Hugh Corbett 13 - Corpse Candle

by Paul Doherty

  ‘Such men would never attack Holy Mother Church.’ Brother Dunstan coloured at Ranulf’s bellow of laughter.

  ‘That’s a lie,’ Corbett replied. ‘Such men couldn’t give a fig about the Church. You do what many abbeys and monasteries, even manor lords, do. You meet these outlaws, or their leaders, and you provide them with money and supplies. In return they give assurances that you can go untroubled about your business and they’ll make sure that everybody else who lurks in the woods obeys. It’s a convenient way of living. The outlaws really don’t want to take on a powerful abbot who might ask the local sheriff to hunt them down. Moreover some, but not all, of their coven are superstitious. They don’t want to be excommunicated, cursed and exiled from heaven by bell, book and candle. You, of course, and your abbey don’t want any trouble. You are the treasurer and, when these men come looking for food and drink, you pay them off and both parties are happy. The law might not like it but, there again, on a lonely forest path the law can do little to protect some unfortunate monk on an errand for his Father Abbot. Am I correct?’

  ‘It is a commonplace practice,’ Brother Dunstan replied. ‘Everyone does it.’

  ‘Of course they do and, as long as the outlaws don’t become troublesome, greedy or break their word, Abbot Stephen would look the other way. He might not like it but . . .’ Corbett waved a hand. ‘Now you, Brother Dunstan,’ he continued, ‘travel for the abbey and often visit the Lantern-in-the-Woods.’

  The treasurer put his face in his hands.

  ‘Blanche is pretty, isn’t she? Long legs, generous lips, a sweet bosom and, if Ranulf is correct, saucy eyes and a pert mouth. You were much taken with her. Of course, she was flattered that a man of the Church should be interested. She was even more impressed when you took coins from your coffers to buy her bracelets and a silver chain with a gold cross, not to mention the rings and the cloth to make her a fine dress. Now, what began as mere dalliance,’ Corbett felt sorry for the monk who was now sobbing quietly, ‘became an obsession. Ranulf has travelled to the Lantern-in-the-Woods, and the outlaws also go there. Oh, by the way, some of them are dead – killed,’ Corbett added warningly. ‘I suggest that for the next few months any traveller from St Martin’s has an armed escort.’

  Brother Dunstan took his hands away. ‘Dead?’

  ‘Well, at least four of them.’ Corbett turned to Ranulf and clicked his fingers. ‘Now, in one of the wallets of the dead outlaws we found this abbey seal. It’s unbroken, and is clearly specially made. You gave it to one of the outlaws? Perhaps their leader, Scaribrick? You must have bribed him. Sometimes you found it difficult to leave the abbey – after all, a monk out of his house is like a fish out of water – but you had a hunger for Blanche. You gave her the robe of a monk with a canopied cowl, and you actually brought her into the abbey, didn’t you? One of the outlaws was your go-between and when he showed the seal to Blanche, it was the sign to meet you near one of the postern gates. Now, in the warm days of spring and summer, a tumble in the long grass is perhaps safe enough but our Blanche is haughty. She would object to such rough bedding. On one or two occasions she came disguised to that postern door and made her way to your chamber. No doubt you objected, telling her how dangerous it was.’

  Corbett leaned forward and prised Brother Dunstan’s fingers away from his face. The monk’s eyes were red-rimmed with crying.

  ‘For God’s sake,’ Corbett reassured him, ‘I am not going to denounce you before the full chapter. You won’t be the first man to break his vows. The world, the flesh and the devil, eh? It’s often the flesh which lays the most cunning traps.’

  The treasurer rubbed the tears away from his cheeks.

  ‘It was as you say,’ Brother Dunstan declared. ‘The dalliance began two years ago. I was a clerk before I became a monk. I thought I could live a chaste life but – Blanche, she was so provocative! At night I used to dream about her hair, her lips, her breasts, her legs. At first she allowed some intimacy – a kiss or a cuddle – but she acted very much the lady. She wanted this and she wanted that. So I used money from the Abbey coffers. Sometimes we met in the cellars of her father’s tavern but that was too dangerous. Blanche is a hussy, saucy-eyed and sharp-tongued. She wanted to see my chamber and lie in a proper bed, she said. I tried to refuse but . . . One night she came disguised, as you say, and told me she had met a monk on her way. From her description I recognised Gildas. I begged her not to do it again but she refused to obey and only stopped when I bought her some Castilian soap. I confessed my sins to one of the old monks. He gave me absolution but said I should also confess to Father Abbot. I did, in a half-hearted way.’

