The Coming of the King

by Joseph Hocking

  CHAPTER XVIII

  JAMES, DUKE OF YORK

  The clocks of Westminster were striking eight as I drew near the place Ihad been bidden to come in Whitehall. My heart beat fast at thought ofwhat might happen to me, and of the commands which might be laid uponme, yet did I go on without faltering, for the more I wondered at thehappening the more did I desire to know why I was commanded thither. Theclock had barely ceased striking when a hand was laid upon my shoulder.

  "Master Roland Rashcliffe," a voice whispered in my ear.

  "You speak as if you know," I replied, and turning I saw a man of gravedemeanour, and of somewhat sad countenance.

  "Follow me. Ask no questions, and make no protest at aught you may see."

  This he also said in a whisper, and although I obeyed him I liked notthe secrecy of the business. As I passed along I noticed that manypeople were around, and that all seemed to be in gay humour and in gayattire. Truly the coming of the king had made a difference to Londontown. The whole city seemed to be given over to pleasure, and none ofthat solemn decorum which marked it a year before was now manifest.

  We had not gone far when we left Whitehall and entered the park whichlies behind. Here also were the same scenes of gaiety. Indeed, never hadI seen so many gaily-dressed women in my life before. The park was inthe summer of its loveliness, flowers bloomed on all sides, the treeswere in wellnigh full leaf, the birds sang, while loud laughter, bothamong men and women, was to be heard continually. My companion paid noheed to any of these things, however. He strode quickly along, stoppedat the door of one of the houses, and a minute later I stood behind himin one of the great houses. Without hesitation he led the way upstairs,and without ceremony entered a large room. As far as I could judge ithad been but lately fitted up, for the things I saw were new, and shonewith much splendour. Nevertheless, it did not look like a residence, butrather appeared to be a place where a man of authority might gather hisfriends around him. No one was in the room, and although it stood sonear to Whitehall the utmost silence reigned, except that I thought thatI heard whispering voices in an adjoining compartment.

  "Do not dare to oppose him," said the man who accompanied me; "assent toall his commands, agree with all he saith, although your judgement willlead you otherwise. Above all be silent as death afterwards. Remember,he hath no mercy."

  "You speak of the Duke of York?"

  "I speak of the next king," he replied. "Therefore, do as I bid you, andbe wise. Be surprised at nothing you may hear, even if he saith thingsthat should not be heard by such a youth as you."

  He had scarcely finished speaking when two men entered the room. The onewas the Duke of York; I had seen him ride away in the king's coach bythe side of the king when he left Dover. His appearance, as I thought,was changed. I thought then that he was, although of somewhat austerecountenance, pleasant to look upon. That night he looked angry andcruel. His face was heavy, and, if I mistook not, besotted, but whetherhe had been partaking freely of wine I could not tell. His companion'sface was hidden, and although I thought I detected something familiar inhis gait, I knew not who he was.

  "This is the youth?"

  "It is, Your Grace."

  The duke looked at me sternly and silently, as though he would read myheart, and although I dared to lift my eyes to his but once, I thoughthis eyes were bloodshot. Having seated himself, he bade me come near tohim.

  "Master Roland Rashcliffe?" he said.

  "Yes, Your Grace," I replied.

  "Tell me, boy, is your father an honest man?"

  The question was asked abruptly, as though he would take me unawares.

  "He fought for your father," I replied.

  "So did many a knave, until he thought he would gain by joining therebels."

  At this I was silent.

  "Why did he send thee to find out if there was any truth in the lyingstory that his Majesty married the wench Lucy Walters?"

  "To discover the truth," I replied, for it seemed to me at that momentas though there were nought else to say.

  At this he laughed, but the laugh was cruel, and never did I hear aman's voice that had less mirth in it.

  "Well, what have you found?" he said presently. "You left your home manydays ago. You went to Folkestone, from thence you made a midnightjourney to a lonely house. Tell me how you fared, and what trophies youpossess as a result of your valour."

