ismenin | Crowner's Justice 20

Hello, my dears! I'm sorry, I haven't been at all well this week, so forgive me for not answering your kind comments. I hope to be able to do so this week, as this is the last part of Book One of the Crowner Series! Woot!!! I have had such fun writing it, I can't tell you. :D

I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. Anyway, let's get on with it!

Grateful thanks to

ladysunrope as always for her wonderful beta skills. Hugses.

Part - 20

The next three days were not uneventful. Elijah was called to a man fallen into the stream running behind the keep, and held a short inquest on the spot, wherein he was judged to have fallen to his death after drink, five witnesses having attested that he left the Black Swan, the night before, as drunk as Davy's sow, and had refused help to get home.

He oversaw the hanging of one thief, and decreed that the burning of a baker's shop in Pudding Alley was an accident caused by a lazy apprentice not sufficiently damping the fires, and was not arson started by a rival, as the baker had vociferously alleged. Elijah even arranged for the accused man to allow the aggrieved baker to use his ovens, until his own were repaired, which went some way to mitigating the bad feeling between the two.

Dom had reorganised his troops to spare the men to go out and meet the wages, being brought in that week, and no-one was more pleased than was he, when the chest arrived safely. There was general rejoicing amongst the denizens of the keep, who had seen no money for three months, except the few shillings Dom had spared to the most needy, out of Elijah's precious gift.

Vincent had sent one of his priests on an errand to London, and he had returned, happy and successful. No-one knew what he had gone to do, but everyone knew what had occurred upon the third morning, when the Archbishop of York arrived, in far more splendid circumstances than had accompanied Vincent's entrance into the city. What was more, his Grace of York was attended by twelve bishops, all dressed in their purple best, together with their servants and priests, and Boniface's face lit up like a beacon to be able to welcome such an illustrious and august gathering to his cathedral.

Ranulf of York explained to him that there was to be a convocation held in the cathedral the next day, and invited Boniface, in a spirit of Christian charity and brotherhood, to be present at the meeting. Those were the only instructions York had received from his friend, Canterbury, and he was happy to attend a meeting called by the highest priest in the land, as he told him, later, over dinner, at Elijah's house.

"What are you about, Vincent? York demanded, smiling. "I see that glint in your eye, and it betokens no good for someone, I know."

"Ranulf, have patience, man! My brother Elijah, here, will reveal all tomorrow, at the conclave. There are exceptional circumstances surrounding this matter, and all I ask is that you listen carefully to what is said there, and then make your decision. Will you do so?"

York laughed. "I will, Vincent. I trust you, as you well know. I will do as you demand, for a request I could hardly call it!"

****

The next day the priests began to gather. The meeting was to be held in a large chamber at the rear of the cathedral, often used as a hospital in times of epidemic sickness, and was a light, airy room, with stained glass windows on three of the walls.

There was a line of fourteen chairs placed before the altar, with tables in front of them, covered in cloths of whitest linen. The altar contained Vincent's gift, together with the Flagsheet donation, the cross, and the two candlesticks.

There were six chairs running down from each end of the fourteen, and a number of benches placed several feet in front of them, where the priests were to sit. Above two hundred men were invited to attend, all who were not invited were to be refused entry. The place was buzzing with suppressed excitement.

The clerics had begin to troop in, murmuring quietly between themselves, looking on curiously as Andrew, Will and Bean carried large, heavy chests into the room, and placed them on the floor in front of the long row of tables.

Roger Flagsheet entered, and behind him, Dom and Elijah, with Ben and Red took the seats on one side of the table, whilst Andrew, Will and Bean, joined by Wuffa Catchpole and Father Anselm, took the others.

If the priests were astonished to see lay people present at a conclave of priests, they said nothing, for all there knew that their Graces of Canterbury and York were present. If they condoned it, who were others to object?

The twelve bishops entered, dressed in purple silk, and sat at the high table. Then their Graces of York and Canterbury came last, in full panoply of state, gowned in ivory silk, richly adorned with jewels, and with embroidered mitres on their heads, each carrying their shepherd's crook of office.

All present knelt until they were seated, side by side, on the two thrones at the centre of the table, amidst the row of bishops.

It was Ranulf of York who spoke. "His Grace of Canterbury, the highest priest in this kingdom, his authority next, only, to the Holy Father, and our gracious Sovereign, the King, has called this solemn conclave. In him I repose the utmost faith and trust, and have sworn to listen, most straitly, to what will be said here, and to render judgement, with my fellow bishops accordingly, when it is done. Your Grace..."

Vincent stood, and addressed those sitting in front of him. "This is a very complex and distressing matter, my beloved sons - a matter which exercises my spirit so greatly that I can hardly bring myself to speak of it. Therefore, I have asked my esteemed half-brother, Elijah, Earl of Stanford, and our beloved King Richard's gracious cousin, to conduct this case on my behalf. I beg your patience, and that you grant to him your full attention."

Elijah rose and bowed to the high table. "I thank your Graces for reposing such trust in me."

He nodded at Wuffa Catchpole. "Bring in the accused, Constable, if you please."

All craned their necks to see who was being brought through the double doors, and a gasp went up when it was seen that Bishop Boniface was held between two sturdy guards, and propelled, with more haste than ceremony, into the space in front of the table.

"Your Graces...what is the meaning of this outrage?" Boniface blustered, straightening his robe, but York held up his hand. "It is to the king's crowner that you must address your questions, Boniface - he is in charge here."

It was useless for the bishop to say that the crowner had no authority over him, when the greatest churchmen in the land sat before him, and were allowing it to be so.

