CHAPTER XIV.
HOW SIMON RENARD AND THE LORDS OF THE COUNCIL WERE ARRESTED BY LORD GUILFORD DUDLEY.
THE brief and troubled reign of the ill-fated Queen Jane was fast drawing to a close. Every fresh messenger brought tidings of large accessions to the cause of the Lady Mary, who was now at the head of thirty thousand men — an army trebling the forces of Northumberland. Added to this, the metropolis itself was in a state of revolt. Immense mobs collected in Smithfield, and advanced towards the Tower gates, commanding the warders to open them in the name of Queen Mary. These rioters were speedily driven off, with some bloodshed. But their leader, who was recognized as the prisoner Gilbert, escaped, and the next day larger crowds assembled, and it was feared that an attack would be made upon the fortress.
Meanwhile, Northumberland, whose order of march had been prescribed by the Council, proceeded slowly on the expedition; and the fate that attended him fully verified the old proverb that delay breeds danger. An accident, moreover, occurred, which, while it greatly disheartened his party, gave additional hope to that of the Lady Mary. Six vessels, well manned with troops and ammunition, stationed off Yarmouth to intercept Mary in case she attempted to escape by sea, were driven into that port, where their commanders were immediately visited by Sir Henry Jerningham, who was levying recruits for the princess, and were prevailed upon by him to join her standard.
When the news of this defection reached the Tower, even the warmest partisans of Jane perceived that her cause was hopeless, and prepared to desert her. The Duke of Suffolk could not conceal his uneasiness, and despatched a secret messenger to Lord Guilford Dudley, who during the whole of this trying period had absented himself, commanding his instant return.
On receiving the summons, Dudley immediately answered it in person. Jane received him with the utmost affection, and their meeting, which took place in the presence of her father, the Duchess of Northumberland, and the Ladies Herbert and Hastings, was deeply affecting. Lord Guilford was much moved, and prostrating himself before the Queen, besought her forgiveness for his ill-advised and ungenerous conduct — bitterly reproaching himself for having deserted her at a season of so much peril.
“I will not upbraid you, dear Dudley,” rejoined Jane, “neither will I attempt to disguise from you that your absence has given me more anguish than aught else in this season of trouble. My crown you well know was your crown. But now, alas! I fear I have lost that which, though a bauble in my eyes, was a precious jewel in yours.”
“Oh, say not so, my Queen,” replied Lord Guilford passionately. “Things are not so desperate as you imagine. I have letters full of hope and confidence from my father, who has reached Bury St. Edmund’s. He means to give battle to the rebels to-morrow. And the next messenger will no doubt bring news of their defeat.”
“Heaven grant it may prove so, my dear lord!” rejoined Jane. “But I am not so sanguine. I Have despatched missives to the sheriffs of the different counties, enjoining them to raise troops in my defence, and have summoned the Lord Mayor and the city authorities to the Council to-morrow, to decide upon what is best to be done in this emergency.”
“Daughter,” said the Duke of Suffolk, “it is my duty to inform you that I have just received letters from his Grace of Northumberland, very different in purport from that which has reached Lord Guilford. In them he expresses himself doubtful of the result of the conflict, and writes most urgently for further succour. His men, he says, are hourly deserting to the hostile camp. And, unless he speedily receives additional force and munition, it will be impossible to engage the enemy.”
“This is bad news, indeed, my lord,” replied Jane mournfully.
“Have we not troops to send him?” cried Lord Guilford Dudley. “If a leader is wanted, I will set forth at once.”
“We cannot spare another soldier from the Tower,” replied Suffolk. “London is in a state of revolt. The fortress may be stormed by the rabble, who are all in favor of Mary. The Duke has already taken all the picked men. And, if the few loyal soldiers left are removed, we shall not have sufficient to overawe the rebels.”
“My lord,” observed the Duchess of Northumberland, “you have allowed the Council too much sway. They will overpower you. And your Highness,” she added, turning to Jane, “has suffered yourself to be deluded by the artful counsels of Simon Renard.”
