Albion Rising: A Henry Frederick Timeline
- Thread starter VVD0D95
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I was his fan even before so I'm very happy for him and I hope he can emerge vicrorious.
Chapter 153: Long Away
VVD0D95
Banned
Chapter 153: Long Away
March, 1616
For the first time in maybe five years, James felt uneasy. The source of his unease was hard to pin down exactly. Robert had written from his home to state he had found evidence of who had been manipulating the post during the Orkney campaign and that he wished to present this evidence in person. James had written back to invite Robert to attend a meeting of the Privy Council in a fortnight’s time-something that he shouldn’t have had to do given Robert was still a privy councillor-and that he waited eagerly to see what evidence Robert had found.
Was he really that eager? He didn’t know. If the evidence was damning enough, then several heads would need to role and James would need to expel the Spanish ambassador. That was the only course he felt he had open to him, now that the true scale of everything had been revealed. He sighed, thinking he could keep the peace with Spain had been a mistake. Spain couldn’t be trusted. Despite that his instincts were yelling at him to try to at least salvage something before declaring war.
And yet…James glanced down at the paper on the table before him and sighed again. And yet, Spain was being used as a stick to bludgeon him with, and worst of all his son was suffering for it. He looked up from the paper and surveyed the faces of the men in the room with him. The Lord Chancellor, the Attorney General and of course Sir Edward Coke, Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.
The finest legal minds in the entirety of his Kingdom. James took a breath then said. “Gentlemen, you are here because a paper has been published claiming that the death of our grandson Prince James was divine punishment for our peace with Spain.”
The Attorney General winced; Coke remained impassive. “The paper goes on to claim that unless we break our peace with Spain more deaths will follow.”
“I wish to know whether you think this constitutes treason or not.” James said.
He saw Coke raise his eyebrows and continued. “Our gut tells us that it is, it is threatening and downright disgraceful conduct. But we are aware of the rights of every one of subjects to say what they feel within reason, therefore we wish for your views and why.”
There was a long pause and then Lord Chancellor Ellesmere spoke. “I think that this constitutes treason, Sire. By claiming that unless Your Majesty breaks the peace with Spain, there will be further suffering, this paper has gone into treason under the Treason Act passed during the reign of Edward III.”
James nodded, then looked at the Attorney General, Francis Bacon, who said. “I agree with the Lord Chancellor. I think this is the grossest abuse of letter writing I have ever seen and should be treated as the most perfidious of crimes.”
“I disagree.” Sir Edward Coke said.
James looked at the man and asked. “Why?”
Coke was a man that James had mixed feelings about. The man had helped him better understand English law following a few early mistakes, but at the same time, he seemed more loyal to the law than to his King, which troubled James. It reminded him too much of the ministers of the Kirk.
Coke’s response was calm and collected as always. “Whilst the words written in the paper are abhorrent and should be condemned, the writer has not directly threatened Your Majesty or Your Majesty’s family. He has not said that he will bring death upon Your Majesty or Your Majesty’s family, he has merely said that more death will come. The vagueness of that wording means that if Your Majesty was to charge him with treason, a good lawyer could argue against it, citing the Treason Act that the Lord Chancellor mentioned earlier, given that there is no direct incitement to harm against the Royal Family.”
“So, why has he written these words?” James demanded. “Why write something so inflammatory if he does not want to actually do harm?”
“Because the man is an avid Puritan, I would expect, and those sorts are given to hysteria.” Coke said.
“So, what would you have me do?” James asked, convinced that he wasn’t going to like what Coke suggested.
Coke said nothing for a moment and then replied. “I would suggest summoning the writer of this paper to London, questioning him, understanding his intent and then deciding on a course of action after that.”
Bacon snorted. “The man could lie and claim that his words have been misinterpreted.”
James saw Coke look dismissively at Bacon. “Then that would be his right as a subject of His Majesty.”
“And the precedent that that would set?” Bacon demanded. “It would give free license to all and sundry to write whatever shambolic things they wanted about His Majesty and the Royal Family.”
