you use them thus. For though I do bethink me that
the Tower is but a sorry cage in which to keep so grandly plumed a bird
as my Lord of Raleigh, I did but seek--"

"Ay, you did but seek to curry favour with the craven crowd," burst out
the now thoroughly angry King, always jealous of the popularity of
this brave young Prince of Wales. "And am I, sirrah, to be badgered and
browbeaten in my own palace by such a thriftless ne'er-do-weel as you,
ungrateful boy, who seekest to gain preference with the people in this
realm before your liege lord the King? Quit my presence, sirrah, and
that instanter, ere that I do send you to spend your Christmas where
your great-grandfather, King Henry, bade his astrologer spend his--in
the Tower, there to keep company with your fitting comrade, Raleigh, the
traitor!"

Without a word in reply to this outburst, with a son's submission, but
with a royal dignity, Prince Henry bent his head before his father's
decree and withdrew from the table, followed by the gentlemen of his
household.

But ere he could reach the arrased doorway, Prince Charles sprang to his
side and cried, valiantly: "Nay then, if he goes so do I! 'Twas surely
but a Christmas joke and of my own devising. Spoil not our revel, my
gracious liege and father, on this of all the year's red-letter days,
by turning my thoughtless frolic into such bitter threatening. I did but
seek to test the worth of Master Sandy's lucky raisin by asking for as
wildly great a boon as might be thought upon. Brother Hal too, did but
give me his advising in joke even as I did seek it. None here, my royal
father, would brave your sovereign displeasure by any unknightly or
unloyal scheme."

The gentle and dignified words of the young prince--for Charles Stuart,
though despicable as a king, was ever loving and loyal as a friend--were
as oil upon the troubled waters. The ruffled temper of the ambassador
of Spain--who in after years really did work Raleigh's downfall and
death--gave place to courtly bows, and the King's quick anger melted
away before the dearly loved voice of his favourite son.

"Nay, resume your place, son Hal," he said, "and you, gentlemen all,
resume your seats, I pray. I too did but jest as did Baby Charles
here--a sad young wag, I fear me, is this same young Prince."

But as, after the wassail, came the Christmas mask, in which both
Princes bore their parts, Prince Charles said to Archie Armstrong, the
King's jester:

"Faith