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

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

  THE ESCAPE FROM PRISON.

  I need not describe the inquiries made by Captain Radford. I brieflyexplained the plan I proposed for recovering Aveline; he approved ofwhat I had done.

  "I can bring a force of twenty seamen, who will fight to the death," heobserved; "but I have hopes that we may so manage it as to encounter noopposition. The sea-wall can easily be scaled, and I propose,therefore, to have ladders in readiness, so that, climbing over them, wemay avoid the gates. As the Spanish troops will be in the citadel inattendance on Duke Alva, we may manage even in daylight to do so withoutbeing observed. The boats will be in readiness to receive us, and wemay speedily get aboard my ship."

  I do not here mention all the details of our plan. Having arranged itthoroughly, I then told him I had hopes that some means might be foundof rescuing Master Overton. For that also he was prepared. His ideawas, that if the prison could be found, to force the gates while thetroops were away in the citadel. He believed that many of the citizenswould unite in the attempt, in the expectation of rescuing their ownfriends. Indeed, so great was the hatred felt by the great mass of thepopulation towards the Spaniards, that the instant they were removed,without considering the consequences, the people were ready to rise, forthe sake of doing any mischief which might present itself.

  We found that Master Clough had returned, and once more gone out. Wenow waited anxiously for his return, as we could do nothing till theevening, when Captain Radford proposed once more going among his brothercaptains, in order that he might obtain further assistance. We waitedand waited. Still he did not appear, and our anxiety increased. Atlength, as it was growing dusk, and Jacob and I were about to preparefor our expedition, a knock was heard at the door.

  "That's the master's!" exclaimed Jacob, hurrying down.

  We followed him, when the door opened, and Master Clough appeared withhis wife leaning on his arm, followed by A'Dale and Margery. Both wereagitated and trembling, and could with difficulty find words to explainwhat had happened. Till the very moment of their liberation they hadbelieved that they were to share the fate of many of theirfellow-prisoners, who, it was reported, were to be carried forth andexecuted outside the walls on the following day, in honour of the DukeAlva's appearance in the city. How far the report was correct we couldnot tell, but it had served very naturally to agitate them greatly.They had no time, however, for giving way to their feelings; for thecondition of their liberation, Master Clough informed us, was, that theywere to leave the city that very evening. If found within the walls bydaybreak, they would run the risk of being again incarcerated, andsharing the doom of the numberless Netherlanders put to death by theBlood Council. A'Dale was anxious to hear what I had done; and, inspite of the danger he would have to go through, he insisted on aidingme in the undertaking. But our first care was to see Madam Clough andMargery placed on board Captain Radford's ship. Some time was occupiedfirst in collecting all their jewels and other valuables, loaded withwhich they bade a hurried adieu to the house they had so long inhabited,and to their domestics. With as many men as could be spared from thehouse, well-armed, we then set forth, lighted by torches, to the WaterGate, where Captain Radford had his boat waiting. He had a pass ready,so that the rest of the party had no difficulty in getting through thegates. Jacob and I, having seen them thus far safely on their way,turned back, in order to pay our promised visit to the old witch. As wewalked down to the gate, A'Dale told me that he had resolved to returnon shore again at all risks, if there was any work to be done. Ibriefly told him the plans for rescuing Aveline. "That will just suitmy taste," he answered. "I would rather, if a blow is to be struck, beready to join in the fray."

  As soon as Jacob and I had seen my friends through the gates, wereturned into the city, and made the best of our way towards the abodeof Barbara Trond. The door opened as before, and we entered the vaultedchamber. She was seated, as she had been at the first visit, before hercauldron, as if busily employed in her incantations. There was,however, the smell of a rich stew, and I saw a vessel steaming away onone side of me from which it appeared to proceed. I had little doubt,therefore, that the old woman was not unmindful of her creaturecomforts. It was most likely that she had only put on her cauldron asour knock was heard at the door. But she would probably be more usefulto us by the information she managed to pick up in the world than by hersorceries.

  "I judge that you are my visitors," she said; and putting aside hermagic wand, she turned round, as if to discuss matters in amatter-of-fact way.

  "Now, my young sir, do you think you possess sufficient courage andnerve to enter one of the prisons of the Blood Council? If you do, Imay promise you the freedom of your friend. But recollect the risk yourun is a very fearful one. If you are captured, your life will pay thepenalty."

