The Tower of London 42
"Suffolk is already liberated," remarked Renard ; "and yet he was more deeply implicated than Cranmer."
"True," replied Mary ; "but he is not so dangerous."
"The counsel of my master, the emperor," rejoined Renard, "as I have more than once stated to your Highness, is to spare none of the rebels--above all, the Lady Jane Grey, who, though she may have been the instrument of others, is yet in the eyes of the people the principal offender."
"Poor Lady Jane !" exclaimed Mary, in a compassionate tone. "She is very young--very beautiful. I would rather reconcile her to our church than doom her to the block."
"I do not despair of being able to accomplish her conversion," said Gardiner, "though she is an obstinate heretic. I have appointed to-morrow for a conference with her on the subject of her religion, and I trust to be able to convince her of her errors." "With your lordship's permission, I will attend the conference," said Renard.
"By all means," replied Gardiner. "It will take place in the Beauchamp Tower. Her husband, Lord Guilford Dudley, has become a proselyte, and they will be both present at the disputation."
"I leave the care of her soul in your hands, my lord," replied Mary. "And now I must to my own devotions."
So saying, she dismissed them, and proceeded to an oratory, where she was joined by her confessor, Feckenham.
On issuing from the audience-chamber, Renard perceived De Noailles and Courtenay pacing the gallery.
"I have waited for you, sir,'' said the latter, advancing to meet him.
"I am sorry to have detained your lordship so long," replied Renard.
"Apologies are needless,5' rejoined Courtenay. "M. Renard, you are a double-faced villain."
"Rail on my lord, and welcome," replied Renard, contemptuously. "Your ill-humour has no effect on me !"
"Coward ! will not that move you?" cried Courtenay, taking off his glove, and striking him with it in the face.
"Ha !" exclaimed Renard fiercely, and half-unsheathing his sword. "Follow me, my lord, and you shall find me as prompt to avenge an insult as you can be to offer one."
"My lord," interposed De Noailles, "and you, M. Renard, I warn you before you proceed further in this quarrel, that it will deeply offend the queen."
"It was not my seeking," replied Renard, sternly. "But since it is forced upon me, I will not be stayed. As his lordship has found no difficulty in duping her majesty with a feigned passion, so, if he survives, he may readily make out his case by an equally false statement that I was the aggressor."
"Insolent!" cried Courtenay. "Fool that I was to place any faith in one in whom the whole perfidy of his country seems concentred. Follow me, and quickly, or I will repeat the blow--unless," he added with bitter scorn, "like your own arrogant but cowardly nation you prefer avenging it by assassination."
"The cowardice will be yours, my lord," rejoined Renard, haughtily, "if you attempt to repeat the blow--nay, if you tarry here longer, I shall think you desire to attract the attention of some of her majesty's attendants, and by causing us to be arrested, contrive to escape my vengeance."
"Trust me, sir, I have no such intention," replied Courtenay. "An Englishman never deals a blow without allowing his adversary to return it. M. De Noailles, I request your attendance at the duel. It will be a mortal combat--for I will neither give mercy nor receive it from this perfidious villain."
"Pardon me, my lord, if I refuse your request," replied De Noailles. "I pledge my word that I will not interrupt you, nor cause you to be interrupted during the adjustment of your differences. But I will be no party to the duel."
"As you please," replied Courtenay. "Come then, sir," he added, turning to Renard, "and let the recollection of the insult I have offered you be fresh in your memory."
"M. De Noailles," said Renard, "I take you to witness before I depart, that I have not sought this quarrel. Whatever ensues, you will avouch the truth."
"Undoubtedly," replied De Noailles. "Whither are you going?" he demanded.
"To the palace-garden," replied Courtenay. "It is the only place in the Tower, where we can he free from interruption. Beneath the trees we shall be unobserved."
Lead on then, my lord," cried Renard, impatiently. "The affair ought to have been arranged by this time."
Hastily quitting the corridor, they descended the grand staircase, and traversing with rapid steps a long suite of apartments, passed through a small door opening from the range of building called the Queen's gallery, upon the privy garden. At the western angle of this garden stood a grove of trees, and thinking themselves unobserved they hastened towards it.
It chanced however at this moment that Xit was passing along one of the walks, and struck by their furious looks he immediately conjectured their errand, and being, as has before been shown, of an inquisitive turn, determined to watch them, and with this view struck into a shrubbery, which effectually screened him from observation.
