The Constable of the Tower by W. Harrison Ainsworth

“On the contrary, I regret that it will be necessary to adopt measures yet stricter. No more letters must be written by your Majesty to your uncle, nor any from him be delivered. D’ye mark me?” he added to Fowler.

“Perfectly, your Highness,” replied the gentleman of the privy-chamber, bowing.

“See, then, that my injunctions are strictly obeyed,” cried Somerset, sternly.

“Why this additional severity?” inquired Edward. “What has my uncle done—what have I done, to deserve it?”

“Certain proceedings on the part of the lord admiral have given umbrage to the council,” rejoined Somerset, “and unless he attends to their admonitions it will fare hardly with him. For the present, as I have said, I must forbid all correspondence between him and your Majesty.”

“I would your Highness showed more brotherly love towards my uncle,” observed Edward.

“I show him more love than he deserves,” rejoined Somerset. “I now take my leave of your Majesty.”

And he quitted the chamber.

“By my father’s head, I will not be treated thus!” exclaimed Edward, stamping on the ground with rage. “He deems me a child, but he shall find I have the spirit of a man. I will submit to this usage no longer.”

“I am glad to hear your Majesty say so,” cried Fowler. “Maintain that bearing with him, and he must give way.”

“To tell me to my face that I must not write to my uncle,” cried Edward, pacing quickly to and fro. “But I will write—I will see him. Moreover, I will see my cousin Jane,” pursued the king, continuing to pace about. “I am more than half inclined to go to Chelsea to-day.”

“Do nothing hastily, I implore you, sire, or you may regret it,” cried Fowler. “You have much to anger you, I grant; but by acting in direct opposition to the lord protector’s commands, you will seem to justify his conduct. Wait till you have seen the lord admiral to-morrow night, and be guided by his counsel.”

“Thou art right, Fowler,” said Edward, checking himself. “I must act with prudence, or I shall damage my own cause, and give the lord protector the advantage. I will do nothing till I have seen the admiral. Meanwhile, I will prepare for him. Give me the papers that I may complete the transcript of the letter.”

With this, he again sat down to his task, and finished it without further interruption.

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Chapter XVI

HOW THE ADMIRAL PROPOSED TO LAY THE KING’S GRIEVANCES BEFORE PARLIAMENT

All the noblemen and gentlemen particularized in the admiral’s list assembled at Seymour House at noon on the following day. They were upwards of twenty in number, and included four members of the council, namely, the Marquis of Northampton—brother to the queen-dowager,—the Earl of Arundel, the venerable Lord Russell, Sir William Herbert—Seymour’s brother-in-law,—and Sir John Gage. Besides these, there were the Marquis of Dorset, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lord Clinton, Sir George Blagge, and several other noblemen and gentlemen, all the latter being members of the Lower House of Parliament. Not till all had arrived did the admiral make his appearance. His habiliments were of black velvet, and he wore the collar of the Garter round his neck. After bowing to the assemblage, he thus addressed them:

“You marvel, no doubt, why I have sent for you, my lords, but as I would do nothing unadvisedly, so I desire to consult with you, whom I know to be my friends, before taking a step, as I conceive, of the greatest importance to the welfare of the king’s majesty and the security of the state.”

“Proceed, my lord,” said Lord Clinton; “we are ready to listen to you, and when made acquainted with your intentions will give you the best advice in power.”

“I thank your lordship,” rejoined the admiral. “Thus, then, stands the matter. I need make no appeal, I am persuaded, to your loyalty and devotion to the king, for I know what your feelings are towards him, and that you are ready to manifest them in action. The time is come for such display, for I here proclaim to you, loudly and boldly, that my royal nephew is unworthily dealt with by the lord protector.”