proof that I paid the proper fee for the right to remain there until now.” His voice betrayed no resentment.
Ralf glared. His roughness of manner would not surprise this man and would also let the crowner hide his thoughts. In fact, he hated the Statute of Jewry. Courtiers had long howled over debts they owed Jewish moneylenders, debts made more onerous because of royal policies that required greater speed in repayment. Now that Edward had turned to Italian merchants for his own needs, instead of relying on the Jews, he could gain favor with his barons by eliminating future usurious loans, ham- pering repayment of past ones, and putting harsher restrictions on a despised group.
The crowner felt some sympathy for the king’s people, and most certainly resented the extra work the Statute caused sher- iffs, but none of this would he admit to Jacob ben Asser, a man who might be a murderer. “You travel with your wife. Others?” The man gestured toward the unfinished stables. “One maid servant and my mother-in-law. The others were sent ahead to seek lodging for us all in Norwich, along with the armed men
we had hired for protection on the road.” A mewling cry came from the hut.
All Jacob’s determination to remain impassive melted. He began to wring his hands. “My wife is heavy with child, my
lord. She suffers greatly and cannot travel the last distance to Norwich. If you will, accept payment in exchange for permis- sion to remain…”
“Keep your coin. I want it not,” Ralf snapped. “As for the health of your wife, there is a well-regarded hospital close by this village at Tyndal Priory. Let me tell them of your wife’s need, and they will send someone for her. I know your…”
“Forgive me if I offend, but my child must not be born on priory grounds. Babes of my people are often baptized against the will of the parents. The child is then placed in a Christian family because he may no longer live with his Jewish parents, unless they also convert. Perhaps you can understand why one of my faith would be wary.”
Suddenly, Ralf grew angry. “You would cling to your faith and let your wife die?”
Jacob paled but said nothing for a moment, then asked, “Are you married, my lord?”
“Your question is impertinent. What is your point?”
“If you and your pregnant wife were stranded in the land ruled by those you deem heretics, would you foreswear your faith, deny the one whom you worship, if such were the price of saving her life?”
“A priest would say that your decision would not have the same weight as mine.” Ralf responded as he believed proper for a Christian, but he secretly knew he would do anything to save Gytha’s life were she the one bearing the child. He looked away, hoping to hide that weakness from ben Asser.
Jacob bowed. “If you have no further need to speak with me, I beg leave to attend my wife.”
Ralf saw the redness in the man’s brown eyes, deep lines in his forehead, and gray streaks in his black hair. If a man could age in a few moments of conversation, Jacob ben Asser had. Surely all these details had been present before, but the crowner had not noted them. “I have need to speak with you but not now. Go to your wife.” He gestured at Cuthbert. “My sergeant will remain here as your guard. The other man…he has been detained.”
Ben Asser murmured something and raced back inside. Ralf spun around. “You will stay.”
Cuthbert’s eyes widened in horror. “Why? My wife…” “She knows your duties for me often delay you.”
“Let these people hire another to guard them.”
Stepping closer to keep his words private, Ralf whispered: “No one in this village will do so. These are Jews. Their last guard has been murdered, and Mistress Signy overhead ben Asser arguing with him. Whatever the truth of the matter, he might be judged guilty of the crime simply because of his faith. If word spreads of this argument, the village may rise against the man and
Ralf glared. His roughness of manner would not surprise this man and would also let the crowner hide his thoughts. In fact, he hated the Statute of Jewry. Courtiers had long howled over debts they owed Jewish moneylenders, debts made more onerous because of royal policies that required greater speed in repayment. Now that Edward had turned to Italian merchants for his own needs, instead of relying on the Jews, he could gain favor with his barons by eliminating future usurious loans, ham- pering repayment of past ones, and putting harsher restrictions on a despised group.
The crowner felt some sympathy for the king’s people, and most certainly resented the extra work the Statute caused sher- iffs, but none of this would he admit to Jacob ben Asser, a man who might be a murderer. “You travel with your wife. Others?” The man gestured toward the unfinished stables. “One maid servant and my mother-in-law. The others were sent ahead to seek lodging for us all in Norwich, along with the armed men
we had hired for protection on the road.” A mewling cry came from the hut.
All Jacob’s determination to remain impassive melted. He began to wring his hands. “My wife is heavy with child, my
lord. She suffers greatly and cannot travel the last distance to Norwich. If you will, accept payment in exchange for permis- sion to remain…”
“Keep your coin. I want it not,” Ralf snapped. “As for the health of your wife, there is a well-regarded hospital close by this village at Tyndal Priory. Let me tell them of your wife’s need, and they will send someone for her. I know your…”
“Forgive me if I offend, but my child must not be born on priory grounds. Babes of my people are often baptized against the will of the parents. The child is then placed in a Christian family because he may no longer live with his Jewish parents, unless they also convert. Perhaps you can understand why one of my faith would be wary.”
Suddenly, Ralf grew angry. “You would cling to your faith and let your wife die?”
Jacob paled but said nothing for a moment, then asked, “Are you married, my lord?”
“Your question is impertinent. What is your point?”
“If you and your pregnant wife were stranded in the land ruled by those you deem heretics, would you foreswear your faith, deny the one whom you worship, if such were the price of saving her life?”
“A priest would say that your decision would not have the same weight as mine.” Ralf responded as he believed proper for a Christian, but he secretly knew he would do anything to save Gytha’s life were she the one bearing the child. He looked away, hoping to hide that weakness from ben Asser.
Jacob bowed. “If you have no further need to speak with me, I beg leave to attend my wife.”
Ralf saw the redness in the man’s brown eyes, deep lines in his forehead, and gray streaks in his black hair. If a man could age in a few moments of conversation, Jacob ben Asser had. Surely all these details had been present before, but the crowner had not noted them. “I have need to speak with you but not now. Go to your wife.” He gestured at Cuthbert. “My sergeant will remain here as your guard. The other man…he has been detained.”
Ben Asser murmured something and raced back inside. Ralf spun around. “You will stay.”
Cuthbert’s eyes widened in horror. “Why? My wife…” “She knows your duties for me often delay you.”
“Let these people hire another to guard them.”
Stepping closer to keep his words private, Ralf whispered: “No one in this village will do so. These are Jews. Their last guard has been murdered, and Mistress Signy overhead ben Asser arguing with him. Whatever the truth of the matter, he might be judged guilty of the crime simply because of his faith. If word spreads of this argument, the village may rise against the man and
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