‘The same, my love,’ said Margaret, her emotion threatening once more to overcome her.

‘What did you call him?’ asked Henry.

‘Edward. 1 thought it was a good name. I thought the people would like it.’

‘I like it,’ said Henry.

Then he put the palms of his hands together and began to pray.

Young Edward looked at him wonderingly and was not sure whether he liked him. He turned to his mother and looked as though he were about to cry until the jewelled necklace she was wearing caught his eyes. He seized it and so great was his interest in that that tears were avoided on his first meeting with his father.

Afterwards Margaret sat with Henry and he told her that he remembered nothing of what had happened since his illness overtook him. He had not been aware of anyone or anything.

‘I have been with you these many months,’ she told him. ‘I have nursed you myself I did not trust anyone else.’

She did not explain what was happening immediately. On the advice of William Hately she would do so gradually.

York was in control. The people seemed to like him. He had established a certain order throughout the country. Their dear friends Somerset and Exeter were captives.

‘They must be released,’ said the King.

‘It is the first thing we shall do when we are in command again. We shall dismiss York and his friends and bring back our own.’

Henry looked a little tired and closed his eyes. William Hately said: ‘Do not talk too much of State affairs to him. Let it come gradually. He has recovered but he is still weak.’

Let him recover gradually!

Impatient as she was for action, Margaret could see the wisdom of that. For the moment the affairs of the country must remain in York’s hands, but not for long...

Bishop Waynflete and the Prior of St. John’s came to Coventry to see the King.

He was delighted to receive them and he was happy praying with them.

He has not changed, thought Margaret.

Soon we must leave Coventry. Soon we shall take over the reins of government.


* * *

That was a happy Christmastime. Every day Henry showed some improvement and began to take an interest in his surroundings.

The choice of Coventry had been a wise one for it had always been a favourite of his. He wanted to visit the churches of the town. There were three which had been standing there for years. Henry delighted in them, particularly that of St. Michael which had been built long ago in the reign of the first Henry and had been given to the monks of Coventry by Earl Randulph. Then there was St. Mary’s Hall which he himself had built. It had an intricately carved roof with figures which were almost grotesque, a minstrels’ gallery and an armoury. The enormous glass windows were a treasure in themselves. Henry delighted in it and his enthusiasm showed from his eyes as he talked of it with Margaret. In this hall was a tapestry which Henry had ordered to be made and which had been hung only a few years previously. It was thirty feet by ten and Henry had helped to design it. The colours, he pointed out, showed what advances had been made in dyeing and they really were exquisite.

It was wonderful to see his excitement over these things, but Margaret wished he could be equally so with regard to State matters. He did not seem to wish to discuss those. Whenever such questions were brought up, a film would come over his eyes and he would put his hand to his head as though he were tired. It was too dangerous as yet to insist for Margaret had a horror of his lapsing once more into that lethargy which bordered on idiocy.

What she would have to do was to bring his friends to him. Let him talk to them. Let him see that he was loved by many. Then they would set about ousting arrogant York from the Protectorate and bringing Somerset back.

One day there were visitors at the castle and Margaret received them warmly for she knew very well that there could not be stronger supporters of the Lancastrian cause. Their prosperity would most certainly depend on it, and that was the best reliance one could have on friends. A cynical observation, some might say, but it was nevertheless true and even if there was real regard it must be strengthened by expediency.

The visitors were brought in to the King and when he saw them his pleasure was obvious.

‘Can it really be...Owen?’ said Henry.

Owen Tudor was on his knees before the King.

‘Your servant,’ he said.

‘Owen Tudor.’ The King’s eyes were glazed with emotion. I remember you well, Owen.’

‘My lord, your mother and I talked so much of you, thought so much of you...When we were together... before they parted us we used to say how happy we could have been if you were with us.’

‘Yes, I should have been happy too. I remember being impressed by you all and feeling a certain longing and a resentment, too, because I was the son of a King. Oh, Owen, how good it is to see you and recall those days when you taught me to ride my pony. I fear I was a timid pupil.’

