The Grove of Eagles

by Winston Graham

  There was a pause. The Queen glanced at the clock and then turned again to the Archbishop.

  “There is a third charge,” said the Archbishop. “This is contained in an examination of one, William Love, of Weymouth, lately hanged for piracy. Love’s statement asserts ‘ that in the Armada lately sent against us, Captain Elliot, Captain Burley, Captain Lambert, were pilots royal of Spain, all with instructions to land and deal with John Killigrew of Pendennis and Arwenack, with whom they are close acquainted. And in this as in all other respects Killigrew without doubt was faulty and in the payment of Spain’.”

  I stared down along the surface of the table—at the hands and the pens and the paper and the wax.

  The Queen said: “It seems, my lords, that in this some excess of zeal has robbed us of a valuable witness.” You could see the ironical lift of an eyebrow.

  Mr Killigrew said: “Your majesty, my lords, this too is calumny without truth! If this is how I am regarded, then I regret that some few of the enemy did not land so that I could give the lie—and my blood—to this base slander. Your majesty, this my son was aboard one of the Spanish ships, having been taken prisoner after Cadiz. He spoke with Elliot and others and can bear witness that my name was never spoken by them except as an enemy of Spain to be overcome on landing—never as a traitor, never as a traitor!”

  They were waiting for me. This might be the crux of it all. I moistened lips suddenly very dry.

  “Your majesty, because I speak Spanish I was used on this voyage to interpret between the Spanish and some Irish volunteers. I was aboard the San Bartolomeo galleon and I was one of the few survivors when she foundered in the storm. I saw Captain Elliot three times. He knew me for a Killigrew—and used me the worse for it. He did not regard my father as a friend of the Spaniards but as their first enemy to be overcome on landing. Before the Armada sailed I was kept in prison for many months in conditions in which many of my companions died. Later I was in solitary confinement and for a time lost my reason. This would not be the treatment given to the son of someone they counted as their friend.”

  A gleam of sunlight filtered through the windows and fell on a dark auburn wig.

  One man said: “ Of what value is a son’s testimony on behalf of his father? I would have lied to save my father’s head.”

  “Some sons,” said the Queen, “would lie to see their fathers looped. It does not follow, my lord North.”

  The Archbishop folded his hands on the parchment. “ This is not the court of the Star Chamber, Mr Killigrew, and we permit ourselves only to deal in summary justice. Now we have before us three charges, the first proven, the latter two, disputable; but all taken together there is a heavy inference of treason. We have heard your defence, your denials, but—”

  A page came quietly across and whispered in the Queen’s ear. She looked up, her narrow lips pursed. “Yes, he may come in.”

  We all waited. She made no attempt to explain to her Council who asked permission to enter. There was a heavy clanking step that I recognised before I saw the man bending over the Queen’s hand.

  “Sir Walter,” she said. “We gave you leave to take the waters.”

  “Your precious majesty:” His eyes travelled over her face. “I had urgent business in London so returned briefly.”

  “You are recovered?”

  “More in two minutes for the refreshment of this reception than for all the time in Bath.”

  She smiled. Some youthfulness clung to her manner under his adoring gaze. For a few moments they continued to talk together as if no one else were in the room. So far Sir Walter had not even bothered to greet the most powerful council in the land—of which he was not even a member. One could understand how he made himself disliked. It was the Queen who, becoming aware of her dignity, said:

  “And this visit to our audience chamber? What is your business, Waters?”

  Ralegh looked down the table. “ My lords. Chancing to hear that matters appertaining to my lieutenancy of Cornwall were toward, I ventured to request an audience. Your majesty, if by so greatly presurning I have in any small part given you to think I have exceeded my position or duty, I beg you to say so and I will at once leave.”

  “No, no. Pray go on.”

