E-text prepared by Martin Robb
| 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. |
"Mother, will the little prince be there?"
"Yes, my son. He never leaves his mother's side. You will seethem all today, if fortune favours us--the good King Henry, hisnoble queen, to whom he owes so much, and the little princelikewise. We will to horse anon, that we may gain a good view ofthe procession as it passes. The royal party lodges this night atour good bishop's palace. Perchance they will linger over theSunday, and hear mass in our fair cathedral, Our loyal folks ofLichfield are burning to show their love by a goodly show ofwelcome; and it is said that his majesty takes pleasure in silvansports and such-like simple pleasures, many preparations for thewhich have been prepared for him to witness."
"O mother, I know. Ralph and Godfrey have been practisingthemselves this many a day in tilting and wrestling, and in the useof the longbow and quarterstaff, that they may hold their own inthe sports on the green before the palace, which they say the kingwill deign to watch.
"O mother; why am I not as old and as strong as they? I askedRalph to let me shoot with his bow; but he only laughed at me, andbade me wait till I was as tall and as strong as he. It is veryhard to be the youngest--and so much the youngest, too."
The mother smiled as she passed her hand over the floating curlsof the gallant boy beside her; He was indeed a child of whom anymother might be proud: beautiful, straight-limbed, active, andfearless, his blue eyes glowing and shining, his cheek flushed withexcitement, every look and gesture seeming to speak of the boldsoldier spirit that burned within.
And these were times when it appeared indeed as if England'ssons had need of all the warlike instincts of their race. Partyfaction had well-nigh overthrown ere this the throne --and theauthority of the meek King Henry, albeit the haughty Duke of Yorkhad set forth no claim for the crown, which his son but two shortyears later both claimed and won. But strife and jealousy and evilpurposes were at work