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Professor Bernard Knight was born in Cardiff in 1931, and first got work as a lab technician at Cardiff Royal Infirmary. He then studied medicine at the University of Wales, and graduated in 1954 with a BSc and Bachelor of Surgey. As part of his National Service, he was in the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1956 to 1959, specialising in pathology, and ending with the rank of captain. ( He remained with the Army Reserves until 1964 ). He lectured in forensic medicine at the University of London from 1959 to 1962, at Newcastle to 1968, and then returned to the University of Wales, ending up as Professor of Forensic Pathology in 1980. After a most distinguished career he retired in 1996, but remaining an emiritus professor at the University.
Bernard Knight served as a Home Office pathologist from 1965 to 1996, and conducted over 25,000 autopsies over these 31 years - including working on some high profile cases and the first use of DNA to confirm the identity of a body. He has been an author since 1963 - a crime novel - and has written over 30 books of varied genres - crime fiction, historical novels about Wales, medico- legal textbooks, scripts for radio and television, and has edited several learned medical journals. He also wrote under the pseudonym of Bernard Picton. As I said, a most distinguished career, and he was awarded a CBE in 1993. His historical 12th Century Crowner (Coroner) John books were written from 1998 to 2012 about the life of one of the earliest fictional coroners in England.
I started reading the Crowner John series in January, 2021.
When I started to read "The Sanctuary Seeker" I soon realised that we had not just the usual twin features of a book series - the ongoing private lives of the main characters, and a crime or mystery to solve - but also a stunning addition, an introduction to a time and place very, very different from our current 20th and 21st centuries. This is England in the 12th century, 130 odd years after the Norman Conquests, the time of Richard I, the Lionheart, of the Crusades, ( and of the fictional Robin Hood). And so I thought, instead of multiple book by book explanations, I would set the background scene at the start - and then refer back to this opening.
In the 12th Century, the Kings of England were essentially Norman, or French rulers with other crowns and with vast estates in Normandy. King Henry II, Henry Plantagenet, the old King Henry, was married to Queen Eleanor, and reigned from 1133 to 1189. Of their 8 children, 3 girls and 5 boys, two of the boys concern us here, Richard (born 1157) and his younger brother John. In 1189 Richard feared his younger brother John was to get the throne, and so Richard and Philip of France defeated old king Henry in battle in 1189. The old King died soon after, and Richard I, Richard Lionheart became King, 1189 to to his death in 1199. Richard seemed to prefer Normandy to England, and was seldom in the country. Away fighting the Third Crusade 1191 to 1192, his ship was wrecked on the return journey, and he was captured and held to a ransom of 150,000 marks ( a mark was about 2/3 rds of a pound). The loans to pay this had to be repaid, and so all sorts of taxes had to be levied. In 1176 old King Henry had set up a General Eyre, a meeting of judges, despatching justices to visit each county to impose law and order of a fashion, and to ensure tax gathering was not too leaky. Under this system, Richard appointed Crowners or coroners to be the kings representive in each county - to record and administer all matters legal, and check that fines actually reached the kings purses. Devon was to have 3 coroners but only two were appointed, and one died, leaving just Crowner John, our hero - a former Crusading Knight, Sir John de Wolfe. To complete the history lesson, John raised a rebellion against Richard's representitives, when Richard was away on a Crusade. Richard returned in 1194, and defeated John, but inexplicably pardoned him - "he is only a boy and doesn't know what he is doing" (he was 27 !). But the country was divided between supporters of John and those of Richard. Richard died in 1199, and John finally became King - 1199 to 1216. The Sheriff of Devon, Richard de Revelle, Crowner John's brother-in-law, had been a John supporter, whilst Crowner John was a fellow Crusader and a fervent Richard supporter. This explains much of the constant antagonism between the Sheriff and Crowner John.
Although Exeter was a large town with a population of 5,000, England was a very rural country with remote villages lead by a reeve, their headman. Travel was difficult, and few left the village in their lives. When a dead body was found, the reeve had lots of onerous duties to perform, eg raise "hue and cry" to look for any villains, notify the authorities - easier said than done, etc. By law any dead body was presumed to be that of a Norman, unless it could be proved that he was an Englishman. This then meant an amercement or fine on the village, typically of 10 marks. So it was better just to dump the body elsewhere. The fine was not paid until judgement by the King's Justices, when next they visited the area. There were lots of various courts, reeves's ones, manorial, mayorial, shire ones, Sheriff's etc, and miscreants including children as young as 12 could be hanged for what now seem trivial amounts - eg theft of an item over 12d in value. Some were to be jailed awaiting judgement by the King's Justices, but it cost the townsfolk half a penny per day to feed a prisoner, so many were allowed to escape, and the forests were full of robbers - never travel at night.
The church had great power and influence, it's own courts, and civil courts had no authority over church lands. Richard the Lionheart was abroad, and had left Archbishop Hubert Walter in charge. It was possible to claim sanctuary from the law when on church land, but this only gave 40 days protection, before either being handed over to the authorities, or opting to abjure - confess fully, leave penniless, and quit the country never to return during Richard's reign. In Exeter time in the Cathedral was measured by graduated candles or sand glasses, and the Cathedral bells rung to mark the hour. Inns were wonderful welcoming warm and dry places where a straw bed for the night could be had for 1d. Crowner John's clerk's wages were 4d per week. Public hangings were great and popular spectacles held in Exeter every Tuesday and Friday. Goods were then forfeited to the Crown. There is a smell of garbage everywhere.
The coroner system was new, and it was not clear where the exact split was between the older system county sheriff and the new coroner. The coroner was a check on the corruption of sheriffs, but also had to raise as much tax as possible towards King Richard's ransom. The coroner had the right and duty to attend all non ecclesiastical courts to record fines, etc, and so ensure they found their way to the King. The sheriff would usually try to grab what he could. To be a coroner you had to be a man of wealth (wealth = £20) and so few could apply. Crowner John, as a brave soldier who fought in the Crusades with the king, was well regarded in the country, but the sheriff had more influence in the county. Crowner John's appointment to King's coroner for Devon gave him a position and standing and so too to his social climbing wife. She had expected his coroner title to be a sinecure, but Crowner John took his duties very seriously and worked long hours. This did not endear himself to his wife, nor to her brother the sheriff. Crowner John is fictional but most of the main characters existed in history and the author has done extensive research. The gatehouse of Rougemount Castle in Exeter where Crowner John had an office can still be visited today.
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I read this book in January, 2021.
This is book one in Bernard Knight's Crowner John series, set in the England of 1194 to 1196. To save later repetitions I have written a fuller Background Notes section. Here, I will just deal with the main crime or mystery to be solved, and the background private lives of the main characters.
The book opens with Sir John de Wolfe,(40) Crowner John of Devon, on a miserable, rainsoaked horseback journey across Dartmoor. He has two companions - his bodyguard, a giant Cornishman Gwyn of Polruan, a fellow Crusader they had fought many a battle together, and his clerk, Thomas de Peyne, a pox marked, hunchback, defrocked cleric who recorded the proceedings in English for the lower courts, but in latin for the King's Justices Court. Most people were illiterate except the clergy. John too is illiterate, but is getting lessons from a deacon at the Cathedral. Thomas had misread the situation when instructing a 14 year old student. She screamed rape, and he was defrocked. Thomas was an excellent clerk, but nobody liked him, and Gwyn teased him constantly - in fact such was his misery that Thomas contemplated suicide, but still devout, he could not commit such a sin. John is married to Matilda - it was a sort of arranged marriage between the de Wolfe and socially superior de Revelle families. It's now a childless, loveless marriage. John and Matilda row incessantly. Matilda has a french maid, Lucille, and John a kitchen maid, Mary who sees to his needs - they have even slept together a couple of times. John has a loving and clever mistress in Nesta, (28) the widow inheriter of the Bush Inn. John openly stays some nights with Nesta at the Bush. He has thought of divorcing his nagging wife Matilda, but it would cause too much ill feeling and revenge seeking. Matilda openly despises John, but likes her postion as wife of the Devon Coroner. John's dog is called Brutus, and his horse Brun. Matilda's brother is Richard de Revelle, the sheriff, who steals the King's fines and hangs people to save bother and prisoner upkeep expenses.
Crowner John and companions are on their way to Widecombe where a body has been found. It seems to be that of an ex Crusader who was ambushed and stabbed in the dark. We later learn he is Hubert de Bonneville, back from abroad. His old father Lord Arnalph de Bonneville has great influence and friends in high places but is dying. Hubert's brother Gervaise runs the estate with his steward Baldwyn. There is also a younger brother Martyn. The dead body of Hubert's squire is later found, and the mystery is initially who were the dead Normans, and then who killed them - had they been only Saxon Englishmen their deaths would have been of less consequence - and then how can the murderers be punished. The story now unfolds, with much antagonism between John and the sheriff and a lot of politics and church interference and influence to be overcome. John can only do so much. They find an ex soldier Fitzhai who identifies Hubert - but the sheriff says Fitzhai is a suspect who must undergo trial by ordeal. He has to plunge his bare arm up to the shoulder in a cauldron of boiling water to retreive a stone at the foot, and bravely, innocent Fitzhai does this rather than be hanged. Against all the odds, John finds the murderer and sets up a trial, but after the sheriff dismisses the case it's Nesta who finds better evidence. The murderer later escapes, and claims sanctuary. It all then builds to a great climax, and we learn what it means to abjure. At the end John shows a little of his softer side and a sort of justice emerges - it appears most unlikely that the murderer will ever make it abroad safely.
I liked the story, and the main characters, and especially the 1194 setting. These were cruel times when life was difficult, harsh and cheap. There is a harrowing account of the mechanics of a double hanging where one to be hanged is a young boy. His agonising father has to run from the crowd to tug downwards on his son's twitching body to lessen his suffering. All in all, a good authentic seeming depiction of the times. It's got the makings of an interesting series.
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I read this book in March, 2021.
This is book two in Bernard Knight's Crowner John historical crime fiction series. It is England and it's 1194, some six weeks after the events of book one. To save repetitions I have written a fuller Background Notes section - a sort of mini history lesson. Crowner or Coroner Sir John de Wolfe is the King's law officer for Devon and responsible for investigating serious crimes, doing inquests, setting fines, and keeping records, ensuring the Kings's money raising taxes and fees do find their way to the King. The country is overtaxed, and poverty stalks the land. King Richard is never in England, and in 1194 he is in France, and not expected to return. Money has to be raised to pay for Richards's campaigns - the Crusades, loans to pay a ransom to free a captured Richard, the Irish Wars, and more fighting in France to try to recover territory lost by Richard's useless brother John when he tried to sieze the throne in Richard's absence. Now there is also a split in the country between John's supporters, and those who remained loyal to Richard.
