THE STAR-CHAMBER;

AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE, BY W. HARRISON AINSWORTH, ESQ. 

AUTHOR OF "WINDSOR CASTLE, " &C. 

IN TWO VOLUMES. 

VOL. I. 

LEIPZIG

BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ

1854. 

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. 

CHAPTER

 I. The Three Cranes in the Vintry II. Sir Giles Mompesson and his partner III. The French ordinary IV. A Star-Chamber victim V. Jocelyn Mounchensey VI. Provocation VII. How Lord Roos obtained Sir Francis Mitchell's signature VIII. Of Lupo Vulp, Captain Bludder, Clement Lanyere, and Sir Giles's other Myrmidons IX. The Letters-Patent X. The 'prentices and their leader XI. John Wolfe XII. The Arrest and the Rescue XIII. How Jocelyn Mounchensey encountered a masked horseman on Stamford Hill XIV. The May-Queen and the Puritan's Daughter XV. Hugh Calveley XVI. Of the sign given by the Puritan to the Assemblage XVII. A rash promise XVIII. How the promise was cancelled XIX. Theobalds' Palace XX. King James the First XXI. Consequences of the Puritan's warning XXII. Wife and Mother-in-Law XXIII. The Tress of Hair XXIV. The Fountain Court XXV. Sir Thomas Lake XXVI. The forged Confession XXVII. The Puritan's PrisonXXVIII. The Secret XXIX. Luke Hatton

 "I will make a Star-Chamber matter of it. " MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. 

CHAPTER I. 

The Three Cranes in the Vintry. 

Adjoining the Vintry Wharf, and at the corner of a narrow lanecommunicating with Thames Street, there stood, in the early part of theSeventeenth Century, a tavern called the Three Cranes. This old andrenowned place of entertainment had then been in existence more than twohundred years, though under other designations. In the reign of RichardII. , when it was first established, it was styled the Painted Tavern, from the circumstance of its outer walls being fancifully coloured andadorned with Bacchanalian devices. But these decorations went out offashion in time, and the tavern, somewhat changing its externalfeatures, though preserving all its internal comforts and accommodation, assumed the name of the Three Crowns, under which title it continueduntil the accession of Elizabeth, when it became (by a slightmodification) the Three Cranes; and so remained in the days of hersuccessor, and, indeed, long afterwards. 

Not that the last-adopted denomination had any reference, as might besupposed, to the three huge wooden instruments on the wharf, employedwith ropes and pulleys to unload the lighters and other vessels thatbrought up butts and hogsheads of wine from the larger craft belowBridge, and constantly thronged the banks; though, no doubt, theyindirectly suggested it. The Three Cranes depicted on the largesignboard, suspended in front of the tavern, were long-necked, long-beaked birds, each with a golden fish in its bill. 

But under whatever designation it might be known--Crown or Crane--thetavern had always maintained a high reputation for excellence of wine:and this is the less surprising when we take into account its closeproximity to the vast vaults and cellars of the Vintry, where thechoicest produce of Gascony, Bordeaux, and other wine-growing districts, was deposited; some of which we may reasonably conclude would find itsway to its tables. Good wine, it may be incidentally remarked, was cheapenough when the Three Cranes was first opened, the delicate juice of theGascoign grape being then vended, at fourpence the gallon, and Rhenishat sixpence! Prices, however, had risen considerably at the period ofwhich we propose to treat; but the tavern was as well-reputed andwell-frequented as ever: even more so, for it had considerably advancedin estimation since it came into the hands of a certain enterprisingFrench skipper, Prosper Bonaventure by name, who intrusted itsmanagement to his active and pretty little wife Dameris, while hehimself prosecuted his trading voyages between the Garonne and theThames. And very well Madame Bonaventure fulfilled the duties ofhostess, as will be seen. 

Now, as the skipper was a very sharp fellow, and perfectly understoodhis business-practically anticipating the Transatlantic axiom of buyingat the cheapest market and gelling at the dearest-he soon contrived togrow rich. He did more: he pleased his customers at the Three Cranes. Taking care to select his wines judiciously, and having goodopportunities, he managed to obtain possession of some deliciousvintages, which, could not be matched elsewhere; and, with this nectarat his command, the fortune of his house was made. All the town gallantsflocked to the Three Cranes to dine at the admirable French ordinarynewly established there, and crush a flask or so of the exquisiteBordeaux, about which, and its delicate flavour and bouquet, all theconnoisseurs in claret were raving. From, mid-day, therefore, till latein the afternoon, there were nearly as many gay barges and wherries aslighters lying off the Vintry Wharf; and sometimes, when accommodationwas wanting, the little craft were moored along the shore all the wayfrom Queenhithe to the Steelyard; at which latter place the CatherineWheel was almost as much noted for racy Rhenish and high-dried neat'stongues, as our tavern was for fine Bordeaux and well-seasoned pâtés. 

Not the least, however, of the attractions of the Three Cranes, was thehostess herself. A lively little brunette was Madame Bonaventure, stillyoung, or, at all events, very far from being old; with extremely fineteeth, which she was fond of displaying, and a remarkably neat ancle, which she felt no inclination to hide beneath the sweep of her roundcircling farthingale. Her figure was quite that of a miniature Venus;and as, like most of her country-women, she understood the art of dressto admiration, she set off her person to the best advantage; alwaysattiring herself in a style, and in colours, that suited her, and neverindulging in an unwarrantable extravagance of ruff, or absurd andunbecoming length of peaked boddice. As to the stuffs she wore, theywere certainly above her station, for no Court dame could boast ofricher silks than those in which the pretty Dameris appeared on fêtedays; and this was accounted for by reason that the good skipper seldomreturned from a trip to France without bringing his wife a piece ofsilk, brocade, or velvet from Lyons; or some little matter from Paris, such as a ruff, cuff, partlet, bandlet, or fillet. Thus the last Frenchmode might be seen at the Three Crowns, displayed by the hostess, aswell as the last French _entremet_ at its table; since, among otherimportant accessories to the well-doing of the house, Madame Bonaventurekept a _chef de cuisine_--one of her compatriots--of such superlativeskill, that in later times he must infallibly have been distinguished asa _cordon bleu_. 

But not having yet completed our description of the charming Bordelaisewe must add that she possessed a rich southern complexion, finesparkling black eyes, shaded by long dark eye-lashes, and over-arched byjetty brows, and that her raven hair was combed back and gathered in alarge roll over her smooth forehead, which had the five points of beautycomplete. Over this she wore a prettily-conceived coif, with a frontlet. A well-starched, well-plaited ruff encompossed her throat. Her upper lipwas darkened, but in the slightest degree, by down like the softestsilk; and this peculiarity (a peculiarity it would be in anEnglishwoman, though frequently observable in the beauties of the Southof France) lent additional piquancy and zest to her charms in the eyesof her numerous adorers. Her ankles we have said were trim; and it maybe added that they were oftener displayed in an embroidered Frenchvelvet shoe than in one of Spanish leather; while in walking out sheincreased her stature "by the altitude of a chopine. "

Captain Bonaventure was by no means jealous; and even if he had been, itwould have mattered little, since he was so constantly away. Fancying, therefore, she had some of the privileges of a widow, our lively Damerisflirted a good deal with the gayest and handsomest of the galliardsfrequenting her house. But she knew where to stop; no licence orindecorum was ever permitted at the Three Cranes; and that is saying agreat deal in favour of the hostess, when the dissolute character of theage is taken into consideration. Besides this, Cyprien, a stoutwell-favoured young Gascon, who filled the posts of drawer andchamberlain, together with two or three other trencher-scrapers, whoserved at table, and waited on the guests, were generally sufficient toclear the house of any troublesome roysterers. Thus the reputation ofthe Three Cranes was unblemished, in spite of the liveliness andcoquetry of its mistress; and in spite, also, of the malicious tonguesof rival tavern-keepers, which were loud against it. A pretty woman issure to have enemies and calumniators, and Madame Bonaventure had morethan enow; but she thought very little about them. 

There was one point, however, on which it behoved her to be careful: andextremely careful she was, --not leaving a single loop-hole for censureor attack. This was the question of religion. On first taking the house, Madame Bonaventure gave it out that she and the skipper were Huguenots, descended from families who had suffered much persecution during thetime of the League, for staunch adherence to their faith; and thestatement was generally credited, though there were some who professedto doubt it. Certain it was, our hostess did not wear any cross, beads, or other outward symbol of Papacy. And though this might count forlittle, it was never discovered that she attended mass in secret. Hermovements were watched, but without anything coming to light that hadreference to religious observances of any kind. Those who tried to traceher, found that her visits were mostly paid to Paris Garden, the Rose, and the Globe (where our immortal bard's plays were then beingperformed), or some other place of amusement; and if she did go on theriver at times, it was merely upon a party of pleasure, accompanied bygay gallants in velvet cloaks and silken doublets, and by light-hearteddames like herself, and not by notorious plotters or sour priests. Still, as many Bordeaux merchants frequented the house, as well astraders from the Hanse towns, and other foreigners, it was looked uponby the suspicious as a hotbed of Romish heresy and treason. Moreover, these maligners affirmed that English recusants, as well as seminarypriests from abroad, had been harboured there, and clandestinelyspirited away from the pursuit of justice by the skipper; but thecharges were never substantiated, and could, therefore, only proceedfrom envy and malice. Whatever Madame Bonaventure's religious opinionsmight be, she kept her own council so well that no one ever found themout. 

