CHAPTER XX.
Not rain she finds the charmful task, In pageant quaint, in motley mask.--Collins.
During this expedition of Henry and Sir Osborne, Lord Darby had actedwith more prudence than might have been expected from one so light andvolatile as himself. But, with all the levity of youth, he had a greatfund of shrewdness and good sense, which enabled him keenly toperceive all the weaknesses of the king's character, and adapt his ownbehaviour exactly to the circumstance, whenever he was broughtparticularly in contact with the monarch.
In the present instance, seeing that the spirit of mystery had seizedupon Henry, he consented to forego all more active amusement; so that,when the king and his young companion returned, they found the earlseated in the saloon wherein Sir Osborne had been armed, never havingquitted it during their absence.
Henry was in high spirits. All had gone well with him: his expeditionhad been both successful and secret, and he was not a little pleasedto find that the earl had not joined any of the gay parties of thecourt while he had been away.
"Ha, my lord!" cried he, as he entered; "still here! You have donewell; you have done well. 'Tis a treasure you have brought me, thisgood knight. Snell, unlace my casque; I must thank you for him as agift, for he is now mine own. He outdoes all expectation; nay, say notagainst it, Sir Osborne; I should be able to judge of these matters: Ihave broken spears enow, and I pronounce you equal to any knight atthis court. Call some one to undo these trappings. But, Darby, youmust not quit the court to-night. Dine here; 'tis time, i'faith; nearone o' the clock! and take Sir Osborne Maurice with you. Make himknown to the best of the court: say the king holds him highly. Butstay," he added, "I had forgot;" and sending for the sub-controller ofthe household, he gave commands that the young knight should befurnished with apartments in the palace from that moment, and receivethe appointment of a gentleman of the privy chamber. "The number iscomplete," he continued, turning to Sir Osborne; "but, nevertheless,you shall be rated as such, and yourself and men provided in thepalace. See it be done, Sir John Harvey. Darby, return hitherprivately with your friend, at nine to-night. We have a masque andrevel afoot; but take no heed to send to London for disguise; we willbe your furnishers."
"I hope, sir," said the sub-controller, as the knight and his friendfollowed him from the presence, "you are aware that only threeservants are allowed to a gentleman of the privy chamber."
"Three will be as much as I shall have occasion for," answered theknight; "the other shall remain in London."
"If you will follow me, then," said the officer, "I will show you tothe apartment. Ho! send me a yeoman usher there," he continued,speaking to a servant who passed. "This way, sir, we shall find therooms."
"What!" cried Lord Darby, after they had ascended a good many steps inone of the wings of the building; "are you going to put my friend in athird story? Think, Sir John Harvey, may not the king find it strangewhen he hears that a knight he honours with his regard has been solodged?"
"I can assure you, my lord," answered the controller, "they areabsolutely the only ones in the palace vacant which are at all equalto the knight's quality; and in truth, were it not for the height, areamong the best in the place. They are large and spacious; exactly thesame size as those which were appointed yesterday, by the queen'scommand, for Lady Constance de Grey, and which are immediatelyunderneath."
"I was going to offer Sir Osborne the use of mine," said Lord Darby,with a laughing glance towards the knight, "till you could find himbetter; but if they are so very good as you say, maybe he will preferhaving his own at once. Ha! Sir Osborne?"
The controller looked solemn, seeing there was some joke, and notunderstanding it; but, however, he was joined in a moment after by ayeoman usher, bearing a bunch of keys, from which he selected one,and opened the door at which they had been standing while the earlspoke. A little ante-chamber conducted into three others beyond, allvery well furnished according to the fashion of the day, with abeautiful view of the wild park from the windows of some of therooms, and of the river from the others; on which advantage theworthy sub-controller descanted with much the tone and manner of alodging-house keeper at a watering-place; little knowing that one wordregarding the proximity of Constance de Grey would have been a higherrecommendation to the young knight than all the prospects in theworld, though he loved the beautiful and varied face of earth as muchas any one.
