"Ay, and I knew him before he had to fly from the country," he replied. "I tell you he is a Stuart. He hath the vices of both his father and his grandfather. He will lie and deceive like Charles his father, and he will turn his Court into a pigsty, like his grandfather James. In six months from now Whitehall will be filled with swashbucklers and wine-bibbers. Bad men and worse women will rule the country. God only knows what will become of the Puritans, in spite of his fair promises. But what of that? We will go and meet him!"
"But you will gain nought."
"Ay, I will, but there will be much to do first."
"Much to do!"
"Ay, much for thee to do, Roland. I have hopes that the Rashcliffe lands will be mine again, and that my son will hold up his head among the highest."
"You think you will gain the favour of the king?"
"Nay, but perchance I may gain his fear."
"His fear?"
"Ay, his fear. Or, better still, thou shalt gain his fear."
"But why should the king fear me? I can do nought against him. I have no power."