The Tower of London 44

The Tower of London 44

This encounter was so far of service to Jane, that it served to distract her thoughts, and she had in a great measure regained her composure, when another incident occurred, which had nearly upset her altogether. As she passed near the porch of Saint Peter's Chapel, she beheld Simon Renard emerge from it. And if she felt her blood chilled by the sight of her implacable foe, her alarm was not diminished on hearing him call to her guards to bring her within the chapel. At a loss to comprehend the meaning of this mysterious summons, Jane entered the sacred structure. Coldly saluting her, Renard informed her that her husband was within the chapel. Trembling at the intimation, Jane looked eagerly round. At first, she could discern nothing; but, guided by the ambassador's malignant glance, she perceived a figure kneeling in front of the altar. Instantly recognising her husband, with an exclamation of delight that made him spring to his feet, she rushed forward and threw herself into his arms.

 

After the first passionate emotion had subsided, Jane inquired how he came to be there.

 

"Do you not know?" replied Lord Guilford. "Or have you been kept in ignorance of the terrible tragedy which has been recently enacted ? Look there !" And he pointed downwards.

 

Jane obeyed, and saw that she was standing upon a grave-

 

stone, on which was inscribed in newly-cut letters--

 

 

 

_JOHN DUDLEY, DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND.

 

--DECAPITATED AUGUST 22, 1553_

 

Jane trembled and leaned upon her husband for support. "Here is the victim--there the executioner," said Lord Guilford, pointing from the grave to Renard.

 

"Three months ago," said the Ambassador, who stood with folded arms at a little distance from them, "within this very chapel, I told the Duke of Northumberland he would occupy that grave. My words have been fulfilled. And I now tell you, Lord Guilford Dudley, and you Lady Jane, that unless you are reconciled with our holy Church, you will rest beside him."

 

With these words he quitted the chapel, and the guards closing round the captives, they were compelled to follow. During their short walk, Jane passionately implored her husband not to yield to the persuasions of his enemies. He hung his head and returned no answer, and she inferred from his silence, that he was not disposed to yield to her solicitations. They were now close upon the Beauchamp Tower, when Dudley, pointing to a barred window in the upper story of one of its turrets, observed--"Within that room my father parsed the last few weeks of his existence."

 

 

 

[Ill 0236]

 

 

 

Ascending the spiral stone stairs of the tower, they passed beneath the arched doorway, and entered the principal chamber--now used--as has more than once been observed--as the mess-room of the garrison. Here they found Gardiner awaiting their arrival, he was seated on a high backed arm chair between Bonner and Feckenham, who occupied stools on either side of him, while behind him stood the friar who had attended the Duke of Northumberland on the scaffold. Across one of the deep and arched embrazures of the room looking towards the south, a thick curtain was drawn, and before it, at a small table covered with a crimson cloth, on which writing materials were placed, sat a secretary prepared to take down the heads of the disputation. On Jane's appearance, Gardiner and the other ecclesiastics arose and gravely saluted her.

 

"You are welcome, daughter," said the bishop. "You have come hither an unbeliever in our doctrines. I trust you will depart confirmed in the faith of Rome."

 

"I am come to vanquish, not to yield, my lord," replied Jane, firmly. "And as I shall give you no quarter, so I expect none." "Be it so," rejoined the bishop. "To you, my son," he continued, addressing Lord Guilford, "I can hold very different language. I can give you such welcome as the prodigal son received, and rejoice in your reconciliation with your heavenly father. And I sincerely trust that this noble lady, your consort, will not be a means of turning aside that mercy which her most gracious Majesty is desirous of extending towards you."

 

"My lord," said Jane, stepping between them, and steadfastly regarding the bishop, "if I am wrong and my husband is right, the Queen will do well not to punish the innocent with the guilty. And you, dear Dudley," she continued, taking his hand, and gazing at him with streaming eyes, "grant me one favour--the last I shall ever ask of you."

 

"Daughter !" observed Gardiner, severely, "I cannot permit this interference. I must interpose my authority to prevent your attempting to shake your husband's determination."

 

"All I ask, my lord, is this," rejoined Jane, meekly ; "that he will abide the issue of the disputation before he renounces his faith for ever. It is a request, which I am sure neither he, nor _you_ will refuse."

