Within these privileged precincts only two persons had as yet been admitted—the Archbishop of Canterbury and the newly-made Lord Protector. In his quality of grand chamberlain, Hertford stood on the right of the king, bearing the wand of office, while the primate occupied a place on the left.
It was a moment of intense excitement to the young king, whose breast was filled with emotions such as he had never before experienced; but though much agitated internally, he maintained an outward appearance of composure, and performed the new and difficult part he was required to enact in a manner than won him universal admiration. Once or twice he glanced at his uncle, the lord protector, somewhat timidly, wishing Sir Thomas Seymour were in his place, but Hertford’s bland and courtier-like manner quickly reassured him. Edward’s face was flushed, and his eyes unusually brilliant, for his pulse beat fast; and though his deportment might want the majesty that years alone can impart, it had something in finitely more charming in the almost child-like grace of the young monarch, and in the sweetness and simplicity of his looks.
The queen-dowager, who, surrounded by her ladies of honor—the Marchioness of Dorset, the Countess of Hertford, Lady Herbert, Lady Tyrwhitt, and others—sat beneath a lesser canopy on the right side of the room, regarded him with almost maternal pride and affection. The widowed queen had been summoned from the privacy to which she had retired on the demise of her royal husband, and was now lodged within the Tower.
All needful preliminaries having been gone through, the whole of the council, headed by the lord chancellor, entered the reserved space, and passing one by one before Edward, who arose to receive them, knelt down, kissed the youthful sovereign’s hand, and vowed allegiance to him. Such a ceremony must be always interesting, but it was never perhaps more interesting than on the present occasion, when the extreme youth and beauty of the monarch lent it a peculiar charm.
As Sir Thomas Seymour approached, Edward, who had not hitherto spoken, observed with a smile:
“You have already vowed fidelity to me, gentle uncle.”
“Gramercy for the reminder, my gracious liege,” replied Seymour. “Yet shall not that vow, which I will most religiously keep, prevent me from taking the oath of allegiance from subject to sovereign.” And kneeling down, he went through the ceremony like the others, but with even more fervor.
The whole of the council having thus sworn fidelity to the king, the lord chancellor advanced, and making a profound obeisance to Edward, informed him, in a voice distinctly audible throughout the whole of the vast and crowded chamber, that they had unanimously elected the Earl of Hertford to be lord protector.
“You have done well,” replied Edward. “I approve the council’s choice. But you have more to say. Proceed, my lord.”
“Considering the tender years of your Highness,” rejoined Wriothesley, “we have deemed it expedient to appoint a governor of your royal person during your nonage.”
“I am right glad of it,” said Edward, fixing his eye upon Sir Thomas Seymour. “And you have chosen—”
“As your Majesty will naturally anticipate, we have chosen the Earl of Hertford for your governor,” replied Wriothesley.
“How?” exclaimed Edward, unable to conceal his disappointment. “Marry, this is not what I expected!”
“Does not our choice give your Highness satisfaction?” inquired the lord chancellor, with secret malice. “The Earl of Hertford is your uncle.”
“But I have another uncle,” cried Edward, with much vivacity. “Marry, you should have chosen him.”
“By my life, the boy is his father’s true son,” whispered Sir John Gage to Seymour; “he will have you for governor.”
“He will, if they will let him have his way,” replied Sir Thomas, doubtfully.
“And he will have it, if he holds firm,” rejoined the constable.
Several of the upper council had exchanged looks at the vivacious expression of the young king’s sentiments and inclinations, and seemed shaken in their resolve. Seymour began to think his grand point was gained. The lord protector looked uneasy, but Cranmer came to the rescue.
“I can easily understand your Highness’s preference of your younger uncle,” observed the primate to the young king; “but age, experience, and I may add high station, render the Earl of Hertford the more suitable of the two to be your governor.”