Enemy at the Gate

by Griff Hosker

  This was partly to keep up my men's strength and partly to keep my two young warriors occupied. Waiting was harder than fighting. They raced around the ramparts with food and the last of Sir John's ale. It filled a hole, as Wulfric was wont to say. By the time the sun was above the hills they had decided upon their plan. They attacked simultaneously all along the wall. They wanted to divide our efforts. I turned to Gilles and Richard. "Stand either side of me and keep hurling spears and stones. If you see a finger on the wall then cut it off. If you see a face then ram your dagger into it!

  "Aye lord!"

  My archers used the last of their precious arrows on the lightly armed men who approached the walls. They were not the main threat but an arrow aimed at mail was a wasted arrow. When their missiles were gone they drew their swords. The enemy had not had time to build ladders and they were using shields to raise men to the ramparts to fight us. We had done so ourselves and the walls were not high. The knight who was raised close to me had an axe which he swung as soon as he was in range. It was the wrong weapon. The momentum took the blade harmlessly across my face and I darted forward with my sword. It tore into his eye and I twisted as I pulled it out. He fell screaming onto the men below. Gilles and Richard hurled a rock and a spear to injure two more of their men.

  The next attack saw two men raised. I could only fight one but Gilles and Richard worked together. They both jabbed at the two men with their spears. They were safe from the enemy swords and the distraction allowed me to sweep my sword across the throat of one of the men. The dark blood spurted and he seemed to almost choke on his own blood before falling to the ground. The second man had to fend off two spears and my sword. He could not block all of them and Gilles' spear rammed into his eye. He too joined his comrade in the ditch; dead.

  We had had success all the way down the line and the enemy withdrew. More of their men had fallen but they still outnumbered us and I had no doubt that reinforcements were heading this way. It would be a race to see who reached us: Maud or the enemy! This latest attack, however, had cost us men. I saw, in the inner bailey, men being tended to by the servants of Sir John. Our supply of spears was exhausted. Sooner or later, if they were determined, they would breach the walls.

  As they gathered for another attack I wondered what else I could do. Then, from the north I heard a horn and a cheer from the enemy. Maud, it appeared, had lost the race. If there were warriors to the north then they were the enemy. Baldwin fitz Gilbert certainly thought so for he began to cheer and organise his men for another attack. It was only when Gilles spied the banners of Chester and of Gwynedd that we knew it was Maud, the wife of the Earl of Chester. She had shown skills of which Caesar himself would have been proud. She had confused our enemy and used a clever ruse to get close.

  "Men at arms, to the gates! Relief is at hand! Archers hold them on the walls!" I rushed down the ladder to the bailey. Two of my men took away the two bars which held the gates in place. The forces of Baldwin fitz Gilbert had heard the trumpet and our sudden appearance discomfited them. We rushed directly at them. Baldwin must have realised that the relief force was not his own for he shouted for his horse. As I blocked a blow from a man at arms I dropped to one knee and rammed my sword upwards into his middle. His body tumbled over my shoulder. As I stood I saw Baldwin and five knights mount their horses and gallop out of the gate.

  Leaderless the men at arms threw down their swords and asked for mercy. The four remaining knights looked ready to continue fighting. I took off my helmet and pointed to the body of Sir John and his retainers. "Do you really wish to die? Your leader has fled and there has been enough death here this day!"

  The sound of the hooves of the relief force drew closer and the leader of the knights said. "We yield and ask for ransom!"

  I put my shield in my scabbard as the Earl's wife Maud led in the Earl's men and a contingent of Welsh led by Cadwaladr ap Gruffyd, the brother of the Welsh King. Maud galloped directly up to me. She saw the body, draped in a cloak and said, fearfully, "Is that my husband? Am I too late?"

  I shook my head, "Your husband and his brother are in the keep. He is safe. Thank you for your timely arrival." She was too worried about her husband and she galloped off to the keep.

