For the first time the villain was shaken. He realised I knew more about his activities than he thought. He glowered sullenly.
‘So you see,’ I continued, ‘there is more than enough evidence to hang you several times over. There’s only one thing I require before I deliver you up to justice. You will sign a confession to the Aldgate killing.’
Black Harry sneered. ‘And why should I do that? As you say, I’m a dead man anyway.’
There was obvious logic in what he said but I had to do my best to restore Bart’s good name without further delay. ‘I’m giving you the opportunity to prove that there is still a shred of decency in you.’
‘You come here with your crew of heretical cut-throats and dare to talk to me of decency! What is decent about hundreds of souls lured to hell by Luther and his lies? Was your archbishop being decent when he seduced the king into usurping the pope’s position as father of the church? If I die it will be as a martyr to Catholic truth. When you die, I will watch you roast in hell.’
I stood up. ‘I won’t waste any more breath talking with a fanatic. Bart, fetch some of the others and see that this fellow is made as uncomfortable as possible for the night.’
The following morning my strange cavalcade made its way back to Tilbury. We had rigged up horse litters for the two clergy, who were unable to walk or ride. I discovered that they had been strung up by shackles round their wrists for hours at a time until their arms were almost pulled from their sockets. They followed half of my men and were, in turn, followed by our prisoners, all on foot. The rest of my gallant band brought up the rear.
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t get a confession out of Black Harry,’ I said to Bart as we crossed the marshland. ‘His guilt will come out when he’s convicted but I’m afraid you’ll need to stay out of sight till then.’
He shrugged. ‘You tried, Master Thomas, but ’tis as you say, useless to argue with fanatics. Their hate drives them.’
‘He learned hate in a good school – the Inquisition. He spent years there forcing Jews, Muslims and Lutherans to bow to the pope. I’ve heard terrible stories brought back from Spain by merchants and mariners. Cruelty has fastened itself so tightly on to his soul that I think not even self-interest can dislodge it.’
On that, I was wrong. Hours later, as the horse ferry was taking us across a grey Thames, Black Harry shuffled his way awkwardly towards me.
‘You want me to confess to the Aldgate murder in order to save your friend. Well, if I give you a written confession, perhaps we can do a deal.’
Chapter 26
‘I don’t think you are in a position to suggest deals,’ I said. As I stood in the prow staring at the vessels moored along the Gravesend quay the only thought in my mind was that, within the hour, I would be riding southwards. My single remaining task was to report to Ralph Morice. Then the ordeal of the past weeks would be behind me.
‘Wait till you hear what I have to offer,’ Black Harry replied.
‘I’ve no interest in your lies and schemes-’
‘Your precious archbishop and his friends would, I’m sure, like to get their hands on Master Brooke. He is the pivotal point of all that is planned against Cranmer.’
‘Those things are no concern of mine.’
‘As you please. But what would your friends say if they knew that you let Brooke slip through your fingers?’
‘He can’t get very far. As soon as I make my report there will be search parties out looking for him.’
‘Do you suppose he hasn’t thought of that and made plans to ensure his escape?’
‘How will he escape?’
He sneered. ‘That is the information I have to sell. I can tell you exactly where you will find him.’
‘And why would you do that? Is it that treachery comes as second nature to you?’
‘Does not the Bible you set so much store by tell you that ’tis better to be a live dog than a dead lion?’
‘So you think to trade your master for your freedom?’
That obviously annoyed him. ‘I call no man master,’ he snapped. ‘If I go free, so does your friend and you capture the one man who links together all the archbishop’s enemies. That is for you a good deal.’
‘And leave you free to continue your murderous career? I don’t think so.’
‘Of course, I would have to leave the country. There is still plenty of work to be done in Spain.’
I turned my back on him. Further along the boat Bart was leaning against the rail and looking wistfully out over the estuary. I thought of all he had already suffered and knew how much he and Lizzie longed to get their lives back. A few lines on a sheet of parchment could give them that. Then I thought of Adie, hovering between life and death. Turning again, I said to Black Harry, ‘When we land, you will be taken under guard to jail in Canterbury to await your trial for murder.’
His response was an infuriating smile. ‘Perhaps.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘If you won’t see sense, somebody will.’ He shuffled away.
When we arrived in Kent the party divided. I sent most of my men with Cranmer’s guards to convey the prisoners to Canterbury. In order not to slow them down, we hired a wagon in Gravesend to carry the captives and found a local complex of almshouses and hospital where the two priests could be nursed back to health. I set off with two companions to Maidstone, where I hoped to find Ralph Morice. It was not difficult to locate the place where Legh was conducting his inquiries. He had chosen the town’s principal inn and commandeered a large ground-floor room for his purposes. Quite a crowd had gathered outside of people eager to know the fate of those being examined.
We arrived during the commission’s dinner interval and I was able to locate Morice in the private room where he and his companions were eating. As soon as he saw me at the door, he stood up, excused himself from the company and hurried over.
‘Thomas, Lord be praised you’re back and in good time. How did you fare?’ He took me by the arm and guided me out into the street. ‘Let’s walk and you can tell me everything.’
As we strolled through the busy town centre, I gave a detailed report of the last two days’ activities. Morice listened intently, occasionally asking questions. When I had finished, he grasped my hand warmly. ‘Thomas, you have done splendidly! The whole gang rounded up and, I’ve no doubt, ready to tell all they know in hope of avoiding the gallows.’Then he fell silent and thoughtful.
We had stopped by a market stall selling pressed apple juice and we bought beakers of the sweet liquid.
‘You say Black Harry offered to help us apprehend Brooke.’
‘Yes, but he would have said anything to save his own skin.’
‘Even so, if we could bring in Chapuys’ agent – the one man connecting him to Norfolk …’
‘But the price is too high. To allow this monster to walk free after all the misery and suffering he’s been responsible for? Unthinkable.’
‘Perhaps.’
The word struck me with almost physical force. Black Harry had used that same word to cast doubt on my allusion to the fate that awaited him. Now I began to see that the villain might have reason for confidence in his bargaining position. To someone like me who had first-hand experience of his vicious career, there could be no doubt the world had to be rid of him. But others who fought in the political arena marked out by compromise and moral variables might see him in a different light.
Morice added, ‘I know how you feel about this papist rakehell and I, too, want to see him pay the price for his crimes, not the least of which was his murder of Master Holbein.’
‘Then there’s no more to be said!’ I shouted. Passers-by stared as I lengthened my stride making Morice half-run to keep up. ‘I’ll listen to no talk of deals. All I want to hear from you is that Black Harry is dangling at a rope’s end.’