Next day the swineherd dispatched to Elmstead returned with a dozen grown and fat pigs belonging to Alan. At mid-afternoon a villager called Landry arrived at the Hall with several large canvas bags and stated that he had payment for Kendrick’s wergild. Kendrick was released and brought to the Hall and sat and watched as the money was counted. When counted out in piles of silver pennies, there were exactly 200 shillings. Alan gave Kendrick a long flat look of dislike. Clearly there had been other caches of money kept outside the cottage. Kendrick returned his look with a smirk. Alan made a hand-motion of annoyance and said, “Very well, you’re free to go, but if I ever see you again you will be hanging from the nearest tree within moments. Have your
“Why would I want that
Osmund had taken the liberty of recruiting a new steward, ready to take over from Kendrick when Alan returned. His name was Faran and he was from Fordham in Lexden Hundred. He’d been steward there for five years until the new Norman lord took over several months ago and decided that he wanted a Norman steward, putting Faran out of a place. After a discussion with him Alan was satisfied that the man knew more both about running a household and a manor than he did, and seemed to be honest. Faran was middle-aged but single. When he found Sunniva and her two children still in occupation of the steward’s cottage he made no complaint and settled in easily with them.
Later that week Alan watched the fyrd at practice and winced at each mistake that would have killed them on a battle-field. However, he was heartened by the progress of the men who had been in the program since January, who were reaching the point of being reasonably competent. He just hoped that the others would rapidly reach that standard.
By contrast, the performance of the archers, although now only training for three hours two days a week, was excellent. Most of the men had prior experience with the bow and they had combined that capability with the discipline and tactical training as a unit they had received over the last four months.
The weekly training of those of the fyrd armed with spear and sword had provided some improvement, both in individual skills and working as a team, but watching them blunder around the practice field with sword and spear Alan hoped they would never have to meet an enemy. Something would have to be done to teach them the more advanced skills of the art of war.
That evening Alan met with the men of the cavalry, now twenty strong including the recent recruits, in their barracks in the partly built fort at Thorrington. Most sat on the beds next to the living area on the bottom level of the barracks. Ainulf, Edric, Alfward, Ledmer and Acwel, his companions from the recent expedition lounged in the background.
Alan looked about him. “You men are doing well, all things considered.” With a sigh he continued, “You have had to learn in a few months what Norman knights learn in eight years. You men we took on in January are now reasonably competent, but more training is always good. You can never train too much. The others need to do some catching up quickly. What you don’t have is a name, an identity.”
Alan picked up a bundle from the bed next to him and threw it to Edric, who was the closest of the men he knew well. Edric unwrapped it and held up an adult wolf pelt, made into a cloak, with the skin died dark green and the fur on the inside. “You are ‘The Wolves’- mean, vicious and sneaky creatures who take what they want and fight when they choose. We have eight qualified men at the moment, and the others will get their skins when they qualify.” Alan had placed a standing order with the furrier at Colchester. He raised his mug of ale and shouted, “To the Wolves!”
“The Wolves!” came back the reply in a roar.
CHAPTER NINE
WIVENHOE LATE MAY 1067
Alan was roused by the sound of shouting outside the Hall, the call of the guard outside the Hall and the guard’s knocking on the door to gain his attention. It was pitch dark in the middle of the night as Alan disentangled himself from the arms of the still-sleeping Edyth and slipped naked out of bed.
Quickly slipping a tunic on over his head he cursed the coldness of the bare stone floor on his feet as he hurried out into the Hall, where extra torches were being lit and placed in the sconces in the walls and posts. Baldwin, still brushing sleep from his eyes, was sitting next to the remains of the fire, head close to that of a roughly-dressed cheorl.
Seeing Alan’s approach Baldwin rose and said, “This is Aeglaeca. He’s ridden as messenger from Edward of St Osyth. A little after dark a shepherd at Point Clear saw ships in the estuary, rowing north. The wretch couldn’t count them but said that there were more than he had fingers- he probably had his shoes on. It sounds like a Danish or Norwegian raiding party,” he said. “Edward has gathered his men, is fording Brightlingsea Creek and warning Edsel, the King’s Reeve at Brightlingsea, to collect more men and march up the coast, keeping an eye on the ships.”
Alan nodded his understanding. Trading ships didn’t row anywhere. “Rouse all of our men and get them into their chain-mail, and get all the archers here. Ring the church bell, that’ll bring people running! Requisition every horse in the village. A messenger is to ride to Robert fitzWymarc at Colchester at once. That’s probably where they’re heading. Se3d riders to Great Bentley, Tendring, Little Bentley, Cliff Mistley and Bradfield. One rider can do that as they are all in the same direction. Another for Alresford, Frating, Bromley and Elmstead. One for Wyley, Thorp, Kirkly and Clacton. One to Oakley, Ramsey and Dovercourt. I want 100 men at Wivenhoe by dawn, and every man in the Hundred who can carry a spear, sword or even a pitchfork there by mid-afternoon. Move!
“Otha! Hot food for all the men now and trail rations for breakfast. You have half an hour!”
Within minutes the church bell was ringing and men were streaming into the Hall. Some stood shrugging their way into chain-mail vests, others in leather or padded armour. They helped each other with the fastenings and with buckling on arm and leg guards made of boiled leather.
Alan hurried into the Solar, where Edyth helped him into his padded gambeson jacket and then tied the lacings at the back of the chain mail hauberk he slipped on over the top. Alan slipped his poniard knife into his belt and draped the baldric carrying his sword in its leather scabbard over his shoulder. Edyth bound the leather thongs over his woollen trews while he pulled on his riding boots. His green-painted shield, a single handed battle-axe and a green cloak completed his martial array as he strode out into the forecourt.
The forecourt was as active as a nest of ants kicked over. Grooms were leading horses out of stables, some with saddles and tack in place, others still to be attended to. Men dashed back and forth, many still stumbling from either the effects of sleep or the ale that they had drunk the previous evening.
Just 45 minutes after the alarm 68 men rode north. Others were to follow on foot as soon as possible.
It was early on the Wednesday 30th May. The moon provided sufficient light for them to find their way on the dirt track that ran through forest and meadow, the pathway taking them about five miles. As first light began to illuminate the sky at about 3.30am they were 115 strong, including the men collected at Frating and Alresford.
A little over a mile south of Wivenhoe they saw that two of the longships were in the process of beaching themselves on a mudflat while another fourteen continued to row north, oars dipping regularly as they headed into the narrowing estuary towards Colchester on the Colne River. Alan sent a rider hurrying on ahead to raise the alarm at Wivenhoe and to bring all available men able to carry arms.
Alan had his men and horses briefly rest, hidden behind a small rise in the ground, as the raiders began to disembark and wade through the mud towards the shore. Alan dismounted and stood with the rising sun at his back as he surveyed the scene.
There was a clearing some 200 paces wide with stands of trees and thick bushes to each side, on the north and south. The ground rose slowly until it reached the summit of the small mound on which he stood. The village was about a mile to the north, most of that distance covered by forest. It appeared that the raiders wanted to take the village by surprise with a massed charge.
Alan ordered 10 of his light cavalry and 20 archers into the forest on each side of the clearing, together with
