On The Queen's Service

Part The Fifth

 

Stick was awaiting him when he did return to home, and with the intelligence that the dead boy was indeed the one known to Sly as Eel.

"And most distressed he was, master," Stick recounted, "And begged that, should you find the killer, then you must use such influence as you may have to request of Mr. Topham that he devise a method most cruel for his dispatch, for never had he thought to see a boy slain in such a wise."

"If it prove to be but murder, Stick," Fletcher sighed, "Then must the law take its course, and for murder the penalty is hanging, nothing more."

"Then must we hope that treason or some witchcraft be involved," Stick declared, a frown upon his face that spoke much of a wish for cruel vengeance on the slayer of that Ganymede.

"Jane also has news," Stick forced his thinking from matters of cruel and bloody execution to things more domestic. "Her Robert will attend on you shortly, within the hour she did say."

That did mean that time there was not for Stick to be swived unless it be but hurriedly, and in the matter of swiving Fletcher was not one who wished to hurry.

"The butter then must wait," Fletcher sighed, though his wish to enter his catamite was most great. "First we must deal with Robert, gain what we can from him of this William Rich. Then we will dine, and after will we swive at some leisure, for I feel much the need for your arse and your prick both."

"And both may you use as your wishes demand," Stick grinned, for much was his delight when his master treated him as catamite proper, as flesh to be used for his pleasure in whatever wise did please him at the time.

Robert did prove to be a young man of some parts, for he was perhaps twenty years of age, of fair and sturdy form as befits one who works in stables, and had a countenance not displeasing. To be swived by such a one would, Stick thought, be a matter of no great hardship.

"Means must be found," Fletcher said firmly to the young man, "For you will make of Jane an honest woman, and that with haste before her condition does begin to show."

"I know not how that may be done, sir," Robert protested, twisting his cap in his large hands, "For my employ pays me not sufficient funds to take a wife."

"You would swive a maid, get her with child and then have no thought for her after?" Fletcher was most angry, for such was not the behaviour of any honest man.

"Indeed not so, sir," the young man grew yet more distressed at the harsh tone of Fletcher's words, "I, we, did try most carefully to have not an outcome such as this. I do love Jane, sir, truly I do so."

"Then you will wed her, and that with great dispatch, and after mayhap remedy may be sought for your circumstances. Jane is an honest woman, or was when she came to me and will be so again."

Stick brought a hand to his face to stifle the giggle that rose in his throat, for well he knew that Jane had been no maid ere Robert swived her, for she had confessed with some mirth to Stick that her legs had parted eagerly enough when she was but fourteen, and that fortunate she was that no consequence had come of the parting, or of other such partings since.

"You will see to the church and the banns," Fletcher ordered, "The costs I will bear, but do you this with the utmost urgency."

"Do so, Robert," Jane urged, using her womanly ways, "For Mr Fletcher has said most kindly he will cast me not out on the street if I am wed."

That Fletcher had said no such thing was a matter he kept within himself, for he knew already that Jane did make most careful plots, and guessed that this all was but an act, the choice and decision already made by Jane and her Robert.

"Then will I so do, sir," Robert conceded, "For kindness such as yours must not go disregarded."

"Some ale now, Jane," Fletcher requested, "For there are other matters of which I would talk with your Robert. Seat yourself, I pray, and tell me all you can about your master, for I think he be a man that may interest me much."

"Little is there that I may tell you, sir." Though seated now, Robert did display still much sign of discomfort, for he was much unused to the surroundings such as those of the parlour of a grand house, though Fletcher's dwelling was but poor and mean if laid against the dwellings of his betters, of whom there were many. He squirmed in his seat and twisted still at his cap, and wonder it would be if that thing were ever fit again to wear upon his head.

"I am but third groom to Sir William, and see him not, less he come to the stables, sir."

Fletcher restrained as best he could the impatience that rose within him, and wondered also how Jane, a woman of some sense, had come to choose a swain who so clearly was devoid of the attribute.

