Tombland

I told him what Walker had told me, without mentioning his name, saying only that it was a man in the camp. He was silent a moment, then said slowly, ‘Now that the old Duke of Norfolk is in the Tower, Sir Richard Southwell is one of the greatest landowners in Norfolk, as well as steward to the Lady Mary. He is also an alternate member of the Protector’s Council in London, among those nominated in the old king’s will to take the place of members who resign or die. I do not need to tell you that he is a great villain, who will stop at nothing to increase his own power and wealth.’

‘So I have learned.’

He looked at me fiercely. ‘If you repeat what I am about to tell you to anyone, it will go very badly for you.’

I took a deep breath. ‘Then I swear to tell nobody.’

Kett inclined his head, his look still dangerous. ‘I know you believe in justice, Master Shardlake, but I have thousands of men to supply, and sometimes agreements have to be made with those you dislike, even loathe.’

‘I have done the same in my time,’ I said, not adding that I had usually regretted it.

Kett said, ‘Southwell came to the camp to buy us off, riding fast from London. The Council had given him five hundred pounds for me to pay the men to disperse.’

‘That is a huge sum,’ I said.

Kett nodded. ‘The Council had learned that the camp was very large – from spies, no doubt. But Southwell did not know just how large, and when he saw our size, it shocked him. I met him privately that morning, and refused to be paid off to dissolve the camp.’ He leaned forward and stared at me. ‘Do you believe me, Master Shardlake?’

‘I do.’

‘Then I made a separate arrangement with him. I took the five hundred pounds, and agreed in return that his own sheep farms would not be touched, and the Lady Mary and her Kenninghall estate would be left undisturbed. Already men had begun taking down fences round her deer parks, but I said that would stop. I would have ordered it anyway, for as heir to the throne her safety matters to the Protector.’

I looked at him with new admiration. ‘So you outsmarted Southwell?’

Kett smiled. ‘I have thousands of men behind me. I set him free, to return to London and tell whatever tale he chose. And I have also, shall we say, had a donation from Bishop Rugge, in return for not looking too closely into the religious views of some in the camp, and leaving cathedral property safe. Had I not, with such numbers we would in time have run out of supplies – shoes, candles, clothes – things my men have been able to buy in Norwich market with the money. And keeping the market open helps me with Codd and Aldrich. Nonetheless, these arrangements are known only to very few. Some among the men would disapprove of my letting Southwell go – but it was the best arrangement for the camp, and that is my concern above all.’

I said, with genuine admiration, ‘Captain Kett, your years dealing with Flowerdew and his like in Wymondham have made you a skilled politician indeed.’

‘I thank you.’ He looked at me seriously again. ‘So, you understand that whatever his young thugs, or Southwell himself, may have done, there is nothing I can do. I do not even know where he is. Probably in London, like Flowerdew. He may indeed have been party to murder, nothing would surprise me. But I can do nothing and you, Master Shardlake, must say nothing.’

I sighed, realizing that what he said was true. ‘Again, I swear.’ I paused. ‘But Southwell coming with money is surely more evidence that the Protector wants the camps dispersed.’

Kett frowned. ‘As I said, I believe that if the Protector sees the reasonableness of our demands, and, yes, the force we have behind us, he will realize they must settle. Here and elsewhere.’ He then reached a long arm across the table and pushed across three sealed letters. ‘Mayor Codd agreed to forward letters arriving in Norwich for men in the camp. These came yesterday, one each for you and Barak and young Overton.’

I looked at the seals. All had been broken, either by Codd’s men or Kett’s. The one addressed to me was in Guy’s handwriting, as was a second for Barak, probably written for Tamasin by Guy. I worried what the letters might contain, for they must already have been read, but if there was anything of concern, Kett would have told me. ‘Thank you,’ I said.

He stood. ‘Now I must go to the Oak, meet the representatives of the Hundreds and finalize the demands. After you have gone over them, I would like you to assist me at more trials of the gentlemen this afternoon.’

‘There may be a big storm later, the sky is growing dark.’

He smiled. ‘Country people are used to working in foul weather.’ His face fell serious again. ‘And remember, say nothing of Southwell’s visit here.’

‘I will not—’