Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Hoodsman: Queens and Widows
    The Hoodsman: Queens and Widows
    The Hoodsman: Queens and Widows
    Ebook326 pages6 hours

    The Hoodsman: Queens and Widows

    By Skye Smith

    4.5/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    In 1079, the Conqueror is critically wounded by Raynar in a skirmish at Gerberoi. With the Conqueror ill, Philip of France encourages rebellions against Norman rule. William placates Philip by choosing different sons to be the heirs of Normandy and of England. His favourite son Richard, is to be the next King of the English.

    With William ill and rarely in England, Regent Odo and the rest of the Norman ruling class keep to the South. Raynar is in Scotland visiting Margaret when Northumbrian rebels kill the Bishop of Durham. In revenge Odo's army Harrows the North, yet again.

    * * * * *

    While King Henry is busy securing and rebuilding the West Country after the Category 5 hurricane of August 10th, 1103, Queen Edith must rule the palace and the court of England. With the help of Raynar, Countess Lucy, and Countess Maud, she moves the court from Winchester to Westminster.

    * * * * *
    About The Author

    Skye Smith is my pen name. My ancestors were miners and shepherds near Castleton in the Peaks District of Derbyshire. I have been told by some readers that this series reminds them of Bernard Cornwell’s historical novels, and have always been delighted by the comparison.

    This is the tenth of my Hoodsman series of books, and you should read the first “Killing Kings” before you read this book. All of the books contain two timelines linked by characters and places. The “current” story is set in the era of King Henry I in the 1100’s, while the longer “flashback” story is set in the era of King William I after 1066.

    I have self-published twelve "The Hoodsman ..." books and they are:
    1. Killing Kings
    2. Hunting Kings
    3. Frisians of the Fens
    4. Saving Princesses
    5. Blackstone Edge
    6. Ely Wakes
    7. Courtesans and Exiles
    8. The Revolt of the Earls
    9. Forest Law
    10. Queens and Widows
    11. Popes and Emperors
    12. The Second Invasion

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSkye Smith
    Release dateApr 3, 2013
    ISBN9781927699096
    The Hoodsman: Queens and Widows

    Read more from Skye Smith

    Related to The Hoodsman

    Related ebooks

    Action & Adventure Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Buried In A Brother’s Arms

      Sep 21, 2021

      The Sacred Band was probably established around the time of the Theban overthrow of Spartan dominance in 378 BC which had been in place since 382. As we have seen (see AW XIV.2), the Sacred Band built on a long tradition of picked units of 300 Theban

      2 min read

    • Article

      Rebel With A Lost Cause

      Mar 5, 2019

      Rebel With A Lost Cause
      10 min read

    • Article

      From Stirrups To Longbows

      Mar 23, 2021

      From Stirrups To Longbows
      2 min read

    • Article

      Battle Of The Field Of Blood

      May 19, 2021

      Battle Of The Field Of Blood
      6 min read

    • Article

      Battle Of Antioch

      Jul 9, 2020

      Battle Of Antioch
      7 min read

    • Article

      Richard III Struggled Against His Two Brothers For The Crown

      Dec 1, 2020

      English history recounts many tales of bloody battles, but the infighting among “The Brothers York” was legendary for its ferocity.

      3 min read

    • Article

      The Guns That Won the West

      Aug 22, 2023

      The Guns That Won the West
      4 min read

    • Article

      HEROES & VILLAINS

      Feb 3, 2023

      HEROES & VILLAINS
      4 min read

    • Article

      Æthelred Versus Cnut

      May 5, 2023

      Æthelred returned from exile and executed a stunning comeback: he personally led a campaign to re-conquer England, expelling Cnut the Great’s Viking army in Lindsey. Scandinavian sagas credit Æthelred with two more victories at this time: a recapture

      6 min read

    • Article

      The FIRST Edwardians

      Jun 11, 2021

      The FIRST Edwardians
      11 min read

    • Article

      I’m A Norman, You Know (or Are You?)