  “You will remember that in the great storm that scattered the Spanish fleet, a part of my squadron, including Warspite, was blown into St Ives for shelter. There, hearing of the emergency for the first time, I took horse and galloped overland to Falmouth Haven, reaching there on the 29th October in the afternoon. There, finding forces totally inadequate to meet this great threat, I caused 500 men; some from my ships, some gathered in haste on the way, to be thrown in to the defence of the castle and haven. And left them there. Captain Alexander was appointed to take charge of them. So—being in those parts two days before any other officers I am in a position to tell you what I found better than he. I found the defences lax, ill manned, under-gunned, with scarcely powder to keep a single company of Spanish at bay.”

  “This confirms what Captain Alexander reports,” the Archbishop said dryly.

  “Agreed, my lord. What he did not say, because he did not know, was that your lordships have persistently denied Mr Killigrew money and supplies, though by constant letter and by attendance at Court he had besought you for them. Her gracious majesty by making me Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall has appointed me to take charge of the defences of that county. With respect I refer you to my letters of August, September and November 1595, January and February 1596, March, April and May of this year, all assessing the problem of defence and all arguing that greater forces should be available to the isolated castles of St Mary’s, St Michael’s, Pendennis, St Mawes, and others, to repel surprise attack. We are a small country, my lords, and face great enemies. Our resources are often stretched to the limits of endurance. But when our scant forces are shown up as such, it is not meet that a solitary commander on the spot should be accused of treason because of it.”

  The Queen had not liked this. “You appoint yourself defendant of Mr Killigrew? You applaud what he has done?”

  “By no means, your majesty. I think he has been lax and deserves censure. But—”

  “Laxness alone in some circumstances can be treason, Sir Walter. Give us leave to decide that.”

  “None can decide better, madam. If I—”

  “But then there are these other charges, of which you may not have heard. Tell Sir Walter the other charges.”

  Grudgingly the Archbishop told him. My father and I were again required to answer in defence. While I was speaking Sir Walter looked at me but gave no sign of recognition.

  “Your majesty, such charges as these grow for the asking wherever suspicion rests. A man has only to be known to be down for the jackals of rumour to set to work. The tattle of seaports makes free of many great names. A noose round the neck is a great spur to reminiscence and invention. John Killigrew has served his country long. Is it likely that he would sell it now?”

  “John Killigrew is grievously in debt,” said Lord North. “We all know that. A lack of money has corrupted many men.”

  “It is true also, is it not,” said the Earl of Nottingham, speaking for the first time, “ that the prisoner and Sir Walter are related and have long been close friends?”

  “The relationship is of the most distant, my lord; and I have counted John Killigrew as one link among many in the defence of these islands. In my official journeys through Cornwall—most of them taken at the behest of this council—I have spent a night at his home from time to time. But the implication is scurrilous … I would not speak for my own brother if I thought him guilty of treason!”

  The Queen nodded. Perhaps she did not approve of the contemptuous way the captain of her guard addressed the most illustrious nobles in the land, but the sentiment was good.

  “Time passes, my lords. We have other business today, and dinner must be taken soon. A decision must be come to on this man’s future … Sir Walter, we thank you f
or your valued assistance. You have our permission to withdraw.”

  “Having feasted my eyes this morning, your majesty, I do so with a new heart.”

  He kissed her wrist, and contrived it where the short glove ended. Some of the council noticed this and were displeased, but the Queen was not.

  After he had gone a silence fell. Sir Robert Cecil broke it. “My lords, what is your conclusion as to the behaviour of John Killigrew? Might I request a vote. First: that it is treasonable.”

  Five hands were raised. The Archbishop, the Earl of Nottingham, Lord North and two others.

  “That it has been negligent but not to the degree of treason.”

  Five hands were raised.

  “That he is guiltless of the charges brought.”

  No hands were raised. Sir Robert Cecil and one other had not voted.

  Sir Robert said: “Would your majesty graciously favour us with an opinion?”

  “That I would, little man, for we are all hungry. Mr Killigrew, you have been accused of negligence in your duties towards me and towards the safety of this realm. We do not consider you have proved yourself innocent. You have been accused of treasonable correspondence with Spain and some willingness to treat with them. You have not shown yourself to be innocent of those charges either.”