  I replied that I would run every risk for the sake of saving the life ofmy friend, and asked what plan she proposed.

  "I have, you understand, assistants in every direction," she said. "Ihave made it to be understood that the minister, Overton, would, if dulyinstructed, be disposed to return to the old faith. I have thereforesuggested that a certain learned friar should be allowed to visit him,who will bring forward such irresistible arguments that he will beunable to withstand them. I have bribed the guards to shut their eyes,should they observe anything suspicious, especially if two friars areseen to go out instead of the one who might have entered. Now see!"

  As the old woman spoke, she rose and took from a chest on one side ofthe room two bundles.

  "Here are two friars' dresses, with all things requisite," she observed."Do you dress in one of them, and conceal the other round your bodybeneath your gown. I have a pass ready to admit you into the prison;when there, I must leave the rest to your discretion and judgment.To-morrow before noon will be the best time to visit the prison, whenthe attention of the people will be drawn off towards the ceremony I wasdescribing to you. This will give you time to see your friend insafety, and to assist in the rescue of the young lady."

  My spirits rose on hearing the plan of the old woman; and I should thenand there have given her the whole of the money with which I hoped tobribe her, had I not thought it possible she might take the bribe andneglect to perform her part of the contract. Having a great deal to do,I took leave of her as soon as these arrangements were made, andhastened back to Master Clough's house.

  Here I was engaged till daylight in seeing his property packed, whichwas to be shipped in the morning, and in making arrangements with theclerks and servants who were still to remain. At length, overcome, Ilay down for an hour on my bed, charging Jacob to call me in ample timeto prepare for my hazardous undertaking. When I arose again I needscarcely say that I prayed earnestly for protection, that all those inwhom I was interested might escape from the dangers which surrounded us.I had still much to do, so there was but little time for thought. Mychief consolation was, that should I fail and be captured--when I knewthat my death would be certain--I should leave Aveline under theguardianship of her father. She would mourn for me, but would, Itrusted, in time, find a balm for her sorrow.

  Antwerp was full of prisons, many of the residences of the murderedburghers and nobles having been converted for that purpose. Dame Trondhad, however, indicated clearly the one in which Overton was confined.As the hour approached, accompanied by Jacob Naas, I took my way to aspot near the city walls, where a deep archway existed. Theneighbourhood was little frequented, and we there hoped that I might beable unperceived to put on the friar's dress. The change could veryquickly be made, so that there was not much risk of being interrupted,while Jacob kept watch outside, to give due notice of the approach ofany intruder. I sallied forth, still in my servant's dress, with thefaithful Jacob. I did not for a moment conceal from myself the dangerof the undertaking. We hastened along, with two small valisescontaining the dresses on our shoulders, like a couple of serving-mencarrying their master's property, looking as unconcer
ned as possiblewhen we met any passers-by. I encountered several persons who knew me,and looked at me very hard; but the change of dress had so altered me,that they evidently thought they must be mistaken.

  We hurried on through the streets till we approached the spot I havedescribed; then, stopping, we looked round, to ascertain whether any onewas observing us. Finding that the coast was clear, we again hastenedon, and, as we believed, gained the arch without being discovered.Unpacking our valises, I immediately commenced rolling Overton'sdisguise round my body, and fastened it securely. I then hurriedly puton the dress arranged for myself, with a belt of rope round my waist,and a large rosary of wood attached to it. As soon as I was dressed Icalled Jacob.

  "You are the monk to perfection, Master Ernst," he said. "Surely no onewould hesitate to admit you, wherever you may desire to go; and if youcan persuade the minister to dress up in the same way, you will have nodifficulty in getting through the gates of the prison."

  These remarks encouraged me greatly, and, with more confidence than Ihad expected to feel, I made my way by a circuitous route toward theprison I have mentioned, while Jacob, putting one valise into the other,returned homewards.

