Henry VI did not receive many visitors to his room in the Tower of London, so it was a surprise when the Duke of Gloucester entered and introduced himself.
Henry: Ah, the Duke of Gloucester. I remember the old Duke of Gloucester, of the line of the fifth son of Edward III. I don't think there are any of that line left now, except maybe the Buckinghams, but I think they came from a second marriage. Anyway, the old Duke was a dreadful warmonger. As soon as I came of age, I had him removed from the royal council. Oddly enough, he took it quite well, went off to his estate and took up book collecting. I wish we had left him in peace, but Margaret and Suffolk would have him charged with treason. He died in custody, and ever since there has been nothing but trouble. Your father York wanted revenge. We agreed to send Suffolk into exile, but that wasn't enough to appease his enemies. Suffolk was intercepted on the high seas as he travelled abroad and beheaded with a rusty sword. On it goes, even to this day. Why do we never learn? Oh, forgive me rambling on. I expect your visit is not purely a social one?
Gloucester: I bring grave tidings. Margaret of Anjou and her son Edward have been defeated in battle at Tewkesbury. Edward died in the fighting.
Henry: The poor boy inherited his mother's belligerent spirit. Would that they had accepted the Accord I made with your father. What will become of dear Anne?
Gloucester hesitated, blushing slightly.
Henry: But of course. I have heard good reports of you, Gloucester, and I don't doubt you will make her a far better husband. Your brother Edward has governed tolerably well. At least he seems to fight only out of necessity. I understand he is something of a ladies' man. Perhaps old Waynflete was right about celibacy after all. If so, beware the Lady Margaret Beaufort. To return to your tidings, if Edward is dead then the line of Lancaster has terminated, so may we not hope that the feuding must come to an end?
Gloucester: I fear that Margaret of Anjou will rally her forces in your name.
Henry laughed at the absurdity of this suggestion, but he was wise enough to realise that others would not find the notion so ridiculous.
Henry: You are right, Gloucester. There will be no peace while I live. I have been meditating much upon our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The prophecy was made of him that it was expedient for one man to die for the people rather than for the whole nation to perish. Our Lord was thirty three when He laid down His life for His sheep. Would that I had died when I was thirty three, in 1455. How much bloodshed would have been avoided. I still think about the twenty thousand who entered eternity on a single day at Towton. So much blood shed in my name. My only hope is that the blood of Christ can cleanse even my awful sins. Do not reproach yourself, Gloucester, we must put a stop to the killing once and for all. I must follow the Lord in obedience unto death. Thank God for the hope of the resurrection and a better world to come. Is there a priest?
Gloucester: I have brought Waynflete.
Henry: Dearest Waynflete. How thoughtful, Gloucester. Thank you.
Gloucester left the room to allow Waynflete to minister to Henry. Confession heard and absolution pronounced, Gloucester led the two men to the place where a block had been prepared. Upon seeing an executioner standing ready, Henry turned to Gloucester for a final request.
Gloucester nodded.
"It would be a great mercy if the task could be performed by the best axeman in England."
Again Gloucester assented silently, but this time with a bow, in deference not to any title which Henry held but to the majesty of his character.
Henry took his position.
Gloucester took the axe, and delivered a single clean blow.
Henry was dead.
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Showing posts with label Henry VI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Henry VI. Show all posts
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Friday, 8 August 2008
The Beaufort Strategem
A filthy, bedraggled figure staggered into the court of King James III of Scotland.
It was Queen Margaret who recognised him first.
Margaret: Somerset. Is that you?
Somerset: It is I, your majesty.
Henry: Somerset, thank God you are here. We had almost begun to believe that none of our nobles had survived the battle of Towton. Is it true what is being said of the scale of our defeat?
Somerset: At least twenty thousand are dead, your majesty.
Henry: Twenty thousand! Slain in a single day!
Margaret: What of Wiltshire? Did he escape to Ireland?
Somerset: Alas your majesty, he was captured on the west coast of England. He has been taken to Newcastle for execution. I fear I am the only noble remaining of those who commenced the battle on our side.
Margaret: At least we shall be safe here in Scotland because of its strong alliance with France.
