CONTENTS

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.

Prologue.

“Mother, will the little prince be there?”

“Yes, my son.  He never leaves his mother’s side.  You will see them all today, if fortune favours us—­the good King Henry, his noble queen, to whom he owes so much, and the little prince likewise.  We will to horse anon, that we may gain a good view of the procession as it passes.  The royal party lodges this night at our good bishop’s palace.  Perchance they will linger over the Sunday, and hear mass in our fair cathedral, Our loyal folks of Lichfield are burning to show their love by a goodly show of welcome; and it is said that his majesty takes pleasure in silvan sports and such-like simple pleasures, many preparations for the which have been prepared for him to witness.”

“O mother, I know.  Ralph and Godfrey have been practising themselves this many a day in tilting and wrestling, and in the use of the longbow and quarterstaff, that they may hold their own in the sports on the green before the palace, which they say the king will deign to watch.

“O mother; why am I not as old and as strong as they?  I asked Ralph to let me shoot with his bow; but he only laughed at me, and bade me wait till I was as tall and as strong as he.  It is very hard to be the youngest—­and so much the youngest, too.”

The mother smiled as she passed her hand over the floating curls of the gallant boy beside her; He was indeed a child of whom any mother might be proud:  beautiful, straight-limbed, active, and fearless, his blue eyes glowing and shining, his cheek flushed with excitement, every look and gesture seeming to speak of the bold soldier spirit that burned within.

And these were times when it appeared indeed as if England’s sons had need of all the warlike instincts of their race.  Party faction had well-nigh overthrown ere this the throne—­and the authority of the meek King Henry, albeit the haughty Duke of York had set forth no claim for the crown, which his son but two short years later both claimed and won.  But strife and jealousy and evil purposes were at work in men’s minds.  The lust of power and of supremacy had begun to pave the way for the civil war which was soon to devastate the land.  The sword had already been drawn at St. Albans, and the hearts of many men were full of foreboding as they thought upon the perilous times in which they lived; though others were ready to welcome the strife which promised plunder and glory and fame to those who should distinguish themselves by prowess in field or counsel in the closet.