Courtier in the Royal House of Stuart

by Leslie Hatton

  ***

  It was only when England was just a shadow on the horizon that we were told our destination was not France, but The Hague in Holland.

  The four ships between them carried a small army of Royalist supporters including a handful of faithful Noble Lords, each with their own families and retainers. There were also officers from the King’s Guard, a few hundred foot soldiers and a number of the prince’s courtiers and personal friends.

  It was the Prince of Wales himself who told us our new destination as he stood tall and proud on the quarterdeck with the wind in his face and his long hair blowing freely.

  ‘This is a proud moment for me, because as some of you know, we are sailing on the newest ship in the Royal Fleet. Commissioned by my father and named “Prince Charles”. With the outcome of the war looking more uncertain, I believe our best hope of raising an army in support of the king is with my kin, William, Prince of Orange, in Holland. He is more likely to help and support our cause than my mother’s family in France.

  ‘The Scottish army led by Lord Hamilton have regrouped and are preparing to cross the border in the autumn. My father suggests we make haste to Holland, raise an army, and join him there at the River Forth.

  ‘Therefore our first destination will be the Dutch seaport of Breda, and then to The Hague where I will be staying for an unspecified time at Noordeinde Palace, the residence of the Dutch Royal family. Enjoy the voyage and God bless you all.’

  Thomas put a hand on my shoulder and asked again if I was hungry. I nodded.

  ‘Then we had better feed you. Come, I will take you to the galley and then show you around the ship.’

  The galley was a large room on the lowest deck of the ship, it was very noisy with many people eating. I glanced around but could see nobody I knew.

  They were serving broth; I took a large bowlful, a small ale, and some bread and cheese.

  We took our food and sat at the end of a long bench on our own. At the other end of the bench, a group of well-dressed gentlemen and officers were noisily talking, all at the same time.

  It wasn’t until they began to whisper, and I heard the name Toby mentioned, that I started to take notice. One man seemed to be doing all the talking, he was speaking very softly. Thomas was slurping his broth so I couldn’t hear much of what was said, but I did catch the words ‘whelp of a whore’. I found that most distressing because they were obviously talking about me, and no one was supposed to know about my past.

  We finished our food and sat back together drinking our ale. I dismissed the disparaging remarks spoken about me from my mind… it was just gossip and words can’t hurt me.

  ‘Come on Toby, I’ll show you around the ship.’

  I had noticed the cannons on the way to the galley, and was amazed and excited to be so close to such amazing weapons of war… while at the same time praying that I would never be on a ship when they were being used in anger.

  We climbed up one flight of stairs to where most of the cannons were mounted… all new and all spaced equal distance apart. There seemed to be an excess of crew members moving about the deck, some working on the weapons, others just moving between decks.

  ‘I’ll take you round the Bow Castle later, but while we are here I might as well show you these cannons. I’m no expert on weapons but I will do my best to explain how they work. These guns are all muzzle-loading, they are made of bronze, and though not as large as the ones used on the battlefield… they are still capable of shooting a cast iron shot over a mile.

  ‘As you can see, when not in use they are moved back away from the gun ports and secured by cheese-shaped wedges and chains; look, this is where they are secured.’ He pointed to hooks on the beams and a ratchet used for tightening the chains.

  ‘Only the new ships use chains, the older ones only ropes. The cannons are mounted on wheeled wooden carriages, each manned by five crew members, as you can imagine it is hard and thirsty work, so every member is allocated one gallon of ale a day.’

  ‘Can we open a gun port?’ I asked.

  ‘I don’t see why not, but be careful not to fall out.’

  He opened the gun port which was hinged and secured to a roof beam. Hanging onto the side of the gun port, we stooped and peered out at the waves, watching for a moment, the ship pitching and rolling.

  It could only have been a minute… two at the most, when the ship pitched to port and I heard a thundering noise behind me: glancing round I saw the cannon hurtling toward us. I dived to my right, banging my head and grazing my arm… I was shaken but otherwise unhurt.

  Thomas was not so lucky, he’s older than me and not as agile. A wheel ran over his foot and the carriage glanced his arm, sending him crashing across the deck where he lay still until a group of crew members came rushing to his aid. To my relief he was soon sitting up, blood dripping from his head and arm, but alert enough to ask questions.

  The cannon ended up crashing into the side of the ship, splintering timbers and stopping half in and half out of the ship. Crew rushed to our aid, the cannon already being hauled back inside and being secured. Two strong crew members lifted a groaning Thomas and carried him up on deck to the medic’s room in the aft castle, close to our own cabin.

  The ship’s physician identified two bones in his foot that were broken, and decided the best he could do under the circumstances was to bind the whole foot tightly and trust that they would eventually knit together. His instructions were to rest as much as possible and not to remove the binding for at least six weeks.

  Thomas was sat in a chair with his foot resting on a stool, his right arm strapped up in a sling, the gash to his arm now held in place by a bandage.

  ‘There is no doubt in my mind that this was a deliberate attempt on my life,’ he furiously declared.

  ‘On what grounds?’ asked the Prince.

