Seeking Jerusalem Read online

  The history of the long standing dispute over Wark was complex but, in essence, Walter l’Espec, a previous lord of the manor, had been granted Wark as well as Carham on condition that he built and maintained a castle to guard the ford over the Tweed at that point. L’Espec couldn’t be bothered and had transferred Wark and its castle obligation to Richard’s great-grandfather. When Robert de Roos had inherited Carham from l’Espec he had demanded Wark as well, but his claim had been denied by the then Earl of Northumberland. Wark Castle was now a royal stronghold and so Richard was no longer responsible for its maintenance or that of the garrison. Odo therefore claimed that, as the original reason for the transfer of the manor to the de Cuilles had disappeared, the manor should be returned to him.

  Edward sighed and agreed to travel over to Carham to see Odo de Roos but didn’t see much point in doing so. As Richard was on crusade any land disputes would, under the papal decree, have to await his return. However, when he got to Wark he found that Odo de Roos had evicted the bailiff and installed his own man. He had effectively seized the manor for himself. Edward was only accompanied by his squire and two serjeants whereas de Roos had garrisoned the fortified hall house with six of his men. Edward rode onto the castle but the constable declined to get involved, saying that it was a matter for the sheriff. However, the sheriff was Hugh de Puiset, the Prince-Bishop of Durham, and Edward knew that he was in London.

  Edward rode up to the closed gates in the palisade which surrounded the hall and asked to speak to Odo de Roos but he was told that he had returned to his estates in Yorkshire. Edward rode away thinking hard; then he had an idea.

  ~#~

  William Marshal again lay awake next to Isabel and pondered the many problems that faced him in the absence of King Richard on crusade. The greatest of these was still John, Earl of Gloucester and Count of Mortain. William had served the Plantagenets ever since he had been appointed as military tutor to Henry, the Young King, some twenty five years before. However, it hadn’t been an easy path to tread. The various members of the Plantagenet family were often in dispute with one other and now Prince John was sowing dissent and uncertainty against his brother by claiming that Richard had been killed in the Holy Land.

  Richard had named his nephew, Arthur, the infant Duke of Brittany, as his heir but if Richard was truly dead, Arthur would have few supporters in England. John was disliked and distrusted but the barons were likely to support him rather than a foreign child.

  Isabel stirred and, realising her husband lay awake, turned towards him and put a comforting hand on his chest.

  ‘You’re worrying about John again, aren’t you?’ There was a hint of impatience in the question. She knew how precious his honour was to William and it was one the many things she admired in him, but she was getting more than a little fed up with his present preoccupation. Like most of the nobility, Isabel was more concerned with preserving their status and, when the opportunity presented itself, of adding to their lands, wealth and power. John was the coming man and, although there was little to admire in him as a person, he was likely to be the next king should anything happen to Richard before he produced an heir.

  John was a vindictive man and Isabel worried that she and William might well pay for their loyalty to Richard when the time came. Both Henry and Richard had readily forgiven William for his steadfast adherence to his previous liege lord and actions against them in the past, but they were sensible men who realised the advantage of having a man of Marshal’s reputation by their side. John was selfish, peevish and a fool. His desire for revenge against his elder brother’s right-hand man might very well result in Marshal’s downfall. Although the best of the barons admired and supported William, there were many who were venal, unscrupulous and jealous enough to support John if he chose to strip Marshal of his lands in England, Wales and Ireland.

  William sighed. ‘Yes, my love. It would be easy to deal with John if he had a grain of common sense in his head. Instead, he is impetuous and incapable of strategic thought. Now he has become a cat’s-paw for Philip Augustus, letting him have the Vexin and several castles on Richard’s lands in Normandy in exchange for what? Philip’s worthless promise that he will support John’s claim to the throne against Prince Arthur and any infant born to Berengaria.’

  ‘Huh, that seems unlikely as she has failed to get pregnant so far, and they have been married long enough. Perhaps he is not as lusty as you, my love?’ She felt down for his manhood and felt it stir immediately at her touch.

