E-text prepared by Martin Robb
IN THE WARS OF THE ROSES
A Story for the Young
by
Everett Evelyn-Green.
1901
CONTENTS
Prologue.Chapter 1: A Brush with the Robbers.Chapter 2: A Hospitable Shelter.Chapter 3: A Strange Encounter.Chapter 4: Paul's Kinsman.Chapter 5: In Peril.Chapter 6: In The Hands of the Robbers.Chapter 7: The Protection of the Protected.Chapter 8: The Rally of the Red Rose.Chapter 9: The Tragedy of Tewkesbury.Chapter 10: The Prince Avenged.Notes.
Prologue.
"Mother, will the little prince be there?"
"Yes, my son. He never leaves his mother's side. You will see themall today, if fortune favours us--the good King Henry, his noblequeen, to whom he owes so much, and the little prince likewise. Wewill to horse anon, that we may gain a good view of the processionas it passes. The royal party lodges this night at our goodbishop's palace. Perchance they will linger over the Sunday, andhear mass in our fair cathedral, Our loyal folks of Lichfield areburning to show their love by a goodly show of welcome; and it issaid that his majesty takes pleasure in silvan sports and such-likesimple pleasures, many preparations for the which have beenprepared for him to witness."
"O mother, I know. Ralph and Godfrey have been practisingthemselves this many a day in tilting and wrestling, and in the useof the longbow and quarterstaff, that they may hold their own inthe sports on the green before the palace, which they say the kingwill deign to watch.
"O mother; why am I not as old and as strong as they? I asked Ralphto let me shoot with his bow; but he only laughed at me, and bademe wait till I was as tall and as strong as he. It is very hard tobe the youngest--and so much the youngest, too."
The mother smiled as she passed her hand over the floating curls ofthe gallant boy beside her; He was indeed a child of whom anymother might be proud: beautiful, straight-limbed, active, andfearless, his blue eyes glowing and shining, his cheek flushed withexcitement, every look and gesture seeming to speak of the boldsoldier spirit that burned within.
And these were times when it appeared indeed as if England's sonshad need of all the warlike instincts of their race. Party factionhad well-nigh overthrown ere this the throne--and the authority ofthe meek King Henry, albeit the haughty Duke of York had set forthno claim for the crown, which his son but two short years laterboth claimed and won. But strife and jealousy and evil purposeswere at work in men's minds. The lust of power and of supremacy hadbegun to pave the way for the civil war which was soon to devastatethe land. The sword had already been drawn at St. Albans, and thehearts of many men were full of foreboding as they thought upon theperilous times in which they lived; though others were ready towelcome the strife which promised plunder and glory and fame tothose who should distinguish themselves by prowess in field orcounsel in the closet.
The gentle Lady Stukely, however, was not one of these. Her heartsank sometimes when she heard the talk of her bold husband andwarlike sons. They had all three of them fought for the king at thefirst battle, or rather skirmish, at St. Albans four years before,and were ardent followers and adherents of the Red Rose ofLancaster. Her husband had received knighthood at the monarch'shands on the eve of the battle, and was prepared to lay down hislife in the cause if it should become necessary to do so.
But if rumours of strife to come, and terrible pictures ofbloodshed, sometimes made her gentle spirit quail, she had alwaysone consolation in the thought that her youngest child, her littlePaul, would not be torn from her side to follow the bloody trail ofwar. Her two first-born sons, the younger of whom was twenty-two,had long been very finished young gallants, trained to everymilitary enterprise, and eager to unsheathe their swords wheneverrumour told of slight to King Henry or his haughty queen from theproud Protector, who for a time had held the reins of government,though exercising his powers in the name of the afflicted king.
But Paul was still a child, not yet quite eight years old; and ofthe five fair children born to her between him and his brothers,not one had lived to complete his or her third year, so that themother's heart twined itself the more firmly about this last braveboy, and in the frequent absences of husband and sons upon mattersof business or pleasure, the companionship between the pair wasalmost unbroken, and they loved each other with a devotion that mayeasily be understood. Paul felt no awe of his gentle mother, butrather looked upon himself as her champion and defender in hisfather's absence. It was no new thing for him to long for manhoodand its privileges; for would not these make him all the stouterprotector to his mother?
But she was wont when he spoke such words to check him by gentlecounsel and motherly sympathy, and now she took his hand in hersand patted it smilingly as she replied:
"Ah, my little Paul, time flies fast, and you will be a man beforevery long now; but be content for these next days to be yet achild. Perchance the little prince will pay more heed to such asare of his age.
"You may chance to win a smile from him, even if the nobles andgentlemen regard not children."
Paul's face brightened instantly.
"O mother, yes; I had not thought of that. But I do so long to seethe little prince. Oh, if he were to notice me--to speak to me--howhappy I should be! We were born on the same day, were we not, dearmother--on the thirteenth of October? But I am older, am I not?"
"Yes, my child; by two years. You will be eight upon your nextbirthday, and he six. But I hear he is such a forward, kingly,noble child, that both in appearance and discretion he is far inadvance of his actual age. Those who are brought up with royaltyearly learn the lessons which to others come but with advancingyears."
