Paul Doherty - The White Rose murders

Both Benjamin and I turned; Catesby was about to draw his own sword but Doctor Agrippa and soldiers wearing the Cardinal's livery were already sweeping up the darkened nave. The doctor threw us a glance, snapped his fingers and, before Catesby could proceed any further, both sword and dagger were plucked from his belt.

The Cardinal's men examined the two corpses of the clansmen and kicked them as you would dead dogs. Another soldier ran down the steps and came back shouting that two more bodies were down in the crypt. Agrippa drew back the hood of his cloak and smiled benevolently at us.

'We should have come sooner,' he observed quietly. 'Perhaps intervened earlier, but what you were saying was so interesting.'

He picked up Catesby's sword, gave it to Benjamin and gestured at the prisoner, who stood sullen-faced between two guardsmen.

'Kill him!' Agrippa ordered. 'Let's make things neat and orderly.' He thrust the sword into Benjamin's hand. 'Kill him,' he repeated. 'He deserves to die.'

My master let the sword fall to the ground with a clang.

'No,' he murmured. 'He deserves a trial then to be hanged like the murderer he is.'

Agrippa pursed his lips. 'No,' he whispered. 'Nothing like that.' He picked up the fallen sword and thrust it at me. 'You, Shallot, kill him.'

'Let the sword fall,' Benjamin warned. 'Roger, you may be many things but not this.'

I let the sword clatter on to the flagstoned floor.

'He is not to die,' Benjamin repeated.

Doctor Agrippa shrugged and turned to the captain of the guard. 'Take Catesby to the Tower,' he ordered. 'Into its deepest and darkest dungeon. Queen Margaret is not to be told.'

The fellow nodded, seized Catesby by the arm. The arch murderer smiled at us as he allowed himself to be led away.

Agrippa issued more orders and the soldiers hurried down into the crypt, dragging up Melford's and Scawsby's corpses which they laid next to the bodies of the two Highlanders. Agrippa examined each, making strange signs above them in the air.

'Catesby was right in one thing,' he murmured, 'the heathland outside makes a good cemetery. Let them be buried there.'

After that Agrippa hardly spoke to us but took us back to the Tower where we were lodged in comfortable imprisonment. Benjamin was silent; for at least two hours he could hardly stop shivering. I had my own remedies. I demanded a jug of wine and hours later slumped down on the pallet-bed blind drunk.

The next morning a still taciturn Agrippa took us along Billingsgate, Thames Street, through Bowyers Row on to Fleet Street and down to Westminster. We were followed by a heavily armed, mounted escort who screened us as we were pushed through a maze of corridors at the palace and into a small comfortable chamber next to St Stephen's Chapel where the Lord Cardinal was waiting for us.

I remember it was a fine day. The sun had broken through a thick layer of clouds and a touch of spring freshened the air.

Wolsey greeted us warmly. No insults now but rather 'Dearest Nephew' and 'My redoubtable Shallot'. The Cardinal cleared the chamber of clerks and minions, only Agrippa remaining, then made Benjamin relate the previous evening's encounter with Catesby. Now and again Wolsey would nod or ask a question of Benjamin or me. Once my master was finished, the Lord Cardinal, a half-smile on his face, shook his head in wonderment.

'So much evil!' he whispered. 'So many murders. Such a great secret.'

'But you suspected as much, dear Uncle, did you not?'

Wolsey stretched his great bulk and yawned. 'Yes, yes, dearest Nephew, I did. Didn't we, good doctor?'

Agrippa murmured his assent.

'You used us!' Benjamin accused. 'Catesby was right about that. We were hired,' he continued, 'to blunder about like fools and open doors for others to enter!'

Agrippa looked embarrassed. The Cardinal gazed fondly at his nephew.

