Medieval Heralds

A modern re-enactor dressed as a herald. The aftermath of any medieval battle was a time for the heralds. It was generally heralds who were expected to identify the dead, but they also collected stories of the actions of nobles and knights so that the tale of the battle could be turned into songs or poems, and the main details recorded by chroniclers.
With thanks to the Medieval Combat Society.

from "The Battle of Chesterfield" by Rupert Matthews

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A book dedicated to the Battle of Chesterfield that ended the Baronial Wars of King Henry III against Simon de Montfort. After Simon de Montfort's death at the Battle of Evesham in 1265, his supporters rallied in Derbyshire. Sending messages to other reformers to rally to their cause the rebels were expecting help from the King of France, but it was Prince Edward (later King EdwardI) who got there first with a royal army. The resulting battle began in the fields south of the town, but moved into the streets of the town and ended in the churchyard where the last rebels surrendered. This book follows the standard pattern set by others in the Bretwalda Battles series. The reasons for and course of the war in question are outlined, then detailed analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies are given with particular reference to this battle. The course of the battleis then followed, with comment on what there is to see at the site today. Short biographies of the commanders are also given. The aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of the war are then described. The "Bretwalda Battles" series has been running with increasing success as ebooks for some time. Now the first books in the series are being published in print format.

Lancastrian Commander at the Battle of Northampton 1460

The Lancastrian forces at Northampton were nominally under the command of King Henry VI. Henry had been born the son of King Henry V in 1421, which made him 39 at the time of the battle. He was only nine months old when he inherited the crown of England from his father. He grew up to be a kindly and devout man, but his childish nature and simple mind made him a weak king. Henry slipped into periodic bouts of insanity which made his grip on government even less secure.
Henry was no more fit to lead an army than to rule a kingdom, so real command fell to Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham, the most experienced diplomat and commander at the battle. Born in 1402, Buckingham was 58 when he drew up his men outside Northampton. Through his mother, Buckingham was a great grandson of King Edward III, yet another royal relative active in the Wars of the Roses. His father had died when he was barely a year old, leaving him the title of Earl of Stafford and a handsome income of £1260 a year, not bad when the average worker would get a penny a day. He was knighted in 1421 and became a Privy Councillor to the infant Henry VI in 1424. In 1430 he went to Normandy to take part in the fighting against the French and although he did not have an independent command, he did gain valuable experience of the business of war.

from "The Battle of Northampton" by Rupert Matthews.

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A book dedicated to the Battle of Northampton, fought as part of the Wars of the Roses in 1460. In 1460 the Yorkist faction in the Wars of the Roses seemed doomed. The Duke of York was dead, his sons in exile, his friends in hiding and his army scattered. Then Edward, the dashing new Duke of York, returned to England from Ireland and summoned his supporters to join him. Among those heading to support Edward was the Earl of Warwick, but at Northampton Warwick encountered a powerful Lancastrian army under the Duke of Buckingham. The four hours of savage fighting that followed changed the situation entirely and gave the Yorkists the upper hand. This book follows the standard pattern set by others in the Bretwalda Battles series. The reasons for and course of the war in question are outlined, then detailed analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies are given with particular reference to this battle. The course of the battleis then followed, with comment on what there is to see at the site today. Short biographies of the commanders are also given. The aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of the war are then described. The "Bretwalda Battles" series has been running with increasing success as ebooks for some time. Now the first books in the series are being published in print format.

 

 

First Export Sale of the Month

Our first ebook export this month is a copy of "Victory in London" to a buyer in France.

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Buy your printed version HERE

Product Description

The inside story of the campaign by Lynton Crosby to put Boris Johnson back into power as London Mayor told by one of the top members of his campaign team who was at Borisʼs side throughout.
In 2012 the political stakes could not be higher. After one term in office and despite enjoying personal popularity, Boris Johnson faced an uphill battle for re-election as Mayor of London. Buffeted by Tory unpopularity, the toughest financial conditions in years and accusations that he was out of touch and a ʻdo-nothingʼ Mayor, Boris faced the fight of his political life.
And to top it all, he was up against Ken Livingstone, one of the most formidable and ruthless campaigners in British politics.
This is the first and most authoritative book about Boris Johnsonʼs re-election. Told by an insider, it will reveal the inner workings of the campaign and how one of the most high profile politicians in the country and his extraordinary team pulled off an election victory that was closer than anyone dared think.
Based on an unprecedented level of access to all the key players, including Boris himself and campaign director Lynton Crosby, this is a must read for anyone interested in politics.

Stephen's army at the Battle of Lincoln

Stephen was a skilled soldier and capable general. He knew that his army was equipped for siege, not for open battle. He was especially short on mounted knights, so he knew he could not rely on the favoured tactic of all medieval commanders - the crushing charage of heavily armoured knights. Instead he put his main strength on foot and in the centre. This was where he stationed himself, beside the royal standard and surrounded by the most heavily armoured men of the royal contingent. With him Stephen had Baldwin fitz Gilbert, Bernard de Balliol, Roger de Mowbray, Richard de Courcy, William Peverel of Nottingham, Gilbert de Gant, Ingelram de Say, Ilbert de Lacy and Richard fitz Urse. These were all noblemen of the middle rank who had brought their men to support the king. We know that Bernard de Balliol had brought 100 knights with him plus a rather larger number of mounted sergeants and infantry. Presumably the others had brought similar numbers of men, more or less.

The great nobles in Stephen’s army had their own much larger contingents. Stephen was about to learn, if he did not already know, the limits a feudal army. These great nobles were William of Ypres, Earl of Kent and Count of Flanders, Simon of Senlis, Earl of Northumberland, Gilbert Earl of Hertford; William of Aumale, Earl of York, Alan Earl of Richmond and Hugh Bigod, Earl of Norfolk. As earls these five men were of the very highest rank of nobility. They had been trained for war since birth and were able to raise substantial numbers of knights and other men from their vast estates. It seems that these earls had brought brought retinues of mounted knights with them, and that they still had their war horses with them. Given their high rank they would have felt it beneath their dignity to fight on foot, and Stephen was not the kind of man to insult their honour by ordering them to do so. 

from "The Battle of Lincoln 1141" by Rupert Matthews. 

A book dedicated to the Siege of Lincoln that marked a turning point in the Wars of Anarchy during the reign of King Stephen. A civil war between King Stephen and his rival Empress Matilda broke out in 1136. By 1141 England had fallen in to near anarchy with nobles using the unrest to pursue local feuds, slaughter rivals and pillage each other's land. In 1141 Stephen moved to capture Lincoln Castle and put down one such recalcitrant nobleman. While there he was surprised and attacked by a larger army led by Matilda. The ensuing battle was complex and confused, but it ended with Stephen utterly defeated - for now. This book follows the standard pattern set by others in the Bretwalda Battles series. The reasons for and course of the war in question are outlined, then detailed analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies are given with particular reference to this battle. The course of the battleis then followed, with comment on what there is to see at the site today. Short biographies of the commanders are also given. The aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of the war are then described. The "Bretwalda Battles" series has been running with increasing success as ebooks for some time. Now the first books in the series are being published in print format.