Mistress Ursula Blanchard undertakes another spying mission
in 1577 in THE HERETIC'S CREED. She has starred in several
previous books in the Ursula
Blanchard series and has
been wed and widowed a few times, now a respectable woman
running a decent household. She keeps quiet about the fact
that she is related to the Queen, Henry the Eighth having
been a man for the ladies. The fact of this relationship
means Ursula can be trusted - and coerced - to work for the
Crown and of course for its pay.
Mary Queen of Scots is a "guest" in the Tower of London and
Ursula is asked to take a carriage ride up to Edinburgh and
visit her family, delivering a private message. Two other
messengers have failed to return to London. Could the
conspirators who want to put Mary on the throne, have
killed them? I've read quite a few mysteries about Mary
Stuart and the usual cast is present; Sir Francis
Walsingham, Doctor Dee, Queen Elizabeth. What makes this
tale interesting is a group of women living simply, in a
Yorkshire community which would have been called an auberge
in France. They can support themselves respectably so they
don't have to be married off or go into convents. Ursula
needs to visit them. She has to fetch a book of astronomy;
it's for Doctor Dee, astronomer and astrologer, who is also
known for trying to turn lead into gold. At this time, to
state that the Earth went around the Sun was a heresy. This
book is dangerous.
The weather is cold and landscape bleak in Yorkshire; the
travellers have to saddle the coach horses and ride in
single file to get to Stonemoor, a well-named habitation
for the women. Then the snow closes in, meaning there is no
easy way to leave. When the travellers discover a sign left
by one of the earlier, missing agents, they have to wonder
where he is and whether they are all in danger.
I love the true to life details in these stories. A
discredited, suspect religion; accusations of witchcraft; a
macabre discovery and a death from appendicitis trouble the
villagers. The horses are realistic and in keeping with the
period and location. Stalwart Ursula and her friends really
wish the Crown would leave her to enjoy her life in peace,
as she is now past forty. But such a loyal and lucky envoy
will always find tasks appointed to her. THE HERETIC'S
CREED by Fiona Buckley is a realistic and enjoyable
historical mystery, full of characters and books.
Ursula Blanchard must acquire a mysterious medieval
manuscript in the latest enthralling historical
adventure.
February, 1577.
Sir William Cecil has a dangerous new mission for Ursula
Blanchard. He has asked her to visit Stonemoor House on the
bleak Yorkshire moors, the home of a group of recusant women
led by Abbess Philippa Gould. In their possession is an
ancient book, and the Queen’s advisor, Dr John Dee, is eager
to get hold of it.
However, while the Abbess is anxious to sell the book,
others such as her half-sister Bella believe it to be
heretical and demand that it be burned. It is not Sir
William’s first attempt to secure the book. His two previous
emissaries vanished without trace. What happened to them –
and will Ursula suffer the same fate?
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