it cannot compare with Stockton beer. I have a thirst that only Mary the Alewife can satisfy!"
I clapped him on the back. "Stay a couple of days if you wish. Ask your captain if he will dine with me this evening. I have much to ask." I pointed for I could see that he was busy on his ship. "I will not take him from his duties. John, have the new men at arms and archers sent to my Inner Bailey. John of Craven and I will speak with them."
That evening my household knights, my steward and my squires joined me as William of Kingston told us of his voyage and, more importantly, events in Normandy and Anjou.
"Your son is now a most important knight, lord. He is at the right hand of the Count and leads a large number of knights. They have almost finished quashing the rebel barons in the southern part of Normandy."
"Good then the Empress will soon have reinforcements."
He shook his head, "I fear not lord. The Count of Flanders has begun massing armies by the border and it is rumoured that the French are casting covetous glances at Blois. You can expect no help this year nor, in my view, next year."
That was a blow. "And Leofric, how is he?"
"His wife is with child again! He is happy, lord, and he is popular. That is rare. The people love him for he is a thoughtful leader." He suddenly looked worried. "The men he sent, they are satisfactory?"
Sir John answered for me. "They are! We can now take more men when we campaign. Are there more in training?"
"With the war in Normandy almost at an end there are keen young men who wish to fight and it is said that the land of the Warlord of the North is the best place to become rich and successful. The ones you have are the best. The others are sent to your son's castle in Ouistreham or they stay with Sir Leofric."
John my steward had listened to all of this impatiently. "And trade? Is it as good or does the end of the war mean prices have fallen?"
I shook my head. John was the son of a moneyer and it showed! William of Kingston was used to dealing with such men. "Trade is good. Alf's iron goods are in great demand and his swords are highly prized. The high quality of the wool is also much sought after."
John's face lit up into a grin. "And the leather?"
"I am afraid that the leather from Spain sells for a higher price. But look on the bright side we sell a great deal. You were happy with your share were you not?"
"Of course."
Harold laughed, "But although he is happy he is never satisfied! He wants more!"
Chapter 4
We now had more men to use in our war against Sir Edward Fitz Mandeville. The last report we had was that his banner had been seen flying at his castle. That meant he was there. We had him in his lair. We gathered at Thornaby in the last week of May. It had been some time since such a mighty host had headed south. We rode down the Great North Road. We had many scouts out. Aiden, Edward and Edgar were joined by those of Sir Richard of Yarm, Sir Wulfric and Sir Edward. We were well protected. Our mounted archers guarded our flanks, our wagon with the siege machines and our sumpters. My aim was to make any spies who might see us leaving Thornaby to assume we were heading for Gloucester and the Empress. We travelled slowly and stopped at the old ruined castle of Osmotherley. Alan son of Alan had been born there and all of his family had died there when I had been attacked by assassins. Arriving in the middle of the afternoon, we spent the night.
By dawn there was no sign of us. We left in the middle of the night screened by archers. They found and killed two enemy scouts on the road across the moors. I had no doubt that they had come from Helmsley. I intended to catch Sir Edward close to Malton. His new castle was only half built. They had used, according to our scouts, the old ditch from the castle destroyed by the Scots and they had begun to build in stone but the bulk of it was wooden still.
I clapped him on the back. "Stay a couple of days if you wish. Ask your captain if he will dine with me this evening. I have much to ask." I pointed for I could see that he was busy on his ship. "I will not take him from his duties. John, have the new men at arms and archers sent to my Inner Bailey. John of Craven and I will speak with them."
That evening my household knights, my steward and my squires joined me as William of Kingston told us of his voyage and, more importantly, events in Normandy and Anjou.
"Your son is now a most important knight, lord. He is at the right hand of the Count and leads a large number of knights. They have almost finished quashing the rebel barons in the southern part of Normandy."
"Good then the Empress will soon have reinforcements."
He shook his head, "I fear not lord. The Count of Flanders has begun massing armies by the border and it is rumoured that the French are casting covetous glances at Blois. You can expect no help this year nor, in my view, next year."
That was a blow. "And Leofric, how is he?"
"His wife is with child again! He is happy, lord, and he is popular. That is rare. The people love him for he is a thoughtful leader." He suddenly looked worried. "The men he sent, they are satisfactory?"
Sir John answered for me. "They are! We can now take more men when we campaign. Are there more in training?"
"With the war in Normandy almost at an end there are keen young men who wish to fight and it is said that the land of the Warlord of the North is the best place to become rich and successful. The ones you have are the best. The others are sent to your son's castle in Ouistreham or they stay with Sir Leofric."
John my steward had listened to all of this impatiently. "And trade? Is it as good or does the end of the war mean prices have fallen?"
I shook my head. John was the son of a moneyer and it showed! William of Kingston was used to dealing with such men. "Trade is good. Alf's iron goods are in great demand and his swords are highly prized. The high quality of the wool is also much sought after."
John's face lit up into a grin. "And the leather?"
"I am afraid that the leather from Spain sells for a higher price. But look on the bright side we sell a great deal. You were happy with your share were you not?"
"Of course."
Harold laughed, "But although he is happy he is never satisfied! He wants more!"
Chapter 4
We now had more men to use in our war against Sir Edward Fitz Mandeville. The last report we had was that his banner had been seen flying at his castle. That meant he was there. We had him in his lair. We gathered at Thornaby in the last week of May. It had been some time since such a mighty host had headed south. We rode down the Great North Road. We had many scouts out. Aiden, Edward and Edgar were joined by those of Sir Richard of Yarm, Sir Wulfric and Sir Edward. We were well protected. Our mounted archers guarded our flanks, our wagon with the siege machines and our sumpters. My aim was to make any spies who might see us leaving Thornaby to assume we were heading for Gloucester and the Empress. We travelled slowly and stopped at the old ruined castle of Osmotherley. Alan son of Alan had been born there and all of his family had died there when I had been attacked by assassins. Arriving in the middle of the afternoon, we spent the night.
By dawn there was no sign of us. We left in the middle of the night screened by archers. They found and killed two enemy scouts on the road across the moors. I had no doubt that they had come from Helmsley. I intended to catch Sir Edward close to Malton. His new castle was only half built. They had used, according to our scouts, the old ditch from the castle destroyed by the Scots and they had begun to build in stone but the bulk of it was wooden still.
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