by Mel Starr
I walked swiftly from Mill Street down the lane toward the Weald huts. In the twilight of early dawn I saw smoke from the eve vents of two huts, those of Thomas atte Bridge and the widow Emma. The inhabitants of these two dwellings were about their business early, and I knew why.
Few others in the Weald or elsewhere would have meat to roast in June. The flesh from autumn’s slaughtered hog or goat was long since consumed in most men’s homes. These two houses wished to roast their meat when no other would take note. I was convinced again I dealt with a poacher, and now knew who the man was. Although why Thomas atte Bridge would share with his sister-in-law I did not know. In truth, the question did not then occur to me.
I hurried back to Mill Street, hastened to the castle and climbed my rope ladder as the morning sun illuminated the cross atop the spire of St Beornwald’s Church. From atop the wall I saw an old man praying at the Ladywell. His back was to me. I drew the rope from around the merlon, tucked it beneath my cotehardie, and stole down the parapet steps and across the inner yard to the great hall and my chamber.
Wisps of smoke from the kitchen chimney told me that the cook was risen from his bed and at his work. But he and his assistant were busy with oven and loaves. No face appeared at the kitchen door to observe my return.
I went to my bed, intending to rest for an hour or two, but found sleep elusive. I thought I now knew the poacher’s identity. But how to catch him at his work? And Emma atte Bridge had seen me across the meadow from her toft. The thought troubled me. The Angelus Bell intruded upon my contemplation before I could fall to sleep.
I awoke a short time later but little refreshed and no nearer a plan to apprehend either Thomas atte Bridge or his brother’s slayer. I awoke confused, weary, and feeling quite incompetent.
I had no wish to sit again all night in the forest awaiting Thomas atte Bridge. If it was fresh meat being roasted which I smelled this morning, then the fellow had eluded me in the night. Or perhaps ’twas meat he took earlier, and he had not been abroad in the night at all while I waited, cold and stiff, between the roots of the old beech.
If I took my place this night at the root of the beech it might be that Thomas would choose not to appear, or perhaps take another way. Could he be warned that I had found his path? And he had meat to roast. He would need no more for several days, perhaps.
I had no desire to spend another cold, uncomfortable night in the forest. I knew a better way.
I called at the kitchen for my morning loaf and ale. Did the cook look askance at me, or was it my imagination? I ate hurriedly in my chamber. I had a plan, and was impatient to set it in motion.
Wilfred tugged a forelock as I passed the gatehouse. I set my feet toward Alvescot and shortly after passed the beech where I had spent an unprofitable night. Did my scheme succeed, I would not need to visit the place again.
The door to Gerard the verderer’s hut lay open to the warm June sun, but the forester was not there. He was, his wife explained, at work in the forest north of town with his sons and brothers.
I was but a few steps from the village on the road north to Shilton when I heard axes ringing through the forest to the west of the road. I picked my way through the wood and found the verderer sitting on a rotting stump from which place he directed the felling of a medium-sized ash. This was the second tree to fall this day. A few paces beyond lay another ash, already down.
Gerard stood when he saw me approach, and greeted me warmly, as a man might to one who had saved his life. He had no sooner spoke words of greeting than the second ash began its plunge to the forest floor. I waited until the crashing and splintering of branches was complete to reply.
“Good day…Are you well?”
“Aye, well as may be.”
“The weakness on your left side – it troubles you as before?”
“Aye. No change there. Won’t ever be, I think.”
“There is a matter regarding Lord Gilbert’s forest I must discuss with you. Pray, return to your seat.”
I motioned to the stump. Gerard’s sons and brothers ignored me and went to trimming branches from the fallen trees. Gerard saw me watching the work. Perhaps he worried that I might accuse him of abusing Lord Gilbert’s forest. He explained what he was about.
