by Griff Hosker
Bernard de Tremelay shouted, gleefully, “God has shown us the way. He has destroyed the heathen’s defences! Let us attack now!”
“My lord, we have not enough knights ready. We can attack in the morning when we are prepared.”
“No, King Baldwin, Templars wait for no man. God has shown us what we must do. We serve a higher power. The Templars will capture this castle! We will rid the land of these heathens!”
He ran to his horse and, to our horror, galloped at the head of fifty knights and sergeants towards the breach. There would be little opposition but the King was right, we did not have enough men who were ready. We watched as they rode over the rubble. They picked their way through the breach and disappeared into Ascalon. It was heroic but it was a mistake. They were all doomed.
The Master of the Hospitallers dropped to his knees and began to pray. King Baldwin said, “They may be victorious.”
Theobald said, “Your majesty there are hundreds of men inside the walls. If the Templars were charging over an open field then they would stand a chance. We have lost more than forty brave knights, I fear.”
We could hear the neighing of horses and the clash of arms. It seemed to go on forever and then there was a cheer and then silence. One solitary Templar horse galloped out and returned to our lines. The rest were never seen again.
A stunned silence fell over us. “God have mercy on their souls.” The Master spoke for all of us. We were not to know that all of them had their heads removed and were taken to Cairo to be displayed on the gates there. That emerged much later, long after the battle which was to follow. We just knew that we had lost some of the finest knights we possessed.
We all looked to the King. For the first time in a long time he looked as though he did not know what to do. The Lord of Ibelin shook his head, “This is sad, but it changes nothing. We can exploit the breach.”
Theobald said. “But we must be cunning. Sir William, you have the only towers which made headway. Could you do so again?”
“I could, lord. If we attack with four towers there when you advance to the breach then I will lead my men to open the sally port.”
“That is difficult task you have set yourself.”
“Not really. We have used the sally port once before. It opens easily and my archers can defend the walls.”
The Master of the Hospitallers said, “Then we attack tomorrow. We need to use crossbows to harry their repairs. We will mass for an attack and when they bring their men to face us then the Lord of Aqua Bella can launch his attack. We will have two points of entry.”
I rode back to my men to tell them. This time it would not just be the knights of Azdud and Ibelin I would be leading but a third of the army. It was a heavy responsibility.
After I had told the lords how we would fight I found a quiet place to pray, “Lord, help my right arm tomorrow and give my warriors the strength to overcome the heathen. If I am to fall in battle tomorrow I pray you watch over my son, daughter and my wife. What we do is in your name. I thank you for sending the wind. Tomorrow we will reclaim your land for your son. Amen.”
When I returned to my men I saw Alf cradling the standard. “Lord, when we fight on the morrow can I carry the standard into battle?”
I looked at Garth who shrugged. “It will mean you cannot carry a shield.”
“I know but I would have these heathens know whom we follow.”
Garth put his arm around my squire’s shoulders, “You are a good boy! Never fear, lord. When you step on to the walls tomorrow we will watch out for Alf. Your standard will not fall. If it does then that means that we are all dead.”
“Very well. One more thing. Tomorrow we fight together. The cry is Aqua Bella. I want no heroics.” I looked at Henry son of Will, “That means you in particular, Henry.”
“Me, lord? I know not what you mean.”
“And when this siege and battle is over then we go back to Aqua Bella. There you can reconsider your decision to follow me home. I know you are rich men and the world is wide.”
Garth looked at the others, “Lord, I speak for all. We are nothing without you. We follow you, even to the ends of the Earth.”
Although we had far more men I wished them hidden. I hid some of those who would be assaulting in the towers and others hid in the rocks and wrecked buildings. The larger numbers meant that we had more men to push the four towers. We had every archer with us while all of the crossbows were with the Master. We had emptied barrel after barrel of sea water on the wooden towers and hung sea soaked blankets from it too. The Egyptians might set it afire but it would not burn quickly. Much depended upon the speed with which we could descend the stairs.
