CHAPTER III. THE ANTECHAMBER.
As Warwick passed the door that led from the garden, he brushed by ayoung man, the baudekin stripes of whose vest announced his relationshipto the king, and who, though far less majestic than Edward, possessedsufficient of family likeness to pass for a very handsome and comelyperson; but his countenance wanted the open and fearless expressionwhich gave that of the king so masculine and heroic a character. Thefeatures were smaller, and less clearly cut, and to a physiognomicalobserver there was much that was weak and irresolute in the light blueeyes and the smiling lips which never closed firmly over the teeth. Hedid not wear the long gown then so much in vogue, but his light figurewas displayed to advantage by a vest, fitting it exactly, descendinghalf-way down the thigh, and trimmed at the border and the collar withermine. The sleeves of the doublet were slit, so as to show the whitelawn beneath, and adorned with aiglets and knots of gold.
Over the left arm hung a rich jacket of furs and velvet, somethinglike that adopted by the modern hussar. His hat, or cap, was high andtiara-like, with a single white plume, and the ribbon of the Garterbound his knee. Though the dress of this personage was thus far lesseffeminate than Edward's, the effect of his appearance was infinitelymore so,--partly, perhaps, from a less muscular frame, and partlyfrom his extreme youth; for George Duke of Clarence was then, thoughinitiated not only in the gayeties, but all the intrigues of the court,only in his eighteenth year. Laying his hand, every finger of whichsparkled with jewels, on the earl's shoulder--"Hold!" said the youngprince, in a whisper, "a word in thy ear, noble Warwick!"
The earl, who, next to Edward, loved Clarence the most of his princelyHouse, and who always found the latter as docile as the other (whenhumour or affection seized him) was intractable, relaxed into a familiarsmile at the duke's greeting, and suffered the young prince to draw himaside from the groups of courtiers with whom the chamber was filled, tothe leaning-places (as they were called) of a large mullion window.In the mean while, as they thus conferred, the courtiers interchangedlooks, and many an eye of fear and hate was directed towards the statelyform of the earl. For these courtiers were composed principally of thekindred or friends of the queen, and though they dared not openlyevince the malice with which they retorted Warwick's lofty scorn andundisguised resentment at their new fortunes, they ceased not to hopefor his speedy humiliation and disgrace, reeking little what storm mightrend the empire, so that it uprooted the giant oak, which still in somemeasure shaded their sunlight and checked their growth. True, however,that amongst these were mingled, though rarely, men of a hardier stampand nobler birth,--some few of the veteran friends of the king's greatfather; and these, keeping sternly and loftily aloof from the herd,regarded Warwick with the same almost reverential and yet affectionateadmiration which he inspired amongst the yeomen, peasants, andmechanics,--for in that growing but quiet struggle of the burgesses, asit will often happen in more civilized times, the great Aristocracy andthe Populace were much united in affection, though with very differentobjects; and the Middle and Trading Class, with whom the earl's desirefor French alliances and disdain of commerce had much weakened hispopularity, alone shared not the enthusiasm of their countrymen for thelion-hearted minister.
Nevertheless, it must here be owned that the rise of Elizabeth's kindredintroduced a far more intellectual, accomplished, and literary race intocourt favour than had for many generations flourished in so uncongeniala soil: and in this ante-chamber feud, the pride of education and mindretaliated with juster sarcasm the pride of birth and sinews.
Amongst those opposed to the earl, and fit in all qualities to be thehead of the new movement,--if the expressive modern word be allowedus,--stood at that moment in the very centre of the chamber AnthonyWoodville, in right of the rich heiress he had married the Lord Scales.As, when some hostile and formidable foe enters the meads where theflock grazes, the gazing herd gather slowly round their leader,so grouped the queen's faction slowly, and by degrees, round thisaccomplished nobleman, at the prolonged sojourn of Warwick.
"Gramercy!" said the Lord Scales, in a somewhat affected intonationof voice, "the conjunction of the bear and the young lion is a parlousomen, for the which I could much desire we had a wise astrologer'sreading."
"It is said," observed one of the courtiers, "that the Duke of Clarencemuch affects either the lands or the person of the Lady Isabel."
"A passably fair damozel," returned Anthony, "though a thought or sotoo marked and high in her lineaments, and wholly unlettered, no doubt;which were a pity, for George of Clarence has some pretty taste in thearts and poesies. But as Occleve hath it--
'Gold, silver, jewel, cloth, beddyng, array,'
would make gentle George amorous of a worse-featured face thanhigh-nosed Isabel; 'strange to spell or rede,' as I would wager my bestdestrier to a tailor's hobby, the damozel surely is."
"Notest thou yon gaudy popinjay?" whispered the Lord of St. John to oneof his Towton comrades, as, leaning against the wall, they overheard thesarcasms of Anthony, and the laugh of the courtiers, who glassed theirfaces and moods to his. "Is the time so out of joint that Master AnthonyWoodville can vent his scurrile japes on the heiress of Salisbury andWarwick in the king's chamber?"
"And prate of spelling and reading as if they were the cardinalvirtues?" returned his sullen companion. "By my halidame, I have twofair daughters at home who will lack husbands, I trow, for they canonly spin and be chaste,--two maidenly gifts out of bloom with the WhiteRose."
In the mean while, unwitting, or contemptuous, of the attention theyexcited, Warwick and Clarence continued yet more earnestly to confer.
