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Episode summary:
“In
the spring of 1992 the Royal archivist at Windsor castle discovered some papers
from the early Tudor Period; from a a certain Sir Chabbert Cummley who appears
to have been a confidant of both King Henry VII and his Queen, Elizabeth of
York. They appear to be just correspondence between the Royals and their old friend.
But two letters cause a sensation; they have burnt marks upon them and hint at
a scandalous relationship with the Queen during late summer 1490. The future King Henry VIII was born nine
months later. Jericho is sent to investigate when the human time line starts to
change radically…..”
Episode Warnings:
Alcohol
– Strong language – Strong Violence [including torture and brutal executions.]
– Strong Sexual references [including to Prostitution] – Horror and demonic
references.
Author’s notes
about this episode:
[1]
This episode is COMPLETED but currently NOT PUBLISHED.
[2]
The original Title for this episode was: ‘THE QUEEN’S LETTERS.’
[3]
A ‘Temporal Detectives’ original story.
[4] Illustration is a photograph found in the Public Domain. If you know anything about this please contact the author via his website: https://stephenjohnwilliams.blogspot.com
Episode details:
Concept
date: 23rd March 2021.
First
published: Unavailable
Status: COMPLETED BUT UNPUBLISHED.
Location:
BOOK SERIES 0 – EPISODE 0.
Revisions:
3 [Last revised September 2023]
Version:
In Review.
Published
Episode No. 000
Previous
episode: None.
Next
episode: None.
Age
recommendation: 15+
Average
reading time: Approx. 30 Minutes.
Angel-in-charge: Margret
Team
Assigned: Team 74
Human
Time: 1490AD-0895AH
Mission: 7
- 924700 - 3 – 1490
Episode Preview:
John Cooper rose from his chair and cussed loudly, slapping his tankard down and grabbing up his heavy cloak. He was most reluctant to leave the blazing fire that burned in his hearth on a night like this. It was bitterly cold with a strong northern wind sweeping across London and the home counties, mixed with sleet and rain. He threw open the heavy door and strode down the stone stairs, his boots slapping hard, the noise echoing down the quiet staircase to the courtyard. John was the Gatekeeper on duty tonight at Plancetia Palace [also known as Greenwich Palace] which was – currently – the royal residence of the King. [Henry VII] He reached the large door at the bottom of the stairs and the old soldier, who had been sitting on a rough stool, eased himself up and pulled open the door. Rain and wind poured in, and John cussed again, wrapping his coat tight. “Who the hell is calling at this time of night in weather like this! The devil himself is farting and pissing on us!”
The
old soldier chuckled and peered into the courtyard as two gate guards struggled
to open the great gates in the winds. Through those gates rode a lone horseman.
The old soldier grunted and shouted back to John Cooper;
“By the lord sir, I think it’s young Ferryman, a Royal Messenger!” John eased
past the old soldier and into the courtyard, grimacing as the cold and sharp
rain battered his face and exposed hands. The young man slid slowly from his
horse and staggered a little, also cussing the unforgiving weather. He didn’t
smile at John and spoke with soft voice; “John, I’ve ridden three days and two
nights, changed my mount twice and haven’t slept. Bread and apples have sustained
me all the way from Sheffield Castle. I bear the most important dispatch from
the Earl of Shrewsbury himself. It must be placed into the hands of the King
himself, no other much touch it or break the seals.”
John wiped his face, now what did the bloody Earl of Shrewsbury want? And why into the King’s hands only. Normally, a most private secretary of the King would receive such parchment first. Young Ferryman suddenly gripped John’s arm and spoke closely into his ear; “John, this is no fallacy. The Earl ordered – on pain of death – that I place the parchment into the King’s hands myself. So that no other person has even touched the document except the Earl, me and the King himself. That is how it must be done.”
John nodded and gestured to the big door; “Come on, I’ll get you some ale to warm your insides before….” But Ferryman held up a hand, “After I deliver the dispatch. Only after I deliver the dispatch.” John nodded again and Ferryman followed him into the palace as a groom walked away his exhausted horse to the royal stables. They walked slowly up the staircase in silence and John glanced at the sack the young messenger carried, what on earth could be so important to wake the King at the midnight hour? He knew it was important and urgent if the bloody Earl had insisted it was placed in the King’s own hand. A liveried servant waited by John’s door, unsmiling and looking tired. John told him about the dispatch and the conditions the Earl had imposed upon it’s delivery to the King.
