Michael Jecks: The Prophecy of Death

Baldwin pulled a grimace. ‘Perhaps. And yet, who can tell? Perhaps Gilbert sought to attack him, and he killed the brother in self-defence? And the husband was murdered by his own wife. Or perhaps died naturally, and she dragged his body into the woods, anxious that anyone finding it at her home would automatically assume her to be guilty of his death? It may have been nothing to do with Yatton whatever.’

‘And I may be a bishop.’

‘Do you want to know the truth of it?’

Simon looked south towards the Thames. The river flowed sluggishly here, grey and slumberous, but it was an obstacle he preferred not to dare. ‘No,’ he said with certainty. ‘The man is alive or dead. It matters not a whit to me. All I know is, I want to see my wife again and make sure that she is perfectly safe. If you want to follow this fellow, I think I shall have to ride on alone, Baldwin.’

Baldwin stared west, then south, and at last he nodded. ‘You know, I think you may be right this once.’

Despenser walked back into his chamber and saw that Wattere was already there. ‘Well? What do you want?’

‘I have been investigating that bailiff you wanted me to remove. If you still wish it, my Lord, I think I have found a way to remove him legally.’

‘Speak!’

‘His house is not his own outright. He owns it on a seven-year lease. Usually, it would be perfectly safe for him, but he has spent so much time this year in France and here, that I am sure he will be in arrears with the rent.’

‘Who owns it?’

‘A man who could be persuaded to sell it to you.’

Despenser nodded to himself. He walked to his chair and sat. ‘Buy the lease, and then begin efforts to recover the full amount. And if he cannot pay at once, I suppose I shall have to evict him.’

‘That is what I thought, my Lord,’ Wattere said, bowing his way out.

And what I hoped, he added to himself. Now, Bailiff, let’s see who’s still laughing when we’re done with you!

1Saturday, 8 July 1307

2Thursday, 3 April 1320

3Tuesday, 2 April 1325

4Monday, 8 April 1325

5Night of Monday, 8 and Tuesday, 9 April 1325

6Tuesday, 9 April 1325

7Wednesday, 10 April 1325

8Thursday, 11 April 1325

9Friday, 12 April 1325

10Monday, 15 April 1325

11Tuesday, 16 April 1325

12Wednesday, 17 April 1325

13Thursday, 18 April 1325

14Friday, 19 April 1325

15Monday, 22 April 1325

16Tuesday, 23 April 1325

17Thursday, 26 April 1325

18Monday, 29 April 1325

19Tuesday, 30 April 1325

20Wednesday, 1 May 1325

21Thursday, 2 May 1325

22A medieval term for brandy

23Friday, 3 May 1325

24Monday, 6 May 1325

25See A Friar’s Bloodfeud , also published by Headline.

26Wednesday, 8 May 1325

27Friday, 10 May 1325

28Saturday, 11 May 1325

29Monday, 13 May 1325

30Wednesday, 15 May 1325

31Monday, 20 May 1325

32Tuesday, 21 May 1325

33Wednesday, 22 May 1325

34Tuesday, 4 June 1325

35Thursday, 6 June 1325

36Friday, 7 June 1325