methinks the surmises we made that morning in the park
turned out to be as true as the great majority of the prophecies which
are, even now, so prevalent in this glorious and enlightened reign of
his most gracious Majesty, King Henry, of that name the eighth, which,
despite his faults--and we all must have our own--is a most noble
master.

CHAPTER X

I AM SENT TO LUDLOW

So the King was buried, with a great show of pomp, and much mourning,
in the splendid chapel of Windsor Castle, by those which had followed
him through his career of alternate sunshine and shadow. Many of these
friends, who had basked in the rays of the sun of York, when the sky
was clear, but who, when a cloud had come across its brilliant disk,
found more congenial weather elsewhere, were now the loudest in their
lamentations, as they followed the noble Edward's body to its last
resting place.

The Queen scarce ate or slept for many days or nights; but walked her
rooms, and wept and prayed. 'Twas a sad sight, as Hazel told me, to
see her wander from one room to another, and gaze upon the articles
which Edward so had loved. But when the King's body had been buried
she seemed to cast off her sorrow as she would a garment. It was now
her duty to protect the interests of her son. He must be brought from
Ludlow Castle, whither he had been sent by his father, that his
presence there might awe the Welsh, and keep them from revolting; for
this was a habit that they had always had, and one which seemed hard
for them to forget.

"Would that I had a faithful messenger to carry a letter to my brother.
I cannot tell who may be trusted. My son, Dorset, might be sent; but
yet I need him here to counsel me."

"I know of one whom you may trust," said Hazel, who was present when
the Queen had thus spoken to herself.

"Thou hast ever been a true girl, Hazel, and I love thee well. Tell me
who this champion is, for well would I like to see a true man about
this court."

"Sir Walter Bradley, may it please your Majesty. He it was which
brought the news of the taking of Berwick, and who was rewarded by the
late King, your husband."

"Ah, yes! I do remember me," said the Queen. "He should be a swift
messenger. I will send for him at once."

So I was sent for, and found, and brought into the Queen's apartments.

"Sir Walter, thou hast been recommended to me as one of my only too few
faithful friends." As I glanced hastily in Hazel's direction,