D. Wilson - The Traitor’s Mark

‘Well, Master Treviot, I’ll have the truth out of him, never fear.’

‘With respect, Doctor,’ I ventured, ‘might it not be wiser to proceed more circumspectly? If we arrest Belleville, his associates will immediately know of it and take fright. They will find some other haven, probably taking their captives with them. We might lose our only chance of running to earth a band of dangerous, fanatical, papist ruffians.’

Legh looked thoughtful. I hurried on. ‘But if we can track them down we will earn his majesty’s thanks for exposing treachery among his own advisers.’

‘So what do you suggest?’ Legh asked.

‘Let Belleville off with a caution. Then allow me a few words with him in private.’

‘To say what?’

‘That we have identified all the men involved in a major conspiracy and are about to close in on them. They will all, undoubtedly, hang and he will probably share their fate. At the very least his property will be confiscated by the Crown and he will lose everything he has so painstakingly accumulated. His only hope will be to assist the commission by revealing the whereabouts of the criminals he is shielding.’

‘And if your suspicions are wrong?’

‘The blame will fall on me and not his grace’s commission. Belleville will probably claim that I was pursuing some private grudge against him.’

That satisfied the wily lawyer. He obviously realised that, if successful, my plan would win him considerable favour with the king and that, if it failed, he could deny all involvement. Saints preserve us, I thought, I’m becoming as subtle as these law men.

After dinner, with James’s help, I made the necessary, very simple arrangements. We chose a hay barn for the interview. Ralph Morice insisted on being present, though we agreed he should remain concealed. I waited in the stable yard accompanied by two members of the archiepiscopal guard.

When Belleville came out to collect his horse, I accosted him. ‘Please attend on me for a few minutes.’

He raised his voice to protest but the guards took him, one each arm, and steered him into the barn. I followed, closing the door behind me.

‘What do you think-’

I ignored the bluster. ‘We have a few more questions, which I fancy you would rather answer in private.’

He turned towards the door, now held by the burly guards. ‘I have said all I intend to say in there.’

‘A pity. I rather hoped you would grasp the opportunity to distance yourself from the man who calls himself “Black Harry”, rather than share his gallows. However, if you would prefer to take your chance, you are free to leave.’

I watched him carefully. Everything hinged on his reaction. First of all, he stared at me, eyes widened in surprise. Then he took a step towards the door. Then he thought better of it and turned again. That was when I knew that I was right.

‘You are very wise to reconsider,’ I said. ‘You have got yourself mixed up with a band of traitors. We know about Black Harry, Master Brooke and their connections with foreign agents. You’re in a deep hole and the only way to climb out is to tell me everything you know.’

There was still a vestige of resistance in him. ‘Who are these people you’re talking about?’ he asked warily but not diverting his gaze.

I began to doubt whether I would, after all, be able to break him. I had no evidence to connect him with any crime. It was time to try bluff. ‘People who know you well enough,’ I replied. ‘People who burned down John Padman’s house. People ready to swear that you incited them to murder.’

‘That’s not true!’ he shouted. ‘I may have complained about Padman’s preaching, but I never …’ Now he was shaking. He sat quickly on an upturned barrel. ‘I had no idea that they would … You can’t implicate me in that business.’

Time for another lie. ‘We have arrested a couple of the villains. I’ve no doubt that, with a little persuasion, they will reveal the names of everyone involved. Everyone .’

‘But I’m not involved!’ Belleville squealed. ‘I only offered them shelter as a favour to a gentleman from London.’

‘Ferdinand Brooke?’

He stared at the ground. I guessed that Brooke had sworn him to secrecy and threatened the direst retribution if he broke silence.

‘Master Belleville,’ I said, ‘have you ever seen a man hanged, drawn and quartered?’

He shook his head, then looked up, panic-stricken. ‘Master Treviot, you must believe-’

‘I will believe you,’ I said, ‘when you tell me all you know about these men and their plans.’

‘Brooke came to see me. A fine-looking gentleman. Expensive clothes. He said he had been sent by his majesty to seek out loyal subjects willing to take part in a secret enterprise.’

‘Doubtless you were flattered.’

‘He sounded very plausible. He said the leading members of the king’s Council were weeding out people who were pouring poison into the king’s ear and placing false teachers in many churches.’

I thought, Now we’re getting somewhere. I said, ‘Did he name these great men?’

‘No.’

‘Oh, come now …’

‘On my troth, Master Treviot, he said I didn’t need to know.’

That could have been true, although I was not wholly convinced. ‘Well,’ I said, ‘we’ll let that pass. For now. The commission will have more questions for you soon. Meanwhile, you’ll be given in charge to the captain and taken to jail.’

‘No, Master Treviot, please!’ He was perspiring freely. He clasped his hands in supplication. ‘I see now that the man Brooke was a traitor but it was only a small thing he asked of me. He was looking for somewhere his cut-throat villains could hide.’

At last. I felt a surge of triumph. One more blow on the nail’s head and this quaking fellow would deliver Black Harry into our hands. ‘So where are these villains?’

Belleville looked around him, as though there might be eavesdroppers at hand. ‘Promise you won’t let it be known I told you,’ he whined.

‘You’re in no position to demand conditions,’ I snapped. ‘Where are these traitors hiding?’

‘The old convent at Swansford,’ he mumbled, almost inaudibly.

‘Part of your plunder from the Dissolution.’ I could not resist the taunt.

‘’Tis still as I bought it. I haven’t decided what to do with it yet. Perhaps a hospital, school or almshouses.’

‘I’m sure you’ll find some way to salve your conscience,’ I said. ‘Now, how many people has Black Harry with him?’

‘I’m not sure. I haven’t been there.’

‘I hope for your sake you can prove that when he comes to trial. You’ve really no idea how many scoundrels you are succouring?’

‘Perhaps half a dozen. Look, you must believe that I’m not privy to their plans. If I’d known what they intended to do-’

‘You would have kept your mouth shut and looked forward to reaping your reward, like the grasping, immoral coward you are. Well, you don’t deserve it, but I will have a word with Dr Legh and tell him you’ve been cooperative. Go with these men and wait in the gatehouse until we send for you again.’

When Belleville had been marched away by the guards, Morice and I returned to the hall and had a hurried conversation with Legh.

‘It seems your guess was right, Master Treviot,’ he said. ‘Now we must follow up this information without delay. How far is this Swansford nunnery?’

‘Fifteen or sixteen miles,’ James said.

‘Well, I cannot go. Master Morice and I are fully occupied. You must see to it, Treviot. Go to Swansford and bring in as many of the gang as you can for questioning. How many men will you want?’

I said, ‘If you can spare six of his grace’s guard, I’ll take the same number of my own men.’ My calmly reasoned reply concealed my pleasure at the prospect of arresting Black Harry personally.