The Tower of London 59
Having seen Cliolmondeley safely bestowed, the jailor repaired to the entrance of the subterranean dungeons, and lighting a torch, opened the door of a small recess, from which he took a mattock and spade. Armed with these implements, he proceeded to the vault, beneath the Devilin Tower, where he commenced digging a grave. After labouring hard for a couple of hours, he attained a sufficient depth for his purpose, and taking the torch, ascended to the small chamber. Lifting the skeleton frame in his arms, he returned to the vault. In placing the torch on the ground it upset, and rolling into the grave was extinguished, leaving him in profound darkness. His first impulse was to throw down the body, but having, in his agitation, placed the hands, which were clasped together, over his neck, he found it impossible to free himself from it. His terror was so great that he uttered a loud cry, and would have fled, but his feet were rooted to the spot. He sank at last on his knees, and the corpse dropped upon him, its face coming into contact with his own. Grown desperate, at length, he disengaged himself from the horrible embrace, and threw the body into the grave. Relieved by this step from much of his fear, he felt about for the spade, and having found it, began to shovel in the mould.
[Ill 0287]
While thus employed, he underwent a fresh alarm. In trampling down the mould, a hollow groan issued from the grave, trembling in every limb, he desisted from his task. His hair stood erect, and a thick damp gathered on his brow. Shaking off his terrors, he renewed his exertions, and in a short time his task was completed.
he then groped his way out of the vault, and having become
by long usage familiarized with its labyrinths, soon reached the entrance, where he struck a light, and having found a lantern, set fire to the candle within it. This done, he returned to the vault, where, to his great horror, he perceived that the face of the corpse was uncovered. Averting his gaze from it, he heaped the earth over it, and then flattened the mass with repeated blows of the spade. All trace of his victim being thus removed, and the vault restored to its original appearance, he took back the implements he had used, and struck into a passage leading in another direction.
Pursuing it for some time, he came to a strong door ; unlocked it ; and, ascending a flight of stone steps, reached another arched passage, which he swiftly traversed. After threading other passages with equal celerity, he came to a wider avenue, contrived under the eastern ramparts, and tracked it till it brought him to a flight of steps leading to a large octangular chamber, surrounded by eight deep recesses, and forming the basement story of the Salt Tower, at that time, and for upwards of a century afterwards, used as one of the prison lodgings of the fortress. In a chamber in the upper story of this fortification, now occupied as a drawing-room, is a curious sphere, carved a few years later than the date of this chronicle, by Hugh Draper, an astrologer, who was committed to the Tower on suspicion of sorcery.
[Ill 0289]
Quitting this chamber, Nightgall ascended a winding stone staircase which brought him to an arched door, leading to the room just described. Taking a key from the bunch at his girdle, he
unlocked it, and entered the room. A female was seated in one corner with her face buried in her hands. Raising her head at his approach, she disclosed the features of Cicely. Her eyes were red with weeping--and her figure attenuated by long suffering. Conceiving from the savage __EXPRESSION__ of the jailor s countenance that he meditated some further act of cruelty, she uttered a loud shriek, and tried to avoid him.
[Ill 0290]
"Peace !" cried Nightgall, "I will do you no harm. Your retreat has been discovered. You must go with me to the tower leading to the Iron Gate."
"I will never go thither of my accord," replied Cicely. "Release me, villain. I will die sooner than become your bride."
"we shall see that," growled the jailer. "Another month's captivity will make you alter your tone. You shall never be set free, unless you consent to be mine."
"Then I shall die a prisoner like your other victims," cried Cicely.
"Who told you I had other victims ?" cried Nightgall, moodily.
"No matter who told me. I have heard Cuthbcrt Cholmondeley,
whom I love as much as I hate you, speak of one--Alexia, I think she was named."
"No more of this," cried Nightgall, fiercely, "come along, or--"
"Never !" shrieked Cicely--"I will not go. You will murder me"--And she filled the chamber with her screams.
"Confusion !" cried Nightgall, "we shall be heard. Come along, I say."
In struggling to free herself from him, Cicely fell upon the ground, rcgardless of this, Nightgall dragged her by main, force through the doorway, and so down the secret staircase. She continued her screams, until her head striking against the stones, she was stunned by the blow, and became insensible. He then raised her in his arms, and descending another short flight of steps, traversed a narrow passage, and came to a dark chamber beneath the Tower leading to the Iron Gate.
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[Ill 0292]
[Ill 0294]
XVII.--OF THE CONSPIRACY FORMED BY DE NOAILLES ; AND HOW
XIT DELIVERED A LETTER TO ELIZABETH, AND VISITED COURTENAY IN THE LIEUTENANT^ LODGINGS.
|As soon as it was known that the Princess Elizabeth and Courtenay were placed under arrest, the greatest consternation prevailed throughout the Tower. While some few rejoiced in the favourite's downfall, the majority deplored it ; and it was only the idea that when Mary's jealous indignation subsided, he would be restored to his former position, that prevented open __EXPRESSION__ being given to their sentiments. On being made acquainted with what had occurred, Gardiner instantly sought an audience of the Queen, and without attempting to defend Courtenay's conduct, he besought her earnestly to pause before she proceeded to extremities,--representingthe yet unsettled state of her government, and how eagerly advantage would be taken of the circumstances to stir up dissension and rebellion. Mary replied that her feelings had been so greatly outraged that she was resolved upon vengeance, and that nothing but the Earl's' life would satisfy her.
"If this is your determination, madam," returned Gardiner,
"I predict that the crown will not remain upon your head a month. Though the Earl of Devonshire has
grievously offended
your highness, his crime is not treason. And if you put him to death for this offence, you will alienate the hearts of all your subjects."
"Be it so," replied Mary, sternly. "No personal consideration shall deter me from my just revenge."
"And what of the Princess Elizabeth ?" asked the Bishop.
"She shall share his fate," answered the Queen.
"This must not be, my gracious mistress," cried Gardiner, throwing himself at her feet. "Hero I will remain till I have driven these dark and vindictive feelings from your breast. Banish the Earl--take his life, if nothing else will content you,--but do not raise your hand against your sister."
"Bishop of Winchester," replied the Queen, "how many hours have you knelt before my father, Henry the Eighth, and have yet failed to turn him from his purpose ! I am by nature as jealous--as firm--as obstinate, if you will--as he was. Arise." "No, madam," replied Gardiner, "I will not rise till I have convinced you of your error. Your august father was a prince of high and noble qualities, but the defects that clouded his royal nature would show to double disadvantage in one of your sex. Dismiss all thought of this faithless Earl from your heart,--banish him from your presence, from your kingdom,--nay, keep him in durance if you will, but use no harsh measures against the Princess Elizabeth. Every step taken against her will be fearfully resented by the Protestant party, of which, I need not remind you, she is the representative."
"And what matter if it be, my lord ?" rejoined Mary. "I am strong enough to maintain my own authority, and shall be right glad of some plea to put down heresy and schism by fire and sword. You are not wont to advocate this cause."
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