The Constable of the Tower by W. Harrison Ainsworth

But his exultation was quickly dashed. While traversing a corridor on his way to the Wardrobe Tower, he unexpectedly encountered the Princess Elizabeth. The princess was attended by her governess and Sir John Gage, and was in the act of quitting the Tower, an escort being in readiness for her without. Up to this moment she had looked exceedingly pale, but her cheek flushed as she met Seymour’s gaze. But she gave no other sign of emotion. Coldly returning his profound salutation, she passed proudly on, without a word.

“I would I had not beheld her at this moment. The sight of her shakes my purpose,” he exclaimed, gazing after her. “‘Tis strange how she still clings to my heart. But I must have done with this folly. ‘Tis idle to think of her more.”

And he went on. But Elizabeth’s image haunted him still.

That evening, however, the marriage took place in the manner arranged; the chaplain’s connivance and services being secured by Ugo. The queen and Lady Herbert were in Saint Peter’s Chapel; so also was Seymour, with his esquire and the Marquis of Dorset.

When all fear of intrusion or interruption was over, the ceremony was performed and the widow of Henry VIII. became the spouse of the new-made Lord Seymour of Sudley.

Close beside the altar where they were wedded were laid two of Henry’s slaughtered queens—Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Little did Seymour dream at that hour that at no distant day he would have a place beside them. Little did he dream, as he uttered his vows at the altar—vows so ill kept!—that he stood within a few paces of his own grave.

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Chapter V

HOW KING EDWARD RODE FROM THE TOWER TO THE PALACE OF WHITEHALL

Appointed for Shrove Sunday, 1547, Edward’s coronation was to be celebrated with great pomp; but divers old observances and formalities were to be discontinued, lest, as declared by the order of the council, “the tedious length of the same should weary, and be peradventure hurtsome to the king’s majesty, being yet of tender age. And also for that many points of the same are such as by the laws of the realm at this present are not allowable.” These alterations and omissions, relating chiefly to the papal supremacy, were proposed by Cranmer, and vehemently objected to by the lord chancellor, Tunstal, Bishop of Durham, the Earls of Arundel and St. John, and other adherents to the Church of Rome in the council, but after much deliberation and discussion, were eventually agreed upon. Several changes, indeed, were indispensable, since Edward was the first monarch who had assumed the crown subsequent to the throwing off of the Pope’s authority.

Unusual interest attached to the ceremony owing to Edward’s extreme youth, coupled with the circumstance of his being the first Protestant monarch who had assumed the crown. The latter circumstance led to much discussion with those of the opposite faith, and the proposed innovations were warmly discussed, but however divided the two sects might be on points of doctrine, each looked forward with interest to the young monarch’s coronation, and both were disposed to regard it as an auspicious event.

In order that the new reign might be marked by clemency, a general pardon was proclaimed, from which, however, two distinguished persons were excepted—namely, the Duke of Norfolk and Cardinal Pole; with some others of less note, as Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire, Thomas Pate, Archdeacon of Lincoln, with two gentlemen named Fortescue and Throckmorton, all of whom had been attainted of treason in the late reign. It was asserted that the lord protector feared to liberate the Duke of Norfolk, and that Cranmer had an equal dread of Pole.

Edward having announced his intention of proceeding to the palace of Whitehall on the day before his coronation, great preparations were made by the citizens to give effect to his progress. Luckily, the weather was propitious. The day was kept as a general holiday, and was ushered in by the joyous pealing of church bells, and by the discharge of cannon.

At the Tower the note of preparation was sounded betimes, and the guard of honor, with the archers and arquebusiers, appointed to attend the king, were drawn up on the green in front of the palace. Amongst the first to depart was Queen Catherine, who, with her ladies, was conveyed by water to Whitehall. The Duchess of Somerset, the Marchioness of Dorset, and others, followed in the same manner.