  Cadwaladr dismounted and took off his own helmet. He smiled, "The last time I saw you, Earl, you were chasing us from the battle field. Things have changed for now we fight on the same side."

  I laughed, "You are right for war makes strange bedfellows. Tell me why did you approach from the north?"

  He shook his head, "The Earl's wife is a shrewd one. She said that the road from the west passed through a wood and we could be ambushed. She said the north road was a better one and she was right. We made as good a time and we arrived without hindrance."

  "She is a force to be reckoned with. The blood of the Conqueror runs through her veins." I turned to my knights and men at arms. "Come let us bury this brave knight and his oathsworn and do them honour. Then we will look to ourselves."

  There was a small chapel next to the keep. I saw a grave there and assumed it was his wife. There was, as yet, no stone. I would find a stone mason and have one carved. We dug the seven graves and laid the seven men in them, with their arms and covered them with stones and then earth. I was no priest and there was none nearby and so I gave them a warrior's farewell.

  "Lord take these seven heroes and welcome them into heaven. They died on the side of right, they kept their oath and they died with honour. Give them peace for they have earned it." I allowed a few moment's silence and then said quietly. "You were a throwback to an earlier time, Sir John and I am glad that I met you."

  We went into the keep where Maud had organised Sir John's servants and they had prepared the last of the food. She threw her arms around me in a most unexpected manner. "My father always said that you were his rock and he could rely on you to hold against the greatest of odds. You have saved my husband and brother in law. I am in your debt."

  I said quietly, "Your husband, my lady, is too reckless."

  She nodded, "I know and he needs me. I shall stay by his side for a while. I have sent for food. We will fortify this castle. We have retreated before this Stephen long enough. Now we take back. I will persuade my husband to besiege Glossop. This Peverel needs punishing. He has behaved without honour."

  The force of nature that was Maud of Gloucester organised the whole of the forces available to the Earl. I felt that we could return to Stockton for the Empress had still to land in England and the Earl was now on the Empress' side. I decided to wait until the Earl had committed to the capture of Glossop before we returned north. The ransoms for our prisoners were paid promptly. Despite the fact that he had done little to earn the money, honour demanded that the Earl and William received their share. I gave most of my share to my men at arms and archers. I knew I would have had nothing without them.

  Young Richard got on well with Gilles. Once his initial shyness and fear of me wore off he began to ask me questions. "My lord, why did you not keep all of the ransom? You are Earl and it was yours by right."

  "True William but I only have that right because of the men who fight for me. Besides I have coin enough in my castle vaults. I do not fight for what I can make. If I wanted riches then I would fight for Stephen the Usurper."

  "I am glad you did not kill me. I would like to follow you."

  I smiled at the honesty of his words. "We shall see how far that service takes you. I have need of another squire. If you impress me then that may be you."

  He looked at me so earnestly that Gilles had to hide his smile, "I swear that I will be the most diligent and hardworking of all of your men, my lord!"

  It was May when we set off to besiege Glossop. It was the strangest army with which I had travelled. The Earl and his half brother had their wives with them and there were servants and other followers. I was used to being surrounded by warriors only. This time the Earl listened to my words and advice. He did not assault the castle w
ith all of his men as he had planned. We surrounded it and made sure that nothing got in or out. It fell within the week and we took great quantities of arms, hauberks and ransom.

  It was as we were eating one night, just the Earl and his brother, their wives and me that the Earl came up with an idea. "You have inspired me, Aelfraed."

  "Have I, my lord?"

  "You and my wife. You have both demonstrated that subtlety and cunning can achieve more than force of arms."

  "Sometimes."

  "You are right, Aelfraed, sometimes. I have a plan to take Lincoln castle without losing a man."

  He had even me interested now. "Lincoln Castle? It controls the heart of England and Stephen would have it well defended."

  "Normally he would but I have learned from the garrison here that some of the garrison of Lincoln are still with Prince Henry in Scotland and there is just a small garrison commanded by the constable."

