The Devil's Chalice by D K Wilson

Author:D K Wilson [Wilson, D K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MadeGlobal Publishing
Published: 2016-09-29T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

It was the next day, Monday 26 August, that I began to realise the forces we were up against. Underhill arrived at my house in the middle of the morning. He appeared very subdued and not, I soon realised, because of the sling holding his right arm.

‘How is your wound?’ I asked as we sat in the parlour with a hot posset.

‘’Twill mend,’ he grunted. ‘’Tis bothersome having it bound like this but your friend assured me it will speed the healing. I have had worse, far worse.’

‘Yet, you seem somewhat distracted.’

‘I fear our business does not run smoothly.’

‘Why say you so? What is the problem?’

Underhill shook his head and sighed. ‘I had hoped to be here this morning with a warrant to convey our necromancer straight to the Tower. I have spent hours at Whitehall last night and this morning. I saw Master Secretary Paget. He told me that the matter must be considered by the whole council. When I eventually found Ralph Morice, he said that his grace could not take the responsibility upon himself – that there are “circumstances” which must be thought on. He is content for us to search Allen’s chamber, but as to incarceration in the Tower … Pah! Politics!’

I was puzzled. ‘’Twas the archbishop who set me upon this business at the start. He wanted Parafaustus unmasked. He seemed delighted when I had identified him. So now, when we have this magic-dabbler in our power, why does he suddenly retreat into caution?’

‘Satan has disciples at court. Some of them belong to the gambling dens where Allen is well known.’

‘Such places are illegal,’ I said.

‘Aye, there is the nub of it. Illegal they are and the Protector is hot against them. So they must continue in secret. The Saviour said, “Men prefer darkness to light because their deeds are evil.”’

‘So Allen’s friends at court mean to protect him from interrogation because it might expose them.’

Underhill nodded sombrely. ‘The enemies of righteousness …’

‘Yet it goes deeper.’ I hurried on to avoid a sermon. ‘Now I begin to see things more clearly.’

‘What things?’

‘Cranmer and Paget were overjoyed when I revealed Parafaustus as involved in a certain matter they wanted investigated secretly. They said they had suspected him but lacked proof. I thought they wanted to silence rumours against the Protector’s allies. Now I think they were being much more active – not defending their friends but attacking their enemies.’

‘Then why …?’

‘Why should they now be blowing hot and cold? Indeed. You would think … Something must have changed …’ I cudgelled my brains for some kind of answer. ‘Has anything unusual happened at court these last days – anything that would change the balance of forces?’

Underhill shook his head. ‘Everyone has been too concerned with affairs in Norwich …’

‘Then, perhaps, that is it!’

‘I do not …’

‘Fear, Edward, fear! We are all worried about this rebellion. What if Kett and his peasant rabble defeat a second royal army? ’Tis the question on everyone’s lips. London is in a frenzy as we try to make ourselves secure against attack.

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