Виктория Холт - The star of Lancaster

Henry had decided to make for that part of the country which he expected would be most loyal to him, so instead of landing at Dover or Folkestone as he would have been expected to, he set a northerly course and finally arrived at Bridlington. He was amazed at the numbers who flocked to his banner. They were welcoming him because they were tired of Richard. He made his own castle of Pickering his temporary headquarters and from there he marched to Doncaster, his following growing more numerous every day.

At Doncaster he was joined by the Earl of Westmorland, and Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland with his son Sir Henry Percy known as Hotspur. The Percys were a powerful family who helped to keep watch on the Scottish border for any trouble which might flare up. They were like kings of the northern provinces. With them they had brought the Lords of Greystock and Willoughby, a formidable force.

The Earl of Northumberland called together a council which he asked Henry to attend and when they were all assembled, he said, It is important to know what your intentions are, and why you have returned to England."

Henry replied promptly that his intentions were to regain his estates which had been unjustly forfeited. He had no other intentions.

The company was relieved. They implied that they had no desire to take part in a campaign to take the crown from Richard and put it on his cousin's head. But being men of property themselves they had very strong views about the seizure of estates. The King had acted foolishly in breaking his promise to John of Gaunt and they agreed that there had been only one course open to Henry of Lancaster. He must come to England and take back what was his.

So these powerful earls of the North joined with Henry of Lancaster in a righteous course.

The next week saw the complete debacle. Richard's followers deserted him one by one, and they flocked to Henry's banner. The King was at first bewildered, then resigned. What he had ahvays feared had come to pass. The people were tired of him; they no longer loved the bright and handsome boy they had cheered so wildly at Blackheath and Smithfield. They had had enough of him and they thought that Henry of Lancaster would serve them better.

When Richard was left with but six loyal men he knew that it was only a matter of days before he was captured. He wandered from castle to castle until he came to Conway and there he rested for he had no heart to continue the futile struggle.

His old enemy Archbishop Arundel came to him there and extracted from him a promise to give up the crown.

He did so, almost with alacrity. He was tired of the crown, tired of his life. He did regret though that he was parted from his little Queen.

The young Isabella had brought him what he had lacked in his life since the death of Queen Anne. He wanted to love and be loved; and this exquisite little girl who adored him and whom he could regard as a beloved child—wife though she was to him—had supplied that.

Poor sweet Isabella, what would become of her now !

As for Henry he had succeeded beyond his wildest expectations.

He had seen that Richard must give up the throne from his own desire to do so. Henry did not want trouble which would be inevitable if Richard were forced to abdicate. Henry wanted to be persuaded to take that which his hands had itched to grasp for many years.

Richard was obstinate at first when the irrevocable step had to be taken but eventually he gave in.

There was a new King on the throne. Henry of Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster had become King Henry the Fourth of England.

Harry was becoming very restless in Trim Castle, for on the orders of the King, a close watch was kept on him and Humphrey. They were not allowed to ride out which was a hardship scarcely to be endured. They played games until they were tired of them; Harry made all sorts of plans for escape which Humphrey dismissed as impossible. Harry knew this too but it helped a little to plan.

Then one day when they sat idly in a corner of the room they shared, they heard the sound of footsteps coming up the steep spiral staircase; the footsteps stopped at their door and they heard the clanking of keys as the door was being unlocked.

Two of the guards came into the room. They were looking at Harry and there was a distinct change in their demeanour. Not that they had been cruel. Richard would never have wanted that. But now there was respect in the bow they gave in Harry's direction and then in Humphrey's.

"Great news, my lord," said the guard looking straight at Harry who was beginning to feel a little light-headed with the possibility which had occurred to him.

"Yes, yes," cried Harry, impatient and imperious.

"We have a new King, God save him. King Henry IV of England.

"My ... my father!" gasped Harry.

"Your noble father, my lord, God save him."

"Then Richard .. "

"Has abdicated, my lord. He knew himself to be beaten."

Harry smiled to himself. This was the biggest thing that had ever happened. Yesterday he had been Harry of Monmouth, son of an exile, a hostage in the hands of the King. Today he was Prince Harry, heir to the throne.

He wanted to go home. He wanted to share in the triumph. This was the end of this dull and pointless life. A wild exultation took hold of him. Everyone was showing respect, even Humphrey. Heir to the throne. The words kept ringing in his ears.

"What news of my father the King?" he asked.

"Orders, my lord, that you and Duke Humphrey are to leave at once for England," was the answer.

"Come Humphrey," cried Harry. "Let us lose no time."

Nor did they. They would leave at once. There would be a ship waiting for them. His father had seen to that. He wanted his heir with him with all speed. He would be made the Prince of Wales, that was certain. A glorious life lay before him.

Humphrey was more cautious and very thoughtful.

Poor old Humphrey, it would make little difference to him. He was already the Duke of Gloucester and he could not go much higher than that. Still, he would have the distinction of having shared exile with the Prince of Wales.

When they were alone Humphrey said: "Harry, don't hope for too much."

"What do you mean? Hope for too much! I'm heir to the throne, am I not?"

"It must be very insecure as yet."

"Insecure! Depend upon it, my father had made it very secure."

"For one thing young Edmund Mortimer is the true heir."

"That's not a serious claim."

"You have to see things as they are, Harry. Edmund is descended from Lionel who was older than your grandfather."

"I know. I know. But he's only a child."

"Age makes no difference."

"Oh yes it does. My father has the people behind him. He is the one they want. They want no more child kings."

"Not even if they are the rightful heirs?"

"Enough, Humphrey. Remember ..."

"To whom I speak. The heir to the tottering throne. Don't hope for too much, Harry."

"Will you stop it or ... or ..."

"You'll send me to the Tower and have me lay my head on the block? You'll be a vindictive king, Harry, but you won't last long if you don't look the truth right in the face and accept it for what it is."

Harry seized him and the two of them wrestled together on the floor of the chamber as they loved to do. Harry often scored in these bouts although he was several years younger than Humphrey.

The tussle ended up in laughter as it always did and Harry cried: "What are we doing, wasting our time? Come, we must return to the scene of action with all speed. I am no longer a hostage, Humphrey. Think of that."

"I can think of nothing but how glad I am to leave this damp unfriendly land."

"Come, then, let us make ready. To England."

Within a few days they left Ireland. The crossing was rough and during it Humphrey became ill. Harry chaffed him and told him he was a poor sailor and commented that it was a mercy they were not going into battle. Humphrey smiled wanly and said he could never remember feeling so strange.

"You'll be well again as soon as you set foot on dry land," Harry promised him.

But this was not so and the crossing was so rough that it seemed at one time that they would never make it. It was a great relief when they were able to land in Anglesey. Oddly enough Humphrey was no better and it soon became clear that his malady had nothing to do with the sea.

He was in a fever and wandering in his mind. They had come to an inn which was nearest to the spot where they had landed and Harry had thought that after a brief rest there Humphrey would be himself again.

Humphrey was rambling about his father. He thought he was himself in an inn in Calais instead of Anglesey and that what had been done to his father would be done to him.

"Nonsense," cried Harry. Tm here with you, Humphrey. We're in Wales ... soon we shall be with my father. We are not Richard's prisoners any more."

Humphrey was soothed but he did not improve. In fact he was growing worse and a cold fear suddenly touched Harry.

Was this some sort of a plague which had attacked his companion?

He should ride on. His father was impatiently awaiting him, but he was not going to leave Humphrey.

That was to prove a sad homecoming for Harry in spite of the glory which awaited him. Within a few days of their landing Humphrey had died of the mysterious illness which had attacked him so suddenly.