The Lady of Blossholme

by H. Rider Haggard

  Cicely's recollections of the remainder of that day were always shadowyand tangled. She remembered a prayer of thanksgiving in which she tooksmall part with her lips, she whose heart was one great thanksgiving.She remembered the good sister who had given them the relics of St.Catherine assuring her, as she received them back with care, thatthese and these alone had worked the miracle and saved their lives. Sheremembered eating food and straining her boy to her breast, and then sheremembered no more till she woke to see the morning sun streaming intothat same room whence on the previous day they had been led out tosuffer the most horrible of deaths.

  Yes, she woke, and see, near by was Emlyn making ready her garments, asshe had done these many years, and at her side lay the boy crowing inthe sunlight and waving his little arms, the blessed boy who knew notthe terrors he had passed. At first she thought that she had dreamed avery evil dream, till by degrees all the truth came back to her, andshe shivered at its memory, yes, even as the weight of it rolled off herheart she shivered and whitened like an aspen in the wind. Then she roseand thanked God for His mercies, which were great.

  Oh, if the strength of that horse of Thomas Bolle's had failed one shortfive minutes sooner, she, in whom the red blood still ran so healthily,would have been but a handful of charred bones. Or if her faith had lefther so that she had yielded to the Abbot and shortened all his talk atthe place of burning, then Bolle would have come too late. But it provedsufficient to her need, and for this also truly she should be thankfulto its Giver.

  After they had eaten, a message came to them from the Prioress, whodesired to see them in her chamber. Thither they went, rejoiced to findthat they were no longer prisoners but had liberty to come and go, andfound her seated in a tall chair, for she was too stiff to walk. Cicelyran to her, knelt down and kissed her, and she laid her left hand uponher head in blessing, for the right was cut with the chafing of thereins.

  "Surely, Cicely," she said, smiling, "it is I who should kneel to you,were I in any state to do so. For now I have heard all the tale, and itseems that we have a prophetess among us, one favoured with visions fromon high, which visions have been most marvellously fulfilled."

  "That is so, Mother," she answered briefly, for this was a matter ofwhich she would never talk at length, either then or thereafter, "butthe fulfilment came through you."

  "My daughter, I was but the minister, you were the chosen seer, stilllet the holy business lie a while. Perhaps you will tell me of itafterwards, and meantime the world and its affairs press us hard. Yourdeliverance has been bought at no small cost, my daughter, for know thatyonder coarse and ungodly man, the King's Visitor, told me as we rodethat this Nunnery must be dissolved, its house and revenues seized, andI and my sisters turned out to starve in our old age. Indeed, to bringhim here at all I was forced to petition that it might be so in awriting that I signed. See, then, how great is my love for you, dearCicely."

  "Mother," she answered, "it cannot be, it shall not be."

  "Alas! child, how will you prevent it? These Visitors, and those whocommission them, are hungry folk. I hear they take the lands and goodsof poor religious such as we are, and if these are fortunate, give oneor two of them a little pittance to get bread. Once I had moneys of myown, but I spent them to buy back the Valley Farm which the Abbot hadseized, and of late to satisfy his extortions," and she wept a little.

  "Mother, listen. I have wealth hidden away, I know not where exactly,but Emlyn knows. It is my very own, the Carfax jewels that came to mefrom my mother. It was because of these that we were brought to thestake, since the Abbot offered us life in return for them, and when itwas too late to save us, a more merciful death than that by fire. But Iforbade Emlyn to yield the secret; something in my heart told me to doso, now I know why. Mother, the price of those gems shall buy back yourlands, and mayhap buy also permission from his Grace the King for thecontinuance of your house, where you and yours shall worship as thosewho went before you have done for many generations. I swear it in my ownname and in that of my child and of my husband also--if he lives."

  "Your husband if he lives might need this wealth, sweet Cicely."

  "Then, Mother, except to save his life, or liberty or honour, I tell youI will refuse it to him, who, when he learns what you have done for meand our son, would give it you and all else he has besides--nay, wouldpay it as an honourable debt."

  "Well, Cicely, in God's name and my own I thank you, and we'll see,we'll see! Only be advised, lest Dr. Legh should learn of this treasure.But where is it, Emlyn? Fear not to tell me who can be secret, for itis well that more than one should know, and I think that your danger ispast."

  "Yes, speak, Emlyn," said Cicely, "for though I never asked before,fearing my own weakness, I am curious. None can hear us here."

