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

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

  IN PRISON AT BRILL.

  As I have before mentioned, I was aroused out of my sleep by a heavyhand on my shoulder. "Your name is Ernst Verner," said a voice. "Youwere born in the Netherlands, and your father was a Netherlander?"

  Scarcely having yet gained my senses after being awoke out of my heavyslumbers, I answered immediately: "Of course. You are perfectly rightin what you say, whoever you are." Directly afterwards I regrettedhaving thus spoken, but it was too late.

  "He acknowledges who he is!" cried the same voice; and by the light of alantern which another man held up before my face, I saw that severalarmed persons were in the room. "Get up and dress yourself immediately;you will accompany us!" said the man who had first spoken.

  I now too clearly guessed what had happened: I was in the hands ofAlva's officers, and had no means of escape. Jacob had been taken in alike manner, as was also my servant John, who, however, being anEnglishman, was in less danger than we were.

  Immediately we were dressed we were ordered downstairs, where we foundour horses, and, being compelled to mount, we set forth immediately, twomen going before with torches to light us on our way. We proceeded forsome hours in the dark, our guards refusing to give us any information.We stopped for a short time only for meals, and, after crossing severalferries, we found ourselves entering a fortified town. Neither Jacobnor I knew the place; but I guessed from its position that it was Brill,on the river Meuse. Why we were carried there I could not tell, except,perchance, that it was considered necessary, in order to keep theinhabitants in recollection of what they would suffer should they showany signs of rebellion, that we were there doomed to be sacrificed. Itwas not a pleasant thought, yet it seemed too probable. It might havebeen considered a more suitable place than Rotterdam for ourimprisonment. Be that as it might, we were conducted to the jail, andthere cast together into a loathsome dungeon, cold and damp, into whichbut a single ray of light penetrated. That ray came through a smallgrated aperture on one side of the arched roof. Although I had had someexperience of a prison in England, I scarcely thought it possible thathuman beings could be confined in a dungeon so horrible as the one inwhich we found ourselves. My two companions seemed inclined to give wayto despair.

  Honest Jacob, however, thought more of me than of himself.

  "And you told me, Master Verner, that you were about to be married tothat sweet young lady, Mistress Aveline; and oh! if they hang you, shewill surely break her heart! My good dame is laid in her grave, that'sone comfort. There is nobody to mourn for me and poor English Johnhere. They will scarcely kill him--though I do not know; for it seemsto me that the Spaniards and those who serve them have a delight indestroying their fellow-creatures. They will probably kill us first,and then bring us to trial."

  I felt that it was my duty to try and keep up the courage of mycompanions. Fortunately, John could not understand the remarks made byJacob. I told him to be of good cheer, and that I hoped we might stillby some means make our escape with our lives. My valise, containing alarge amount of valuables, had been taken by our captors; but I stillretained a considerable portion of jewels about me, besides severalrolls of gold which I had concealed in my dress. This had escapedobservation, our captors being delighted with the rich booty they hadfound in the valise, which they probably supposed was all I possessed.I hoped by bribing our jailer to induce him to help us to escape, or, atall events, to send off a letter, which might be transmitted to SirThomas Gresham. I told John also, what I knew would be some consolationto him, that we might possibly be able to procure a larger amount ofprovisions than the prison fare, which was likely to be scanty enough.Before, however, I in any way committed myself by showing that I had anymoney in my possession, I determined to try the temper of the jailer.

  We were allowed to remain alone for several hours. At length the dooropened, and a ruffianly-looking fellow appeared carrying a jug of waterand a loaf of coarse bread--for coarse it seemed, even by the light ofthe dim lantern which he bore in his hand.

  "This is but poor fare for prisoners uncondemned," I observed. "Couldyou not, friend, obtain us something better?"

  "Good enough for men who have only a few days to live," he answered, ina gruff voice.

  "They will not venture to execute Englishmen, or those under Englishprotection," I answered, in as bold a voice as I could muster; "so youwill not frighten us out of our appetites, friend."

