|
His
mother died when he was only 3 so he had little chance
of inheriting much on his father's death as his relationship
with his elder brother was at best cool, caused by near
fatal hunting accident when Sir John nearly drowned
after falling from his horse into a fast flowing river
while racing Sir William
He
accompanied his father in 1277 when Edward I mounted
a campaign to bring Llywellyn ap Gruffydd, Prince of
Wales to heel. By the summer Llywellyn, having been
deserted by his vassals, surrendered to the might of
Edward’s army. Sir William was too young to take
part in any of the fighting and had to watch from the
relative safety of the baggage train but he gained a
taste for campaign life.
In
Easter 1282 when Sir William was 14 the Welsh rose up
again, by December Llywellyn was killed in combat and
his severed head was taken to Rhuddlan and then on to
the Tower of London. Sir William was very pleased, as
he was one of the first people to carry the spear.
Sir
William then dropped out of sight for a time while he
went to the Holy Land to try and make his fortune. When
his father died he had failed to acquire any land so
returned to England to the small manor he was left in
his father’s will, much to his elder brother's
annoyance. On his return trip he stayed in Italy where
he managed to acquire a set of the latest armour - Sir
William never confirmed how he gained the armour but
it was rumoured that he won it in a tournament combat
with a knight who was so drunk that he was barely able
to stand.
Sir
William is based on a historical character although
very little is known about him. He is portrayed by Mick
Bensted, who comes from Canterbury and has been involved
in re-enactment for nearly twenty years.
|