Somerset: Do not be so sure, your majesty. I have heard rumours that Warwick intends to go to France to seek a wife for Edward of York.
Henry: I thought Edward was betrothed to the daughter of the Earl of Shrewsbury?
Somerset: Maybe, but Warwick has other ideas and his power cannot be underestimated.
Margaret: Then we shall have to resort to the Beaufort strategem.
Somerset: I do not understand, your majesty.
Henry: Lady Margaret Beaufort, widow of my half brother Owen Tudor.
Margaret: I arranged for her to marry Henry Stafford in order to infiltrate the Yorkist nobility.
Henry: Lady Margaret practises the sacred path of celibacy.
Margaret: It has the advantage of bringing that line of Staffords to an end, I suppose.
Henry: A Stafford is one thing, but you will find it much harder to find someone acceptable to a man claiming the crown of England.
Margaret: I know just the person. One of my former Maids of Honour, of a most striking appearance, is now a widow. She has a vast number of siblings. If she became queen, her family would need to be given more honoured positions and Warwick's influence would be reduced correspondingly.
A plan was developed. Somerset would return to England, seek pardon and ingratiate himself with the new regime. He would attempt to marry Elizabeth Grey to Edward of York. Elizabeth would be given strict instructions to settle for nothing less than marriage.
Next Chapter
It was Queen Margaret who recognised him first.
Margaret: Somerset. Is that you?
Somerset: It is I, your majesty.
Henry: Somerset, thank God you are here. We had almost begun to believe that none of our nobles had survived the battle of Towton. Is it true what is being said of the scale of our defeat?
Somerset: At least twenty thousand are dead, your majesty.
Henry: Twenty thousand! Slain in a single day!
Margaret: What of Wiltshire? Did he escape to Ireland?
Somerset: Alas your majesty, he was captured on the west coast of England. He has been taken to Newcastle for execution. I fear I am the only noble remaining of those who commenced the battle on our side.
Margaret: At least we shall be safe here in Scotland because of its strong alliance with France.
Somerset: Do not be so sure, your majesty. I have heard rumours that Warwick intends to go to France to seek a wife for Edward of York.
Henry: I thought Edward was betrothed to the daughter of the Earl of Shrewsbury?
Somerset: Maybe, but Warwick has other ideas and his power cannot be underestimated.
Margaret: Then we shall have to resort to the Beaufort strategem.
Somerset: I do not understand, your majesty.
Henry: Lady Margaret Beaufort, widow of my half brother Owen Tudor.
Margaret: I arranged for her to marry Henry Stafford in order to infiltrate the Yorkist nobility.
Henry: Lady Margaret practises the sacred path of celibacy.
Margaret: It has the advantage of bringing that line of Staffords to an end, I suppose.
Henry: A Stafford is one thing, but you will find it much harder to find someone acceptable to a man claiming the crown of England.
Margaret: I know just the person. One of my former Maids of Honour, of a most striking appearance, is now a widow. She has a vast number of siblings. If she became queen, her family would need to be given more honoured positions and Warwick's influence would be reduced correspondingly.
A plan was developed. Somerset would return to England, seek pardon and ingratiate himself with the new regime. He would attempt to marry Elizabeth Grey to Edward of York. Elizabeth would be given strict instructions to settle for nothing less than marriage.
Next Chapter
The Accord of 1460
The "madness" of King Henry lasted for two years. Eventually he was persuaded that he was suffering from fits of amnesia, and to admit the possibility that he had fathered Queen Margaret's child even though he could not remember doing so. That accomplished, the Queen and her allies lost no time in depriving the Duke of York of his position as Lord Protector on account of the King's recovery.
York's dissatisfaction with the restored Lancastrian government led to skirmishing between the rival parties for the next few years. The Earl of Warwick allied himself to York, and captured King Henry at Northampton in 1460, whereupon York came to London with the intention of becoming King. This move shocked even his closest supporters, Salisbury and Warwick, who feared to set a precedent of disorderly succession. York was descended from the fourth son of Edward III, whereas Henry was descended from the third so appeared to have the better claim. They were willing for York to be the effective head of government, but not for him to have the title of King. Appearances must be maintained. York, however, had prepared himself and pointed out to them that there had already been a disorderly succession, from the extinct line of the first son of Edward III to the line of his third son. The descendants of the second son had been passed over, and when the genealogies were examined it was discovered that the true heir to the throne by that line (through his mother) was none other than the Duke of York.
