It was not easy for one who had been brought up with the strictest regard for filial duty, to criticize a parent’s action, but Katharine was beginning to do so.
The letter which Ferdinand had written to Henry was in the same strain.
He did not wish his son-in-law to think that he put friendship with the King of France on the same level with that which he bore to the King of England, he wrote. Nay, he had made peace with France because he feared he had but a short time to live and wished to die at peace with his enemies. But out of his love for his son-in-law, he would be ready to break the truce with France if necessary. There was a way in which this could be done. The province of Béarn was not included in the treaty and, if Ferdinand attacked Béarn and the King of France came to its defense—as he most assuredly would—then he would attack the Spanish, which would be breaking the treaty. And so it would be France which had broken faith, not Spain.
Henry scowled when he read this. He was beginning to believe that he was a fool to put any trust in such a double dealer. But it did not mean that he was not going forward with his plans for war.
MARIA DE SALINAS came to the Queen’s side and whispered: “Caroz is without. He is in a sorry state. An attempt has been made on his life.”
Katharine, who had been sitting at her embroidery with two of her ladies, rose immediately and went with Maria into the adjoining anteroom.
“Bring him to me here,” she said.
Maria returned in a short time with Caroz. His fine satin doublet was torn, and there was blood on his arm.
“Your Grace,” he panted, “I was set upon in the street. I was attacked, but by a stroke of good fortune my attacker slipped just as he was about to thrust home his sword. It caught my arm and I ran…I ran for my life.”
“Bring me water and bandages,” said Katharine to Maria. “I will bind up the wound. I have a special unguent which is a wonderful healer.”
As she spoke she cut the sleeve away from the wound and saw to her relief that it was not deep.
“I am submitted to insults on all sides.” Caroz was almost sobbing. “Everyone here blames me for the treaty His Highness has made with the King of France. They have determined to kill me. It is unsafe for me to go abroad in the streets.”
“You are distraught, Don Luis,” said Katharine. “Pray calm yourself. This may have been nothing but the action of a cutpurse.”
“Nay, Your Grace. The people are infuriated with me. They blame me, although Your Grace well knows…”
Katharine said: “This may make you feel a little faint. Lie back and close your eyes.”
As she washed the wound and applied the unguent, she thought: Poor Don Luis. He is the scapegoat. I must do all in my power to save him. I should not forgive myself if he, bearing the blame for my father’s action, should also suffer the death wound which would be his should these people lay their hands upon him.
She bound the wound and made Don Luis lie down, setting two of her pages to watch over him.
Then she went to the King’s apartment.
Henry frowned at her. He was still displeased with the Spaniards and he wished her to know that she was included in that displeasure. But she faced him boldly. She was certain that some of his friends had set an assassin to attack Don Luis, and she believed that Henry alone could save the ambassador from another attack. She felt sickened with humiliation because of her father’s conduct and, although she had no great regard for Don Luis, she was determined that his death should not be placed to her family’s account.
“Henry,” she said, “Don Luis has been attacked.”
Henry growled his indifference.
“His murder would help us not at all.”
“Us?” he demanded. “For whom do you work, Madam? Do you set yourself on the side of your father or your husband?”
Katharine drew herself to her full height and in that moment she looked magnificent, with her eyes flashing and the color in her cheeks.
“I have made my vows to love, cherish and honor my husband,” she said distinctly. “I do not break my vows.”
Then Henry laughed exultantly. His Kate was a handsome woman. She was telling him clearly that she recognized her father’s duplicity and that she was ranging herself on her husband’s side against him. The woman adored him. That was easy to see.
“Why, Kate,” he said, “I knew it well.”
She threw herself into his arms and clung to him.
“Oh Henry, I am fearful that you should go to war.”
He stroked her hair gently. “No harm will come to me, Kate. I’ll give a good account of myself.”
“Yet I shall fret if you are away.”
“You are a good wife to me, Kate. But have no fear for me. I’ll go to France and I’ll come back…in triumph…and you shall share those triumphs with me.”
“Come back safely…that is all I ask.”
“Bah! You speak like a woman.” But he was not displeased that she should.
It was then that she asked him to forbid further attacks on Caroz.
“The man is a fool,” she said, “but no knave. Rest assured that he signed the treaty on my father’s behalf in good faith.”
“I’ll order it, Kate…since you ask me. Caroz can live on without fear of losing his life. And if your father does not recall him, he shall keep his position at Court.” His eyes narrowed. “The man is a fool. But sometimes it is not a bad thing when those who are set to work against us are fools.”
Katharine did not answer. She had shown clearly that she would never completely trust her father again. Henry was satisfied.
And so the life of Caroz was saved.
THE JUNE SUN shone on the walls of Dover Castle. From a window in the keep Katharine looked down on the fleet in the harbor, waiting to set sail. She knew most of the ships by name for she had taken the greatest interest in the preparations for this war. There lay the Peter Pomegranate—named in deference to her, whose device of the pomegranate had become so well known at the Court. There was the Anne of Greenwich side by side with the George of Falmouth; there was the Barbara, the Dragon and the Lion.
It had been a magnificent cavalcade which had passed along the road to Dover. The people had come out to cheer their King, and when they had seen him, so richly clad, so handsome, they had declared he was more like a god than a man. He was preceded by his Yeomen of the Guard in the Tudor colors, green and white; and the knights in armor and the gaily caparisoned horses were a colorful sight.
But it was the King who stood out in that glittering assembly. He was not in armor, but dressed as Supreme Head of the Navy of which he was very proud. There were four hundred ships waiting to set sail from Dover harbor, and he himself had superintended a great deal of the preparation for the journey. Thomas Wolsey was with him; he had learned more and more the value of that man.
And there rode Henry in his vest of gold brocade, his breeches of cloth of gold and his hose of scarlet. About his neck on a thick gold chain hung a whistle—the biggest any of the spectators had ever seen—and this was set with jewels which flashed in the sunlight. He blew on the whistle from time to time to the delight of all those who heard it.
Of all the pageants in which he had played his joyful parts there was not one which had delighted him as did this new game of going to war.
Katharine rode with him, applauding, admiring; and the glances he threw her way were full of love and tenderness.