The Tower of London 58

The Tower of London 58

"I am the best judge in my own cause, my lord," replied the Queen. "I will not hear a word more."

 

A deep silence then ensued, which was broken by the entrance of the Lieutenant of the Tower and the guard. Renard brought up the rear.

 

"Sir Henry Bedingfeld," said Mary, "I commit the Princess Elizabeth and the Earl of Devonshire to your custody."

 

"I can scarcely credit my senses, gracious Madam," replied Bedingfeld, gazing at the offenders with much concern, "and would fain persuade myself it is only a part of the pastime I have so recently witnessed."

 

"It is no pastime, Sir Henry," replied the Queen, sternly. "I little thought, when I entrusted you with the government of this fortress, how soon, and how importantly, you would have to exercise your office. Let the prisoners be placed in close confinement."

 

"This is the first time in my life," replied the old knight, "that I have hesitated to obey your majesty. And if I do so now, I beseech you to impute it to the right motive."

 

"How, sir !" cried the Queen fiercely. "Do you desire to make me regret that I have removed Sir John Gage ? _He_ would not have hesitated."

 

"For your own sake, gracious madam," said Sir Henry, falling on his knees before her, "I beseech you pause. I have been a faithful servant of your high and renowned father. Henry the Eighth--of your illustrious mother, Catherine of Arragon, who would almost seem,--from their pictures on that wall,--to be present now. In _their_ names, I beseech you pause. I am well aware your feelings have been greatly outraged. But they may prompt you to do that which your calmer judgment may deplore."

 

"Remonstrance is in vain," rejoined the Queen. "I am inexorable. The Princess Elizabeth may remain a close prisoner in her own apartments. The Earl of Devonshire must be removed elsewhere. You will be answerable for their safe custody."

 

"I will," replied Bedingfeld, rising ; "but I would that I had never lived to see this day !"

 

With this, he commanded his attendants to remove Courtenay, and when the order was obeyed, he lingered for a moment at the door, in the hope that the Queen would relent. But, as she continued immoveable, he departed with a sorrowful heart, and conveyed the Earl to his own lodgings.

 

Courtenay gone, Elizabeth's proud heart gave way, and she burst into a hood of tears. As Mary saw this, a feeling of compassion crossed her, which Renard perceiving, touched her sleeve, and drew her away.

 

"It were better to leave her now," he observed. Yielding to his advice, Mary was about to quit the room, when Elizabeth arose and threw herself at her feet.

 

"Spare him !" she cried.

 

"She thinks only of her lover," thought the Queen ; "those tears are for him. I will _not_ pity her."

 

And she departed without returning an answer.

 

Having seen two halberdiers placed at the door of the chamber, and two others at the foot of the masked staircase by which she and Renard had approached, Mary proceeded with the ambassador to her own apartments.

 

On thinking over the recent occurrences, her feelings were so exasperated, that she exclaimed aloud, "Oh ! that I could avenge myself on the perjured traitor."

 

"I will show you how to avenge yourself," replied Renard.

 

"Do so, then," returned the queen.

 

"Unite yourself to my master, Philip of Spain," rejoined the ambassador. "Your cousin, the Emperor, highly desires the match. It will be an alliance worthy of you, and acceptable to your subjects. The Prince is a member of your own religion, and will enable you to restore its worship throughout your kingdom."

 

"I will think of it," replied Mary, musingly.

 

"Better _act_ upon it," rejoined Renard. The prince, besides his royal birth, is in all respects more richly endowed by nature than the Earl of Devonshire."

 

So I have heard him accounted," replied Mary.

 

"Your majesty shall judge for yourself" rejoined Renard, producing a miniature. "Here is his portrait. The likeness is by no means flattering."

 

"He must be very handsome," observed Mary, gazing at the miniature.

 

"He is," replied Renard ; "and his highness is as eager for the alliance as his imperial father. I have ventured to send him your majesty's portrait, and you shall hear in what rapturous terms he speaks of it."

 

And taking several letters from his doublet, he selected one sealed with the royal arms of Spain, from which he read several highly complimentary remarks on Mary's personal appearance.

 

"Enough, sir," said Mary, checking him. "More unions are formed from pique than from affection, and mine will be one of them. I am resolved to affiance myself to the Prince of Spain, and that forthwith. I will not allow myself time to change my mind."

 

"Your highness is in the right," observed Renard, eagerly.

