THOMAS WALSINGHAM as HADES
Greek god of the dead and the King of the Underworld
There are many tales that surround the information harvested from the unusual voyage to Florence by Thomas Walsingham, James Cecil, Julian de Vere and Lady Sibella Percy - but all worries, threats or weak hearts seemed to vanish upon the eve of grand festivities held at Hampton Court. Where the women performed, the act of metamorphosis turning every fair headed maiden into extravagant goddesses, Thomas remained sober in the background. Hand upon hand, he would linger beside his wife Penelope, who personified Persephone, coaxed into wearing something fitting for the namesake he had adopted for the night's entertainment.
The black velvet trimmed with red thread was suitable, and multi-functional, but it did not escape his attention that he adorned the darker deity as his person for the evening, hoping perhaps that this flamboyant gesture would be enough to keep the Cromwells at bay, for even a period more. With the keen eye of his beloved wife, the very figure of many future romantic historical fiction novels, his adorned cape was fit with figures pertaining the glory of Hades. Visions of keys with no lock had been woven into the lining of his cloak, figures of three headed dogs lauded as Cerberus when Thomas himself had never had a pet of his own, and pomegranates intertwined with flowers pertaining the visage of his wife's alter ego.