Текст книги "The Sun in Splendour"

Автор книги: Jean Plaidy

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Morton had not been idle during his captivity. He had been making plans. He was going to stir up trouble for Richard of Gloucester and he felt he knew how to do it. It was not that he wanted to support the Woodvilles although he might have to make a pretence of doing so. That was not important; he was rather good at making a pretence. He had his eyes on someone over the seas, someone who could be said to belong to the House of Lancaster. Morton would like to see the red rose win the final triumph over the white. A great excitement gripped him as he wondered how he could use this rift which had clearly sprung up between Buckingham and Gloucester. Gloucester was a strong man; it would not be easy to fault him; but Buckingham was weak and vain; he was over excitable and impulsive, and could not see very far ahead. He was the ideal dupe.

Buckingham had turned to the Bishop.

T have been a good friend to Gloucester,' boasted Buckingham. 'I have put him on the throne.'

That is so,' agreed Morton. Flattery was what the Duke wanted. That was easy. 'But for your good services methinks we should not have this King set above us.'

'I put him up ... I could put him down.'

There may be something in that, my lord/

'He has a claim to the throne it is true.'

'When he declares his brother's children bastards, yes.'

The two men surveyed each other. Did they want to put Edward the Fifth back on the throne?

Morton knew that was not the aim of the ambitious Duke. Nor was it his.

As soon as he realized that Richard was aware of his infidelity to him he had begun to plot. And he was in touch with a very resourceful lady who was very clever and had had one idea in her head since the death of Edward when it had become clear that there was going to be considerable conflict while a boy king reigned.

This was Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond, whose third husband was Lord Stanley. But Margaret's first marriage had been to Edmund Tudor and the result of that marriage was

her son, Henry Tudor, and it was on this son that Margaret's hopes were fixed.

Margaret's ambitious plan was to make him King of England. That he was worthy, she insisted. His grandfather was Owen who had married Katherine widow of Henry the Fifth, and his mother Margaret Beaufort, was the daughter of the first Duke of Somerset, John Beaufort, who was the son of another John Beaufort who himself was the son of John of Gaunt and Catherine Swynford. Margaret insisted that her son Henry Tudor had royal blood from both sides and if there were queshons of his legitimacy on both sides she would brush that aside. The Beauforts had been legitimized by Henry the Fourth; and she insisted that Katherine of Valois had married Owen Tudor.

In Margaret's eyes Henry Tudor had a claim to the throne.

Morton was interested in the idea. If Henry Tudor became King he would bring back the House of Lancaster. It would be the triumph of the red rose over the white—and possibly the final victory.

Richard stood in the way.

Morton had been in touch with Margaret Beaufort. She had not been idle. She was busily sounding possible recruits to her cause. That was how she had come into contact with Morton. She was married to Lord Stanley who would it seemed likely be ready to change sides at the vital moment. He had always had an eye to the main chance and he was clever enough to have ingratiated himself with Richard—until of course that fateful council in the Tower when he had been arrested. But he had quickly been released being able to give a plausible account of his activities, and was now back in the Council.

Well, he was Margaret's husband and presumably she must know that he could be relied upon when the time came. In the meantime it was useful to have him appear to be Richard's friend.

This was the plot into which Morton hoped to lure Buckingham but he could see that the noble Duke had ideas of his own.

He would have to go carefully, but he did not anticipate a great deal of trouble from the emotional Duke. His support would be the greatest help. The whole country would be aghast if Buckingham, who had done so much to put Richard on the throne, were openly to turn against him.

Tt would seem,' went on Morton, 'that my lord has regrets at the turn of events.'

'I begin to think the country has acted with some haste in offering Richard the crown.'

The country! Morton was secretly amused. Wasn't it Buckingham who had done that? But for that meering in the Guildhall and the applause of his men which they had clearly been ordered to give, would Richard have taken the crown?

Tt is only when a man comes to power that he emerges as himself.'

' 'Tis true, my lord. But you had a foresight, eh, at the Tower that day.'

'I did my lord. When Hastings, his friend, lost his head . . . without trial . . . .'

Tt was shameful. And Rivers and Grey.'

'He is a tyrant.'

'I agree.'