  As I passed along, many of the people I met bowed and saluted me, asthey are accustomed to treat their priests. I in return muttered a fewwords such as are used by the friars on similar occasions. I was afraidof walking fast, as my inclination prompted, lest I should betraymyself. The streets were already crowded with people in their holidayattire, prepared to assemble at the festival, though their looks did notwear a joyful aspect. Fear and doubt rather were visible on everycountenance. The name alone of the Duke and his murderous musketeerskept them in awe. They had no leader in whom they could confide, evenshould they have ventured to resist the tyrannical treatment to whichthey were subjected. They knew themselves to be slaves; but at the sametime they were slaves panting to be free, and only waiting anopportunity for striking a blow for liberty. I could distinguish, as Iwalked along, the Protestants from the Romanists, by their looks, andthe way in which they regarded me. The Protestants cast a glance ofdefiance as they passed, and made no sign of respect. The Romanists, onthe contrary, wore generally a look of stolid indifference, or made anabject bow.

  Arrived at the prison door, I mustered up all my courage. I required itto withstand the scrutiny of the jailer when I presented my pass.

  "You are the monk who has undertaken the conversion of the hereticminister?" he observed. "It is well, though I should think half a dozenwill be required before he is brought to the truth. They are fearfullytough subjects to convince. I have had five or six under my hands, andone and all preferred going to the stake to recanting."

  "Perhaps two of us may work the desired change," I answered; "mybrother, Father Peter, and I hope to get the captive free from histhraldom; and if we don't succeed to-day, we must try again."

  "When is Father Peter coming, then?" said the jailer.

  "What! has he not already arrived?" I inquired; "surely, I hoped thathe had been with the prisoner some time already."

  "If so, he must have come before I was on guard," answered the jailer.

  "Very likely," I replied; "he is always zealous, and would rather bebefore than after his time. And was he not here yesterday?"

  "Not that I am aware of," answered the jailer.

  "I see how it is!" I exclaimed; "they wish to throw all the work uponme. However, I must waste no longer time. Let a warder show me to theprisoner, for unless he is brought to the truth very soon, it seemsprobable that he will be sent to the stake."

  The jailer on this called one of the warders, and directed him to leadme to the English minister's cell, and on no account to interrupt us.By the glance the warder gave me, I hoped that he had already beenbribed by old Dame Trond, and that he would not interfere with ourproceedings. I therefore followed him with a light step, passingthrough numerous passages to the room in which the prisoner wasconfined. The house had been hurriedly fitted up as a prison, the loftyrooms being divided into two storeys, and each room being againsubdivided by passages into cages, rather than cells, so that theprisoners could be confined separately from each other. Many of themhad very little light, and still less air; and, as far as I could judge,every cell almost had an occupant. It was fearful to contemplate whatwould be the probable fate of all those human beings, for it waswell-known that of those imprisoned but a very small number escapeddeath.

  "I conclude that Father Peter is already with the prisoner," I observed,as I walked along.

  The man glanced quickly round at me.

  I showed him a gold piece in my hand. He immediately put out his toreceive it, nodding at the same time.

  "There," he said at length, as we reached the door of the cell; "I neednot look in, for I should not like to interrupt Father Peter, should hebe at his devotions with the poor heretic. Go in, and may you havesuccess in your undertaking."

  I observed that when he shut the door he did not again lock it or pushto the bolts. The minister was seated with his back to the door when Ientered. When at length he discovered that there was somebody in thecell, he rose from his seat, and, turning round, confronted me.

  "I regret, sir, that you should have come," he said, in a courteousvoice. "You perhaps wish to make known to me the articles of yourfaith; but let me say in return that I know them thoroughly, and have nowish to embrace those which differ, I conceive, from the teaching of theGospel."

  "I see you do not know me, Master Overton," I said, in a low voice. "Donot utter any exclamation of surprise; I have come in the hopes ofliberating you!"

  "Who--who is it?" he exclaimed, in an undertone. "Ernst Verner? No,indeed, I should not have known you. But how do you expect to set mefree?"

  "You must assume the same disguise I wear," I answered; "I have itprepared for you. They have allowed you, I see, a pallet-bed. You mustleave your clothes upon it, stuffed out as we can best arrange them; sothat, should the warder look in, he may suppose you to be asleep.Quickly put on these monkish habiliments. I have already spoken to themof having a companion; and I hope, before they expect any deception, wemay have got outside the prison gates."

  Master Overton quickly understood what was necessary to be done, and,dressing himself in the friar's robes I had brought under mine, soonappeared quite as respectable-looking a friar as I did.