"Go to the wardrobe of beds, usher," said the officer, when he hadpromenaded the knight and Lord Darby through the apartment; "go to thewardrobe of beds, and tell the undermaster to come hither and garnishthis apartment with all speed. As I do not know the honourableknight's face," continued he, "it is probable that he is new to thiscourt, and is not aware of the regulations, which, therefore, I willmake bold to tell him. Dinner and supper are served at the board ofestate, every day, at noon and at nightfall. No rere-suppers aregiven, nunchions, beverages, or breakfast; but to each gentleman ofthe privy-chamber his grace commands a livery every night."
"A livery!" said Sir Osborne; "pray, Sir John, what is that?"
"Its value, sir," said the controller, "depends upon the station ofthe person to whom it is given. I have known it cost as much as tenpounds; such was sent every night to the gentlemen who came to seekthe Princess Mary for the French king; but the livery given by hisgrace the king to the gentlemen of the privy-chamber, and othersbearing the same rank, is a cast of fine manchet bread, two pots ofwhite or red wine at choice, one pound weight of sugar, four whitelights, and four yellow lights of wax, and one large staff torch,which is delivered every evening at seven of the clock."
Without proceeding further with such discourse, we shall merely saythat the arrangement of Sir Osborne's apartment was soon completed,himself unarmed, his servants furnished with what modern lacqueyswould call dog-holes, and with truckle-beds; and having, byintercession with a gentleman wearing black velvet and a gold chain,and calling himself the chief cook, obtained some dinner, for theboard of estate had long been cleared, Lord Darby and Sir Osbornesauntered forth on the parade, where the young gallants of the courtwere beginning to show themselves; some taking, as it were, a furtivewalk across, afraid to be seen there before the moment of fashionsanctioned their appearance, and some, who, from either ignorance orboldness, heeded no mode but their own convenience. Fashions are ninetimes out of ten affectations; affectations in those who lead and inthose who follow; and as it is now, so was it in the days of Henry theEighth.
The presence of Lord Darby, however, who gradually gathered round hima little multitude as he walked, soon rendered the parade morepopulous. Sir Osborne was introduced to all who were worthy of hisacquaintance; and the same persons who three days before might hardlyhave given him a courteous answer, if he had asked them a question,were now mortified at not being numbered with his acquaintance. Theknight himself, however, was absent and inattentive, his eyecontinually seeking Lady Constance de Grey through the crowd, and hismind sometimes occupied with pleasing dreams of love, and hope, andhappiness to come, and sometimes pondering over his unexpectedencounter with Sir Payan Wileton, and its probable results.
So strange is the world, that this very abstractness of manner andcarelessness in regard to those about him had its grace in the eyes ofthe court. They seemed to think that he who cared so little aboutanybody, must be somebody of consequence himself; and when, after aprolonged saunter, the two friends re-entered the palace, SirOsborne's name had acquired a degree of _?cl?t_ which the mostattentive politeness would scarcely have obtained. Still no Constancede Grey had he seen, and he sat down in the apartments of Lord Darby,not peculiarly satisfied with their walk.
The young earl himself had also suffered a similar disappointment, forin the midst of all the _nonchalant_ gaiety which he had displayed tothe crowd, his eye had not failed to scan every group of ladies thatthey met for the form of Lady Katrine Bulmer, and he felt a good dealmortified at not having seen her. But very different was the manner inwhich his feelings acted, from the d
eeper and more ardent love ofDarnley. He laughed, he sung, he jested his companion upon hisgravity, and in the end consoled him, by assuring him that they shouldmeet with both their lady-loves that night at the queen's, so that ifhe were not in a very expiring state, he might hope to live to see heronce more.
The hours quickly flew, and a little before nine the knight and hiscompanion presented themselves at the door of the king's privateapartments, where they were admitted by a page. When they enteredHenry was reading, and pursued the object of his study without takingany notice of their approach by word or sign. Nothing remained to bedone but to stand profoundly still before him, waiting his goodpleasure, which remained full a quarter of an hour unmanifested.
