The Caged Lion

gel' till 'Sir James' came from a private conference with 'Harry,' he had all explained to

Robert II. had committed the charge of his young son James, when at fourteen he had been sent to

March, and placed both under the nominal charge of the Prince of Wales, a youth of a few years older. Unjust as was the detention, it had been far from severe; the boys had as much liberty as their age and r

trust and jealousy, his eldest son had been in no such enviable positio

ry ability of the Prince filled the suspicious mind of the King with alarm and jealousy. To keep him down, give him no money, and let him gain no influence, was the narrow policy of the King; and Henry, chafing, dreaming, feeling the injustice, and pining for occupation, shared his complaints within James, and in many a day-dream restored him freely to his throne, and together redressed the wrongs of the world. Meantime, James studied deep in preparation, and recreated himself with poetry, inspired by the charms of Joan Beaufort, the lovely da

in disgrace, the vexation of the Court, and a by-word for mirth, he was true to the grand ideal he was waiting to accomplish, and never dimmed the purity and loftiness of his aim. That little band of princely youths, who sported, studied, laughed, sang, and schemed in the glades of Windsor, were strangely brought together-the captive exiled King, the disinherited heir of the realm, and the sons of the monarch who held the one in durance and occupied the throne of the other; and yet their affection had all the frank delight of youthful fr

home before his welcome was ensured would be but tossing him on their spears. In vain James pleaded that he was no boy, and was able to protect himself; and vowed that when the faithful should rally round his standard, he would be more than a match for his enemies; or that if not, he would rathe

having won that splendid victory which laid distracted France at his feet, he only waited to complete the conquest as thoroughly and rapidly as might be; and, lest his

to his young cousin, his own situation had become much more lonely of late; for Henry was no longer the comrade he had once been, since he had become a keeper instead of a fellow-sufferer. It was true that he did his best to forget this by lavishing indulgences on his captive, and insisting on being treated on terms of brotherly familiarity; but though his transcendent qualities commanded love, the intimacy could be but a semblance of the once equal friendship. Moreover, that conspiracy which cost the life of the Earl of Cambridge had taught James that cautious reserve was needed in dealing with even his old friends the princes, so easily might he be accused of plotting either with Henry's immediate heir or with the Mortimers; and, in this guarded life, he had hailed with delight the opportunity of taking to himself the young orphan cousin of kindred blood, of congenial tastes, and home-like speech, w

e to communicate, the King entered the room. He flung himself on his knees, exclaim

eople at my own gate. No, no, he'll have me back with Southron bows and bills, so soon as this small trifle of France lies quiet in his grasp! I had nearly flung back my parole in his face, and told him that no English swor

gel!' growl

eed from misrule and exaction, in peace and order. Look at this lan

e as where a man is not free to fight out his own feud. Even this

innocent boys. I tell you, cousin, this precious right is the very cause that our poor country is so lawl

t! Let Patrick Drummond have my sister and my lands, a

spoilt for monk or priest by cheering me awhile in my captivity. I need you, laddie,' me added, laying his hand on the

looking into his face, s

camp, shall render you the meeter prince; and I pass you my royal word, that if at full age the cowl be y

tude, admiration, and affection, he gave himself up to the enjoyment of his new situation, and of time King's kindness and solicitude. This was indeed absolutely that of an elder brother; for, observing that Malcolm's dress and equipments, the work of Glenuskie looms, supplemented by a few Edinburgh purchases, was uncouth enough to attract some scornful glances from the crowd who came out to welcome the royal entrance into York the next day, he instantly sent Brewster in search of the best tailor and lorimer in the city, and provided so handsomely for the appearance of young Glenuskie, his horse, and his attendants, that the whole floor of their quarters was strewn with doublets, boots, chaperons, and

ere is the Duke, I say?' It was thick and husky, as with some terrible emotion; and the King and Duke had alread

of wrathful anguish, and a terrible frown, he turned on James, exclaiming,

d, Sir! Send me where you will, but dare not dishonour my name!' Then changing, as he saw the exceeding

still with an agony of indignation: 'Thomas is de

' cried Ja

y were spent with travel to stop the robberies in Anjou. They closed in with their pikes on my brave fellows, took Somerset prisoner, and for Thomas, while h

bany!' said James. 'Would tha

here and left him to bear the brunt, and be cut off by you felon Scots!' And he hid his face, struggling within an agony of heart-rending grief, which seemed to sway his whole tall, powerful frame as he leant against the high

ho knows how to profit by what they have got! but I must back again ere the devil

war under such a captain as yourself, and maybe they will not take the

cess give me back my brother-my brother, the brave and true?' he added, weeping again within time abandon of an open nature and simple age. 'It was for my sins, my forgetfulness of my great work, that this has come on me.-Ho, Marmion! carry these tidings from

aid, Sir Nigel was there, having only retired on the King's entrance. The news was of course all over the hou

urably,' said

now of any gate of coming by a clout at t

y one of those I lov

night should. I'd wish none of these princes a waur ending. Moreover, could Swinton have had the wit to keep him living, he'd have been a bonnie barte