“’Tis a wondrous thing, is a tree. These two will provide timber should Lord Gilbert need more, an’ t’branches will warm him in t’castle an’ us in our huts next autumn. From t’stumps coppiced shoots will soon rise. In a few months they’ll be large enough for arrows. T’Frenchies will want war again soon enough. ’Twill be well to have shafts ready. An’ we allow some of t’coppiced poles to grow, they’ll make anything from rafters to plow hafts.”
“Aye,” I agreed. “God designed well a world for men to prosper in. And he did well to provide Lord Gilbert with a verderer who knows his business.”
The old man beamed.
“Can’t work as once,” Gerard admitted, “but know as what’s needful an’ can see others do it. Trainin’ Richard,” he nodded toward his older son, “to take me place when I’m gone.”
“Unless you allow some tree to drop on you again, you should live for many years.”
The forester removed his cap and rubbed his head absently. The scar I made when I repaired his broken skull was visible through his wispy, thinning hair. “Keep me distance, now,” he assured me. “But you’d not come ’ere to discuss me ’ead.”
“Nay. I have other business. There is, I am sure, a poacher at work in Lord Gilbert’s forest.”
Gerard’s eyes grew wide. He lifted his hands to protest, the right hand higher than the left. He thought I was about to accuse him of malfeasance, for it is a verderer’s business to seek out those who violate forest law.
“I do not charge you with incompetence,” I said, before he could protest. “But I will have you and your sons patrol the forest carefully. You have seen no sign of snares, or the taking of a deer?”
“Nay. Don’t get through t’woods so easy meself anymore, but the others,” he nodded toward his sons and brothers, “go ’bout regular, like. They’d tell me straight away did any poacher leave sign in t’woods.”
“Require of them special vigilance, for there is surely a poacher at work. But I must have evidence before I can charge the man at hallmote.”
“You know who the fellow is?”
“Aye, I think so. But I cannot charge him with the little I presently know.”
Gerard took personally the idea of a poacher loose in the forest. It was his responsibility more than mine to apprehend such a miscreant. That I had learned of activity in his forest of which he knew nothing was a blow to his pride. I knew he would be diligent in seeking the evidence I needed.
My head was aching again when I completed the return journey to the castle. Valets were preparing the hall for dinner, for which I had little appetite. I went to my chamber and mixed a draught of ground willow bark and hemp seeds in a mug of ale.
Dinner this day included a first remove of coney pie, as if the cook wished to mock my inability. I could not prove a poacher. I could not find a murderer. I could not find a wolf, was there a wolf to find. Nor could I find a reason why Henry atte Bridge would slay Alan the beadle. But he did. Of this I was certain. ’Twas the only sure thing in my life. Aye, I could not find a wife, either.
I mixed no lettuce in my ale, but the willow bark and hemp seeds, my lack of sleep, and food in my belly all combined. I went to my chamber thinking to rest briefly. I did not awaken until I heard through my closed door valets once again setting tables on trestles for supper.
I arose from my bed much refreshed. And for this meal there was a pike and roasted capon. No venison. No rabbit. My appetite returned.
My afternoon sleep was so deep I thought it might rob me of slumber that night. Not so. I climbed to the parapet and walked the castle wall ’til Venus appeared over the treetops to the west. Below me the marshalsea enlargement proceeded well. The new stables would be complete when Lor
d Gilbert returned to take up residence. But little else was well. Failure gnawed at me. I descended the steps to the inner yard, watched as Wilfred barred the gate and cranked down the portcullis, then went to my chamber.
I was sure that my heavy thoughts, combined with a long nap that day, would deny me rest. But perhaps the hemp and willow bark were yet effective. I slept soundly until from the church spire I heard the Angelus Bell announce the arrival of the feast day of Corpus Christi.
The procession began at St Beornwald’s Church at the third hour. Thomas de Bowlegh, by virtue of his age and tenure at St Beornwald’s, led the vicars, clerks and townsmen. He held the consecrated loaf high and set off down Church View Street for the marketplace. This could not have been an easy task for a man of his years. Try walking about for an hour with both hands held high above your head.
