The Reign of King John I of France
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Chapter 38 : A Night in Carpentras
Guccio rode in the dark on the road from Avignon to Carpentras. The night was fresh and cold compare to the day. But still, he hurried himself and spurred again his horse. He thought about his dear wife that he had left in Vincennes and his kids who were in the good care of his uncle Spinello Tolomei. But what worried him the most was his eldest son John, squire to his uncle messire de Cressay. Indeed, Guccio had since the death of his mother-in-law, dame Éliabel reconciled with his in-laws John and Pierre de Cressay who with resignation had accepted the fact that their sister Marie had married a Lombard. But still the dowry asked by Guccio wasn’t big and almost all of it was paid by the Dowager Queen.
Suddenly, the city’s gate appeared in the dark. Guccio rushed to them ad a few seconds later, faced a portcullis.
- Good night, is someone here ?, asked Guccio
- Yea, who are you to come by this hour, the city is subjected to a curfew now, no one is allowed to enter or to get out un…
- Unless special permission ?
- So you, young lad , you have a special permission, hahaha!, laughed the guard
- Indeed, here is my pass.
The guard took the paper in his hands and tried near a torch to read its content, but it seems he couldn’t get what it was all about.
- Ah, I see. You don’t know how to read, if I were you, I will simply call the captain and..
- I have no orders to receive from a foppish gentlemen popped from nowhere!
The sentinel left his spot and went into a barracks.
- Hey, wait man!! , cried the Italian
But a three minutes later the same guard reappeared with another man well more dress and armoured, someone more serious.
- Good night sir, my name is Peire de Porada. I am a knight and responsible of the security of this gate. My man told me that you were the holder of pass, allowing you to enter this city during curfew hours. I took a glance and it said that you must be sent to a man named Arnaud de Montigny.
- Indeed, do you know where I can find him?
- In the old castle up there, I think.
- Good, messire de Porada, A reveire !
- A reveire signore Baglioni and good luck in your mission!
- Which mission? ,asked the sentinel
- Oh forget about it Milos! Back to sentry duty now!
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Guccio was now in the middle of a courtyard anxiously waiting for someone to show up.
- Signore Guccio, earlier today, I received a word telling that you would come!
- Well, here I am.
- Good, was the road safe? Weren’t you attacked by bandits or such scums? , asked Arnaud with an humorous voice
- No sir.
- Well, I am glad to hear that his Holiness ‘roads are quite safe, aren’t they!
- Pray tell me, messire de Montigny, did messire de Joinville bothered himself to meet the Pope’s advisors and sent me here in order to talk about the state of roads of the Comtat Venaissin !
- Alright, calm down signore. Now here is the thing. Our agents have located the enemy spy’s residence in an inn near the marketplace. I have under my command a dozen of man at arms ready to move, all we needed was the confirmation from Avignon and the arrest order. Do you have them both?
- Yes, here is the letter from messire de Joinville and here’s the order signed by Joinville and by the cardinal-bishop of Albano.
The French captain took the papers and joyfully looked at Baglioni
- Excellent signore , now we can proceed.
Montigny then turned towards one of his men, and cried orders for his small troop to assemble in the courtyard. He then went again towards Guccio .
- Signore, would you care to accompany us? You could serve as a witness for the assault.Not to mention that you are quite trusted by Joinville and the regent himself!
- Well, maybe, but it will be my pleasure to help you.
The party went to the marketplace and quickly located the concerned inn. It was around midnight and everyone was sleeping. Only city guards were on the streets. The guards were surprised to see the King’s men operating on their jurisdiction, but they had been already warned of the presence of royal troops.
Messire de Montigny launched the assault, and in a big clash the door was forced open and the first floor was quickly under control. Baglioni helped to search the rooms in order to find the foreign spy.
Suddenly, a voice was heard:
- Over here, over here, the bastard is here !!!, said a soldier
But right after, something else was heard, something like a hoarse noise. Yes, the sound of man collapsing and choking with his own blood. Guccio ran to the room and drew his sword in face of strange character. The spy was thin and pale with black hair; anger and fear were into his eyes. Between the two opponents lied the cadaver of the dead man at arms.
- Surrender, surrender sir and your life might be spared! , cried Guccio
- But for what for, if I am already dead for now 20 years.
