Tom shifted his gaze to further up the chart, and whistled. ‘And that’s just the start, isn’t it. Look at all the other routes spreading up to China. This chart begins where our current knowledge ends. It’s our gateway to the East!’
‘So you can see why no other merchant can ever get their hands on it.’
Elizabeth had been studying the map intently and now looked at Ralph. ‘These round circles, covering the land, contain interesting symbols. Is this Chinese writing?’
Ralph nodded. ‘Yes, we learned from the agent Jonas employed that they contain information about different cities and ports. It’s an astonishing piece of work. Goodness knows how long it took to create…and there’s two of them!’
‘So where’s the other?’
‘We don’t know. As both the brothers were bankrupt, I’ve always assumed the other map was also given away to clear the debt. But, so far, it doesn’t appear to have fallen into the hands of an English merchant, thank God.’
‘Ach, it is a pity. This map. So beautiful, but so dangerous. At least I now know why you built a glasshouse for my birthday,’ Beatrix commented bitterly. ‘How stupid I was. My pride and my joy, but only intended as a hiding place for your wretched map.’
‘It was not like that,’ Ralph retorted. ‘The idea only occurred to me as we were building the walls and I saw the potential for a hiding place.’
‘Anyway. It is not staying in this house a minute longer. I demand it.’
‘But mother, I can now see why father has kept it hidden. With this map, and the secrets it still contains, the Tallants can become one of the biggest spice traders in the Far East. It is the means of our wealth and future success.’
Beatrix turned on him. ‘But at what cost? It has already taken the life of Jan and what about Ellen? What would you say if I told you we could have a bigger house, more gold in the bank, be the envy of the City, but you could never see your sister again? I tell you now, if that map remains in this house, I will go. I will live with your Uncle Jonas in Amsterdam and take Ellen with me.’
‘But that’s…’ Tom started to speak but his father interrupted, his face solemn.
‘Your mother’s right. The risk is too great, especially now its hiding place is no longer a secret. Just the four of us know, but it will only take one of the servants to see or overhear something and word will get out. We will have to move it secretly to the warehouse. Somewhere close and quick. Amsterdam is too far, now we know someone’s after it. Too many opportunities to steal it on the voyage.’
‘But the warehouse has also been attacked, father. And Jonah Dibdin, the boatman, told me he had recently seen two people acting suspiciously nearby.’
‘Well, we have nowhere else, so we must take our chances. At least it will be nowhere near Beatrix and Ellen. I have no doubt that whoever is behind this will try again. They seem to know how much is at stake. I’m tired of this game of cat and mouse. It’s time to confront our tormentors.’
‘We should start with Sir George Tansy,’ Tom said. ‘I will send a message to Robert Petty immediately. Ralph nodded and carefully started to roll up the map. Beatrix, now quite spent, left the room, her shoulders slumped.
Tom exhaled slowly and saw Elizabeth staring out of the window and frowning. She stood and marched through the glasshouse to the garden.
‘And I need a pipe.’
Chapter 26
London Bridge
The following morning Tom was standing at the northern end of London Bridge, waiting for Robert Petty.
Facing the City, he scanned the docks to his right, towards the Tower of London. He could clearly see Sam and Andrew at the back of their warehouse, preparing the wharf for an incoming ship. They were about a hundred yards away and he had the perfect vantage point to monitor any activity nearby, as he had hoped.
He could hear singing, rising over the constant hubbub of the dockside. Was that a psalm? Then he saw hundreds of people crossing the bridge from the south. ‘My God, the Kentish Men are on the march.’ He watched silently as row upon row reached the north end of the bridge and, walking past him, continued towards Fish Street Hill, bringing the surrounding streets to a standstill.
‘Why are they here?’
Tom turned to see Robert Petty had arrived and was standing behind him.
‘And what on earth is sticking out of their hats?’
‘Hello Robert! I think these men have marched from Kent with petitions supporting Parliament against the King. They’re displaying them to the crowd in their hats.’ The orderly and sober procession was a powerful sight.
