Part 15 (2/2)
”What is it, uncle, that , who had overheard this last remark He looked Richard firh and spoke with such a dignity as had proclaiarb of a rag er
”Ah, your Majesty, thy reet her son and King; when I said she had forgot herself I ot her duty, which was to stay and welcoht And besides not being near herself, which were in itself strange, she hath taken with her all of thy dear sisters, and his Grace of York, thy brother”
”No doubt ood cause for her act, and I do not wish to hear her criticized,” said Edward, with great heat ”But uncle,” he asked, in a entle tone, when he saw the look of pain on Gloucester's face, ”whither hath she gone?”
”To the Sanctuary over yonder, so s tells h this were a time of war and bloodshed?”
”Nay, that I cannot tell your Majesty 'Twas this strange act that made me to say--more in surprise than with preot herself; for which offense I crave iousand looked, so to perfection, the saint which thinks he hath transgressed, and humbly prays for pardon, that not one there--besides soht hiland
”Indeed, mine uncle, I meant not to be cross with thee; when I spoke I knew not the hurt that my words did carry to thee; and besides, now that I understand the matter, I wonder not that thou didst express thy surprise Indeed 'tis strange that h her son were to be considered as her enemy”
This, no doubt, was the object Gloucester had aimed at when he sued soover to his side, and make him to believe that 'twas from her son she fled It was now more easy for me to read his object in his manner, since his treachery with Rivers and the others
We then entered the Palace, where Richard called a council to decide what ht be brought to keep company with his brother
”For,” said Gloucester, ”'tis an insult to his Majesty, to thus fly frohness of York must be returned at once to his proper place, beside his brother
If this news be bruited abroad,” continued he, ”'twill land precious ridiculous in the eyes of all Europe”
Cardinal Bouchier and the Bishop of York were present at this council
”And what course wouldst thou advisethe little Duke fro to the Cardinal
”Ah! your Royal Highness, it e the mind of the Queen Thou knowest as well as I hoilful is her Majesty, when she hath once th againsthad left the room ”By Saint Paul! if she doth not hand the boy over unto his legal protector I shall be compelled to take hioodforce on those who have taken refuge in God's place of protection, where the vilest criminal need fear no harm!” cried both the Churchmen, with one voice
”Yes,” returned Richard, with his cunning smile, ”but, most reverend sirs, the Duke of York hath cohts of Sanctuary; and, on that account, the Queen must expect force, if she consents not to return hientle for soree with Richard they now had found one ”Ah! your Royal Highness, who but thyself could have thought of such a reason?”
”Who indeed?” thought I, but with a different
”The point is well taken,” consented the Bishop of York ”The Prince, thy nephew, having coht nor reason for taking Sanctuary; and besides,” he continued, ”I understand that he hath no desire to remain in seclusion, and is but detained there by her Majesty, his ht to do,” broke in Richard ”Was not I appointed the protector of these children, by my Royal brother? And does the Queen take it upon herself thus to assume mine office?” With this Gloucester arose and walked back and forth across the room; his left arm drawn up, and his thumb stuck in his belt, as was his usual custoer; drawing it partly fro it with a sharp ”snick,”
thus keeping ti step As he walked he kept up a continual string of sharp speeches against the Queen, like the discharge fro its ht think the Protector of England an office of but little weight Old Louis will have grand a's brother not at the coronation, but hidden away, as though his Majesty were a tyrant 'Tis e of this act A boy, not yet nine years of age, which could never have coh it were a fortress Ha! my Lord Cardinal,” said he, as he stopped suddenly before that reat to thee as it is to me What sayst thou? Shall we submit meekly, whilst others walk over us and break the laws of our several charges; or shall we deently, then rescue hiree with his Royal Highness, and think 'tis an outrage for the Queen to take the stand she hath,” said the Bishop, who evidently desired to curry favor with Gloucester by agreeing with hiht a little nervously, ”if her Majesty consents to quietly restore the little Duke, soforce to obtain those which have taken refuge in a Sanctuary”
”And what says s?” asked Richard, as he turned to that nobleman, who had not yet expressed his opinion
”I aentlemen If her Majesty can be persuaded to hand over the Duke, peacefully, so much the better; if not, why then use force,” replied the Chancellor
During all this conversation Catesby--as present--stood beside Hastings, as a dog by its ht mine eye he stared so i across the rooht of my hand All that which Harleston had told ht to my mind with double its former force, and almost drove me mad
”Oh, I will twist thy neck for thee at the first opportunity,” said I, not knowing that I said it half aloud, till Harleston, as standing at my side, poked me in the ribs with his elbow