  His half brother said, "Even so, brother, it is still one of the most powerful castles in England. How would we gain entry?"

  "Through our wives. Hawise, is not your cousin, Agnes, the wife of the constable?"

  His sister in law said, "She is but I have not seen her for some time."

  "I have heard that she had a son six months since. It would seem a timely opportunity for you to visit. If, after a few days, three knights were sent by your husband to fetch you home it would not arouse any suspicion would it? The three knights would be us, in disguise, of course. Once inside we could capture the gates and the castle would be ours. Your men could wait by the river and the castle would be taken."

  I was dubious. There are many 'ifs' in there. However it was the ghost of an idea which I had had myself. However I disliked using women to such an end. "Ranulf and you would be putting your wife and Lady Hawise at risk."

  Maud of Gloucester put her hand on mine, "I do not think there is a risk. We are women and the Constable will not be suspicious." She looked at Lady Hawise, "Are you willing?"

  "Of course. It is exciting and I crave such excitement."

  I shook my head, "Is there madness in the air? Tell me, Earl, who would go with the ladies?"

  "They would have to be your men. I thought your two squires for they showed great courage at Merpel and perhaps your two older men at arms, Edgar and Raymond of Le Mans."

  "My men?"

  "Do not forget, Aelfraed that I lost the men I would have sent when I recklessly pursued the Prince. I have paid the price. And to be honest your men are the best I have ever seen. I know that I would be more confident with four of your men watching over our wives than any other. They are loyal and, more importantly, they are good at this sort of thing. Did you not capture Durham with such men?"

  I could not argue with that. "I will ask them, Ranulf. I will not send my men into such danger without giving them the chance to back out."

  "I do not understand that but they are your men. Ask them now for we must strike while the garrison is depleted. If we leave then we leave tomorrow."

  "Whom will we take?"

  "It will have to be your conroi for I want the world to think that I remain here. My new squire will parade in my hauberk and we will leave my standard here at Glossop. Cadwaladr can command in my absence."

  "You have thought all this through then?"

  "You did not think that when we waited to take Glossop my mind was idle did you? You are right about my nature, Aelfraed, it is restless and I put that restlessness to good use. We will keep this secret. I have learned my lesson and my tongue will no longer be so loose. William Peverel was a harsh lesson to learn for it cost me good men!"

  "Then if you are determined I will speak with my men."

  I went to find my knights and the four men and boys who would be used for the ruse. I explained what it would entail and asked, "Well? Shall I tell the Earl that you will have none of this foolish and madcap idea?"

  Edgar smiled, "To be honest, my lord, I thought that this was one of your ideas. It sounds like one to me. Besides I like the Lady Maud; she has courage and if she is willing to go into this lion's den then I would be honoured to protect her."

  Raymond said, "And I agree. I cannot wait to tell Wulfric what he missed. He will be madder than a shaken wasp's nest!"

  I looked at Gilles and Richard, "And you two?" Their faces gave me the answer and I shook my head, "I blame myself for all this madness. You need to shed my livery. Find livery from the garrison here. As escorts to Lady Hawise you will need to be well armed. That will be expected." They nodded. I turned to my knights. "We ride tomorrow but this will be a secret. The Earl will not tell others what we are about. Tell the men to spread the word that we return to Stockton. I do not think there are spies here but if there are then this will put them off our trail."

  Chapter 14

  It was a two day ride to Lincoln. My men could have made it in one but we had ladies with us and they were riding as though at their leisure. We kept them in sight but they appeared to be travelling alone. They spent the night at Sheffield. In those days it was still a motte and bailey built of wood and the lord of the manor and his wife were honoured to be offering hospitality to two such honoured guests. We slept in the fields.

  We parted with the ladies and their escort a mile and a half from the castle which we saw on the hill. There was a wood to the south and west of the large area of common land used by the town to graze cattle. It was a good place for us to wait.

