He fears that this signals a change in the French policy towards England.”
This was the moment when the Duke of Lancaster’s advice would have been vital. Henry Bolingbroke, equally, could have advised him. The King looked confused and looked to his simpering lords. They looked unconcerned. The Duke of Exeter said, “What can Orleans do? He is not an anointed King. We finish this task, Highness, and then return home.”
The King smiled. Their fawning would cost him his throne. “That is sage advice. It will be just the work of a week to defeat these barbarians.”
His lords smiled and nodded and his fate was sealed.
When we left to head north it was three days later. As we had been instructed the three of us rode behind the King. For Hal and Tom this was a nerve-wracking time. They did not know who to watch for. I was more confident. I had done this every day when I had been the King’s Captain. The English lords who had come with us from England were not a threat. They had too much interest in keeping the King on his throne. It was the local knights I watched. The King, too, was wary of them. He had them watching the fore. He had brought a dozen of his guards with him and they rode ahead of him. It meant we were a ponderous and slow-moving blind worm. The King’s guards were not scouts and those acting as scouts could be traitors. We were heading from The Pale into Ulster when we were attacked.
The men who rose like wraiths from folds in the ground and from the undergrowth were not knights. They were warriors armed with knives and swords. If I had had my men with me then they would not have even come close to doing us harm but my men were back in England. Their purpose soon became clear. They hacked at the horses of the King’s guards and the local knights who were the van. Unhorsed they were easy targets. The lack of experience of those men cost them their lives.
I stood in my stirrups and shouted, as the first of our knights was slain, “To the King! To the King!” I drew my sword and pulled my shield around. I put my horse next to the King. Hal and Tom placed theirs on the other side of him. Any Irishman would have to get through us. His standard bearer, Sir Walter Effingham, rode behind the King. A handful of the attackers ran directly at me. I was not wearing the King’s livery and, perhaps they thought to kill me quickly and capture the King. I pulled back on the reins of my horse and stood. The horse reared and his mighty hooves clattered on the group. The skulls of three of them were mashed to a pulp. I leaned forward and used my sword to despatch two more and the last was killed by the King himself.
His earls and dukes had heeded my cry and they galloped up to crash into the Irishmen. With all surprise gone and their plan exposed they began to flee. As the English knights began to pursue them, I saw the cleverness of the Irish plan. “Highness, call back your men!”
The King shouted, “Fall back! Fall back!” His words fell on deaf ears. The knights were oblivious to the orders and they hurtled after the ambushers.
I saw, from the west, horsemen. Irish knights were coming for us. We would not be able to defeat these with rearing horses. They came to capture the King and to reclaim their land. The ransom would be Ireland.
“We should head back down the road, Highness. Your archers can protect you.”
He turned and I saw then the young King who had defied the peasants in London. He shook his head, “If I am to die this day it will be facing my enemies. But you are right. We need our archers. Tom, fetch our bowmen!”
My son did not hesitate, “Yes, King Richard.” Most of the archers were afoot. They would not reach us quickly enough.
He turned and galloped through the handful of milling knights behind us. I shouted, “Protect the King!”
We ha
d, perhaps, twenty knights and their squires with us. The rest were still galloping after the Irish who had attacked us. The knights and their squires placed their horses before us. The Irish knights were now within charging distance. They charged. Our knights and squires did the only thing they could do, they counter charged but their horses were barely moving when they struck. I saw eight of the King’s men unhorsed but their bravery stopped the enemy. Hal and I, along with the King, were ready when the first knights approached us. Hal had never fought in such a mêlée. His father would curse me if he fell and yet none of this was of my doing. The Irish knight who tried to spear me had a lance. The end had already been shattered when he had unhorsed Sir William d’Aubigny. The balance from the weapon had gone. I took the blow from the spear on my shield. The broken head slewed alarmingly to my left and towards the King. I had taught him well and the monarch backed his horse away. The Irish knight wore plate and so I swung the flat of my sword at his right arm. As I did so I kicked upwards towards his horse’s neck with my right foot. It was not a knightly act. Peter the Priest had taught it to me. His horse reared and the combination of the two caused him to fall from his horse. I heard a cry as he fell and broke his arm.
In the distance I could see the Earl of Gloucester leading our knights back from their fruitless chase. I was not certain they would reach us for already most of the knights and squires who had put themselves between the King and danger were unhorsed, wounded or dead. The King was fighting and I heard an Irish voice shout, “Surrender! You are surrounded!”
