Welsh War by Griff Hosker

Author:Griff Hosker [Hosker, Griff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sword Books Ltd.
Published: 2018-09-15T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

The Welsh Plot

I would not leave my land denuded of warriors. I would take Sir Edward and Sir Peter. I asked the Bishop and the Sheriff of York to watch over my land. I had, in addition, Sir Fótr, Sir Alfred, Sir William and Sir Geoffrey. I had the best men at arms and archers in the land. I sent letters to London and York and then we set off for Chester. The King, although young, had shown that he had a quick mind. We could save almost three weeks by riding south and west. More importantly we could pick up good warriors along the way. The Earl of Chester and the men of Chester knew how to fight the Welsh. Gilbert de Clare was Earl of Glamorgan and he too was a powerful lord. This war would not be won by the fyrd or even a muster of border lords. We would have to use a small army made up of the best of warriors. These would be men who knew how to fight the Welsh. Chester and Glamorgan knew how to do that. William Marshal could defend and he would do until we arrived. The King was correct. Speed was of the essence.

It was winter and I took more servants and spare horses than I would normally have done. The incident with the stag had shown me how fragile was the King’s life. He needed more guards but we just had the ones led by James of Corfe. As we headed for Carlisle I spoke with Sir Richard and James. “There will be men who excel on the battlefield. I cannot watch everywhere. Find those you think could serve the King. He has but one knight and a handful of men. It is not enough.”

James asked, “Lord, should the council not choose them?”

“Who would you trust to guard the King? A Council appointed by lords and bishops or men you have seen fighting on a battlefield?” He nodded. “All that I ask is that you consult with me or Henry Youngblood or Ridley the Giant.”

“Why lord?”

“For we have been doing this for twenty years. I have been betrayed before now and all of my men know the signs. I look a man in the eye when I speak with him.”

One thing which worried me, on the way south, was the lack of information from Chester. The Earl had lands which were close to the Welsh. He should have known what was going on. Was this some game being played by the King of Gwynedd?

When we reached Chester, the King had learned how to campaign. We had slept out in tents once or twice on the way south and the wind and the rain had swept in from the west. He had learned how to use a latrine and sleep on the hard ground. He understood the benefits of extra blankets and a cloak wrapped around it all. These were little things which we took for granted but for the King they were new.

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