      Feb 17, 2023

      One phrase professional genealogists hear regularly is: “Our family arrived with William the Conqueror”, and it doesn’t always fill us with the level of excitement you might expect. Firstly, it’s probably not the case. Secondly, even if true, it’s ve

      4 min read

    • Article

      I’m A Norman, You Know (or Are You?)

      Feb 17, 2023

      One phrase professional genealogists hear regularly is: “Our family arrived with William the Conqueror”, and it doesn’t always fill us with the level of excitement you might expect. Firstly, it’s probably not the case. Secondly, even if true, it’s ve

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Last Of The English

      Aug 19, 2021

      The Last Of The English
      7 min read

    • Article

      Norman Conquests

      Jul 7, 2022

      Norman Conquests
      10 min read

    • Article

      Æthelred the Unready

      Dec 15, 2021

      Æthelred the Unready
      3 min read

    • Article

      The WARRIOR KING

      Aug 12, 2022

      The WARRIOR KING
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Medieval Beginnings Of The Stewart Dynasty

      Apr 8, 2023

      If not for one tectonic plate creeping slowly beneath another over the course of many millennia, forming a deeply-rippled land mass, and one prominent volcanic plug remaining 60m above sea level at Dundonald in Ayrshire, it could well be that the Ste

      5 min read

    • Article

      Harrying England

      Oct 4, 2018

      Harrying England
      3 min read

    • Article

      Norman Warriors

      Oct 4, 2018

      Norman Warriors
      4 min read

    • Article

      Æthelstan & England’s First Great War An Interview With Michael Wood

      Oct 30, 2017

      Left: Michael Wood is one of the most prominent experts on AEthelstan and has made documentaries about the king for the BBC, including episodes of ‘In Search of the Dark Ages’ and ‘King Alfred and the Anglo-Saxons’ When King AEthelstan died in 939,

      15 min read

    • Article

      Rebel Nation

      Oct 28, 2021

      1 14 October 1066 At the battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror defeats King Harold II to win the throne of England. 2 1067 Eadric the Wild, an Anglo-Saxon magnate of Shropshire and Herefordshire, launches a rebellion in Herefordshire aided by the

      2 min read

    • Article

      The House Of Wessex

      Feb 11, 2022

      The House Of Wessex
      9 min read

    • Article

      The House Of Wessex

      Feb 11, 2022

      The House Of Wessex
      9 min read

    • Article

      Acting The Fool

      Aug 4, 2022

      Acting The Fool
      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Hoodsman

    4.5/5

    2 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      The Hoodsman - Skye Smith

      THE HOODSMAN

      Queens and Widows

      (Book Ten of the Series)

      By Skye Smith

      Copyright (C) 2010-2013 Skye Smith

      All rights reserved including all rights of authorship.

      Cover Illustration is Finding the Body by Marcus Stone (1862)

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Revision 2 . . . . . ISBN: 978-1-927699-09-6

      Cover Flap

      In 1079, the Conqueror is critically wounded by Raynar in a skirmish at Gerberoi. With the Conqueror ill, Philip of France encourages rebellions against Norman rule. William placates Philip by choosing different sons to be the heirs of Normandy and of England. His favourite son Richard, is to be the next King of the English.

      With William ill and rarely in England, Regent Odo and the rest of the Norman ruling class keep to the South. Raynar is in Scotland visiting Margaret when Northumbrian rebels kill the Bishop of Durham. In revenge Odo's army Harrows the North, yet again.

      * * * * *

      While King Henry is busy securing and rebuilding the West Country after the Category 5 hurricane of August 10th, 1103, Queen Edith must rule the palace and the court of England. With the help of Raynar, Countess Lucy, and Countess Maud, she moves the court from Winchester to Westminster.

      * * * * *

      * * * * *

      The Hoodsman - Queens and Widows by Skye Smith Copyright 2010-13

      About The Author

      Skye Smith is my pen name. My ancestors were miners and shepherds near Castleton in the Peaks District of Derbyshire. I have been told by some readers that this series reminds them of Bernard Cornwell’s historical novels, and have always been delighted by the comparison.