I followed, as was my duty. A duty both to God and to Lord Gilbert. It is right and proper to honor the Son of God for deigning to become a man and dwell among us. And Lord Gilbert’s representative must set an example.
But as I marched my mind returned to a day when as a student I attended a lecture given by Master John Wyclif. He remarked that no pope or bishop ever thought to assert that the host became human flesh as of our Lord until the Lateran Council a century and a half past. Nor did the church require a spoken confession of sins to a priest before that council. But that is another matter.
Master John was no Donatist, however. He did not teach that a sacrament was vain was it administered by a sinful priest. Rather, Master John teaches that the sacrament is from the hand of God Himself, not from any “cursed man.” This may not be Donatism, but is enough to raise the ire of bishops. If a sacrament is from God, what need of the intermediary hand of a man? And if it be not the blessing of a priest which turns bread to flesh, what does? Nothing, I believe Master John would reply. I am inclined to agree with him. Do not tell the bishops.
A band of players new arrived for the feast day had set up a stage at the eastern edge of the marketplace. After dinner I wandered back to the town to watch the drama. ’Twas a portrayal of the life of Christ, first presented, I was told, many years ago at York, before the great cathedral there. I thought the performance appropriate to the day.
The players recounted a story I knew well. I found myself watching the crowd of onlookers more than the stage. There was as much drama there as any actor could produce. They cheered Christ when he healed the lame, and hissed Pilate for his crime.
They wept with Mary as our Lord was nailed to the cross, and roared as the stone rolled magically from the tomb and our risen Lord departed his sepulcher. The actors gave a good performance. The residents of Bampton were magnificent.
When the play was done and the crowd dispersed I made my way to Rosemary Lane and the home of John Prudhomme. I found the beadle in his toft, tending his onions and turnips. He stood and stretched when he saw me approach.
“Master Hugh…have you news of a poacher?”
“Aye, I think so. But I will need more evidence before I can charge him at hallmote.”
“And you wish me to provide it?” the beadle grinned.
“Aye.”
“Who is the man?”
“Thomas atte Bridge. Do you know him?”
“Him of the Weald? His brother slain in the forest?”
“The same.”
“Them of the Weald are the bishop’s men.”
“Aye. But if he takes Lord Gilbert’s game he’ll face Lord Gilbert’s justice.”
“You want me to watch the Weald as well as town after curfew?”
“Aye. Thomas atte Bridge lives in the second hut on the west side of the lane. It can be easily seen from the bridge across Shill Brook. But so will you, should you watch from the bridge. Best make your way down the stream and watch from the opposite bank. You’ll be lost in the thickets there.”
“An’ among t’nettles, too,” the beadle grimaced.
“It will be worth a few stings to you if you help me prove the fellow’s guilt.”
“And what if I prove his innocence?”
“Small chance of that, I think, for early yesterday morn, while you and others of the town lay yet in your beds, I followed the scent of roasting meat to his hut.”
John nodded in agreement. “Where would he find flesh to roast this season?”
“Aye. And the man you saw crossed the meadow from the Weald into the west wood.”
“He did,” the beadle confirmed.
“If we are alert, and do not give Thomas cause to suspect we know of his work, we will have him.”
“Be he the man who attacked you at Alvescot Churchyard, he is surely on guard already. Else why cross the meadow and lose himself in the wood rather than make his way along the road?”
“Aye, he is some worried already. But not so much that he has lost his taste for Lord Gilbert’s game, I think. And this is why we shall catch him. It may be difficult to begin a transgression. But even more difficult to abandon a sin and the reward it brings.”
“Aye,” John smiled. “If I knew of a way to put a haunch of venison on my table this eve I should be loath to give up the deed what put it there.”
“Just so. Greed has damaged many men, lords and commons. It will, soon or late, betray Thomas atte Bridge, I think.
