With Ring of Shield
Page 14
CHAPTER XIV
I REACH WESTMINSTER
When we reached Westminster, and neared the Palace, Lord Hastings,attended by a large following, among which I espied Catesby, came forthto meet us. As we did near them they lined the road on either side andcheered the King as we passed between these rows of English oaks.Hastings himself joined in with us and rode with Buckingham, behind theKing and Gloucester. When we arrived at the Palace and dismountedHastings approached Richard and whispered something which I did notcatch, though I was standing just behind the Duke.
"When did she go?" asked Richard.
I could not hear what Hastings answered.
"And took the little Duke along?" cried the Prince, in a voice thatplainly showed his annoyance. "Now by Holy Paul!" he continued, "thisis indeed too much. Her Majesty doth forget herself."
"What is it, uncle, that my mother does forget?" asked the young King,who had overheard this last remark. He looked Richard firmly in theeye as he spake and held his head so high and spoke with such a dignityas had proclaimed him a King right royal, even had he been dressed inthe garb of a rag monger.
"Ah, your Majesty, thy mother, I am sad to say, hath not stayed togreet her son and King; when I said she had forgot herself I meant tosay that she had forgot her duty, which was to stay and welcome thee,after thy long absence from her sight. And besides not being nearherself, which were in itself strange, she hath taken with her all ofthy dear sisters, and his Grace of York, thy brother."
"No doubt my mother had good cause for her act, and I do not wish tohear her criticized," said Edward, with great heat. "But uncle," heasked, in a more gentle tone, when he saw the look of pain onGloucester's face, "whither hath she gone?"
"To the Sanctuary over yonder, so my Lord of Hastings tells me."
"But why should she take Sanctuary, as though this were a time of warand bloodshed?"
"Nay, that I cannot tell your Majesty. 'Twas this strange act thatmade me to say--more in surprise than with premeditation--that thyRoyal mother had forgot herself; for which offense I crave my master'spardon," said Richard with prodigious meekness. He stood withuncovered head before the little King and looked, so to perfection, thesaint which thinks he hath transgressed, and humbly prays for pardon,that not one there--besides some few who knew the man--but thought himthe meekest soul in England.
"Indeed, mine uncle, I meant not to be cross with thee; when I spoke Iknew not the hurt that my words did carry to thee; and besides, nowthat I understand the matter, I wonder not that thou didst express thysurprise. Indeed 'tis strange that my mother so should flee toSanctuary, as though her son were to be considered as her enemy."
This, no doubt, was the object Gloucester had aimed at when he sued someekly for his pardon. He desired to win the King over to his side,and make him to believe that 'twas from her son she fled. It was nowmore easy for me to read his object in his manner, since his treacherywith Rivers and the others.
We then entered the Palace, where Richard called a council to decidewhat measures should be taken in order that the Duke of York might bebrought to keep company with his brother.
"For," said Gloucester, "'tis an insult to his Majesty, to thus flyfrom him as though he had the plague. Indeed his Royal Highness ofYork must be returned at once to his proper place, beside his brother.If this news be bruited abroad," continued he, "'twill make Englandprecious ridiculous in the eyes of all Europe."
Cardinal Bouchier and the Bishop of York were present at this council.
"And what course wouldst thou advise me to pursue, that I may succeedin releasing the little Duke from his involuntary imprisonment?" askedRichard, speaking to the Cardinal.
"Ah! your Royal Highness, it may be very difficult, indeed, to changethe mind of the Queen. Thou knowest as well as I how wilful is herMajesty, when she hath once made up her mind."
"Let her not dare to match her strength against me," cried Gloucester,who now spoke more freely, as the King had left the room. "By SaintPaul! if she doth not hand the boy over unto his legal protector Ishall be compelled to take him by force, which I do not like to do."
"Ah! good my lord, commit not the sin of using force on those who havetaken refuge in God's place of protection, where the vilest criminalneed fear no harm!" cried both the Churchmen, with one voice.