  "We must frame an excuse for leaving the prison so soon," I observed."I must assert that the prisoner is too obdurate to be moved at present;and that, unless he is subjected to a little more discipline, I fearthat we cannot hope to be successful."

  I now spoke loud enough, should the warder be passing, to let himsuppose that I was arguing with the prisoner. After some time my voicerose higher and higher. At length I whispered to him, "It is time thatwe should set forth." He was more agitated than I should have expected.

  "I cannot go in my own strength," he said. "Let us kneel down andpray."

  We did so, and rose greatly refreshed.

  "Now," he said, "I am prepared."

  I had a staff such as friars were accustomed to use, and requested himto take it. Pressing against the door, I gladly found it opened. I hadmarked the way we came, and was thus able to go forth withouthesitation, till we reached the door where the jailer was stationed.

  "Father Peter and I have had hard work," I said, as I saw him, "and I amafraid we have made but little way. However, we must not despair, andhope to come again to-morrow."

  The jailer looked from me to the pretended Father Peter. It was acritical moment.

  "We must not delay," I observed, "for we have several more heretics tovisit. Come along, Father Peter, come along!"

  The jailer, deceived by my coolness, and either believing or pretendingto believe that my companion had been admitted by his fellow, drew forththe key of the door, and, pulling back the bolts, to my infinitesatisfaction opened it. I almost shoved the seeming Father Peter out ofthe door in my eagerness to ge
t him free, and, bestowing a blessing onthe jailer, I followed him into the street. But I did not consider thatwe were clear of danger. In the first place, our flight might soon bediscovered by one of the warders who had not been bribed by Dame Trond;and, should we be pursued, we were too likely to be recognised. I nowwished that we had made some arrangement for changing our dresses, butit was too late to do that. Unwilling to return to Master Clough'shouse, we agreed that our best plan was to make our way direct towardsthe Water Gate, in which neighbourhood we hoped to fall in with CaptainRadford and his party. There were one or two spots in thatneighbourhood where I knew we might possibly have time to take off ourfriars' dresses. Master Overton had been so long accustomed to wear asimilar costume, that he was perfectly at home in his; and, though itwas much against his will, he followed my example in making the usualsigns to the passers-by who saluted him.

  By this time people were proceeding in greater numbers towards thecitadel, literally leaving a considerable portion of the towndepopulated. At length we reached the part of the wall near the WaterGate which Captain Radford had pointed out as most easy to scale. Itwas about an equal distance from the towers, from which, althoughsentries were generally placed in them, we hoped that, on this occasion,they might be withdrawn. The wall, I think I said, was very thick,there being a passage within it, running completely round the city, withhere and there openings in the inside, to afford light and air. At thetop also was a walk communicating with the various towers. There wasbut little difficulty in scaling the wall from the inside to the upperwall, as from the numerous buttresses and turrets, concealment mighteasily be obtained. The risk was in descending on the outer side, whereit was far more open to view. The streets in this part of the city wereespecially narrow, with numerous dark passages and archways. Theinhabitants, too, were nearly all Romanists, and they appeared mostly tohave gone out to welcome the Duke; so we had not much difficulty infinding a secluded spot, where we could get rid of our friars' costume.Master Overton had been dressed in his gown when taken. Under this hehad the dress of a civilian, which he usually wore. The gown he hadleft in the prison when he put on the friar's dress. We both of ustherefore were sufficiently clothed, after getting rid of our friars'robes, to appear in the streets. Scarce a minute was occupied inthrowing them off. Shoving them up into a dark corner, we again hurriedout, in the hopes of falling in with Captain Radford. It still wantedseveral minutes to the time when I expected to meet them. We had takenour station near the wall at a convenient spot whence we could watch it.Great was our delight when we saw a rope ladder let over the wall, and,one by one, a number of armed men descending by it. Among them Irecognised Captain Radford and A'Dale. We hurried forward to meet them.The former Master Overton warmly embraced.

  "Brother of my sainted wife," said the captain; "I little expected thusto meet you! We parted in anger: we meet as real brothers."

