Leeman looked at him defiantly. ‘And we found them. Even Myldmore, whom we had rejected because he had not reached true faith, came back to us when Anne Askew entrusted him with her writings. We knew that if her story of illegal torture by two councillors of state were published abroad and smuggled back into England it would rouse the populace. English printers are too closely watched for it to be done safely here. And it will be published,’ he said defiantly. ‘The government has agents in Flanders, but Master Vandersteyn’s people are adept at avoiding them.’

‘I see.’ I took a long breath. ‘Well, I told you, I do not care about Anne Askew’s book. Others did, and it was necessary for me to work with them for a while.’

‘Richard Rich?’ Leeman asked. ‘There is a villain.’

I inclined my head. ‘As for you, you overheard the Queen and Archbishop Cranmer disputing loudly one night when you were on duty, and learned of the existence of the Lamentation.’

He groaned, wincing at a spasm of pain. ‘By my faith, sir, you are a clever man.’

I took another deep breath. ‘And I guess you told your group about the Queen’s book, and it was decided you would steal the Lamentation, even though publication could seal the Queen’s fate. Because you believed her fate was already sealed and publication would at least show that she held radical beliefs before she was toppled. And you knew her fate was sealed because of Bertano?’

‘Yes. I argued within the group that it was better to expose Bertano publicly, that knowledge of his coming would truly rouse the populace. But others argued against, saying we would not be believed and it was too late to prevent his coming.’

‘Who argued that position?’

‘Master Curdy and Captain McKendrick both.’

‘And how did you find out about Bertano?’

‘I told you, Vandersteyn has informants on the Continent. Including a junior official at the French court. Suffice to say that his responsibilities involved accommodation for foreign visitors, which gave him the opportunity, like me, to overhear conversations. Such as the arrival in France of Gurone Bertano, a papal ambassador who once lived in England and was being sent to seek an agreement between the Pope and King Henry. At the King’s invitation.’

Barak shook his head firmly. ‘The King would never surrender his authority back to Rome.’

‘Yes,’ Leeman agreed. ‘Master Vandersteyn was mightily shocked when his emissary from Flanders brought him the news.’ He looked at me, his dark eyes hard. ‘But his people can always be trusted. Bertano is now at the French court, and he will arrive here within a few days. It has been done secretly, only a few men at court know, and nobody with any sympathy for reform. Certainly not the Queen.’