‘My lord, you were a good pupil. You listened to your teacher which is what few do.’

‘My mother, Owen...Oh, that was a tragedy.’

‘I think she could not endure the breaking up of our happy home.’

‘Oh, it was cruel, cruel... And you went away to Wales. How fared you, Owen?’

‘Well enough...in my native Wales. You were good to us, my lord. You never forgot us.’

‘I did very little, Owen, for my stepfather and my half-brothers. Tell me, how are they?’

‘If you would wish it you may see for yourself. Two of them are here in Coventry awaiting your permission to present themselves.’

‘Awaiting my permission! My own brothers! Let them be brought to me without delay. But there are more than two.’

‘My youngest son Owen has become a monk.’

‘Ah, fortunate man. Where is he?’

‘In Westminster.’

‘I well remember him. And your daughter?’

‘Jacina is growing up. She will be of marriageable age very soon.’

‘We will find a husband for her. The Queen loves to arrange these marriages. Do I speak truth, my love?’

‘It is a pleasure to set young people together. They should all marry young. That is my view. Then they should have children...lots of them.’

‘Yes,’ said Henry tenderly. ‘Margaret is the Court’s matchmaker.’

‘My eldest, your half-brother Edmund, will ask of you permission to marry. He is in love with the niece of the Duke of Somerset.’

‘Margaret Beaufort! She is a much sought after little girl. I remember the Duke of Suffolk wanted her for his son.’

‘I think she would be inclined to take Edmund...if you would consider it. After all, Edmund has royal blood through his mother.’

‘I have no doubt that the Queen will arrange that matter. Now send my brothers to me. I would see them.’

‘They want to assure you of their devotion. If ever you should need them, they are at your service.’

Owen knew that the Queen was watching him closely. The

King might not want to think of the possibility of war but it was there and the Queen knew exactly what he meant.

When the two young men were brought to the King he received them with emotion. His half-brothers—Edmund and Jasper Tudor. They reminded him so much of their mother— who was Henry’s mother too—and he was glad that he was related so closely to them.

They were a handsome pair – a few years younger than Henry who was at this time thirty-three years of age. Edmund must be about twenty-five and Jasper twenty-three or -four. They both had reason to be grateful to Henry who had made sure that they were adequately educated, first by the Abbess of Barking and later they had been put in the care of priests. Moreover Henry had bestowed titles on them—Edmund was the Earl of Richmond and Jasper the Earl of Pembroke. He would have given the youngest, Owen, a title if he had not gone into a monastery. The most fortunate of them all, in Henry’s opinion.

Margaret eyed the three men with approval. Firm strong supporters of Lancaster and held together by ties of kinship.

Henry was happy to drop all ceremony and to talk to his stepfather and his brothers as equals. They talked for a while of the old days, which was sad because they must think of the death ()( Katherine their mother.

‘How happy she would have been if she could be here with us thus,’ said Owen.

‘She sees us from Heaven,’ answered Henry.

‘I here is one matter which grieves us all very much,’ Edmund told him. ‘It is the .scandal which has been spoken about our mother and the slurs that are cast on us...’

‘They call us bastards,’ said Jasper.

Owen said: ‘There was a marriage, my lord. 1 assure you there was. It took place just before Edmund’s birth but when he was born I and your mother were married.’

Henry looked at Margaret, who said, ‘There could be a declaration in Parliament. Why not? It has been done before. Why, Margaret Beaufort herself comes of a line which began as a bastard sprig and it was long alter the birth ol the Beauforts that John ol Gaunt legitimized them. I see no reason why there should not be a declaration in Parliament.’

‘We shall see to it,’ said Henry.

Margaret rejoiced. It was the first time he had mentioned sitting with a Parliament.

There was no doubt that the Tudors’ visit had done some good.

When they had left after giving a firm indication of their loyalty to Henry and Lancaster, Margaret talked of them to the King.

‘They are fine men...all of them. Owen is getting old of course but you need strong men Like Edmund and Jasper.’