The Dunston Blade

by John Daines

  The following day another larger group of riders were spotted and as John could see more clearly he noticed that there were more horses than riders.

  “It’s our men,”he shouted excitedly. “We shall ride to Wrexham thank God.”

  The next day they set off in high spirits with the knowledge they would be at least nearer their homes.

  The stopped several miles short of Wrexham to make camp while John and his Squires with four men-at-arms rode towards the town. The town appeared quiet and when Tristan entered a nearby Inn he did not arouse suspicion, there had been no sign of the King or his troops. Tristan returned with this news and John was puzzled as he would have thought that some activity would have been seen around the town. They returned to where they had left the rest of the men and decided to spend the night there, but John forbade any entry into the town. In the morning John and Tristan rode back into the town stopping at the Inn they had previously visited, as they walked in a man approached them an asked if they knew of Sir John Ivanson.

  “Who wants to know?” queried John.

  Several heads turned and John said that he had seen a group of men on the outskirts of town and if he stepped outside he would direct him. Outside the Inn John revealed himself and the messenger delivered a package to him saying he came from Sir Cedric. The letter inside explained that David had been given up by his army and captured, he was to be taken to Shrewsbury and be judged by parliament. The Earl said that there was no need to come to Shrewsbury and John could take his men home, he asked that John visit Wymondham to inform Rowan what was happening. John thanked the messenger and rode back to their camp. The men could not wait to start their journey home so John ordered them to break camp and start for Wymondham.

  The journey home was mainly uneventful, who would want to tackle this group of heavily armed men eager to get home. They stopped and made camp at night but were soon up in the morning and back on the march.

  John had time to think as they made their way home, why did the King not want him to stay and fight or was it Sir Cedric’s decision? Whoever it was John was glad that he did not have to run the risk of losing more men. They had been pushing on in their desire to reach home and were becoming very tired and irritable, some times tempers rose and blood was spilt so John declared that they would rest up in Nottingham forest for a few days. Once the camp had been set the men began to relax and enjoy the break.

  John was resting in his tent when a guard called to say they had caught a man who said he knew him. John recognised him as one of the men who was at the Tournament in Wymondham.

  “What brings you to our camp, Robert?” he asked.

  “I like to know who is camped in the forest, you might have been from the Sheriff, though I don’t think he would have this many men,” Robert replied.

  “We are on our way home and needed a rest, I am surprised to find you still a free man after what I have heard,” said John.

  Robert laughed and said the forest was the best hiding place in the whole of England. They sat and talked for a while and then Robert left and disappeared into the night.

  ‘A strange man’ thought John ‘still an outlaw after all this time’.

  As they approached Wymondham the mood of the men lightened as they knew it would not be long before they were home. John ordered that they camp in the valley outside the Castle while he went forward to find out who was there. The guards who had been left opened the gate as soon as they saw him, and John dismounted in the Bailey and made for the main door which was opened by Rowan.

  “Greetings my lord, I am pleased to see you. How is the Earl?”

  John replied that he was well the last time he had seen him. He listened as he thought he could hear a child’s cry. Rowan smiled.

  “The lady Tania is here sir and waiting in the Hall.”

  John bounded up the stairs and into the Hall, Tania came running into his arms and he held her tight, full of love for her.

  “Pooh, you need a wash!” said Tania as she pulled away and looked at him.

  “Come here, wench, and hug your man, smelly or not. You can come up and wash me yourself.”

  Tania blushed crimson and turning showed John that they were not alone. There stood a smiling and laughing group consisting of Joan, with Harold, Matilda and a lady that John had seen before in London.

  “I am sorry to embarrass you, especially Lady Falmouth, you must think we are very uncouth here in the country.”

  “Not at all,” replied Lady Falmouth. “I come from the country myself, not far from here.”

  John picked up Harold and with Tania walked over to the window.

  “We are staying here until tomorrow as I am trying to arrange a Mass in thanksgiving at the Abbey so I will stay here with you tonight, if you’ll have me?”

  “What do you think, just try and stay anywhere else,” Tania’s reply was said with a sparkle in her eyes?

  Tristan entered at that moment and told John the Abbot had agreed to the Mass and would be able to celebrate at one hour from dawn. John thanked him and asked him to tell the troops.

  The evening meal was finished and it had been convivial, John found Lady Falmouth (Ann) a good conversationalist. Joan had put Harold to bed and every one started to yawn. Tristan and Stephen returned to the camp to make sure everything was quiet and no one had had tried to leave for home. John stretched and signalled he was ready for bed, with hand clasping Tania’s they retired to their room. As they undressed quickly and lay together in the bed Tania whispered to John words of love and he responded with his caresses which brought them to a passionate joining of their bodies. After the first rushed coupling they lay quietly and then after gentle caresses their love making became deep and passionate that brought mind and body to a peak which left them breathless and they went to sleep as one united.

