Thomas Tallis by Jessica Swale

Author:Jessica Swale
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-10-23T00:00:00+00:00

BETHAN Let me see those beads.

PEDDLER (taking them out) You have a fine eye, Madam. These are strung on the silk of a mulberry worm. Plucked from his cocoon. It is the strongest silk you ever will see.

BETHAN And what are the beads?

PEDDLER They grew upon a bead tree. I picked them myself.

BETHAN (looking in the box) You’re selling slate?

PEDDLER No. Not I.

BETHAN (taking the slate out of the box) Then what is this?

He is unsettled.

PEDDLER It is my adding slate. It’s not for sale.

BETHAN A shame. You won’t sell it – even for sixpence?

PEDDLER Madam. I have trinkets and fancies to tickle your cockles, look here, waxes and wools –

BETHAN (holding up a chalice) A chalice?

PEDDLER A bodkin, a peas cod –

BETHAN Eternal life?

The PEDDLER stops in his tracks.

PEDDLER (pause) Eternal life? No Madam.

BETHAN Father. (pause) Rosary beads? An altar stone?

PEDDLER I don’t think I can help you.

BETHAN Pewter cups and candlesticks? They will hunt you out.

PEDDLER Madam –

BETHAN Deus nobiscum –

PEDDLER Quis contra.

She takes his hand and he lays his hand on hers.

Can we be seen?

BETHAN No. But we must not tarry. There are others in the Parish. We meet when we can, but we have no one to confess to, or to bless us. Would you say mass with us?

PEDDLER I need somewhere to sleep.

BETHAN To stay?

PEDDLER Do you have a barn? An outhouse.

BETHAN Father…

PEDDLER Anywhere.

BETHAN I have a family.

PEDDLER I need to sleep. Just for a short time.

BETHAN I have two young ones. If anyone found out.

The PEDDLER lifts his sleeve to show a bruised, cut arm.

PEDDLER They tried to steal my box. It is not safe. Please, I have walked through twelve nights straight.

BETHAN Father…

PEDDLER Have you a sty? Or a coop. I will sleep in the mud, just please… rest. And bread. And I will pray with you.

She takes a moment to think. Then she indicates for him to follow her. As they walk away, a man steps out of the darkness and watches them go.

Scene Five

Noses Out of Joint

Under Mary Queen of Scot’s Anti-Protestant reign.

At Waltham Abbey, the PLASTERER, sits making a paste. He is restoring the figures in a Catholic frieze in which the saints have been damaged. THOMAS TALLIS walks through with some books.

PLASTERER If you’re looking for the Priest, he is praying yonder. (looking up) Eh! Where are you going with them? You put ‘em back.

THOMAS Good Sir, they are my own.

PLASTERER You sure you’re not one of them divers? Swipers?

THOMAS No, I assure you. I worked here once and left these behind. I thought I’d have no need for Catholic tunes again.

PLASTERER You a musician?

THOMAS A composer, yes.

PLASTERER I watched it when they pulled the chancel down. It took two dozen men to move the stone. Sold it for a pretty penny, I dare say. (picking up the plaster nose he’s been fashioning) Hey, look at that. Not too big, not too small. A perfect saintly snout. (fitting the nose onto the frieze) Poor fellah. Hardly dignified to have your nose lopped off.

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