The spy try to run through Guccio, but the Italian stood and repelled his attack by blocking several sword strike. He pushed wicked man into his bed, but as he was distracted by pressuring his enemy’s chest with his sword, he received a punch into the jaw. But furious, he cornered the spy.
- Well done, signore, said Montigny while entering the room.
- Where hell, were you sir! This mad animal barely escaped from me!
- When we launch the assault, there was a lot of grumbling from the inn’s customers, so we had to calm them down in order to avoid a riot. City guards also came in reinforcement. But I am glad that you have arrested our target. Hey friend, what is your name ?
No answer.
He then marched towards the traitor and tried to look into his face, but the man kept his face down looking at the ground.
- Well, what are you ashamed of friend? Ashamed that you were captured by the King’s men ? I can understand you, but don’t worry you will be well taken care of. Isn’t signore Baglioni ?
- I guess so, messire de Montigny, said Guccio while replacing his sword in its sheath.
- Good! Signore Guccio, I need you to go back to Avignon and report to messire de Joinville that our…friend here has been captured.
- You have no rights…NO RIGHTS TO ARREST ME ……NO…NO.!!!!
- Hey, listen up sir, I have here an arrest warrant signed by the Regent of France, Monseigneur de Poitiers, messire Anseau de Joinville, seneschal of Champagne as well as of the cardinal-bishop of Albano, Gaucelme de Jean d’Euse d’Ironne, his Holiness’ own nephew. But we are not going to leave in Papal hands, but we have ORDER and PERMISSION to take into France where you will answer for the felonies you committed. Go signore, go!
- But may I have some rest messire. After this tumultuous night……..
- Hmmm, well of course messire Baglioni, you have done well. I will report myself your valiant actions to messire de Joinville, who will be, I can bet, much pleased.
- Of course, good night, I shall take my leave sir.
Guccio left the inn and disappeared in the night happy and satisfied to have fulfilled his duties.
Guccio rode in the dark on the road from Avignon to Carpentras. The night was fresh and cold compare to the day. But still, he hurried himself and spurred again his horse. He thought about his dear wife that he had left in Vincennes and his kids who were in the good care of his uncle Spinello Tolomei. But what worried him the most was his eldest son John, squire to his uncle messire de Cressay. Indeed, Guccio had since the death of his mother-in-law, dame Éliabel reconciled with his in-laws John and Pierre de Cressay who with resignation had accepted the fact that their sister Marie had married a Lombard. But still the dowry asked by Guccio wasn’t big and almost all of it was paid by the Dowager Queen.
Suddenly, the city’s gate appeared in the dark. Guccio rushed to them ad a few seconds later, faced a portcullis.
- Good night, is someone here ?, asked Guccio
- Yea, who are you to come by this hour, the city is subjected to a curfew now, no one is allowed to enter or to get out un…
- Unless special permission ?
- So you, young lad , you have a special permission, hahaha!, laughed the guard
- Indeed, here is my pass.
The guard took the paper in his hands and tried near a torch to read its content, but it seems he couldn’t get what it was all about.
- Ah, I see. You don’t know how to read, if I were you, I will simply call the captain and..
- I have no orders to receive from a foppish gentlemen popped from nowhere!
The sentinel left his spot and went into a barracks.
- Hey, wait man!! , cried the Italian
But a three minutes later the same guard reappeared with another man well more dress and armoured, someone more serious.
- Good night sir, my name is Peire de Porada. I am a knight and responsible of the security of this gate. My man told me that you were the holder of pass, allowing you to enter this city during curfew hours. I took a glance and it said that you must be sent to a man named Arnaud de Montigny.
- Indeed, do you know where I can find him?
- In the old castle up there, I think.
- Good, messire de Porada, A reveire !
- A reveire signore Baglioni and good luck in your mission!
- Which mission? ,asked the sentinel
- Oh forget about it Milos! Back to sentry duty now!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guccio was now in the middle of a courtyard anxiously waiting for someone to show up.
- Signore Guccio, earlier today, I received a word telling that you would come!
- Well, here I am.
- Good, was the road safe? Weren’t you attacked by bandits or such scums? , asked Arnaud with an humorous voice
- No sir.
- Well, I am glad to hear that his Holiness ‘roads are quite safe, aren’t they!