"I love the little prince, our good king's son," cried Paul withkindling eyes; "I would that I had been called Edward, too. Mother,why was I not given his name, as I was born on his day, and that ofthe good St. Edward too?"
The mother fondly caressed the golden curls of the beautiful childas she answered:
"Ah, my son, we knew not till long afterward that our graciousqueen had borne a little son on thy natal day. Paul is a name whichmany of our race have borne before, and so we called our child byit. It is the man that makes the name, not the name the man."
"I know that, mother; yet I would fain have borne the name of thelittle prince. But hark! I hear the sounds of the horses' feet.They are bringing them round to the door. Sweet mother, lose notime. Let us mount and depart. I would fain have been in thegallant band of gentlemen who rode out this morning at dawn towelcome and escort the king and queen; as my father and brotherswere. But let us not delay. I should be sorely grieved were we tomiss seeing the entry into the city."
Lady Stukely smiled at the impatience of the child, knowing wellthat many hours must elapse before the royal party would reach thecity walls; but she was willing to gratify the ardent desires ofher little son, and as she was already dressed for the saddle, sherose and took him by the hand and led him out to the courtyard,where some half dozen of the good knight's retainers were awaitingtheir lady and her son.
Stukely Hall was no very large or pretentious place, but it wasbuilt in that quadrangular form so common to that age, andaccommodated within its walls the dependents and retainers thatevery man of rank had about him under the old feudal system, whichobliged him to bring to his lord's service on demand a certainfollowing of armed and trained soldiers.
In those days, when every article of common consumption was made athome, the household of even a knight or gentleman of no greatwealth or note was no inconsiderable matter, and even the fieldlabourers almost always dwelt within the walls of their lord'shouse, eating his bread, and growing old in his serv
ice as a matterof course, without thinking of such a thing as change.
So that although the greater part of the retainers had ridden offat dawn with the knight and his sons, there were still a goodhalf-dozen stout fellows ready to escort their lady to the town;and besides these were many menials of lower grade standing aboutto see the start. Little Paul, who had grown up amongst them, ranfrom one to the other, telling them excitedly how he was going tosee the prince that day, and eagerly accepting from the hands ofhis old nurse a beautiful bunch of red roses which she had gatheredthat morning, in the hope that her darling might have the chance tooffer them to queen or prince.
Mother and son each wore the red rose broidered upon their staterobes, and the boy had stuck the crimson blossom in his velvet cap.He was a perfect little picture in his white velvet tunic sloshedwith rose colour, his white cloth hosen laced with gold from ankleto thigh, a short cloak flowing jauntily from his shoulders, andhis bright golden curls flowing from beneath the crimson and whitecap.
No wonder that his stately mother regarded him with looks of fondpride, or that his old nurse breathed a benediction on his prettyhead, and invoked the saints and the blessed Virgin on his behalf.They little knew that the gallant child was riding forth to anencounter which would be fraught for him with strange results; andthat the long-hoped-for meeting with the little prince would be thefirst step in one of those passionate attachments which almostalways cost the owner of them dear.
The sun shone hot and bright as the little cavalcade set forth fromthe courtyard. The month was that of July, and merry England waslooking its best. The fair landscape lying before the eyes of theriders seemed to breathe nothing but peace and plenty; and it washard to think that the desolating hand of war might, before manyyears had passed, be working havoc and ruin over a land so smilingand happy now.
The rich valley in which the ancient city of Lichfield standslooked peculiarly beautiful and fertile that day. Lady Stukely,whilst replying to the eager talk of her excited little boy, couldnot but gaze around her with admiration, familiar as the scene wasto her; and even the boy seemed struck, for he looked up and said:
"I hope the little prince will be pleased with our town. He willhave seen many fine places on this progress, but I do think weshall give him the best welcome of all. We all love him so."
It seemed indeed as if the whole country had turned out to welcomethe royal guests; for as the riders drew near to the city walls,they found themselves in the midst of a crowd of holiday folks, allbent upon the same object--namely, to take up a good position forwitnessing the royal procession as it passed; and every few minutessome joyous roisterer would raise a shout, "Long live the king!""Health to the queen!" "Down with the false friends--the House ofYork!" which cries would be taken up by the multitude, and echoedlustily along the road.
And as the party from Stukely Hall rode up, way being made by thecrowd for persons of quality well known and beloved in those parts,little Paul vented his excitement in a new cry of his own; for,standing up in his stirrups and waving his cap in his hand, hecried in his clear boyish tones:
"Three cheers, good people, for the little prince! Three cheers forEdward, Prince of Wales, our future king!"
And this cheer was taken up with hearty goodwill by all the crowd;partly for the sake of the cause ear to the hearts of these loyalpeople, partly from admiration for the gallant child who hadstarted it; and Paul rode on with a flushed and happy face, lookingup to his mother and saying:
"They all love the little prince. Oh how I wish he would come!"
