Earl Read Online Free

demand.  I had been lord of the manor long enough to know that my men grew older and the lure of war was not as strong.  It made my farms strong for some of the farmers were those who had been warriors.
    I wrote letters to Sir Henry de Vexin, Brother Michael, and the Archbishop of York explaining what I had done.  I was learning that others would take credit if I did not. As the weather had marginally improved I took the opportunity of taking my men at arms, including my Varangians, on a tour of my lands and fiefs.  I did not expect trouble and so I left my archers at Stockton.  They were more than capable of defending my home and it gave Dick a greater opportunity to train more archers and the fyrd.  We had learned that the best use of the fyrd was as either spearmen or bowmen. Defence was their best strategy.
    William pestered to accompany me. He was now big enough to ride a large pony and he wore a small surcoat my wife had made him from one of my damaged ones.  Alf, my smith, had also made him a short mail hauberk and helmet. As it would be a peaceful progression I gave in. Leofric was charged by my wife to watch out for him rather than me.  Leofric was the gentler of my squires. He showed the qualities one needed in a knight. John, in contrast, had more in common with Wulfric. He might never be a knight but he would make a good man at arms. My bigger squire had grown again during the winter and promised to be a giant even bigger than Wulfric.
    We began our progress at Elton south to Thornaby; east to Normanby and then west to Yarm. Even though Yarm was just a couple of hours travel from our home it took us two days to reach it for we stayed over with my knights. Although I would enjoy the company of my knights I had taken my men at arms because they had to learn to mix with the other men at arms. When they fought together in one huge conroi then they needed to know each other. My Varangians were new.  I knew, from Wulfric, that there was often conflict when new men at arms joined together in a large conroi.  I wanted that to be away from the field of war.
    When we left Yarm for Piercebridge and Gainford I saw that some of my new men at arms sported bruises and cuts.  I asked Wulfric if there had been trouble. "Trouble?  No, my lord; more a levelling of opinions.  They will all be like brothers when we go to war."
    We changed my plans when we reached Gainford.  Hugh of Gainford had once been my squire. I had been looking forward to the visit.  He was the only survivor of a raid from the west and he had had to build up his manor.  He had succeeded beyond my wildest expectations.  However he was not at home when I arrived.  His steward, Geoffrey of Bowes, apologised, "I am sorry, my lord but Sir Guy of Balliol has died.  He was ill for some time.  My master and his men are attending the funeral at the castle."
    "Who is the new lord?"
    "His son, Barnard de Balliol." He smiled.  "His father thought so much of his son he named his castle in his honour on the day he was born."
    I had often wondered why the castle was so named. "We will travel thence.  It is but a couple of hours of hard riding."
    As I headed north I wondered about this Barnard of Balliol. I had not seen him when I had visited his father and, as far as I knew, he had not participated in any of our battles against the Scots. Some young knights liked to use their youth to travel.  Perhaps he had been one such.  If his father had named the castle after him then it would seem he doted on him. I saw, as I approached the castle, that the wooden structure in which his father had lived was now being replaced with a stone one. It was in the early stages but, when finished, it would be a daunting castle. It had a superb aspect, overlooking the river as it did.  Although I was an Earl, Sir Barnard owed his fealty not to me but to the Bishop of Durham. I wondered if this would cause a problem.
    When we reached the castle it was close to nightfall.