The Tower of London 36
and on either side were twenty-seven seats, each emblazoned with armorial bearings woven in silver. The canopy was reserved for the Duke of Norfolk, Lord High Steward of England ; the chairs for the different peers appointed to hear the arraignment of the prisoners. At the lower extremity was the bar. On entering the hall, the Duke and his companions were conducted into a small chamber on the right, where they were detained till the arrival of the judges.
After some time, they were summoned by an usher, and following the attendant through two long files of halberdiers, the Duke slowly but firmly ascended the steps of the scaffold. On arriving at the bar, he bowed profoundly to the assemblage, and every peer, except the Duke of Norfolk, immediately arose, and acknowledged the salutation. Drawing himself up to his full height. Northumberland then glanced sternly around the tribunal. Not one of those upon whom his gaze fell but--scarcely a month ago--had trembled at his nod. Wherever be looked, his glance encountered an enemy. There sat Arundel, Pembroke, Shrewsbury, Rich, Huntingdon, Darcy,--the abettors in his treason, now his judges. On the right of the Lord High Steward sat Bishop Gardiner, in his capacity of Lord Chancellor : on the left, Lord Paget.
Northumberland's indictment having been read, he thus addressed the court :--
"My lords," he said, "I here profess my faith and obedience to the Queen's highness, whom I confess to have most grievously offended, and beyond the hope of pardon. I shall not attempt to say anything in my own defence. But I would willingly have the opinion of the court in two points."
"State them,'" said the Duke of Norfolk.
"First then," replied Northumberland, "I desire to know, whether the performance of an act by the authority of the sovereign and the council, and by warrant of the great seal of England, can be. construed as treason ?"
"Most undoubtedly, in your grace's case," replied the Duke of Norfolk ; "inasmuch as the great seal whence your authority was derived was not the seal of the lawful Queen of the realm, but that of a usurper, and therefore no warrant." Northumberland bowed.
"I am answered," he said. "And now to the second point on which I would be resolved. Is it fitting or right," he continued, glancing fiercely around, "that those persons who are equally culpable with myself, and by whose letters and commandments I have been directed in all I have done, should be my judges, or pass upon my trial at my death ?"
"Grant that others are as deeply implicated in this case as your Grace," replied the Duke of Norfolk ; "yet so long as no attainder is of record against them, they are able in the law to pass upon any trial, and cannot be challenged, except at the Queen's pleasure."
"I understand," replied Northumberland, bowing coldly; "and since it is useless to urge any reasonable matter, I will at once confess the indictment, entreating your Grace to be a means of mercy for me unto the Queen."
Judgment was then pronounced.
The Duke once more addressed them.
"I beseech you, my lords," he said, "all to be humble suitors for me to the queens highness, that she grant me four requests." Most of the peers having signified their assent by a slight inclination of the head, he proceeded :--
"First, that I may have that death which noblemen have had in times past, and not the other. Secondly," and his voice faltered, "that her highness will be gracious to my children, who may hereafter do her good service, considering that they went by my commandment, who am their father, and not of their own free wills."
"Do not include me in your solicitation, my lord," interrupted the Earl of Warwick, haughtily. "I neither ask mercy, nor would accept it at the Queen's hands ; and prefer death to her service. What Ï have done, I have done on no authority save my own, and were it to do again, I would act in like manner."
"Rash boy, you destroy yourself," cried the Duke.
"Proceed, my lord," observed the Duke of Norfolk, com-
passionately ; "your son's indiscreet speech will not weigh with us."
"Thirdly, then," rejoined Northumberland, "I would entreat that I may have appointed to me some learned man for the instruction and quieting of my conscience. And fourthly, that her highness will send two of the council to commune with me, to whom I will declare such matters as shall be expedient for her and the state. And thus I beseech you all to pray for me."
"Doubt it not, my lord," rejoined Norfolk; "and doubt not, also, that your requests shall be duly represented to the Queen."
"Add, if it please your grace," pursued Northumberland, "a few words in favour of the unhappy Lady Jane Dudley, who, as is well known to many now sitting in judgment upon me, so far from aspiring to the crown, was by enticement and force compelled to accept it."
The Duke then retired, and the Marquess of Northampton having advanced to the bar, and pleaded to his indictment, sentence was passed on him likewise.
His example was followed by the Earl of Warwick, who heard his condemnation pronounced with a smile.
"I thank you, my lords," he said, when the sentence was uttered, "and crave only this favour of the Queen, that as the goods of those condemned to death are totally confiscated, her highness will be pleased to let my debts be paid."
Upon this, he bowed to the tribunal and withdrew.
During the trial, an immense concourse had assembled in the open space in front of the hall, waiting in breathless impatience for the result. It was not till towards evening that this was known. The great doors were then thrown open, and a troop of halberdiers came forth to clear the way for the prisoners. A deep dead silence prevailed, and every eye was bent upon the doorway. From beneath it marched the gentleman-jailor, carrying the axe with its edge _towards_ the prisoners. This was enough. The mob knew they were condemned, and expressed their satisfaction by a sullen roar.
Suddenly, the voice of a woman was heard exclaiming, "See ye not the axe ? See ye not the edge turned towards him ? He is condemned. The slayer of the good Duke of Somerset is condemned. Shout! Shout!"
And in obedience to her commands, a loud cry was raised by the mob. Amid this clamour and rejoicing, Northumberland and his companions were conveyed to their boat, and so to the Tower.
VI.--BY WHAT MEANS THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND WAS RECONCILED TO THE CHURCH OF ROME.
|Several days having elapsed since the trial, and no order made for his execution, the Duke of Northumberland, being of a sanguine temperament, began to indulge hopes of mercy. With hope, the love of life returned, and so forcibly, that he felt disposed to submit to any humiliation to purchase his safety. During this time, he was frequently visited by Bishop Gardiner, who used every persuasion to induce him to embrace the Romish faith. Northumberland, however, was inflexible on this point, but, professing the most, sincere penitence, he besought the Bishop, in his turn, to intercede with the Queen in his behalf. Gardiner readily promised compliance, in case his desires were acceded to ; but as the Duke still continued firm in his refusal, he declined all interference. "Thus much I will promise," said Gardiner, in conclusion ; "your grace shall have ample time for reflection, and if you place yourself under the protection of the Catholic church, no efforts shall be wanting on my part to move the Queen's compassion towards you."
That night, the officer on guard suddenly threw open the door of his cell, and admitting an old woman, closed it upon them. The Duke, who was reading at the time by the light of a small lamp set upon a table, raised his eyes and beheld Gunnora Braose.
"Why have you come hither?" he demanded. "But I need no task. You have come to gratify your vengeance with a sight of my misery. Now you are satisfied, depart."
"I am come partly with that intent, and partly with another," replied Gunnora. u Strange as it may sound, and doubtful, I am come to save you."
"To save me!" exclaimed Northumberland, starting. "How?--But--no !--no ! This is mockery. Begone, accursed woman." It is no mockery," rejoined Gunnora. "Listen to me, Duke of Northumberland. I love vengeance well, but I love my religion better. Your machinations brought my foster-son, the Duke of Somerset, to the block, and I would willingly see you conducted thither. But there is one consideration that overcomes this feeling. It is the welfare of the Catholic church. If you become a convert to that creed, thousands will follow your example ; and for this great good I would sacrifice my own private animosity. I am come hither to tell you your life will be spared, provided you abandon the Protestant faith, and publicly embrace that of Rome."
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