We're in the early 14th century, in the village of Codicote in Hertfordshire, trying to piece together the life of the unfortunately named peasant Christina Cok. Michael, in special manuscript-handling gloves, pores over the Codicote court book, searching for any reference to her. A court book may be a useful tool to the historian, but it's actually a fantastically boring thing - simply a record of who paid how much tax for what. But it's from 700 years ago, so that makes it fantastically interesting.