The Golden Grasshopper: A story of the days of Sir Thomas Gresham
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CHAPTER THIRTY.
DAME TROND'S TREACHERY.
On leaving Sir John Leigh, I hastened back to Gresham House, where Ifound Sir Thomas. He listened attentively to my account. "Thetraitors! the unhappy bigots!" he exclaimed more than once as Iproceeded with it. "Order my horse and four attendants; I will setforth immediately and visit the Secretary, and inform him of thismatter. Every hour may be of consequence."
On his return, Sir Thomas told me that Sir William Cecil had receivedthe information with great calmness, fully believing, however, the wholeaccount.
"He will not forget you, Ernst, depend on that," he said, "should youprefer any other calling to that in which you are engaged."
It was evident that the object of the other ministers in absentingthemselves from the Queen's Council was, should anything go wrong, tothrow all the blame on Sir William Cecil. The wise way, however, inwhich the Queen acted, by affording him her utmost support, showed thatshe was well aware of their purpose, and that she was resolved to takethe responsibility on her own shoulders. Thus it was by the wisdom andfirmness of these two illustrious persons that that fearful storm wasweathered, and England saved from Papal tyranny.
Soon after this, news reached us of the illness of Master RichardClough, and in another week came the sad intelligence of his death. Hehad ever been a faithful servant of Sir Thomas Gresham, and one ofthose, who had enabled him to build up his fortunes.
His last will and testament was sent over from Hamburg. It was to theeffect, that having made all his money in the service of Sir ThomasGresham, he freely gave to his said master all his moveable goods, hislands only excepted, that Sir Thomas might do his pleasure therewith,adding that he would leave it to him whether he would suffer his wife,children, and friends to enjoy them or any parcel thereof, according tohis previous will and testament. The paper concluded with the followingwords:
"Oh! my master, do unto my poor wife and children as you would I should do unto yours, if you were in the same place, for they have no one to trust to but to you; and therefore I bid you and my lady farewell, till it please God to bid us a meeting.
"Your old servant--
"Richard Clough."
I suspect that this letter was written in order that our friend RichardClough might show his confidence in his old master. It was notmisplaced, as Sir Thomas renounced the power given to him, when theearlier will was proved. I should say that Sir Richard Clough, to showhis love of his native town, Denbigh, sought to bestow on its futureinhabitants the blessing of education, by leaving 100 pounds towards thefounding of a free school--a very considerable sum, let it beunderstood.
I was now very anxious no longer to delay my marriage with Aveline,especially as Captain Radford was in England, and purposed shortlymaking another voyage to some distant part of the world. The spirit ofadventure had increased on him, and he could with difficulty remainquietly in England without employment. I expressed my wishes to SirThomas.
"I am sorry to hear this," he said, "because I was about to propose toyou to go to Antwerp on important business. There is no one I would sowillingly employ in it as yourself; and you will be conferring a favouron me if you will postpone your marriage to Mistress Aveline for anothermonth or so. We will do our best to entertain Captain Radford in themeantime, and on your return I will invite that excellent minister,Master John Foxe, to leave his books and his parish for a time, and comeup and perform the ceremony. Her uncle Overton must also be drawn forthfrom his quiet parish for a few days to assist in the ceremony."
I, of course, could not decline so flattering an offer as that now madeto me by my patron, though my dear Aveline, I must own, pouted her lipsand looked about to cry when I told her of it.
"If I had you here, I should not so much mind," she said; "but to letyou go forth into that land where the cruel Duke practises hisbarbarities, and may perchance seize you and cast you into prison, Icannot bear to think of it!" and again she burst into tears.
I tried to console her, believing that her fears were vain, and that,under the protection of Sir Thomas Gresham and the English Government,no harm could possibly happen to me.
I travelled down on horseback to Harwich, and from thence crossed in afrigate, sailing for Ostend. From that city I travelled post, as SirThomas himself had often done, at a rapid rate to Antwerp. Here I tookup my abode in the house of my patron's old servant, Jacob Naas, who hadbeen left in comfortable circumstances by the liberality of his master.He had held to his former principles of conforming outwardly to theRomish faith. I talked with him for some time before he knew who I was.He then received me most cordially, and gave me the best entertainmenthis house could afford. He shook his head when I asked how things wenton at Antwerp. "Oh! Master Verner," he said, "they are bad times. Ourartisans have fled, the commerce of the place is ruined, grass isgrowing in many of our streets, springing up from the blood of thecitizens shed on them. And then look at that frowning fortress. Whilethat remains, how can we ever hope to regain our lost liberties? It isrefreshing to be able to speak to you of these matters, but I dare notutter them aloud."
I asked after many of my old acquaintances. Again he shook his headwith a sorrowful look. Some were dead--broken-hearted; many had beenexecuted; others had fled, and the rest were living in poverty. A fewonly were flourishing, and they were among those who had abandoned theProtestant faith.
"Then I suppose that that is a proof that they have acted wisely andrightly," I observed.
"No, no, Master Verner, you do not think that," he answered: "I knowenough of the truth to know that it is not always those who flourish inthis world who are most favoured by God. Look at me, Master Verner, Iam not happy; and when I pass them, and observe their countenances,there is little contentment and cheerfulness to be seen in them."
"And Dame Trond," I asked, "is she still alive?"
"Ah, that she is," he answered, "and drives a more flourishing tradethan ever. People of all ranks go and consult her, and believe that shecan work all sorts of miracles, and has numberless familiar spirits ather command."
"She is a strange woman," I observed; "but I ought to feel grateful toher for the assistance she afforded us in helping our friends toescape."