  William lay there enjoying the moment. ‘It hasn’t stopped him siring bastards. Perhaps she is barren?’ he murmured before forgetting all about John, Richard and the cares of state. He and Isobel already had two children, one-year old William and baby Richard, and it looked as if Isobel was keen on having a few more.

  The next day William received a visit from his fellow co-regent. Hugh was also worried about John’s growing support in the country and his illegal seizure of several royal castles. The prince had now based himself at Nottingham. Since the removal of the previous sheriff the post had stood vacant and so John had appointed one on his cronies in his place, though without royal sanction, and therefore illegally.

  ‘Somehow, we need to clip John’s wings before he takes over the whole country,’ Hugh ranted without making any suggestions as to how this might be done. John already held the South West and was making serious inroads into the Midlands.

  ‘I have to try Sir Waldo Cuille for murder tomorrow. He is a tenant-in-chief of the king, holding a number of manors from him in Derbyshire, so it is not for John to interfere but, surprisingly, he has asked for leniency. I wasn’t aware that Sir Waldo was one of his men?’

  ‘Nor me,’ Hugh de Puiset agreed, ‘especially as he killed one of the prince’s supporters. Perhaps John wishes to bind him to his cause for some reason?’

  ‘Hmm. Possibly,’ William murmured thoughtfully then smiled, ‘perhaps it would be best to do as John asks, then persuade Cuille to report to me what John is up to.’

  ~#~

  Waldo was surprised and vastly relieved to hear the court’s verdict. He was to forfeit his lands to the crown and pay a fine of fifty marks to the Beauilly family. That would still leave him with enough money to exist on until he decided what to do. He could scarcely seek employment as a household knight so he needed time to think about his options.

  In contrast, John Beauilly’s uncle and two cousins were furious about the verdict. They had expected Waldo to face execution or at least made to pay the Beauilly family a hefty sum – not a paltry fifty marks - in compensation. As Waldo was unshackled and allowed to leave he was certain that they would be waiting outside to kill him. However, as soon as he walked out of the courtroom he was ushered into a small anteroom where William Marshal joined him after a few minutes.

  ‘Waldo,’ Marshal smiled at him ‘I have a certain sympathy with your motives for killing Beauilly but you should know that Prince John is the man who pleaded for clemency in your case.’

  ‘Prince John?’ Waldo was bewildered. He had always been King Richard’s man. ‘Why would he do that?’

  ‘That’s what I want to know. Doubtless he has a use for you, despite your disability,’ William told him bluntly. ‘However, it was my intervention that saved you from a death sentence so I expect you to remain loyal to the king.’

  Waldo was now even more confused. ‘I’m afraid I don’t understand. You want me to find out why Prince John urged clemency for me?’

  ‘Partly. But I am more interested in what John is up to. Once you know what he wants with you I expect you to report back to me on anything you think he might be planning that might harm the king’s interests. Will you do that?’

  ‘And if I don’t?’

  ‘Then you are welcome to take your chances with the Beauilly family who are waiting for you outside.’

  ‘I see.’ Waldo thought for a moment. ‘If I do as you say will I get my manors back?’

  ‘Sadly not. Th
is arrangement must remain secret but I will see that you are rewarded so that you can set up as a merchant.’

  ‘A merchant!’ Waldo was affronted. ‘I am a knight. I might be landless but I am no trader or yeoman.’

  ‘A knight earns his place in society because of his ability to fight. The rawest squire could best a man with no sword arm. I suggest you get used to the idea.’

  Waldo looked William in the eye. ‘I suppose so – for the moment. But I promise you this: I will learn to fight as well with my left hand as I could with my right. In the meantime I will do as you ask. Two questions though: how will I contact you and how do I get out of here safely?’

  ‘Drop into the Trip to Jerusalem for the odd drink just outside the castle walls in Nottingham. It’s a new Inn which opened two years ago and the innkeeper is one of my men. Now, four of Prince John’s serjeants are waiting outside to escort you safely to Nottingham. Good luck.’