  At this I was silent, for in truth never did words appear more dangerousthan at this moment.

  "How now, sirrah! You do not speak!"

  King's brother though he was, he made me angry, and I resented the toneshe used towards me.

  "What, you do not answer me? Know you that you do wrong in making meangry? I tell you it would be an easy matter to put another in thealready flowing prisons of England, and so I bid you beware. What didyou discover at the lonely house, and what did you bring away?"

  "You should already know, Your Grace," I replied boldly, for by thistime all my fear of him had gone. Perhaps my anger had driven it away.If it had, it were no wonder, for had I been a lackey he could not havespoken with less courtesy, while the thickness of his voice, and hisrheumy eyes, made me feel sure that he had been drinking heavily.

  "What mean you, young malapert?" he asked.

  "I mean that I was attacked by men who used your name when riding toLondon," I answered; "that they dragged me from my horse, and searchedme to the skin. If I had possessed aught they would surely have broughtit to you."

  At this I was in doubt as to what course he would take. I saw the bloodmount to his cheek, and anger gleam from his eyes, while he lifted hishand as if he would strike me. But this was only for a moment. Insteadof yielding to anger he burst into a great laugh, as though he had hearda good joke.

  "Ha, ha!" he cried, "you discovered that you could do nought withoutdiscovery, eh? You found out that the royal arm can strike far, eh? Youlearnt that you cannot hunt in royal domains without being bitten by thekeeper's dogs? Is that not so, my young springald?"

  "The king's brother is not the king," I cried, for now I saw that unlessI would place myself entirely in his power I must take a bold course.

  "What mean you?" he cried.

  "I mean that when I have discovered aught that affects the king, I willbear my message to the king," I replied, "but, until then, I will holdmy peace as a man should."

  "I have a good mind to send you to the dungeons."

  "If you did I should soon be a free man again," I replied.

  "And how is that?"

  "The king would soon hear that his brother threw a youth into prisonbecause that youth knew something that affected the king's honour," Ireplied. "And the king, on hearing of this, would demand to see him, andhe would tell his Majesty many things."

  "Tut, tut, youth," he said, still gazing at me curiously. "Do not thinkbecause you have answered me pertly that you have answered me wisely,and do not imagine that although a man doth not wear a crown he hath nopower. Oh, I see how it is. You were carried away by what you saw whenthe king came to London. You saw the London Corporation do his Majestyhomage at St. George in the Fields, you saw the streets all flauntingwith bunting, you beheld the twelve hundred velvet-coated lackeys, thefootmen in purple, and buff, and silver, and green, and blue; you heardthe trumpets sounding, the people shouting, and the clergy waiting to dohomage to their most gracious and Protestant king. I say, you saw allthis, while they took no notice of the heir-apparent. But it is notalways the man who wears the crown who reigns. Take our brother Louisacross the water. He wore the crown while a priest reigned. It was sobefore him. Louis XIII, the man who was always tired, wore the crown,but Richelieu ruled the land. But wait a little, Mazarin will die, andthen a change will come. Let me tell you something, young malapert. Itis the man with will and brains who reigns, whether he be the king orthe king's brother. Moreover, it is he who is not too much given over topleasure, and who holds the true faith."

  "Have a care, Your Grace, have a care," said the man who had
accompaniedme hither, for he saw what by this time I was assured of, that theking's brother had partaken of much wine.

  "Have a care for whom?" said the duke angrily. "Am I to be bearded by aboy? Look you here, and remember," and his voice was thick as he spoke,"the king's brother can bestow benefits as well as the king, rememberthat, and the king's brother can reward those who are faithful. Besides,the man who is only the king's brother to-day may be king next year.Never forget. And think of something else. A man need not be anointed bya bishop to alter a country's laws. Hath any law been passed against thePresbyterians or Puritans or Dissenters? What saith the king? 'Justiceto all.' Yet even at this time hundreds of Presbyterians and Puritanshave been ousted from their pulpits, while Independents and Baptistscrowd our gaols. Who hath done this? 'Oh, no man hath done it,' is thereply. It is all because the Episcopalians believe that now CharlesStuart is come back they can e'en send the others apacking. But whoshall say they have heard no word from James Stuart?"