  There was no time for the exchange of further words, but the men formingin close order, we marched steadily along the narrow streets. Atanother time this would have been impossible; but there was, at present,little risk of any one interfering with our proceedings. At length wereached the door which Jacob Naas had marked, and, with an agitatedheart, at once stepped forward and gave the number of raps agreed onwith old Dame Trond. It was an anxious moment. I counted the secondsas they passed by, dreading lest, after all, she might have played usfalse, or have been unable to accomplish her purpose. Crowbars had beenbrought by our party, and it was agreed that, should the door not beopened, we should force our way in. I waited anxiously, drawing mybreath with an unusual quickness. I listened: I fancied I heard a boltwithdrawn. Slowly the door opened. I sprang forward, and caught sightof a figure in the doorway. Could it be Aveline?

  "Hush!" said a voice from within; "I will trust to you for my reward."

  In another instant Aveline herself fell almost fainting into my arms.She quickly recovered herself.

  "Where is my father?" she asked. "Is he safe?"

  Captain Radford stepped forward, and, supporting Aveline, we all hurriedtowards the walls. There was no time to hear who had carried Avelineoff, or by what means she had been set free. I only knew that it was bythe promised instrumentality of the old woman, and felt that she, at allevents, deserved the reward I had agreed to pay. Few words wereexchanged among us till we got safely back to the wall. This had now tobe scaled. As yet, as far as we could ascertain, we had beenundiscovered. Two of the seamen volunteered to mount the wall first, tosee that our road was clear, and to guard the top till the rest hadgained it. The first having mounted and made the signal that no one wasnear, the rest of the men followed. Captain Radford then, takingAveline in his arms, mounted the ladder, Master Overton and I holding itbelow. As he reached the top, she was safely lifted up. The rest ofthe party quickly followed, when the ladder was once more drawn up, andlet down again on the other side. We had now to descend. While I stoodon the top, I could not help looking anxiously round, lest we might beobserved from any of the neighbouring towers.

  The place at which Captain Radford and his men had landed was upwards ofa mile from the part of the wall we had scaled. He had directed thosein charge of the boats to row some little way down the river, and not toreturn till he should make a signal for them to do so. On our wayAveline gave me a brief account of what had happened to her, more ofwhich I heard afterwards. She was on her knees, praying that those dearto her might be protected from the dangers which threatened them, whenshe was startled by hearing the footsteps of several persons approachingthe room. Before she had time to secure the door, they burst it open,and one of them, throwing a cloak over her, bore her downstairs. Invain she struggled--in vain she cried out. Overawing the servants, theyhurried her into the streets, and carried her rapidly along till theyreached the door of a large house which stood open. They entered, andshe was conveyed upstairs into a handsome room, when she was placed on asofa and left alone. Her sole attendant was a young girl who seemed tobe dumb, and, at all events, from her she could not obtain the slightestinformation of any description.

  From the behaviour and language of the persons who had committed theoutrage, she was of opinion that they were far above the lower classes.They had treated her with perfect respect; and it seemed that theirchief object in carrying her off was to obtain a ransom, under thebelief that she was the daughter of Master Clough or of Sir ThomasGresham. She added that, on the previous day, an old woman had come tothe house, and had had some conversation with its inmates. She hadvisited her also, and told her to keep up her spirits, and to beprepared to return to her friends within a few hours. True to her word,she had appeared that morning, and, no one interfering, had, at the timeshe had promised, led her downstairs.

  "She, however, made me undertake that you would carry the promisedreward to her house this afternoon, as soon as you had seen me in safetyon board."

  I, of course, told Aveline that I felt myself bound at all risks tofulfil my promise to the old woman, and that I should do well to hastenback at once and pay her the money; I should be able to do so and toovertake them by the time they reached the boats. A'Dale insisted onaccompanying me.

  "I wish that some other means could be found for sending the old womanher reward," said Captain Radford; "for I fear the risk to you will bevery great, should the part you have taken in liberating my dearbrother-in-law and daughter be discovered."

  I answered that I considered that, duty should be first thought of, andthat a promise, to whomsoever made, was a promise still, and thattherefore, at all risks, I would willingly undertake the task.

  Aveline was, I saw, very anxious on the subject; and I did my best toconsole her by pointing out that I had passed through so many dangers,that I had every reason to hope that I might be preserved as before.

  With the purse of gold, promised to Dame Trond, under my cloak, I oncemore, with A'Dale, entered the ill-fated city of Antwerp.