“Note her slightest word and look when thou speakest of me, Ugo, and report them.”
“You shall have every blush, every downcast look, every half-sigh of the divinity faithfully rendered, monsignore. ‘Tis a pity I cannot take my cittern with me, or I might sing her a love-strain which could not fail to move her. Luckily, the enchanting princess speaks Italian fluently, and if she will only encourage me, I will converse with her in that language of love, and then I shall be able to say more than I should dare utter in our rude northern tongue.”
“Go, then, and success go with thee!” cried Seymour. “Thou must reach Hertford with the escort to-night, and set forth on thy return at as early an hour to-morrow as may suit the princess. Remember, her Highness’s governess, Mistress Catherine Ashley, and the king’s preceptors are to come with thee, and make it thy business to stir up the two learned drones, that they occasion thee no needless delay.”
“It shall be done, monsignore,” replied Harrington, buckling on his rapier, and attaching the poniard to his girdle. Throwing his mantle over his shoulder, he then followed his patron out of the chamber.
An escort of some five-and-twenty well-mounted arquebusiers was quickly provided by Seymour, who at the same time ordered his own charger to be saddled for Harrington. All being soon in readiness, the gallant esquire crossed the stone bridge at the head of his troops, rode forth from the Bulwark Gate, and took his way towards Hertford, accomplishing the distance, about one-and-twenty miles, in less than three hours, which, in those days, and in the winter season, was not bad travelling.
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Chapter VIII
HOW XIT WAS APPOINTED THE KING’S DWARF; AND HOW OG, GOG, AND MAGOG CRAVED A BOON OF THE KING
At noon on the day following, the youthful king, with the lord protector, and all the members of the upper and lower councils, met for deliberation within the great council chamber in the White Tower. Though Edward sat in a chair of state, and ostensibly presided over the assemblage, it was quite evident that his voice had little weight, and that the real ruler was Hertford. All measures were proposed by the lord protector—all questions settled by him. As a matter of form, every matter deliberated upon by the council was submitted to the throne; but the king’s advice was so asked, that the answer could only be given in the way desired by the lord protector.
Generally, the council seemed willing to act as Hertford desired, with the exception of the lord chancellor; but as yet he had merely exhibited a few symptoms of hostility, no matter having arisen of sufficient importance to justify decided opposition. Slight as they were, these indications were sufficient for the lord protector, and he resolved to be beforehand with his opponent, and to find a speedy pretext for his removal from the council.
After the main causes had been determined, two other matters were brought forward by the lord protector, which, it might naturally be presumed, would be of especial interest to the king—namely, the interment of his late royal father, and his own coronation. The former ceremonial was appointed to take place in the chapel of Saint George, in Windsor Castle, on Wednesday, the 16th of February; while the latter was fixed for February the 2Oth, the Sunday after the funeral.
Some time was occupied in discussing the arrangements of both these ceremonies. Nothing was determined upon with regard to the coronation, save that, on account of the king’s tender years, it ought to be materially abridged, while several important alterations in the forms were proposed by the Archbishop of Canterbury—but these were left for future consideration. It was decided, however, that Henry’s interment should be conducted upon a scale of unheard-of magnificence, and with all the pomp and solemnity befitting so renowned a monarch. This design was to be fully carried out, if even the exchequer should be drained by the cost.
Edward seemed comparatively indifferent to the ordering of the solemn act that was to place the crown upon his brows, but he exhibited marked anxiety that the utmost respect should be paid to the memory of his mighty father; and entirely concurred in the propriety of making due provision to give unwonted solemnity and grandeur to his interment. “As my father was the noblest and greatest of kings during his life,” he said, “so it is meet he should be borne more honorably than any other to the grave.”