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.’
‘He seems very confident,’ I said, when Morice and I were alone.
He smiled ruefully. ‘Yes, I’ve had to listen to him all the way from Croydon. However, he is good. He knows the law and he can use it.’
‘That l ean believe. I’m glad you found out about this Brooke rogue so quickly.’
‘I was lucky. Christopher Barker the herald knows him quite well. His land at Wanstead borders one of the Brooke manors. He was able to provide much information about the family history.’
‘But not, I imagine, about Brooke’s more nefarious activities.’
‘No, but it was not difficult to make the necessary connections. By the way, I must apologise for some of the things I said on Saturday.’
‘You had every reason to be angry. I’m only glad we have discovered the right person now. Presumably you will be arresting him immediately.’
‘I’m afraid it’s not that simple. We would have to convince a King’s Bench jury.’
‘But we have proof – Holbein’s notes.’
‘Brooke will deny them and he will be supported by his extremely powerful accomplices. They will know we can’t produce the artist to back up his testimony.’
‘Surely the law is not so stupid!’ I stood up and paced across to the window. ‘It cannot be that all we have been through was in vain.’
‘No, we still have the advantage of surprise. Brooke doesn’t know we’ve discovered him.’
‘So what is the plan?’
‘I haven’t worked that out yet.’
‘Well, we don’t have much time. Brooke’s ruffians are increasingly active.’ I told Morice about the latest attacks. ‘They’re obviously seizing men they can frighten into giving false testimony against the archbishop. If they can bring him down they’ll have achieved their objective.’
‘I know. And they will also have the support of his grace’s enemies in Canterbury. The anti-Cranmer faction among the senior clergy is becoming more confident. You can sense it. They don’t have the respect for his grace that they should have and they’re beginning to be more open with their criticisms. Germain Gardiner’s visits have become more frequent and he always brings letters from his uncle, the bishop. We have tried to intercept this correspondence, so far without success.’
I returned to the table and stood, staring down at Morice. ‘Then ’tis becoming a race,’ I suggested, ‘between those intent on discrediting the archbishop and those determined to expose his grace’s enemies. Success will go to those who can present to the king a case that persuades him to take action.’