living in 16th century england

Chapter 11 The Robber Knight
To expand the flock, you can only buy others, or wait for the sheep to reproduce naturally.So "sheep cannibalize people" is a natural and slow process.

It is not easy to quickly expand woolen production.England, which is poor and remote, still needs to import looms from the Netherlands, which is extremely expensive.

Unless you destroy other wool merchants and eat up their wool sources and market share.But it all takes money, time and opportunity.And under this feudal system, there is no support from lords or local forces.It is difficult to expand rapidly.For Andrew, who was still selling wool last year, he can only think about it for the time being.

So Matthew didn't just say that he only wanted the smithy.But now there is one more, the shipyard.

In his expectation, the money came quickly.

Matthew's year guarantee is unheard of.For a while, other shipyards complained.Some people even canceled the agreement, just to queue up for the Hawkins Shipyard.

So someone came to the door.

Regarding the shipyard, the father and son certainly discussed it.But how Andrew dealt with it, Matthew didn't know.

He is now on his way to London.

Accompanied by Robert, Irene, two followers.The older ones are familiar with the road and also serve as guides.

The means of transportation are two riding horses, four pack horses, and two donkeys.

Matthew and Robert rode horses, each of them led two pack horses, and Irene rode a donkey.

No carriage.The state of British roads was in a state of disarray at this time.The surroundings of the villages and towns are okay, but the wild forests are lucky, maybe they can walk, maybe they can't.Far less flexible and convenient than a pack horse.

Robert is still gaudy, but he has changed into a soft armor.

"Perhaps we should go by boat. It might be faster that way."

Matthew: "No, then you won't be able to see... the local customs."

Robert couldn't understand: "Watt? What's so interesting about this?"

Irene was a little nervous: "Master, are there a lot of homeless people doing evil outside?"

Matthew: "Yes, there are many. But no one is born a bad person, most of them are forced to."

Robert smiled and said, "Little girl, don't lose your knife."

Irene mustered up her courage: "If there are robbers, I will fight them to the end."

Robert snorted, "No, the knife is for you to commit suicide."

Erin's face paled suddenly.

Matthew said: "Don't scare her...don't worry Irene, this kind of thing won't happen."

Robert wondered: "How do you know?"

Matthew actually thought about it: "...someone took their land, so they became homeless. It's not their fault. If there is a decent job, no one would want to be a robber of."

Robert chuckled: "Matthew, are you talking about yourself?"

Matthew is not angry: "No, I'm different from them... The Hawkins family did buy a lot of land, but they never turned anyone into a homeless person. Everyone was properly resettled. I think people are most precious treasure."

Eileen nodded repeatedly.Robert came for a short time, and he was a little skeptical.

Matthew stopped his horse: "England has fewer people and more land. As long as you have a little conscience and a reasonable organization, everyone can live and work in peace and contentment."

"Actually, I've even recruited some, because there's so much land. Have you ever seen a tramp in Plymouth?"

Robert: "...I thought they were all caught, or working as porters digging tin ore or something."

Irene: "Master, what would you like to drink?"

Seeing that everyone stopped, Matthew said, "Take a rest, we ride horses, but they walk."

"Irene, please give me a glass of cold boiled water."

Irene giggled and jumped off the donkey's back.

Robert said with a smile: "Please give me a glass of beer, this thing will not taste good after a long time."

The middle-aged entourage said: "Master, I remember that there is a fief of the knight master in front of me. Are you going to rest there for a night?"

Matthew got off his horse and said, "You can figure it out, as long as you think it's appropriate."

The middle-aged follower smiled and said: "Don't worry, I will arrange everything."

The young attendants slumped on the grass to rest, while the animals were busy grazing.In the south of England, there is no severe cold in winter, no severe heat in summer, and the pastures are not bad all year round.

Robert saw that his surroundings had a wide field of vision, so he had nothing to worry about.So he sat on the rock, then took the beer handed over by Irene, and drank it in three or two gulps.

"Matthew, why does your beer taste... How should I put it... It's especially Wriggold."

Matthew raised his eyebrows: "This is my secret."

Robert only regarded it as a business secret, and didn't ask any more questions: "Miss Irene, please help me have another drink."

But the middle-aged man shouted: "Get up, you will stain your uniform like this."

The boy got up quickly and patted the grass clippings on his body.

But Robert thought to himself, this Hawkins family is really special.

They drink only boiled water, and each has his own cup.The attendants were all dressed in the same clothes, enough bread, and even the tenants were so energetic that they went to cut trees every three days.

Is it really possible for everyone to live and work in peace and contentment?
I was in a trance, but I heard the sound of horseshoes in my ears, unhurried.

Robert immediately picked up the great sword and stood up.

Matthew said: "Irene, take care of the horse, don't be surprised..."

