The Time: 1377 during the 100 years War:
The war with France recommenced in 1377 on the accession of Richard II. In this year the South Coast was Ravaged by France forces under the leadership of the French Knight John De Vien.
Porchester Castle whose keeping had only just been taking over by Sir Robert of Ashton, and probably had a garrison of only 2 armed men and 18 archers.
Following on from Last years script where a French force seiged the castle to prevent them helping the forces in Portsmouth. We now move on a day, it is after the attack on PortsMouth and the French are withdrawing from PortsMouth They are laden down with loot and are attempting to get back to their ships. The Portchester castle garrison intercept one small unit and attempt to capture or kill them.
Key:
English
French
<General Instructions>
| Mins | Action | Commentary |
| 22 | English Form up out of sight. French Form up at arena entrance. |
Greetings ladies and gentlemen <Usual society and safety waffle> |
| 2 | France march on with loot on cart and wheel barrow, they perform two circuits of the arena whilst laughing and joking about their defeat of the 'Silly English'. | We now take you back to 1377
during the period that was to become known as the hundred years war. At this point war
with France had just recommenced on the accession of Richard II and the South Coast was
being ravaged by France forces under the leadership of John De Vien. Portsmouth itself
coming under frequent attack Here we see a small force, which was part of a recent raid on PortsMouth, retreating back to their ship laden down with loot. |
| 4 | French spot advancing English. There is
much alarm and running about behaviour while they circle the wagons and set up Pavises.
Handgunner stays outside barricade. < barricade must be
across corner furthest from entrance and about one third of the way into the arena. A Gap
must be left at the right (from inside) end, against the ropes >
English unit emerge from their hiding place charge into the arena and immediately attack the French, hurling insults and battles cries. French Handgunner fires and one of the advancing English dies. <Many insults, hurled, very hammed up fighting, don't breach the French lines>English withdraw, (MP - 'Run Away...') |
The French scouts spot an advancing English
unit and raise the alarm. They quickly erect what defensive position they can. The English forces, realising they have been spotted, and immediately attack the dastardly French before they can prepare anything more than basic defences. Their is a brief, but vicious, skirmish, but the French manage to repulse the English. |
| 1 | French Come out to Parlay. Try to bluff
that they are not French. Garlic smell and Oriflame give the game away. English come out to meet them |
The French come out to Parlay with the English forces. |
| 1 | French parlay Party attack the English
parlay party in attempt to take hostages. English fight back and start to push the French back. <Both sides stay put during this, as they are under strict orders and are two busy drinking warm beer/wine> |
The French refused safe passage, attack the English commander and his guard in an attempt to take him hostage. The English and French troops seem too occupied to get involved and instead, just cheers on their respective commanders. |
| 0 | French Handgunner shots, and misses. English break off and both sides return to their lines. |
|
| 4 | French advance past their barricade and
charge the English, English Counter charge. <Meet in middle, big clash , lots of noise, do not run past each other. Keep you lines, and fight in tight group. No deaths, play wounds as normal, stagger back behind your lines if seriously wounded.> English push French back to their encampment where they hold their ground English are forced to withdraw, pick up wounded and return to arena edge French stay in encampment. |
The French leave their lines and charge the
English who counter charge to meet them.
<More general battle commentary>
The French are pushed back to their encampment where they manage to hold their ground and the English are forced to withdraw. |
| 4 | English attack the French line .Get nowhere
and then withdraw a short way French Hold them off.. |
The English now attack the French lines but
are beaten off. <More general battle commentary> |
| 3 | English confer, point at gap in lines.
Send 2 troops to taunt the French as a diversion will rest run round the end of the line
and attack the French from the side. French are taken by surprise, and are pushed out of their encampment and retreat to where the English started. English now have camp and start 'investigating' the French supplies. <The French are disgusted that they can only find 'warm beer' to drink amongst the English supplies.The English are not happy about only having this French wine.> |
After a quick re-think the English come up
with a new tactic, and while 2 of their number provide a diversion, they out Flank the
French and attack from round the side of their lines. The French are forced to abandon their lines. |
| 6 | Final Bash - take Blows, English must win French form a line and charge, English stay in encampment to meet charge. <Lines meet at Stakes, brief exchange> English push through lines forcing French back out into open <Battle breaks up into loose melee. The foul French are slaughtered or captured by the victorious English. No coms flee, or are cut down. Death doom and destruction all round. A few brave English can also die. French do heroic or silly last stands, refuse to surrender to the foul English pig dogs etc.> English troops loot. <Raise the dead.> |
The French try a last all out attack to try
and regain their loot and supplies
<More general battle commentary>
The English are victorious, killing or driving of the French and take the spoils. <Requests for applause etc. ending in raise the dead> |
| 1 | If time left over, circle of treachery and/or crowd charge | If time permits, give cues for circle of treachery or a crowd charge. |