  "Then, Mistress, I will tell you. You remember that on the day of theburning of Cranwell we sought refuge on the central tower, whence Icarried you senseless to the vault. Now in that vault we lay all night,and while you swooned I searched with my fingers till I found a stonethat time and damp had loosened, behind which was a hollow. In thathollow I hid the jewels that I carried wrapt in silk in the bosom of myrobe. Then I filled up the hole with dust scraped from the floor, andreplaced the stone, wedging it tight with bits of mortar. It is thethird stone counting from the eastern angle in the second course abovethe floor line. There I set them, and there doubtless they lie to thisday, for unless the tower is pulled down to its foundations none willever find them in that masonry."

  At this moment there came a knocking on the door. When it was opened byEmlyn a nun entered, saying that the King's Visitor demanded to speakwith the Prioress.

  "Show him here since I cannot come to him," said Mother Matilda, "andyou, Cicely and Emlyn, bide with me, for in such company it is well tohave witnesses."

  A minute later Dr. Legh appeared accompanied by his secretaries,gorgeously attired and puffing from the stairs.

  "To business, to business," he said, scarcely stopping to acknowledgethe greetings of the Prioress. "Your convent is sequestrated uponyour own petition, Madam, therefore I need not stop to make the usualinquiries, and indeed I will admit that from all I hear it has a goodrepute, for none allege scandal against you, perhaps because you are alltoo old for such follies. Produce now your deeds, your terrier of landsand your rent-rolls, that I may take them over in due form and dissolvethe sisterhood."

  "I will send for them, Sir," answered the Prioress humbly; "but,meanwhile, tell us what we poor religious are to do? I am turned sixtyyears of age, and have dwelt in this house for forty of them; none of mysisters are young, and some of them are older than myself. Whither shallwe go?"

  "Into the world, Madam, which you will find a fine, large place. Ceasesnuffling prayers and from all vulgar superstitions--by the way, forgetnot to hand over any reliquaries of value, or any papistical emblemsin precious metals that you may possess, including images, of which mysecretaries will take account--and go out into the world. Marry thereif you can find husbands, follow useful trades there. Do what you willthere, and thank the King who frees you from the incumbrance of sillyvows and from the circle of a convent's walls."

  "To give us liberty to starve outside of them. Sir, do you understandyour work? For hundreds of years we have sat at Blossholme, and duringall those generations have prayed to God for the souls of men andministered to their bodies. We have done no harm to any creature, andwhat wealth came to us from the earth or from the benefactions ofthe pious we have dispensed with a liberal hand, taking nothing forourselves. The poor by multitudes have fed at our gates, their sick wehave nursed, their children we have taught; often we have gone hungrythat they might be full. Now you drive us forth in our age to perish.If that is the will of God, so be it, but what must chance to England'spoor?"

  "That is England's business, Madam, and the poor's. Meanwhile I havetold you that I have no time to waste, since I must away to London tomake report concerning this Abbot of yours, a veritable rogue, ofwhose villainous plots I
have discovered many things. I pray you send amessenger to bid them hurry with the deeds."

  Just then a nun entered bearing a tray, on which were cakes and wine.Emlyn took it from her, and pouring the wine into cups offered them tothe Visitor and his secretaries.

  "Good wine," he said, after he had drunk, "a very generous wine. Younuns know the best in liquor; be careful, I pray you, to include it inyour inventory. Why, woman, are you not one of those whom that Abbotwould have burnt? Yes, and there is your mistress, Dame Foterell, orDame Harflete, with whom I desire a word."

  "I am at your service, Sir," said Cicely.

  "Well, Madam, you and your servant have escaped the stake to which, asnear as I can judge, you were sentenced upon no evidence at all. Still,you were condemned by a competent ecclesiastical Court, and under thatcondemnation you must therefore remain until or unless the King pardonsyou. My judgment is, then, that you stay here awaiting his command."

  "But, Sir," said Cicely, "if the good nuns who have befriended me are tobe driven forth, how can I dwell on in their house alone? Yet you sayI must not leave it, and indeed if I could, whither should I go? Myhusband's hall is burnt, my own the Abbot holds. Moreover, if I bidehere, in this way or in that he will have my life."

  "The knave has fled away," said Dr. Legh, rubbing his fat chin.

  "Aye, but he will come back again, or his people will, and, Sir, youknow these Spaniards are good haters, and I have defied him long. Oh,Sir, I crave the protection of the King for my child's sake and my own,and for Emlyn Stower also."

