by Knox Magee
CHAPTER XI
SOME HAPPENINGS AT WINDSOR
I now go back to relate that which happened at Windsor, after I hadleft for Ludlow. What I am now about to put down was told to me,partly by Harleston, as we sat in my rooms in Ludlow Castle, and partlyby Hazel, when next I saw her.
I had only been gone one day when Gloucester called to see the Queen.When he was admitted he saluted her Majesty in the most respectful andkindly manner, and spoke in that smooth and diplomatic way of which heso well knew the potency. "My dear sister," said he, "I have not cometo thee before to-day, because I knew full well how useless, and evencruel, it is to speak of affairs of state to one whose heart hath sorecently been caused to bleed, by the loss of a husband which was, andwhose memory ever shall be, so dear to thee, and to us all. But now,my poor widowed sister, it is thy duty to bethink thee of thy son. Heshould be sent for, and be conducted here forthwith, in order that hemay be crowned with proper expediency and pomp. Methought it was notwell to let this matter stand too long; for we must not forget thatLancaster still doth cast a longing eye upon the crown of England.'Twas but yester e'en I heard that they were corresponding with thatbastard, which calls himself the Earl of Richmond."
"Then I did well when I sent word unto my brother to levy a strongforce and conduct my son to London," said the Queen, with a look ofanxiety.
Gloucester seemed taken aback for a moment; but, quickly recoveringhimself, he said:--"I did not know that your Majesty had so instructedLord Rivers; and indeed I do not know that this is the wisest course.The people of the City may not like to see this armed force thus marchon London, as though the King's person were not safe without thisstrong protection. Thinkest thou it had not been better to haveconsulted with Lord Hastings, and some others, before taking a step soimportant to the peace of the kingdom? When didst thou so instruct thybrother?"
"But yesterday I sent him a letter by a trusted officer," answered theQueen, quite innocent, and put off her guard by the oily tongue andkindly manner of this deceitful hypocrite.
"What dost thou say? Shall we sound Lord Hastings, and have thebenefit of his opinion before Lord Rivers doth proceed too far with hispreparations?"
The Queen, suspecting nothing, walked into this trap, set with suchcunning by the Duke (for well he knew the view that Hastings would takeof such a measure) and consented to this course.
So soon as Gloucester had left the Queen he despatched two messengers,one to Buckingham, and the other to Hastings.
When these noblemen arrived they were conducted into the presence ofthe Protector. "Well, my friends," said Gloucester, when he hadgreeted them, "the Queen hath gained a march on us. Her Majesty seemsdetermined to still rule England. She now intends to do it through herson, the young Edward, as she hath heretofore done through her husband,the older one."
"What dost thou mean, my lord?" asked Hastings; who, though an honestman, yet disliked the Queen, or rather, was jealous of her power.
Then Gloucester told them of his interview with the Queen, and themessage she had sent to Lord Rivers.
When he had finished speaking, Buckingham broke out:--"By Heaven!" saidhe, "if her Majesty has Rivers march on London, as though it were thestronghold of a band of outlaws, he shall be met with a force strongerthan his own." Then speaking to Lord Hastings, he said, whilst hepointed to Richard:--"Here sits the Lord Protector, which was appointedthe guardian of the King by the boy's late lamented father; and theQueen and her brother take it upon themselves to assume his office, andto issue orders for the raising of an army, without his consent, oreven knowledge; 'tis monstrous! What sayest thou, my Lord Hastings?Should they not be made to answer for this insult to our RoyalProtector?"
Then Richard put in a cunning word for himself. "Yes, it seems asthough I am quite forgot. By Saint Paul, I have no love for theoffice; but sith it was put upon me, by my dear dead brother, I doconsider it my duty to fulfill the trust he then reposed in me."
This last stroke brought Hastings to their side. "By the light ofHeaven!" cried he, "unless this order be countermanded, myself willreturn to the government of Calais, and the whole damn kingdom may rotere I will ever serve under a government led by the Queen and herupstart kinsmen."