- Pray tell me, messire de Montigny, did messire de Joinville bothered himself to meet the Pope’s advisors and sent me here in order to talk about the state of roads of the Comtat Venaissin !
- Alright, calm down signore. Now here is the thing. Our agents have located the enemy spy’s residence in an inn near the marketplace. I have under my command a dozen of man at arms ready to move, all we needed was the confirmation from Avignon and the arrest order. Do you have them both?
- Yes, here is the letter from messire de Joinville and here’s the order signed by Joinville and by the cardinal-bishop of Albano.
The French captain took the papers and joyfully looked at Baglioni
- Excellent signore , now we can proceed.
Montigny then turned towards one of his men, and cried orders for his small troop to assemble in the courtyard. He then went again towards Guccio .
- Signore, would you care to accompany us? You could serve as a witness for the assault.Not to mention that you are quite trusted by Joinville and the regent himself!
- Well, maybe, but it will be my pleasure to help you.
The party went to the marketplace and quickly located the concerned inn. It was around midnight and everyone was sleeping. Only city guards were on the streets. The guards were surprised to see the King’s men operating on their jurisdiction, but they had been already warned of the presence of royal troops.
Messire de Montigny launched the assault, and in a big clash the door was forced open and the first floor was quickly under control. Baglioni helped to search the rooms in order to find the foreign spy.
Suddenly, a voice was heard:
- Over here, over here, the bastard is here !!!, said a soldier
But right after, something else was heard, something like a hoarse noise. Yes, the sound of man collapsing and choking with his own blood. Guccio ran to the room and drew his sword in face of strange character. The spy was thin and pale with black hair; anger and fear were into his eyes. Between the two opponents lied the cadaver of the dead man at arms.
- Surrender, surrender sir and your life might be spared! , cried Guccio
- But for what for, if I am already dead for now 20 years.
The spy try to run through Guccio, but the Italian stood and repelled his attack by blocking several sword strike. He pushed wicked man into his bed, but as he was distracted by pressuring his enemy’s chest with his sword, he received a punch into the jaw. But furious, he cornered the spy.
- Well done, signore, said Montigny while entering the room.
- Where hell, were you sir! This mad animal barely escaped from me!
- When we launch the assault, there was a lot of grumbling from the inn’s customers, so we had to calm them down in order to avoid a riot. City guards also came in reinforcement. But I am glad that you have arrested our target. Hey friend, what is your name ?
No answer.
He then marched towards the traitor and tried to look into his face, but the man kept his face down looking at the ground.
- Well, what are you ashamed of friend? Ashamed that you were captured by the King’s men ? I can understand you, but don’t worry you will be well taken care of. Isn’t signore Baglioni ?
- I guess so, messire de Montigny, said Guccio while replacing his sword in its sheath.
- Good! Signore Guccio, I need you to go back to Avignon and report to messire de Joinville that our…friend here has been captured.
- You have no rights…NO RIGHTS TO ARREST ME ……NO…NO.!!!!
- Hey, listen up sir, I have here an arrest warrant signed by the Regent of France, Monseigneur de Poitiers, messire Anseau de Joinville, seneschal of Champagne as well as of the cardinal-bishop of Albano, Gaucelme de Jean d’Euse d’Ironne, his Holiness’ own nephew. But we are not going to leave in Papal hands, but we have ORDER and PERMISSION to take into France where you will answer for the felonies you committed. Go signore, go!
- But may I have some rest messire. After this tumultuous night……..
- Hmmm, well of course messire Baglioni, you have done well. I will report myself your valiant actions to messire de Joinville, who will be, I can bet, much pleased.
- Of course, good night, I shall take my leave sir.
Guccio left the inn and disappeared in the night happy and satisfied to have fulfilled his duties.
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Chapter 39 : Mauléon, first taste of battle
- Arrrgh, Damn it !, cried the King
- Rest calm , my lord King, rest calm !!!!, replied the surgeon
A servant arrived carrying a cloth and upon the surgeon orders, put it in the king’s mouth.
- Mmmm! Hmmmmpf!
- All right my lord, here it goes!
- Hmmmpf !
- Now, the bolt is out!
John’s wound was open and red. Blood flowed from it but the flow was rapidly controlled by another cloth brought. John was now at ease and enjoying the pain’s decrease.
- Thank you, gentle man for your help.
