![[Roger the Chapman 04] - The Holy Innocents](https://fs.ageofbook.com/589862/thumbs/152x264/roger-the-chapman-04-the-holy-innocents.jpg)
brim before I leave,' I promised. 'It's the least I can do as repayment for your patience.'
'It's a kindness to myself,' she answered. 'It's a relief to be able to talk about what happened to someone who knows neither the participants nor the story, and so, as yet, has no theory to offer which distracts my own thoughts in the telling. It helps me to recall events as they unfolded with greater clarity.'
When we had at last finished our meal and were sitting contentedly, lapped about by the bright stillness of the morning, the succulent spring grass starred with primroses, the leaves of the forest trees rustling in a little breeze with a sound like rain, I asked her to continue; to explain why she had been so worried for the children's safety after their mother died.
Grizelda glanced down at her hands, long and strong with workmanlike fingers, folded together in her lap, and thought for a moment. Then, she raised her head, looked straight in front of her and said, 'I think it was Sir Henry Skelton's will which made me uneasy. I was in London with Rosarnund and her father when it was drawn up in the spring of 1469, just before Sir Henry rode north to fight the rebels.
'It was Sir Jasper who insisted that proper provision be made, in the event of his son-in-law's death, for Rosamund and the children; that Sir Henry's intentions should be legally set down and witnessed. Sir Jasper declared he had seen too much litigation, which benefited no one except the attorneys, because of lack of written evidence of the legator's wishes.
The manor in Yorkshire would naturally be inherited by Sir Henry's elder son, but he was a very wealthy man, with money to spare for Andrew and Mary, who, at that time of course, was still unborn. Sir Jasper sent for Oliver Cozin to come up from Exeter to represent Rosamund during all the legal wrangling; and, believe me, it went on for days.
'In the end, however, it was agreed that the revenues from various business ventures in which Sir Henry had some holding would provide for the offspring of his second marriage.
But Master Cozin, not content with that, was anxious to keep so considerable a sum of money in his client's family.
Supposing, said he, the children should die before Lady Skelton; one or the other or both. What then? Why should the money revert to their half-brother, who was already plenteously provided for? The money settled on Andrew and the expected child must go to Rosamund or - lawyers' minds being so tortuous that they foresee every eventuality - should she predecease them and they die while still minors, to her next of kin. And, after much legal haggling, he carried the day. Such a provision was inserted in Sir Henry's will .'
I drew in my breath. 'Surely a clause which could have hidden dangers? At least, so it seems to me.'
Grizelda smiled bitterly. 'And to me. But that, Master Chapman, is because we are simple people who live among other simple people, and are acquainted with their failings. We understand the greed and cupidity of our fellow human beings. But if you are an attorney, living within the ivory tower of the law, obsessed only with torts and malfeances and other suchlike practices, how can you possibly understand what goes on in the world around you? According to his lights, Master Oliver Cozin did well for his client, and Sir Jasper was mightily pleased, boasting to us all, one evening at supper, that no one in the kingdom, not even the King himself, had a more skilful lawyer.
'And, I suppose, to give both Sir Jasper and Master Cozin their due, neither could be blamed for not anticipating Rosamund's marriage to a man such as Eudo Colet. For I don't need to point out to you, Master Chapman, that once she was dead, only the children's lives stood between him and a very substantial addition to his fortune.'
'I told you yesterday,' I interrupted, 'that my name is Roger. Now that we know one another better, could you not bring yourself to use it?'
She smiled. 'Very
'It's a kindness to myself,' she answered. 'It's a relief to be able to talk about what happened to someone who knows neither the participants nor the story, and so, as yet, has no theory to offer which distracts my own thoughts in the telling. It helps me to recall events as they unfolded with greater clarity.'
When we had at last finished our meal and were sitting contentedly, lapped about by the bright stillness of the morning, the succulent spring grass starred with primroses, the leaves of the forest trees rustling in a little breeze with a sound like rain, I asked her to continue; to explain why she had been so worried for the children's safety after their mother died.
Grizelda glanced down at her hands, long and strong with workmanlike fingers, folded together in her lap, and thought for a moment. Then, she raised her head, looked straight in front of her and said, 'I think it was Sir Henry Skelton's will which made me uneasy. I was in London with Rosarnund and her father when it was drawn up in the spring of 1469, just before Sir Henry rode north to fight the rebels.
'It was Sir Jasper who insisted that proper provision be made, in the event of his son-in-law's death, for Rosamund and the children; that Sir Henry's intentions should be legally set down and witnessed. Sir Jasper declared he had seen too much litigation, which benefited no one except the attorneys, because of lack of written evidence of the legator's wishes.
The manor in Yorkshire would naturally be inherited by Sir Henry's elder son, but he was a very wealthy man, with money to spare for Andrew and Mary, who, at that time of course, was still unborn. Sir Jasper sent for Oliver Cozin to come up from Exeter to represent Rosamund during all the legal wrangling; and, believe me, it went on for days.
'In the end, however, it was agreed that the revenues from various business ventures in which Sir Henry had some holding would provide for the offspring of his second marriage.
But Master Cozin, not content with that, was anxious to keep so considerable a sum of money in his client's family.
Supposing, said he, the children should die before Lady Skelton; one or the other or both. What then? Why should the money revert to their half-brother, who was already plenteously provided for? The money settled on Andrew and the expected child must go to Rosamund or - lawyers' minds being so tortuous that they foresee every eventuality - should she predecease them and they die while still minors, to her next of kin. And, after much legal haggling, he carried the day. Such a provision was inserted in Sir Henry's will .'
I drew in my breath. 'Surely a clause which could have hidden dangers? At least, so it seems to me.'
Grizelda smiled bitterly. 'And to me. But that, Master Chapman, is because we are simple people who live among other simple people, and are acquainted with their failings. We understand the greed and cupidity of our fellow human beings. But if you are an attorney, living within the ivory tower of the law, obsessed only with torts and malfeances and other suchlike practices, how can you possibly understand what goes on in the world around you? According to his lights, Master Oliver Cozin did well for his client, and Sir Jasper was mightily pleased, boasting to us all, one evening at supper, that no one in the kingdom, not even the King himself, had a more skilful lawyer.
'And, I suppose, to give both Sir Jasper and Master Cozin their due, neither could be blamed for not anticipating Rosamund's marriage to a man such as Eudo Colet. For I don't need to point out to you, Master Chapman, that once she was dead, only the children's lives stood between him and a very substantial addition to his fortune.'
'I told you yesterday,' I interrupted, 'that my name is Roger. Now that we know one another better, could you not bring yourself to use it?'
She smiled. 'Very
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