On reaching the grove, Renard instantly divested himself of his cloak, and drawing his rapier and dagger, placed himself in an attitude of defence. Courtenay did not remove his mantle, and therefore he was in readiness before his adversary. The preliminary forms always observed by the combatants of the period, being gone through, the conflict commenced with great fury on the side of Courtenay, and with equal animosity, but more deliberation, on that of Renard. As the latter was the most perfect swordsman of his time, he felt little doubt as to the result of the combat--but still the fury of the Earl was so irresistible that he broke through his surest wards. In one of these furious passes Renard received a slight wound in the arm, and roused by the pain, he forgot his cautious system, and returned Courtenay's thrusts with others equally desperate.
Feeling that he was no match for his antagonist, who was evidently his superior both in force and skill, the Earl now determined to bring the combat to a close, before his strength should be further exhausted. Collecting all his energies, he dashed upon Renard with such impetuosity, that the latter was compelled to retreat, and his foot catching against the root of a tree, he fell, and lay at the mercy of his antagonist.
"Strike !" he cried. "I will never yield."
"No," replied Courtenay. "I will not take this advantage. Arise, and renew the combat."
"Your courtesy is like your attachment, misplaced, my lord," replied Renard, springing to his feet, and preparing to attack him. "Look to yourself."
The combat recommenced with fresh fury, and must have speedily terminated fatally, if a sudden interruption had not occurred. Alarmed by the deadly nature of the strife, and thinking he should gain credit with the queen if he prevented any accident to her favourite, Xit no sooner beheld the swords
drawn, than he ran off as swiftly as he could to the garden-gate, near the Lanthorn Tower, where he know Og was stationed. The giant did not require to be bid twice to accompany him ; but grasping his immense halbert, hurried in the direction of the fight, and reached the grove just as it had recommenced.
The combatants were so occupied with each other, and so blinded with rage, that they did not hear his approach. Og, however, soon made them sensible of his presence. Bidding them in a voice of thunder lay down their arms, and finding himself wholly disregarded, he rushed between them, and seizing each by the doublet, hurled them forcibly backwards--swearing lustily that if either advanced another footstep, he would fell him to the ground with his partizan. By this time Xit, who had come up, drew his sword, and seconded the giant's threat, adding with his usual coxcombical dignity, "My lords, I command you, in the Queen's name, to deliver up your weapons to me."
Upon this, he took off his cap, and strutting up to Courtenay, demanded his sword.
"What if I refuse it, sirrah?" said the earl, who in spite of his indignation, could scarcely help laughing at the dwarf's assurance.
"Your lordship, I am assured, will not compel me to enforce its delivery," replied Xit.
"I will not," replied Courtenay, delivering the weapon to him.
"I shall not fail to report your magnanimity to my royal mistress," returned Xit. "Now yours, worshipful sir," he added, to Renard.
"Take it," replied the ambassador, flinging his rapier on the ground. "It is fit that an affair so ridiculously begun, should have such a ridiculous termination."
"It is not ended, sir," rejoined Courtenay.
"You will note that, Magog,'1 interposed Xit. "His lordship says it is not ended. Her Majesty must hear of this. I take upon myself to place you both in arrest. Attach their persons, Magog."
"This insolence shall not go unpunished," cried Courtenay, angrily. . , . _ .
"Heed him not, Magog," whispered Xit. "I am sure her highness will approve our conduct. At all events, I take the responsibility of the arrest upon myself--though I promise thee, if there is any reward, thou shalt share it. I arrived at a critical minute for your lordship," he added, in an under tone to Courtenay. "Your adversary's blade was within an inch of your breast."
"Peace, knave," cried Courtenay.
"Bring them along, Magog," said Xit, "while I run to the palace to apprise her Majesty of the occurrence, and ascertain her pleasure concerning them.'
"Hold!" exclaimed Courtenay. "Take this purse, and keep silence on the subject/1
"No, my lord," replied Xit, with an offended look, "I am above a bribe. Had your lordship--but no matter. Magog, you will answer for their peaceable conduct. I am off to the palace."
And he hurried away, while the giant followed at a slow pace
with Courtenay and Renard.
./
X.--OF THE CONFERENCE HELD RETWEEN BISHOP GARDINER AND LADY
JANE GREY IN THE BEAUCIIAMP TOWER.
|During all this time, Jane was kept a close prisoner in the Brick Tower, and neither allowed to hold any intercourse with her husband, nor to correspond with him. Heart-breaking as the deprivation was to her in the first instance, she became in some degree reconciled to it, on learning from her jailor,--who displayed as much humanity towards her as was consistent with his office,--that he bore his fate with the utmost fortitude and resignation.
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