[Norman Conquest 01] Wolves in Armour (37 page)

Alan discussed with Brother Eadward the arrangement he had with Brother Leanian, the librarian at St Botolph’s Priory at Colchester, and showed him the parchment that comprised the inventory of the library at Colchester, which Brother Eadward promised to have copied and returned to him next day. Although the priory held no copies of Hippocrates’ Corpus, it did hold several books on Brother Leanian’s wanted list and Brother Eadward undertook to correspond with Colchester to arrange a suitable exchange.

Part of the priory’s income came from copying books and one of its main stock items was a series of Bibles of varying degrees of workmanship. Alan arranged to purchase an illuminated and well-written English copy of the Bible to take with him at the end of the week in return for a payment of thirty shillings, and which he intended to give to the parish at Thorrington as his penance.

The priory bells were ringing the mid-afternoon service of Nones as Alan, feeling happy with the various outcomes of the day, arrived back at Carr Street.

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Wednesday was the day of the monthly Horse Market at Ipswich, held on the Common to the south-west of the city. Alan had to insist to Anne that she join him, as she was still quite annoyed with him at his choosing the new parish priest without involving her in the discussions. She wasn’t concerned about the qualities of Brother Wacian, nor did she disagree with Alan that no priest could be much worse that Brother Godwine, but it was a matter of principal and she was not pleased with her betrothed.

They arrived quite early as the priory bells were ringing for Prime, the official starting time for the market. A small tent had been set up for the official who collected fees from the sellers and a larger marquee where a local brewer was setting up a refreshment stall with tables and chairs. There were only a few hawkers about as the Horse Market tended to be a business event, not one that attracted crowds for amusement.

“Now the first thing you must learn at a horse market is to look down when you are walking,” said Alan, only half in jest as the Common was already receiving fertiliser from the horses. Being an English market there were no destriers for sale, and few enough horses big and swift enough to qualify for the name ‘chargers’. Most were rounceys, the multi-purpose horse, or draught horses.

Alan examined the horses closely, there being perhaps 100 on offer that day, and pointed out to Anne the various traits that made a good riding horse or a pack horse. He paid particular attention in teaching her what made a good war-horse, most of the traits of which were completely at odds with what made a good comfortable riding horse. “Strength and good form with good body shape. Able to carry a man and forty pounds of armour and march all day, and charge repeatedly after that. Spirit and intelligence. It has to be taught to ignore the noise and distraction of battle. Some nastiness of temperament is good too- just look at Odin- but enough tractability that a good rider can control it.”

“Stallion, mare or gelding?” asked Anne, interested despite herself, and knowing that someday she may need to buy warhorses on behalf of the manor.

“Generally it doesn’t matter too much. I’d probably prefer to use stallions or geldings on campaign, as mares tend to cause distraction in the early springtime when they’re on heat. Mares can be just as evil-tempered as stallions,” concluded Alan with a sideward look at Anne, who gave him in return a brief look of part amusement and part annoyance to show that she had understood the insinuation.

In the end they chose eleven horses, Alan insisting with several that Anne make the choice, although he steered her with his body language and a few comments. Each horse was carefully examined from teeth to hooves. Only horses fully adult, at least three years old, were of interest. After inspection each was first led by the vendor while Alan and Anne watched, and then ridden by Alan along the track by the river that had been left vacant for that purpose. All the animals selected were large, strong, quick, intelligent and moved easily- although most were barely large enough to qualify for the name ‘charger’. Six were mares that Alan intended to add to the breeding program at the stud at Ramsey.

Buying eleven horses takes time and it was after Nones by the time they had finished. After paying the earnest-money deposit for each horse they arrived back at Carr Street tired and smelly, for despite Alan’s warning they hadn’t always watched where they were putting their feet. Orvin arrived soon afterwards, while they were still dressing after bathing, and took them out to visit another Jewish usurer named Aaron. Like Solomon Aaron also had business in Colchester and they made financial arrangements with him for when further money became available. Both Orvin and Aaron provided the names of several trustworthy usurers in London and Aaron wrote out a letter of introduction in Hebrew.

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Early on Friday Alan sent a messenger to the castle seeking an afternoon appointment to see Roger Bigod, the Shire Sheriff, who Alan knew to be in the city. Orvin’s contacts and scribe had performed as hoped, and when Alan walked into the castle’s Hall accompanied by Orvin’s scribe Cynefrid he carried six rolled-up depositions of complaint.

Roger Bigod was about ten years older than Alan and had been a quite undistinguished knight in Normandy before the invasion. Afterwards William had granted him land in Suffolk and appointed him its sheriff. Both men were of similar status, both tenants-in-chief holding directly from the king but both with relatively modest estates. Alan was a member of the King’s Council and Roger was not, but as sheriff he also had the ear of the king. Of stocky build and with short dark hair he rose and clasped arms with Alan as he entered and offered him a cup of watered wine.

On being introduced to Cynefrid he asked if he needed his own scribe present and Alan suggested that it would be a good idea. Roger roared out to the guard standing on the other side of the closed door of the office “Send for Jocelin!” and chatted amiably until the clerk arrived. “Now what’s this all about?” he demanded. “You’re a fair way out of your own lands here.”

“We are both officers of the king here in East Anglia,” said Alan with slight exaggeration. “You know that King William has decreed that all Englishmen, and that includes those Normans and French living in England at the time of Hastings, have to pay to redeem their land.”

Roger nodded abruptly and said, “And I understand that you spoke against that.”