  My father bowed his head, and his straw-grey hair fell over his eyes.

  “Nevertheless on these latter accusations the testimony against you is inconclusive and fragmentary. So we are disposed to overlook this most gravest charge. My lords, we would think justice would best be served here by acting on a proven negligence. Would any wish to dispute that?”

  No one spoke.

  “Mr Secretary, it would seem necessary to deprive Mr Killigrew of his Governorship of Pendennis Castle. Let us have in the next weeks some suitable names from which we may choose a successor.”

  “Your majesty,” said my father, “ I wish to thank you for this clemency. So long as I—”

  “Do not mistake this clemency, Mr Killigrew, as any sign of approval. A bad servant is often worse than no servant at all. Your negligence could have betrayed England. Mr Secretary, I understand that Mr Killigrew is in debt to the Crown.”

  “Yes, your majesty. For £2,000.”

  “See that it is collected.”

  “Your majesty—” my father began in unwise protest, but he was waved into silence. The Queen had risen from her brocaded chair. Gathering around her a mantle of black silk shot with silver threads, she turned and walked briskly from the room. Two pages just had time to dart forward to gather her train.

  As soon as she was gone the members of the Privy Council sat down again, talking among themselves; but two of the yeomen tapped our shoulders and we were led out through the ante-room into the palace yard.

  There Rosewarne and Wilkey were patiently waiting. They started forward on seeing us, clearly relieved.

  My father said: “ Let us go back at once. There are certain dispositions I wish to make and that cannot be done too soon.”

  He was arrested at nine o’clock next morning on the suit of Mr Reynolds of the Queen’s Exchequer. He was taken to the Gatehouse Prison at Westminster, a gloomy building leading into New Palace Yard. It served the purpose of both a prison and a guard house for all who would approach Westminster Hall.

  He had given me what money he had, and his watch and the diamond buckles off his shoes, and his two rings and a gold chain.

  “Sell all for what you can get. There is a man called Fulbright in Old Jewry who’s as honest as such knaves go. Save only the gold ring, which was my father’s before me. Pawn that, for who knows, we may redeem it some day. Though, God’s life, I’ve little personal hope. I’m finished, done for, shall be left here to rot. This is what all my service—”

  “You’ve been arrested before.”

  “On private suit, yes. But this is different. There can be no intervention, even if any were willing to attempt it. I am at the Queen’s mercy.”

  “Which may be forthcoming. I don’t think she is a vindictive woman.”

  “Pray God. I’ve known her nourish grudges before now. As to finding £2,000 … Nor will it only be that. Watch the jackals pounce …”

  Anslowe, the jailor, was a stout dog-faced man with stiff red-grey hair and a stench about him. He demanded at once £3 as Garnish money, and said 20s. a week would ensure my father a bed and a ground floor chamber which he would share with five others. If less, his new prisoner went into the Common Ward. On the way in we had passed the gratings through which came cries for bread and meat, and some thin talons stretching through the bars. All the inside of the jail, which was small, was dark and stinking, and the only hope of survival seemed to be to live where some air would penetrate and one could see out at the carriages and people passing through the Gate House. My father grabbed money from me and gave it to Anslowe, and he was then taken into a dark foul room in which already were three men squatting in rags by the single long window waiting to shout their appeals to any passer-by. They glowered at the newcomer, and Anslowe jerked with his thumb at some boards and a sheet—“There’s yer bed”—then waited for me to go. This I did with a heavy heart, leaving Mr Killigrew standing like a stout, sick bird in a circle of vultures.

  Ralegh said: “So, Maugan, when we had thought you gone … The news only reached me in your father’s letter. What an adventure you have had!”

