CHAPTER VIII
THE DELIVERY OF THE LETTERS
Will was disposed to be taciturn on the way to Chartley. Francis did notknow whether he suspected her design was more than to see Mary or not,but summoning all the finesse of which she was mistress she made herselfas agreeable as she could, relating stories and incidents of the chase,until long before the plain which lay between Stafford and Chartley wascrossed, Will's surliness had vanished.
The sun was an hour high when they reached their destination. Chartley,grim and gray in the morning light, rose before them. The manor was largeand roomy, surrounded by such a high wall that none, unless he wereendowed with the wings of a bird, could scale its heights. A moatencompassed the whole. The castle with wall and moat forming a strongholdwell suited to its present use as prison.
As they crossed the drawbridge and entered the portals Francis wassurprised to see sentinels everywhere. Her spirit sank a little and herheart quailed as she noted all of the means employed to insure Mary'ssafe-keeping.
"My father was right," she thought. "To obtain entrance is not all. Therewill still be difficulty, I fear, in seeing her. What if she comes not tothe garden? But courage! Poor lady! I marvel not that she doth wish togain her liberty. Methinks I should die were I to be deprived of myfreedom!" Thus she mused little dreaming that not many weeks would elapseere she would be put to the test.
"There are the gardens," said Will breaking in upon her thoughts. "'Tisthere that I have often seen the queen. See, the guard is leaving."
"Don't they guard her through the day, Will?"
"Ay, master. But the sentinels stand not at the doors and windows as theydo at night. The walls only are guarded through the day. There she is,forsooth."
"I see her not, good Will."
_QUEEN MARY'S WIT GRASPED THE SITUATION_]
"In the main garden, master. To the right."
Francis looked in the direction indicated and soon descried the form of awoman seated in a large rolling chair which was wheeled by an attendant.Along the walks of the garden they went pausing ever and anon to plucksome flower or the cherries which were ripening in the sun. For a momentonly Francis gazed and then, before Will had time to say her nay, sheleaped off from the wagon and bounded swiftly in the direction of thegarden.
"Uds!" growled Will his mouth agape with astonishment. "Methought therewas more to 't than appeared," and he went on to the kitchens.
Meantime Francis, trampling over flowers and vegetables in her haste,reached the side of Mary, and thrust into her hand the package ofletters. Mary's quick wit grasped the situation instantly. Concealing thepapers about her she drew back from the seeming carter, crying in a loudvoice for she saw one of the guards approaching:
"Well, what meaneth this? Forgive me," she whispered hurriedly, "if Iseem angry. 'Tis but for thine own safety." So saying she drew back stillfurther from the kneeling girl exclaiming as the guard came up, "I knowthee not, boy. Why dost thou trouble me?"
"I wished to see thee," murmured Francis rising. "Forgive me. Iwished----"
"There!" said Mary. "'Tis no matter. Barbara," to her companion, "hastthou the purse? Give the lad a groat. Marry! thou art all alike. Ye wishbounty whether ye deserve it or not. Go, and trouble me no more."
She turned as she spoke and without another glance at the girl passedback to the house. Francis stood looking at the coin for a momentundecided what to do for she saw that Will's cart was nowhere in sight.
"Get thee gone," said the guard coming toward her menacingly. He hadoverheard Mary's remarks and noted her demeanor, and thought that thecarter lad before him was really seeking to profit by Mary's well-knowngenerosity. "Go, fellow! or I will take thee to my master. And if thoutroublest the lady again, I will run thee through with my rapier. Go!"
Without a word in reply, glad to have the matter end so, Francis followedhim meekly as he led her to the kitchen doors where Will and othercarters were busy unloading their wagons.
"With which of you came this fellow?" demanded the guard.
"With me, master," spoke Will sullenly.
"See that he accompanies thee no more. 'Tis a mischievous wight and liketo get into trouble. Quick with thy load. I wish to see thy cart safelybeyond the gates."
"Will," said Francis when they were once more outside the gates, "artangry with me?"
"Ay! 'twere an ill turn that thou did serve me," growled Will. "'Twere anill turn, master."