      This is the tenth of my Hoodsman series of books, and you should read the first Killing Kings before you read this book. All of the books contain two timelines linked by characters and places. The current story is set in the era of King Henry I in the 1100’s, while the longer flashback story is set in the era of King William I after 1066.

      I have self-published twelve The Hoodsman ... books and they are:

      # - SubTitle

      . . . . . . . . . . . . William I Timeline

      . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry I Timeline

      1. Killing Kings

      . . . . . . . . . . . . 1066 killing King Harald of Norway (Battle of Stamford Bridge)

      . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100 killing King William II of England. Henry claims the throne.

      2. Hunting Kings

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1066 hunting the Conqueror (Battle of Hastings Road)

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100 hunting Henry I (Coronation Charter)

      3. Frisians of the Fens

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1067/68 rebellions. Edgar Aetheling flees north with Margaret.

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100 amnesty and peace. Henry recruits English bowmen.

      4. Saving Princesses

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1068/69 rebellions. Margaret weds Scotland (Battle of Durham)

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100/01 Edith of Scotland weds Henry (Battle of Alton)

      5. Blackstone Edge

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1069/70 rebellions (The Harrowing of the North)

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1101 peace while the economy is saved from the bankers

      6. Ely Wakes

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1070/71 Frisian rebellion (Battles of Ely and Cassel)

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1101 Henry collects allies. Mary of Scotland weds Boulogne.

      7. Courtesans and Exiles

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1072/74 English lords flee abroad (Battle of Montreuil, Edgar surrenders)

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1102 Henry collects allies (the Honor of Boulogne)

      8. The Revolt of the Earls

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1075/76 Earls revolt (Battles of Worchester and Fagaduna)

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1102 Earls revolt (Battles of Arundel, Bridgnorth, Shropshire)

      9. Forest Law

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1076/79 fighting Normans in France (London Burned, Battle of Gerberoi)

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1103 fighting Normans in Cornwall (Battle of Tamara Sound)

      10. Queens and Widows

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1079/81 rebellions (Gateshead, Judith of Lens)

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1103 Edith made Regent (Force 5 Hurricane)

      11. Popes and Emperors

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1081 Normans slaughter English exiles (Battle of Dyrrhachium)

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1104 Henry visits Normandy (Duchy run by warlords)

      12. The Second Invasion

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1082/85 power vacuum, peaceful anarchy (Regent Odo arrested enroute to Rome)

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1085/87 Re-invasion and Harrowing of all England (Battle of Mantes, Conqueror dies)

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1104/05 Henry invades Normandy twice (Battle of Tinchebray).

      * * * * *

      * * * * *

      The Hoodsman - Queens and Widows by Skye Smith Copyright 2010-13

      Prologue

      Writing historical novels about the twenty year conquest of England by a culture of vicious slave masters, requires describing England as it was before the era of the Anglo-Normans. It is difficult to separate reality from all of the popular misconceptions about the era. For example, think of all of the connotations and misconceptions attached to just one phrase: Anglo-Saxon.

      Pre-Norman England was very much an Anglo-Danish kingdom. Not only were most of the nobles and lords Anglo-Danes, but half of the villages were Anglo-Danish. York was the second largest Danish city in the world, after London, and was a wealthy place because of the wealth of the Anglo-Dane farms of the Danelaw. Before the Normans, the Danelaw was more Danish than Denmark, and larger, and wealthier, and more populated.

      By 1079 the northern Danelaw was still a wasteland emptied of folk by the genocidal Harrowings of the Normans. The Anglo-Danish lords had given up on ever living in England again, and were becoming mercenaries for Norman-fearing kings and nobles from Wales to the Byzantine. There were no longer any English Earls.

      Invading England had been extremely costly to the Conqueror both in terms of resources, and of lost opportunities on the continent. The ranks of his ruling warrior class, and his knights had been thinned again and again. And not just from battle wounds and ambush, but because there were enticing opportunities for warriors with the Norman lords who were carving out a new empire from the western border of the crumbling Byzantine Empire.

