| Master Alberic Haak (Albie) |
In 1339 a young boy from the cantons that were to
become Switzerland was employed by the French under
King Phillip to spy on the English King Edward, who was
currently conquering the French countryside. Young
Albie’s most convincing cover of a chamber pot boy gave
him intimate access to the English army’s camp. It is hard
to keep secrets from the boy who empties your chamber
pot!
King Edward struck upon the idea of raising morale by
dramatically knighting over a dozen men right before the
French attack. Hearing a great noise go up in the French
camp King Edward dashed from his tent in the predawn
light where several clever squires happened to be waiting
after catching rumors of his plan. With shining sword
drawn King Edward rounded up every strapping lad who
he could find in the near dark and knighted them on the
spot! Unfortunately, the French army was not attacking
and had actually been driven into panic and retreat by a
hare. These somewhat unfortunate gentles became
known as the Knights of the Hare and their exploits
became legendary as they fought to overcome the stigma
of their knighting. Albie just happened to be standing
there with a full bucket under his arm which was mistaken
for a great helm.
Deciding that discretion was certainly the better part of
valor (and knowing it would be hard to answer questions),
Albie departed that assignment without getting his real
name recorded on the knighting rolls. His continued
success as a chamber pot emptying spy against the
English, French, Holy Roman Empire, and Burgundians
eventually got him recognition by his homeland on one of
the very few occasions that he decided to file a report on
what all he had spied out. He is now titled Master Alberic
Haak and took a hare as his device as a reminder of his
misadventures.
become Switzerland was employed by the French under
King Phillip to spy on the English King Edward, who was
currently conquering the French countryside. Young
Albie’s most convincing cover of a chamber pot boy gave
him intimate access to the English army’s camp. It is hard
to keep secrets from the boy who empties your chamber
pot!
King Edward struck upon the idea of raising morale by
dramatically knighting over a dozen men right before the
French attack. Hearing a great noise go up in the French
camp King Edward dashed from his tent in the predawn
light where several clever squires happened to be waiting
after catching rumors of his plan. With shining sword
drawn King Edward rounded up every strapping lad who
he could find in the near dark and knighted them on the
spot! Unfortunately, the French army was not attacking
and had actually been driven into panic and retreat by a
hare. These somewhat unfortunate gentles became
known as the Knights of the Hare and their exploits
became legendary as they fought to overcome the stigma
of their knighting. Albie just happened to be standing
there with a full bucket under his arm which was mistaken
for a great helm.
Deciding that discretion was certainly the better part of
valor (and knowing it would be hard to answer questions),
Albie departed that assignment without getting his real
name recorded on the knighting rolls. His continued
success as a chamber pot emptying spy against the
English, French, Holy Roman Empire, and Burgundians
eventually got him recognition by his homeland on one of
the very few occasions that he decided to file a report on
what all he had spied out. He is now titled Master Alberic
Haak and took a hare as his device as a reminder of his
misadventures.
 |  |