The King's Secret Matter by Jean Plaidy

you.’
    â€˜I accept that.’
    â€˜Then I would say that my lord and cousin has uttered remarks against the King’s Grace which seem to me treasonable.’
    â€˜And what were these remarks?’
    â€˜Before the Princess Mary was born he claimed to be heir to the throne. Since Her Highness’s birth he has said that should she die he would be the heir.’
    â€˜Is that so?’
    â€˜Your Eminence, he has referred constantly to his noble birth and has made slighting remarks concerning the bastardy of a certain family.’
    Wolsey nodded encouragingly.
    â€˜Your Eminence, he has consulted a soothsayer who has told him that the crown will one day be his.’
    â€˜It would seem that your cousin is a rash man, Master Knyvet.’
    â€˜ ’Twould seem so, Eminence. You will remember that he lured Sir William Bulmer from the King’s service into his.’
    â€˜I remember the occasion well. The King was angry and declared he would have no servant of his hanging on another man’s sleeve.’
    â€˜Yes, Eminence, and my Lord Buckingham told me that had the King reprimanded
him
and sent him to the Tower, he would have asked for an audience with His Grace, and when it was granted would have stabbed the King and taken over the rule of this kingdom.’
    â€˜His recklessness is greater than I believed it to be. Why was he such a fool as to dismiss a man to whom he had uttered such treasonable words?’
    Knyvet flushed uncomfortably. ‘He accused me of oppressing the tenantry.’
    â€˜And he dismissed you? And it was only when you were dismissed that you recognised these remarks of his as those of a traitor?’
    Knyvet shivered and began to wish that he had not come to the Cardinal, but Wolsey had begun to smile as he laid a hand on the ex-steward’s shoulder.
    â€˜My lord, I came to you because I felt it to be my duty . . .’
    â€˜It was indeed your duty. But what will be said of a man who only recognises his duty when his master dismisses him from his service?’
    â€˜You would not find it difficult to prove the truth. I was not the only one who heard these remarks. There were Hopkins the monk, and my lord’s confessor, Delacourt, and Gilbert his chancellor. My lord lacks caution and speaks his mind before his servants.’
    The Chancellor waved a hand, which was enough to tell Knyvet that he was dismissed.
    Knyvet looked at him in amazement; he had often heard Buckingham sneer at Wolsey; surely, he reasoned, Wolsey should reward one who brought such evidence to him.
    But the Cardinal’s white hand was now at his lips suppressing a yawn; and there was nothing Knyvet could do but bow and retire with as much dignity as possible.
    When he was alone the Cardinal took a tablet from a drawer and set it before him; then he began to write: ‘Hopkins the monk, Delacourt the confessor, Gilbert the chancellor.’
    It might be that he could use these men if and when a certain occasion arose.

    The Queen had dismissed all her women with the exception of Maria de Salinas.
    â€˜I think, Maria,’ she said thoughtfully, ‘that when the woman comes in, you should go.’
    Maria bowed her head. She was sorry that the Queen had made up her mind to see this woman. It would have been better, she was sure, to ignore her. Moreover, if the woman went to the King and complained to him, what an undignified position the Queen would be in!
    â€˜You are thinking that I am being unwise?’ Katharine demanded.
    â€˜Your Grace, who am I to think such thoughts?’
    â€˜I am not the King, Maria, in constant need of flattery. I like to hear the truth from my friends.’
    â€˜I think, Your Grace, that the interview may be distasteful to you.’
    â€˜There is so much that is distasteful to me,’ Katharine answered sadly.
    â€˜Your Grace, I hear voices without.’
    â€˜She is come. When she enters, Maria my dear, leave at