      To keep events from turning against him, William needed more money and more land to give as honours to warriors who would join his armies. The source was in England, where a third of the land was not deeded to land lords, but instead was held as in-common land for the communal clans and villages. William's new Forest Law used legal trickery to claim vast stretches of communal land as his own land. It was the greatest real estate swindle in English history.

      Now weakened in health and support, the Conqueror faced rebellions from those who had suffered from his viciousness. He was slow to recover from the wound he took while quelling the rebellion of his own son Robert, and so he stayed in Normandy and left the running of England to his half brother, the Bishop Odo. It was Odo who ordered the second Harrowing of Northumbria, in revenge for the killing of the Bishop-Prince of Durham by rebels.

      The year 1080 was pivotal. William's wife Matilda, and his son Robert visited Scotland to forge an alliance with Malcolm of Scotland, and while there became the godparents of Margaret of Scotland's new daughter, Edith. The same Edith who would become the next Queen of the English. Prince Canute the Holy, a sworn enemy of the Conqueror, became the new King of Denmark and his intention was to put Danes back in control of the Danelaw.

      There was a new treaty with Philip of France to put a halt to the fealty conundrum caused by the Duke of Normandy also being the King of England. On the Conqueror's death, the thrones of Normandy and of England would be inherited by different sons. The next King of the English would be William’s favourite son Richard. In 1080, William’s new Forest Law created the ‘New Forest’, and shortly afterwards Richard died there in a ‘hunting accident’.

      * * * * *

      Fully charged hurricanes rarely reach England, but on Saint Lawrence's Day, August 10, 1103, a huge one hit the south of England. Since it hit just before harvest with ripping winds and deluges of rain, it became a historically documented event. Crops, roofs, and ships were destroyed en masse. The continuing damp caused disease and pestilence in animals and folk. The prospect for the coming winter was starvation.

      The new King Henry, youngest son of the Conqueror, and his English Queen Edith (Matilda II), had so far successfully navigated an invasion by his older brother, Robert of Normandy, and a revolt of wealthy earls lead by Belleme the Impaler of Shrewsbury. By rallying the support of the English folk, they had evaded a Norman Civil War in the kingdom. How long would that support last if they allowed the folk to starve?

      While Henry traveled about keeping the peace and organizing the rebuilding after the storm, Edith ran the palace and the central court. This would the first of many times that she would run England as Regent on her husband's behalf.

      Under her rule the royal court changed radically to have more pomp, and be more moral. Instead of filling it with the 'old boy' network of rough Norman lords left over from the invasion, she filled it with their half-Norman, half-English sons and daughters: the first generation of Anglo-Normans.