'My lord, could something be done about it?'

Buckingham's eyes gleamed. 'There are others with equal claims to the throne.'

He was preening himself. Already trying on the crown. This would need care, thought Morton.

He wanted Buckingham's help to further Henry Tudor but how could he get that when the conceited Duke saw himself as a contender for the throne?

'You know of my royal descent?' said the Duke.

Tdo, my lord.'

'The Woodville children are disqualified on account of their bastardy. If Richard were dethroned . . . well then.'

He was smiling and Morton smiled too.

God forbid, he thought, but he pretended to be excited and he allowed a new but subtle deference to creep into his manner when he looked at and spoke to the Duke.

Of course it would take a little time. He would go along with Buckingham; and when he judged the moment ripe he would show him how impossible it was for him to reach for the crown.

They had many discussions. Subtly the Bishop sowed the seeds of doubt in Buckingham's mind.

'If there was no truth in this Eleanor Butler story,' the Bishop pointed out, 'Richard would be exposed as an usurper.'

'Then the people would claim young Edward as their King.'

'And,' the Bishop pointed out, 'they would accept no other.'

They looked at each other intently. Inwardly they decided that

the illegitimacy of the late King's children must be adhered to otherwise there would be too many to come before the next King. Myself, thought Buckingham. Henry Tudor, thought Morton.

'There is Stillington,' said the Bishop. 'He will cling to the story. It must be true. Stillington would not have lied about such a matter. He places himself in great danger by doing so. Moreover he is a man of the Church.'

That made Buckingham smirk but he hid his cynicism because he wanted to remain on good terms with the Bishop.

There is no doubt that Edward went through that marriage with Eleanor Butler,' he said.

They talked of possibilities but whichever way they looked Richard was the true King and the only way to depose him would be to murder him.

They spent days in discussion. Buckingham could not tear himself away from his fascinating companion. Morton had ideas there was no doubt of that. He played on Buckingham's feelings to such an extent that within a week, the Duke's hatred of Richard had so increased that to destroy him became an even greater obsession than to seize the crown for himself.

'We need an army to oppose him,' said Morton slyly.

'I could raise men.'

'Enough?'

Buckingham considered.

'Henry Tudor is working in Brittany. He could do a great deal. He would have the Welsh with him.'

Buckingham was silent. Henry Tudor was a claimant to the throne.

'It is a pity that you are married, my lord,' said the Bishop.

'Aye. Married to a Woodville . . . forced into it when I was a child. 1 have never forgiven the Woodvilles for that.'

'Nay. That is one thing we shall have to be careful of. We don't want the Woodvilles back in power. I was going to say that if you were not married and could marry the late King's daughter . . . that would please a great number of people. There are still some who crave for the old days and even if he did foist his bastards on the nation people still admire King Edward the Fourth.'

'You mean that if I were unmarried and married Elizabeth of York it would be a sop to the Yorkists?'

'I mean that exactly, my lord.'

There was silence and after a few moments, speaking slowly

and carefully, Morton said: 'Henry Tudor plans to marry Elizabeth of York.'

Buckingham was thoughtful.

After a while the idea began to take form. It was true that his claim to the throne was slight. He could not really see himself being accepted. But this Henry Tudor . . . //he married Elizabeth of York then he would unite the houses of York and Lancaster. That was something which would win the applause of the people. They would see in such a marriage a real end to the Wars of the Roses for although there had been no battles for a number of years the rival factions were shll there. There would always be Lancastrians ready to stand against Yorkists until the houses were united.

Buckingham began to see a great deal of hope in the plan. It would ruin Richard and that was what he wanted.

He wanted Richard deposed and dead; and he began to see that the best hope of bringing that about was to support the Tudor.

Very soon his enthusiasms were won over. It was a superb piece of diplomacy on Morton's part. He could be thankful for his imprisonment which had brought him to Brecknock. This was the beginning of his power. He was going to put Henry Tudor on the throne and win his eternal gratitude.

Ambition had brought him to the Church not religion, for the Church offered opportunities to a man who had great ability and few influential relatives.

