The Leinster Campaign

[Xion]

English Forces

South Roscrea James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond (+1 Rout Rolls, +6 Duels, +5 Survival, +15 HP Equipment : Partial Plate) 20 Knights 149 Men at Arms 100 Mounted Archers 350 Yeoman Archers 290 Yeoman Foot -- Shillelagh Sir Thomas Butler (+3 Battle Rolls, +1 Detection, +6 Duels, +5 Survival, +15 HP Equipment : Partial Plate) 10 Knights 400 Yeoman Archers 200 Yeoman Foot 50 Mounted Archers 40 Hobelar -- Wicklow Garrison 1 Knight 40 Yeoman Archers 42 Yeoman Foot --- Gowran Castle, Kilkenny 60 Yeoman Archers 40 Yeoman Foot 40 Mounted Archers

Irish Forces

Leinster : ? Unknown Clan : 74 Hobelars

[Xion]

Upon the force's arrival in New Ross, Ormond orders the establishment of a siege camp and the preparation of siege towers and two rams to have for an potential assault on the walls. Ormond also orders the twenty hobelars and 120 mounted archers to screen the camp from any potential Irish attack.
1 day to prepare.

[Dirty Chai]

The burghers in the city of Ross hang deep green flags from the ramparts for a week but before the siege equipment is finished, some white flags are waved, signalling they wish to come to terms.

[Xion]

Ormond rides out to the midpoint between his siege camp and the walls of New Ross with an escort of thirty men at arms, awaiting the burghers to emerge to discuss terms.

[Dirty Chai]

The party of townsfolk who emerge from the walled burgh include a handful of councilmen, all certainly some of the richest men in the city - or perhaps more likely, it was their representatives, their sons, their lawyers, their lessers. The mayor led them, though, meeting the Earl of Ormond at the half-way point.

"Your lordship, Earl of Ormond and Gowran," the mayor greeted and offered a bow to Butler. "We, the leading men of Ross, old and new, wish for this siege to end, and are prepared to make compromises to your lordship to make it so,"

[Xion]

The party of townsfolk who emerge from the walled burgh include a handful of councilmen, all certainly some of the richest men in the city - or perhaps more likely, it was their representatives, their sons, their lawyers, their lessers. The mayor led them, though, meeting the Earl of Ormond at the half-way point.

"Your lordship, Earl of Ormond and Gowran," the mayor greeted and offered a bow to Butler. "We, the leading men of Ross, old and new, wish for this siege to end, and are prepared to make compromises to your lordship to make it so,"

Butler nods in response to the mayor's bow. "Of course. My terms are that Ross shall send an emissary to Dublin to renew your fealty to the crown of England, with your charter being respected and upheld." Despite having it's concessions granted by John I revoked twice by past kings, Butler thought having control of a port would benefit his earldom in the future. But he decided against outright requesting them to be vassals of Ormond.

[Dirty Chai]

The mayor looked fairly surprised, happily so, and bowed his head again. "Yes, of course, we can do that easily."

He paused and then began up again. "However, your lordship, we would like to also propose that, with the absence of the king and his men, we, the city and your person, sign a treaty that places our protection against the Kavanaghs and McMurroughs in your hands so that we may never again resort to coming under the dominion of the Irish again ... in return for monetary remuneration, of course."

[Xion]

The mayor looked fairly surprised, happily so, and bowed his head again. "Yes, of course, we can do that easily."

He paused and then began up again. "However, your lordship, we would like to also propose that, with the absence of the king and his men, we, the city and your person, sign a treaty that places our protection against the Kavanaghs and McMurroughs in your hands so that we may never again resort to coming under the dominion of the Irish again ... in return for monetary remuneration, of course."

Ormond takes a few moments to think about the proposed treaty with Ross. "That is something I can agree to, sir."

[Dirty Chai]

Such a document is drafted up and presented to the Earl of Ormond to approve; it states that New and Old Ross will provide the Earl of Ormond with £50 in times of war and £25 in times of peace in return for his protection against Irish clans and kings. It makes it clear Ormond would do this as the closest representative present of the king, and does not suggest the treaty is hereditary or perpetual.

[Xion]

Butler looks over the treaty and signs it. He then writes orders for the siege camp to be disbanded and has a rider take them back to his brother. "Well, sirs, my army must move to subdue the rest of Leinster for the crown. If there are any supplies you can provide for us, I would be most grateful. I will have a small garrison of men be sent from Ormond to serve as your defense for the duration of my campaign."

