King Henry IV by Griff Hosker

Author:Griff Hosker [Hosker, Griff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sword Books Ltd
Published: 2019-07-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

My wife liked Gilles the moment she laid eyes upon him and when she heard his tale she burst into tears. “We have raised a good son.”

“Aye, that we have.”

My wife had Gilles and Harold deloused and cleaned as soon as they arrived. The boy and the old soldier appreciated it. Their old clothes were burned and they were dressed in good quality garments. The two waifs and strays soon began to show the effect of clean clothes, good food and a bed. As my son and I schooled our horses I spoke to him of his new squire, “It was a noble gesture but if you have second thoughts, we can find a place for Gilles. You need not have him as a squire if you do not wish to.”

“I know but I think of the stories you tell of the Blue Company. Who knows what Gilles might achieve? He has few skills yet but, father, think what he endured. There is potential there. I have had an easy time as your squire; perhaps this is my quest to do as Red Ralph and the others did with you and turn you into a gentleman.”

I knew he was right but he was beginning his life as a knight with many obstacles in his way. What it meant was that, instead of preparing for the ceremony and learning what he ought, my son spent every waking hour teaching Gilles how to behave as a squire. The boy had been badly treated and abused; he needed lessons in the simplest of tasks. My son was patient and Harry, surprisingly, helped his elder brother. Perhaps he saw what he might need to do when he became a knight.

Although it was winter the Great North Road was kept open and I used Sir John’s squire, Ralph, to ride to Middleham a week before the ceremony just to ensure that the preparations for the wedding were proceeding apace. It also afforded Ralph the opportunity to speak with his family. I had promised when Ralph had joined my service that I would do. I left Ralph with his family for a few days and Harry and I returned home first. After I returned from the north I did not see Ralph to speak to until after the ceremony for I had much to do.

We had no chapel at my hall for Weedon was a small manor and so we used the church of St Peter and Paul in the village. Monks had owned the village until it was given to me and they had built a fine church. Dressed in his white shift Thomas spent the night before the ceremony knelt before the altar with his sword. One disadvantage of the timing was that it was incredibly cold in the church but Thomas was philosophical about that and felt it would make him a stronger knight. Two of my men at arms, along with Harry, volunteered to guard the door. The next morning, which heralded a cold and cheerless day, he was brought back to the hall.

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