In the Days of Queen Elizabeth Read online

  CHAPTER III

  A BOY KING

  The queen did all in her power for the little offender, but it was awhole year before she was again allowed to come to court. There was warin France, and the king sailed away in his ship with its sails of clothof gold, apparently forgetting all about the little daughter whom hehad left without a word of farewell. The child dared not write him, butshe wrote the queen a grateful little Italian letter. "I feel bound notonly to be obedient to you," she said, "but also to look up to you withfilial love, and chiefly because I learn that you, most illustriousHighness, never forget me in your letters to his Majesty, the king."Then she begged the queen when writing the king, always to speak ofher. "Commend me to him with my continual prayer that he will give mehis kind blessing," pleaded the anxious child.

  After keeping his anger for a whole year, the king finally deignedto send his blessing to "all" his children. The poor little girl wascomforted, and made so happy by this tardy forgiveness that she castgratefully about her to see what she could do to show her gratitude tothe kind stepmother who had done so much to appease his wrath. She knewof a little French book that was a favorite of the queen's, and thisshe translated into English and sent to her. The cover was embroideredin blue and silver, and there was a quaint little dedication sayingthat she knew nothing in it "was done as it should have been." It isno wonder that the grateful child became a great favorite with herkind-hearted stepmother.

  Henry was successful in France; England had been well governed by thequeen during his absence; he was on good terms with all his family;and although there had been a visitation of the plague, his childrenwere safe. It was probably at this happy time that a large picturewas painted of Henry, his three children, and the mother of Edward.The king sits on a kind of dais with Jane Seymour beside him. He isgorgeous in scarlet and gold brocade, and his two daughters arealmost equally dazzling in their crimson velvet and cloth of gold.The precious little prince stands at his father's right hand, and theking's arm is thrown around the child's neck. Both king and prince wearvelvet caps, each with a long white plume. Gold chains and rubies andpearls are everywhere.

  Queen Katherine does not appear in the picture, but she had a stronghold on the daily lives of the royal family. She saw to it that sofar as lay in her power the neglected elder daughter should havethe position that belonged to her. Princess as she was, Mary neverhad after her mother's divorce an allowance half large enough to dowhat was expected of her, but now she was helped in many ways by thethoughtful stepmother. The queen would send a handsome gown or agenerous gift of money, or she would arrange to pension off some aged,helpless servant of Mary's, and so lessen the demands upon the girl'sslender purse. She was little older than the princess, but she showed amotherly watchfulness of Mary's interests.

  No less thoughtful was she of the training of her younger stepchildren.It was the fashion for young people of rank to be highly educated,especially in the languages, and if half the reports of the knowledgeacquired by the two children are true, they must have been wonderfullyindustrious students. One who knew them well declared that they calledfor their books as soon as it was light. First came the reading ofthe Scriptures, then breakfast, and after that the study of variouslanguages. When the long hours of work were over, the little prince wasallowed to exercise in the open air, while Elizabeth "betook herselfto her lute or viol, and when wearied with these, employed her time inneedle-work." Four or five modern languages this industrious princesslearned to speak and write. She had some knowledge of Greek, and shespoke Latin almost as easily as English. A little book in which shewrote her Italian exercises is still in existence. They are wellwritten, but there are mistakes enough to show that even a princessdoes not learn a language without hard work.

  Both children had a great admiration for Queen Katherine, and whatevershe did was right in their eyes. Edward seems to have had as hard atime learning to write as any child of to-day, and he sent a letter tothe queen about his troubles. "When I see your beautiful handwriting,"says the discouraged little boy, "I am sick of writing. But then Ithink how kind your nature is, and that whatever proceeds from a goodmind and intention will be acceptable, and so I write you this letter."

  The gentle boy, not yet nine years old, was soon to be put forward torepresent the king. Henry had grown so enormously stout that he couldnot climb the stairs. After a while he could no longer even walk abouthis room, and he had to be moved in a rolling chair. Commissioners fromthe king of France were coming to England to arrange terms of peace.The king ordered his son to take his place.

  "Your Majesty," reported the officer in whose charge the child hadbeen, "truly, never was there a prince of such courtesy and amiability.His Grace rode on the charger most gallantly, and led the two thousandknights and nobles with as much of ease and stateliness of demeanor asif he had been forty years of age."

  "And did he speak as he was taught?" asked the king.

  "Surely, your Majesty, and with such grace and sovereignty in hismanner that men were affected even to tears."

  "And what said the admiral?"

  "I verily believe, your Highness, that he would have caught up theprince's Grace and clasped him to his breast had it not been for thedignity of his Grace's manner and bearing. He put his arm about theneck of his Grace, but it was a kiss of affection and not of state thathe gave."

  "And after that?"

  "After the speech of welcome, my lord prince again took the head of thecavalcade. Never before the time of your Majesty have they been handledby such a leader. He led the French away from the Heath to meet yourHighness's gracious welcome at the palace."