And now he had been given this great opportunity. He arranged a meeting between Buckingham and Margaret Beaufort who was delighted to have Buckingham on their side. This was a great breakthrough and Buckingham's help could be decisive. She told him that her son was lying in wait until the moment was ripe. He was leading a very precarious existence on the Continent. Francis Duke of Brittany had been his friend but Francis was now in his dotage and was eager to be on good terms with Richard the Third.

'Francis would have given up my son had Richard sent his men to take him, but good Bishop Morton warned him in time and Henry escaped with his uncle Jasper who has been his constant companion for so many years. He brought him up. We could never have survived without Jasper. But my son Henry is coming back and he will rule this land, I promise you. It will not be long . . . .'

'Amen/ said Buckingham, now one of Henry Tudor's fiercest supporters.

'We have good friends/ said Margaret, 'and Bishop Morton is one of the chief among them. He has brought us you, my lord, and now that you are with us that brings victory very close.'

Buckingham was flattered and eager. He wanted to go into action. There should be no delay.

There were more talks with Morton.

One day Buckingham said: 'Henry Tudor when he has defeated Richard of Gloucester in battle will marry Elizabeth of York. Will it be meet and fitting for a King of England to marry a proclaimed bastard?'

'No,' said Morton. 'It will not.'

'In that case if Elizabeth is not a bastard then neither are her brothers.'

'You speak truth,' said Morton, and hesitated wondering whether to tell the Duke the plan which had been forming in his mind for some time.

'If Henry Tudor married Elizabeth of York it would have to be that she was the heiress to the throne in the eyes of those who did not accept the Stillington story.' V 'How could she be while her two brothers lived?'

There was another pause. Then Morton said slowly: 'It could only be after her two brothers were dead.'

'Dead! The elder—King Edward the Fifth, is something of a weakling I beheve. But even if he died there is his brother the Duke of York.'

'When Henry gained the throne they would have to be removed . . . /

'Removed!'

'There is no need to go into details. The position has not arrived just yet. The Houses of York and Lancaster must be united as they would be by Henry Tudor and Elizabeth of York. Elizabeth must be seen to be the true heiress of York and Henry of Lancaster. Of course if the Princes are alive . . . they would be heirs. Edward first and if he had no children—^and we know he is too young for that—there is Richard, Duke of York. Only if they are removed and Elizabeth proved to be legitimate can she be the heiress to the throne. Henry on one side for Lancaster, Elizabeth on the other for York. It would be the perfect unity.'

'But there are the Princes . . . /

'My lord, sometimes it is necessary to take certain action.'

'You mean that if Henry Tudor landed here and defeated Richard, killed him in battle, that hme would come.'

'You see that it is so, my lord.'

'I see it is so. I see that King Henry Tudor could not marry a bastard, therefore Elizabeth must be legitimate. I see that she can only be heiress to the throne if her brothers are dead.'

'Then you see my point exactly.'

'But the children . . . those two boys in the Tower.'

'The time is not yet ripe. We should not consider that yet. Rest assured it will be taken care of when the time comes.'

'What will the people say of a King who murders children?'

'They will say nothing for they will not know. My lord Buckingham I am talking of things which may never come to pass, but we know you and I that it is sometimes necessary to take actions which are obnoxious to us. But if they are performed for the good of the greater number of people they are acceptable in God's eyes. What this country needs is the unity of York and Lancaster, an end to the conflict which will never really cease until this comes about. The unity of York and Lancaster can be brought about by the marriage of Henry Tudor and Elizabeth of York.'

'That I understand but . . . .'

'You concern yourself with the children. It is a minor matter. It may not be. It cannot be until Henry Tudor lands on this island and proclaims himself King and Elizabeth of York his Queen. Thank God she is in Sanctuary and no husband has been found for her. No husband must be found until Henry Tudor comes.'

Buckingham was thoughtful, and the Bishop said no more that day.

Later he told the Duke that if the Princes were removed the blame must be attached to their Uncle Richard.

'On what grounds?' asked Buckingham.

'That he fears them.'

'Why should he? The people accept their bastardy. They have therefore no claim to the throne and Richard is the true heir.'

'That is true. But we must ensure the peaceful reign of the new King. It will never be so if people blame him for removing the Princes.'

'But you say they must... be removed.'

