Unquiet Bones , livre ebook

Lion Hudson - Mel Starr

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108 pages

English

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Hugh of Singleton, fourth son of a minor knight, has been educated as a clerk, usually a prelude to taking holy orders.However, feeling no certain calling despite a lively faith, he turns to the profession of surgeon, training in Paris and then hanging out his sign in Oxford. A local lord asks him to track the killer of a young woman whose bones have been found in the castle cess pit. She is identified as the impetuous missing daughter of a local blacksmith, and her young man, whom she had provoked very publicly, is in due course arrested and sentenced at the Oxford assizes.From there the tale unfolds, with graphic medical procedures, droll medieval wit, misdirection, ambition, romantic distractions and a consistent underlying Christian compassion.Readers praise for THE UNQUIET BONES'Absolutely loved the book and cannot wait for the next one. One ofthe best medieval genre novels Ive read in years. More of the same please soon!' David C. UK'I enjoyed the setting, the period, the very realistic characters and thedry wit.' Donna B. USA'I read all of it in one go; its quite the best medieval mystery Ive readin a while. I teach medieval history, so its always nice to read something by someone who actually knows what they're talking about. Cant wait for the next one!' Sarah T. USA

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Historical fiction

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Publié par	Lion Hudson
Date de parution	19 avril 2013
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781782640660
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0050€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Text copyright © 2008 Mel Starr
This edition copyright © 2013 Lion Hudson

The right of Mel Star to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published by Lion Fiction an imprint of Lion Hudson plc Wilkinson House, Jordan Hill Road, Oxford OX2 8DR, England www.lionhudson.com/fiction

ISBN: 978-1-78264-030-1 e-ISBN: 978-1-78264-066-0

First edition 2008 published by Monarch Books

Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Ltd. All rights reserved.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Readers’ praise for THE UNQUIET BONES

Thoughtful and curious, surgeon Hugh is an engaging character who feels totally real. – Rikki B. USA

Absolutely loved the book and cannot wait for the next one. One of the best medieval genre novels I’ve read in years. More of the same please – soon! – David C. UK

I enjoyed the setting, the period, the very realistic characters and the dry wit. – Donna B. USA

I enjoyed the story, and the insight into life in 14th century Britain. A lovely way to learn history – I'm looking forward to the sequel. – John H. UK

I read all of it in one go; it’s quite the best medieval mystery I’ve read in a while. I teach medieval history, so it’s always nice to read something by someone who actually knows what they're talking about. Can’t wait for the next one! – Sarah T. USA

The first chronicle of Hugh de Singleton is a great read. – Richard A. UK

I found your novel a most enjoyable read and a rewarding venture into the history of Bampton in the company of real and entertaining characters. Should I find myself in the UK again I will definitely stop for a peek at St Beornwald’s. – Anne Marie C. Ireland

A wonderful story, which could have been ghost-written by a true 14th century surgeon. I’m looking forward to reading more of his work. – Jill M. USA

A great read – appreciate the detail – and the glossary. I hope you have more to follow! – Ross D. Australia

As a retired nurse I enjoy reading the history of medicine. This book fed my hunger and left me wanting more. I am sending a donation to help save the beautiful old church in the story. – Patricia N. USA

This is an outstanding book and I found it impossible to put down. I shall look forward to the next chronicle with eager anticipation. – Roger F. UK

For Susan
Proverbs 12:4a

The chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon

The Unquiet Bones
A Corpse at St Andrew's Chapel
A Trail of Ink
Unhallowed Ground
The Tainted Coin
CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Readers’ praise for THE UNQUIET BONES
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Glossary
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Afterword
A Corpse at St Andrew’s Chapel
On a June afternoon in 1990 my wife and I discovered The Old Rectory, a delightful B&B in the tiny village of Mavesyn Ridware. Tony and Lis Page, the proprietors, became good friends. Nearly a decade later Tony and Lis moved to Bampton, and Susan and I were able to visit them there in 2001. I saw immediately the town’s potential for the novel I intended to write.
Tony and Lis have been a great resource for the history of Bampton, for which I am very grateful.
Dr John Blair, of Queen’s College, Oxford, has written several papers illuminating the history of Bampton. These have been a great help, especially in understanding the odd situation of a medieval parish church staffed by three vicars.
When he learned that I had written an as yet unpublished novel, Dr Dan Runyon, of Spring Arbor University, invited me to speak to his classes about the trials of a rookie writer. Dan sent some sample chapters to his friend, Tony Collins, publisher of Monarch Books at Lion Hudson plc. Thanks, Dan.
And thanks go to Tony Collins, my editor Jan Greenough, and the people at Lion Hudson for their willingness to publish a new author with no track record.
Before trying my hand as a writer I spent thirty-nine years teaching history. The experience gave me a greater respect for the teachers and professors who struggled to instill some wisdom into my own youthful mind. Thanks to:
Jack Gridley, eighth grade teacher of extraordinary skill and kindness.
Celestine Trevan, who demanded clear, concise writing in her high school English classes.
Dan Jensen, whose enthusiasm for teaching history was infectious, and who also pounced on bad writing.
And many others too numerous to list here.

