D. Wilson - The Traitor’s Mark

‘They’ll know what you’re doing. They may go into hiding or move out of the area.’

‘Thomas, my first objective is to see these rogues swinging from a gallows but if we only drive them out of the area, I’ll settle for that.’

There was a knock at the door and a servant entered. He had a brief quiet word with James, who stood up.

‘Excuse me, Thomas. It seems I have other visitors.’

When he returned, a few minutes later, he was followed by two men. The first I recognised immediately. It was Ralph Morice. Behind him a figure trundled in whose vast bulk almost filled the doorway.

‘Thomas,’ James said, ‘permit me to introduce Dr Thomas Legh.’

It was easy to see how Legh had gained a reputation as a petty tyrant among those who were lovers of the old order and why so many abbots and priors had meekly resigned their convents rather than stand up to his blustering self-assertion. It was not just his size that commanded attention; he exuded authority and intolerance towards all opposition. Within seconds he assumed control.

‘I’m glad you’re here, Master Treviot. I’ve heard good things of you. Your name is well spoken of at the royal court. I was mindful to call upon you later. Now I’ve been saved an extra visit. That’s good. There’s much to be done and little enough time if we’re to rid this shire of all elements hostile to his majesty.’

James gave up his own armed chair to the cumbersome lawyer and sent for cakes and ale. The rest of us sat round the table, waiting on Legh’s words. We did not have to wait long. Dispensing with small talk, he presented us with a clear statement of the situation as he saw it and the plan of action necessary to deal with it. It was the polished performance of a seasoned prosecutor presenting his case to the jury.

‘A state of affairs has been allowed to develop here which threatens to thwart his majesty’s desire for the religious unity of his people. Now, let us be absolutely clear from the outset that anyone who opposes the will of his majesty is guilty of treason. We are not dealing with philosophers’ speculation or theologians’ debating points. I am not here to enter into discussion with men who would love to draw me into the quagmire of religious argument.’ He sneered. ‘You know the sort of thing I mean, “Saint Thomas Aquinas says this” or “On the other hand, we must bear in mind the blessed Augustine’s words”. Pox on all that! Truth is what his majesty says it is and we are here to ensure that nothing else, no subversive papist nonsense, is fed to his majesty’s subjects.’

There was a pause as food and drink was set before us. Ralph Morice took the opportunity to provide us with new information. ‘Dr Legh is absolutely right to point out the connection between false teaching and treason. Thomas here has been instrumental in uncovering the evil designs of papists who cloak their sedition in religious zeal. There is a well-organised plot being hatched which links the preachers and the leaders of Kentish society with a chain that runs all the way to Rome and Madrid. This is now clear to us from evidence gathered by an agent working on behalf of his grace of Canterbury – evidence, I may say, gathered at great personal cost. Doctor, may I outline our latest information?’

Legh nodded, temporarily engaged in enjoying a saffron cake.

‘Have you identified the man Holbein overheard plotting with the Duke of Norfolk?’I asked.

‘Yes, and very interesting it is. Garter King of Arms had no difficulty identifying the bearer of the coat of arms Holbein saw. The badgers appear because, in many parts, they’re called “brocks”. The arms are those of Ferdinand Brooke.’

‘Brooke! Brooke!’ I cried. ‘That completes the connection, then.’

Morice was puzzled. ‘How so, Thomas?’

‘When Adie – Mistress Imray – was held captive by Black Harry she heard him mention a co-conspirator. She thought the name was “Rook” but she did not catch it clearly. It must have been “Brooke”. Saints be praised we were stayed from arresting Moyle. Do you know anything about this Ferdinand Brooke?’

‘It seems he’s quite a familiar figure in court circles – a persistent satellite.’

‘Satellite?’

‘A follower, a flatterer, someone always to be seen circling around great men. He’s one of those who wheedles his way into favour.’

‘Has he attracted Norfolk’s patronage?’

‘Indeed. The duke welcomes him because of his Catholic sympathies.’

‘Ferdinand? That’s not an English name,’ James suggested. ‘It sounds Spanish.’

‘Quite correct,’ Morice said. ‘His mother was one of Queen Catherine’s ladies-in-waiting. When the queen fell from grace, the Brookes moved to Spain. Young Ferdinand was brought up by priests and became something of a zealot – more Catholic than the pope. He returned a couple of years ago when his father died, to take over the family estate in Essex.’

My mind was moving fast as I tried to make connections between what we already knew about the plot against Cranmer and this new information. ‘I don’t quite understand the relationship between Brooke and Norfolk. According to Holbein, Brooke seems to have been conveying instructions to the duke. That has always seemed odd.’

‘I agree,’ Morice said. ‘What we suspect is that Brooke has been recruited by the imperial ambassador, Eustace Chapuys.’

‘Weaselly troublemaker!’ Legh spluttered, showering cake crumbs. ‘Everyone knows that he’s forever scheming with his majesty’s enemies.’

‘That is so,’ Morice continued. ‘He maintains a secret organisation pledged to undermine the reform of the English Church by any and every means.’

‘Why doesn’t the king expel him?’ Dewey asked.

‘Because he needs the Emperor’s friendship. That means we must be constantly on the alert to minimise any damage Chapuys may do. Up until now we haven’t been able to connect the ambassador’s network to the likes of Norfolk and Gardiner. Now, thanks to Holbein, we have the link – Brooke, or “the Popinjay” as some call him.’

‘Because he dresses exuberantly?’ I asked.

‘Yes, he likes to think of himself as one step ahead of fashion. To my mind he simply looks ridiculous.’

‘Then Brooke is the man who went looking for Holbein at the Steelyard,’ I said, recalling my conversation with Pastor Meyer.

Morice said, ‘I suspect his ribbons and rings and furs may be part of an act.’

‘Playing the empty-headed courtier so that no one takes him seriously?’

‘Exactly, Thomas. The reality is that he’s a dangerous fanatic.’

‘Now we know of his connection with Black Harry you can arrest him,’ I said, ‘and, so it please God, you can bring down the whole organisation.’

Legh having completed his repast was anxious to resume control of the meeting. ‘However, we are not here to concern ourselves overmuch with high politics. Our task is to ensure that the king’s doctrine is preached in this area and that all enemies of it are presented to the archbishop’s court or to the assizes, whichever is appropriate. Now, we will approach this in an organised way. The first step is to summon here, to Sir James Dewey’s house, anyone suspected of preaching sedition or supporting those who do preach sedition. The writs have already gone out and I will hold court here on Saturday. His grace is sending a contingent of his guard to convey to Canterbury any who merit closer examination. This will send a very clear message to any covert papists. On Sunday all clergy will read to their congregations a statement of official doctrine. On Monday they will all report here and swear to uphold everything in the King’s Book and only everything in the King’s Book . The following day I move on to Maidstone, where I will repeat the same process. Within a month I will have covered the whole of Kent – that is, the dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester and rid it of papistry. Now, Sir James, perhaps you would be kind enough to show me the accommodation you have for me.’