‘Jared of Hurnwych, blacksmith of this parish, come into the court!’
The manor Great Hall, which had seen so many banquets and bawdy entertainments, was now an echoing vastness. One end was set up as an episcopal inquisition with tables and a dais. The judge, a heavy-faced and sour individual in black with a winged scholar’s cap, sat in the centre high chair. Others in severe robes attended on either side.
‘Approach the judge in due obeisance,’ ordered the proctor.
Jared quailed. This was not a court of law, it was a bishop’s inquisition into an accusation and if this judge deemed it upheld and he guilty, he would be handed over to the civil authorities for punishment – with this charge, nothing less than the stake!
He moved forward and fell to one knee, his head bowed.
‘Rise.’
The rest of the court was packed with village folk: curious, sorrowful, perplexed – everyone who knew him and was known by him. Would they be the ones to howl and dance as the flames put an end to his existence?
‘My lord, this man stands accused of the most heinous diabolical practices, of a nature that is worthy of the extreme sanction.’
‘Bring forth the chief accuser.’
There was a stir to one side and John Frauncey came forth. He gave a quick glance at Jared then refused to catch his eye.
Frauncey! The high-and-mighty bailiff’s clerk, whose courting of Aldith he’d frustrated.
Was this mysterious and baffling charge an act of revenge by a deranged suitor? If it was, then it would be Frauncey who would suffer. Bearing false witness was both a churchly and civil felony, heavily punishable. But then Jared remembered that there were no less than five witnesses. If this was vengeance it was well planned.
‘John Frauncey, give your evidence.’
Sworn on oath, he spoke with quiet venom. ‘My lord, I accuse Jared of Hurnwych with falsehood, deceit – and sorcery.’
The judge waited for the ripple of shock to subside. ‘Go on.’
‘He did abuse the charity of the Holy Church by representing himself to be a pilgrim to the Holy Sepulchre. My lord, not only did he fail to make worship there, he had quite another object in mind.’
‘And what was that?’
‘To enter in on the lands of the Saracen and infidel, there to learn their black arts and heretical practices, which presently he does indulge privily here in Hurnwych.’
This time there was open disbelief and dismay that had the judge threatening to clear the court.
‘Let the accusation be recorded. Master Frauncey, you have evidence?’
‘I do, My Lord. Four more witnesses to his detestable conduct other than myself.’
Hardly believing his ears, Jared heard how his nightly visits to the old priory had aroused suspicion and perplexity, and this had reached Frauncey’s ears. He’d taken four men and followed him and they’d been terrified and unnerved to see him conjure fire and brimstone deep in the haunted ruins, manifestly in an attempt to raise the Devil himself.
‘If further evidence is required, it can be produced, My Lord.’
‘Do so.’
‘Since his arrest, his house has been searched, and with this result.’
Two clay jars and a series of small bags were offered up.
‘And what is that?’
‘The apparatus of sorcery, My Lord. Brimstone, which he acquired from a pedlar with a tale of pestilence in his house, but which is well known as necessary in the summoning of Satan, his master. Various other substances of strange and unknown purpose, and—’
‘I see. Any further evidence?’
‘There is, My Lord, particularly concerning his lunatic behaviour under diabolic influence among the pigsties and animal dung of this village …’
‘We may hear of this later. Have you any further first-hand witnesses?’
‘His servant Perkyn Slewfoot will have beholden these foul deeds and might be examined to advantage.’
‘Let him be called.’
There was something both noble and pathetic about Perkyn when he was brought forward. No longer young and artless he was now stooped and worried and moved with a spiritless shuffle, bringing murmurs of sympathy from the villagers.
‘What can you tell us about what took place at the priory?’
Clearly awed by his surroundings he lifted his head, glancing nervously at Jared as if for strength, but then drew himself up. He was now going to pay back the debt of life he owed his old master.
‘It’s not right, he going to worship the Devil. He never did and I never saw Satan ever!’ he burst out bravely. ‘On my life, I never!’