The captain of the little band of soldiers who guarded the gate bywhich the royal procession was to enter, came forward doffing hismailed head piece to greet the wife of the gallant Sir James, whowas a notable gentleman in those parts. By his courtesy the ladyand her child were allowed to take up a position so close to thegate as would insure for them a most excellent view of the royalparty; whilst the humbler crowd was kept at a more discreetdistance by the good-humoured soldiers, who exercised their officeamid plenty of jesting and laughing, which showed that an excellentunderstanding existed between them and their brethren of the soil.The captain, as the hour for the entrance drew near, took up hisposition beside the lady, and conversed with her in low tones. Paullistened with all his ears the moment he discovered that thesoldier was talking about his beloved little prince.
"I do not credit every idle tale I hear, or certes life would bebut a sorry thing for a soldier. But there is a queer rumour flyingabout that some of the bold marauding fellows who follow the bannerof York, Salisbury, and Warwick have been following and hanging onthe trail of the royal party with a view to the capture--so it issaid--of the Prince of Wales, who, once in the hands of the rivalfaction, would prove a hostage of no mean value. I can scarcecredit such a tale myself. Sure am I that it cannot have originatedin the mind of any of those noble earls, but must be the device ofsome meaner churl, who hopes to gain a reward for his treachery.Belike there is no truth whatever in it. Rumour is never idle, andmust have some food to satisfy its cravings. I credit not so wild atale, albeit I must be on the watch against all chances.
"But hark! hear you not that sound in the distance? and methinks Isee on yonder height the glitter of the spearmen and the sheen ofan armed multitude. Ay, it is truly so. They come, they come! Why,it is a goodly following our gallant knights and gentlemen havefurnished. Their gracious majesties will have no cause to grumbleat the loyalty of their trusty county of Lichfield {1}."
Paul's breath went and came. The words of the captain had stirredhis heart, and now the actual approach of the royal family setevery pulse throbbing. Eagerly his eyes were fixed upon theadvancing column of gallant riders, the self-appointed bodyguard ofthe king and queen--a bodyguard which, changing and shifting as theroyal party progressed through the kingdom, yet never deserted themthroughout the triumphal march, and did not a little to raisewithin the breast of the queen that martial ardour which was to beso severely tested in days to come.
Nearer and yet more near came the gay procession; banners flying,trumpets sounding, the joy bells from the town giving back gayresponse. And now the mounted gentlemen--amongst whom Paul's quickeyes have already discovered his father and brothers--wheel rapidlyaside to right and left, forming a sort of avenue to the gatewaythrough which the royal riders are to pass, to receive the loyalwelcome of the venerable prelate and the city dignitaries.
Paul's breath comes and goes as the cheering in the crowd growsvociferous. He grasps his bunch of roses firmly in his hands, hischeeks glowing till they almost rival the damask bloom of theflowers, his eyes fixed in all their eager brightness upon theadvancing band, which consists of the king and queen and prince andtheir own immediate attendants. It is a moment never forgotten bythe boy in after life--the moment when first his glance fell uponthe royal child around whose history romance has woven so many atale; and it was with a start of peculiar surprises and a thrill ofemotion he could not have analyzed, that the boy beheld the littleprince of his dreams. For in those beautiful princely features, inthe alert graceful figure and the floating curls of gold, Paulseemed to see his own lineaments reproduced, and gave onebewildered glance toward his mother to see if perchance the samethought struck her.
And indeed it did; for the chance resemblance between the youngheir of the House of Lancaster and the son of an obscureStaffordshire knight was so remarkable that none who saw the twochildren could fail to be struck by it. Paul for a moment wasalmost awed, feeling as if he had no right thus to have aped theoutward aspect of the little prince; but the next moment all elsewas forgotten in the excitement of the moment and in the vigorouscheering which greeted the close approach of royalty.
The party moved slowly forward, returning the loyal salutations ofthe crowd right graciously. The little prince was charming in hisfriendly gestures, and Paul observed that to one and another of theknights and gentlemen drawn up to do them honour he held out somelittle token, which was received with every demonstration ofrespect and gra
tification.
His intense excitement caused the little Paul to push out somewhatfurther than the line observed by the soldiers, and no one recalledhim to his place; and thus it was that when, as the cortege movedforward, the Prince of Wales dropped the plumed hat with the whiteostrich feather, which he was raising in response to thesalutations showered upon him, it was Paul who had leaped to theground and caught up the costly headgear from beneath the very feetof the king's horse, and, with glowing face and ardent gaze ofadmiration and homage, had bent the knee to the princely child, andrestored the cap, whilst his bunch of roses was offered at the samemoment with an air of modest eagerness that touched all hearts.
The little prince took both the cap and the flowers, thanking thelad with friendly smiles; but when he saw how closely that brightface resembled his own, and how those floating curls of shininggold uncovered to the hot sunshine were but as the counterpart ofhis, he too glanced at his mother, whose smiling face was bent witha proud pleasure upon the pretty picture formed by the twochildren, and he said in his clear, joyous tones:
"Why, verily, this must be a brother or a cousin of mine own. Tellme your name, good lad. Surely we must be akin."
"Nay, gracious prince," answered Paul in low tones; "I am but theson of a simple knight, who has ever been your royal father's loyalservant. But I was born, like you, upon St. Edward's Day, andperhaps our patron saint smiled kindly on us both."
