Michael Jecks - The Bishop Must Die

His gasp as he saw the latest note seemed to take the very breath from his lungs, and the room whirled about him, making him stagger back.

Your life will soon end. Prepare to meet thy Maker.

Canterbury

When he was called to see the bishop, Simon had been getting to know a barrel of strong red wine from northern France. In his experience, most wines that were affordable tended to come from around Bordeaux and the Guyennois regions. This, though, was very tasty, and he was looking forward to a second jugful, when William walked into the bar and saw him.

‘Master Puttock, would you be so good as to come and see the bishop?’

‘He’s back from the king? How did it go?’

‘The king was impressed, I think, that you and my uncle managed to bring some news of his son. It is more than all the spies Despenser has had in France for the last six months have done.’ William grinned. ‘I think you are back in the king’s favour.’

Simon grunted at that. ‘So long as it doesn’t mean it’ll cost me money or force me to come and live in a new town yet again, I suppose that’s good enough.’

‘I believe the only thing he will wish from you is to return to Portchester with the rector.’

‘Why with him? Can’t the king keep him here? You have no idea how tedious his whining became on the way here. He was constantly complaining about the journey and the roads and the weather …’

‘You have guards to keep him to hand? Good. If he escapes again, it would be a sore embarrassment to my uncle,’ William said.

They had crossed the inner courtyard and gone through the door to the bishop’s rooms. Reaching the parlour, William knocked loudly, and hearing the bishop’s call, the two men entered.

‘My lord bishop, are you well!’ Simon exclaimed. ‘You have the look of a man who has seen a ghost!’

‘He saw a man in the crowds today who resembled the one who has been leaving threatening messages,’ William explained. ‘It gave him a shock.’

In response, the elderly man snatched up the scrap of parchment and flung it at them. ‘Look on that! The damned man has been in here — in here in my private chambers — while we were with the king! Damn him!’

Simon peered at the small writing. ‘Is this the same as the other messages? I heard of them from Baldwin when he came to visit me at Porchester.’

‘It looks remarkably similar,’ the bishop said heavily. ‘Dear God, how could he have got in here? I thought this room at least would be safe for me.’

‘The guards,’ William said, and was instantly out through the door to see what might be learned from them.

Simon placed the parchment on the table. ‘This sounds serious, my lord bishop. What on earth does he have against you?’

‘I have no idea! Sir Baldwin had compiled a list of men whom he felt might have harboured a grudge against me, but how on earth could I tell which one of them might be responsible for this?’

‘You say that you have seen the man here today?’ Simon said.

‘Yes.’

‘And you are sure that his face was previously unfamiliar to you? If so, that would surely make it very surprising that he is your enemy.’

‘Not necessarily,’ the bishop said grimly. ‘I have already explained this to Sir Baldwin. While I was Lord High Treasurer, I made many enemies.’

‘I see. So this could be someone from that period of your life — someone whom you never knew, but who feels himself to have been badly treated by you. But surely, even then they would be known to you, because they would have had to present themselves in court to make any claim or defend their position against you?’

‘Again, not necessarily. In the Grand Eyre of five years ago, for example, I did not attend. It was held under my name, but the justices were professionals. Besides, this fellow Paul was quite young — perhaps in his early twenties. He would have been under age at the time of the Eyre, I’d guess.’

‘That young? So, for example, if he holds a grudge of some sort,’ Simon became thoughtful, ‘it would possibly be his father whom he sought to avenge?’

The bishop pulled a face. ‘So now I have to wonder about the sons of all those who might hold a desire to punish me for any real or imagined slight? Master Puttock, you do not put me at my ease!’

‘I am sorry, my lord bishop. I was thinking out aloud. I am sure that you will be safe enough, if you can only keep away from large crowds.’

‘In this city?’

Simon gave a wry grin. ‘Yes, that could be problematic. Perhaps if you were to return to Exeter?’

‘I came all this way on the advice of our friend Sir Baldwin in order to evade the man, yet he has followed me here. I find it very hard to believe that I would be safer travelling all the way back there again,’ Bishop Walter said irascibly.

‘I understand.’

Just then, William returned, a furious expression on his face. He slammed the door and made an expansive gesture that took in the door, the men beyond it, and all the men-at-arms in the city. ‘Those cretins would be dangerous if they had one brain between them! They were glad to allow a young stranger in because he told them that you had ordered some pilgrim badges, and he was to deliver them. They allowed him up and left him in your chamber for some little while.’

‘Did they not realise that no one was to be allowed in?’ Simon asked.

‘Oh, they knew, yes. But the king is here in the town, and when they knew the bishop was visiting the king, they didn’t bother to protect this chamber, reasoning that he was being guarded by proximity to the king. The fools did not think about a man entering the chamber here.’

In a flash, Simon and William had the same idea. One man had been up here for some while, and could have installed a dangerous device to hurt or kill the bishop. They exchanged a look, and some innate understanding of the dread word assassin was communicated.

But although the two searched the room assiduously, looking behind tapestries, inside the chest, behind the cupboards and even beneath the bed, there was clearly no instrument nor agent of death.

‘That is a relief,’ William said, ‘but it still proves that it is too dangerous for you here. Exeter is no better, because the fellow managed to hide himself there before. Perhaps he has a relative or friend who lives there? The best thing to do would be to go on in the king’s company. You would be safer in London, in the Tower. There are too many men-at-arms and guards there, for this Paul to ever gain access. You should be safe there.’

‘I refuse to skulk,’ the bishop said.

‘Oh well, if you prefer to walk about as a living target for any disgruntled assassin with a bow, Uncle,’ William said sweetly, ‘you go ahead. You won’t have to do so for long, I’m sure.’

The bishop glowered at him, but did not argue. There was no disputing his logic.

Simon looked from one to the other. ‘Is that decided, then? My lord bishop, you will go on to London?’

‘So it would seem. But for how long? Oh, this is ridiculous!’

‘Not for too long,’ William said. ‘Only until we catch this fellow and put an end to these threats.’

‘And meanwhile I should go to my bed,’ Simon said. ‘I must return to Portchester, for my wife will wonder what has happened to me, else.’

‘Simon, I would be glad of your aid,’ the bishop began.

‘My lord, I have been away from my wife too much already in the last months. She needs my companionship, and I hers. I am sorry, but I must go home as soon as I may.’

‘The country is teetering on the brink of disaster,’ the bishop said. ‘I know that you will wish to be with your wife, Simon, but I would greatly appreciate your help, and your strong right arm, in my entourage.’