A Plague of Heretics Read Online Free PDF

Martin’s Lane had found a new tenant. Empty for well over a year since the silversmith who lived there had been murdered, it had been bought cheaply by the former sheriff, Richard de Revelle, John’s brother-in-law. Always striving to make yet more money, Richard had rented it out to Exeter’s first resident physician, Clement of Salisbury, who had recently arrived in the city to set up in practice.
    Apart from muttering an occasional greeting when they passed in the street, John had kept clear of his neighbours, not being a very sociable individual. However, from the limited conversation he had with Matilda, he gathered that the new doctor and his wife were welcome additions to the upper levels of Exeter society.
    Clement was a good-looking man of about John’s age, who dressed exceptionally well, as did his handsome wife. Best of all in Matilda’s eyes, they were very devout and already constant attenders at the cathedral. Now Matilda had invited them to her own church of St Olave’s in Fore Street, for additional services during the week.
    ‘Perhaps I’ll have a few words with him when I next see him,’ muttered de Wolfe. ‘Though I doubt he’ll know any more about plagues and distempers than the monks at St John’s Hospital. He seems to be more interested in dancing attendance on the wealthier folk in the city.’
    As he spoke, he realised that his friend was one of those wealthier folk, but de Relaga was not one to take offence. They spoke for a little while longer, until the clerks began to get restive as they hovered about the portreeve with sheaves of parchment. John finished his wine and rose to leave, his final query to Hugh being about his brother-in-law.
    ‘Have you seen anything of Richard de Revelle lately?’ he asked. ‘I’ve not set eyes on him since I returned – not that it distresses me, but I always feel uneasy if I don’t know what mischief he might be up to!’
    The portreeve grinned. ‘Have you not heard that he’s become a pig farmer now?’
    John stared at him, suspecting some jest, for which Hugh was well known. ‘A pig farmer? The last I heard, he was making money with that private school of his down in Smythen Street.’
    De Relaga nodded, the length of brocade wound around his head bobbing as he did so. ‘He’s still got that, but he’s found a new way of making yet more money. He has several acres of mud down near Clyst St George and another somewhere about Dartmouth, where he has hundreds of swine.’
    John almost gaped in surprise. ‘I can’t see that dandified creature pouring buckets of pigswill or shovelling manure!’ he exclaimed.
    The portreeve shook his head. ‘I doubt he’s ever even seen the damned hogs! He’ll have ill-paid slaves to do that for him.’
    ‘So what’s he up to, for God’s sake?’
    ‘As I said, making money! He discovered that the king’s army in France needed feeding, so he’s supplying salted pork and smoked bacon by the ton. No doubt at inflated prices, but the soldiers have to be fed. He sends shiploads of the stuff over to Barfleur and Honfleur, mainly out of Exmouth, Topsham and Dartmouth.’
    ‘Well, well! It’s a change to see that rascal engaged in some honest trade for once,’ grunted John. ‘But I’ll wager there’s some mischief somewhere – bribing royal purveyors to give a higher price or some such crafty deceit.’
    Hugh shrugged. ‘Perhaps he’s seen the error of his ways at last. I even considered offering to carry some of his cargoes across the Channel in our ships.’
    ‘His money is as good as anyone’s, I suppose,’ conceded John. ‘I’ll leave it to you, as long as you watch the bastard like a hawk!’

CHAPTER TWO
In which Crowner John visits the Bush Inn
     
    John de Wolfe went out into the cold wind and the crowded streets, this time walking to Carfoix near where Thomas had had his hair cut and seen his heretic. The coroner marched across and down the slope of Fore Street, past the tiny church of