The herd of pigs grunt and snort as their minders drive them along the road through the countryside in Kent.

Steam rises from their bristly snouts as they snuffle in the bare hedgerows beside the road,

looking for something to eat.

There's not much about.

It's November, and the countryside is dank and barren. Wet leaves squelch under the pigherder's feet. They curse the animals

as they try to hurry them along. The pigs squeal as sticks prod and whip their hairy flanks.

They can squeal all they like. The herders don't have the luxury of being late. These porkers

have to be marched from Dover to Rochester, a journey of about 50 miles.

Keeping a herd of ravenous pigs under control

is a tricky one at the best of times,

but these guys have to do it as fast as possible. They've been sent for by King John,

Plantagenet ruler of England, who's currently camped outside Rochester castle.

And everyone knows John's not a man who takes kindly to being defied.

In fact, that's exactly why he's at Rochester.

For the whole of the past year, 1215, John has been defied on all sides.

His barons have rebelled against him demanding he reforms his

kingdom. He's tried ignoring their demands. He's tried taking the cross and

promising to go on crusade so he'd have the Pope's protection.

He's even tried negotiating with them, granting a treaty people are calling Magna Carta,

although he did have the Pope cancel it at the first chance he got.

So they still defy him, which means it's come to a civil war.

The country is split between a huge band of rebel barons and their supporters on the one side

...