The Caged LionYonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
History
The Caged Lion
Yonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
James I, King of Scotland, 1394-1437 -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- James I, 1406-1437 -- Fiction
Salisbury was determined not to abide the chances of the battle without
first giving a protector to his little daughter; and therefore, as
quietly as if she had been merely going to mass, the Lady Alice was
wedded to her Sir Richard Nevil, who treated the affair as the simplest
matter of course, and troubled himself with very slight demonstrations of
affection. The wedding took place at Senlis, whither the female part of
the Court had accompanied the King, upon the very day of the parting. No
one was present, except one of Sir Richard's brothers (the whole family
numbered twenty-two), his esquire; and on Alice's side, her father,
Esclairmonde, and a few other ladies.
At the last moment, however, the King himself came up, leaning on
Warwick's arm, looking thin, ill, and flushed, but resolved to do honour
to his faithful Salisbury, at whose request he had permitted the barony
of Montagu to be at once transferred to Nevil, who would thenceforth be
called by that title.
After the ceremony, King Henry kissed the gentle bride, placed a costly
ring upon her finger, and gave his best and warmest wishes to the newly-
married pair. Little guessed any there present what the sound of Warwick
and Salisbury would be in forty years' time to the babe cradled at
Windsor.
As the King passed Esclairmonde, he paused, and said, in an undertone,
'Dear lady, deem not that I have forgotten your holy purpose; but you
understand that there are some who are jealous of any benefit conferred
on Paris save from themselves, and whose alliance I may not risk. But if
God be pleased to grant me this battle also, then, with His good
pleasure, I shall not be forced to have such respect to persons; and when
I return, lady, whether the endowment come from your bounty or no, God
helping us, you shall begin the holy work of St. Katharine's bedeswomen
among the poor of Paris.'
But while Henry V., with all his grave sweetness, spoke these words to
Esclairmonde de Luxemburg, this was the farewell of Countess Jaqueline of
Hainault to Malcolm Stewart:
'Look here, my languishing swain; never mind her scorn, but win your
spurs in the battle that is to be, and then make some excuse to get back
again to us before the two Kings, with all their scruples. Then beshrew
me but she shall be yours! If Monseigneur de Therouenne and I cannot
manage one proud girl, I am not Countess of Hainault!'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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