The Tower of London 41
"I know not what your highness intends," said Courtenay, as the attendant departed. "But I will die rather than do aught to prejudice the princess."
I doubt it not, my lord," rejoined Mary, bitterly. "But though I cannot punish the perfidy of a lover, I can the disobedience of a subject. If you refuse to obey my commands, you will take the consequences."
Courtenay bit his lips to repress the answer that rose to them.
In a few minutes, the usher returned and announced the Princess Elizabeth, as well as Gardiner, Renard, and .De Noailles. Instantly perceiving how matters stood, the imperial ambassador deemed his own triumph complete, and Courtenay's disgrace certain.
"My lord," said Mary, addressing Gardiner, "it is no secret to you, neither to you, M. Renard, nor to you, M. De Noailles--
that of all those proposed to me in marriage--the Princes of Spain and Portugal, the King of the Romans, Cardinal Pole, and others--I have preferred this man, whom I myself have raised to the rank he now holds, and enriched with the estates he enjoys." ^ . .
We know it, gracious Madam," replied Gardiner, alarmed at the ominous commencement, "and we think your highness has made a happy choice, and one most acceptable to your subjects. Do we not, M. Renard ?"
The ambassador bowed, but said nothing.
"The alliance is in all respects agreeable to my sovereign, Henry the Second of France," observed De Noailles.
"What then if I inform you," pursued Mary, "that the Earl of Devonshire has rejected my proposal ? What if he has broken his oath of fidelity ? What if he has cast aside the crown offered him, and smitten by the charms of a youthful beauty, abandoned the Queen, who has stooped to raise him to her throne !"
"Impossible!" exclaimed Gardiner and De Noailles.
"You are mistaken," rejoined Mary, sternly. "You shall hear him avow his perfidy with his own lips."
"When I _do_ hear it," replied De Noailles, looking steadily at Courtenay, "I will believe it. But I cannot think him capable of such madness."
"Nor I," said Gardiner, glancing significantly from beneath his bent brows.
Elizabeth, who on the commencement of the Queen's address had turned very pale, could with difficulty maintain her composure. Her agitation did not escape the notice of Mary, whose jealousy was increased by the sight.
"What if I tell you," she continued, "that this false earl has transferred his affections to our sister?-1
"Your highness !" exclaimed Elizabeth.
"Peace !" cried the Queen, fiercely. "And she, well knowing his engagement to ourself, has dared to encourage his suit."
"Whoever told your majesty this, lied in his throat," cried Courtenay. "I own myself guilty, but the Princess Elizabeth is no partner to my folly."
"You do well to shield her, my lord," retorted Mary. "But you cannot deceive me. She is equally culpable."
"Nay, more so, if it comes to this," interposed Elizabeth, whose spirit, which was quite equal to her sisters, was aroused. "If I had repressed my admiration for the Earl of Devonshire, he would have made no advances to me. I am the most to blame in this matter."
"Not so;" replied Courtenay. "Let my folly and presumption be visited on my own head. I pray your highness to pass sentence on me at once. But do not let the Princess suffer for my fault."
"So, so !" exclaimed Mary, with a bitter laugh, "I have
brought you to your confessions at last. If I had. before doubted your love for each other, your present conduct would have convinced me of it. You shall have your request, my lord," she added, turning to Courtenay. "I _will_ pass sentence upon you."
"Hold, madam,'' cried Gardiner. "Before the sentence is passed and irrevocable, reflect--if only for one moment. You are a great queen, and the daughter of a great king. But the rashness of one moment may annihilate all your future peace, destroy the hopes of your people, and the prosperity of your reign. the conduct of the Earl of Devonshire is unpardonable, I allow. But for your own sake--for the sake of your kingdom--not for his--I beseech you to overlook it. That he loves you, I am assured."
"Let him declare as much," said Renard.
"Hear me, then," replied Courtenay, throwing himself at the-Queen's feet. "I bitterly repent my rashness ; and though I can never hope to be restored to the place I once held in your Majesty's affections, I shall never cease to reproach myself--never cease to love you."
Mary was visibly moved.
"If I thought you sincere ?" she said.
"I will answer for his sincerity," said Gardiner.
"And I," added De Noailles. "She relents," he continued in a whisper to Courtenay. "Improve the advantage you have gained."
"Grant me an instant's private audience with your Majesty," implored Courtenay ; "and I feel certain I can remove all your doubts."
