The Sword of Calais by Paul Meachair

Author:Paul Meachair
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
Published: 2022-10-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Draped in black, the five-foot-high scaffold is now surrounded by nobles and court officials in their finery and many members of the various guilds in their robes, standing in their places. There are artisans, clergy, merchants, then many commoners who have managed to get into the Tower grounds, with more still flooding onto the green, pushing and shoving, numbered in many hundreds, to find a place to view the event. Some families even arrive carrying baskets of food as if for a picnic, all full of excited chatter. Ranks of yeomen keep a channel clear for a path to the scaffold.

Jean, in his new, dark blue velvet suit and half-mask, watches as the cortège comes into view. It snakes its way slowly toward the scaffold as if in a trance. The crowd murmurs then goes quiet and some people bow as Anne passes them.

She reaches the scaffold steps where she turns and hands her prayer book to one of her companions and is then assisted up the steps by leaning on Sir William’s arm. Her companions slowly climb the steps behind her, strained, pale faces, their heads and eyes cast down.

On the straw-covered decking Jean bows his welcome to Anne. Their eyes meet and he kneels before her respectfully. ‘Lady, I beg your pardon for I am ordered to do this duty.’ He notices he speaks with an unusually heavy heart.

‘I forgive you.’ She swallows. She goes into a pocket and removes a bag of coins, handing it over to Jean who bows his head in thanks. He looks at her directly. ‘Remember, you are a Queen.’

She smiles her gratitude to Jean, then turns to Sir William. ‘Sir, I beg leave to speak to the people. I will not offer a word against His Majesty.’

Kingston nods his assent and points toward the edge of the scaffold. Anne advances slightly to look down on those assembled, including those who became enemies in time: Thomas Audley, Charles Brandon, Henry Fitzroy and Thomas Cromwell.

Anne takes in several deep breaths. The crowd falls silent as she begins to speak, faltering at first then becoming stronger. ‘Good Christian people. I have not come here to preach a sermon, I have come here to die. For according to the law and by the law I am judged to die, therefore I will speak nothing against the law. I am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak of that whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the King and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler, nor a more merciful prince was there ever, and to me he was a good, a gentle, and sovereign lord. And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus, I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me.’

She looks directly at Cromwell, then her uncle the Duke of Richmond, then she steps back.

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