The Medieval Free Company (by the Legendary Ten Seconds)

THE MEDIEVAL FREE COMPANY AT BUCKLAND ABBEY AUGUST 2015

On a Bank Holiday Monday, 31^st August 2015, I visited Buckland Abbey near Plymouth where a Wars of the Roses re-enactment group who call themselves The Medieval Free Company had set up their encampment. Buckland Abbey is a National Trust property which was founded by Cistercian monks in the 13^th century and was at one time the home of Sir Francis Drake. The former Abbey was the perfect setting for the medieval encampment with the tents of the Medieval Free Company set up next to a fabulous Great Barn.

The Medieval Free Company specialise in the recreation of a group of mercenaries during the Wars of the Roses and include a basket maker, scribe and cooks alongside archers and men at arms. They are led by a landless “hedge” knight. Members of the public are allowed to have free access to walk around the medieval camp site and ask questions. I chatted to the scribe who told me that one could correct an error whilst writing on a sheet of parchment by using a knife to scrape off the mistake.

I watched two fabulous displays of archery and we were informed that the archers were using longbows with a draw weight of about 40 lbs whereas the English longbow used in the 14^th and 15^th centuries would have had a much heavier draw weight. One could only imagine how strong the archers must have been to be able to use the longbows with a heavy draw weight. The archers were timed to see how many arrows they could fire in one minute and one of the archers managed fourteen. Just imagine how many sheaths of arrows would have been used in a medieval battle and the devastation that would have been caused by the medieval equivalent of a machine gun.

Towards the end of the afternoon the group of reenactors put on a medieval fashion show describing their clothes and the materials that had been used to make them. We were informed that the white undergarments could be cleaned by soaking them in urine and then rinsing in water.

Information about the Medieval Free Company can be found on their website:- http://www.medievalfreeco.org.uk/

THE MEDIEVAL FREE COMPANY

Intro

Dm, C, Dm

Dm, A

 

Verse

Dm, C, Dm

Dm, C, Am

Dm, C, Dm

Dm, C, Am, Dm

 

Chorus

Gm,        F,     C,           Dm

 

The medieval free company

 

C, Dm, C, Dm

Gm,        F,     C,           Dm

 

The medieval free company

C, Dm, A

 

Middle bit

Gm, C, Dm, Gm, Am, Dm, Gm, C, Dm, F, A, F, A

 

FOR HIRE WE ARE IN THIS LAND

AND OUR HEDGE KNIGHT HE DOES COMMAND

OF ARCHERY A FINE DISPLAY

YES WE WILL SHOW THROUGHOUT THE DAY

 

OUR CAMP SITE YOU MAY LOOK AROUND

SUCH WONDROUS ITEMS TO BE FOUND

HAND CRAFTED WITH ALL SKILL AND CARE

OUR MASTER SCRIBE WRITES OVER THERE

 

DIVERS ARCHERS, MEN AT ARMS

FOR ADVENTURE LEFT THEIR FARMS

SEE THAT LORD HE LOOKS SO HANDSOME

WILL HIS FAMILY PAY THE RANSOM

 

MERCENARIES ONE AND ALL

WARS OF THE ROSES WE RECALL

OUR LANDLESS KNIGHT HE LEADS US WELL

AS DAYLIGHT FADES WE BID FAREWELL

History Book Part Two

A press release for the follow-up to this:

History Book Part Two, February 2020.

• Song of a metal detectorist – About Ashley Mantle’s favourite hobby.
• A rare romance – Roger Mortimer escapes from the Tower of London and flees to France.
• Cade’s rebellion – The rebellion of 1450.
• De Cobham – Song for the De Cobham household Wars of the Roses reenactment group.
• Ricardian dream – Richard III win’s the battle of Bosworth.
• Charles Howard’s English fleet – The English fleet after the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
• The Mayflower sets sail – The Pilgrim Fathers leave Plymouth in the Mayflower.
• Gallants Bower – Song about the Civil War fort on the hill above Dartmouth Castle.
• The Blenheim song – The Franco-Bavarian army is defeated in battle in August 1704.
• James Templer’s legacy – Song about the Stover canal which was opened in 1792.
• Sitting in a trench – Song about the First World War.
• Wait until the harvests in – The Munich treaty peace talks are in vain.