“Simon Renard has given me good counsel,” replied Jane.
“You are deceived, my Queen,” replied her husband.
He is conspiring against your crown and life.”
“It is too true,” added Suffolk; “I have detected some of his dark practices.”
“Were I assured of this,” answered Jane, “the last act of my reign — the last exertion of my power should be to avenge myself upon him.”
“Are the guards within the Tower true to us?” inquired Dudley.
“As yet,” replied Suffolk. “But they are wavering. If something be not done to confirm them, I fear they will declare for Mary.”
“And the Council?”
“Are plotting against us, and providing for their own safety.”
“Jane,” said Lord Guilford Dudley, “I will not attempt to excuse my conduct. But if it is possible to repair the injury I have done you, I will do so. Everything now depends on resolution. The Council are more to be feared than Mary and her forces. So long as you are mistress of the Tower, you are mistress of London, and Queen of England — even though the day should go against the Duke, my father. Give me a warrant under your hand for the arrest of the Council, and the ambassadors Renard and De Noailles, and I will see it instantly executed.”
“My lord!” she exclaimed.
“Trust me, my Queen, it is the only means to save Us,” replied Dudley. “This bold step will confound them and compel them to declare their purposes. If they are your enemies, as I nothing doubt, you will have them in your power.”
“I understand,” replied Jane. “You shall have the warrant. It will bring matters to an issue.”
As this moment the door of the chamber was thrown open, and an usher announced “Monsieur Simon Renard.”
“You are right welcome, M. Renard,” said Lord Guilford, bowing haughtily. “I was about to go in search of you.”
“Indeed,” rejoined the ambassador, coldly returning the salutation. “I am glad to spare your lordship so much trouble, and I am still more rejoiced to find you have recovered your temper, and returned to your royal consort.”
“Insolent!” exclaimed Lord Guilford. “Guards!” he cried, motioning to the attendants, “assure yourselves of his person.”
“Ha!” exclaimed Renard, laying his hand upon his sword. “You have no authority for this.”
“I have the Queen’s warrant,” rejoined Dudley sternly.
“The person of an ambassador is sacred,” observed Renard. “The Emperor, Charles the Fifth, will resent this outrage as an insult to himself.”
“I will take the consequences upon myself,” replied Lord Guilford carelessly.
“Your Highness will not suffer this wrong to be done?” said Renard, addressing Jane.
“Monsieur Renard,” replied the Queen, “I have reason to believe you have played me false. If I find you have deceived me, though you were brother to the Emperor, you shall lose your head.”
“You will have cause to repent this step,” rejoined Renard furiously. “The Council will command my instant release.”
“The order must be speedy, then,” replied Dudley, “for I shall place them all in arrest. And here, as luck will have it, are your friends the Earls of Arundel and Pembroke. They will attend you to the White Tower.”
So saying, he motioned to the guards to take them into custody.
“What means this?” cried Pembroke in astonishment.
“It means that Lord Guilford Dudley, who has been slumbering for some time in Sion House, has awakened at last, and fancies his royal consort’s crown is in danger,” rejoined Renard with a bitter sneer.
“This is some jest surely, my lord,” observed Pembroke. “The Council arrested at a moment of peril like this! Will you provoke us to manifest our power?”
“I will provoke you to manifest your treacherous designs towards her Majesty,” replied Dudley. “Away with them to the White Tower! Shrewsbury, Cecil, Huntingdon, Darcy, and the others shall soon join you there.”
“One word before we go, gracious madam?” said Pembroke, addressing the Queen.
“Not one, my lord,” replied Jane. “Lord Guilford Dudley has my full authority for what he does. I shall hold early Council to-morrow — which you shall be at liberty to attend, and you will then have ample opportunity to explain and defend yourself.”
Upon this, the confederate nobles were removed.
“It is time to put an end to this farce,” remarked Renard, as they were conducted along the gallery towards the White Tower.
