Elizabeth I, Queen of England, 1533-1603 -- Fiction; Great Britain -- History -- Elizabeth, 1558-1603 -- Fiction
Of course when there were revolts, Somerset was obliged to suppress
them, no matter how much he sympathized with the revolters, and often
accused men were punished with little effort to make sure of their
guilt. It is said that a miller who had been a revolter suspected
that he was in danger, and said to his servant, "I must go away on
business. If anyone asks for me say that you are the miller and have
owned the mill these three years." The king's officer came as the
miller feared. "Are you the miller?" he demanded. "Surely," replied the
servant proudly. "The mill has been mine for three full years." "You
have been a busy rebel," declared the officer, "and now you shall be
hanged to the nearest tree." "Indeed, I'm not the miller, but only his
man," cried the frightened servant. "The man tells two tales, hang him
up," bade the officer. A little later one who knew the miller said,
"Truly, he was not the miller, he was but the miller's man." "Then has
he proved a good servant," declared the officer contentedly, "for how
could he have done his master better service than by hanging for him?"
The nobles were angry at Somerset's attempt to prevent enclosing, and
they were indignant that he should have so much power. The result was
that he was accused of treason and the Duke of Northumberland became
Protector.
Although all these acts were done in the name of Edward, the boy king
had really very little freedom. "He is not alone half a quarter of an
hour," said one who knew of his life. When he first became king, he
wrote to Mary, "I will be to you a dearest brother and overflowing with
all kindness;" but he was taught by Somerset and others that it was a
danger to the kingdom to allow his sister to remain a Catholic. When
he had been on the throne for about three years, she was summoned to
court.
"Your Highness," said the chamberlain to Edward, "I have to announce
the arrival of her Grace, the Princess Mary."
"Give welcome to her and her train," said the young monarch, "and
say that it is my will and that of my councilors to receive her
straightway." This visit was not for the pleasure of meeting her
brother, though they greeted each other most cordially. The royal
council was sitting in another room, and there she was summoned.
"Your Grace," said the councilors, "is it true that, contrary to the
wishes of his Majesty the king, mass is still said daily in your house?"
"It is true," answered Mary, "that the worship of God is carried on in
my house in such wise as I do firmly believe is most pleasing to him."
"There is then no hope of your Grace's amendment shortly?"
"None, my lord."
"It is the will of his Majesty, who is supreme head of the church in
England, that the mass should be no longer celebrated in his realm.
It becomes the duty of all that owe him allegiance to obey. It is his
Majesty's command that you obey as a subject, attempting not to rule as
a sovereign."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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