Irene trotted quickly, but when she turned her head, she saw a knight in a can, riding a skinny horse, coming towards the crowd.

Holding on to a few reins, she thought to herself, "This must be passing by, right?"

The knight remained silent, and neither did Matthew and Robert, but the two attendants drew short spears from their pack horses and stood behind Matthew.The scene was a little weird.

The knight's armor and weapons looked old and mottled.

He suddenly pointed, but didn't speak.

Everyone: "..."

Matthew suddenly chuckled.

The knight pointed again and said, "Stay...stay...keep your...money...money and...horses...horses, I allow you to leave here alive."

It was actually a stutter, but the last sentence was very fluent.

Everyone looked at each other, and Robert laughed: "I thought it was a noble knight. It turned out to be a robber."

After speaking, he lifted the big sword and rushed forward.

In his eyes, an armored knight without speed is not deterrent.This is a living target.

The knight panicked immediately, and these people were not only not afraid, but also acted immediately.

He has a shield and a long sword, but they are useless at the moment.Robert was on his horse.

The mercenary's two-handed sword weighs about 4 kilograms and is 213 centimeters long.Many people may think that the big sword is used for slashing, but in actual use, holding the hilt with one hand and the body of the sword with the other, stabbing like a spear is the most powerful blow.

The canned knight quickly got off his horse and said angrily, "How dare you kill my horse?"

The thin horse was stabbed in the neck, fell to the ground and died without saying a word.

Robert felt that he would soon be able to catch it.It's a pity that before he could swing the big sword again, he was hit by a shield and flew away.If it hadn't been for the boy's entourage who threw the short spear instead of a javelin, he would have died.

This knight is surprisingly agile in armor.

Matthew smiled and said, "A real knight, actually came to block the road and rob?"

The knight was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly said: "I am a counterfeit."

Robert got up, and the big sword flew a little far, so he had to draw out his dagger to guard.

Matthew said: "Your armor has a mark on it."

"...the armor was...stolen...stolen."

Matthew was clean, and he was not an ordinary person at first glance.Rather like those nobles in London.

Matthew ignored his rhetoric, but said seriously: "I have a job for you, and the monthly salary is 5 gold coins. Would you like it?"

Robert couldn't help but glanced at Matthew.So did the entourage and Irene.

Recruit robbers on the spot?

The knight stood motionless, covered by a mask, with no expression on his face.

Matthew followed the temptation: "In just one year, you will be able to get 60 gold coins in an open and honest manner, and completely get rid of the current predicament. You will have retinues and servants, as well as enough high-quality horses."

Knight: "No, I can only serve the lord and the king."

Matthew smiled and said: "This is just a job. Your allegiance is still the king."

Medieval knights are actually similar to special forces. They have been trained in military skills since childhood, and they have combat effectiveness.But it is often a poor ghost, and it is also the group with the best face.Equipment for knights has long been expensive.It is basically equivalent to wearing a dozen cows.The salaries of retinues and servants are also not a small expense.

Usually the knight will be awarded a fief, but this income is not necessarily rich.There are even no knights in fiefs for various reasons.

Without a sufficient source of income, I can't do anything else.You can make a fortune from loot and prisoners during war, but what about peacetime?
Therefore, it is very common to be slaves of the three surnames. In order to get more fiefs, they often pay allegiance to many lords.According to records, the one with the largest number swore an oath to more than 20 lords successively, and there is really no bottom line.

If not, what should I do?Then you have to rob.Robbery was prevalent and rampant.At that time, the church even issued such regulations: "It is forbidden to enter or rob churches by force; it is forbidden to rob farmers' livestock; it is forbidden to attack unarmed priests."

The canned knight pointed his hand: "...how many gold coins does this shameless person have every month?"

Robert had already taken back his mercenary sword, and immediately retorted: "You have become a robber knight, and you still have the face to call me shameless?"

The knight stammered again: "You...you..., I'm going to beat you up."

Matthew smiled and said, "Well, I'll pay a month's salary in advance, and first improve your financial conditions."

The knight was moved: "...I haven't agreed yet."

Matthew immediately said: "My destination is London, and I want to meet Henry VIII. Believe me, this journey may be a great opportunity for you."

The knight wondered: "Are you going to see the king?"

Matthew smiled and said, "I also heard that Henry VIII likes to hold tournaments, do you want to go and see them?"

The knight thought for a while and put forward a condition: "As long as you can lend me another horse when the time comes, I will accept your employment."

Matthew smiled: "Deal... Irene, please bring some beer and bread to this gentleman... I guess he must be thirsty."

Eileen quickly agreed.

Knight: "Thank you for your generosity."

Robert leaned over and whispered, "Why do you have to hire a poor ghost knight?"

Matthew glanced at him with complicated eyes: "It's better than being robbed..."

Robert was stunned, and suddenly his face turned red.

(End of this chapter)