- It is nothing my lord, I only did my duty.
- Will I be all right with this wound?
- Euh, yes, you will, Sire. After my careful observations, I noticed that the wound is minor and should heal in the following weeks.
- Excellent, now if you could leave alone, I need some rest.
- Of course ,Sire .
The surgeon and his team left the King’s tent.
John lounged himself on his bed and began a small nap.
Earlier that day, combined forces of Navarre and the Pyrenean counts engaged the garrison of Mauléon. The ost had arrived on October 17th and on October 18th the siege began. Despite its number, the garrison held the advance of John’s army but still after three assaults, the fort fell to the Navarrese. While marching with his men towards the walls, John was hit by a crossbow bolt. Escorted by Lope de Villabolos, he was sent to his tent and put under the good care of Pierre Guillaumin , surgeon. While the king was being examined, Afonso de Villabolos raised the royal standard upon its donjon while Raymond de Miossens gave his surrender. Apart from that John knew nothing else.
A few minutes, after the beginning of his sleep, the King was awoken by the Constable of Navarre.
- My lord King,
- Mmmm?
- I just heard the news about your wound; I hope that you’re fine.
- Indeed, I am my lord Constable. According to Guillaumin , it should heal in the following weeks.
- Good, good, I am happy to hear that, mi soberano.
- Tell me, Afonso what day are we?
- October 22th, my lord.
- Hmm, we are in autumn and winter is coming, Afonso I need this war to be over before winter. I don’t want to be stuck in Guyenne. I have a realm to inspect.
- I understand your concerns my lord, but I have to tell you something.
- What is it?
- I bring good and bad news!
- Yes? …..oh my bad, please start with the good one, told John, to his constable anxious about the news.
- Well first of all, your uncle, the Count of Poitiers is sending you his encouragements about your campaign. Moreover, he add that the ost of France, thanks to the close collaboration between him, the Constable of France, Gaucher de Châtillon and the Duke of Bourbon, is ready to march on Guyenne and as we speak , they should be already in English territory. He expects to take the English between two fronts as you suggested before.
- That is pretty encouraging!!!
- The bad one is that a English force of 3000 men just disembarked in Picardy. They are led by the Earl of Derby.
- Oh no, good Lord! Does my uncle sent someone against him?
- Against all odds and advices, he named……..
- He named……..?
- Robert, Count of Beaumont-le-Roger. Your cousin proposed himself to such a position.
- Where is he now?
- Your uncle says in Normandy, trying to rally some men with Charles, Count of Étampes.
- Interesting, let us hope that they push back the English into the Channel.
- Let us hope so, my king.
- Any news from Scotland?
- No my lord there is nothing from Scotland.
- Well, when did you receive these letters?
- Yesterday, my king but I and you war council agreed that we should announce these news to you after the victory. We didn’t want to destroy your enthusiasm.
- All right then. But we will need to move faster, so we can finish our business in Aquitaine.
- Of course!
- What’s next?
- We should march on Dax and Mont-de-Marsan and the road to Bordeaux should be wide open.
- Good, but arrrgh ! I need some rest!
- Indeed Sire, the first taste of battle can be harsh.
- Yes, and inform Manuel that I will need his services in an hour, thank you!
Afonso left the tent and John plunged back into his deserved sleep.
- Arrrgh, Damn it !, cried the King
- Rest calm , my lord King, rest calm !!!!, replied the surgeon
A servant arrived carrying a cloth and upon the surgeon orders, put it in the king’s mouth.
- Mmmm! Hmmmmpf!
- All right my lord, here it goes!
- Hmmmpf !
- Now, the bolt is out!
John’s wound was open and red. Blood flowed from it but the flow was rapidly controlled by another cloth brought. John was now at ease and enjoying the pain’s decrease.
- Thank you, gentle man for your help.
- It is nothing my lord, I only did my duty.
- Will I be all right with this wound?
- Euh, yes, you will, Sire. After my careful observations, I noticed that the wound is minor and should heal in the following weeks.
- Excellent, now if you could leave alone, I need some rest.
- Of course ,Sire .
The surgeon and his team left the King’s tent.
John lounged himself on his bed and began a small nap.