The servant just nodded and gestured for the exhausted messenger to follow him. It took a full ten minutes to arrive at the King’s private chambers and the pair was confronted by a captain of the King’s personal bodyguard who took Ferryman’s dagger and sword from him. The messenger repeated his instructions from the Earl himself and the captain did look surprised and asked Ferryman to repeat his instructions, which he did. The captain rubbed his face and called for William Hedge to be woken – the King’s personal body servant – who slept in a small antechamber which adjoined the King’s bedroom. Everyone waited for some minutes before William arrived, looking tired and not very happy. Ferryman, despite being tired and hungry himself, kept his composure and repeated his instructions to William who strangely just nodded and told the captain, if the Earl ordered it, then that’s how it must be done. The captain expressed his surprise at that but agreed. It was like the man expected something like this, so the captain thought to himself.
Everyone would wait here until William had spoken with the King. But first he had to wake him! He was gone for some minutes and then returned – grim faced – and told the captain to fetch the messenger to the King’s royal bedchamber. The trio walked slowly through a couple of well-guarded corridors and doors until they reached a door guarded by two big men who looked like they certainly didn’t grab a nap whilst on duty. They had been appointed by the King himself and answered to no-one but him and the captain knew that.
They allowed William in, but the captain and Ferryman were held outside. The two men could hear the conversation inside the King’s Chamber: the King’s voice appeared to be getting louder by the minute. Then silence, followed by a muted conversation. William – looking a little pale faced – appeared and gestured the pair in, whispering as they passed; “The King is not in a fine temperate mood.” They both nodded and bowed low before the King who was sitting in his nightshirt staring at them. They both noticed the absence of the Queen from the royal bedchamber. “Give it to me.” The King said and held out a hand. Ferryman bowed again and handed over the precious document which the King stared at for a few seconds before breaking the seal and unfurling it one handed. He lifted it close to his face and said nothing, placing it back down.
He gathered his arms around himself and stared into the flickering fire, then suddenly picked up the parchment and tossed it into the flames. Almost immediately he changed his mind and grabbed it back from the all consuming flames, knocking little red sparks and ash from the letter. He turned to William and spoke quietly; the man bowed and nodded and escorted the men from the King’s chamber.
The two guards closed the doors behind them and returned to their stance outside. William spoke quietly, thanking them on behalf of the King and told Ferryman that food and overnight accommodation would be provided: his majesty needed him in the morning to deliver a very important message to a certain Sylvester Shambles who resided in a pub near the London docks.
Ferryman asked John if he knew this man and John nodded, not smiling. His voice dropped to a whisper as William was giving instructions to another servant; “Sylvester Shambles is a former pirate, cut-throat, robber and officer of the King. They have known each other since youth, Sylvester was the then young prince’s bodyguard and they fought together in the Rose Wars: they were a trio called ‘The Blades’, The King, Sylvester and Sir Chabbert Cummley. Those three are closer than two headed snakes people say, saving each other’s lives many times together on the battlefields. Sylvester should have been hung years ago but he has the King’s full protection and loyalty: as the King has he’s.”
William turned back to them, ending their conversation and told Ferryman to follow the other servant: he would find a bed, warm food and a well stocked fireplace. He had another audience with the King come the morrow.
NOTE: The Wars of the Roses were fought from 1455 to 1487, culminating in Henry Tudor's ascension to the throne as King Henry VII after his victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field on August 22, 1485, where his adversary King Richard III was slain. The conflict derived its name from the emblems of the opposing factions: the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster.
End of preview.
"ALEXANDRA AND THE QUEEN'S LETTERS." 
“All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical figures, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.”
CAUTION:
“SOME OF THESE EPISODES CONTAIN VERY STRONG LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE, HORROR AND SEXUAL REFERENCES. Some are RECOMMENDED suitable for persons aged 15+ years only.”
THE AUTHOR.
Copyright © 2011-2024 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without permission.