The Constable of the Tower by W. Harrison Ainsworth

After some preliminary proceedings, the king arose, and turning towards the lord protector, said, with much dignity:

“In pursuance of our dear father’s directions, whose latest wish it was to reward those who had served him well and faithfully, it is our sovereign will and pleasure, not only to add to the number of our peers by certain new creations, but further to honor and elevate some who are already ennobled, and whose exalted merits entitle them to such distinction. We will commence with our dearly-beloved uncle, Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, lord protector of the realm, and governor of our person, whom we hereby create Duke of Somerset, and appoint to be Lieutenant-General of all our armies both by land and sea, Lord High Treasurer and Earl Marshal of England, and Governor of the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey.”

“Most humbly do I thank your Majesty,” said the newly-made duke, bending the knee before his royal nephew, while the chamber rang with acclamations.

“Arise, your Grace,” said Edward. “We cannot linger in a task so agreeable to us. My Lord of Essex,” he added to that nobleman, “you are created Marquis of Northampton—my Lord Lisle, you are now Earl of Warwick, with the office of Lord Great Chamberlain—Lord Chancellor Wriothesley, you are henceforth Earl of Southampton—Sir Richard Rich, you are made Lord Rich—Sir William Willoughby, you are Baron Willoughby of Parham—Sir Edmund Sheffield, you are Baron Sheffield of Buttonwick—and you, our entirely beloved uncle, Sir Thomas Seymour, are created Baron Seymour of Sudley, with the office of Lord High Admiral of England. To these titles it is our design to add ample revenues, to accrue from sources which we shall hereafter point out, so that the honors bestowed by our much-lamented father upon his faithful servants may not be barren honors.”

At the close of this gracious address, which was delivered with great dignity, another burst of approbation rose from the assemblage. One after the other the newly-created peers, and those who had gained additional rank, then bent the knee before the throne, and thanked the young monarch for his goodness towards them. As Lord Seymour of Sudley knelt to his royal nephew, Edward said to him, “Are you content, gentle uncle?”

“I am honored more than I deserve, sire,” replied Seymour; “but I should have been better pleased with some office which would have enabled me more completely to manifest my attachment and devotion to you.”

“Such as the governorship of our person during our nonage?” observed Edward, with a smile. “Perhaps we may induce our elder uncle to resign the post to you. What says your Highness?” he added to the lord protector. “Shall not Lord Seymour be our governor?”

“It grieves me that I cannot comply with your Majesty’s request,” replied Somerset.

“Wherefore not, good uncle?” rejoined the king. “Methinks we have showered favors enow upon your head to merit some slight return. Be good-natured, we pray you, and concede the matter?”

“I cannot resign an office conferred upon me by the council, even if I chose to do so,” observed Somerset.

“Say frankly you do not choose, brother,” cried Seymour, impatiently.

“Frankly, then, I do not,” rejoined the duke. “Were I even called upon to resign, I should protest against your appointment, for I do not deem you a fitting person to have charge of his majesty.”

“Enough, your Highness,” interposed Edward. “We will not pursue this matter further. A time will come when we can choose for ourselves those we would have for directors and advisers. Meantime, we submit to the will of the council.”

“The council will soon have but little authority,” muttered Seymour. “Unless I am greatly mistaken, it will speedily be bereft of all power.”

Meanwhile, the greater part of the assemblage had departed, the members only of the two councils being left. The doors were then closed, upon which the lord protector thus spoke:

“Before we separate, my lords, it is necessary that I should point out to you a difficulty in which I am placed, and to ask your aid to remedy it. Doubts have been expressed whether you, as the council, have power to appoint a protector; and the ambassadors of France and Germany have declared to me in private that they could not treat with me while there was any chance of my authority being disputed. To remedy this defect, and make matters sure, I now demand letters-patent from his majesty under the great seal, confirming my authority as Protector of the Realm, and Governor of the royal Person.”