  ‘So, Abbot Stephen knew?’

  ‘Yes, yes he did. He warned me that I would have to make reparation. Replace the money I had taken and end my relationship.’

  ‘That was compassionate,’ Ranulf interrupted. ‘Many a Father Abbot would have shown you the gate.’

  ‘Abbot Stephen said that if I truly repented, I would have to do so properly. He did not wish to disgrace me.’ Brother Dunstan held Corbett’s gaze. ‘I was surprised by Abbot Stephen’s compassion. He just stared at me, tears in his eyes.’

  ‘Did he give a reason for his compassion?’ Corbett asked.

  ‘He just said we were all sinners and, if there was a God, Compassion was His name.’

  ‘If there was a God?’ Corbett queried.

  ‘That’s what he said. I don’t think he was denying the existence of God, just stating that God’s compassion was most important.’ The treasurer took a deep breath. ‘And you, Sir Hugh, will you tell Prior Cuthbert?’

  ‘I’ll do nothing of the sort.’ Corbett clapped him on the shoulder and got to his feet. ‘I am not your father confessor, nor am I here to judge the morals of the monks. I want to catch a murderer. Brother Dunstan, I want to ask you one question, broken into different parts. On your oath now: the Concilium, it wanted that guesthouse built?’

  ‘Very much so.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘To attract pilgrims, to increase the revenue.’

  ‘And what other reason?’ Corbett demanded.

  ‘To secure a relic so as to increase our fame.’

  ‘And would they have murdered for that?’

  Brother Dunstan did not deny it but gazed bleakly back.

  QUI CUPIET METUET QUOQUE

  WITH DESIRE COMES ALSO FEAR

  HORACE

  Chapter 8

  Brother Francis, the archivist, was pleased to have the library to himself. The small scriptorium at the far end was also empty. The rest of the brothers had gone to celebrate divine office before the evening meal. Brother Francis was so excited, and his stomach so agitated, that he had no time for food or drink. He hadn’t told anybody the reason but had sought permission from Prior Cuthbert to absent himself. The librarian now sat at a table and stared round his domain. This was his kingdom with its specially hooded candles and lanterns to diminish the risk of fire. He gazed lovingly at the stacked rows of shelves containing the abbey archives, as well as the manuscripts collected over the years: Augustine’s Confessions and City of God: Beothius’s On Consolation, the sermons of Ambrose, the writings of Jerome and other fathers: the theological treatises of Bernard, Aquinas and Anselm. Brother Francis got up and walked along the shelves. Here were the jewels of the collection: the works of Aristotle and Plato, the speeches of Cicero, the histories of Tacitus and the thoughts of the philosopher Seneca. These had been Abbot Stephen’s favourites, with his love of Roman culture. Brother Francis stopped, closed his eyes and sniffed. He relished the smell of the library, as a gardener did the fragrance of flowers: the perfume of vellum, of leather, ink, beeswax and the sweet-smelling polish which his assistants used on the shelves, tables and floor. Brother Francis liked nothing better than to check everything was in its appointed place. Some of the books were so rare and precious that they were locked away in heavy coffers. He touched the ring of keys on his belt and recalled why he was here. His fac
e flushed. Brother Francis had thought long and hard about these deaths, these heinous murders, which hadn’t just started because of a guesthouse or Prior Cuthbert’s desire to acquire a precious relic.

  Of all the members of the Concilium, Brother Francis had served the longest at St Martin’s. He had entered the abbey as a mere stripling. The old abbot had been so impressed by his desire to learn he had sent him to the cathedral schools of Ely and Norwich, as well as the Benedictine house in Oxford. Francis stopped and gnawed at his lip. He must marshal his thoughts carefully, as a true scholar would. Above all, he had to be sure he was alone. Brother Francis went to one of the latticed windows and peered through. The fire arrows had been alarming but surely they had merely been some cruel jape? Brother Francis moved back to the lectern. Didn’t one of those chronicles which described the evil depredations of Geoffrey Mandeville mention how the wicked earl always signalled his coming by fire arrows? So, if it wasn’t his ghost or demon, who was loosing such fiery shafts on St Martin’s-in-the-Marsh?