Tom took Petty by the elbow and moved him towards the wharves on the north bank. It was a chilly January morning and the two men had to bend into the stiff breeze blowing off the river.
‘So I am to meet Sir George Tansy near the Customs House?’
‘That is my intention, although he does not know it yet.’ Petty replied. ‘It’s quite possible he would decline an invitation if he knew a Tallant would be present. So, I have told Sir George that, through my contacts in the Merchant Adventurers, I know a trader who wishes to discuss a business proposition. Sir George was most grateful and eager to meet. He has a meeting at the Customs House at eleven this morning, so I suggested an introduction in the nearby Bear and Staff afterwards.’
‘Well let’s see what he says. My plan is to provoke him sufficiently to anger him and hope he then shows his hand.’
Petty nodded as they strode along the wharf and soon the Customs House came into view. As usual, a crowd was milling outside, some carrying papers into the building, others deep in conversation with fellow merchants. War might be coming but trade in the Port of London showed no sign of slackening. As they approached, they turned into an alley running towards Thames Street and found the Bear and Staff nestling in a small courtyard on the left.
Tom was glad to get out of the bitter wind and they settled around a quiet corner table. He wanted to be nearer the fire but that was the busiest part of the tavern and he needed privacy. Petty went outside to wait for Tansy while Tom ordered some beers.
The scene was familiar. Groups of men huddled together, talking animatedly. But something was missing. He realised it was the sound of laughter. He was surrounded by serious faces, some anxious. The mood in London was darkening, he could feel it everywhere. He stood to greet Sir George as he entered with Petty. His face looked familiar but no more. No doubt they had stood next to each other on the trading floor from time to time. He was not a tall man and had a slightly pinched expression with small restless eyes. They exchanged bows while Petty got a goblet of wine for Sir George, who got straight to the point.
‘Sir, Mr. Petty says you have a trading proposition to discuss. I am most eager to hear it.’ Tom noticed his gaze was constantly shifting around the room as he spoke. ‘He could not divulge your name, but now we have met I hope you agree that an honest conversation requires mutual knowledge of each other. I make no attempt to disguise who I am – Sir George Tansy, at your service,’ and here he bobbed his head and allowed a shallow smile to fleetingly play across his face. ‘I hope you will now feel able to do the same.’
His last words were a statement, not a question. Sir George was clearly accustomed to having his way, and Tom sensed impatience was never far from Tansy’s demeanour. ‘Willingly. My name is Thomas Tallant, merchant of the East India Company, son of Sir Ralph Tallant.’
Tansy was sitting with his arms resting on the table and Tom was prepared to seize them if necessary. He glanced at Petty, also ready to pounce. But Sir George did not move. His voice became passive, disinterested. ‘And, pray, why on earth should I wish to do business with a Tallant.’ The merchant grimaced at the mention of the family name as if he had discovered a bad taste in his mouth.
‘Why should you not?’ Tom asked innocently. Petty coughed into his hand to disguise a smile.
‘Because I prefer to do business with honest Englishmen, people I can trust. People of good family an
d established reputation.' Throughout this exchange, Tansy’s expression had not changed, but now he frowned and put a handkerchief to his nose. Turning to Petty he murmured ‘What is the foul smell in this room. Something degenerate.’
Tom would not be distracted. ‘But I am English, am I not?’
‘Oh come, sir.’ Tansy replied, more quickly now. He’s becoming bored and, hopefully, irritated, Tom thought. ‘Would you deny the existence of your own mother. Given that she is of Dutch stock, I can well imagine you might wish to but, there it is.’
‘And why do you dislike the Dutch so?’
‘Don’t act the innocent with me, sir.’ Tansy’s voice rose for the first time, a good sign. ‘Why should any English merchant like the Dutch? You use any means to gain advantage over us, fair or foul, both on sea and land. Lend us money at exorbitant interest rates to bleed us dry. And your Protestant preachers spread the foul blasphemy which is currently tearing England apart.’
