Part 19 (2/2)
”'Go back to him that sent thee and say that the Queen, the little Prince's , where he prefers to be, instead of with his uncle'
”'But,desires to have his brother with him, that he may not be lonely'
”'He should be per as a prisoner, the which mayhap he is,” I replied
”'Nay, 's oill that doth not permit him to come and see your Majesty'
”'And why, sir,for his answer, I continued:--'Ah yes, I understand His Highness, the Protector, hath poisoned the boy's hness'
”'No,the Duke, who is filled with all respect and love for your Majesty,' put in the Cardinal
”'Ay, my Lord Cardinal,' I replied, 'well hath he shown his love for me and mine Look at the prisoners at Pomfret, which never did offence to Gloucester, except that the love they bore er in his savage bosom'
”'Nay, indeed, your Majesty, thou dost abuse and e the Duke of Gloucester,' said the Cardinal 'As I understand the matter, it is this,' he continued; 'Lord Rivers, Sir Richard Grey and Sir Tho's freedom, and Duke Richard, when he learned of it, caused these three gentle is crowned, when it shall be for his Majesty to decide whether they shall be set at liberty or no'
”'A pretty tale indeed is this about a plot to gain control of the King's person,' I replied with scorn 'My Lord Cardinal, no one knows better than dost thou that ainst my son 'Tis but a lie, devised by that accursed Richard!' I cried, as ain ascendency over my better reason, 'to shi+eld his own black treason Well do I believe, ain control of both my sons, that he may work his will upon them; and God, or rather the devil, and himself do knohat that may be And be assured of this, Master Cardinal!' I almost shrieked, to such a state of fury had this rehearsal of s aroused me, 'I shall not permit my tender son, the Duke of York, to fall into the hands of that traitorous cur, so long as this Sanctuary stands to protect the gentle babe Gloucester hath already, through treachery, obtained control of one ofas his ood Cardinal, that hump-backed Gloucester shall not control him'”
The Queen, as she said these words, in her excite like a statue before htly distended, like those of a horse that hath just scented fresh-spilled blood, and her whole pose bespeaking resolution and defiance, looked like sory Goddess about to hurl destruction upon those which had been the cause of her anger Verily, my children, this was indeed a Queen
My soul was so filled with admiration for this noble and unfortunate woman that I needs own
”Arise, Sir Walter,” said her Majesty, tenderly; ”I do not deserve such ho his commands, when I was in a position of power Ah, hty spirit and maketh us to realize that we must live for other purposes than the fulfilment of our ae in me to thus take thee into my confidence and tell thee of my troubles But this, I tell thee, Sir Walter, is the reason Thy father was ever a faithful servant and friend ofEdward lived thou hadst been raised to considerable power Thou hast proven thy loyalty to me, even in reatest honours have deserted, what see shi+p
Besides all this, rief on some sympathetic ear Therefore I tell thee this story of the troubles of a Queen which, whilst her husband lived, had scarce to express a wish, and the policy of an eed as does the wind To-day she seeks safety for herself and family within the precincts of a Sanctuary, than which place, where is safer? And even it is not”
”Come, madam, thou must not yet despair,” said Dorset, tenderly, as he saw tears rushi+ng unto his mother's eyes ”Surely Gloucester dare not do harm to the little Duke”
”Ah, my son,” replied the Queen, ”well do I know that thou dost speak thus to lighten my heart with hopes of safety for my little Prince
”But Sir Walter has not yet heard all of my conversation with the Churchmen When I had finishedas Westain took her seat, ”the Cardinal, with a look of great sorrohich ned--for well do I believe hiain spoke:--'Then, your Majesty,' said he, 'it is only left for e
Believe ue torn froe unto your Majesty'
”'Coe,' said I 'Thou art but a lackey ht that thy h it be' This offence to hiood policy, but methinks it had entle tone,” said the Queen, addressing herself to reat show of offended dignity; though how he came by it I know not, 'hear the coe In case thou dost still persevere in thine obstinate refusal to deliver the young Duke into the hands of his duly appointed guardian, his Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester, his aforesaid Royal Highness, the Protector, by this act of thine, and by no desire or willingness of his,and take the aforesaid little Prince from this place by force; which act, in any other case than this, shouldst be a sacrilege, and an offence rievous unto Heaven'
”'What! tellest thou me that Gloucester dare to take froe there?' I cried
”'Indeed, madam, he surely will,' replied the Cardinal
”'And wilt thou, a Cardinal, permit such an insult to a house of God?'
I asked
”'Ah! your Majesty, thou dost not understand the circumstance,' he replied, with a smile that had cost him his head, before that hue circumstance, Master Cardinal, is my son placed under, that so pernation, to take him from a Sanctuary?' I asked
”'It is this,' he replied 'Your son, the Duke of York, is of too tender years to be, and in fact is not, guilty of any offence