"Then, my friends, ye think it best for me to inform the Queen that wedo not consider it a wise step on her part to thus make show of force,which the people of the City would consider a slur upon their loyalty,"said Richard, in his softest tones.
"Indeed, my lord, had I the saying of it, I would not put it in suchgentle terms," said Buckingham; "what dost thou say, Lord Hastings?Were it not better that we tell the Queen and her following, in nofixed, courteous phrases, that we--the ancient nobility ofEngland--will not put up with such treatment at their hands?"
To this the Chancellor replied in the affirmative; so Richard madeanother call upon the Queen and, after telling her the result of hisconversation with Hastings (he having taken care not to mentionBuckingham's name) asked the Queen what answer he might have the honorto take to the Chancellor.
Now whilst Gloucester had been consulting with Buckingham and Hastings(which conversation I have just put down, and which I had fromHarleston, who got it from a page, which had been concealed in the roomwhilst they were talking) the Queen had been consulting with her son,the Marquis of Dorset, and was therefore resolved to hold firmly untoher plans.
"Tell Lord Hastings that I will not countermand the order I have sentunto my brother."
"But, madam, he threatens to return to Calais unless this be done."
"What! doth he threaten? Let him go to Calais, and there may he abide;methinks that England can manage without him better than can he withouther;" and the Queen, as she said these words, arose and looked like adefiant lioness defending her cub.
"It is my poor opinion that thou art making a mistake in thus opposinga man of such influence; however, I will tell Lord Hastings that yourMajesty hath fully made up your mind to not withdraw the order."
Hazel, who was present during this interview, told me that Richard, ashe said this speech, looked so kind and gentle that it was well nighimpossible for her to believe what I had told her of his cruelty.
This wrangling went on for a whole week.
Gloucester was always careful to not bring himself into any of thesedisputes; but to place himself as the messenger from one side to theother.
At length one day Gloucester brought word to the Queen that Hastingshad decided to himself take up arms and forcibly prevent Lord Riversfrom escorting the young King to London, with an army.
This was the final blow. The poor Queen could resist no longer; so sheconsented to write to her brother and instruct him to bring only asufficient retinue to sustain the dignity of the King, who was to bebrought unto Westminster Palace, where the Queen would be ere herlittle son did there arrive.
Harleston was chosen as her messenger; so that was how it came aboutthat he followed me to Ludlow.
* * * * *
Now I will tell of other matters which happened whilst I was absentfrom court; and this part, although it does not bear on history, was ofthe utmost importance to me; for it was but the prologue to the historyof my greatest troubles, as ye shall learn anon.
The second morning after I had left Windsor, Hazel, feeling quiet, asshe afterwards told me, strolled out into the park, that she might bealone. She seated herself in a secluded place beneath a beech tree,whose fresh new garments were fluttering in the soft and tender breezeof Spring. Bright and young were they, as she; yet why did not shefeel as bright as did those green, fluttering young leaves o'er head?Still she did not, and her heart felt heavy and weary. Remember, thiswas the day after Gloucester's two interviews with the Queen, and shefelt an inspiration which told her that trouble was brewing.
Looking back, she thought how happy her life had been before KingEdward's death had cast a gloom o'er everything. She could not helpthinking that the life at court would now be very different.
Insteadof the Queen having her way, the nobles, no longer held in check by thefirm hand of Edward, would have control of everything. Here was theKing scarce buried, and already Hastings had commenced to show hisauthority. All the life would be gone from the court, and instead ofthe round of amusements that the Queen had kept agoing, every thingshould now be quiet, morose and cold.
How she did wish that I were back. She wondered when I would return,and if I still intended to remain at court, or would I ask her tofulfil the promise she had made me, to some day meet me at the altar.Indeed she wished the time would soon fly past till I should againreturn.
With these and kindred thoughts she had been so taken up that she hadnot heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Oh! I am so tired of this life at court. I wish I were away fromit," said she, speaking aloud.
"Indeed I agree with thee, Lady Hazel. 'Tis not the life which bestsuits thee nor me."
