The Golden Grasshopper: A story of the days of Sir Thomas Gresham

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

  PROTESTANTS IN ANTWERP.

  Master Overton continued in Antwerp; and as he gained a greaterknowledge of the language, he became a very popular preacher among allclasses. The arrival of Alva and his myrmidons had, however, put a stopto all public preaching; all meetings for prayer, whether public orprivate, were prohibited on pain of death. But this did not preventpeople from meeting regularly, in secret, to read the Scriptures, toexhort each other, and to offer up prayer and praise together. Therewere many such congregations in different parts of the city. The one weattended was in a large upper room in a house not far from the Mere,where Master Overton ministered. Two flights of stairs led up to thestorey on which the room was situated, besides which there was a narrowwinding stair inside the wall, with a concealed door on the top, whichled down to a small postern gate. The house belonged to a noble of theprivileged order, and no magistrates dare enter it without authorityfrom the Regent.

  We knew one Sunday evening that a service had been arranged, and thatHerman Modet was to preach. The weather was bad, the rain pouring downin torrents, the wind blowing, and the lightning occasionally flashingforth from the surcharged clouds. Still Aveline was very anxious toattend the meeting, as was Mistress Margery. Madam Clough had wished togo, but she dreaded the pelting storm. Master Overton was, of course,to be present, to assist in the services. He had hoped that the mind ofMadam Clough had been somewhat awakened, and he pressed her to accompanyus. Still she refused, when listening at the window, we found that therain had ceased. This decided her, and the time having arrived, we setforth with Master Overton. Guarded from the weather as well as we couldbe, we sallied forth two and two, each taking a different road. Avelineand I had agreed to take the longest one. As we were at some littledistance from the place of meeting, a flash of vivid lightning burstfrom the sky, playing along the street, as if seeking for some object tostrike. Immediately afterwards our ears were almost stunned by a loudrattling peal of thunder, and once again the rain came down with evenmore force than before. I led Aveline under a porch, where we stood forsome time watching the rain descending, and the bright flashes oflightning which came with unusual rapidity from the sky. I prayed thatnone of them might strike the fair girl who was beside me. She onlyseemed to regret being absent so long from the meeting. Once more therain ceased, and hurrying along, we in a short time reached the sidedoor of the building in which the meeting was being held. I having madethe usual sign, the door was cautiously opened by an unseen porter. Thelight of a dim lamp enabled us to find our way upstairs, for no oneappeared. The room was already nearly full, the larger portion of thepeople perhaps being Flemings who, even at the risk of their lives, hadthus met together to worship according to their consciences. Thepreacher was at his desk, the congregation were engaged in singing in alow voice one of the hymns of which I have before spoken. It ceased;when the preacher burst forth into a fervent prayer. He prayed for allpresent, but especially that his country might be set free from thetyranny under which she groaned, and that all might be able to worshipGod in the way He desires to be worshipped, in spirit and in truth.Another hymn was sung, God's Word was read, and then the preacher begana discourse which for clearness and eloquence I have never heardsurpassed. Every ear was intently listening to the words which droppedfrom his lips. Except the breathing of his auditors, not a sound washeard. Suddenly there was a loud cry: the report of fire-arms--thetrampling of feet--the clashing of swords. A desperate struggle wasgoing on close to us. The congregation sprang to their feet: those whohad weapons drew them. At that instant the door was burst open, and thedead body of the man who kept it fell forward into the room. At theentrance was seen a body of Spanish musketeers, with weapons pointedready to shoot down any who might oppose them. "Beloved brethren,resistance is useless--it is sinful!" exclaimed the preacher, who, beingraised above the rest, had observed the strong body of men who guardedthe door. "We must yield to superior power. God will know how toavenge His chosen ones."

  However, in spite of the exhortations of the preacher, several of themen, who were accompanied by their wives and daughters, attempted todefend them from the rough hands of the soldiery.

  "The heretics resist!--the heretics resist!" shouted the Spaniards."Fire! fire!"