      * * * * *

      * * * * *

      The Hoodsman - Queens and Widows by Skye Smith Copyright 2010-13

      Table of Contents

      Title Page

      Cover Flap

      About the Author

      Prologue

      Table of Contents

      Chapter 1 - The battle of Tamara Sound, Cornwall in October 1103

      Chapter 2 - Without a ship in Oudenburg, Flanders in March 1079

      Chapter 3 - Welcomed back to Huntingdon in March 1079

      Chapter 4 - Save the children in Fulwood, S.Yorkshire in March 1079

      Chapter 5 - John's mother in Hathersage, Derbyshire in March 1079

      Chapter 6 - Searching for the children in Peaks Arse in March 1079

      Chapter 7 - An ice storm sweeps across Peaks Arse in March 1079

      Chapter 8 - Shire court in Sheffield, S.Yorkshire in March 1079

      Chapter 9 - In a nun's cart to Dun Holm (Durham) in April 1079

      Chapter 10 - Scottish raiders south of Dun Holm in April 1079

      Chapter 11 - With Margaret in Dunfermline, Scotland in May 1079

      Chapter 12 - Romance at Loch Fitty, Scotland in May 1079

      Chapter 13 - Vision of St. Margaret at St. Serb's Inch in June 1079

      Chapter 14 - Judith's steward visits Northumbria in June 1079

      Chapter 15 - Judith's welcome at Huntingdon in September 1079

      Chapter 16 - Robert leaves for Caen from Cornwall in October 1103

      Chapter 17 - With Queen Edith in Winchester in October 1103

      Chapter 18 - The Queen rules in Winchester in October 1103

      Chapter 19 - Gateshead on Tyne, Northumbria in March 1080

      Chapter 20 - A new baby girl in Dunfermline, Scotland in May 1080

      Chapter 21 - The Lady of the Bridge at Gateshead in July 1080

      Chapter 22 - Taking Cristina to Winchester in October 1080

      Chapter 23 - Cristina decides in Winchester in November 1080

      Chapter 24 - The Queen rules in Westminster in October 1103

      Chapter 25 - News of Magnus in Westminster in December 1103

      Chapter 26 - Traveling to Lincoln with Lucy in December 1103

      Chapter 27 - Murdering a king in the New Forest in winter 1080-81

      Chapter 28 - Marching to Newcastle-upon-Tyne in February 1081

      Chapter 29 - Traveling to London with Lucy in December 1103

      Chapter 30 - Safely back to Westminster in December 1103

      * * * * *

      * * * * *

      The Hoodsman - Queens and Widows by Skye Smith Copyright 2010-13

      Chapter 1 - The battle of Tamara Sound, Cornwall in October 1103

      The huge cog sailing ship, on which William of Mortain had hoped to escape to Normandy with his treasure and knights, had been towed to the safety of a beach. It floated in the shallows only a hundred paces from the shore. The crew aboard her were setting the anchors and feeling relieved at escaping a drowning on the reefs of Tamara Sound. Raynar had his own ship's crew release the tow lines and then row forwards into the shore so he could step ashore.

      Once he had his boots in hand, he had two huge oarsmen lower him down. He felt his old back jerk with the strain and he cursed that once again he was, yet again, doing a young man's job, at his age. The sea in Tamara Sound was cool on his bare feet, but not cold , and the water here was barely over his knees.

      Captain Mark was waiting for him on the pebble shingle beach. The hull of Mark's own ship had been split open during the sea battle for the cog, and so Raynar's ship had towed him to this shore before rescuing the rudderless cog. Mark's crew had beached the hole in the hull as high and dry as they could, and now some of the crew were pushing logs in place to use as rollers for pulling it even higher out of the tide.

      The rest of Mark's crew had grabbed their bows and quivers and spread out along the shoreline to cover every way down from the low cliffs of Sutton Hoe, above them. Every oarsman on both of the English ships were bowmen, and over half of them carried Welsh style Ywen selfbows, what the English called longbows.

      Mark allowed him time enough to put his boots back on before he began to speak. What now Ray? Mortain will no longer be aboard the cog. He will have escaped in that snekkja. He looked up at the sky to throw a curse, or perhaps a prayer, to the storm god. May he be sunk by the next storm. Unfortunately the snekkja design was very sea worthy, which was why that type of midsized longship was favoured along the Normandy coast that faced Cornwall.

      I've told my crew to stay aboard my ship and keep watch. Raynar replied. No one is to get off that cog, no one is to get on her, and no boat is to come near her. It didn't take many words to brief Mark. He was a captain with long experience who had, a few times, made the run from England to the Byzantine through the Pillars of Hercules.

      Your men are doing exactly what they should be doing, Raynar continued while he had a good gander around. Making sure no one comes onto this beach without our permission. Did you send any scouts out and about? Of course you did.

      A warning call was being relayed down the beach. This beach was on the north end of outer Tamara sound and was about three miles south of the narrows where the ferry crossed to the west side of the sound, to Saltash. Saltash was the village closest to the bailey fortress of Trematon that Mortain's father Robert had built to secure all the harbours further inland. A fortress that now, after over thirty years of use, was mostly built of stone.

      Scouts returning skipper, and they have a nob with them, the last man in the relay called softly.

      Well let's hope the nobleman is carrying greetings from Ranulf le Meschin, Raynar muttered, and not from Robert of Normandy, or worse, Trematon castle.