“You need not be much entangled in this business,” I continued, “beyond observing who is about at night. Should you see Thomas atte Bridge – or any other man – set out for Alvescot and the forest to the west, send your wife next day to Wilfred, the porter. She must tell him to give me a message. She should say you are ill and cannot leave your bed to watch and warn. I will leave the castle at curfew to take your place and meet you here, before your house, to hear what you have seen.”
I am not a superstitious man, but the next day was Friday, the thirteenth day of June. I had no wish to test fate, so abjured the oaken arms of the tree along the Alvescot road where I had spent a fruitless night.
I hoped each day to receive from Wilfred the message that John Prudhomme was ill. Three days later, Monday afternoon, Wilfred stopped me as I passed the gatehouse and told me the beadle was too ill to perform his duty that evening.
“Hmmm…I will see to it myself, be his illness brief. You must open the gate and portcullis for me at midnight, when I return.”
Venus again hung over the forest, a dot of light in the darkening sunset, when I bid Wilfred good eve and set out with the ash pole for Mill Street and the town. I did not expect to need the club, but preparation is a great part of any victory. And if curious eyes should see me cross Shill Brook, they would see also the pole and be assured I had armed myself for watch and warn. They would not think a staff necessary for consulting with John Prudhomme.
I found the beadle sitting on a bench at his door. In the dark I nearly missed him, for what little light came from the new crescent moon and fading twilight left the front of his house in shadow.
“You have news for me?” I asked as the beadle stood.
“Aye…but not as you’d expect, I guess.”
“What, then?”
“Last night, when I was near finished with me rounds, I did as you said an’ walked along t’bank of Shill Brook ’til I was near opposite the hut you spoke of. ’Twas third night I did so.”
“And are there nettles there?”
“Aye,” he said ruefully, “there are.”
“What else did you find?”
“As you thought, Thomas atte Bridge left his hut last night when all was silent an’ dark.”
“And stole across the meadow to his path through the wood to the road and Alvescot,” I completed the beadle’s tale.
“Nay…went t’other way.”
“What other way?” I asked, puzzled.
“Crossed the bridge an’ went through town, quiet like. Moved from one shadow to the next. ’Twas dark last night; no moon.”
“And did he carry with him a sack?”
“Aye, he did. But o
dd thing is, ’twasn’t empty. Was a lump in the bottom.”
“He did not carry the sack to fetch game, but took something with him from his hut?”
“Aye, so it appeared.”
“Where did he take this stuff in his sack?”
“Went through town on the High Street an’ up Bushey Row to the lane what leads to St Andrew’s Chapel.”
“Did you follow?”
“Aye. Had t’duck into bushes more’n once when I thought he stopped and turned t’listen, to see if he was followed.”
“You think he knew he was seen?”
“Nay.”
“So in the sack he must have carried cords and sticks for new snares,” I guessed. “Did he go into the wood behind the chapel to lay them?”
“Nay. Don’t know what he could’ve been about. Didn’t leave road ’til he was past t’wood, then went through the gate an’ into t’chapel yard.”
This was a new and unforeseen thing. Then I remembered that an earlier beadle had gone down this same path some months before. And that man was surely slain by the brother of the man who now walked the lane late at night. Did they travel to the same place? For the same purpose?
“Did Thomas enter the chapel?”
“Aye, think so. Didn’t get close enough t’see, but heard hinges squeal.”
“Was he long in the chapel?”
“Nay. I thought as how he was in t’chapel I’d hurry to t’yard an’ hide behind t’wall. Maybe I’d hear ’im speak to priest. But he was out near as soon as he was in.”
“And where did he then go?”
“Back to town, same way as he come. Only thing is, I think t’sack was empty. Wasn’t enough light to see well, But t’sack is light-colored, like, so if there’s a lump in the bottom a man can see.”
“So on his way to the chapel Thomas carried a sack with something in it, but ’twas empty when he went to his home?”