Elijah gestured, and Will brought over a chair and, almost cordially, invited Boniface to be seated.

"This is a long and complex tale, my lords - your Graces," Elijah began, "but a picture will begin to emerge as we find our way through it. I beg your patience, for it is a convoluted tale. However, when all is told, you will see your way forward. Call the first witness!"

"First witness!" Wuffa bellowed, and into the room came Father Orlando, holding a priest's arm.

"Father Orlando. Pray tell the court what you confided in me, only two nights ago, at my home."

The tall, graceful man stood beside Boniface, and spoke in a gentle voice.

"I was newly come to the cathedral, and had not then lost my sight. I was barely twenty, and anxious to serve. One night, Bishop Boniface approached me in a lascivious manner..."

"It is a lie!" Boniface leapt from his seat. Elijah spoke in a voice of icy coldness. "Be seated, and keep your silence. You will have the opportunity, later, to speak."

Orlando continued. "He put his hands upon me, upon my private parts, and attempted to persuade me to lie with him. I was young, and frightened. I did what I could to escape - I bit him, and kneed him in the cods - and ran. After that night, I always slept in a room with one of the elderly brothers, for safety's sake, and kept out of his way."

"Thank you, Father Orlando, that is all, for now. Please be seated."

Andrew took Orlando to sit beside him, and Elijah, seeing one or two puzzled looks amongst the bishops, continued," I will beg the court's indulgence, once again, but it is necessary to set the scene for what happened later."

"Now we come to the murder of the Guild-Master, Archerus Flagsheet." Elijah outlined the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body, and the finding of the knife.

"The murder weapon was found by Osred Cobbler, who is now in my employ."

Red stood and bowed, shyly at the men at the table. "It was found outside a stewes in... outside a stewes," Elijah amended, blushing slightly, and Dom coughed, and put his hand over his mouth to disguise a smile. Gropecunt Lane was not a name to bandy about before clergy, in a house of God.

"I believe it was an accident that it was dropped there. I believe it was meant to be found in the body, as evidence that the murder was not committed for money, as it was a valuable item. The deceased's purse was also found intact upon the corpse. It is my opinion that the knife fell out, unheeded, during the removal of the body to the river."

"Later, a chain belonging to a tunic once owned by the deceased's son, Roger Flagsheet, was found in the corpse's hand, whilst he lay, awaiting burial in the Lady Chapel of this house. It was certain that it was meant to implicate his son in the murder, for it had certainly not been there when I conducted the inquest, or when our esteemed Sheriff came here, with the widow, to see the body. But more of that, later."

"Now we move to the cruel rape of a son of this house; Benjamin Clerk. If you would like to leave for a while, Ben, I will call you later." Elijah said, in a soft voice. Ben tightly clasped Dom's hand. "I will stay," he said in a small, but determined voice.

Elijah outlined the crime, in as delicate a form as he could muster. "...so the ravisher d'Harcourt, demanded benefit of clergy, and was brought to the cells here. But Bishop Boniface had his own reasons for setting him free. I had bested his Grace in the matter of the soup dispensary you will have seen outside, and he wanted revenge for it. His Grace of Canterbury knows I carry documents giving me authority over all the areas and lands in my domain, and Boniface did not like being humiliated by me. He said he would revenge himself upon me, and he did. He wanted me dead. So he paid Rolf d'Harcourt to murder me, and the Sheriff, Sir Dominic of Mortain, if he were with me."

"Prove it!" hissed Boniface, his face contorted with rage.

Elijah nodded at Wuffa. "Second witness!"

The second witness proved to be Rolf d'Harcourt. Brought in in chains, filthy and dishevelled, he was thrust down beside Boniface, and spat at the bishop's feet.

"Enough of that!" Elijah ordered. "Tell your tale, and it may be you will be permitted to abjure the realm, instead of being hanged, as you so richly deserve."

A glint of hope lit d'Harcourt's eyes. His story was short. "Boniface came to me, in the cells, here, and offered me twenty pounds in gold if I would kill de Woode, and the Sheriff, should he be with him. I accepted - who would not? I would be freed, and have money to start again, elsewhere. But I decided, before I killed them, to hold them for ransom, but I was tricked of it by his Grace of Canterbury, so had to return here to get the other ten pounds Boniface had promised me."

"I dressed as a one-eyed beggar, and, having got in through the gates, followed the crowner about the city to see what he was doing, then I went to report to Boniface. He gave me a few shillings, but refused to pay me the other ten pounds - he said I had not fulfilled my end of the bargain."

"Sneaking away, afterwards, I was attacked by two men put on guard at the wood end of the secret door, and held at the keep until today. I claim sanctuary, here, within these sacred walls, and will abjure the realm and leave these lands, if the crowner gives me leave. That is all I have to say."

Vincent spoke. "We allow your plea of sanctuary, and will debate upon it, later. Pray continue, brother."

Boniface sat tight-lipped amidst the mounting evidence against him, but looked at no-one. He knew better than to expect mercy.

Elijah rose from his seat, again. "Now we come to the murder of Father Alcuin, a priest of this house. A quiet, gentle man, not given to excesses, who enjoyed his work as an illuminator."

"He was seen leaving with the bishop on a "visit to distant relations, one of whom had died" - however, a search prosecuted by me, under the Sheriff's aegis, in all twelve vills within fifty miles of the direction in which Boniface and Alcuin left, has signally failed to turn up any relatives owning to the bishop. Now, why did he leave?"

"Father Orlando, if you will resume your place before the court."