  "Your Grace! Your Grace!"

  "Ay, cannot a man speak his own mind? This boy is not a fool, and willknow how to be discreet. And now I have a word more to say. Have you,Master Roland Rashcliffe, discovered aught concerning this supposedmarriage contract between the king and Lucy Walters?"

  "Yes," I replied, before I was well aware, and for which word I wasready to bite my tongue out.

  "You have seen it?" and I noticed that he spoke more clearly, as thoughmy news had sharpened his wits.

  "I have seen that which purports to be what you inquire after," Ireplied.

  Never did I see a man change more suddenly. He seemed to throw off theeffects of wine in an instant.

  "You have seen it? Where?"

  At this I was silent, for I felt not like giving away my secret.

  "Speak, Roland, I command you."

  I started, for it was my father's voice which I had heard, and then Iknew that it was he who had entered the room with the duke, and who hadhidden his face from me.

  "Father!" I cried.

  "Ay, it is I, Roland, and it is I who command you to tell his Grace whathe desires to know. I have told him nothing because I have seen nothing,but it is my will that you tell him what you have seen."

  My father's presence set me wondering greatly. As I have said, I had notseen him since my return to London, and now to discover that he had beenin communication with the king's brother staggered me. Rightly orwrongly, I concluded that he could gain no hearing with his Majesty, andso had sought an audience with the duke.

  "Remember," said the duke, "this story is lies from end to end. Yet I donot say that some one hath not forged such a contract. Moreover, if sucha contract, although it is as valueless as the paper on which it iswritten, were to pass from hand to hand, it would set gossips' tongueswagging, and perchance unhinge affairs of state. You say you have seenthis. Where have you seen it?"

  In spite of myself I could not help pausing, and whether the king'sbrother had fears concerning what I should do with my knowledge, orwhether he desired to enlist my friendship, I know not, but before Icould speak, he went on--

  "Did you read it?"

  "Ay, I read it."

  "What did it say?"

  "It was a marriage contract between his Majesty and the Welsh girl, LucyWalters."

  "You can take your oath to this?"

  "I can take my oath that I read such words on a piece of parchment."

  "Signed by Charles Stuart?"

  "Ay, and by others."

  "Their names?"

  "Pierre Rousseau and Francois Abelard."

  "You swear this?"

  "I swear that I saw such a parchment."

  "But where? Tell me where?"

  "It was in such a strange place that I cannot describe it. Yet methinksI could find it again."

  He seemed so carried away by what I had told him that he started to hisfeet.

  "Find it, Master Roland Rashcliffe, and bring it to me. If you will dothis, you may depend on my smile all your life through."

  "Obey his Grace, Roland," said my father.

  "Stay," said the duke, directly my father had spoken, and I thoughtsuspicion gleamed in his eyes. "Your father informs me that yourdiscovery was made before we landed on English shores. You were at Doverat our coming. What have you been doing with yourself since?"

  "If you will ask Caleb Bullen, he will tell you I have been staying atthe _Virgin Queen_, at St. Paul's Cross," I said; then, fearing furtherquestions, I went on, "but the thing you require of me is not easy ofaccomplishment. Already I have nearly lost my life in the searchthereof, and----"

  "I have nought to do with that," he interrupted. "Set out without delayand bring this thing to me, and this I will promise. I will see to itthat all your father's estates are restored, and I will take it uponmyself to assure your future. There is many an Independent fatteningupon fair estates who will soon be in gaol; there is many a highborndame who will gladly accept the hand of the youth upon whom the Duke ofYork smiles. Now, then, I seek to hear no more, and know no more. Butstay, all such business requires money. Garnett, see to it that a pursewith a hundred pounds be given to him. And more, what is done must bedone secretly, and no man must know thy doings."