But evil days were at hand. Hitherto, all had been smiling andprosperous. The prospect now began to darken. 

Within the last twelve months a strange and unlooked for interferencehad taken place with our hostess's profits, which she had viewed, atfirst, without much anxiety, because she did not clearly comprehend itsscope; but latterly, as its formidable character became revealed, itbegan to fill her with uneasiness. The calamity, as she naturally enoughregarded it, arose in the following manner. The present was an age ofmonopolies and patents, granted by a crown ever eager to obtain moneyunder any pretext, however unjustifiable and iniquitous, provided it wasplausibly coloured; and these vexatious privileges were purchased bygreedy and unscrupulous persons for the purpose of turning them intoinstruments of extortion and wrong. Though various branches of trade andindustry groaned under the oppression inflicted upon them, there were nomeans of redress. The patentees enjoyed perfect immunity, grinding themdown as they pleased, farming out whole districts, and dividing thespoil. Their miserable victims dared scarcely murmur; having ever theterrible court of Star-Chamber before them, which their persecutorscould command, and which punished libellers--as they would be accounted, if they gave utterance to their wrongs, and charged their oppressorswith mis-doing, --with fine, branding, and the pillory. Many were handledin this sort, and held up _in terrorem_ to the others. Hence it came topass, that the Star-Chamber, from the fearful nature of its machinery;its extraordinary powers; the notorious corruption and venality of itsofficers; the peculiarity of its practice, which always favoured theplaintiff; and the severity with which it punished any libelling orslanderous words uttered against the king's representative (as thepatentees were considered), or any conspiracy or false accusationbrought against them; it came to pass, we say, that this terrible courtbecame as much dreaded in Protestant England as the Inquisition inCatholic Spain. The punishments inflicted by the Star-Chamber were, aswe learn from a legal authority, and a counsel in the court, "fine, imprisonment, loss of ears, or nailing to the pillory, slitting thenose, branding the forehead, whipping of late days, wearing of papers inpublic places, or any punishment but death. " And John Chamberlain, Esq. , writing to Sir Dudley Carlton, about the same period, observes, that"The world is now much terrified with the Star-Chamber, there being notso little an offence against any proclamation, but is liable and subjectto the censure of that court. And for proclamations and patents, theyare become so ordinary that there is no end; every day bringing forthsome new project or other. As, within these two days, here is one comeforth for tobacco, wholly engrossed by Sir Thomas Roe and his partners, which, if they can keep and maintain against the general clamour, willbe a great commodity; unless, peradventure, indignation, rather than allother reasons, may bring that filthy weed out of use. " [What, would bethe effect of such a patent now-a-days? Would it, at all, restrict theuse of the "filthy weed?"] "In truth, " proceeds Chamberlain, "the worlddoth even groan under the burthen of these perpetual patents, which arebecome so frequent, that whereas at the king's coming in there werecomplaints of some eight or nine monopolies then in being, they are nowsaid to be multiplied to as many scores. "

From the foregoing citation, from a private letter of the time, thestate of public feeling may be gathered, and the alarm occasioned in allclasses by these oppressions perfectly understood. 

Amongst those who had obtained the largest share of spoil were twopersons destined to occupy a prominent position in our history. Theywere Sir Giles Mompesson and Sir Francis Mitchell, --both names held ingeneral dread and detestation, though no man ventured to speak ill ofthem openly, since they were as implacable in their animosities, asusurious and griping in their demands; and many an ear had been lost, many a nose slit, many a back scourged at the cart's tail, because theunfortunate owners had stigmatized them according to their deserts. Thusthey enjoyed a complete immunity of wrong; and, with the terrible courtof Star-Chamber to defend them and to punish their enemies, they set allopposition at defiance. 

Insatiable as unscrupulous, this avaricious pair were ever on the alertto devise new means of exaction and plunder, and amongst the latest andmost productive of their inventions were three patents, which they hadobtained through the instrumentality of Sir Edward Villiers(half-brother of the ruling favourite, the Marquess of Buckingham)--andfor due consideration-money, of course, --for the licensing of ale-housesthe inspection of inns and hostelries, and the exclusive manufacture ofgold and silver thread. It is with the two former of these that we havenow to deal; inasmuch as it was their mischievous operation thataffected Madame Bonaventure so prejudicially; and this we shall morefully explain, as it will serve to show the working of a frightfulsystem of extortion and injustice happily no longer in existence. 

By the sweeping powers conferred upon them by their patents, the wholeof the inns of the metropolis were brought under the control of the twoextortioners, who levied such imposts as they pleased. The withdrawal ofa license, or the total suppression of a tavern, on the plea of itsbeing a riotous and disorderly house, immediately followed the refusalof any demand, however excessive; and most persons preferred the remotepossibility of ruin, with the chance of averting it by ready submission, to the positive certainty of losing both substance and liberty byresistance. 

Fearful was the havoc occasioned by these licensed depredators, yet noone dared to check them--no one ventured to repine. They had the name oflaw to justify their proceedings, and all its authority to uphold them. Compromises were attempted in some instances, but they were foundunavailing. Easily evaded by persons who never intended to be bound bythem, they only added keenness to the original provocation, withoutoffering a remedy for it. The two bloodsuckers, it was clear, would notdesist from draining the life-current from the veins of their victimswhile a drop remained. And they were well served in their iniquitoustask, --for the plain reason that they paid their agents, well. Partnersthey had none; none, at least, who cared to acknowledge themselves assuch. But the subordinate officers of the law (and indeed some high inoffice, it was hinted), the sheriff's followers, bailiffs, tipstaves, and others, were all in their pay; besides a host of myrmidons, --base, sordid knaves, who scrupled not at false-swearing, cozenage, or any sortof rascality, even forgery of legal documents, if required. 

No wonder poor Madame Bonaventure, finding she had got into the clutchesof these harpies, began to tremble for the result. 

CHAPTER II. 

Sir Giles Mompesson and his partner. 

Madame Bonaventure had already paid considerable sums to the twoextortioners, but she resisted their last application; in consequence ofwhich she received a monition from Sir Giles Mompesson, to the effectthat, in a month's time, her license would be withdrawn, and her houseshut up, unless, in the interim, she consented to make amends to himselfand his co-patentee, Sir Francis Mitchell, by payment of the sum inquestion, together with a further sum, equal to it in amount, by way offorfeit; thus doubling the original demand. 

Our pretty hostess, it would seem, had placed herself in an awkwardpredicament by her temerity. Sir Giles was not a man to threaten idly, as all who had incurred his displeasure experienced to their cost. Hisplan was to make himself feared; and he was inexorable, as fate itself, to a creditor. He ever exacted the full penalty of his bond. In thisinstance, according to his own notion, he had acted with great leniency;and certainly, judged by his customary mode of proceeding in such cases, he had shown some little indulgence. In this line of conduct he had beenmainly influenced by his partner, who, not being insensible to theattractions of the fair hostess, hoped to win her favour by a show ofconsideration. But though Madame Bonaventure was willing enough, for herown purposes, to encourage Sir Francis Mitchell's attentions (shedetested him in her secret heart), she by no means relied upon him forsecurity. A more powerful friend was held in reserve, whom she meant toproduce at the last moment; and, consequently, she was not so ill atease as she otherwise would have been, though by no means free frommisgiving. 

Sir Giles Mompesson was a terrible enemy, and seldom thwarted in hispurpose. That she knew. But no man was more keenly alive to his owninterest than he; and she persuaded herself he would find it to hisadvantage not to molest her: in which case she was safe. Of Sir FrancisMitchell she had less apprehension; for, though equally mischievous andmalevolent with his partner, he was far feebler of purpose, and for themost part governed by him. Besides, she felt she had the amorous knightin her toils, and could easily manage him if he were alone. 

So the case stood with respect to our pretty hostess; but, beforeproceeding further, it may be well to give a more complete descriptionof the two birds of prey by whom she was threatened with beak and talon. 

The master-spirit of the twain was undoubtedly Sir Giles Mompesson. Quick in conception of villainy, he was equally daring in execution. How he had risen to his present bad eminence no one precisely knew;because, with the craft and subtlety that distinguished him, he laid hisschemes so deeply, and covered his proceedings with so thick a veil, that they had been rarely detected. Report, however, spoke of him as ausurer of the vilest kind, who wrung exorbitant interest from needyborrowers, --who advanced money to expectant heirs, with the intention ofplundering them of their inheritance, --and who resorted to every trickand malpractice permitted by the law to benefit himself at hisneighbour's expense. These were bad enough, but even graver accusationswere made against him. It was whispered that he had obtained fraudulentpossession of deeds and family papers, which had enabled him to wrestestates from their rightful owners; and some did not scruple to add tothese charges that he had forged documents to carry out his nefariousdesigns. Be this as it may, from comparative poverty he speedily rose towealth; and, as his means increased, so his avaricious schemes weremultiplied and extended. His earlier days were passed in completeobscurity, none but the neediest spendthrift or the most desperategambler knowing where he dwelt, and every one who found him out in hiswretched abode near the Marshalsea had reason to regret his visit. Nowhe was well enough known by many a courtly prodigal, and his largemansion near Fleet Bridge (it was said of him that he always chose theneigbourhood of a prison for his dwelling) was resorted to by the towngallants whose, necessities or extravagance compelled them to obtainsupplies at exorbitant interest. Lavish in his expenditure on occasions, Sir Giles was habitually so greedy and penurious, that he begrudgedevery tester he expended. He wished to keep up a show of hospitalitywithout cost, and secretly pleased himself by thinking that he made hisguests pay for his entertainments, and even for his establishment. Hisservants complained of being half-starved, though he was constantly atwar with them for their wastefulness and riot. He made, however, a greatdisplay of attendants, inasmuch as he had a whole retinue of myrmidonsat his beck and call; and these, as before observed, were well paid. They were the crows that followed the vultures, and picked the bones ofthe spoil when their ravening masters had been fully glutted. 