Boniface grew paler, his flabby face had lost all trace of colour, but he, wisely, did not speak.

"I was Father Alcuin's confessor. I think he chose me because I could not see his face, although I knew his voice well, working beside him as I had at the illuminations, before I lost my sight. He was ashamed, mortally ashamed of what had been forced upon him."

"He came to me to confess, just before he left with the bishop, and told me he could no longer continue in this manner, for his life was empty when being forced to do things with a man he found abhorrent. He said that when he returned from the journey he was about to make, with Bishop Boniface, that he would confess all to his Grace of Canterbury, whom he had seen here, and ask that he be moved to another house, where he could be at peace."

"Did the Father say what caused his agony of spirit? Elijah asked, in gentle tones.

"It was said under the seal of the confessional, and I cannot break that, unless I receive orders to do so."

York glanced at Vincent, who nodded. "You have our leave, Father Orlando - continue."

"It was unchaste intercourse that he confessed to being forced upon him, expressly forbidden to priests, sworn to complete chastity as we are. He did not say with whom he had committed this act, but he did remark that the priest - he said it was a priest - liked to indulge himself three times, one after the other. It hurt him, greatly, Alcuin said. I truly believed the poor man when he said he had no desire for it, or gained no pleasure from it. He wished he had the strength, both of body and will, to refuse, and had been praying that it would be given to him soon. At least he is at peace now, thanks be to God."

Orlando crossed himself, and regained his seat.

Elijah continued, his face pale and stern. "It is my belief that Father Alcuin was taken away by Boniface, merely to escape his Grace, the archbishop's, presence, and any difficult questions he might be asked, as well as to slake his desires upon the unwilling body of this young priest," he stated, in a firm voice.

"His Grace, my brother, sent investigators to every inn along the roads which the couple were thought to have travelled, and only two days ago, the searchers - two brethren of his Grace's party - found an inn where the landlord remembered two priests arguing. It was so very unusual an occurrence, for priests to quarrel, he stated, and that was why he recalled the incident. One of the priests said - and I have the landlord's written deposition here, taken by one of the monks - '...the younger one yelled out, "I will not continue with it, nor can you force me. His Grace of Canterbury will lend me his aid - he will remove me to a house of God where I shall be safe!' But he did not know of what danger the younger priest spoke."

"I have no doubt that Boniface slit Father Alcuin's throat the next night, at another inn, fuelled by a repetition of the man's insistence that he would ask his Grace for help. No doubt Father Alcuin assured the bishop that he would not give his name, but Boniface could not be sure of that, so he killed him, and removed his head so that his tonsure might not be seen, and the body recognised as being that of a priest."

"However," Elijah glared at Boniface, who refused to meet his eyes, "we found the head, and re-united it with his body, which now lies in the crypt awaiting a decent burial, which he shall have after today. Father Anselm was called out, and has identified the corpse, so there can be no doubt that it is Father Alcuin's body."

Elijah sat down, and took a draught of the small beer Will had placed there for him. Talking was a thirsty business.

After a few moments he stood again, and bowing at the men at the table, continued.

"Back we go, now, to the stewes, where, you will remember, Master Flagsheet was murdered. Constable, call Thomas Gates."

Tom was very nervous, but he gained confidence when his Grace of York smiled, and nodded encouragement. He told in a clear voice all he knew, only stopping now and then, as a memory of his old life threatened to engulf his spirits.

Elijah glanced at the table, and could see his Grace, the Bishop of Southwark, busily scratching on a piece of parchment before him. Elijah had learned, from Vincent, that his Grace of Southwark owned a very superior brothel of his own, in London. Elijah hoped it was well-run.

After Tom's testimony, the hapless whore, Jules, was called in to give his evidence. He was terrified, but relaxed a little as Elijah reminded him he had promised to save him from death, if he told everything he knew. He spared no-one in the telling.

Standing as far away from Boniface as he dared, he spoke of the night Archerus Flagsheet was murdered.

"I saw Master Flagsheet come in. He had come to collect his rent and his portion of the profits, from Hereward who owns us. I was in an upstairs room with several of the lads, awaiting...trade. Master Flagsheet was displeased with the amount he was offered, and by the way the place was being run. He said he did not like how some of the lads were most brutally used by the customers, against their inclinations, and had a mind to close us down. He said a bordel should be a place of pleasure, and not a house of fear, distress and pain."

Jules stopped for a moment, to get his breath as he was still very frightened.

"Then this man..." he pointed at Boniface..." came into the room, naked, except for his drawers, and started shouting at Master Flagsheet, saying he must in no wise close it down, as it was the only place where he was fully able to indulge his desires."

"Then Flagsheet said he was a disgusting example of a priest, and that he should be unfrocked. Then he said he was going to alter his will so that the cathedral would no longer benefit from it. He said he'd rather leave the money to the crowner he'd just met - who was, he believed, an honest man - to distribute amongst the poor, and to the Sheriff, who he likewise praised."

"Then the Thrice-Up - that is what we call this man, because he liked to do it three times - drew Master Flagsheet's knife from his belt. Hereward and another man struggled to hold Master Flagsheet, for he was a large man, but Thrice-Up demanded we hold him still. But Flagsheet twisted himself around to see our faces, and call us treacherous so Thrice-Up stabbed him in the back."

Jules shivered at the memory, then concluded his story. "He - Thrice-Up - told all of us in the room that, as witnesses, we would hang if caught, for just being there, as we had done nothing to prevent the crime - there were three others besides me there - and he said he would pay us two shillings each, to carry the body to the river, and throw it in."