They will be a menace to him because he must in marrying their sister, accept their legitimacy.'

'Exactly, and they provide no threat to Richard who does accept their bastardy.'

'People forget. There are ways of dealing with these matters. If you tell the people something constantly and forcibly enough in time they believe it. I propose to begin now. I am setting some of my servants to whisper in the shops and the streets and the taverns . . . not only here but all over the country and particularly in London. I am going to tell them to spread the rumour that the Princes have been murdered in the Tower.'

'People can see them shooting their arrows in the gardens of the Garden Tower.'

'I know. But all will not see them and those who do not, may believe. Rumour may be a lying jade but she can be a useful one.'

'I don't like it,' said Buckingham.

Morton was uneasy. Had he gone too far?

'It is nothing. The boys are safe enough. It is just a theory I had in mind. Perhaps the people would not object to the bastardy. Perhaps the marriage between Henry Tudor and Elizabeth of York will not take place after all. I was just looking ahead to the possibilities. The first thing is to depose Richard. Let us give our energies to that.'

'That is what I am most eager to do and I think the time has come for us to go into action/

When Richard heard that Buckingham had put himself at the head of an insurrection to come against him he was deeply shocked.

Buckingham, who had been his friend, his Constable, and the one who had been closest to him in the struggle. He could not believe it.

He immediately set about calling an army together and gave instructions that they were to meet at Leicester. He was quiet and calm, hiding how deeply wounded he was. He did say that Buckingham was the most untrue creature living and everyone knew that if ever the Duke fell into the King's hands that would be the end of him. He was declared a rebel and a price was put on his head.

Richard was supported by his good friends John Howard, Duke of Norfolk, Francis, Viscount Lovell, Sir Richard Ratcliffe and William Catesby ... all men on whom he could rely. But then he had thought he could rely on Buckingham. No, Buckingham had come up too quickly. It had been an error of judgment to have relied on him to such an extent. Then there was Stanley. He did not trust Stanley. He was after all the husband of Margaret Beaufort, mother of the Tudor. He was watchful of Stanley and must make sure that he was given no opportunity to be false.

There were risings in Kent and Surrey and East Anglia. These were quickly suppressed and Richard marched on to Leicester.

Buckingham was in difficulties. He had moved towards the east with a force made up mainly of Welsh troops but when he came into Herefordshire he found the rivers Wye and Severn in flood and impassable. There was no help for it but to attempt to retreat but that became out of the question for he found he was hemmed in by enemy troops. He was forced to wait and the men grew restive. The expedition was ill-timed and ill-planned. Men began to desert and the Duke saw that there was nothing left to him but escape.

There was a big price on his head. If he fell into Richard's hands there would be no mercy. He could not expect that. Therefore he must escape.

Perhaps he could get across the Channel and join Henry Tudor. Then they could plot together and come back in triumph.

One of his retainers, Ralph Bannister, who had a house near the town of Wem, took him in and Buckingham stayed for a few days at his mansion of Lacon Park.

Everyone was talking about the debacle and the price on the Duke of Buckingham's head. It was a large price for Richard was very eager to get the traitor into his hands.

For a day or so Bannister resisted the temptation but after a while it became too much for him. He advised Buckingham to leave his house and showed him a hut where he could stay for a while until he could make good his escape. But no sooner was Buckingham in the hut than he was arrested and taken to Salisbury by the Sheriff of Shropshire.

He asked to see the King. He wanted to talk to him. He confessed that he had been a foolish traitor. He had wronged the King who had been his friend. But if he could but see the King, if

he could talk to him, if he could explain ....

It was no use. He could hardly expect Richard to see him in the circumstances for never had a man more blatantly played the traitor.

It was the second of November, a dark day and a Sunday, when Buckingham was taken out to the market-place and there laid his head on the block.

RUMOURS

The insurrection was over. Henry Tudor had not landed. Of the fifteen ships which the Duke of Brittany had given him all but two had been destroyed by storm. He had come close to the coast with those two but seeing the soldiers on land had thought it wiser to return and try another time.

Richard was triumphant, but he had received a warning.

Another matter which had deeply disturbed him was the rumour of the death of the Princes and that he was named as their murderer. Of what purpose would their death serve? They were no menace to him. He was the true King. The bastard sons of his brother did not threaten his position.

