Tombland

WE WALKED THROUGH NORWICH , looking out for Simon Scambler, though there was no sign of him. At the top of the marketplace, on the Guildhall steps, Mayor Codd stood with Alderman Aldrich, armed constables behind them. Codd looked frightened, Aldrich sternly watchful. Then, to my surprise, another elderly man stepped out of the Guildhall, leaning heavily on a stick, a sword at his waist, his thin face full of angry contempt. Gawen Reynolds. He exchanged some muttered words with the others, but though Codd put a restraining hand on his arm, Reynolds brushed it off and stepped down to the fringes of the crowd coming to market, glowering at them. Then, from somewhere, a man shouted out, ‘They’ll hang your Boleyn son-in-law yet, Gawen Reynolds! And Captain Kett will hang your grandsons!’

There was laughter, and Reynolds’s face went brick-red. Despite appeals from Codd and Aldrich, he stepped forward and drew his sword. ‘Ruffatory makebates! I will see you all hanging on the gallows there!’

He was immediately approached by a number of men, from the camp by the looks of them. One large fellow stepped in front of him, drawing a knife. ‘Come on, then, you old rogue, and we’ll slay you like a sheep!’

Reynolds hesitated, intimidated by their numbers. Then a cabbage was thrown from somewhere, striking him on his sword arm. He dropped the weapon, and the man facing him kicked it away. There was more laughter from the crowd.

From the Guildhall steps Mayor Codd shouted down, ‘Alderman Reynolds, I command you, get back up here! We wish no trouble, for Jesu’s sake!’

But Reynolds had lost control, and let out a stream of oaths. The men moved closer, and one smacked him on the face, causing him to stagger back. The soldiers on top of the Guildhall steps made to retaliate but Codd shouted, ‘No, we’ll have a riot!’ He shouted desperately, ‘All of you, I command you in the name of sense, step away!’

But it was too late. Another man shoved Reynolds, causing him to stagger again and almost fall. Then, beside me, Nicholas suddenly woke to life. ‘Rogue he may be,’ he said, ‘but he’s a helpless old man!’ Barak put a hand on his arm, but he shook it off and ran towards those surrounding Reynolds, his face red, shouting, ‘Stop it! Have you no shame? Is this the traitor Kett’s law?’ He pushed the ringleader away from Reynolds. For a second the man was intimidated by Nicholas’s size and fury, but then pushed him back. Nicholas grappled with him, the crowd egging the other man on. Mayor Codd looked on in horror, and Alderman Aldrich signalled to the soldiers to descend the steps. At the sight of ten armed men the crowd pulled back. Barak stepped forward, put his arm round Nicholas’s throat and dragged him back, while men from the crowd restrained his opponent. Reynolds turned and limped back up the steps to safety, angrily shoving aside a soldier’s offer of aid. Aldrich said something to him, and with a final curse he went inside the Guildhall.

Mayor Codd stepped forward, raising his hands, and called out, ‘Disperse, please! I deplore Alderman Reynolds’s behaviour, and will see him disciplined for it!’

The man who had fought with Nicholas glared back at Codd, but one of his friends said, ‘Come, bor, this in’t what Captain Kett wants!’ The man shrugged angrily and allowed himself to be led away, but he shouted at Nicholas, ‘Captain Kett will hear you called him traitor!’

I turned angrily on Nicholas. He was red-faced, breathing heavily. ‘God’s blood, boy!’ I shouted. ‘What in Jesu’s name did you think you were doing! Reynolds started this ruffle, you should have left the aldermen and soldiers to quiet it!’

‘The crowd could have beaten him to death. I would not see that!’

‘Why not?’ Barak asked starkly. ‘Norwich would be better off without him.’

‘Have you lost all sense of honour?’ Nicholas replied furiously. All his pent-up anger of the past week was spilling out at last.

‘And have you lost all sense?’ Barak shouted back. ‘And Kett is not a traitor. He has done what he has in the name of the King and Protector!’

I scanned the crowd. Half the square had been looking up at the Guildhall, and the story of what had happened was being passed around; many glares were thrown at us. ‘Let us get to the inn at once,’ I said. ‘And quietly. Nicholas, this will get back to Kett. Don’t be surprised to find yourself locked up again. Perhaps I will be too, as I guaranteed your behaviour.’ I strode away angrily, leaving the others to follow.

Chapter Forty-six