The nobles conceded that York had made a strong case, but try as they might they could not formulate a soundbite by which his intricate claim could be conveyed to the country at large, and so a compromise was agreed. Under the Act of Accord of 1460 Henry would reign for the rest of his life, but at his death the crown would pass to York. Henry had no regrets about disinheriting his son. Besides his nagging doubts about the boy's paternity, he reasoned that the lad would be much happier without the responsibilities of sovereignty. In Henry's view, retaining possession of England was not worth the trouble; his heart was fixed upon treasure in heaven. It puzzled him that his Queen did not share this view, as he confided in the Bishop of Winchester, William Waynflete.
Henry: Why is it that Queen Margaret is so determined to fight for position, with all the death and destruction that warring brings? It seems so unwomanly.
Waynflete: Your majesty, I perceive that women have an instinct to bring life. Perhaps when that appetite is not satisfied the instinct is somehow perverted in the fashion you describe?
Henry: Nonsense, Waynflete. If celibacy is good for bishops and priests I am sure that it must be good for kings and queens.
Next Chapter
York's dissatisfaction with the restored Lancastrian government led to skirmishing between the rival parties for the next few years. The Earl of Warwick allied himself to York, and captured King Henry at Northampton in 1460, whereupon York came to London with the intention of becoming King. This move shocked even his closest supporters, Salisbury and Warwick, who feared to set a precedent of disorderly succession. York was descended from the fourth son of Edward III, whereas Henry was descended from the third so appeared to have the better claim. They were willing for York to be the effective head of government, but not for him to have the title of King. Appearances must be maintained. York, however, had prepared himself and pointed out to them that there had already been a disorderly succession, from the extinct line of the first son of Edward III to the line of his third son. The descendants of the second son had been passed over, and when the genealogies were examined it was discovered that the true heir to the throne by that line (through his mother) was none other than the Duke of York.
The nobles conceded that York had made a strong case, but try as they might they could not formulate a soundbite by which his intricate claim could be conveyed to the country at large, and so a compromise was agreed. Under the Act of Accord of 1460 Henry would reign for the rest of his life, but at his death the crown would pass to York. Henry had no regrets about disinheriting his son. Besides his nagging doubts about the boy's paternity, he reasoned that the lad would be much happier without the responsibilities of sovereignty. In Henry's view, retaining possession of England was not worth the trouble; his heart was fixed upon treasure in heaven. It puzzled him that his Queen did not share this view, as he confided in the Bishop of Winchester, William Waynflete.
Henry: Why is it that Queen Margaret is so determined to fight for position, with all the death and destruction that warring brings? It seems so unwomanly.
Waynflete: Your majesty, I perceive that women have an instinct to bring life. Perhaps when that appetite is not satisfied the instinct is somehow perverted in the fashion you describe?
Henry: Nonsense, Waynflete. If celibacy is good for bishops and priests I am sure that it must be good for kings and queens.
Next Chapter
Thursday, 7 August 2008
The Royal Council of 1453
At the Royal Council of 1453, there was a notable absentee.
York: Your majesty, we are not graced with the presence of her majesty the Queen. I hope she is not unwell?
Henry: Unfortunately she is. Her belly is swollen, and the swelling only increases. I am very fearful for her.
Presently, a messenger arrived from the royal physician.
Henry: It is bad news, I fear.
Messenger: No, your majesty, it is the very best news. Her majesty the Queen has given birth to a baby boy.
The Duke of York and his supporters were astonished and appalled in equal measure. The House of Lancaster now had an heir to the throne. The King was no less surprised.
Henry: But that is impossible. I practise the sacred path of celibacy. How can it be? It cannot be my child.
Alarmed by this utterance, the quick witted Earl of Wiltshire summoned the guards to take the King to his chamber and fetch a physician.
Wiltshire: He's having one of his funny turns. He doesn't know what he's saying. You've been telling us for years that he's mad, York, and this quirk of providence has unsettled his equilibrium.