The only way in which they could do so would be if they were his brother's legitimate sons. And if they had been it would never have occurred to him to take the throne. He would have remained as Protector of the Realm and guardian of the little King until he was of age to govern.

It was a disturbing rumour. Did it mean that there was a plot afoot to murder the Princes and lay the blame at his door? It was a feasible plan, the logic behind which became clear to him when he heard that in the Cathedral at Rennes Henry Tudor had sworn to marry Elizabeth of York and thus unite the houses of York and Lancaster.

He thought a great deal about the matter and the more he thought the more certain it seemed to him that some harm was planned for the Princes. They were in the Garden Tower at the moment and his very good friend Sir Robert Brackenbury was the Constable.

He decided he would warn him to guard the Princes well, and he summoned to him his Master of Henchmen Sir James Tyrell.

He told him that he wished him to take a letter to the Constable of the Tower and that he should prepare himself to leave at once.

Richard then wrote the letter in which he asked Sir Robert to guard the Princes well. He feared for their safety. He thought it would be a good idea if they were removed from their present lodging and put into a secret one until such time as it would be safe for them to emerge.

He would explain his fears to Sir Robert sometime when they were together. For the present he knew he was his very good friend and could trust him.

The year passed uneasily. Richard was aware that the Bishop of Ely was one of his greatest enemies and he heartily repented putting him in Buckingham's care. After the debacle Morton had escaped to Flanders and now had probably joined Henry Tudor.

It was difficult to govern as he would have wished with so much to deter him. How lucky Edward had been to have the people with him. After the defection of Buckingham Richard felt he could never trust anyone again.

He wished that everyone would forget their grievances, that they would try to work with him for a prosperous state. He was sorry that Elizabeth Woodville remained in Sanctuary. He wanted her to come forth—she and her daughters.

He sent word to her telling her that if she came out no harm should befall her.

Elizabeth was wary. She could not forget that her brother Anthony and her son Richard had been beheaded at Richard's orders. He had answered that they had deserved their fate and they would have had his head if events had gone the other way. It was no use going over the past. That was done with. She had five daughters; she should think of their future.

He did not remind her that she had a son, the Marquess of Dorset, who was now on the Continent with Henry Tudor.

A letter was delivered to her in Sanctuary which Richard had written himself.

T swear,' he wrote, 'that if the daughters of Elizabeth Grey, late calling herself Queen of England, will come to me out of Sanctuary and be guided and ruled by me I shall see that they shall be in surety of their lives and that as they are my kinswomen, being the undoubted daughters of my brother, I will arrange worthy marriages for them. . . .'

He also offered to pay an annual pension to Elizabeth herself.

Elizabeth considered the offer. He could hardly dishonour it, she said. And she was anxious about her daughters.

On a bleak March day she emerged from Sanctuary and decided that she must accept the offer and rely on the mercy of the King.

During that month Richard left London for Northampton. It seemed certain now that Henry Tudor would make another attack with the coming of better weather. Richard must be prepared. Until Henry Tudor was dead there would be no peace for him, he realized. Henry Tudor wanted the throne and he was going to do everything he could to gain it. Moreover there were many who would help him in this endeavour. Richard was surrounded by people whom common sense forced him to doubt.

Norfolk, Lovell, Ratcliffe, Catesby, Brackenbury . . . those he believed he could trust with his life. But there were others who filled him with doubt. The conduct of Buckingham and Hastings had made him distrustful, suspicious of everyone.

He longed for peace. He was a bom administrator. He wanted to encourage trading as Edward had. That was the sure way to prosperity. A country wasted its substance in war.

There were other anxieties. Anne's health was failing. She was so easily tired. He was worried about his son too. Anne had sent him back to Middleham because she thought it was better for him to be there. Her thoughts went with him though, and although she made a great effort to accompany Richard and smile at the people and appear to be merry he was aware of what a great effort it was and how very tired she felt.

They were half way through April when the messenger came from the North. He was brought immediately to the King and Richard knew at once that the news was bad.

'Have no fear,' he said. Tell me quickly.'

'My lord, it is the Prince.'

'He is ill. . . .'