  With this he left the room, and without another word passed out of mysight. I make confession here that the interview wellnigh stunned me.The duke had not been one, but three men during the time we had beentogether. At one time he had been cruel, hard, stern; at another heseemed to have his wits muddled with wine, when he had spoken in a wayunworthy his high estate; and yet when he left me he made me feel thathe was a man to be obeyed, strong, masterful, and clear-minded. Inaddition to this, my father had evidently been in secret conclave withhim, and it was he who had bidden me obey the duke's commands.Therefore, although I was sorely bewildered, because he had commanded Imust perforce obey.

  One thing gave me peace of mind, and that was the fact that no mentionhad been made of the woman I had released at Bedford. I felt sure thatdid the duke dream of my action towards the woman who was accused ofattempting the murder of General Monk, he would have used it as a threatin order to make me do his will. As it was, he took both my obedienceand my silence for granted, and seemingly had no doubts, in spite of mybehaviour during the first part of the interview, that I should dare torefuse his bidding.

  "You have heard?" said the man who had accompanied me. "You have yourwork--do it."

  I did not answer, for at this moment my father returned.

  "Roland," he said, "here are the hundred pounds. You will note that theycome from me. Obey his Grace's command. It is not only his will, butmine. Now haste, for I fear you have wasted time. Good-bye, and fearnothing."

  At this he left me again, while I stood gazing at the door through whichhe had passed, almost too surprised for words.

  "You have heard," said Master Garnett, "now go and be thankful. I neednot tell you to be silent. You are not one who is foolish enough to talkwith every passerby, but remember this--if you fail to do the duke'sbidding the four seas that wash our shores would not save you from hisanger."

  Five minutes later I was in the street again, and that which I had seenand heard was only as a dream. Still, I had a hundred pounds in mypouch, and I knew that in accordance with the command of the king'sbrother, I must e'en make a second attempt to obtain what I at that timebelieved might be the king's marriage contract.

  Within two hours of that time I was on horseback again, for by this timethe fever of adventure was upon me, and I determined to again find myway within the walls of Pycroft Hall, and to take the parchment I hadseen from its strange hiding place.

  As I rode along I wondered that I had been content to wait in London solong, and had not, without the duke's command, sought to outwit the oldman I had seen in the lonely house. For although I believed the old manhad never imagined that I should escape alive, and therefore would notremove the contract from its hiding place until he was able to maketerms with the king, I remembered that several
days had elapsed whereinhe might have carried it I know not whither. It was then I rememberedthat the great thought in my mind had not been to obtain the parchmentwhich might alter the destiny of the nation, but to give help to thewoman with whom I had so strangely been brought into contact. In truthit came to me that so eager had I been to hear news of her after I hadreturned to London town that I had scarcely ever thought of the missionwhich had brought us together. At this I grew angry with myself, foralthough she was very fair to look upon she was a Dissenter at heart,the wife of a man who had taken part in the death of the king's father,and was even then hiding from those who would bring her to punishment.As I said, I grew angry with myself because of this, yet in spite of myanger I wondered much concerning her, and prayed most earnestly for hersafety and her welfare.

  By the time daylight dawned I was far away from London, and was ridingthrough one of the fairest tracts of country of which perchance ourcountry can boast. I have, during my life, had occasion to ride throughmany parts of our land, but never do I remember thinking aught so fairas that through which I passed that day. The sun rose in a cloudlesssky, the birds were singing all around me as they perched upon the leafytrees, while on my right hand, and on my left, the countryside rose andfell in gentle hills and dales.

  "How quiet and restful everything is," I thought, and then I reflectedthat the day was the Sabbath, so I let Black Ben drop into a walk, inorder that I might be able to enjoy with more comfort the beauty of thescene.

  The sun was high in the heavens when I saw that I was drawing near asmall town, so I determined that I would stay there for breakfast, neverdreaming that I should pass through such a strange experience, and yetone the like of which was being witnessed all over the country.