of the public meeting between the royal pair.
it having been arranged that the public meeting between the royal pair should take place on the following day, six richly carved and gilt chariots, covered with cloth of gold, drawn by horses trapped in white velvet embroidered with silver lions, and ridden by pages of honour attired in the royal liveries, were sent to convey the prince and his suite to wolvesey castle. attendant upon the chariots were a number of henchmen, likewise habited in the royal liveries, and mounted on richly-caparisoned horses, and besides these there was a guard of two hundred arquebusiers, fully equipped.
precisely at noon philip came forth from the deanery, attended by all his grandees, gorgeously attired, and glittering with jewels, and entered the chariot appointed for him. the dukes of alva and medina celi had places beside him. preceded by mounted trumpeters and kettle-drums, making a loud bruit, the train moved towards wolvesey castle, the prince being everywhere greeted by acclamations from those who witnessed his progress. at the noble gateway of wykeham’s college were stationed the warden and fellows in their gowns, and ranged by the side of the walls in files two deep stood the scholars, who shouted lustily and waved their caps as the prince passed by. the young wykehamists were still vociferating as the chariot containing the prince passed beneath the arched gate-tower then forming the main entrance to wolvesey castle. at this gate, above which 131floated the royal standard, stood og, gog, and magog, towering by the head and shoulders above the other halberdiers. the giants had now resumed their ordinary garb of yeomen of the guard, but were instantly recognised by the prince.
before the principal entrance of the keep stood a vast number of gentlemen, esquires, and pages, all splendidly apparelled, and, as philip’s chariot drew up, sir john gage, grand chamberlain, with sir henry jerningham, vice-chamberlain, bearing their wands of office, came forth to assist his highness to alight. the entrance-hall was filled with noble personages, amongst whom were the lord chancellor, the duke of norfolk, the earls of arundel and derby, sir edward hastings, master of the horse, the earl of bedford, lord privy seal, the lord paget and sir william petre, both secretaries of state, with many others. bowing graciously as he passed through this splendid throng, the prince was conducted by gardiner to the great hall, where he found the queen surrounded by a bevy of lovely dames. mingled with the english ladies and contrasting strongly with them, from their rich southern complexion, dark eyes and jet-black tresses, were the noble spanish dames, making altogether a most dazzling group. at the further end of the hall, which was hung with costly arras, and otherwise gorgeously decorated, was a cloth of estate, embroidered with the arms of england and spain. under it were two velvet fauteuils.
on perceiving the queen, philip flew towards her, and, without tarrying for a formal presentation by sir john gage, embraced her, kissing her lovingly, to the amusement of all the ladies around, and then, taking her hand, led her towards the canopy at the further end of the hall, no one presuming to follow them. as the royal pair seated themselves on the fauteuils, and entered into tender converse, many a curious eye was directed towards them. however, they heeded not observation, but seemed entirely engrossed by each other.
thus they continued discoursing for more than an hour. the queen then rose, and the prince rising likewise, sir john gage and sir henry jerningham marshalled them into an adjoining chamber, where a grand banquet was laid out. here they both sat down at the high table, and were waited 132upon by gardiner, the rest of the company occupying the lower tables. near the royal pair stood a cupboard filled with splendid salvers, flagons, and other vessels of gold and silver. in the course of the banquet, a goblet of wine being filled for the queen by gardiner, she drank from it to philip; after which, the prince pledged her in return from the same loving cup. at the close of the banquet, the queen and prince, attended by all the company, adjourned to the grass plot, where they walked for some time, enjoying the cool air. a concert in the great hall, at which many skilful musicians and singers assisted, brought the evening to an end. attended by his grandees, philip then returned to the deanery.
no meeting took place between the royal pair next day, the queen being occupied in preparations for the marriage ceremonial, which was appointed for the morrow.
philip passed his time in visiting several places in and about the city. at wykeham’s college, whither he first repaired, he was received by the warden and fellows, and shown over the ancient structure, appearing to be much struck by the great hall, the beautiful chapel, the cloisters, and the refectory. in the hall the whole of the students were assembled, and a latin address was recited to him by the senior scholar. on his departure, the prince ordered the contents of a well-filled purse to be distributed amongst the youths, and the walls of the old quadrangle resounded with the joyous shouts of the recipients of the gift.
accompanied by the bishop of cuen?a and father de castro, philip next visited “la carité,” with several other religious establishments and hospitals, and left large presents behind him. this done, at the head of a brilliant retinue, consisting of the chief english and spanish nobles, he rode up to william the conqueror’s castle, and examined it throughout, mounting to the top of the donjon, whence he beheld southampton, and the isle of wight in the far distance. in the great hall of the fortress he was shown king arthur’s round table, at which his august sire, the emperor charles v., had sat when he was the guest of henry viii.