Crowner John lives in Exeter with his wife Matilda (they married 16 years ago), a housekeeper Mary and Matilda's french maid Lucille. John and Matilda do not get on, but it is mutually convenient for them to say together. As was often the case it had been an arranged but loveless marriage to unite two families, and again as was very common John very openly sought comfort from a mistress - Nesta (28), who ran the Bush Tavern in Exeter. Everyone knows of Nesta, but few know of John's other mistress, Hilda in Dawlish. John has a giant of a bodyguard in the Cornishman Gwyn of Polruan, and a deposed cleric Thomas de Peyne as clerk. John's brother-in-law is the local sheriff Richard de Revelle and this presents a problem. The sheriff supported John, Crowner John was loyal to Richard. More seriously there are ongoing demarcation problems between the sheriff and the Coroner - who is responsible for enforcing what ? All powerful Hubert Walter, the Kings representitive in England, Justiciar and Archbishop of Canterbury is visiting Exeter at the end of the week to give a demarcation ruling. Unfortunately, the problems will persist.
It's a long story with lots of separate threads. I like symmetry in a book, and the big story both opens and closes with a shipwreck. Actually it opens with a prologue - someone called Adele is having secret sex with some unknown man. Three bodies have been discovered on the sea shore near the village of Paignton, and the sheriff asks John to deal with this. The information came from a hermit monk Wulfstan who lives in a cave near Paignton - now known as Kents Cavern. It turns out that the local villagers had killed some shipwreck survivors, and plundered their cargo - such cargo should be restored to the owner, or become Crown property. The head reeve of the village, Aelfric is arrested and eventually tried and jailed and the village fined 100 marks / about £66. The owner of the ship - Mary of the Seas - was Joseph of Topsham, and its cargo was wine for the wine merchant Eric Picot. As was very common, local priests enjoyed a good income from church lands (pensions), were absentee and lived near the cathedral, and appointed a junior priest (vicar) to do their duties. The Paignton village vicar was an alcoholic who lived in a hovel, but it was the clerk Thomas who had discovered the vicar drank plentiful french wine hidden in some church outbuildings. We now set up some other stories. Eric Picot is having an affair with Mabel, the wife of Crowner John's neighbour, the silversmith Godfrey Fitzobern. Joseph is the father of Edgar(21), apprentice to the leech / apothecary Nicholas in Exeter. Edgar, in turn, is engaged to beautiful 17 year old Christina Rifford, daughter of an Exeter portreeve.
Christina, unwisely, goes out by herself one evening to collect a silver gift given to her by Edgar, but is made to feel very uncomfortable at the silversmith's shop by Fitzobern, and his two leering workers Alfred and Garth. Christina is later attacked and raped - she was attacked from behind and cannot identify the rapist. Fitzobern, Alfred and Garth are obvious suspects and the sheriff is all for arresting Alfred and Garth, and questioning them. Questioning in those days meant torture and usually got a forced confession. Crowner John prefers to get the correct man. It is Nesta who tells John of Fitzobern's reputation as a ladies man - he is a more likely suspect. Again at Nesta's suggestion, John had called in a local nun, Dame Madge of Parsloe priory to see to poor Christina. Dame Madge is called in again later when the dead body of a woman of wealth is found - it's Adele of the prologue. John needs to know if this is a second rape. Dame Madge tells John that Adele was 5 months pregnant, and had died in an unsuccessful abortion attempt. Adele, the daughter of Roger de Courcey, had been engaged to Hugh Ferrars, son of a man of great local prominence, Lord Guy Ferrars. Hugh for Adele, and Edgar for Christina, want revenge and honour to be satisfied - and go after Fitzobern.
The story now really takes off. Fitzobern is attacked, and later on poisoned - but he survives, for now. A local witch like creature, Bearded Lucy, is questioned by Gwyn. She had been contacted by Adele reference the abortion, but had eventually redirected Adele elsewhere. Adele and Christina were not attacked by the same person. There is a sort of justice meted out in the end with a dying confession to John's clerk Thomas, and a murderer trying to escape on a boat to France (owned by Joseph of Topsham) but said boat was probably shipwrecked in a deadful storm that same night. We don't know if Edgar and Christina ever got together again.
I though it was a well told, well structured story, and a good evocation of life in 1194. We learn all sorts of things - no windows in Exeter have glass in them, and their linen covering and shutters fail to keep out the cold winds. There is no running water - if you are rich you have a garden with a well, or buy water from the water sellers. Dirt and poverty are everywhere and the smells ! As an aside too, Crowner John had managed to visit his family home / estate near Stoke-in Teignhead, run by his brother William - his 63 year old mother Elyd lives there, and John's younger sister Evelyn. In short, I find it all makes for a very interesting series.
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I read this book in November, 2021.
This is book three in Bernard Knight's Crowner John historical crime fiction series. It is England and it's 1195. To save repeating myself, I wrote a fuller Background Notes section - a sort of mini history catch up. Let's start by listing the main characters in this story. Crowner John, John de Wolfe (40), King's coroner for all Devon, lives in Martin's Lane in Exeter in a loveless marriage with his wife Matilda (46). Mary is the household maid, Lucille is Matilda's French maid, and old Simon is the house labourer. John has two coroner's helpers, giant Gwyn of Poltruan, a fellow Crusader and best friend, and Thomas, a derobed ex priest, their clerk - very able, but undervalued. At Exeter's Rougemont Castle, Richard de Revelle is the local sheriff, and is also John's brother-in-law. There is no love lost between Richard and John. Matilda barely speaks to John, and so he usually finds comfort with his mistress, Nesta who runs the Bush Inn. He sees less of another mistress further away in Dawlish - Hilda (32), married to Thorgils the boatman(60). John has known Hilda since she was a child.
John is fiercely loyal to his king, Richard the Lionheart, for and with whom he and Gwyn fought on many a Crusade. But why this loyalty - Richard does not speak English, is never in England, prefers Normandy, and over and unfairly milks England dry with taxes to pay for his constant foreign wars. There had also been a massive ransom paid for Richard's release from captivity which bankrupted England. Many would prefer Richard's brother John to be King of England, for the above reasons, but also for hopes of their personal advancement. The sheriff is a weak man who mostly wants to be on the winning side. He more than "sort of" supports John - another source of the ongong antagonism between Richard de Revelle and Crowner John.
There are three main interwoven plots in this story. The first is a land dispute between two local knights, Henry de la Pomeroy of Berry Pomeroy Castle, and his neighbour William Fitzhamon. (Henry supports John, William is loyal to Richard). The second plot concerns buried Saxon treasure and the murder of an Exeter canon Robert de Hane whose studies of dusty manuscripts had first revealed such treasure. The third and main plot is the growing threat of rebellion against Richard the Lionheart. This is lead in Devon by Henry de la Pomeroy, Henri Nonant of Totnes Castle, and Bernard Cheever - all friends of Sheriff Richard de Revelle.
The story opens the land dispute with a prologue where 20 acres of forest have been cleared to increase Henry de la Pomeroy's land. The felling party are driven off by cudgell bearing outlaws, who later will be attacked by sword bearing mercenaries in an escalation of the dispute. We next switch to a grand feast and party (it's Christmas Eve) being thrown in Martin's Lane by Crowner John, and his wife is for once delighted as everyone is there - the Archdeacon, Sheriff Richard and his wife Eleanor, porte reeves, etc, etc - and Matilda is the centre of attraction. The party is in full swing when Gwyn appears at the door, and talks to John. A canon at the cathedral has been found hanged. John and the Archdeacon rush off, leaving Matilda fuming - and she vents her ire on John for most of the rest of this story. The canon is Robert de Bane. It looks like suicide but John discovers that the canon was garrotted first, and then strung up. Cue another argument between the Sheriff (it's suicide) and John (it's murder). The plot then unfolds, parchments discovered by the studious canon suggested buried treasure - and the murder was part of torture to make him reveal where the treasure is buried. The treasure was that of Saewolf, a Saxon lord who knew he could not save his land from the invading Normans, but wanted to pass on some of his wealth to any family survivors if possible, or failing that to the church - he told his local priest where the treasure was buried, and the priest's notes were later stored at the cathedral, and rediscovered by the murdered canon. The murderers were two mercenaries hired by Henry de la Pomeroy - De Braose and his squire Fulford, who were usually accompanied by a beautiful lady of possible ill repute, Rosamunde of Rye.
The land dispute leads to another murder disguised as a hunting accident this time. William Fitzhamon has been killed leaving a young son - who is later championed by a foolhardy John is a thrilling trial by combat, where John jousts against De Braose - and it's foolish because John is now an ancient Crusader, and De Braose is a 25 year old fit and strong joust knight. There are more Crowner John books, so it is hardly a spoiler to reveal that John survives, but it's more by luck than anything else, and his trusty old warrior horse Bran does not. It's part of the good climax, and it's handled well.
As part of the murder investigations, John and Gwyn discover a growing rebellion that they and loyal supporters of the King must squash. The Sheriff is part of the rebellion and the Richard v. John contest explodes into threats of mutual hangings. In vain, the sheriff tries to get John to switch to support the rebellion, threatening that he will destroy John if he refuses. And so, Richard de Revelle tells his sister of John's other mistress Hilda, and his wife Matilda leaves John. As another ploy John is set up with a staged rape accusation by Rosamunde of Rye - she rips off her clothes, calls for help, and De Braose and Fulford and two others rush in to capture John. Again the Sheriff tells John to join the rebellion and all this will go away, but he refuses and is thrown in jail to be tried and probably hanged by the sheriff. But John tells the Sheriff he will regret hanging the King's coroner, and the Sheriff, realising he has got himself into a serious predicament, just wants a way out. Do read the story to see how it all unfolds, and the surprising part that Matilda plays.
The buried treasure is found, thanks to outstanding research work by poor maligned Thomas, and somehow Crowner John will live on into another story. It's all well written, but sometimes I struggle to follow who's who, with all the strange sounding names. All in all, though, the author has stunningly succeeded in transporting us to another time and place, England in 1195. Well done, Bernard Knight !
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I read this book in April, 2022.
