The King's Secret Matter by Jean Plaidy Page B

beg for mercy.
    Old Norfolk could not restrain his tears. He wanted to shout: This is madness. Are we going to condemn one of ourselves to the scaffold on the evidence of his servants?
    But Norfolk had received his orders; he had looked into those little blue eyes and had seen the blood-lust there. Insults to the King, though carelessly uttered, must be paid for in blood; for the King was all-powerful and the old nobility must realise that.
    Calmly Buckingham heard the charges brought against him. He had listened to prophecies of the King’s death and his own ascension to the throne; he had said that he would kill the King; he had many times mentioned the fact that only the King and the Princess Mary stood between him and the throne.
    He defended himself against these charges. He pointed out that none but his unworthy servants had been able to speak against him. Was the court going to take the word of disgruntled servants before that of the Duke of Buckingham?
    But Wolsey had prepared the case against him skilfully; and moreover all seventeen of his judges knew that the King was demanding a verdict of guilty; and if any of them refused to give the King what he wanted, it would be remembered against them; and it was likely that ere long they would be standing where Buckingham now stood.
    The old Duke of Norfolk might weep, but nevertheless when his fellow judges agreed that the prisoner was guilty he read the terrible sentence.
    â€˜Edward Stafford, third Duke of Buckingham, you arefound guilty of treason.’ His voice faltered as he went on: ‘You shall be drawn on a hurdle to the place of execution, there to be hanged, cut down alive, your members to be cut off and cast into the fire, your bowels burned before your eyes, your head smitten off, your body to be quartered and divided at the King’s will. May God have mercy on your soul.’
    Buckingham seemed less disturbed than Norfolk.
    When he was asked if he had anything to say, he replied in a clear, steady voice: ‘My lord, you have said to me as a traitor should be said unto, but I was never a traitor. Still, my lords, I shall not malign you as you have done unto me. May the eternal God forgive you my death, as I do!’ He drew himself to his full height and a scornful expression came into his eyes. ‘I shall never sue the King for my life,’ he went on. ‘Howbeit, he is a gracious Prince, and more grace may come from him than I desire. I ask you to pray for me.’
    They took him thence back to his prison of the Tower, and those who had gathered to watch his progress knew that he was condemned when they saw that the edge of the axe was turned towards him.

    Maria de Salinas, Countess of Willoughby, was with the Queen when she heard that the Duke of Norfolk was begging an audience.
    Katharine had him brought to her at once, and the old man’s grief distressed her because she guessed at once what it meant.
    â€˜I pray you be seated, my lord,’ she said. ‘I fear you bring bad news.’
    He gazed at her, and he seemed to be in a state of bewildered misery.
    â€˜Your Grace, I have come from the court where I have pronounced the death sentence, for treason, on the Duke of Buckingham.’
    â€˜But this is impossible.’
    The old Duke shook his head. ‘Nay, Your Grace. ’Twas so.’
    â€˜But to find him guilty of treason . . .’
    â€˜It was the King’s wish.’
    â€˜But his peers?’
    The Duke lifted a trembling hand in resignation.
    Katharine was indignant. She had known Buckingham to be arrogant, to have offended the Cardinal, to have been over-proud of his royal connections, but these were venial sins; a noble duke was not condemned to the barbaric traitors’ death for that.
    â€˜It is known what influence Your Grace has with the King,’ went on Norfolk. ‘I have come to plead with you to beg him to spare Buckingham’s life. I am certain that this sentence will