Susanna GREGORY: A Poisonous Plot

‘It is a pity she is the wrong sex,’ sighed Michael. ‘She would make an excellent Chancellor – far better than her son.’

The town proved less easy to distract, and there was bitter disappointment that the promised exodus of scholars was not going to take place after all. Spats between them and the academics grew more frequent and increasingly violent. Michael, Bartholomew and Tulyet met to discuss them in the Brazen George one day just before Christmas.

‘Perhaps Prior Joliet was right,’ said Bartholomew, weary after dealing with the injuries arising from yet another brawl. ‘The town will never be easy with us in it, and it might be better for everyone if we go to live in the Fens.’

‘It will not,’ said Tulyet firmly. ‘Without the University, we would be nothing.’

Michael gazed wonderingly at him. ‘And this from a townsman?’

‘We sell you our ale, bread, meat, cloth, pots and fuel; and we rent you our houses and inns. In return, you provide us with scribes, physicians and priests, while the friaries do good work with the poor, despite the recent hiccup with the Austins.’

‘Then why do I feel as though we are not welcome?’ asked Michael.

‘Because you are arrogant, miserly and condescending; you make nuisances of yourselves with our womenfolk; and you do not pay fair prices for our goods. You belittle and cheat us at every turn, and you are rarely good neighbours.’

‘Well, yes,’ acknowledged Michael. ‘But we cannot help that.’