Free To Hold the Crown: The Story of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York by Jean Plaidy Page A

already shown himself to be an astute lawyer. These were the kind of sharp minds Henry needed around him; and he had already shown favor to these two.
    So now as they walked down to the river’s edge in the grounds of his favorite Palace of Shene and they talked of the rising of Lambert Simnel, Dudley commented that it was a sobering thought to contemplate how many Lincoln had been able to rally to his banner.
    “And what do you think this indicates?” asked the King.
    Intercepting the look which passed between Dudley and Empson, Henry knew that they had discussed the matter together.
    “Come, speak up. I shall not be offended by truth.”
    “Sire,” said Dudley, “the people approve of your marriage and the uniting of York and Lancaster, but they are saying that York does not receive its dues.”
    “What do they mean by this?”
    “That Lancaster is in the ascendancy.”
    “It must be so since I am the King.”
    Dudley hesitated and Empson nodded to him.
    “My lord,” he said, “you have taken the throne, you have an heir in Prince Arthur, you have been crowned King of England, yet the Queen has not been crowned.”
    “Ah,” said the King. “You think a coronation would please the people?”
    “Coronations are ever a source of delight to the people, Sire,” said Empson. “Free wine in the streets . . . celebrations throughout the country . . . They love their ceremonies. But we were thinking of the Yorkists who might have reason to complain.”
    The King nodded, giving an approving look to his two advisers. He could trust them to come up with a tangible suggestion.
    “Perhaps the time has come then for the Queen to have her coronation,” he said. “Her mother is a source of irritation. I never trusted that woman. People say it was sorcery which enabled her to ensnare the late King.”
    “She has outstanding beauty,” commented Dudley. Again he looked at Empson.
    “And not too old for marriage I dareswear,” he said.
    Henry was alert. “Could you by any chance be thinking of the King of Scotland?”
    “He has just lost his Queen.”
    Henry gave one of his rare smiles. “There is nothing I would like better than to send my mother-in-law over the Border.”
    “It would certainly rid us of the unpleasantness of having to keep her under restraint, which is another reason why the Yorkists might be restive,” commented Dudley.
    “I shall send an ambassador to Scotland without delay,” said Henry.
    “Perhaps we should also inform the Dowager Queen of the intention?”
    Henry was silent. “She is an obstinate lady, I fear.”
    “My lord, surely she would consider very favorably changing a prison for a crown.”
    “’Tis scarcely a prison at Bermondsey. I’ll swear my lady mother-in-law reminds them every hour of the day of her rank and is treated there with the utmost respect.”
    “Nevertheless the match could scarcely be made without her consent.”
    Henry agreed and the two matters of importance were decided on. Elizabeth Woodville should be offered to the King of Scotland, and the Queen should have her coronation.

    It was true that Elizabeth Woodville suffered no harm in Bermondsey. She had her own apartments and her own servants there and apart from the seclusion of the life she might have been in her own palace. It was tiresome, of course, to be shut away from the world; but no less frustrating than being at Court where she was continually finding the interference of the King’s mother so irksome.
    When she heard that her daughter was to have a coronation she remarked that it was time she did; then she regretted that she would not be there. It was monstrous. The mother of the Queen and more or less in restraint because of that upstart Tudor!
    If only Edward had lived. If only her fair sons were with her! It was at times like this that she thought of them and wondered again what had happened to them in the Tower. She longed to see her little grandson. Dear Arthur. Though what a ridiculous