  The boy was not spoiled by all this honor and praise, but wentwillingly away from the glories of the court to stay with his belovedsister Elizabeth. Less than a year were they together, and then it wasthought best for them to be separated. Edward was but a lonely littlechild in spite of his stateliness when on the great charger, and hegrieved so for his sister that she wrote to him suggesting that theywrite frequent letters to each other. The boy caught eagerly at theidea. "Nothing can now occur to me more grateful than your letters,"he wrote in the prim, stilted fashion of the day, and he added, "Itis a comfort to my regret that I hope shortly to see you again ifno accident intervenes." He did see her again before many weeks hadpassed, for there was news to tell which the councilors wished bothchildren to hear.

  King Henry had been growing more and more feeble. For some time beforehis death, it was so difficult for him to sign his name that three men,acting together, were given the right to do it for him. Two made animpression of his signature with a dry stamp, and the third traced theletters with ink. Henry grew no less bitter in his enmity to all whoopposed him, and one of his last acts was to order the execution of hisaunt's husband.

  One winter day two men galloped swiftly over the road to the palacewhich was then the home of Edward.

  "Inform his Highness that the Duke of Somerset and Sir Anthony Brownawait his pleasure," was the message brought to the prince. The Dukeof Somerset was Edward's mother's brother, and he went eagerly to meethis guests.

  "I rejoice that you bring me word of his Majesty," said the boy. "Is itnot yet his will that I should come to him?"

  "Your Grace," answered the Duke, "his Majesty sent no such message,but he would that you go with us to the home of her Grace, the LadyElizabeth." The prince did not question a command that was so inaccordance with his wishes, and they set off on horseback.

  When the children were together, the duke bowed low before the boy often years, his own nephew, and said:--

  "Your Majesty, graciously permit your faithful servants to kiss yourhand and to promise you their humblest obedience both now and ever. Agrievous duty is it, indeed, to declare to you that our illustriousking, Henry VIII., no more governs this realm of England. There iscomfort for his sorrowing subjects in the thought that he has left usso noble and gracious a prince to rule us in his stead."

  Edward had known nothing but kindness from his
father, and now thatthe king was dead, Elizabeth no longer remembered what he had madeher suffer. Edward forgot that he was a king, and the children threwthemselves into each other's arms and sobbed and cried until those whowere about them wept for sympathy.

  Now the king had died three days before, but lest there should be someinsurrection or an attempt to put Mary on the throne, the Duke ofSomerset and others who meant to be the real rulers of the reign ofEdward kept the news of his death a secret until they could get theyoung king safely into their hands and could establish the governmentin his name. Edward was conducted to the royal apartments in theTower of London with an honorable escort of troops and nobles. Therewas great blowing of trumpets and waving of banners, and the boy wasproclaimed king of England, France, and Ireland, and supreme head ofthe church in England and Ireland. A few weeks later the coronationtook place, and then there was a rejoicing indeed. The streets throughwhich the young king rode were hung with tapestry and banners. Here andthere booths, or stages had been built, and in them all sorts of gamesand plays were carried on to amuse the people. A rope was stretchedfrom the steeple of St. Paul's church and fastened firmly to a greatanchor lying on the ground. An acrobat contrived to creep halfway upthis rope, "aided neither by hand nor by foot," the old account says.Then he performed many feats in mid-air, "whereat," as the story putsit, "king and nobles had good pastime."

  There was no longer a cruel king on the throne, but a child who isdescribed as a marvel of goodness and learning. He is praised not onlyfor his ability to speak different languages, but for his knowledge ofgeography. One of the historians of the day said that he could reciteall the harbors and creeks in England, France, and Scotland, and couldtell what kind of entrance there was in each for ships, and even whichtides and winds were most favorable. It was claimed, too, that he knewthe names of all the men of authority in his kingdom, where their homeswere, and what their religion was.

  This matter of religion was dividing the kingdom. Henry had calledhimself a Catholic, but he would not admit the Pope's authority.Edward and Elizabeth had been brought up in their father's belief. TheDuke of Somerset was one of the men chosen to carry out Henry's will,and he was so decided a Protestant that he was almost as determinedto make every one accept the Protestant faith as Henry had been tomake all his people agree with himself. In spite of all King Henry'sdeclarations that neither Mary nor Elizabeth should ever wear thecrown, he had finally willed that it should descend first to Edward,then to Mary and then to Elizabeth. The Catholics were eager to haveMary come to the throne, because she was of their own faith; but theDuke of Somerset had been chosen Protector, that is, he was really togovern the kingdom until Edward was old enough to rule, and he meant tooblige the people to become Protestants.

  There was even more scheming going on around the boy king, forhis councilors were already planning for his marriage. A littlefive-year-old girl in Scotland was the one whose hand they meant tosecure for their sovereign. Her name was Mary, and she was the Queen ofScots. This plan had been one of King Henry's favorite schemes, but ithad never pleased the Scotch. The Protector led an army against them,a most remarkable fashion of winning a bride for the young king, butthe Scotch would not yield.

