The Bishop Must Die Read Online Free PDF Page B

the dean decided to give up the stammering speech which he used as a device of concealment. Candour was safer when Stapledon was in this mood. ‘My lord bishop, if you mean the rector of St Simon’s …’
    ‘Who else could I mean? Tell me, pray. I should like to know which other rector is so foul in the sight of God.
What
?’
    This last was addressed to an anxious servant who had sidled up to him. ‘I thought you might like a little wine, my lord bishop?’
    ‘Put it down and get out!’ While the man set the tray on the sideboard and hurriedly scuttled out again, Bishop Walter took a deep breath. ‘Tell me what actually happened. So far as you can, anyway. If you can
remember
anything now,’ he added snidely.
    ‘Um, it would seem, my lord bishop, that this fellow was enamoured of a young lady in his congregation. Events took their natural course.’
    ‘No, no, Dean! It is
not
natural for a rector to take a woman at all, let alone a married one! Was she willing?’
    ‘I fear that the rector’s lust was entirely his own. The poor lady in question was not a – ah – willing participant.’
    ‘And he also tried to extort money from her husband?’
    ‘Distressingly, I believe that to be the case.’
    ‘So this fellow captured the woman, raped her, and then demanded money from her husband to have her returned. And he took the money and kept the woman. Yes?’
    ‘I fear so.’
    ‘What sort of man is this rector? A cretin who does not understand the foul nature of his crimes? A fool so ill educated that he cannot appreciate the correct behaviour appropriate to his cloth? He should be taken at once. I wish him here.’
    ‘Yes. But there are difficulties.’
    ‘Enlighten me.’
    ‘Rector Paul is the youngest son of Sir Walter de Cockington.’
    ‘What of it?’
    ‘His brother is Sir James. The sheriff.’
    ‘And?’
    ‘It could make for tetchy relations in the city, were we to have him brought here.’
    ‘You think we should allow him to continue in this manner?’
    ‘No, my lord bishop. But I do think that for us to bring him here to your court may well be problematic.’
    ‘Dean, do you condone his behaviour?’
    Dean Alfred gave his bishop a long, contemplative stare. ‘Not even remotely, my lord bishop. No. I personally would be more than content to throw the piece of shit to the dogs. He is foolish, arrogant to a fault, and seems to delight in shaming the Church.’
    ‘Then why do you hesitate? Remove him from his post without delay.’
    ‘His brother is a companion to Sir Hugh le Despenser, so I have heard,’ the dean murmured.
    ‘That I can believe,’ the bishop grunted, and strode to his chair, dropping on to it heavily. ‘The Despenser has friends all over the realm. Men who would take what they wish from anyone, and never pay their debts. Murderers and thieves take the protection of a lord’s livery, and are secure. No man dares take the law against another who is protected by Despenser, the king’s own friend!’
    The bishop knew Sir Hugh le Despenser only too well. Once, Sir Hugh had been an insignificant young knight, but then, after the barons of the realm had won a dispute with the king, suddenly he was hurled into the centre of national politics. Installed in the king’s household as chamberlain, he was set to monitor the king’s expenditure – as a spy. Before long, he had become King Edward’s most trusted friend and adviser. The bishop had grown to know him when Despenser had seemed to be working to the benefit of all. Now his true colours were on display for all to see. Except the king.
    Many suggested that this was because the two were lovers. The Despenser was married to the king’s own niece, Eleanor, and his father elevated to the earldom of Winchester, while he greedily took every opportunity to enrich himself at the expense of others. No one could speak to the king without first paying Sir Hugh; no suit would be presented, were Sir Hugh not rewarded. In all the realm