  We had a whole day and a night to wait and to worry. I did not fear for the ladies. Chivalry demanded that they be treated well but my men were a different matter. When we approached the castle the next day would we see their heads atop the gate? As much as I wanted to get there as early as possible we had to make our arrival as plausible as possible. We would arrive towards dusk. That would allow Dick, my knights and my men to close with the gate and await my signal. We wore the cloaks we had taken from Glossop. I left my shield with my men and took a plain one. We headed towards the gate before it was closed for sunset.

  When we reached the gate we allowed Sir William to do the talking. He was the eldest of us and his greybeard made him seem less threatening somehow.

  "What is your business, my lords?"

  There were just two guards at the gate and had we wanted to we could have disposed of them easily but this was a well made castle. There were four more sentries in the two towers above the gate. There would be more sentries on the walls. We had to be subtle. I saw that all of the guards wore the royal livery. This was a royal castle. The Constable was a royal appointee. Stephen had appointed Eustace de Aumale to the castle.

  "We have been sent by William Roumare to escort his wife home. She is visiting here with the wife of the Constable."

  "Just three of you?"

  "We are enough, believe me."

  The Sergeant at Arms said, "I would want a bigger escort, my lord. We have heard that the Wolf of the North is loose in these parts. There are rumours that he is sacking castles to the west of us. He has taken Glossop and Buxton or so the story goes."

  "We saw him not but thank you for your concern." William spurred his horse through the gate. I was not certain we had been given permission but they did not try to stop us. We were in. The hardest part of our plan had succeeded. When we entered the outer bailey we dismounted. The two guards there directed us to the stable. The two stable boys unsaddled our horses and we headed for the gate leading to the inner bailey. As we did I saw, by the burning braziers, that there were just ten sentries on the outer walls. We had decided that we had two tasks: take the armoury and inner bailey and then secure the gate.

  As we approached the gate at the inner bailey there were just two guards. We strolled towards them and as we did so we heard the watch announce that the gates were closed. The two men crossed their spears. "I am sorry, my lords but the watch has sounded the closure of the gates. You will have to spend the night in the barracks yonder. There is a kitchen there and beds aplenty." He pointed to a stone buildi
ng attached to the outer wall. Darkness had now fallen and only the lights from the braziers showed where men stood. In the recesses of the inner gate we were hidden from view.

  I moved to the left of the Earl as William said, reasonably, "We need to tell my Lady Hawise and Lady Maud that their escorts are here to take them home."

  The guard turned, "Alan, go tell the Constable that the escorts for the ladies are here and they will spend the night in the barracks."

  As Alan turned I grabbed the other sentry and hit his head against the stone wall of the gate. He slumped to the ground, unconscious. The Earl had his dagger at Alan's throat. "One word and you die!"

  I had short lengths of rope concealed about me and I trussed up the unconscious guard and handed some to William to do the same to the second. The Earl said, "We will not gag you but if you raise the alarm then I will kill you." The man looked defiantly at the Earl who smiled as he said, "This the Wolf of the North, the Earl of Cleveland!"

  The man shrank back in terror. "I will say nothing. Spare me, my lord!"

  "Then remain silent!" I hissed at him.

  We finished tying them up and entered the inner bailey. We had little time to delay. We hurried to the Great Hall in the keep for that would be where we would find the Constable. As we entered the keep Edgar and Leopold appeared. Edgar got directly to business, "There are just six guards in the keep along with the Constable. The two squires are with the ladies and acting as page boys. Two of the guards are at the armoury. The other four are on the battlements."

  "Then that is where we will go. Earl go with your brother to the Great Hall. Hold the Constable. We will deal with the other guards."

  Drawing my sword I followed Edgar down a corridor to a chamber at the rear of the Keep. I heard the two guards. They were playing dice. Edgar and I stepped into the ante chamber and our swords were at their throats before they even knew we were there. "No heroics! The castle is taken!" They might have thought of resisting had not Leopold appeared. "Tie them up and meet me at the Great Hall. Leopold you guard the armoury."