Free 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 Page B
Authors: Martin Archer
good way for them to pay for the trouble they caused."
"Mon Dieu," she said incredulously after staring blankly at us for a moment, "I'm saved." And with that, and to the astonishment of a file of Marines who are marching by, she began crying and gave us both big hugs and kisses.
@@@@@
Thomas laboured for two days preparing all the various parchment letters and documents, particularly the letter explaining things to King John. Indeed he used up so many parchments drafting the letter to the king that he had to send a galloper to Launceston to fetch more of them. I read it and it certainly convinces me.
"This is what the king will want to hear so he'll believe it," Thomas said as he handed the finished parchment to me so I could read it out loud to everyone at the supper table that night. I'll have it delivered to the chancellor when Peter and I get to London with the boys."
He didn't pass it around because neither Peter nor Henry can read and Lady Isabel also may not be learned.
What Thomas hands me to read out to everyone is a letter to the king from the Bishop of Cornwall. It informs the king of the good news that there has been a successful and decisive battle in Devon between King John's supporters led by Lord Courtenay and the Earl of Cornwall and a force of northern barons seeking to raise support for a rising against the king.
Basically it says that God is clearly on the King's side because the northern barons were killed when their anger caused them to attack the newly married Courtenay after he reaffirmed his support for King John and was just about to begin his trip to the Holy Land to join the Fourth Crusade.
It goes on to explain that it was also clearly God's will that the barons attacked Lord Courtenay and his men when the king's strong supporter, the Earl of Cornwall was visiting Oakhampton with his men and could help Courtenay defeat them.
The Earl was present, thanks to God's unwavering support for the king, to witness Courtenay's marriage to Isabella of Gloucester and buy Oakhampton Castle. Courtenay sold the castle and its lands, of course, so he'd have enough money to get to the Holy Land and maintain himself and his men there after he did.
"Yes, that should do it quite nicely," Thomas announces with a great deal of pride and satisfaction and a big sip of ale when I finish reading out the parchment and begin rolling it up.
"It tells King John and his chancellor what they'll want to hear," he explains.
"And who's to say otherwise - if anyone asks to talk to the survivors of the barons' force we'll have to sadly inform him that they have been made into galley slaves for their trouble and are busy at the moment rowing on one of our galleys somewhere in the Holy Land."
Everyone looks and smiles at everyone else and nods their satisfaction. Then I read out loud the sales contract for the castle and the marriage contract between Isabel and Courtenay.
When I finished reading the contracts Thomas put a bowl of newly mixed ink and a quill on the table and we all made our marks on them as witnesses, and on several duplicate copies as well.
Chapter Ten
Oakhampton is busy this morning. Henry is riding to Restormel with the Horse Marines and our wagons and prisoners. He'll stay there and be in charge of our forces in Cornwall while Thomas and I are away.
And we will be away from Cornwall for a while. In an hour or so Thomas, Peter, the boys, and one of the Marine companies will be marching for Hathersage and London.
I myself will be staying here with the second company of Marines and most of the outriders to guard Oakhampton in case more of the northern barons arrive or the Earl of Devon hears about
"Mon Dieu," she said incredulously after staring blankly at us for a moment, "I'm saved." And with that, and to the astonishment of a file of Marines who are marching by, she began crying and gave us both big hugs and kisses.
@@@@@
Thomas laboured for two days preparing all the various parchment letters and documents, particularly the letter explaining things to King John. Indeed he used up so many parchments drafting the letter to the king that he had to send a galloper to Launceston to fetch more of them. I read it and it certainly convinces me.
"This is what the king will want to hear so he'll believe it," Thomas said as he handed the finished parchment to me so I could read it out loud to everyone at the supper table that night. I'll have it delivered to the chancellor when Peter and I get to London with the boys."
He didn't pass it around because neither Peter nor Henry can read and Lady Isabel also may not be learned.
What Thomas hands me to read out to everyone is a letter to the king from the Bishop of Cornwall. It informs the king of the good news that there has been a successful and decisive battle in Devon between King John's supporters led by Lord Courtenay and the Earl of Cornwall and a force of northern barons seeking to raise support for a rising against the king.
Basically it says that God is clearly on the King's side because the northern barons were killed when their anger caused them to attack the newly married Courtenay after he reaffirmed his support for King John and was just about to begin his trip to the Holy Land to join the Fourth Crusade.
It goes on to explain that it was also clearly God's will that the barons attacked Lord Courtenay and his men when the king's strong supporter, the Earl of Cornwall was visiting Oakhampton with his men and could help Courtenay defeat them.
The Earl was present, thanks to God's unwavering support for the king, to witness Courtenay's marriage to Isabella of Gloucester and buy Oakhampton Castle. Courtenay sold the castle and its lands, of course, so he'd have enough money to get to the Holy Land and maintain himself and his men there after he did.
"Yes, that should do it quite nicely," Thomas announces with a great deal of pride and satisfaction and a big sip of ale when I finish reading out the parchment and begin rolling it up.
"It tells King John and his chancellor what they'll want to hear," he explains.
"And who's to say otherwise - if anyone asks to talk to the survivors of the barons' force we'll have to sadly inform him that they have been made into galley slaves for their trouble and are busy at the moment rowing on one of our galleys somewhere in the Holy Land."
Everyone looks and smiles at everyone else and nods their satisfaction. Then I read out loud the sales contract for the castle and the marriage contract between Isabel and Courtenay.
When I finished reading the contracts Thomas put a bowl of newly mixed ink and a quill on the table and we all made our marks on them as witnesses, and on several duplicate copies as well.
Chapter Ten
Oakhampton is busy this morning. Henry is riding to Restormel with the Horse Marines and our wagons and prisoners. He'll stay there and be in charge of our forces in Cornwall while Thomas and I are away.
And we will be away from Cornwall for a while. In an hour or so Thomas, Peter, the boys, and one of the Marine companies will be marching for Hathersage and London.
I myself will be staying here with the second company of Marines and most of the outriders to guard Oakhampton in case more of the northern barons arrive or the Earl of Devon hears about
Similar Books
Infinity Blade: Redemption
Brandon Sanderson
THE UNEXPECTED HAS HAPPENED
Michael P. Buckley
Tolstoy Lied : A Love Story (9780547527307)
Rachel Kadish
Caleb's Crossing
Geraldine Brooks
Do You Promise Not to Tell?
Mary Jane Clark
A Demon's Wrath: Part I (Peachville High Demons)
Sarra Cannon
Masterharper of Pern
Anne McCaffrey
Three Wishes (Dreams Come True #3)
Emma Nichols