Earlier that day, combined forces of Navarre and the Pyrenean counts engaged the garrison of Mauléon. The ost had arrived on October 17th and on October 18th the siege began. Despite its number, the garrison held the advance of John’s army but still after three assaults, the fort fell to the Navarrese. While marching with his men towards the walls, John was hit by a crossbow bolt. Escorted by Lope de Villabolos, he was sent to his tent and put under the good care of Pierre Guillaumin , surgeon. While the king was being examined, Afonso de Villabolos raised the royal standard upon its donjon while Raymond de Miossens gave his surrender. Apart from that John knew nothing else.
A few minutes, after the beginning of his sleep, the King was awoken by the Constable of Navarre.
- My lord King,
- Mmmm?
- I just heard the news about your wound; I hope that you’re fine.
- Indeed, I am my lord Constable. According to Guillaumin , it should heal in the following weeks.
- Good, good, I am happy to hear that, mi soberano.
- Tell me, Afonso what day are we?
- October 22th, my lord.
- Hmm, we are in autumn and winter is coming, Afonso I need this war to be over before winter. I don’t want to be stuck in Guyenne. I have a realm to inspect.
- I understand your concerns my lord, but I have to tell you something.
- What is it?
- I bring good and bad news!
- Yes? …..oh my bad, please start with the good one, told John, to his constable anxious about the news.
- Well first of all, your uncle, the Count of Poitiers is sending you his encouragements about your campaign. Moreover, he add that the ost of France, thanks to the close collaboration between him, the Constable of France, Gaucher de Châtillon and the Duke of Bourbon, is ready to march on Guyenne and as we speak , they should be already in English territory. He expects to take the English between two fronts as you suggested before.
- That is pretty encouraging!!!
- The bad one is that a English force of 3000 men just disembarked in Picardy. They are led by the Earl of Derby.
- Oh no, good Lord! Does my uncle sent someone against him?
- Against all odds and advices, he named……..
- He named……..?
- Robert, Count of Beaumont-le-Roger. Your cousin proposed himself to such a position.
- Where is he now?
- Your uncle says in Normandy, trying to rally some men with Charles, Count of Étampes.
- Interesting, let us hope that they push back the English into the Channel.
- Let us hope so, my king.
- Any news from Scotland?
- No my lord there is nothing from Scotland.
- Well, when did you receive these letters?
- Yesterday, my king but I and you war council agreed that we should announce these news to you after the victory. We didn’t want to destroy your enthusiasm.
- All right then. But we will need to move faster, so we can finish our business in Aquitaine.
- Of course!
- What’s next?
- We should march on Dax and Mont-de-Marsan and the road to Bordeaux should be wide open.
- Good, but arrrgh ! I need some rest!
- Indeed Sire, the first taste of battle can be harsh.
- Yes, and inform Manuel that I will need his services in an hour, thank you!
Afonso left the tent and John plunged back into his deserved sleep.
Update soon !!
Hello guys,
Sorry for the long hiatus, but the start of college etc. has taken all my attention. But I have been able to to think about this timeline and I've got some good ideas. I am going to post an update this month and I hope to get you guys comments and critics. If you have any suggestion please PM me.
Thanks a lot for all previous encouragements !!
manuel
Hello guys,
Sorry for the long hiatus, but the start of college etc. has taken all my attention. But I have been able to to think about this timeline and I've got some good ideas. I am going to post an update this month and I hope to get you guys comments and critics. If you have any suggestion please PM me.
Thanks a lot for all previous encouragements !!
manuel
Soon, soon I promise !!
Hello guys, I know that a lot of you have been following this timeline with interest. I just wanted to tell that it is on temporary hiatus. It is not dead ! I'm in the end of my first session of CEGEP ans I have a lot of essays,exams and labs to do. Meanwhile, I've been doing research, reading books, collecting photos and images just to spice up the graphic contents of the story.
So , i am very much excited to update this timeline and wish to get some future feedback on it.
Salut et à la prochaine !!!
manuel
Hello guys, I know that a lot of you have been following this timeline with interest. I just wanted to tell that it is on temporary hiatus. It is not dead ! I'm in the end of my first session of CEGEP ans I have a lot of essays,exams and labs to do. Meanwhile, I've been doing research, reading books, collecting photos and images just to spice up the graphic contents of the story.
So , i am very much excited to update this timeline and wish to get some future feedback on it.