  ‘Because I know that the cannon was correctly secured with chains and the wheel-wedges. Toby will vouch for that.’

  Charles looked at me and I nodded.

  ‘Why would anyone want to harm you? There cannot be that many people on this ship who know who you are.’

  ‘I have no idea, but I intend to find out.’

  I spoke softly, half hoping neither had heard me. ‘My Lord, I think I was the target, Thomas was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.’

  They both looked at me… clearly surprised by my statement.

  ‘Why on earth would you think that Toby, nobody knows you, or anything about you?’

  ‘Half of London knows about Toby’s heroics. News like that travels fast, it could have been anyone,’ Thomas said as he eased his foot off the rest and placed it gently on the deck.

  ‘What makes you think you were the target, and what possible motive could anyone have to want hurt you?’

  ‘I have no idea, but I overheard some men talking about me in the galley while I was eating with Thomas this morning, and they were not being complimentary, they called me the whelp of a whore.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Yes my Lord, and I heard someone whisper my name.’

  ‘I heard nothing,’ said an indignant Thomas. ‘What else did you hear that I didn’t?’

  ‘Just the odd word but it was enough to assure me that I was the subject of their anger… or perhaps I should say, his anger because there was only one man doing the talking.’

  ‘How many were there Toby?’

  ‘They were behind me, and if I had turned round they would have known I had overheard them talking, so I kept quiet and just listened, but I would guess there must have been about five or six of them.’

  The prince paced up and down thinking and pondering what course of action to take.

  ‘We have already questioned the crew,’ he said, ‘and they speak as one in assuring me that all the cannons were properly secured and that they could not have m
oved on their own without someone releasing the chains and removing the wedges. That’s what they are saying and I am inclined to believe them. I think it is highly unlikely that anyone from the crew was involved, but I will certainly check them out. That just leaves a handful of earls, with their entourages, a plethora of high ranking officers in the King’s Guard and a few hundred soldiers. Can either of you think of anyone I have missed?’

  I looked at Thomas and we both shook our heads.

  ‘Whoever the offender is, he is a chancer who must have been passing through… saw an opportunity, and seized on the moment. He then escaped before the accident happened. So what I will do is get someone to interrogate the crew on the gun deck again, I will ask the earls to question their own courtiers and personal staff, and I will speak to my own people. Rest that foot,’ Charles said pointing to Thomas’s injury, ‘And do as the medic has advised.’

  He then turned and walked out of the cabin, shutting the door as he left.

  I found it hard to sleep that night. I was perplexed and puzzled as to why anyone would want to hurt me, and in my head I kept going through the whole bewildering incident over and over again, until eventually the gentle movement of the ship on a calm sea sent me to sleep.

  When I woke I felt a little unwell but Thomas assured me that I would be alright after a good meal, he also thought it better to have food brought up to our cabin, rather than him struggle down to the galley on crutches.

  The rest of the voyage was short and uneventful and we arrived roughly as predicted at the port of Breda, mid-afternoon on the third day.

  The Hague, Holland

  Carriages were at the dockside waiting to take the prince and his entourage (including me) the short journey to Noordeinde Palace, the luxurious residence of the Dutch Royal family where we were warmly greeted by Prince Charles’s sister Mary and her husband Prince William of Orange.

  The commanders and men-at-arms were marched to a camp a mile or so from the anchorage. This was to be their home until they were needed. The nobility made their own arrangements.

  At first sight I thought Noordeinde Palace looked similar to our own St James’s Palace in London, but it was completely different on the inside, with its high concentration of art covering every space on every wall.

  I was taken to my quarters at the very top of the building by a page boy who I thought was about my age. He didn’t speak any English but indicated that I was to wait there until called.

  I had a small window in my attic room from where I could see crowds of people scurrying about, unloading carts and carriages, at the same time stable hands were tending to the horses and carriages as they were vacated.

  From high up in my lofty position they all looked like ants, scampering and rushing about aimlessly… or so it seemed.

  It was not too long before the same page boy returned with my trunk, he dropped it on the floor and indicated that I should follow him down the stairs. Thomas was seated in the library waiting for me, his crutches leaning against his chair.

  ‘You will have to look after yourself for a few hours, I have work to attend to, but there’s plenty of places for you to explore. On the other side of the palace there’s an orchard and large gardens leading down to a lake. The stables are next to the servants’ quarters at the rear of the palace… that’s where you will find the horses and coaches. Enjoy yourself but remember I want you back here by five o’clock. If you are hungry there’s snacks in the dining room. Any questions?’

  ‘No, I think you have covered everything Thomas, see you at five.’

  I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to use the front entrance, but I used it anyway and nobody said anything, I don’t think anyone even noticed me running round the building looking for the stables. The gardens could wait for another time, I wanted to see the horses, and perhaps even get a ride.

  I rushed into the stables block panting from the run.

  ‘Bonjour, peux je vous aide?’

  I turned to find a boy a few years older, and a little taller, smiling at me. I was learning French and enjoyed the language, but I knew I was not good enough to hold a conversation. I wanted to reply in French and tried but I was not convinced that I got it right.