This is book four in the historical fiction Crowner John series, set in Devon and the year is 1195, in the reign of Richard the Lionheart. Let's reintroduce the main characters. John De Wolfe (40), King's Coroner of all Devon, is married to Matilda (46), and they live in Martin's Lane in Exeter with three servants - Mary, who cooks John's meals, Old Simon, the yard servant, and Lucille, Matilda's personal servant. Brutus is the dog. John has two coroner assistants, giant and friend Gwyn of Poltruan - they fought in the Crusades together - and Thomas, a disgraced cleric, who is their clerk. Richard de Grenville, the local sheriff, is John's brother-in-law, and sits at Rougemont Castle, where Gabriel is Sergeant of the Guard. Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury is the Chief Justiciar of all England, i.e. in charge in the king's absence. John is in a loveless, somewhat arranged marriage but has several mistresses, the main one being Nesta who runs the Bush Tavern in Exeter. Old Edwin is the pot man there. John has a brother William, and a sister Evelyn and together they jointly own a manor family home in Stoke-in-Teignhead. His mum, Enyd lives there too.
We open the book with John almost recovered from a nasty accident when he broke his leg some three months ago, and lost his faithful horse Brun. He now rides Odin. Although Matilda and John don't get on, Matilda surprised him by being a good and attentive nurse, and his leg is now just about fully mended. He is fretting about being unable to get out to attend to his coroner's duties and anxious to get back to work. There are two main plots, and both are now introduced. Plot one :- Word comes in about a dead seaman, washed ashore near Ilfracombe in North Devon. This suggests either mutiny or piracy to John, and so De Wolfe, Gwyn and Thomas set off for Ilfracombe - i.e. plot one, piracy. Plot two :- As he hobbles about Exeter, John is aware of an elusive stranger, a face in the crowd, watching him, but somehow the face seems familiar. The stranger is eventually caught by Gwyn, and turns out also to have fought in the Crusades. He is Gilbert de Ridefort, ex Knight of the Temple, ex warrior monk, ex Templar. Gilbert says he and a friend (also an ex Templar), Bernardus de Blanchefort have discovered an "awful secret" being kept hidden by the Templars which, if revealed, will shake the foundations of Christianity and western civilisation. Gilbert and Bernardus propose to reveal this secret, but as the Templars are determined to prevent this, their lives are in grave danger. Gilbert asks John to hide him until Bernardus arrives, and help them to escape to Wales or Ireland where they can consider how and where best to reveal their secret. Gilbert is not really an old friend, but as he was a fellow soldier in the Crusades, and Richard the Lionheart likes the Templars, John is minded to help.
A high ranking papal nuncio, Cosimo of Medina, arrives in Exeter, accompanied by three warrior Templar Knights - Brian de Falaise, Godfrey Capra, and Roland de Ver. They say they are there to buy land, but John thinks they are really tracking Gilbert. He hides Gilbert at the Bush, and then at another tavern, and finally at his manor home in Stoke-in-Teignhead which is certainly remote. Alas, days later, John hears that Gilbert is dead, with unusual wounds on his body. He tries to interview Cosimo, but he claims he is a top papal enuncio from Rome, with papers that give him what we would now call diplomatic immunity. John is incensed, and asks if this is to do with the awful Templar secret. The Templars now turn their attention on John as they continue to search for Bernardus. Where John goes so the Templars will go too.
The piracy story also unfolds. As well as a dead seaman washed ashore, there was a survivor of the wreck of the "Saint Isan" - Alain, a Breton. He says they were attacked by English speaking pirates in sleek vessels with double banks of oars. What is recovered from a shipwreck is Crown property, and so John determines to press on, do his duty, and search out the pirates. First he goes to Appledore but no luck there. Next he persuades the sheriff to lead a party of soldiers to Lundy Island off the North Devon coast, a known nestbed of piracy under their leader De Marisco. By co-incidence the old king in gratitude had granted the Templars ownership of Lundy Island, but they had never been able to take possession, repelled by De Marisco. The three Templar knights join the expedition to Lundy, claiming legitimate interest, but really to shadow John whom they think is now hiding Bernardus de Blanchefort (and they are right !). Two attempts are made to land on Lundy, the first repelled by a deadly trebuchet (catapult) on high cliffs overlooking the landing beach. Eventually John and Gwyn land on Lundy, talk to De Marisco, and accept that the Lundy pirates were not involved in this particular attack - ie that on the "Saint Isan". Much later pirates are found at Lynton and Lynmouth, killed or arrested, or some found hiding in a church, are allowed to claim sunctuary, and flee the country, never to return (but usually they did drift back after a few years).
There is a surprise at the end when John's trick to get Bernardus out of the country rebounds on himself when Bernardus makes an unexpected confession, but there is an even greater final surprise when evil gets it's just deserts. We also learn what the "awful secret" is.
All in all, it's a well written, easily readable story, and it seems to me a good depiction of life in England in 1195, the customs, the superstitions, the hardship, the abject poverty, the power of the church, the casualness of death, etc. Perhap it's a bit specialised and of limited interest, but I enjoyed reading it.
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I read this book in August, 2022.
This is book 5 in the interesting Crowner (Coroner) John series which is set in Devon. It's April, 1195, and as well as getting a good murder mystery we also get a free history lesson. The wealth of England then came from two main sources - tin mining and the wool trade. King Richard desperately needed money to pay for his ransom, and the many wars and Crusades he undertook. In gratitude he gave the tin miners special concessions, such that they they administered their own laws to deal with most matters, but major crimes against life and limb were still subject to the King's law, and enforced by the Sheriff and county coroner. There were three Stannary (tin) towns in South Devon - Ashburton, Tavistock, and Chagford - and this story is set in Chagford and Exeter of course, where the Coroner, Sir John De Wolfe lives. Bernard Knight' research is impressive, and we learn such a lot about tin mining and day to day life in 1195.
The main characters are Crowner John, married to Matilda (an arranged but loveless marriage of two houses the De Wolfes and the De Revelles). John and Matilda live in St Martin's lane in Exeter. Matilda's French maid is Lucille, Mary cooks and washes for John, and Simon is the yard servant. John has a dog Brutus, and a horse Odin. John's fellow ex Crusader bodyguard is the giant Cornishman Gwyn Thomas, and the clerk is Thomas De Peyne, an unfrocked priest. John has an eye for the ladies. His mistress is Nesta who runs the Bush Inn in Idle Lane in Exeter, but he also has a good friend Hilda of Dawlish whom he has known since school days, and there are others.
It is quite a long story, with lots of plots to follow. The main crime is first who killed (and beheaded) Henry of Tunnaford, a miner overman (foreman) in charge of a gang of about a dozen tin miners working tin deposits on the banks of the river Teign; and then who killed the very wealthy mine owner Walter Knapman. Walter (43) was married to Joan (28) - he spoiled her terribly to buy the affection of a younger woman - but it seems Joan was being unfaithful with Stephen Acland, a business rival mine owner. Joan's mother Lucy lived with them. Walter had a twin brother Matthew who handled the tin sales in Exeter, and a stepson Peter Jordan. Corrupt and spineless Sheriff Richard De Revelle is Crowner John's brother in law, and he has also been appointed Stannary warden - he presides over their courts, and sets and collects the tin taxes. The miners are not happy about this and want to appoint their own Warden. Walter Knapman is willing to be warden, and clashes openly with the Sheriff - so when he is killed the Sheriff is one of many suspects. The others including his stepson, his brother Matthew, his wife Joan, and her ambitious brother. There is another suspect - a mad Saxon by the name of Aethelfrith living wild on Dartmoor. He thinks the Normans are plundering Saxon tin, and so he sabotages mining equipment, and disappears. Much later in the book when he is caught by a mob intent on hanging him there and then, we find out that the Normans hanged his innocent son - reason indeed to hate them. The story is well told and certainly reaches a climax.
There are various private lives sub plots, but the main ones concern a depressed Thomas, the clerk, and the John/ Nesta relationship. Everyone makes fun of Thomas, but he was innocent of the Winchester rape charge that got him unfrocked, he is a very pious man, and he longs to return to the priesthood. He lives amongst priests and this emphasises his exclusion. He asks John to help as Coroner, and to ask the Archdeacon to petition church authorities on his behalf. Unfortunately politics intervenes - John and the Archdeacon are staunch King Richard loyalists, but most of the clergy support Prince John. Thomas is driven to commit suicide by jumping off the Cathedral roof, but survives and cheers up when the Archdeacon tells him he has been blessed by a miracle of God.
Not all stories have a happy ending. All through the series John has escaped a nagging wife and into the willing arms and bed of Nesta at The Bush. But now what are we seeing ? John is desperately busy and constantly away from Exeter. Nesta feels neglected and abandoned. When he does turn up Nesta says he can stay that night, but he has coroner business, and the next night, and the next. Fine says Nesta, meaning of course not fine ! When Nesta sees Hilda of Dawlish walking down an Exeter street, she jumps to the wrong conclusion - that this was John's "other business". Nesta has engaged a new assistant Alan of Lyme, and the gossip is that Nesta has found a younger man, even that they are betrothed. John caught them in each other's arms, and stormed out. He recalls the old adage "when your mistress begins to sound like your wife it is time go." But he doesn't really think this. He misses Nesta, cares for her deeply, but is trapped in his marriage. Eventually when he and Nesta sit down together Nesta tells him that although their arrangement has been good for John, what about her future. He will never leave his wife, Nesta should look elsewhere whilst she still has her good looks. At the end of the book I thought there would be happy ending - read the story.
I seem to be suffering from J K Rowling syndrome - I always end up writing more than I entended to. Let me just mention one more subplot. John is the only Coroner for the whole of Devon, but there should be three. It's too much for one man. Matilda and the Sheriff gang up on John and suggest Fitz-Ivo as a second Coroner, for North Devon. John knows Fitz-Ivo to be ignorant, lazy and usually drunk, but reluctantly he agrees that Fitz-Ivo be given a 6 month trial. This all comes back to bite Crowner John when he is back in Exeter, and Gwyn in Chagford tackles a riotous mob of miners, gets stabbed, knocks his assailant out, but is captured, thrown into the miners' North Devon Lydford jail, charged with murder and finds himself about to be hanged at the new Coroner's Lydford inquest.
All in all, a good story, and such an interesting setting in time and place.
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I read this book in October, 2022.
This is book 6 in such an interesting series, set in 1195, in Exeter in Devon - a completely different time and place, and it's all recreated for us so convincingly by Bernard Knight. There are lots of plots, and mysteries to solve, but mostly I enjoy reading about our characters private lives, and always I am glad to live in more enlightened times.
