‘I would think it should be done gently,’ I said. ‘But that is my opinion, not the voice of my gift. I just wish that it could be done gently.’

‘It should be done quickly and powerfully,’ the queen said. ‘The longer it takes the more doubts will emerge. Better to be done once and well than with a hundred small changes.’

The two men looked unconvinced. ‘One should never offend more men than one can persuade,’ her husband, ruler of half of Europe, told her.

I saw her melt at his voice; but she did not change her opinion. ‘These are a stubborn people,’ she said. ‘Given a choice they can never decide. They forced me to execute poor Jane Grey. She offered them a choice and they cannot choose. They are like children who will go from apple to plum and take a bite out of each, and spoil everything.’

The cardinal nodded at the king. ‘Her Grace is right,’ he said. ‘They have suffered change and change about. Best that we should put the whole country on oath, once, and have it all done. Then we would root out heresy, destroy it, and have the country at peace and in the old ways in one move.’

The king looked thoughtful. ‘We must do it quickly and clearly, but with mercy,’ he said. He turned to the queen. ‘I know your passion for the church and I admire it. But you have to be a gentle mother to your people. They have to be persuaded, not forced.’

Sweetly, she put her hand on her swelling belly. ‘I want to be a gentle mother indeed,’ she said.

He put his hand over her own, as if they would both feel through the hard wall of the stomacher to where their baby stirred and kicked in her womb. ‘I know it,’ he said. ‘Who should know better than I? And together we will make a holy Catholic inheritance for this young man of ours so that when he comes to his throne, here, and in Spain, he will be doubly blessed with the greatest lands in Christendom and the greatest peace the world has ever known.’

Will Somers was clowning at dinner, he gave me a wink as he passed my place. ‘Watch this,’ he said. He took two small balls from the sleeve of his jerkin and threw them in the air, then added another and another, until all four were spinning at the same time.

‘Skilled,’ he remarked.

‘But not funny,’ I said.

In response, he turned his moon face towards me, as if he were completely distracted, ignoring the balls in the air. At once, they clattered down all around us, bouncing off the table, knocking over the pewter goblets, spilling wine everywhere.

The women screamed and leaped up, trying to save their gowns. Will was dumbstruck with amazement at the havoc he had caused: the Spanish grandees shouting with laughter at the sudden consternation released in the English court like a Mayday revel, the queen smiling, her hand on her belly, called out: ‘Oh, Will, take care!’