Early on Friday Alan sent a messenger to the castle seeking an afternoon appointment to see Roger Bigod, the Shire Sheriff, who Alan knew to be in the city. Orvin’s contacts and scribe had performed as hoped, and when Alan walked into the castle’s Hall accompanied by Orvin’s scribe Cynefrid he carried six rolled-up depositions of complaint.
Roger Bigod was about ten years older than Alan and had been a quite undistinguished knight in Normandy before the invasion. Afterwards William had granted him land in Suffolk and appointed him its sheriff. Both men were of similar status, both tenants-in-chief holding directly from the king but both with relatively modest estates. Alan was a member of the King’s Council and Roger was not, but as sheriff he also had the ear of the king. Of stocky build and with short dark hair he rose and clasped arms with Alan as he entered and offered him a cup of watered wine.
On being introduced to Cynefrid he asked if he needed his own scribe present and Alan suggested that it would be a good idea. Roger roared out to the guard standing on the other side of the closed door of the office “Send for Jocelin!” and chatted amiably until the clerk arrived. “Now what’s this all about?” he demanded. “You’re a fair way out of your own lands here.”
“We are both officers of the king here in East Anglia,” said Alan with slight exaggeration. “You know that King William has decreed that all Englishmen, and that includes those Normans and French living in England at the time of Hastings, have to pay to redeem their land.”
Roger nodded abruptly and said, “And I understand that you spoke against that.”
Alan made an acquiescing motion with his right hand and said, “True, but that’s of no matter. The king made his decree and it is law and we’re all required to uphold that. King William of course left these shores in March, leaving the governance of the land to his relatives William fitzOsbern and Odo of Bayeux. The Relief is, along with the quarterly collection of the geld, currently the most important financial activity in the kingdom. Collection of the geld is in the hands of the sheriffs such as yourself. You all have to account for each penny collected.
“As to the Heriot Relief, here in East Anglia responsibility to administer the charge lies with Earl Ralph the Staller, William the Bishop of London and Engelric the former Royal Priest. As it requires no fixed amount and gives some discretion, the Relief is open to abuse. I have heard many stories of sharp practice and abuse either by those three officers or their servants and I’ve recently started to investigate the accuracy of these stories in Essex. I have been here in Ipswich since Saturday, in that time I have been sought out and presented with six depositions detailing threats, extortionate Relief demands, demands for immediate payment or immediate forfeiture of land. In one case there was a demand that a comely daughter of a wealthy man must marry a particular Norman knight or the father will not be offered Relief of his land. I understand that the marriage is due a week tomorrow and that the maid, who is thirteen, does not consent but is being made to wed against her will.
“These are no doubt just a few of many instances of abuse in East Anglia. King William has ordered the Relief, but these abuses will not be tolerable to him or any moral-minded man such as yourself. It appears that fitzOsbern and Odo are too busy with the problems in their own areas of responsibility to keep a proper eye on the situation and that these three royal officers are either involved in the abuse or are incompetent in their supervision of their minions. The sheriffs are responsible for the maintenance of the law in their shires, so it’s not open for them to say that responsibility lies elsewhere.”
“You have spoken to fitzWymarc about this?” demanded Bigod.
“Not as yet. As you said, I’m out of my jurisdiction here, on personal business. I wished to raise the matter with you privately before it’s raised officially, so you can take such action as you think fit. I suggest that forbidding the marriage referred to in the deposition with the red ribbon would be a good start. Raising the other issues with the officers referred to in the depositions would be sensible and protect your own position. I do, of course, have attested copies of the depositions. You may like to pass the word around the shire that you would be prepared to accept and investigate further depositions.”
“You intend to make an issue of this with the king and the Council? Why? You won’t make yourself any friends amongst the people who count, including the king,” queried Bigod.
“Because it needs to be done and I’m not worried about upsetting those responsible for the Reliefs- or those that they have been involving or bribing. I have no political ambitions.”
Bigod stroked his chin reflectively. He privately conceded the truth of what Alan had said, and indeed had received some benefit himself. However, to do nothing risked losing the important and lucrative position of sheriff. “Jocelin, take the depositions, go through them and give me the details. Alan, I take it you intend to discuss these matters with Bishop William, Earl Ralph and Engelric?” said Bigod.
“Certainly, as soon as I meet with them. I have my own schedule and I don’t intend to run all over three shires chasing them. I’ll probably see them in London in a few months. If you want to advise them of our discussion and my investigations, please feel free. I’ll appoint a food taster and I already have bodyguards! There are six men waiting for me in the guardroom at the moment at escort me to my lodgings. I’m sure that if something happens to me before he returns, King William will not be happy- particularly when he still receives the depositions. I’m sure that all we Officers of the King will all act in the best interests of the king and the kingdom.”
Back at Carr Street Alan advised Orvin and the others the gist of what had been discussed and made arrangements to leave the following morning, with four guards staying at Orvin’s house for the night.
“I’m so proud of you, doing something to help the English thegns,” said Anne softly as they lay in bed that night.
“I just hope that we don’t both come to regret it,” said Alan feeling a little despondent.
Next morning, Saturday 16th June, accompanied by Brother Wacian, they rode out of the city as soon as the gates opened at dawn, Alan and each of the escort was wearing full armour, helmets placed on the saddle pommels, and most of the men were leading either the pack-horses or the newly purchased horses. Brother Wacian had met them at the gate, looked surprised at Anne’s riding attire and gratefully accepting the offer of the use of one of the horses. Alan and Anne rode at the head of the group as usual, but this time with their saddlebags filled with silver. When they were a dozen miles out of Ipswich Alan ordered a halt and allowed his men to remove their heavy armour. While they did so the horses cropped the grass, Odin standing close to Anne’s palfrey Misty and nuzzling her shoulder occasionally.
It was only when they crossed the River Stour and rode into Manningtree and Tendring Hundred that Alan felt safe. The weather had changed around mid-day, becoming cooler and overcast, before light showers set in and caused the riders to pause and rummage through their baggage for their cloaks to keep the rain off. Alan checked the oiled canvas covering on the parchments and books to ensure they were being kept safe and dry. They arrived at Thorrington in the mid-afternoon, to a tumultuous reception by Anne’s hounds and a genuinely warm welcome from the servants.
Alan introduced Brother Wacian to Osmund and Faran. Deciding that there was no use in delaying unpleasant matters he summoned Brother Godwine, advised him of the immediate termination of his benefice as rector of Thorrington Parish, paid him a month’s salary and asked him and his mistress to vacate the rectory within the week.