Salut et à la prochaine !!!
manuel
Yupy!
Il est vivant! Il est vivant!
It was a timeline that I have enjoyed to read and I'm glad to see that you haven't drop it !
Cheers!
Il est vivant! Il est vivant!
It was a timeline that I have enjoyed to read and I'm glad to see that you haven't drop it !
Cheers!
Chapter 40 : A disaster in Scotland
Nothing, nothing…Coucy could think of nothing. He had a severe headache and felt the whole world buzzing around him. He tried to open his eyes, but his lids were too heavy. Too tired. But the knight could hear something: a man’s voice. Coucy tried to reply to what he believed to hear. Suddenly, he felt being dragged and then water spilled off on his face. He found the force to open his eyes, and finally saw the day’s light. What a day! The sky was grey as the clouds announced ill tidings for mortals and raindrops awake the souls of poor, wretched men.
Then, he remembered the battle. The cries of horses and men. The orders of the old Briquebec, then everything was black.
“Damn it!!”
A few minutes passed, and then Enguerrand woke up. What he was seeing was the jovial face of red-haired young boy looking at him.
- Sir, are you all right, he said in hesitant but quite fluent French
- Not so well boy, I feel a lot dizzy, replied Coucy
- You may feel dizzy my Lord, but I am happy to see that you are still alive. While you were in a deep sleep, I bandaged your wounds. I have to say that I was afraid that you leave this world.
- Well, boy, I am deeply indebted to you. I have to admit that I would have been a pity to depart this world at eighteen.
- My lord is only eighteen!!!! I thought you were much older, as for me I am only fourteen!
- That’s amusing! What is your name, Scot?
- Gilbert Fleming, my Lord. I am from Lanarkshire, my lord, from Bothwell , precisely.
At the same moment, Enguerrand released of cry of pain, calling again for the good care of his new found friend.
- Arghh!!! My name is Enguerrand de Coucy, I am a Frenchman and a friend of the great king of France.
- Of the King of France!!!! Then you must be a great “Monseigneur”!!!
- Maybe, replied Enguerrand, but what happened here……the battle.
- Oh, yes my lord, a terrible thing that I hoped to forget by engaging a conversation with you.
- By looking at your saddened, desperate eyes and by the presence of so many men who gave up their souls on this sour day, I can tell that we were defeated, n’est-ce pas ?
- Yes, I was in Scottish ost, my lord, under the banner of the earl of Moray. Not the one who as cowardly killed by Balliol’s agents . What a treacherous act ! Assailed by a group of men, as he was crossing a bridge, at Musselburgh! However, his son my lord Thomas Randolph the Younger. The man had big thirst for vengeance. Remember sir?
Indeed, Enguerrand was with Bricquebec at Newbattle Abbey, when news reached them that the Regent of Scotland was dead. It was October 23th 1331 .Hastily, Scottish nobles elected another Regent, the earl Donald of Mar, a nephew of the late King Robert I of Scotland. On October 25th, against the advice of the French Marshal Bricquebec, Donald announced that he intended to lead the Scottish army into a great offensive against Balliol and the other “Disinherited”. It wasn’t a good idea, because the English were strongly entrenched in their positions to the south and Balliol had transformed Perth into a winter barracks. Still rumours pretended that Balliol was looking to make a great strike at the Bruce supporters and every Scottish noble was enraged at the fate of the late Regent.
The army left the hamlet of Auchendinny, October 31th, where it had gathered and marched toward Stirling, where Balliol’s vanguard was spotted, according to reports. On November 5th, news reached the Franco-Scottish army that Stirling had been taken by Balliol and that he was presently at Bonnybridge. The Earl of Mar and other Bruce supporters wanted to finish him once and for all, but Briquebec favoured a more cautious strategy, fearing a pincer movement from the English who had their headquarters in Dumfries, but also troop movements all across the Scottish Lowlands. Mar refuse to listen to Briqcuebec saying that it was cowardice not to avenge the murder of the Earl of Moray and that if they would act rapidly, they will take by surprise Balliol and the English.