“You take a very dim view of your fellow subjects Mr Bacon.” Coke said.
“I take an honest view.” Bacon snapped. “Most of them are chancers and halfwits.”
“Which is why this must be done this way.” Coke said. “So, that the message gets through to them. There are consequences, a half-wit would be terrified to meet his King. Not so much of the rack.”
Bacon snorted, and James turned to Ellesmere. “What do you think?” He asked the Lord Chancellor.
The Lord Chancellor didn’t answer immediately, indeed, to James it seemed as if the man was torn between agreeing with Coke-from the way he kept looking at him-and stating a neutral position. Eventually it seemed Coke’s view won out. “I agree with Sir Edward, Sire.” Ellesmere said. Bacon snorted, but James was intrigued.
“Why?” He asked.
“We must understand why this man wrote what he did. We must understand why he thought what he did. Only then can we destroy it from the face of the Earth.” Ellesmere said.
“And you do not think that others will take heart from this and act out?” James asked.
Ellesmere shook his head. “I do not think so, Sire. I think they will see this as a warning and a sign of justice being served.”
James nodded, his first instinct was to go with Bacon and have the man who had written this paper arrested and then tortured, then executed. But his gut was telling him that that would be a terrible move. That his subjects would not appreciate it. He needed to understand to see where the rot was so he could eliminate it, Ellesmere was right. He sighed. “Send the writ of summons to the writer and the publisher of the paper. Let us see what they have to say.”
Everyone is being far too reasonable, where's the government incompetence we've come to expect? 😋
VVD0D95
Banned
Oh of course, with what's coming we may well see the start of the first proper regiments as well.
If anyone as much as touches a hair on Anne, Mary, Robert, Henry F, Anna Maria and their kids they shall be executed by every way possible
A family tree is an update, thank you for sharing how Elizabeth is getting along.
I look forward to seeing them but there’s no rush.We’ll be seeing a lot more of her and Frederick soon as well
We are here for the journey this story is taking us on, so no need to sprint from chapter to chapter.
Chapter 154: Oxford
VVD0D95
Banned
Chapter 154: Oxford
April, 1616
Henry de Vere, Earl of Oxford took a deep breath and found himself comforted that though the sun was peeking out, there was still a coldness to the air. It was reassuring, there had been so much change as of late, that Henry was trying to find comfort in the familiar. It was foolish he knew, but still, it was something he wanted.
“A pleasant day for a ride.” The Prince of Wales said.
Henry looked to his right and nodded. “It is indeed, Sir.”
The Prince said nothing for a moment, simply allowing the breeze to pass between them as their horses rode through the grounds of Richmond Palace. Henry was content to allow the silence to pass through. He had not expected to get the invitation to ride with the Prince, the man had been avoiding him since the tragedy with Prince James, which Henry could understand. It couldn’t be easy to socialise with someone whose son was alive, when yours was dead. Though as Catherine had pointed out to Henry, the Prince had three other children alive and well. Though they were with the Princess of Wales at St James’. Henry had been tasked by Catherine with figuring out why that was. It was highly unusual for the Prince not to be at his wife’s side.
“How are Catherine and your son doing?” The Prince asked then.
Henry smiled at the thought of his wife and son. “They are well, Sir, thank you. Catherine sends her regards.”
The Prince nodded. “How have you found being a father?”
“It’s the best thing in the world, Sir.” Henry answered, it was the truth, he couldn’t imagine life without his son. “I feel like I have a purpose, a meaning that I previously lacked.”
Henry saw the Prince nod and smile. “Being a father is the best thing that can happen to a man. It gives purpose to those who lacked it, it gives meaning to those who seek it, and it gives you something to fight for and protect. God knows what he is doing when he makes men have families.”
There was an odd note in the Prince’s voice then, one that encouraged Henry to ask. “How are you doing, Your Highness?”
He thought the Prince might dismiss his concern, but instead Henry was surprised when the Prince answered. “Not well, Henry, not well, at all.”