"Well, gentlemen both," cried the king at last, starting up and layingdown the book; "I have kept ye long--ha? But now, to make amends, Iwill lead ye to the fair ladies. Oh, the disguises! the disguises!Bring the disguises, Minton; the three I chose but now. You, Darby,shall be a Muscovian; you, Maurice, a Polacco; and I an Almaine. Say,Darby, did you see my good lord cardinal this morning ere you came?Holds he his mind of going to York, as he stated yesterday?"
"I did not see the very reverend lord this morning," replied LordDarby, who was Wolsey's ward, as well as the chief lord of hishousehold. "But his master of the horse informed me that he stillproposed going at ten this morning. Your grace knows that he neverdelays when business calls him; and in the present case he thinks thathis presence may quell the murmurers of Yorkshire, as well as LordHoward has put down the Rochester fools."
"Ah, 'twas a shrewd business that of Rochester," said the king. "Nowwould I give a thousand marks to know who 'twas that set that stonea-rolling. Be you sure, Darby, that the brute shipwrights would ne'erhave dreamed such a thing themselves. They were set on! They were seton, man! Ha, the disguises! Quick! come into this closet, and we willrobe us. 'Tis late, and our lady has promised to give, as well as toreceive, a mask."
So saying, Henry led the way to a cabinet at the side of the saloon inwhich they were; and here the two young lords offered to assist indressing him, but of this he would not permit, bidding them haste withtheir own robes, or he would be ready first. The disguise assigned toSir Osborne was a splendid suit of gold brocade trimmed with fur,intended to represent the dress of a Pole; having a sort of pelissewith sleeves of rich gold damask and sables thrown over the back, andheld by a baldrick, crossing from the right shoulder under the leftarm. His head was covered with a square bonnet of cloth of gold, likehis dress, with an edge of fur; and his face concealed by a satin maskwith a beard of golden threads.
The dress of Lord Darby was not very dissimilar, with only thisdifference, that in place of the pelisse, he was furnished with a robewith short sleeves, and wore on his head a sort of turban, or toque,with a high feather. In a very different style was the king'sdisguise, being simply a splendid German dress of cloth of gold,trimmed with crimson velvet, but certainly not so unlike his usualgarments as to afford any great degree of concealment. All beingmasked and prepared, Henry sent the page to see if the torchbearerswere ready, and issuing out of the palace the three maskers, precededby half-a-dozen attendants, crossed the greater quadrangle, passed outat the gate, and making a circuit round the building, came immediatelyunder the windows of the queen's great hall, from each of which abroad blaze of light flashed forth upon the night, and cast a line oftwinkling splendour across the river, that otherwise flowed on, darkand indistinct, under a clouded and moonless sky.
"Sir Osborne," said Henry, in a low voice, as they entered the opendoors, and turned into a suite of apartments anterior to the roomwhere the queen held her assembly--"Sir Osborne, your voice beingunknown, you shall be our orator, and in your fine wit seek a faircompliment for our introduction."
Had his face been uncovered, perhaps the young knight might havesought to excuse himself; but there is wonderful assurance in a mask;and feeling a boldness in his disguise, which perhaps the eye ofConstance de Grey might have robbed him of, had he not been concealedfrom its glance, he at once undertook the task, saying that he woulddo his best.
As he spoke, a couple of hautboys, by which Henry was preceded, pausedat the entrance of the great hall, and placing themselves on eachside, began a light duet, to announce that some masks were coming. Thedoors were thrown open, and a splendid scene burst on the view of SirOsborne, full of bright and glittering figures, fleeting about in theblaze of innumerable lights, like the gay phastasms of a brilliantdream. The knight instinctively paused, but Henry urged him on.
"Quick! quick!" whispered he; "to the lady, to the lady; you forgetyour task."
Sir Osborne instantly recollected himself, and seeing a lady, who,standing unmasked at the farther end of the hall, bore about her thatair of royalty, and that majestic beauty, scarcely touched by time,for which the noble Catherine was famous, he advanced directly towardsher, and bent one knee to the ground. Nature had given him somewhat ofa poet's inspiration, which came now happily to his aid, and if hisverses were not very good, they were at least ready.