[Dirty Chai]

The mayor and the representatives behind him all offer half-bows. "We wish you much luck against the foe,"

-------------------------

The lords of the area around New & Old Ross flee across the River Barrow in the coming days, clearly taking what men they have to seek the protection of their overlord. Many of them are known to be of Norman name, but most are clans.

[Xion]

Upon their arrival in the Ferns, Butler orders the preparation of siege towers and sends out his twenty hobelars and thirty mounted archers under the command of his brother to scout for the Irish.

[Dirty Chai]

Actually, the Butler host is blocked passage to Enniscorthy (and Ferns beyond) by encountering a Gaelic force of some size amassed in the forested plains southwest of Clanroche and northeast of Old and New Ross.

[Xion]

After receiving reports of the Irish presence, Ormond orders his host to assemble in formation to prepare for battle. "I wish we had artillery, Thomas. We could then burn them out." "We do have archers." "Yes, but fire arrows would not have the same effect as a rock covered in pitch or peat."

[Dirty Chai]

It is a light forest before them, not thicketed but rather like hedges and sparse groves. Still, it's hard to tell how many men block their path as only the front ranks seem to show in front of a treeline. A colorful knight rode appeared between a break in the trees for a moment - it wasn't just Irishmen in there.

They don't seem to be intent on moving any time soon.

[Xion]

Ormond stares at the hedges and sparse groves with growing irritation, as his men were formed up in battle lines out in the fields, yet the Irish, or after several men noticed the knight riding around, Irish and Norman-Irish. His brother on the other hand, just sighs. "They're not going to come out, brother. We likely outnumber them and the Irish, as you should know from our lessons, always prefer to avoid open battle." "But.." "Just send our archers and foot ahead with the cavalry on the wings. Our longbowmen likely outrange anything the native Irish have, besides any longbowmen their English subjects have brought to the battle." "Very well. Signal the advance." Ormond shouts to his standard bearer, who dips the banner slightly forward, after which the foot companies begin their advance towards the hedges and groves, at least into range for the longbowmen to shoot volleys at the front rank of Irish. Ormond also orders some pitch brought up so two volleys of fire arrows may be shot at the Irish as well.

[Dirty Chai]

The meeting encounter turns into a skirmish, trading volleys of bodkins back and forth, until the men-at-arms and men-under-arms of Butler's shields crash into the wooded line of trees. The Earl can see his horsemen combating with some obscured enemy at flanks of the forest, and eventually the right sinks deeper into the blinding green, their colorful bardings becoming hidden behind all the oak and hardwood. The left pounces back, trying to chase a still unseen foe back around to the other side of the small forested cluster, but loses momentum and ends up returning to the flank of the infantry.

A horn blows after half an hour, tooting off a few times to let the lord know the Irish seem to be fleeing from the field after a small scuffle.

[Xion]

Ormond watches the archers begin to trade volleys with the Irish and his infantry continue to advance ahead in shieldwall. "Send forth the cavalry." "Cavalry! Advance!" Thomas yells as he rides to join the men at arms on the right flank of the army while two other knights in Ormond's employ are sent to lead the squadrons of mounted archers on the left. As the engagement intensifies upon the infantry reaching the Irish front lines and the cavalry engagements on the flanks beginning, Ormond watches his men slowly disappear into the greenery with the few men at arms and hobelars remaining around the small hill he had decided to use as his command post.

"My lord, it seems the Irish are withdrawing from the engagement." "Sound the recall, I do not want our forces to risk being lured into an ambush deeper in the groves and hedges by pursuing." "At once, my lord." Several short blasts of a warhorn could be heard as a knight sounds a warhorn. "Well, I suppose we could count this as a victory as we hold the field.."

[Dirty Chai]

Ormond's knights report that some dozen deaths on their side and some twenty severely wounded, but the pathway further into Leinster seems open.

[Xion]

"Send riders back to Gowran to command our reinforcements here at once. Then we shall press into Leinster to claim it for the English crown.." "With all it's lords and landholders swearing fealty to Ormond, heh." James thinks to himself.

Army of Ormond

Current Location : Fens, soon to en route to Gorey Overall Commander : James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond (+1 Rout Rolls, +2 Survival Equipment : Partial Plate) Secondary Commander : Sir Thomas Butler (+3 Battle Rolls, +1 Detection, + 2 Survival 25 Knights 774 Yeoman Archers 514 Yeoman Foot 99 Men at Arms 157 Mounted Archers 20 Hobelar