by Kevin Ashman
‘I accept the point, Gisbourn,’ said Reginald, ‘good fortune may be his bedfellow at the moment but they will not find us unprepared. Send messengers to all the English landowners within the cantref and tell them if they value their lives they will leave their manors immediately to join us here in Rhuddlan. They are to bring anything that may help should we suffer a siege, food, water, weapons, anything they have that can be carried quickly. I want them and their men within the town walls before the sun sets on the morrow. In addition, send word to Flint Castle. Tell the constable there that we do not have the forces to defend Flint as well as we can Rhuddlan. Our town walls give us extra strength but Flint is open to attack. With immediate effect he is to gather what supplies he can unto the castle and lock it down for siege. In addition he is to burn the town to the ground to deny any attackers shelter or materials for siege engines.’
‘What about the tenants?’
‘Any of English birth are to be given shelter within the castle walls but be they Welsh born, turn them away unto the forests.’ He turned to a second knight. ‘John of Bath, you will take a well-armed patrol and see if you can buy us some time by holding up the advance of the rebels. We need three days and if you can secure us that, I feel we can muster a force capable of defending the cantref.’
‘Sire,’ said John, ‘if opportunity arises, do you want me to engage the rebels?’
‘No,’ said Reginald, ‘you will have the chance to face them in open battle soon enough but now is not the time. I know Edward gathers his armies as we speak and he will need a safe passage into Wales. He intends to muster in Chester and ride here via Wrexham. We are best placed to provide a safe route and I will not be distracted from that goal.’
‘Aye Sire,’ said John, ‘are we done?’
‘We are. Gather your men and ride out immediately. Remember, harassment and delay only, we don’t want them marching upon us until we are ready.’
The two knights left the room, leaving Reginald pouring over his charts with his advisors.
‘Well, gentlemen,’ he said, ‘I have long said these people will one day rise up against us. That’s the problem with the Welsh, they don’t know when they are defeated.’
----
The following two days were busy within the walled town of Rhuddlan. Constant caravans of English nobles came from within the cantref seeking the safety of the castle, bringing with them their families, supplies and of course, the much needed fighting men. Mounted patrols were sent out by Reginald to check no enemy approached and hundreds of archers were immediately deployed along the castellated town walls. Squires and pages were put to work supplying the defenders with the necessary tools needed to thwart any attack including poles to push away siege ladders, heavy rocks to hurl down at the enemy and of course, thousands of arrows for the archers.
The population of the town were tasked with gathering what food they could from the many farms and villages in the area and within two days, Rhuddlan castle was stocked the best it could be considering the short period of warning.
----
Two days later, Reginald walked the town walls for the second time, checking on the preparations with his own eyes.
‘You there,’ he said to the sergeant in charge of the archers, ‘place distance markers before the walls and get your bowmen to practise from dawn to dusk. The squires will retrieve the arrows after each man has shot a hundred shafts.’
‘Aye Sire’, said the sergeant and set about his task. As he went, Gisbourn climbed the steps and joined the Baron.
‘Gisbourn,’ said Reginald, ‘I heard you had returned. Did you relay my instructions to Flint Castle?’
‘I did, Sire and at first the constable was loathe to carry out such a dire instruction but I explained the purpose behind your thinking and eventually he saw the sense in this matter.’
‘And?’
‘As we rode here this evening, the smoke from the burning houses of Flint darken the sky.’
‘It is a harsh decision,’ said Reginald, ‘but the castle is strong enough and Edward De Laye should be able to last until Longshanks gets here.’
‘The defences look ready,’ said Gisbourn, looking around the walls.
‘As ready as we can be,’ said Reginald, ‘but I know they will only delay any serious assault. Our main strengths are our numbers and the walls of the castle itself. Should we be defeated on any field of battle then we will reorganise within the castle until Longshanks arrives. I have had the north entrance secured with extra props and the bridge dismantled. I am happy to defend the southern gate but will deny them the luxury of options.’
