The man was quick on his feet, but so am I. As he went through the window I discarded my dagger and leaped to arrest his flight. I caught one heel with both hands as he straddled the window frame. Momentum caused his body to continue its path out the window while my grip held one foot in place. I braced a knee against the window sill and held tight to Sir Jocelin's ankle. One man had escaped me through a window. I was determined that another would not. A moment later the knight dangled, kicking and squalling, from the window, suspended a dozen feet or so above the mud of the toft.
Sir Jocelin's cries brought Sir Roger back to the toff. He looked up to find the source of the tumult and beheld Hawkwode, heels over head, suspended from a window. Above the bawling Sir Jocelin the sheriff saw me, my hands clenched tight about the fellow's ankle. This task would have offered Arthur little challenge, but my grip was not so sure, and I was near to letting the fellow fall.
This was too much for Sir Roger. He stared openmouthed for a moment, then laughed. This became a roaring guffaw. The sheriff slapped his thighs with glee and soon the warder and sergeants were also snickering. Even Sir Jocelin's friends saw humor in the spectacle and grinned.
Sir Roger soon recovered his composure, took stock of the situation, and shouted advice. "Drop him," he suggested. It is always best to obey authorities. I did. And in truth I could hold the man no longer.
Sir Jocelin landed upon his head in the mud of the toff. Two of the sheriff's men were immediately upon him, but their restraint was unnecessary. The fellow was in no mood or condition to attempt escape.
I left the window and hastened to the toft. Hawkwode was on his feet when I arrived. The warder and sergeants were yet grinning at his head-first arrival there.
"This is the fellow?" Sir Roger asked.
"Aye."
"The others?" he asked as he glanced to Sir Jocelin's companions. "Were they a part of this business?"
"I do not recognize them, but it may be so."
"No matter. We'll have them all to the castle and sort this out. Bring 'em along," he directed the warder.
We returned to the street through the house, passing the quaking servant who stood where Sir Roger had left him. Half-way from house to castle I saw Arthur approach, striding from around the Church of St Peter-le-Bailey. I had been so occupied with events that it had not occurred to me that he was tardy returning from his mission to return Kate to Holywell Street.
Arthur glanced from me to Sir Jocelin as he approached. It was clear from his manner that something vexed him. The others continued toward the castle gatehouse while I stopped to greet Arthur.
"You have Sir Jocelin, I see. That the new sheriff?"
"Aye. Sir Roger was eager to favor Lord Gilbert's bailiff."
"Sorry I was delayed. Couldn't be helped," Arthur growled. "Kate an' me got to 'er father's shop an' who was marchin' down Holywell Street but Sir Simon an' a squire. New fella', never seen 'im before. Sir Simon give us a vile look an' says to Kate, `Takin up with a bailiff is not low enough for you, eh? Is this churl your new love? I'll next see you on Grope Lane, no doubt."'
My rage was instant. Arthur saw and grasped my arm. "No need to seek 'im," he said, and held out his right hand before me. The knuckles were split and lightly caked with drying blood. 'E'll be more careful of 'ow 'e speaks of a lass henceforth."
"Kate is safe?"
"Aye. Delivered to her father."
"And Sir Simon?"
"Well, I don't know as he's in best of health. Last I seen, 'e was walkin' Holywell Street toward the Augustinian Friars Hall."
"Seeking medical care, was he?" I smiled.
"Aye. 'At would be my guess," Arthur grinned in return. "I told 'im I knew of a competent surgeon who could mend 'is lip. Paid no heed."
Beyond Arthur, where the road through the Westgate circles south of the castle and crosses the Castle Mill Stream, I saw four horsemen appear. Three wore the same livery of blue and black as Arthur. The lord at their head was too far away to identify but I knew it must be my employer.
Arthur followed my gaze and together we awaited the arrival of Lord Gilbert. I was surprised to see him. It is his custom to remove to Goodrich Castle for Christmas and the winter, and this he does by Martinmas or thereabouts, before the roads turn to mire and winter cold is upon the land.
"Hugh," he called out when he saw who awaited him before the castle gatehouse. "You are well met."
The unexpected nature of Lord Gilbert's appearance must have been reflected on my face. He swung down from his mount and explained. "Word has reached Bampton of Sir Roger replacing Sir John as sheriff. Sir Roger is an old friend. I thought to offer congratulations, and see how does your pursuit of thieves proceed."
"You have just missed Sir Roger, m'lord. He has three miscreants in hand we wish to examine regarding Master John's stolen books and other untoward events."
"We?" Lord Gilbert questioned. "You have met Sir Roger?"
"Aye."
"But you've found no books, I think."
"One, m'lord."
"One?" Lord Gilbert raised an eyebrow.
"It was in the possession of a penniless scholar who was then found dead in the Cherwell… but not drowned, murdered." The eyebrow lifted higher.
"And Kate? How does your lass?"
"She is well, m'lord."
"'Tis past time I should be at Goodrich," he explained, "but I delay so as to learn of the recovery of Master Wyclif's books. And Lady Petronilla will not remove to Goodrich until she has seen you wed."
"I am sorry to interfere with your plans, m'lord. I wish to be wed soon, but I am obligated to Master John."
"Well, Sir Roger will be of more aid to you than Sir John, I think. He is in the castle, you say?"
"Aye. With a man I wish to question."
"Let us seek him out, then."
Lord Gilbert strode toward the gatehouse, leaving his horse to be led by a groom. I followed close behind, with Arthur a pace behind me.
Oxford Castle has been enlarged and restored many times. Its passageways are many and crooked and a man might easily lose his way. But not Lord Gilbert; he marched straight to the sheriff's chamber.
Sir Jocelin Hawkwode's henchmen stood beside the clerk's table in the antechamber. The warder stood alert near them, and two sergeants guarded the passageway door. A few supplicants remained in the room, but most had abandoned their pleas for the day. Sir Roger was not in view.
The clerk recognized me and saw that my companion was a gentleman of rank. He leaped to his feet. Not because of me.
"Sir Roger is within," he explained. "Who shall I say…?"
"Gilbert Talbot," Lord Gilbert said, loudly enough that his words surely penetrated to the inner chamber, for the door was ajar. "Tell the knave I've come to see for myself if the King's judgment be so clouded as to put him in this place."
The door swung open and Sir Roger's bulky form filled the doorway. "The King," he replied, "could not decide whether to punish my many transgressions by clapping me in the tower or by assigning me to this post."
Slapping of shoulders and backs accompanied this banter. It was clear Lord Gilbert and Sir Roger were friends. Enemies would not speak so to each other.
"I wondered," Sir Roger said, turning to me, "where you'd got to. You wish to question Sir Jocelin?"
"Aye. And it would be well if you and Lord Gilbert attend the inquiry. A bailiff alone might not pry from a man what a scowling sheriff and baron might, even did they speak no word."
Sir Roger motioned Lord Gilbert and me into his chamber and closed the door. Sir Jocelin sat at the table, but sprang to his feet when Lord Gilbert entered. All semblance of bluster was gone from Hawkwode's features and manner. Here is a man, I thought, who finds himself in trouble he had not anticipated. When in the past I found it necessary to interrogate such men, I discovered it was often best to keep silent so much as possible, and allow invention to loosen their tongues. A man of ripe imagination who thinks on potential punishment due him will often say more than he would otherwise intend, hoping thereby to escape judgment.