Lucy Foster Madison

“ Clip, clip, went the shears until at last all of her ringlets lay, a mass of ruddy gold, in a great heap among the rushes. Francis looked at them, and then at the mocking face of the lady, and her heart throbbed with wrath.
“Madam,” she said as the Lady Priscilla untied her bonds and she was once more free, “I will never forgive this.”
“Thou art rude, sirrah,” laughed the lady. “But I blame thee not. Be patient, master page. I will come to thee when thy locks have been woven into a wig and thou shalt see how well they become me.” ”

“ They stood about with dismayed countenances for the queen was in a rage. She looked up as the two entered, and stared for a moment as if seeking to know the meaning of their entrance.
“My liege sovereign,” cried Lord Shrope 135 without waiting for the Lord Chamberlain to announce him, “I have come. Behold here is the lad for whom you sent me.”
“Out of my sight,” cried the queen angrily. “’Ods death! is there none to keep the door that every minion that lists may enter? Out of my sight, and plague me not with a sight of that boy. Away, varlet!” ”

“ Laughing, jesting and making merry, they seemed not to have a care, though many a satin doublet and silken vest concealed a heart as full of anxiety as that of the girl who had just come among them.
“Beshrew me, my lord,” exclaimed a noble in brave attire as Lord Shrope entered the palace yard with his charge. “Art thou come again? Methought I heard that wast sent to France.”
“And France is (Francis) here,” retorted his lordship, indicating his companion.
“Good! I’ faith, very good, if Francis be his name,” laughed the other. “A proper lad, I trow. The queen hath ever an eye for beauty.” ”

“ But Francis Stafford was too angry to heed either beauty of scene or sky, and she hurried toward the Hall with so quick a step that the tutor could scarcely keep pace with her.
“I cry you mercy, Francis,” he panted querulously as the girl paused reluctantly in answer to his pleading. “Age hath stolen my vigor and I cannot walk as thou canst. Already thou hast made me plod many a weary step beyond my strength; and now thou wouldst have me run as though I were a lad. Thou art too unheeding.” ”

“ Shelton:
“Gracious madam, may I be permitted to speak with your charge?”
“It is not the custom for one prisoner to hold converse with another, young sir,” replied Mrs. Shelton. “But, as ye are enemies, I will indulge thy request, albeit ye speak that I may hear all.”
“I thank you, madam, for your courtesy,” replied the youth bowing. “Mistress Francis, how fare you?”
“Well, Master Devereaux,” answered Francis. “That is,” she added, “as well as one may fare who rests under the displeasure of the queen.” ”

“ Francis, young as she is, would reveal naught that would do me harm. She is too straightforward, too truthful,”—he stopped with a light laugh and kissed his wife. “What spirit the girl had to tell the queen that thou wert fairer,” he said. “Thou art so in truth, Penelope, yet for my life I durst not tell it to Elizabeth.”
“Nay; I would not have thee to, my lord. Say that Elizabeth is the loveliest, the fairest of womankind, I care not so that I may keep thee with me. But our child, my lord! I fear for that very directness which thou dost commend. A weaker spirit would be more politic. ”

“ Is life full of naught but crookedness and devious windings and turnings? Let me go to the queen openly, I beseech you.”
“Nay; ’twill avail thee nothing. Subdue thy pride for once, and be guided by one to whom all the ways of the court are as an open book. Thou dost hold thyself with too much of spirit. Set not thyself above those who are older and of superior wisdom.”
Francis felt the rebuke so sharply spoken, and answered in a conciliatory manner.
“My lord, I intend not to hold my judgment higher than thine for thou art of superior wisdom and age. ”

“ Francis gave a slight exclamation for the boy was he with whom she had contested the slaying of the deer. Beyond a slight sparkle of his eye the lad betrayed no sign of ever having seen her before.
“And, Edward, I know the custom that prevails amongst the pages of treating with undue harshness such as come among ye for the first time. I charge you, as you wish to curry favor with me, that this lad shall meet with naught but gentleness. Dost hear, Edward?”
“Ay, my lord. It shall be as thou sayst. He shall be treated with gentleness. With exceeding great gentleness, I promise you.” ”

“ For any other, I care not who he be, woe to him who dares touch Francis Stafford.” She touched the poniard that dangled from her belt significantly as she spoke.
“Child,” cried the old lord in delight, “thou wearest the proper garb. Thou wast never meant for a girl. Zounds! what spirit! And so thou fearest naught in all England but the displeasure of the queen. Gramercy! the air of the court is beginning to tell upon thee for those are the words of a courtier. Come! I no longer fear for thee so long as thou dost continue to bear thyself in so fearless a manner.” ”

“ Weak and helpless with the great queen and her ministers against me. Yet I must warn my father. O dame, I lack so little of being home. If I had a few hours more, just a few hours! Please, good mother,”—she paused, and flinging her arms around the woman’s neck, she kissed her. Dame Margery’s frame shook and she held the girl close. Then she whispered, stroking her hair softly:
“My bonny maiden, thou shalt have thy wish. For that kiss I would give thee anything. It hath been years since Margery felt the touch of fresh young lips. Men fear me, and children shun me, but thou hast not. ”

“ I confess that if to carry letters to Mary, Queen of Scots, be treason, then am I guilty of rebellion against the queen’s highness. Therefore, adjudge me guilty, and give me, I beseech you, a speedy death. But, if the word of one who stands in peril of life may be taken, I solemnly declare that my father is innocent of all design of harming the Queen of England. ”

“ Elizabeth is a great ruler. The land hath never before enjoyed so much of peace and prosperity. Even her enemies cannot gainsay this fact. But I fear that I weary thee, and thou art troubled enough.”
“Nay, my lord; I know that thou dost speak from the fulness of experience, and therefore do thy words carry weight. I am not weary but my heart doth fail me when I think of the queen and the court. I am but a maiden, my lord, unlearned in the ways of courtiers, and should I fail to find favor with the queen, who shall stand between me and her will? ”