  The journey to the Abbey was quite a spectacle, mounted men, bowmen and men-at-arms forming a column with John riding at the head. When they had entered the Abbey, John joined Tania and the Mass began. The Abbot was in his element with so many in attendance, as most of the town had turned up as well, even the cloisters were packed with people. John felt it was fitting as it gave a finality to their adventures in Wales and prepared them to return to a normal life with their families. After the service they formed up again and went back to their camp where they packed up and started their final part of their journey home.

  Riding out of the trees John could see Dunston Castle in the evening sun, he always liked this view and he turned to Tania.

  “Home at last, I have longed for this day. I cannot imagine how anyone can go on a Crusade and be away from home for so long.”

  “Perhaps they feel it is their duty to claim back the Holy Places for Christianity,” replied Tania.

  “Maybe,” said John. “It is going to take Saint Peter himself to shift me from here now I am back.”

  They stopped in the meadow outside the walls and John spoke to the men and thanked them for all they had done.

  “Don’t spend all the money the King has given you on beer, just enough to keep the landlord happy. I will be seeing you all when you have rested and are back tending your farms. Good luck to you and now return to your homes with God’s blessing.”

  There was a general milling about as they parted from friends they had made during the march into Wales, the soldiers who were left went off to their barracks with Stephen and Tristan. John and his party made for the Castle and were met in the Bailey by Boorman and Roderick. At the evening meal that night John looked around at his family, three generations were there and he felt a certain amount of pride as he watched them talking together and catching up with the latest news. King Edward was now building his Castles to contain the Welsh and John was hoping that he could be busy with his own estates and progress with some ideas he had for improvement. He was looking forward to being with Tania and living a family life, he hoped he could add to the family too, he intended to try.

  The next months were s
pent in catching up with what had happened while he had been away. Roderick had been helping to keep the farms going and they had managed to start some shearing, this would now increase as the men returned. John still wanted their own wool trade with the Flemish traders and he thought about ways this could be achieved. Winter was approaching and John toured the farms to make sure farmers and animals were prepared, he granted extra payments so that roofs could be repaired and to make sure there was enough food for all. A constant visitor, now that Sir Cedric had returned to Wymondham, was Gavin. Tania said to John that there would be a wedding soon as Gavin and Joan were together as much as his duties allowed.

  II

  Preparations for winter and Christmas were well under way. Jack had improved the forge in the Castle and was producing new hinges for doors as well as locks, keeping all the horses well shod, repairing weapons and generally helping to improve the Castle.

  One autumn evening as the sun was setting John walked the battlements, he liked this time of day as he said his head was clearer. He noticed two riders making their way to the Castle, he could not recognise them but could see they rode with some urgency. He descended to the Hall and waited to see who would arrive. Boorman entered and announced that the men were from Norwich with a message from the Sheriff. John read it with a sinking feeling, his peace was about to disturbed. Two of the North Norfolk Barons were unhappy that John was controlling Yarmouth and checking every ship for contraband. They had decided to take matters into their hands and take Yarmouth by force, they were already on route with a force of 200 men-at-arms. John called Stephen and Tristan to the Hall.

  “We have to take to a force of arms again, I had hoped for a quiet life until next year at least.”

  Stephen said, “I will prepare the men, 250 should be enough and they are now well seasoned warriors so it should not take long to send this lot packing.”

  “I admire your confidence but I would like to stop them before Yarmouth, I don’t want fighting in the streets,” said John.

  Stephen left to send out scouts to find the route the Barons were taking. They decided to make for Burgh Castle at first light and hope to stop the Barons there. There was a chill in the air and the autumn mists still lay close to the ground when the force left Dunston and headed east. John had used nearly all the horses as he wanted to move quickly and arrive at the Castle in time. They were just leaving when one of the scouts returned with the information that the Barons were moving to the coast and had camped for the night near the village of Ludham. John decided to push on with all speed to the coast north of Yarmouth, he told the scout to go back and follow the Barons. The Barons were not expecting any opposition so they delayed their departure from their camp allowing John to arrive outside of town in good time to deploy his men. He positioned bowmen in sand dunes either side of the main access to Yarmouth, he then waited with 50 of his mounted men-at-arms. After the fast ride from Dunston he was feeling very hot in his armour and Hammer was breathing heavily with steam rising from his coat, which did not help John to cool down, he gave the signal to dismount and sent a lookout further up the tracks. The lookout was soon back to say the Baron’s force was in sight. With Tristan’s help John mounted Hammer and positioned himself in the middle of the track with Tristan and Stephen either side.