  At the fatal word the musketoons were levelled, and sent their deadlymissiles whizzing through the air. The hall was filled with smoke--fearful shrieks and cries followed. The bullets had extinguished mostof the lights, increasing the gloom. During the wild confusion I ledAveline to the secret door, close to which we were seated; it openedwith a spring, and before the smoke cleared away sufficiently for any ofthe Spaniards to see us, we had passed through. Lifting her in my arms,I bore her rapidly down the narrow stair. I heard footsteps above us;they were those of friends who were endeavouring to escape by the sameway. We were in total darkness, but I knew my way. The door at thebottom of the stair opened from within: I had some difficulty inwithdrawing the bolts, fearing to make a noise. By this time those whowere following had reached me; but I dared not speak to inquire who theywere. The door was at length opened, and again lifting Aveline up, Ibore her rapidly along the street. The rain had ceased, but the nightwas unusually dark, and favoured our escape. I dared not stop toascertain who had escaped with us: I could only hope that they were ourfriends. I hurried on. Aveline entreated that I would put her down, asshe felt fully able to accompany me on foot: I did so at length, and,supporting her on my arm, we took our way towards our abode. The stormhad kept the citizens in their houses, so that we met no one; and eventhe usual guards had been keeping under shelter. Had I not been wellacquainted with the city, it would have been impossible for us to findour way; as it was, I had great difficulty in doing so. More than onceI feared that I had taken a wrong turning; and had I once becomebewildered in that dark night, we might have wandered about tilldaylight without reaching the house. The porter, knowing that we werefrom home, was on the watch for us; he opened the instant we rapped atthe door. He was a Protestant, and thoroughly trustworthy. He cast aninquiring glance at Aveline's pale face. My looks, too, probably showedthat something terrible had occurred. I asked if the rest of the partyhad returned, and was greatly alarmed to find that they had not. Astranger, he told me, was with Master Clough.

  "Shall I wait a few minutes, and see whether they will arrive, before wegive the sad information to the factor?" I said to Aveline. Shethought we had better go in at once, as no time was to be lost, ifpossible, in saving our friends from being carried off to prison. Idreaded lest some of them might have been among those killed or woundedby the cruel fire of the Spaniards. Aveline at once agreed to accompanyme into the sitting-room, where Master Clough and his visitor then were.The porter assured us that he was an Englishman, and we supposed thatthere would be no danger in describing what had happened in hispresence. I had always considered the factor a very strong-minded man;but when I told him that the meeting had been surprised by the Spanishmusketeers, he was almost overcome.

  "And my wife!" he exclaimed; "where is she?--why did she not accompanyyou?"

  I explained that Madam Clough was seated at some little distance fromme, and that had I waited to assist her in escaping, we should all, to acertainty, have been captured together. "Mistress Radford and I wereseated close to the secret door, with which I was fortunatelyacquainted, or we most certainly should not have escaped," I said.

  As I spoke, the stranger started and cast an inquiring glance atAveline. Till then I had not remarked his appearance, but the movementhe made induced me to examine his countenance more closely, and I thenrecognised the captain of the _Falcon_.

  "Radford!" he exclaimed, starting up and walking towards Aveline. "Isthis young lady's name Radford?"

  "Yes, sir," said Aveline, lifting her eyes from the ground and lookingat him. "It was the name of my father--though, alas! since my infancy Ihave never known him, nor even whether he is alive or dead."


  "And your mother?--can you tell me of her, young lady?" he asked. "Areyou her only child, or had she others?"

  "I was her only child," answered Aveline, "and, alas! I lost her whenvery young. She died during the reign of cruel Queen Mary--put to deathat Smithfield, because she loved her Bible, and held to Protestanttruth."

  "And your name is Aveline?" exclaimed the stranger, taking both herhands, and gazing earnestly in her face. "Then it was my beloved wife,your mother, who was thus foully murdered; and you are my own sweetchild, for I was her husband! I am Captain Radford. I am your father,Aveline!"

  Aveline put her hands on her father's neck as she received his kiss.

  "I believe it; I am sure you are," she answered; "for even now, though Iwas so young when last I saw you, I remember your features, and yourvoice strikes on my ear like an old familiar sound."

  While Captain Radford and Aveline were conversing together, MasterClough made further inquiries concerning what had occurred, and beggedthat I would accompany him to the place of meeting, to ascertain whathad become of the prisoners. Of course, though the risk was very great,I consented immediately, and Captain Radford also desired to accompanyus. "My daughter will be safe here, and I cannot let you go alone, myfriend," he said. "As Englishmen, we shall not be interfered with."

  The two gentlemen put on their cloaks, and taking their swords, we allthree sallied out together, and made our way directly to the house Ihave spoken of. As we approached it, we saw torches blazing up, andfound a guard of musketeers at the door. Pretending ignorance of whathad happened, we inquired why the guard was posted at the house.

  "Some Anabaptists or other heretics have been holding one of theirassemblies in this house, and have all been seized, and are about to becarried off to prison," answered the sergeant of the guard.

  "Did they yield willingly, or was any resistance made?" I asked,anxious to ascertain, if possible, who had been hurt.

  "Indeed there was, and four or five met their deaths in consequence. Itwas through their own folly. However they have saved the executionersome trouble," answered the soldier.

  Deeply grieved at these words, and anxious for the fate of our friends,I inquired if we could see the dead people.

  "If it will please you, you are welcome," said the sergeant roughly; "itwill be a lesson to the heretics not to hold illegal meetings again. Ifthey wanted really to pray, there are the churches, and there is themass for them; what more can they desire, unless they are reallychildren of Satan?"

