Several of the council immediately expressed their assent to the request, but the newly-made Earl of Southampton rose to oppose it.
“What further authority does your Highness require?” he said. “Methinks you have enough already.”
“I have explained that there is much inconvenience attendant upon mine office as at present constituted,” observed Somerset. “Its origin has been questioned, as I have told you, and this should not be—nay, it must not be. Unless I can treat independently with foreign powers, I am nothing. By his letters-patent as I propose, his majesty will give me authority to act according to my judgment and discretion for the welfare and advantage of his person and dominions.”
“In other words, he will make himself king in your stead,” whispered Seymour to Edward. “Do not grant these letters-patent.”
“But the measure you propose will deprive the council of all control,” pursued Southampton. “We may not approve your acts. I am for no further change. We have made too much concession already.”
“It was found impracticable to carry on the business of the government during his majesty’s minority without a head,” observed Sir William Paget, “and therefore the lord protector was appointed. But the office will be ineffectual if not clothed with sufficient power.”
“These are my own arguments against the appointment,” cried Southampton. “The lord protector shall not be our master. According to this scheme, he might annul all our acts, appoint his own council, set aside the late king’s will, and assume almost regal power himself.”
“Hold, my lord; you go too far,” cried Northampton. “Recollect in whose presence you stand.”
“It appears to me, my lords,” remarked the Earl of Warwick, “that we have no choice in the matter. I am not for abridging our powers, or for transferring them to the lord protector. But we must either enable him to act, or abolish the office.”
“You have put the matter rightly,” said Lord Rich. “The present discussion is a clear proof that there will be little unanimity amongst us. I would therefore beseech his majesty’s gracious compliance with the lord protector’s request.”
“I add my voice to yours,” said Lord Northampton.
“And so do we,” cried several others.
“What says his Grace of Canterbury?” demanded the king.
“I meddle not with secular matters,” replied the primate; “but it seems that the lord chancellor’s objections to the additional power to be conferred upon the lord protector are ill grounded, and that your Majesty will do well to accede to the expressed wishes of the majority of the council.”
“There is only one dissentient voice, that of Lord Southampton himself,” observed Sir William Paget. “But I trust he will withdraw his opposition.”
“Never!” cried Southampton. “I foresaw this danger from the first, and was therefore averse to the appointment. Such an extension of power is not only pernicious in itself, but in express violation of the late king’s will. I implore his Majesty to hesitate ere yielding compliance with the suggestion.”
“The lord chancellor is looked upon as the head of the Romish party,” observed Cranmer, in a low voice to the king. “He evidently fears that the lord protector will use the additional power he may acquire in the repression of Papacy. Your Majesty will do well not to listen to him.”
“We thank your Grace for the hint,” rejoined Edward. “Your Highness shall have the letters-patent,” he added to the lord protector. “Let them be prepared without delay,” he continued to Paget.
Soon after this the council broke up, and as the lord protector departed with his royal nephew, he cast a triumphant glance at his discomfited adversary, who replied by a look full of scorn and defiance.
“That man must be removed—and quickly,” thought Somerset. “He is dangerous.”
On his return to the palace, the king was attended by Lord Seymour, whom he held in converse, so as to keep him by his side, much to the annoyance of the lord protector, who was obliged to follow with the Earl of Warwick.
As they were proceeding in this manner, Edward remarked, somewhat abruptly, “Have you any thought of marriage, gentle uncle?”
“If I might venture so to reply, I would inquire why your Majesty puts the question?” rejoined Seymour, surprised.
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