The main characters are Crowner (Coroner) Sir John De Wolfe, his giant Cornish bodyguard and friend Gwyn of Polruan - they fought together in the Crusades - and John's clerk, the unjustly defrocked priest Thomas de Peyne. Thomas is the nephew of the local Archdeacon. John lives in St Martin's Lane in Exeter in a loveless, arranged marriage with his wife Matilda (46). John has a cook / housekeeper Mary, Matilda has a french maid Lucille, old Simon tends the fire and night soil, there is a dog Brutus, and John has a magnificant warrior horse Odin. Matilda's brother is the local sheriff - Sir Richard de Revelle. There is no love lost between the Sheriff, a supporter of Prince John, and John, a fiercely loyal supporter of King Richard. The Prince v King rivalry accounts for a lot of the enemies that John has, and they try to get at him by attacking his friends and helpers. Thus poor Thomas stands little chance of recovering his priesthood as the local Bishop was a Prince John supporter - but maybe this will change by the end of the book. John used to have a lot of mistresses. Nesta (28) was the main one, who runs the Bush Inn in Idle Lane. But she sent John packing in the previous story. I thought / hoped then that the split would not be permanent, and I was correct. The other mistresses were Bridget Godfin in Sidmouth, but now married and gone away, and Hilda of Dawlish, now unavailable as her husband is home from the sea.
There were two main events in the previous story - the Nesta / John split, and Thomas, the clerk, trying and failing to kill himself. It's now a month later and Thomas is terrribly depressed (at not being a priest). He is behaving strangely, muttering to himself, and tears often stream down his face. People are starting to talk, and when the events of this story unfold, he becomes an obvious suspect - more than a suspect, he is arrested, and is to be tortured and hanged unless John and Gwyn can save him.
The main plot is that some mad priest seems to be committing serial murders in Exeter - the victims are bashed on the head, then killed in various ways, and a note is found on the body quoting some biblical text. It must be a priest as the murderer can read and write, very unusual in 1195, and knows the scriptures. Thomas fits the bill, has no alibi, and is in the wrong place at the wrong time reference the attempted murder of a visiting judge. The murdered victims are a Jewish money lender, Aaron of Salisbury, Joanna of London, a prostitute, (female so Dame Madge has to be summoned to examine the dead body, and confirm the depraved injuries), the priest Arnulf of Mowbray, and William Fitz-William, a molester of young boys. Attempted murders include one on the sheriff, in bed with a prostitute at the time and saved by John, one on a visiting judge De Villibus, and amazingly an attempt on Crowner John himself. No one knows what the message left with John's unconscious body means "For thou, do not enquire wisely regarding this" - but we do find out in a clever plot twist at the very end of the book.
John discusses the murders with the Archdeacon John of Alcenon, and eventually gets a list of priests who behave strangely. These include Ralph de Capra, priest at All Hallows-in-the-Wall, Adam of Dol, parish priest at St Mary Steps, Julian Fulk, at St Olaves, and Edwin of Frome, a Saxon priest at St Martins. There are complications galore. Usually church courts decide on church matters, and priests, and the King's justice applies to others. Priests hear each other's confessions - is the murderer confessing, and to whom. One of the priests decides to leave Exeter, and another cremates himself alive and jumps ablaze into the Exe. Throughout the series, Gwyn has had little time for the puny, easily frightened Thomas, but after the suicide attempt Gwyn has discovered he quite likes the little, deformed ex priest. And it is Gwyn more than John who saves Thomas at the end of the day, before the true murderer is discovered.
It's a big story, and I have barely scratched the surface. I particularly liked the Nesta / John reconciliation. The dead body of Joanna of London was found by Nesta in the yard of the Bush, and John's necessary investigation brought them together again. In truth, they love each other, but cannot marry whilst Matilda is alive. "What if I bear child" Nesta asks John. "Then the child will bear the De Wolfe name" promises John. The sheriff is in trouble on many fronts. The tinners are trying to get rid of him as their Warden, the justices are in town and know he supported Prince John, and that he is fiddling the financial books, and now there are multiple unsolved murders. Four judges are in town to hold two Eyes - the Eye of Assize tries serious crimes, and the General Eye scrutinies the administration of each county - i.e. the Sheriff's financial mismanagement. But such an important visit is also an excuse for many lavish banquets, for the town VIP's. Matilda is there as the Crowner's wife, and she revels in the opportunity to show off, parade in glory, finery and status, and exchange gossip. For once, life at home for John even becomes bearable. To avoid torture for Thomas, John had sought Benefit of Clergy for him - he is no longer a priest, but he can read and write. The Bishop refuses this, but does ban his torture. Later, the Bishop has an attack of conscience - he had refused help when Thomas was in need, and was later proved innocent. Perhaps he might not oppose his reinstatement to the priesthood ? Such a thought fills Thomas with anticipated delight. Poor Thomas, he deserves better.
I wonder where the series will take us next ?
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I read this book in November, 2022.
This is book 7 in the Crowner John series set in Exeter and surrounds, in 1195. It's full of interesting historical detail about the life and times of Norman England, and all the various cruel laws that punished the pettiest of crimes, with death and torture common. This book has two big stories, the crime to be solved, and the personal lives ones - and both had been well set up in previous books. I thought this was such an interesting story.
Let's start by reintroducing the main characters. Crowner John, Black John, lives in Martin's Lane in Exeter with his wife Matilda. Lucille is Matilda's french maid, and Mary attends to John's needs. Odin is John's warrior horse, and Brutus his dog. John has two assistants, Gwyn, his giant, ex Crusader friend and bodyguard, and hunchback Thomas, his clerk. Matilda's brother is Sir Richard de Revelle, Sheriff of Exeter. John's brother William manages the family estates in Stoke-in-Teignhead, where John's mother Enyd, and his sister Evelyn live. John's mistress, of course, is Nesta, who runs the Bush Inn in Idle Lane. Hubert Walter is in charge in England in King Richard's constant absence. Hubert is Chief Justiciar, and Archbishop of Canterbury. Gabriel is sergeant at arms at Exeter Rougemont Castle, and Ralph Morin, the castle constable. Dame Margaret is the Prioress of Parsloe, and Dame Madge a gifted healer.
The main plot starts as a series of separate incidents. A riderless horse gallops into Sigford village, dragging the rider behind - it's poor Humphrey De Blond, of Ashburton, a verderer of the Royal Forest. He has an arrow in his back. Later Father Edmund Tepas of Buckfast Abbey is horse dealing with Stephen Crutch, but also slips him some money for something else. William Lupes, a forester destroys the Sigford ale house. Henceforth they must buy their ale from a new ale house - at a higher price than they can afford. Next, the Warden of the Forest, De Basio, is beaten up, and his servant killed. There are also various other crimes - all concerning the royal forests. Slowly we discover the bigger picture - the old treason of Prince John, and the absent Richard the Lionhart. Everyone's lives are being made unbearable . The unrest is being created by the Foresters, eg Willim Lupus and Michael Crispin, in alliance with the bands of outlaws lead by Robert Winter and Martin Argot. They refuse to acknowledge the Crowner and the sheriff refuses to act against them (and is probably in league with them).
It's all getting very serious, and several lords and local land owners have a council of war with Crowner John. John and Lord Ferris travel to Winchester, manage to see the Chief Justiciar, Hubert Walter, and he agrees to act. Crowner John fought many a campaign with Hubert Walter, and Walter tells John that he is to give John great power, but he knows John will do the right thing. John is appointed King's Commisioner and is given an army of 60 seasoned soldiers and archers to back him up. No longer outranked, John confronts the sheriff, and tells him to keep clear of things, or he will be accused of treason. The sheriff's reputation, what little he had, is now in tatters. The robbers, outlaws and Foresters are no match for John, Gwyn, various local Knights, and the soldiers. It's not a battle, it's a massacre, although somehow Winter, the oulaw chief escapes. It will be interesting to see what happens to the sheriff in the next book.
And now to the personal lives story. We know that Nesta and John had a falling out some months ago, and Nesta, feeling neglected and seeing no future with John, a married man of high position, fell for the charms of Alan of Lime (who later robbed her and made off with a younger serving maid). John and Nesta are now together again. They have always been in love with each other. But now Nesta seems distracted and distant, and John is puzzled. In brief, Nesta is pregnant. John is delighted and says the child will bear his name. This is too much for Matilda. When told by her brother the sheriff of John's infidelity, and she leaves Martin's Lane and goes to Parsloe Priory. Nesta's worst fears are confirmed by the old hag Bearded Lucy of Exe Island. Nesta is 3 months gone - the father must be Alan of Lime, not John. Nesta confesses to Thomas, John's clerk, who offers sympathy and advice. However Nesta simply cannot bring herself to tell John- he is really excited about having a child, his marriage to Matilda being childless. Nesta takes potions to try to produce a miscarriage, but is still pregnant. Thomas finds her about to commit suicide by drowning, and gently persuades not to do this. In the climax, someone bursts into the Bush Inn, and shouts out that Crowner John is dead. Nesta faints, and yes, she loses the baby. She is desperately ill, and under the care of Dame Madge at Parsloe Priory - the same priory to which Matlida has escaped. I'll need to leave some surprises, so read the story to discover the surprising climax. Will Matilda take her revenge, and tell John that the child was not his; or will she leave him believing Nesta had been bearing his child ? I thought it was an excellent ending, and must read on to see what happens next to Nesta, John and Matlida.
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I read this book in April, 2023.
This is book eight in the Crowner John series by Bernard Knight. It is set in Devon in 1195, seems to me a marvellous evocation of 12th century life, and is a series I really like. However, I must start with a complaint. In the previous book, our hero, Coroner John de Wolfe was promoted to a King's Commissioner with equal / superiour power to the sheriff. There is no mention of that here - and again John has to send to Winchester for help to deal with his thieving brother-in-law. This time, however, the sheriff finally gets his just deserts. The main subject of this book is witchcraft, or rather "cunning women" who were a mostly harmless and indeed essential part of 12th century country village life where there were no doctors, nor apothecaries. They had a basic knowledge of herbs, first aid, and midwifery - but yes, some would usually take a small payment to cast a spell if requested. Mostly they were left alone until later times - i.e. the 16th to 18th centuries, and the inquisition. Finally let's remember that the country is split beween those who are loyal to King Richard, and those who prefer his rebellious brother Prince John. King Richard is never in the country, but prefers France. He soaks England with taxes to pay for his ransom and his never ending crusades and wars. John de Wolfe is a fair man, and reasonably popular, but his office was set up as another way to raise taxes. John is loyal to Richard, but most of the Exeter church leaders and the sheriff prefer John - hence the ongoing battle.