"I had a mind to take the sheath, as you know, for a couple of shillings was little enough to get for disposing of a body, and Hereward cheated us out of most of our earnings, so we had nothing. We did it, anyway; we went down the alley besides Agnes's stewes, and one of the lads saw a millstone in a lean-to outside a house and we tied that about his neck, and Hereward said, "throw the bugger in, boys! I'll get a better deal with his son, being new to the business," so we threw him in, and went back to the house, and Thrice-Up gave us two shillings each, and threatened us with death, unless we remained silent. That is my story, sir," he said, looking at Elijah, "and it is the truth."

Elijah nodded. "Thank you, Jules. You may go outside, with the guard, now. I will come tomorrow, and see what shall be done with you all... Constable Catchpole, if you please!"

Elijah bowed to the high table. "Now, we come to the last indictment against Boniface." Everyone noticed that he had stopped calling the man "bishop" quite some time ago.

"Dom Sheriff, would you please fetch the Flagsheet cross, and Will, Andy, fetch his Grace, my brother's gift to this house. Put both upon the table in front of their Graces."

When this had been done, Elijah looked long and hard at Boniface. "The last charge levied against this pitiful excuse for a man is simony - not only the selling of offices and preferments for gain, but the selling of church property and gifts. For example, part of the Flagsheet donation - which he murdered to keep - and his Grace my brother's precious crucifix."

Elijah sat down, and glanced at Vincent. "What have you to say to all these charges, Boniface? Have you a defence?"

Boniface stood. "I deny all the charges. The witnesses have been bought - paid to speak against me! Several of them are in the pay of the crowner, or the Sheriff, who are both known to despise me! It is all a tissue of lies, made to incriminate me!"

York put his hand up, stopping the man. "Is this true, Sheriff - do you despise this man?"

Dom stood, and bowed. "Utterly and completely, your Grace. He is a poor excuse for a man, let alone a man of God.
When the children of the keep were going hungry because our wages for three months had been stolen, good Father Anselm asked Boniface if he could give us a few shillings out of the poor box to buy food for them. His answer? Ask Father Anselm!"

Father Anselm stood, and looked Boniface straight in the eye. "He said, 'let them starve! There will be less poor to drain my resources if the little ones die!' I wrote to his Grace of Canterbury concerning this, after that day, but I think, now, since I heard nothing, that Boniface had had my letter intercepted. Such cruelty and indifference could not be allowed to continue. Of God's mercy, it could not!"

He sat down, and Orlando put his arm about the trembling priest.

"And what of this last charge concerning the artefacts?" York looked at Elijah.

"Copies, your Grace. Gold-plated copies. Very well done - can you tell the difference? Will, Andy, the boxes, if you please!"

Will and Andrew opened the chests they had brought in, and took out of them, the Flagsheet cross, and Vincent's crucifix, and placed them next to those already on the tables. All the bishops crowded about to examine them.

"I cannot tell them apart. Which are the real ones, and which the copies, I cannot say." York scratched his chin, perplexed. "Except that this smaller one - the Flagsheet cross just taken out of the box - has a blue ribbon securely tied about it, there is no difference between the two. My lord of Canterbury, can you choose between yours and the copy?"

Vincent smiled, and drew out of his cloak a document. "I can, my brother York, and so can my most-trusted brother, Stanford. This will explain why. I sent one of my priests to my London palace, for this document. Read it, aloud, I pray you. I know you can translate it for those who will not understand the French."

Everyone present could see the King's seal, larger than a man's palm, gracing the foot of the parchment.

York read aloud, in dawning wonder.

My well-beloved Vincent, now of Canterbury. In honour of your acceptance of this high office, and all the responsibility it entails, I offer you this gift. It was made for me by my peoples in France, and presented to me upon my coronation, so you can see that it is a gift very worthy of the sacrifice of your freedom, that you made when agreeing to my edict concerning your call to Canterbury.

It is more than it seems, for hidden about it is a secret compartment, none but I - and now, you - know of..."

Here, Vincent stopped Ranulf of York, and turning the crucifix towards him, pressed a few places upon it and an audible click was heard. Vincent took the loosened cover off the front of the crucifix, and turned it, again, towards the priests in the hall, and the bishops craned their necks to see what it was that had been revealed. It was a crystal-fronted niche, perhaps ten inches high and nearly four inches wide, containing a scrap of blue cloth, the size of a small piece of parchment, and a splinter of wood, as long as a lady's hand.

Vincent told York to pass over the description of the secret of the opening of the niche, and the man read, in hushed tones, his voice breaking with emotion, from where Vincent's finger marked the text.

"...the treasures contained within this cross, are a piece of the Holy Virgin's Veil, and a splinter of the True Cross, which were given to me at Jerusalem, when first I entered the city...."

All present fell to their knees, and made the sign of the cross upon their breasts. Many were openly weeping, Orlando and Anselm amongst them.

"...I would have you do with it as you will, for I know it will be warded in safety by you, my faithful priest and companion. Find a church worthy of it. Thank you, my brother in Christ Jesus, your true friend, Richard Rex.

Ranulf sat, still trembling with awe, and turned the crucifix around, so that he could touch the glass covering the priceless treasures held within it.

"And these most holy relics," Vincent thundered, thumping the table in his rage, his voice reaching far outside the room to nearly every ear in the building, so commanding it was, "ended up on the workbench of a man - now in custody -Abraham of Bristol, ready to be altered and sold."

He sat down, again, as Elijah rose from his seat, and bowed to all present. "That, my lord bishops, your Graces, concludes the case against Boniface of Northwell. What say you?"