  ~#~

  Edward de Cuille was in something of a quandary. As the Governor of Berwick and a Scottish baron he couldn’t be involved in an attack on an English manor, however great the justification, so he decided to suggest a plan to one of his brother’s allies. He therefore rode over to see Thomas de Muschamp at Wooler. Thomas was incensed at the news that de Roos had seized Wark in the face of the Pope’s decree. He immediately send a messenger to London with a request that Hugh de Puiset excommunicate Odo de Roos for his transgression. However, as Edward pointed out, that hadn’t deterred d’Umfraville; or, indeed, Philip Augustus from seizing part of Normandy with Prince John’s connivance. He then outlined his plan to the Baron of Wooler.

  At first Thomas wasn’t in favour and insisted on leaving the matter until he heard back from the prince-bishop but, as Edward pointed out, that could take months and still leave the matter unresolved.

  ‘Let’s face it, Thomas, both co-regents face more important problems than the illegal seizure of one manor in the wilds of Northumberland. At best, Odo de Roos is likely to be threatened with excommunication and told to hand the manor back; both of which he will ignore.’

  De Muschamp sighed. ‘You’re right I suppose. Very well, we will go ahead with your plan and I just hope that it works.’ He held his hand up to indicate that he hadn’t finished. ‘But I’m not going out on a limb on my own. I want Eustace de Vesci’s involvement too, so you had better head off for Alnwick and see what he says.’

  Edward wasn’t happy about venturing further into England, but Thomas gave him an escort of a knight and three serjeants. Eustace had been Thomas’s brother-in-law until the death of his wife the previous year and his eldest son, Robert, served in the de Vesci household as a page. The knight accompanying him was Thomas’s illegitimate half-brother, Bertram, who had only recently been knighted. Thomas had driven a hard bargain for his help in the plan. It wouldn’t be sufficient merely to take back possession; Odo had to be dissuaded from any future attacks on Wark, so Thomas had suggested that Edward, acting as his brother’s proxy, give the manor to Bertram and, instead of giving Richard the usual military service in return, Bertram would pay Richard half of the annual income from the manor. Thomas would also fund two men-at-arms to protect his brother’s lands.

  From Thomas’s point of view this was a good deal. He had provided for his young half-brother at minimal cost to himself and had strengthened his alliance with his neighbour. Edward had doubts about Richard’s acceptance of the agreement, but the alternative was to leave matters in the hands of the courts which would mean losing the income from the manor for a long time to come, possibly for ever if de Roos bribed the judges.

  The palisade around the hall at Wark didn’t have a parapet all the way around it. There was a fighting platform by the gate and three more at intervals around the circumference so that archers or crossbowmen could cover all approaches. As the sun began to rise above the horizon the next day, throwing a blanket of red and yellow along the River Tweed and casting shadows across the undulating land along its banks, Bertram de Muschamp rode through the village and up to the gate of the hall accompanied by two heralds wearing the gold and red tabard of Muschamp and the black cross on gold of Vesci.

  ‘On behalf of the most noble and puissant knight, Bertram de Muschamp, I, the herald of the barony of Wooler and Glendale and my fellow herald of the barony of Alnwick and Bamburgh,’ one of the heralds began in the pompous and flowery language that their kind favoured, ‘demand that you surrender the manor of Wark to Sir Bertram on pain of excommunication and execution should you fail to do so within the hour. We will return for your answer then.’ With that, the trio turned and rode back towards the gathering crowd of villagers, who stood gawping at them, to re-join the small force of serjeants, men-at-arms and archers that stood just outside the village.

  Whilst the de Roos’s bailiff and his men-at-arms had clustered on the platform by the gate staring at the heralds and the twenty or so soldiers behind them, Edward and four archers that he had brought from Harbottle crept up to the far side of the circular palisade and placed a tree trunk against it. The tree had been cut to length and the braches lopped off so that it formed a scaling ladder. One by one the four archers ascended it quietly whilst the defenders attention was concentrated on the heralds. Finally, Edwin joined them, whilst Edward and his serjeants crossed back across the ford below the castle into his own territory in Scotland, his job done.

