With Ring of Shield

by Knox Magee

  CHAPTER IX

  THE KING'S DEATH

  Mine arm was quite sore and stiff for some weeks; but as I had at thattime no duties to attend to, it did attract but little attention. Ikept to my rooms most of the time, but occasionally took a walk throughthe park with my fair Hazel by my side.

  She was greatly alarmed when she learned that I had been wounded; andshe lectured me most severely for so exposing myself to such "foolishdangers," as she was pleased to call them.

  "For you know," said she, looking up at me with her head held to theone side, and her face most serious, "if thou shouldst be killed, itwould kill me too; so, for my sake, promise me that thou wilt fight nomore those fearful duels. Heaven knows 'tis bad enough when thou, as asoldier, hast to fight battles; but this murder should not be permittedin a Christian land."

  "But, my darling," I replied, "when one man doth insult another the onewhich is insulted must avenge himself."

  "Yes, but if men would ever learn not to insult each other there shouldbe then no cause for these horrible affairs."

  I attempted to argue the point with her; but found it of no avail. HadI been the age I now am I might have saved my breath.

  "However," she said, after I had given up the task of trying toconvince her that I was right, "I am glad that thou didst wound him."

  "Why?" I asked.

  "Well," she said, slowly, and at the same time watching me closely,"that night of the ball--" and she stopped there long enough for a verypretty blush to cover her face, as a veil, "the impudent fellow had thetemerity to try and make love to me."

  "What?" I cried, as I grasped my scabbard, and started my wound to painafresh. "I'll kill the knave the first time I see his sneering face!"

  "No, no, Walter, do nothing of the kind. That was the reason I did nottell thee ere this; I knew it would set thee mad. Oh, dear! thou hastsuch an evil temper. He is now punished enough; so promise me thatthou wilt do nothing to bring about another duel;" and she laid herhand on mine arm, and coaxed me so nicely that I had to make thepromise; though later I did regret it.

  Since the night of the ball the King's health had been getting worsewith every day that passed. His Majesty, seeing that he had not longto live, now called a meeting of the different factions who were everjangling with each other, for the purpose of reconciling them; for hefeared, that when he should be dead, their quarrels might lead to greatstrife in the kingdom, and endanger the rule of his son.

  These parties, as ye must all know, were, first--the Queen and herfavorites, secondly--Buckingham and the most powerful of the ancientnobility--to which party belonged my Lord Hastings--andthirdly,--Gloucester himself, for the reason that he did not wish to beconnected with--and so be dependent on--either of the other parties.

  When all these were come unto his bedside, the King addressed themthus:--"You all must know that I am about to leave this fair kingdom,where I have had such strife and yet such happiness, to join that otherland to which spirits alone can go. Before I leave it is my pleasureto have ye all at peace with one another. In case this strife shouldcontinue, it will surely lead to great troubles for poor England, whichwe all do love so dearly. Therefore, my faithful subjects and friends,bethink ye of your duty. Here in this room, before ye leave mypresence, I wish to see ye all embrace each other and swear by mydeath-bed to live in peace together.

  "My brother Richard, I charge thee to look after my children, whichshall soon be fatherless, and may God deal with thee as thou dost dealwith them. I wish thee to be the protector of my son Edward, and toassist him in his government until such time as he doth come unto yearsof discretion."

  So there by his bedside they went through the forms which the King didask of them. I say, went through the forms; for that was all they did.I do not believe that one of those present ever intended to keep theoath he there made to the King; for their conduct after his death issufficient evidence of their insincerity.

  'Twas told to me afterwards, by one which saw all that which I havehere described, that as Richard left the room, with his handkerchief tohis eyes, it was to hide his laughter rather than his tears. And I dobelieve this to be so; for I consider it impossible for that man everto have had the tenderness of heart necessary to produce one tear. Bethat as it may, he was not long in demonstrating his love and charitytowards his brother's children.

  One morning, some days after this bedside gathering, when I met Hazelin the park, as was now my wont, her eyes were red with weeping.

  "Come, come, my fair one, thou must not look so unhappy, or else Ishall fear that thou hast ceased to love me. Now tell me what is thematter, that I may console thee."

  "Hast thou then not heard the news?" she asked.

  "I have not," I replied, "it must be evil news indeed, to make thee sounhappy."

  "The King is dead," she said.

  "When did he die?"

  "About an hour since;" and then she wiped her eyes again.

  "Why dost thou weep so for the King?" I asked; for I did not like tosee Hazel weeping because another man had died.

  "Oh, thou stupid!" she cried out impatiently; "cannot you see that itis on the poor Queen's account? I love her as I did my own dear, andnow dead, mother; and when I see her in such sorrow it maketh me tofeel as if 'twere mine own."

