Bromley was old enough to work in the fields with his father and did so every day. Being the oldest son, he was rightful heir to the farm and the cottage. Farming seemed to be in his blood.
Richard was too young to care about farming or much of anything else except exploring in the fields and woods. He loved to go with his father so that he could play. His sister, Geva, usually stayed at home with her mother.
Richard especially loved to play in the ruins of the old Roman walls that stood outside Stamford close to his father's fields. He loved to wield a stick as his sword and a larger stick for his horse. He defeated many enemies in that fashion.
His companion in these adventures was a boy near his age that he had met at the ruins. The boy's name was John Darby. John was the son of John Darby, a land owner and a merchant. The ruins were technically on John Darby's land. As a member of the Company of the Merchants, he enjoyed complete control of the exporting of wool in and around the area of Stamford. Sometimes he was referred to as a Merchant of the Staple of Calais. Calais, France was conquered by the English in the year 1347 and since that time it enjoyed the stature of being the principle location for wool imports onto the continent. John Darby, the father of John, was one of twenty-six traders and as such he enjoyed prestige and wealth. He was an Alderman of Stamford as well.
'The Sco'ish are combing,' shouted Richard to John. 'There, just over the 'ill. 'urry, let us get into the castle.'
The two boys scurried into the protection of the ruins and fought off the imaginary invaders with skill and precision. Richard had suffered a sever wound to his leg in the process, but that was miraculously healed when John announced that the queen was nearing the castle walls.
The two boys could play for hours together and often did. 'We will be great knights sume dee, will we nay.' John exclaimed to Richard. 'Aye!' Of course, Richard agreed.
1432
The years had passed pleasantly for the Eastons. The weather had been mild and harvests had been good. The ox had died, but Lind was successful enough that he was able to purchase a younger ox and a cow.
England's long war with France continued, but there was relative calm around Stamford. The war with France had taken a sudden turn for England with the capture and the execution of Joan of Arc on May 30, 1431. It had taken a few weeks for news of her execution to reach Stamford, but when it did, there were great rejoicings. To the English, she was a convicted heretic, but to her countryman, she was the greatest of heros and they always fought with great energy when she rallied them. An English knight passing through Stamford had shared tales of her cunning and strategy. 'She 'eard voices telling 'er whot to do,' he had told them, assuring them that he knew she was a witch. 'If she was nay a witch, God would 'ave saved 'er,' he exclaimed to the large crowd at the public house. For this news and for his bravery, much ale was purchased for him. 'Aye, I saw 'er burned at the stake meself,' he proudly proclaimed. He then related that she was so important to the cause of the French that the English had burned her body thrice to ensure that no one could steal any of it for use as a religious relic. 'Boot, luk 'ere,' said he, 'I 'ave the cross that she cast 'er eyes upon just before she deed.' With that he produced a large brass cross out of a bag that he carried. 'Whot will you give me for it?' His price was too high and since he was traveling north toward Lincoln, he was sure that he would get a great sum for it at the cathedral.
Richard and John wished that they could have been to the burning. They imagined what it must have been like to watch the wood be set ablaze and wondered whether it would smell. 'sume dee we too will fight the 'orrible French,' they proclaimed. Richard and John remained close friends, despite their vastly different stations in life.
Religious piety was always an important part of life in Stamford, as evidenced by the several churches