York: This is a trick, Wiltshire. Who is the father? Which one of you is it?
Wiltshire: How dare you impugn the virtue of her majesty and her loyal nobles. Hold your tongue, York, or we may start asking how the Duchess of York conceived your son Edward when she was in Rouen and you were miles away in Pontoise.
At this a tide of muttering swept the chamber, until the Earl of Salisbury put a stop to it.
Salisbury: Enough of this ludicrous diversion. The King is clearly incapacitated by a mental affliction, and the Queen likewise owing to her confinement. We must have a Lord Protector to govern the country. I nominate the Duke of York.
The nomination was supported by a large majority of those present.
Next Chapter
York: Your majesty, we are not graced with the presence of her majesty the Queen. I hope she is not unwell?
Henry: Unfortunately she is. Her belly is swollen, and the swelling only increases. I am very fearful for her.
Presently, a messenger arrived from the royal physician.
Henry: It is bad news, I fear.
Messenger: No, your majesty, it is the very best news. Her majesty the Queen has given birth to a baby boy.
The Duke of York and his supporters were astonished and appalled in equal measure. The House of Lancaster now had an heir to the throne. The King was no less surprised.
Henry: But that is impossible. I practise the sacred path of celibacy. How can it be? It cannot be my child.
Alarmed by this utterance, the quick witted Earl of Wiltshire summoned the guards to take the King to his chamber and fetch a physician.
Wiltshire: He's having one of his funny turns. He doesn't know what he's saying. You've been telling us for years that he's mad, York, and this quirk of providence has unsettled his equilibrium.
York: This is a trick, Wiltshire. Who is the father? Which one of you is it?
Wiltshire: How dare you impugn the virtue of her majesty and her loyal nobles. Hold your tongue, York, or we may start asking how the Duchess of York conceived your son Edward when she was in Rouen and you were miles away in Pontoise.
At this a tide of muttering swept the chamber, until the Earl of Salisbury put a stop to it.
Salisbury: Enough of this ludicrous diversion. The King is clearly incapacitated by a mental affliction, and the Queen likewise owing to her confinement. We must have a Lord Protector to govern the country. I nominate the Duke of York.
The nomination was supported by a large majority of those present.
Next Chapter
The Royal Council of 1452
The Royal Council Sessions for 1452 were just as acrimonious as in the previous year. The nobles allied to the King were becoming increasingly anxious about the lack of a Lancastrian heir to the throne. The Queen was in a quandary. Her husband was unwilling to co-operate, nor could he be coerced. A man so devout could not be intoxicated, and he was a light sleeper who spent many of the night hours in prayer. After the proceedings were complete one day, Queen Margaret suggested to King Henry that they should go over plans for Ireland with their trusted ally James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire.
Henry: The only use Ireland has been to us is as somewhere to keep the Duke of York occupied. Since he refuses to stay there any more, it doesn't even serve that purpose. Why can't we leave Ireland to the Irish? It is another burden of responsibility we could do without.
Margaret: Perhaps, my lord, you think your time would be better spent praying for Ireland, rather than going through all these details?
Henry: A welcome suggestion, my lady. I shall retire to my chamber for prayer, and leave the rest of the matter in Wiltshire's capable hands.
Margaret: We have had a long day already, Wiltshire. Refresh yourself with some of this excellent wine. I have it imported from my native Anjou, and the vintages have been good in recent years.
Wiltshire took a tentative sip. Finding the drink most palatable, he drained the cup gladly, relishing the thick, sweet fruitiness. He needed no encouragement from the Queen to help himself to some more, unaware that she had augmented the delicious juice with a potent narcotic. Soon he was having difficulty concentrating on the names of Irish people and Irish places. His head started to swim, there was a brief sensation of euphoria and then he collapsed, utterly stupefied. Quickly Queen Margaret set to work, doing her duty for the House of Lancaster.
Next Chapter
Henry: The only use Ireland has been to us is as somewhere to keep the Duke of York occupied. Since he refuses to stay there any more, it doesn't even serve that purpose. Why can't we leave Ireland to the Irish? It is another burden of responsibility we could do without.