Boniface knew his hour had come. He knelt and claimed sanctuary, as had Rolf d'Harcourt, and asked to be allowed to abjure the realm.

York shook his head, his face sorrowful.

"No. You cannot convince me that all these men are liars. The priests are personally known to me to be pious and honourable men. Their testimonies alone would convict you of some of the crimes."

"The Sheriff, also, is known to be incorruptible - much to several a wealthy sinner's cost, I know - and his Grace of Stanford, too. Our Gracious King reposes complete trust in him; who am I to doubt his trust?

"Your plea for sanctuary we cannot refuse. But, if, after the forty days allowed to you, you refuse to admit to your crimes, and to leave this place to receive your just punishment, you will be walled within a cell, as the law demands, and left to starve. The crimes of which you are guilty are too serious to admit of lenient action. You must die, or others might be tempted to imitate your actions. Take him away - he offends my sight, and the sight of all right-thinking men!"

Boniface was hustled, protesting, out of the chamber, leaving all there in silent, rapt contemplation of the crucifix.

Then Elijah rose, for only he, of all those present, knew how the blind priest felt, and glancing at his brother for permission, and receiving it, took Orlando by the hand, and brought him to the table. He unlocked the secret compartment's crystal door, took out the two relics, and laid them in Orlando's palm.

"Here are the Holy Relics, Orlando. May you be blessed by their touch," he said, quietly, gazing at his new friend's ecstatic expression.

Orlando, his eyes streaming with tears, kissed the objects, and, unable to speak for joy, reverently held them out for Elijah to replace in their niche. He locked it, and gently touched the glass with his fingers.

"Elijah," Vincent said, in a low voice, "remove, I pray you, the key that allows the inner door to be unlocked, and give it to me. Men may see the holy relics, but may not touch them, else they will crumble under much handling. I shall keep it always upon me, so that it may be ever safe."

All present attended Mass immediately afterwards, feeling the need to be absolved of the contagion of Boniface's evil doings, and, afterwards, despite the grim happenings of the day, there was a sense of lightness about the place, that all remarked upon.

****
Dom and Elijah stood on the cathedral steps, watching Matty Cobbler doling out soup, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, her face flushed pink, her eyes sparkling as she sent one man away, saying two bowls was enough to fill the biggest belly, especially as there were still people who had had none.

"If only the cathedral could be run as efficiently as Matty does her kitchen," Dom said, wistfully watching the orderly queue, and the folks sitting against the wall, eagerly supping their sustaining meal.

Elijah smiled at his love. "Vincent already has someone in mind for the bishopric, Dom. Someone who cares for the people. I believe all the bishops are now gone to vote upon it."

Dom raised his eyebrows. "Who?"

"Father Anselm. Or, Bishop Anselm, rather. My brother told me of it, yesterday. One step upwards, for he was already dean, though Boniface allowed him no authority to act in that calling, fearing, no doubt, that Anselm would give too much away that was destined for his own purse."

Father Anselm came rushing down the steps, his face shocked and pink with exertion. "They...they have elected me...I must have air!" He sat on the bottom step, and Dom fanned the flustered man with a slat of wood from the soup stand.

"I feel faint!" Anselm murmured. "For I was fasting yesterday, and today, knowing what was in front of us. It is too much to grasp. I am not worthy to be bishop - and his Grace is leaving the crucifix here, in my care, for the good people of this city!"

Elijah smiled. "Pilgrims will come, and the cathedral will become rich under a worthy steward of its treasure.
And it is true, as I have often found it, that in some callings, only those who think they are not worthy, are worthy, my dear Bishop," he said, and sat beside the man, whilst Dom held out a steaming bowl, full of Matty's fine concoction.

"Have some soup, Bishop!" he said, grinning widely. "It's free!"

Matty, watching to hear the Bishop’s opinion of her soup, couldn’t help herself. “Only one bowl, mind, as there’s a demand and I can’t give away more!” She blushed at her indiscretion.

Elijah laughed. “It seems fitting to celebrate the conclusion of this extraordinary case with something so well appreciated.”

Bishop Anselm lifted his bowl in salute. “To your justice, Crowner; there are many glad of it in this place, I think.”

“I’d agree with that, with all my heart,” Dom said, quietly, and Elijah had to turn away, for fear the emotion engendered by his lover’s words would cause an unseemly display.

“I thank you both,” Elijah replied, hoping his voice was steady. “I truly believe that I have found a place where I can live my life and follow the king’s command.”

“Amen!” Matty agreed, fervently, “So say we all!”

END OF BOOK ONE

Glossary

Abjuring the Realm:

A sanctuary seeker (see below) could choose to abjure the realm. After confessing his sins to the coroner - not a priest - the man or woman was dressed in sackcloth, and carried a cross of their own making. They were then made to walk to the port nominated by the coroner, and take the first ship abroad. If there were none in dock, they had to wade into the tide, every day, up to their knees, to show willingness to comply with the crowner's edict, until a ship came along.

Often they ran away after they had left the city confines, and became outlaws, (see below) and were often killed, if found, by the victims of their crimes, or the families thereof.

Acheron:

In Classical Mythology, the name of a branch of the river Styx, across which Charon, the ferryman, rowed the newly dead to Hades. Also came to be used as the name of Hell itself.

The Acheron is a real river located in the Epirus region of northwest Greece. Acheron translates as the "river of woe. The lake called Acherousia and the river still called Acheron, together with the nearby ruins of the Necromanteion, are found near Parga, on the mainland opposite Corfu.

