Free Hugh Corbett 17 - The Mysterium by Paul Doherty Page B

Ippegrave. I knew him by sight. He lived in the parish with his sister Adelicia. I am sure,’ he added drily, ‘we shall discuss her shortly. She was a close friend of mine. No, Sir Hugh, I mean close friend, a member of my parish council. I knew her brother to be a royal clerk who attended Mass in the chapels at Westminster. On the few occasions I had met him, he’d proved courteous enough. I asked him what crime he had committed, and he said none. I enquired what he was accused of. He refused to say but pleaded for me to send urgent messages to his sister. I said I would. He was in a most agitated state. He carried a knife, and according to the law of sanctuary he had to surrender this to me. I took it and left the church. Evesham searched me from head to toe. I argued that I was a cleric. He replied that so was he, whilst treason and murder were no defence. He took the knife and asked what other belongings Ippegrave held. I lied; I said nothing, except his clothes and cloak.’
    ‘You lied?’
    ‘I glimpsed an inkwell and quill fastened to his belt. You know the sort clerks carry?’
    Corbett nodded.
    ‘Evesham waxed hot and furious. Already the doors were closely guarded; even the graveyard, God’s own acre, was cleared of children and beggars. He made me swear again by the sacrament to tell him everything Ippegrave had said. I told him. He insisted I send no message to Adelicia. I replied that I certainly would and that I’d also bring food. I sent the message but Adelicia was turned away. I remonstrated, but Evesham drove me off with threats. The food I took was examined. Evesham insisted on following me up under the rood screen to watch me hand it over. I also supplied a jakes pot. When I collected that, Evesham made me carry it through the church door and hand it over to one of his guards for disposal on the compost heap. After it was returned, he followed me when I went back into the church to place it in the sanctuary. All this happened during the afternoon and late evening of the first day. As darkness fell, a knight banneret with men-at-arms arrived.’
    ‘Who?’
    ‘You know him, Sir Hugh, one of the King’s battle boys, Sir Ralph Sandewic, now Constable of the Tower. He must have brought at least a hundred men. Four camps ringed the church, each guarding a door. In the morning, Adelicia returned. By then Evesham’s wrath had cooled. He demanded what proof she had that she was Ippegrave’s sister. What token could she give? She handed over a jasper ring, a gift from her mother. Evesham took it and said he would think about it. Sir Hugh, I’ve never seen a man so insistent, so ruthless in the hunt. He was determined that Ippegrave would not escape. I heard him chatter to Sandewic about the coming trial. By then Boniface’s coffers both at his lodgings and in Westminster had been searched. Evesham went into the church to remonstrate.’
    Brother Cuthbert fell silent, eyes blinking.
    ‘Tell me what happened.’
    ‘From what I can remember, Evesham maintained that a great deal of gold was found in Ippegrave’s coffers. More importantly, certain scraps of parchment connected with the Mysterium had been discovered. He said it was enough to indict Boniface.’
    ‘And the fugitive?’
    ‘He protested his innocence.’ Brother Cuthbert spread his hands. ‘And then it happened. On the morning of the third day, I took some food in through the corpse door. Evesham followed. I walked under the rood screen into the sanctuary. The recess at the far end beyond the high altar was empty. In my terror I dropped the tray. Evesham was beside himself. He issued strict instructions that all doors remain guarded whilst he, Engleat, Sandewic and their retinues scoured my church. Every nook and cranny, each flagstone was scrutinised, every chair, hanging, statue, altar . . . nothing! Boniface had disappeared like candle smoke, no trace, no sign. Evesham became a man at war, furious against everyone and everything. He