  The Commissioner went on rubbing his chin.

  "You can give much evidence against this Maldon, can you not?" he askedat length.

  "Aye," broke in Emlyn, "enough to hang him ten times over, and so canI."

  "And you have large estates which he has seized, have you not?"

  "I have, Sir, who am of no mean birth and station."

  "Lady," he said, with more deference in his voice, "step aside with me,I would speak with you privately," and he walked to the window, whereshe followed him. "Now tell me, what was the value of these propertiesof yours?"

  "I know not rightly, Sir, but I have heard my father say about L300 ayear."

  His manner became more deferential still, since for those days suchwealth was great.

  "Indeed, my Lady. A large sum, a very comfortable fortune if you can getit back. Now I will be frank with you. The King's Commissioners are notwell paid and their costs are great. If I so arrange your mattersthat you come to your own again and that the judgment of witchcraftpronounced against you and your servant is annulled, will you promise topay me one year's rent of these estates to meet the various expenses Imust incur on your behalf?"

  Now it was Cicely's turn to think.

  "Surely," she answered at length, "if you will add a condition--thatthese good sisters shall be left undisturbed in their Nunnery."

  He shook his fat head.

  "It is not possible now. The thing is too public. Why, the Lord Cromwellwould say I had been bribed, and I might lose my office."

  "Well, then," went on Cicely, "if you will promise that one year ofgrace shall be given to them to make arrangements for their future."

  "That I can do," he answered, nodding, "on the ground that they are ofblameless life, and have protected you from the King's enemy. But thisis an uncertain world; I must ask you to sign an indenture, and its formwill be that you acknowledge to have received from me a loan of L300 tobe repaid with interest when you recover your estates."

  "Draw it up and I will sign, Sir."

  "Good, Madam; and now that we may get this business through, you willaccompany me to London, where you will be safe from harm. We'll not rideto-day, but to-morrow morning at the light."

  "Then my servant Emlyn must come also, Sir, to help me with the babe,and Thomas Bolle too, for he can prove that the witchcraft upon which wewere condemned was but his trickery."

  "Yes, yes; but the costs of travel for so many will be great. Have you,perchance, any money?"

  "Yes, Sir, about L50 in gold that is sewn up in one of Emlyn's robes."

  "Ah! A sufficient sum. Too much indeed to be risked upon your persons inthese rough times. You will let me take charge of half of it for you?"

  "With pleasure, Sir, trusting you as I do. Keep to your bargain and Iwill keep to mine."

  "Good. When Thomas Legh is fairly dealt with, Thomas Legh deals fairly,no man can say otherwise. This afternoon I will bring the deed, andyou'll give me that L25 in charge."

  Then, followed by Cicely, he returned to where the Prioress sat, andsaid--

  "Mother Matilda, for so I understand you are called in religion, theLady Harflete has been pleading with me for you, and because you havedealt so well by her I have promised in the King's name that you andyour nuns shall live on here undisturbed for one year from this day,after which you must yield up peaceable possession to his Majesty, whomI will beg that you shall be pensioned."

  "I thank you, Sir," the Prioress answered. "When one is old a year ofgrace is much, and in a year many things may happen--for instance, mydeath."

  "Thank me not--a plain man who but follows after justice and duty. Thedocuments for your signature shall be ready this afternoon, and by theway, the Lady Harflete and her servant, also that stout, shrewd fellow,Thomas Bolle, ride with me to London to-morrow. She will explain all. Atthree of the clock I wait upon you."

  The Visitor and his secretaries bustled out of the room as pompouslyas they had entered, and when they had gone Cicely explained to MotherMatilda and Emlyn what had passed.

  "I think that you have done wisely," said the Prioress, when she hadlistened. "That man is a shark, but better give him your little fingerthan your whole body. Certainly, you have bargained well for us, forwhat may not happen in a year? Also, dear Cicely, you will be safer inLondon than at Blossholme, since with the great sum of L300 to gainthat Commissioner will watch you like the apple of his eye and push yourcause."

  "Unless some one promises him the greater sum of L1000 to scotch it,"interrupted Emlyn. "Well, there was but one road to take, and paperpromises are little, though I grudge the good L25 in gold. Meanwhile,Mother, we have much to make ready. I pray you send some one to findThomas Bolle, who will not be far away, for since we are no longerprisoners I wish to go out walking with him on an errand of my own thatperchance you can guess. Wealth may be useful in London town for all oursakes. Also horses and a packbeast must be got, and other things."