There are three main plots - witches / cunning women (including good hearted Nesta), treasure trove part of which the sheriff steals, and some good news about Thomas. Let's start with Thomas. Some years ago he was falsely accused of rape by a young girl pupil, defrocked, has lived a miserable life until rescue by the Coroner, and has even tried to commit suicide. The young lady makes another similar accusation, but against someone who has a cast iron alibi. Confronted, she not only retracts her new accusation, but admits the one against Thomas was invented. Thomas's uncle, archdeacon John, has petitioned Winchester for Thomas's reinstatement to the clergy, and will pursue the matter. Thomas is ecstatic, but he is warned it will not be plain sailing - the old problem of Prince John's friends opposing Crowner John, and his friends.
Let's open with a re-introduction of the main characters. Sir John de Wolfe has two assistants - Cornish giant Gwyn of Poltruan, his ex Crusader days bodyguard and Thomas de Peyne, his ex priest clerk and scribe. John(40) is trapped in a loveless marriage to Matilda (44), and lives in St Martin's Lane in Exeter with Mary, their housemaid and cook, and Lucille, Matilda's french maid. His hound is called Brutus, and his horse Odin. John is a reasonably rich man with his share of the family estates in Stoke-in-Teignhead, and a half share of a prosperous wool exporting business. John is deeply in love with his mistress, the beautiful Nesta (28) who runs the Bush Inn in Idle Lane. Old Edwin is Nesta's one eyed potman. John's friend archdeacon John de Alcenon's superiour is Bishop of Exeter Henry Marshall, brother of William Marshall, Marshall of all England. Henry supports Prince John, William, King Richard. Hubert Walter is at the very top of church and country, running everything in the king's constant absence. Matilda's brother, Sheriff Richard de Revelle, presides at Rougemont Castle, where Gabriel is sergeant of the garrison, and Ralph Morin constable of Rougemont.
The story opens with Richard de Pridias, husband of Cecilia. Head of his guild, he is a rich fuller who owns his own mill on Exe Island. In spite of ongoing treatment from his apothecary, Walter Winstone, Richard is very ill, and only just makes it to the next village before he dies. The Coroner is summoned. Cecilia says Richard died because of an evil spell paid for by his business rival Henry de Hocforde who is very insistent on buying Richard's mill, and won't take no for an answer. Crowner John sees it as a natural death, and won't bend justice to hold an inquest. Cecilia goes to the same church as Matilda who nags John to hold the inquest. Strangely, Gwyn finds a straw voodoo doll with a metal stake through the heart in de Pridias's saddle bag.
Henry de Hocforde visits Winstone - he wants his 15 shillings back that he paid Winstone to poison de Pridias. Winstone protests - "he died, didn't he". "Yes", says de Hocforde, "but only because I went to a wizard a week ago" . Under threat Winstone repays the money, but vows to get it back, and get revenge on cunning women who are stealing his business.
Archdeacon John tells the Crowner that the church has failed to banish magic from the common mind. De Wolfe tells Nesta about the de Pridias death. She tells him not to be too quick to dismiss these superstitions. She used these gifts in Wales to help people. John suspects/ fears good hearted Nesta may still be helping poor people.
Cecilia visits her cousin Canon de Bosco in the cathedral. She complains that a wicked spell killed her husband, that the Crowner would not hold an inquest, and says we must stop black magic. De Bosco sees self advancement opportunities by opposing the King supporting Crowner, and so begins a church campaign against cunning women - a campaign Winstone quickly joins. De Bosco is a powerful, passionate orator, and persuades his fellow clergy to preach kill the witches at their sermons.
Three "witches" - Alice Ailward, Theophanea Lawrence, and Jolenta of Idle - are arrested on riduculous charges of conjuring up the devil. Winstone pays people to fabricate tales against these poor cunning women and bear fale witness before de Bosco, who readily and uncritically accepts this "evidence." All three are hanged, one by the mob, and two by the sheriff - convicted at de Bosco's church consistory court, and passed to the sheriff for sentencing. Crowner John was away from Exeter at the time, and Richard de Revelle hanged them as an act of spite.
De Wolfe had visited Cadbury village where treasure trove had been found. He claims it for the Crown, has it counted and the count witnessed, and takes it to Rougemont for safe keeping. By ill chance the treasure had been found on land where the sheriff owned the freehold, and so he claimed the treasure. "No" says de Wolfe. When Richard sneaks off with the treasure to deliver it to Winchester, John suspects not all the gold will get there. He sends Gwyn and Thomes to Winchester to check what was delivered against the Cadbury count. 20 gold coins are missing, and Thomas asks the sheriff why. The sheriff blusters, but eventully accuses Gwyn of stealing the gold between Cadbury and Rougemont, has him arrested and plans to hang him. Gwyn agrees to sit in a cell unto Crowner John can sort the matter.
Meanwhile Heloise, sister of Esther, the sheriff's whore, visits Nesta for help with three ailments. Nesta says she cannot help with two of them, but gives Heloise some herbs for her warts, with no charge.
Winstone bribes de Hocforde's butler, and learns that de Hocforde paid Elias Trempole to make the voodooo dolls reference the de Pridias death. When Winstone threatens to expose de Hocforde if he does not return his 15 shillings, he agrees and says he will pay that night, but it is slaughterman Hugh Furell who turns up. He kills Winstone and Elias Trempole with similar head blows from a pole axe, and then disappears.
Next Bearded Lucy of Exe Island is set up. Knowing him to be a fair man, she visits Crowner John and asks for help for all the cunning women. John speaks kindly to her but says there is little he can do against church business. "Very well" says Lucy, "I'll do what I can myself." She stands on a cart, and addresses the crowd, asking why they have turned against women who have been helping them since time began. The crowd is divided, but skuffles break out, and constables Theobald and Osric have to rescue Lucy. They bustle her to the nearest safe place - Crowner John's house. John comes out with his sword - "disperse or I'll attach you all for riot and murder". Matilda is apoplectic on seeing Lucy in her house, and wants her out, even if it means Lucy's death. Matilda is suposed to be a Christian women. John secrets Lucy away to the Bush, where Nesta readily agrees to hide her and look after her. Lucy had helped Nesta in the past.
John visits Richard Lusteste, the most respected of the four (now three) Exeter apothecaries, and between them they work out what may have happened - i.e. that Winstone used a lead compound to poison de Pridias whom he was already treating. Was de Hocforde involved ?
Back at Rougemont it seems there is stalemate, with Gwyn in jail, and Richard threatening to hang him. John cannot prove that he handed over all the gold coins, but then has a stroke of luck. Old Samuel, the castle steward, had counted the treasure, and as his count tallies with that of Thomas, all the coins had been delivered to Richard, and so he stole them. Gwyn is released. John cannot excuse stealing from the king. He tells Richard he will be tried at the next Justices meeting, but says that meanwhile he can play at being sheriff. John breaks the news to Matilda.
De Busco and rabble march on the Bush to capture Lucy and Nesta, but a fire breaks out at the Bush. Nesta is saved, and eventually old Edwin too, but Lucy dies in the flames - but first she curses all who had brought about this persecution. She repeats "I curse you" three times. Some see the face of a young Lucy form in the black smoke of death.
Thomas writes a full report of all that has happened, and John sends it speedily to Winchester. He also takes Nesta, in secret, to the safety of his family home in Stoke-in-Teignhead, where she is made very welcome. The roof and floor of the Bush are destroyed, but the stone walls are mostly intact, and as are the outbuildings. John sets Adam Kempe, master carpenter, to work to rebuild the Bush. Adam finds Lucy's bones, and gives them to John so that he can hold an inquest.
De Hocforde had visited Cecilia to buy the mill, but became abusive, and somehow de Hocforde got fatally stabbed. He makes his death bed confession to Thomas and John - yes, he had employed Winstone and Elias Trempole. Two distinguished men ride into Exeter - William Marshall himself, Marshall of England, and Walter de Ralegh, an important Justice. John holds Lucy's inquest with these visitors present. He accuses both de Bosco, and the sheriff, but says unusually he will deal with neither. De Bosco will be dealt with by the Bishop, and he will leave the sheriff to his seniors. De Bosco had been suffering all sorts of ailments after Lucy's curse. Losing his mind, he takes to the city walls in a thunder storm, but is killed by a bolt of lightning, again Lucy's face seems to appear in the clouds.
And now, unusually for me, a spoiler alert, as I have come this far, I may as well finish the tale. At long last Richard de Revelle is stripped of the office of sheriff, and of all his powers. Henry de Furnellis is appointed as the new sheriff until the king can appoint a permanent replacement. Richard says he will complain to Prince John, but William Marshall advises him to retire to his family estate, and keep quiet in the hope that they forget to hang him.
All in all, quite a full, event packed tale. Will Richard de Revelle make a comeback, will Thomas become a priest again, how long will it take before it is business as usual at The Bush ? Of course, we must read on.
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I read this book in October, 2023.
This is book nine in Bernard Knight's excellent Crowner John series, set in and around Exeter in 1195 in the reign of Richard The Lionheart. John is coroner for South Devon, and this is historical fiction at it's best. Here it's Exeter's October Fair, and the author paints a convincing description of such an event. There is also a three day jousting tournament where mounted knights in armour try to unseat each other with long lances, and the winner gets his opponent's valuable horse, armour and sword, or a ransom. Of late I have been writing these little reviews by first introducing the main characters, and then covering their personal lives stories, and finally mentioning the main plots.
Main Characters : Sir John De Wolfe (41), Crowner John, Black John, is coroner for South Devon, and is based in Exeter. His helpers are fellow ex Crusader Gwyn de Poltuan, a Cornish giant, and Thomas De Peyne, ex clergy. John lives in St Martin's Lane, in a loveless, arranged marriage with his wife Matilda(45). There are two main servants, Mary, John's cook and housekeeper, and Lucille, Matilda's french maid. John's dog is Brutus, and his horse Odin. The disgraced former sheriff, Richard de Revelle, is Matilda's brother. Henry De Furnellis is the new sheriff, honest but lazy. John has a business partner in Hugh de Relega - they are in the profitable wool export business. John has a loving mistress, Nesta, who runs the Bush inn - John and Nesta are very much in love. John de Alencon is John's friend the Archdeacon of Exeter, Ralph Morin is the Rougemont Castle Constable, and Gabriel the sergeant-of-the guard. Osric and Theobald are the two Exeter constables. Hubert Walter is chief Justiciar for England, and Archbishop of Canterbury.
