Constance Sherwood: An Autobiography of the Sixteenth Century

by Georgiana Fullerton

good-night, all unconscious of that menacing visagewhich my terrified eyes were now averted from, but which I stillseemed pursued by. It made me weep to think that these two brothersshould lie in the same chamber that coming night; the one so confidingand guileless of heart, the other so full of envy and enmity.

  I was so tired when I reached home that I fell heavily asleep for somehours. But, awaking between five and six of the clock, and not able torest in my chamber, dressed myself and went into the garden. Not farfrom the house there was an arbor, with a seat in it. Passingalongside of it, I perceived, with no small terror, a man lying asleepon this bench. And then, with increased affright, but not believingmine own eyes, but rather thinking it to be a vision, saw Basil, as itseemed to me, in the same dress he wore the day before, but with hisface much paler. A cry burst from me, for methought perhaps he shouldbe dead. But he awoke at my scream, looked somewhat wildly about himfor a minute, rubbed his eyes, and then with a kind of smile, albeitan exceeding sad one, said,

  "Is it you, my good angel?"

  "O Basil," I cried, sitting down by his side, and taking hold of hischilled hand, "what hath happened? Why are you here?"

  He covered his face with his hands. Methinks he was praying. Then heraised his pale, noble visage and said:

  "About one hour after your departure, supper being just ended, I wastalking with Sir Walter Raleigh and some other gentlemen, when amessage was brought unto me from Lord Burleigh, who had retired to hischamber, desiring for to speak with me. I thought it should besomewhat anent the queen's pleasure for the ordering of the next day,and waited at once on his lordship. When I came in, he looked at mewith a very severe and harsh countenance. 'Sir,' he said in an abruptmanner, 'I am informed that you are excommunicated for papistry. Howdurst you then attempt the royal presence, and to kiss her majesty'shand? You--unfit to company with any Christian person--you are fitterfor a pair of stocks, and are forthwith commanded not to appear againin her sight, but to hold yourself ready to attend her council'spleasure.' Constance, God only knoweth what I felt; and oh, may heforgive me that for one moment I did yield to a burning resentment,and forgot the prayers I have so often put up, that when persecutionfell on me I might meet it, as the early Christians did, withblessings, not with curses. But look you, love, a judicial sentence,torture, death methinks, should be easier to bear than this insulting,crushing, brutal tone, which is now used toward Catholics. Yet ifChrist was for us struck by a slave and bore it, we should also beable for to endure their insolent scorn. Bitter words escaped me, Ithink, albeit I know not very well what I said; but his lordshipturned his back on the man he had insulted, and left the room withoutlistening to me. I be glad of it now. What doth it avail toremonstrate against injuries done under pretence of law, or bandywords with a judge which can compel you to silence?"

  "Basil," I cried, "you may forgive that man; I cannot'.'

  "Yea, but if you love me, you shall forgive him," he cried. "Goddefend mine injuries should work in thee an unchristian resentment!Nay, nay, love, weep not; think for what cause I am ill-used, and thouwilt presently rejoice thereat rather than grieve."

  "But what happened when that lord had left you?" I asked, not yet ableto speak composedly.

  Then he: "I stood stock-still for a while in a kind of bewilderment,hearing loud laughter in the hall below, and seeing, as it did happen,a man the worse for liquor staggering about the court. To my heatedbrain it did seem as if hell had been turned loose in my house, wheresome hours before--" Then he stopped, and again sinking his head onhis hands, paused a little, and then continued without looking up:"Well, I came down the stairs and walked straight out at the frontdoor. As I passed the hall I heard some one ask, 'Which is the masterof this huge house?' and another, whom by his voice I knew to beTopcliffe, answered, 'Rookwood, a papist, newly crept out of hiswardship. As to his house, 'tis most fit for the blackguard, but notfor her gracious majesty to lodge in. But I hope she will serve Godwith great and comfortable examples, and have all such notoriouspapists presently committed to prison.' This man's speech seemed torestore me to myself, and a firmer spirit came over me. I resolved notto sleep under mine own roof, where, in the queen's name, suchignominious treatment had been awarded me,' and went out of my house,reciting those verses of the Psalms, 'O God, save me in thy name, andin thy strength judge me. Because strangers have risen up against me,and the strong have sought my soul.' I came here almost unwittingly,and not choosing to disturb any one in the midst of the night, laydown in this place, and, I thank God, soon fell asleep."