“It is,” answered Pembroke, “and my first address in the Council to-morrow shall be to proclaim Queen Mary.”
“The hare-brained Dudley imagines he can confine us in the White Tower,” observed Renard, laughing. “There is not a chamber in it without a secret passage. And thanks to the jailer Nightgall, I am familiar with them all. We will not be idle to-night.”
CHAPTER XV.
HOW GUNNORA BRAOSE SOUGHT AN AUDIENCE OF QUEEN JANE.
HAVING seen the rest of the Council conveyed to the White Tower, Lord Guilford Dudley returned to the palace. While discoursing on other matters with the Queen, he casually remarked that he was surprised he did not perceive his esquire, Cuthbert Cholmondeley, in her Highness’s train, and was answered that he had not been seen since his departure for Sion House. Greatly surprised by the intelligence, Lord Guilford directed an attendant to make inquiries about him. After some time, the man returned, stating that he could obtain no information respecting him.
“This is very extraordinary,” said Lord Guilford. “Poor Cholmondeley! What can have happened to him? As soon as this danger is passed, I will make personal search for him.”
“I thought he had left the Tower with you, my dear lord,” observed Jane.
“Would he had!” answered her husband. “I cannot help suspecting he has incurred the enmity of the Council, and has been secretly removed. I will interrogate them on the subject to-morrow.”
While they were thus conversing, an usher appeared, and informed the Queen that a young damsel supplicated an audience, having somewhat to disclose of importance.
“You had better admit her, my Queen,” said Dudley. “She may have accidentally learned some plot which it is important for us to know.”
Jane having signified her assent, the usher withdrew, and presently afterwards introduced Cicely. The young damsel, who appeared to have suffered much, greatly interested the Queen by her extreme beauty and modesty. She narrated her story with infinite simplicity, and though she blushed deeply when she came to speak of the love professed for her by Cholmondeley, she attempted no concealment.
Both Jane and Lord Guilford Dudley were astonished beyond measure, when they learned that the young esquire had been incarcerated by Nightgall; and the latter was about to reproach Cicely for not having revealed the circumstance before, when she accounted for her silence by stating that she had been locked within her chamber ever since the night in question by her mother. Her story ended, Dudley declared his intention of seeking out the jailer without delay. “I will first compel him to liberate his prisoner,” he said, “and will then inflict upon him a punishment proportionate to his offence.”
“Alas!” exclaimed Cicely, bursting into tears, “I fear your lordship’s assistance will come too late. Nightgall has visited me daily, and he asserts that Master Cholmondeley has quitted the Tower by some secret passage under the moat. I fear he has destroyed him.”
“If it be so, he shall die the death he merits,” replied Dudley. “You say that the gigantic warders, whose lodging is in the By-ward Tower, are acquainted with the dungeon. I will proceed thither at once. Be of good cheer, fair damsel. If your lover is alive he shall wed you on the morrow, and I will put it out of Nightgall’s power to molest you further. Remain with the Queen till I return.”
“Ay, do so, child,” said Jane; “I shall be glad to have you with me. And, if you desire it, you shall remain constantly near my person.”
“It is more happiness than I deserve, gracious madam,” replied Cicely, dropping upon her knee. “And though your Majesty has many attendants more highly born, you will find none more faithful.”
“I fully believe it,” replied Jane, with a sigh. “Rise, damsel. Henceforth you are one of my attendants.”
Cicely replied by a look of speechless gratitude, while, summoning a guard, Dudley proceeded to the By-ward Tower. The giants informed him they had just returned from Nightgall’s lodging, and that he was absent. He then commanded them to accompany him to the entrance of the subterranean dungeons beneath the Devilin Tower.
“It will be useless to attempt to gain admission without the keys, my lord,” replied Og; “and they are in Master Nightgall’s keeping.”
“Has no one else a key?” demanded Dudley impatiently.
“No one, unless it be Gillian Mauger, the headsman,” replied Xit; “I will bring him to your lordship instantly.”