Margaret: Perhaps, my lord, you think your time would be better spent praying for Ireland, rather than going through all these details?
Henry: A welcome suggestion, my lady. I shall retire to my chamber for prayer, and leave the rest of the matter in Wiltshire's capable hands.
Margaret: We have had a long day already, Wiltshire. Refresh yourself with some of this excellent wine. I have it imported from my native Anjou, and the vintages have been good in recent years.
Wiltshire took a tentative sip. Finding the drink most palatable, he drained the cup gladly, relishing the thick, sweet fruitiness. He needed no encouragement from the Queen to help himself to some more, unaware that she had augmented the delicious juice with a potent narcotic. Soon he was having difficulty concentrating on the names of Irish people and Irish places. His head started to swim, there was a brief sensation of euphoria and then he collapsed, utterly stupefied. Quickly Queen Margaret set to work, doing her duty for the House of Lancaster.
Next Chapter
The Royal Council of 1451
At the Royal Council Sessions of 1451 that commenced the next day, the Duke of York was not slow to air his grievances against King Henry VI.
York: The time for change has come. The country will not tolerate incompetence any longer. All the glorious gains of your majesty's father in France are being lost. We need a new policy to reclaim the lost territories, and new commanders to execute it.
Henry: On the contrary, it is a blessing to be relieved of this burden. We have land of our own a-plenty here in England. Let us leave the French to enjoy theirs. We have no need of it.
York: Your majesty, for over a hundred years our countrymen have shed their blood in defence of the lawful claim of the King of England to the throne of France. Has their sacrifice been in vain? We must fight on, out of faithfulness to their memory.
Henry: A hundred years of slaughter is more than enough. It is better to end it now than to suffer another century of bloodshed.
York: What sort of King does not fulfil his primary obligation, to defend his lawful domain?
Henry: Our Lord and Saviour is King of Kings, yet He is not ashamed to be called Prince of Peace.
York: This is the fifteenth century. We have a modern economy that depends upon resources from overseas territories and the pursuit of warfare. Already the merchants are complaining that they are losing money. We must invest in our armed men and their equipment, and in the fleet. That is the only way to restore our prosperity. Is it not our duty to relieve poverty?
Henry: Of course we should care for the poor, yet there are other trades which may serve equally well to the purpose. For that we shall require better education, and it is in education that I am minded to invest. My new colleges at Eton and Cambridge are a great success, and I urge similar ventures upon the nobles gathered here. Let men have the consolations of reading and knowledge.
York: This is madness. If knowledge is diffused more widely it will only be used to overturn the established state. Let us channel the virile instincts of the people into patriotic warfare, otherwise they will be channelled into rebellion against us. Real men have no time for book learning.
Henry: Not so. There is a great hunger for learning in our land. My grandfather introduced a law requiring that heretics be burnt at the stake, yet their number has only multiplied. How much better it would be if mother Church, rather than a Lollard preacher, was satisfying their desire for instruction. Let us invest in the Church. Consider the great chapel I have planned at Cambridge. It may take a hundred years to build, but how much better an employment of the time and talent of man than the hundred years' war of which we have spoken. Besides it will bring glory to God, and who knows but that it may cause Him to shine the light of His countenance upon us.
York: You are supposed to be our King, not our Archbishop. Away with these castles in the air. The reality is that law and order are collapsing around us. The nobles need funds to reinforce their armies so that they can deal with threats to lawful authority.
Henry: The only disorder that I have observed arises from these private armies clashing with each other. If the nobles were to disband them they would be relieved of the expense and the nation would be relieved of much violence.
York: This is insane. Surely you have not forgotten the late insurrection of Jack Cade?
Henry: Indeed I have not. I remember quite distinctly that he used the name Mortimer, which coincidentally is one of your family names, and that he quartered at the White Hart, which coincidentally is one of your emblems, so I have my doubts about whether it was a spontaneous popular uprising.
York: The conspiracy theory of a lunatic if ever I heard one.
The Council continued in a similar vein for some days, but after its conclusion there was a more harmonious discussion. As the chamber emptied, a message was brought to the King. Baron Rivers, Baron Ferrers and his son John Grey craved a private interview with their majesties, which was readily granted.
