They had
scarcely, however, reached the foot of the hill when the royal party
appeared in view, for the king with his characteristic impatience, on
drawing near the castle, had urged his attendants quickly forward.
First came half a dozen trumpeters, with silken bandrols fluttering in
the breeze, blowing loud flourishes. Then a party of halberdiers, whose
leaders had pennons streaming from the tops of their tall pikes. Next
came two gentlemen ushers bareheaded, but mounted and richly
habited, belonging to the Cardinal of York, who cried out as they
pressed forward, "On before, my masters, on before!--make way for my
lord's grace."
Then came a sergeant-of-arms bearing a great mace of silver, and two
gentlemen carrying each a pillar of silver. Next rode a gentleman
carrying the cardinal's hat, and after him came Wolsey himself,
mounted on a mule trapped in crimson velvet, with a saddle covered
with the same stuff, and gilt stirrups. His large person was arrayed in
robes of the finest crimson satin engrained, and a silk cap of the same
colour contrasted by its brightness with the pale purple tint of his
sullen, morose, and bloated features. The cardinal took no notice of
the clamour around him, but now and then, when an expression of
dislike was uttered against him, for he had already begun to be
unpopular with the people, he would raise his eyes and direct a
withering glance at the hardy speaker.
Pages:
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70