With the Black Prince

In Short

With the Black Prince is a historical adventure novel set during the opening campaign of the Hundred Years' War. It follows young Richard Neville from his midland home in Warwickshire through covert missions, a brutal naval clash, and the march across Normandy, culminating in the battle of Crécy. Written as an instructive tale of chivalry and duty, the story endures through its vivid focus on ordinary archers, tactical detail, and the moral growth of a boy earning his spurs alongside Edward, Prince of Wales.

The Story

The story opens in Warwickshire, where young Richard Neville, lord of Wartmont Castle, lives under the guidance of his mother, Lady Maud. When Welsh border raiders led by a villain known as Clod the Club threaten the hamlet, Richard rallies the local bowmen and defends his people. His natural leadership wins him the fierce devotion of the Saxon archers of Arden forest, whose heritage and language his father had shared.

Called to serve Edward III and his young son, the Prince of Wales, Richard sets out to recruit the foresters. Navigating political factions and border tensions, he conducts covert missions across England to gather news and deliver royal dispatches, narrowly escaping ambushes and treacherous barons.

Joining the English fleet at Portsmouth, Richard is assigned command of a mixed crew on a transport ship. On the Channel crossing, French rovers attack their vessel. In the chaos of boarding actions, Richard's cool judgement and the lethal precision of his Arden archers secure victory, capturing the enemy warship La Belle Calaise and earning the young commander royal favor.

Landing at La Hogue, the army marches across Normandy, plundering towns and clearing a path toward Calais. Richard serves in the vanguard, participating in high-stakes reconnaissance and tactical strikes. At Bruyerre, he helps storm a enemy citadel in the dark, and at the Seine, his men secure hidden boats and rebuild the broken bridge at Poissy under the king's direct supervision. He even infiltrates enemy lines near Paris to discover the French counter-sign and troop movements.

The campaign reaches its climax near the village of Crécy. Outnumbered by King Philip’s forces, the English draw up their lines on a sloping hillside. Richard takes his post alongside the Prince of Wales, surrounded by his trusted bowmen and early black-powder bombards. When the French Genoese crossbowmen advance, the English archers unleash a devastating storm of arrows that breaks the enemy ranks. Heavy French cavalry charges again and again, but the arrows, combined with the terrifying roar of the primitive cannon, shatter every wave. The prince holds the line, earning his fame, and the French army is utterly routed.

After the battle, King Edward knights Richard on the field. Sent back to England as the king’s official newsman, Sir Richard travels home through a celebrating nation. Arriving at York Cathedral, he delivers his reports to the archbishop just as news arrives that a Scottish invasion force has also been defeated at Neville’s Cross. His journey complete, the young knight returns home to Wartmont, having grown into a seasoned leader.

How It Unfolds

Defending Wartmont Manor — When outlaws from the Welsh border attack the village, Richard Neville and his retainers hold the castle, proving his courage and winning the allegiance of the local foresters.

Recruiting the Bowmen — Guided through the secret paths of Arden forest, Richard uses his family's deep ties to the Saxon woodmen to enlist a company of skilled archers for the king's campaign.

Escaping the Traitors — While carrying urgent messages across England, Richard dodges ambushers and hostile barons through quick thinking, woodcraft, and hard riding.

The Channel Sea Fight — Assigned to a transport ship, Richard commands a mixed force of bowmen and Irish foot soldiers to repel a desperate French boarding attack and capture an enemy warship.

Storming the Citadel — Moving through Normandy with the advance guard, Richard leads a night assault into the donjon keep of Bruyerre, surprising the garrison and taking the fortress.

Crossing at Poissy — When the French destroy the bridges over the Seine, Richard finds hidden boats and assists London shipwrights in rapidly repairing the crossing under the eyes of the king.

Infiltrating the Camps — Posing as a local noble's contingent, Richard and a group of Welsh guides slip into the French camps near Paris, gathering intelligence before escaping under fire.

The Field of Crécy — Standing in the line of the Black Prince, Richard and his archers withstand repeated heavy cavalry charges, using longbows and early cannons to destroy the French army.

Returning in Triumph — Knighted by the king, Sir Richard carries victory dispatches across England, arriving at York Cathedral just as the northern borders are secured.

The People

• Richard Neville — The young lord of Wartmont Manor. He wants to prove his bravery, serve his king, and earn golden spurs without relying solely on his noble lineage. He grows from an inexperienced youth into a tactical captain respected by noblemen and common soldiers alike.
• Lady Maud Neville — Richard's mother, the widowed lady of Wartmont. She wants to protect her people, act as a skilled leech to the injured, and raise her only son to be an honorable knight, even while fearing for his life on the battlefield.
• Edward, Prince of Wales (The Black Prince) — The seventeen-year-old heir to the English throne. He wants to secure victory against France, learn the craft of war from his father, and win his reputation through personal courage.
• Guy the Bow — A master forester and veteran archer from Arden. He wants to protect young Lord Richard and ensure the free bowmen of the woods are treated with dignity rather than as serfs.
• Ben o' Coventry — A clever, battle-tested archer who acts as a tactical lieutenant among the foresters, using his resourcefulness during ship battles and bridge-building.
• Sir Geoffrey of Harcourt — A senior commander and marshal who recognizes Richard's capabilities, employing the young lord and his archers for critical scouting and advance operations.

In Its Own Voice

"Every man of them is a Saxon of unmixed blood, and to that degree that thou art Saxon thou art their kinsman."

Lady Maud reminds her son of his family's deep connection to the forest bowmen before he sets out to enlist them.

"We are not dogs, nor serfs, nor villains, that we should be whipped for free speech. We are free men."

An archer from Arden asserts his status when a knight threatens his companion with a whip.

"Soon the air was full of the roaring of these bombards, and they served somewhat the king's purpose."

The narrator describes the terrifying impact of early gunpowder weapons deployed along the English battle line at Crécy.

What It's Really About

Beneath the heroic battlefield narrative, the book examines the social foundation of national strength. It argues that a kingdom's true power relies not just on heavily armored, high-born knights, but on the loyalty, freedom, and skill of its common yeomen. Richard succeeds because he respects his archers as free men rather than serfs, honoring his family's Saxon heritage alongside his Norman blood.

The novel also contrasts the terrifying brutality of war—plundered towns and ruined provinces—with the personal discipline required of a true leader. Chivalry is presented not as mere courtly fashion, but as a practical code of honor, duty, and protective care for those under one's command.

Why Read It Today

With the Black Prince appeals to readers who enjoy classical historical fiction, military history, and detailed descriptions of medieval warfare. It offers an engaging look at tactical logistics, detailing how 14th-century armies navigated rivers, built field fortifications, and deployed mixed forces of archers, infantry, and early artillery.

The narrative moves at a steady pace, balancing quiet woodland scouting with large-scale action sequences. Reading it feels like stepping into a traditional Victorian boy's adventure novel, where straightforward virtues—loyalty, courage, and respect for common folk—drive the plot forward.

Modern readers should be aware of the story's period attitudes and explicit English bias. The text consistently treats foreign foes as inferior in strength and character, reflecting nineteenth-century historical framing rather than modern nuance. The dialogue also uses stylized archaic phrasing ("thou," "wilt," "yea"), which takes a few chapters to get used to. Despite these antique conventions, the novel remains an accessible, rewarding chronicle of the Hundred Years' War seen through the eyes of the yeomen who fought it.

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