[David Becket and Simon Ames 01] - Firedrake's Eye

by Patricia Finney

  By the time Henry’s marital odyssey had finished he had three children. The first, Mary Tudor, was by Catherine of Aragon and a Catholic. The other two, Elizabeth and Edward, were both brought up as Protestants.

  To ignore religion in the 16th century would be as foolish as to ignore politics in the 20th century. Catholics and Protestants hated and killed each other with as much virulence as Fascists, Communists and democrats in this century. Elizabeth came to the throne after the death of her sister Mary who had tried to bring England back into the Catholic Church, partly by burning more than 300 heretics. She had also married Philip II of Spain, the greatest power in Europe at the time. Through this marriage Philip had a claim to the throne of England.

  Elizabeth threaded her way through the vicious politics of the time with consummate artistry. She often promised to marry but she never did, mainly because she had no intention of handing over any of her power to the husband who was expected by the mores of the time to be her lord and master. As a result the choice of her successor was a source of constant anxiety to her Councillors, most of whom like the Earl of Leicester and Sir Francis Walsingham were convinced Protestants.

  First in line of succession to her, by right of descent, was her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. A Catholic, she had got herself kicked out of Scotland through a series of blunders and had been Elizabeth’s prisoner since May 1568. The small son she abandoned when she fled became James VI of Scotland and was brought up a Protestant. Eventually he would succeed Elizabeth and become James I of England and Scotland. However this was by no means certain in 1583, especially as Elizabeth refused to make a decision about it.

  A kind of cold war had been going on between the premier Catholic power, Spain, and the third-ranking, small, unpredictable, half-barbaric backwater of a power, England. Elizabeth had used every trick in the book and invented a few of her own to avoid coming to hot war with Spain, while France degenerated into civil war and the Netherlands revolted against their Spanish masters. Spain, rich with gold and silver from her possessions in the New World, maintained internal orthodoxy with the ferocious and efficient Inquisition, and had in the tercios the finest troops in Europe. The English Protestants saw themselves as Godly Davids against the Goliath of Spain, but were more interested in the thieving activities of Jack and the Beanstalk. The South American treasure was at its most vulnerable en route to Spain across the Atlantic where many English pirates tried to make their fortunes by capturing it. Sir Francis Drake had pulled off a notable coup during his famous circumnavigation of the globe in 1577-80. He captured so much booty that he brought back a 4,500% return on his investors’ money – a group that included the Queen and most of her Councillors. This naturally enraged Philip despite all Elizabeth’s bland assurances that Drake had acted against her orders. While the two sides jockeyed for position, Mary Queen of Scots became involved in a variety of plots paid for by Philip designed to assassinate Elizabeth and use Spanish troops to put her on the throne.

  Elizabeth was in daily danger of her life and knew it. Only a year after the story in this book, William of Orange, the leader of the Dutch rebels, was shot to death by a Catholic assassin.

  I read history for pleasure and adventure and it would be pretentious to try and supply a bibliography for a work of fiction. There are books I would recommend to anyone interested in the 16th century: Paul Johnson’s biography of Elizabeth I; Muriel St Clare Byrne’s Elizabethan Life in Town and Country; Spain and the Netherlands 1559 to 1659 by Geoffrey Parker; Sir Walter Ralegh by Robert Lacey; William Starkey’s The Reign of Henry VIII; The Weaker Vessel by Antonia Fraser; Elinor Fettiplace’s Receipt Book by Hilary Spurling; Mr Secretary Walsingham by Conyers Road…. The list could go on for pages.

  Anyone wishing to know more about the remarkable Ames family in 16th-century London should read L. Wolf’s article ‘Jews in Elizabethan England’ in Transactions of the Jewish Historical Society of England, Vol XL.

  Tom O’Bedlam’s Song is a genuine Elizabethan ballad, printed around this time but with a different chorus from the one I invented for the book. Nobody knows who wrote it.

  The central story of this book, an assassination attempt on Elizabeth during the 1583 Accession Day Tilts is entirely invented. There are, as far as I can make out, no records describing those Tilts, though there is plenty of information on the Tilts of 1582. However Francis Throckmorton’s plot did happen and was one of Walsingham’s first great counter-espionage successes. Reading accounts of it gave me the feeling that there was more to it than the records held and hence helped to inspire my story.

  The accounts of Englishmen sailing over to the Netherlands in 1572/3 are based on Walter Morgan’s report to Burghley ‘The Expedition in Holland’ of a particularly inglorious episode in our military history. The siege of Haarlem took place much as was described. The revolt of the Netherlands was Imperial Spain’s Vietnam, and the savagery displayed there by both sides bears comparison even with 20th-century nastiness.

  Walsingham and Philip Sidney were in Paris during the Saint Bartholomew’s Eve massacre and there is a story that during it Sir Francis was forced to hide from the mob.

  The Topographical Society’s A to Z of Elizabethan London, compiled by Adrian Prockter and Robert Taylor has been my major source for guiding my characters around their city, along with Stowe’s Survey of London.

