God and The King

Marjorie Bowen

Description

England's Glorious Revolution of 1688 was a time of confusion and upheaval in virtually every domain, including religion, politics, and even the social class system. Fans of historical fiction will appreciate Marjorie Bowen's tightly plotted dramatization of the era, which focuses on the period following William and Mary's ascendance to the throne.

Sujets

• Historical fiction

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 août 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776527786
• Langue: English

Extrait

GOD AND THE KING
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MARJORIE BOWEN
 
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God and The King First published in 1911 ISBN 978-1-77652-778-6 © 2013 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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PART I - THE REVOLUTION Chapter I - The Afternoon of June 30th, 1688 Chapter II - The Evening of June 30th, 1688 Chapter III - The Night of June 30th, 1688 Chapter IV - The Messenger from England Chapter V - The Princess of Orange Chapter VI - The Letters of Mr. Herbert Chapter VII - The Silent Wood Chapter VIII - The Policy of the Prince Chapter IX - France Moves Chapter X - The English Ambassador Chapter XI - Three Pawns Chapter XII - France Moves Again Chapter XIII - The Great Enterprise Chapter XIV - Storms Chapter XV - The Second Sailing Chapter XVI - News from England Chapter XVII - Farewell to Holland Chapter XVIII - By the Grace of God PART II - THE QUEEN Chapter I - A Dark Dawning Chapter II - The King at Bay Chapter III - The Best of Life Chapter IV - The Secret Anguish Chapter V - A Woman's Strength Chapter VI - God Save the Queen! Chapter VII - The Shadow Chapter VIII - Fear Chapter IX - Christmas Eve Chapter X - The Queen Chapter XI - The Bitter Parting PART III - THE KING Chapter I - Vita Sine Amor Mors Est Chapter II - The King is Needed Chapter III - Attainment Chapter IV - A Man's Strength Chapter V - A Leader of Nations Chapter VI - The King's Agent Chapter VII - The Bank of England Chapter VIII - The Breaking Friendship Chapter IX - Peace Chapter X - The Broken Friendship Chapter XI - The King's Humiliation Chapter XII - Apathy Chapter XIII - France Challenges Chapter XIV - The Vanguard of the World Chapter XV - The Eve of War Chapter XVI - God and the King
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DEDICATED VERY GRATEFULLY TO MAJOR-GENERAL F. DE BAS DIRECTOR OF THE MILITARY HISTORICAL BRANCH GENERAL STAFF OF THE DUTCH ARMY
PART I - THE REVOLUTION
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"Un prince profond dans ses vues; habile à former des ligues et à reunirles esprits; plus heureux à exciter les guerres qu'à combattre; plus àcraindre encore dans le secret du cabinet, qu'à la tête des armées; unennemi que la haine du nom Français avoit rendu capable d'imaginer degrandes chose et de les exécuter; un de ces génies qui semblent être nespour mouvoir à leur gré les peuples et les souverains—un grandhomme...."—MASSILLON, Oraison Funèbre de M. le Dauthin .
Chapter I - The Afternoon of June 30th, 1688
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"There is no managing an unreasonable people. By Heaven, my lord, theydo not deserve my care."
The speaker was standing by an open window that looked on to one of thecourts of Whitehall Palace, listening to the unusual and tumultuousnoises that filled the sweet summer air—noises of bells, of shouting,the crack of fireworks, and the report of joyous mock artillery.
It was late afternoon, and the small apartment was already left by thedeparting daylight and obscured with a dusky shade, but no candles werelit.
There was one other person in the room, a gentleman seated opposite thewindow at a tall black cabinet decorated with gold lacquer Chinesefigures, that showed vivid even in the twilight. He was watching hiscompanion with a gentle expression of judgment, and twirling in his slimfingers a half-blown white rose.
An over-richness of furniture, hangings, and appointments distinguishedthe chamber, which was little more than a cabinet. The flush of richhues in the Mortlake tapestries, the gold on the China bureau, themarble, gilt, and carving about the mantel, two fine and worldly Italianpaintings and crystal sconces, set in silver, combined to give the placean overpowering air of lavishness; noticeable in one corner was a largeebony and enamel crucifix.
The persons of these two gentlemen were in keeping with this air ofwealth, both being dressed in an opulent style, but in themselves theydiffered entirely from each other.
Neither was young, and both would have been conspicuous in any companyfor extreme handsomeness, but there was no further likeness.
He at the window was by many years the older, and past the prime oflife, but the magnificence of his appearance created no impression ofage.