I heard shouts from the breach as the crossbows began a duel with the archers of Ascalon. It was the signal to begin our attack. I helped my men to push the tower. I had done so the previous day and I wanted them to see me. I had been told that they feared the knight of the gryphon. I would use that fear. Alf would carry my standard into battle. If this was to be my last battle in the Holy Land then I wanted to be remembered!
The Egyptians had more archers and crossbows on the walls and without crossbows to support us Garth and his archers did not manage to clear the walls as quickly as we had done. However, as the Master and Theobald began to draw the defenders to the breach, the arrows thinned a little. The onager was in place and, as soon as we reached the wall it hurled its flaming missiles at us. I entered the tower and began to climb. I heard the thump as the flaming objects hit the sea soaked blankets and heard the hiss. The sea water would delay the inevitable and it spurred us on.
Edward and Stephen were already inside and they began to lower the bridge even as I ascended. As it lowered I saw a flaming ball coming towards us. Henry son of Will gave a roar and he leapt towards it. I thought him mad but his timely action deflected the missile to the side although the force of it threw my man at arms to the ground. John of Chester reached down with his arm to help him up, “You will be in trouble for that! You know his lordship goes first!”
“Aqua Bella!”
I ran across the bridge and leapt down onto the four Turks who raced towards me. I am a big man and I was wearing mail. Two fell to the ground below, their bodies broken by the fall. One had his chest crushed and the last one I punched with my shield and he tumbled over the battlements to fall amidst the dead. I had no time to waste and I ran down the fighting platform. My shield was next to the wall but it meant I could swing my sword freely. I took the first spear on my shield. The impetus took the man closer to me and my sword hacked almost through his neck. I did not pause but ran towards the stairs. I knew where they were. Two men ran at me behind a large shield. They were trying to knock me from the wall. As they neared me I dropped to my knee and stabbed forward blindly. My sword struck one of the men in the knee and he screamed. I used my shield as a lever and they flew over my head. I heard my men’s swords as they hacked their bodies.
I reached the stairs. Men were climbing up. Suddenly a flurry of arrows from the wall hit every single one of them and the stairs were clear. Garth and his men had left the tower. As I glanced back I saw flames licking around it. We had to find another way out if my plan failed. The three squires we had with us knew what to do. As I reached the bottom of the stairs I faced the interior of the castle. Already a mailed warrior was marshalling men to attack us. Thomas, John of Chester and Henry son of Will joined me. I saw that the gryphon on Henry’s shield was burned black.
“Shield wall!”
We would be outnumbered until my squires could open the gate. We had to use an old-fashioned shield wall to hold them. Sir Robert and the rest of my men knew what to do. Spears bristled over our heads and we were covered by shields. It was not before time for the onager began to hurl flaming missiles at us. I was pleased they were not rocks. The first two were high but the third skidded along the top of the shields.
“Forward!”
We stepped on our right feet and began to move towards
the mailed warrior who now ran at us with his men. That was good for it meant they could not use the onager against us while they did so. We came together in a mighty clash of wood and metal. They had more men but mine were all mailed. We were big men and we were locked together. Without even knowing it my sword was rammed through the middle of the mailed leader. He was alive as we pushed him back. He tried to speak but it was blood which poured from his mouth and not words. I was peering over the top of my shield and, through my new helmet’s mask I could see little. But I did see arrows striking men at the rear of the enemy formation. It was thinner than ours.
“Push! For England! Push for God! Push for Aqua Bella!”
I felt as though I was in an avalanche as the men behind pushed into my back. It was all that I could do to keep my feet. I almost fell over as the Egyptians before me fell. I heard skulls and chests crushed as my men stamped on the men who had fallen. And then there was no-one before us. Behind I heard a cheer as the rest of the army poured through the sally port. We had breached their defences. I felt cooler air wash over me as the shields above me were removed. Now we had to take the town.
