Antonia Hodgson - The Devil in the Marshalsea

I stumbled forward in a daze. I had to stop this somehow. If I could get a message to Charles…

Gilbourne strolled after us. ‘Do you have your whip, sir? He may resist arrest…’

‘Mr Acton,’ I said quietly. ‘Would you break your word?’

He stopped dead, still gripping my arm. ‘What did you say?’

‘You gave me your word I would have till sunset.’ I looked up at the sky. ‘It is still light.’

Acton hesitated. ‘That is true.’

‘Oh, throw him in the Pound, for heaven’s sake,’ Gilbourne snapped, impatient.

Acton let go of my arm and rounded on Gilbourne. ‘This is my Castle,’ he said, poking a thick finger in Gilbourne’s chest. ‘You tell me what to do again and I’ll break your neck.’ He took a watch out of his pocket and consulted it closely. ‘I’m a man of my word, Mr Hawkins. Half an hour. Use it wisely.’ He shrugged. ‘Or fuck Mrs Bradshaw for all I care. Mr Gilbourne. We have business to discuss.’ He put a hand on Gilbourne’s back and pushed him towards the Tap Room.

I staggered over to Fleet’s bench and collapsed, shaking with shock and relief. But what now? What could I possibly achieve in half an hour?

A large shadow fell across the bench. I looked up to find Mr Jakes standing over me, a loop of chains wrapped over his shoulder. Thank God. As I pulled myself back on to my feet my head began to spin and for a moment I thought I might faint. Jakes caught hold of me, eyes filled with concern.

‘What’s happened, sir? You look half-dead with fright.’

I waved him away. ‘I’m well enough, thank you.’

Jakes frowned, unconvinced. ‘I asked about the Borough. The only Marshalsea man with spare coin in his pocket after Roberts’ death was Acton.’

‘I know, I’m sorry – I’ve wasted your time. Woodburn gave the money away.’

‘Woodburn?’ Jakes wrinkled his brow.

I explained quickly what I had learned.

‘ Woodburn ,’ Jakes muttered again to himself. He curled his fist around the hilt of his club. ‘And the other man?’

‘I don’t know.’ My head felt as if it were splitting in two and I was pouring with sweat. ‘I thought perhaps it was Trim, but he’s terrified. He’s locked himself in his room and says he won’t come out until we’ve discovered the truth. Jakes, we must find Woodburn without delay. I’m sure you can persuade him to confess.’

‘That’s what I came to tell you. He sent this to the Lodge.’ He pulled a note from his pocket. ‘It sounds… strange. Stranger still now I know what he did. Thought I should bring these with me.’ He shifted the weight of the chains slung over his shoulder.

I unfolded the note.

Mister Jakes

I beg of you to come at once to Snows Fields where I must confess something of great Import. Bring Hawkins for I fear his Life depends on it.

God help us all.

Rev’d Andrew Woodburn

I read it again, a plan forming. I glanced up towards the Tap Room, where Acton and Gilbourne were drinking. I must be quick.

‘It’s growing dark,’ Jakes said, peering anxiously at the sky. ‘If we’re to meet with him we should leave now before the light fails.’

And before Acton locks me up for murder. I read the note again. ‘It sounds like a trap.’

‘You may be right, Mr Hawkins.’ Jakes grinned. He put a hand in his coat to show me the long sword hidden beneath. ‘Let’s walk into it with our eyes open and our blades high, eh?’

I did my best to seem calm as we walked towards the Lodge gate but the truth was I could barely breathe with fear. At any moment I expected someone to shout my name, for a half dozen trusties to seize me and drag me back in front of Acton. We reached the turnkeys’ room. Cross was seated with his feet upon the desk, drinking as usual. My heart was beating so hard I was sure he must be able to hear it ten paces away.

‘Open the gate, Joseph,’ Jakes said.

Cross narrowed his eyes. With every moment that passed I was sure he would call the alarm. Hawkins is trying to escape! They would rip me to pieces like dogs. Cross slammed his glass upon the table and stood up slowly. ‘It’s too late,’ he said.

My heart sank. But when I looked in his eyes I realised he didn’t know what Acton and Gilbourne had planned for me. He only meant it would be dark soon. ‘I have an appointment with Mr Woodburn,’ I said hurriedly. ‘I’ve squared it with Mr Acton. Ask him if you wish, sir… but I should warn you, he’s in a foul mood.’

Cross scowled and pulled out his keys. ‘Keep an eye on him,’ he said to Jakes as he let us out.

The door slammed behind us. Jakes shot me a sidelong glance. I could see he was puzzled by my behaviour, but I didn’t dare tell him what I’d planned. He could lose his job for this. I smiled, hoping the guilt didn’t show upon my face. ‘Let’s go.’

We did not take the path down Axe and Bottle Yard to Snows Fields as we had the day before. Instead we turned left, and left again, into Mermaid Court, which backed on to the Common Side wards. A row of tiny, barred windows had been cut into the thick stone wall overlooking the dank, shaded alley. These were the begging grates; the only way to pass food and money into the gaol without Acton seizing it for himself. But Mermaid Court was not a thoroughfare, and few men came this way by chance. The Common Side stench leaked into the alley; too many bodies trapped together with no air, no food, no water to clean themselves.

They must have heard our footsteps echoing down the alleyway. Grubby fingers poked through the bars, desperate faces pressed hard against the iron grates. Some dangled strings out attached to small begging bowls, like fishermen hoping for a catch.

‘ Have mercy, sir. ’

‘ We starve! Send food, for pity’s sake! ’

I paused, took the bloodied silver crown from my pocket and thrust it through the bars into the first hand I touched. No need to keep it for evidence now. ‘God bless you, sir,’ a voice cried. ‘May your prick and your purse never fail you!’ The beggar’s benediction. The hand drew back and I heard a scuffle break out, shouts of anger as they fought for the prize.

Jakes watched all this, eyebrow raised.

‘Lead on, damn it,’ I said, and pulled my dagger from my coat.

At the bottom of the alley, a high gate marked the boundary to Snows Fields. Jakes pushed on it with one hand and it swung free. I turned and looked down Mermaid Court and the high wall of the Marshalsea. Whatever happened on Snows Fields, I would not return to the gaol. If Woodburn confessed everything I would send Jakes back to give the word to Acton and return to town, devil take the consequences. If not – I would run. And pray to God Jakes didn’t do his job and chase after me.

I still had Fleet’s watch; that would give me enough capital to flee London. Once I was safe I would write to Charles and hope he could clear my name. I wasn’t sure where I would hide – in truth I could barely think straight, my head was pounding so hard. All I knew was that I could never go back.

I stepped through the gate.

Jakes was already halfway down the narrow, muddy track that cut through the high meadow grass. I hurried after him, glancing back to be sure we were not followed. The grass rustled and whispered in the breeze and my heart began to pound in alarm. A dozen men could be hiding in the long, tangled grass and we wouldn’t know it.

At last we escaped the meadow into low, scrubby ground. Jakes was heading for the patch of grass where Fleet and I had sat the day before. He would have loved this; running headfirst into danger. And there was a thrill to it – I’d grant him that. To learn the truth at last, no matter the cost.