"Tell me what you know," Fletcher said as mildly as he was able, and placed a smile upon his lips.

The bumpkin before him was a young man of fair form, and the thought came to Fletcher that perhaps he had been given employ in Sir William's stables some several years before, and for a reason other than to do with horses, for at ten or twelve he would have been fair enough to arouse an interest in a man who had appetites that included boys of such an age.

"When started you your service in those stables?" Fletcher enquired, his keen mind following the thought that had arisen there.

"At an age of ten, sir," Robert said willingly enough, for he had not the wit to see where Fletcher's thoughts had gone. "I remember well that I had asked to mind a gentleman's horse for a farthing while he refreshed himself in a tavern, and when he returned and the horse safe and content, and watered too sir, for I was most careful with my task, wishing much for that farthing, he did offer to position me a stable boy in his house."

Fletcher glanced across to his apprentice and it were clear that Stick did conceive of the same thought as his master, that there were positions more than that of stable boy that a young Robert had been expected to fulfil.

"And was he kind to you then?"

"No indeed not sir!" Robert's answer was unthought and almost violent, for he had no understanding of the trap laid for him, but blundered into it straight. "Much did he use a horse whip on me sir, and did so to my bared flesh for I was slow to learn that I needs must permit unnatural things to happen!"

"He swived you," Fletcher stated bluntly and Robert cringed both with fear it seemed and with embarrassment also.

"It is a thing I wish not to speak of sir, for it was a thing most distressing and sickened me much."

"Speak of it now, nonetheless," Fletcher demanded, less kindly now for he would not have the young man take refuge now in silence. "Wait only till I have had Jane bring more beer, and then tell me all I wish to know, for I think you would rather answer my questions than that I should summon a constable and have you taken somewhere less pleasant for questions harder."

The young man paled, his large hands tearing his cap asunder, for he was in a trap now that gripped him firm and no way was there for him to escape it.

Jane brought ale and cheese and stood in wondering silence, for the air in the parlour was one of fear and her Robert would not look her in the eye for shame.

"I would have you see to matters in the kitchen, Jane," Fletcher ordered, "And come not here again till I do summon you. I talk with Robert now on the Queen's business and these are matters your ears should not hear."

That Jane would learn all that passed from Robert, and that most rapidly, for big and strong as he was, he was but a putty in her hands, of that there was no doubt remaining.

"Some brandy, Stick, I think would be most meet, for Robert has things to say that are hard for any man to say, and French spirit will give him heart to say them." Fletcher spoke again kindly, for he was a man who knew his craft, and knew well that force and gentleness, combined in the right mix, do lead a man to say that which one of them alone would have had him say not.

"Sir William beat you for you would not swive with him?" The question was asked in a manner most careful and Robert had not the wit to be not deceived.

"He beat me till I did consent to swive," Robert mumbled, shamed much by these past things. "Though much I think he liked to beat me first and swive me after, for he beat me till I screamed for mercy and beg him swive me and so stop the beating."

"Has he a prick of considerable size?" Stick asked. It was a question also in the mind of Fletcher, but a question he would have asked in a less blunt manner.

"I was but ten and eleven then," Robert mumbled once more, "And to me then it did seem most huge." He paused his words while the blood rushed to his face, for these were things a man talked not of, and Robert would not so have done now but the fear of question being asked by one who used instruments to gain his answers loosened a tongue made a little loose already by the gulps of brandy he had consumed.

"Now I would suspect it be no more than any man does possess, though thanks be to the Lord I have not set eyes upon it for many years now."

"Not him, then," Stick muttered and to no-one but himself, though Fletcher heard him and did agree. The dead Ganymede had been buggered by a prick of a size greater than the norm and the owner of that prick was most like to be the equally dead Sir James.

"Has he visitors many?" Fletcher switched his questions to one of seeming less dismay to Robert, though they were but another turning of the screw of the trap that clasped around that unfortunate.