She turned with a start and there, leaning over the back of the benchupon which she was sitting, stood Catesby. A smile was upon his faceas he noted her startled expression. His right arm he still carried ina sling, and the sleeve of his doublet hung loose at his side.
"Well, sir, by what right dost thou come aspying upon ladies?" askedHazel, as she arose and gazed upon him haughtily, and curled her lip inscorn.
"'Twas Cupid led me here, fair lady. Deform not that lovely mouth withsuch a scornful sneer; those lips of thine were never made for otherpurpose than the tender work of kissing." Then, as she turned her backand started to leave him, he hurried around the bench and stood infront of her, thus compelling her to stop.
"Stand aside, thou impudent cur, or thou shalt regret thine act," saidHazel, as she commenced to be frightened.
"Why, thou wilt not kill me with those flashes from thine eyes?" askedthe scoundrel, as he stood and smiled in her face.
"No, but thou shalt answer for it to the one which made thee to wearthine arm, as best becomes thee--in a noose, and where thy neck shouldbe."
"Ho, ho! sets the wind there? I might have known so much," said he, ashe sneered, and shrugged his one sound shoulder.
"Be assured sir, thou shalt know more ere thou hast heard the last ofthis," said my dear maid, as she again turned to leave the knave.
"Nay, not so fast, my fair one. In sooth you escape not so;" and hetried to seize her by the arm.
But Hazel was now thoroughly frightened, and she avoided his hand andcommenced to run. He sprang after her and caught her firmly by thewrist; but she, seeing that she was fairly caught, struggled like atigress, and broke loose. Hotly did he pursue her, and again tried toseize her arm. She, however, swung quickly around a large oak. Infollowing he struck his wounded shoulder against the tree; the wound,but partly healed, must have broken open afresh, for, with a groan, hefell down in a faint, as though by the hand of God. Hazel got but aglimpse of him as he fell; for she slackened not her pace until shereached her room and threw herself upon her bed, and burst out aweeping.
Gentle cousin Mary at last succeeded in comforting her; but after thatthe dear maids did not again walk in that park, until some greatchanges had been wrought at court, and throughout all England; andthen, when they did go, they were guests, without attachment to thecourt.
Mary had told Harleston all about Hazel's experience with Catesby; soit was from him that I heard it.
When he had finished I leaped to my feet and swore an oath, whichmethinks it best not to set down in writ, as it might not have a goodeffect upon the morals of some of my younger grandsons.
"Calmly, my friend, calmly," said Frederick, in his quiet way; "havepatience; thou shalt yet have an opportunity for making the scoundrelpay dearly for his act."
"Hell and furies! Harleston, speak not to me of being calm. Do butthink of that dear girl being subject to such insults. By Heaven Iswear I shall never rest in peace until I have caused his death!" and Itore about the room, stamping my feet, and overturning whateverfurniture I did come across. "Heaven, why are such dogs permitted tolive? Harleston, I would give my right hand to but have that low-livedknave by the throat." Here I clasped my hands, in a grip of steel andtried to imagine that I held him by the neck. 'Twas my wounded armthat stopped me from this practice.
When my passion had somewhat abated my friend asked me when I thoughtit likely that Lord Rivers would take the King to London.
"Indeed I know not," I replied; "but one thing is certain, and that isif he does not start at once I will set out alone. I cannot bear tothink of what might happen unto my poor dear girl, whilst I am awayfrom her side. That Catesby dare do anything; and that rogue,Gloucester, would back him up in all his villainy; for he hath beenmighty friendly with the accursed dog of late. I know not what hisobject may be; but as I think, he doth intend to use him in order thathe may win Hasting's friendship."
We spent the greater part of that afternoon in walking through the townof Ludlow, which Harleston had never seen before.
That night we sat up until a late hour, and talked of all the strangeactions of those in power, and made surmises as to what the next moveshould be; but even our most pessimistic predictions fell far short ofthe reality.
When at length I fell asleep I had fully made up my mind to ask LordRivers, early the next morning, for his permission to leave for Londonthat day, as I had private business to attend to.
However, many strange things did happen ere I did again see Hazel.