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Athelstan repressed a shiver.
    'Thomas Shawditch, Richard Hadfield, you have been found guilty of the most heinous crime of the murder of three men at the Malkin tavern in the Poultry. Do you have anything to say before sentence of death is passed?'
    One of the prisoners extended his hand and made an obscene gesture in the direction of the judges.
    'Thomas Shawditch, Richard Hadfield,' Sir Henry continued undeterred. 'It is the sentence of this court that you be taken back to your cells and, on a day fixed by this court, no later than the feast of St Edward the Confessor, you are to be taken to the common scaffold at Smithfield and hanged by your neck until dead! May the Lord have mercy on your souls! Bailiffs, take them down!'
    The prisoners shouted obscenities and curses but the bailiffs secured them, assisted by a few royal archers, and they were bundled out of the hall. Sir Henry now removed the black silk cloth and scowled at both jury and spectators.
    'I hope my court,' he bellowed, 'will not be disturbed by further mockery and merriment. Bailiff, bring in the next prisoner!'
    Alice Brokestreet's name was called. There was a slight delay before Athelstan glimpsed a shadowy figure come through the door escorted by two archers. She was brought to the bar of the court and manacled there by her wrists. She was dressed in a shabby grey gown, hair pulled back and tied by clasps in a tight knot. Athelstan's heart sank. He accepted the proverb 'Never judge a book by its cover' but Alice Brokestreet aptly summarised Sir John's whisper of 'trouble in petticoats'. She was sour-faced with high cheekbones, bold-eyed, her lower lip aggressively jutting out. She certainly seemed to nurse a secret and had no terror of the court or the charges levelled against her.
    'Read out the indictment!' Sir Henry bellowed. 'And make it quick!'
    The clerk jumped up as nimble as a grasshopper and fairly gabbled out the indictment, that Alice Brokestreet had killed Nicholas Tayilour in the Merry Pig tavern within the octave of the Feast of the Assumption.
    'How do you plead?' the clerk asked Alice.
    'I wish to go on oath,' came the tart reply.
    A book of the gospels was brought, the oath hastily administered.
    'Well?' Sir Henry leaned forward.
    'My lord.' Brokestreet closed her eyes as if reciting lines. 'I wish to plead for mercy from God, the King and my peers.'
    'On what count?'
    Athelstan could see Sir Henry was deeply interested in the unusual turn of the proceedings.
    'I plead guilty,' Alice said. 'But I killed in self-defence. I wish to approve.'
    'Do you know what that means?' 'Yes, my lord. I have committed a terrible crime but I know of another who has done worse.' 'Continue. But be specific'
    'I accuse,' Brokestreet's voice rose, 'Kathryn Vestler, owner of the Paradise Tree, of the horrible murders of Margot Haden and Bartholomew Menster.'
    Athelstan turned quickly. Mistress Vestler was sitting upright in shock.
    'When did these murders occur?'
    'Over two months ago, my lord.'
    'And how do you know?'
    'I helped bury their cadavers beneath an oak tree in Black Meadow which runs behind the tavern down to the Thames.'
    'And how did these murders occur?'
    'Margot was a chambermaid at the tavern. Bartholomew was a clerk of the records in the Tower. He was attracted to her and often visited the tavern. Mistress Vestler became jealous of their friendship. One night they stayed late, well after the chimes of midnight. I was roused from my sleep by Mistress Vestler.' She paused as her former employer began to weep noisily.
    Sir Henry's head turned like a guard dog ready to attack.
    'Silence in court!' he thundered. Master Hengan put his hand on Mistress Vestler's shoulder.
    'Hush,' he whispered. 'This is nothing but trickery!' 'Continue.'
    'I was brought down to the taproom. Bartholomew…' Brokestreet's voice faded. And Margot were both slumped over the table. Mistress Vestler had administered a deadly potion.'
    'No! No! No!' The accused woman