C. Sansom - Lamentation

I recognized the coded exchange for what it was. Lord Parr and Lord Hertford were both on the reforming side, and Elizabeth, her father’s least favourite child, was being brought up a reformer, unlike the traditionalist Mary, who had been raised a Catholic before the break with Rome.

Sir Thomas looked bored. He turned to me again. ‘I see, Shardlake, you are on the list of those attending on Admiral d’Annebault.’

‘Indeed, Sir Thomas.’

‘I have a large role on the committee organizing the ceremonies,’ he said self-importantly. ‘There is much to be done. The admiral is bringing a thousand men with him.’ He smiled. ‘It will be a magnificent chivalric celebration of reconciliation after honest combat between soldiers.’

I did not reply. I thought again of my soldier friends who had gone down with the Mary Rose and all the others killed in that failed, unnecessary war.

Seymour raised his eyebrows. ‘Do you not agree? Well — ’ he laughed and squared his broad shoulders — ‘some of us are built and fitted for war, while others are not.’ He glanced ostentatiously at my back.

It was an appalling insult. But Sir Thomas was in a position to make it, and I did not reply. His brother, though, looked at Sir Thomas fiercely as he now turned to Lord Parr and said mockingly, ‘Beware of Master Shardlake, my Lord, he is too clever for his own good. He will be after your job.’

‘I hardly think so, Sir Thomas.’ Lord Parr glared at him.

Hertford snapped, ‘You are ever ready with your nips and quips, Thomas. You will nip yourself into trouble one day.’

Sir Thomas’s face darkened. Lord Parr gave him a sardonic smile, then turned to his brother.’

‘Is there much foreign business now on the Privy Council, my Lord? My nephew William says the French and Spanish treaties are settled.’

Hertford nodded seriously. ‘Indeed, though it has been a mighty labour these last months.’ He looked across at the Holbein Gate. ‘Well, I am due to attend the King in his study. I must not be late.’ He gave me an awkward nod, bowed to us both, and walked on with his brother. Lord Parr watched them go.

‘Thomas Seymour is a fool and a bully,’ he said. ‘But Lord Hertford is our ally. His return, and Lord Lisle’s, have shifted the balance of the council towards the reformers. And Cranmer is seen more these days.’

‘And Sir Thomas?’ I added. ‘What role does he play?’

He gave me a considering look. ‘I know from my niece that you and he worked together once, and dislike each other. I am not surprised, Thomas Seymour is as full of bluster and empty display as that peacock over there. He did not distinguish himself in the positions he held in the war. Sitting on a committee to organize this ceremonial will test the limits of his ability.’ He gave a bitter laugh. ‘When he returned in the spring he made great play of how he’d escaped some pirates in the Channel. Made himself a laughing stock by telling the story over endlessly.’ He smiled sardonically. ‘He wants the power his older brother has on the Privy Council. He feels that, as he is also Jane Seymour’s brother and Prince Edward’s uncle, he should have equal authority. But he lacks judgement and intelligence, with him all is empty show and bluster. The King knows it. He only ever chooses men of ability for the council. Thomas is a drag on his brother.’

‘What is Sir Thomas’s position on reform?’

Lord Parr shrugged. ‘I do not think he has any religion. Some even say he is an atheist. It is extraordinary that the Queen loved him once, they are such opposites in nature.’

‘Extraordinary indeed.’

He shook his head. ‘I would never have thought Kate was one to be taken in by such a creature; but we have seen how — emotional — she can be. It is the way of women,’ he concluded with a sigh.

I spoke suddenly. ‘I suppose there is no motive for anyone on the reformist side of the council to steal the Lamentation ?’

He shook his head. ‘None. The reformist group at court, like every faction, is an alliance of family interests — between the Parrs, the Seymours and the Dudleys, whose foremost figure is John Dudley, Lord Lisle. When, in course of time — ’ he stressed those words carefully — ‘his majesty is gathered to God, the various family interests may find themselves in conflict. But for the present we are united by our common faith. If Henry does agree to take England back under the authority of the Pope, we shall all be in danger, and must run and fetch our rosaries or face a grim death.’ He sighed with unexpected emotion. ‘When I think of that, I thank God I am a sick old man.’

We stood in silence for a moment. Then I said thoughtfully, ‘But if Sir Thomas is one of those who has no religion, and seeks only power, he might see an advantage in taking the Lamentation to the King — ’

Lord Parr looked at me, frowning. ‘Why? From ambition?’

‘That, and perhaps because he courted the Queen before her marriage, and was rejected. Proud men harbour thoughts of revenge. And finding the Lamentation could give him the status in the King’s eyes that he longs for.’

Lord Parr considered for a moment. ‘Earlier in the summer, though few know of it, there were attempts to unite the reformist and traditionalist factions through a marriage between the Duke of Norfolk’s daughter and Thomas Seymour. The negotiations came to nothing, partly because the Duke’s daughter did not want him.’

‘That surely proves he will bend any way to gain power.’

Lord Parr shook his head decisively. ‘No. Thomas Seymour does not have the intelligence, nor the resources, to send spies into the radical groups. I think your dislike of him, Master Shardlake, justified though it may be, is colouring your judgement.’

‘Possibly,’ I admitted reluctantly. ‘But who in court would have motive and money to do that?’

‘Paget, of course, as Master Secretary. But if he had a spy in the Anabaptist camp, whether Curdy or McKendrick or both of them, that would have been in an official capacity, and as soon as they had taken Askew’s book, or the Queen’s, he would have had to arrest everyone in the group and report to the King. And I am sure Paget has no loyalty to either faction. He survives, the Master of Practices, by taking orders only from the King. But the other courtiers — Gardiner and his hirelings Wriothesley and Rich — yes, if they got wind of an Anabaptist group, they have the resources to infiltrate it. It is just the sort of business Rich would be good at. But how would they get wind of it? It seems Rich got lucky only in finding that the gaoler Myldmore had Askew’s book. Unless Rich was lying,’ he added slowly, turning to me.

‘I still think Rich knows nothing of the Lamentation .’

‘We must find that Scotchman,’ he said again emphatically. ‘It is very likely he was the spy.’

I considered. ‘My assistant suggested there could have been some sort of double agent, working for a master at court while keeping his Anabaptist beliefs. In that case, it is likely he would seek to keep the Lamentation safe.’

‘Anything is possible. Only finding McKendrick will solve that mystery.’

‘Thinking of Rich, if his only interest was Anne Askew’s book, since that is now gone I do not think he would put any more resources into finding McKendrick.’

‘No. That would indeed be shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.’

I looked at him. ‘But if he is interested in finding the Scotchman, that would indicate he is interested in something more — the Lamentation , perhaps.’

Lord Parr considered, then nodded. ‘Yes, that makes sense.’ He smiled wryly. ‘Either way, Rich will be sweating in his shoes, dreading the day Anne Askew’s words appear in print in London, smuggled back from Flanders.’