The Gallows Murders

Shallot and I took two thousand pounds in gold to St Paul's Cross. We were guarded and protected by royal soldiers, as well as other agents of the Crown. However, a cry about the sweating sickness and an explosion caused by a small trail of gunpowder, led to that gold being taken.'
    Toadflax was about to spring to his feet and declare his innocence; Benjamin shook his head.
    'I know. I know,' he continued. 'All the hangmen were in the garrison refectory.' He turned and pointed at Vetch. ‘You, Master Vetch, can vouch for that.'
    The constable's lieutenant nodded slowly. "Yes, I can. As I can also vouch for Sir Edward, myself and Master Spurge. We were in the constable's quarters.'
    'I accept that,' Benjamin agreed quietly. ‘Later on, the villains who stole the gold had the impudence to send me a letter whilst I was in Cheapside.' He paused to collect his thoughts. 'Now, until our arrival here, the Tower's gates and postern doors were all sealed and barred, so no one could have left to commit such villainy.' He smiled bleakly. 'And there's the rub. I believe there's one rogue in the Tower and another, his accomplice, in the city. Sir Edward.' Benjamin turned to Kemble. We are the only ones to enter the Tower today?’
    The constable nodded. 'Once you were in, Master Daunbey, the portcullis was lowered, and the guards have not been relieved of their duties. Even the masons working outside on the scaffolding were forced to sleep in the cellars, or in any nook or cranny they could find. They will not be allowed out until this evening.'
    ‘Yet Horehound was killed,' Benjamin went on. ‘By whom?' He stared at Mallow and his apprentices.
    'As you know, Master Daunbey,' the chief hangman replied, ‘we all supped and dined together at midday.' He scratched his head. ‘But then we went about our different duties.' 'Such as?' Benjamin asked.
    'Cleaning our quarters, sleeping off what we had eaten and drunk.' Wormwood sniggered behind his hand at that. 'And when was Horehound last seen?’
    'About an hour before Mallow found him,' Snakeroot declared. 'He'd been drinking, as usual. I saw him staggering across the green.' ‘Had anyone else see him?'
    The hangmen all shook their heads and started shouting out where they were and what they were doing.
    Benjamin clapped his hands for silence. ‘I don't think you understand the point I’m making.' He got to his feet. Which is what?’ Mallow shouted.
    Today the King's gold was stolen,' Benjamin explained, walking over towards him. 'And, Master Mallow, one of your hangmen died. Don't you see? They are both linked. So, if more demands are made, more of you will die.' His words created a pool of silence in the chapel. Benjamin wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. ‘I can do little to protect you,' he said, 'so I strongly advise you not to go anywhere alone, either here or in the city.'
    'Is there anything else we can do?' Snakeroot snivelled. He looked so frightened that I thought he'd fall into a swoon.
    ‘Yes,' Benjamin replied. Tell me something about the three hangmen who died.'
    ‘We know very little,' Mallow whined. ‘Undershaft was my assistant. He was a family man. He kept to himself.' 'And Horehound?'
    'He was a tippler, a sot,' Toadflax replied, tossing back the curls on his head. He stank, never washed; even the whores used to stay clear of him.'
    That's why he was by himself,' Wormwood continued, 'wandering the Tower this afternoon. His breeches stank like a midden: when he was drunk, he lost all control of himself.'
    "Henbane was different,' Toadflax offered. ‘He had a woman, a whore; he brought her here into the Tower when we celebrated the King's birthday on the sixth of June.' He closed his eyes, drumming his fists on the stall. 'What was her name? Ah, that's it, Marisa! She's a slattern down at the Monkshood tavern. Looks like a gypsy she does: green eyes and raven-black hair.'
    'But you can tell us nothing else?' Benjamin looked to where Kemble and his two officers sat quietly. 'Anything at all?' Benjamin pleaded.
    Again there was silence, abruptly broken by the harsh cry of a raven outside.

Chapter 9
    Benjamin and I accompanied Kemble and his two officers back to the royal apartments. Spurge, at Benjamin's request, produced his plan of the Tower from a coffer. This was copied on a great roll of vellum which he spread out on the table, using candlesticks to keep it down at each corner. The drawing was very precise, everything clearly marked.
    ‘I