  Cast of Characters

  Duc D’Alençon *: a French princeling

  Goodwife Alys (Flick): an alewife

  Dunstan Ames*: Purveyor and Merchant to Fler Majesty of Grocery, a Marrano gentleman

  Francisco Ames *: his brother, a soldier

  Benjamin, Jacob and William Ames’: his sons

  Simon Ames: another son, clerk and cryptographer to Sir Francis Walsingham

  Rebecca Anriques: a Jewish girl

  BALFOUR*: a Scottish soldier

  MR BARNET: an English pawnbroker

  COUNT BATENBURG*: one of William of Orange’s generals

  BAYNES: a soldier

  David Becket: a soldier of fortune, and Provost of Defence

  Goodwife Bickley: a cook

  Rocco Bonnetti *: an Italian swordmaster

  Richard Broom: a carpenter

  Jemmy Burford: a neighbour of Mr Becket’s

  Mr Carbury: a tutor

  Mrs Carfax: David Becket’s landlady

  Corday: Francis Throgmorton’s friend

  Mr Custance: a lesser merchant, suitor to Mrs Fumey

  Mr Dawkins: keeper of the Records at Gray’s Inn

  Dorcas: a wet nurse

  Mr Dowl: clerk to Sir Francis Walsingham Edmund Dun*: a ballad seller

  Queen Elizabeth I*

  Mr Ellerton: one of Sir Francis Walsingham’s men

  Henri Estienne*: a Huguenot printer, friend to Sir Philip Sidney

  Anthony Fant*: a gentleman, once a soldier Agnes Fant (nee Strangways): his wife Edward, Elizabeth and Mary Fant: his children Sir William Fant: his father, now dead Don Fadrique/Federico*: Duke of Alva’s son Eliza Fumey: a widow

  Gabriel: a wild young rogue

  Humphrey Gilbert*: a leader of the expedition in Holland Snr Phillippe Gomes’: a pawnbroker Fulke Greville’: gentleman, friend to Sir Philip Sidney Duke of Guise*: a powerful French nobleman

  Mr Hardy: a pimp

  Sir Christopher Hatton’ : Privy Councillor, the Queen’s ‘Bel-wether’ and old favourite

  William Henderson: one of Sir Francis Walsingham’s men Henri of Navarre’: the future Henry IV of France Father Hepburn: a Catholic priest John Holder: a mercenary Pericles Howard: gentleman

  John Hunnicutt: Sir Francis Walsingham’s dispatcher

  Ilse: a Dutchwoman

  Jardin: a bearwarden

  Jerome: Rocco Bonnetti’s catamite

  Joan: a wet nurse

  Thomas Kinsley: one of Sir Francis Walsingham’s men-at-arms

  Henry Mall: one of Sir Francis Walsingham’s men-at-arms Marguerite de Valois*: wife of Henri of Navarre Maud
: a serving woman

  Catherine de Medici': the Dowager Queen of France Captain Morgan ’: a leader of the expedition in Holland

  Simple Neddy: a simpleton Catherine Nesbit: Mrs Fant’s aunt

  Thomas ‘Rackmaster’ Norton: a priestfinder and interrogator Dr Hector Nunez': a Marrano physician and trader Leonora Nunez*: his wife

  William Page': a Puritan printer, offensive to the Queen Charles Paget': the Queen of Scots’ man in Paris Isaac Pardo: Mr Ames’ cousin

  Father Parsons': leader of the English Jesuits on the Continent Pellew: a courier

  Thomas Phelippes': Sir Francis Walsingham’s most senior cryptographer

  Laurence Pickering': the King of the London Rogues

  Walter Ralegh ': the Queen’s new favourite James Ramme: one of Sir Francis Walsingham’s men Mick Reynolds: Clapperdudgeon to the beggars on London Bridge M. Ricard: Sir Francis Walsingham’s majordomo in Paris

  Sir Philip Sidney': the premier knight in Christendom, Walsingham’s son-in-law

  Frances Sidney (nee Walsingham)’: his new wife

  Simier' : a French envoy

  Bonecrack Smith: a footpad

  Peter Snagge: a pedlar

  Adam Strangways: a Catholic traitor

  Agnes Strangways: his sister, married to Mr Fant

  Ralph Strangways: his brother, a madman (see Tom O’bedlam)

  Nicholas Sunningdale: a gentleman

  Francis Throgmorton: a Catholic traitor Tom O’Bedlam: a madman and poet, friend to Mr Becket Topcliffe: priesthunter and torturer Tyrrel: another King of London’s Rogues

  Sir Francis Walsingham’: Privy Councillor, the Queen’s Secretary and head of her secret service