  "What greater honor do you expect for the queen?" demanded the Englishcouncil. "How can Scotland gain more sure protection than that of theking of England?" The Scotch knew very well that if Edward marriedMary, it would be for the purpose of gaining a surer control ofScotland, and they refused in spite of the Duke of Somerset and all hisarmy. They betrothed the little queen to the son of the French king,and sent her to France to be educated. "The Scotch are a perverse andwilful people," then said the English.

  Besides the difficulty in gaining a wife for the king and the religiouspersecutions, there was trouble from other causes, especially among thepoor. Part of this arose from what was called "enclosing." On everygreat estate there had always been land that the poor people livingon the estate could use as a common pasture for their cows. The richlandowners were beginning to "enclose," or fence in these tracts ofland and to use them either for private parks or for sheep pastures.The poor had no longer any way to feed their animals, and they werein great distress. Somerset tried to forbid this enclosing, but theowners of land were too powerful for him, and the enclosing went on inspite of the strictest laws against it. Indeed, the laws caused a newdifficulty, for now that the poor people had a decree in their favor,they revolted in several districts, and tried to seize the land. Awriter who lived in those times says, "The poor people swarmed in therealm."

  Of course when there were revolts, Somerset was obliged to suppressthem, no matter how much he sympathized with the revolters, and oftenaccused men were punished with little effort to make sure of theirguilt. It is said that a miller who had been a revolter suspectedthat he was in danger, and said to his servant, "I must go away onbusiness. If anyone asks for me say that you are the miller and haveowned the mill these three years." The king's officer came as themiller feared. "Are you the miller?" he demanded. "Surely," replied theservant proudly. "The mill has been mine for three full years." "Youhave been a busy rebel," declared the officer, "and now you shall behanged to the nearest tree." "Indeed, I'm not the miller, but only hisman," cried the frightened servant. "The man tells two tales, hang himup," bade the officer. A little later one who knew the miller said,"Truly, he was not the miller, he was but the miller's man." "Then hashe proved a good servant," declared the officer contentedly, "for howcould he have done his master better service than by hanging for him?"

  The nobles were angry at Somerset's attempt to prevent enclosing, andthey were indignant that he should have so much power. The result wasthat he was accused of treason and the Duke of Northumberland becameProtector.

  Although all these acts were done in the name of Edward, the boy kinghad really very little freedom. "He is not alone half a quarter of anhour," said one who knew of his life. When he first became king, hewrote to Mary, "I will be to you a dearest brother and overflowing withall kindness;" but he was taught by Somerset and others that it was adanger to the kingdom to allow his sister to remain a Catholic. Whenhe had been on the throne for about three years, she was summoned tocourt.

  "Your Highness," said the chamberlain to Edward, "I have to announcethe arrival of her Grace, the Princess Mary."

  "Give welcome to her and her train," said the young monarch, "andsay that it is my will and that of my councilors to receive herstraightway." This visit was not for the pleasure of meeting herbrother, though they greeted each other most cordially. The royalcouncil was sitting in another room, and there she was summoned.

  "Your Grace," said the councilors, "is it true that, contrary to thewishes of his Majesty the king, mass is still said daily in your house?"

  "It is true," answered Mary, "that the worship of God is carried on inmy house in such wise as I do firmly believe is most pleasing to him."

  "There is then no hope of your Grace's amendment shortly?"

  "None, my lord."

  "It is the will of his Majesty, who is supreme head of the church inEngland, that the mass should be no longer celebrated in his realm.It becomes the duty of all that owe him allegiance to obey. It is hisMajesty's command that you obey as a subject, attempting not to rule asa sovereign."

  "I will neither change my faith nor conceal that which is my trueopinion," declared the princess, "and in testimony of my belief I amready to lay my head upon the block for the truth, though I am unworthyto suffer death in so good a cause."

  Mary soon left the palace. Letters bidding her give up her religioncame from the king, but the elder sister replied:--

  "They may be signed with your own name, but they cannot be really yourown, for it is not possible that your Highness can at these years bea judge in matters of religion, and by the doings of certain of yourcouncilors I mean not to rule my conscience."

  With his councilors telling him how dangerous it was to the peace ofthe kingdom for Mary to be allowed to practise a f
orm of religion thatwas contrary to the law, the brother and sister can hardly have beenvery happy together, and their meetings grew further apart.

  Elizabeth was living quietly in her own house, spending most of hertime in study. The boy king was hardly more than a toy in the hands ofhis councilors. Somerset was finally condemned to death, but when hewrote to Elizabeth and begged her to appeal to the king and save hislife, Elizabeth was obliged to answer:--

  "The king is surrounded by those who take good care to keep me awayfrom him, and I can no more gain access to his Majesty than you can."

  The one who was keeping Elizabeth from her brother was the newProtector, the Duke of Northumberland. Edward became ill, and everyoneknew that his life would be short. Elizabeth tried to visit him, butwas prevented. Then she wrote him a letter, but it is not probable thathe ever saw it. Northumberland was in power, and he did not mean thateither Mary or Elizabeth should wear the English crown; he had quiteanother plan in his mind.