The man looked at him silently.

Richard turned away to hide his emotion. 'He is dead,' he said slowly. 'My son is dead.'

'My lord, I fear ... it is so.'

'I will tell the Queen,' said the King; he waved his hand in dismissal and the messenger glad to escape hurriedly left.

Anne valiantly tried to suppress her desolation. It was impossible. For a time she gave up all pretence that she was well. She

sank to her knees and covered her face with her hands.

He tried to comfort her, but there was no comfort. This delicate boy whom they had loved even more tenderly because they had suffered constant fear for him, was lost to them.

He had suffered from the same disease which had afflicted both Warwick's daughters, and meant that they could not hope for any but a brief life span.

They had cherished him—their Prince of Wales, their heir to England . . . and now he was gone.

And looking at Anne, so desolate in her grief, Richard wondered how soon it would be before he was mourning his wife.

The future was grim. The Scots were giving trouble on the border now that Richard was no longer there to keep them in check. The King of France was showing friendship to Henry Tudor. Richard knew he must get his hands on that man. If he could capture him and bring him to England, get rid of him, then they might settle to peace. He sent men to Brittany to capture Henry Tudor, but Morton had his spies in England. Among them was Rotherham who was able to inform Morton of what was planned. Morton then warned Henry Tudor in time so that he escaped into France. Morton was a dangerous enemy. Richard knew that now and cursed himself for not destroying him when he was in his hands. He was far more dangerous than Hastings would ever have been.

He was indeed more dangerous than Richard knew. He had heard of Richard's instructions to Brackenbury and thought that if everything went according to plan that act might be of considerable use to him.

Morton had staked his future now on Henry Tudor's victory and if he could bring about the marriage between Elizabeth of York and Henry Tudor he would be delighted with his plans. If that marriage ever came about and it was to be effective those little Princes would have to be disposed of. So they had been kept out of the way at Richard's request. Well, that might be useful. It would give credence to the story that they were already dead. He was sorry that Elizabeth Woodville had come out of Sanctuary with her daughters. That was unfortunate on two counts. First if she had believed that Richard had murdered the Princes—her

little sons of whom she was so fond, for whatever else she was she was a devoted mother—she would never have put her daughters in his hands. Another fear—and perhaps an even greater one—was that Richard might find husbands for the girls. Then the marriage between Elizabeth and Henry Tudor could not take place and would the people accept Henry Tudor if by doing so they were not going to unite the houses of York and Lancaster?

We need to move fast, thought Morton. And yet how could they? They must be absolutely sure of success when they came in.

The weary year was passing. Henry Tudor had made no attempt to land. Clearly he was not ready.

Richard guessed there were traitors all about him. One morning there was discovered on the door of St Paul's a rhyme which could only spell treachery:

It was a criticism of the King and ran:

The Cat, the Rat, and Lovell our dog Rule all England under a hog.'

The Cat was Catesby, the Rat Ratcliffe and Lovell– a name frequently used for dogs—was Francis Lovell—all faithful friends. And the hog was himself taken from the sign of the Boar on his staff.

The rhyme was traced to William Colynboume who had been an officer in the household of the Duchess of York. Richard was deeply wounded not only by the criticism of his rule but because this man had been one of his family's servants. Colynboume had committed a greater sin than writing seditious doggerel verse. He was found guilty of sending messages to Henry Tudor giving the state of the defences of England.

He was accorded the traitor's death and suffered cruelly on Tower Hill.

One urgent need was staring Richard in the face, and that was the importance of getting an heir. There had always been anxiety about Edward's health and he and Anne had longed for another child. She had been so delicate that he had begun to feel that they would never have another and while they had the young Prince they could put their hope in him. But now he was gone. Moreover Anne's health had deteriorated rapidly since the death of Edward. It was clear that a great interest had been taken out of

her life and she felt so ill now that she could no longer disguise it.

Richard called in the doctors.

Could they not do something? Surely their skill was not beyond helping her.

They shook their heads.

Tt is a disease of the lungs, my lord. The Queen cannot recover. She can only grow progressively worse.'

The physicians were uneasy and he was aware that there was something else they wished to say to him. They hesitated, each waiting for the other to speak.