The Red Rose of Anjou - Plaidy Jean. Страница 60

He would carry the news that the country was rising and taking sides.

Warwick arrived at Ludlow soon after his father. He too had encountered a hostile force. This was led by the Duke of Somerset but Warwick, seeing that they could be grossly outnumbered if they paused to fight and being sure that he could be of more use to the cause alive, gave the order to fly as they could and thus they avoided an encounter.

It was disconcerting to hear that his father had had a similar adventure and that his two brothers, John and Thomas, were in the hands of the enemy.

York greeted them with the utmost warmth and Cecily made them very welcome. She knew that Warwick was the brightest star of the Yorkist party for his reputation since he had gone to Calais had increased tremendously. He was reckoned to be the most outstanding man in the country. Cecily took note of such things.

York’s eldest son, Edward Earl of March, was fascinated by Warwick, and clearly proud of the family connection. It seemed to young Edward that Warwick embodied all the virtues of manhood. Edward was seventeen now, even more handsome than he had been as a boy; he had already topped six feet and was still growing. He was strong, full of vigour and determined on success, and Warwick liked the look of him as much as Edward liked Warwick. His brother Edmund, Earl of Rutland, younger by a year, lacked Edward’s outstanding good looks and spirits, but he was a fine boy all the same. York should be proud of them—and clearly was.

Young Edward came to their conferences. He was all for going into the attack. Wild, of course, thought Warwick, but he

was a bit that way himself. He was beginning to think that this young Edward might have qualities of leadership which were lacking in his father. Warwick mused that the Duke of York could have been King after the battle of St. Albans, but he could never quite overcome his scruples. It showed a good and just nature perhaps, but there were moments when kings could not afford such luxuries.

Warwick rejoiced that York had a son, for if York were to fall in battle there would be someone very worthy indeed to step straight into his shoes.

It was disconcerting to discover that the Queen had gathered together a sizeable army. Even Warwick was dismayed to see by how many they would be outnumbered.

Young Edward was boastful, and said he was glad that there were so few of them against the enemy. He was trying to be another Henry the Fifth. Well, it was a good sign.

Moreover Margaret sent messengers into the Yorkist camp to tell the men that if any of them put down their arms they would be freely pardoned. This made York very uneasy for he knew that his followers while they deplored the state of the country and knew it came through bad government, could not rid themselves of the belief that they were fighting against the King. It was amazing how Henry had managed to win their loyalty. They knew that he was a near saint; they knew of his love of prayer and learning. If only he had had the strength to govern, if only he had not been the tool of a ferocious Frenchwoman who had no judgment and was not above an act or two of treachery, they would never have thought of coming against him. They were not against him, they insisted. They were against the Queen and her advisers. If she would make York Protector again and Warwick was left to guard Calais for them they would be content.

But the Queen was stubborn; she would rather fight than work with York.

‘Once again,’ said York, I will send a message to the King as I did before the battle of St. Albans. I will tell him that we are his loyal subjects, but there are certain matters which must be set right.’

The Lancastrian army was before Ludlow; they had camped to the south of the town in the fields which were watered by the River Teme. Margaret was in good spirits. She knew that the people wanted to be loyal to their King. She had men and arms but her greatest asset was Henry himself.

Though he hated battle so much she had insisted on his accompanying the army. He had been so reluctant that she had worked indefatigably, pointing out that he would be called a coward, that he would be failing in his duty if he did not ride with the army and confront those traitors York, Warwick and Salisbury.

She rode round the camp accompanied by the King. The news must spread to Ludlow Castle that the King was with them. Every Yorkist soldier must know that he was fighting against his King.

Once again she sent messages addressed to all the captains in the enemy’s camp. ‘The King is here before Ludlow. If you fight against his army you fight against him. Pause to think what this means. You will be traitors to your King. Come over to us now and there will be free pardons for all.’

It was clever.

Margaret was almost wild with joy when Captain Trollope, leading a company of Warwick’s best troops from Calais, joined the Lancastrian army.

Trollope declared: I will never take up arms against my King.’

Margaret welcomed him warmly. He should have a command in her armies. She was certain now of victory.

There was gloom in Ludlow Castle. Defeat was staring them in the face. Even Warwick admitted it.

T would have staked my life on Trollope,’ he said. ‘And it is not only him. He has taken some of my best men with him. They are not fighting for Margaret, not for the Lancastrians. It is simply that they will not fight against the King. They are good men all of them. If the King had not been there...’

‘But he is there,’ said Salisbury, ‘and what are we to do? We have a handful of men against a trained army. We will be overcome in an hour.’

Warwick nodded. ‘Trollope knows our plans and our strength. It will be folly for us to stay here and be annihilated or worse still taken captive. There is one course open to us, as far as I can see. And that is flight, if we want to five to fight another day. We have been the victims of desertion. We were undermanned before. The Queen has reacted too quickly for us. I think the answer can only be flight. As soon as night falls we should leave without delay.’

York was thoughtful. He was thinking of his family. Salisbury understood.

‘There is no other way, I fear,’ he said. ‘You will have to leave Cecily here with the younger children.’

‘To leave them...!’

‘If you want to live, yes,’ said Warwick. He was thinking York had not the makings of a great leader. He was thinking of his wife and young children when he should have been thinking of survival to Live and fight another day.

‘March and Rutland can come with us,’ said Salisbury.

‘There is no time to be lost,’ added Warwick. ‘As soon as night falls we must slip away.’

York saw at once that Warwick was right and it was easy to explain to Cecily because she too grasped the position.

‘Warwick is wise,’ she said. ‘You must go...you, Edward and Edmund. The little ones will be safe with me. I am sure Henry won’t let us be harmed.’

‘I wouldn’t trust Margaret.’

‘Oh, she won’t have time to think of me. God go with you.’

‘I shall keep you informed and we shall be back.’

‘Indeed you’ll be back, and when you do you’ll be victorious, I’m sure of that.’

Cecily was a strong woman; she would be able to care for herself and the children he was leaving behind.

Darkness was falling. There was not a moment to lose. He summoned his captains and told them that they could not possibly stand out against the mighty Lancastrian army which was gathered to confront them. The soldiers must get away and disperse. They would be in no danger. It was the leaders they were after.

York, Warwick and Salisbury with the young Earls of March and Rutland quietly made their way out of Ludlow. Through the night they rode heading towards Wales. There they decided to break up the party and as York still had connections in Ireland he would go there and stay until he could make plans for his return. He would take Rutland with him.