He looked out at the road and saw a column of horses riding toward them. He recognised the banner and knew it was the diversionary force he had sent out a few days earlier.
‘Open the gates,’ shouted Gisbourn, ‘it’s John of Bath.’ They both watched as the hundred lancers galloped between the gate towers and headed toward the castle. The lead knight turned his horse and dismounted before climbing up the stone steps to join the two men.
‘Well, John,’ said Reginald, ‘how went the day?’
‘Sire,’ came the reply, ‘there was indeed a force upon the eastern road and though their numbers were large, we managed to place doubt in their minds.’
‘In what way?’
‘When they went to ground to see out the night, we probed their perimeters with flaming arrows from a safe distance. Though we inflicted little in the way of casualties, the confusion amongst the burning tents was enough to make them lay up another half a day as they sent out patrols to check the road was clear. We did similar on the second night and in this way slowed their progress.’
‘A task well done,’ said Reginald, ‘for it has given us time to prepare well. Ride on to the castle, and seek rest and sustenance for your men. Once my inspection has been completed we will meet in the great hall and you can brief me in detail.’
‘Aye Sire’, said John and descended the steps before leading his horse up to the castle.
‘Well Gisbourn,’ said Reginald turning to his comrade. ‘We have almost five thousand men at arms under our command, a well-stocked stronghold and a fortified town perimeter. We’ve done all that we can so if Madog thinks he can take Rhuddlan, then let him come.’
----
Less than ten leagues away, Cynan Ap Maredudd rode at the head of a column, keen to reach his destination before darkness fell. Martyn rode alongside him as they reached the cross roads, now defended by a hundred of his own advance party. They reined in their horses and looked down both paths, one heading north and one heading south east.
‘North is the way of Rhuddlan,’ said Martyn, ‘people in the last village said that the castellan has prepared well and has gathered a formidable army.’
‘Rhuddlan is a target for Madog,’ said Cynan, ‘let him worry about the strengths of the castle, our path leads southward.’
‘To Denbigh?’
‘Aye, to Denbigh. The town is well placed and if we can take the castle then any English patrols will be denied the chance of succour for many leagues and their resources will be stretched to the full. Pass the word to the men, Martyn, tomorrow we march upon Denbigh Castle.’
Without another word, he turned his horse to the right and followed the path south east.
----
In the heart of Snowdonia, the men guarding the northern approach to the hidden wooded valley looked up at the column cresting the far hill line.
‘Riders,’ said the first, standing up straight and loosening the clasp around the hilt of his sword.
‘Stand down,’ said the second guard, ‘I recognise the banner of Maelgwyn. The column has returned from Caernarfon.’
‘So it is,’ said the first guard, ‘but ride back to the camp anyway. Tell them to prepare for the arrival of our lord. The weather has been harsh and they will welcome hot mead and cawl.’
‘Agreed,’ said the guard and walked over to the horses tied to a nearby tree.
----
Ten minutes later, the column galloped past the remaining guard, most ignoring his salute. Their chain mail shirts and heavy tabards were covered with sheepskin jerkins and most wore heavy capes of oiled leather as protection from the rain. Those lucky enough to have furred collars had them tied tightly around their necks, and the guard could see they had ridden hard through the high passes of the mountains.
Maelgwyn Ap Rhys ruled the western cantrefs from as far north as the high mountains down as far as Pembroke but though he was recognised as the local Lord by the people of West Wales, his lands officially belonged to the crown, having been confiscated twelve years earlier after the death of Llewellyn. Despite this, he lived unchallenged in a manor amongst the hills and maintained a force of a hundred men at arms and twelve Welsh knights. Since Madog’s success at Caernarfon, his numbers has swelled tenfold and a force of over a thousand men now secreted themselves amongst the deep valleys on the southern edge of the Snowdonia Mountains, being trained by Maelgwyn’s regular soldiers.