Mel Starr

For further information visit the author’s website: www.melstarr.net
Angelus Bell: Rung three times each day; dawn, noon, and dusk. Announced the time for the Angelus devotional.
Bailiff: A lord’s chief manorial representative. He oversaw all operations, collected rents and fines, and enforced labor service. Not a popular fellow.
Bolt: A short, heavy, blunt arrow, shot from a crossbow.
Burgher: A town merchant or tradesman.
Bylaw: A community assembly. The term applied to the meeting and to the laws and regulations passed.
Candlemas: February 2. Marked the purification of Mary. Women traditionally paraded to the church carrying lighted candles. Tillage of fields resumed this day.
Capon: A castrated male chicken.
Cautery: To sear with a heated metal tool. Generally used to seal a wound.
Chamberlain: The keeper of a lord’s chamber, wardrobe and personal items.
Chauces: Tight-fitting trousers, often of different colors for each leg.
Childwite: A fine for having a child out of wedlock.
Christmas Oblation: An offering due to the church at Christmas.
Church of St Beornwald: Today the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Bampton, in the fourteenth century it was dedicated to an obscure Saxon saint enshrined in the church.
Coppicing: The practice of cutting trees, especially ash and poplar, so that a thicket of small saplings would grow from the stump. These shoots were used for everything from arrows to rafters, depending upon how much they were permitted to grow.
Cotehardie: The primary medieval outer garment. Women’s were floor-length, men’s ranged from thigh-length to ankle-length.
Cresset: A bowl of oil with a floating wick used for lighting.
Demesne: Land directly exploited by a lord, and worked by his villeins, as opposed to land a lord might rent to tenants.
Deodand: An object which caused accidental death. The item was sold and the price given to the king.
Dexter: A war horse; larger than pack-horses and palfreys. Also, the right-hand direction.
Ember Day: A day of fasting, prayer, and requesting forgiveness of sins. Observed four times per year, on successive Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Epiphany: January 6. Ended the twelve-day Christmas holiday. Celebrated the coming of the Magi to worship Christ.
Extreme Unction: “Last rites.” A sacrament for the dying. It must not be premature. A recipient who recovered was considered as good as dead. He must fast perpetually, go barefoot, and abstain from sexual relations.
Feast of the Assumption: August 15. Marked the day Mary was supposedly carried to heaven.
Fewterer: Keeper of the lord’s kennel and hounds.
Furlong: A bundle of strips of land, of different tenants, but generally planted with the same crop.
Garderobe: The toilet.
Goodrich Castle: Rebuilt in the thirteenth century. In Herefordshire, near the southern Welsh border. Came to Gilbert Talbot through his mother, Elizabeth Comyn.
Groom: A lower-rank servant to a lord. Often a teen-aged youth. Occasionally assistant to a valet.
Haberdasher: Merchant who sold household items such as pins, buckles, hats, and purses.
Half-virgate: Fifteen acres.
Hallmote: The manorial court. Royal courts judged free tenants accused of murder or felony. Otherwise manor courts had jurisdiction over legal matters concerning villagers. Villeins accused of homicide might also be tried in a manor court.
Hayward: A manorial officer in charge of fences, hedges, enclosures, and fields. Usually a half-virgater or mid-level villager, he served under the reeve. Also called a beadle.
Heriot: An inheritance tax paid to the lord of the manor, usually the heir’s best animal.
Hocktide: The Sunday after Easter; a time of paying rents and taxes. Therefore, getting out of hock.
Horn Dancers: Men wearing deer antlers who danced in the town marketplace at Michaelmas. Probably an ancient pagan hunting custom.
Hypocras: Spiced wine. Sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg were often in the mix. Usually served at the end of a meal.
King’s eyre: A royal circuit court, presided over generally by a traveling judge.
Kirtle: The basic medieval undergarment.
Lammas Day: August 1, when thanks was given for a successful wheat harvest.
Leech custard: a date paste topped with wine syrup.
Leirwite: A fine for sexual relations out of wedlock.
Lettuce: Bitter-tasting wild lettuce was sometimes added to soups, but was best known for its sedative and narcotic effect, especially when going to seed.
Marshalsea: The stables and associated accoutrements.
Maslin: A bread made from a mixture of grains; commonly wheat and rye or barley and rye.
Metatarses: Small bones of the foot.
Michaelmas: September 29. The feast signaled the end of the harvest. The last rents and