"Forgive me, and you shall have this groat that the queen gave me," andFrancis handed him the coin. "My lord, I know, will give me more to givethee."
"Well, mayhap it be all right," said Will somewhat mollified, "but you gono more, young master."
"No, Will; I will not ask it of thee. I have both seen and spoken withthe lady. What more need I?"
"No more, I'll be bound, master," growled Will. "There was more in't thanseeing and speaking, I'll warrant. But I ken none of it. Here we are atStafford, master."
"I thank you, Will, for your courtesy," said Francis sweetly as she lefthim.
Lord Stafford was awaiting her return anxiously. He folded her close tohis breast as she entered his chamber, saying earnestly:
"Thank Heaven, my daughter, that thou hast returned safely to me. Not forall the queens in the world would I have thee adventure such a thingagain."
"Why, 'twas naught," laughed the girl. "Mary hath the letters now. 'Twasnot hard to give them after all." She recounted the whole affair.
"Well hast thou done, my child. There will need to be furthercommunication with Mary, but not from us. We have done our part. No moreof plots or conspiracies will I have, and never again will I subject theeto such danger. Now we will wend homeward to allay the anxiety of thymother. Whenever I have need of a quick wit and a nimble brain I willcall on thee."
"Glad am I to have pleased thee," returned Francis. "There is naught thatI would not undertake for thee, my father."
"I believe it, Francis."
The next morning early they set forth on the return journey. LordStafford seemed to have thrown aside the weight of misgiving that hadoppressed him on his way thither, and was full of the gayest spirits.With laughter and story did he beguile the way, and once as he jestinglyspoke of her attire, he said laughingly,
"Listen, Francis, and I will tell thee of another such an one. Hast thouever heard how the serving man became a queen?"
"The serving man a queen?" cried the girl. "Why how could that be,father?"
"Listen, and you shall hear." In a rich full voice he trolled thefollowing ballad:
THE FAMOUS FLOWER OF SERVING MEN
"You beauteous ladyes, great and small, I write unto you one and all, Whereby that you may understand What I have suffered in the land.
"I was by birth a lady faire, An ancient baron's only heire, And when my goode old father died Then I became a young knight's bride.
"And then my love built me a bower, Bedecked with many a fragrant flower; A braver bower you ne'er did see Than my true love did build for me.
"And there I lived a lady gay Till fortune wrought my love's decay; For there came foes so fierce a band, That soon they overran the land.
"They came upon us in the night, And rent my bower and slew my knight; And trembling hid in man's array, I scarce with life escaped away.
"Yet though my heart was full of care, Heaven would not suffer me to despair; Wherefore in haste I changed my name From fair Elise to Sweet Williame.
"And then withal I cut my hair, Resolv'd my man's attire to wear; And in my beaver, hose and band, I travel'd far through many a land.
"At length all wearied with my toil, I sate me down to rest awhile; My heart it was so
filled with woe, That down my cheeks the tears did flow.
"It chanced the king of that same place, With all his lords a hunting was, And seeing me weep, upon the same Askt who I was, and whence I came.
"Then to His Grace I did reply, 'I am a poor and friendless boy, Though nobly born, now forc'd to be A serving man of low degree.'
"'Stand up, fair youth,' the king reply'd, For thee a service I'll provide; But tell me first what thou canst do Thou shall be fitted thereunto.
"'Chuse, gentle youth,' said he, 'thy place,' Then I reply'd, 'If it please Your Grace, To show such favor unto me, Your chamberlain I fain would be.'
"Now mark what fortune did provide; The king he would a hunting ride With all his lords and noble train, Sweet Williame must at home remain.
"And meeting with a ladye's vest, Within the same myself I drest; With silken robes and jewels rare, I deckt me as a lady faire.
"And taking up a lute straitway, Upon the same I strove to play; And sweetly to the same did sing, As made both hall and chamber ring:
"'My father was as brave a lord, As ever Europe might afford; My mother was a lady bright: My husband was a valiant knight.
"'But now, alas! my husband's dead, And all my friends are from me fled, My former days are past and gone, And I am now a serving man.'
