Edward journeys to Lavenham

Agnes warned Edward against travelling to Lavenham fearing he would somehow be recognised. Edward dismissed these concerns knowing that despite his birth mother having family in the village they would not recognise him. She knew better than to question him as he was a being who knew what other did not.

Edward agreed with Agnes that it would be best if the villagers did not see them together. And so, Agnes remained behind as Edward left the peat cutters shelter and made his way through the forest for the village of Lavenham.

It was 1641 according to the calendar of the hypocrites. A year of heightened tensions after the Bishops' Wars in Scotland which had been part of the struggle for political and religious control between the Stuarts and Parliament.

The figure who entered the village early that morning was handsome of feature and lean of frame. Agnes had little money to give him when he left as the locals had become increasingly suspicious of her and susceptible to her endeavours. He was as clean as someone who lived in a forest could be but otherwise dressed in rags with ill fitting shoes.

The village houses were half timbered and wouldn't change for hundreds of years. They were dominated by St Peter and St Paul's church which sat overlooking all. Its large tower funded by local merchants, a sign of their wealth rather than piety.

He made his way to the village green and sat in the shade of a tree, waiting for the days events to unfold.