Dissolution

He leaned forward earnestly. 'Sir, this is a house of God, devoted to the worship of Christ.' He bowed his head at the mention of Our Lord's name. 'Nothing like this has happened in the four hundred years it has stood. But in the sinful world outside – some lunatic or, worse, someone dabbling in witchcraft could have entered the grounds with desecration in mind. The spoliation of the altar makes that obvious to me. I think Commissioner Singleton surprised the intruder, or intruders, on his way to this assignation of his. As for the key, the commissioner had one. He had requested it from Prior Mortimus that afternoon.'

'I see. Have you any idea whom he might have been meeting?'

'I wish I had. But that information died with him. Sir, I do not know what violent madmen there may have been in the town lately, but certainly there are rogues enough; half the people are involved in smuggling wool to France.'

'I will raise that tomorrow when I visit the town's Justice, Master Copynger.'

'He is to be involved?' The abbot's eyes narrowed. Plainly that did not please him.

'He and no one else. Tell me, how long have you been abbot here?'

'Fourteen years. Fourteen peaceful years, till now.'

'But there were problems two years ago, were there not? The visitation?'

He reddened. 'Yes. There had been some – backsliding. The old prior – there were corrupt practices, it happens even in the holiest of places.'

'Corrupt and illegal.'

'The old prior was removed, defrocked. The prior is, of course, responsible for the monks' welfare and discipline under me. He was a crafty villain and kept his ill deeds well concealed. But now we have godly discipline again under Prior Mortimus. Commissioner Singleton did not deny that.'

I nodded. 'Now, there are sixty servants here?'

'We have a large complex of buildings to maintain.'

'And – what – thirty monks?'

'Sir, I cannot believe that one of my servants, let alone a monk devoted to the service of God, could have done this thing.'

'All must be suspect at the start, my lord. After all, Commissioner Singleton was here to negotiate the surrender of the monastery. And for all that the pensions His Majesty is graciously offering are generous, I imagine some may take very unkindly to the prospect of the end of their life here.'

'The monks were not told of his purpose. They know only that the commissioner was an emissary of the vicar general. I had Prior Mortimus put it about there was a problem with the title to one of the estates. At Commissioner Singleton's specific request. Only my senior officials, the senior obedentiaries, knew his purpose.'

'Who are they exactly?'

'As well as Prior Mortimus there are Gabriel, the sacrist; Brother Edwig, our bursar; and Brother Guy, the infirmarian. They are the most senior and have all been here for years, save for Brother Guy who came last year. Since the murder there have been all sorts of rumours about why the commissioner was here, but I have kept to the story about a title dispute.'

'Good. We shall hold to that arrangement for the present. Although the question of surrender is one I may wish to return to.'

The abbot paused, choosing his next words carefully.

'Sir, even in these terrible circumstances I must insist on my rights. The Act dissolving the smaller houses said specifically that the greater monasteries were in good order. There is no legal basis to demand a surrender, unless the house has been guilty of some gross breach of the injunctions, which we have not. I do not know why the vicar general should want possession of this monastery. I have heard rumours that others are being asked to surrender, but I must say to you as I said to Master Singleton: I call on the protection the law affords me.' He leaned back, his face red and his lips set, cornered but defiant.

'I see you have a collection of statutes,' I observed.

'I studied law at Cambridge many years ago. You are a lawyer, sir, you know that observance of law is the basis of our society.'

'So it is, but the law changes. New Acts have come, and others will follow.'

He looked at me without expression. He knew as well as I that there would be no more Acts dissolving monasteries by force while the country remained unsettled.

I broke the silence. 'Now, my lord, I would be grateful if you could arrange for me to inspect poor Singleton's body, which as you say is overdue for Christian burial. I will want someone to show me over the monastery, too, but perhaps that would be better done tomorrow. Dusk draws on.'

'Certainly. The body is in a place I think you will agree is both safe and fitting, in the custody of the infirmarian. I will arrange for you to be escorted to him. Please let me state clearly that I will do all I can to help you, though I fear you have a hopeless task.'

'I am grateful.'

'And, now, I have a guest room prepared for you upstairs.'

'Thank you, but I think I would prefer to be nearer the locus of the deed. You have guest rooms in your infirmary?'