THE FLIGHT FROM THE PALACE
Hazel was with Mary in their own apartments when she received word that
a messenger desired to see her.
"Bid him give thee the message, and do thou bring it here," said Hazel.
The servant went out, but soon returned. "The soldier, madam, doth
refuse to put the packet into other hands than thine," said the maid.
"What may this mean?" thought Hazel. "Surely this must be of vast
importance," said she to Mary.
"Mayhap 'tis best that thou shouldst see him," said Mary.
The two maids walked down the passage to where the man was standing,
cap in hand, and as motionless as a pile of armour. However, when he
saw the ladies approaching he started forward and, dropping on one
knee, he handed the packet to the proper maid, though how he knew her I
cannot understand. But then those fellows about the Palace have naught
to do but learn who people are and all about them.
"Here is a gold piece for thee," said Hazel, as she reached it toward
him.
"No, yer ladyship," he replied, "Oi thank thee much fer thoine offer;
but moy master hath alridy given me so much o' the pricious stuff that
it's thinkin' Oi am to know what to do with it." With this he saluted
them smartly and walked away.
"What is it, Hazel?" asked Mary, when Michael was gone.
Hazel, however, was so deeply engaged with the reading of my letter
that she did not hear her companion; so Mary leaned on her friend's
shoulder, and read it for herself.
Neither said anything until they had read twice what was writ. "What
can it all mean?" asked Mary, at last. Then she read aloud, as though
the sound of her voice might make the meaning clearer, as it sometimes
doth.
"Hush!" said Hazel, as she put her hand over her friend's mouth; "dost
thou not see that he commands me to keep this most secret? Come, let
us to the Queen, and tell her all."
So they went to her Majesty's apartments; she was talking with her
daughter Elizabeth when they entered. "What causes thee to look so
troubled, Hazel?" asked the Queen, the moment that they had entered;
for my dear girl was badly frightened by the contents of my note.
"I have just received a letter which is of great import to thee,"
answered the maiden; and she handed the Queen the open packet; for her
fear had robbed her of any bashfulness she might have felt in having
her Majesty see the manner in which I did address her.
The Queen read and reread the letter through, from first to last. At
length she seemed to realize the terrible meaning of it all. "Oh! that
accursed, hump-back knave, to dare to lift his hand against those which
guard and protect the King! No peace shall I now have. He will not
stop with Rivers. I shall be the next to feel his tyranny. But I will
match him yet!" she cried.
"Send for my son, the Marquis of Dorset," said she, as her eyes flashed
and her face became as though carved from marble.
When Dorset arrived, and heard from his mother what had happened to his
uncle and his brother, he showed his anger less; but in his cold grey
eyes, and firm cut mouth, one might read even greater determination
than his mother possessed together with all her quickness of perception.
"Methinks, mother," said he at length, "that thou hadst best leave the
Palace, and take refuge in the Sanctuary yonder. Take with thee my
dear sisters and our little Prince. Whilst he is not in the power of
the boar young Edward shall be safe."
"You counsel well, my son," replied the Queen. "Let us then make
haste, and be in safety ere the traitorous cur arrives. Girls, ye must
accompany us. Go and make ready, with all expediency, for in haste
alone now lies our safety." This latter she addressed to Hazel and
Mary, who had remained in the room whilst these things were taking
place.
"Oh, Richard," said the Queen, as though he were there before her,
"thou shalt suffer for this act of thine! Thou thinkest that by taking
from the King the only man in England capable of training his gentle
mind in the properest course thou shalt be able to infuse thy murderous
thoughts into this helpless innocent, and so use him to thy profit.
