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John Baret mounted the stairs to Richard Rochell's chambers His friend of many years had a suite of rooms above a draper's shop It here he kept his records and worked as an accountant and financial adviser Most of his clients had ed to the h the door

'Good Morrow, Richard'

'Good Morrow, John' Richard looked up fros you here on this fine su a document?'

'No' John sat down 'I have been summoned, in a most insolent manner, to appear before a felloho describes hiive an explanation of myself, whatever that o Bailiff Gallor arrived with a beadle and the sacrist They demanded to conduct a search of my premises'

'On what possible grounds?'

'The harbouring of felons'

Richard put down his pen and replaced the lid on his inkwell

'Did they find any?'

'Of course not They searched high and low and all they found was a stray dog and a dead pigeon The sacrist then su?'

'I can hardly refuse Before I left Salisbury I pro in my power to smooth relations between the parish and the abbey It won't look good if I refuse to speak to the abbot-elect'

'Is there anything I can do?'

'I want you to come with me Bradford will have his advisers I don't want to turn up without some support of ne and John Sprotert Harald studied law at Oxford and John is well regarded in Salisbury'

Willialared at the four men who stood before him He sat in the abbot's chair, in his richly decorated chaht and a youngblock knelt on his left Williaaze passed back and forth with the gravity of a judge about to pass sentence After a lengthy silence, he spoke

'Master Baret I summoned youand you alone'

John Baret inclined his head respectfully 'I took the liberty to ask these gentlerant that liberty, Master Baret'

John produced a sheet of paper and began to read in his usual curatulate you, Canon Bradford, on your most praiseworthy election as abbot of this esteemed and ancient Benedictine foundation in our beloved town of Sherborne We recognise that, as lord abbot and rector of All Hallows, you will be responsible for the pastoral care and good guidance of our community …' John droned on and ended with some words about the rule of law and God's Holy Writ'