In World War I, they talked of being “shell shocked” from the nature of the new style of warfare where soldiers huddled in trenches while being barraged by exploding shells. By World War II it was called “battle fatigue.” General Patton famously slapped a soldier suffering from this. “Battlefield stress” is yet another term.
But in the Middle Ages it could only be recognized as a failure on the part of the soldier and labeled as cowardice. Interestingly enough, some parchment was given to the problem of cowardice. The idea, then as now, was to train the soldier so thoroughly that the “flight” part of the natural “fight or flight” response would be eliminated. Drill, discipline, and group bonding went a long way toward shaping the mind (though the medieval foot soldier wasn’t drilled in the sense of practicing formations, not like their ancient ancestors in Greece or Rome. It was an impracticality. They had to rely on the discipline of the knights, those in the front lines, to form strategies for the foot soldiers to follow. However, infantry was able to save the day over the mounted knight many a time, including in the battle of Courtrai in 1302 and Bannockburn in 1314).
Instilling a greater fear in one’s commander than in the enemy also proved optimal. In ancient China, for example, generals would maneuver their armies in such a way as to make retreat impossible thus making the advance the only option. Religious fervor, too, offered a standard under which one could fight while also offering ultimate rewards if death should strike.
There was a reason for rallying the troops before a battle with a stirring speech. From ancient Greece and probably before, generals and kings gave battle orations meant to bond, to encourage, and to remind the men of their reasons for fighting and for their ultimate rewards if they succeeded. Think of the St. Crispin’s Day speech in Shakespeare’s Henry V. I don’t know about you, but it makes me want to take up arms!
Combined, this is what made up the “band of brothers,” where even the general or, in some instances, the castellan of a fortress, feels close to his men in a way that defies the social classes.
Still, even with all this training and discipline, with the subsequent shame in society associated with cowardice, there were certainly soldiers and knights who succumbed to the rigors of war. A knight on a horse could flee a lot easier than a man on the ground, and there were instances where generals insisted the knights dismount in order to make fleeing more difficult. Early flight of the knights lost many a battle, including King Stephen’s battle at Lincoln and Robert Curthose’s battle at Tinchebrai. Are these instances of cowardice as we might understand it, or of a man cutting his losses and getting the heck out of there?
Battle stress manifests itself in running away in the face of battle, sleeplessness, irritability, irrational anger, mood swings, and thoughts of suicide. Sir Thomas in this piece suffers from these symptoms and can’t understand why. All his training and discipline failed him in the face of the constant barrage of the battle royale. What’s a knight to do? As he said, they can’t all be Crispin Guests.
Next, the brave Sir Crispin returns in a new adventure during the turbulent years of the late 1380s. King Richard’s trials have only begun and Crispin will, no doubt, be in the thick of it. But down on the mean streets of London, Crispin still has to make a living. He and his cadre of friends and acquaintances will return to hunt for a new venerated object in Shadow of the Alchemist.
Glossary
AKETON padded tunic worn under armor
BALLISTA a war machine made like a giant crossbow for shooting arrow-like projectiles
BESAGUES disk-shaped armor to protect the armpit
BOSS a metal convex projection in the center of a buckler. Or the central ornamental design at the conjuncture of a ribbed vault ceiling
BUCKLER small, round shield
CAMAIL a mail collar sometimes connected to the mail head covering (coif), or sometimes connected to the helm, that falls from the chin and spreads over the chest and shoulders
CAPARISON a garment for one’s horse, displaying the color of one’s arms
COIF mail head covering fitting the head and open at the face
CUISSES armor for the thigh
FETLOCK FEATHERS the long hair that grows on the fetlocks of horses (think Clydesdale)
HABERGEON a mail shirt that falls to the upper thigh (one that falls to the knees is called a HAUBERK)
KAYLES a game of nine pins
GREAVES armor for the shins
PIG-FACED BASCINET a helm with the visor shaped like a sharp snout
POLEYNS armor for the knees
POULAINES shoes with exaggeratedly long toes. Stylish for the fourteenth century
SABATONS armor for the feet. Sometimes shaped like poulaines
SCRIP a small bag used for carrying items like documents, food, or money pouch
TASSETS plate armor hanging from the breastplate like a skirt
TRAPPER a horse covering displaying one’s colors and arms
TRIVET a three-legged stand for a pot over a fire
VAMPLATE conical hand protector on a lance
WATTLE interlaced stakes or twigs used for fences, walls, or roofs
Acknowledgments
As always, none of this happens without the careful work and mentoring from my agent, Joshua Bilmes, my editor, Keith Kahla, the proofreading and fact-checking team at St. Martin’s Press, my Vicious Circle, Ana Brazil and Bobbie Gosnell, and my husband—my first reader—Craig. But I would also like to acknowledge the loyal following of my mystery Readers who go out of their way to get my books, to come to my events, to send me notes and e-mails, who support me by reading my blogs, sign up for my newsletter, show up on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads, and who just generally send out their love and encouragement from afar. To all of you, a very heartfelt Thank You!
The Crispin Guest Novels by Jeri Westerson
Veil of Lies
Serpent in the Thorns
The Demon’s Parchment
Troubled Bones
About the Author
Jeri Westerson is the author of several previous books featuring Crispin Guest, most recently Troubled Bones. These novels have been finalists for several major mystery awards, including the Agatha, the Macavity, and the Shamus. Visit the author’s Web site at www.jeriwesterson.com and find Crispin Guest on Facebook at www.facebook.com/crispin.guest.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
BLOOD LANCE. Copyright © 2012 by Jeri Westerson. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.minotaurbooks.com
Cover design by David Baldeosingh Rotstein
Cover photo-illustration by Steve Gardner, Pixelworks Studios
ISBN 978-1-250-00018-7 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-01585-3 (e-book)
First Edition: October 2012
Blood Lance: A Medieval Noir Page 28
