PanzerKaput Goes To Barons' War

On the day of Our Lord 22^nd March 1215AD did the forces of Abbot William Pepyn and the forces of St Mary de Pratis did give battle to Lord Philip la Marteau, Lord of Great Bowden at the market town of Haverberg. Lord Philip was defending the market village for the King as part of the Rockingham Forest, one of the King’s Estates and Abbot Pepyn was hoping for easy pickings and a foothold in the area to strike up at the King’s holdings but Lord Philip had other ideas.

The first phase of the battle when will for Lord Philip has his bowmen and crossbowmen arrows and bolts teared spears of Abbot Pepyn’s Milites Christi causing them all to fall them. The Milites Christi axemen run toward the crossbow of Lord Philip and Abbot Pepyn’s bowmen let loose and cause the crossbowmen of Lord Philip to retreat under a hail of arrows. Abbot Pepyn and his bodyguard and a unit of Milites Christi advanced on the on the right flank, taking advantage of the small corpse of trees that protected them while Lord Philip and he retinue and spearmen advanced toward Abbot Pepyn on that flank too.

Lord Philip’s crossbowmen, gathered toward and rained bolts on the Milites Christi, striking down half of them while the Lord’s bowmen let loose their arrows on the Milites Christi with the Abbot and their shields, God and the corpse of trees protected them. The Abbot ordered his bowmen to let loose their arrows toward Lord Phillip’s bowmen and a great many laid where they stood as with the will of God. The remaining bowmen took flight and run behind the wood for safety. In the meantime, Lord Philip, his personal retinue and his spearmen advanced across the field to meet the Abbot and his bodyguard.

On the Abbot’s right flank a great battle started where the Lord’s and Abbot’s personal guards clashed with each other after the Lord has attacked the Abbot’s Milites Christi and sent them back. The Abbot’s bowmen cause a few casualties to Lord Philip’s spearmen before the Abbot’s Milites Christi attack and fell to their spears. The two leaders both fought with very little effect with very light casualties to both sides. However, the crossbowmen of Lord Philip secured their flank but sending the axe wielding Milites Christi back to their maker.

The battle raging between the Leaders with Abbot Pepyn getting the upper hand and causing Lord Philip to turn and retreat and very nearly left the field but could not capitalise on it as Lord Phillip’s crossbowmen rained bolts and terror onto the Abbot’s bowmen and forced them to leave the field, leaving the village of Haverberg, safely in the hands of the Lord Philip and Abbot Pepyn too weak to press the attack further.

This account of the Battle of Heverberg was written by Brother Peter, Sacrist, at the request of Brother Simon, Sub-Prior and Brother William, Abbot, so I record be kept and the fallen remembered.