Dissolution

'Yes. My visitors found a nest of sodomites at Scarnsea, as happens often enough in those filthy dog-holes. The old prior, who was the chief offender, was removed. Sodomy is punishable by death under the new Act, it's a good pressure point. I wanted Singleton to see how things stood in that regard as well as investigating the land sales Copynger wrote to me about.'

I thought a moment. 'Wheels within wheels. Complicated.'

Lord Cromwell nodded. 'It is. That's why I need a clever man. I have had your commission sent to your house, with the relevant parts of the Comperta. I want you to set off first thing tomorrow. That letter is three days old already and it may take you another three to travel down there. The Weald can be a quagmire this time of year.'

'It has been a dry autumn till today. It might be done in two.'

'Good. Take no servants; tell no one except Mark Poer. He still shares your house?'

'Yes. He has been looking after my affairs in my absence.'

'I want him to accompany you. He has a sharp brain, I'm told, and it may be good to have a pair of strong arms at your side.'

'But, my lord, there may be danger. And, to be frank, Mark has no great religious zeal – he will not understand all that is at stake.'

'He does not need to. So long as he is loyal and does what you tell him. And it may help young Master Poer work his passage back to employment in the courts, after that scandal.'

'Mark was a fool. He should have known someone of his rank must not become involved with a knight's daughter.' I sighed. 'But he is young.'

Lord Cromwell grunted. 'If the king had learned what he did, he'd have had him whipped. And it showed a poor gratitude towards you, for finding him work.'

'It was a family obligation, my lord; an important one.'

'If he acquits himself well on this mission I may ask Rich to allow him back to his clerk's post – the one I found him at your request,' he added pointedly.

'Thank you, my lord.'

'Now I have to go to Hampton Court; I must try to persuade the king to attend to business. Matthew, make sure no word gets out, censor letters from the monastery.'

He rose and, coming round the desk, put his arm round my shoulder as I got to my feet. It was a recognized sign of favour.

'Find the culprit quickly, but above all quietly.' He smiled, then reached over and handed me a tiny golden box. Inside was another phial, a tiny circular one containing a gobbet of thick pale liquid that slopped against the glass. 'What do you think of this, by the way? You might be able to work out how it's done. I can't.'

'What is it?'

'It's stood in Bilston Nunnery four hundred years. Said to be the milk of the Virgin Mary.'

I exclaimed with disgust. Cromwell laughed.

'What amazes me is how they imagined anyone would get milk from the Virgin Mary. But look, it must have been replaced recently to stay liquid like that; I was expecting to see a hole in the back like that other, but it seems quite sealed in. What do you think? See, use this.' He passed me a jeweller's glass and I examined the box, peering for a tiny hole, but I could see nothing. I pushed and prodded for a secret hinge, then shook my head.

'I can't fathom it. It appears completely sealed.'

'Pity. I wanted to show it to the king, it would amuse him.' He walked me to the door and opened it, his arm still round me so that the clerks should see I was favoured. But as I left the chamber my eye fell again on the two grinning skulls, the candlelight playing about their ancient eye sockets. My master's arm still round me as it was, I had to suppress a shiver.

CHAPTER 2

Mercifully the rain had stopped when I left Westminster. I rode home slowly as dusk fell. Lord Cromwell's words had frightened me. I realized I had grown used to being in favour; the thought of being cast out chilled me, but more than that I was frightened by his questions about my loyalty. I must take care what I said around the courts.

Earlier that year I had bought a spacious new house in Chancery Lane, the broad avenue bearing the name of His Majesty's court and of my horse. It was a fine stone property with fully glassed windows, and had cost a great deal. Joan Woode, my housekeeper, opened the door. A kindly, bustling widow, she had been with me some years and greeted me warmly. She liked to mother me, which I did not find unwelcome even if sometimes she exceeded her place.

I was hungry, and though it was early I told her to prepare supper, before going through to the parlour. I was proud of the room, whose panelling I had had painted with a classical woodland scene at some expense. Logs burned in the fireplace and beside it, on a stool, sat Mark. He made a strange sight. He had taken off his shirt, baring a white muscular chest, and was sewing buttons of agate embossed with an elaborate design onto the neck. A dozen needles, each trailing a length of white thread, were stuck into his codpiece, one of the exaggerated ones then in fashion. I had to check myself from laughing.