However, once Moray and his army arrived, Balliol was not there and had already moved to the vicinity of Harthill. Some the Scottish noblemen suggested a direct attack over Perth, but Mar as Regent of Scotland disagreed and wanted to continue the pursuit. Finally, the two armies met at Harthill after days of forced march. Once on the field, the Scots realised that Balliol’s forces seemed few in number and after a few exchange of arrows from both side, the Scots charged, but were surprised when a line of men rose suddenly from the field. Welsh longbow men were they. They were hidden by the height of the grass. Soon they began firing deadly volleys at the Scottish ost. Many died and once the Scottish levies were close, the longbow men retreated.
Meanwhile the wooden spikes planted into the soil by the English hampered mass movement of the Scots. After the archers’ retreat, enemy infantry and cavalry took the lead. The vanguard was commanded by a famous disinherited; Henry de Beaumont, Earl of Buchan and Baron Beaumont eager to regain all his possessions in Scotland. The dashing Brienne struck great fear into the Scottish army, jostling everyone around him, clearing his way through by cutting down the footmen who had the bad luck of standing on his path.
Bricquebec’s Frenchmen charged into to fray to keep Beaumont’s band away. The fight was harsh and cruel. Many men died, struck by arrows, swords, or horses’ hoofs. Suddenly a horn was heard; French and Scots alike thought it was reinforcements. Maybe it was Sir Archibald Douglas coming to carry the day for all Scot. Alas it wasn't the gallant lord of Liddesdale, but an unknown banner had shown up. But as the group of knights got closer and closer, the pennant became clearer and clearer:
de gueules, à trois léopards d'or, à la bordure d'azur chargée de quatorze fleurs de lys d'or disposées en orle,
The earl of Cornwall who at the head of a group of English knights came right into the Scots left flank, which immediately broke. Despite the cries of old Briquebec and young Stewart, their troops fled, only a couple of bold men stay in the front of the cursed English and the disloyal Balliol supporters. One them was Enguerrand de Coucy. Now the battle was over and only dead corpses were spread across the field and groan of the wounded echoing all around. The tale of the disaster was over.
- Oh blessed Gilbert, I am feeling feeble again, perhaps I will go away and follow my countrymen’s path to Heaven !
- Certainly not my lord, here grab my back, I will to carry you to the Manuel priory, the nuns are charitable there, they should be able to help us. But with God’s help , we shall pass through enemy lines the join this small earthly heaven. Come on my lord !
- Aye, young Fleming, may the Almighty hear you!
Nothing, nothing…Coucy could think of nothing. He had a severe headache and felt the whole world buzzing around him. He tried to open his eyes, but his lids were too heavy. Too tired. But the knight could hear something: a man’s voice. Coucy tried to reply to what he believed to hear. Suddenly, he felt being dragged and then water spilled off on his face. He found the force to open his eyes, and finally saw the day’s light. What a day! The sky was grey as the clouds announced ill tidings for mortals and raindrops awake the souls of poor, wretched men.
Then, he remembered the battle. The cries of horses and men. The orders of the old Briquebec, then everything was black.
“Damn it!!”
A few minutes passed, and then Enguerrand woke up. What he was seeing was the jovial face of red-haired young boy looking at him.
- Sir, are you all right, he said in hesitant but quite fluent French
- Not so well boy, I feel a lot dizzy, replied Coucy
- You may feel dizzy my Lord, but I am happy to see that you are still alive. While you were in a deep sleep, I bandaged your wounds. I have to say that I was afraid that you leave this world.
- Well, boy, I am deeply indebted to you. I have to admit that I would have been a pity to depart this world at eighteen.
- My lord is only eighteen!!!! I thought you were much older, as for me I am only fourteen!
- That’s amusing! What is your name, Scot?
- Gilbert Fleming, my Lord. I am from Lanarkshire, my lord, from Bothwell , precisely.
At the same moment, Enguerrand released of cry of pain, calling again for the good care of his new found friend.
- Arghh!!! My name is Enguerrand de Coucy, I am a Frenchman and a friend of the great king of France.
- Of the King of France!!!! Then you must be a great “Monseigneur”!!!
- Maybe, replied Enguerrand, but what happened here……the battle.
- Oh, yes my lord, a terrible thing that I hoped to forget by engaging a conversation with you.
- By looking at your saddened, desperate eyes and by the presence of so many men who gave up their souls on this sour day, I can tell that we were defeated, n’est-ce pas ?
