Elizabeth Tudor- Ancestry of Sorcery

by Theresa Pocock

  It was not until the first of March that I controlled a direct action, and I did it by hope alone.

  After dinner, rain or shine, we would take a walk out of doors. Dr. Coxe believed that cold, fresh air was invigorating to body and soul, and I agreed with him. Then we would all go in to be instructed in dancing, swordplay, and often we would have chess tournaments. I never won. Robert always did.

  However, on this day, I somehow bested Robert in the first game and, amazingly, so did Edward. Therefore, Robert was out. As we played on, Barnaby, who was always good, beat out Edward, as did I, and we both beat out Henry. Finally, it was Barnaby and I, to win.

  I quickly set up a trap for Barnaby and, as I sat hoping he would fall for it, a smug look crossed his face. Quickly I began to chant in my mind, Move your queen to f4. Move your queen to f4. Light left me without my seizing it. Barnaby had already picked up his knight and was about to place it when he suddenly returned it and grabbed his queen instead. He proceeded to move her to the exact place I wanted. I could have sworn that his hand did not move with his permission. When it was over, and I had won, I did not feel the pride I might have. Barnaby seemed upset, especially when the other boys jeered at him for falling into my easily recognizable trap.

  And here I had a war with myself. As much as I loved winning, as much as I wanted to squash these boys and teach them I was their equal; forcing them with my power to lose a hard-fought game seemed beneath me somehow. Manipulating someone into making you sweets was one thing; it was harmless, and the myriad of other small things I’d done fell into that category also. But this…it was not fair, and it weighed on my conscience.

  After a week of struggling with it, I knew then that I did not want to act thus ever again. I also learned I needed to keep my hopes in check for, with me, hopes turned to magic.

  Spring came in April, and with it sunshine and afternoon rains. We took full advantage of the sunlight. Because Edward was still a child not quite six, it was appropriate for us to all play together. However, his nurses were always at the ready in case he got hurt or we became too rowdy. We danced, ran, and played as much as Dr. Coxe would allow us time to do it in.

  We all got accustomed to being together, and, though all the boys had their peculiarities, I got along famously with them all. I did take issue with one thing in our living arrangement. It was hard for me to watch how all the adults smothered Edward. He was such a good boy. I watched him carefully and noticed that his animation and happiness seemed to be ebbing. He became more serious and guarded. It worried me. The bond between us had grown, and sometimes, when his guard was down, he would hug me tight and say, “I love you the best, Bessy.”

  Though I did not want to think of this, Kat reminded me that soon Edward would be king and that it was important to stay within his favor. I hated this. I loved Edward and did not want my actions to be influenced by the fear of death if I someday displeased him. But her warning was true though. Everyone knew it, and before long I saw that Kat had been correct to remind me.

  Many afternoons I spent much of my free time admiring the early vegetation with Kat, Robert, Henry, Edward, and Barnaby. Kat would drill us on the names and properties of the plants we saw and teach us about the ones we did not know. She had a great interest in plants, an interest I did not fully understand.

  After one such outing, when Kat left us and Sir William called in Edward, I decided to explore the wilderness that was outside of Ashridge’s grounds. I had wanted to do this on several occasions but could not because Edward was not allowed to leave the grounds. So today I went, and the other boys joined me.

  It was lovely in the woods. We remained within sight of one another as we each explored different things. While Robert looked for frogs and spiders, I looked at the birds. My desire to fly across the ground overwhelmed me, for I had not ridden Larkin in months. Just as I was about to open my mouth to say so, Robert spoke up.

  “I long for my Bessy,” he said, without the slightest care who was listening. The other two boys stopped what they were doing to look at him and then at me. I stared at him in shock, but he did not look over at me. He just continued to lift rocks and poke interesting objects with his stick.

  I decided I needed to say something, “When did you start calling me Bessy, and how could you long for me when I am here?”

  Robert looked up, confused, and saw everyone staring at him. He blushed deeply and spoke in a rush. “My mare—my mare is named Bessy.”

