Baron's War by Griff Hosker

Author:Griff Hosker [Hosker, Griff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sword Books Ltd.
Published: 2018-02-18T16:00:00+00:00

Sherriff of York

Chapter 12

My plans to visit York were delayed. It was not procrastination on my part merely that we had problems in the valley which needed my attention. When the snows melted in February it was followed by unusually heavy rains. There was flooding. Thanks to the ditches dug by my men Stockton remained largely undamaged but the lands around Norton and Hartburn were inundated. We had to house the refugees in Stockton. When the rains abated I decided to put in place the digging of the cut in the Tees. It would prevent flooding. Every man from my garrisons and every man in the valley was involved. I was entitled to call upon each man for forty days a year. It was supposed to be in times of war. I used five of those days for a war against the river!

It was messy work and it was hard work but it brought every man and warrior together. Sir Edward and our squires worked in kyrtles and seal skin boots alongside pig farmers, herdsmen and tanners. The levy returned to their homes after five days and my men and I finished off the work. Father Abelard had joined us in the labour. He had a clever mind and his advice helped to save us from catastrophic mistakes. He wisely suggested building up the banks to prevent flooding and, some years later, during the great flood of 1212, we were saved the devastation which destroyed whole settlements further upstream.

By the time we had finished I had to hold my first assizes. In England they tended to be more regular than in Anjou. It helped me to get to know the people of my manor. I discovered the good and the innocent as well as the rogues and the chancers. Dispensing justice was a great responsibility. The Sunday morning training had yielded results. The men were much better with their bows. None could compete with my own archers but David of Wales identified four young men who could be trained to be archers.

Sir Edward and his bride made Wulfestun more secure and comfortable. Although his wife had seen thirty summers she soon fell pregnant much to Edward’s delight. A practical woman, she had the women who lived at Wulfestun turn the bolts of cloth Edward had bought into surcoats for his men at arms. He took as his sign the hawk, for his father had been a hawker.

The arrival of my son, William, also delayed my departure for York. He came at the beginning of May. Having held my assizes, I had contemplated leaving for York when the hall was filled with women racing around as my son entered the world. For my Aunt Ruth this was a wondrous moment. She would be present at the birth of a child. She regarded my children as her grandchildren. Alfred and Rebekah both called her Nanna. As I waited I sent Fótr to Whorlton to inform Sir Ralph that I would need him when I visited York.

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