Tombland

He grunted. ‘I spent many years organizing my business, the religious guilds, and contesting with corrupt and greedy officials over the abbey church and lands. Most of all I contested with Flowerdew. Once you have dealt with him you can deal with anyone, I think.’

‘He is – a strange man.’

‘I expect he has fled to London. I may release his sons, they are just frightened boys.’

‘I think that true.’

‘How is Master Overton? Since I ordered his release he has not been seen around the camp, unlike you and Jack Barak.’

I thought, He does have a good intelligence system. ‘I think he felt humiliated by his imprisonment. But he will make no trouble, his word is his bond.’

He gave me a hard look. ‘Your client’s sons, the Boleyn twins, have been troublesome. They will not be released; they would only join the gentry who will already be gathering against us. They may be transferred to Norwich Castle – yes, Mayor Codd has even agreed to that.’

‘I can only agree they are an extremely dangerous pair.’

I found myself glancing at the beds. Kett said, ‘Here is where I work and sleep. My wife Alice will not return to Wymondham without me. A good and loyal woman.’

His words brought Isabella Boleyn to mind. Were she and the steward Chawry still in Norwich, or had they returned to a wrecked Brikewell? I looked up, to see Kett staring interrogatively at me. ‘I am sorry,’ I said. ‘I was just thinking of people I know in Norwich.’

‘John Boleyn?’

‘And his family.’

‘Well,’ Kett said. ‘You may be able to visit the city shortly. As you heard, I have just been talking with the mayor and Alderman Aldrich, the second wealthiest man in Norwich. Shortly I will send word around the camp that Norwich is open to us. The city sent a messenger to London when the rebellion started, and the Protector has asked only that the two clerics you saw, Watson and Conyers, be allowed to preach to the camp twice a day. The market will be reopened, and the men have been given money, wages, from village funds. ‘Some money has been appropriated from the gentry, and – other new sources.’ He did not elaborate, and I wondered whether Southwell might have paid Kett handsomely to leave the Lady Mary and his own large flocks alone.

Kett continued solemnly. ‘And I have intelligence that new camps have also been established at Ipswich and Bury. The Ipswich camp numbers a thousand and is already dispensing justice to the gentry. That news, too, will be passed around the camp. And tomorrow we make our first military endeavour, to take Yarmouth. Then we will have control of a major port, and as many herrings as we want.’ He leaned forward, excitement in his voice now. ‘Our enterprise is succeeding, Master Shardlake, everywhere. I do not delude myself that the Norwich city fathers are acting in anything but their own self-interest; they know that if we chose, we could descend the hill, cross the Wensum, and take everything from the rich merchants with the aid of the Norwich poor. But we shall do everything lawfully. So, given that assurance, will you confirm that you will assist me at the trials we shall soon hold?’

‘I gave my oath that where the law and justice are concerned I will advise you honestly wherever I can.’

‘Good. And remember, we act in the name of the King and the Protector, to further their desire for reform.’

I thought of all I had seen done in the camp, and for the first time wondered whether Kett could be right after all, and that the camps here and elsewhere might ensure the commissioners brought a new justice to the countryside – or even brought it without them.

Kett continued enthusiastically, ‘Nearby, under a great ancient oak, a place of assembly and justice is being constructed. We shall hold our counsels there, and the camp will gather to pass sentence on the gentlemen we have taken – and on some of our own who have selfishly appropriated monies from the manor houses instead of giving them to the common purse.’ He frowned. ‘It is a disgrace, that men should cheat their fellows, here of all places.’

I ventured, ‘Is that not just people being people, Captain Kett?’

He frowned, and I thought, for all of his extraordinary abilities and stout heart, in some ways he was a naive man. He continued, ‘Those who have abused the privileges of the camp will be expelled, gentlemen who, it is decided, have done no wrong will be released, while those who deserve it will have their crimes noted before they are returned to Surrey Place or Norwich Castle.’

‘There will be no hangings or mutilations?’

‘None. I told you, this camp will be a place of peace and order. And the trials will be conducted in accordance with the rules of evidence, on which you can advise me where necessary. I need you all the more, since the young lawyer Thomas Godsalve has run away.’