Let's also mention the Peverel family of Sampford Peverel - Sir William (55) died earlier that year, leaving a younger second wife Avelina(41). Willian had four sons, Odo(37), Hugo, married to Beatrice, Ralph and Joel. The family estate steward is Roger Viel, the bailiff Mathew Hogg, and the reeve Warren Fishacre.
Personal Lives Stories : There are three stories here - the John and Matilda/ John and Nesta one, the Thomas de Peyne one, and the Eustace de Relaga one. John is stuck in a loveless arranged marriage of families to a bitter and very unhappy wife Matilda, whose unhappiness is compounded by the recent disgrace of her brother Richard de Revelle, the disposed, corrupt, former sheriff. Richard appears again here as a neighbour of the Peverels intent of stirring up trouble for John. Matilda lives for position, being seen to be better than others, and is now extolling her rich, aristocratic Norman relatives in France - i.e. she falsely claims her family is better than John's. Unusually Matilda gets hopelessly drunk one evening, and John feels sorry for her. He can see how unhappy Matilda is, whilst he is well looked after at home by his servant Mary, and loved and cherished by Nesta at the Bush. But Nesta too sometimes talks wistfully about her family back in Wales whom she hasn't seen in many, many years. When the King asks John to escort his emissary to Wales, John sees an opportunity to please both women. John's new jousting friend Reginald de Charterlai, returning to a part of France where Matilda's relations live, will escort Matilda there for a holiday. With Matilda away, John will take Nesta to Wales to visit her mum. Afterwards, Nesta can't thank John enough, but typically Matilda, on her eventual return, greets John with nothing but a scowl.
Thomas de Peyne, John's learned clerk, was falsely accused of rape, and banned from the clergy. Some while ago Thomas's accuser confessed that it was a lie, and the church accepted this, but have not yet got round to fully re-instating Thomas. Destitute, Thomas was rescued and employed by Crowner John, and is extremely grateful, but he is a devout, deeply religious man, only ever happy in church surroundings. Now comes some good news for Thomas, he must attend Winchester in three weeks to be re-instated fully into the clergy. (That said, it hasn't happened by the end of the book).
The Eustace de Relaga story relates to the Thomas one. Crowner John's business partner, Hugh de Relega, tells John of his unsettled, highly educated, multi lingual nephew Eustace who now no longer wants to join the church, but nor does he want to work at his father's business. Can John find a roll for him, perhaps as helper / even understudy for Thomas? John agrees, but Thomas feels insecure, and fears that Eustace is an intended replacement. Thomas has always said, even though reinstated to the church, he would never leave John's service. At first Eustace's keenness, and his incessant questions, drive Thomas up the wall. But John assures Thomas that they simply couldn't manage without him, and eventually Thomas likes his role as teacher, passing on his superior knowledge. What will actually happen remains ambiguous. John wants what is best for Thomas, and maybe thinks he would be more fulfilled back in the clergy. Perhaps Eustace may well be John's new clerk - we will see.
Main Plots. The background is the grand Exeter October Fair, and it's three day jousting tournament - and both are recreated vividly by the author. In particular we learn of tournament rules, and the code of honour by which all knights live - all knights except one, Hugo de Peverel, whom we will meet later. There are three murders for the coroner and his team (Gwyn, Thomas, and now Eustace) to investigate, hold inquests, and solve if possible. The book opens with a prologue where William de Peverel(55) and his son Hugo are fighting in a tournament about a year ago. William, unseated by a Black Knight is tragically trampled and killed by the following Hugo's horse. Was it an accident ? Jumping ahead, later we learn it was deliberate, and Hugo wanted his father dead to inherit the manorship, and so pay off his gambling debts. The Black Knight was a professional jouster from France - Reginald de Charterlai, but unlike Hugo, a man of honour. William leaves behind his younger second wife Avelina - she will inherit one third of the estate income, become a target for Hugo, and seek help from Reginald de Charterlai. By the end of the book, they will fall in love and plan to get married - but that is really jumping ahead.
Our first current murder starts when a dead body is fished out of the river. His clothes are later found - he was a man of substance, and not a manual worker. Who was he - perhaps a craftsman, attending the Fair? John's team ask around and eventually find a stall with a missing silversmith named August Scrope, of Totnes. He had arrived early with his bodyguard / asistant to deliver a commission to a customer in Topsham. John and team go there. On returning, they visit St James Priory, where they are nursing an injured servant - it's Terrus, August Scrope' servant. Terrus explains they were attacked by two men, one of whom he later spots at the Fair. This is Robert Longus, armourer to none other than Hugo de Peverel. Hugo had earlier had a run in with Crowner John, senior referee at the Exeter joust. Unseated by Reginald de Charterlai, and beaten also in the ensuing on foot sword fight, he refused to accept defeat, and hurled his lance at Charterlai's uncovered head. Charterlai, easily deflects it, and walks away disgusted, leaving Hugo arguing with John, the event referee. John later apologises to Charterlai, and gets to know him. To cross the coroner, and also to retain his armourer, Hugo gives Longus an alibi. Crowner John updates the new sheriff, Henry de Furnellis, an honest but lazy man. Henry says he will leave John to deal with the matter. Do what you have to.
We now learn a little of the ancient Saxon manorial system - little kingdoms run by all powerful local Lords of the Manor. William had overseen a good and fair manor at Sampford Peverel, but his son Hugo was just the opposite, and was deeply hated by all. He bedded all the local young serving maids - although mostly they didn't mind too much as he later paid them a penny ! However when reeve Warren Fishacre's young daughter got married, Hugo insisted on exercising his "droit de Signeur" on her wedding night, creating two enemies - the reeve, and the husband. Hugo also hanged a youth of the village, leaving another father and a brother as enemies. Hugo goes missing, and is eventually found mostly buried in straw in the byre. The steward knew the law of the land, and informed the coroner - but Hugo's equally obnoxious brother Ralph had wanted to handle matters himself. Hugo had been stabbed seven times by a single bladed knife. He had spent the previous night bedding Agnes, the 14 year old daughter of a village cottar family. Ralph wants to hang her, but when she claims sanctuary in the church, Ralph drags her out, despite the protestations of the local vicar. John arrives in Sampford just in time to save Agnes, but it's a temporary reprieve as sadly Agnes becomes murder victim three.
I'll now leave you to read the story for yourselves, but just mention some other thoughts. There are ever so many suspects - people with reason to kill Hugo, and these include Avelina (in danger), and Beatrice, Hugo's wife, (disgraced by his infidelities). Robert Longus too, as he has now lost his alibi for the silversmith killing. Longus does have an assistant armourer, and Terrus said they were two assailants. Beatrice and youngest brother Joel are also romantically involved. Odo, the oldest Peverel brother, seems the most competent, but his epilepsy (?) has apparently disbarred him from Lordship of the Manor.
In closing, let's mention the climax, where Crowner John's honour is impugned, and defended twice eventually but the Black Knight again intervenes, and this time it is he who unnecessarily apologises to John. Who worried when she thought Crowner John's life was in danger - not Matilda, but ever faithful Nesta.
Verdict - an interesting, informative, enjoyable read in an excellent series. Well done, Bernard Knight !
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I read this book in February, 2024.
This is book ten in the Crowner John series, set in 1195, in and around Exeter in Devon. Bernard Knight creates a perfect evocation of 12 century life where King Richard is constantly absent, but uses England as a cash cow to finance his ongoing wars. There is desperate poverty, travel is difficult, the Church holds sway, and danger lurks everywhere. John is trapped in a loveless marriage, but both his mistresses, Nesta and Hilda feature in this tale, plus it's an adventure yarn involving Saracen assassins, alchemy, the Elixir of Life, the Philosopher's Stone, and the transmutation of base metals to gold. Such were the beliefs of the time. I'll continue under three headings main characters, personal lives , and finally main plots.
Main Characters : The main character is Sir John de Wolfe(41), Crowner John, Black John. He lives in St Martin's Lane, Exeter, but his family's estate is in Stoke-in-Teignhead, where live his mother Enyd, sister Evelyn, and his brother William. John's cook and housekeeper is Mary, his horse is Odin, and his hound Rufus. John has been stuck in a loveless marriage to Matilda de Revelle for 17 years - her French maid is Lucille. John is in love with Nesta(29) who runs the Bush Inn in Idle Lane, recently rebuilt after a bad fire. He is also in partnership with Hugh de Relega, one of Exeter's two portreeves. John's former mistress is his childhood sweetheart, Hilda of Dawlish(35) - she is married to Thorgils who is sadly killed in this story.
John's two assistants are the giant Gwyn of Poltrun, his Crusader friend and bodyguard, and Thomas de Peyne. Gwyn lives in St Sidwells, just outside the Exeter city gates, with his wife and two small children, but they don't see much of him. Educated Thomas is the Coroner's Clerk, and nephew of Archdeacon John de Alencon.
Herbert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Chief Justiciar, is in charge in the king's absence, but King Richard's brother Prince John, Count of Montain, covets the throne. The new sheriff is Henry de Furnellis (60), Sgnt Gabriel heads Rougemont Castle's men at arms, and Ralph Morin is the castle constable. King Philip rules in France.
New characters are the alchemist Alexander of Leith, his massive bodyguard Jan the Fleming, and three deadly Saracen / Moorish assassins, Nigara al Din, and his servants Abdul Latif and Malick Shah.
Personal Lives Stories : There are two main stories. The shorter one involves Thomas de Peyne, Crowner John's clerk. Malicious rape accusations against him were disproved several books ago, and now, at last he is welcomed back as a priest into his beloved Church - at a ceremony in Winchester Cathedral. Thomas, and all his friends are overjoyed. Later he is given a part time position at Exeter Cathedral - part time so that he can still be the Coroner's clerk. Thomas is a good, kind, learned man - a devout soul - who thoroughly deserves his long overdue reinstatement.
The longer private lives story involves Crowner John and his wife Matilda - both unhappy, trapped in a loveless marriage arranged between two families. Divorce is out of the question. John and Matilda argue all the time, and make each other's lives a misery - and so John seeks consolation with his mistrss Nesta, landlady of the Bush Inn. It looks as if there might be an unexpected change in this book. Matilda leaves John, and goes away to live with her cousin, or with her brother, the deposed former sheriff Richard de Revelle. John takes his clothes down to the Bush, and moves in with Nesta - mostly very happily, but also somewhat unsettled by such a change from his old surroundings, and former routine. Nesta and John are genuinely in love, but she is a practical woman. She knows eventually he will have to return to living with Matilda - and he does, at the end of the book, after saving Matilda's life. A husband cannot leave his wife unprotected.
