The court had not been long at Windsor Castle, ere most of the Spanish grandees1 who had accompanied Philip, finding that owing to the terms of the marriage-treaty, which were strictly2 enforced by Gardiner and the council, no posts could be given them in the government, quitted England in disgust. As the Duke of Alva took leave of the King, he observed, “I am loth to leave your Majesty3 with this people, but as you have no present need of my services, while I may be of use to the Emperor, I deem it best to go.”
“Have no fears for me, my lord Duke,” replied Philip. “I am perfectly4 secure. I have paid a heavy price for the support of the English nobles—but I think I can count upon it.”
“Do not trust them, Sire. The English nobles are treacherous5 as corrupt6, and will fall off when most needed. Had your Majesty but listened to me, and pursued the bold course I suggested, you might now be King of England—not in name, merely, but in reality. It is not yet too late. Say the word and I remain.”
“No; you must go, Alva. I grieve to part with you, as with my other nobles, but your presence here is prejudicial to my plans.”
“I see not how that can be, Sire. You yield too much to English prejudices. Pardon me for saying so, but you 148ought to be lord and master in your own house, and not subject to your wife—albeit she is a Queen.”
“Why so I am, Alva,” replied the King, smiling. “Her Majesty refuses me nothing.”
“Except the matrimonial crown, Sire,” said the Duke, bluntly. “She will not give you that. Neither will she place the supreme7 power of government in your hands, nor cause you to be declared presumptive heir to the crown.”
“She dare not do so, Alva,” observed Philip, coldly.
“I know not that,” said the Duke. “For such a result all should be dared.”
“Her Majesty will accede8 to my wishes in due time,” said the King. “Should there be an heir to the throne, all difficulties will be removed.”
“Ay, if there should—but the event may never occur,” cried Alva, impatiently. “Again I say, why wait? With such a prize within your grasp, why hesitate to seize it? Oh! that your Majesty would leave the work to me.”
“I could not trust you,” said the King. “You would ruin all by precipitancy. My plan is slow, but sure. Farewell, my lord Duke. The saints give you a good journey to Brussels. Commend me in all love and duty to the Emperor, and say that in due time I trust he will have a grandson.”
“Would I could add that heresy9 were completely extirpated10 from the realm, and the papal supremacy11 re-established,” observed Alva.
“That will follow immediately on the arrival of Cardinal12 Pole,” said Philip. “Most of the English nobles and men of wealth, as you know, have shared in the monstrous13 spoliation of the Church that occurred during the two previous reigns14, and these persons will never acknowledge the supreme authority of the Pontiff, unless their ill-gotten possessions are secured to them. Until this point be conceded by his Holiness, the Lord Chancellor16 assures me it will be futile17 and even dangerous to propose the measure. Mauriquez has been dispatched to Rome to argue the matter with the Pope, and, till the question be decided18, Cardinal Pole must be detained at Brussels. This you will explain to the Emperor.”
“Humph!” exclaimed Alva. “I half hope the Pope 149may refuse your Majesty’s request, and then you will be compelled to have recourse to me to force these robbers to disgorge their plunder19. ’Tis a dreadful wrong to the Church.”
“I feel the injustice20 as keenly as you can do, Alva,” rejoined the King; “but since the grievance21 cannot be redressed22, it must be borne in patience.”
“Well, we must hope for better days, when these plunderers will meet their deserts on the scaffold and the gibbet,” said Alva. “I now take my leave of your Majesty.” So saying, he departed.
That any assumption of regal power on the part of Philip would be resisted, was shown by a slight incident which occurred shortly afterwards. On the King’s installation as a Knight23 of the Garter, in order to give greater importance to the proceeding24, the royal arms of England were taken down in St. George’s Chapel25 by the chief herald26, at the instance of Simon Renard, and the arms of Castile and Aragon set up in their stead. But as soon as the change was discovered by the Earl of Arundel and Sir John Gage27, they sharply reprimanded the herald, and, at the risk of offending Philip, caused the Spanish arms to be forthwith taken down and those of England restored.
Philip had many secret enemies, but none so active or so dangerous as the French ambassador. Notwithstanding the ill success of his previous plot, and the narrow escape he had run, De Noailles continued his intrigues29 among the factious30 and discontented. As Mary could not refuse to receive him at court without embroiling31 herself with France, he had opportunities of carrying out a design which he had conceived, of occasioning a rupture32 between the King and Queen. Aware of Philip’s infidelities, and of the Queen’s jealousy33 of disposition34, he did not despair of accomplishing this project. By means of spies, who were well paid for the service, he kept a strict watch over the King’s proceedings35, hoping to make some discovery that might serve his purpose.
From a cause which we shall proceed to explain, Philip began to lose the popularity he had acquired on his first arrival. Though he continued extremely affable and condescending36 to the English nobles—far more so than he was 150to those of his own nation—and though he made them large gifts, in the hope of securing their friendship, he never could overcome their distrust, which was kept alive by the subtle practices of the French ambassador. Moreover, Spanish usages began to prevail at court, and these were highly distasteful to the English. Greater etiquette37 and formality were observed. The doors were not thrown open as they used to be, and those who desired an audience of their Majesties38, even on matters of urgency, were detained long in the ante-chambers. So that although the King did not meddle39 with the government—at all events not directly—it was soon felt that the court was absolutely under his control. None but those high in his favour were admitted to him without much form and ceremony, which was especially irksome to the older English nobles, who had enjoyed easy access to the sovereign in the reign15 of Henry VIII. And there was every appearance that this strictness would increase rather than diminish.