  I arched an eyebrow at him. “So now you are naming your horses after me?” I looked at the other two boys, who were now laughing quietly to themselves.

  “No, no, no, my Lady! Heaven forbid! I named Bessy thus when I was but six, long before I knew you. In fact, I was rather shocked when your brother called you Bessy. I thought then I had better never mention to you that that was my horse’s name, but now look what I have done.”

  Henry and Barnaby burst out with laughter, unable to hold it in any longer. I sniffed haughtily and turned my back on them.

  “My Lady, do not be offended. All I was saying was that I long to take my horse out. I feel it has been an eternity.”

  I turned around swiftly and glared into his face. Now that I was part of the world of impossibilities, I was aware that there could be other powers out there, perhaps powers that could read minds.

  He blinked and wrinkled his brow at my expression.

  “What is it?” he asked slowly, walking toward me.

  I took him in, uncertainty in my gaze, but as he neared I knew that it was just that we were so connected that he felt the same as I in that moment. “I was just going to say the same thing as you, that is all. Riding is my passion and I was confused that you stole the words from my mouth.”

  He smiled and came to me then more quickly, climbing up the boulder I was atop and saying so only I could hear, “It is just that our souls were cut from the same fabric. I was sure you had already concluded this, being the insightful genius that you are.”

  “Well when you put it that way, I either have to admit I am a fool or that I am a genius.” I looked at him smugly then sighed. “Yes, you are right. We should be brother and sister, for our minds are in agreeance on everything.”

  I saw his smile fall a bit, but I did not know if it was because he did not like the statement or the comparison.

  Henry spoke up at that moment. “Do you think we should get back? I feel as though it is getting late, though it is hard to tell when one cannot see the sky.”

  I looked around and the forest was significantly darker. “Yes, we should be going.”

  I hopped down and Robert jumped after me. After he caught up to me, he leaned over to whisper in my ear, “Now that the ground is not so soft, would you care to join me for a ride late tonight?”

  I turned to look in his eyes. “A nighttime ride happens to be one of my favorite pastimes. When shall I meet you in the stables?”

  When we entered the house, it was to yelling and screaming. Edward marched his small frame up to me and said, “Elizabeth, if you take my playfellows and keep them all to yourself through our entire playtime again, as you did this evening, I shall be forced to have your head cut off! I am the prince here, these are my friends—not yours—and I can cut off whoever’s head I wish!”

  I could not believe what I was hearing. I was so hurt and astonished that I had no reply for him. It was Barnaby who suddenly stood forth to reply, “My Prince, we are truly sorry that we left you out. We all had a desire to go into the woods and we knew that you were not allowed. Therefore, we mutually agreed that, so as to not cause you any pain, we would go while you had other obligations. Please do not be upset with Lady Elizabeth, for it was all our decisions.”

  Edward was not affected. “Then you all shall be punished! Sir William, I want them all to receive a good whipping.”

  Sir William looked as if he did not know what to do. It really was not in Edwards’ authority to have anyone but Barnaby whipped. But then he was the pr
ince and how could you disobey a direct order from a prince, no matter his age or the stupidity of his request?

  It was my turn to be mad. With the power of moonlight radiating around me I stepped forward, looked Edward boldly in the face, and whispered with rage, “You will not have any of us whipped, and you will apologize at once for your childish, impudent, selfish behavior.”

  As an orb of light flew to Edward, I knew that I emanated the power of the man whose daughter I was, for everyone in the room stared in shock at me. Though angry beyond belief, I had used only enough power to make the manipulation strong, but not so much that Edward would be confused by his actions.

  I had also done it in front of everyone. Unfortunately, there was no way to explain away his reaction to my words.

  Edward flung himself toward me and started to cry. “I am sorry, Bessy. I am childish and selfish. I would never cut your head off or have you whipped.”