The boy was so excited he scarce knew what he said; but his wordsseemed to please the little prince, who replied:
"Nay, now, if you share the good offices of my patron saint, youmust wear my badge too, for love of me. See here, this littlesilver swan, the device of my noble ancestor King Edward the Third,it is now my badge, and you must wear it for my sake. Farewell forthe nonce; we shall meet again--I am sure of it--ere we say goodbyeto this pleasant city. I would I had a brother like you. But wewill meet anon. Farewell, and forget me not."
The royal cavalcade was yet moving onward whilst these graciouswords of childish greeting were spoken. The next moment thebewildered Paul was standing looking after the pretty child prince,the silver swan he grasped tightly between his hands aloneconvincing him that the whole encounter had not been a fairfleeting dream.
The great green meadow just without the walls of the city presentedan animated spectacle even to eyes accustomed to the gay andparty-coloured dresses of the Middle Ages, and to the hardy sportsof her bold sons. The whole town and countryside had assembled towitness or bear a share in the merry silvan sports, instituted witha view of amusing the royal guests, who had halted at Lichfield forthree nights in order that the pious monarch might hear mass onSunday at the cathedral; and the Saturday was given over to therevels and pastimes at all times dear to the people, but more sothan ever when royalty deigned to be the witness of the feats ofskill and strength. And King Henry loved to watch the sports of hissubjects. His simple mind; that shrank from the intrigues of courtlife, seemed to gather strength and health when removed from thestrife and turmoil of parties. His malady, which at timescompletely incapacitated him from tasking part in the government,was always liable to recur, and it was with a view of recuperatinghis health, and calming his anxieties and fears for himself andthose he loved best, that the queen had decided upon this progressthrough the loyal midland counties, and encouraged the people todisplay their skill in manly sports before their king; for nothingseemed more beneficial to him than the interest evoked by anyspectacles of this kind.
And little Paul Stukely was an eager spectator of the encountersand feats that were taking place before royalty that bright summerday. Paul felt as if he were living and moving in a wonderfuldream. He kept pulling off his little velvet cap to make sure thatthe silver swan--the prince's token--was still in its place; andeven when most interested in any contest going on upon the green,his eyes would turn instinctively toward the fair child leaningupon his father's knee, and eagerly watching the rustic revels.
The royal guests were sumptuously lodged beneath a silken awningunder a mighty oak tree that gave a refreshing shade. A platformhad been erected for them beneath the awning, and chairs of stateset thereon. From this vantage ground they could watch everythingthat went on, and reward the victors with words of praise, smallpieces of silver, or some fragment of lace or ribbon from the royalapparel, as best suited the rank of the aspirant for honour; andthe kindly smiles and gracious words bestowed upon all whoapproached increased each hour the popularity of the Lancastriancause and the devotion of the people to their king.
But Paul had not, so far, ventured to present himself before theplatform where the little prince was standing. He had not forgottena single one of the kind words spoken by the youthful Edwardyesterday, but he was fearful of presuming upon the favour thusshown him, and his very admiration for the princely child seemed tohold him back.
He knew that his father and brothers might rebuke him forforwardness if he presumed to thrust himself into notice. Sir Jameswas one of those appointed to keep order upon the ground, andwithhold the rustics from incommoding in any way the royalvisitors; and the child knew that he would be the first to rebukehis own son for putting himself unduly forward. As the youngest inthe house, Paul was accustomed to be held in small repute, and hadno desire to provoke a rebuff which might even reach the ears ofthe little prince himself.
So he contented himself by hanging about on the outskirts of thecrowd, casting many longing, lingering glances toward the groupbeneath the giant oak, and at other times diverting himself bywatching the wrestlers, the mummers, or the archers, who in turncame forward to try their skill and strength. The quarterstaffcontests were very exciting, and several broken heads were theresult of the hearty encounters with that formidable weapon.
But Paul was familiar with most of the sports, and presently grewweary of watching. It was hot, too, and there was not much shade tobe had in that big meadow; so he wandered a little apart, toward acopse beside a small stream, on the opposite side of which a thickforest rose stately and grand, and sitting down beside the merrybrook, he clasped his hands round his knees and sank into areverie.
He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he did not notice thelight tread of approaching footsteps, and gave a great start whenhe suddenly felt an arm flung caressingly about his neck. He sprangto his feet with a cry of astonishment, and stood face to face withthe little prince.
"You see I have found you," cried the child gleefully. "I saw youseveral times in the crowd today, but you would not come near me.Never mind; this is much better, for here we can talk, here we canbe friends. Are you aweary of their gay shows? So am I, in faith.We have seen the same thing everywhere, and it is so good to bealone sometimes. I love not to be always followed and watched.
"See you that dim, dark wood? Let us e'en hide ourselves thereinfor a short hour. My mother will miss me from her side anon, andwill send to seek me. I would not be found too easily. Come, let ushide ourselves there, and you shall tell me all about yourself, andwe will play at being trusty friends and comrades.
"It is dull work being always a prince. I would that we couldchange parts for once. You shall be the prince and I will be thebold knight's son, and your very faithful servant."
"O my lord!" faltered Paul, almost overcome with excitement andpleasure at this strange encounter.
But the little prince stamped his foot and spoke with the air of aregular little autocrat.