In the court of Star-Chamber, as already remarked, Sir Giles Mompessonfound an instrument in every way fitted to his purposes; and he workedit with terrible effect, as will be shown hereafter. With him it was atonce a weapon to destroy, and a shield to protect. This court claimed "asuperlative power not only to take causes from other courts and punishthem there, but also to punish offences secondarily, when other courtshave punished them. " Taking advantage of this privilege, when a suitwas commenced against him elsewhere, Sir Giles contrived to remove it tothe Star-Chamber, where, being omnipotent with clerks and counsel, hewas sure of success, --the complaints being so warily contrived, theexaminations so adroitly framed, and the interrogatories so numerous andperplexing, that the defendant, or delinquent, as he was indifferentlystyled, was certain to be baffled and defeated. "The sentences of thiscourt, " it has been said by one intimately acquainted with its practice, and very favourably inclined to it, "strike to the root of men'sreputations, and many times of their estates;" and, again, it was a rulewith it, that the prosecutor "was ever intended to be favoured. " Knowingthis as well as the high legal authority from whom we have quoted, SirGiles ever placed himself in the favoured position, and, with the aid ofthis iniquitous tribunal, blasted many a fair reputation, and consignedmany a victim of its injustice to the Fleet, there to rot till he paidhim the utmost of his demands, or paid the debt of nature. 

In an age less corrupt and venal than that under consideration, such acareer could not have long continued without check. But in the time ofJames the First, from the neediness of the monarch himself, and therapacity of his minions and courtiers and their satellites, --eachstriving to enrich himself, no matter how--a thousand abuses, both ofright and justice, were tolerated or connived at, crime stalking abroadunpunished. The Star-Chamber itself served the king as, in a lessdegree, it served Sir Giles Mompesson, and others of the same stamp, asa means of increasing his revenue; half the fines mulcted from those whoincurred its censure or its punishments being awarded to the crown. Thusnice inquiries were rarely made, unless a public example was needed, when the wrongdoer was compelled to disgorge his plunder. But this wasnever done till the pear was fully ripe. Sir Giles, however, had noapprehensions of any such result in his case. Like a sly fox, or ratherlike a crafty wolf, he was too confident in his own cunning andresources to fear being caught in such a trap. 

His title was purchased, and he reaped his reward in the consequence itgave him. Sir Francis Mitchell acted likewise; and it was about thistime that the connection between the worthy pair commenced. Hithertothey had been in opposition, and though very different in temperamentand in modes of proceeding, they had one aim in common; and recognizinggreat merit in each other, coupled with a power of mutual assistance, they agreed to act in concert. Sir Francis was as cautious and timid asSir Giles was daring and inflexible: the one being the best contriver ofa scheme, and the other the fittest to carry it out. Sir Francistrembled at his own devices and their possible consequences: Sir Gilesadopted his schemes, if promising, and laughed at the difficulties anddangers that beset them. The one was the head; the other the arm. Notthat Sir Giles lacked the ability to weave as subtle a web of deceit ashis partner; but each took his line. It saved time. The plan oflicensing and inspecting taverns and hotels had originated with SirFrancis, and very profitable it proved. But Sir Giles carried it outmuch further than his partner had proposed, or thought prudent. 

And they were as different in personal appearance, as in mentalqualities and disposition. Mompesson was the dashing eagle; Mitchell thesorry kite. Sir Francis was weakly, emaciated in frame; much given tosensual indulgence; and his body conformed to his timorous organization. His shrunken shanks scarcely sufficed to support him; his back was bent;his eyes blear; his head bald; and his chin, which was continuallywagging, clothed with a scanty yellow beard, shaped like a stiletto, while his sandy moustachios were curled upward. He was dressed in theextremity of the fashion, and affected the air of a young court gallant. His doublet, hose, and mantle were ever of the gayest and most fancifulhues, and of the richest stuffs; he wore a diamond brooch in his beaver, and sashes, tied like garters, round his thin legs, which were utterlydestitute of calf. Preposterously large roses covered his shoes; hisruff was a "treble-quadruple-dedalion;" his gloves richly embroidered; alarge crimson satin purse hung from his girdle; and he was scented withpowders and pulvilios. This withered coxcomb affected the mincing gaitof a young man; and though rather an object of derision than admirationwith the fair sex, persuaded himself they were all captivated by him. The vast sums he so unjustly acquired did not long remain in hispossession, but were dispersed in ministering to his follies anddepravity. Timorous he was by nature, as we have said, but cruel andunrelenting in proportion to his cowardice; and where an injury could besecurely inflicted, or a prostrate foe struck with impunity, he neverhesitated for a moment. Sir Giles himself was scarcely so malignant andimplacable. 

A strong contrast to this dastardly debauchee was offered by the boldervillain. Sir Giles Mompesson was a very handsome man, with a strikingphysiognomy, but dark and sinister in expression. His eyes were black, singularly piercing, and flashed with the fiercest fire when kindled bypassion. A finely-formed aquiline nose gave a hawk-like character to hisface; his hair was coal-black (though he was no longer young), and hungin long ringlets over his neck and shoulders. He wore the handsomely cutbeard and moustache subsequently depicted in the portraits of Vandyke, which suited the stern gravity of his countenance. Rich, though sober inhis attire, he always affected a dark colour, being generally habited ina doublet of black quilted silk, Venetian hose, and a murrey-colouredvelvet mantle. His conical hat was ornamented with a single blackostrich feather; and he carried a long rapier by his side, in the use ofwhich he was singularly skilful; being one of Vincentio Saviolo's bestpupils. Sir Giles was a little above the middle height, with a wellproportioned athletic figure; and his strength and address were such, that there seemed good reason for his boast when he declared, as heoften did, "that he feared no man living, in fair fight, no, nor any twomen. "

Sir Giles had none of the weaknesses of his partner. Temperate in hisliving, he had never been known to commit an excess at table; nor werethe blandishments or lures of the fair sex ever successfully spread forhim. If his arm was of iron, his heart seemed of adamant, utterlyimpenetrable by any gentle emotion. It was affirmed, and believed, thathe had never shed a tear. His sole passion appeared to be theaccumulation of wealth; unattended by the desire to spend it. Hebestowed no gifts. He had no family, no kinsmen, whom he cared toacknowledge. He stood alone--a hard, grasping man: a bond-slave ofMammon. 

When it pleased him, Sir Giles Mompesson could play the courtier, andfawn and gloze like the rest. A consummate hypocrite, he easily assumedany part he might be called upon to enact; but the tone natural to himwas one of insolent domination and bitter raillery. He sneered at allthings human and divine; and there was mockery in his laughter, as wellas venom in his jests. His manner, however, was not without a certaincold and grave dignity; and he clothed himself, like his purposes, ininscrutable reserve, on occasions requiring it. So ominous was hispresence, that many persons got out of his way, fearing to come incontact with him, or give him offence; and the broad walk at Paul's wassometimes cleared as he took his way along it, followed by his band oftipstaves. 

If this were the case with persons who had no immediate ground ofapprehension from him, how much terror his sombre figure must haveinspired, when presented, as it was, to Madame Bonaventure, with theaspect of a merciless creditor, armed with full power to enforce hisclaims, and resolved not to abate a jot of them, will be revealed to thereader in our next chapter. 

CHAPTER III. 

The French ordinary. 

The month allowed by the notice expired, and Madame Bonaventure's day ofreckoning arrived. 

No arrangement had been attempted in the interim, though abundantopportunities of doing so were afforded her, as Sir Francis Mitchellvisited the Three Cranes almost daily. She appeared to treat the mattervery lightly, always putting it off when mentioned; and even towards thelast seemed quite unconcerned, as if entertaining no fear of the result. Apparently, everything went on just as usual, and no one would havesupposed, from Madame Bonaventure's manner, that she was aware of thepossibility of a mine being sprung beneath her feet. Perhaps she fanciedshe had countermined her opponents, and so felt secure. Her indifferencepuzzled Sir Francis, who knew not whether to attribute it toinsensibility or over-confidence. He was curious to see how she wouldconduct herself when the crisis came; and for that purpose repaired tothe tavern, about dinner-time, on the appointed day. 

