Michael Jecks - No Law in the Land

‘I have done nothing.’

‘My cardinal also said to tell you that as a result of your interference, it is unlikely that either candidate now will become abbot at Tavistock. A fresh candidate may be selected by the pope.’

‘This is a king’s endowment. The king would be very disappointed if the pope chose to install a man whom he had not approved,’ Despenser said silkily.

‘Yes. My cardinal said you might mention that. He said that in the event that you chose to quarrel over any actions taken, he would have no hesitation in making your correspondence known to the king as well.’

Despenser picked up the scrolls and held them towards a candle. ‘I think it need not concern me. I have the scrolls.’

‘Copies. The Cardinal de Fargis possesses the originals.’

‘I see.’

‘There is one other thing. Just so you are in no doubt, the Cardinal de Fargis also said that he would petition the pope to have you excommunicated if you persist in this affair.’

‘You may tell him I will comply with his wishes,’ Despenser said. He waited until the messenger had left the room before picking up the table and throwing it over in his rage.

Dartmouth

It had been a long march across the moors, but worth it. Almost as soon as he reached the port, Roger visited the little house where the official sat with the customs accounts, and spoke with the clerk. The note he had brought from Simon Puttock appeared to work like a miracle, the clerk smiling with delight, and soon Roger had been introduced to a merchant and taken out to a ship that was lying in the river waiting to sail.

The last few days had been miserable, with the wind and rain making the journey as unpleasant as it could be. Still, as soon as he reached the town, the weather appeared to blow over, and that, together with the promise of a berth aboard ship, left him happier than he had been in a long time.

If he thought ever of Osbert, and his lonely death out on the moors, it never served to affect his general good humour. It was not the sort of thing that worried him. But when he was at last aboard the ship and ready to sail, it was noticed that he had brought with him a small white and brown puppy.

And although he was mocked for keeping it, no one was cruel to his dog. There was something in his eyes and stance that persuaded men to leave it alone.

*See ‘The Unreliability of Royal Household Knights in the Early Fourteenth Century’ by Michael Prestwich, Fourteenth Century England II, The Boydell Press, 2002.

*CUP, 1979

*12 October 1325

*13 October 1325

*14 October 1325

*15 October 1325

*17 October 1325

*19 October 1325

*20 October 1325

*24 October 1325

*11 May

*25 October 1325

*1306

*1319

*26 October 1325

*27 October 1325

*28 October 1325

*29 October 1325

*30 October 1325

*Night was separated into equal ‘hours’, as was daylight. There were twelve hours of daylight, and thus summer hours were longer than those of winter.

*2 November 1325

*3 November 1325

*4 November 1325