Unusually tall, finely made and graceful, he carried himself with greatdignity; his countenance, which had been of the purest type ofaristocratic beauty, was now lined and marred—not so much by years, asby a certain gloom and sourness that had become his permanentexpression; his eyes were large, grey, and commanding, his mouth noble,but disfigured by a sneer, his complexion blond and pale, his nosedelicately formed and straight; a fair peruke shaded his face and hungon to his shoulders; he was dressed, splendidly but carelessly, in deepblue satins, a quantity of heavy Venice lace, and a great sword belt ofembroidered leather.
The other gentleman was still in the prime of life, being under fifty,and looking less than his age.
Slight in build, above the medium height, and justly proportioned,handsome and refined in feature, dressed with great richness in theutmost extreme of fashion, he appeared the very type of a noble idlecourtier, but in his long, straight, heavy-lidded eyes, thin sensitivemouth, and the deeply cut curve of his nostril was an expression ofpower and intelligence above that of a mere favourite of courts.
He wore his own fair hair frizzed and curled out on to his shoulders andbrought very low on to his forehead; under his chin was a knot of blacksatin that accentuated the pale delicacy of his complexion; every detailof his attire showed the same regard to his appearance and the mode.Had it not been for that unconscious look of mastery in the calm face hewould have seemed no more than a wealthy man of fashion. In hisbeautifully formed and white hands he held, as well as the rose, ahandkerchief that he now and then pressed to his lips; in great contrastto the other man, who appeared self-absorbed and natural, his movementsand his pose were extremely affected.
A pause of silence wore out; the man at the window beat his fingersimpatiently on the high walnut back of the chair beside him, thensuddenly turned a frowning face towards the darkening room.
"My lord, what doth this presage?"
He asked the question heavily and as if he had much confidence and trustin the man to whom he spoke.
My lord answered instantly, in a voice as artificial as the fastidiousappointments of his dress.
"Nothing that Your Majesty's wisdom and the devotion of your servantscannot control and dispel."
James Stewart turned his eyes again to the open casement.
"Do you take it so lightly, my lord?" he asked uneasily. "All Londonshouting for these disloyal prelates—the city against me?"
Lord Sunderland replied, his peculiarly soothing tones lowered to a kindof caressing gentleness, while he kept his eyes fixed on the King.
"Not the city, sir. Your Majesty heareth but the mobile—the handfulthat will always rejoice at a set given to authority. The people loveYour Majesty and applaud your measures."
"But I am not popular as my brother was," said the King, but halfsatisfied, and with an angry look towards London.
The Earl was ready with his softly worded reassurances.
"His late Majesty never put his popularity to the test—I think he couldnot have done what you have, sir—is not the true Faith"—here my lordcrossed himself—"predominant in England—hath Your Majesty anyProtestant left in office—have you not an Ambassador at the Vatican, isnot a holy Jesuit father on the Council board, Mass heard publicly inWhitehall—the papal Nuncio openly received?—and hath not Your Majestydone these great things in three short years?"
A glow overspread the King's sombre face; he muttered a few words of aLatin prayer, and bent his head.
"I have done a little," he said—"a little—"
Sunderland lowered his eyes.
"Seeing this is a Protestant nation, Your Majesty hath done a deal."
The King was silent a moment, then spoke, gloomy again.
"But, save yourself, my lord, and Dover and Salisbury, no person ofconsequence hath come into the pale of the Church—and how hath myDeclaration of Indulgence been received? Discontent, disobedience fromthe clergy, insolence from the Bishops, and now this,—near torebellion!" His eyes darkened. "Could you have heard the army onHounslow Heath, my lord—they shouted as one man to hear these traitorshad been acquitted."
He began to stride up and down the room, talking sternly, half tohimself, half to Sunderland, the speech of an angry, obstinate man.
"But I'll not give way. Who is this Jack Somers who defended them?Make a note of him—some Whig cur! The Dissenters too, what is theAnglican Church to them that they must stand by her? Do I not offerthem also freedom of conscience? Do not they also benefit by the repealof the Test Act?"
Sunderland made no remark; he sat with his hand over the lower part ofhis face. By the expression of his eyes it might seem that he wassmiling; but the light was fading, and James did not look at hisminister.
"I'll break the Colleges too. Let them look to it. I'll go on. Am Inot strong enough? They are rebels at Oxford—I'll take norebellion—that was my father's fault; he was not strong enough atfirst—it must be put down now—now, eh, my Lord Sunderland?"
He stopped abruptly before the Earl, who rose with an air of humility.
"It is my poor opinion, oft repeated, that Your Majesty must stop fornothing, but take these grumblers with a firm hand and crush them."
This counsel, though not new, seemed to please the King.
"You have ever given me good