A Guidebook to Medieval Cestria
Cestria, A Medieval history of the North by Sir Augustus Farthingale, University of North Dyrham, 1923.
In 1069 AD, with the conquest of England developing into its settlement, King William I invested Robert de Comines as Earl of Northumbria. The new Earl and his men made their way north, only to perish in insurrection and fire trapped in the Bishops town of Dyrham. The King was incensed, leading his army into the rebellious province in the "harrying of the north."
The role of the Bishop of Dyrham was at the very least suspect. William imprisoned Aethlelwine and reorganised the Bishopric, appointing William Walcher of Lorraine, as Earl Bishop of Cestria, the first and only time such an appointment was made, and giving all of the church lands north of Dyrham, as well as the Priory at Finchale into his care, effectively limiting the power of the Dyrham Prince Bishops.
As Earl Bishop of Cestria, Walcher took charge with some vigour, and used his own household knights to pacify and take control. Aethelwine, before his imprisonment, had sent Saint Cuthbert's body to Lindisfarne, when the Norman Harrying of the North seemed about to doom Dyrham. On Walcher's arrival he had his Norman Knights escort the Saint's body into its previous resting place in Cestria. This was a coup that would infuriate future Bishops in Dyrham, since the Saint's remains were a source of great wealth from pilgrimage, and prestige from the miracles they performed.
The rivalry between Dyrham and the new Bishopric to its North has often turned violent, but never more so than during that period. When Aethelwine died in captivity two years later Cestria kept it's hold on the Saint's remains, and Walcher began construction of the great Minster church. Dyrham had kept the body of the Venerable Bede, and was now only a stopping point on the pilgrimage.
A fuel between the House of Lumley and the Bishop lead to Walcher's murder in 1080. King William sent an army north under his brother Bishop Odo of Bayeux, in a second harrowing of the north.
On Walcher's death the Earldom passed to his nephew, Gilbert, who in turn was invested as Earl Bishop, placing his Norman followers into the lands of the vanquished Saxons. The new Prelate served as chancellor under Henry I, and passed the Bishopric in turn to his Grand nephew, also named Gilbert. By this time the Bishop's family had adopted the name of Finchale, the Priory of that name being a source of much of their wealth.
By the time of the Anarchy in the mid twelfth century the two Bishops, Cestria and Dyrham both paid the Scottish King David to leave their towns alone, and both prelates fought beside the Archbishop of York at the Standard. Despite victory at the battle the Scots held Northumbria north of the Tyne, and it was only the presence of the Bishop at Cestria that prevented further encroachment.
By 1199 AD the great Minster Church over Cuthbert's shrine has been completed. Another Earl Bishop Gilbert of Finchale was Earl Bishop in Cestria, and England over the river Tyne to the north is still overun and held by the Scots, as are much of the lake lands to the west. To the south the Barons are squabbling with the King as the Long Anarchy of the last century seems to be about to repeat itself. The Vikings are still out there over the sea to the East, their raiding a threat.
The Six Knights
The feudal system within Cestria supports six major land holders. The Earl Bishop, from the House of Finchale undoubtedly the richest and most powerful of these. As a noble title this has been kept within Walcher's family. The fact that the clergy are forbidden marriage has not daunted the Finchales, and there always seems to be a second son available to be appointed as successor. These have usually been Priests, but occasionally not. When King William appointed Walcher he probably did not forsee that creating an Earl Bishop to rival the Prince Bishop would have this unique hereditary effect.
Finchale,
Lambtun,
Lumley,
Ravensworth,
Stanley,
Wessingtun.
Outside the walls of the ancient Roman fort at Cestria a Leprosaria was founded to serve pilgrims visiting the shrine of Saint Cuthbert. A Knight Hospitaller of St Lazurus is stationed here primarily to protect pilgrims to Britain's foremost holy site, but also to encourage donation.
Cestria
The Shrove Tuesday Tourney
Jousting
Sword fighting,
...and for the peasants, foot and ball, down the hill and into the Cong Burn
Scenarios
Ambush on the forest road
The crossroads battle
The richest monastery
The charcoal burner's huts
Raiders and traders
The enemy fleet
Rival merchants
A plague on both your houses
The Merchant of Lancaster
Two gentlemen of Middlesburg
The Devil's brood :Lackland comes North
Hawking and hunting with my Lord the Bishop
A turbulent priest
Northmen pirates
Revolting peasants
Crossing the Tyne
The Sacred Item racket
A war band of Gaels
The Great Royal Bribe
Bandits in the forest
The Scots Princess
Wreck of the Maid of Rouen
Band of pilgrims
The Bishops hostage
Bishop versus Duke
The Archbishop flees North
An exile from the Scots
Monastery's Taxes
Castle attack
Pillage the Village
Ship battle, the floating harbour
Fight on the fells
Ambush in the city streets.
Battle, the Vengeful Barons
Battle, the Martial Bishop
Terrain requirements
Tower
City gates
Hovels
Forest
Wagons
Civilian figures.
Possible Bonus Awards.
Defeating some scenarios gives the characters certain bonus awards.
Marry well for the title of Earl
Capture a town for the title of count
An Oxford Scholar joins the retinue for +1
"The Devils own luck," reroll one dice per turn cost @1
Goddes Warrior +1 courage @1
The benefits of family - Add a second character.
Retinues
4 Kn
2 Mtd Sgts
2 Foot Sergts
Spears
Bows
Crossbows
Peasant levies
The Bishop's Lands
The Sacrist Abbey
Finchale Priory
The three farms
The Lambton Lands
Wessingtun
Birtley
Lambtun
The Lumley Lands
Lumley
Penshaw
Chiltun
The Ravensworth Lands
Peltun
Beamish
Causey
