She smiled. Some youthfulness clung to her manner under his admiring gaze. For a few moments they continued to talk together as if no one else were in the room. So far Sir Walter had not even bothered to greet the most powerful council in the land of which he was not even a member. One could understand how he made himself disliked. It was the Queen who, becoming aware of her dignity, said:
“And this visit to our audience chamber? What is your business, Waters?”
Ralegh looked down the table. “My lords. Chancing to hear that matters appertaining to my lieutenancy of Cornwall were toward, I ventured to request an audience. Your majesty, if by so greatly presuming I have in any small part given you to think I have exceeded my position or duty, I beg you to say so and I will at once leave.”
“No, no. Pray go on.”
“You will remember that in the great storm that scattered the Spanish fleet, a part of my squadron, including Warspite, was blown into St Ives for shelter. There, hearing of the emergency for the first time, I took horse and galloped overland to Falmouth Haven, reaching there on the 29th October in the afternoon. There, finding forces totally inadequate to meet this great threat, I caused 500 men, some from my ships, some gathered in haste on the way, to be thrown in to the defence of the castle and haven. And left them there. Captain Alexander was appointed to take charge of them. So being in those parts two days before any other officers I am in a position to tell you what I found better than he. I found the defences lax, ill manned, under-gunned, with scarcely powder to keep a single company of Spanish at bay.”
“This confirms what Captain Alexander reports,” the Archbishop said dryly.
“Agreed, my lord. What he did not say, because he did not know, was that your lordships have persistently denied Mr Killigrew money and supplies, though by constant letter and by attendance at Court he had besought you for them. Her gracious majesty by making me Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall has appointed me to take charge of the defences of that county. With respect I refer you to my letters of August, September and November 1595, January and February 1596, March, April and May of this year, all assessing the problem of defence and all arguing that greater forces should be available to the isolated castles of St Mary’s, St Michael’s, Pendennis, St Mawes, and others, to repel surprise attack. We are a small country, my lords, and face great enemies. Our resources are often stretched to the limits of endurance. But when our scant forces are shown up as such, it is not meet that a solitary commander on the spot should be accused of treason because of it.”
The Queen had not liked this. “You appoint yourself defendant of Mr Killigrew? You applaud what he has done?”
“By no means, your majesty. I think he has been lax and deserves censure. But ~
“Laxness alone in some circumstances can be treason, Sir Walter. Give us leave to decide that.”
“None can decide better, madam. If I “
“But then there are these other charges, of which you may not have heard. Tell Sir Walter the other charges.”
Grudgingly the Archbishop told him. My father and I were again required to answer in defence. While I was speaking Sir Walter looked at me but gave no sign of recognition.
“Your majesty, such charges as these grow for the asking wherever suspicion rests. A man has only to be known to be down for the jackals of rumour to set to work. The tattle of seaports makes free of many great names. A noose round the neck is a great spur to reminiscence and invention. John Killigrew has served his country long. Is it likely that he would sell it now?”
“John Killigrew is grievously in debt,” said Lord North. “We all know that. A lack of money has corrupted many men.”
‘It is true also, is it not,” said the Earl of Nottingham, speaking for the first time, “that the prisoner and Sir Walter are related and have long been close friends?”
“The relationship is of the most distant, my lord; and I have counted John Killigrew as one link among many in the defence of these islands. In my official journeys through Cornwall most of them taken at the behest of this council I have spent a night at his home from time to time. But the implication is scurrilous … I would not speak for my own brother if I thought him guilty of treason ~ “
The Queen nodded. Perhaps she did not approve of the contemptuous way the captain of her guard addressed the most illustrious nobles in the land, but the sentiment was good.
“Time passes, my lords. We have other business today, and dinner must be taken soon. A decision must be come to on this man’s future … Sir Walter, we thank you for your valued assistance. You have our permission to withdraw.”
“Having feasted my eyes this morning, your majesty, I do so with a new heart.”
He kissed her wrist, and contrived it where the short glove ended. Some of the council noticed this and were displeased, but the Queen was not.
After he had gone a silence fell. Sir Robert Cecil broke it. “My lords, what is your conclusion as to the behaviour of John Killigrew? Might I request a vote. First: that it is treasonable.”
Five hands were raised. The Archbishop, the Earl of Nottingham, Lord North and two others.
“That it has been negligent but not to the degree of treason.”
Five hands were raised.
“That he is guiltless of the charges brought.”
No hands were raised. Sir Robert Cecil and one other had not voted.
Sir Robert said: “Would your majesty graciously favour us with an opinion?”
“That I would, little man, for we are all hungry. Mr Killigrew, you have been accused of negligence in your duties towards me and towards the safety of this realm. We do not consider you have proved yourself innocent. You have been accused of treasonable correspondence with Spain and some willingness to treat with them. You have not shown yourself to be innocent of those charges either.”
My father bowed his head, and his straw-gray hair fell over his eyes.
“Nevertheless on these latter accusations the testimony against you is inconclusive and fragmentary. So we are disposed to overlook this most gravest charge. My lords, we would think justice would best be served here by acting on a proven negligence. Would any wish to dispute that?”
No one spoke.
“Mr Secretary, it would seem necessary to deprive Mr Killigrew of his Governorship of Pendennis Castle. Let us have in the next weeks some suitable names from which we may choose a successor.”
“Your majesty,” said my father, “I wish to thank you for this clemency. So long as I “
“Do not mistake this clemency, Mr Killigrew, as any sign of approval. A bad servant is often worse than no servant at all. Your negligence could have betrayed England. Mr Secretary, I understand that Mr Killigrew is in debt to the Crown.”
“Yes, your majesty. For œ2,000.”
“See that it is collected.”
“Your majesty ” my father began in unwise protest, but he was waved into silence. The Queen had risen from her brocaded chair. Gathering around her a mantle of black silk shot with silver threads, she turned and walked briskly from the room. Two pages just had time to dart forward to gather her train.
As soon as she was gone the members of the Privy Council sat down again, talking among themselves; but two of the yeomen tapped our shoulders and we were led out through the ante-room into the palace yard.
There Rosewarne and Wilkey were patiently waiting. They started forward on seeing us, clearly relieved.
My father said: “Let us go back at once. There are certain dispositions I wish to make and that cannot be done too soon.”
He was arrested at nine o’clock next morning on the suit of Mr Reynolds of the Queen’s Exchequer. He was taken to the Gatehouse Prison at Westminster, a gloomy building leading into New Palace Yard. It served the purpose of both a prison and a guard house for all who would approach Westminster Hall.