CHAPTER X.

Lord Percy.

1523.

I. WOLSEY was aware of Percy's value in the north, where Surrey, striving with the Border clans, was eagerly expecting his return. The Border men were clamouring for their lord, their Harry Percy, in a strain so loud, that Surrey had to tell them he was quickly coming home. But Wolsey was in angry mood. This man, a hostage in his household, was presuming to disturb his plans!

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2. Coming into the gallery, where Cavendish and other gentlemen were in attendance, Wolsey sent for Percy, and opened on him all the vials of his wrath. "I marvel not a little, Percy, of thy peevish folly, that thou would tangle and ensnare thyself with a foolish girl yonder in the court. mean Anne Boleyn! Dost thou not consider the estate that God hath called thee unto in this world? For after the death of thy noble father, thou art most like to inherit and possess one of the most worthiest earldoms of this realm. Therefore it had been most meet and convenient for thee to have sued for the consent of thy father in that behalf; and to have also made the King's Highness privy thereto; requiring therein his princely favour, submitting all thy whole proceeding in all such matters

unto his Highness, who would not only accept thankfully your submission, but would, I assure thee, provide so for your purpose therein, that he would advance you much more nobly, and have matched you according to your estate and honour, whereby ye might have grown so by your wisdom and honourable behaviour into the King's high estimation, that it should have been much to your increase of honour. But now behold what ye have done through your wilfulness. Ye have not only offended your natural father, but also your most gracious sovereign lord; and matched yourself with one, such as neither the King, nor yet your father, will be agreeable with the matter. And hereof I put you out of doubt, that I will send for your father; and at his coming, he shall either break with this unadvised contract, or else disinherit thee for ever. The King's Majesty himself will complain to thy father on thee, and require no less at his hand than I have said."

3. Wolsey explained to Percy, but in dark and general phrases, why the lady he was courting could not be his wife. She was intended for another man. The matter of that other contract, he assured the Border chief, had been long in his hands, and points of public moment hung on his success. It was a thing of state; one in which the King himself was busy; and his Grace had brought the suit by patient labour almost to an end. Some curious light was probably seen in Percy's eyes; for Wolsey added, that the girl was not aware of all that they were doing for her! "Yet hath the King," he said,

"most like a politic and prudent prince, conveyed the matter in such sort, that she, upon the King's motion, will be right glad and agreeable to the same."

4. Percy stood still; tears trickling down his cheeks for shame. He waited till the Cardinal had done. He was no boy, as Wolsey called him, but a bronzed and bearded soldier, readier with his claymore than his tongue. The gentlemen who served with him, not one of them his match in birth and age, stood by and heard the Cardinal cover him with scorn. At length he spoke in his defence: "I knew nothing, sir, of the King's pleasure herein, for whose displeasure I am very sorry. I considered that I was of good years, and thought myself sufficient to provide me of a convenient wife wherever my fancy served me best; not doubting but that my lord, my father, would have been right well persuaded. And though she be a simple maid, having but a knight to her father, yet she is descended of right noble parentage. By her mother's side she is nigh of the Norfolk blood, and of her father's side lineally descended of the Earl of Ormond, he being one of the Earl's heirs-general. Why should I then, sir, be anything scrupulous to match with her, whose estate of descent is equivalent with mine, when I shall be in most dignity? Therefore, I most humbly require your Grace, of your especial favour herein, and also to entreat the King's most royal Majesty most humbly on my behalf for his princely benevolence in this matter; the which I cannot deny or forsake."

5. Wolsey had rarely heard such words. It was no easy thing to yield, at any man's request, a share in that bright creature's heart. But Wolsey had no feeling for the lover's pain. "Lo, sirs!" stormed the Cardinal, calling the gentlemen about him to take note of his displeasure; "ye may see what conformity and wisdom are in this wilful boy's head." Then turning to the Border chief, he screamed: “I thought that when thou heardest me declare the King's intended pleasure and travail herein, thou wouldst have relented and wholly submitted thyself, and all thy wilful and unadvised pact, to the King's royal will and prudent pleasure, to be fully disposed and ordered by his Grace's disposition, as his Highness should deem good!" In any other matter, Percy would have bowed his head in silence, since the King could either lodge him in the Tower, like Pole, or murder him by a form of law, like Buckingham. But love is blind to personal risk, and Percy had already dared too much to quail before the Cardinal's frowns.

6. "Sir," replied Percy, "and so I would, but in this matter I have gone so far before so many witnesses, that I know not how to avoid myself nor to discharge my conscience." Wolsey was fit to burst with laughter. "Thinkest thou that the King and I know not what we have to do in as mighty a matter as this? Yes, I warrant thee. Howbeit, I can see in thee no submission to the purpose." Percy, in the full belief that he had gone too far for any one to divide him from his love, proposed to yield, if only the King and Cardinal engaged to free

him from "the mighty burthen" of his pre-contract. "Well, then," said the Cardinal, rising in his anger, "I will send for your father out of the north parts, and he and we shall take such order for the avoiding of thy hasty folly as shall be by the King thought most expedient." Ere he strode away, the Cardinal turned once more and warned the lover: "I charge thee, and, in the King's name, command thee, that thou presume not once to resort into her company, as thou intendest to avoid the King's high indignation!" Saying thus much he passed into his private room.