H. C. Bailey

“ We dare not. He is the son of the gospel's champion. He is Lord Guilford Dudley.”
Elizabeth had the clue at last. Swiftly she understood Robert Dudley's bullying diplomacy, and that mysterious device which she was to approve. Northumberland had found in the pedant Lady Jane a perfect puppet, as like a soul as the world could furnish to the cold pedant of a boy who was called King. Edward had never found wit or will to thwart his ambitious Minister; there would be neither will nor wit in the bloodless Lady Jane. If she were Queen, Northumberland would be King still in all but name and crown. ”

“ If the King died, the crown belonged to his elder sister, Mary, whom some desired and some feared as the foe of the Reformation, whom men with memories doubted as the friend of the empire of Spain. Whether the King died or lived, England was not like to be rid of Northumberland easily. So the men of experience and memories who had no taste for any more Reformation, but saw the worst evil in undoing what the Reformation had done, bethought them of Elizabeth. ”

“ The strength of that rich supple body called to him, and in it, through it, he was aware of a strength of will and ambitious purpose which commanded his desires. His swift, reckless brain began to seek a place for her in his father's schemes, and by her grace a higher place for himself. For mere safety they had better count her with them than against them. How if they chose her for their war cry and set her on the throne? Could he get himself a place by her side? He was married already, indeed, but he had not the temper to let a marriage hamper him. ”

“ They rode on together through the acclaiming crowds, the drab mean shape of the woman who was Queen beside her sister's splendid womanly strength. Mary took no pains to bow or smile or commend herself, while her sister was all gaiety and grace, and with her palfrey's paces and her airs made the most of her beauty. So together they made their progress through London and on to Whitehall.
Once within the palace Elizabeth found herself kept in waiting while lords and gentlemen spoke compliments to her sister. At last Mary allowed her her turn. ”

“ Elizabeth was young enough to be excited. Such power at her will tempted her.
Her judgment was unsure still, for all her craft. She had not thought that there were so many in England ready to fight for her and the cause which she was born to lead—the quarrel of her father with Rome and Spain. The wealthy knights and squires, who had much to risk if they rose in arms, and would be comfortable though Northumberland himself were King, were as urgent that she should claim the crown as the bold Devon seamen. ”

“ As the brave army crested the hill by Monken Hadley, and marched upon Barnet battlefield, the scouts came galloping back. They told of London in turmoil. Northumberland's own friends had turned against him, and held him in durance. His powers had melted like snow. No man knew who was master. But it was rumoured loud that Mary would come ere nightfall. The wiseacres were well assured that all the great lords had rallied to her cause. She was marching with a noble array such as England had not seen since her father died.
The news froze the gaiety in the ardent gentlemen about Elizabeth. ”

“ She gazed at the marching ranks. “Why, well!” She turned suddenly to him and laughed loud. “Have I not proved me loyal to my sister? I bring her all my friends in aid.” She gave her horse the spur, and sped forward upon the lances of Mary's army.
The gentlemen about Brydges exclaimed, and swore, and murmurs rose loud among their array. “Now we know what it is to serve a woman, gentlemen,” he sneered.
“I'fegs, if you obey a woman, you'll always serve her ill,” quoth Captain Coffin.
Elizabeth was in among Mary's army, crying “God save you, gentlemen. Where is the Queen?” ”

“ She is no timid girl to be played upon. And yet, methinks, she will serve us well.”
“Why, how now?”
“She hints that she will be our friend if we make her not our foe. Sir, I desire you, consider of it. She is a woman of a royal beauty and grace to win the people. She is King Harry's own daughter, and hath strong friends. How if we keep the crown for her? I will be sworn for it she will keep faith——”
“Now beshrew thee for an amorous fool! What, canst not see a woman with a white skin but she must bewitch thee? Set a child of Boleyn's temper on the throne? ”

“ Elizabeth was twenty, and at last in comfort. Gentlemen of an ability to see beyond their noses had discovered that a few years might make her a person of importance, perhaps the invaluable figurehead of a party, perhaps even a queen. So she found zealous friends who thought it worth their while to wrench from the greedy lords of the council a decent provision for her royalty, and furnished her from their own kinsfolk with a household of the gently born. ”

“ Lady Jane's face was ineffably dreary. “In truth, cousin, your speech is of a fragrant piety and a seasonable admonishment. My heart is froward and ever covets its own pleasure. Yet I do strive to honour my parents according to the holy ordinance. It is but in obedience to their will that I am here.”
Elizabeth's downcast eyes glanced aside and gleamed. If she did not know all yet, she knew more than when she came. The girl's parents had compelled her to the palace, and they were hand and glove with Northumberland. Why, then—— She spoke demurely again. “It is a duty to obey cheerfully. ”

“ Lord Robert Dudley was the son of Northumberland, had a fair portion of his father's ambition and something of his father's ability for intrigue, but lacked his father's smooth control of temper. By the time that Elizabeth's groom of the chambers was allowed to bid him to her presence, he was fuming to and fro, as angry a man as a cool mind could desire to do business with. ”

“ She was always gracious and gay to the common people, and not only of policy. She liked men and women because they were men and women.
But as she rode, she thought. Somerset House was too near Whitehall, too near Northumberland to be safe. The mob of London was accounted in his service. Before help could come, before her friends knew her in danger, he could hurry her away to the Tower. And if he thought her an enemy to fear, he would not hesitate. ”

“ She was splendid in vivid green brocaded with silver, a sparkle of little diamonds on her ruff and in her glowing hair, but she sat with eyes cast down, a shy and modest maid, so that his magnificence (he was a tall fellow in crimson and gold, thin, but with good legs) and his haughty bow were lost upon her. ”

“ She who had watched the chance and change of the kingdom's fortune all her life long, and studied it as happier children study the ways of a game or a mother's housewifery, discovered more matter for discouragement, disaster even, in victory. ”

“ The good Robert Dudley protested that the device was of the King's mind. Elizabeth smiled to hers2lf for the naiveté of the intrigue. A child could guess it. As her father had left a will ordering the succession, so Edward would be made to leave a will. It would be very righteous. It would bar herself and her sister Mary from the throne as born of marriages that were no marriages. It would proclaim Lady Jane Grey by her right as an unimpeachably legitimate child of the Tudor blood. Sure, all good Protestants must applaud such crowning evidence of the good boy's austere virtue! ”

“ There was to be a device planned by Northumberland in the King's name which would bar Mary and herself from the throne, to keep it for some puppet of Northumberland's She was afire with angry malice, but she spoke meekly as a little child. “Nay, my lord, but you go beyond my poor wits. How may I thank the King for a device when I know not what it is?” ”