Tansy was now breathing more heavily, his face beginning to flush. ‘And before you say the Tallants are different, I have eye witness reports of how your family work in league with the Dutch to line your own pockets: a Tallant ship leaving uncharted waters in the East Indies loaded to the gunnels with spices, sailing with another vessel under a Dutch flag. You trade in markets that are closed to us, or we don’t know how to find. And how so, unless you have sealed a pact with the devils in the Dutch East India Company? The same devils who have murdered honest Englishmen on those very seas to satisfy their greed’.
Tansy swallowed the remaining contents of his goblet. We are closer to the heart of the matter, Tom thought. I must keep him talking. He must not leave now.
‘I can see you are clearly angered, Sir George. Has your family suffered personally in this regard?’
Tansy pulled his head up sharply and glowered at him. ‘How do you know? What business is it of yours?’
He continued in the same tone. ‘I have no knowledge, only the sense of injury you clearly bear.’
Tansy paused, staring at Tom, gathering his emotions. His next words were spoken in a low, steely tone, brimming with hatred. ‘Yes, injury indeed. And I’ll tell you why. 30 years ago my grandfather John Tansy was trading in Batavia when, without warning or provocation, he was ambushed by a gang of your countrymen and brutally murdered. They escaped scot-free, and have denied any knowledge of it ever since.’
‘How do you know the killers were Dutch?’ Petty asked.
‘Because one of my grandfather’s partners who escaped recognised the language they spoke. It was Dutch, all right.’
‘Well, Sir George. I am sorry to hear that, but I can assure you I’ve never been told any stories about such an incident in my family.’
‘Well you would say that, wouldn’t you? But why should I believe you, when you’ve already shown your Dutch Protestant colours in Parliament.’ Tom coloured and glanced at Petty. His face was unmoved. Barty must have told his friend how he had unknowingly tipped off Pym about the King’s attempt to arrest him.
‘Yes, you turned the King into a laughing stock, didn’t you, with your inside knowledge, no doubt gained as a Dutch agent in the court. Is that what you are?’
‘Sir George. This is ridiculous. I was merely the messenger. I had no idea what was in the note for Pym.’
‘But the person who wrote it did, and you must know them!’
He could see the meeting was not going to plan. Instead of catching Tansy off guard and pressing him for information, he was now on the defensive. Not for the first time, he fumed at Elizabeth for getting him involved.
‘Anyway, it is of no matter. I made my mind up long ago to have nothing to do with any Dutch merchant and so I have no intention of continuing this conversation. Typical of you to get your ill-bred friend here’, and he nodded his head towards Petty, ‘to approach me with a fairytale about a business proposition. You clearly have no such thing. I have no idea what game you are playing Herr Tallant, and I’m not interested in finding out. Good day to you.’
Tansy rose to go but Petty grasped his arm. He recoiled from Petty’s touch but couldn’t free himself. ‘Damn you, how dare you touch me.’
It was Petty’s turn to show menace. ‘Sit down, Sir George. For reasons I will not disclose, we are seeking a person who has reason to do harm to Mr. Tallant and his family. Given what you have said, it can be no surprise that your name was brought to my attention, hence this meeting.’ Petty was staring at Tansy with a bleak, unnerving expression that Tom knew only too well and still made him uneasy, even when not directed at him.
‘As you are a gentlemen, I will accept your assurance that you have no interest in Mr. Tallant, preferring to keep your distance. However, please do not make me seek you out again if I find this is not the case. You would very much regret it.’
Tansy stared at Petty and his hand, still gripping the trader’s arm. Then suddenly he started laughing, loud and rasping.
‘Oh Mr. Petty. You do not know what you are saying. Menacing people is neither my strength nor my style. The sight of blood offends me. If anyone in my family was inclined to avenge my grandfather, it would be my brother. For him, the injustice is still raw and chews at his innards. But don’t ask me his name as I have no intention of giving you any assistance. As for his whereabouts, I have not the slightest idea. I have not seen him for over five years. But this I can tell you. He hates the Dutch with a passion. And he certainly is no gentleman.’