“i was honoured with a seat at the round table on that ever-memorable occasion, your highness,” observed the old 133duke of norfolk. “seldom hath such a party assembled—not perhaps since the days of good king arthur himself. both your royal father and my late gracious master—whose soul god preserve!—played the boon companion, and bandied so many merry jests, that we could scarce contain ourselves for laughter. and yet they were nowise displeased, for state was banished from the round table, no one being able to say who sat above the other. on yonder wall, i mind me, was inscribed this distich in letters of gold:
‘carolus, henricus vivant; defensor uterque,
henricus fidei, carolus ecclesi?.’”
“you describe an enviable banquet, my lord duke,” replied philip; “and i marvel not it lives in your memory. but you shall sit again at that board, and as my guest; and though i cannot hope to rival my father, or your late royal master, as a boon companion, i will put no constraint upon your mirth.”
the duke of norfolk bowed his thanks, and they quitted the hall. from the castle, philip rode with his train to the hospital of saint croix, with the beautiful and secluded situation of which he had been much struck as he approached winchester. passing through the ancient gateway, he dismounted in the court, where were drawn up the brotherhood in their long dark gowns, adorned with a silver cross—vestments and badges still retained by the fraternity. after examining the hundred men’s hall, and noting the statue of cardinal beaufort in a niche in the upper part of the chamber, philip proceeded to the venerable church, where he heard mass. well pleased with his visit, he caused a piece of gold to be given to each of the brethren.
on quitting saint croix, the prince did not return at once to winchester, but crossing the valley, and fording the itchen at a place pointed out to him by osbert clinton, who acted as his guide, he rode up saint catherine’s hill. good father jerome, who had watched the train ascending the mount, advanced to meet him. courteously saluting the old priest, philip put several questions to him respecting the chapel.
“will it please your highness to alight and view the reliques?” said father jerome.
134readily assenting, philip dismounted, osbert holding his bridle the while.
the prince then entered the chapel with father jerome, leaving all his suite outside to contemplate the magnificent prospect of the city. his first act was to prostrate himself before the altar, and in this pious posture he remained for several minutes, fervently occupied in prayer.
“apparently he is devout,” thought father jerome, as he stood behind him, with his hands meekly folded upon his breast. “and yet unholy passions rule his heart.”
when philip had concluded his devotions, father jerome unlocked a casket, and exhibited the various saintly reliques it contained, which the prince regarded with due reverence. the old priest next displayed the wonderful ploughshare which had proved harmless to queen emma, and related the legend connected with it. while looking about the chapel, philip noticed upon the credence-table near the altar a little tablet of gold, with an agate on either side, garnished with rubies, and having a large pearl pendant.
“how came this trinket here, father?” he inquired, fixing a stedfast look on the old priest. “it was my gift to a damsel who preserved my life.”
“i know it, highness,” replied father jerome. “but the maiden felt she could not keep the tablet, and hath left it as an offering to saint catherine’s shrine. in my humble mind she has done well.”
“has she confessed to you, father?” demanded philip.
“i am not bound to answer that question, even to your highness,” replied father jerome. “nevertheless, i will answer it. she has confessed.”
“then you know all?”
“all, highness. and i pity her from my soul.”
“and you blame me?”
“i said not so, highness,” replied the priest, somewhat evasively.
“where is she?” asked philip, after a pause, and in tones of deep emotion.
“highness,” replied father jerome, “she has returned to southampton, where she is about to bury her woes in a convent. i applaud her determination.”
135“father, this step must be prevented,” rejoined philip. “she must not take the vows.”
“i do not think she will yield to any persuasions to the contrary,” replied father jerome. “her resolution is taken.”
“make the attempt—i command you,” cried philip, imperiously. “see her without delay. use all the arguments you can employ. if you succeed, count on my gratitude.”
“your highness shall be obeyed, although i confess i like not the task,” said father jerome, bowing his reverend head.
“and as an earnest of my good will, take this purse, and employ its contents as you list.”
“i take it, only to bestow its contents on the poor,” said the priest, as philip quitted the chapel.
philip then mounted his jennet, and rode down the hill with his train. the changed expression of his countenance did not escape notice, but no one ventured to remark upon it. under the guidance of osbert clinton, the prince made his way along the banks of the itchen, to the old stone bridge, said to be the work of st. swithun, and crossing it, re-entered the city by the eastern gate, and proceeded to the deanery, halting by the way to examine the ancient city cross.
while philip was making the various visits we have described, most of the inhabitants had opportunities of beholding him, and all were favourably impressed by his youth, his handsome person, his proud yet affable deportment, and, above all, by the grace and skill with which he managed his fiery andalusian barb.
that evening, the prince had a long conference with simon renard, the spanish ambassador, and don juan de figueroa, regent of the council of aragon, a nobleman much in the emperor’s confidence, and who had been sent to england, charged with a most important mission, which he had hitherto kept secret, but which he now proceeded to disclose to the prince. the revelation then made seemed to yield philip extraordinary satisfaction.