  "Caged birds don't often crow as loudly as you do," observed the jailer."However, it is as well to enjoy your life while you have it; so I willnot try further to put you out of humour."

  Hoping that I had by degrees softened the jailer's feelings I took frommy pocket a single piece of gold, which I placed in his hand. As helooked at it, his countenance brightened.

  "Ah! now we understand each other," he observed. "And what is it youwant me to do for this?"

  "To bring us better food," I answered; "and let me know what is goingforward without the walls. The man who would help us to escape wouldfind it to his advantage; for, although the British Government woulddesire to protect us, Duke Alva is occasionally apt to execute hisprisoners first and then to apologise afterwards, when he has found outthat they were guiltless."

  "We must not speak against the authorities from whom we take our bread,"answered the jailer; but he still lingered, willing apparently to hearwhat more I had to say. I, however, thought that I had said enough toshow him what were our wishes and intentions. At last he took hisdeparture, looking far more pleasantly at us than he had done when heentered. We were left, therefore, alone to discuss our rough fare. Aswe had been kept without food for some time, we were glad to eat it,coarse as it was.

  We had no other visitor after this till the next morning. We employedthe time in examining our cell, to ascertain if there was any possiblemeans of getting out. Jacob said that he had heard of men burrowingunder the walls, others had got out the iron bars in the windows, orworked their way through a hole which they managed to form in the roof.But there appeared very little chance of our getting out that way. Ouronly hopes lay in the assistance the jailer might afford us. I cannotsay that we slept very pleasantly, for our beds were composed of heapsof half-rotten straw; and though we could not find any way of gettingout of our dungeon, rats and other vermin found their way in, andcontinued running about the floor, and frequently jumping over us duringthe dark hours of the night.

  The next morning the jailer again made his appearance, with a basket, inaddition to the usual prison fare, containing some white bread andpastry, and several other articles of food. Without hesitation I paidthe price demanded for it, and then asked him if he had any news.

  "Not much," he said. "Three men going to be hung, two to be burned; thelatter for attempting to assist a heretic prisoner to escape, the other,who had been a priest, for preaching heretical doctrines." He looked atme very hard as he spoke.

  "That may be," I answered. "It is the fortune of war; we must all runrisks if we are to achieve any important object."

  "Ay, ay, I see you know the world, young sir," he answered.

  I again plied him with questions about the prospect of escaping, but heonly shook his head, repeating: "You would not ask me if you had seenthe poor fellow burned yesterday."

  His argument was a powerful one. Though I did not like the thoughts ofbringing the man into such fearful danger, I still could not resist thetemptation of trying to induce him to help us in getting free. "If weescape, you will escape with us," I observed; "so that the risk will notbe greater to you than to us."

  Still the man shook his head, answering: "I have no fancy for burning!"

  Once more we were left alone. The hours appeared very long. Though Ihad my two companions to talk to, they were so unhappy that they werelittle able to speak on any pleasant subject. At length the silencewhich had hitherto reigned in our prison was broken by loud shouts andcries, which proceeded from the streets beyond us. That somet
hingextraordinary was taking place we had little doubt, yet what it was weof course could not divine. At length at the usual hour the jailer madehis appearance with our provisions, which were, as he had promised, farbetter than the usual prison fare. The man's countenance also showed usthat something had happened. I eagerly put the question to him.

  "I don't know what to say; I don't know what to say," he answered; "butI am not quite certain whether you will be outside this dungeon and I inbefore the day is over."

  "It is honest in you to say that, my friend," I answered; "but how canthat be?"