“Sir?” Henry asked, genuinely concerned and touched that the Prince felt comfortable sharing this with him.
The Prince sighed. “I feel as though a part of me has died. When my son died, it was like something left me and I have never been able to recover it.” There was pause, and Henry waited, sure that the Prince would say something more, sure enough, he did.
“The thing is, I know I am not alone in my grief, Anna is hurting as well. I see it every time I look at her. I want to hold her in my arms and kiss away the tears I know she hasn’t shed. But I can’t.” The Prince said, and there was such pain in his voice Henry felt his heart break.
“Why, Sir?” Henry asked. “Why can’t you do it?”
“I… I don’t know.” The Prince replied. “Fear, I think.”
“Fear, Sir?” Henry asked.
The Prince stopped his horse, prompting Henry to do the same. “I am afraid to go to Anna, to hold her and comfort her, because I am terrified that she will blame me.”
“Sir?” Henry asked astounded, from what Catherine had said that was the last thing that the Princess would do.
“I couldn’t save our son. I couldn’t save him. I am a man, a father, a Prince, a knight, my job is to protect the innocent and I couldn’t protect him. What sort of man does that make me?” The Prince asked, his face scrunched up in pain.
Had the Prince been his brother, Henry would’ve embraced him and whispered that everything was going to be fine. But the Prince was his Prince and so Henry kept his hands to himself and instead said. “It makes you a man like the rest of us, Sir. Imperfect, but devoted to your family. Her Highness knows that. The whole world knows that.”
The Prince looked at him, and there was such pain and desperation in his eyes that Henry felt his heart break some more. “Does she?” The Prince asked.
“Yes, Sir, she does.” Henry said.
The Prince sniffled, and then straightened. “I’ve been an idiot, haven’t I?”
“Sir?” Henry asked, surprised by the sudden change in the Prince’s composition.
“I have allowed my own guilt and fear to prevent me from being there for my wife and children.” The Prince said, a steeliness in his voice that had been lacking mere moments ago.
“I…” Henry said unsure of what to say.
“Thank you for listening to me, Henry. I truly appreciate it.” The Prince said.
“Of course, Sir.” Henry said, still marvelling at how quickly the Prince’s composure had changed.
The Prince straightened and then dug his heels in, getting his horse to move. Henry did the same and rode just behind the Prince. As they rode, the Prince spoke. “Do not make the same mistake that I made, Henry. Do not let your grief cloud your judgement.”
“Sir?” Henry asked, still not sure how the Prince’s composure had changed so quickly.
“If you are grieving, there will be others who are grieving as well. It is important that you be there for them, especially your wife. Family is the most important thing in this world.” The Prince said.
“Yes, Sir.” Henry replied.
“Good. Now come, enough dallying.” The Prince said, before he urged his horse into a gallop. Henry swore and urged his horse on. These Stuarts, there was something about them that fascinated Henry and terrified him in equal measure. Perhaps over the years he would come to understand them. For just now he would be happy with simply being in their shadow observing them.
Chapter 155: Reunion
VVD0D95
Banned
Chapter 155: Reunion
May, 1616
Anna watched as Henry shifted slightly in his chair. It was nice having him here. There had been something missing when he’d been in Richmond without her and the children. She understood it, but at the same time she didn’t. They were family, and surely family had to be together in times like this, when grief was so heavy and when wounds were still raw.
She had given Henry space, but after hearing from Catherine that he’d confessed something to Henry de Vere, Earl of Oxford, she had been desperate. She had wanted to write to him, come home. Come back to her and the children. But she hadn’t, instead she had waited, and now here he was.
He had lost a lot of weight, and his beard had grown thick and bushy. The children had barely recognised him when he’d come for dinner today, but Arthur had been the one to break that barrier running up and squealing in delight. Her heart had warmed to see that.
They’d read to the children before putting them to sleep and now here they were. Their courtiers were scattered around the room, no doubt trying to listen without being caught. An amusing thought if ever there was one.