  “Hold your positions and remember we are better than them, we are here to protect our friends, and our interests.”

  As he finished the Baron’s appeared. They pulled up when they saw John blocking their path. One of the Barons rode forward with two men as escort.

  “What is this?” he asked. “I am William Fitzherbert and I am going to Yarmouth, move out of our way!”

  “I am Sir John Ivanson, what reason do you have to ride to Yarmouth with so many armed men? This is my town and you are welcome but your men will stay here.”

  “So you are the young pup who has risen on the support of Cedric,” the Baron replied.

  “Sir Cedric, you mean. I am here in my own right as Yarmouth has been included in my fiefdom by the King. Now return to wherever you came from and keep off my lands.”

  “You will not stop us with that bunch behind you so look to yourselves as we shall go where we please!” exclaimed Fitzherbert. He turned and rode back to his men and had them form an advancing line, they moved forward slowly as the majority were on foot. When they were about 100 yards away John gave the signal for the bowmen to rise this caused the advancing troops to charge and the first flight of arrows were loosed with devastating results, many of the Baron’s men were felled. A second flight caused even more chaos but by now Fitzherbert was charging and the mounted men reached John’s group. Some of the bowmen were picking of the stragglers at the rear while the rest drew their swords and moved to join the fight that was taking place in the centre. John’s men met the charge and swung into action with their swords, John made for Fitzherbert and drove Hammer into his horse. Hammer had trained for this and used his size and weight to knock the Baron’s horse sideways while John brought his sword down heavily on the man’s shoulder, it sliced through his chain mail and suddenly the arm was gone. Fitzherbert screamed and fell from his horse, John only glimpsed this as a mounted man was coming at him with a spear. He swung his sword sideways and the head of the spear was deflected and almost cut from the shaft, again Hammer went forward and John ran the man through. Men were grunting, shouting and dying, in the killing frenzy it was a miracle that friend did not kill friend. John came through the main fight and turned to see the second Baron raise his sword and cry.

  “Stop, we surrender, throw down your weapons.”

  John rode through the melee to the Baron who offered his sword to John, he accepted it and the fighting stopped. The two sides withdrew and started to care for the wounded. Fitzherbert lay where he had fallen, still conscious but bleeding to death. The other Baron knelt by him and closed his eyes as life left him. John addressed him.

  “What is your name sir?”

  The Baron stood. “I am Cuthbert of Aylesham, I know of you and did not expect to meet you in these circumstances. I will gather what is left of our men and return home.”

  “You are not Norman,” said John. “Why are you with this dog, a man who stamps on the neck of the people in Anglia, I know of him.”

  “It is true I am Saxon but have accepted Norman rule to save my position and do what I can for my people. How did you know we were coming?” queried Cuthbert?

  John looked at him. “That is for me to know, there are more people than you think who despise the Normans.”

  John looked for Tristan and Stephen and spotted them tending to wounded, he called to them and asked how many they had lost. Tristan said that three had died in the melee and two bowmen who had joined the fight, they also had four seriously wounded, the rest were fit to travel. John spoke again to Cuthbert.

  “Bury your dead and take the rest home and stay out of my land. Pass the message to the rest of the Barons that they will suffer the same should they wish to invade.”

  Cuthbert inclined his head and gave the orders to his remaining men. John looked over the battlefield and was saddened to see so many corpses, the most being killed from the accuracy of his bowmen. He gave orders to Stephen to tie our dead to horses and take them and the bowmen back to Dunston while he went with the wounded and the rest to Yarmouth. Entering the town he found William Fisher, the elected Mayor and some armed men waiting. William stepped forward and addressed John.

  “Thank God you are all right Sir, we could hear the fighting from here. Bring your wounded to our apothecary and he will do his best to heal them.”

  John thanked him and the wounded were taken off. The Mayor invited John and Tristan to his house where they met his wife and son. After getting out of his armour and supping a glass of ale John asked if they had experienced any more smuggling.

  “Not recently, they know we are searching the ships and sometimes the crews, but we have heard the contraband is finding it’s way ashore on the
North coast.”

  John congratulated him and said if he needed help to call on him, he would pay a visit to the two ports in the New Year. The Mayor invited John and Tristan to stay the night he said they had room for his men in the building next door which they were converting into a barracks. John was dead beat and accepted the offer, his head hit the pillow and he was fast asleep.

  He rose in the morning to the smell of fish cooking, not his favourite breakfast dish, and going down was offered a plate of some smoked fish, he struggled to eat it and was sure he had bones stuck in his throat but he smiled and thanked the Mayor’s wife. Going out side he found Tristan with the men ready to depart. They had found a cart for the wounded and were all eager to get home.