He rode between the many makeshift tents and lodges that had been his men’s home for the past thirty days and rode up to the conical tent that formed his headquarters in the field. He dismounted and handed the reins of his horse to a waiting servant before ducking through the entrance and into the heat of the interior, warmed by a log fire situated in the centre. A man waited for him and stood as Maelgwyn entered.
‘Sire,’ said the knight, ‘welcome back. I trust the ride was not too arduous?’
‘It was difficult, Gwylim,’ said Maelgwyn, throwing his cape toward a nearby chair. ‘We rode via the northern bluff and suffered a storm along the way. The men are exhausted.’
‘A strange choice of route at this time of year,’ said Gwylim, ‘the river pass is far more sheltered albeit a longer path.’
‘It was a considered decision,’ said Maelgwyn, discarding his sodden jerkin and extending his arms over the fire, ‘it saved us a day and a night and we need all the time we can get.’
‘I take it the meeting with Madog went well?’
‘It did,’ said Maelgwyn, ‘and at last it seems that all men of influence are agreed with a common purpose. As we speak, any force of note throughout the country is about to unleash their strength upon any English position within the boundaries of their cantrefs. Before this week is out, Edward’s positions will be under attack from every quarter. That is why we took the quicker route, it is imperative we move as quickly as possible so the attacks are coordinated. That way, each of Edward’s castles will not have the chance to draw on the strength of another.
‘So is that the plan, to isolate and attack the castles?’
‘Those and the manors,’ said Maelgwyn reaching for a tankard of warmed mead, ‘we will sweep southward and attack Cardigan Castle with all haste. Should we succeed, our task is to then raid any English interests as far as Carmarthen but I get ahead of myself. Summon the marshals and senior sergeants, I will give a full briefing within the hour.’
----
Deep in the rolling valleys of Mid Wales a smaller column of armed men rode hard southward led by Morgan Ap Maredudd, a Warlord from South Wales. For the past few years he had paid homage to Longshanks but having always been treated badly when compared with the English Barons in the same area, grew more and more frustrated at the unfairness.
Madog’s uprising in the north had raised his interest and though at first he had been sceptical, the fervour experienced in Caernarfon and the discovery that not one but two of Edward’s favoured castles had fallen excited him enough to realise this was a genuine opportunity. Not just to seize back some of his stolen lands but to unify similar Welshmen in the same position and perhaps re-develop a position of strength and rule for his own family.
Though his Garrison was relatively small back in Caerleon, he enjoyed good relations with his neighbours and knew the time was ripe for coordinated resistance. Many had been the night when they met in secret, bemoaning the brutality of Edward’s rule and oft the talk had been of rebellion but never was the time right. Now however, it seemed the whole of Wales were waking from their slumber and standing up against the English. All he had to do was convince as many as he could to join him and then strike against the minimal English fortifications as hard as they could with the speed of a flying arrow.
He dug his heels harder into the flanks of his horse, desperate to reach the south as soon as possible. These were momentous days and he was keen to make history.
----
While the other rebel leaders were returning to their own cantrefs to take the fight to the English, Madog finalised his plans for the struggle in the north. He and Merion sat in a room of Caernarfon Castle, a jug of wine to hand on a nearby table and a fire roaring in the huge stone fireplace. Upon the table were charts of north Wales all the way down to Builth. Upon the maps, every castle had been marked and several circled with ink as targets for the Welsh. The prince had been staring at the charts for over half an hour until finally he straightened up and called to his aide.
‘Meirion,’ attend me, ‘I would hear your thoughts.’
The man came over and looked down upon the charts.
‘I have thought long this last week,’ said Madog, ‘especially about our position here in the castle.’ He tapped the head of an arrow on the image representing Caernarfon Castle.
‘And your thoughts are?’