"Lady of beauty, queen of grace, Strangers three have come to thee, To gaze on thine unclouded face, Where so many maskers be. Oh! never shade that brow so high With the mummers' painted wile. Sure you keep that lip and eye, Welcome on your slaves to smile."
"I thank you, fair sir; I thank you," replied the queen, with apleased and gracious smile: "be most welcome, you and your company. Ishould know you, and yet I do not. But will you not dance? Choose yourfair ladies; and, chamberlain, bid the music sound."
Sir Osborne passed on, and the king and Lord Darby followed.
"Excellent well, my knight! excellent well!" whispered Henry. "Nowshow your wit in choice of a fair dame. I'faith, one must be keen inthese same masks to tell the foul from the fair. However, let usdisperse and find the jewels, though they be hid in such strangerinds."
At the word the three maskers took different paths amongst the variousfigures with which the hall was now nearly filled; Lord Darby and theknight, each in search of the object of his love; while Henry, as yetunrecognised, glided through the apartment, it might be in quest ofsome fair one also.
For some time Sir Osborne sought in vain, bewildered amongst the crowdof quaint disguises with which he was surrounded. Now he thought hebeheld the form of Lady Constance here, and after following it for amoment was called away by the sight of one that resembled her more.That again he gave up, convinced by some turn or some gesture that itwas some other. Another presented itself, which perhaps he might havemistaken, but the gay flutter of her manner at once showed that it wasnot the person he sought. He saw that already Lord Darby had found hispartner; the tuning of the musical instruments was over, and mentallycursing his own stupidity, or his own ill-fortune, he was proceedingonce more towards the part of the room where stood the queen, with hisheart beating between eagerness and vexation, when he beheld a lady,dressed in silver brocade, with a plain satin mask, glide into thehall, and passing by several who spoke to her, approach that spot, asif to take a seat which stood near. Sir Osborne darted forward. Hefelt that it was her; and, eager to prevent any one intercepting him,almost startled her with the suddenness of his address.
"Fair mask," said the knight, in a voice that trembled with delightand hope, "will you tread a measure with a stranger, for courtesy'ssake?"
"I should know your voice," said the lady, in a low tone; "but I canscarce believe I see you here. But one word, to tell me who you are?"
"My motto," replied the knight, "is _Constanc-y_; my crest, a lady'sglove."
The lady instantly put her hand into his. "Darnley!" said she, in avoice so low as to be inaudible to any one but himself, who, bendinghis head over her, trembled to catch every accent.
"Ah! Constance," he replied, in the same subdued tone, "what is it Ihave dared to say to you? what is it I have dared to hope? Friendlessand fortuneless as I am, can you ever pardon my boldness?"
"Hush!" she said, "for pity's sake s
peak not in that way. Now I knowyou love me, that is enough. Friendless you are not, and fortunelessyou cannot he, when all that is Constance's is yours. But see! theyare going to dance; afterwards we will speak more. Do not think mebold, Darnley, or too easily won; but were I to affect that reservewhich still perhaps might be right, we are so circumstanced that wemight be ruined before we understood each other."
The knight poured forth a thousand thanks, and strove to explain toLady Constance how deeply grateful he felt for that generous candourwhich is ever the companion of the truest modesty; and, the music nowbeginning, he led her through the dance with calm and graceful ease.As soon as the measure was ended, the queen's chamberlain pronounced,with a loud voice, that in the other halls the knights and ladies whohad danced would find cool air and shady bowers; and, gladly takingadvantage of this information, Sir Osborne led his partner into thechamber beyond, which by the queen's device had been divided into athousand little arbours, where artificial trees and shrubs, mingledwith real ones, and often ornamented with gilt fruit or flowers,formed a sort of enchanted garden, for the dancers to reposethemselves; not very exquisite in its taste, indeed, but very much tothe taste of the day.
