The Prince and the Pauper Read online

  CHAPTER VIII. The Question of the Seal.

  About five o'clock Henry VIII. awoke out of an unrefreshing nap, andmuttered to himself, "Troublous dreams, troublous dreams! Mine end isnow at hand: ?so say these warnings, and my failing pulses do confirmit." Presently a wicked light flamed up in his eye, and he muttered,"Yet will not I die till _He_ go before."

  His attendants perceiving that he was awake, one of them asked hispleasure concerning the Lord Chancellor, who was waiting without.

  "Admit him, admit him!" exclaimed the King eagerly.

  The Lord Chancellor entered, and knelt by the King's couch, saying--

  "I have given order, and, according to the King's command, the peers ofthe realm, in their robes, do now stand at the bar of the House, where,having confirmed the Duke of Norfolk's doom, they humbly wait hismajesty's further pleasure in the matter."

  The King's face lit up with a fierce joy. ?Said he--

  "Lift me up! ?In mine own person will I go before my Parliament, andwith mine own hand will I seal the warrant that rids me of--"

  His voice failed; an ashen pallor swept the flush from his cheeks; andthe attendants eased him back upon his pillows, and hurriedly assistedhim with restoratives. ?Presently he said sorrowfully--

  "Alack, how have I longed for this sweet hour! and lo, too late itcometh, and I am robbed of this so coveted chance. ?But speed ye, speedye! let others do this happy office sith 'tis denied to me. I put myGreat Seal in commission: ?choose thou the lords that shall compose it,and get ye to your work. ?Speed ye, man! ?Before the sun shall rise andset again, bring me his head that I may see it."

  "According to the King's command, so shall it be. ?Will't please yourmajesty to order that the Seal be now restored to me, so that I mayforth upon the business?"

  "The Seal? ?Who keepeth the Seal but thou?"

  "Please your majesty, you did take it from me two days since, saying itshould no more do its office till your own royal hand should use it uponthe Duke of Norfolk's warrant."

  "Why, so in sooth I did: ?I do remember. . . . What did I with it?...I am very feeble. . . . So oft these days doth my memory play thetraitor with me. . . . 'Tis strange, strange--"

  The King dropped into inarticulate mumblings, shaking his grey headweakly from time to time, and gropingly trying to recollect what hehad done with the Seal. ?At last my Lord Hertford ventured to kneel andoffer information--

  "Sire, if that I may be so bold, here be several that do remember withme how that you gave the Great Seal into the hands of his highness thePrince of Wales to keep against the day that--"

  "True, most true!" interrupted the King. ?"Fetch it! ?Go: ?time flieth!"

  Lord Hertford flew to Tom, but returned to the King before very long,troubled and empty-handed. ?He delivered himself to this effect--

  "It grieveth me, my lord the King, to bear so heavy and unwelcometidings; but it is the will of God that the prince's affliction abidethstill, and he cannot recall to mind that he received the Seal. ?So cameI quickly to report, thinking it were waste of precious time, andlittle worth withal, that any should attempt to search the long array ofchambers and saloons that belong unto his royal high--"

  A groan from the King interrupted the lord at this point. ?After alittle while his majesty said, with a deep sadness in his tone--

  "Trouble him no more, poor child. ?The hand of God lieth heavy upon him,and my heart goeth out in loving compassion for him, and sorrow that Imay not bear his burden on mine old trouble-weighted shoulders, and sobring him peace."

  He closed his eyes, fell to mumbling, and presently was silent. Aftera time he opened his eyes again, and gazed vacantly around until hisglance rested upon the kneeling Lord Chancellor. Instantly his faceflushed with wrath--

  "What, thou here yet! ?By the glory of God, an' thou gettest not aboutthat traitor's business, thy mitre shall have holiday the morrow forlack of a head to grace withal!"

  The trembling Chancellor answered--

  "Good your Majesty, I cry you mercy! ?I but waited for the Seal."

  "Man, hast lost thy wits? ?The small Seal which aforetime I was wontto take with me abroad lieth in my treasury. ?And, since the Great Sealhath flown away, shall not it suffice? ?Hast lost thy wits? ?Begone!?And hark ye--come no more till thou do bring his head."

  The poor Chancellor was not long in removing himself from this dangerousvicinity; nor did the commission waste time in giving the royal assentto the work of the slavish Parliament, and appointing the morrow for thebeheading of the premier peer of England, the luckless Duke of Norfolk.