"Nay, call me not that. Did I not say I would be nobody's lord forthe nonce? What is your name? Paul? Then I will be called Paul forthis next hour, and you shall be Edward. See, here is my jewelledcollar and the cap with the ostrich plume--the badge of the Princeof Wales. Yes, put them on, put them on. Marry, I could think itwas my very self, but a short inch the taller.
"Now, see, I take your cap instead; and now I am Paul, and you mustbid me follow you and attend you in your journey through theforest. See, we will be fugitives, flying from the wicked Duke ofYork, who would fain grasp at the king's power, but my mother will
not let him."
For a moment the child's eyes flashed, and his clenched hands andheaving breast showed that the spirit of Margaret of Anjou livedagain in her child; but pulling himself up short with a laugh, thelittle prince added with a deferential bow, resuming his characterof subject, "But I crave your pardon, sweet prince, if I losecontrol of myself in the thought of your wrongs. Lead on, noblelord, and I follow. Let us seek safety in the dim aisles of yongiant wood. Surely there is some ford or bridge nigh at hand whichwill give us safe crossing without wetting ourselves."
Children are children all the world over, and at any period of itshistory. Childhood ever delights in romance and imaginativesituations and adventures; and before ten minutes had passed theboys had completely entered into the spirit of their play. Paul,shaking off the awe which had at first held him silent and abashed,played the part of prince with an energy and zeal which evoked thedelight and admiration of his companion; whilst the younger boy wasamused to lay aside for the moment any pretence at royalty, and payhis humble devoirs to his liege lord.
Paul knew of some stepping stones which led across the stream intothe dark wood, and soon the boys were in what seemed to them theheart of the great forest. The prince was delighted by all he saw.The sense of freedom was enchanting, and his curiosity unbounded.He had never in his life before enjoyed a game of play in sounfettered a fashion with a comrade of nearly his own age; and soonforgetting even their own game, the boys were walking with armstwined round each other's neck, telling each other all that was intheir hearts, and exchanging vows of unalterable affection.
"When I am grown to manhood, and am a belted knight with noblegentlemen of mine own to attend me, you shall be my very firstesquire, Paul," said the prince emphatically; "and we will ridethrough the world together, seeking adventures which shall make allmen wonder when they hear of them. And when I am king you shall bemy first counsellor and greatest lord. I will degrade from officeand dignity those proud nobles who have been traitors at heart tomy kingly father, and to you I will give their broad lands and hightitles. We will thus be comrades and friends through life. Youwould never desert me, would you, Paul?"
"I would lay down my life for your highness," cried Paul withenthusiasm. "I will live and die true to the Red Rose--to the signof the silver swan."
The little prince's eyes kindled.
"I believe you would. I love you, Paul, and methinks that you wouldlove me too. I would that I could take you with me now to be myfriend and comrade through life; but perchance your lady mothercould ill spare you, by what you say. I know what a mother's loveis like."
Paul's face was grave. For the first time in his life he wasconfronted by the problem of a divided duty--that problem whichtroubles us all more or less at some time in our history.
"I would gladly go with your highness to the world's end," he said."I should love to live and die at your side; but I doubt me if itwould not be cruel to my mother. She sometimes tells me that herlife would be a lone one without me."
"And you must stay with her," said the prince with decision; "atleast so long as you are a child. When you are a grown man it willbe different. Some day I will send for you, and you shall be myfirst and best friend; but it cannot be now. My mother might notapprove my choice, and yours might not let you go. Princes as wellas other men have to wait for what they want"--and the childsighed--"but some day our turn will come."
Then they resumed their play, and the hoary wood resounded to themerry shouts of the boys as they ran hither and thither in activesport, till the little prince was fairly tired out, though, stillexulting in his escape from maternal vigilance, he stoutlyprotested against going back.
"See, good Paul," he said, "here is a right commodious hollow tree,heaped with last year's dead leaves. I will rest awhile hidden awayhere, where none will find me were they to look for me ever so. Andif you could find and bring me here a draught of water from thebrook or from some spring, I should be ever grateful. I am soreathirst and weary, too."
The child was nevertheless much pleased with his nest, andforthwith curled himself up in it like a young dormouse, delightingin the conviction that no attendants despatched by his mother tocapture him would ever find him here. Boys have been young picklesever since the world began, and were just as full of pranks in thefifteenth century as they are now. Edward had: a full share ofboyhood's mischievous delight in his own way, and owing to thestrong will and the ever-present vigilance of his mother, he hadnot had many chances of indulging his natural craving forindependence. Therefore he rejoiced the more in it now, and wasquite determined to return to his royal parents at such time onlyas it suited his own whim.
Paul was willing enough to do the behest of the prince, and stayedonly to make him comfortable before starting off on the quest forwater. He thought young Edward would soon be asleep, as indeed hewas, so luxurious was his leafy couch within the giant oak; andresolved to run as far as a certain well he knew of in the wood,the water of which was peculiarly fresh and cold and clear, andwhere a cup was always kept by the brothers of a neighbouringmonastery for the benefit of weary travellers.
Paul sped away on his mission with a light heart He was elatedabove measure by his day's adventure, and his head was brimmingover with plans and dreams of the future, which was to be soglorious and so distinguished.