"Not as a usual course, sir," Robert was more comfortable with matters such as this and answered freely, "Though he does hold hunts of a sort for gentlemen friends some thrice a year."

"And those gentlemen would bring horses that you would care for, see them saddled for the hunt and groomed after, would they not?"

"They would, sir, and a busy time for those in the stable for there would be some dozen gentlemen arrived."

"And such men talk before a hunt, say of who shall make the kill, make wagers on such and toast to their success?"

"They wagered not on a kill, sir but on ......." Robert broke off his words for even his little wit did discern that he was about to say things best unsaid.

"On what, Robert?" Fletcher leaned forward and poured a generous measure of brandy in the young man's cup. "On what did they wager, and what manner of hunts are these if they wager not on the kill?"

"Hunts of the like no Christian man should know of," Robert gulped at his cup. "Sir," he pleaded suddenly, "If this returns to Sir William, then I am a dead man. No more I beg you sir, no more."

"If it returns to Sir William, then I fear you are indeed a dead man," Fletcher agreed in a voice most calm, "And I can see not how it can be prevented from reaching those ears, less it be by you telling me all you know. In truth, I believe you to be dead already, for it will be known soon, if not by now, that you are at the house of the deputy Intelligencer to Mr. Walsinham himself, and have got his servant maid with child. You cannot be allowed to marry her, for no man can keep secrets from his wife, and I fear you know too many of Sir William's secrets to be allowed to live." Fletcher stared but casually at his victim, for victim Robert was and watched how the fear took hold and spread throughout him.

"Stick will show you to the privy, Robert, for I fear your bladder has become most full and that you are much in need of release."

That the poor young man was indeed near to pissing his breeches was a thing most obvious.

"Jane," Fletcher spoke in a tone no louder than one of conversation, "You have heard things I would you had not heard. Come in girl, for I would not speak with you through a closed door."

That there was wonder and fear in Jane's eyes was most obvious, for her wit was greater by far than that of her swain's, and already she had concluded that she would be widowed ere she was wed.

"You also, Jane. Think you not to be breathing still in a day or so's time. Stick and myself now are also in mortal danger, for this Sir William, though he be somewhat more circumspect perhaps in the slaying of a Queen's Officer, this must he attempt to do if his secrets are to remain secret.
I beg you listen no more, for Robert will reveal not what he knows if he do think you hear. He would rather be murdered than have the shame of knowing you had heard what he has to say to me.
Do this, Jane and if your swain tells all I may have enough to keep us all alive."

Jane wiped her eyes on a sleeve and stood akimbo, hands on hips, defiant as a dame of substance.

"He will tell all, Mr Fletcher, have no fears there. And he will do so with me beside him, for he is a great lout of little wit and needs much the urgings of a woman to give him strength."

"I do fear, Jane," Fletcher displayed his ignorance of the ways of women, for having had no relations with one he was unaware that they were not demure and fragile creatures, but beasts who would use all means possible to get their way. The lioness is dangerous more by far than is the lion. "I fear much that the things he has to say he would fain keep from your ears, for they are not matters that a girl of your years should hear of."

"Think you, sir," Jane no longer now a young serving wench, but a matron used her will obeyed, "That I care a fig for the things he has done in younger days? Care I not that he was swived, and be that willingly or no matters nothing. If my throat is like to be cut for what he knows, then have I much wish to know why it should be so, for it is my throat, Mr Fletcher."

It was at that moment that Stick did return with Robert and Jane's words were heard by both, for she spoke not in a whisper.

"Sit you here," she gave order to her hapless swain, placing a stool before her, and the young man, large and strong as he may be, did quail before her and did as he was bade.

"Tell you all," she gave instruction, and placed her hands upon the shoulders of her swain, "And perchance Mr Fletcher may find a means that we may yet live."

"These gatherings that Sir William does hold, and of these hunts you spoke of. These be the things I would know of Robert, for I do believe they be matters of great import." Fletcher was a man of business now, an intelligencer about his work, and none could doubt that.

