Westminster, September 1450
The streets leading to the palace were filled with onlookers come to witness the arrival of England’s premier magnate, many of them ready to yell and cheer with excitement. The mood of those in the palace itself was considerably less so. Richard of York was not sure which he appreciated more. His entourage consisted of nearly four thousand armed retainers, though many would exaggerate that number some ten fold. None more so than the Duke of Somerset who attempted his level best to block his rival’s entry. Armed guards stood at attention as Richard reached the gates and when his trusted destrier slowed to a stop, the Duke of York made shift to drop from his mount and stood holding firmly to the sword at his side.
“You would do well to return from whence you came, my Lord!” Somerset shouted from atop the gate. “Ireland remains in want of you!”
Richard stood as tall as he might and with his squared jaw held tightly, he formed his reply, “As would Cherbourg of you...sir! Oh...yes...but it is no longer amongst English hands, is that not correct?”
The Duke of York’s senior lieutenants formed behind him, though none of them were of the Neville clan of his wife. But those that were present came heavily armed and at a notice pushed towards the gate. Richard held back and shouted once more, “You would do well to stand aside, my Lord of Somerset! There be no need for bloodshed this day for I am come to see His Grace and no thing more.”
“His Grace has no need of your counsel,” Edmund Beaufort responded attempting strength.
Richard allowed a slim smile, “And yet he shall receive it this day. I say once more...stand aside, sir!”
It was unclear to the guards as to which held the right of it and in the face of strength before them they began to part and the gate opened. Somerset scrambled and pulled his own around him as he moved to greet Richard face to face. Taller than the Duke of York, he was still diminished when the older peer stepped forward. That Richard held the numbers behind him helped in no small part.
“Where be the King, my Lord?” Richard queried with impatience.
Somerset attempted to play coy, “To his rest, my Lord of York. To his apartments where surely he whispers at prayer.”
“You have never been a good liar, sir,” the elder Duke narrowed his brow.
“Tis no lie nor fabrication, my Lord,” Somerset held firm, “King Henry is right to his contemplation and would not be disturbed.”
Richard gestured for his own to occupy the yard and brushed past the Duke of Somerset with impatience, “He will be disturbed this day for there are words that needs must be said!”
As he moved through the palace, Somerset kept on the Duke’s heels, “It would be very imprudent for you to make such a stir, my Lord. His Grace has been made to suffer much and more these last months and your...unwanted...arrival should surely cause him grief. I do not recall word sent to you requesting an audience and therefor...”
“Please do shut your mouth,” Richard stopped and turned on his younger peer, “Cease your meaningless words for they do no thing but irritate and I am want to be cheerful when I greet His Grace.”
As Richard shifted to continue his advance Somerset shouted after, “You are haughty and ill mannered, my Lord! You will see that His Grace may also find it so!”
When the Duke of York declined to reply, Somerset scrambled to catch up and soon found Richard pounding at the door of the King’s chamber. No answer was found at first until finally the bolt could be heard turning and the door opened. A young guard looked apoplectic as Richard pushed him aside and found Henry kneeling at prayer.
Without turning, the King questioned as he lifted his head, “Would that be our cousin?”
The Duke of York squared his shoulders as many of his senior retainers followed after as well as the Duke of Somerset, “It is
a cousin...Your Grace. Which you would prefer to see would be a better question.”
Somerset drew alongside the Duke of York, “Your impertinence knows no bounds, my Lord!”
Henry held up a gentle hand and stood slowly. He turned with a slight pained look to his eye but attempted a smile, “You have returned to our bosom, good Lord of York…cousin.”
“As I always will do,” Richard offered a bow and then stood with a stern face, “It was not without some hardship.”
Henry took a step closer, “We should imagine as your recall was not imminent. We do not think, at any rate.”
“That is curious,” Richard too took a step closer, “I would not have known such had it not been for the armed force set to meet me and mine as we set out from Ludlow.”
“Most unfortunate,” Henry answered without a hint of sarcasm, “Especially as you were not to be at Ludlow. We thought you still to Ireland, cousin.”
The Duke of York allowed a nod, “They are pacified, Your Grace. Yet letters to me told of an entirely different circumstance here to this place.”
“And you took it to yourself to come to the rescue?” Henry asked as he moved to a settle, “Rest assured, cousin...the man named Cade is no more and his folk returned to their place within Kent. Most of them, at any rate.”
Richard stepped even closer, “It was suggested that I remain, yet how could I when my most revered cousin was at such an impasse?”
“You should have listened to such wise counsel,” Henry replied as he lifted his hand once more.
The aged Earl moved from the grouping of soldiers and entered the chamber fully, “Brother...His Grace speaks it true. I would that you had listened to my son.”
Henry allowed another slight smile, “The Earl of Salisbury was kind enough to foretell of your coming, my Lord. He does care about you as we all do.”
