“You are an audacious traitor, and glory in your guilt,” cried the protector. “But you have crowned your offences by obtaining a letter from the king whereby you seek to accomplish your object of supplanting me in the governorship of the royal person. But you will be balked in your design.”
“What paper hath your lordship in your hand?” demanded the Earl of Warwick of the admiral.
“A letter to the Houses of Parliament, which I myself shall deliver to-morrow. ‘Tis written by his Majesty, and signed by him, as ye may see.”
“But drawn up by yourself,” remarked Warwick. “My lord, you have done wrong.”
“In what respect?” cried the admiral, fiercely. “The king is dissatisfied with the governor of his person, and would change him.”
“Who has made him so dissatisfied?” asked Warwick.
“Not I,” rejoined the admiral. “You would seem to infer that his Majesty cannot judge for himself; that he cannot tell whether he is well or ill ordered; that he is willing to be kept in subjection, to be deprived of the society he most affects, and to be stinted in his purse. You think he cannot find out all these things without my aid. But I tell you, my Lord of Warwick, that his Majesty has found them out, and is determined to have redress, if not from you, from parliament.”
“My lord admiral, you will never deliver that letter,” observed Warwick, in a stern voice.
“Your lordship is mistaken,” rejoined Seymour.
“In the name of the council, I command you to give it up to his Highness the lord protector,” said Warwick.
“What if I refuse?” rejoined Seymour.
“We will order your immediate arrest,” said the earl.
“Sooner than surrender it to him I will destroy it,” cried the admiral, tearing the letter in pieces.
“What have you done, my lord?” cried the king, alarmed at the proceeding.
“You will destroy yourself if you go on thus, my lord,” observed Sir John Gage, in a low tone to the admiral. “The authority of the council is not to be braved with impunity.”
“I am not to be frightened, good Sir John,” rejoined Seymour, haughtily. “I fear neither the council nor the lord protector. They will not molest me.”
“I leave this arrogant and impracticable man in your hands, my lords,” said Somerset. “Act towards him as ye deem right.”
Hereupon, the members of the council deliberated together for a short space, after which the Earl of Warwick said:
“Our decision is, that the lord admiral be deprived of his offices, and be committed to the Tower to answer the grave charges which will be brought against him.”
“You cannot have so decided, my lords,” cried Edward. “Your Highness will not allow your brother, and my uncle, to be sent to the Tower.”
“I cannot interfere,” rejoined Somerset, in an inflexible tone.
“Make your submission at once, my lord, or you are lost,” said Sir John Gage, approaching the admiral, and speaking in a low voice.
“I am not in such jeopardy as you deem, Sir John,” rejoined Seymour, confidently. “Before I am removed, will your Highness grant me a word in private?” he added to the lord protector.
“I will not refuse you a hearing if you have aught to allege in your exculpation,” replied Somerset, walking apart with him.
“Now, what have you to say?” he demanded, in a low, stern tone.
“Merely that this decision of the council must be overruled,” replied the admiral.
“Must be overruled!” cried the protector, contemptuously.
“Ay, must! You will do well to pause before taking any steps against me, for the mischief you do me will recoil with double effect on your own head. If I fall, I will pluck you with me.”
“Go to! you threaten idly,” cried the protector, though with secret misgiving.
“Not so,” rejoined the admiral. “Mark well what I say, brother,” he continued, speaking very deliberately, and with stern emphasis. “I can prove that all the acts done by you and by the council are illegal and of no effect. The royal stamp was not affixed to Henry’s will during his lifetime; consequently, the instrument is wholly inoperative.”
“This is a mere assertion, and will obtain credit from no one,” cried Somerset, feigning contempt, but unable to hide his apprehension. “Its motive is too obvious.”