  At that moment, Dr. Coxe entered the room. His long beard was flowing and his face sour-looking. Instantly he began scolding. “Edward, why in the world are you crying like a child? Stand back up at once and dry your eyes. You are a prince of England! You do not cry into little girls’ dresses!”

  In that moment, I knew that Dr. Coxe would soon enough rip all of the child out of Edward, who wiped his tears away as his tutor led him from the room, rebuking him all the while. Now that the situation was resolved, the other two boys sighed audibly in relief and thanked me with a pat on the arm before walking to their apartments. Only Robert looked at me as if he wanted to know what in the world had just happened.

  That night I met Robert in the stables. Kat accompanied me and said, as the three of us walked into our respective stalls, “After all these years I must be taking after you, Elizabeth, for I have found myself desiring a nighttime ride for weeks now.”

  I had left Larkin at home and so I pulled myself atop a bay gelding with long legs and a long mane. He seemed a little thin compared to Larkin, but pranced about as if he was just as excitable, and I wondered if I should not put a saddle on him.

  When we took the horses out, I was sure that a saddle was needed, for he did not give me time to feel his stride before taking off. He sped across the park at a race-winning speed. I held on to the reins and mane as if my life depended on it. After pulling the horse this way and that so he would not think that he was the boss, I let him go where he wanted.

  I was very surprised when I looked to my left and found Robert next to me, chest against his stallion’s neck, smiling at me as if he were seeing me for the first time. The fact that he was just as graceful as I, atop his white-spotted stallion, made me laugh aloud. But that was all the noise I made, for in the moonlit flora, astride the greatest animal God ever made, there was no need for talking, and Robert understood that.

  We galloped over hill and valley, through forested acres and farmland. I had no idea how far our galloping took us and I did not care. The horses seemed able to go forever and I had Robert smiling at my side. Frankly, I never wanted the ride to end.

  The next day, Kat received a letter from Father stating that he had found a tutor for me and that I was expected to return home to meet him on the first day of May. Everyone was in the school room when Kat came with the letter.

  “William Grindal is a renowned scholar; a student of Roger Ascham, I believe,” she said excitedly.

  I was very excited for myself until I looked over to Robert, who suddenly seemed very interested in his book and would not look at me.

  Edward jumped up from the table and said, “This is not fair, for I just got Elizabeth away from Hatfield. I do not think she should have to go away so soon.”

  All of the boys were murmuring their agreement, which of course pleased me, but I was surprised the most by Dr. Coxe, who did look truly upset by the information. However, his face instantly hardened at Edward’s outburst and he began lecturing him, as he always did when the prince acted his age. I spoke up quickly to avoid another lecture.

  “Well you are all invited to come to Hatfield and join me there. I would love it and will insist that plans be made for such a trip.”

  All seemed happy at this and plans were made.

  At dinnertime, there was a new person Dr. Coxe introduced to us as Dr. John Cheke, who I recalled Kat naming as her brother-in-law’s associate. He was a dear friend of Dr. Coxe’s and would be joining Edwards’s household in October, when Edward turned six, as an assistant in Edwards’ tutelage. The man was tall and dark with a kind yet serious face, and he seemed to never speak but to mention what Jesus said about this or that.

  I did not have much time to get to know him, because Kat said we must leave by the next day in order to get Hatfield ready to receive Dr. Grindal. I had to say goodbye to my dear brother and friends that evening, for we would not have time for goodbyes in the morning.

  Edward’s was the hardest for he was the saddest to see me go. He hugged me long and hard before turning to leave the room. Robert had his courtier face on and swept my hand up for a kiss. “You shall be missed, my Lady. Hopefully our paths will cross again and soon.”

  I saw his eyes before he turned and walked away, and they were not as carefree as his face. However, he did not look back.

  Episode 5

  May 1543

  Hatfield House, Hertfordshire

  Dr. Grindal was all I thought he would be: a man in his later years, yet intelligent, passionate, and funny. He complimented me so freely I often felt myself blush, and the letters Lord Cranmer sent from Father stated how pleased the King was with me and my progress. Dr. Grindal added two things to my studies that Kat considered inappropriate: archery and in-depth swordsmanship. I loved them both and was so happy to have someone to teach me.

