Free Jean Plaidy by The Reluctant Queen: The Story of Anne of York Page A

through a visitor to the castle.
    It was some distant cousin who had called to tell my mother the news and I suppose to assure us that our most humble connections never forgot that they belonged to the House of Neville.
    My mother sent for refreshments for him, but before they were brought, he blurted out, “The Archbishop of York is no longer Chancellor, my lady.”
    â€œWhat?” cried my mother. She had turned so pale I thought she was going to faint.
    â€œMy lady, when the archbishop knew that the Burgundians were going to attend the opening of Parliament, he sent a message to say he was too ill to deliver the Chancellor’s address.”
    â€œBut it is the custom,” stammered my mother. “Yet…if he were ill…”
    â€œMy lady, they say that the king did not believe he was ill and looked upon it as an insult to Burgundy.”
    My mother put her hand to her head. “And…so the king has taken the Great Seal?”
    â€œYes, my lady. My Lord Herbert rode with the king to the archbishop’s palace and asked him to give it up.”
    â€œThe earl will be…angry.”
    â€œYes, my lady.”
    â€œAnd what of the Great Seal?”
    â€œIt has been given to the Bishop of Bath and Wells, my lady.”
    â€œIs that all?”
    â€œMy lady, it is enough.”
    â€œWhat does this mean?” I asked my mother later.
    â€œIt is a slight on the family.”
    â€œIf my father were here…”
    â€œI don’t know of anything that he could have done. It is another instance of the king’s declaring that he will go his own way.”
    â€œBut to take the Chancellorship from Uncle George…” I said.
    â€œYour father will regret leaving England.”
    Isabel had not spoken. I knew she was wondering what effect this would have on the dispensation.
    I think that incident, more than any other, brought home to us the fact that our father was no longer the most powerful man in England.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 
    The entertaining of the Burgundians came to an abrupt end when news reached England of the death of Duke Philip of Burgundy and the emissaries prepared to leave. Duke Philip was succeeded by his son, Charles, which made the proposed match with Margaret of York, the king’s sister, even more desirable, for now she would be marrying the duke himself instead of his heir.
    My father returned from France.
    At Middleham we waited in some trepidation to see what would happen next. I know my mother wished we were at Warwick Court in London rather than Middleham, so that she would have been closer to events. As it was, we had to wait until news was brought to us, which was very frustrating.
    It seemed a long time before my father arrived at Middleham and when he did, none could help but be aware of his smoldering rage; and in the heart of his family he let it burst forth.
    â€œThe King has chosen Burgundy!” he said. “He will now be the enemy of France. Everything I have worked for has been thrown away at the instigation of these traitors.”
    We all knew that the traitors were the Woodvilles, for all the troubles dated back to the king’s marriage. If only it had ended there. But the woman whom the king had married was surrounded by scheming relations and they had determined to set themselves up and rule England in place of the Nevilles.
    The great disaster was that they were succeeding.
    I learned what had happened later. It seemed certain that the king’s sister was destined to become the Duchess of Burgundy. Moreover, when an embassy from the King of France arrived in England its members were coldly received.
    â€œThere was no one to meet them,” said my father, “except myself and Clarence! Clarence has been my friend in this.”
    That pleased Isabel.
    â€œOf course, he would be father’s friend,” she said. “He is going to be his son-in-law.”
    I looked at her sadly