  ‘I mustn’t be distracted! I mustn’t be distracted!’ Brother Francis murmured.

  He also had to be prudent. Both doors to the library were locked and bolted, the latticed windows were also secure, their handles pulled down. Brother Francis checked the arrow slit apertures. In summer the shutters on the outside of these would be removed to allow in the light. Now, of course, they were clasped firmly shut. Brother Francis picked up his ash walking-cane and tapped at each to ensure this was the case. He returned to the piece of vellum laid out on his writing desk, excited by its blank, creamy smoothness. He sat down, picked up a quill and wrote down Abbot Stephen’s name and three words: ‘the Roman way?’ Brother Francis stared down at what he had written. The murders, he reflected, had begun with Abbot Stephen’s death. What was the tinder spark which had started this conflagration? What did he know about Abbot Stephen? A former knight, the boon companion of Sir Reginald Harcourt? The man who had assisted Lady Margaret to search for her husband only to return and spend the rest of his life as a member of St Martin’s community.

  ‘I know I have seen it,’ Brother Francis whispered.

  He rose to his feet and went to a shelf. Somewhere here, many years ago, he’d found a Book of Hours – or maybe a psalter – which had contained a carefully written poem. Brother Francis had suddenly remembered this earlier in the day and begun his searches whilst the library was still busy. He had used the index but had been unable to trace the exact volume. The brothers had become curious as their librarian took one book down after another. Brother Francis glimpsed one slender volume, pulled it out and caressed the calf-skin cover with its decorative glass studs. He opened the crackling yellow pages only to grimace with disappointment. This was not the one! He found two more and carried them to his desk. He was about to continue his searches when one of the shutters rattled. The librarian absentmindedly cursed the wind and continued with his studies, as the rattling increased. Brother Francis got to his feet and hastened along the gallery to the arrow slit which stood between two latticed windows. Bang! bang! The clatter unnerved him. He grasped his stick, took up a lantern and peered closer. A cold draught of air hit him. Brother Francis put the lantern down on a table and peered through the arrow slit. The shutter had fallen loose. He was about to turn away in annoyance when the arrow, loosed by the bowman outside, sped through the slit and struck deep in his chest. Brother Francis staggered back, clasping the shaft, coughing blood. He slumped to his knees and collapsed onto the hard, wooden floor.

  ‘So, it wasn’t just a guesthouse Prior Cuthbert wanted?’

  Ranulf stared across at Corbett sitting on the bed, his back against the bolsters.

  ‘Oh, no.’ Corbett shook his head.

  Brother Dunstan had left Corbett and Ranulf to summarise what they had learnt.

  ‘I walked round the church,’ Corbett explained. ‘Every great religious house, be it Canterbury, Walsingham, Glastonbury or even the abbey of St Paul’s, has its relics. St Martin’s has none. People travel across Europe to pay respects to the lance which pierced the side of Christ, a phial of his precious blood or the cloth which wiped his face. Now, Ranulf, you know and I know that most of these relics are spurious, and many others are also growing more discerning.’ He smiled. ‘The best relic is a corpse. Look at the revenues Canterbury receives because they hold the remains of Thomas à Becket. Prior Cuthbert certainly wants to build his guesthouse but, more importantly, he wanted that tumulus opened and the corpse removed to the abbey church. With a bit of luck, and God’s own help, a few miracles would take place. The news would spread through the great trading centres of Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Ely. Remember our journey to Suffolk?’

  Ranulf grimly recalled their departure from their last investigation and the sight of that grisly corpse swinging from a stark black gibbet.

  ‘Those townspeople we visited were rich. When people have wealth, Ranulf, they like to travel: that’s one of the reasons Brother Dunstan paid off those outlaws. I wager a tun of wine to a cask of malmesy that he did so at Prior Cuthbert’s insistence. You can’t have stories circulating about wolf’s-heads attacking travellers to St Martin’s.’

  ‘But would eagerness for a relic lead to murder?’

  ‘It could do, Ranulf. You are talking about a tremendous increase in wealth and importance for this abbey. Moreover, Prior Cuthbert is a stubborn man: he may have fiercely resented Abbot Stephen’s intransigence over Bloody Meadow, so that the dispute assumed monstrous proportions for him.’ Corbett spread his hands. ‘To be fair to Prior Cuthbert, I can understand his frustration.’ Corbett ran his thumb nail along his lower lip. ‘What is important is how Abbot Stephen was murdered. We know he had a dispute with his Concilium, led by Prior Cuthbert, and now members of that Concilium are being murdered.’

