The King's Secret Matter by Jean Plaidy

it my duty to test his servants, and I now have the results of these labours to lay before Your Grace.’
    â€˜What are these results?’
    â€˜In the first place Buckingham feels himself to be as royal as your Grace.’
    â€˜The rogue!’ cried Henry.
    â€˜He has said that there is no bar sinister on his escutcheon.’
    Wolsey had the pleasure of seeing the red colour flame into the plump cheeks. ‘He has told his confessor, Delacourt, that if you were to die and the Princess Mary were to die, he would have the throne.’
    â€˜By God!’ cried the King. ‘He shall lose his head – for it is his just deserts.’
    â€˜That is not all,’ went on the Cardinal. ‘I have learned that he consults a soothsayer, and that he has been told that one day he will mount the throne.’
    â€˜And how can he do this? Tell me that. Does he think to go to war . . . with
me
!’
    â€˜He’s a fool, Your Grace, but not such a fool as that. He knows the people love you and that you have your friends. Soothsayers often practise another trade. I have heard they are often well versed in the art of poison.’
    Henry was speechless for a few seconds. Then he burst out: ‘We’ll have him in the Tower. We’ll have him on the rack. We’ll have the truth from him. By God, his head shall be forfeit for what he has done.’
    â€˜Your Grace,’ murmured the Cardinal, ‘we must build up a case against him. This I believe we can do.’
    â€˜You mean we can send him to the scaffold?’
    â€˜Why should we not, if we can prove him guilty of treason?’
    â€˜He would have to be tried before his peers. Forget not, Thomas, that this is Buckingham; ’tis true that there is royal blood in his veins. You think his peers would judge him worthy of the traitors’ death?’
    â€˜If the case were strong enough against him.’
    â€˜Norfolk would be one of his judges. You know the bonds between them. He and his fellows would be loth to condemn one of such nobility. Had he raised an army against the Crown, that would be another matter. But it would seem that he has done nothing but prate.’
    â€˜Against Your Grace!’
    â€˜Thomas, I understand you well. You serve me with all your heart. I brought you up, and you have had little but insults from these men. But they are the nobility; they make a shield around the throne. They have certain privileges.’
    â€˜Your Grace, I concern myself only with the safety of my master.’ The Cardinal snapped his fingers. ‘I care not that for this shield. Your Grace, I crave pardon but I say this: You know not your strength. All men about the throne should tremble at your displeasure . . . be they scullions or noble dukes. This could be so. This must be so. You are our lord and our King.’
    For a few seconds the two men regarded each other. TheCardinal knew that this was one of the most significant moments of his career.
    He was showing the young lion that the golden walls of his cage were only silken strands to be pushed aside whenever he wished. Yet looking at this man of turbulent passions, even then the Cardinal wondered what he had done. But he was vindictive by nature; and from the moment he had seen the greasy water splash his satin robes he had determined at all costs to have his revenge.

    The news spread round the Court.
    â€˜This cannot be,’ it was whispered. ‘What has he done, but talk? Who can prove that this and that was said? Who are the witnesses against him? A pack of disgruntled servants! This trial is a warning. Do not forget this is the noble Duke of Buckingham. He will be freed with a pardon and a warning.’
    But the King’s anger against Buckingham was intense when he examined the evidence which his Chancellor had put before him.
    His face was scarlet as he read the report of Buckingham’s carelessly spoken words. It was infuriating that anyone