Death Be Pardoner To Me: The Life of George, Duke of Clarence by Dorothy Davies Page A

better that no one knew. Edward was big enough and strong enough to take revenge. It just needed time, George knew that. But oh the need to strike back! The need to hit something, very hard, to take out this anger, this bitterness, this grief, on something rather than hold it inside his young body.
    What did Richard feel at this time? He would never know, for this was too big to be discussed. He knew that.
    The ride to the coast was endless, silent and intensely cold but his thoughts were colder, infinitely more painful than any he had ever endured in his life up to that time.
    After what seemed a lifetime, they arrived at the windswept lonely coast where a small ship rode reluctantly at anchor, fighting the waves as if it wished to be gone. They were hustled aboard; almost immediately the lines were cast and they were out on the turbulent winter waters, the darkness all enveloping, the wind seeking every gap in his clothing, biting at his flesh. A sailor helped him down below deck and out of the wind. The ship rolled, dipping and rising through the waves which sought to destroy it. George saw that some of the crew could not contain their last meal and he did not blame them, the motion was enough to cause sickness in the best of sailors. In a very short time he was being sick himself, much to his disgust and annoyance but the motion of the ship could not be denied, it was affecting the hardiest of them.
    In the crowded cluttered cabin he clung to the timber support and watched his brother with eyes that were not really seeing him, they were all but blinded with tears he could not and would not shed. He reminded himself that a royal prince simply did not weep, no matter what the situation. He blinked a few times and really looked at Richard, who was white, his eyes wide and staring. So far Richard had held on, not given way to the sickness which seemed to plague virtually everyone on board, including their squires and guardian, John Skelton, and their attendants. George’s sickness was as much through fear and anger as sea-sickness. Again! He raged, again I am taken away from family and home! Again I lose everything! God in heaven, what I have lost this time! You have taken from me my lord father, my brother, my lady mother, my sister and my home, cast me out upon the sea, sending me to another land where I know not who will take me in! God in heaven, hear this prayer, I beseech you! We are two small boys, lost and afraid and fatherless. If nothing else, grant us safe passage to France, for of a surety if the wind does not drop we will all be lost in the waters and there will be no princes left to follow our brother of March to the throne and the House of York will fail in its desire to rule all of England and I must be there when he is crowned King of England and oh God hear this prayer and grant us safe voyage and bless my brother for he suffers so and –
    Another bout of sickness took over, breaking off the rambling prayer that was going nowhere but paining his heart. There was little left to discharge, his stomach hurt with the retching which brought nothing but bitter tasting bile to his mouth. Richard looked at him with sympathy but said nothing. His mouth was a bitter compressed line, his emotions, as always, tightly under control.
    After what seemed like a lifetime of surging waves, howling winds, snapping rigging and the cries and shouts of men trying to hold the ship on course, they found harbour in France and the wild tossing finally eased into a gentle sway that was almost as bad for someone whose stomach had been badly disturbed by the sickness. John Skelton gathered up his two small charges and took them up into the fresh air and their first sight of the land that was to accommodate them for a while. George found himself longing to stand on solid earth, to look at things which did not sway and move in front of his eyes, which didn’t confuse and confound his sense of balance.
    The welcome sight of horses and