Henry: What is your petition?
Ferrers: Your majesties, my son requests the hand in marriage of Elizabeth, daughter of Baron Rivers. The Baron has graciously consented, and we seek your approval since Elizabeth is a Maid of Honour to the Queen.
Henry: An excellent proposal. Do you not agree, my lady?
Margaret: Only if I can find a suitable replacement.
John: Your majesties, may I humbly suggest the Lady Matilda Rose?
Henry: Splendid idea.
Margaret: Then I consent. Felicitations.
Next Chapter
York: The time for change has come. The country will not tolerate incompetence any longer. All the glorious gains of your majesty's father in France are being lost. We need a new policy to reclaim the lost territories, and new commanders to execute it.
Henry: On the contrary, it is a blessing to be relieved of this burden. We have land of our own a-plenty here in England. Let us leave the French to enjoy theirs. We have no need of it.
York: Your majesty, for over a hundred years our countrymen have shed their blood in defence of the lawful claim of the King of England to the throne of France. Has their sacrifice been in vain? We must fight on, out of faithfulness to their memory.
Henry: A hundred years of slaughter is more than enough. It is better to end it now than to suffer another century of bloodshed.
York: What sort of King does not fulfil his primary obligation, to defend his lawful domain?
Henry: Our Lord and Saviour is King of Kings, yet He is not ashamed to be called Prince of Peace.
York: This is the fifteenth century. We have a modern economy that depends upon resources from overseas territories and the pursuit of warfare. Already the merchants are complaining that they are losing money. We must invest in our armed men and their equipment, and in the fleet. That is the only way to restore our prosperity. Is it not our duty to relieve poverty?
Henry: Of course we should care for the poor, yet there are other trades which may serve equally well to the purpose. For that we shall require better education, and it is in education that I am minded to invest. My new colleges at Eton and Cambridge are a great success, and I urge similar ventures upon the nobles gathered here. Let men have the consolations of reading and knowledge.
York: This is madness. If knowledge is diffused more widely it will only be used to overturn the established state. Let us channel the virile instincts of the people into patriotic warfare, otherwise they will be channelled into rebellion against us. Real men have no time for book learning.
Henry: Not so. There is a great hunger for learning in our land. My grandfather introduced a law requiring that heretics be burnt at the stake, yet their number has only multiplied. How much better it would be if mother Church, rather than a Lollard preacher, was satisfying their desire for instruction. Let us invest in the Church. Consider the great chapel I have planned at Cambridge. It may take a hundred years to build, but how much better an employment of the time and talent of man than the hundred years' war of which we have spoken. Besides it will bring glory to God, and who knows but that it may cause Him to shine the light of His countenance upon us.
York: You are supposed to be our King, not our Archbishop. Away with these castles in the air. The reality is that law and order are collapsing around us. The nobles need funds to reinforce their armies so that they can deal with threats to lawful authority.
Henry: The only disorder that I have observed arises from these private armies clashing with each other. If the nobles were to disband them they would be relieved of the expense and the nation would be relieved of much violence.
York: This is insane. Surely you have not forgotten the late insurrection of Jack Cade?
Henry: Indeed I have not. I remember quite distinctly that he used the name Mortimer, which coincidentally is one of your family names, and that he quartered at the White Hart, which coincidentally is one of your emblems, so I have my doubts about whether it was a spontaneous popular uprising.
York: The conspiracy theory of a lunatic if ever I heard one.
The Council continued in a similar vein for some days, but after its conclusion there was a more harmonious discussion. As the chamber emptied, a message was brought to the King. Baron Rivers, Baron Ferrers and his son John Grey craved a private interview with their majesties, which was readily granted.
Henry: What is your petition?
Ferrers: Your majesties, my son requests the hand in marriage of Elizabeth, daughter of Baron Rivers. The Baron has graciously consented, and we seek your approval since Elizabeth is a Maid of Honour to the Queen.
Henry: An excellent proposal. Do you not agree, my lady?
Margaret: Only if I can find a suitable replacement.
John: Your majesties, may I humbly suggest the Lady Matilda Rose?
Henry: Splendid idea.
Margaret: Then I consent. Felicitations.
Next Chapter
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