  It was a splendid welcome, full of goodwill and esteem; yet I fancied I had chosen the wrong time, for Bell was with him, and a new secretary, and he was preparing to return to Bath. And as always, when he was with others, even servants, he was less personally approachable. There were so many Walter Raleghs: the vigorous enthusiast, the thinker, the subtle politician, the unpretentious friend, the ambitious statesman, the poet, the strategist, the man of affairs. Today he was nearest this last.

  “Poor Victor … It was a bad day when X sent you both home. When I sought to preserve his life I lost it. By the living God, how we exist by chance!”

  His complexion was sallow and his face lined; the stick was beside his desk, though he did not use it to move about the room.

  “I came to bring my thanks, Sir Walter—and my father’s. Without your help he might have fared much worse.”

  “Ah, the Privy Council. I should be on it, but Her Majesty knows if I were I should be ruling all the rest. Was there ever such nonsense as suspecting John Killigrew of treating with the enemy!”

  I could not speak then.

  He said: “Oh, I know he has been no angel. I do not applaud what he does, and some new blood to captain the castle will be a good thing: its condition when I reached it last month was lamentable. But to confuse that with treason is to misuse the meaning of words.”

  His secretary was requesting his attention to some document just signed. While he attended to it I went to the window. A passenger vessel with seven sails was sweeping down river at a fine pace.

  The secretary went out, and only Bell remained. The moment was still not a favourable one, but I must have some answer before he left for Bath.

  “Sir, my duty takes me back to Arwenack, to see what can be done to help the family. But my half-brother John will soon be home and he must take over this duty. As soon as he does, I—”

  “Ah, your father has a young brood, but one or two are old enough to be of value at this time. I would young Wat were of an age.” Sir Walter picked up a book and slipped the end of a pen in it to keep the place. “ Pack this, Bell, I have other things for tonight … Perhaps in due course you’ll be in a position to return into my service, boy—”

  “That’s what I wished to ask you about—”

  The door had opened behind me. “ Sir, Lord Cobham has called.”

  “Ask him into the gallery. I’ll be there as soon as he.”

  The secretary withdrew. I said: “ May I take it that you can still offer me a post, sir?”

  “Of course. Lady Ralegh was much taken with you. At Sherborne
there is much to see to, and there is more than a likelihood that Irish affairs will occupy me for some time. I believe a revolt is brewing, and command of our forces must be given to a soldier of experience and resource … I wonder what Cobham wants now.”

  “Sir, I have to thank you again for your intervention for my father. It could well have saved his head.”

  “It was the least I could do when appealed to. Now make yourself at home in the quarters below. I have business on hand.”

  “Can you spare me one minute more?”

  At the door he stopped, his eyes distant and preoccupied. “Two if you have need of them. But Lord Cobham is below.”

  “Sir, I wish to marry.”

  “Do you need my sanction? If so you have it.”

  “If I am married I need a position, Sir Walter. While personally I should be happy and honoured to act as a scrivener or in any other capacity you desired, the need to maintain a wife and later a family—”

  “There’s room enough at Sherborne. Bring your wife. You can make her happy there.”

  My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, for I agreed with him. “Gladly. Thank you. Thank you … But perhaps I might ask you for the favour of some preferment—or some recommendation. When—when one marries one becomes ambitious.”

  He twirled his stick impatiently. “ Oh … ambitious. Ambition is the lodestone that leads us all. Bring your wife to Sherborne, Maugan, if you wish to. Preferment will come later. I am not one to forget my friends.”

  Chapter Five

  I sold my horse, keeping Mr Killigrew’s, and sold or pawned the jewellery and other trinkets he had given me. Most of this money I gave to Thomas Rosewarne, who was determined to stay in Westminster and take work as a clerk in order to be on hand. He thought that some legal aid might yet be brought to contrive my father out of jail; but personally I wondered whether even a full discharge of his debts to the Queen would set him free again. There was even the risk that new evidence would yet come to light and he would be removed from the Gatehouse to the Tower. How far would the Spanish keep their plans secret now they had gone awry? What if Captain Elliot or Richard Burley were caught?