  "Why, to confess the truth," answered the man, "this morning at daybreaka strange fleet was seen coming up the river Meuse. No one could tellwhence it came. Some thought it was a fleet of merchant vessels forRotterdam: but the question was soon set at rest by my friend PeterKopplestock, the ferryman, who, going on board one of the ships, foundthem to be no others than those fearful desperadoes and pirates--theWater Beggars. They sent him back to tell the magistrates that twohours would be allowed them to decide whether or not they wouldsurrender the town, and accept the authority of De la Marck as Admiralof the Prince of Orange. That if they will do so, their lives will bespared; but if not, every man who attempts to resist will be put to thesword. Our Burgomaster is a mighty brave fellow, and so are our chiefburghers, but they know very well what a desperate fellow the Admiral Dela Marck is; and he has got some five or six thousand men, so Petersays, on board the fleet; and what can our citizens do to resist them?He says that he comes simply to free the land from the Tenth Penny, andto overthrow the tyranny of Duke Alva and his Spaniards. Themagistrates, it seems to me, do not much like to face Admiral De laMarck, and so they have been busily employed in packing up ever since,and making their way out of the town."

  While the jailer was still speaking, the sound of musketry was heard,and shouts and cries proceeding from our side of the town. "I must goand see what it is all about!" exclaimed the jailer, rushing out. Wethought he had left the door open behind him, but, greatly to ourdisappointment, we found that, even though frightened, by instinctrather than intention he had bolted it.

  The noise increased, and we felt almost certain, by the shouts and crieswe heard, that the patriots had forced an entrance into the town. Wethought, indeed it was no delusion, that we heard a voice proclaimingliberty to the Netherlands, and the cry of "Long live the Prince ofOrange! long live our noble Stadtholder!" Again loud noises reached ourears, and thundering blows echoed through the building. There could belittle doubt that the jail was being forced. Then came crashing sounds,as if doors were burst open. We endeavoured to force open our own door,for we knew not what might happen. Directly afterwards, a stiflingsmell of smoke found its way through the crevices of the door.

  "We shall be baked alive!" exclaimed Jacob Naas. "We must force thedoor, even should we break our shoulders in the attempt! Here, youEnglish John, dash at it with your head, if that is the hardest part ofyou." We all shoved at the door together, but in vain. It resisted allour attempts. The smoke grew thicker and thicker. We could withdifficulty breathe. Again and again we dashed at the door frantically.We were giving way to despair, when voices were heard. It seemed as ifa body of men were rushing along the gallery, breaking open the doors ofthe cells.

  We thought they were going to pass us by. We shouted--we shrieked--

  "Here! here! my brave Beggars, my daring rovers, here are men shut up inthis corner! Bring crowbars, or we and they shall be burnt together!"

  The words, though spoken in Flemish, were uttered, I was certain, by anEnglishman, and I thought I knew the voice. At that instant the door,which had so long resisted our efforts, gave way, and we rushed out,being seized instantly by the men who had come to our rescue; though, inthe thick wreaths of smoke which curled round us, it was impossible torecognise their countenances. Confused, and almost stifled by thesmoke, we did not see where we were going till we found ourselves in theopen street, where the fresh air quickly revived us.

  In the centre of the square, near the prison, stood on an elevated spot,a fierce-looking warrior, with a black casque, and a lofty plume on hishead, a huge red beard projecting from his chin and covering his breast,his shaggy locks hanging down over his shoulders, and his moustachealmost hiding his mouth. He rested on a huge richly-gilt double-edgedsword. His very look was calculated to inspire terror. I asked some ofthe men round us who he was.

  "That is our Admiral, De la Marck," was the answer.

  His appearance was just then more terrible than the words he wasuttering. Indeed, he was assuring the people that no harm would be donethem if they would yield willing obedience to the commands he mightissue in the name of their Prince. A grim look of pleasure lighted uphis countenance when at that instant the governor of the city wasbrought before him, having been taken just as he was endeavouring tomake his escape. While I was looking about me, my eye fell on theofficer who had led the party to our rescue from the burning prison. Heturned round at the same moment; I was not quite certain, yet I thoughtI could not be mistaken when, in the well-bearded, huge-whiskered,long-haired seaman I saw before me, I recognised my old friend A'Dale.