  One day I told the swords master, “I shall beat Robert and Barnaby next time we are together.”

  “Indeed, you shall, my Lady. Unless they work as hard as I see you do every day, they will be in a bit of a pickle the next time they cross blades with you.”

  I laughed heartily but knew that he was just being kind.

  After a particularly hot and tiresome day, I retired early to my bed and fell instantly asleep. Kat woke me in the middle of the night, white-faced and frightened.

  “Elizabeth darling, it is alright. I am here,” I heard her saying to me.

  I sat up, confused. “Kat.” I rubbed at my eyes. “Whatever is the matter?”

  After searching my face carefully by candlelight, she responded, “Why, my Lady, you were screaming. Quite fiercely, in fact.”

  My brow wrinkled. “Screaming? Screaming what?”

  Kat sat on my bed and set the candle on the other side of the drapes. “You kept saying, ‘Cicely! Cicely! No, not Cicely!’”

  “Cicely. I know no Cicely, unless it was the mare? Why in heaven’s name would I be screaming about her?”

  “I have no idea, child. You must be overworked for the day.”

  “Yes, I must be.”

  She stroked my hair and took up the candle. “I will leave you to get back to sleep.”

  I complied gratefully, completely unperturbed, in spite of Kat’s insistence that I was very upset only moments before. It wasn’t until the next morning, when I lay in that splendid state between sleep and waking, that I recalled my dream.

  Quickly I dressed myself in a simple frock and tied my hair with a ribbon. As I rushed out of the house and down to the stables, I had a sinking feeling that I was too late, that all was done, and when I arrived, I saw by the blood and the downturned faces of the stable hands that I was correct. I made my way through the mess and found what I’d feared.

  The mare was stiffening already, her foal blue and bloody. The straw was littered with water buckets, clothes, tinctures, and solutions procured by the stablemen to help the poor horse, yet all to no avail. Salty tears burned my eyes and Henry the riding boy took me by the arm.

  “My Lady, I wish you would not see a picture such as this. Come away with me please.”r />
  I did not need to be prodded. I left and returned to the house. When I went toward the stair I heard the adults speaking.

  “Yes, it was a bloody affair. Both mother and foal perished.”

  “I do say that is a pity. Cicely was one of those rare mares that are both beautiful and docile.”

  I heard Kat’s familiar voice ask, “The name of the horse was Cicely?” I started and for reasons I can’t explain, I hid behind a door.

  “Yes, I believe it was.” The stable hand answered my governess.

  Stunned, I backed away from the door and hurried up to my room. Kat would for sure ask me about this. Unfortunately, I had no answer for her. Could I see the future as my mother did? I felt that perhaps this element of magic was manifesting itself.

  Once I’d run that line of wonderment into the ground I turned back to a much muttered-about topic. Childbirth. Even the beasts were not free from death in birth. This topic perplexed and frightened me. How could God expect me to take my own life into my hands so carelessly through childbirth?

  I did not understand the allure, and the commitment I’d made to myself so long ago again formed itself in my mind. I would not marry. I would not give birth. I could not do it. I understood that I was wicked for thinking this, but I loved my own self too well to risk it on something with so little return.

  Furthermore, I needed desperately to understand if I could see the future. Turning to my mother’s part of the Fillos journal, I read and reread her passages about how it happened for her. Then, I search for her first-acknowledged forethought. I found a passage stating her need to go to France to be taught of courtly ways. There was an edge to how she wrote of it. Even her quill seemed to press the words harder into the page, for I could feel them when I ran my finger across the paper. Then later, there was a revisit of the topic and a comment on how it was absolutely necessary, and it was this that convinced me that she knew. She was but eleven. I was in my tenth year. So, I was a bit early, but that was such a regular occurrence for me, I could not give it weight.