"Ah! but still I am afraid she is a _very_ wicked old woman," saidJacob. "I cannot tell you how many bad things I believe she has done;and she will do many more, I suspect. I, for one, would not trust her."
"I have no wish to do so," I said, "and, indeed, doubt how far I shouldbe right in obtaining her services, now that we know more of hercharacter."
Finding that there was a considerable amount of ill-feeling towards theEnglish among the Spaniards and the Flemings who adhered to Alva, I wentvery little abroad while at Antwerp, except when I was compelled to callon the merchants and others with whom I had business. I found, however,that it was absolutely necessary for me to proceed to Brussels. I wasthere going into the lion's den; but yet, as the English Government hadan envoy at the Duke's court, I considered that I had no cause for fear.I accordingly went with Jacob Naas, who earnestly begged that he mightaccompany me.
At this time the Duke of Alva was endeavouring to force upon theprovinces a tax which was known as the Tenth Penny. Expostulations hadbeen sent to King Philip; but, though the tax was not formallyconfirmed, the King did not distinctly disavow his intention ofinflicting it. The citizens in every town throughout the country weretherefore in open revolt against the tax; and, in order that it shouldnot be levied on every sale of goods, they took the only remedy in theirpower, and a very effectual one that was--namely, not to sell any goodsat all. Thus, not only was the wholesale commerce of the provincessuspended, but even the minute and indispensable traffic of every-daylife was at a standstill.
Every shop was shut. The brewers refused to brew, the bakers to bake,the tapsters to tap. Thus multitudes were thrown out of employment, andevery city swarmed with beggars. The soldiers were furious for theirpay, which Alva was unable
to furnish. The citizens, maddened byoutrage, became more and more obstinate in their resistance; while theDuke seemed to regard the ruin he had caused with a malignant spiritscarcely human. In truth, the aspect of Brussels at this time was thatof a city stricken by a plague. Articles of absolute necessity couldnot be obtained. It was impossible even to buy bread, meat, or beer.
My stay in Brussels was short, and I was thankful to leave the city,albeit Antwerp was scarcely in a better condition. I purposed remainingonly two days at that place, intending to return home by the way I hadcome.
The day after my return, just as I got to my lodgings, having transactedsome business with one of the few remaining correspondents in the city,Jacob came to me with a look of alarm.
"I was passing through the Mere, close to the hall where the BloodCouncil hold their sittings, when who should I see hobbling away but oldDame Trond! She cast a suspicious glance at me, which I could not helpfeeling meant mischief. I have a relative who is employed as a porterin the hall. He has no love for his post, but he cannot help himself,so he says. I bethought myself that I would go and see him, and try tolearn why Dame Trond had paid this visit to the Council. `It is curiousthat you have come in,' he whispered; `for I was wishing to come to you.You have a guest in your house who has come here as an Englishman, butis, as you should know, a Netherlander born, and a heretic. You areaware of the penalty of harbouring such; and, as he is supposed to bewealthy, the person informing against him will obtain a rich reward,being entitled to a large share of his property. The old witch BarbaraTrond has found this out, I doubt not, by consulting her familiar, andshe just now came here to lay information against him before the BloodCouncil. Now, Jacob, if you are a wise man, you will do as I intendedto advise you. Go at once before the Blood Council, and say that youhave just discovered that your guest is a heretic whom you receivedignorantly, and thus obtain the reward yourself.' I did not dare totell my relative what I felt when he said this; but, thanking him forhis advice, I concealed my feelings, and hurried back, Master Verner, totell you, and to urge you to make your escape without a moment's delayfrom the city. The Government are too much in want of funds to allowyou to escape, if they can by any possibility lay their hands upon theproperty of which you have charge; and especially, if it is believedthat it belongs to Sir Thomas Gresham, they will be the more ready toappropriate it, in revenge for the advice he is known to have given theEnglish Government sometime back with regard to the treasure seized inthe Spanish ships."
I saw at once that prompt action was necessary.
Instantly, therefore, with the aid of Jacob, putting on the guise of acourier, I hastened out to the stables, at which I engaged horses for myjourney. Mounting, and followed by my English servant, I rode rapidlyforth from the gates of the city.
I had got to some distance, when, turning my head, I saw a horsemangalloping after me. I could not help fearing that he was some officersent by the Blood Council for my arrest; and I doubted whether I shouldendeavour to defend myself and refuse to return, or to yield myself aprisoner. As he drew nearer, however, I saw that he was my faithfulfriend Jacob.
"Ah! Master Verner," he said; "I could not resist the temptation offollowing you, and endeavouring to assist in your escape. It would besad to think what would happen if you were taken. I should neverforgive myself, if I had not done all I could to preserve you."
Thanking Jacob for his kindness and generosity, I yet thought it my dutyto expostulate with him, and show him the danger he was running inaccompanying me.
"To be honest with you, Master Ernst," he said, "I think it will not begreater than it would be if I were to remain; for when it becomes knownthat I warned you and assisted in your escape, I am very well assuredthat the Blood Council would condemn me to death."
On this, of course I no longer urged Jacob to return, though wellassured that his regard for me was his principal motive. As weincreased our distance from Antwerp, I began to hope that we shouldescape from the country without further danger. Instead of riding toOstend, however, we took a different direction, towards Zealand. We hadpassed through Breda beyond which we proceeded a couple of stages,where, the night overtaking us, on the second day of our journey, wewere compelled to stop and rest. Wearied by my ride, and the anxiety Ihad gone through, I slept soundly. How long my slumbers had lasted Iknow not, when I felt a rough hand on my shoulder. I started up,wondering what was about to happen.