“Aqua Bella! Forward!”
It was a grim and bloody business. I kept my knights and men close to me. Others did not and gangs of Christian soldiers rampaged through the streets. Had we all stayed together then the battle would have been over long before it was. We had losses and we had wounds. Henry son of Will had a badly gashed leg. We left Edward to watch him while we headed for the breach. Some Mamluks burst out of a stable. Gregor of Basle and Gaston of Lyons were slain in the furious battle. All eight Mamluks were butchered. The closer we came to the enemy citadel the more friendly soldiers we found. When I spied the cross of St. John and saw the Master wielding his sword then I knew that we had won. King Baldwin was sitting atop a horse. It was raw courage for he made a better target. We fought on with renewed vigour until, finally there were no Egyptian warriors left. There were just civilians who were begging for mercy.
The King showed that he was a good king. He had the Master use his men to protect the innocent from rapacious sergeants and pilgrim peasants intent on revenge. This was a port of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and King Baldwin wanted all to feel safe.
He turned to me, “Well Sir William. We have won. Will you now stay? We could use a knight such as you. I will give you a great castle.”
I shook my head, “No lord, I have done my penance. Now I will take my new wife, son and daughter back to England. I will go home.”
“And here you will always have a home. We will not forget what you have done, William of Aqua Bella.”
My penance was over. I could go back to my wife, my son and my daughter. We could pack our bags and sail home to my father. I could go back to England. I dropped to my knees, took out my sword and intoned, “Thank you Almighty God. You have delivered us from danger. I thank you and swear that I will be a good husband, a better father and knight in whom my father can be proud! Amen!”
Epilogue
Jaffa December 1153
I had hired four ships to take us home. I only took two horses back with me: Alciades and Remus. Strong-Arm had died. We would buy more in England. Aqua Bella was given, on my advice, to the Hospitallers. The King and the Master were both happy with that suggestion. Francis and his people would be cared for and I knew that the Master would put the funds to good use. It was a sad parting both from my people and the Master. I had had, in the Master and Theobald, the two grandfathers I had never known. It made me more determined than ever that my son should know his grandfather. Masood, Brother Peter and Rebekah’s women all came with us as did all of my men. I was touched by their loyalty My saddest parting was with Sir Robert and Edward. I doubted that I would ever see either of them again and Robert had been one of the first men to serve me.
“This is my home, lord. I have a family now. Sarah is with child. I am content save that I cannot serve you any longer.”
“If things go awry here then there will always be a home for you in the north of England.”
“I will not say no to that offer for I have no crystal ball but I believe that King Baldwin is a good king and I would fight for this land.” Our embrace was silent for more words would have brought tears.
Rebekah had had a tearful parting with her aunt and cousins. Judith was a wise woman, “I can see why you go. If I was in your position then I would do so too but I will miss you and this Gentile who has made me review the way I view others such as you. When you came, I mistrusted you. I was wrong.” She kissed me hard on the lips and hugged me hard. I was touched.
We boarded the ship. I had chests on both boats with money for the voyage and I had, from Simon, paper which could be converted to money anywhere in England. I trusted the old Jew but we had more than enough money anyway. It had been another successful crop and the Master had paid us for the horses, mail and arms we did not need.
My men also had many chests. That was why we needed so many ships. In addition, we all had goods to take home which could not be bought in England. There was olive oil and wine from Aqua Bella. There were spices and silks from the bazaars. There were crates of lemons and figs. There would be much that we would miss. All were going home as rich men. Some would leave my service but not until we sailed up the Tees to Stockton. The Captain would take us the safe route. We would travel to Cyprus then through the Greek islands to the two Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily. We would go around Corsica and down the Iberian Peninsula. The captain had told us that there were more pirates and we need to be cautious. The Second Crusade had not succeeded in the Holy Land but they had recaptured Portugal and the rats who had fled there now infested the southern seas.