He the chosen comrade of their future king! he the loyal upholderof that king's rights, the bulwark of the throne, the trustednoble, the shrewd counsellor, the valiant warrior! A boy's ambitionis boundless--innocent of envy or evil, but wild in its flights.
Paul went on his way with glowing cheeks and sparkling eyes, till astealthy sound in the bushes beside him made him stop short,listening intently. He heard voices in cautious whisper.
"He cannot be far away. He certainly came to the wood. Long Petersays he had another boy with him; but be that as it may, he ishere, and close at hand. We must lose no time. The alarm will begiven if he is missed. Take one, or take both, it matters not if webut get the prince into our hands. He may be known by his ostrichplume and his golden curls, and the jewelled collar he wears abouthis neck."
Paul heard these words plainly, and it seemed as if his heart werein his mouth. It beat so violently that he fancied the conspiratorsmust surely hear. The words he had heard but yesterday flashed backinto his mind.
It was true then. There was a conspiracy to carry off the youngprince, and the band of men pledged to the deed were actually ontheir track and close at hand. How could he warn the prince intime? How could he save him from their hands?
For a moment the boy's courage seemed to desert him. A cold sweatbroke out on his face, his knees trembled beneath him. But his fearwas not a selfish or unworthy one; it was all for the royal child,whose peril was so imminent.
And then, with a sudden revulsion of feeling, he recollected thathe himself wore the cap with the white plume, the jewelled collarof royalty, and the dagger the little prince habitually carried inhis girdle. And had he not the same floating golden curls, the samecast of features, the same active figure, and almost the samestature? Might he not save the real prince by playing his part tosome purpose for the time being? The men would not distinguishbetween the pair--he felt certain of that; they would at once makeoff with their prize. Later on, of course, they would discover thetrick, but then the prince would be safe. His own followers wouldhave long since discovered him. Yes, he would do it--he would savethe prince at all cost. What did it matter if his own life were theforfeit? The heir of England would be saved.
It was no small act of heroism to which the boy made up his mind inthose few moments. Those were lawless days, and human life was heldvery cheap. The band of fierce men who had believed they werecarrying off a prince, would think nothing of running him throughwith their swords when they discovered how they had been tricked,and that by a mere child. Paul set his teeth hard and bracedhimself up for the task he had set himself. He knew his peril-herealized it too; but he was a soldier's son, and had he not said hewould l
ive and die for the prince? Would he ever be worthy of theknighthood every lad looked forward to as the goal of his ambition,if he shrank now from the task he had set himself?
Hardly had that resolution been taken before there sprang out fromthe thick underwood two or three fierce-looking men, armed to theteeth.
"Ha, my young springal! well met, in sooth," cried the foremost ofthe band, laying a firm hand upon the boy's shoulder. "We have beenlooking long for you.
"To horse, brave fellows! we have our prize. We may not lingerhere."
"Hands off, varlet!" cried Paul, throwing himself into thecharacter of prince with great energy and goodwill. "Know you towhom you speak--whom ye thus rough handle? Have a care; the Princeof Wales is not thus to be treated."
"Pardon, sweet prince," cried the leader, with ironical courtesy,his grasp not relaxing one whit from the boy's arm. "Time leaves usscant opportunity for the smooth speech of the court. We must useall despatch in conveying your worshipful presence hence, to thesafe custody of England's friends.
"Nay, struggle not, boy. We would not harm you. You are safe withus--"
"I know you not. I will not be thus insulted. I will to my royalparents," cried Paul in well-feigned indignation.
But remonstrance and resistance were alike useless. At the sound ofa peculiar whistle from one of the party, there immediatelyappeared some half score of mounted troopers, leading other horseswith them. The boy was swung upon the saddle of one of the horsesand fastened there by means of thongs, which, although notincommoding him whilst riding, utterly precluded all idea ofescape. Moreover the steed was placed between those of two of thestalwart troopers, each of whom kept a hand upon the reins of thesupposed prince; and thus, silently but rapidly, the little bandthreaded the intricacies of the wood, by paths evidently known tothem, and ere the dusk had fully come, had cleared the forestaltogether, and were galloping steadily and fast across the opencountry toward the north.
Paul had not spoken another word. He had been in terror lest bysome inadvertent phrase he might betray himself, and let thosefierce men know that he was not the prince; in which case not onlymight his own life be forfeit, but the real prince might fall intotheir hands. But now as the dusk overtook them, and still they wereflying farther and farther away from the city where the prince lay,his heart rose, and beat with a generous triumph; for though hisown fate might be a speedy death, the heir of England was safe.
It was dark before the lights of a wayside hostelry became visibleacross the dreary waste they were traversing. The leader of theband turned and addressed a few words to the troopers who had thecare of the captive; and at once he felt himself deprived of thetell-tale cap and collar, the former of which was replaced by acloth cap belonging to one of the men, which almost concealed theboy's features. He was also wrapped in a mantle that furtherdisguised him; and thus they rode up to the inn.
A ruddy stream of light poured out from that comfortable hostelry,and Paul saw, seated on his stout nag, with three of his servantsbehind him, the well-known figure of a neighbouring farmer, whombusiness often took to a town many miles from his native place.
