In the Wars of the Roses

In the Wars of the Roses

The Project Gutenberg eBook, In the Wars of the Roses, by Evelyn
Everett-Green
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Title: In the Wars of the Roses A Story for the Young
Author: Evelyn Everett-Green
Release Date: May 5, 2005 [eBook #15769]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE
WARS OF THE ROSES***
E-text prepared by Martin Robb

IN THE WARS OF THE ROSES
A Story for the Young
by
Everett Evelyn-Green.
1901

CONTENTS
Prologue.
Chapter 1
: A Brush with the Robbers.
Chapter 2
: A Hospitable Shelter.

Chapter 3
: A Strange Encounter.
Chapter 4
: Paul's Kinsman.
Chapter 5
: In Peril.
Chapter 6
: In The Hands of the Robbers.
Chapter 7
: The Protection of the Protected.
Chapter 8
: The Rally of the Red Rose.
Chapter 9
: The Tragedy of Tewkesbury.
Chapter 10
: The Prince Avenged. Notes.

Prologue.
"Mother, will the little prince be there?"
"Yes, my son. He never leaves his mother's side. You will see them all
today, if fortune favours us--the good King Henry, his noble queen, to
whom he owes so much, and the little prince likewise. We will to horse
anon, that we may gain a good view of the procession as it passes. The
royal party lodges this night at our good bishop's palace. Perchance
they will linger over the Sunday, and hear mass in our fair cathedral,
Our loyal folks of Lichfield are burning to show their love by a goodly
show of welcome; and it is said that his majesty takes pleasure in silvan
sports and such-like simple pleasures, many preparations for the which
have been prepared for him to witness."
"O mother, I know. Ralph and Godfrey have been practising
themselves this many a day in tilting and wrestling, and in the use of
the longbow and quarterstaff, that they may hold their own in the sports
on the green before the palace, which they say the king will deign to
watch.
"O mother; why am I not as old and as strong as they? I asked Ralph to
let me shoot with his bow; but he only laughed at me, and bade me wait

till I was as tall and as strong as he. It is very hard to be the
youngest--and so much the youngest, too."
The mother smiled as she passed her hand over the floating curls of the
gallant boy beside her; He was indeed a child of whom any mother
might be proud: beautiful, straight-limbed, active, and fearless, his blue
eyes glowing and shining, his cheek flushed with excitement, every
look and gesture seeming to speak of the bold soldier spirit that burned
within.
And these were times when it appeared indeed as if England's sons had
need of all the warlike instincts of their race. Party faction had
well-nigh overthrown ere this the throne--and the authority of the meek
King Henry, albeit the haughty Duke of York had set forth no claim for
the crown, which his son but two short years later both claimed and
won. But strife and jealousy and evil purposes were at work in men's
minds. The lust of power and of supremacy had begun to pave the way
for the civil war which was soon to devastate the land. The sword had
already been drawn at St. Albans, and the hearts of many men were full
of foreboding as they thought upon the perilous times in which they
lived; though others were ready to welcome the strife which promised
plunder and glory and fame to those who should distinguish themselves
by prowess in field or counsel in the closet.
The gentle Lady Stukely, however, was not one of these. Her heart sank
sometimes when she heard the talk of her bold husband and warlike
sons. They had all three of them fought for the king at the first battle, or
rather skirmish, at St. Albans four years before, and were ardent
followers and adherents of the Red Rose of Lancaster. Her husband had
received knighthood at the monarch's hands on the eve of the battle,
and was prepared to lay down his life in the cause if it should become
necessary to do so.
But if rumours of strife to come, and terrible pictures of bloodshed,
sometimes made her gentle spirit quail, she had always one consolation
in the thought that her youngest child, her little Paul, would not be torn
from her side to follow the bloody