  As Sir Bertram and the heralds rode away Edwin coughed politely and the bailiff and his men turned, startled, to find that they were trapped on the fighting platform facing four archers with drawn bows.

  ‘I suggest that you acquiesce to the heralds demand and surrender now.’

  ‘What if we don’t?’ the bailiff asked with some truculence. ‘Are you going to shoot down innocent men? Do you want a war with the powerful de Roos family?’

  ‘You are far from innocent. You are violating the Pope’s decree which prohibits the occupation of property belonging to those on holy crusade, and furthermore this manor is now held from Lord Richard de Cuille by Sir Bertram de Muschamp. It is you who are likely to start a war with three of the most powerful barons in Northumberland. I’m not sure that Odo de Roos would thank you for that.’

  Edwin was conscious that his archers were tiring, holding their bows at full draw, so he decided to bring matters to a head before they were forced to relax their firing arms.

  ‘You have until the count of five to decide. One, two…’

  The three soldiers with crossbows lowered them and Edwin was about to give the order to his men to lower bows when the bailiff seized one of the crossbows in a fury and aimed it at Edwin. Before he could release the quarrel four arrows took him in the chest and he toppled off the platform into the dust of the bailey. The six men-at-arms stood uncertainly but, as soon as the archers drew fresh arrows they threw their weapons down and filed down into the courtyard to be secured by Edwin’s men whilst Edwin himself climbed up on to the platform they had recently vacated, lowered the de Roos banner of three white water skins on red and hoisted the de Cuille white chevron and three gold aulunts’ heads on a black field.

  ~#~

  Waldo was feeling a little nervous as he rode through the barbican and into the outer bailey of Nottingham Castle. Here he dismounted and two of his escort accompanied him through the gate into the inner bailey and then up a steep incline into the inner ward. This was built on a rocky outcrop which dominated the town. The inner ward was half filled by the four storey keep with walls ten foot thick. Waldo couldn’t help but think that this castle would be almost impossible to capture, except by starving the garrison into submission. Without being given the opportunity to wash or shake the dust from his clothes, he was taken into the great hall where John of Gloucester, sat in council with three other men. The prince’s eyes flickered briefly over the new arrival and then he ignored him.

  Waldo was left to study his surroundings whilst he waited. The bare walls of the hall looked new, as did the beams that supported the
roof and the planks that formed the floor. There were two fireplaces, both set at one end of the hall on opposite walls – presumably to keep those sitting at the high table comfortable at the expense of those dining below the salt. Both fires were lit today, but it was still decidedly chilly where Waldo was standing.

  Eventually two of the men got up, bowed and left the hall, giving Waldo a curious glance as they walked passed him. Prince John beckoned him forward and Waldo went to stand in front of the table at which the two men sat.

  ‘You know you owe your life to my intervention?’ John began without preamble.

  ‘Yes my lord; I am most…’

  ‘Yes, yes, I’m sure you are most grateful,’ John cut in impatiently. ‘Now is the time for you to repay my kindness to you. I know you killed that oaf Beauilly but I have reason to believe that you ambushed and shot Robert of Locksley too.’

  ‘How did you know. . ?’ Waldo began before the prince interrupted him again.

  ‘Not difficult. Locksley killed your father, so when he was shot in Northumberland it had to be you, or someone hired by you,’ John mused. ‘But, on balance, had it been me, I would have wanted to exact my vengeance personally.’

  John looked at Waldo’s face, which showed a mixture of remorse, guilt and concern at being accused of the killing.

  ‘Yes, I thought so. It was you. Good! Now I have a little task for you. Having assassinated two already, you shouldn’t be too particular about adding a third to your list.’

  ‘You want me to assassinate someone?’ Waldo asked uncertainly.