So saying, he hurried off in search of the executioner, while Dudley, attended by the two giants, proceeded slowly in the direction of the Beauchamp Tower. In a short time, the dwarf returned with Mauger, who limped after him as quickly as a lame leg would permit. He had no key of the dungeon, and on being questioned, declared there was no other entrance to it.
“Break open the door instantly, then,” cried Dudley.
Mauger declared this was impossible, as it was cased with iron, and fastened with a lock of great strength.
Magog, who was standing at a little distance with his arms folded upon his breast, now stepped forward, and, without saying a word, lifted up a large block of stone placed there to repair the walls, and hurling it against the door, instantly burst it open.
“Bravely done,” cried Lord Guilford. “How can I reward the service?”
“I scarcely know how to ask it of your lordship,” rejoined Magog; “but if you could prevail upon her Majesty to issue her commands to Dame Placida Paston to bestow her hand upon me, you would make me the happiest of mankind.”
“If the dame be willing, surely she does not require enforcement,” replied Dudley, laughing; “and if not—”
“She has half promised her hand to me, my lord,” said Xit, “and your lordship can scarcely doubt to whom she would give the preference.”
“She has indeed a fair choice betwixt giant and dwarf, I must own,” replied Dudley. “But bring torches and follow me. More serious business now claims my attention.”
“I will guide your lordship through these dungeons,” said Xit. “I have often accompanied Master Nightgall in his visits, and can conduct you to every cell.”
“Lead on then,” said Dudley.
After traversing a vast number of passages, and examining many cells, all of which were vacant, they at length came to the dungeon where Cholmondeley had been confined. Here they found Nightgall, who at first attempted to exculpate himself, and made a variety of wild accusations against the esquire, but when he found he was utterly disbelieved, he confessed the whole truth.
Dismissing some of his companions in search of the esquire, who it was evident, if the jailer’s statement was to be credited, must have lost himself in some of the passages, Dudley was about to follow them, when Nightgall flung himself at his feet, offered, if his life were spared, to reveal all the secret practices of the Council which had come to his knowledge. Dudley then ordered the rest of his attendants to withdraw, and was so much astonished at Nightgall’s communication, that he determined upon instantly conveying him to the palace. After a long but ineffectual search for Cholmondeley, whose escape has already been related, Dudley contented himself wit
h leaving Xit and Og to look for him; and placing Nightgall in the custody of the two other giants, returned with him to the palace.
While this was passing, the Queen had received an unexpected visit. She had retired to her closet with Cicely, and was listening to a recapitulation of the young damsel’s love affair, when the hangings were suddenly drawn aside, and Simon Renard stepped from a masked door in the wall. Surprise for a moment held her silent, and Cicely was so much astonished by the appearance of the intruder, and so much alarmed by his stern looks, that she stood like one petrified. Renard’s deportment, indeed, was most formidable, and could not fail to impress them both with terror. He said nothing for a moment, but fixed his black flaming eyes menacingly on the Queen. As she remained speechless, he motioned Cicely to withdraw, and she would have obeyed had not Jane grasped her arm and detained her.
“Do not leave me!” she cried, “or summon the guard.”
The words were no sooner spoken, than Renard drew his sword, and placed himself between her and the door.
“I have little to say,” he observed; “but I would have said it to you alone. Since you will have a witness, I am content.”
By this time, Jane had recovered her confidence; and, rising, she confronted Renard with a look as stern and haughty as his own.
“What brings you here, sir?” she demanded; “and by what means have you escaped from the White Tower? Are my guards false to their trust?”
“It matters not how I have escaped,” replied Renard. “I am come hither to warn you.”
“Of what?” asked Jane.
“Of the peril in which you stand,” replied Renard. “You are no longer Queen. The Duke of Northumberland has disbanded his army, and has himself proclaimed Mary.”
“It is false,” rejoined Jane.
The Works of William Harrison Ainsworth Page 129