Singling out the farthest of all the arbours, and the one whichpermitted its occupants most easily to observe the approach of anyother party, Darnley led Lady Constance to one of the seats which itcontained, and placing himself by her side, paused for a moment insilence, to enjoy the new delights that came thrilling upon his heart."Oh, Constance!" said he at length, looking up to the sweet hazel eyesthat gazed upon him through the meaningless mask; "never, never did Ithink to know such happiness on earth! Could I have dreamed of thiswhen I left you for Flanders?"
"I do not know," replied Constance; "I have done nothing but thinkever since--ever since you took my glove; and I have fancied that mydear father foresaw this, and wished it, as you tell me he was awarewho you were; for never, even at that age, was I permitted to know,and converse with, and see intimately, any young cavalier butyourself. And then, do not you remember, when you used to teach me toshoot with the bow, how he would stand by and praise your shooting?Oh! I can call to mind a thousand things to make me think so."
"Could I but believe it," said Darnley, "I should be even happier thanI am. But still, dear Constance, I hope, I trust, that in the end Imay be enabled to seek your hand, not as an outcast wanderer. Yourgood cousin, Lord Darby, has brought me to the knowledge of the king,whose favour I have been happy enough to gain. He has retained me asone of the gentlemen of his privy chamber, appointed me apartments inthe palace, which are just above your own; and I hope so far to winhis regard by this opportunity, that he may be induced to hear mycause against the villain who has seized our inheritance, and dojustice to us at last. And then, Constance, with rank, and fortune,and favour, all restored, Darnley may hope."
"And what if not restored, Darnley?" said Lady Constance. "Do youthink that rank, or fortune, or favour, will make any difference inthe regard of Constance de Grey? No, Darnley: if--but I won't say_if_---you love me, the cardinal may do what he will, but I will neverwed another. He may find means, as they hint, to forfeit my Englishlands, yet he cannot take my French ones; and even if he did, I wouldrather be beggar and free than married to a man I do not love. Notthat I do not love Darby as my cousin; he is kind, and generous, andfrank; but oh!! it is very, very different. But you say that heintroduced you to the king; I did not know you were even acquainted."
"It is a long story, dear Constance," replied the knight; "I will giveit you some other time; but now tell me, while we are yetuninterrupted, how may I see you? To watch for you, even to catch aword during the day, certainly were delight; but still 'tis hard,situated as we are, not to be able to communicate together morefreely. May not I come to see you?"
"Certainly," replied Lady Constance; "but you know that I can hardlyhave any private conversation with you even when you do; for good Dr.Wilbraham is with me the greater part of the morning, and one of mywomen always." She paused for a moment in thought, and, raising hereyes to his, "Darnley," she said, "I never could love a man in whosehonour I could not entirely confide; therefore I do not think it showsme either weak or wrong when I say that I will be entirely guided byyou. We are not situated as people in general, and therefore we cannotact as people in general do. Tell me, then, what you think right, andI will do it. But here are two of the maskers coming directly towardsus. Say what must I do?"
"It is necessary, Constance," said the knight quickly, "absolutelynecessary, that I should sometimes be allowed half-an-hour'sconversation alone, especially at the present moment. I will cometo-morrow early, very early, if it can be then. May I?"
"Yes," said Lady Constance, "I will see. But who are these? They arecoming to us."
"It is Lord Darby," said the knight, "and, if I mistake not, LadyKatrine Bulmer."
"Dear Polacco!" cried Lord Darby, approaching with a lady, who, to usean old writer's description, was wondrous gay in her apparel, with amarvellous strange and rich tire on her head: "dear Polacco, I am butnow aware of how much I have to thank you for. What! you were neartilting at the Rochester host, and broaching me half-a-dozenplank-shavers on your spear in defence of a fair lady, and also tookmy part even before you knew me? Now, will I guess who is this silverfair one by your side? she's blushing through her mask as if I weregoing to pronounce her name with the voice of a trumpet. Well, sweetcousin! will you own that you have a wild and rattle-pated relation inthe good town of Westminster? and if so, though you cannot love him,will you love a very loveable creature for his sake?"
"Hush, mad-cap! let me speak!" said the voice of Lady Katrine Bulmer."Lady," she continued, placing herself by the side of Lady Constance,"will you hate one that would fain love you very much, and have yourlove again?"
