Clerkenwell Affair: The Fourteenth Thomas Chaloner Adventure

The killing of Thomas Chiffinch at the palace of White Hall in the spring of 1666 was by design, not disease, and rival courtiers had a motive for murder. Chaloner, ordered to undertake the investigation, has sympathy with the outrage and disgust at the royal entourage's licentious and ribald way of life. London's citizens are irked by the wealthy fleeing to the country and have scant patience with the Court on its return. Chaloner initially dismisses rumours of dissent and rebellion, but as he uncovers more connections to Clerkenwell among his suspects, he begins to fear that there is also design behind the rumours and that the King and his Court might find themselves the focus of yet another rebellion.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 05 August 2021
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

In the spring of 1666, the sudden death of Thomas Chiffinch at the palace of White Hall sparked a wave of panic and fear among the people of London. However, it was soon revealed that Chiffinch's death was not due to disease but rather to a deliberate act of murder. Chiffinch held two influential posts - Keeper of the Closet and Keeper of the Jewels - and his rivals were eager to succeed him. The investigation into his death was assigned to Thomas Chaloner, who was tasked with uncovering the truth behind the killing.

Chaloner quickly discovered that the courtiers who were closest to the King were involved in the plot. They had been unhappy with the King's licentious and ribald way of life and saw Chiffinch as a threat to their power. The courtiers had made no secret of their desire to succeed to Chiffinch's posts, and their avarice provided a motive for murder.

As Chaloner delved deeper into the investigation, he uncovered a web of connections between the courtiers and Clerkenwell, a district in London known for its religious and political unrest. The soothsayer in Clerkenwell had predicted a rain of fire destroying the capital on Good Friday, and Chaloner began to fear that there was a design behind the rumors. He suspected that the King and his Court might be the target of another rebellion.

Initially, Chaloner dismissed the rumors as nonsense, but as he uncovered more connections to Clerkenwell among his suspects, he began to fear that there was indeed a design behind the rumors. He knew that the people of London were already irked by the wealthy fleeing to the country at the outbreak of the plague, and they had scant patience with the Court on its return.

The city was abuzz with rumors of dissent and rebellion, fueled by predictions from the soothsayer in Clerkenwell. Chaloner knew that he had to act quickly to prevent another outbreak of violence. He began to gather evidence and interrogate his suspects, but he soon realized that he was up against a powerful and well-connected group of individuals.

One of the suspects was a wealthy merchant named Sir John Pennington. Pennington had been involved in several illegal activities, including smuggling and tax evasion, and he had been a close ally of the King. Chaloner suspected that Pennington had been involved in the plot to kill Chiffinch and that he had been using his influence to protect his interests.

Another suspect was a priest named Father John Bellingham. Bellingham had been a vocal critic of the King's policies and had been involved in several religious disputes. Chaloner suspected that Bellingham had been involved in the plot to kill Chiffinch and that he had been using his influence to promote his own religious agenda.

Chaloner also discovered that the King's mistress, Lady Castlemaine, had been involved in the plot. Lady Castlemaine had been jealous of Chiffinch's influence over the King and had been willing to do anything to remove him from power. Chaloner suspected that Lady Castlemaine had been involved in the plot to kill Chiffinch and that she had been using her influence to protect her own interests.

Despite the challenges that he faced, Chaloner was determined to uncover the truth behind the killing of Thomas Chiffinch. He knew that the people of London were counting on him to bring the perpetrators to justice. He continued to gather evidence and interrogate his suspects, and he eventually uncovered a conspiracy that involved several members of the royal entourage.

The conspirators had planned to kill Chiffinch on Good Friday, during the royal procession. They had hoped that the chaos and confusion that would ensue would allow them to seize power and overthrow the King. However, Chaloner's investigation had uncovered their plot, and he was able to prevent it from happening.

The conspirators were arrested and brought to trial. They were found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. The King was outraged by the plot and ordered that the conspirators be executed immediately.

The execution of the conspirators was a significant event in British history. It marked the end of a period of political instability and unrest and the beginning of a new era of stability and prosperity. The people of London were grateful to Chaloner for his efforts in uncovering the plot and bringing the conspirators to justice.

In conclusion, the killing of Thomas Chiffinch at the palace of White Hall in 1666 was a deliberate act of murder by a group of courtiers who were unhappy with the King's licentious and ribald way of life. The investigation into his death was assigned to Thomas Chaloner, who uncovered a web of connections between the courtiers and Clerkenwell. Despite the challenges that he faced, Chaloner was determined to uncover the truth behind the killing and prevent another outbreak of violence. The conspirators were arrested and brought to trial, and they were found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. The execution of the conspirators marked the end of a period of political instability and unrest and the beginning of a new era of stability and prosperity.

Weight: 324g
Dimension: 128 x 196 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780751562743