t what are you longing to ask, Malcolm? Is it for your kinsman Patrick

e, Davie Baird, that must needs be off on this journey to France; and the squire tell

rselves,' said James; 'I

ally, and under the standard of Englan

favourite modern authority, the learned ecclesiastic, Jean Pavé, who was the Vauban of the fifteenth century; and he had likewise obtained greedily all the information he could from Henry himself and his warriors; but all this had convinced him that if war was to be more than a mere raid, conducted by mere spirit and instinct, some actual apprenticeship was necessary. Even for such a dash, Henry himself had told him that he would find his book-knowledge an absolute impediment without some practice, and would probably fail for that very reason when opposed to tough old seasoned warriors. And, prudence apart, James, at

ht you safe home again, and, God willing, I'll keep my oath. But what's this

e with me, and see how cities and battles are won. Speak not yet, cousin; it takes many months to shake out the royal

e threw himself on his knees, almost on his face, before the choir steps, there remaining while the De profundis and the like solemn and mournful strains floated through the dark vaultings above him, perhaps soothing while givin

rd and his companions return; but for himself, he intended to remain and confess, in preparation for bei

ep, the godless atmosphere he had been used to think all

ixed expression, which scarcely softened even when the sacrificial rite struck the notes of praise; and though a light came into his eye, it was rather the devotion of one who had offered himself, than the gleam of hopeful exultation. The

ous entreaties for the King's healing touch for their little ones. The kind Henry waited, ungloved his hand, asked his treasurer for th

od save King Harry!' as he at length leapt into the saddle; but at that moment, a feeble, withered

One is gone already, and the rest will not be long after; the

ned round: 'Foul-mouthed raven, peace with thy t

ur a handful of silver into the beggar's cap, he said,

h mounted, 'there's a fe

ord, with a shudder; 'he bel

r, too,'

e of thine own household; the sword shall never depart therefrom, but all the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age, and in the fourth generation shall their name be clean cut off." The commons will have it that at that moment my father was struck with leprosy; and struck to the heart assuredly he was, nor was he ever the same man again. I always believed that those words made

o a brave man's head on a chill morning before he has broken his fast. A

id John. 'But I might have known better than to speak to you of such th

ls me, I believe devoutly; but not in that which she

ere lies the ques

r side even of a sober youth such as Lord John of Lancaster! Your proneness to believe

ll not credit upon proof, such proof as was the fulfilm

worse, for the durance of your father's widow as a witch, and of her brave young son, because forsooth his name is Arthur of Ri

rt,' said Bedford; 'and I tell you, James, the day may co

etter than let them betray me into deeming some grewsome cri

ss, partly because bashfulness made him unwilling to venture from under his royal kinsman's wing, and partly because he could not bear to let the English suppose that a Scotsman and a Stewart could be afraid of weather. As the rain became harder with the evening twilight, silence sank upon the whole troop, and they went splashing on through the deep lanes, in mud and mire, until the lights of Pontefract Castle shimmered on high from its hill. The gates were opened, the horses clatte

eive that, close to the great fire, sat a party of four, playing at what he supposed to be that French game wit

atted hair, and soaked dress, the first to spring forward to meet him was a handsome young man, who wrung his hand, crying, 'Ah, Harry, Harry, then 'tis too true!' while the lady made scarcely a step forwa

still holding her hand, and look

seeing his amazed glance, 'The poor Messire de Clar

ear,' said Henry, catching

th of his feeling, and repeating, 'He was a beau sieur court

ut how fares it with poor

to have taken with her the Demoiselle de Beaufort; but I for

Madame of Hainault, nor to the Duke of Orleans. Nay, you are in no guise to speak to any on

t,' said Henry, more rebuked than seem

We supped

since we snatched our meal, that I m

e in thus dishevelled, steaming with wet-n

s sweet tender smile of gratitude. No fea

ill be served in your chamber,

tant to say, 'Fair sister, he is sore distressed. It would

ules of ceremony which she had brought with her. John of Bedford had never seemed to her either beau or

aten condition; and they were forced to follow the King, and make their way to t

usin,' muttered James, as he reached his own room. 'You saw her, though,-

py, and answered awkwardly

ill not Scotland forget in the sight of that fair face all

wkwardness, 'it were easier to bow to her than to

ay, but in a sort I see thy meaning. The royal blood of England

ratified, 'those dark

terrupted the King. 'His wi

t the lady who stood by the Queen's table, with the g

he hath taken that great brown Luxemburg

iant brother; the grave, melancholy Duke of Orleans, who had been taken captive at Agincourt, and was at present quartered at Pontefract; the handsome, but stout and heavy-looking Earl of March; brave Lord Warwick; Sir Lewis Robsart, the old knight to whose charge the Queen had been spe

as taken captive at Otterburn, who

that northern fashion of ours of keeping up feud from generation to generation. So hath he restored the eldest son t

the son for his father's deeds. A cloistered priest could hardly do so: pardon to a hostile family cam

your bent conventwards in the Court here. I s

th the resolution nev