"Heaven forbid!" replied Lady Constance. "'Tis so sweet to be lovedourselves, that feeling it, we can scarce refuse it again to thosethat love us: with a reservation, though," she added.
"Granted the reservation, that there is still a one must be lovedbest," said Lady Katrine; "we all four know it," and she glanced hermerry eyes round the circle. "Oh, what a happy thing is a mask! Hereone may confess one's love, or laugh at one's friends, or abuse one'srelations, without a blush; and surely, if they were worn always, theywould save a world of false smiles and a world of false tears. Oh,strange economy! What an ocean of grimaces might be spared if man werebut to wear a pasteboard face!"
"I am afraid that he does so more than you think, lady," replied SirOsborne. "You will own that his countenance is hollow, and that itssmiles are painted: in short, that it is all a picture, though amoving one."
"Listen to him!" cried Lady Katrine, raising her look to Lord Darby;"think of his having the impudence to moralise in the presence of twowomen! Would you have believed it?"
"Nay, fair lady! it was you who led the way," replied Sir Osborne."But what means that trumpet in these peaceful halls?"
"'Tis either a sound to supper," replied Lord Darby, "or the entranceof one of those pageants of which our gracious king is so fond. At allevents, let us go and see."
Thus speaking, he led away Lady Katrine gaily to the door, towardswhich all the other parties from the enchanted garden were nowproceeding. Sir Osborne and Lady Constance followed more slowly."Darnley," said the fair girl, as she leaned on his arm, "I know notwhat sort of presentiment led me hither to-night, for I have been sovexed and so distressed with much that has happened since my arrivalin London, that I can hardly call myself well. I am now much fatigued,and if I can escape, I will hie me to my bed. When you come to-morrow,you shall answer me a thousand questions that I have to ask. Oh! I seeI can pass round by that other door. Farewell for this night!"
"Oh, that I dared hope it had been a happy one to you, as it has beento me!" said the knight, still holding her hand with a fond andlingering pressure.
"It has, Darnley; it has!" replied Lady Constance; "it has been onethat I shall never forget. Farewell!" and turning awa
y, she passed outof the door at the side, which led to the apartments in that wing ofthe building: not, however, without one look more into the room whereher lover stood gazing still, to catch the last glance of thatgraceful figure ere it left his sight.
When she was gone, the young knight, with a high-beating heart, turnedto the door of the great hall, and entered with some of the lastlingerers, who were now changing their slowness into speed, in orderto get a place before the pageant entered. The thoughts of SirOsborne, however, were employed on so much more engrossing subjects,that he took no pains to hasten his steps till he was fairly withinthe chamber, when, seeing the whole of the guests arranged on thefarther side of the hall, with the queen in the centre, under hercanopy or cloth of estate, he felt the impropriety of standing therealone, and hastened to seek a place.
At that moment he observed Henry, who, still disguised, was seatedamongst the rest, and who made him a sign to take a place beside him.Notwithstanding his mask, however, it was very evident that the kingwas known; for, on his sign to Sir Osborne, all around made way forthe young knight to approach the monarch. Scarcely had he taken hisseat when, through the great doors of the hall, a huge machine wasrolled in, before which extended a double cloth of arras, so arrangedas to hide every part of the gewgaw within, only leaving a twinklinglight here and there, seen through the crevices, like the lamps that,through the cracks of the last scene in a pantomime, announce thebrilliant change that is soon to take place to the temple of Love orVenus, or some other such sweet power, that deals in pasteboard andspangles.
But such a thing can never be so well described as in the words ofthose who saw it, and whose old stiff style harmonises admirably wellwith the quaint and graceless show that they detail. We shalltherefore only so far modify the account which Hall, the chronicler,gives of this very pageant, as to render him generally intelligible.