  ‘Mon Francais n’est pas très bon,’ I said slowly.

  ‘No matter, I’m Louis,’ said my new friend. ‘With our latest guest being an English Prince I should have realised you would be English. I always speak French or English to strangers, not many guests understand Dutch. I speak five languages and English is my favourite.’

  ‘I am Toby,’ I said, ‘are you a stable boy?’

  ‘I like to think I am more than just a stable boy,’ he said. ‘My father is master of the horse… as was his father before him, and one day I will be a master of the horse too… here at Noordeinde or some other royal palace.’

  ‘I love horses Louis, and I was wondering if I could help in any way?’

  I was secretly hoping he would let me exercise one of the horses, but I didn’t mind just helping, I was prepared to do anything.

  ‘Have you ever groomed a horse?’

  ‘No, but I would like to learn. I had a horse in London, but the stable boys did all the grooming there. When I returned from riding, I just handed over the reins to one of them.’

  ‘Well if you like, I will show you the basics, and then you can have a go on your own.’

  He showed me how to clean hooves, and how best to groom the horse’s head and main.

  ‘There’s much more to learn, but try doing what I have just shown you on the black Friesian in the next stall, call me if you need any help.’

  I was enjoying myself so much I lost track of the time, and before I realised, I was late. I ran back to the palace to find Thomas waiting for me in the library, just where I had left him earlier in the day.

  ‘Get yourself cleaned up and changed into your finest clothes. A banquet and ball has been arranged by Princess Mary to welcome her brother Charles to Holland. Sovereign Prince Fredrick Henry of Orange is apparently too ill to attend, so our hosts will be Mary and her husband William. I will wait for you here in the library in half an hour.’

  ‘Am I invited then?’

  ‘You will be seated with me somewhere well out of the way I imagine.’

  The banqueting hall was a huge room with small windows which provided very little daylight. But the poor light was improved by large chandeliers, each holding thousands of candles, and there were more candles and lamps on the tables and wall fittings.

  Charles, as guest of honour, sat between Prince William and his sister Mary, I was hidden as far away from the lords, ladies and nobility as was possible, which suited me fine, I was just glad to be invited to such a grand event, and to get a small glimpse into how these people lived and played.

  I was, however, surprised that Thomas was sat so far away from the prince, and thought that had it not been for me, he would most certainly have been on the top table, close to Charles where he belonged.

  I had never seen so much food in my life before, much of which I couldn’t even recognise. Then cheese and port wine, which was poured into tiny glasses, hardly big enough to hold more than one gulp. And finally, decanters of brandy and glass goblets for the men to help themselves.

  I filled my belly to bursting, but I could not help feeling a little guilty at the thought of Veronica back in Fleet Alley, boiling up a stew to last three days. Dismissing the thought from my mind, I asked Thomas could I taste the port wine.

  ‘Just a sip but I will pour it for you.’

  ***

  After the banquet, the tables were quickly removed and the lords and ladies began to dance to music played by a group of musicians on a small elevated area in one corner of the hall.

  Thomas was tired and his foot was aching, so he excused himself and went to his bed. But I was too excited and fascinated by the
dancing to leave. From my quiet corner of the room I watch unobserved.

  The dancing was started by Prince Charles and his sister Princess Mary. I watched in wonderment thinking how graceful and enchanting it looked, and wondered if I would ever get a chance to dance, which I doubted as I think I would be too embarrassed.

  The music stopped and when it started again, Mary was dancing with her husband, Prince William. Charles had chosen a new partner, a young woman with curly chestnut coloured hair, brown eyes and a pretty face. Her figure was as perfect as any of Madam Veronica’s ladies. She was wearing a silk light bronze coloured dress, pinched at the waist by a broad golden velvet sash; she was indeed a young and extremely attractive woman and it was clear for all to see that Prince Charles was quite spellbound by her beauty.

  They danced together all evening and appeared unable to be parted. When they were not dancing, he was holding her hand or had his arm around her waist, whispering and giggling in her ear like a couple of children. I was fascinated by the courtship and found it hard not to watch, and I was not alone, others were watching too, murmuring quietly to each other and observing just as I was.

  I lost track of time, I think I must have been there for an hour or two and was thinking of creeping away up to my tiny room in the roof for the night when I felt a tap on my shoulder. Thinking Thomas had returned, I spun round to find Princess Mary standing smiling at me.

  ‘I believe I have a lot to thank you for,’ she said, ‘you are Toby, the young man who saved my brother’s life are you not?’

  She was not much taller than me, I felt embarrassed and a little intimidated by her, I was not even sure how I should address her.

  ‘It was me my Lady, but I am no hero, I just happened to be in the right place and at the right time.’

  ‘Well we have a lot to thank you for. Now Toby will you dance with me?’

  ‘I can’t dance my Lady.’

  ‘Surely you can dance a little.’

  ‘Not even a little my Lady. I have been watching and I think you are very graceful. I wish I could dance, but I have never had the opportunity to try.’