“I’m sorry.” Henry said then, breaking into her thoughts.
“What for?” Anna asked.
“For not being here.” Henry said, he looked at her, and she saw pain in his eyes. “For not being here for you and for the children. For running away.”
“Henry….” Anna began, Henry hadn’t run away, she wanted him to understand that, but he held up a hand and she fell silent.
“I was scared and angry, scared that you would blame me for not being able to protect our son, and angry that I hadn’t been able to. I needed time to process, and instead I ended up drifting. I got so consumed in my own feelings that I forgot that you were also hurting.” Henry said, he looked at her with a pleading look and spoke. “I’m sorry, my love, I hope you can forgive me.”
Anna got up and moved to Henry, she took his hand in hers and said. “Henry I was never angry at you. I was confused and hurt, but I was never angry at you. I know that everyone grieves in their own way, I just wish that you had told me before. But you’ve told me now and we can work through it together.”
“We can?” Henry asked, with such hope in his voice that Anna felt tears well in her eyes. She blinked them away furiously.
“We can.” Anna said.
Henry pulled her toward him then, so that she was sat in his lap. “Thank you, Anna, you are a far better person than I.”
Anna chuckled and kissed her husband, then whispered. “You know you might want to get rid of the beard.”
“Oh?” Henry replied, his eyes widening. “You don’t like it?”
“It makes you look like one of those ruffians you see sometimes near the theatre.” Anna said. “And not in a good way.”
Henry laughed and touched his cheeks. “I’ll ask David to get me a shaver and I’ll remove it first thing tomorrow.”
“Good.” Anna said.
Both of them fell silent then, just looking at one another. Anna was so happy to have Henry back, so very happy, and of course, she hoped he was happy to be back. She didn’t want to experience anything like what she’d just gone through alone again.
“How…how did you cope?” Henry asked then breaking the silence.
Anna didn’t need to ask what he meant; she knew. “With great difficulty.”
“But the children were here, and there were things that needed to be done. So I powered through.” Anna said, she didn’t mention the hours where she’d just sit and stare at her son’s empty cradle, or that time she forgot to brush Anne’s hair because she was too busy crying her eyes out.
Henry looked at her then and whispered. “I’m sorry.”
Anna cupped her husband’s chin and whispered. “I know.”
Anna didn’t want to think about their grief anymore, she wanted to move forward, therefore she said. “Arthur’s started running around the palace like a mad man.”
Henry laughed. “How do you mean?”
“He takes his wooden practice sword and runs around with it, challenging anyone and everyone to a duel. A few times some of the guards have indulged him, but other than he just runs around. It’s good because usually it exhausts him.” Anna said.
Henry laughed. “I’ll need to see what he can do with that sword then.”
“Yes, you will.” Anna said, shifting slightly and feeling Henry’s body respond accordingly. She looked at him and he looked at her, she grinned and he smirked.
“There are a lot of people around.” He whispered.
“So, let’s get rid of them.” Anna said.
“We can’t, not yet. Protocol.” Henry said.
Anna groaned. “Protocol, but we’re not at court.”
Henry laughed. “True, but some of these people are going to be reporting back to my father, and we can’t have them saying something scandalous, can we?”
Anna giggled into Henry’s neck. “No, we really can’t.”
A moment passed and then another, then another, then Henry surprised her by picking her up. “What about protocol?” Anna asked.
“Bugger protocol, I haven’t seen you in months. I want to be with my wife.” Henry replied, looking at her rather wolfishly. He stood up and walked passed most of their courtiers and kicked open the door that led toward the hallway, he then walked down that hallway, all the while staring at her with such heat that her insides were warming.
Eventually they got to his bedchamber. The guards opened the doors and he kicked the door shut after he’d walked in. He gently placed her on the bed, and then said. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you.” Anna replied. She pulled him toward her and kissed him then, then pushed him slightly. “Take it off.” She said nodding to his clothes.
Henry grinned. “Yes, my Princess.”