  "A'Dale!" I shouted.

  He sprang towards me, and almost wrung my hands off as he shook them inhis joy at seeing me. "And you are the fellow we got out of theprison?" he exclaimed. "I little knew who I was saving: however, all iswell that ends well. You shall tell me all about yourself by-and-by,for we have something to do to keep these citizens in order. The honesttruth is, we have taken the place with scarcely three hundred men--theythinking that they were attacked by five thousand or so. However, whenthey find we wish to treat them well, we shall have plenty on our side,for few of them have love for Alva and his Tenth Penny."

  Before sunset the whole city was brought into obedience to De la Marck.The gates were again closed, and guards set, to prevent any enemiesentering; and A'Dale and I took possession of a remarkably comfortableresidence, stored with all sorts of good things. The next day De laMarck employed himself in appointing fresh magistrates, and establishinga regular government in the name of the Prince.

  It is very remarkable that, while the Duke of Alva was negotiating withQueen Elizabeth, and inducing her to compel the Sea Beggars to quit theshores of England, hoping certainly in the end to deceive her, theresult of his devices should have been their establishment on themainland, and the commencement of that power which was ultimately toproduce his own overthrow and the success of that very cause which itwas his great aim to destroy.

  CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

  CONCLUSION.

  I was very eager to return to England, and happily found a merchantvessel at the mouth of the Meuse on the point of sailing. I did my bestto persuade A'Dale to accompany me. He confessed that the life he ledon board the rover fleet was not altogether to his taste. They had onseveral occasions been very nearly starved, as they were when theyarrived before Brill. He had, however, collected a considerable amountof booty, and, being a prudent man, he had not gambled it away, as someof his companions had done. He could now also, without dishonour,retire. We both of us visited Captain Treslong, and I explained that Iwas in the service of Sir Thomas Gresham, whom he well knew, and thatprobably A'Dale would be again employed if he returned to him. I trulyrejoiced when the captain gave him leave to retire and go with me and mytwo attendants on board the vessel I spoke of.

  We had a quick passage; and my dear Aveline received me as she ever haddone, with true affection. We were married immediately afterwards, forI was determined to allow no considerations any longer to put off thatevent.

  Margery blushed somewhat when she saw A'Dale, and though she thoughtthat he ought to be punished for his continued absence, yet she speedilyrelented, and their marriage took place on the same day as mine. I willnot describe it. We were honoured by the presence of Sir Thomas Greshamand Lady Anne, and a large number of persons of consideration.

  My bride and I took up our r
esidence in Lombard Street, where we hadvery pleasant apartments not far from A'Dale, who went into the serviceof his old master.

  My noble patron, after the experience of a long life, had arrived at thesimple conclusion that the cultivation of the understanding, and theeducation of the heart, gave birth to the purest pleasures, as well asthe noblest aspirations, and that the best gifts which the State has inits power to bestow on its youthful members are sound learning andreligious principles. He had long contemplated the establishment of acollege for the accomplishment of this object. Indeed, while buildingGresham House I feel very sure he had this in view. The building itselfhas a collegiate air. Within there is a great reading hall, while thedistribution of its apartments are susceptible of every purpose of acollege. He now openly expressed his intention, though I am sorry tosay the University of Cambridge endeavoured to divert him from hispurpose, being jealous that London should have a college, theauthorities wishing that he should rather endow another hall in theirUniversity. By his will, which he now drew up, he ordained that LadyAnne Gresham should enjoy his mansion house, as well as the rent arisingfrom the Royal Exchange, during her life, in case she survived him; butafter her death both these properties were to be vested in the hands ofthe Corporation of London and the Mercers' Company. These public bodieswere jointly to nominate seven professors, who should lecturesuccessively, one on every day of the week, on the seven sciences ofDivinity, Astronomy, Music, Geometry, Law, Medicine, and Rhetoric. Thesalaries of the lecturers were defrayed by the profits arising from theRoyal Exchange, and were very liberal. The wisdom of my patron is shownby the sciences he directed should be taught. He considered Divinity tobe the most important, and after that, holding as I know he did in greatcontempt the foolish art of astrology, he desired that the noble andsoul-elevating science of astronomy should be chiefly cultivated. Onmusic, too, he set high value, while geometry he considered did not onlyhelp forward astronomy, but is a fine exercise of the mental faculties.The great Copernicus has written on astronomy, but his work is littleknown in England; indeed, the science is but slightly cultivated orrespected.

