The Tower of London 53

The Tower of London 53

The queen's life, however, was miraculously preserved. Sir Henry Bedingfeld, who was walking a few paces behind her, happening to cast his eye in the direction of Traitor's Tower, perceived the barrel of an arquebuss thrust from a loop-hole in one of the turrets, and pointed towards her. Struck with the idea that some injury might be intended her, he sprung forward, and interposing his own person between the queen and the discharge, drew her forcibly backwards. The movement saved her. The ball passed through the knight's mantle, but without harming him further than ruffling the skin of his shoulder ;

 

proving by the course it took, that, but for his presence of mind, its fatal effect must have been certain.

 

All this was the work of an instant. Undismayed by the occurrence, Mary, who inherited all her father's intrepidity, looked calmly round, and pressing Bedingfeld's arm in grateful acknowledgment of the service he had rendered her, issued her commands that the assassin should be secured, strictly examined, and, if need be, questioned on the rack. She then proceeded to the place of embarkation as deliberately as if nothing had happened. Pausing before she entered the barge, she thus addressed her preserver :--

 

"Sir Henry Bedingfeld, you have ever been my loyal servant. You were the first, during the late usurpation, to draw the sword in my defence--the first to raise troops for me--to join me at Framlingham--to proclaim me at Norwich. But you have thrown all these services into the shade by your last act of devotion. I owe my life to you. What can I do to evince my gratitude ?"

 

"You have already done more than enough in thus acknowledging it, gracious madam," replied Sir Henry ; "nor can I claim any merit for the action. Placed in my situation, I am assured there is not one of your subjects, except the miscreant who assailed you, who would not have acted in the same manner. I have done nothing, and deserve nothing."

 

"Not so, sir," returned Mary. "Most of my subjects, I believe, share your loyalty. But this does not lessen your desert. I should be wanting in all gratitude were I to let the service you have rendered me pass unrequited. And since you refuse to tell me how I can best reward you, I must take upon myself to judge for you. The custody of our person and of our fortress shall be entrusted to your care. Neither can be confided to worthier hands. Sir John Gage shall receive another appointment. Henceforth, you are Lieutenant of the Tower."

 

This gracious act was followed by the acclamations of the bystanders; and the air resounded with cries of "God save Queen Mary !--a Bedingfeld !--a Bedingfeld !"

 

"Your majesty has laid an onerous duty upon me, but I will endeavour to discharge it to your satisfaction," replied Sir Henry, bending the knee, and pressing her hand devotedly to his lips. And amid the increased acclamations of the multitude, Mary entered her barge.

 

Edward Underhill, meanwhile, whose atrocious purpose had been thus providentially defeated, on perceiving that his royal victim had escaped, uttered an ejaculation of rage and disappointment, flung down the arquebuss, and folding his arms upon his bosom, awaited the result. Fortunately, an officer accompanied the soldiers who seized him, or they would have hewn him in pieces.

 

The wretched man made no attempt to fly, or to defend

 

himself, but when the soldiers rushed into the room, cried, "Go no further. I am he you seek."

 

"We know it, accursed villain," rejoined the foremost of their number, brandishing a sword over his head. "You have slain the queen."

 

"Would I had !" rejoined Underhill. "But it is not the truth. The Lord was not willing I should be the instrument of his vengeance."

 

"Hear the blasphemer !" roared another soldier, dealing him a blow in the mouth with the pummel of his dagger, that made the blood gush from his lips. "He boasts of the villany he has committed."

 

"If my arm had not been stayed, I had delivered the land from idolatry and oppression," returned Underhill. "A season of terrible persecution is at hand, when you will lament as much as I do, that my design has been frustrated. The blood of the righteous would have been spared ; the fagots at the stake un-lighted ; the groans of the martyrs unheard. But it is the Lord's will that this should be. Blessed be the name of the Lord !"

 

"Silence, hell-dog !" vociferated a third soldier, placing the point of his halbert at his breast. "Host think Heaven would approve the foul deed thou meditatedst ? Silence ! I say, or I will drive my pike to thy heart."

 

"I will _not_ be silent," rejoined Underhill, firmly. "So long as breath is left me, I will denounce the idolatrous queen by whom this unhappy land is governed, and pray that the crown may be removed from her head."

 

"Rather than thou shalt do so in my hearing, I will pluck out thy traitorous tongue by the roots," returned the soldier who had last spoken.

 

"Peace," interposed the officer. "Secure him, but harm him not. He may have confederates. It is important that all concerned in this atrocious attempt should be discovered."

 

"I have no accomplice," replied Underhill. "My own heart dictated what my hand essayed."

 

"May that hand perish in everlasting fire for the deed !" rejoined the officer. "But if there be power in torture to make you confess who set you on, it shall not be left untried."

 

"I have already spoken the truth," replied the enthusiast; "and the sharpest engine ever devised by ruthless man shall not make me gainsay it, or accuse the innocent. I would not have shared the glory of the action with any one. And since it has failed, my life alone shall pay the penalty."

 

"Gag him," cried the officer. "If I listen longer, I shall be tempted to anticipate the course of justice, and I would not one pang should be spared him."