Amerce/Amercement:
To punish by a fine imposed at the discretion of the court or appointed official. Coroners were allowed to amerce people, or whole villages and towns, for infractions of several rules. The fine for an incorrectly reported murder - for example, no hue-and-cry made - (see below) could be as much as four marks. As a mark was thirteen shillings and fourpence, and the average labouring man's wage one or two pence a day, this often caused a village, or hundred, (see below) severe financial distress.

Approver:
A criminal who turns evidence and gives up his accomplices to save his own skin. Someimes it worked, (at the coroner's discretion), sometimes not. It all depended if the information they had to give was worthwhile.

Barbary Ape:
The Barbary Macaque (Macaca sylvanus) is a tail-less macaque. Found in the Atlas mountains of Morocco and Algeria, with a small population, possibly introduced, in Gibraltar. The Barbary Macaque is one of the best-known Old World monkey. Besides humans, they are the only primates to live in Europe.
Although the species is commonly referred to as the Barbary Ape, the Barbary Macaque is a true monkey, not an ape. Confusion as to the name could have arisen from the fact that apes are tailless, as is the Barbary Macaque.

Benefit of Clergy:
In English law, the benefit of clergy was originally a provision by which clergymen caught in crime could claim that they were outside the jurisdiction of the secular courts, and choose to be tried instead under canon - ie church - law. Eventually, the course of history transformed it into a mechanism by which first-time offenders could receive a more lenient sentence for some lesser crimes, or lay people, who proved they could read, at a time that mostly only priests could read - and not all of them - claimed benefit of clergy, by reading from the Bible. Church laws were known to be more lenient than secular courts.

Prior to the 12th century, traditional English law courts had been jointly presided over by a bishop, and a local secular magistrate. In 1166, however, Henry the Second promulgated the Assize of Clarendon, legislation that established a new system of courts that rendered decisions wholly by royal authority.

The Assizes touched off a power struggle between the king and Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket asserted that these secular courts had no jurisdiction over clergymen, because it was the privilege of clergy not to be accused or tried for crime, except before an ecclesiastical court. After four of Henry's knights murdered Becket in 1170, public sentiment turned against the king, and he was forced to make amends with the church. As part of the Compromise of Avranches, Henry was purged of any guilt in Becket's murder, but he agreed that the secular courts, with few exceptions, had no jurisdiction over the clergy.

Bullace:
Damson, a type of plum

Candle Clock:
A candle, that when burned, measured time in four one-hourly intervals.

Chirurgeon:
Surgeon

Church Services:
Those pertinent to this story:
Each hour of prayer consists of psalms, reading from scripture, and other prayers. The approximate times for prayer, and their respective names are: Matins: 2:30am, Lauds: 5:00 am, Prime: 6:00 am, Tierce: 9:00 am, Sext: noon, Nones: 3:00 pm, Vespers: 4:30pm, and Compline: 6:00 pm.

Coins/Money:
Two silver pence a day was a good wage, in 1195. For an example of the income of more wealthy men, a coroner had to be an honest, upright, well-born man, above corruption and bribery, of substantial wealth, with an income of at least £20 a year. :D
Elijah had five or six hundred pounds a year, sometimes more, which made him extremely rich, indeed, at a time when a man and his entire household, including servants and animals, could live in absolute luxury for less than a pound a week. Dom had an income of two marks a month, and a small private income besides.
A mark was not a coin, only an amount, and was equal to the sum of thirteen shillings and fourpence. This was very good pay indeed (when he got it - see story!)

A pound was only an amount, too. There were no pound coins, or mark coins, only pennies or shillings, a little later. Pennies, which were made of silver, could be cut in halves or quarters. A half-penny (ha'penny) was literally, at one time, a coin cut in half.
Only wealthy merchants, bishops or Elijah were rich enough to have dealt in gold bezants, a coin from the Byzantine empire, used in Europe at this time. A bezant was equal to two shillings sterling, and a shilling was equal to twelve pennies, or the value of a cow in Kent, or a sheep elsewhere. :D

Constable:
A peace officer with less authority, and smaller jurisdiction than a sheriff, empowered to serve writs and warrants, and make arrests. Sometimes the castellan of a keep was called a constable. He held a far greater level of responsibility than modern-day constables in Britain.

Coroner/Crowner:
Coroner comes from Anglo-Norman corouner, a word derived from coroune, "crown." Corouner was the term used for the royal judicial officer, who was called, in Latin, custos placitorum coronae, or "guardian of the crown's pleas."

The person holding the office of coroner, a position dating from the 12th century, was charged with keeping local records of legal proceedings in which the crown had jurisdiction. He helped raise money for the crown, by funneling the property of executed criminals into the king's treasury.

The coroner also investigated any suspicious deaths among the Normans, who as the ruling class, wanted to be sure that their deaths were not taken lightly. At one time in England, most criminal proceedings, including rape and arson, and including attending as a witness, any hangings or other execution of criminals, also fell within the coroner's duty.

Crapula:
Hangover
Curfew:

No open fires were allowed in the town after dark, so they had to be either banked with peat, or covered. (Hence couvre-feu, or cover-fire).
The city gates were also closed during curfew, from dusk until dawn, and no-one allowed through, except the Sheriff and the Crowner, holding a warrant. In fact, so important was this rule considered, that a thirteenth century Mayor of Exeter was hanged, because he failed to ensure the gates of the city were locked

Daefectorum:
Lavatory, usually in abbeys or monasteries, built in a row, over a stream or river.

