The Red Rose of Anjou - Plaidy Jean. Страница 54

‘It was done with speed and shrewdness,’ she reminded them.

With the Lancastrian lords they discussed how the desired effect should be brought about. York was not in London at the time. He must be kept in the dark as to the King’s progress. If he knew that Henry was recovering he would be on the spot.

‘We must choose our time with care,’ said Owen Tudor.

Jasper thought that the King should go unexpectedly to one of the sessions of Parliament over which York and his immediate cronies did not preside, and make the announcement that he was now well and capable of taking over the government of the country.

‘It is the way,’ said Margaret. ‘Now we have to persuade the

That was not quite so easy. Henry enjoyed his life at Greenwich. He loved his music, his conversations with those who were almost as religious as himself; he loved the company of his son and he was grateful that he had a Queen who could care for him and keep unpleasant business away from him.

She reminded him gently that he was the son of a King; he had been a King since he was nine months old and the people wanted him. It was time now to take on his duties. She would be beside him, always ready to help him. He need have no fear.

It was a cold February day; the Duke of York was in the North and Warwick was in Calais for he had been given the important Governorship of that town when York had become Protector. As for the chief members of the York faction, they were all on their estates in various parts of the country.

The King rode up from Greenwich to Westminster, Margaret beside him.

He went into the House of Lords.

The assembled company, not knowing that he had left Greenwich, was astounded to see him enter thus ceremoniously.

The King stood before them, seeming in amazingly good health.

‘My lords,’ he said, as they had decided he should, ‘you see me, by the blessing of God, in good health. I do not think my kingdom now needs a Protector. I request your permission to resume the reins of government.’

The Lords rose as one and cheered him.

He was well. He was the King. It was his place to govern.

###

It had been completely successful. Margaret was gleeful. ‘You see, all we need is a firm hand. Our first act must be to notify the Duke of York that he is no longer Protector of this realm as it was unanimously agreed by the Lords that he cease to hold this office.’

Now they could get to work. York could do nothing. His men were scattered and the same applied to Salisbury. Warwick was in Calais so was not of immediate concern.

The Parliament had agreed that York’s services were no longer required. The King could not be turned out of his office. He claimed it. He was well now.

Henry was King again.

The King’s chief adviser should be the young Duke of Somerset. There were raised eyebrows at that. Henry Beaufort was loyal enough, but he lacked experience and his father could hardly have been called a success in the later years of his life. It was the conflict between York and Somerset which was at the root of the trouble. But Margaret, fierce in her loyalties, was scarcely shrewd in her judgment. She wanted to show this young man her compassion for the death of his beloved father;

she wanted to reward him for his friendship to her. Her emotions told her that this should be his reward; she did not pause to consider the wisdom of the move.

Henry wanted to bestow the seals on his good friend William Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester and Margaret saw no reason why Henry should not be indulged in this. Waynflete was a good Lancastrian—not fiercely against the Duke of York it was true, but believing firmly that Henry was the rightful King and should be supported for this reason. He and Henry had had many a happy hour together, discussing theology and architecture. Waynflete had often accompanied the King to Eton and King’s College and had a great interest in them.

Yes, Waynflete was the man.

The changes were completed before York could do anything about it and there was consternation in Sandal Castle near Wakefield when the news was brought to York.

His resignation demanded! It was hardly necessary. He was already deprived of his post. The King was now well enough to resume his duties.

It was a complete surprise.

The family clustered round him. Edward wanted his father to tell him exactly what had happened. He wanted to set out right away and force another battle on the King. Edmund, his brother and younger by a year, was eager to hear more of the details. George was trying to imitate Edward and talking of battle and little Richard toddled up to try and understand what all the excitement was about. Even the little girls were listening.

Cecily was furious. ‘This is that woman’s doing,’ she said.

Edward nodded. All the children knew that ‘that woman’ was the Queen and that she was very wicked. George said that she had come from France riding on a broomstick and it was only because she was a witch that she had been able to marry the King. When Elizabeth had asked Edward if this were true he had shrugged it aside impatiently.

‘When they say she’s a witch,’ he explained, ‘that just means that she’s artful and wicked and cruel and ought to be destroyed.’

The Duke of York said: ‘Of course it is her doing. Henry never has the wit to do anything alone.’

The children were overawed. Their father was speaking of the King and only their father could speak thus of the King. Everyone else had to be very careful. This was because their father

really should have been King and that was what all the trouble was about.

Even the little ones wore their white roses and they always kept their eyes open for anyone wearing a red rose; if they saw anyone—though they rarely did in Yorkshire and anywhere near them, wherever they were—Edward and Edmund always wanted to kill them.

‘When shall we be marching down south?’ asked Edward. He would be rather sorry to go because there was a certain serving-woman in whom he was interested. She was old—by his standards—but he did not mind that any more than she minded his youth. She had so much to teach him; he enjoyed his lessons with her and did not want to break them off... even for a battle.

‘I don’t think we shall be,’ said the Duke thoughtfully.

‘You mean you are going to stand by and let that woman treat you like that?’ cried Cecily.

‘My dear, we do not want civil war.’

‘You were the victor at St. Albans. That should have been an end of it.’

‘I believe it should. But rest assured, Cis, there will be no end to conflict while the Queen holds sway over the King.’

‘What nonsense! You have shown you are more fit to rule than Henry.’

‘I think the people know that. They will remember...when the time comes. But that time is not yet.’

It was not long before Salisbury arrived. He had heard the news too.

‘What does it mean?’ he asked.

‘That the King is in better health. He must be, to have presented himself to the Parliament. He is King once more which means that I am no longer Protector.’

‘And what do you propose to do about it?’

‘Nothing,’ said York. ‘Remain here in the country...and wait.’

Salisbury was in complete agreement. ‘And wait,’ he said, but there was something ominous in the words.

###

Margaret was gratified when York made no attempt to dispute the fact that it was the King’s right to rule and that he was fit to do so.

‘He knows when he is beaten,’ she remarked to young Somerset. ‘Though he is wrong if he thinks I shall ever forget what he has done. I shall remind Henry for he is apt to forget that whatever York says, he took up arms against his King at St. Albans.’

‘We shall have the traitor’s head yet.’ Somerset promised her.

‘I am determined on it. York need not think that all is forgotten and forgiven. That shall never be. I am going to discover the mood of the country and I shall take Henry and the Prince on a long progress. I want the people to see their King, that he is well and that he is able to rule them. He is never averse to these journeys and if he can visit the churches and the monasteries, he will be happy. The people like that too. It pleases them that they have a saintly and virtuous King.’