  Sir Thomas also, some time before this, constructed eight almshouses,immediately behind his mansion, in the parish of Saint Peter the Poor,and in his will he provided liberally for the inmates. This, however,was only one of many charities which he established.

  My wife and I frequently paid visits to our kind friends at their newmansion of Osterley; and while we were there in May, 1576, they had thehonour of receiving a visit from the Queen's Majesty. I have not spaceto describe the magnificent arrangements which were made for thereception of her Majesty, or the numerous entertainments prepared torender her stay agreeable. I may mention, however, that a play wasrepresented, written by my patron's old friend, Thomas Churchyard, asalso a pageant, "The Devises of War." Her Majesty was greatly pleasedwith all she saw, but she found fault with the courtyard as too great,affirming that it would appear more handsome if divided with a wall inthe middle. Scarcely had the words been spoken than Sir Thomas slippedaway and sent off for workmen to London, who, in the night time, sospeedily and silently laboured, that the next morning discovered thecourt double which the night had left single. It is questionablewhether the Queen next day was more contented with the conformity to herfancy, or more pleased with the surprise and sudden alteration when thecourtiers disported themselves with their expressions, avowing that itwas no wonder he who could build a _change_, could _change_ a building.I have, I am afraid, given but a very imperfect idea of the character ofmy kind and noble patron. I had met him in the afternoon at theExchange on the 21st of November, 1579, being Saturday. Parting fromhim, I returned to Lombard Street. While sitting with my wife andchildren about seven o'clock in the evening, a serving-lad came runningto say that Sir Thomas had suddenly fallen down in the kitchen soonafter he came home, and was then speechless. I hastened off. When Iarrived, I found my kind friend laid on a bed. A glance at hiscountenance told me too truly what had happened. I felt his pulse: ithad ceased to beat. Thus, at the age of sixty, after having served theState for nearly thirty years with unsullied honour and integrity, SirThomas Gresham was taken to his rest. Surely the annals of the City ofLondon can boast of no more illustrious name. He greatly raised thecredit of the Crown in foreign parts by the skill with which hecontrived to manage the exchange with foreign countries. He laid thefoundation of England's commercial greatness. He elevated the characterof the English merchant, and dignified the pursuits of trade by showingthat they are far from being incompatible with the taste for learning;while a large portion of the fortune he had acquired in the service ofthe State he restored to it by numberless acts of public munificence andprivate charity. The funeral was more splendid that that of anynobleman I have ever seen. Could he have known what was going forward,I think he would have been more pleased by seeing the tears shed byseveral of the two hundred poor men and women, clothed in black gowns,who, according to the directions given in his will, followed the body tothe grave.

  England has had trying times since then. The Pope, not content with themassacre of Saint Bartholomew in France, when tens of thousands ofProtestants were murdered by night, seemed resolved to take the life ofour Protestant Queen. A large body of Jesuits were introduced, undervarious disguises, into England, hoping to re-convert its Protestantinhabitants to the Romish faith. Their great object, however, was todestroy the Queen. Of these plots, Sir John Leigh, as I have beforementioned, gave me warning.