… and here they are on You Tube …

Ian Churchward vocals, guitars, keyboards, mandola and mandolin

Lord Zarquon keyboards, bass guitar, drums and percussion

Phil Swann guitars, bouzouki and mandolin

Bridgit England vocals

Guy Bolt vocals

Jules Jones vocals

Elaine Churchward vocals

Tom Churchward harmonica

Fleur Elliott vocals

 

Recorded 2016 to 2020 in Kingsteignton, Marldon, and Torquay in South Devon.

 

Mixed and produced by Lord Zarquon.

 

Artwork by Graham Moores

 

All songs composed by Ian Churchward except:-

Cade’s Rebellion composed by Ashley Mantle and Ian Churchward

and

Gallants Bower composed by Elaine Churchward and Ian Churchward

 

Richard the Third Records catalogue number R301

 

 

 

Music and Metal Detecting

Here is an interview by our own Ian Churchward (The Legendary Ten Seconds) about their new song: A song for a metal detectorist, covering  history and metal detecting …

{link to 27 March}

A Legendary Ten Seconds special

Recorded by Boycie and The Legendary Ten Seconds

For The Mortimer History Society

Released on Richard the Third Records June 2019

Catalogue number R17

Recorded at Rock Lee 2018, Orleton Village Hall & Other World Studios May 2019

 

John Challis : Boycie vocals

Lord Zarquon : Mellotron flute keyboards

Ashley Dyer : Trumpet

Rob Bright : Lead guitar

Ian Churchward : Acoustic rhythm guitar, electric rhythm guitar, mandolin and bass guitar

 

Music composed by Ian Churchward

Lyrics written by Ian Churchward and John Challis

Artwork created by Graham Moores

 

ALONG CAME THE FIRST ROGER

DE MORTIMER WAS HIS NAME

NEXT CAME A RALPH

A MARCHER LORD HE BECAME

AFTER RALPH A HUGH

A MORTIMER LORD THROUGH AND THROUGH

 

THEN ANOTHER ROGER

THEN ANOTHER HUGH

WITH THOSE NAMES

I BET YOU’RE CONFUSED

 

ALONG CAME A SECOND RALPH

WITH THAT MORTIMER NAME

NEXT ANOTHER ROGER

AT EVESHAM HE WON FAME

EDMUND HIS SECOND SON

THE LORD OF WIGMORE HE DID BECOME

 

THEN ANOTHER ROGER

AN EDMUND NEXT

I MUST SAY

IT’S TOO COMPLEX

 

ALONG CAME THE FIFTH ROGER

WITH THAT MORTIMER NAME

NEXT A THIRD EDMUND

A ROYAL WIFE HE DID CLAIM

THEN ANOTHER ROGER

FOLLOWED BY AN EDMUND ONCE AGAIN

 

FAR TOO MANY ROGERS

ONLY TWO HUGHS

WITH THE RALPHS AND EDMUNDS

I’M COMPLETELY CONFUSED

This song can be purchased from Amazon.

Mer de Mort reviewed

Anything new from the Legendary Ten Seconds is always to be greeted with delight, and this new album does not disappoint. It tells the story of the House of Mortimer from its beginnings in France, to its ultimate destiny on the throne of England, through its descendants of the House of York, Edward IV and Richard III.

The narratives are read by actor John Challis, who played Boycie in Only Fools and Horses and who now lives at Wigmore Abbey. (Lucky man!)

Mortimer Overture. Impressive opening, with an almost marching rhythm – it’s possible to imagine one of the Mortimer earls riding past at the head of his dazzling retinue, and then disappearing along the road. I liked this very much. One of my favourite tracks.

Mortimer Castle. I liked the harmonies on this track. The background is perfect in the chorus, and I particularly liked the echo effect.

The Marcher Lords. And a powerful, influential and often tetchy lot they were too! A wise king handled them with caution! This is a strong song, and one can picture the generations of Mortimers standing firm.

When Christ and his Saints Slept. This one is about the period known as the Anarchy, which ended when Henry II ascended the throne. Once again, I particularly liked the background, which adds so much.