 

The command was obeyed. On searching him, they found a small powder-flask, a few bullets, notched, to make the wound they inflicted more dangerous, a clasp-knife, and a bible, in the

 

first leaf of which was written a prayer for the deliverance and restoration of Queen Jane,--a circumstance afterwards extremely prejudicial to that unfortunate lady.

 

After Underhill had been detained for some hours in the chamber where he was seized, an order arrived to carry him before the council. Brought before them, he answered all their interrogations firmly, confessed his design, related how he had planned it, and denied as before, with the strongest asseverations, that he had any accomplice. When questioned as to the prayer for Lady Jane Grey, whom he treasonably designated "Queen Jane," he answered that he should ever regard her as the rightful sovereign, and should pray with his latest breath for her restoration to the throne--a reply, which awakened a suspicion that some conspiracy was in agitation in Jane's favour. Nothing further, however, could be elicited, and he was ordered to be put to the rack.

 

Delivered by the guard to Lawrence Nightgall and his assistants, he was conveyed to the torture-chamber. The sight of the dreadful instruments there collected, though enough to appal the stoutest breast, appeared to have no terror for him. Scrutinizing the various engines with a look of curiosity, he remarked that none of them seemed to have been recently used ; and added, that they would soon be more frequently employed. He had not been there many minutes, when Mauger, the headsman, Wolfytt, the sworn tormentor, and Sorrocold the chirurgeon, arrived, and preparations were made for administering the torture.

 

The rack has already been described as a large oaken frame, raised about three feet from the ground, having a roller at each end, moved by a lever. Stripped, and placed on his back on the ground, the prisoner was attached by strong cords to the rollers. Stationing themselves at either extremity of the frame, Mauger and Wolfytt each seized a lever, while Nightgall took up his position at the small table opposite, to propose the interrogations, and write down the answers. The chirurgeon remained near the prisoner, and placed his hand upon his wrist. Those preparations made, Nightgall demanded, in a stern tone, whether the prisoner would confess who had instigated him to the crime he had committed.

 

"I have already said I have no accomplices," replied Underhill.

 

Nightgall made a sign to the assistants, and the rollers were turned with a creaking sound, extending the prisoners limbs in opposite directions, and giving him exquisite pain. But he did not even groan.

 

After the lapse of a few moments, Nightgall said, "Edward Underhill, I again ask you who were your accomplices ?"

 

No answer being returned, the jailor waved his hand, and the levers were again turned. The sharpness of the torture forced

 

an involuntary cry from the prisoner. But beyond this __EXPRESSION__ of suffering, he continued silent.

 

The interrogation was a third time repeated ; and after some effort on the part of the assistants, the levers were again turned. Nightgall and the chirurgcon both watched this part of the application with some curiosity. the strain upon the limbs was almost intolerable. The joints started from their sockets, and the sinews were drawn out to their utmost capability of tension.

 

After the wretched man had endured this for a few minutes, Sorrocold informed Nightgall, in a low tone, that nature was failing. The cords were then gradually relaxed, and he was unbound. His temples being bathed with vinegar, he soon afterwards revived.

 

But he was only recovered from one torture to undergo another. The next step taken by his tormentors was to place him in a suit of irons, called the Scavenger's Daughter--a hideous engine devised by Sir William Skevington, lieutenant of the Tower, in Henry the Eighth's reign, and afterwards corrupted into the name above mentioned. By this horrible machine, which was shaped like a hoop, his limbs were compressed so closely together that he resembled a ball ; and being conveyed to an adjoining dungeon, he was left in this state without light or food for further examination.

 

XIII.--HOW MAGOG NEARLY LOST HIS SUPPER ; HOW HIS BEARD WAS BURNT ; HOW XIT WAS PLACED IN A BASKET ; AND HOW HE WAS KICKED UPON THE RAMPARTS.

 

 

 

|Congratulations, rejoicings, and public thanksgivings followed the queen's preservation from the hand of the assassin. Courtenay, who had long planned a masque to be exhibited for her amusement within the Tower, thought this a fitting occasion to produce it. And the utmost expedition being used, on the day but one after Underhill's attempt, all was in readiness.

 

Great mystery having been observed in the preparations for the pageant, that it might come upon the spectators as a surprise, none, except those actually concerned in it, knew what was intended to be represented. Even the actors, themselves, were kept in darkness concerning it, and it was only on the night before, when their dresses were given them, that they had any precise notion of the characters they were to assume. A sort of rehearsal then took place in one of the lower chambers of the palace ; at which the Earl of Devonshire assisted in person, and instructed them in their parts. A few trials soon made all perfect, and when the rehearsal was over, Courtenay felt satisfied that the pageant would go off with tolerable eclat.

 

As may be supposed, the three gigantic warders and their diminutive follower were among the mummers. Indeed, the

 

principal parts wore assigned them ; and on no previous occasion had Xit's characteristic coxcombry been more strongly called forth than during the rehearsal. No consequential actor of modern times could give himself more airs. Perceiving he was indispensable, he would only do exactly what pleased him, and, when reprimanded for his impertinence, refused to perform at all, and was about to walk off with an air of offended dignity. A few conciliatory words, however, from the Earl of Devonshire induced him to return ; and when all was arranged to his satisfaction, he began to exhibit a fun and humour that bid fair to outshine all his competitors.