Philip’s public entry into London was not made until the latter end of August. Preparatory to the ceremony, the royal pair removed to Richmond Palace, where they stayed for two or three days, and then proceeded by water in a state barge40, attended by all their retinue41 in other barges42, to the Bishop43 of Winchester’s palace at Southwark. They were received with great ceremony by Gardiner, and passed the night under his roof.
Next day, accompanied by a numerous and magnificent cortége, comprising all the chief officers of the court, together with many of the nobility, the royal pair passed over London Bridge into the City. The Queen, whose splendid attire44 of cloth of gold blazed with jewels of inestimable value, sat in a gilt45 chariot, drawn46 by six horses in housings of white satin, embroidered47 with gold, ridden by pages of honour in crimson48 satin. Her Majesty was accompanied by three of her principal ladies. Mounted on his fiery49 Andalusian barb50, which was trapped with black taffetas, guarded with silver lace, Philip appeared to great advantage in his black velvet51 doublet, short mantle52 bordered with pearls, and berret with black and white plumes53. He was attended by fifty horsemen in trappings of crimson velvet, with the arms of Spain embroidered on them in gold, with edges of 151silk and gold, and fringe of the same. Besides these, there were fifty pages in liveries of carnation54 satin, passmented with silver and black lace, and black silk caps, adorned55 with carnation and black plumes. A troop of halberdiers in full equipments formed the vanguard of the royal procession, and another brought up the rear. In front of the cortége rode a large band of musicians, consisting of trumpets56, clarions, kettle-drums, and other martial57 instruments. These musicians were accoutred in scarlet58 mandillions, guarded with gold, and had the royal badge on the front and at the back. The pennons of the trumpets and clarions were likewise embroidered with the royal arms, and all the horses were caparisoned in scarlet satin, guarded with gold lace. As the procession passed over London Bridge, a loud peal59 of ordnance60 burst from the Tower batteries, and was continued by the guns of all the ships moored61 off the wharves62.
At the gate then defending the entrance to the City from the bridge, the three gigantic yeomen of the guard were stationed, who reverently63 saluted64 the King and Queen as they passed by, and at the conduit of Gracechurch Street, which had been newly decorated for the occasion, was a large painting representing the nine Worthies65. Noticeable amongst these august personages was Henry VIII., who was portrayed66 in armour67. The idea of the artist had been to depict68 the great Defender69 of the Faith in the act of presenting the Bible to his son and successor, Edward VI., the sacred volume being inscribed70 in large characters Verbum Dei; but the device gave great offence to Gardiner, who ordered the limner, on pain of losing his ears, to obliterate71 this part of the picture, which he accomplished72 more effectually than tastefully, by brushing out the King’s right hand.
In Cheapside there was another large picture, representing the “Five Philips”—namely, Philip of Macedon, Philip the Emperor, Philip the Bold, Philip the Good, and Philip, Prince of Spain and King of England.
Many pageants73 were exhibited to the King and Queen on their way through the City. All the houses were decorated with cloth of gold and silver, arras and velvet, while thousands flocked forth28 to welcome the Queen and her royal consort74. Owing to the frequent stoppages, the progress of 152the cortége was slow, and it did not reach Whitehall for some hours.
Philip was by no means satisfied with the reception he had met with. The populace had cheered him but slightly; and murmurs75 against Spain, and allusions76 to the Inquisition, occasionally reached his ears. Moreover, he remarked that many persons regarded him with ill-concealed looks of aversion.
“These citizens do not like me,” he thought. “Ere long, they shall be taught to fear me.”
Soon after this, a gloom was thrown over the court by the death of the Duke of Norfolk. The Queen went into mourning for the venerable nobleman, to whom she was sincerely attached, and all festivities were suspended. Their Majesties removed to Hampton Court, where Philip environed himself more and more in Spanish form and etiquette. Difficult of access before, he was now almost unapproachable.
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1
grandees
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| n.贵族，大公，显贵者( grandee的名词复数 ) | |
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2
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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3
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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4
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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5
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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6
corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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7
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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8
accede
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| v.应允，同意 | |
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9
heresy
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| n.异端邪说；异教 | |
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10
extirpated
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| v.消灭，灭绝( extirpate的过去式和过去分词 )；根除 | |
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supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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14
reigns
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| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
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15
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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18
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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20
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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21
grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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22
redressed
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| v.改正( redress的过去式和过去分词 )；重加权衡；恢复平衡 | |
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23
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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gage
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| n.标准尺寸，规格；量规，量表 [=gauge] | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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30
factious
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| adj.好搞宗派活动的，派系的，好争论的 | |
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31
embroiling
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| v.使（自己或他人）卷入纠纷( embroil的现在分词 ) | |
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32
rupture
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| n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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34
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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38
majesties
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| n.雄伟( majesty的名词复数 )；庄严；陛下；王权 | |
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39
meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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40
barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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42
barges
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| 驳船( barge的名词复数 ) | |
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43
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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44
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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45
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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46
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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47
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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48
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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49
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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50
barb
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| n.（鱼钩等的）倒钩，倒刺 | |
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51
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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52
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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53
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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54
carnation
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| n.康乃馨（一种花） | |
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55
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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56
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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57
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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58
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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59
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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60
ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 | |
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61
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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62
wharves
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| n.码头，停泊处( wharf的名词复数 ) | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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worthies
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| 应得某事物( worthy的名词复数 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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portrayed
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| v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画 | |
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armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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68
depict
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| vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述 | |
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defender
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| n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人 | |
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70
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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71
obliterate
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| v.擦去，涂抹，去掉...痕迹，消失，除去 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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pageants
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| n.盛装的游行( pageant的名词复数 )；穿古代服装的游行；再现历史场景的娱乐活动；盛会 | |
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74
consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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75
murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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