mind to the terms of
the contract negotiated between our two
families. '
Sir Hugh
turned to address the bench.
'I beg leave
to inspect the document, my lord.'
The letter was
handed to the clerk of the court and placed before Sir Hugh who
gave it a cursory glance.
'This document
neither bears the Gascoigne seal nor Lady Gascoigne's signature. I
seek to have it dismissed as a forgery, my lord.'
Roger Knowles
jumped to his feet. 'The seal fell off and Margery Gascoigne never
learnt to write. Her sign is a wolf beneath a tree, like you see
there.'
'My lord.' Sir
Hugh grasped the edges of his gown. 'I seek leave to have pen and
paper brought forward so that Lady Gascoigne may refute this
preposterous claim.'
Writing
materials were produced and Harald watched his mother write her
name, forming each letter individually. She finished and handed the
paper to the clerk who conveyed it to the judge. Harald hoped her
writing skills would not be put to further test.
'You appear to
be wrong again, Sir Roger.' The judge looked up. 'Is there any
further evidence you wish to bring before I submit this case to the
jury's consideration?'
'My lord.' The
counsel for the defence held up a bundle of papers. 'I have here
numerous examples of correspondence between Lady Gascoigne and
members of my client's family. They were written by her chaplain,
Sir Peter de Trent, and demonstrate beyond doubt that Lady
Gascoigne frequently used the sign of the wolf when corresponding
with individuals.'
'My lord.' Sir
Hugh rose. 'Sir Peter is here in court. I beg permission to have
these papers submitted for his inspection.'
The papers
were taken to the chaplain and he declared them to be
forgeries.
'Are you
prepared to repeat that on oath?'
'Most
certainly.' Peter reached for his bible.
'Not that
one!' Roger Knowles shouted across the chamber. 'Use a proper bible
like everyone else.'
A clerk
produced another bible and the court fell silent. Perjury was a
serious matter, particularly for a man of God. Peter placed his
hand on the book and faced the jury. For a moment he seemed to
falter. Then he raised his head and spoke in a clear voice.
'I, Peter de
Trent, do hereby solemnly swear that these letters were not written
by me and I accordingly believe them to be forgeries.'
An excited
buzz swept through the chamber. With Peter's sworn testimony, the
case was effectively over and the Gascoignes had won. Harald could
find no comfort in that. The victory had come at an appalling
price. Hugh had corrupted the court and Peter had perjured himself.
He would find a confessor and pay a hefty penance for his sins. The
money would end up in the church's coffers and Harald would
compensate Peter for the loss. There were occasions when he
sympathised with the Lollards.
Chapter
17
Gathering Storm
Richard Vowell
listened to the sound of saws and hammers. It was early for the
builders to start work and he wondered what was going on. He
glanced at the vicar but he continued to recite the matins service
as he had done thousands of times before. The service ended and
Richard headed for the door leading into the abbey nave. Lanterns
burnt at the far end. They reminded him of the time the masons came
to remove the font. On that occasion, Billy Bradford and Bobby
Hulle were there. This time it was the sacrist and a foreman. He
strode up to them.
'What's going
on?'
'Good Morrow,
Master Vowell.' The sacrist did his best to sound friendly. 'We are
here to erect a partition. Being cognisant of the inconvenience
occasioned by the current building activities we have given thought
to how a suitable screen might be provided for the comfort of the
parish.'
Richard
surveyed the building materials.
'What's all
them hurdles for?'
'They're for
the partition.'
'You mean for
scaffolding?'
'No. They are
for the partition.'
'Say that
again.' Richard cupped a hand to his ear. 'I don't think I heard
you right.'
'The hurdles
will be strapped to the existing
the contract negotiated between our two
families. '
Sir Hugh
turned to address the bench.
'I beg leave
to inspect the document, my lord.'
The letter was
handed to the clerk of the court and placed before Sir Hugh who
gave it a cursory glance.
'This document
neither bears the Gascoigne seal nor Lady Gascoigne's signature. I
seek to have it dismissed as a forgery, my lord.'
Roger Knowles
jumped to his feet. 'The seal fell off and Margery Gascoigne never
learnt to write. Her sign is a wolf beneath a tree, like you see
there.'
'My lord.' Sir
Hugh grasped the edges of his gown. 'I seek leave to have pen and
paper brought forward so that Lady Gascoigne may refute this
preposterous claim.'
Writing
materials were produced and Harald watched his mother write her
name, forming each letter individually. She finished and handed the
paper to the clerk who conveyed it to the judge. Harald hoped her
writing skills would not be put to further test.
'You appear to
be wrong again, Sir Roger.' The judge looked up. 'Is there any
further evidence you wish to bring before I submit this case to the
jury's consideration?'
'My lord.' The
counsel for the defence held up a bundle of papers. 'I have here
numerous examples of correspondence between Lady Gascoigne and
members of my client's family. They were written by her chaplain,
Sir Peter de Trent, and demonstrate beyond doubt that Lady
Gascoigne frequently used the sign of the wolf when corresponding
with individuals.'
'My lord.' Sir
Hugh rose. 'Sir Peter is here in court. I beg permission to have
these papers submitted for his inspection.'
The papers
were taken to the chaplain and he declared them to be
forgeries.
'Are you
prepared to repeat that on oath?'
'Most
certainly.' Peter reached for his bible.
'Not that
one!' Roger Knowles shouted across the chamber. 'Use a proper bible
like everyone else.'
A clerk
produced another bible and the court fell silent. Perjury was a
serious matter, particularly for a man of God. Peter placed his
hand on the book and faced the jury. For a moment he seemed to
falter. Then he raised his head and spoke in a clear voice.
'I, Peter de
Trent, do hereby solemnly swear that these letters were not written
by me and I accordingly believe them to be forgeries.'
An excited
buzz swept through the chamber. With Peter's sworn testimony, the
case was effectively over and the Gascoignes had won. Harald could
find no comfort in that. The victory had come at an appalling
price. Hugh had corrupted the court and Peter had perjured himself.
He would find a confessor and pay a hefty penance for his sins. The
money would end up in the church's coffers and Harald would
compensate Peter for the loss. There were occasions when he
sympathised with the Lollards.
Chapter
17
Gathering Storm
Richard Vowell
listened to the sound of saws and hammers. It was early for the
builders to start work and he wondered what was going on. He
glanced at the vicar but he continued to recite the matins service
as he had done thousands of times before. The service ended and
Richard headed for the door leading into the abbey nave. Lanterns
burnt at the far end. They reminded him of the time the masons came
to remove the font. On that occasion, Billy Bradford and Bobby
Hulle were there. This time it was the sacrist and a foreman. He
strode up to them.
'What's going
on?'
'Good Morrow,
Master Vowell.' The sacrist did his best to sound friendly. 'We are
here to erect a partition. Being cognisant of the inconvenience
occasioned by the current building activities we have given thought
to how a suitable screen might be provided for the comfort of the
parish.'
Richard
surveyed the building materials.
'What's all
them hurdles for?'
'They're for
the partition.'
'You mean for
scaffolding?'
'No. They are
for the partition.'
'Say that
again.' Richard cupped a hand to his ear. 'I don't think I heard
you right.'
'The hurdles
will be strapped to the existing
Similar Books
Deadly Affair: SCVC Taskforce World Novella (SCVC Taskforce Romantic Suspense Series Book 5)
Misty Evans, Amy Manemann