The troopers were dismounting and hurrying into the inn. Two onlyremained with their prize. Paul's resolution was quickly taken. Hethrew off the encumbering mantle and cap, and cried aloud:
"Gaffer Hood, Gaffer Hood, come and help me! These men have carriedme off, and are taking me I know not whither. Come and help me toget free, and my father will richly reward you. They think I am thePrince of Wales, who was playing with me but this afternoon. Tellthem who I really am, and they will let me go."
"By the mass, if that be not the voice of little Paul Stukely!"exclaimed the honest farmer in great amazement, as he brought hisstout nag alongside the animal that carried the child. The troopersdrew their swords as if to interpose (and in those days it wasconsidered better to leave these reckless gentlemen alone when theyhad booty in their hands, however come by, and no doubt they werein league with the host of the inn); but the character of thedialogue between the farmer and the child was so astounding thatthe men remained mute and motionless, whilst the leader of thegang, who had heard something of the words, came hurrying to thespot, to see that his prize was safe.
He was quite prepared to make short work of farmer and men alike ifthere should be any futile attempt at rescue. The man knew histrade, and long habit had made him utterly reckless of human life.But the words he heard exchanged between the child and the farmerheld him spellbound, too.
"I was playing with the prince," cried Paul, loud enough for all tohear. "He bid me take his collar and cap and be prince in fantasy,whilst he was my esquire. Afterwards, when he was weary, he laydown to rest, and these fellows caught me and carried me off,thinking I was prince indeed. I would not tell them what they haddone, lest they should return and capture him. But bid them looseme now, good Gaffer, and give them all the money in your pouch asmy ransom, and I warrant my father will repay you double.
"It is the heir of the House of Lancaster you want, gentlemen, nota poor knight's youngest son, a lad of no account. This good manwill pay you some broad gold pieces if you will let me go; but ifyou are resolved to take my life as the price of my deceit, why,take it now. I am not afraid to die in a good cause, and thisworthy man will perchance take home my body to my mother, that itmay lie in time beside hers."
"Nay, lad, we will all die ere they shall touch a hair of thy bonnyhead," cried the honest farmer, signing to his men to come and beready. "If there's a man in this troop dastard enough to lay a handupon thee, he shall settle accounts with Gaffer Hood ere he leavesthe place. A farmer can fight, ay, and give good strong blows, too.
"Now, gentlemen, which of you will lay hands on that gallant child?for he will have to do it across my dead body first."
"Tush, man, put up thy sword," cried the leader of the band, who,being a man prompt both in action and thought, had taken in thebearings of the situation with great rapidity, and upon whom thesimple heroism of the child had not been thrown away.
Rough and self-seeking and cruel as lawless times had made suchmen, they were not devoid of all better feelings; and although, hadthere been no interposition on his behalf, Paul might have been avictim to their irritation at being thus duped, as it was his lifewas now safe enough.
"We war not with babes and children. The boy has borne himselfgallantly, and we will take the gold pieces and let him go free.Our chance may come another time, and we want not the cumbrance ofchildren on our march. He would not be hostage worth having, soransom him and begone. We have the prince's jewels if we have notthe lad himself.
"Go your way, boy; you will make a soldier in time. You have theright grit in you. Farewell! one day we may meet again."
And thinking, perhaps, that he and his band had better not lingerlonger, the captain gave the word to mount; and as soon as Paul'sthongs were cut and the ransom paid over, the troopers set spurs totheir horses' sides and vanished away in the darkness.
Once again little Paul Stukely stood in the presence of royalty.The prince's arm was about his neck, the proud queen's eyes--moistnow with tears--were bent upon him in loving gratitude, whilst fromthe king's lips he was receiving words of praise that set the hotblood mounting to his brow. Behind him stood his father, all aroundwere the attendants of the royal family; and Paul, unaccustomed tobe thus the centre of attention, almost wished the ground wouldopen to hide him, although his heart could not but beat high ingratification and loving loyalty.
All the city was ringing with the daring attempt that had been madeto carry off the young Prince of Wales, and the gallantry of theboy who had dared to brave the consequences, and take upon himselfthe personality of the youthful Edward. The child himself, thefarmer who had been the means of his restoration, and the knightwho owned so brave a son, all had been heroes of the pastsix-and-thirty hours.
A special mass of thanksgiving had been sung in the cathedral onthe Sunday. The captain of the town, who had heard a rumour whichhad sent him fly
ing into the forest the previous afternoon, to findthe true prince vainly seeking his missing comrade, could not makeenough of the boy whose simple-hearted gallantry had saved him froma lasting remorse, and perhaps a lasting disgrace. Indeed, SirJames Stukely had had to hurry his child home in haste to hismother's care, lest he should hear too much of his own prowess;and, thrusting him into her loving arms, had said, in a voice whichquivered in spite of himself:
"Here, dame, take the boy and give him a kiss to show that he hasbeen a good lad. He has done his duty, as a Stukely ought to do,and that should be enough for all of us. But let us have nononsense talked. What will the country come to if everyone who doeshis duty as it should be done expects to be called a hero, and Iknow not what besides? The prince is safe, and the boy likewise.Now off to bed with him, and no more nonsense to be talked in myhearing.