The hostess received him very graciously; trifled and jested with him aswas her custom, and looked all blandishments and smiles to him andeverybody else, as if nothing could possibly happen to disturb herserenity. Sir Francis was more perplexed than ever. With the levity andheedlessness of a Frenchwoman, she must have forgotten all about theclaim. What if he should venture to remind her of it? Better not. Theapplication would come soon enough. He was glad it devolved upon hispartner, and not on himself, to proceed to extremities with so charminga person. He really could not do it. And yet all the while he chuckledinternally as he thought of the terrible dilemma in which she would bespeedily caught, and how completely it would place her at his mercy. Shemust come to terms then. And Sir Francis rubbed his skinny handsgleefully at the thought. On her part, Madame Bonaventure guessed whatwas passing in his breast, and secretly enjoyed the idea of checkmatinghim. With a captivating smile she left him to attend to her numerousguests. 

And very numerous they were on that day. More so than usual. SirFrancis, who had brought a boat from Westminster, where he dwelt, experienced some difficulty in landing at the stairs, invested as theywere with barges, wherries and watermen, all of whom had evidentlybrought customers to the Three Cranes. Besides these, there were two orthree gilded pinnaces lying off the wharf, with oarsmen in richliveries, evidently belonging to persons of rank. 

The benches and little tables in front of the tavern were occupied byforeign merchants and traders, discussing their affairs over a stoop ofBordeaux. Others, similarly employed, sat at the open casements in therooms above; each story projecting so much beyond the other that the oldbuilding, crowned with its fanciful gables and heavy chimnies, lookedtop-heavy, and as if it would roll over into the Thames some day. Others, again, were seated over their wine in the pleasant littlechamber built over the porch, which, advancing considerably beyond thedoor, afforded a delightful prospect, from its lantern-like windows, ofthe river, now sparkling with sunshine (it was a bright May day), andcovered with craft, extending on the one hand to Baynard's Castle, andon the other to the most picturesque object to be found then, or since, in London--the ancient Bridge, with its towers, gateways, loftysuperstructures, and narrow arches through which the current dashedswiftly; and, of course, commanding a complete view of the oppositebank, beginning with Saint Saviour's fine old church, Winchester House, the walks, gardens, and play-houses, and ending with the fine groves oftimber skirting Lambeth Marshes. Others repaired to the smooth andwell-kept bowling alley in the narrow court at the back of the house, where there was a mulberry tree two centuries older than the tavernitself--to recreate themselves with the healthful pastime thereafforded, and indulge at the same time in a few whiffs of tobacco, which, notwithstanding the king's fulminations against it, had alreadymade its way among the people. 

The ordinary was held in the principal room in the house; which was wellenough adapted for the purpose, being lofty and spacious, and lighted byan oriel window at the upper end. Over the high carved chimney-piecewere the arms of the Vintners' Company, with a Bacchus for the crest. The ceiling was moulded, and the wainscots of oak; against the latterseveral paintings were hung. One of these represented the Massacre ofSt. Bartholomew, and another the triumphal entry of Henri IV. Intorebellious Paris. Besides these, there were portraits of the reigningmonarch, James the First; the Marquis of Buckingham, his favourite; andthe youthful Louis XIII. , king of France. A long table generally randown the centre of the room; but on this occasion there was a raisedcross-table at the upper end, with a traverse, or curtain, partiallydrawn before it, proclaiming the presence of important guests. Here thenapery was finer, and the drinking-vessels handsomer, than those used atthe lower board. A grand banquet seemed taking place. Long-necked flaskswere placed in coolers, and the buffets were covered with flagons andglasses. The table groaned beneath the number and variety of dishes setupon it. In addition to the customary yeomen-waiters, there were a hostof serving-men in rich and varied liveries, but these attendedexclusively on their lords at the raised table, behind the traverse. 

As Sir Francis was ushered into the eating-room, he was quite takenaback by the unusually magnificent display, and felt greatly surprisedthat no hint of the banquet had been given him, on his arrival, by thehostess. The feast had already commenced; and all the yeomen-waiters andtrencher-scrapers were too busily occupied to attend to him. Cyprien, who marshalled the dishes at the lower table, did not deign to noticehim, and was deaf to his demand for a place. It seemed probable he wouldnot obtain one at all; and he was about to retire, much disconcerted, when a young man somewhat plainly habited, and who seemed a stranger toall present, very good-naturedly made room for him. In this way he wassqueezed in. 

Sir Francis then cast a look round to ascertain who were present; but hewas so inconveniently situated, and the crowd of serving-men was sogreat at the upper table, that he could only imperfectly distinguishthose seated at it; besides which, most of the guests were hidden by thetraverse. Such, however, as he could make out were richly attired indoublets of silk and satin, while their rich velvet mantles, plumed andjewelled caps, and long rapiers, were carried by their servants. 

Two or three turned round to look at him as he sat down; and amongstthese he remarked Sir Edward Villiers, whose presence was far fromagreeable to him, --for though Sir Edward was secretly connected with himand Sir Giles, and took tithe of their spoliations, he disowned them inpublic, and would assuredly not countenance any open display of theirrapacious proceedings. 

Another personage whom he recognised, from his obesity, the peculiarityof his long flowing periwig, and his black velvet Parisian pourpoint, which contrasted forcibly with the glittering habiliments of hiscompanions, was Doctor Mayerne-Turquet, the celebrated French professorof medicine, then so high in favour with James, that, having been loadedwith honours and dignities, he had been recently named the King's firstphysician. Doctor Mayerne's abilities were so distinguished, that hisProtestant faith alone, prevented him from occupying the same eminentposition in the court of France that he did in that of England. Thedoctor's presence at the banquet was unpropitious; it was natural heshould befriend a countrywoman and a Huguenot like himself, and, possessing the royal ear, he might make such representations as hepleased to the King of what should occur. Sir Francis hoped he would begone before Sir Giles appeared. 

But there was yet a third person, who gave the usurious knight moreuneasiness than the other two. This was a handsome young man, with fairhair and delicate features, whose slight elegant figure was arrayed ina crimson-satin doublet, slashed with white, and hose of the samecolours and fabric. The young nobleman in question, whose handsomefeatures and prematurely-wasted frame bore the impress of cynicism anddebauchery, was Lord Roos, then recently entrapped into marriagewith the daughter of Sir Thomas Lake, Secretary of State: amarriage productive of the usual consequences of such imprudentarrangements--neglect on the one side, unhappiness on the other. LordRoos was Sir Francis's sworn enemy. Like many other such gay moths, hehad been severely singed by fluttering into the dazzling lights held upto him, when he wanted money, by the two usurers; and he had often vowedrevenge against them for the manner in which they had fleeced him. SirFrancis did not usually give any great heed to his threats, being toomuch accustomed to reproaches and menaces from his victims to feel alarmor compunction; but just now the case was different, and he could nothelp fearing the vindictive young lord might seize the opportunity ofserving him an ill turn, --if, indeed, he had not come there expresslyfor the purpose, which seemed probable, from the fierce and disdainfulglances he cast at him. 

An angry murmur pervaded the upper table on Sir Francis's appearance;and something was said which, though he could not gather its preciseimport did not sound agreeably to his ears. He felt he had unwittinglybrought his head near a hornet's nest, and might esteem himself lucky ifhe escaped without stinging. However, there was no retreating now; forthough his fear counselled flight, very shame restrained him. 

The repast was varied and abundant, consisting of all kinds offricassees, collops and rashers, boiled salmon from the Thames, troutand pike from the same river, boiled pea-chickens, and turkey-poults, and florentines of puff paste, calves-foot pies, and set custards. Between each guest a boiled salad was placed, which was nothing morethan what we should term a dish of vegetables, except that thevegetables were somewhat differently prepared; cinnamon, ginger, andsugar being added to the pulped carrots, besides a handful of currants, vinegar, and butter. A similar plan was adopted with the salads ofburrage, chicory, marigold leaves, bugloss, asparagus, rocket, andalexanders, and many other plants discontinued in modern cookery, butthen much esteemed; oil and vinegar being used with some, and spiceswith all; while each dish was garnished with slices of hard-boiled eggs. A jowl of sturgeon was carried to the upper table, where there was alsoa baked swan, and a roasted bustard, flanked by two stately venisonpasties. This was only the first service; and two others followed, consisting of a fawn, with a pudding inside it, a grand salad, hot olivepies, baked neats' tongues, fried calves' tongues, baked Italianpuddings, a farced leg of lamb in the French fashion, orangeado pie, buttered crabs, anchovies, and a plentiful supply of little made dishes, and _quelquechoses_, scattered over the table. With such a profusion ofgood things, it may appear surprising that Sir Francis should find verylittle to eat; but the attendants all seemed in league against him, andwhenever he set his eye upon a dish, it was sure to be placed out ofreach. Sir Francis was a great epicure, and the Thames salmon lookeddelicious; but he would have failed in obtaining a slice of it, if hisneighbour (the young man who had made room for him) had not given himthe well-filled trencher intended for himself. In the same way hesecured the wing of a boiled capon, larded with preserved lemons, thesauce of which was exquisite, as he well knew, from experience. Cyprien, however, took care he should get none of the turkey poults, or theflorentines, but whipped off both dishes from under his very nose; and alike fate would have attended a lumbar pie but for the interference ofhis good-natured neighbour, who again came to his aid, and rescued itfrom the clutches of the saucy Gascon, just as it was being borne away. 