"Yes," returned Richard, with his cunning smile, "but, most reverendsirs, the Duke of York hath committed no offence, and therefore he hasnot the rights of Sanctuary; and, on that account, the Queen mustexpect force, if she consents not to return him when politelyrequested, by two such worshipful gentlemen, to do so."
If the Churchmen were looking for some excuse to enable them to agreewith Richard they now had found one. "Ah! your Royal Highness, who butthyself could have thought of such a reason?"
"Who indeed?" thought I, but with a different meaning.
"The point is well taken," consented the Bishop of York. "The Prince,thy nephew, having committed no sin, has--under the customs of HolyChurch--no right nor reason for taking Sanctuary; and besides," hecontinued, "I understand that he hath no desire to remain in seclusion,and is but detained there by her Majesty, his mother."
"This she hath no right to do," broke in Richard. "Was not I appointedthe protector of these children, by my Royal brother? And does theQueen take it upon herself thus to assume mine office?" With thisGloucester arose and walked back and forth across the room; his leftarm drawn up, and his thumb stuck in his belt, as was his usual custom.With his right hand he played with his dagger; drawing it partly fromits richly jewelled sheath, and then returning it with a sharp "snick,"thus keeping time with his limping step. As he walked he kept up acontinual string of sharp speeches against the Queen, like thedischarge from a company of archers, each arrow having its mark tostrike. "Ha! Saint Paul, one might think the Protector of England anoffice of but little weight. Old Louis will have grand amusement atour expense. The King's brother not at the coronation, but hiddenaway, as though his Majesty were a tyrant. 'Tis monstrous! And thesacrilege of this act. A boy, not yet nine years of age, which couldnever have committed an offence, hidden in a house of God as though itwere a fortress. Ha! my Lord Cardinal," said he, as he stoppedsuddenly before that most reverend gentleman, "the slight is as greatto thee as it is to me. What sayst thou? Shall we submit meekly,whilst others walk over us and break the laws of our several charges;or shall we demand the person of the Duke, and, if he be not handedover gently, then rescue him by force?"
"Most certainly I do agree with his Royal Highness, and think 'tis anoutrage for the Queen to take the stand she hath," said the Bishop, whoevidently desired to curry favor with Gloucester by agreeing with him."Of course," he added, methought a little nervously, "if her Majestyconsents to quietly restore the little Duke, so much the better; thenno precedent need be set for using force to obtain those which havetaken refuge in a Sanctuary."
"And what says my Lord Hastings?" asked Richard, as he turned to thatnobleman, who had not yet expressed his opinion.
"I am of the same opinion as these most holy gentlemen. If her Majestycan be persuaded to hand over the Duke, peacefully, so much the better;if not, why then use force," replied the Chancellor.
During all this conversation Catesby--who was present--stood besideHastings, as a dog by its master. Whenever he caught mine eye hestared so impudently that I had much ado to restrain myself fromwalking across the room and letting the low-lived hound feel the weightof my hand. All that which Harleston had told me of his insults toHazel was brought to my mind with double its former force, and almostdrove me mad.
"Oh, I will twist thy neck for thee at the first opportunity," said I,not knowing that I said it half aloud, till Harleston, who was standingat my side, poked me in the ribs with his elbow.
"Hush!" said he, "or thou shalt be overheard."
This recalled me to myself, and I took good care thereafter not tothink aloud when in the presence of men that I regarded as mine enemies.
/> The moment that Catesby saw Harleston check me he leaned over theChancellor's shoulder and whispered something in his ear. I know notwhat it was; but it must have referred to us, for Hastings turned atonce and eyed me suspiciously. His gaze was anything but pleasant; forhe clearly showed his displeasure at something, by his long andfrowning look.
"Another debt I owe thee, Master Catesby," said I, taking good care,however, that I did not pronounce the words by other agents than mymind.
So it was there decided that the two Churchmen should go together, andtry to persuade the Queen to hand over the Duke of York to them. Incase this failed they were to inform her that Gloucester would have himtaken from her by force.