- Yes, I was in Scottish ost, my lord, under the banner of the earl of Moray. Not the one who as cowardly killed by Balliol’s agents . What a treacherous act ! Assailed by a group of men, as he was crossing a bridge, at Musselburgh! However, his son my lord Thomas Randolph the Younger. The man had big thirst for vengeance. Remember sir?
Indeed, Enguerrand was with Bricquebec at Newbattle Abbey, when news reached them that the Regent of Scotland was dead. It was October 23th 1331 .Hastily, Scottish nobles elected another Regent, the earl Donald of Mar, a nephew of the late King Robert I of Scotland. On October 25th, against the advice of the French Marshal Bricquebec, Donald announced that he intended to lead the Scottish army into a great offensive against Balliol and the other “Disinherited”. It wasn’t a good idea, because the English were strongly entrenched in their positions to the south and Balliol had transformed Perth into a winter barracks. Still rumours pretended that Balliol was looking to make a great strike at the Bruce supporters and every Scottish noble was enraged at the fate of the late Regent.
The army left the hamlet of Auchendinny, October 31th, where it had gathered and marched toward Stirling, where Balliol’s vanguard was spotted, according to reports. On November 5th, news reached the Franco-Scottish army that Stirling had been taken by Balliol and that he was presently at Bonnybridge. The Earl of Mar and other Bruce supporters wanted to finish him once and for all, but Briquebec favoured a more cautious strategy, fearing a pincer movement from the English who had their headquarters in Dumfries, but also troop movements all across the Scottish Lowlands. Mar refuse to listen to Briqcuebec saying that it was cowardice not to avenge the murder of the Earl of Moray and that if they would act rapidly, they will take by surprise Balliol and the English.
However, once Moray and his army arrived, Balliol was not there and had already moved to the vicinity of Harthill. Some the Scottish noblemen suggested a direct attack over Perth, but Mar as Regent of Scotland disagreed and wanted to continue the pursuit. Finally, the two armies met at Harthill after days of forced march. Once on the field, the Scots realised that Balliol’s forces seemed few in number and after a few exchange of arrows from both side, the Scots charged, but were surprised when a line of men rose suddenly from the field. Welsh longbow men were they. They were hidden by the height of the grass. Soon they began firing deadly volleys at the Scottish ost. Many died and once the Scottish levies were close, the longbow men retreated.
Meanwhile the wooden spikes planted into the soil by the English hampered mass movement of the Scots. After the archers’ retreat, enemy infantry and cavalry took the lead. The vanguard was commanded by a famous disinherited; Henry de Beaumont, Earl of Buchan and Baron Beaumont eager to regain all his possessions in Scotland. The dashing Brienne struck great fear into the Scottish army, jostling everyone around him, clearing his way through by cutting down the footmen who had the bad luck of standing on his path.
Bricquebec’s Frenchmen charged into to fray to keep Beaumont’s band away. The fight was harsh and cruel. Many men died, struck by arrows, swords, or horses’ hoofs. Suddenly a horn was heard; French and Scots alike thought it was reinforcements. Maybe it was Sir Archibald Douglas coming to carry the day for all Scot. Alas it wasn't the gallant lord of Liddesdale, but an unknown banner had shown up. But as the group of knights got closer and closer, the pennant became clearer and clearer:
de gueules, à trois léopards d'or, à la bordure d'azur chargée de quatorze fleurs de lys d'or disposées en orle,
The earl of Cornwall who at the head of a group of English knights came right into the Scots left flank, which immediately broke. Despite the cries of old Briquebec and young Stewart, their troops fled, only a couple of bold men stay in the front of the cursed English and the disloyal Balliol supporters. One them was Enguerrand de Coucy. Now the battle was over and only dead corpses were spread across the field and groan of the wounded echoing all around. The tale of the disaster was over.
- Oh blessed Gilbert, I am feeling feeble again, perhaps I will go away and follow my countrymen’s path to Heaven !
- Certainly not my lord, here grab my back, I will to carry you to the Manuel priory, the nuns are charitable there, they should be able to help us. But with God’s help , we shall pass through enemy lines the join this small earthly heaven. Come on my lord !
- Aye, young Fleming, may the Almighty hear you!
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So as OTL? I was just confused by the Etampes named Regent and guardian of Royal Children as the brother-in-law to the King, hence I got confused about who Joan marries TTL.