The Passionate Tudor by Alison Weir

Author:Alison Weir [Weir, Alison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2024-05-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

1550

Van der Delft had heard the councillors arguing over what should happen to Somerset. In February, he reported that the fallen Duke had been released from the Tower after admitting his faults and restored to the Council. But he was a chastened man who had no choice but to support Warwick’s policies. Mary realized that there was no hope of his taking a liberal view now. Warwick was absolute master.

In March, she moved to Hunsdon, desperate to escape from a situation that was fast becoming intolerable. She was still hoping that the Emperor would change his mind and come to her rescue. She had heard that Elizabeth had visited the King, attended by a large retinue, and been received with great favor—the sister who had happily conformed to the new laws. Another soul lost, Mary thought sadly, once more deploring the ease with which Elizabeth had switched faiths, yet missing the closeness that had once existed between them.

Van der Delft wrote that Warwick had refused to pay for a dowry so that she could marry Dom Luis. Another escape route had closed to her.

But she would not let herself be intimidated. No one had as yet moved against her, so she was calmer now. She would continue to celebrate Mass in her own houses. Her steadfastness to her faith was no secret, and the Catholic nobility and gentry were increasingly looking to her as an inspirational figurehead and seeking places in her household for their daughters. Every week, she found some hopeful father at her door, desperate to see his girl brought up in the true religion.

The Emperor had not ceased to demand that the Council allow Mary the freedom to continue practicing her faith, but all they would concede was that she could hear Mass in her private chamber, with just two or three serving women. Warwick made it clear that they were pandering to her ignorance and imbecility and warned that she must not cause scandal by permitting her entire household to be present at the services, and that this great concession would only be permitted for a limited period. When she learned to embrace the Protestant faith, it would be withdrawn.

She was so incandescent when she read this that she thought her heart might give out, and had to grip the chair back to steady herself. Not even van der Delft’s assurance that he had left the Council in no doubt that she would never offend her conscience by forsaking the ancient religion could quell the rage that filled her being.

Sir Francis Englefield took the ambassador’s letter from her and read it. “He certainly riled my lord of Warwick!” he chortled. “He says Warwick was so furious he would have done his Excellency some harm had not his colleagues restrained him.”

“Would they could see him for what he is!” Mary muttered, knowing that his hateful words would be echoing in her head for days to come. Ignorance…imbecility…How dare they!

Worse still, she could foresee a time—not far

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