"Then," says he, "there was a device or pageant brought in, out ofwhich pageant issued a gentleman richly apparelled, that showed how,in a garden of pleasure, there was an arbour of gold, wherein werelords and ladies, much desirous to show pleasure and pastime to thequeen and ladies, if they might be licensed so to do; who was answeredby the queen, how sire and all other there were very desirous to seethem and their pastime, when a great cloth of arras, that did hangbefore the same pageant, was taken away, and the pageant brought morenear. It was curiously made and pleasant to behold; it was solemn andrich, for every post or pillar thereof was covered with frieze gold.Therein were trees of hawthorn, eglantines, roses, vines, and otherpleasant flowers of divers colours, with gillofers and other herbs,all made of satin, damask, silk, silver and gold, accordingly as thenatural trees, herbs, or flowers ought to be. In which arbour were sixladies, all apparelled in white satin and green, set and embroideredfull of H. and K. of gold, knit together with laces of gold of damask,and all their garments were replenished with glittering spangles giltover; and on their heads were bonnets all opened at the four quarters,overfriezed with flat gold of damask. In this garden also were sixlords, apparelled in garments of purple satin, all of cuts with H. andK. Every edge garnished with friezed gold, and every garment full ofposies, made in letters of fine gold in bullion, as thick as might be;and every person had his name in like letters of massy gold. Thefirst, _C[oe]ur Loyal_; the second, _Bonne Volure_; the third, _BonEspoir_; the fourth, _Valiant D?sire_; the fifth, _Bonne Foi_; thesixth, _Amour Loyal_. Their hose, caps, and coats, were full of posiesand H. K.'s of fine gold in bullion, so the ground could scarceappear, and yet in every void place were spangles of gold. When timewas come, the said pageant was brought forward into presence, and thendescended a lord and lady by couples, and then the minstrels, whichwere disguised, also danced, and the lords and ladies danced, that itwas a pleasure to behold."
Such is old Hall's description of the pageant which now entered: andit may easily be imagined that Sir Osborne, accustomed to a lessluxurious court, was somewhat astonished at the splendour of thescene, if he was not much gratified by the good taste of the device.
When the eye of Henry, pampered with such gaudy food from day to day,had taken in enough of the pageant, he rose from his seat, and wavinghis hand for the musicians to cease, "Thanks, gentle lords and ladies;thanks!" he cried; and taking off his own mask, added, "Let us easeour faces of their vizards."
As he spoke, every one rose and unmasked; and Henry, taking SirOsborne by the hand, led him forward to the queen, while all eyesnaturally fixed upon him.
"Fair lady mine," said the king, "I bring you a good knight, SirOsborne Maurice, who, as you see, has wit at will, and who, I canvouch, is as keen a champion in the saddle as he is a graceful dancerin the hall. In short, he is a very gentle perfect knight, whom youmust cherish and receive for my love."
While Sir Osborne knelt and kissed the hand that she extended to him,Katherine replied, "Indeed, my lord, you have brought me one that Ihave longed to see. This is the good knight who, on his journeytowards London, took charge of my giddy girl and namesake, KatrineBulmer, and defended her from the Rochester rioters. Come hither,Kate, and in our presence thank the knight for all the trouble I amsure he had with thee upon the road."
"Nay, your grace," said Lady Katrine, advancing, "I have thanked himonce already, and men are all too saucy and conceited to thank themtwice."
"'Tis thou art saucy, my fair mistress," said the king, laughing; andthen bending down his head to the queen, who was still seated, hewhispered something to her which made her smile and raise her eyes tothe knight and Lady Katrine. "A handsome pair, indeed!" said she, inreply to what the king had whispered. "But the banquet is ready."
"Lords and ladies," said Henry, raising his voice, "our royal mistresswill not let us part without our supper. All, then, come in pairs, forin the White Hall is prepared a banquet. Sir Osborne, lead in LadyKatrine there; you shall be coupled for an hour at least."
Sir Osborne glanced his eye to Lord Darby; but the earl was perfectlymaster of his countenance, and looking as indifferent as if nothinghad happened, led in some other lady, while the knight endeavoured toentertain Lady Katrine as well as he might, labouring under thecomfortable assurance that she would very much have preferred anotherby her side.
Darnley; or, The Field of the Cloth of Gold Page 21
