Murder by the Book (52 page)

The head of the Carmelite Priory in the mid-fourteenth century was William Etone. He held the post until about 1381. Thomas de Riborowe and John Jorz were two of his friars.

In terms of the medical men, John Gyseburne was a Cambridge physician in the mid-fourteenth century, and John Meryfeld later went to work in St Bartholomew’s Priory in London. William Holm was a royal surgeon in 1361; records show him being awarded a fur-lined robe for his services to Princess Isabella. William Rougham was one of Gonville Hall’s foundation Fellows, and became its Master in 1360. He paid for the completion of the College chapel.

Michaelhouse’s Master in 1357 was Ralph de Langelee, and College Fellows included Michael de Causton, William de Gotham, Thomas Suttone, John Clippesby, William Thelnetham, Thomas Ayera and John Valence. Michaelhouse, along with neighbouring King’s Hall and several hostels, became Trinity College in 1546. Michaelhouse’s name survives in St Michael’s Church, which has been lovingly restored, and is now a community centre, art gallery and a popular coffee shop called Michaelhouse.

Other real characters include John Rolee, who was associated with Corpus Christi College (often called Bene’t) in 1357; Robert de Sawtre, a Fellow of Peterhouse from 1339 until his death in 1352; Philip and John de London, who were King’s School scholars in 1319 and 1327 respectively; and Thomas Northwood, who died in 1354. William Walkelate was admitted to King’s Hall in about 1350; he was the son of another William Walkelate, who was the King’s sergeant-at-arms, and he was ‘removed’ from the College in 1358. William de Tynkell was Chancellor of the University in the 1350s, and died in 1370.

The Battle of Poitiers in 1356 was a significant event in French history. Many noble families lost heirs in the slaughter, and the defeat rocked the nation’s confidence and pride. A large number of prisoners were taken, most of whom negotiated ransoms within a few days, although others, like King Jean, the Archbishop of Sens, the Count of Eu and Bonabes IV de Rougé de Derval were taken to England first. Bonabes was kept in the Tower of London until his ransom (£1886) could be paid. The money was handed over, although he managed to escape from the Tower in the interim.

The ransoms were crippling to a country in economic and political turmoil, which was probably exactly what Edward III intended. The burden of providing the money fell on the peasantry, who resented it deeply: the nobles had failed to keep their end of the bargain by protecting them from invasion, so why should they buy their overlords’ release? It was one of the factors leading to the Jacquerie Revolt in the summer of 1358 – a popular uprising that was quelled with vicious brutality by the nobles.

By the time Poitiers was fought, rudimentary artillery had been in use for several years. One such device was
the ribauldequin. It was capable of discharging several missiles simultaneously, and for this reason it has (probably erroneously) been hailed as the precursor of the modern machine gun. It was not noted for its accuracy, and was often more dangerous to the men operating it than to the enemy. Its power was probably psychological, along with the fact that its noise and smoke frightened warhorses.

Wildfire was known in ancient times, although historians disagree as to what it contained, and in what ratios. Sulphur (brimstone), pitch and charcoal were likely ingredients, while distilled rock oil was thought to provide the sticky, jelly-like quality that made it adhere to whatever it touched. In essence, it was a primitive form of napalm, and would have instilled horror in those who thought it might be deployed against them.

There is no evidence that wildfire was used in the Hundred Years War, and it had been banned by the popes as ‘too murderous’, anyway, but spies would have been alert for any weapon that might confer an advantage on their respective countries.