 

"It is granted, daughter," replied Gardiner ; "the rather that I feel so certain of convincing you that I doubt not you will then as strongly urge his reconciliation as you now oppose it."

 

"I would that not my husband alone, but that all Christendom could be auditors of our conference, my lord," replied Jane. "In this cause I am as strong, as in the late on which I was engaged I was weak. With this shield," she continued, raising the Bible which she carried beneath her arm, "I cannot sustain injury." Advancing towards the table at which the secretary was seated, she laid the sacred volume upon it. She then divested

 

«islimi ''Oüi'iliiti'r':. airifmiitiT mifli .Il;uii' in tlir Wraurli,imj.i TT,huit

 

 

 

 

 

herself of her surcoat, and addressed a few words, in an under tone, to her husband, while the ecclesiastics conferred together. While this was passing, Lord Guilford's eye accidentally fell upon his father's inscription on the wall, and he called Jane's attention to it. She sighed as she looked, and remarked, "Do not let your name be stained like his."

 

Perceiving Simon Renard gazing at them with malignant satisfaction, she then turned to Gardiner and said, "My lord, the presence of this person troubles me. I pray you, if he be not needful to our conference, that you will desire him to withdraw."

 

The bishop acquiesced, and having signified his wishes to the ambassador, he feigned to depart. But halting beneath the arched entrance, he remained an unseen witness of the proceedings.

 

A slight pause ensued, during which Jane knelt beside the chair, and fervently besought heaven to grant her strength for the encounter. She then arose, and fixing her eye upon Gardiner, said in a firm tone, "I am ready, my lord, I pray you question me, and spare me not."

 

 

 

[Ill 0238]

 

 

 

No further intimation was necessary to the bishop, who immediately proceeded to interrogate her on the articles of her faith ; and being a man of profound learning, well versed in all the subtleties of scholastic dispute, he sought in every way to confound and perplex her. In this he was likewise assisted by Bonner and Feckenham, both of whom were admirable theologians, and who proposed the most difficult questions to her. The conference lasted several hours, during which Jane sustained her part with admirable constancy--never losing a single point--but retorting upon her opponents questions, which they were unable to answer--displaying such a fund of erudition--such powers of argument--such close and clear reasoning--and such profound knowledge of the tenets of her own faith and of theirs, that they were completely baffled and astounded. To a long and eloquent address of Gardiner's she replied at equal length, and with even more eloquence and fervour, concluding with these emphatic words--"My lord, I have lived in the Protestant faith, and in that faith I will die. In these sad times, when the power of your church is in the ascendant, it is perhaps needful there should be martyrs in ours to prove our sincerity. Amongst these I shall glory to be numbered--happy in the thought that my firmness will be the means in after ages, of benefiting the Protestant church. On this rock," she continued, pointing to the Bible, which lay open before her--"my religion is built, and it will endure, when yours, which is erected on sandy foundations, shall be utterly swept away. In this sacred volume, I find every tenet of my creed, and I desire no other mediator between my Maker and myself."

 

As she said this, her manner was so fervid, and her look so full of inspiration, that all her listeners were awe-stricken,

 

and gazed at her in involuntary admiration. The secretary suspended his task to drink in her words ; and even Simon Renard, who ensconced beneath the door-way, seemed no inapt representation of the spirit of evil, appeared confounded.

 

After a brief pause, Gardiner arose, saying, "the conference is ended, daughter. You are at liberty to depart. If I listen longer," he added, in an under tone to his companions, "I shall be convinced against my will."

 

"Then you acknowledge your defeat, my lord," said Jane, proudly.

 

"I acknowledge that it is in vain to make any impression on you," answered the bishop.

 

"Jane," cried her husband, advancing towards her, and throwing himself on his knees before her, "you have conquered, and I implore your forgiveness. I will never change a religion of which you are so bright an ornament."

 

"This is indeed a victory," replied Jane, raising him and clasping him to her bosom. "And now, my lord," she added to Gardiner, "conduct us to prison or the scaffold as soon as you please. Death has no further terrors." After a parting embrace, and an assurance from her husband, that he would now remain constant in his faith, Jane was removed by her guard to the Brick Tower, while Lord Guilford was immured in one of the cells adjoining the room in which the conference had taken place.