CHAPTER IV. 

A Star-Chamber victim. 

His hunger being somewhat stayed, Sir Francis now found leisure toconsider the young man who had so greatly befriended him, and, as ameans of promoting conversation between them, began by filling his glassfrom a flask of excellent Bordeaux, of which, in spite of Cyprien'sefforts to prevent him, he had contrived to gain possession. The youngman acknowledged his courtesy with a smile, praised the wine, andexpressed his astonishment at the wonderful variety and excellence ofthe repast, for which he said he was quite unprepared. It was not SirFrancis's way to feel or express much interest in strangers, and hedisliked young men, especially when they were handsome, as was the casewith his new acquaintance; but there was something in the youth thatriveted his attention. 

From the plainness of his attire, and a certain not unpleasing rusticityof air, Sir Francis comprehended at once that he was fresh from thecountry; but he also felt satisfied, from his bearing and deportment, that he was a gentleman: a term not quite so vaguely applied then, as itis now-a-days. The youth had a fine frank countenance, remarkable formanly beauty and intelligence, and a figure perfectly proportioned andathletic. Sir Francis set him down as well skilled in all exercises;vaulting, leaping, riding, and tossing the pike; nor was he mistaken. Healso concluded him to be fond of country sports; and he was right in thesupposition. He further imagined the young man had come to town tobetter his fortune, and seek a place at Court; and he was not far wrongin the notion. As the wily knight scanned the handsome features of hiscompanion, his clean-made limbs, and symmetrical figure, he thought thatsuccess must infallibly attend the production of such a fair youth at aCourt where personal advantages were the first consideration. 

"A likely gallant, " he reflected, "to take the fancy of the king; and ifI aid him with means to purchase rich attire, and procure him apresentation, he may not prove ungrateful. But of that I shall take goodsecurity. I know what gratitude is. He must be introduced to my LadySuffolk. She will know how to treat him. In the first place, he mustcast his country slough. That ill-made doublet of green cloth must beexchanged for one of velvet slashed in the Venetian style like mine own, with hose stuffed and bombasted according to the mode. A silk stockingwill bring out the nice proportions of his leg; though, as I am a truegentleman, the youth has so well formed a limb that even his ownvillainous yarn coverings cannot disfigure it. His hair is of a goodbrown colour, which the king affects much, and seems to curl naturally;but it wants trimming to the mode, for he is rough as a young colt freshfrom pasture; and though he hath not much beard on his chin or upperlip, yet what he hath becomes him well, and will become him better, whenproperly clipped and twisted. Altogether he is as goodly a youth as onewould desire to see. What if he should supplant Buckingham, asBuckingham supplanted Somerset? Let the proud Marquis look to himself!We may work his overthrow yet. And now to question him. "

After replenishing his glass, Sir Francis addressed himself in hisblandest accents, and with his most insidious manner, to his youthfulneighbour:--

"For a stranger to town, as I conclude you to be, young Sir, " he said, "you have made rather a lucky hit in coming hither to-day, since youhave not only got a better dinner than I (a constant frequenter of thisFrench ordinary) ever saw served here--(though the attendance isabominable, as you must have remarked--that rascally Cyprien deservesthe bastinado, ); but your civility and good manners have introduced youto one, who may, without presumption, affirm that he hath the will, and, it may be, the ability to serve you; if you will only point out to himthe way. "

"Nay, worthy Sir, you are too kind, " the young man modestly replied; "Ihave done nothing to merit your good opinion, though I am happy to havegained it. I rejoice that accident has so far befriended me as to bringme here on this festive occasion; and I rejoice yet more that it hasbrought me acquainted with a worthy gentleman like yourself, to whom myrustic manners prove not to be displeasing. I have too few friends toneglect any that chance may offer; and as I must carve my own way in theworld, and fight for a position in it, I gladly accept any hand that maybe stretched out to help me in the struggle. "

"Just as I would have it, " Sir Francis thought, "The very man I took himfor. As I am a true gentleman, mine shall not be wanting, my goodyouth, " he added aloud, with apparent cordiality, and affecting toregard the other with great interest; "and when I learn the particulardirection in which you intend to shape your course, I shall be thebetter able to advise and guide you. There are many ways to fortune. "

"Mine should be the shortest if I had any choice, " the young manrejoined with a smile. 

"Right, quite right, " the crafty knight returned. "All men would takethat road if they could find it. But with some the shortest road wouldnot be the safest. In your case I think it might be different. You havea sufficiently good mien, and a sufficiently good figure, to serve youin lieu of other advantages. "

"Your fair speech would put me in conceit with myself, worthy Sir, " theyoung man rejoined with a well-pleased air; "were I not too conscious ofmy own demerits, not to impute what you say of me to good nature, or toflattery. "

"There you wrong me, my good young friend--on my credit, you do. Were Ito resort to adulation, I must strain the points of compliment to findphrases that should come up to my opinion of your good looks; and as tomy friendly disposition towards you, I have already said that yourattentions have won it, so that mere good nature does not prompt mywords. I speak of you, as I think. May I, without appearing tooinquisitive, ask from what part of the country you come?"

"I am from Norfolk, worthy Sir, " the young man answered, "where my lifehas been spent among a set of men wild and uncouth, and fond of thechase as the Sherwood archers we read of in the ballads. I am the son ofa broken gentleman; the lord of a ruined house; with one old servantleft me out of fifty kept by my father, and with scarce a hundred acresthat I can still call my own, out of the thousands swept away from me. Still I hunt in my father's woods; kill my father's deer; and fish in myfather's lakes; since no one molests me. And I keep up the little churchnear the old tumble-down hall, in which are the tombs of my ancestors, and where my father lies buried; and the tenantry come there yet onSundays, though I am no longer their master; and my father's oldchaplain, Sir Oliver, still preaches there, though my father's son canno longer maintain him. "

"A sad change, truly, " Sir Francis said, in a tone of sympathy, and witha look of well-feigned concern; "and attributable, I much fear, to riotand profusion on the part of your father, who so beggared his son. "

"Not so, Sir, " the young man gravely replied; "my father was a mosthonourable man, and would have injured no one, much less the son on whomhe doated. Neither was he profuse; but lived bountifully and well, as acountry gentleman, with a large estate, should live. The cause of hisruin was that he came within the clutches of that devouring monster, which, like the insatiate dragon of Rhodes, has swallowed up thesubstance of so many families, that our land is threatened withdesolation. My father was ruined by that court, which, with a mockery ofjustice, robs men of their name, their fame, their lands, and goods;which perverts the course of law, and saps the principles of equity;which favours the knave, and oppresses the honest man; which promotesand supports extortion and plunder; which reverses righteous judgments, and asserts its own unrighteous supremacy, which, by means of itscommissioners, spreads its hundred arms over the whole realm, topillage and destroy--so that no one, however distant, can keep out ofits reach, or escape its supervision; and which, if it be not uprooted, will, in the end, overthrow the kingdom. Need I say my father was ruinedby the Star-Chamber?"

"Hush! hush! my good young Sir, " Sir Francis cried, having vainlyendeavoured to interrupt his companion's angry denunciation. "Prayheaven your words have reached no other ears than mine! To speak of theStar-Chamber as you have spoken is worse than treason. Many a man haslost his ears, and been branded on the brow, for half you have uttered. "

"Is free speech denied in this free country?" the young man cried inastonishment. "Must one suffer grievous wrong, and not complain?"

"Certes, you must not contemn the Star-Chamber, or you will incur itscensure, " Sir Francis replied in a low tone. "No court in England is sojealous of its prerogatives, nor so severe in punishment of itsmaligners. It will not have its proceedings canvassed, or its judgmentsquestioned. "

"For the plain reason, that it knows they will not bear investigation ordiscussion. Such is the practice of all arbitrary and despotic rule. Butwill Englishmen submit to such tyranny?"

"Again, let me counsel you to put a bridle on your tongue, young Sir. Such matters are not to be talked of at public tables--scarcely inprivate. It is well you have addressed yourself to one who will notbetray you. The Star-Chamber hath its spies everywhere. Meddle not withit, as you value liberty. Light provocation arouses its anger; and oncearoused, its wrath is all-consuming. "

CHAPTER V. 

Jocelyn Mounchensey. 

Notwithstanding the risk incurred, the young man, whose feelings wereevidently deeply interested, seemed disposed to pursue the dangeroustheme; but perceiving one of their opposite neighbours glancing at them, Sir Francis checked him; and filling his glass essayed to change theconversation, by inquiring how long he had been in town, and where helodged?

