The Sun in Splendour - Plaidy Jean - Страница 16

battles of Hedgley Moor and Hexham and he and Warwick had suppressed other small risings in the area.

Edward congratulated Montague and created him Earl of Northumberland. His victories had been spectacular. He had completely defeated Somerset at Hedgley Moor and at Hexham had been confronted by an army with which rode King Henry himself. The victory there seemed to have crushed the Lancastrian cause. Many of its leaders were killed. Unfortunately Henry himself had managed to escape.

'We must find Henry/ said Warwick. 'While he is at large there will be men to rally to his cause and that means danger. I shall not be happy until we have him in our hands.'

'He is too feeble to fight,' said Edward.

'Aye, but he will find others to fight for him. I like it not that he should be free—fugitive though he might be. Then there is the Prince, his son.'

'A boy!'

'Boys grow up. Let it be known that there will be big rewards for any who deliver Henry to us. I wonder what is brewing in Margaret's mind? I'll rest better when you have an heir which brings us back to the subject of your marriage. It must take place soon. We should let nothing stand in its way.'

Edward nodded. The moment for revelation had not yet arrived.

They came South. Warwick was intent on preparations for the French marriage. It seemed as though he were thinking of nothing else. It could not be long before he must be told for Edward could not allow him to go to France and draw up the contracts.

There was a matter for concern over the currency. There was a scarcity of bullion in the country and it was agreed that new coins must be minted. Hastings who was Master of the Mint had made Edward see the necessity for the changes and Edward threw himself into the scheme with enthusiasm. It was a success and in addition to the mints in London, Canterbury and York new ones were needed and were set up in Norwich, Coventry and Bristol.

The people did not like getting used to the new values of nobles, royals, angels and groats; but they accepted the changes

as necessary; and Edward found that the matter took people's minds off the vexed one of a foreign marriage for a while.

But it could not be delayed for much longer and the moment came at a council meeting which Warwick had called at Reading, Warwick's main purpose being to settle the final details before the embassy left for France to make the last arrangements for the King's marriage.

Edward was ready. I am the King, he thought. And I will let them know it—all of them and in particular Warwick.

Warwick spoke at length as usual. Everyone was in agreement that it was time the King was married. The country needed an heir and the King would agree that it was his duty to provide it.

Edward said with the utmost grace that he was entirely in agreement with them. There was nothing he wanted more than to give the country an heir and he had already chosen his bride.

He was conscious of the tension in the room. Warwick was studying him with some puzzlement.

T will have Elizabeth Woodville, the daughter of Lord Rivers, and none other.'

There was an astonished silence. At length one of the councillors spoke. 'She is a beautiful and virtuous lady, but not suitable to be the Queen of England.'

'Not suitable!' cried Edward. 'Why not? She is the one I have chosen for my Queen.'

'She is not the daughter of a duke or an earl.'

'Her mother was the Duchess of Bedford. She is of the noble House of Luxembourg.'

'The Duchess of Bedford married a humble squire, my lord.'

'Have done,' cried Edward. 'There is nothing you can say that will move me, for I have already married the lady.'

The astonishment in the council chamber was so overwhelming that no one had anything to say.

The King walked out without looking at the Earl of Warwick who was sitting staring ahead.

So the King was married! First the Court, then the country was agog with the news.

How had she managed it? She had bewitched the King. Stories were circulated. He had tried to seduce her; she had threatened to

kill herself with a dagger if he approached her; he had been trapped into marriage. How could an accomplished libertine be so securely trapped? There was one answer. It was witchcraft. Jacquetta, Lady Rivers—the Duchess of Bedford that was—had brought this about and all knew that she was a sorceress. There was wild conjecture as to how she had slipped a potion into his wine when he visited Grafton; how he had been led as a sleepwalker to attend that ceremony which had made humble Elizabeth Woodville a queen.

Yes, that was the favourite theory. It was done by sorcery.

The people were inclined to smile at their King. They did not like foreigners. Heaven knew the last King's marriage had brought them the virago from Anjou. They wanted no more like her.

Tt is a love match,' said the people of London. 'God bless his handsome face. He has fallen in love with her and why should these mighty nobles try to spoil his happiness by bringing over a French woman for him. God bless the King and God bless the Queen if she is the one he wants.'

But whatever was said everyone was talking of the King's , marriage.

Richard was back at Middleham. He liked the fresh northern air and it was good to see the Countess and his second cousins again.

Francis Lovell, son of Lord Lovell who was also being brought up at Middleham, was there and he and Francis were great friends. There was a warmth of affection for him at Middleham which he had not quite found in his own home.

There was always a great deal to talk about when he returned after being away. He, Francis and Anne would ride out on the Yorkshire moors and somehmes lie stretched on the grass while their horses drank from a stream and they could talk of what they would do in the future. Sometimes Isabel was with them, but she was delicate and tired rather easily. So did Anne, but she was so eager to be with the boys that she tried to forget her weakness. Richard often thought how strange it was that a strong man like the Earl of Warwick should have only two weak daughters, and not one son to bear his name.

How different it had been in His family. Of course some of them had died. There was Henry William and John and Thomas among the boys. The girls had taken a stronger grip on life except little Ursula who was the last and had been born some five or sbc years before the death of their father.

Then there was Edmund who had been slain in battle. Richard would never forget the day when the news had been brought to him of his brother's death, because it had been at the same time as that of his father, and Edmund's head had been stuck up on the walls of York with that of the Duke.

Edward had said they must forget all that. There were three of the boys left: himself, George and Richard.

'We must always stand together,' Edward had said. 'Do you think anyone could harm us then?'

'No one would ever challenge you, brother,' Richard had replied.

Edward liked that. Edward was so magnificent in every way. He was good as well as great, and yet he had always had the time to think about his brothers and sisters.

Richard had told Anne that while Edward reigned they need never fear anything.

Anne had replied that while her father and Edward stood together none could come against them.

Francis Lovell pointed out that some had tried to do that and there had been battles.

That was true, agreed Richard, who hated to diverge from the truth just to win a point. But his brother had won in the end and it was the last battle that counted.

'The last battle,' he said, 'has been won at Hexham. Poor Henry is wandering from place to place fearful of capture. They will get him of course and then. . . .'