"God bless you, child! You'll live yet to be a credit to the nameyou bear."
And Paul was made happier by that one word from his stern thoughloving sire than by all the praises he had heard lavished uponhimself during the past hours. For there was no one in the wideworld that the child so reverenced as his dark-browed father, whoseldom praised his children, and was inflexible in his punishmentswhenever they were deserved. To be told by him that he had done hisduty, and would be a credit to his house, was happiness far beyondhis deserts, he thought; and he registered a mental vow, deep downin his brave little heart, that he would never in time to come givethe world cause to say he had not lived up to the promise of hisboyhood.
The loving sympathy with which his mother listened to his story,the caresses she showered upon him in thought of the deadly perilin which he had stood, and the hearty approbation of his brothersand the retainers and servants in his father's halls, were a smallpleasure as compared with those few brief, almost stern, words fromthat father himself. Even the notification that he was to presenthimself on the Monday before the king and queen added little to hishappiness, although the idea of seeing once again his admiredlittle prince could not but fill him with gratification.
His father led him to the royal presence, and bowed low on hearinghimself thanked for having brought up sons who so well demonstratedthe loyalty and devotion which had been born and bred in them. ButPaul scarce heard what passed, for the little prince dashed forwardto take him round the neck, kissing him with all the natural graceof childhood, whilst half rebuking him for having denied him hisown legitimate share in the adventure.
"If we had but been together we would have achieved our ownliberty," he said, his bright eyes flashing with the spirit of hisancestors. "We would have shown them what Plantagenet blood coulddo. I would I had been there. I would I had shared the adventurewith you. It would have been a thing for our bards to write of, forour soldiers to sing over their campfires. But now I shall havenone of the glory. I was sleeping in a tree. It was you who werethe hero, the prince."
"Ah, sweet prince, had they once laid hold on the true prize,methinks neither you nor I would so easily have escaped," saidPaul, who had vivid recollections of the iron hands that had beenlaid upon him by the stern men who had carried him off. "I know nothow I could have escaped, had it not been that they were willing tobe quit of me when they found out I was not him whom they sought."
But the prince was hardly satisfied with the rather tame ending tothe adventure.
"To be rescued by a farmer, and carried home on his nag!" he said,tossing back his curls with a gesture of hauteur. "Paul, I wouldthat you had cut your way through the very heart of them. I wouldyou had left at least one or two dead upon the spot. Had we beentogether--" He clenched his hands for a moment, but then laughed alittle, and said in a whisper--"But no matter, Paul; they all saythat you played the hero, and I will not envy you for it. We shallbe men one day, and then I shall come and claim your promise. Youwill be my faithful esquire, and I will be your liege lord.Together we will roam the world in search of adventure, and well Iknow that we shall meet with such as will not disgrace the royalhouse of the Plantagenet."
The child's eyes flashed, and an answering spark was kindled in thebreast of the hardy little Paul. He put his hand within that of theprince, and cried loud enough to be heard by those who stood by:
"Dear my lord, I will serve you to the death. I will go with you tothe world's end."
Sir James laid a warning hand upon his son's shoulder.
"Boy," he said in a low voice, "it becomes thee not thus to putthyself forward in the presence of royalty. Be silent before thybetters, and show thy loyalty by thy deeds, not by high-soundingwords of which thou canst have but little understanding."
Paul was instantly abashed. Indeed, in those days it was not usualfor children to make their voices heard in the presence of theirelders; but the prince was privileged, and it was his words thathad drawn forth this exclamation from Paul.
The king and the queen, however, smiled upon the boy; and thelatter said in tender tones, that would have amazed some amongsther enemies:
"Nay, chide not the boy, good Sir James; he does but speak as hisheart dictates, and I would indeed that my son might look forwardto the day when he and your gallant son might be companions inarms. But I ask no pledge in these troublous, stormy days. Only Iwill cherish the hope that when brighter days dawn for the House ofLancaster, and her proud foes are forever subjugated to their rightposition, this bold boy may appear again before us to receive atour hands the guerdon he is too young for yet. And be sure thatnever will knighthood be more gladly accorded to any than to him,for the deed which saved England's heir and hope from the deadlyperil which menaced him but a few short hours ago."
Sir James and his son both bowed low, and the father prepared tolead away the boy. But the prince had once more thrown his armsround Paul's neck, and was speaking in his eager way:
"You and I will be knighted together when we are grown. I shallthink of you, and you will not forget me--promise that you willnot. And when we meet next, wherever it may be, we shall know eachother for the likeness we bear the one to the other. Kiss me, Paul,and promise never to forget. Farewell now, but my heart tells me weshall meet again."
The king's son and the knight's embraced with all the warmth of areal and deep affection, albeit of only a few hours' growth, andgazing at each other to the last they parted.
"I shall always wear the silver swan," Paul had said as their lipsmet. "You will know me by that. And I--oh, I never could forgetyou! Your face will live always in my heart."
The doors closed behind the retiring knight and his son. The visionalone conjured up by the words of the prince lived in the heart ofPaul Stukely. His face was very brightly grave as he rode homebeside his father. How little he or any in that noble companyguessed where and under what circumstances the prince and Paulwould meet next!