C Sansom - Sovereign

I went up to Genesis. He seemed more at ease now, though with those ugly punctures on his back it would be a little time before he could be ridden again. ‘Do we know where we are berthed?’ I asked the soldier.

‘No, sir. They’ll be along to tell us when they’re ready. We’ll have to wait.’

A cart lumbered by, so close we had to step up on the verge. Barak, leaning on the crutch, slithered and would have fallen had Tamasin not caught his arm.

‘Damn it to Hell!’ he exclaimed fiercely.

‘You shouldn’t be walking among these crowds,’ I told him. ‘Listen, you and Tamasin stay here with Templeman till we know where we are to be put.’

‘What are you going to do?’ he asked.

I felt an urgent need to get away from the roiling crowd. ‘I am going to walk up to Howlme,’ I said. ‘I will find Master Wrenne, come back with him.’

‘You should keep safe with us, sir,’ Tamasin ventured. ‘It will be dark soon.’

‘I need to get away for a while. And I will be safer up there than in this tumult. Wrenne and I will find you later.’ To stop further argument, I turned brusquely away and began walking up the road to the village.

ALL AROUND people were driving carts into fields under the supervision of green-coated officers of the household, some carrying little portable desks like Craike’s. One of the carts had tipped over in the road and some soldiers were trying to free the huge horses that lay on their sides in the traces, screaming and kicking out frantically. I saw that it contained weapons: swords and crossbows and guns lay scattered all over the road. Soldiers were picking them up and taking them into the neighbouring fields, shoving passers-by away from the deadly weapons. In the next field on I saw a carriage standing on its own, guarded by half a dozen soldiers. It was painted black and bore the royal arms. Recognizing Sergeant Leacon there I went over to him, my boots squelching on the muddy grass. The carriage was windowless, the door shut. The sergeant bowed.

‘You had a safe journey?’ I asked.

‘Ay, ’twas uneventful.’ He looked at me curiously. ‘I heard about the thorns under your horse’s saddle.’

‘Does everyone on the Progress know?’

‘It caused quite a stir.’ He jerked his head at the carriage behind him. ‘Is it something to do with Broderick?’

‘I think not.’ I sighed. ‘I came for a walk, to get away from the crowds.’

He smiled. ‘I too found that great pack of people on the Progress oppressive at first, when we left London. You get used to it.’

‘I am not sure I ever could. I thought I would walk up to the village. A friend of mine has gone there. Perhaps you saw him pass? A tall old fellow with a stick, wearing a lawyer’s robe?’

‘Ay. He went up a short while ago.’ He glanced at the carriage. ‘Sir, I do not like the look of the prisoner. He has a yellow colour, he has seemed sickly ever since he was poisoned. He should be allowed some air; it cannot do him good to be locked up in there all the time with that man.’

‘You are right.’

‘It would pity any man’s heart to see the poor fellow. Whatever he has done. He looks and moves like an old man, though I am told he is not yet thirty.’

‘Yes.’ I shook my head. ‘And he will die horribly for his beliefs, like so many in these last years.’

Sergeant Leacon gave me a curious look. ‘He was prepared to kill for those beliefs as well. If the north had risen this spring as they planned, there would have been much bloodshed.’

I nodded slowly. ‘Yes, you are right, sergeant. There would. Perhaps I have become over-sympathetic to our prisoner. Yet I have to watch for his welfare. I will speak to Maleverer, see if some arrangement can be made for him to have exercise.’ I looked at the black carriage. ‘I cannot face seeing Radwinter just now. I will take my walk, and call in on my way back to see how Broderick does.’

‘Be careful, sir, if you have enemies about.’

‘I will.’ I looked at the young soldier. ‘Is there any more news of your parents’ land case?’

‘Only a letter from my uncle saying they are sore worried. He plans to bring them to London to see me when the Progress returns. I will be billeted at the Tower then.’

‘Bring them to see me,’ I said. ‘I am sorry for my part in their trouble.’

‘Can you help them, do you think?’

‘I cannot say without seeing the papers in the case. But if I can, I shall. I promise.’

The sergeant gave me a long, searching look. ‘I hope so, sir. If they are turned off their land they will have nothing.’

FEELING GUILTY, I left the field and began to mount the hill. The path was wide, bordered by oak woods, covered thickly in fallen leaves so that I had to be careful not to slip. I felt a moment’s nervousness at being thus alone, but reflected that if anyone else came up the hill I should see them.

A chill breeze blew. The village, when I reached it, was but a single street of poor houses straddling the upward path. A few chickens and pigs rooted about but apart from some children playing by a puddle I saw no one; most of the adults had probably been pressed into service to help settle the Progress for the night.

Beyond the village the hill grew steeper. At the summit the path came out on to a stretch of open ground in front of the square-towered Norman church, the ancient churchyard to its left extending back to woods behind. I halted in front of the lychgate to get my breath. There was a stiff breeze up here and the air felt clean. To my right I saw an enormous beacon, twenty feet high, made of planks secured in place by thick ropes. I went over to study it. It was one of the beacons Cromwell had ordered to be set on hills all over the country three years ago, when it looked as though the French and Spanish might invade England at the Pope’s behest.

From up here I could see the camp as it spread itself out over the fields for the night. As when I first saw it approaching at Fulford, the Progress made me think of a great stain on the landscape. I looked across to the mansion where the King would have taken up residence now, a fine old building. Broderick said the King had stolen it from Robert Constable. He has stolen so much, I thought.

‘On a clear day you can see York Minster.’

A voice at my elbow made me jump. I turned to see Giles beside me. ‘Jesu, sir, you startled me.’

‘I am sorry. I was over in the churchyard on my way to visit my parents’ grave, and saw you coming. My footsteps made no sound on these wet leaves. You look sad, Matthew.’

‘I needed to get away from the camp. I breathe easier up here.’

‘Ay, ’tis all din and mess down there.’ His eye went to the misty horizon. The sun was low behind the milky clouds, tinges of red showing through. He leaned heavily on his stick. ‘You know, the day it was decided I would go to law I walked up here and looked over at the Minster. I thought, one day I shall work as a lawyer there.’

‘As you did.’

‘Ay.’ He shook his head. ‘So long ago. When man’s relation to God seemed clear and settled.’ He sighed. ‘Since then the world has been turned upside down. And York and the north have ended on the bottom.’

‘Perhaps things will settle now in the north, after the Progress.’

‘I do not think the King has done much to assuage the bitterness up here. Oh, he has bought the gentry, secured their allegiance with oaths, but you only need to look at the faces of ordinary people to see what their true feelings are.’

I laughed uneasily. ‘Giles, you sound like those who grudge all rich men and would pull them down.’ I smiled sadly. ‘Sometimes I wonder if they have not the right of it.’