第15章 A THWARTED PLOT(4)

"That is the worst of an adventure," Walter said crossly, after the retainer had departed."One can't have a bit of excitement without being sent for, and thanked, and stared at.I would rather fight the best swordsman in the city than have to go down to the mansion of Earl Talbot with my cap in my hand."Geoffrey laughed."You must indeed have your cap in your hand, Walter; but you need not bear yourself in that spirit.The 'prentice of a London citizen may have just as much honest pride and independence as the proudest earl at Westminster; but carry not independence too far.Remember that if you yourself had received a great service you would be hurt if the donor refused to receive your thanks; and it would be churlish indeed were you to put on sullen looks, or to refuse to accept any present which the lady whose life you have saved may make you.It is strange, indeed, that it should be Dame Vernon, whose husband, Sir Jasper Vernon, received the fiefs of Westerham and Hyde.""Why should it be curious that it is she?" Walter asked.

"Oh!" Geoffrey said, rather confusedly."I was not thinking - that is - Imean that it is curious because Bertha Fletcher was for years a dependant on the family of Sir Roland Somers, who was killed in the troubles when the king took the reins of government in his hands, and his lands, being forfeit, were given to Sir Jasper Vernon, who aided the king in that affair.""I wish you would tell me about that," Walter said."How was it that there was any trouble as to King Edward having kingly authority?""It happened in this way," Geoffrey said."King Edward II, his father, was a weak prince, governed wholly by favourites, and unable to hold in check the turbulent barons.His queen, Isabella of France, sister of the French king, a haughty and ambitious woman, determined to snatch the reins of power from the indolent hands of her husband, and after a visit to her brother she returned with an army from Hainault in order to dethrone him.

She was accompanied by her eldest son, and after a short struggle the king was dethroned.He had but few friends, and men thought that under the young Edward, who had already given promise of virtue and wisdom, some order might be introduced into the realm.He was crowned Edward III, thus, at the early age of fifteen, usurping the throne of his father.The real power, however, remained with Isabella, who was president of the council of regency, and who, in her turn, was governed by her favourite Mortimer.

England soon found that the change which had been made was far from beneficial.The government was by turns weak and oppressive.The employment of foreign troops was regarded with the greatest hostility by the people, and the insolence of Mortimer alienated the great barons.Finally, the murder of the dethroned king excited throughout the kingdom a feeling of horror and loathing against the queen.

"All this feeling, however, was confined to her, Edward, who was but a puppet in her hands, being regarded with affection and pity.Soon after his succession the young king was married to our queen, Philippa of Hainault, who is as good as she is beautiful, and who is loved from one end of the kingdom to the other.I can tell you, the city was a sight to see when she entered with the king.Such pageants and rejoicing were never known.They were so young, he not yet sixteen, and she but fourteen, and yet to bear on their shoulders the weight of the state.A braver looking lad and a fairer girl mine eyes never looked on.It was soon after this that the events arose which led to the war with France, but this is too long a tale for me to tell you now.The Prince of Wales was born on the 15th of June, 1330, two years after the royal marriage.