Alan made an acquiescing motion with his right hand and said, “True, but that’s of no matter. The king made his decree and it is law and we’re all required to uphold that. King William of course left these shores in March, leaving the governance of the land to his relatives William fitzOsbern and Odo of Bayeux. The Relief is, along with the quarterly collection of the geld, currently the most important financial activity in the kingdom. Collection of the geld is in the hands of the sheriffs such as yourself. You all have to account for each penny collected.

“As to the Heriot Relief, here in East Anglia responsibility to administer the charge lies with Earl Ralph the Staller, William the Bishop of London and Engelric the former Royal Priest. As it requires no fixed amount and gives some discretion, the Relief is open to abuse. I have heard many stories of sharp practice and abuse either by those three officers or their servants and I’ve recently started to investigate the accuracy of these stories in Essex. I have been here in Ipswich since Saturday, in that time I have been sought out and presented with six depositions detailing threats, extortionate Relief demands, demands for immediate payment or immediate forfeiture of land. In one case there was a demand that a comely daughter of a wealthy man must marry a particular Norman knight or the father will not be offered Relief of his land. I understand that the marriage is due a week tomorrow and that the maid, who is thirteen, does not consent but is being made to wed against her will.

“These are no doubt just a few of many instances of abuse in East Anglia. King William has ordered the Relief, but these abuses will not be tolerable to him or any moral-minded man such as yourself. It appears that fitzOsbern and Odo are too busy with the problems in their own areas of responsibility to keep a proper eye on the situation and that these three royal officers are either involved in the abuse or are incompetent in their supervision of their minions. The sheriffs are responsible for the maintenance of the law in their shires, so it’s not open for them to say that responsibility lies elsewhere.”

“You have spoken to fitzWymarc about this?” demanded Bigod.

“Not as yet. As you said, I’m out of my jurisdiction here, on personal business. I wished to raise the matter with you privately before it’s raised officially, so you can take such action as you think fit. I suggest that forbidding the marriage referred to in the deposition with the red ribbon would be a good start. Raising the other issues with the officers referred to in the depositions would be sensible and protect your own position. I do, of course, have attested copies of the depositions. You may like to pass the word around the shire that you would be prepared to accept and investigate further depositions.”

“You intend to make an issue of this with the king and the Council? Why? You won’t make yourself any friends amongst the people who count, including the king,” queried Bigod.

“Because it needs to be done and I’m not worried about upsetting those responsible for the Reliefs- or those that they have been involving or bribing. I have no political ambitions.”

Bigod stroked his chin reflectively. He privately conceded the truth of what Alan had said, and indeed had received some benefit himself. However, to do nothing risked losing the important and lucrative position of sheriff. “Jocelin, take the depositions, go through them and give me the details. Alan, I take it you intend to discuss these matters with Bishop William, Earl Ralph and Engelric?” said Bigod.

“Certainly, as soon as I meet with them. I have my own schedule and I don’t intend to run all over three shires chasing them. I’ll probably see them in London in a few months. If you want to advise them of our discussion and my investigations, please feel free. I’ll appoint a food taster and I already have bodyguards! There are six men waiting for me in the guardroom at the moment at escort me to my lodgings. I’m sure that if something happens to me before he returns, King William will not be happy- particularly when he still receives the depositions. I’m sure that all we Officers of the King will all act in the best interests of the king and the kingdom.”

Back at Carr Street Alan advised Orvin and the others the gist of what had been discussed and made arrangements to leave the following morning, with four guards staying at Orvin’s house for the night.

“I’m so proud of you, doing something to help the English thegns,” said Anne softly as they lay in bed that night.

“I just hope that we don’t both come to regret it,” said Alan feeling a little despondent.

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Next morning, Saturday 16th June, accompanied by Brother Wacian, they rode out of the city as soon as the gates opened at dawn, Alan and each of the escort was wearing full armour, helmets placed on the saddle pommels, and most of the men were leading either the pack-horses or the newly purchased horses. Brother Wacian had met them at the gate, looked surprised at Anne’s riding attire and gratefully accepting the offer of the use of one of the horses. Alan and Anne rode at the head of the group as usual, but this time with their saddlebags filled with silver. When they were a dozen miles out of Ipswich Alan ordered a halt and allowed his men to remove their heavy armour. While they did so the horses cropped the grass, Odin standing close to Anne’s palfrey Misty and nuzzling her shoulder occasionally.

It was only when they crossed the River Stour and rode into Manningtree and Tendring Hundred that Alan felt safe. The weather had changed around mid-day, becoming cooler and overcast, before light showers set in and caused the riders to pause and rummage through their baggage for their cloaks to keep the rain off. Alan checked the oiled canvas covering on the parchments and books to ensure they were being kept safe and dry. They arrived at Thorrington in the mid-afternoon, to a tumultuous reception by Anne’s hounds and a genuinely warm welcome from the servants.

Alan introduced Brother Wacian to Osmund and Faran. Deciding that there was no use in delaying unpleasant matters he summoned Brother Godwine, advised him of the immediate termination of his benefice as rector of Thorrington Parish, paid him a month’s salary and asked him and his mistress to vacate the rectory within the week.

Brother Godwine was stunned, demanding to know the reason for his dismissal and was clearly disbelieving when Alan replied, “Because you are neither fit nor capable of dealing with the spiritual needs of the community. You’re too busy looking after your own interests and just too damn lazy.” It was telling that, so self-absorbed was Brother Godwine in his sudden fall from grace, that he never asked who was to conduct the Mass due be heard the following day. When Brother Godwine departed from the Hall he was still declaiming loudly that he had performed his duties well, bemoaning his fate and asking what would be his future.