 

"Meet me at midnight in Saint John's Chapel in the White

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Qu?pu Jîlatti at tljp mstanrp of ^imon Hnian> affïaitrtm} hrrsrlf to Çlflip of ^'paut.

 

Tower," continued the queen, "where in your presence, and in the presence of Heaven, I will solemnly affiance myself to the prince."

 

"Your majesty transports me by your determination," replied the ambassador. And full of joy at his unlooked-for success, he took his departure.

 

At midnight, as appointed, Renard repaired to Saint John's Chapel. He found the Queen, attended only by Feckenham, and kneeling before the altar, which blazed with numerous wax-lights. She had changed her dress for the ceremony, and was attired in, a loose robe of three-piled crimson velvet, trimmed with swansdown. Renard remained at a little distance, and looked on with a smile of Satanic triumph.

 

After she had received the sacrament, and pronounced the _Veni Creator_," Mary motioned the ambassador towards her, and placing her right hand on a parchment lying on the altar, to which were attached the broad seals of England, addressed him thus :--"I have signed and sealed this instrument, by which I contract and affiance myself in marriage to Philip, Prince of Spain, son of his imperial majesty, Charles the Fifth. And I further give you, Simon Renard, representative of the prince, my irrevocable promise, in the face of the living God and his saints, that I will wed him and no other."

 

 

 

[Ill 0285]

 

 

 

"May Heaven bless the union !" exclaimed Feckenham.

 

"There is the contract," pursued Mary, giving the parchment to Renard, who reverentially received it. "On my part, it is a marriage concluded."

 

"And equally so on the part of the prince, my master," replied Renard. "In his name I beg to express to your highness the deep satisfaction which this union will afford him."

 

"For the present this contract must be kept secret, even from our privy councillors," said the queen.

 

"It shall never pass my lips," rejoined Renard.

 

"And mine are closed by my sacred calling," added the confessor.

 

"Your majesty, I am sure, has done wisely in this step," observed Renard, "and, I trust, happily."

 

"I trust so too, sir," replied the Queen--"but time will show. These things are in the hands of the Great Disposer of events."

 

XVI.---WIIAT BEFEL CICELY IN THE SALT TOWER.

 

 

 

|Horror-stricken by the discovery he had made of the body of the ill-fated Alexia, and not doubting from its appearance that she must have perished from starvation, Cholmondeley remained for some time in a state almost of stupefaction in the narrow chamber where it lay. Rousing himself, at length, he began to reflect that no further aid could be rendered her,--that she was now,

 

at last, out of the roach of her merciless tormentor,--and that his attention ought, therefore, to be turned towards one who yet lived to suffer from his cruelty.

 

Before departing, he examined the corpse more narrowly to ascertain whether it bore any marks of violence, and while doing so, a gleam of light called his attention to a small antique clasp fastening her tattered hood at the throat. Thinking it not impossible this might hereafter furnish some clue to the discovery of her real name and condition, he removed it. On holding it to the light, he thought he perceived an inscription upon it, but the characters were nearly effaced, and reserving the solution of the mystery for a more favourable opportunity, he carefully secured the clasp, and quitted the cell. He then returned to the passages he had recently traversed, explored every avenue afresh, reopened every cell-door, and after expending several hours in fruitless search, was compelled to abandon all hopes of finding Cicely.

 

Day had long dawned when he emerged from the dungeon; and as he was slowly wending his way towards the Stone Kitchen, he

 

 

 

descried Lawrence Nightfall advancing towards him. From the furious gestures of the jailor, he at once knew that he was discovered, and drawing his sword, he stood upon his defence. But a conflict was not what Nightgall desired. He shouted to the sentinels on the ramparts, and informing them that his keys had been stolen, demanded their assistance to secure the robber. Some half-dozen soldiers immediately descended, and Cholmondeley

 

finding resistance in vain, thought fit to surrender. The keys being found upon him, were delivered to Nightgall, while he himself was conveyed to the guard-room near the By-ward Tower.

 

After he had been detained there for some hours in close captivity,--not even being allowed to communicate with his friends in the Stone-kitchen,--Nightgall returned with an order from the council for his imprisonment in the Nun's Bower, whither he was forthwith removed. On the way to his place of confinement, he encountered Xit, and the friendly dwarf would fain have spoken with him, but he was kept at a distance by the halberts of the guard. He contrived, however, to inform him by sundry nods, winks, and expressive gestures, that he would keep a sharp watch upon the proceedings of Nightgall.