Also caught up in this story is Hilda of Dawlish, John's childhood sweetheart and later lover. From the age of 13, Hilda has always loved John - a love that could not be. She married Thorgils, a wealthy seaman, a lot older than her. He always treated her fairly - she respected him, and had affection for him, but not a passion. Thorgils is killed, bringing Crowner John back into Hilda's life. A strong willed woman, she sets out to find Thorgils' killers and avenge his death. Her bravery does not protect her from capture by these same killers. After quite an adventure, she is rescued by John. Her gratitude is genuine and appropriate, but her eyes cannot hide her enduring love for him. But now, he has Nesta (and a wife Matilda). It's all an ongoing story with no solution, and the old status quo is restored by the end of the story.
Main Plots. It's a great adventure and mystery. I will give some essence of it, and leave you to read how skilfully Bernard Knight portrays it. Prince John still has ambitions to sieze the English throne, and King Philip of France wants to help with finance. They plan to turn base Cornish metal, tin, silver, etc, into gold, using the combined alchemy skills of the West (Alexander of Leith) and of the East (the Nigara al Din). They will do this at a secret facility set up by the disposed ex sheriff, Richard de Revelle. This is in an old ruin, near his other Devon estate. Alexander is a skilled alchemist, but Nigara is an imposter whose family were slaughtered after the failed 2nd Crusade Siege of Damascus. He vowed revenge on those who did it, and their heirs. Thus he gets transport to Devon, but once there kills the seaman who took him there. The captain of the vessel is poor Thorgils, husband of Crowner John's mistress Hilda of Dawlish. Nigara and his fellow assassins move about the country disguised as monks. Their movements through the woods at night prompt tales of ghosts and strange demons, terrifying the local peasants. They kill Thorgils, Sir Peter le Calve, and old Joel the local hermit - surprisingly an ex Knight Templar. They also target the heirs of old Gervaise de Revelle - none other than Richard de Revelle's sister, Crowner John's wife Matilda. They are skilled, accomplished warriors with no fear of death for they are convinced vengeful death guarantees entry to everlasting paradise. They also chew hashish which leads to a drugged orgy of atrocities and retributive crucifictions.
Eventually they are overcome by Hilda who gets her revenge, and Alexander of Leith - his alchemy Elixir of Life studies lead him to produce a powerful Elixir of Death.
John, his friend Gwyn, and Thomas are a great combination. Their banter hides the love they have for each other. Although only a puny cleric / clerk Thomas asks to join Crowner John in battle - "maybe I can divert an arrow meant for you." They all help each other in this unlikely tale, and yes, Richard de Revelle avoids blame and punishment once again.
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I read this book in February, 2024.
This is book 12 in Bernard Knight's Crowner John series set in and around Exeter in 1195. It's another interesting story, and a perfect evocation of life in Devon at the end of the 12th centuary. Richard the Lionheart is the absentee king ; and former Crusader and now a coroner, John de Wolfe is his loyal servant. I'll continue under three headings Main characters, Personal lives , and finally Main plots.
Main Characters : Crowner John, John de Wolfe (41) lives in St Martin's Lane in Exeter, with Matilda, his wife, Mary his cook and housekeeper, Lucille, Matilda's french maid, and Brutus, his hound. Across the street, Andrew, the farrier, looks after John's horse Odin. It's a loveless marriage to Matilda, and John has a mistress - Nesta, landlady of the Bush Inn in Idle Lane. Old Edwin is her one eyed potman.
John's helpers are massive Gwyn of Poltruan, his ex Crusader friend and bodyguard, and Thomas de Peyn, his clerk. Gwyn lives in St Sidwells, a village just ouside the Exeter city wall. Thomas is also a priest, and appropriately now lodges in Priest Street. Gabriel is the sergeant at arms in Rougemont Castle, and Ralph Morin, the castle constable. Hugh de Relega is John's business partner. The current sheriff is Henry de Furnellis (59), who replaced the former disgraced and dismissed sheriff, John's brother-in-law, Richard de Revelle. Richard is married to Eleanor. In the King's absence, Hubert Walter is in charge in England as Chief Justiciar. He is also the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The noble outlaw is Sir Nicholas de Arundell (33), disposessed lord of Hempston Arundell and now living as an outlaw. Robert Hereward is his former steward, and Philip Gerard, and Peter Cuffe ex Hampton villagers. They now live in the deserted village of Challacombe on Dartmoor. There too is Grunilda Helmforde (50) - also an outlaw as she killed her husband with an axe when she found him in bed with her sister. Lady Joan de Whitford (26) is Nicholas's wife - she lives in hiding with a cousin in Exeter.
Personal Lives Stories : Life goes on much as before. John is still stuck in a loveless marriage to Matilda, but has the perfect mistress in Nesta who runs the Bush Inn in Idle Lane. John and Nesta are in love, but John cannot divorce Matilda in 12th centuary England, and so the unhappy status quo remains. John's former mistress Hilda of Dawlish, now his busines partner along with Hugh de Relega, is only mentioned in passing.
Thomas de Peyne, John's faithful and grateful clerk, is now re-instated in the Church, and has a part time position at the Cathedral - part time so that he can still be John's clerk. Thomas now lodges in Priest Street.
Main Plots. There are two closely related plots. Someone is killing the guild masters of Exeter, and a terrible wrong has been done to Sir Nicholas of Hempston Arundell, a former Crusader.
Some three years ago, before John was appointed coroner, Prince John was the absentee Sheriff of Exeter. Sir Nicholas went off to fight in the Crusades leaving his wife Joan to cope as best she could. After a couple of years, Henry de Pomeroy claimed that a passing monk had told him that Sir Nicholas was dead. Joan was evicted, and returned to kin in Cornwall. Prince John / Henry de Pomeroy / Richard de Revele annexed the Hempston estate, farm, it's wood sales and rents. Nicholas was not dead. He returned to find strangers in his house, protested and fought, and was backed up by loyal estate workers. In the ensuing fight one of Henry's men was killed, Nicholas was outlawed, had to flea, and he and his followers have been living as outlaws, hiding on Dartmoor. Nicholas the outlaw has a price on his head, and has no rights - he cannot claim legal redress for what has happened.
The story opens gently. Richard de Revelle is converting an old forge in Exeter into a school, but a dried up mummified body is found in the rafters, killed with a iron nail driven into his neck. Richard claims that the body has been put there to spite him by one of the outlaws on the Moor - "Nick of the Moor" - who has been constantly striking at him. Eventually the body is identified is that of Matthew Marcok, a master saddler.
Meanwhile Matilda is in a good mood as she has made a new friend, the widow of a knight, who also attends St Olav's church. Her name is Joan de Whitford, now fallen on hard times and living with her cousin Gillian, a wealthy Exeter widow. Joan is in fact the wife of the outlawed Sir Nicholas of Hempston - i.e. Nick of the Moor. Nicholas visits Joan under cover, and they discuss their predicament. They need a Royal Pardon, and perhaps could apply to Hubert Walter, the Chief Justiciar - but how ? If Nicholas appears in public, he will be killed, and the bounty on his head claimed. Joan tells Nicholas of her new friend Matilda, wife of the coroner who is a friend of Hubert Walter. The coroner is known to be an honourable man, who doesn't like his brother-in-law Richard de Revelle.
Another body is found - this time in Ashburton He had been strangled with an iron chain. He is the master glazier Hamelin de Beaufort. There is third murder - Robert de Hokesham - this time pinned to a tree with an iron spike through his left eye.
It's Christmas Eve and Matilda goes to the Cathedral service - where she meets her now good friend Joan. Returning home, Matilda sends her maid Lucille ahead to organise a hot drink. Completely alone, a man grabs Matilda, shoves her to the ground, straddles her, and chokes her round the neck - "This is in retribution for what your swine of a brother Richard de Revelle did to me at Hempston. The assailant runs off, Osric the constable finds Matilda, and takes her home. Matilda tells her husband John what the attacker said, but he is not persuaded that the attack on Matilda is the act of a former Crusader.
John confers with the sheriff, and determines to visit Hempston and also de Pomeroy. Meanwhile Joan visits her friend Matilda and is aghast at the attack on her - but says it cannot be Nick of the Moor. They argue, Joan says who she really is, and runs off in tears. Matilda too is upset - "what have I done?" When she asks John to help, he warns her that her brother won't emerge well from any of this. "Carry on", says Matilda - changed days indeed.
John and Gwyn discover that Gillian's servant goes out riding on the Moor every Monday, and follow him. Deliberately he leads them to where one of the outlaws meets them, and soon John and Gwyn are surrounded by more outlaws. They tell John and Gwyn that they are free to leave, unharmed, or they can follow the outlaws - the choice is theirs. John is minded to follow them, and so meets and likes Nick of the Moor, and his 12 outlaws. He listens to their story, and is incensed at what de Pomeroy and de Revelle have done. Back in Exeter John decides to ride with Gwyn to Winchester, to discuss the matter with Hubert Walter - but they have to travel on to London to meet him.
Hubert Walter explains a little of the politics behind all this - Prince John has powerful supporters. However Hubert Walter appoints two Kings Justices to visit Exeter, and pardons the outlaws so that they can return and plead their case.
There is a lot, lot more to the story, but I'll leave you to read this for yourselves. Eventually the Nick of the Moor matter is settled by Ordeal of Battle - i.e. by two duals. I liked the part Thomas plays - he sees the connection between the three murders, and a fourth attempted one. Thomas's brain works faster than the coroner's and Gwyn's. I also liked the part John's faithful old hound Brutus played in trailing the scent that leads them to the guild master's murderer. And of course, Sir Nicholas was not the guild masters' murderer.
Once again Richard de Revelle is totally discredited, his honour shattered, but Crowner John ends up saving his worthless brother-in-law' life. Interestingly, Matilda, usually a staunch supporter of her brother, has sided with Sir Nicholas and Lady Joan. She even slaps Richard's face in public.
However I doubt that much has really changed - we will see in the next book.
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I read this book in October, 2024.
This is book 12 in one of my favourite series where you get three bites of the cherry. You get historical fiction, an excellent recreation of life in England about 1196, in the reign of King Richard, some terrific personal lives stories, and good crime plots for the coroner and his crew to solve. I'll continue under three headings Main characters, Personal lives , and finally Main plots.