‘I think our position is untenable,’ said Madog. ‘As you are aware, we are protected on the north approach by the Straits and by the river to the east. However, though that is a good thing for those familiar with the defence of castles, it is a burden for those unused to such situations, people like us.’
‘In what way?’
‘Should an attack come from Edward or any of his liegemen then they will have to come from south or east but that is also the only way out. With a strong enough force, Edward can easily trap us here with no hope of escape. We are not an army of garrisons and fortifications, Meirion but of freedom and flexibility. We should not be barricaded in like a flock of frightened sheep but roam the hills like a pack of hungry wolves, modelling ourselves on the tactics of Llewellyn Mawr.’
‘But surely if we are to pursue the claim of rightful self-government then as all such bodies, we will need a place from which we can proclaim our legitimacy.’
‘You are right, ‘said Madog, ‘but we are far from that time and there is much to do. However, in the meantime I suggest Caernarfon has served its purpose and we move on to greater things.’
‘Sire,’ said Meirion, ‘if we give up Caernarfon now then surely all those men who fell in the assault will have died in vain.’
‘No,’ said Madog, ‘they haven’t. The uprising is not about stone and mortar and never was. The assault of the castle was about more than that, it was about showing the people of Wales that the English have nowhere to hide, not even behind the walls of their so called ring of steel. Yes there have been many sacrifices but for every man that fell in our cause another hundred rode to our banner. As we speak, the warlords across Wales are raising armies against Edward’s rule and if this is the legacy of our fallen then a great legacy it is.’
‘So what do you intend to do?’
‘I think we should move our men out. The blow has been dealt and the message sent to Longshanks yet while we warm our heels here, there are villages not even an hour’s ride hence that still suffer under English rule. Our army grows every day but if we leave it stand idle then it will surely dissolve as quickly as it appeared.’ He pointed at a castle further south along the coast. ‘I have received word that Dolwyddelan Castle has no garrison to speak of and holds little interest for Edward. This is fortunate for not only is it central to our ambition but is also the home of my ancestors. I suggest we relocate there to organise the uprising whilst using it as a hub from which we can operate. In the event of an assault, it will be easy to disappear into the hills before an arrow is fired.’
�
��I can see the strategic benefits,’ said Meirion, ‘but once there, what will be our goals?’
‘I intend to split the army in three. The first half under the command of Alun Godwin will ride south west and lay siege to Criccieth and Harlech Castles. You, Meirion, will head for Dolwyddelan and set up an administrative centre. I will send a column of five hundred with you but expect no real resistance. ‘
‘And the third column?’ asked Meirion.
‘I will lead it eastward,’ said Madog, ‘and assault Howarden Castle.’
‘Howarden Castle? Isn’t that dangerously close to Rhuddlan and the English border?’
‘Perhaps so but that is why they will least expect it. My spies say it is lightly defended and while Reginald De-Grey expends precious resources fortifying Rhuddlan Castle, it is surely at the expense of other fortifications. Howarden is an easy target yet will send more shivers through the bones of Edward himself and if we succeed, it reduces the amount of places his patrols can seek succour.’
‘An audacious plan,’ said Meirion.
‘It is, but that is why it has every chance of succeeding.’
‘When do you intend to ride out?’
‘It will take a day or so to arrange the supplies. I suggest the day after tomorrow at dawn’s first light. Tomorrow night, the men are to burn what they can in the castle. Every coin that Edward has to spend rebuilding this place is a coin not spent on paying his soldiers to kill Welshmen. When we go, we are to leave this place barren of anything useful to the English.’
‘So be it,’ said Meirion, and drained his tankard of mead.
----
Chapter Five
Brycheniog
Garyn sat against the wall of the dungeon. A bucket of water and a bowl of potash soap had been provided as well as some decent hot food and a jug of watered wine. Combined with a change of clothes it meant that by the time the jailer returned to collect him, he at least looked a lot better. Finally the familiar rattle of keys echoed outside the cell and the door slammed back against the wall.