"No, George, no," said the earl, who, as the descendant of John ofGaunt, and of kin to the king's blood, maintained, in private,a father's familiarity with the princes of York, though on stateoccasions, and when in the hearing of others, he sedulously marked hisdeference for their rank--"no, George, calm and steady thy hot mettle,for thy brother's and England's sake. I grieve as much as thou to hearthat the queen does not spare even thee in her froward and unwomanlypeevishness. But there is a glamour in this, believe me, that must meltaway soon or late, and our kingly Edward recover his senses."
"Glamour!" said Clarence; "thinkest thou, indeed, that her mother,Jacquetta, has bewitched the king? One word of thy belief in suchspells, spread abroad amongst the people, would soon raise the samestorm that blew Eleanor Cobham from Duke Humphrey's bed, along Londonstreets in her penance-shift."
"Troth," said the earl, indifferently, "I leave such grave questions asthese to prelate and priest; the glamour I spoke of is that of a fairface over a wanton heart; and Edward is not so steady a lover that thisshould never wear out."
"It amates me much, noble cousin, that thou leavest the court in thisjuncture. The queen's heart is with Burgundy, the city's hate is withFrance; and when once thou art gone, I fear that the king will be teasedinto mating my sister with the Count of Charolois."
"Ho!" exclaimed Warwick, with an oath so loud that it rung through thechamber, and startled every ear that heard it. Then, perceiving hisindiscretion, he lowered his tone into a deep and hollow whisper, andgriped the prince's arm almost fiercely as he spoke.
"Could Edward so dishonour my embassy, so palter and juggle with myfaith, so flout me in the eyes of Christendom, I would--I would--" hepaused, and relaxed his hold of the duke, and added, with an alteredvoice--"I would leave his wife and his lemans, and yon things of silk,whom he makes peers (that is easy) but cannot make men, to guard histhrone from the grandson of Henry V. But thy fears, thy zeal, thy lovefor me, dearest prince and cousin, make thee misthink Edward's kinglyhonour and knightly faith. I go with the sure knowledge that byalliance with France I shut the House of Lancaster from all hope of thisroiaulme."
"Hadst thou not better, at least, see my sister Margaret? She has a highspirit, and she thinks thou mightest, at least, woo her assent, and tellher of the good gifts of her lord to be!"
"Are the daughters of York spoiled to this by the
manners and guise ofa court, in which beshrew me if I well know which the woman and whomthe man? Is it not enough to give peace to broad England, root toher brother's stem? Is it not enough to wed the son of a king, thedescendant of Charlemagne and Saint Louis? Must I go bonnet in hand andsimper forth the sleek personals of the choice of her kith and House;swear the bridegroom's side-locks are as long as King Edward's, andthat he bows with the grace of Master Anthony Woodville? Tell her thisthyself, gentle Clarence, if thou wilt: all Warwick could say would butanger her ear, if she be the maid thou bespeakest her."
The Duke of Clarence hesitated a moment, and then, colouring slightly,said, "If, then, the daughter's hand be the gift of her kith alone,shall I have thy favour when the Lady Isabel--"
"George," interrupted Warwick, with a fond and paternal smile, "when wehave made England safe, there is nothing the son of Richard of York canask of Warwick in vain. Alas!" he added mournfully, "thy father and minewere united in the same murtherous death, and I think they will smiledown on us from their seats in heaven when a happier generation cementsthat bloody union with a marriage bond!"
Without waiting for further parlance, the earl turned suddenly away,threw his cap on his towering head, and strode right through the centreof the whispering courtiers, who shrunk, louting low, from his haughtypath, to break into a hubbub of angry exclamations or sarcastic jestsat his unmannerly bearing, as his black plume disappeared in the arch ofthe vaulted door.
While such the scene in the interior chambers of the palace, Marmaduke,with the frank simpleness which belonged to his youth and training, hadalready won much favour and popularity, and he was laughing loud with aknot of young men by the shovel-board when Warwick re-entered. The earl,though so disliked by the courtiers more immediately about the personof the king, was still the favourite of the less elevated knights andgentry who formed the subordinate household and retainers; and withthese, indeed, his manner, so proud and arrogant to his foes and rivals,relapsed at once into the ease of the manly and idolized chief. He waspleased to see the way made by his young namesake, and lifting his cap,as he nodded to the group and leaned his arm upon Marmaduke's shoulder,he said, "Thanks, and hearty thanks, to you, knights and gentles, foryour courteous reception of an old friend's young son. I have our king'smost gracious permission to see him enrolled one of the court you grace.Ah, Master Falconer, and how does thy worthy uncle?--braver knight nevertrod. What young gentleman is yonder?--a new face and a manly one; byyour favour, present him. The son of a Savile! Sir, on my return, benot the only Savile who shuns our table of Warwick Court. Master Dacres,commend me to the lady, your mother; she and I have danced many ameasure together in the old time,--we all live again in our children.Good den to you, sirs. Marmaduke, follow me to the office,--you lodgein the palace. You are gentleman to the most gracious and, if Warwicklives, to the most puissant of Europe's sovereigns. I shall see Montaguat home; he shall instruct thee in thy duties, and requite thee for alldiscourtesies on the archery-ground."
BOOK III. IN WHICH THE HISTORY PASSES FROM THE KING'S COURT TO THESTUDENT'S CELL, AND RELATES THE PERILS THAT BEFELL A PHILOSOPHER FORMEDDLING WITH THE AFFAIRS OF THE WORLD.