Main Characters :
The main character is Sir John de Wolfe, Black John,(43), the Crowner / coroner of Devon since 1194. John is married to Matilda - they live in St Martin's Lane in Exeter. Matilda has a french maid Lucille, and Mary keeps house and cooks for John. John has a warrior horse Odin, and a hound Brutus.
Red haired giant Gwyn of Poltruan, of Cornish descent, is John's oldest friend and bodyguard - they fought on many a Crusade together. Gwyn is married to Avisa, and they have two boys.
Thomas de Peyne, a falsely defrocked and now reinstated priest, is John's learned and very able but puny clerk.
Welsh Nesta is John's beloved mistress. She keeps the Bush Inn, on Idle Lane. Old Edwin is the pot "boy" there.
Hilda of Dawlish (35) is one of John's "girlfriends" - they were teenage lovers. She is now a wealthy widow, and partner of Johns in a shipping and business enterprise. She is the daughter of the manor reive of Holcombe where John has family estates.
Angelus de Wilde is one of John and Hilda's ships masters in Dawlish. His wife died, and his 9 year old daughter runs the household, and cares for 2 younger chidren
Owain ap Gronow is a Welsh stonemason rescued from ambush by John, in Exeter to do repairs at the Cathedral, and lodging at the Bush Inn.
Hubert Walter is the Chief Justiciar of England, and Archbishop of Canterbury. He is in charge in King Richard's on going absence.
Richard de Revelle is the disgraced former sheriff and John's brother-in-law.
Henry de Furnellis is the current Sheriff.
Ralph Morin is the garrison commander, and Gabriel is Exeter castle' sergeant of the men at arms.
Richard Lustcote is a gifted Exeter apothecary
Dame Madge is a nun at Parsloe Priory
Various characters at Axmouth include :
Sir Luke de Casewold is the self important newly appointed Keeper of the Peace, a king's officer appointed to help the Sheriffs enforce the law of the land. Sir Luke lives near Axmouth.
Sir Robert de Helion is a merchant knight who owns land at Bridport, his properties include warehouses at Axmouth.
Edward Northcote is the bailiff of Axmouth, and Elias Palmer his portreive.
Brother Absolon of the Priory of Lodes is their agent in Axmouth.
Martin Rof is the shipmaster of "The Tiger" a ship out of Axmouth.
Old Father Henry is the priest at Axmouth
Richard Crik is a merchant's agent at Axmouth.
Simon Makerel is an 18 year old seaman, the son of Edith Mkerel of Seaton. Killed near Axmouth, Simon is murder victim 1.
Setricus Sagar is an over curious pedlar and thief, who steals from the wrong people, and is murder victim 2.
Personal Lives Stories : I will split out various life stories, but of course they are all related.
Matilda, always a deeply religious person, is John's wife, but they are both trapped in a hopeless, loveless arranged marriage. Matilda is depressed, feeling the disgrace of her brother, the former sheriff Richard de Revelle, is also her disgrace. Very status conscious, now people point her out as "that man Richard de Revelle's sister". John tries to console her, but she calls him nothing but a corpse prodder. She leaves him for the second time to seek sanctuary at the Parsloe Priory. As before she wants to become a nun, but this time she seems to mean it. She takes her treasure chest with her but gives her clothes (and her maid Lucille) to her Exeter cousin. When John visits Parsloe he can only see Dame Madge, and is not allowed to see Matilda.
Hilda of Dawlish is a former mistress of John's. They had been teenage lovers growing up in Holscombe together and now, as a widow, she is John's business partner. He has to visit often, and when Hilda has got rid of her maid Alice, John and Hilda usually kiss pasionately. She misses a loving relationship, but she holds back with John, and he too somehow manages to stay faithful not to his wife of course, but to Nesta.
The John / Nesta / Owain story : As the story opens, Nesta too feels out of sorts - it's the old problem, John is a Norman Knight, she is a lowly ale house keeper. She still misses Wales, the land and her family there. When John tells Nesta that he has rescued a Welsh stonemason - Owain ap Gronow
- she pricks up her ears and with others visits him, recovering in hospital. In Wales he lives 5 miles from Nesta's family, and they have many friends in common. When Owain goes to lodge with Nesta at the Bush, John has a bad feeling. Nesta and John still share passionate nights together, but afterwards she is sad, and even tearful. She has second sight and asks John "what is to become of us ?" I don't think it requires second sight to guess what is about to happen and it will be such a very, very sad parting.
John's story - an update. After a visit to France, Crowner John is appointed to a newly created position. He will be Coroner to the King's Court, chief coroner, based in London. This will be for an initial year's trial. Gwyn and Thomas are to accompany him there, and Mary too, after a year, if she wants to. But what of Nesta, and Matilda. John gets word to Matilda of his promotion and higher status (of which he cares little, but she will). Will she join him, or stay at Parsloe. Incredibly, she won't give him an answer, but tries to keep him dangling. But John, a man of action, will have none of it.
The end of Nesta and John : Finally John plucks up his courage and tells Nesta he has some news. She has second sight, and tells him this will probably change everything. When John asks her to come to London with him, she asks for a day to decide. When John returns, she takes him to where they can be alone, on the city wall. She and Owain and are to marry, and she will leave Exeter and the Bush, and return to Wales with Owain. She says, "it is for the best." Although they don't want his money, John pays her for the Bush, gets her a good horse for her journey, and has the good grace to contratulate Owain. It's a tearful parting. Gwyn is there, and Thomas and Nesta, both in tears. She hugs John and whispers "I will always love you, cariad, but this has to be the best way."
Gwyn : John has a gift for Gwyn. This is a life tenancy of "The Bush" with any profits that it makes. His wife Avisa and children will leave their present hovel, move to the Bush, and Avisa will run the place as Nesta had done.
Finally, perhaps, John and Hilda ? Goaded by a "need more time to decide " letter from Matilda, John, a man of action, swears, and is off to Dawlish.
Main Plots.
Spoiler Alert - oh dear, here, I seem to have broken my usual rule not to write spoilers. Memo to self : try not to do it again!
A prologue introduces the story - a ship in the channel is boarded by pirates, all the crew are killed, their bodies are tossed overboard, and the ship is sunk.
Sir Luke de Casewold, his manor is near the port of Axmouth, has been appointed as a "Knight Keeper of the Peace", to help local Sheriffs uphold the law of the land. This is a new creation of Hubert Walter, Chief Justiciar of England. Sir Luke contacts Crowner John, informing him of a suspected murder at Axmouth. The old priest there, Father Henry, was burying his dog when he dug up a freshly buried body. Eventually this body is identified as that of 18 year old Simon Makerel, a seaman son of Edith Makerel of Seaton. Martin had just gone to sea for the first time on the ship "The Tiger" which is owned by Sir Robert de Helion - the "Tiger's" ship master is Martin Roth. Simon Makerel had returned with more money than expected, but deeply troubled. He talked to Priest Henry, but under the sanctuary of the confessional. Sir Luke explains Axmouth has a bad reputation and is inhabited by unfriendly, unco-operative villagers. The bailiff there is Edward Northcote, and Elias Palmer is his portreive. The place guards a secret - we later learn it's piracy.
Next we hear of the death of an old pedlar, Setricus Sagar, who got too curious when one night he saw a covered ox wagon on a back path to Honiton and thought there might be something worth stealing. To be brief, pirate pillaged goods are unloaded and stored in Axmouth, later to be moved inland under cover of darkness. Sir Luke tells John he is determined to catch them at it. He is brave but old, and Sir John fears for his safety. Later Sir Luke, hiding at night, surprises a covered wagon, and goes to challenge it. Outnumbered 4 to 2, Luke and his agent are killed, Luke by his own sword. John is outraged that the King's officer has been attacked.
On the way back from Sir Luke's inquest, Sir John and Gwyn save a party of travellers from a band of attacking outlaws. One of the party is Owain ap Gronow, a stonemason from Wales, who was going to Exeter to do repair work at the Cathedral. The repercussions of all this are covered under the private lives section. Later John, Gwyn, Ralph Morin and Gabriel lead a troop of 20 soldiers to Axmouth. Brother Absolon, from the Priory of Lodes, claims unsuccessfully that Axmouth is outwith John's jurisdiction as it's on Priory land. They search the warehouses and find nothing amiss, but Thomas later explains it was all a pointless exercise. They have checked the contents v. the records, but know nothing of the true origin of the stored goods. Frustrated, John decides to get help from Hubert Walter, but as Walter has gone to visit King Richard, John and crew have to go to France to do this. They eventually find not only the Chief Justiciar, but also King Richard himself. John confesses that he is ashamed to have not protected Richard from capture and ransom. John and Gwyn were out searching for fresh horses and supplies. Richard attaches no blame to Sir John, whose pointless death would have helped no one. Richard knows Gwyn but when John introduces his clerk Thomas, Richard has a few words with him too. Thomas is in ecstacy, he has mixed with the highest of church leaders and met the King. "I will die happy." Although Richard says John must be helped, Walter later explains there is no money. Afterwards John is summoned back by Richard and Walter, and promoted to Chief Coroner, based in London.
Back in England again, a reive from Ottery St Mary has contacted John to report a murder. Riding there, through some woods, the reive rides off and John and Gwyn have been tricked. It's an ambush, and arrows fly. John is lucky when one arrow hits his drawn sword instead of his heart. Riding low and fast, John and Gwyn escape. Determinded to catch the pirates and their helpers, John sets them a trap. He invents and leaks news of a fictitious secret treasure chest of silver coins, being transported out of Dawlish on one of his ships, en route to France to pay the Kings soldiers. Soon everyone knows the "secret" including the ship's name, sailing time and date. The pirates fall for the trick, but as they have to leave Axmouth before the Dawlish ship in order to intercept it, they are unaware that a troop of soldiers have also boarded at the last minute. Martin Rof and "The Tiger" do attack, but are easily overwhelmed by the soldiers, and Martin and some pirates are captured alive. In Exeter castle, some of the pirates confess. Another troop rides to Axmouth. They find the flimsy village gates barred, but Gwyn soon opens them. They find a hidden covered wagon, and a crossbow. Northcote and Elias are arrested, as is Absolon who claims church privelege. This presents a tricky problem, but Absolon is to be held securely at the Cathedral and the bishops can decide what to do with him when next they visit. Father Henry had consulted fellow priests and found a way to help without betraying anything learned only in the confessional.
All in all, then, another good and intesting read. What will the future hold for John and his crew in London, will they miss Devon terribly, will Matida join him there, and what about John and Hilda ? In short, read on.
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