De Montfort. Tells a bloody story of the battle that ended with the death of Simon de Montfort. As a reminder of how brutal those days could often be, Roger Mortimer sent his wife de Montfort’s head as a trophy! Some good sounds in this one, making me think of heads being lopped!

The Round Table 1279. A song about an “Arthurian” tournament, creating a dazzling scene of knights in armour, fine horses, and beautiful women.

Two Thousand Marks. About the Roger Mortimer, and his dealings with Piers Gaveston, the influential favourite of King Edward II. This Roger eventually deposed the king and became the lover of Queen Isabella. We all know the outcome, and this song bowls along as it relates events.

The Privy Seal and the Royal Shield. Another song about Roger, and Mortimer participation at Bannockburn. I liked this one a lot. A great join-in chorus.

The King of Folly. Opens with a trumpet and set firmly in the year 1329 and great celebratory events at Wigmore Castle. A very enjoyable tune and rhythm.

The Tragedy of Roger Mortimer and the Mystery of Edward II. A haunting guitar solo opening for this song about Edward II’s fate at Berkeley Castle. Did he really die there? A quaint atmosphere pervades this song, which seeks the truth about Edward’s demise. . .and relates how his great foe, Roger Mortimer, eventually paid the price for his overreaching ambition. Maybe Edward lived on in obscurity.

Leintwardine. How Edward III, the man who ordered Roger Mortimer’s execution, went to Leintwardine to lay an offering of golden cloth at the feet of a statue of the Virgin Mary. I liked this one. It’s quietly understated, and a little eerie. Perhaps because a Mortimer Earl never did wear the crown, although it is from one of their daughters that the House of York descended.

Mer de Mort. A song that gives a voice to Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March. This is a delightful song, and one of my favourites on the album.

Mer de Mort, Part II. Once again Edmund expresses his feelings, and laments that his elder brother has no grave. This song echoes the first Mer de Mort, but is different. Very sad.

Henry VI. A song about the last Lancastrian king, who was to lose his throne to the Yorkist Edward IV, a descendant of the Mortimers. I like the rhythm of this song, which moves along pleasingly. It actually took a fair time to get rid of Henry VI! He was an incompetent king, but he went in the end, thank heaven. A good track.

Sunnes of York. Another easy treat, relating the tale of the how the House of Mortimer became the House of York. And tells of the final generation of Yorkist brothers, Edward IV, George of Clarence and Richard III. The House of York did not only claim the throne through the name of York, but, importantly, through the Mortimers, who descended from a more senior branch of the royal family. Familiar LTS territory. This song bowls along.

The Chapel of Sir John. A brisk rhythm for a rather spooky song, about what is seen in the windows, floor and screen of the medieval chapel of Sir John Evans in St  Matthew’s Church, Coldridge in Devon. The words recreate the atmosphere, and so does the music. An excellent conclusion.

This album marks a great advance in the LTS repertoire. A richer, fuller sound that sets it apart. Very much to my liking, and I hope, to yours.

Recommended!

History Book Part One

The Legendary Ten Seconds have a new album out. The tracks go back chronologically to Arthurian times, before including two about the Battle of Hastings – or of Battle to be precise. The last six cover Richard III’s adult life and reign, from the seemingly effortless taking of Edinburgh to the Harrington dispute and the subsequent Stanley treachery at Bosworth.

Here is a recording of their performance at Coldridge, with reference to the stained glass window there.

Another Legendary Ten Seconds album

This is the list of tracks from “Mer de Mort”, a collection of songs about the Mortimer roots of the House of York and recorded for the Mortimer History Society‘s tenth anniversary. Here is an introduction.

Autumn Rain

Here is the Legendary Ten Seconds‘ song “Autumn Rain”, about the Buckingham rebellion, which failed amid the wet weather in 1483.

The Mediaeval Free Company

Here is another video from the Legendary Ten Seconds, this time in honour of a group of Roses re-enactors …

Below is an army featuring a zombie, which is how “David” must include Sir Hugh Swynford in the 1470-1 battles.

The Legendary Ten Seconds again

They will be performing at Coleridge Church on 5th March and for the Devon and Cornwall Branch of the Richard III Society on 26th May. Read more here.