"I only arrived in London yesterday, " was the reply; "yet I have beenhere long enough to make me loth to return to the woods and moors ofNorfolk. As to my lodging, it is without the city walls, near St. Botolph's Church, and within a bow shot of Aldgate: a pleasant situationenough, looking towards the Spital Fields and the open country. I wouldfain have got me others in the Strand, or near Charing Cross, if myscanty means would have allowed me. Chance, as I have said, brought mehere to-day. Strolling forth early to view the sights of town, I crossedLondon Bridge, the magnificence of which amazed me; and, proceedingalong the Bankside, entered Paris Garden, of which I had heard much, andwhere I was greatly pleased, both with the mastiffs kept there, and theformidable animals they have to encounter; and, methought, I should liketo bait mine enemies with those savage dogs, instead of the bear. Returning to the opposite shore in a wherry, the waterman landed me atthis wharf, and so highly commended the Three Cranes, as affording thebest French ordinary and the best French wine in London, that seeingmany gentlefolk flocking towards it, which seemed to confirm hisstatement, I came in with them, and have reason to be satisfied with myentertainment, never having dined so sumptuously before, and, certes, never having tasted wine so delicious. "

"Let me fill your glass again. As I am a true gentleman, it will nothurt you; a singular merit of pure Bordeaux being that you may drink itwith impunity; and the like cannot be said of your sophisticated sack. We will crush another flask. Ho! drawer--Cyprien, I say! More wine--andof the best Bordeaux. The best, I say. "

And for a wonder the order was obeyed, and the flask set before him. 

"You have been at the Bankside you say, young Sir? On my credit, youmust cross the river again and visit the theatres--the Globe or theRose. Our great actor, Dick Burbadge, plays Othello to-day, and, Iwarrant me, he will delight you. A little man is Dick, but he hath amighty soul. There is none other like him, whether it be Nat Field orNed Alleyn. Our famous Shakespeare is fortunate, I trow, in having himto play his great characters. You must see Burbadge, likewise, in themad Prince of Denmark, --the part was written for him, and fits himexactly. See him also in gentle and love-sick Romeo, in tyrannous andmurderous Macbeth, and in crookback Richard; in all of which, thoughdifferent, our Dick is equally good. He hath some other parts of almostequal merit, --as Malevole, in the 'Malcontent;' Frankford, in the 'WomanKilled with Kindness;' Brachiano, in Webster's 'White Devil;' andVendice, in Cyril Tournour's 'Revenger's Tragedy. '"

"I know not what may be the nature of that last-named play, " the youngman rather sternly remarked; "but if the character of Vendice at allbears out its name, it would suit me. I am an avenger. "

"Forbear your wrongs awhile, I pray you, and drown your resentment in acup of wine. As I am a true gentleman! a better bottle than the first!Nay, taste it. On my credit, it is perfect nectar. I pledge you in abrimmer; wishing Success may attend you, and Confusion await yourEnemies! May you speedily regain your Rights!"

"I drink that toast most heartily, worthy Sir, " the young man exclaimed, raising his beaded flagon on high. "Confusion to my Enemies--Restorationto my Rights!"

And he drained the goblet to its last drop. 

"By this time he must be in a fit mood for my purpose, " Sir Francisthought, as he watched him narrowly. "Harkye, my good young friend, " hesaid, lowering his tone, "I would not be overheard in what I have tosay. You were speaking just now of the shortest way to fortune. I willpoint it out to you. To him, who is bold enough to take it, and who haththe requisites for the venture, the shortest way is to be found atCourt. Where think you most of those gallants, of whom you may catch aglimpse through the traverse, derive their revenues?--As I am a truegentleman!--from the royal coffers. Not many years ago, with all ofthem; not many months ago, with some; those brilliant and titledcoxcombs were adventurers like yourself, having barely a Jacobus intheir purses, and scarce credit for board and lodging with theirrespective landladies. Now you see how nobly they feast, and how richlythey bedeck themselves. On my credit! the like good fortune may attendyou; and haply, when I dine at an ordinary a year hence, I may perceiveyou at the upper table, with a curtain before you to keep off the meanercompany, and your serving-man at your back, holding your velvet mantleand cap, like the best of your fellow nobles. "

"Heaven grant it may be so!" the young man exclaimed, with a sigh. "Youhold a dazzling picture before me; but I have little expectation ofrealizing it. "

"It will be your own fault if you do not, " the tempter rejoined. "Youare equally well-favoured with the handsomest of them; and it was bygood looks alone that the whole party rose to their present eminence. Why not pursue the same course; with the same certainty of success? Youhave courage enough to undertake it, I presume?"

"If courage alone were wanting, I have that, " the young manreplied;--"but I am wholly unknown in town. How then shall I accomplishan introduction at Court, when I know not even its humblest attendant?"

"I have already said you were lucky in meeting with me, " Sir Francisreplied; "and I find you were luckier than I supposed, when I told youso; for I knew not then towards what bent your desires tended, nor inwhat way I could help you; but now, finding out the boldness of yourflight, and the high game you aim at, I am able to offer you effectualassistance, and give you an earnest of a prosperous issue. Through mymeans you shall be presented to the king, and in such sort that thepresentation shall not be idly made. It will rest then with yourself toplay your cards dexterously, and to follow up a winning game. Doubtless, you will have many adversaries, who will trip up your heels if they can, and throw every obstacle in your way; but if you possess the strong armI fancy you do, and daring to second it, you have nothing to fear. As Iam a true gentleman! you shall have good counsel, and a friend insecret to back you. "

"To whom am I indebted for this most gracious and unlooked-for offer?"the young man asked, his breast heaving, and his eye flashing withexcitement. 

"To one you may perchance have heard of, " the knight answered, "as thesubject of some misrepresentation; how justly applied, you yourself willbe able to determine from my present conduct. I am Sir FrancisMitchell. "

At the mention of this name the young man started, and a deep angryflush overspread his face and brow. 

Perceiving the effect produced, the wily knight hastened to remove it. 

"My name, I see, awakens unpleasant associations in your breast, " hesaid; "and your look shows you have been influenced by the calumnies ofmy enemies. I do not blame you. Men can only be judged of by report; andthose I have had dealings with have reported ill enough of me. But theyhave spoken falsely. I have done no more than any other person would do. I have obtained the best interest I could for my money; and my losseshave been almost equal to my gains. Folks are ready enough to tell allthey can against you; but slow to mention aught they conceive to be inyour favour. They stigmatize me as a usurer; but they forget to add, Iam ever the friend of those in need. They use me, and abuse me. That isthe way of the world. Wherefore, then, should I complain? I am no worseoff than my neighbours. And the proof that I can be disinterested is theway in which I have acted towards you, a perfect stranger, and who haveno other recommendation to my good offices than your gracious mien andgentle manners. "

"I cannot accept your proffered aid, Sir Francis, " the young manreplied, in an altered tone, and with great sternness. "And you willunderstand why I cannot, when I announce myself to you as JocelynMounchensey. "

It was now the knight's turn to start, change colour, and tremble. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Provocation. 

A momentary pause ensued, during which Mounchensey regarded the knightso fiercely, that the latter began to entertain apprehensions for hispersonal safety, and meditated a precipitate retreat. Yet he did notdare to move, lest the action should bring upon him the hurt he wishedto avoid. Thus he remained, like a bird fascinated by the rattlesnake, until the young man, whose power of speech seemed taken from him bypassion, went on, in a tone of deep and concentrated rage, thatcommunicated a hissing sound to his words. 

"Yes, I am Jocelyn Mounchensey, " he said, "the son of him whom your artsand those of your partner in iniquity, Sir Giles Mompesson, brought todestruction; the son of him whom you despoiled of a good name and largeestates, and cast into a loathsome prison, to languish and to die: I amthe son of that murdered man. I am he whom you have robbed of hisinheritance; whose proud escutcheon you have tarnished; whose family youhave reduced to beggary and utter ruin. "

"But Sir Jocelyn, my worthy friend, " the knight faltered, "havepatience, I pray of you. If you consider yourself aggrieved, I amwilling to make reparation--ample reparation. You know what were myintentions towards you, before I had the slightest notion who you mightbe. (If I had but been aware of it, he thought, I would have taken careto keep at a respectful distance from him. ) I will do more than Ipromised. I will lend you any sums of money you may require; and on yourpersonal security. Your bare word shall suffice. No bonds--no writtenobligations of any kind. Does that sound like usury? As I am a truegentleman! I am most unfairly judged. I am not the extortioner mendescribe me. You shall find me your friend, " he added in a low earnesttone. "I will re-establish your fortune; give you a new title, higherand prouder than that which you have lost; and, if you will follow mycounsel, you shall supplant the haughty favourite himself. You shallstand where Buckingham now stands. Hear reason, good Sir Jocelyn. Hearreason, I entreat you. "

"I will hear nothing further, " Jocelyn rejoined. "Were you to talk tillDoomsday, you could not alter my feelings towards you a jot. My chieferrand in coming to London was to call you and Sir Giles Mompesson tostrict account. "

"And we will answer any charges you may bring against us readily--mostreadily, Sir Jocelyn. All was done in fairness--according to law. TheStar-Chamber will uphold us. "

"Tut! you think to terrify me with that bugbear; but I am not so easilyfrightened. We have met for the first time by chance, but our nextmeeting shall be by appointment. "

"When and where you please, Sir Jocelyn, " the knight replied; butrecollect the duello is forbidden, and, though I would not willinglydisappoint you in your desire to cut my throat, I should be sorry tothink you might be hanged for it afterwards. Come, Sir Jocelyn, layaside this idle passion, and look to your true interests, which lie notin quarrelling with me, but in our reconciliation. I can help youeffectually, as I have shown; and, as I am a true gentleman, I _will_help you. Give me your hand, and let us be friends!"

