Prophecy

September of 1583, and Giordano Bruno is being warned by Sir Francis Walshingham that he has to restrict his friendship with Walshingham’s new son-in-law, otherwise the French ambassador, to whom Bruno is also close might become suspicious.  Walsingham on the other hand is suspicious of Mary, Queen of Scots, connection to the French, and their hopes to overthrow Elizabeth and place Mary, a Catholic on the throne of England.

The pair have been called by Lord Burghley to examine the body of one of Elizabeth’s maids of honour.  She had been killed outside the palace, the symbol for Jupiter carved into her breast, in one hand was a crucifix and in the other a wax effigy of the Queen.  Already the servants are whispering about the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, and the prophecy of famine and death, which it brings.

The first thing Bruno learns is that the young woman had been secretly meeting with a man at court.  Castlenau, the French ambassador believes that it is a plot to make the Catholics look bad.  While meeting with the ambassador and others, Bruno learns how letters are being smuggled to Queen Mary, and that Lord Howard supports a Catholic invasion, not just from France, but also from Spain.

When Bruno is passed a series of items belonging to the dead girl, he is unsure of their importance until he accidentally drops a hand mirror, which is part of the items.  Inside the mirror is a piece of paper with planetary symbols and the date, November 17.  What is the significance of these?  Bruno then goes to Dr. Dee with a container of perfume, which was also in the possession of the dead girl.  They discover that it is actually a poison.  Could this have been meant for the Queen?

While at a concert hosted by the Queen, Bruno is taken away by Walshingham and Burghley to investigate the murder of another young woman.  This is the woman who had passed the items on to Bruno.  Why was her death foretold by Dee’s scryer?

Are there more deaths to come?  How can Bruno, who is living in the French embassy, prevent them?  He needs to gather more evidence.  Author S. J. Parris’ thriller is based on facts and has plots within plots, within plots running through this story.  One wonders at the machinations of the spy world then and now.  A thoroughly enjoyable read.