Crusade

I looked at Edwin, who had been listening to the account of the trip to Zaragoza with mixed feelings. He was angry that, yet again, we had been disobeyed, but his admiration for our young companions’ conviction was all too evident. He just shrugged his shoulders.

‘So be it. Let’s talk to Count Robert and ask for them to be put to the test.’

9. Knighthood

While final preparations for the army’s attack on Scotland were made, Robert agreed that Sweyn could undergo the trial of knighthood as practised in Normandy for generations. However, he was adamant that Adela could not be admitted to the Order of Knights. His argument, although a massive disappointment for her, was compelling — even though I told him that she was formally a brother-in-arms to Edwin, Sweyn and myself.

‘That is your choice and has nothing to do with me, but no one has ever heard of a woman being admitted to the knighthood. If I were to be the first to sanction it, I would be ridiculed far and wide. And besides, it’s just wrong — she’s a woman, and women shouldn’t fight on the battlefield, let alone be knights.’

‘Many women have fought in battle and many have died.’

‘I know, and they have died well, but it has usually been in extremis to defend their homes and children. It still doesn’t make it right in my eyes, or in the eyes of God. Let that be my final word on the matter.’

Few men would disagree with Robert and there was little point in pressing him further, so I had to give Adela the bad news. I had one crumb of comfort for her, which was that Robert had agreed that she could undertake the test on the strict understanding that, no matter how well she performed, it would not qualify her to join the Order of Knights.

Edwin helped me break the news to her.

‘I will speak to the Count myself,’ she vowed.

‘You will not, Adela. That would be countermanding my authority and I will not allow it.’

‘I am the equal of all of them — and better than most. It is not just.’

Edwin intervened.

‘Remember who you are speaking to.’

‘My Lord, I’m sorry, but I want to be treated according to my talents, not constrained by traditions that men created to keep women as slaves.’

‘You have my sympathy, but you can’t fight the way the world is.’

‘On the contrary, sire, I can and I will.’

‘I understand but, on this occasion, I can’t help you.’

‘My Lord, I realize how much you have supported Sweyn and myself, and we will always be grateful. So, if I accept this, what will become of me? Will I be able to accompany you on campaigns?’

‘I don’t see why you can’t carry on as page in my retinue — and, indeed, bear arms. Let me talk to the Count after the trial.’

The trial was undertaken with the help of several of Robert’s senior knights, in a series of tests supervised by Hugh Percy. A large crowd gathered when word spread around the camp that Adela had been allowed to take the challenge.

There were many emotions and opinions about Adela within Robert’s army, both among the fighting men and the men and women who made up the baggage train. All assumed she would have preferred to be a man and that her sexual desires favoured women rather than men. That was understandable, given her appearance and demeanour, and most men — and many of the women — were adamant that a long night with a well-endowed, vigorous young man would solve all her problems. A few were more sympathetic, admiring her fortitude as well as her martial skills and courage.

The tests were arduous: target practice with longbow, crossbow and javelin; tilts at dummy targets and personal jousts with some of Robert’s finest horsemen; duels on foot and on horseback with sword, mace and seax; various tests of horsemanship, including a long-distance gallop through the forest and heath; and the final challenge, a foot-race around the camp where, at several points, they had to run a gauntlet of abuse, blows, traps and obstacles.

The test was scored by Hugh Percy and both passed handsomely. Sweyn’s score was one of the highest anyone could remember, while Adela’s would have put her close to the elite bracket of candidates had she not suffered the misfortune of being taken clean out of her saddle in one of her three jousts, which lost her several points. However, accompanied by much cheering, her sheer determination, desperate scrambling and instinctive cunning meant she beat Sweyn by ten yards in the foot-race, even though he had the physique of a hunting dog.

The camp was delighted at the outcome and had been thoroughly entertained for an afternoon.