Chapter 27
Tallant warehouse
Ralph was at the warehouse when Tom returned from the Customs House with Robert Petty, who recounted their meeting with Sir George Tansy.
‘Do you take seriously what he said about this brother?’ Ralph asked.
‘Yes, I do,’ Petty replied. ‘I was watching his eyes. They were steady and he didn’t look away at any point. It’s worth investigating further.’
Ralph nodded. ‘Well you better be quick. I sense this storm over London is about to break. Pym and the other four have disappeared, probably in a hideaway around Coleman Street. The Lord Mayor has been attacked again for supporting the King. This time a group of women pulled off his chain of office, calling him a traitor to the liberties of the city. All the shops are now locked and guarded by their owners. And Parliament has mobilised the Trained Bands to protect them.
‘I feel I’m on board ship, in the middle of an Indian typhoon, hearing the sails rip and the rudder begin to splinter. I know something’s going to fail, it’s simply a question of where and when.’
‘You think the gang will wait until the next major riot then use it as cover to attack the warehouse?’
‘I would if I was them. They’ve ransacked our home but not the warehouse yet. When they knocked you out, Dirck disturbed them before they completed their search. They will want to look again. If the city does goes up in flames, Thames Street will be choked with people, trying to get to the Tower. It would be a simple matter for a group to peel off from the crowd and head down the ginnel to our warehouse. And the street protests against the King would mask the noise of their attack.’
Tom was shocked by the likelihood of what Ralph had outlined. “And you still think this is the best place to store the map?’
‘As I have said, I need to keep it close and cannot put your mother and Ellen in any further danger. This way we will flush out our tormentors and face them down. We can end it here, once and for all.’
Tom studied his father. His mind was still reeling from his discovery of the map’s existence and the lies his father told to cover that up. He had a lot of thinking to do if he survived the next few days. But he understood the chart’s importance and, despite his misgivings, he wasn’t about to abandon his father in his hour of need.
‘Then we better prepare our defences, hadn’t we?’ Tom said.’ First, we need to increase our numbers. Father, can we spare anyone from Bolton Hall?’
‘We have Dirck and you saw Mark gave a good account of himself. But w
e can’t leave your mother and Ellen undefended.’
‘But if they are attacking the warehouse, they won’t trouble Bolton Hall, surely?’
‘No, your father’s right,’ Petty intervened. ‘They may first launch an assault on Bolton Hall as a feint to distract us. Your mother and sister would be there for the taking.’
‘We must have Mark and Dirck from Bolton Hall,’ Tom said. ‘I will ask Elizabeth if mother and Ellen could possibly stay with her parents for the next few days. Then we can tell the staff to lock up the house, stay inside and don’t stir until we tell them.’
‘I agree, that’s the best we can do,’ Ralph said. ‘So we have Isaac, Sam, Andrew, you and I, Dirck and Mark to man our defences here.’
‘You can also count me in.’
‘Are you sure, Petty? This isn’t your argument.’ Ralph said.
‘Yes, I’m quite sure. An attack of a member of the Merchant Adventurers is always my business.’
‘Thank you. I appreciate it greatly. We need everyone we can. So, your offer takes us to eight. Who else can we muster?’
‘What about the crew from the Heron?’ Tom asked. ‘She docked yesterday from Antwerp. They’re waiting to be paid, so won’t have gone far.’
‘I am loathe to mention our plight to anyone on the docks. There is no surer place for news to spread. We don’t want to forewarn our enemies. The only one I would trust not to gossip is the bosun Henry Tulloch. I’ll ask him.’
‘I assume that’s why you are not alerting the Merchant Adventurers, seeking their help?’ Petty asked.
‘Yes. We must deal with this threat ourselves. If we can put an end to it now, no one will know and the family’s reputation will still be intact.’
The Wrecking Storm Page 13