“ That sombre and dungeon like stronghold is Baynard’s 124 castle. To our left is Westminster, and yon beautiful palace is Whitehall. It is known of all men how it reverted to the crown at the fall of Wolsey. The queen’s father adorned it in its present manner. There stands Somerset house, and yonder is Crosby. On the bankside in Southwark are the theatres and Paris gardens where are the bear pits. Look about thee, Francis. On every building, almost on every stone is writ the history of our forbears. On all those walls are traces of Roman, Briton, Anglo-Saxon and Norman. ”

“ Were it in truth to serve the queen, God bless her, there would be joy in staying. But to be at the beck and call of every noble; to bear the trains of the ladies or dance attendance upon them is not the life that a youth wishes. I pity thee, Francis, and thy plight is not so bad as it will be should yon tower burn to the ground. ”

“ We like thy spirit, and later will receive thee into service near us. When thou hast donned thy maiden attire we would see thee again. Though, by my faith, if all men would honor the garb as thou hast done, there would be few knaves in the kingdom.”
“And this is Mistress Francis Stafford?” cried Edward Devereaux as, two days later, Francis stood on the banks of the river watching the queen as she embarked for London. “Upon my word, Francis; thy attire well becomes thee.” ”

“ Francis Stafford, wearied and fatigued, retired to the cabin and, finding it deserted, swung a hammock in one corner and clambering into it was soon fast asleep.
“I tell thee, Drake,” ’twas the voice of Lord Howard that awakened her, “the queen must have been inspired to invent so ingenious a device. If it succeeds——”
“It will succeed, my lord,” interrupted Drake positively, “That is if there can be found men who will adventure it. But it will take cool heads and stout hearts and an absolute fearlessness of danger. I think I know two men who will go but there must be others.” ”

“ As Francis started forward the lad spoke,
“I, good my master. Give me thy knife, I pray thee, that I may make the essay.”
“What, ho, boy? Thou? Then instead of breaking the stag, thou shalt break the jail. Knowest thou not that it is trespass to kill deer upon the land of another?”
“He did it not,” cried Francis. “’Twas I. What is the penalty? My father, Lord William 16 Stafford, will requite the loss; but permit me, I pray, to take trophy of my skill.”
“Thou?” The foresters who had surrounded the youth looked with amusement at the girl, and then broke into loud guffaws. ”

“ As in a dream Francis heard both questions and answers, but did not comprehend their import. Presently her mother spoke:
“Francis, I am dying.”
“Nay;” broke from the girl passionately. “Not now, mother. Not when we have just found each other again. You must not, shall not die.”
“Hush, child! We must not spend the time in woe. I want you to promise me that never again will you be connected with plot against the queen. Promise me.” 269
“She hath killed thee,” burst from Francis wildly. “Killed thee, my mother, and driven my father forth a fugitive. Oh, I hate her! I hate her!” ”

“ Marry, it saddens me to think on’t. No more of this!”
“What name shall you call me by, my father, since I am your page?” asked Francis presently.
“Thine own. ’Tis a name that thou dost wear because it was my father’s, and will serve. But bear thyself in accordance with it and none will deem thee other than thou seemest. And I—I must teach my tongue to say boy instead of child. We have a long ride before us, and I fear that thy strength will fail ere we reach its end.”
“Fear not, good my father. Thou knowest how used to fatigue I am in hunting and hawking.” ”

“ Amidst all the confusion incident to the announcement of the old seaman, Devereaux drew Francis aside and whispered entreatingly:
“Francis, I implore thee to remain here. ’Tis not seemly that thou shouldst board ship. There will be fighting, and——”
“And thou wouldst have all the glory, Edward Devereaux,” cried the girl unjust as she often was when indignant. “Dost thou think that I fear? What hath life to yield that would equal the sweetness of striking one blow for England? Think you an English girl cannot fight as well as an English lad?” ”

“ There were numerous wherries waiting to unload their human freight, and this gave Francis time to recover her composure. So soon as she was calm Lord Shrope motioned to the watermen and they drew up at the stairs which led to the great gate of the palace. Courtyard and terrace were filled with gaily-dressed ladies and nobles. Here a lady attended by her gentlewomen traced her way delicately, a gentleman-usher making way for her, her train upheld by a page. Then gallants ruffled along, their attire vying with that of the ladies for brilliancy and richness. ”

“ On the morning of the fourth day, as Francis sat listlessly awaiting the coming of her jailer with her noonday meal, which was the only diversion that her prison life afforded, the door opened to admit, not her keeper, but Sir Francis Walsingham and two warders. Every particle of color left her face at sight of him, and she uttered a silent prayer for help as she arose in response to his greeting. ”

“ A young girl, reared among most delightful surroundings in Vermont, suddenly discovers that, owing to a clause in her father’s will, she must make her future home with relatives in the lower portion of old California. No more interesting experience could come in the life of any bright, observing girl than that of an existence in this semi-tropical region, with its wealth of Spanish tradition, its glorious climate, and its abundance of flowers and foliage. ”

“ Elizabeth spurned her from her presence, and conveyed threat as to the manners of my son when she left the hall. ’Ods life, my lord! to what pass hath England come when children must be taught to dissemble and fawn else they be subjected to discipline by the queen? Had she not enough courtiers to hail her as ‘Diana,’ and ‘The Miracle of Time,’ and other things of like ilk that she must needs try to subvert my child from truth? Gramercy! I am ready at this moment to enter the tilt-yard to defend the girl’s saying against all comers. Her mother is the fairest lady that ere the sun shone on. ”