  Frances Walsingham’: his daughter (see Sidney) Ursula Walsingham*: his wife

  * * *

  * – denotes an actual historical character

  Glossary

  (TC – denotes Thieves’ Cant) abram – (TC) mad

  Agnus Dei — wax disc imprinted with the Lamb of God and the crossed keys of the Papacy and blessed by the Pope ague – malaria aqua fortis – nitric acid aqua vitae – brandy

  arquebus – primitive musket fired with a lighted slowmatch

  backsword – heavy one-edged short sword bale of dice – (TC) 2-3 matched dice

  falling band – Puritan-type plain linen collar worn instead of a ruff bastard sword – could be used one or two-handed biggin – close-fitting cap worn by babies bombast – stuffing for clothes

  booze – (TC) traditional English slangword meaning alcoholic drink (originally sp. bouse) boozing ken – (TC) worst kind of pub

  bread sippets — slices of toast laid under meat to soak up the juices buck – large wooden tub with a lid buckler – small leather shield

  calenture – a stroke

  Canary – fortified wine canions — loose breeches

  carrel – cubbyhole office in library or cloister

  caudle – hot spiced wine drink made with gruel

  charger – serving dish

  citron – pale yellow colour

  clapperdudgeon – (TC) chief beggar

  the Clink – debtor’s prison

  close stool – chamber pot hidden inside a seat with a lid

  clyster thread – inserted in the skin to cause localised irritation believed to draw infection out of another part of the body

  cockle – corncockle – a weed of cultivation cog – cargo ship

  collops – chops of meat

  comfits – sweets

  complected – the balance of one’s humours

  coneycatch – (TC) to con or cheat

  costiveness – constipation

  courser – large horse specially bred for tilting

  cramoisie – dark blackcurrant red colour

  cruse – clay jar

  cuirass – piece of armour covering chest and back

  dag – early pistol

  dish'oficoals – like a frying pan containing hot coals of charcoal with a griddle on top, a sort of mini-barbecue

  duds – (TC) clothes

  Duke of Exeter’s daughter – nickname for the rack which was imported by the Duke of Exeter in Henry VIII’s reign

  Feast of Esther – a minor Jewish feast of great importance to the Marranos

  filch – (TC) a thief

  flense – to skin

  flux – dysentery

  to foin – to stab with a spear, also to fuck

  footpad – mugger French pox – syphilis

  goodman/goodwife — term of respect for a common person, one down from Mr or Mrs

  gossip – (lit. God-sibling) old friend, especially female groat – four pence piece

  halberd – spearhaft with a blade like a cross between an axe and an old-fashioned tin-opener – still carried by Yeomen of the Guard

  highmen/lowmen – (TC) false dice altered to throw high/low

  hookman – (TC) thief who uses a long hook to steal things from open windows horse-coper – farrier

  humour – basic to Elizabethan medicine: four humours combined to make a man – blood (sanguine h.); phlegm (phlegmatic h.); yellow bile (choleric h.) and black bile (melancholic h.)

  Iconoclasts – Protestant religious hooligans who broke up images on the grounds that they were idolatrous

  jakes – toilet

  leman – (arch.) male or female lover

  lour – (TC) money

  marchpane – marzipan

  Manano – Portuguese Sephardic Jew

  melancholia – depression

  mint – (TC) gold

  murrey – dull purple brown colour

  nightrail – nightgown nithing – (arch.) wimp

  orangado – a Seville orange, partly hollowed and stuffed with sugar

  the ordinary – set meal at an inn, normally stew thickened with vegetables and bread

  palliard (TC) beggar

  pannum – (TC) bread

  passado – early version of fencing lunge

  patten — high wooden overshoe worn to keep expensive leather out of the mud

  penner — leather pouch worn on the belt and used by clerks to carry pens, penknife and ink

  petard – explosive charge used in sieges

  piccardils – stiffened strips of cloth to support a ruff on a collar

  pike – very long, thick spear used against cavalry by men standing in serried ranks

  pillicock – origin of pillock or penis

  points – laces for tying clothes shut or together

  pottage – stew

  posset – warming or medicinal drink prig – (TC) steal

  primero – a complicated card game similar to poker punk – (TC) whore

  recusant – someone who broke the law by refusing to go to church on a Sunday, usually Catholic

  roaring boys – (TC) thugs, hooligans

  rushlight – cheap candle made by dipping a dried rush stem in tallow (aka a tallow dip)

  sack – sherry samite – heavy satin

  San Lorenzo – now known as the Escorial, Philip II’s part-built palace

  Secretary hand – old style of handwriting similar to German Gothic

  stays – corsets

  stews – brothel

  stockfish – dried salted herring

  stomacher – boned triangular piece of cloth, often embroidered, pinned to the front of the bodice

  tawny – orange gold colour tertian fever – three day malaria

  tercio – Spanish equivalent of a brigade, including pikemen and arquebusiers, of approximately 3000 men in triangular formation tester – roof of a four-poster bed

  tobacco – introduced into England from America by Hawkins (contrary to popular belief) and rapidly becoming very fashionable, it was often cut with incense or other herbs such as the seeds and leaves of the hemp plant trencher – dinner plate, earlier of coarse bread or wood, now usually of pewter or silver

  trucklebed – small bed on wheels normally pushed under another bed when not in use
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  trull – whore

  Tunnage and Poundage men – Customs officers

  upright man – (TC) sturdy beggar or vagrant

  veney stick — heavy stick like a sledgehammer handle used for sword practice

  playing a veney – friendly practice fight with sticks, occasionally ending in broken bones

  winding up a jack – winding the clockwork mechanism for turning a spit, latest kitchen technology