  Taking Master Clough's arm, Captain Radford and I led him upstairs afterthe soldier. We entered a room near the hall. A ghastly sight met oureyes. Thrown carelessly on the floor, in a row, were eight dead bodies,just as they had been dragged out of the hall. Two were females, therest were men. There had been many more men than women in the room,and, as might have been expected, a greater number of the former hadsuffered. The scene was one that might have sent a cold shudder throughthe hearts of people less interested than we were. Poor Master Cloughcould scarcely force himself to look at the dead bodies. We had to moveone of the females to examine her countenance, as she had been throwndown with her face to the ground. Master Clough breathed more freelywhen he found that neither his wife nor Margery were among them. I wasdeeply thankful also to find that my friend A'Dale had escaped,dangerous as his position might be. This sad task performed, wehastened below, to inquire of the Spanish sergeant what had become ofthe prisoners.

  "Have you any friends among them?" he asked.

  "Yes, my friend, we have," answered Master Clough; "and we willrecompense you if you will enable us to see them."

  "You Englishmen have no lack of gold, and you will have no lack offriends wherever you go," answered the sergeant. "For the present Icannot leave my post; but I shall very likely be on guard at the prisonto-morrow, and then I will assist you, if you will make it worth mywhile."

  "But in the meantime can you tell us where our friends are to be found?"I asked.

  "I will send one of my men, and he will show you," whispered thesergeant. "I am prohibited telling you, but you will understand."

  He gave a peculiarly knowing look as he spoke. I doubted much whetherthe fellow was to be trusted; and yet we might obtain what we desiredthrough his assistance. It was important also to find a man so willingto be bribed. By managing him properly, I saw that we might make him ofuse. The sergeant, telling us to wait, called one of his men, andwhispered for some time in his ear.

  "It is all arranged," he said, at length; "and you will remember that Iconsider you my debtors. I am pretty well able to look after my owninterests--you will understand that."

  We guessed clearly what he meant. However, as much depended upon theamount of gold Master Clough was able to expend, we knew that we shouldhave little difficulty on that score. Should he bribe high enough, notonly would the prison doors be open, but the gates of the city likewise,and not only our friends, but others in a like predicament, might beable to make their escape. Antwerp had become every day less and lessfitted for our residence; and I knew that, as nearly all my patron'saffairs had been wound up, we should have no difficulty in quitting theplace at a very short notice. Following our guide, we passed throughseveral streets till we arrived at one of the many new jails which hadof late years been established in that unfortunate city. The soldierknocked at the gate. A warder, armed to the teeth, opened it.

  "What, more prisoners?" he exclaimed.

  "No," answered the soldier, and whispered a few words. "They pay well,though."

  I began rather to doubt whether some trick had not been intended, andsuggested to my companions that we should be cautious.

  "Have two English ladies and a gentleman been brought here?" askedMaster Clough.

  "We recognise in this place neither ladies nor gentlemen nornationalities. If we have here any prisoners you may desire to see, wemay perchance enable you to accomplish your wish, provided always thatyou satisfy my just demands for any trouble you may give me."

  Knowing well what the man meant, we bestowed on him a gold piece, havinggiven a smaller one to the soldier, who immediately took his departure.We described to the warder the prisoners we desired to see.

  "I will speak first to the governor of the jail," answered the man; "formyself, you will understand I can do nothing."

  I saw by the leer in his eyes that he knew pretty well that he had us inhis power.

  "Well," I said, "we will not be ungrateful to the governor either, if heallows us to communicate with our friends."

  In a short time the man returned, saying that the governor would speakwith us himself, and desired us to follow him. He showed the wayupstairs, through several passages, to a room, where, before awell-spread board, at which stood several flagons of wine, we found thatfunctionary, seated in a well-stuffed high-back chair, a large napkinbeing placed under his chin, and fastened over his shoulders. Hisheight was not great, but his size was prodigious; his cheeks swellingout on either side, scarcely allowed his small grey eyes to be visible.A large dish was on the table, from which he appeared to have helpedhimself abundantly. We stood before him with our hats in our hands.

  "You want to see some prisoners?" he asked, in a somewhat inarticulatevoice. "You are all honest men. Well, then, to be frank with you, Ishould like to see the value you set on them."

  At this, without further ado, Master Clough placed several pieces ofgold before the governor, who now smiled blandly.

  "I see you are sensible men," he observed. "Here, Gruginback, takethese people to the room where the last lot of prisoners were placed."

  The governor, anxious no longer to be interrupted in his supper, which,for some reason, had been much later than usual, waved his hand, and we,taking our leave of him, followed Gruginback out of the room. With hislantern in his hand, the man led the way down numerous stairs andvarious passages, till we arrived at the door at the end of a vaultedcorridor.

  "This is one of our be
st rooms," he said, as he selected a key from hisbunch and at length opened the door.

