The Star of Lancaster - Plaidy Jean (читать книги онлайн полные версии txt) 📗

for that was what she had wanted.

It took his mind from his desolation to plan the grand funeral she should have, just as it had Richard's when he buried his Queen.

When it was over he must give thought to his family.

The children had all been together, cared for by their loving mother. Now he must make other plans for their future. He would be with them when he could but the political situation was such that it demanded his constant attention.

He was considering very carefully what must be done for the motherless boys and girls.

THE FORGET-ME-NOT

The children were now in the charge of Mary Hervey and Joan Waring and they lived mainly at Kenilworth and when that castle needed sweetening, they moved for a while to Tut-bury. Life went on for them very much in the same way as before their mother's death, but they missed her sorely. Blanche could not remember her of course, but all the boys did, even three year old Humphrey. As for Harry he was sobered for a while. He was seven and old for his years. He felt that in the absence of his father he was head of the family and his ascendancy over his brothers seemed stronger than ever.

He missed her more than Mary and Joan would have believed; and at times he was quiet and rather sad thinking of her. He remembered what she had said to him and he realized that she knew then that she was dying. He promised himself he would try to do what she wanted and in consequence took up a protective attitude towards his brothers.

In the winter of the following year he caught a chill and became so ill that everyone thought he was going to die. His father in an agony of apprehension had the best doctors sent down from London and very soon Harry was surprising them by his determination to live. His health began to improve and he would lie in his bed listening to the songs of Wilkin

Walkin, the minstrel whom their father had sent to them to teach them to sing. They were fond of music because their mother had always seen that there was plenty of it in the household. There were lessons with Mary Hervey and games with his brothers; he commanded them and tolerated his sisters and so life passed during the first year after his mother's death but none knew more than Harry that it would not remain as it was.

Henry was becoming more and more preoccupied with the country's affairs. Moreover, the King had gone to Ireland to attempt to sort out the troubles there and John of Gaunt went to Aquitaine with the same purpose in mind. This threw responsibilities on Henry, for the King had made him a member of the Council which ruled during his absence; and as his father was out of the country it was Henry's task to look after the Lancastrian estates.

Richard and John of Gaunt returned to England; and that year, the second after Mary's death, two important marriages took place in England.

John of Gaunt snapped his fingers at convention and did what he had wanted to do for a long time and that was marry Catherine Swynford. There were some members of the nobility who were horrified at this, but there were many who applauded it and thought the better of John of Gaunt for making Catherine his wife.

The King was one who approved of the match. He had always liked Catherine; moreover he was completely reconciled to his uncle Lancaster and as he relied on the advice the latter gave him, he was eager to please him. So not only did he show his approval of the match by receiving Catherine as the new Duchess, but he set his seal on it and won her eternal gratitude by legitimizing her children, the Beauforts, which next to marriage with the Duke was her dearest wish.

Henry was pleased. He had always looked upon Catherine as his stepmother and the Beauforts as his brothers. Now they were legally so.

The other marriage was that of Richard himself. Dearly as he had loved Anne he wanted to please his counsellors by marrying again, but he chose Isabella, the daughter of the King of France, much to the consternation of those about him, for Isabella was a child not quite ten years old. Perfect wife as she had been, Anne had failed in one respect. She had

not provided an heir to the throne. It seemed the utmost folly therefore for Richard, the main purpose of whose marriage should be the begetting of children, to marry a child who would not be ready for childbearing for some four years at the earliest.

The inference was that Richard did not greatly care for women, and he did not w^ant to replace Anne; and that the thought of a child wife who could be brought up in English ways and make no marital demands suited him very well.

Both John of Gaunt and Henry accompanied the King to France for the royal marriage. As Duchess of Lancaster Catherine Swynford was one of the ladies who would attend the new Queen, as were Mary's sister Eleanor and the Countess of Arundel. This Countess was Philippa, daughter of the Earl of March and therefore granddaughter of John of Gaunt's elder brother Lionel. She was very conscious of her royal blood and wished everyone about her to be.

Eleanor and Philippa created a sensation by their rudeness to Catherine and although the latter behaved as though she had failed to notice their bad manners, John of Gaunt was furious and determined to make them pay at some time for the insult.

There were however matters to occupy them other than this, and Lancaster was very eager that his son should understand the significance of what was happening.

'What can this marriage of Richard's mean?' he asked. 'Obviously that there can be no heir to the throne for years. Anne could not get one either. The fault may have lain with Richard. The fact that he has chosen this marriage may be a key to the situation. But think what it means, Henry. When he dies who will follow him?'

'Lionel's heirs ...'

John of Gaunt snapped his fingers. 'Too remote,' he said. 'You stand well in line, Henry.'

1 am the same age as Richard and he seems in good health.'

*He is unpredictable. At one time he showed signs of becoming a great King. He stood up to the rebels at Blackheath and Smithfield. He was a hero then. But where is the hero now? He faced the rebels because he did not realize what danger he was in. He was a child then. It worked, but it might easily not have done and then instead of a heroic act it would have been judged as one of folly. I see great events looming,

Henry, and I want you to be prepared when they come. No more travels. You must stay near home. You must defend our estates. You must see that when the time comes you are at hand.'

So when they returned to England Henry abandoned all thought of further travel and kept a watchful eye on what was happening about the King. There was peace with France but instead of easing the situation this seemed to aggravate it. The people were still complaining about the heavy taxes which were levied on them; and now that there was peace with France—if only temporary—for what reason did the exchequer need so much money? The answer was clear. Their King lived most extravagantly; he was constantly giving lavish banquets and entertainments to his friends; large sums were spent on his clothes which were bedecked with valuable jewels; the fact was that the people were expected to pay heavily for the upkeep of a Court which was far too luxurious to be paid for without their support.

Would Richard never learn? wondered John of Gaunt. There was trouble brewing.

Richard was aware that revolt was in the air; he knew that the leaders of it were his uncle Thomas of Gloucester, and the Earls of Arundel and Warwick. He decided to act and for once did so promptly. He invited them all to a banquet, his intention being to arrest them when they came. Gloucester and Arundel scented danger and did not appear. Warwick came and was arrested. But Warwick was of less importance than the other two and he was sent to the Tower where he remained. Arundel was lured to London, arrested on a charge of treason and John of Gaunt, as Seneschal of England, presided at his trial and sentenced him to death with some relish as he remembered the insults he had thrown at Catherine.