Runnymede and Lincoln Fair

In Short

This historical adventure follows Oliver Icingla, a young Anglo-Saxon noble caught in the tumultuous conflict between King John and his rebellious barons. As civil war breaks out and Prince Louis of France invades, Oliver suffers personal loss, captivity, and outlawry. Partnering with the forest outlaw William de Collingham, he wages a patriotic guerilla war against French occupiers and baronial traitors. The story weaves private vengeance, romantic devotion, and political intrigue through real historical milestones, culminating in the decisive Battle of Lincoln Fair that secures the throne for young King Henry III and preserves England's independence.

The Story

The narrative begins amidst the bitter political struggle between King John and the Anglo-Norman barons led by figures like Hugh de Moreville. Oliver Icingla, a proud young noble of Saxon lineage residing at Oakmede, finds his life upended when his kinsman De Moreville—a ruthless baron allied with the rebel faction—demands hospitality and subsequently takes Oliver as a hostage to the Tower of London. Meanwhile, King John surrenders his kingdom to the Papal Legate Pandolph to ward off foreign invasion, but his heavy scutages and harsh rule continue to alienate the nobility.

During his captivity and subsequent movements, Oliver encounters William de Collingham, an outlawed former knight known as "Forest Will" or "Will with the Club." Collingham saves King John's life from an ambush, winning royal favor, yet remains deeply suspicious of both the king's vindictiveness and the rebel barons' self-serving motives. When Oliver is held captive at Windsor and later at Chas-Chateil, he falls in love with Beatrix de Moreville, the beautiful daughter of his captor, who shows him kindness through small encounters aided by her dog.

As the barons invite Prince Louis of France to claim the English crown, civil war ravages the realm. King John marches north, burning towns and monasteries in retaliation against the Scots and rebel allies, before retreating south as his mercenary army dissolves. Traitors and foreign soldiers overrun the country; Oakmede is attacked, leading to the tragic death of Oliver's mother, Dame Isabel. Bound by an oath of vengeance, Oliver targets her killer, the arrogant French commander Count de Perche.

Joining forces with Collingham, Oliver establishes a "Camp of Refuge" on a hidden island deep within the Sussex forests. Operating under the banner of the Black Raven, their band of loyal Englishmen conducts daring guerilla strikes against French troops and Prince Louis's forces. Following King John's death, the elder Earl of Pembroke assumes the regency for the young King Henry III, rallying loyalists to expel the invaders.

The climax unfolds at the Battle of Lincoln, where the royalist forces engage the French army and rebel barons inside the city walls. In the midst of the chaos, Count de Perche is slain in combat by an English knight, denying Oliver his direct duel, though Oliver arrives battle-worn to witness his mother's killer fall. With the French utterly defeated at Lincoln Fair, foreign occupation is broken. Oliver marries Beatrix de Moreville, uniting their ancient lines, while De Moreville ends his days as the stern Abbot of Dryburgh and Collingham earns a honored place in the new king's council.

How It Unfolds

The hostage taken Hugh de Moreville arrives at Oakmede to demand allegiance, forcing the young Saxon heir Oliver Icingla into submission and carrying him off as a political hostage to the Tower of London.

The monarch rescued In the forests, the outlaw William de Collingham saves King John from an assassination attempt, gaining royal gratitude while exposing the betrayal of the confederate barons.

Love in captivity Imprisoned in the fortress of Chas-Chateil, Oliver catches sight of Beatrix de Moreville on the ramparts and falls deeply in love, befriending her dog to establish a connection with her.

The subterranean strike Collingham, Wolf, and Styr execute a night raid through a hidden underground passage at the Kennet riverbank to liberate Oliver and outmaneuver Sir Anthony Waledger's garrison.

The island stronghold Refusing to bow to the invading French prince, Collingham and Oliver establish a secluded Camp of Refuge on a marshy Sussex islet to wage guerilla warfare under the Black Raven banner.

Tragedy at Oakmede Foreign soldiers raid Oliver's ancestral home, causing the death of his mother, Dame Isabel, as she seeks sanctuary near the chapel, prompting Oliver to swear vengeance against Count de Perche.

The clash at Lincoln Royalist forces under the Earl of Pembroke rout the French army within the city walls of Lincoln, where Count de Perche is slain and the foreign threat to the crown is broken forever.

The People

• Oliver Icingla: A fiery young Saxon noble fiercely proud of his lineage. He wants to defend his heritage and avenge his mother, but finds his path complicated by his love for his enemy's daughter. He transforms from a headstrong captive into a disciplined warrior and trusted royal advisor.
• Hugh de Moreville: A tyrannical Norman baron driven by an unyielding desire for power and control. He opposes King John, takes Oliver hostage, and seeks to dictate terms to the realm, ultimately ending his life as the stern "Hard Abbot" of Dryburgh.
• William de Collingham: An outlawed knight of immense physical strength and tactical shrewdness. He wants an independent England free from both royal tyranny and foreign domination, serving as Oliver's mentor and leader of the forest resistance.
• Beatrix de Moreville: The gentle daughter of Hugh de Moreville. Caught between her father's harsh ambitions and her affection for Oliver, her grace wins Oliver's heart and bridges the divide between their hostile families.
• King John: The proud, vindictive ruler of England who struggles to maintain his crown against papal pressure, baronial rebellion, and French invasion before dying amidst the realm's chaos.
• Count de Perche: A haughty French commander who treats the English with contempt. He seeks military glory in Prince Louis's invasion, but his arrogance leads to his death at Lincoln Fair.

In Its Own Voice

"My lord and kinsman," said he, "you are welcome to our poor house."

Oliver Icingla greets the formidable Norman baron Hugh de Moreville on the daïs of Oakmede, hiding his apprehension behind a show of Saxon hospitality.

"I have since gone by whatever name my neighbours have thought fit to bestow on me."

The outlaw William de Collingham responds boldly to King John after saving the monarch's life in the forest, refusing to hide his past outlawry.

"Never shall it be told in Christendom, to my dispraise, that sweet France fell into contempt through me."

The Count de Perche defiantly refuses the Earl of Pembroke's offer of surrender during the final rout at the Battle of Lincoln.

What It's Really About

The novel explores the tension between political opportunism and genuine patriotism during national crisis. Through the contrast between the self-serving Norman barons and the steadfast forest outlaws, the narrative argues that true loyalty to England resides not in titled oligarchs seeking local power, but in those willing to defend the realm against foreign subjugation. It examines how private honor and public duty intersect, showing that true reconciliation requires rising above feud and faction to build a unified nation under lawful rule.

Why Read It Today

Fans of traditional Victorian historical fiction and medieval pageantry will appreciate this classic tale of chivalry and intrigue. It offers an engaging balance of atmospheric forest adventures, castle sieges, and political maneuvering. The reading experience feels brisk and action-driven, rich with archaic dialogue and detailed period detail that vividly evokes thirteenth-century England. While modern readers may find the unabashedly pro-Saxon stance and idealization of monarchical stability somewhat antiquated, the narrative's pulse—driven by forest skirmishes, subterranean escapes, and desperate battlefields—keeps the plot moving swiftly. The lingering impression is one of rugged adventure and fierce national pride, making it a satisfying rediscoverable gem for lovers of Ivanhoe-style medieval romances.