"Never!" Jocelyn exclaimed, withdrawing from him, "never shall the handof a Mounchensey grasp yours in friendship! I would sooner mine rottedoff! I am your mortal foe. My father's death has to be avenged. "

"Provoke him not, my good young Sir, " interposed an elderly man, nexthim, in a long furred gown, with hanging sleeves, and a flat cap on hishead, who had heard what was now passing. "You know not the mischief hemay do you. "

"I laugh at his malice, and defy him, " Jocelyn cried--"he shall not sitone moment longer beside me. Out, knave! out!" he added, seizing SirFrancis by the wing of his doublet, and forcibly thrusting him from hisseat. "You are not fit company for honest men. Ho! varlets, to the doorwith him! Throw him into the kennel. "

"You shall rue this, villain!--you shall rue it bitterly, " Sir Franciscried, shaking his clenched hands at him. "Your father perished like adog in the Fleet, and you shall perish there likewise. You have putyourself wholly in my power, and I will make a fearful example of you. You have dared to utter scandalous and contemptuous language against thegreat and high court of Star-Chamber, before the decrees of which, allmen bow; impugning its justice and denying its authority; and you shallfeel the full weight of its displeasure. I call upon these worthygentlemen to testify against you. "

"We have heard nothing, and can testify nothing, " several voices cried. 

"But you, Sir, who were next him, you must have heard him?" Sir Francissaid, addressing the elderly man in the furred gown. 

"Not I!" rejoined the person appealed to; "I gave no heed to what wassaid. "

"But I did, Sir Francis, " squeaked a little whey-faced man, in a largeruff and tight-laced yellow doublet, from the opposite side of thetable; "I heard him most audaciously vilipend the high court ofStar-Chamber and its councils; and I will bear testimony against himwhen called upon. "

"Your name, good Sir, your name?" Sir Francis demanded, taking out histablets. 

"Set me down as Thopas Trednock, tailor, at the sign of the PressingIron, in Cornhill, " the whey-faced man replied, in his shrill tones, amid the derisive laughter of the assemblage. 

"Thopas Trednock, tailor--good!" the knight repeated, as he wrote thename down. "You will be an excellent witness, Master Trednock. Fare youwell for the present, _Master_ Jocelyn Mounchensey, for I now mind wellyour father was degraded from the honour of knighthood. As I am a truegentleman! you may be sure of committal to the Fleet. "

As may be supposed, the scuffle which had taken place, attracted theattention of those in its immediate vicinity; and when the cause of itbecame known, as it presently did throughout both tables, greatindignation was expressed against Sir Francis, who was censured on allhands, jeered and flouted, as he moved to the door. So great was theclamour, and so opprobrious were the epithets and terms applied to him, that the knight was eager to make his escape; but he met Cyprien in hisway; and the droll young Gascon, holding a dish-cover in one hand, byway of buckler, and a long carving-knife in the other, in place of asword, opposed his egress. 

"Let me pass, knave, " Sir Francis cried in alarm. 

"By your leave, no, " returned Cyprien, encouraged by the laughter andplaudits of the company. "You have come hither uninvited, and must staytill you have permission to depart. Having partaken of the banquet, youmust, perforce, tarry for the rerebanquet. The sweets and cates have yetto come, Sir Francis. "

"What mean you, sirrah?" the knight demanded, in increased trepidation. 

"Your presence is necessary at a little entertainment I have provided tofollow the dinner, sweet Sir Francis, " Madame Bonaventure cried, advancing towards him; "and as you have a principal part in it, I can byno means spare you. "

"No one can spare you, sweet Sir Francis, " several voices chimed in, derisively. "You must remain with us a little longer. "

"But I will not stay. I will not be detained. There is some conspiracya-foot against me. I will indict you all for it, if you hinder me ingoing forth, " the knight vociferated, in accents of mingled rage andterror. "Stop me at your peril, thou saucy Gascon knave. "

"_Cornes du diable_!--no more a knave than yourself, _gros usurier_!"Cyprien cried. 

"_Laissez-lui, _ Cyprien, " Madame Bonaventure interposed;--"thecourteous knight will yield to my entreaties, and stay of his own freewill. "

"I have business that calls me hence. I must go, " Sir Francis said, endeavouring to push by them. 

"Let the door be closed, " an authoritative voice cried from the head ofthe table. 

The order was instantly obeyed. Two serving-men stationed themselvesbefore the place of exit, and Sir Francis found himself a prisoner. 

The roof rang with the laughter and gibes of the guests. 

"This is a frolic, gentleman, I perceive. You are resolved to make meyour sport--ha! ha!" Sir Francis said, trying to disguise his uneasinessunder an appearance of levity--"But you will not carry the jest too far. You will not maltreat me. My partner, Sir Giles Mompesson, will be hereanon, and will requite any outrage committed upon me. "

"Sir Giles is impatiently expected by us, " a spruce coxcomb near himreplied. "Madame Bonaventure had prepared us for his coming. We willgive him the welcome he deserves. "

"Ah! traitress! then it was all planned, " Sir Francis thought;--"and, blind owl that I am, I have fallen into the snare. "

But the poor knight was nearly at his wit's end with fright, when he sawLord Roos quit his place at the upper table and approach him. 

CHAPTER VII. 

How Lord Roos obtained Sir Francis Mitchell's signature. 

"What, my prince of usurers!" exclaimed Lord Roos, in a mocking tone;"my worthy money-lender, who never takes more than cent. Per cent. , andart ill content with less; who never exacts more than the penalty of thybond, --unless more may be got; who never drives a hard bargain with aneedy man--by thine own account; who never persecutes a debtor--as theprisons shall vouch for thee; who art just in all thy transactions--asevery man who hath had dealings with thee will affirm; and who knows nothow to lie, to cheat, to cozen--as some usurers do. "

"You are pleasant, my lord, " Sir Francis replied. 

"I mean to be so, " Lord Roos said; "for I esteem thee for thy rarequalities. I know not thy peer for cunning and knavery. Thy mischievousschemes are so well-conceived that they prove thee to have an absolutegenius for villany. Scruples thou hast none; and considerations andfeelings which might move men less obdurate than thyself, have noinfluence over thee. To ruin a man is with thee mere pastime; and groansof the oppressed are music in thine ears. "

"Aha! a good jest. You were always merry with me, my lord. "

"Yes, when I borrowed money from thee--but not when I had to repay ittwice over. I laughed not then; but was foolish enough to threaten totake thy life. My anger is past now. But we must drink together--arousing toast. "

"At your lordship's pleasure, " Sir Francis replied. 

"Cyprien! a flask of wine, and thy largest goblet, " Lord Roos cried. "'Tis well! Now pour the whole into the flagon. Do me reason in thiscup, Sir Francis?"

"What! in this mighty cup, my lord?" the knight replied. "Nay, 'tis toomuch, I swear. If I become drunken, the sin will lie at your door. "

"Off with it! without more ado. And let the toast be what thoupractisest--'Pillage and Extortion!'"

"I cannot drink that toast, my lord. 'Twill choke me. "

"'Sdeath! villain, but thou _shalt_, or thou shalt never taste winemore. Down with it, man! And now your signature to this paper?"

"My signature!" Sir Francis cried, reeling from the effect of the winehe had swallowed. "Nay, my good lord; I can sign nothing that I have notread. What is it?"

"A blank sheet, " Lord Roos rejoined. "I will fill it up afterwards. "

"Then, my lord, I refuse--that is, I decline--that is, I had rathernot, if your lordship pleases. "

"But my lordship pleases otherwise. Give him pen and ink, and set himnear the table. "

This was done; and Sir Francis regarded the paper with swimming eyes. 

"Now, your name, --written near the bottom of the sheet, " Lord Rooscried. 

"'Tis done under com--compulsion; and I pro--protest against it. "

"Sign, I say, " the young nobleman exclaimed, rapping the tableperemptorily. 

On this, Sir Francis wrote his name in the place indicated. 

"Enough!" Lord Roos cried, snatching up the paper. "This is all I want. Now set him on the table, that his partner may have him in full viewwhen he arrives. 'Twill give him a foretaste of what he may himselfexpect. "

"What mean you, ruff--ruffians? 'Tis an indignity to which I shall notsubmit, " cried Sir Francis, who was now, however, too far gone to offerany resistance. 

A leathern girdle was found, with which he was fastened to the chair, soas to prevent him slipping from it; and in this state he was hoistedupon the table, and set with his face to the door; looking the verypicture of inebriety, with his head drooping on one side, his armsdangling uselessly down, and his thin legs stretched idly out. Aftermaking some incoherent objections to this treatment, he becamealtogether silent, and seemed to fall asleep. His elevation was receivedwith shouts of laughter from the whole company. 

The incident had not taken place many minutes, and a round had scarcelybeen drunk by the guests, when a loud and peremptory summons was heardat the door. The noise roused even the poor drunkard in the chair, who, lifting up his head, stared about him with vacant eyes. 

"Let the door be opened, " the same authoritative voice exclaimed, whichhad before ordered its closure. 

