No Law in the Land: (Knights Templar 27)

amercement

the fines imposed for many offences, some of which were not the fault of the persons fined – see
deodand
and
murdrum
below.

bastide

a fortified town in France.

deodand

the sum demanded for the king, based on the value of any weapon used in a slaying. The system of claiming deodand, fixed by
the coroner, was not ended until the 1800s in England, as a result of lobbying by railway companies, after some very expensive
accidents in which the trains themselves were claimed as deodand.

Guyenne

those lands owned by the English on the French mainland, mainly centred around Bordeaux.

hobby

a low-grade horse, a little higher than a nag, but below a rounsey, and generally good for short distances or for use as a
packhorse.

leyrwite

the fine for promiscuity among men and women – commonly for adultery in men and bearing a child outside wedlock for women.

maslin

peasant bread made from mixed wheat and rye grains.

murdrum

the fine for not being able to prove ‘Englishry’. This was based on the days of conquest when, in order to quash resistance to Norman rule and halt the terrorists (or freedom
fighters, depending upon your point of view) from murdering Normans, when a body was found it was assumed to be a Norman unless
the local vill
could prove with witnesses that the corpse was that of a local Englishman. The ‘presentment of Englishry’ was a requirement
until 1340, when it was effectively abolished. So if a stranger was found dead, it would be likely to be a heavy financial
burden on the local community.

palfrey

a good-quality riding horse – sometimes worth £4 or more.

peine fort et dure

the punishment for arrested men who refused to plead in court, this was a hideous and lengthy process whereby the victim was
staked out on the ground so that he could not move, and weights were gradually added to his breast to make breathing harder
and harder. Eventually it did lead to death, although the official line was that when a prisoner died from it, it was ‘natural
causes’.

rounsey

lower-quality horse, generally robust, but cheaper.

trail bastons

early in the 1300s, these gangs of ‘club men’ wandered the country, robbing all they could from the unwary. The problem grew
so acute that there were special courts set up to enquire about them.

triacleur

a ‘quack’ doctor, known to wander the country selling potions often formed solely of treacle or some similar sweet mixture.

Baldwin de Furnshill

the Keeper of the King’s Peace and an astute investigator of crimes, motivated by a hatred of any form of injustice.

Jeanne de Furnshill

wife to Sir Baldwin; widow of Sir Ralph de Liddinstone, a coarse and harsh husband who abused her.

Richalda

Baldwin and Jeanne’s daughter, now three years old.

Baldwin

Baldwin and Jeanne’s son, born Martinmas last year.

Simon Puttock

Baldwin’s friend and once a servant to the Abbot of Tavistock; now Simon waits to hear whether he will have a post since the death of Abbot Champeaux.

Margaret (Meg)

Simon’s wife, who is distraught at losing their home in Lydford due to the machinations of Sir Hugh le Despenser.

Edith

Simon and Margaret’s daughter, seventeen years old, who is now married to Peter and living in Exeter.

Peter

Edith’s husband.

Jane

maidservant to Edith and Peter.

Charles

Peter’s father.

Jan

Peter’s mother.

Edgar

Baldwin’s loyal servant, once his sergeant in the Knights Templar.

Perkin

also Peterkin, Simon and Margaret’s three-year-old son.

Sir Peregrine de Barnstaple

Known to hate Despenser, Sir Peregrine has become a coroner.

Sir Richard de Welles

loud and crude, he is the coroner for Lifton.

Bishop Walter

Walter Stapledon of Exeter, once the king’s trusted lord high treasurer and negotiator.

Raymond, Cardinal de Fargis

the negotiator sent by the pope to adjudicate between the two contenders for the abbacy at Tavistock.

John de Courtenay

a keen monk who wants the abbacy at Tavistock.

Robert Busse

the abbot-elect, who was given the post at the election, but was not confirmed, subject to the investigation of allegations
made against him by John de Courtenay.

Brother Pietro de Torrino

a monk in the cardinal’s entourage.

Brother Anselm

cheerful and content, this monk lives at Tavistock.

Brother Mark

a quiet, thoughtful monk from Tavistock.

Sir Hugh le Despenser

the king’s closest friend and confidant, now the richest and most powerful man in the land after the king himself.

Sir James de Cockington

the new sheriff of Exeter.

Hoppon

peasant living south of Jacobstowe.

Roger

wandering mercenary and sailor on his way to sea to escape the violence and mayhem in
France.

William atte Wattere

henchman of Despenser, a violent and dangerous felon who’ll do anything to support his master.

William Walle

nephew to Stapledon.

John de Padington

steward to Stapledon.

Bill Lark

bailiff of Jacobstowe.

Agnes

wife to Bill.

Sir Robert de Traci

once a knight in the king’s household, now Sir Robert has fallen out of favour and has become an outlaw operating from his
castle outside Bow, at Nymet Traci.

Osbert

henchman to Sir Robert, his most trusted manat-arms.

Basil

son of Sir Robert de Traci, and heir to the castle of Nymet Traci.

Stephen of Shoreditch

a messenger for Despenser and the king.

Master Harold

Peter’s master while he was an apprentice.

John Pasmere

peasant of Bow.

Art Miller

peasant from Jacobstowe guarding murder scene.

John Weaver

peasant from Jacobstowe guarding murder scene.

Jack Begbeer

farmer from near Bow.