      By the look of the nob, he wasn't a nobleman at all, but just an itinerant knight. He was having trouble walking in his heavy armour and armoured boots along the strand, walking sort of like he had webbed feet. He was a plucky bugger though, walking straight into a nest of peasant bowmen, each of which had arms the size of legs from pulling at oars for half of their lifetimes.

      The knight stopped in front of them and looked from one old man to the other. He felt a right fool to be asking, Which of you is Raynar the Treasury Agent? when both of these men were obviously grizzled sea captains.

      That would be me, replied Mark, quickly and in French, just in case this knight was no friend to Ray. And who might you be?

      I come from Ranulf le Meschin. His army is at the ferry landing across from Saltash. We were watching the sea battle from the hill above us here. It was fantastic. He wants to know what you need from him.

      And just why, replied Mark, should we believe you?

      Ah yes, of course, the knight handed him a small stick with notches cut into it. My lord said that you would be able to tell me what this is.

      Mark looked at the stick and was silent. He didn't have a clue. The knight leaped back from them and pulled at his sword hilt. Two arrows would have been in his heart in a breath if Raynar had not called out. Hold, everyone hold. I am Raynar. That is the practice stick I was using to explain the Treasury's new tally sticks to Ranulf's wife, Lucy.

      The young knight pushed his sword's hilt back in place, and sighed with relief as the bowmen pointed their arrows to the ground and eased the bowstrings. Glad to meet you sir. I am glad you were standing closeby. Do you have the other half?

      Raynar fished in his purse and handed the other half of the split stick to Mark. They mated exactly. Each of the men took their halves back. So first tell me the lay of the land, Raynar asked of the young knight.

      Of course. This beach is less than a mile from the fishing town of Sutton on Sutton harbour, the first inlet to the east of here. The ferry to Saltash is the other way. Ranulf is above us on the rise of Sutton Hoe waiting for my return.

      And where is Robert of Normandy?

      Ranulf asked him to go and parley with Launceston Castle. That is Mortain's capital, about thirty miles north of here. If it surrendered to him, fine. If not, then he was to return to fetch more of the army for a siege. Either way Robert said he would be back here before dark, to help with Mortain.

      Mortain escaped us, Raynar replied. on a small fast ship, with his closest commanders. See the cog. It has at least twenty knights aboard, and about forty other warriors with them. They are right pissed with us lot, and if we allow them onto the beach they will surely make a fight of it. Go and ask Ranulf to bring most of his army here. With them on this shore those knights will surrender without a fight, and we can disarm them and tie them up without any casualties on either side.

      Anything else? asked the knight.

      I could use a change of clothes, Raynar replied, of quality enough to make me look like a prince. Listen, Ranulf himself won't be needed just to march the army here. If he is above us, then send him and his guard down to help us. Our men need to rest, so they need to be relieved of their guard duties.

      As you wish, sir, shall I go now?

      Yes please, Raynar said with a smile. It was unusual for a Norman knight to be so respectful of a peasant. Perhaps it was because he was dressed as a ship's captain.

      * * * * *

      The sea battle was amazing to watch, Ranulf told Mark and Raynar as he walked with them to watch Raynar's ship again nose its bow into the shore. Two huge oarsmen lowered another man down into the shallows and then passed him his boots and something bulky in sacking. The man waded towards them carrying the sacking and his boots.

      Ranulf, so how does it go? said the man dressed like the rest of the seamen in the felted sheepskin brynja. Oh come now. Look at my face not my clothes.

      At the mention of clothes, Raynar passed the man a wad of fine clothing that Ranulf had just handed him.

      Henry, Ranulf exclaimed as he began to bow.

      Raynar reached forward and pulled him back to his feet pretending that he had stumbled. Not here, not yet, he told Ranulf. First let him change into more suitable clothing.

      No less than five bowmen went with Henry over to the thick stand of broom under the cliff face and stood guard while he changed from a seaman back into the King of the English.