  "You did not see Hubert?" I timidly inquired.

  "No," he said, "neither before nor after my interview with LordBurleigh. I hope no one hath accused him of papistry, and so this timehe may escape."

  "And who did accuse you?" I asked.

  "I know not," he answered; "we are never safe for one hour. Adiscontented groom or covetous neighbor may ruin us when they list."

  "But are you not in danger of being called before the council?" Isaid.

  "Yea, more than in danger," he answered. "But I should hope a heavyfine shall this time satisfy the judges; which, albeit we can illafford it, may yet be endured."

  Then I drew him into the house, and we continued to converse till goodLady Tregony joined us. When I briefly related to her what Basil hadtold me, the color rose in her pale, aged cheek; but she only claspedher hands and said,

  "God's holy will be done."

  "Constance," Basil exclaimed, whilst he was eating some breakfast wehad set before him, "prithee get me paper and ink for to write toHubert."

  I looked at him inquiringly as I gave him what he asked for.

  "I am banished from mine own house," he said; "but as long as it ismine the queen should not lack anything I can supply for her comfort.She is my guest, albeit I am deemed unworthy to come into herpresence; I must needs charge Hubert to act the host in my place, andsee to all hospitable duties."

  My heart swelled at this speech. Methought, though I dared not utter my thinking for more reasons than one, that Hubert had most likenot waited for his brother's licence to assume the mastership of hishouse. The messenger was despatched, and then a long silence ensued,Basil walking to and fro before the house, and I embroidering, withmine eyes often raised from my work to look toward him. When nineo'clock struck I joined him, and we strolled outside the gate, andwithout forecasting to do so walked along the well-known path leadingto Euston. When we reached a turn of the road whence the house is tobe seen, we stopped and sat down on a bank under a sycamore tree. Wecould discern from thence persons going in and out of the doors, andthe country-folk crowding about the windows for to catch a glimpse ofthe queen, the guard ever and anon pushing them back with theirhalberds. The numbers of them continually increased, and deputationsbegan to arrive with processions and flags. It was passing strange forto be sitting there gazing as strangers on this turmoil, and folkscrowding about that house the master of which was banished from it. Atlast we noticed an increased agitation amongst the people which seemedto presage the queen's coming out. Sounds of shouting proceeded frominside the building, and then a number of men issued from the frontdoor, and pushing back the crowd advanced to the centre of the greenplot in front and made a circle there with ropes.

  "What sport are they making ready for?" I said, turning to Basil.

  "God knoweth," he answered in a despondent tone. Then came otherscarrying a great armed-chair, which they placed on one side of thecircle and other chairs beside it, and some country people brought intheir arms loads of fagots, which they piled up in the midst of thegreen space. A painful suspicion crossed my mind, and I stole a glanceat Basil for to see if the same thought had come to him. He waslooking another way. I cast about if it should be possible on somepretence to draw him off from that spot, whence it misgave me asorrowful sight should meet his eyes. But at that moment both of uswere aroused by loud cries of "God save the queen!" "Long live QueenElizabeth!" and we beheld her issue from the house bowing to thecrowd, which filled
the air with their cries and vociferous cheering.She seated herself in the armed-chair, her ladies and the chiefpersons of her train on each side of her. On the edge of thishalf-circle I discerned Hubert. The straining of mine eyes was verypainful; they seemed to burn in their sockets. Basil had been watchingthe forth-coming of the queen, but his sight was not so quick as mine,and as yet no fear such as I entertained had struck him.

  "What be they about?" he said to me with a good-natured smile. BeforeI could answer--"Good God!" he exclaimed in an altered voice; "whatsound is that?" for suddenly yells and hooting noises arose, such as amob do salute criminals with, and a kind of