Robert moved his head slowly in acceptance that he had no choice other than to speak, and that it were better he spoke now than when words were forced from him by screws upon his thumbs, for he doubted not Fletcher's threat to have him taken for question should he stay silent now.

"Sir William has some estate, sir," Robert began, "Though a park not large enough to maintain deer. Mayhap a fox or two, but he hunts them not for his land abuts that of another who holds him not in high esteem."

"If not the stag nor the fox, what sport then does he find for his hunts?"

"Boys, sir," Robert spoke in a voice so quiet he could scarce be heard, but when Jane did dig her fingers in his shoulders he did speak more loud. "Boys" he said once more, and in a louder voice still declared again, "Boys, sir. Sir William does hunt boys!"

"With dogs and to the death?" Fletcher questioned, aghast at what he heard, for this was a thing most unnatural.

"No, sir, though that may perhaps be a thing more natural than the hunts he does." Robert, the floodgates of his mind opened now, did pour forth what he did know.

"It is his custom sir, that when a boy does join his household, he is hunted so by way of introduction to his service. It is a thing of planning, sir, for his friends do gather for this hunt but the day after the boy arrives."

"Then must he send out notice that this will happen some little time before he takes a new boy, unless his companions live all close by."

"I believe that must be so, sir," Robert agreed, "Though, but being in the stables I have no knowing of it. But that his friends live not all close I do believe for some speak with accents that are not those of these parts."

"And you were hunted so?" Fletcher asked.

"Not so, sir, for now I do believe that Sir William was looking not for a new boy for his stables but did ......" Robert paused and looked across his shoulder at Jane, but she gave him no comfort, but did hiss instead into his ear that he should proceed and tell all and care not for any shame. "I do believe sir, that Sir William did take a fancy to me, for though I was of but ten years, I was a boy larger than most of that age. He took me sir, so I now believe, for that he could have some sport with me, though it be sport of a most unnatural kind.
He took me straight, sir into his chamber and did bid me remove my clothes. Then he did take his horse whip to my buttocks and legs, sir, till I did scream most loudly, for great was the pain he caused me.
Then, sir, he swived me, and great was that pain also.
And after, sir, he did laugh at me and said I had a voice most sweet and he would have me sing for him again when the wish was upon him."

"And did he so?" Fletcher asked, though in a voice kinder than before.

"Many times, sir, till I grew some and I did start to grow hair there sir, and then he wanted me not again."

"More brandy, Robert," Fletcher offered, "For this tale needs some spirit to fortify your spirit, I believe."

"Must Jane hear all this, sir?" Robert asked when he had gulped empty his cup. "Surely these are things not suited for her ears?"

"All this and more," was Jane's reponse, "My ears are my concern and think you I wish to marry one who would keep secrets from me?"

That Robert would be not the master in his own house was a thing not to be doubted.

"Tell me then, Robert, what you know of these hunts, though it be not of your own knowledge, yet of some things you must have learned."

That Fletcher's manner, one of kindness and sympathetic feeling though mixed with unrelenting sternness, was a method more suited to extracting truth that was the rack or that strapado so favoured by the Inquisition, was a thing Fletcher had long believed, and so it was proving now, for he had made poor Robert come to a belief that he were among friends and being put not to the question.

"As I told you, sir," Robert returned to his tale, "It is the custom for boys newly taken into Sir William's service to be hunted in his park. And the prize of the hunt, sir, is not the horns of a stag or the tail of a fox, but the first swiving of an unused boy. The call that Sir William does give ere they begin their hunt is ever thus," Robert gave pause once more, lifted his now empty cup in the hope there may be some dregs there still and, finding there were none, said, "I will have no virgins in my house, gentlemen, and there is one loose in my park. Let us hunt him down, and the honour of his first swiving shall be to the one who catches him."
That truly, sir, is what the call is, for I have heard it many times."