  At length King Philip, finding that he could not succeed by treachery,resolved to invade England with a mighty army in a vast fleet, which hecalled his Invincible Armada. We were for a long time in expectation ofits coming, and all classes of her Majesty's subjects united for thedefence of her kingdom. Even the Roman Catholics, who had no desire tohave the Pope place his foot on their necks, as he had done on thepeople of the Netherlands, willingly came forward for the protection ofthe Queen. Philip boasted that in a few months he would bring back allEngland to the Catholic faith, and several of his ships had largequantities of books on board abusing the Queen, and full of the foulestfalsehoods. Besides this there was a large force of priests and friars,and all sorts of instruments of torture--racks and thumb-screws, andevery device for inflicting agony on the bodies of people, in order toinduce them to conform to what the Spaniards called the true faith. Themighty fleet of Spain sailed up the Channel, Philip's generals andofficers boasting of the great victory they were about to achieve.Elizabeth and her people had done their best for the defence of thecountry and their liberty; but the Queen trusted not alone to an arm offlesh. She offered up a prayer to God for the protection of her realm,and sent it to her General at Plymouth, that he might in the same termspray for victory:--

  "Most Omnipotent and Guider of all our world's mass, that only searchestand fathomest the bottom of all hearts' conceits, and in them seest thetrue original of all actions intended, how no malice, revenge, norquittance of injury, nor desire of bloodshed, nor greediness of lucre,hath bred the resolution of our now set-out army, but a heedful care andwary watch that no neglect of foes nor over-surety of harm might breedeither danger to us or glory to them. Thou that didst inspire the mind,we humbly beseech with bended knees prosper the work, and with the bestfore-winds guide the journey, speed the victory, and make the return theadvancement of Thy glory, the triumph of Thy fame, the surety of therealm, with the least loss of English blood. To these devout petitions,Lord, give Thou Thy blessed grant! Amen."

  The very day on which that prayer was being offered up, it was said thatDon Bernadins de Mendoza, the Spanish Ambassador, rushed into the Churchof Notre Dame in Paris, flourishing his rapier, and exclaiming in a loudvoice, "Victoria!" by which it was supposed that the English werevanquished.

  Up Channel the mighty Armada steered in the shape of a half-moon, withthe wind from the south-west, on the 21st of July of that year. WhileLord Howard began the battle by attacking in his own ship, called the_Ark R
oyal_, one of the large ships of the Armada, Drake, Hawkins, andFrobisher soon joined him, for two days pursuing and attacking the enemywith the greatest fury, joined by Sir Walter Raleigh and other bravecommanders. For one day, the 24th, there was a rest; but on thefollowing, Hawkins, in the _Victory_, attacked a great galleon, whichyielded herself up; but now came on another desperate battle, till atlength the Spaniards anchored before Calais. Here, after a week offurious fighting, they expected to find rest, but that was not given tothem. Again the English attacked with fire-ships, by which many more ofthe Spaniards were destroyed. Then they cut their cables and ran upChannel, many, however, going ashore on the Flemish coast, Drake,Fenner, Hawkins, and other captains pursuing them. Other fierce battleswere fought and numberless single combats, when the English never failedto come away victorious. Some escaped round the north of Scotland,pursued to the last by the English fleet; many foundered; others werecast on shore by a mighty storm which arose. A small and shatteredremnant only of the mighty Armada returned to Spain, eighty-one ships ofthe expedition having been lost, and upwards of 13,500 soldiers.

  On the 24th of November the Queen went to Saint Paul's, to return thanksfor the victory graciously given. The streets were hung with bluecloth, and the City Companies ranged themselves on either side inappropriate order. The great captains who had fought so bravely,surrounded the Queen. The trophies they had won were carried inprocession. A solemn thanksgiving was offered up, and the gloryascribed to God only: while, in every other church in the land, publicthanks were given to God for the favour thus mercifully bestowed uponEngland.

  Although Philip had been thus signally defeated, he still persisted inhis belief that he should finally conquer England, and destroy theProtestant institutions which had been established there. May God bringto nought his attempts, and the efforts of all the enemies of the holyand blessed Gospel! This is the earnest prayer of ERNST VERNER.