      Ranulf had brought about fifty warriors with him. With Raynar's bowmen that made just over a hundred. There were sixty desperate warriors on the cog, so they still did not have enough to scare them into surrender. How long until the army arrives? asked Raynar.

      The cavalry and the mounted skirmishers, Ranulf pursed his lips, as soon as an hour.

      We will wait. There is no need for them to come down onto the beach. Just have them line the cliff edge above us so that they can be seen from the cog.

      We saw the longship escape you, said Ranulf without criticism. Raynar's ships had been outnumbered six to two. I assume it carries Mortain to Normandy?

      Unfortunately yes, replied Henry, now within earshot, as he walked back to them dressed with a fine tunic and a fine cloak overtop of his light and costly mail. The armour had been in the sacking that he had carried ashore.

      There was silence amongst the oarsmen on the beach, and then guffaws of laughter. This was a story for the alehouse. How they had carried the King down the coast from Portsmouth to Sutton as a shipmate, and without even knowing.

      So I suppose that now you are here, you will want to lead us into battle? Ranulf asked Henry.

      My mother had me trained as a bishop so as to command men, not to fight them, Henry replied. Standing with my bow in a line of archers on a ship is one thing, but there is nothing to be gained by my risking being caught in hand to hand combat in the middle of a battle.

      You could have been drowned in that sea battle.

      Not likely, not with Raynar here as the captain, Henry replied. My wife, Edith's, greatest fear was that I would be assassinated on the way to Cornwall. William Mortain seems to be using assassins a lot these days, just as his uncle Odo did in his day. An army is an enemy you can see. I had no fear of Mortain's army. This seaman's ruse was to evade the assassins. Besides, it was good fun. Ask any of these lads. He swung his arms around in an arc to point to his shipmates with the longbows.

      Henry began searching for something in his sacking. The last heavy thing. He found it and put it on his head. It was a skull cap helmet with a fur lining, and attached to it was a very visible crown made of gold leaf over thin beaten bronze. There, now those on the cog will all know that it is time to discuss terms.

      No terms, Henry, Raynar said with his usual lack of respect for nobility. Each of those knights on the cog has land and other men close to here. We cannot allow them to go free until every fortification resigns, otherwise the folk of Cornwall will be caught between a running series of battles.

      Hmm, perhaps, Henry replied. Ranulf, where is my brother Robert?

      He was eager to be the first to Launceston Castle, said Ranulf. As the capital of Cornwall, it should have the best loot. He told me he would be back here before dark to claim his portion of Mortain's treasure.

      Mortain will have taken any jewels and gold with him on the snekkja, Raynar grimaced, but there may still be silver on the cog. Did you say that Robert was after loot? How can he even think of looting these folk? Mortain would have looted them to fill his ship, and that after the devastation caused by the Saint Lawrence day storm. These folk will need everything they have left just to survive the winter.

      Looting by a victorious army is not against the law, said Ranulf thinking about the looting his army had done in Devonshire once Exeter had resigned. Henry grabbed him by the arm to hush him. Too late. Raynar's face was turning red with anger.

      King Henry has arrived in Cornwall, Raynar seethed. That means that his Coronation Charter is now enacted in this shire. That means that this shire reverts to Knut's law and moot courts, and no one is above that law. You will issue orders to cease all looting, rape, injury, and murder of the non-combatants, and you will issue those orders immediately.

      Henry stepped between Raynar and Ranulf. Be reasonable, Raynar. I don't want my men risking their lives thinking that someone is a non-combatant, while all the time it is an ambush.

      Raynar stood with his mouth open in shock at these words. He could feel his heart pumping much too hard for an old man in his mid fifties. He could feel a headache building behind the flush on his forehead. He took some deep breaths and tried to calm himself. "These folk have been hoping and praying for you to come and save them from the Mortains, just as you saved the folk of Shropshire from the Bellemes. They will run out to cheer your army on, and you are saying that the army is free to loot and maim and rape them.

      If you allow your army to loot these folk then you will get more than just a few ambushes. There are a thousand outlaws ranging in the moors,

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1