A murmur began among the villagers that the judge ignored, coming back immediately, ‘Then what was he doing in a far place with those substances – a ruin that all do shun?’
Jared tensed. What would Perkyn answer?
‘Come along!’ the judge rapped testily. ‘You were there with him, you must know what he was about.’
Perkyn looked despairingly at Jared.
‘You are on oath and sworn to tell this court—’
‘He was trying to make huo yao,’ he blurted. ‘Not calling the Devil at all!’
‘What are you talking about, you villain?’ spluttered the judge.
Cringing, Jared heard Perkyn continue.
‘Why, that’s a secret powder that he’s going to use to tear down the walls of every castle in the kingdom!’ he said proudly.
It was met with incredulous gasps and pitying laughter, but the judge glowered.
‘Your loyalty does you credit but as a witness you are worthless. I believe I’ve heard enough and am minded to conclude the proceedings. Jared of Hurnwych, have you anything wherewith to rebut these accusations?’
He swallowed hard. What he said next would either cast him to the flames or …
‘I do, My Lord.’
‘Then let us hear it.’
‘Only because of the respect in which I hold this court will my secret now be revealed.’
‘If you are trifling with me it will go hard with you, that I can assure you!’
‘Not at all, My Lord. I only crave understanding.’
‘What is this secret, then?’
‘I am toiling hard to devise works of fire that do surprise and entertain for holy day occasions and feasts. I work privily for fear my discoveries will be stolen by those who will set up in rivalry to me. The old ruins are convenient for another reason, My Lord. The stink of the huo yao is offensive to some and I would spare them.’
‘Works of fire! You expect me to believe such nonsense? You’d better find another line of rebuttal, or this inquisition must draw its own conclusions!’
‘Then you’ll take an evidence, My Lord?’ he asked innocently.
‘Evidence? What evidence?’
‘If I am so indulged, I can produce these works of fire for your enlightening, here in this very place before you all.’
The judge blinked, and sat back, baffled.
‘And from the very materials that were taken from my house!’
He prayed he’d remembered right what he had on hand, or it could be a sorry and tragic spectacle.
‘You will conjure works of fire as you call them, before me now?’
‘My lord.’
‘From the substances seized as evidence against you?’
A table was brought and space cleared around it. A plain pottery dish had also been asked for and with heart thumping Jared checked the jars. The lord be praised – here was a three-day-old trial with the five-part hsiao, last week’s failed three-part sulphur and another that he hadn’t trialled yet.
‘This is my huo yao, My Lord.’
He passed up a scruple, which the judge sniffed suspiciously.
‘This smells to me like nothing other than the Devil’s own dust, I swear.’
‘You will see it is not, My Lord.’
Taking the five-part hsiao powder he heaped it generously on the plate, an inert dull grey.
The hall held its collective breath in a deathly silence as he prepared the display.
‘My lord, the huo yao sleeps now, but when touched by flame it does awaken in violence. I beg pardon for any dismay it might cause. Are you ready?’
‘Yes, yes. Get on with it.’
A taper was brought and Jared paused, looking up significantly. ‘Upon your command, My Lord.’
‘Very well.’
He brought the flame slowly down to the tail of the ridge. It caught, and in an instant flared up blindingly, quickly replaced by a roiling pillar of smoke mounting to the ceiling, the sulphurous reek of the combustion drifting down on the stunned spectators.
A shocked silence was followed moments later by gasps of admiration and cries from all sides.
‘Here is another.’
The three-part sulphur behaved as he knew it would, with a fizz and splutter of yellow and blue, bringing yet more applause.
‘And finally …’
It was the untried batch, which he spread liberally across the blackened plate.
This time it went up in a satisfying whoomf, which had some falling to their knees, overcome.
The judge took a little time to recover then intoned, ‘I rule that these accusations may be shown to have an alternate explanation and therefore cannot be sustained. Jared of Hurnwych is hereby discharged.’