'Yes, I used you, dearest Nephew,' he replied. 'But only because you were the best person for the task.' He smiled thinly. 'And, of course, the ever trusty Shallot.' He placed his elbows on the arms of the chair and steepled his fingers. 'You saw what good actors they were, Benjamin? Catesby with his open, trusting face and air of anxious concern, whilst Queen Margaret can simulate rage better than her brother.'

'My Lord Cardinal,' Agrippa intervened, 'must not be judged too harshly. Catesby had a hand in your appointment for My Lord Cardinal described your exploits at a banquet held at Greenwich. Catesby made his own enquiries and the rest followed as naturally as night follows day.'

'Was Scawsby part of the plan?' I asked.

'Yes,' Agrippa murmured. 'Catesby undoubtedly heard of young Shallot's strokes against the Scawsby family and realised their enmity would only add spice to the game. Moreover, if murder was planned, Catesby did not want some physician with a keen eye and sharp brain. Scawsby was a quack, a pedlar, a man who would do as he was told.'

'Was he party to Catesby's plot?' I repeated.

'No!' The Lord Cardinal gazed down at me like a hawk. 'Scawsby certainly knew there was a mystery but he saw the appointment as royal preferment. Of course, he hated you and rejoiced in your discomfiture. His death, Master Shallot,' he added meaningfully, 'was, according to the law, an unlawful slaying.'

'Roger did not kill Scawsby!' Benjamin interrupted. 'The physician allowed his greed to get the better of him. Moreover,' he concluded slyly, 'Scawsby is best out of the way. He never could keep a still tongue in his head.'

The Cardinal nodded. 'True, true,' he murmured. 'Scawsby is dead and Roger shall have a pardon issued under the Great Seal for his part in the slaying.'

'You suspected me, did you not?' Agrippa abruptly accused.

'At one time I did. Catesby was so convincing, he could have caught spiders in the web he wove.'

'But why?' I interrupted. 'Why all this charade?'

Agrippa looked at Wolsey and the Cardinal nodded.

'No!' I exclaimed before the doctor could speak. "There are other matters. How did Catesby know about the Church of St Theodore? And your arrival, Agrippa, was so opportune.'

'That was my fault,' Benjamin muttered. 'I really did think Agrippa could be the murderer or, at least, his associate. You said it was a gamble, Roger, and so it was – before we left the Tower I informed the good doctor here of where we were going. There could have only been one logical outcome: if he was the murderer, he would have arrived first, and Catesby would be innocent.'

'Of course,' Agrippa interrupted, 'if I was innocent but suspected the game being plotted, I would ensure Catesby knew of your trap at St Theodore's and ensure I arrived when everyone had laid their cards on the table.' He shrugged. 'Scawsby was acting suspiciously, he kept to himself and left the Tower early. I, of course, hurried to Queen Margaret and spun some tale about how young Benjamin had solved the riddles and had their solution at St Theodore's. The rest,' he spread his hands, 'happened as you know it did.'

'You could have been late!' I accused.

Agrippa shook his head. 'All life is a gamble, Roger. The Cardinal's men were ready. We arrived to arrest Catesby and rescue you from his clutches.'

'And if you had been too late?'

'We would have arrested Catesby and made sure your bodies were given honourable burial.'

I glared back furiously. Benjamin just shook his head.

'You see,' Agrippa rose and paced restlessly round the room, 'we live in stirring times. Across the Channel, France is united under a powerful King whose hungry eyes are on Italy. To the south lies Spain, building massive fleets and searching out new lands. Further east is the Holy Roman Empire with its tentacles in every merchant's pie. And England?' Agrippa paused for a moment. 'England is balanced on a tightrope above these clashing powers and dare not make a mistake. These islands should be united – England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales -under the one King, and who better than our noble Henry?' Agrippa paused, looked at me sardonically, and I remembered his words on the lonely wastelands outside Royston. 'Our King needs such a challenge,' he continued. 'He has the energy to achieve it. He must have a vision or he will turn in on himself and God knows what will happen then.'