Dissolution

'No,' I said again decisively. 'He is hard, he has to be with the enemies he faces, but no Christian could do such a thing to an innocent man, and believe me, Lord Cromwell is a Christian. You forget how many years I have known him. Were it not for him there would have been no Reform. That cankered monk told us a seditious tale. One you had better not repeat outside this room.'

He gave me a keen, hard look. For the first time, I felt uncomfortable under his gaze. Alice came in with steaming mugs of wine. She passed me one with a smile, then exchanged a look with Mark that seemed to carry a different level of meaning. I felt a stab of jealousy.

'Thank you, Alice,' I said. 'That is very welcome. We have been talking with Brother Jerome and could do with some sustenance.'

'Have you, sir?' She did not seem much interested. 'I have only seen him a few times, limping about. They say he is mad.' She curtsied and left. I turned back to Mark, who sat staring into the fire.

'Sir,' he said hesitantly, 'there is something I wish to tell you.'

'Yes? Go on.'

'When we return to London – if we ever get out of this place – I do not wish to return to Augmentations. I have decided. I cannot bear it.'

'Bear what? What do you mean?'

'The corruption, the greed. All the time we are pestered by people wanting to know which monasteries will be down next. They write pleading letters, they turn up at the door claiming acquaintance with Lord Rich, they promise if they are granted lands they will do loyal service to Rich or Cromwell.'

'Lord Cromwell, Mark-'

'And the high officials talk of nothing but which courtier may go to the block next, who will have their posts. I hate it, sir.'

'What has brought this about? Is it what Jerome said? Do you fear ending up somehow like Mark Smeaton?'

He looked at me directly. 'No, sir. I have tried to tell you before how I feel about Augmentations.'

'Mark, hear me. I do not like some of the things that are happening now any more than you. But – it is all to an end. Our goal is a new and purer realm.' I got up and stood above him, spreading my arms wide. 'The monastic lands, for example. You have seen what this place is like, these fat monks steeped in every heresy the pope ever devised, living on the backs of the town, becking and scraping to their images when, given the chance, they would play the filthy person with each other, or young Alice, or you. It's all coming to an end, and so it should. It's a disgrace.'

'Some of them are not bad people. Brother Guy-'

'The institution is rotten. Listen: if Lord Cromwell can get these lands into the king's hands then, yes, some will be given to his supporters. That is the nature of patronage, it is how society works, it is inevitable. But the sums are vast; they will give the king enough money to make him independent of Parliament. Listen, you feel for the plight of the poor, do you not?'

'Yes, sir. It is a disgrace. People like Alice thrown off their lands everywhere, masterless men begging in the streets-'

'Yes. It is a disgrace. Lord Cromwell tried to put a Bill through Parliament last year that would truly succour the poor, set up almshouses for those who could not work and provide great public works for those without labour, building roads and canals. Parliament turned the Bill down because the gentry did not want to pay a tax on income to fund it. But with the wealth of the monasteries in the king's coffers, he won't need Parliament. He can build schools. He can pay to provide an English bible in every church. Imagine it, work for everyone, all the people reading God's word. And that is why Augmentations is vital!'

He smiled sadly. 'You do not think, like Master Copynger, that only householders should be allowed to read the Bible? I have heard Lord Rich believes the same. My father is not a householder, they would not allow him the Bible. Nor am I.'

'You will be one day. But no, I do not agree with Copynger. And Rich is a rogue. Cromwell needs him now, but he will ensure he rises no further. Things will settle down.'

'Will they, sir?'

'They must. They must. You need to think, Mark, you need to pray. I cannot – I cannot cope with doubts, not now. There is too much at stake.'

He turned back to the fire. 'I am sorry to vex you, sir.'

'Then believe what I say.'