Trent nodded.
I said, ‘Thank you, Ralph. I realise this has put you in a difficult position. We won’t let you down.’
Morice departed swiftly, only too anxious to leave any conspiring to us. We arranged that the troopers would come to my house early the following morning, ready for the journey to Gravesend and, thence, across to the Essex shore.
Back at Hemmings I told Walt to assemble all the most able-bodied outdoor estate workers. When they were gathered in the long barn, I addressed them.
‘You all know something of the troubles in the county – indeed in the whole country.’
‘Aye,’ someone called out, ‘dear bread and cheap death!’
‘Yes, Adam,’ I agreed, ‘’tis a hard year and we can only pray for a better one to follow, but I think you are all fairly provided for. No man who works for me goes hungry, unless he wastes his wages. I think I can say that I treat you as Well as any master and better than some.’
There was a general murmur of assent.
I continued, ‘For my part, I could not want a more able and willing body of men. When I speak of troubles, I don’t just mean the terrible weather, the shortages and high prices. England is tearing itself apart with religious strife. I’m sure you would prefer not to be involved in such things, I know I would. But although we don’t look for trouble sometimes trouble comes looking for us. It has certainly found me and my friends these last few weeks.’
‘How is Mistress Adie?’someone asked.
‘Sore sick,’ I replied, ‘and all because of her handling by evil men.’
‘And the bearns?’ another voice shouted.
‘They’ve had some frightening experiences but I think they will rise above them. What I have to tell you is that we have the opportunity now to bring to justice the evil rake-hells responsible for these and other outrages. Tomorrow I set out for Essex, where, God-willing, we will arrest the leader of this gang, who goes by the name of Black Harry. I would like six volunteers to come with me. It will be dangerous and, for that reason, I would prefer to take unmarried men. I will not press any man and I will not think any the worse of anyone who does not wish to volunteer. Any questions?’
‘Will we be armed?’
‘Bring knives, clubs and any weapons you feel comfortable with.’
‘How many of them will we be up against?’
‘I’m not sure but I don’t think we will be outnumbered and I plan to take them by surprise.’
‘Will there be extra pay?’
‘There will be rewards for those who come but I don’t want to say anything about that because I only want men who are with me for the right reasons.’
‘It’ll be like catching rats,’ someone said.
‘Exactly. That’s how I’d like you to think of it. So who wants to come on an expedition to rid the land of vermin?’
Almost every man raised a hand. It took several minutes to make my selection and to pacify the ones who were not chosen but thought they should have been. I assembled my little army and gave instructions for our assembly on the morrow. As I looked round at the familiar faces of men, most of whom I had known for years, I reflected on what I was asking of them and what they were willingly undertaking. Were my feelings, I wondered, those experienced by every commander on the eve of battle – those of mingled pride and fear?
Chapter 25
We set off at first light on Tuesday and reached our destination by midday. Now that I could see Brooke’s manor clearly, I realised how small it was. The two-storey house stood on a slight rise at some distance from the tiny hamlet of Fletcham and had, I assumed, begun life as a hunting lodge. It was not the sort of residence where its owner would live for long periods of time but its isolated position suited it ideally for the performance of nefarious activities. I thought again of Adie and the boys shut up here far away from all human contact, hearing only the wind howling across the marsh and the occasional screeching of an owl, as they waited to die.
There was little cover in which to conceal my party. We drew back about a quarter of a mile to a small copse. I sent Cranmer’s three guards to reconnoitre on foot the small group of buildings. They were gone more than an hour. They returned with a very thorough report and rather pleased with themselves.
‘First of all,’ one of them said, ‘there’s very little cover. There’s about fifty yards of open ground all around the main house. The only way to get close is through the stable block. Otherwise we’ll have to wait till after dark.’
‘There aren’t many people about,’ another reported. ‘I watched from the back and only saw three men come and go.’
A third suggested, ‘That was partly because the top man – what’s his name?’
‘Brooke,’ I said.
‘Yes, him. Well, he was out hawking. We saw him coming back. He had three men with him and, going by your description, one of them must have been Black Harry. I got close enough to touch him.’
‘What?’ I gasped in alarm.
‘Don’t worry, Master Treviot, they didn’t see me. There’s a ruined cottage over to the east and I was using it for cover when Brooke and the others came past. Just then there was a heavy shower and they pulled in to take shelter. I was afraid they were going to dismount but they just stood in the lee of the building for a couple of minutes. I could hear them talking.’
‘Anything useful?’I asked.
‘I think they were talking about their prisoners. Black Harry said, “One more session and we’ll break the older one.” And Brooke came back at him sharply. “See you do,” he said. “I go to court tomorrow. Our people there expect results and quickly.”’
‘Then it seems we’ve arrived none too soon,’ I said. ‘Thank God the prisoners are still alive.’
I considered the information we now had and began to formulate a plan. I gathered everyone around and explained what I had in mind. ‘We’re not here for a fight. I want to come out of this without casualties. Our two objectives are to capture the leaders and rescue the prisoners. Our best chance of success lies in reducing the odds against us. I suspect that the prisoners are in the stable block. So we need someone to keep a watch on that. Dick, that will be your job. Take up a position from which you can watch all the comings and goings and report back whatever you discover.’
‘Then we go in and rescue those poor devils as soon as the coast is clear,’ someone suggested.
‘No, that will warn the gang too soon. I want to keep the advantage of surprise as long as possible. At the moment Brooke and his men think they’re completely secure. The shock of discovering that they’re wrong should confuse them. That will be our opportunity. If my idea works, I think we can stun them into coming out to us.’ I went over the stages of what was a very simple plan. Then we settled down to wait for the dwindling of the light.
After about an hour Dick reappeared and threw himself down on the grass beside me. ‘They’ve just come to collect the prisoners,’ he said.
‘From the stable barn?’
‘Yes. Poor lambs; they look half-dead already. They’re being taken for more torture.’
‘After, that they’ll be brought back,’ I said. ‘And we’ll be waiting for them. Dick, take Walt and Adam to the barn. When our friends come back with the prisoners, you’ll know what to do. But do it quietly. Take plenty of rope and cloth to bind and gag them. Report back when that’s done.’
The evening was far gone by the time they returned, laughing and very pleased with themselves.
‘That was sweet,’ Walt said. ‘There were two of them. They never knew what hit them.’
‘Have you left them well out of sight?’
‘Trussed up like pigs for slaughter and covered over with loose straw.’