Deodand:
from L. Deo dandum "a thing to be given to God."
In English law, a personal chattel (knife, hammer, or any moveable item, such as a cart; even livestock such as pigs, bulls, horses, etc;) which, having been the immediate cause of the death of a person, was forfeited to the Crown to be sold, and the monies applied to charitable uses. Abolished in 1846.

First-Finder:
The discoverer of a corpse, or a crime, such as rape or arson.

Gropecunt Lane:
There was a street called Gropecunt Alley in London - according to the author Bill Bryson - until recent years. The brothels were there. I thought this city should have one, as well. :D

Hue and Cry:
When a body was found murdered, the first-finder (obviously the man/woman/child who found the corpse) was obliged, by law, to run and knock on the doors of at least the first four houses nearby, shouting hue and cry! All the inhabitants therein had to rush out, and attempt to find the killer by thoroughly searching the vicinity.

This had to be done, even if it was obvious that the corpse had been dead for some time, because if no Presentment of Englishry (see below) was made upon the body, the hundred (see below) would be fined twice - once for the dead man/woman/child being of Norman descent, and once for failing in the hue and cry.
This could bankrupt a small village, which would be in debt to the Crown for years to come.

Hundred:
Meaning "division of a county or shire with its own court", still to be seen in some British place names, was a term from Old English, and probably an area representing 100 "hides" (a hide = a unit of land measuring between 60-120 acres).
For example, the three hundreds of Stoke, Desborough and Burnham are in Buckinghamshire. They are still known as The Chiltern Hundreds. The woods nearby were once a hiding place for robbers. These days, if an MP (Member of Parliament) wishes to resign his/her seat in the House of Commons, they are said to have "taken the Chiltern Hundreds", as no work is needed to maintain the position. It effectually means they are out of a job.

Lincoln Greyne/Greine:
Lincoln greyne or greine, is a superior material, made in Lincoln - no surprise there - and the best sort is a red colour. Scarlet, in fact. Is the usual reason for the misunderstanding because of mis-spelling, or simply from not knowing historical fact, that Robin Hood wore Lincoln Green. He did not - his men wore green - Robin's outfit was as Red as Will Scarlett's gear! Robin Hood wore Lincoln Greyne.

In 1198 the Sheriff of Lincoln bought ninety ells (about 112 yards) of scarlet cloth for £30; although the cloth was a finely finished fabric, its high price was almost certainly due mainly to the extremely costly dye-stuff, greyne (graine) from Kermes, or scarlet grain, a dye made from cochineal. In 1182 the Sheriff of Lincoln bought Scarlet at 6s 8d per ell, Green and Blanchet both at 3s per ell and Grey at approximately 1s 8d per ell (an ell is about equal to approx 42 inches) By 1216 three Guilds controlling the cloth trade were established in Lincoln, the Weavers', Dyers', and Fullers' guilds.

Marchpane:
A kind of sweet bread or biscuit; a cake of pounded almonds and sugar. Known today as marzipan.

Magister:
A teacher at school or university, from which word we get the titles Mister and Magistrate.

Mazer:
Wooden drinking bowl, often intricately carved, or decorated with silver. Not owned by the poor - they had cups or bowls, posh folks like Elijah had mazers.

Murdrum Fine:
The fine payable to the king by the hundred, where an unlawful killing occurred, unless the killer was produced, or the victim proved to be a Saxon.

Nonpareil:
Having no equal; perfect.

Outlaw:
An escaped felon, a runaway sanctuary seeker, or abjurer of the realm. (see this list) If a man/woman did not answer a summons from four consecutive sessions of a County Court, they were declared outlaw. Being outside the law, they could be slain by anyone, without penalty, and if caught by a law officer, they could be hanged. A woman outlaw was declared a waif, (hence "waifs and strays") which meant the same thing.

Outremer:
(Outre-mer) meaning "overseas", in French, was the general name given to the Crusader States, established after the First Crusade - given to the Counties of Odessa, Antioch, Tripoli, and especially meaning the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Palimpsest:
A parchment off which the previous writing had been scraped, to allow it to be re-used. Parchment was expensive. Sometimes the skin(parchment was animal skin, not paper, as is sometimes thought. Usually made of vellum, or calf-skin) was scraped so many times, the surface became porous, and the writing was all but illegible, as in this tale.

Precentor:
Leader in church music, in charge of the choir/singing.

Presbytery:
Part of a church building designed for use by the priests.

Presentment Of Englishry:
Englishry, or Englescherie, is a legal name, given, in the reign of William the Conqueror, to the proving of the fact that a person, who had been slain, was an Englishman.
If an unknown man was found murdered, he was presumed to be a Norman, and the hundred, (see above) was fined accordingly, unless it could be proved that he was English. All inhabitants of the hundred had to contribute to the fine, known as a murdrum fine, if the killer was not caught.
Englishry, if established, excused the hundred the fine. Englishry was abolished in 1340.

Pupton:
Similar to a terrine today. It could be made with salmon, other soft fish, game, or chopped meats, or fruits of any description. Either in a pate form, or just chopped, pressed, spiced and served from the cooking dish.

Sanctuary seeker:
A fugitive from the law could gain forty day's respite within a church, or on its lands. Whilst there, they had to be fed by the church. If after that time, they did not admit their guilt to the coroner, and refused to leave, he ordered them locked in, and they were starved to death.
If they chose, they could confess to him, instead, and abjure the realm (see above).