“Then good Richard would tell you, as I do...pernicious sorts surround Your Grace and bring you no good at all,” the Duke of York buried a grimace as he pointed to Somerset, “This one here, most especially. I may hold my tongue no longer, Your Grace. He has lost you the continent. You need not hear my words on that for you know it already...”
“Indeed we do, cousin,” Henry stood once more and stepped to Richard, “For it was our choice and not his. We are beholden to a peace.”
Richard frowned, “Your peace...or that of your...”
“Do not say it, sir!” Henry stood taller and held his height against his cousin, “We shall not hear it. Calais remains to us, as does Aquitaine. The King of the French is placated and we shall know peace in our time. It is not for you to decide. We are...satisfied.”
The Duke of York allowed an unusual grin to cross his face, “Peace. That is a most unusual word to use...Your Grace. I need not tell you more that your people...this land...they do not see it as such.”
Henry shook his head with disdain as he returned to his settle, “And yet, you will.”
“I must,” Richard pressed, “This one has lost you...and all of us...Normandy...”
Somerset bristled at the accusation, “Your words are none but spite!”
“And yours none but calumny,” Richard ignored him as he kept to the King, “He knows it and so do you. He and his ilk have done none but prop themselves up due to your favor and no thing more. Jumped in rank and pretend that they are more than the laws suggest and allow. The people know this well and that is why you would see such rebellion. This Cade...one of many that might wish you harm because of these ill formed counselors. Ill formed and ill mannered, Your Grace. Why...mine own friend and yours...good Sir Thomas Tresham was to meet me on the road to here and was so rudely cut down by a rabble acting in their name! It is a subversion of justice that the inquiry to such ruled suicide, Your Grace! How may you allow it?!”
The Duke of Somerset once more attempted to answer, “You would have His Grace responsible for those that wish not the Parliament as they do no thing but thwart his desires?”
“He was Speaker!” Richard implored the King, “For a Parliament called in your name! Can you not see the deleterious notions that these poor men cause to you and thus the people do blame you?!”
Somerset began to speak once more but Henry stopped him, “We would answer to our cousin in private. You would all await outside of this place.”
The Beaufort Duke was not pleased but followed the Earl of Salisbury and all else as the King and Richard were left alone. Once they were gone, Henry dropped all pretenses of his position and spoke to the Duke of York with more affinity, “Cousin...I am all too aware of your desires.”
Richard stiffened in response, “You think I wish your place and no thing could be further from the truth!”
“You may know that,” Henry stood and stepped closer to the Duke, “Yet I do not. My bride does not. Somerset does not. The people of this realm….do not. What they see is a very powerful man...which you are...and they think of me as weak. Because I do pray? Do you believe that I wished the loss of Normandy...France? Do you think that I wish discontent from my people? Do you think that I care not for you?”
“I have little in the way of knowing,” Richard replied in earnest, “For you have allowed these new men...these upstarts...to dictate your policies and thus I am left on the outside looking in when I am your very own heir presumptive.”
Henry answered with a pained look to his face, “I hold no other choice. I am not weak, cousin. You may beg that question, but I am not. What I am...what I am forced to be...is peacemaker. And you make that so very difficult because you so very much have desire.”
“I hold desire to see good governance...” Richard attempted to answer but Henry stopped him.
“You would not let me.”
Richard tried to respond, “Place me to the Council. The Nevilles as well. Allow us to guide you...”
“Only Almighty God guides me, cousin,” Henry replied, “I hold no other choice. It is all that I have. You would barrel your way into my chamber. Would tell me what to do? How is that any different from what you accuse these cousins of ours? What you would put to my bride?”
“I only wish for your well being!” Richard replied.
Henry allowed a slight laugh, “And none of your own?”
“I am your man!” Richard pressed, “I am your most dedicated subject and your most willing and able cousin!”
The King returned to his settle and then looked up with a weary eye, “You would have me call a new Parliament?”
“Yes.”
“And you would have me put aside a most sad yet substantial Council?”
“I would.”
“And you would wish a voice in the new?”
Richard stepped forward, “It is all that I ask.”
Henry sighed, “You...and Cade...and all else. When, do you think, that I shall ever be King?”
“Cousin...” Richard began to answer but the King stopped him.
“I can best a rabble of discontents from Kent, but I cannot best you. Not when you present to me with an army outside mine own gates. You wish all this and more? Very well. You have your voice. I will call a new Parliament. Speak your mind if you are able and see if they hear you better than they hear me.”
Richard almost smiled, “I would be your voice.”
“Surely,” Henry gave nod, “And then see how they respond.”
“They will respond with appreciation for you wish good governance at the last,” Richard replied.
“You think so?” the King sighed again.
Richard gave nod, “I know so. The entire realm knows so.”
“Very well, good cousin,” Henry stood again and clasped Richard’s hand with firmness, “We may see what you shall do. I will answer to my wife as difficult as that may be. And you? Be careful of your wishes, cousin Richard. I cannot control Somerset any more than I may control you. Here is my honesty and so here is your charge. Attend to it well.”
