The Archer's Gold: Medieval Military fiction: A Novel about Wars, Knights, Pirates, and Crusaders in The Years of the Feudal Middle Ages of William Marshall ... (The Company of English Archers Book 7) by Martin Archer
Authors: Martin Archer
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From his ambassador to the Pope in Rome?
"Yes, I believe he is, Sir William. I don't know much about the fighting around Constantinople. I was in Cornwall at the time learning those boys over there how to read the bible and scribe and sum. They'll be priests won't they?" And a lot more than that.
"But I did talk to some sailors who had been there. What I was told is that it came about because some Englishmen were being held for ransom by the Greeks. They all agreed that William and his sailors won because the Greek army was mostly of a mob of serfs who had no leaders or weapons."
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I don't think I'm under arrest but I have no idea what my having to go to Windsor with the King's men means- or what will happen when I get there. I'm not taking any chances. Before I leave with William Marshal and his men I go to my little castle on the front of the galley's deck to get my bishop's miter and crosier.
On my way to get them I motion to Gerard, the galley's sergeant captain, to join me. Once we're inside the cabin by ourselves, I tell him to send a message to Raymond at the horse stable as soon as I leave with Sir William.
He's to tell Raymond to leave London immediately with all the available horses. Also after I leave, he is to tell Peter to get our men back on board our galleys and be prepared to fight his way out of the harbor and go on to Rome and the Pope without me. He's to wait three days here for me to return and then go without me.
I put my miter on my head, picked up my crosier, and walked back out of the little castle - and immediately saw Peter on the dock off to the side along the galley's railing. He was hanging back and watching carefully.
"Oh Peter, there you are. Mmm. Peter, I'm going to go to Windsor with Sir William and his men. It seems the king wants to ask me some questions about the fighting when the barons attacked us near Oakhampton. So please send someone to the stables to bring me a riding horse, an ambler if one is available. One that is not too pricey if you please."
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I learn much more as I ride to Windsor with Sir William. The king is not particularly worried about the barons being unhappy with him but William Marshal definitely is and he makes no bones about it.
"They don't like the high scutage fees they have to pay if they don't join his army and they don't like the king taking control of their courts and abolishing their right to collect tolls on the roads over their lands. I've tried to warn the king that they might rise and come against him but he doesn't listen."
It also seems the King really does want to talk to me about the battle at Oakhampton and may have heard about some of the archers' successes in the Holy Land. He also wants to know how many archers we have and how many of our ships are available to help carry the new army he's raising to France.
Uh oh, I tell myself, it sounds like the king wants our ships and archers for his army in France.
"Not many of either William's archers or his ships are in England," I confide to Sir William.
"Cornwall is so poor, you know. Can't support them can it? That's why most of the Earl's men and galleys are always so far away in the Holy Land - because it's the only place where they can earn their bread carrying pilgrims and refugees."
"Yes, it's mostly untrained recruits and sailors the Earl has in Cornwall because that's where he trains his archers and repairs his ships. The land's no good so the people are desperate for food aren't they?"
We don't talk much after that because, fortunately, it starts raining even before we clear the city and continues all the way to Windsor. It makes it difficult to talk and gives me time to gather my thoughts.
@@@@@
"Yes, I believe he is, Sir William. I don't know much about the fighting around Constantinople. I was in Cornwall at the time learning those boys over there how to read the bible and scribe and sum. They'll be priests won't they?" And a lot more than that.
"But I did talk to some sailors who had been there. What I was told is that it came about because some Englishmen were being held for ransom by the Greeks. They all agreed that William and his sailors won because the Greek army was mostly of a mob of serfs who had no leaders or weapons."
@@@@@
I don't think I'm under arrest but I have no idea what my having to go to Windsor with the King's men means- or what will happen when I get there. I'm not taking any chances. Before I leave with William Marshal and his men I go to my little castle on the front of the galley's deck to get my bishop's miter and crosier.
On my way to get them I motion to Gerard, the galley's sergeant captain, to join me. Once we're inside the cabin by ourselves, I tell him to send a message to Raymond at the horse stable as soon as I leave with Sir William.
He's to tell Raymond to leave London immediately with all the available horses. Also after I leave, he is to tell Peter to get our men back on board our galleys and be prepared to fight his way out of the harbor and go on to Rome and the Pope without me. He's to wait three days here for me to return and then go without me.
I put my miter on my head, picked up my crosier, and walked back out of the little castle - and immediately saw Peter on the dock off to the side along the galley's railing. He was hanging back and watching carefully.
"Oh Peter, there you are. Mmm. Peter, I'm going to go to Windsor with Sir William and his men. It seems the king wants to ask me some questions about the fighting when the barons attacked us near Oakhampton. So please send someone to the stables to bring me a riding horse, an ambler if one is available. One that is not too pricey if you please."
@@@@@
I learn much more as I ride to Windsor with Sir William. The king is not particularly worried about the barons being unhappy with him but William Marshal definitely is and he makes no bones about it.
"They don't like the high scutage fees they have to pay if they don't join his army and they don't like the king taking control of their courts and abolishing their right to collect tolls on the roads over their lands. I've tried to warn the king that they might rise and come against him but he doesn't listen."
It also seems the King really does want to talk to me about the battle at Oakhampton and may have heard about some of the archers' successes in the Holy Land. He also wants to know how many archers we have and how many of our ships are available to help carry the new army he's raising to France.
Uh oh, I tell myself, it sounds like the king wants our ships and archers for his army in France.
"Not many of either William's archers or his ships are in England," I confide to Sir William.
"Cornwall is so poor, you know. Can't support them can it? That's why most of the Earl's men and galleys are always so far away in the Holy Land - because it's the only place where they can earn their bread carrying pilgrims and refugees."
"Yes, it's mostly untrained recruits and sailors the Earl has in Cornwall because that's where he trains his archers and repairs his ships. The land's no good so the people are desperate for food aren't they?"
We don't talk much after that because, fortunately, it starts raining even before we clear the city and continues all the way to Windsor. It makes it difficult to talk and gives me time to gather my thoughts.
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