"The king who had a hunting gone, Grew weary of his sport anon, And leaving all his gallant train, Turn'd on the sudden home again.
"And when he reached his statlye tower, Hearing one sing within his bower, He stopt to listen and to see Who sang there so melodiouslie.
"A crimson dye my face orespred, I blush'd for shame and hung my head, To find my sex and story known, When as I thought I was alone.
"'Faire ladye, pardon me,' says he, 'Thy virtue shall rewarded be. And since it is so fairly tryde, Thou shall become my royal bride.'
"Then strait to end his loving strife He took Sweet Williame for his wife. The like before was never seen, A serving man become a queen."
Francis laughed merrily when he finished.
"Poor Williame! but it ended well after all. Well, my days for man'sattire will soon be o'er."
"'Tis to be hoped so," answered her father. "Though the dress wellbecomes thee."
At length, though they had returned by easier stages than they hadperformed the journey to Stafford, Lyndhurst was reached, and soon theturrets of Stafford Hall became visible.
"Home again, my child," spoke Lord Stafford cheerily. "Right glad am I toenter its gates once more. How is it with thee, Francis? Thou hast faredwidely. Dost still revere thy home?"
"More than ever, my father. Never have I seen it look so beautiful. Eventhe stones seem to smile a welcome."
"Marry, there stands my lady wife! Look, she sees us."
With a cry of joy the lady ran to greet them.
"Ye are safe," she cried embracing them. "Ah, but it hath been long, longsince ye left. Methought something had befallen you."
"No; my sweet wife. Weary we may be with the journey, and ready for thegood cheer which we know awaits us, but well otherwise. How now, sweetchuck? Thou art pale, and even though thou hast us safe with thee, yetdoth thy lip still quiver, and thy form tremble. What is it? Speak,madam, I beseech thee."
"My lord, I wot not what to think of it, but to-day a messenger came fromthe queen saying that Elizabeth in her royal progress through Hampshirewould honor us with a visit."
"Elizabeth here?" cried Lord Stafford in astonishment. "Art sure?"
"Sure, my lord. What doth it portend? Is there hidden menace in the fact?Doth she suspect, think you, that Ballard hath been here? My lord, whatcan it mean?"
"Madam, I know not. We are her subjects. If Her Majesty chooses to visitus we can but receive her. But look not so pale. 'Tis but a matter of afew days' entertainment, and surely we would do ill to be churlish ofthem. It is not the first time that royalty hath honored Stafford. Rightwell do I remember that Henry, Elizabeth's bluff old father, favored uswith a visit. With his own hand he brought down many a fat buck in yonforest park. Right well pleased was my father with that visit."
"True, my lord; but he had favor with Henry, and had naught to fear."
"And what is there to fear from his daughter? We must bestir ourselves togive the queen most royal welcome. Here she will not find the 'princelypleasures of Kenilworth,' but nathless! hearty welcome and good cheer aremuch even to a queen. How now, girl! Thou dost not look displeased?"
"Neither am I, good my father," spoke Francis quickly. With the naturalinstinct of youth she delighted at the prospect of the pleasures instore. "Glad will I be to see the queen even though she be old and not sobeautiful as Mary."
"Beshrew me, girl! let no such words pass thy lips," cried her father inconsternation. "'Twere treason, forsooth."
"Have no fear. I will speak naught of that order to any save thee and mylady mother. Discreet am I and full of matter, but nothing will Idisclose."
"Thou hast need to be discreet," replied her mother. "Be not malapert andfroward, child."
"Said the messenger when she was coming?" now asked the nobleman.
"On the third day from this, my lord."
"'Tis but short notice for what must be done," mused Lord Stafford."Supplies must be obtained for the queen's retinue, and pageants preparedto amuse her. Call Greville, my wife. Bid him hasten to the presencechamber. Francis, repair to thy chamber and rest. Thou dost merit it. Itwill be thy part, madam, to attend to the ordering of the royalapartments. As for me there will be much to employ me during the next fewdays. Pray Heaven, that Ballard come not during the festivities."
In Doublet and Hose: A Story for Girls Page 8
