MacDidz: The Scottish Blog

[Didz]

Part 2: The War Clouds Gather

1086 AD: A large English army is gathering near York and Alexander Canmore hires addition Irish mercenaries to bolster the defence of Edinburgh in anticipation of an imminent assault. In fact, it proved an uneccessary precaution as the English merely dithered near York seemingly unwilling to march either North or West.

1095 AD: Kyle Canmore is born?
When asked the reason for the strange name her mother merely shrugged and said it was suggested by her neighbours.

1096 AD: Every Scottish controlled city and castle now has its own counter-intelligence spy in residence, to prevent the English causing unrest and loss of income. The next objective is to establish if the English have more than one army in their kingdom. If they have not then the situation will be ripe for a rapid assault on either Nottingham or York.

1097 AD: Bad news reached Edinburgh today that the poineering merchant 'Gawain of Fife' was killed by an earthquake in unholy lands to far south. His place has been taken by Gille Patrick, a merchant from the Shetland Isles.

King Edward has ordered a watchtower placed on the Welsh border enabling the movements of the English in Mercia to be monitored. This seems to confirm the belief that the English only have one army and are torn between using it to attack Edinburgh and protecting Nottingham and York.

A strategy is established which will bait this English army either to the North exposing Nottingham to a rapid assault by the army of Wales, or to draw it into Wales allowing Prince Alex's army to march on York.

1098 AD: All is set for the invasion of England. The final preparations are in place and the mercenaries hired. Then just as they were poised to strike the war has to be suspended when a Welsh uprising on the island of Anglesea threatens Caernarvon Castle.