"Now this business is concluded shall we soon have a wedding?" Lord Gilbert laughed.
"Aye, m'lord. I think so."
"The Lady Petronilla will not set off for Goodrich til she has seen you wed. She will know the day, and wills me send her coach for your maid when the wedding day be set."
Master Wyclif greeted the news with mixed joy and sorrow. He was pleased to learn that his books, had Westminster sold none, would be soon returned, but distressed to learn of Brother Hamon's duplicity. The monk, he growled, would be sent straightaway back to Canterbury.
I arrived at Holywell Street at the ninth hour. Kate was pleased, I think, to see me. Word of the brawl on Canditch had come to the shop, and as she had heard nothing from me for a day, worry was gnawing at her. It is not a bad thing when a comely lass is anxious for your welfare.
It was near dark, and time for supper when I concluded the tale of the past days. A simple pottage stewed upon the hearth, but pottage in company with Kate is much to be preferred over similar fare consumed with the scholars of Canterbury Hall.
There was now no impediment to our marriage. With her father we set the eleventh day of January for the ceremony. Advent was now upon us, and no marriage possible until Christmas was past. I told Kate that Lady Petronilla had in mind to send her carriage to Oxford. This pleased her. Few maids will ride to their wedding in a lady's wagon.
It was near time for curfew when I left Kate and walked with light heart to Canterbury Hall. The only man who might seek me harm lay abed in the Augustinian Friary, but footpads might be about, so I kept a hand upon my dagger until I reached the Hall.
Master John was pleased to learn that a date was set when I would become a husband and vowed that he would be at the porch of the Church of St Beornwald for the event.
Next day Arthur and I broke our fast with maslin loaves and ale, retrieved Bruce and the palfrey from the Stag and Hounds, and set off for Bampton. The bells of Oseney Abbey rang for terce as Bruce lumbered past the tower. The bells were pleasant to the ear, but I hoped not to hear them again for many days.
It was the law of Moses that when a man took a bride he would be free from obligation to go to war for a year, nor would he be charged with any business for that time. I hoped Lord Gilbert would remember the injunction but, alas, this was not to be.
Although the fault lay not with Lord Gilbert.
Sir John Trillowe was indeed Sheriff of Oxford from July to November, 1365. I do not know if his term was brief due to illness, death, incompetence, or malfeasance. I chose the last of these.