Historical Account: The Plight of the Average Man

January 1, 1066, John Aldridge was working his peasant field when a neighbor, Flint, walked up the gray clay road. Flint walked over to John and said the “King is dead”, and Harold has taken has been chosen as the new king. John paused, and then said, “Does it matter?” “Will the new king bring new crops to my fields?” “Will he help lower my rent?” “I work from sun up to sun down to provide my family with food. If I fail, I go hungry, not my lord.” John replied, “Well” Flint replied, “William from Normandy will be coming; we shall see how it turns for all of us”.  The winter turned to spring and nothing was heard. John went on with his daily routine of trying to provide for his family, while paying rent for his 2 acre farm.  One day his Lord Argon arrived on foot, just better than serfdom himself. Lord Argon walked up to John and said, “You are my subject, you work my lands and you will pay me homage”. “Grab your sword and come with me.” John replied. “Where are we going?” He was simply told, “Shut up and come, or I will kick you off my lands.” John knowing that meant certain starvation for his family went to his one room mud hut, with thatch roof, and grabbed his sword and leather tunic recovered when the Roman left. He kissed his family good bye, and went into the horde of other peasant’s how were forced to follow or starve.

On a day that John could not remember, but was etched in English lore, John arrived near Hastings Castle, not more than a ruin on a hill really. They had the high ground as the enemy arrived on the field of battle. The enemy looked sharp, with new armor. John looked at his raged leather cover and thought, “I don’t know these people. They have never harmed me. Why do I need to kill them? May be they will go away?” As the armies lines formed up, John, scared, never thought life would end like this. Knowing he had now swordsmanship skills, he hoped the pain would be quick when he succumbed to his enemies strike. When he heard the horn blast, he saw his line move forward. This was stupid because they had the high ground. Let the enemy come to them, and tire themselves out coming up hill. But still the English moved down hill, and some John was rushing forward.  He knew that his family relied on his going forward. He ran into the Normandy lines and continued forward. Maybe they were as scared as John. John flung his sword around; this was now life or death. He didn’t know how many people he struck until he felt a strong pounding on the back of his head. With a bright flash, and then things turning silver and then purple he realized he was done. When John woke up, amongst a small group, he saw in the distance, the body of King Harold propped up with an arrow in his eye socket. John had never seen King Harold before. He only knew he was King of England; in reality, it made no impact on his peasant life. Eventually, a man speaking broken English appeared. He said, “Harold is dead”.  “William is the new king. You either pay homage to him or die here, and now.” Knowing nothing would truly change in his life, John knelt before the stranger and pledge allegiance to the new King. John would go down as William the Conqueror, and John would not be remembered until now. For John, the ruling class may change, but life with a pick and hoe stayed the same. For John, he had is family and this was enough for now.

April 1314, Shamus McRatlif, tended his sheep when a band of highland Scots approached. Shamus grabbed his sword and demanded the northern rebels to halt on his land. The leader, Angus, asked Shamus to join their lot.  Shamus refused, saying he had stayed out of the troubles these past few years and he intended to stay that way. Angus was instantly angered. He had lost many friends in the plight for Scottish freedom, and future imports rights of whisky to America, and was not going to let hinterland farmers stop retribution to his sworn enemy the English. Angus ordered his wayward band to take Shamus’ food for his family. If they could pursued him of the rightness of his cause, Angus would take what he needed. June, 1314, the English appeared on the horizon. At first, A few heavy armored horsemen. The foot soldiers followed soon after.  They approached his hovel with swords out. The leader never made demands as the soldier swarmed his house. They took all of his sheep, leftover food, and his eldest daughter, Abigail.  Shamus attempted to resist with his four sons, but the English beat and kicked them all. They never stood a chance. A few hours later, Shamus and his two sons vowed revenge! They set out on foot for the Scot’s post. At first, they were looked at with suspicion. Shamus pleaded his case for revenge against the English for the loss of his daughter and two sons. Still, they were looked on as possible traitors.  A few weeks later, at the battle of Brannockburn, they had their revenge. At a distance they could see Robert the Bruce pleading with his soldiers to move forward against the English. Shamus and his sons needed no prodding. Today, they would get their revenge, or die trying. When the masses moved forward, Shamus ran as he could. He would spill English blood that day, even if he died. After the battle was over, Shamus looked around, and saw the thousands of dead and dying bodies on the ground. He did not ask for the fight, it had been brought to him.