Tombland

AS SO OFTEN , I found myself drawn to the escarpment, looking down on Norwich. It was as though a part of me longed to be down there. Perhaps it was even an inner wish to be with others of my own class. I fancied I saw movement around Bishopsgate Bridge gatehouse, but it was hard to see clearly from this distance. Many others had gathered at the escarpment, looking down on the city. The remaining cannon arrived, drawn by big draught horses, and were put in place at the watching-posts. Captain Miles ran between them, ensuring that the right shot and powder was available for each gun, and the men there competent to use the great weapons.

Suddenly, I saw a flash and heard a loud boom. A moment later a waterspout erupted in the river below. I remembered the cannon I had seen at the castle. There was another boom, and a small tree fell over at the bottom of the hill. Captain Miles, nearby, laughed. ‘They haven’t sighted properly. Come on, let’s show we can answer them! Give them a fright.’

A moment later there came a mighty roar, and smoke billowed over me as the nearest cannon fired down towards the city. The earth shook under my feet and for a second I was back four years, on the warship Mary Rose as it fired its mighty barrage at the French fleet just before it sank. I thought I had got over the terrible memory of that day, but at the firing of the cannon I let out an involuntary cry and crouched down, holding my hands over my head. I heard some of the men crewing the cannon laugh, and someone call, ‘The hunchback lawyer hasn’t even stomach for our own weapons!’ After a few moments I got up, though I was shaking still.

For a while there was quiet, no firing from the crest or from the city, only a murmuring from the men around our cannon as soldiers guided them in their better use, while Miles darted to and fro. I did not move. From their talk, their shots had gone right over the defenders into the city. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and, looking up, saw Miles regarding me curiously. ‘Are you ill, Master Shardlake?’

‘No, Captain,’ I replied humbly. ‘I am sorry, you will think me a great coward.’

‘No, sir, I am a fair judge of men and while I have seen you were in two minds about our cause, I thought you a man of good courage.’

I let out a long sigh. ‘The firing of that cannon so close brought back something from my past.’ I took a deep breath. ‘I was on the Mary Rose when it sank four years ago. I survived, but many good men I knew died that day.’

Miles looked at me, astonished. ‘I was at Portsmouth myself then, half the trained soldiers in England were.’ His seamed face was full of curiosity. ‘What on earth were you doing on the Mary Rose ?’

‘It is a long story, too long for now. Suffice to say it involved Lord Richard Rich, and that he was up to no good.’

‘Rich?’ He frowned. ‘Word came today from Essex that the camp there has been put down, and executions have begun. Promises to the camp-men there were betrayed. The man sent to take charge there is Rich.’

‘He will cut a mighty swathe,’ I said bitterly.

‘But not here,’ Miles said determinedly. ‘Here we shall turn the tide against the Council.’

‘And the Protector? I fear he is behind all this.’

Miles gave me a concentrated stare. ‘If he is, we shall bring him to terms. Tomorrow we take the second largest city in England.’

‘How many deserted after the Herald’s visit?’

‘Near four hundred, I believe, mostly of the yeoman class.’ He spat on the ground. ‘We are better off without them.’

We looked up as another roar sounded from the city. The gun ball crashed harmlessly into the hillside. Miles laughed. ‘They’ve little chance of reaching us from Norwich castle. And we’ve little chance of reaching them. But we’ll show them what we’re made of. I should return to your hut for now, Master Shardlake. Be of good cheer; tomorrow we shall win easily. We shall send men down at dawn to ask them to open the city to us peacefully. I doubt they will agree, but we can only try.’

* * *

DURING THE NIGHT there was intermittent firing from both sides, but none from the city came anywhere near the camp. In our hut, Barak fell asleep despite the noise. I lay awake, tossing restlessly, relieved when the first birdsong signalled the approaching dawn. We rose and breakfasted quietly. Goodwife Everneke constantly fiddled with something under her dress. I realized it was a forbidden rosary. She was a Catholic.

The time came for Natty to join the forces to which he had been assigned, and for Simon to go to the horses. Barak and I shook their hands. ‘Go well, all of you.’ I turned away abruptly, and walked back to the escarpment, where great rows of armed men now waited. A light breeze came up from the river. Two riders passed me, carrying a large white flag, and rode downhill to Bishopsgate Bridge. The men were seeking a peaceful entry to the city.