Secondary:
A young man hoping later to become a priest. Under twenty four years of age, they helped the clergy in the cathedral. Ben was a secondary before he became Dom's clerk.
Sheriff:

Late O.E. scirgerefa "representative of royal authority in a shire," from scir + gerefa "chief, official, reeve". In Anglo-Saxon England, he was the representative of royal authority in a shire.
The coroners, appointed by Richard the Lionheart, to stop dishonest sheriffs stealing monies from executed criminals, and amercements, and money raised from the sale of deodand articles, (see above), intended for the king's coffers - to fund the cripplingly expensive Crusades - or for the poor, took over many of the sheriff's duties. Not all, needless to say, were pleased by this turn of events.

Simony:
The selling of holy offices and holy artifacts, illegally, for gain.

Span:
The distance between a man's thumb and little finger, measured when the hand is extended. Usually estimated at nine inches.

Torture:
Peine fort et dure was one of the favoured methods of gaining a confession from a prisoner at this time. Torture was considered a normal part of prison regime. Peine fort et dure was otherwise known as pressing - the prisoner being laid upon the floor, hands and feet chained to rings embedded in it, whilst heavy slabs of stone were placed, in sucession, on his/her chest. They either confessed (truthfully, or out of desperation) or they died.
Many other forms of torture were used - thumbscrews, the boot, the rack, the Iron Maiden, and pilliwinks or finger-screws - but this is the only one with which this story is concerned.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

anjelmati.livejournal.com

Whoo! I did enjoy the dramatic way this was brought to a conclusion,very satisfying,thank you for all your hard work.Earlier in the tale,you dropped hints that Dom was estranged from his family,so I am hoping you will elaborate further on this.
Very sorry to hear you are still not feeling too well;I do hope your health improves as soon as possible.
And in the Saturday Telegraph quizword,the answer to 21d is "span".Strange coincidence......

From:

bellewood.livejournal.com

Aww.. i've really enjoyed this story, and hate to think it's at an end.. for now anyway!

Hope you feel better soon..take care X

From:

mole-caz.livejournal.com

A really wonderful story Ru and I'm so pleased book one has concluded before my holiday. I thought I was going to miss the end!

I hope you are feeling better and will grow stronger this next week.
*hugs you*

From:

janejanejane.livejournal.com

What a fantastic and a fitting ending to this most excellent of fic series! Thank you so much for making the time and taking the trouble to post this when I know you've been far from well, dearest Issi, and thanks, too, to LSR for beta as always.

XXXX

From:

pattilovesviggo.livejournal.com

I have enjoyed this story and how it all came together in the end.
I hope you are feeling better soon, and we can have a dry day to get together :) {{hugs}}

From:

mews1945.livejournal.com

Dear Ru, I hope you'll soon be feeling better, sweetie. You've certainly had quite a struggle because of your health.

Thank you for this story. It's been such a pleasure to read it. I've learned a lot from it, as well as simply enjoyed the mystery, and its solution that you've written. Boniface certainly has the most severe punishment coming to him for all his crimes. The meeting, with all those bishops was so well described, I felt I could see it all. And how fitting that Anselm was made bishop. I've really loved reading this story, and now I look forward to the next part whenever you're ready to begin posting it.

From:

primula-baggins.livejournal.com

What a wonderful ending, Issi. Finally, all the pieces of the puzzle are put together. Thank you for explaining "abjuring the realm" and "sanctuary seeker". At least they had a method of escaping their crimes with their lives, although I'm not sure this Boniface, Thrice-blessed, deserved it. I had to giggle at the description Jules used for him: "the Thrice-Up"! What an utterly despicable man he is!

*waits for this story to be made into a movie*

I'm sorry you've been feeling so poorly, hon.

*gentle hugs*

From:

aprilkat.livejournal.com

Thank you for putting up this fine chapter. You do a marvelous job of fitting it all together for us, and it is a very satisfying ending!

(Of course, we wouldn't mind a sequel!)

Hope you are soon feeling much better.

From:

elisamaria.livejournal.com

A satisfying end to Part I. Can't wait for the next part. Wonderful writing, as always. Thank you!

From:

laeliacatt.livejournal.com

What a satisfying end to Book One! I have enjoyed every minute of its rich detail and fleshed-out characters. Well done, my dearest Issi! And kudos to LSR, as always!

Ha - Boniface's goose is finally cooked. :) Is it wrong of me to hope for the possible punishment York mentioned - that of his final days, walled up in that cell, deprived of food and comfort? Deprivation for the depraved! :) A just and fitting end. Is that the way the worst of the worst were dispatched in that time?

I hope you feel better very soon, my dear. I'm very sorry to hear that you continue to be ill and that you had such a bad week. *gentle hugs*

From:

escapist-art.livejournal.com

I just recently started reading this book, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

From:

poplij.livejournal.com

Wonderful final chapter to book one !! I enjoyed this story, looking forward to book two.
Sorry you're still not very well, I hope you'll feel better soon, dear.
Take care
((hugs))

From:

http://users.livejournal.com/tweedle_/

A truly satisfying ending with Boniface being caught right and proper. I rather hope the relics work and Orlando regains his sight in the next books. Evil old Boniface! :) Elijah made a wonderful crowner and I'm looking forward to Book II. XXOO Nancy

From:

frolijah-fan-54.livejournal.com

I"m so sorry to hear you haven't felt well this week - and thank you for posting this despite that. *hugs*

Being walled into a cell and slowly starving seems like a fitting punishment for such an evil man - he has caused so much pain and evil. I loved how Elijah let Orlando feel the treasures from within the cross - and how he masterfully outlined the case against Boniface.

What a fitting end to this first book - I hope that means there will be more!!

But more than anything I hope you feel better soon, dear Ru - *gentle hugs*

From:

Crowner's Justice 20

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