The curse of poor old Margaret is now falling upon me, and her prophecy
is coming true. But yet," she added, as though to herself, "she cursed
him also. Oh, why hath not her curses first fallen upon him; I never
did her wrong. Ah, yes, this is my punishment for having caused poor
Clarence's death. Would to God it had been this limping dog that I had
asked for, dead. Then all should have been well. Clarence was gentle,
and never did me harm. 'Tis indeed God's curse for my climbing to
great heights upon the necks of others that has now fallen upon my
head, and bent it low. Where I have stepped on others, now others step
on me. It is just, oh Lord, it is just. But oh! merciful Father,"
cried she, as her spirit began to give way, "let all thy wrath fall
upon me; for I am the guilty one. Let not the jealousy of Richard
bring harm unto others than me. I am to blame, and I alone should
suffer." As she finished this speech she stood erect, her face turned
heavenward, and her arms upraised in entreaty. As she stood thus her
noble form lost none of that queenly dignity which must ever have
marked her as a Queen among women.
[Illustration: "I am to blame, and I alone should suffer."]
"Come, come, mother, thou must not give way thus. Gloucester would
rejoice indeed, if he knew that he had so affected thee," said Dorset,
as he advanced and put his arm around his mother's neck, and patted her
tenderly upon the shoulder. "Besides," he continued, gently, as he led
her to the window, "we are losing valuable time. We know not when
Gloucester may arrive; and when he does, it is then too late for thee
to leave the Palace."
"Thou art right, my son," said her Majesty. "Indeed 'tis weakness in
me to thus give way. All mine energies must now be set aworking, that
I may cause that traitor's downfall." As she spoke she walked rapidly
to a door leading to some of her servant's quarters. This she opened,
and called within:--"What ho! Jane!" Then as some one made answer,
she continued:--"Have all my belongings put into boxes at once; all my
jewels carefully put together in their case. All things must be in
readiness within the hour."
"It shall be done, your Majesty," came from the inner room.
The girls then hastened to their apartments, to get their belongings in
readiness for their departure; whilst Dorset went to give orders to his
following to be prepared to escort her Majesty.
Within the time specified by the Queen all arrangements had been
completed, and they were ready to cross over to the Sanctuary.
Though the distance is short--in fact, the two buildings join--yet they
were escorted by a body of armed men. Hazel told me after that they
looked more like Queen Margaret going to battle, in the time of
Warwick, than the good Queen Elizabeth on her way unto a Sanctuary.
The little Duke of York laughed and chatted as they were collecting his
toy weapons. "Wait, Lady Hazel, until I grow up and am a man, and can
hold a lance in rest. Then I will ride a tourney; and when I am
proclaimed the champion of the day I shall make thee my Queen of
Beauty, and thou shalt put a wreath upon my head. Oh, thou needst not
laugh!" he cried, as Hazel smiled at this confident young gentleman;
"remember, I shall soon be old enough to wear mine armour, and break a
lance; I'm nearly nine already," he added, as he straightened his
little body, and threw back his head with as bold a toss as could any
old champion produce.
"And wilt thou not make me thy Queen of Beauty?" asked Mary, as though
she did feel the slight.
"Now come, Lady Mary, do not be cross with me; I'll make thee a Queen
of Beauty too; for I shall ride lots of tourneys, and be the champion
every time. Uncle of Gloucester is going to teach me how to hold my
lance, that I can dismount a knight; so I cannot be other than a great
champion, when I have such a teacher; for ye know uncle of Gloucester
is the greatest lance in the world. Is he not, sister?" And he turned
to the Princess Elizabeth, as though seeking support with which to prop
up his idol.
"Nay, that I cannot tell," answered his eldest sister. "Thou hast a
greater knowledge of these things than have I." And she smiled sadly
on the young innocent.
"'Tis very true," said the little Prince, with a wise nod, as they set
out after his mother, "we men know more of those things; yet 'tis the
ladies that do inspire us and lead us on to such great feats."
The Princess, Mary, and Hazel, could no longer restrain their laughter.
This greatly offended the little Duke. He lowered the butt of the
little whip which he did carry, no matter what his occupation, and
charged, with all the speed he could succeed in forcing from his little
body. He struck his brother, Dorset, fairly between the shoulders,
which gave that nobleman such a start that he scarce kept his feet.
Then the little Prince turned and looked back at the girls, with a
satisfied smile, which plainly said:--"Now, ye would laugh at me? Was
not that course run right well and knightly?"
By this time they had reached their destination; so, after dismissing
their following, they were all admitted to the Sanctuary.