  It was filled almost to suffocation. Some of the people within werelying down, leaning their backs against the walls. Others were sittingin various postures, to occupy as little space as possible. A few werestanding up, although there was but little room for them to move. As weentered, from one of the corners where a group of females was collected,Madam Clough, uttering a cry of joy, hurried to meet her husband. Shewas followed by Margery and A'Dale, who had been sitting near her. He,I saw, was very pale, and from the blood on his arm and over one side ofhis dress, I feared that he had been wounded.

  "Have you come to take us out of this horrid place?" exclaimed MadamClough. "How brave and loving an act!"

  Master Clough, of course, said that he hoped to do so ere long. Aftercomforting our friends as well as we could, Captain Radford and I,accompanying Master Clough, set off to call on the Civil Governor of thecity, to obtain from him their liberation. That functionary--VanderVynck--a creature of Alva, received us with but little ceremony. He wasabout retiring to bed, after his supper, and did not appear pleased atbeing disturbed.

  "If people attend unlawful meetings, they must take the consequences,"he observed, when Master Clough made his report.

  "But the meeting was held by an Englishman, and those for whom I pleadare all English," answered Master Clough.

  "Yes, but natives attended, as can very well be proved," exclaimed thegovernor. "The report has already reached me. It will go hard withthem, for they have no excuse to offer. If you English come into thiscountry, you must abide by its laws. For the security of our holyreligion, such meetings are prohibited, and it matters not whether theyare held by Englishmen or others. They will shortly be tried; and if,as I doubt not, they are found guilty, they will probably lose theirlives. You have had my answer."

  Poor Master Clough could say nothing more.

  Greatly out of spirits at the ill success of our visit, we left thegovernor's house.

  "We must unlock their prison doors with golden keys," at length saidMaster Clough. "I have seldom found that fail; but I fear it will gohard with the preacher. If our friend Overton cannot be liberated,these people, who have executed so many others for less offences, willshortly put him to death."

  "If we cannot bribe his guards, we must carry him off by force," saidCaptain Radford. "I shall not lack support; and such a mode ofproceeding is more to my taste than bribing these villains."

  But the difficulty was to find out where Master Overton was shut up. Itmight have been in the same prison as the rest of our friends, though itwas more probable that he had been carried to some securer jail.Finding nothing more could be done that night, we turned our stepshomeward. On entering the house, we found the porter standing pale andtrembling, and wringing his hands, while the other servants camehurrying into the hall in a state of the greatest trepidation and alarm.

  "What is the matter--what else has happened?" asked Master Clough.

  "They have carried her off! It was not our fault--they deceived us.They have borne her away!"

  It was now my turn to be anxious.

  "Who? who?" I asked, scarcely able to utter the words.

  "It is the young lady--Mistress Radford," answered one of the servants.

  "Oh! my daughter! where have they borne her to?" cried Captain Radford.

  "We know not; we cannot tell," answered the servant.

  "Villains! knaves!" exclaimed Master Clough, his Welsh temper rising."How came you to allow any one to enter the house in my absence? Thisis an Englishman's house; you should have kept it against all comers."

  "Oh! my lord, oh! master, we were deceived!" cried the porter. "The mencame pretending to seek you on important business. On finding you wereout, they forced their way upstairs, in spite of our opposition, withdrawn swords and fire-arms in their hands. We were unprepared, andcould not resist. Mistress Aveline was in her room when they rushed in.While two of them stood guard over her, the rest searched the house,pretending to look for fugitives from the meeting-house. But, as theybroke open all the chests and bureaux they could find, it was clear thatthey were in search also of money. We are afraid that they carried awayno small amount of property, for each man appeared laden with as much ashe could carry, and then, placing the young lady between them, theyhastened away from the house."

  "Then did none of you think of following them?" exclaimed Master Clough."For the money I care little compared to the loss of the young lady.Captain Radford, I feel for you; but even now we may discover where shehas been taken to. Villains! knaves!" again exclaimed Master Clough,turning to the servants. "Why did not you follow and find out?"

  "Oh! good master, they would quickly have killed us if we had attemptedto do so; but immediately the strangers disappeared round the corner,Jacob Naas slipped out, and being quick of foot, followed them rapidly.Should he be unable to find them, he said he would return; but as he hasnow been some time absent, there is no doubt that he has tracked theirfootsteps, and will perchance ere long bring us tidings of the placewhere they have bestowed the young lady."

  I cannot, even now, speak of my own feelings, nor can I well describethose of Captain Radford, on hearing this alarming account. All wecould do was to wait patiently for the return of Jacob Naas. It made mealmost forget the dangerous position of our other friends, for theInquisitors were too apt to put their victims to death first, and tomake inquiries respecting them afterwards; and at this time, when peoplewere accused of heresy, a fair trial was never known to take place.