Mystery in the Minster by Susanna Gregory Page A

he is not supposed to commit surgery, but it is a habit we cannot break in him. However, he is rather good at it, and if anyone can heal William, it is him.’
    ‘Good,’ said Thoresby. ‘Because William is my
advocatus ecclesiae
, and I want whoever shot him caught. Find me the culprit, and I shall try to help Michaelhouse win Huntington.’
    ‘But that would mean you working against priests from your own minster,’ Bartholomew pointed out doubtfully. ‘You would do that?’
    There was a flash of something dangerous in Thoresby’s eyes, and Langelee elbowed the physician hard enough to make him stagger. It
had
been an insolent question, but Bartholomew felt it was one that needed to be answered before they agreed to anything. There was a possibility that one attempt had been made on his life, and it would be reckless to embark on an investigation without a full understanding of the politics into which they were being invited to plunge.
    ‘I have spoken to enough of Zouche’s friends and family to know that he
did
want Huntington to go to Cambridge,’ replied the Archbishop at last. ‘I have seen no written evidence, but his intentions were clear. I should like to see his wishes fulfilled – as I hope my successor will do for me when the time comes.
That
is my reason for helping you.’
    ‘But you will have to live with the vicars-choral after we leave,’ persisted Bartholomew. ‘They may bear you a grudge.’
    ‘They almost certainly will,’ said Thoresby with the ghostof a smile. ‘Which is why they must never find out. So my assistance to you will be in the form of information that may help you to prove your case, but that cannot be traced back to me.’
    ‘Very well,’ agreed Langelee. ‘Michael and Bartholomew are good at solving mysteries, so they will look into what happened to William. Meanwhile, Radeford will concentrate on Huntington, and I shall investigate Zouche’s chantry fund.’
    His Fellows gaped at him. Bartholomew did not want to hunt would-be killers in a strange city; Radeford objected to being left to win Huntington alone; and Michael thought they could have secured a better bargain, so was irked that the Master had capitulated so quickly.
    ‘You aim to claw some of the fund back?’ asked Thoresby of Langelee. ‘Then I wish you luck. Zouche
should
have a chapel, given how much he longed for one. He was deeply anxious about Purgatory, and how long he might have to spend there. I suppose he regretted his actions at Neville’s Cross. And perhaps he was right to be worried – a war is no place for a prelate.’
    Having been told some of what Langelee had done for Zouche, Bartholomew suspected the Archbishop had had a lot more than a battle on his conscience, and was not surprised the man had been concerned for his immortal soul. He stared at his feet, uncomfortable with the whole affair.
    Seeing they were stuck with the arrangement, Michael sighed and went to business. ‘What information do you have for us, My Lord Archbishop?’
    ‘Huntington’s priest was named John Cotyngham. Zouche had stipulated that he was to keep the appointment until he either died or resigned.’
    ‘Yes,’ said Michael. ‘We know. Cotyngham left, which is why we are here.’
    Thoresby nodded impatiently. ‘When I heard what Cotyngham had done, I was astonished, because he always claimed he was happy in Huntington. He came to York, and is currently residing with the Franciscans.’
    ‘Oh, yes,’ mused Langelee. ‘I had forgotten he was one of those.’
    ‘I went to visit him there, to assure myself that all was well,’ Thoresby went on, ‘but was told he could not see me. I think you will agree that this was odd. So my advice to you is to insist on an interview, and demand to know
why
he left Huntington. If he was coerced, and the vicars-choral were responsible, it might strengthen your case against them.’
    ‘Yes.’ Michael’s eyes gleamed. ‘It might.’
    They left the minster, and