Her Majesty’s Secret Service

041. December 1553.

Having lived in the palace for not even half a year, I’ve come to a painful realization.

That is, one must not speak carelessly within the palace walls.

Why, even Steve and Courtney slipped up at a palace banquet, revealing their plans to me.

For that reason, I found myself in a secluded chamber with the count, a place where we could converse in private. A room with only one entrance and walls on all sides, where one could speak without worry.

As soon as we entered the room and closed the door, the count’s sharp voice was directed at me.

“How much do you know?”

His voice was sharp, but I could see the anxiety trembling at the corners of his eyes. It seemed he was forcefully projecting his voice to feign calmness.

“How much do you think you know? Wyatt’s funding for hiring mercenaries? Or perhaps, conspiring with Bishop Steve to deliver Her Majesty to Wyatt?”

As I finished speaking, a sigh escaped from the Earl’s lips.

“Did you come knowing everything? Who told you… no, there’s no point in answering that. So, what is it that you want from me?”

Indeed, as befitting his age, he seemed to grasp the situation instantly.

“How many times have I been involved with you, Earl… You know this, don’t you?”

“You’re referring to the incident at the council…”

“That’s right. Even a worm will turn when trodden upon, and even a dog won’t be bothered while eating. Did Her Majesty’s recognition of my service and the bestowal of a barony bother you so much?”

I glared at the Earl once more and continued.

“I won’t mince words. Either restore my title to its former state, or become a traitor and enter the Tower. Choose which you prefer.”

Hearing my words, the Earl grasped his forehead with one hand and let out a deep sigh.

“Hoo… There’s nothing I can do about the title. It’s out of my hands since the Queen has decided.”

“If you’re going to keep making excuses, then I have nothing more to say. There will be one more traitor.”

“Wa… wait, just wait a moment. Hear me out to the end.”

As I made to leave the room, not heeding the Earl’s excuses, his response came immediately.

The Earl, who had maintained his composure until a moment ago, now cried out desperately as I turned my head.

“I can’t restore your title, but what about this? An office, I will petition Her Majesty to grant you an office. Wouldn’t that suffice?”

“Hmm… Are there any positions available within the palace?”

“Look here, can’t I make a position if there isn’t one? If it really comes to it, we can establish a new office.”

The Earl’s urgent voice struck my ear. Seeing his reaction, it seemed worth considering.

“Let’s hear it then. Tell me, what are your plans?”

* * *

The next day, I was seated at the back of the office just as I had been yesterday.

Wyatt’s rebellion was essentially over, but dealing with its aftermath was as troublesome as quelling the rebellion itself.

Today, as usual, a new traitor was arrested. He was one of the soldiers guarding the city gates, who testified to taking money from Bishop Steve to open the gates of London and welcome Wyatt.

As the meeting proceeded in a similar vein to yesterday, a long-awaited voice was heard. It was the aged voice of Earl Russell.

“Your Majesty, I wish to speak about rewarding those who have contributed, may I have permission to speak?”

“Those who have contributed? Wasn’t it all over already? Well, fine. Go ahead and speak.”

“I plead for you to bestow offices upon Sir Adam, whom we decided to ennoble yesterday, and Logan, who is to be knighted…”

“Offices? Hmm… I can’t think of any suitable offices to grant them. Unless a position becomes vacant…”

“Why not create new offices?”

“Create new offices? Hmm… I didn’t want to say this, but the treasury is…”

“Do not worry about the treasury. I shall bear the cost of the salaries for the new offices. Naturally, the salaries will be paid in Your Majesty’s name.”

“You, Earl?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Queen, with a puzzled expression, asked the Earl. But then, correcting her expression, she spoke with a face no different from usual, or rather, slightly more elated than usual.

“Very well. If you so desire, I shall seriously consider the creation of new offices. After this matter is concluded, that is.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

Earl Russell has kept his promise; now it is my turn to keep mine.

Having made a promise, let us temporarily forget the association between Earl Russell and Wyatt. Yes, just for a while.

* * *

The last item on today’s agenda was the disbandment of soldiers who had reached the outskirts of London. It was a significant matter, involving the dissolution of the 2,000 volunteers led by Henry Grey and the distribution of their compensation.

“So, how many volunteers did you say there were?”

“Approximately 2,000, sir. They plan to gather on the plains near Southwark this afternoon to disband, but what shall we offer as their compensation?”

Although they had gathered voluntarily, a fitting reward for their loyalty was due. Loyalty never came without a price.

“Hmm… How about we follow precedent and give each a sack of flour?”

At Mary’s suggestion, the high treasurer, William Paulet, the Marquis of Winchester, raised his voice.

“Your Majesty, forgive my impudence, but giving out 2,000 sacks of flour with our current financial state would leave a significant hole in the treasury. Perhaps we could give barley instead. We could manage 2,000 sacks of barley.”

