Lamentation

‘And who was that?’ He did not answer, but I sensed he knew more. He looked at me, then surprised me by saying, in a scoffing tone, ‘You think the danger to the Queen is ended, if the book I took is recovered?’

‘So it has seemed. I have lately been at court, Master Leeman.’

He answered, weariness and scorn mingling in his voice: ‘It is not over. How did you learn the name Bertano, if you do not know who he is?’

‘Greening’s neighbour, Okedene, heard you arguing loudly in Greening’s shop, shortly before Greening was killed. He heard the name Bertano mentioned as an emissary of the Antichrist.’

Leeman nodded slowly. ‘Yes. The Queen may be a good woman, and perhaps in her heart she recognizes the Mass as a blasphemous ceremony, but because of Bertano she is doomed anyway. The King is about to receive a secret emissary from Rome. That can only mean he is going to return to papal servitude. Many would fall then, Catherine Parr chief among them.’And then I felt a chill as I understood. ‘Bertano is the official emissary of the Pope,’ I breathed.

‘Whether that is true or not,’ Nicholas said angrily, ‘you broke your oath to guard and protect her.’

‘In the end she is no more than another of the idle rout of nobles and princes, the refuse of mankind.’ Leeman spoke so fiercely, I wondered again whether his conscience pricked him.

Nicholas frowned. ‘God’s death, he is an Anabaptist. That mad company of schismatics. He’d have all gentlemen murdered and their property given to the rabble.’

I turned round and gave him a warning look. ‘I am in your hands,’ Leeman said fiercely. ‘And know that I will soon be killed.’ He swallowed hard. His angry tones held the defiance of a martyr, but his voice also trembled slightly. Yes, I thought, he is afraid; like all men he fears the flames.

‘Indeed,’ he continued. ‘I am what your boy calls an Anabaptist. I understand baptism may only be allowed once one has come to true knowledge of God. And that just as the Pope is the Antichrist, seducing men’s hearts while living in pomp and magnificence, so earthly princes and their elbowhangers are likewise thieves and must be overthrown if Christians are to live as the Bible commands!’ His voice rose. ‘With all goods held in common, in true charity, recognizing we are all of the same weak clay, and that our only true allegiance is to Our Lord Jesus Christ.’ He leaned back, breathing hard, staring at us defiantly.

‘That’s some lecture,’ Barak said sardonically.

‘So,’ I began quietly, ‘you would overthrow the King, who is said to be, by God’s decree, Supreme Head of the Church in England?’

‘Yes!’ he shouted. ‘And I know I have just committed treason with those words, and could be hanged and drawn and quartered at Tyburn. As well as burned for heresy for what I said about the Mass.’ He took a deep, shuddering breath. ‘Best to get it all out now. I can only die once. It is what I believe, and because of that I will be received in Heaven when you kill me.’

‘I told you earlier, Leeman, that we are not necessarily your enemies. If you can help guide us to the Queen’s book, I may be able to help you.’ I looked at him closely before continuing. ‘You come from the gentle classes. You must do, to have been appointed to the position of status and trust you held. So what brought you to your present beliefs?’

‘You would have me incriminate others?’ Leeman took another breath. ‘That I will not do.’

‘You have no need to. Master Myldmore has already told us all about your group. We have him safe. We know the names — the three who came with you tonight: Curdy who was killed, Vandersteyn who got away in the boat, and McKendrick who fled. And Master Greening and the apprentice Elias, both of whom were murdered.’

A look of astonishment crossed his face. ‘Elias, too, is dead?’

‘Yes, and by the description and methods of the killers, by the same hands that murdered Greening.’

‘But we thought — ’ He checked himself and whispered, ‘Then Elias is in heaven, by God’s mercy.’

I pressed on. ‘We also know, through Myldmore, how Anne Askew’s Examinations came into the hands of your group. And my enquiries at court led me to you as the man who stole the Queen’s book.’

Leeman slumped back on the bed. ‘Myldmore,’ he said despairingly. ‘We knew he could not be trusted. That man had been seduced by Mammon.’

‘And had residual doubts about the Royal Supremacy.’

Leeman said, ‘Yes. We could not let him into our secrets. Master Greening was firm on that.’ He shook his head. ‘Greening brought me to the truth, he and the others. God rest him.’

I said, ‘We would like to find his killers. Please help us.’