The Holy Innocents

With my own inquiries to make, I put off eating for a while and directed my feet away from the castle ale-house towards the West Gate. The same man I had talked to yesterday was on duty again today, and was at that moment arguing fiercely with a cowherd who wished to drive his animals from the Rotherfold to pasture, on the other side of town.

‘You must take them by South Street and the Foregate. Clear passage must be left within the walls in case my Lord Sheriff and his men arrive.’

‘’E’ll not be ’ere until nightfall,’ the cowherd protested angrily. ‘Maybe not until tomorrow. ’E ain’t long been sent for, so I ’eard. It’s a long way round by South Street. Why should me and my beasts travel all that way?’

‘Get along with you, you lazy varmint!’ the gatekeeper exclaimed wrathfully. ‘You ain’t entering here, and that’s a fact. If you give me any trouble, I’ll see you set in the pillory, so I will. Stand aside, now! You’re interfering with those about their lawful business.’

Grumbling, the cowman turned about and departed with his herd, to the great inconvenience of those trying to enter into the town, and for the next several minutes, the gatekeeper’s attention was fully occupied. I was, however, able to speak to him at last, and was greeted civilly enough as an old acquaintance, although not with quite the geniality of the previous day, when traffic had been slack.

‘What can I do for you, then, friend? Here’s a terrible night’s work by all accounts.’

I agreed, but briefly. There were already more travellers approaching up the hill from the Leper Hospital, as well as from along the Plymouth road.

‘Yesterevening,’ I said urgently, ‘near to curfew, did Master Colet enter by this gate?’

‘Master Colet?’ The man rubbed his nose thoughtfully with one ham-like fist. ‘Close to curfew?’ Slowly, he shook his head. ‘No. I saw nothing of him. Why do you ask?’

‘No reason,’ I answered hastily. ‘I… I thought I recognized him in the street last night, as I left the castle tavern. But I was most likely mistaken.’

‘Most likely you were.’ The gatekeeper shrugged his massive shoulders and turned away to greet the next arrivals.

‘You’re sure?’ I persisted. ‘You’d have known Master Colet if you saw him?’

He gave me a look of withering scorn. ‘And him living within a few yards of the gate for more than two years? Do you think my head’s stuffed with wool? Of course I’d know him! Get along with you, chapman! I’ve work to do. Now then, lad, where are those sheep bound for? Pasture or the Shambles?’

So, Eudo Colet, if he had followed me from Agatha Tenter’s cottage, had not entered by the West Gate. I would make further inquiries at the East Gate later, when I had broken my fast.

Jacinta herself welcomed me as I stooped beneath the lintel and seated myself at a table near the doorway. She hurried across as soon as she had finished serving two travellers with their meal of oatmeal, boiled bacon and salt herring.

‘Here’s a to-do,’ she said, wiping her hands on her apron. ‘You’ve heard, no doubt. Indeed, the whole town must have heard the news by now. Two attacks by the outlaws last night, as far afield as Dartington and Bow Creek. And murder done in the latter place, they’re saying.’

My blood ran cold.

‘Bow Creek? That’s where Grizelda Harbourne has her holding. Is she safe? Who’s been murdered? Have any names been mentioned?’

Jacinta plumped down on a stool opposite, one hand creeping up to her mouth.

‘Grizelda! I’d forgotten her, God forgive me! But I know nothing but what people are saying, that great damage was done that way. A house burned down. And a body discovered in the ashes, early this morning, by two woodsmen on their way to work in the forest. Now, lad, what can I bring you?’ But my appetite had deserted me. I was gripped by a credible fear that something had happened to Grizelda. I jumped to my feet, ignoring the landlady’s protests that I could not leave until I had eaten.

‘I must go at once,’ I said. ‘I must find out if Grizelda is safe.’

A gleam appeared in Jacinta’s eyes, the outlaws momentarily forgotten as she scented gossip.

‘So, that’s the way the wind’s blowing, is it? A little long in the tooth for you, I should have thought, but a handsome enough woman. And age brings experience, they say.’ She let out a raucous cackle of laughter.

I ignored her and made for the ale-house door. All I could think about was getting to Bow Creek as quickly as possible.

By now, the morning’s traffic had increased so much, both in and out of the town, that I had no difficulty obtaining a ride on an empty haywain, which had been relieved of its load and was returning in the direction of the Harbourne River.

The driver, who had lodged overnight in the Priory guesthall, knew no more of events than I did, and was hurrying home to reassure himself that his wife and children had not been harmed.

‘I can’t help worrying, although my holding’s a good half mile to the west of where they say the robbers struck, towards Luscombe way.’