“Ugh… Barley? You suggest we reward those loyal to me with mere barley…”

The value of a sack of flour compared to a sack of barley was as vast as the difference between heaven and earth. Flour, considered a staple, contrasted sharply with barley, which was deemed fit only for animal feed, of course, relative to flour.

It was said that the volunteer army led by Earl Henry had risen spontaneously around the farmers of Dartford, with the Earl as their focal point.

Mary wished she could reward these loyal peasants not only with flour but also with beef jerky, but the dire finances held her back.

“It can’t be helped. Then let’s distribute a sack of barley each. Any objections…?”

A weary voice escaped Mary’s lips. She feared how those who had offered their loyalty so freely would accept this meager recompense and think of her.

She asked for other opinions, though she expected none. The words of the high treasurer, William, had reminded her once again of the dire state of the treasury.

“Your Majesty, may I speak?”

Contrary to expectations, a response came. Mary turned her gaze toward the source of the answer.

Her eyes fell upon the chair at the very back of the office.

“Logan, it seems you have a good idea. Speak up. How can we adequately repay their loyalty?”

After hearing the queen’s words, Logan cleared his throat and opened his mouth to answer her question.

“Even if it’s barley, not all barley is the same. If Your Majesty personally distributes the barley, perhaps they will understand your heart?”

—

“Is it me you speak of? Hmm… That does sound plausible…”

Mary thought back to her visit to Dartford, recalling the image of peasants cheering just because she had waved at them, even though she had given them nothing.

“Very well. Let’s proceed with that plan. Anne, prepare for our journey to Southwark. We shall have our lunch there today. Yes, and perhaps we should invite Eric to join us. And Duke William, I entrust you with the task of moving the barley to where the volunteer army disbands.”

“As you command, Your Majesty.”

With that, the Treasurer Duke William was the first to leave the council room. Seeing him depart, Mary also left to prepare for her trip to Southwark.

* * *

The plains near Southwark.

Thousands of people were scattered about in disarray. They were lighting bonfires, sitting and laughing together, sharing stories—a scene devoid of any tension.

“Look, a carriage is coming!”

“What’s it loaded with?! Flour?!”

“Flour, did you say?!”

The volunteers’ eyes lit up with life at the thought of their reward arriving.

It wasn’t long before the carriage stopped on the plains where the volunteers were gathered, and soon sacks of grain began to be unloaded. When the sacks were opened and their contents revealed, the volunteers couldn’t help but show their disappointment.

“What’s this, barley?”

“We came all this way for just barley?”

Even the Dartford peasants who had volunteered were unable to hide their disappointment at receiving barley, fit only for livestock, as their reward.

However, a cheer erupted among the volunteers when a procession following the grain carriage began to appear.

“It’s Her Majesty! Her Majesty the Queen has graced us with her presence!”

“What? The Queen herself?!”

—

The once tranquil plains were now blanketed with the cheers of the volunteer soldiers.

* * *

“Mary, everyone… they seem to like you.”

Erik watched with astonishment as the peasants erupted in cheers.

The people of Sweden, too, would cheer and show respect whenever he made his rounds, but he had never received such an ardent response.

“Hmm… The cheers seem a bit subdued today.”

Mary spoke nonchalantly, feigning indifference, though she felt a hint of pride.

Amidst the ongoing cheers, Mary dismounted her horse and approached a cart laden with barley.

“Mary, what are you doing?”

“We must distribute the barley.”

Erik was dumbfounded by Mary’s matter-of-fact statement.

“Mary, you are a queen. Such tasks are not for the queen to do but for those below you. What if you get hurt?”

“Erik, as you said, I am the queen. And these are the people I must protect. Besides, they have come forward to protect me. Why worry about such things?”

Erik couldn’t comprehend Mary’s words. There was no guarantee that an assassin wasn’t hiding among the crowd. Even a cursory glance revealed many suspicious figures.

That man standing there, Henry Grey, must harbor resentment towards Mary for seizing his property, and next to him, Jacob, was none other than the aide to the traitorous Duke Howard. And some of these volunteer soldiers were said to have defected from the traitor’s army, a fact Mary was surely aware of.

‘But how can she move about so calmly? Isn’t she afraid?’

For the suspicious Erik, it was unimaginable. Watching Mary walk among the crowds with such composure, Erik pondered and pondered the reason behind it.

* * *

Three days after Wyatt’s rebels were annihilated near Welling.

Queen Mary proclaimed the complete suppression of the rebellion by distributing barley to the volunteer soldiers gathered on the plains of Southwark.

The volunteer soldiers, cradling the barley personally distributed by the Queen, sang of her mercy as they returned to their hometowns. It was an act carried out mainly by peasants who had joined Wyatt’s rebellion and then converted.

Thus, the rebellion was completely suppressed in the fourth week of December 1553, taking less than a month to quell.