"But if the boy doth know he is to be so hunted down and swived whether he will or no, why stays he in the park?" Stick voiced the thought that bothered him, for surely some knowledge of what fate awaited him must have come to these boys ere the hunt began?

"For the boy is released into the park naked," Robert answered, "And being so naked like is he not to run to another's land for fear of what may resolve."

"But other than that he is hunted, caught and swived, no harm comes to him?" Fletcher questioned. "A strange pastime it may be, but not one, I think, that give any cause or reason that the law may be called upon Sir William."

This was not what Fletcher had hoped to hear, for though this Sir William was clear a man most cruel and with strange pleasures, yet he acted not outside any law in the pursuing of those pleasures.

"There are other times, sir," Robert was not to be stopped now from saying all he knew, "Where the hunt is of a different nature I do believe."

"Are there so?" Fletcher found his interest at once aroused, "Different how? In what manner of way?"

"There are gatherings where Ganymedes are brought, enough for all and then some, and it is a Ganymede that is hunted. Such hunts as these are done at night, sir, in the hours of darkness, and then does Sir William use his dogs. Two he has, trained not to attack but to smell out the hunted and bring him to bay. And the gentlemen hunt not singly, but as a group, sir, and the toast before they ride is not to a swiving but is to one Nick, sir, though I know not who he may be."

"The words, Robert, the exact words of this toast." Fletcher's voice was urgent now, for here was a thing he may find of great use, a thing to catch this Sir William with.

"I have heard it not often, sir, for hunts such as these happen not often as the others do, but I believe Sir William says a thing like that darkness is on the land and that their lord is held in that darkness in the north and that they must do his bidding and bring him into the light. And all do toast to this Nick, sir, and so ride."

"And have you no thoughts what these words may mean?" Fletcher made it seem as though he also had no idea of the meaning, but indeed he had idea most clear.

"Those of us in the stables who hear sir, do sometimes wonder if this toast is one to the Scots King, for he is in the north, sir, and perhaps Sir William and his friends are amongst those who would have him on the throne of England sir. Bring him from the dark of the north into the light of England." Robert looked confused as though such thinking was beyond his mind, as indeed it truly was.

"And this boy, this Ganymede, was hunted and swived as the others were, and brought safe back, no harm done to him?"

Robert now did look most concerned for the thing he had yet to tell did worry a mind even as feeble as his.

"I cannot say, sir. I can say only that the Ganymede they hunted was always the youngest of those brought, and wonderings there were amongst those whom saw the comings and goings of those Ganymedes that not always as many left as came."

"Enough Robert," Fletcher said and sat back in his chair. "I think you have told me all you have to tell, and I thank you most heartily for it. Now I believe you should retire with Jane unto her chamber, for there be things you must talk upon that are things for you only to talk of.
That you cannot leave this house this night is plain. Watchers there will be, beyond doubt, and ones who will watch not only, but will slit the throats of any who dare leave.
Your service with Sir William is at an end, Robert, and your service to Mistress Jane is about to begin."


"We have him now, this Sir William, think you not, Stick?" Fletcher sighed when they were alone. "This other hunt, the one at night, it is the great Hunt is it not? The calling of the Devil, and the hunted Ganymedes sacrifices to the Devil.
Enough we have to send persuivants and I doubt not that they will find in some place remains of those sacrifices, for they are buried all somewhere in the park of Sir William."

"And for the slaying of Eel also?" Stick wondered, "Have you evidence of that? And what of that of Sir James?"

"Sir James, I believe, did discover things at the house of Sir William that he thought not to discover and wished for no part in them. And for that did Sir William meet with him and slay him.
But enough of this now, we will tell it all to Mr Walsingham on the morrow. I think I have not now the energy to swive, Stick, but if I can persuade you but to use your mouth, I will be most grateful to you."

"Shall we to bed then, sir," Stick grinned, for he knew well that if he did use his mouth, then would his master feel also the need to do the wise, and much did Stick like the spending of his seed in such a way. And the eating of his master's also.