As we waved goodbye to those who had come to see us off I prayed that God would spare my father and, when we had finished this voyage, he would be alive and waiting to greet me in Stockton. My son, Samuel, was now able to talk as well as walk and he was a delight. When I had returned from the siege I had been amazed at the change. I wanted my father to witness how he grew. One day he would be like his father and his grandfather. One day my son would be an English knight. One day he would do as his father and grandfather had done. He would defend England and its king from all its enemies. I was content. I was going home and I had been forgiven by God. Would my father forgive me too?
The End
Glossary
Akolouthos – the leader of the Guard
Al-Andalus- Spain
Angevin- the people of Anjou, mainly the ruling family
Bachelor knight- an unattached knight
Banneret- a single knight
Battle- a formation in war (a modern battalion)
Butts- targets for archers
Cadge- the frame upon which hunting birds are carried (by a codger- hence the phrase old codger being the old man who carries the frame)
Captain- a leader of archers
Chausses - mail leggings. (They were separate- imagine lady's stockings!)
Coningestun- Coniston
Conroi- A group of knights fighting together. The smallest unit of the period
Demesne- estate
Destrier- war horse
Doxy- prostitute
Fess- a horizontal line in heraldry
Galloglass- Irish mercenaries
Gambeson- a padded tunic worn underneath mail. When worn by an archer they came to the waist. It was more of a quilted jacket but I have used the term freely
Gonfanon- A standard used in medieval times (Also known as a Gonfalon in Italy)
Lusitania- Portugal
Mansio- staging houses along Roman Roads
Mêlée- a medieval fight between knights
Mummer- an actor from a medieval tableau
Musselmen- Muslims
Nithing- A man without honour (Saxon)
Nomismata- a gold coin equivalent to an aureus
Outremer- the kingdoms of the Holy Land
Palfrey- a riding horse
Poitevin- the lang
uage of Aquitaine
Pyx- a box containing a holy relic (Shakespeare’s Pax from Henry V)
Refuge- a safe area for squires and captives (tournaments)
Sauve qui peut – Every man for himself (French)
Sergeant-a leader of a company of men at arms
Surcoat- a tunic worn over mail or armour
Sumpter- pack horse
Theophany- the feast which is on the 6th of January
Ventail – a piece of mail which covered the neck and the lower face
Maps and Illustrations
Source: File: Map of expansion of Caliphate.svg - https://en.wikipedia.org
The Holy Land 1146
Jerusalem in the 15th Century
Source: File:View and Plan of Jerusalem Fac simile of a Woodout in the Liber Chronicarum Mundi large folio Nuremberg 1493.png - https://en.wikipedia.org
Source: File: Map Crusader states 1135-en.svg - https://en.wikipedia.org
Krak des Chevaliers
Source: File: Crac des chevaliers syria.jpeg - https://en.wikipedia.org
Historical Notes
Aqua Bella is a real place. The David Nicholle book, Crusader Castles in the Holy Land 1097-1192, shows how it would have looked in the time of the Crusades. It was most illuminating. When it was excavated, they found an olive press. It became a Hospitaller house in the second half of the twelfth century. The Byzantines did go to the aid of the principalities. Manuel was Emperor at the time. This may have been prompted by the loss of the fortress of Edessa. Certainly, that was the spark which ignited the Second Crusade. King Baldwin and his mother were both important characters. Melisende had been married off to Count Fulk. He had acted as a king rather than a consort. Melisende appeared to be able to handle him. She is a female like Eleanor of Aquitaine and Mathilda!
The Templars, Hospitallers and Teutonic knights held great power. The King of Jerusalem ruled only through the support of his knights and the holy orders. He owned but two castles. He did however, have the right to award manors to those he favoured. This was more common than might have been expected. Whole families might die. The Seljuq Turks and bandits roamed at will. Baldwin’s use of William is just one example of the political acumen which was needed to rule such a land.