  I felt abashed for not having seen this for myself; but men are sothick headed, in these matters, that they can never know the way awoman looks at things until she doth explain herself. Now I had ratherface a regiment, single handed, than see a woman weep; so I stood thereas on a pillory, saying nothing, but feeling uncommon uncomfortable.

  Presently she looked up sharply, and said,--"Well, what art thoustaring at? Is there anything about me that does not please thee?"

  To this I made no reply, as I knew silence to be the best remedy forthese little outbursts of temper. Remember, my dears, at that timeHazel had considerable fire in her make up. And I would not give anold gauntlet for a maid which had not; for this I do consider to be thevery salt of one's character; and what is a fine dish without it beseasoned properly.

  When I had stood quietly for some moments, I saw some signs ofrelenting begin to betray themselves in a softening of the face. "Isthe storm passed?" I asked. This brought a smile. All the temper hadvanished, and she was more loving than ever.

  "Thou must not think badly of me because I was cross with thee, dear,"she said, looking up at my face in the most coaxing and bewitchingmanner--of which she so well knew the power: "I felt so sorrowful whenI saw the dear Queen weeping and wringing her hands in despair, that Idid not know myself. Thou wilt forgive me, wilt thou not, Walter?"

  Then I made a great show of granting her pardon, that I might have agood reason for a certain show of tenderness.

  'Twas like a little whirlwind in a dusty road, when the particles ofsparkling sand have settled back to their proper level the way is moresmooth than ever.

  When we were seated upon a bench beneath a fine old oak, which stood ina place more private than its brethren, as though its dignity had madeit to hold itself aloof from their society, like the head of some mostancient house keeps ever from the vulgar herd, she asked me how Ithought the King's death should affect the kingdom.

  "Ah! my dear," I replied, "that is the question which I have beentrying to answer since some time before his Majesty did leave us. IfGloucester can be honest all shall be well; for he is a man of greatability and can, if he will, keep the little King firmly seated on thethrone. What I do fear is, that, when he tastes the sweets of ruling,he may not be willing to give it up; but like a tiger, when he oncehath tasted blood, must needs have more. Young Edward, in his hands,will be as wax, and moulded to the form that best suits Gloucester.The King need not fear his humbler subjects, but must still hold a waryeye upon his uncle."

  I did not think it well to tell her the conversation I had overheardthe night of the great ball; for it could have done no good, and shouldbut have alarmed her.

  "And dost
thou then think that the Duke of Gloucester is not honest?"asked Hazel. "Why, he seems to be most honourable and just, so far asI have seen."

  "So far as thou hast seen," I replied. "That distance is not great.My father--rest his soul--saw this same Richard stab to the heart,without provocation, and in the coldest blood, young Edward, son ofHenry. I've heard my father, with tears upon his cheeks, tell the taleof that foul deed.

  "The young Prince, after Tewkesbury, was brought before King Edward andhis brothers.

  "'What meanest thou, so to rebel against the laws of England and herSovereign, by thus taking up arms to disturb the peace of this thynative land?' asked our now dead King.

  "'Proud and rebellious York,' replied the youth; 'by what right dostthou question us, thy true and lawful Sovereign? Hadst thou theloyalty equal to thine impertinence, thou wouldst now be at our feet,craving our pardon for this show of force before us, England's onlyKing.'

  "My father said 'twas grand to see the young Prince, as he did finishthis speech, so full of dignity and power. His face was flushed withexcitement, and with pride; and as he raised his hand to Heaven, asthough asking of the powers there to bear him out, he looked as thoughhe were inspired.

  "Then Richard of Gloucester, now our _pro tem._ ruler, unable to lookupon this righteous indignation, with his steel gauntlet, struck youngEdward on that tender cheek. This proud bud of the noble flower ofLancaster could ill brook this insult; especially from one of a rivalhouse. His hand flew to his dagger. Gloucester, who knew full wellthat this was but an impulse, pounced on the Prince, as doth the tigeron its tender prey, buried his weapon in that noble flesh, and, as thebody fell upon the ground, he spurned it with his armoured foot.This," I continued, "doth show the tenderness of Richard, and thetreatment that they may expect, which do not please his Highness, theProtector. His words and his actions are of but distant kin."

  "Then dost thou not think he will be bound by his oath, made to theKing before his Majesty deceased?" asked Hazel.

  "Indeed who can tell?" I replied. "Mayhap a year will show, mayhaptwo. He may be honest, and he may be not. Which course he doth findto be most profitable, it is mine opinion, he will follow."

  Thus we spent most of the morning, discussing the policy of the newProtector; and methinks the surmises we made that morning in the parkturned out to be as true as the great majority of the prophecies whichare, even now, so prevalent in this glorious and enlightened reign ofhis most gracious Majesty, King Henry, of that name the eighth, which,despite his faults--and we all must have our own--is a most noblemaster.