  ‘Taverner wasn’t a member,’ Chanson called out from where he sat on a stool near the brazier, mending a belt buckle.

  ‘No, he wasn’t,’ Corbett smiled in agreement. ‘And that, too, is a mystery. So, Ranulf, arm yourself with quill and ink, parchment and writing tray. Let’s see what sense we can make of this puzzle.’

  Ranulf agreed. Once he had made himself comfortable, Corbett emphasised the points on his fingers.

  ‘Abbot Stephen, the noble scion of the Daubigny family and once a knight banneret, was loved by the King, and the boon companion of Sir Reginald Harcourt. In his early years, Daubigny showed no indication of becoming a priest or monk. He was fighting man par excellence. His good friend Reginald Harcourt married the Lady Margaret; it was an arranged betrothal but one that seemed happy enough. However, the relationship between Lady Margaret and Sir Stephen, as he was then called, was frosty to say the least. Apparently Sir Stephen was a constant visitor at the Harcourt Manor.’

  ‘Why should Lady Margaret dislike him?’

  ‘A good question, Ranulf, though I have seen such a reaction before. Perhaps she resented the closeness of the two friends. But it certainly means that Lady Margaret and I must meet.’ Corbett paused, watching Ranulf’s quill skim over the manuscript. ‘In addition, we have Sir Reginald’s mysterious disappearance, followed by Lady Margaret’s search and the help given by Sir Stephen. But we can’t comment on that until we have seen Lady Harcourt herself.’

  ‘Shouldn’t we have visited her before?’

  Corbett shook his head. ‘No, no. She’ll just give the accepted story and I am convinced there’s more to it than that. So, let’s stay with Abbot Stephen. To all intents and purposes, he became the model monk and rose swiftly in the Benedictine Order. Probably due to royal influence he was appointed Abbot. How would you describe him, Ranulf?’

  The clerk pulled a face. ‘Reserved, aloof? Certainly a man of sanctity. A fair and just abbot.’

  ‘Yet a strange one,’ Corbett mused. ‘To some extent he appeared very strict, particularly about Sigbert’s burial mound in Bloody Meadow. He didn’t like Lady Margaret yet his treatment of Dunstan was very compassionate. For som
e strange reason he became interested in demonology, studying to be an exorcist. He won widespread repute which explains the visit of Taverner and Archdeacon Adrian. Abbot Stephen dealt with ghouls and devils but he also had a great love of the classics, to quote one phrase: ‘all things Roman’. He treated that mosaic in the abbey cellars as if it was sacred. He referred mysteriously to a wheel of life and hinted at his own secret sins. An enigmatic character! He not only showed compassion to Dunstan but also to Perditus and Taverner. I do wonder if he saw through our cunning man? He also had to manage a Concilium which had become increasingly impatient over his views on Bloody Meadow and the new guesthouse. And then he was murdered. But how did the assassin get in and out of that chamber? Why didn’t Abbot Stephen raise the alarm? How did the murderer know there was a war belt in that chest? Or did Abbot Stephen take it out himself? That’s another mystery.’

  ‘And the other murders?’ Ranulf asked.

  ‘Taverner was a cunning man, hired by Archdeacon Adrian to disgrace Abbot Stephen. However, Abbot Stephen’s charm impressed Taverner who may have turned the tables on our visitor from London. He was killed by an arrow, certainly taken from a quiver belonging to Archdeacon Adrian, but that doesn’t mean our self-important ecclesiastic is a murderer. Hamo’s death? Well, that is truly perplexing. The assassin was lashing out indiscriminately. He didn’t really care who drank from the poisoned tankard. Finally, there are other strange occurrences. The cat hung up from the rood screen; the fire arrows; the brand marks left on the victims. These bring us to Sir Geoffrey Mandeville.’ Corbett pointed to the chronicles taken from the library. ‘Our assassin certainly knows all about him. The brand mark is taken from Mandeville’s livery, as are the cat and the fire arrows. The rest is now clear: the mysterious woman glimpsed walking through the abbey grounds at night was certainly Blanche from the Lantern-in-the-Woods.’