"No, my lord," rejoined Mary. "As our rupture has been public, our reconciliation (if it takes place,) shall be public, also."
"It must never take place," remarked Renard, in an under tone.
"Peace, sir," said the Queen, aloud. "As far as our government is concerned, we are content to follow your counsel. But in matters of the heart we shall follow its dictates alone."
"Your Majesty is in the right," observed Gardiner.
"Declare, my lord," pursued Mary, addressing Courtenay, "in the presence of these gentlemen, in that of our sister--_rival_ we ought to say,--that you have deceived her, and, though your conduct may have misled her,--have never swerved from your devotion to ourself."
While the Queen pronounced these words, Renard's keen glance wandered from Courtenay to Elizabeth. The latter was violently agitated, and seemed to await the Earl's answer as if her fate hung upon it.
"Do you assert this, my lord?" demanded Mary.
"Hesitate, and you are lost, and so is the Princess," whispered De Noailles.
Before Courtenay could reply, Elizabeth fainted and would have fallen, if Renard had not flown to her assistance.
"Summon our maids of honour, and let her be instantly cared for," said Mary, with a look of ill-disguised satisfaction. "My lord," she added to Courtenay, "you are forgiven."
The Earl hastily, and with some confusion, expressed his thanks, while, in obedience to the Queen's mandate, Elizabeth was removed.
"And now, my lord," said Mary to him, 46 I must pass from my own affairs to those of my kingdom. I will not detain you further--nor you, M. De Noailles. But I must crave your attendance, my lord, for a few minutes," she added, turning to Gardiner, "and yours, M. Renard."
"Your highness may always command my best counsel," replied the latter, in a slightly sarcastic tone--"provided you will act upon it."
"Farewell, my lord," said Mary, extending her hand to Courtenay, which he pressed to his lips. "I shall walk upon the Tower Green in an hour, and shall expect you there."
"I will attend your Majesty," replied Courtenay. And accompanied by De Noailles, he quitted the chamber.
"You have had a narrow escape, my lord," remarked the French Ambassador, as they traversed the long gallery together.
"So narrow that I thought I had lost all chance of the crown," replied Courtenay. "It is the work of that perfidious Simon Renard. But if I live an hour, I will requite him."
"You are the victor, my lord," returned De Nouilles. "Maintain your present position, and you may defy his utmost malice." "Tarry with me a moment, M. De Noailles," said Courtenay, "and you shall see how I will avenge myself upon him."
"Prudence, my good lord--prudence," replied De Noailles. "Your rashness has already put you once in his power. Do not let it do so a second time."
"I will punish his treachery, if it costs me my life," replied Courtenay.
IX.--OF THE DUEL BETWEEN COURTENAY AND SIMON RENARD; AND
HOW IT WAS INTERRUPTED.
}Meanwhile, a long discussion was carried on between Mary and her councillors, as to the best means of effecting the entire restoration of the Romish religion.
"I have a letter from Cardinal Pole," observed the Queen, "wherein his Eminence urges me to adopt no half measures."
"It will not be safe to do so as matters now stand, gracious madam," replied Gardiner. "You must proceed cautiously. The noxious weed, heresy, has taken too deep a root in this country to be forcibly extirpated. I need not remind you of the
murmurs that followed the celebration of mass in the chapel in the White Tower, for the repose of the King your brothers soul--of Cranmer's vehement opposition--of the lord mayor's remonstrance, because mass was sung in another chapel in the city--of the riot for a similar cause in Smithfield--of the dagger thrown at Doctor Bourne, when he preached at Saint Paul's Cross, and inveighed against the deprivation of our prelates during the late reign. Your Majesty did wisely to declare, at my suggestion, that although your conscience is stayed in matters of religion, yet you meant not to compel and constrain other men's consciences. Abide by this declaration a little longer. The two chief opponents of our religion, Ridley and Latimer, are already prisoners in the fortress, and Cranmer will be speedily brought hither."
"So speedily, my lord, that he shall be lodged within it today," replied Mary. "The order is already signed for his committal on a charge of high treason for counselling our disinheritance, and aiding the Duke of Northumberland with horse and men against us in the revolt of the Lady Jane Grey."
"When will your highness have him arraigned?" asked Gardiner.
"After our coronation," replied Mary; "when Lady Jane Grey and her husband shall also be tried."
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