The mandate was obeyed; and, amidst profound silence, which suddenlysucceeded the clashing of glasses, and expressions of hilarity, SirGiles Mompesson entered, with his body-guard of myrmidons behind him. 

Habited in black, as was his custom, with a velvet mantle on hisshoulder, and a long rapier by his side, he came forward with a measuredstep and assured demeanour. Though he must necessarily have beensurprised by the assemblage he found--so much more numerous and splendidthan he could have anticipated--he betrayed no signs whatever ofembarrassment. Nor, though his quick eye instantly detected Sir Francis, and he guessed at once why the poor knight had been so scandalouslytreated, did he exhibit any signs of displeasure, or take the slightestnotice of the circumstance; reserving this point for consideration, whenhis first business should be settled. An additional frown might havedarkened his countenance; but it was so stern and sombre, without it, that no perceptible change could be discerned; unless it might be in thelightning glances he cast around, as if seeking some one he might callto account presently for the insult. But no one seemed willing to replyto the challenge. Though bold enough before he came, and boastful ofwhat they would do, they all looked awed by his presence, and avertedtheir gaze from him. There was, indeed, something so formidable in theman, that to shun a quarrel with him was more a matter of prudence thanan act of cowardice; and on the present occasion, no one liked to befirst to provoke him; trusting to his neighbour to commence the attack, or awaiting the general outbreak. 

There was one exception, however, and that was Jocelyn Mounchensey, who, so far from desiring to shun Sir Giles's searching regards, courtedthem; and as the knight's eagle eye ranged round the table and fell uponhim, the young man (notwithstanding the efforts of his pacific neighbourin the furred cloak to restrain him) suddenly rose up, and throwing allthe scorn and defiance he could muster into his countenance, returnedMompesson's glance with one equally fierce and menacing. 

A bitter smile curled Sir Giles's lip at this reply to his challenge, and he regarded the young man fixedly, as if to grave his features uponhis memory. Perhaps they brought Mounchensey's father to mind, for SirGiles withdrew his gaze for a moment to reflect, and then looked againat Jocelyn with fresh curiosity. If he had any doubts as to whom hebeheld, they were removed by Sir Francis, who managed to hiccup forth--

"'Tis he, Sir Giles--'tis Jocelyn Mounchensey. "

"I thought as much, " Sir Giles muttered. "A moment, young man, " hecried, waving his hand imperiously to his antagonist. "Your turn willcome presently. "

And without bestowing further notice on Jocelyn, who resisted all hisneighbour's entreaties to him to sit down, Sir Giles advanced towardsthe middle chamber, where he paused, and took off his cap, havinghitherto remained covered. 

In this position, he looked like a grand inquisitor attended by hisfamiliars. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Of Lupo Vulp, Captain Bludder, Clement Lanyere, and Sir Giles's otherMyrmidons. 

Close behind Sir Giles, and a little in advance of the rest of themyrmidons, stood Lupo Vulp, the scrivener. 

Lupo Vulp was the confidential adviser of our two extortioners, to whomthey referred all their nefarious projects. He it was who prepared theirbonds and contracts, and placed out their ill-gotten gains at exorbitantusance. Lupo Vulp was in all respects worthy of his employers, beingjust as wily and unscrupulous as they were, while, at the same time, hewas rather better versed in legal tricks and stratagems, so that hecould give them apt counsel in any emergency. A countenance more repletewith cunning and knavery than that of Lupo Vulp, it would be difficultto discover. A sardonic smile hovered perpetually about his mouth, whichwas garnished with ranges of the keenest and whitest teeth. His featureswere sharp; his eyes small, set wide apart, of a light gray colour, andwith all the slyness of a fox lurking within their furtive glances. Indeed, his general resemblance to that astute animal must have strucka physiognomist. His head was shaped like that of a fox, and his hairand beard were of a reddish-tawny hue. His manner was stealthy, cowering, suspicious, as if he feared a blow from every hand. Yet LupoVulp could show his teeth and snap on occasions. He was attired in aclose-fitting doublet of russety-brown, round yellow hose, and longstockings of the same hue. A short brown mantle and a fox-skin capcompleted his costume. 

The leader of the troop was Captain Bludder, a huge Alsatian bully, withfiercely-twisted moustachios, and fiery-red beard cut like a spade. Hewore a steeple-crowned hat with a brooch in it, a buff jerkin and boots, and a sword and buckler dangled from his waist. Besides these, he had acouple of petronels stuck in his girdle. The captain drank like a fish, and swaggered and swore like twenty troopers. 

The rear of the band was formed by the tipstaves--stout fellows withhooks at the end of their poles, intended to capture a fugitive, or halehim along when caught. With these were some others armed withbrown-bills. No uniformity prevailed in the accoutrements of the party, each man arraying himself as he listed. Some wore old leather jerkinsand steel skirts; some, peascod doublets of Elizabeth's time, andtrunk-hose that had covered many a limb besides their own; others, slopsand galligaskins; while the poorer sort were robed in rusty gowns oftuft-mockado or taffeta, once guarded with velvet or lined with skins, but now tattered and threadbare. Their caps and bonnets were as variedas their apparel, --some being high-crowned, some trencher-shaped, andsome few wide in the leaf and looped at the side. Moreover, there wasevery variety of villainous aspect; the savage scowl of the desperado, the cunning leer of the trickster, and the sordid look of the meanknave. Several of them betrayed, by the marks of infamy branded on theirfaces, or by the loss of ears, that they had passed through the hands ofthe public executioner. 

Amongst these there was one with a visage more frightfully mutilatedthan those of his comrades; the nose having been slit, and subsequentlysewed together again, but so clumsily that the severed parts had onlyimperfectly united, communicating a strange, distorted, and forbiddinglook to the physiognomy. Clement Lanyere, the owner of this gashed andghastly face, who was also reft of his ears, and branded on the cheek, had suffered infamy and degradation, owing to the licence he had givenhis tongue in respect to the Star-Chamber. Prosecuted in that court bySir Giles Mompesson, as a notorious libeller and scandaller of thejudges and first personages of the realm, he was found guilty, andsentenced accordingly. The court showed little leniency to suchoffenders; but it was a matter of grace that his clamorous tongue wasnot torn out likewise, in addition to the punishment actually inflicted. A heavy fine and imprisonment accompanied the corporal penalties. Thusutterly ruined and degraded, and a mark for the finger of scorn to pointat, Clement Lanyere, whose prospects had once been fair enough, as hisfeatures had been prepossessing, became soured and malevolent, embittered against the world, and at war with society. He turnedpromoter, or, in modern parlance, informer; lodging complaints, seekingout causes for prosecutions, and bringing people into trouble in orderto obtain part of the forfeits they incurred for his pains. Strange tosay, he attached himself to Sir Giles Mompesson, --the cause of all hismisfortunes, --and became one of the most active and useful of hisfollowers. It was thought no good could come of this alliance, and thatthe promoter only bided his time to turn upon his master, against whomit was only natural he should nourish secret vengeance. But, if it wereso, Sir Giles seemed to entertain no apprehensions of him, probablythinking he could crush him whenever he pleased. Either way the eventwas long deferred. Clement Lanyere, to all appearance, continued toserve his master zealously and well; and Sir Giles gave no sign whateverof distrust, but, on the contrary, treated him with increasedconfidence. The promoter was attired wholly in black--cloak, cap, doublet, and hose were of sable. And as, owing to the emolumentsspringing from his vile calling, his means were far greater than thoseof his comrades; so his habiliments were better. When wrapped in hismantle, with his mutilated countenance covered with a mask which hegenerally wore, the informer might have passed for a cavalier; so talland well formed was his figure, and so bold his deportment. Thedangerous service he was employed upon, which exposed him to insult andinjury, required him to be well armed; and he took care to be so. 

Two or three of Sir Giles's myrmidons, having been selected forparticular description, the designations of some others mustsuffice--such as Staring Hugh, a rascal of unmatched effrontery; the GibCat and Cutting Dick, dissolute rogues from the Pickt-hatch in TurnbullStreet, near Clerkenwell; old Tom Wootton, once a notorious harbourer of"masterless men, " at his house at Smart's Quay, but now a sheriffsofficer; and, perhaps, it ought to be mentioned, that there were somehalf-dozen swash-bucklers and sharpers from Alsatia, under the commandof Captain Bludder, who was held responsible for their good conduct. 

Such was Sir Giles's body-guard. 

On his entrance, it may be remarked, the curtain in front of the raisedtable was more closely drawn, so as completely to conceal the guests. But their importance might be inferred from the serving-men, in richliveries, standing before the traverse. 

Profound silence reigned throughout the assemblage. 

Having uncovered, as before mentioned, and made a formal reverence tothe company, Sir Giles spoke as follows:--

"I crave your pardon, worthy Sirs, " he said, in a distinct and resolutevoice, "for this intrusion, and regret to be the means of marring yourfestivity. I came hither wholly unprepared to find such an assemblage. Yet, though I would willingly have chosen a more fitting opportunity formy visit, and would postpone, if I could, to another occasion, theunpleasant duty I have to fulfil; the matter is urgent, and will notadmit of delay. You will hold me excused, therefore, if I proceed withit, regardless of your presence; and I am well assured no let orinterruption will be offered me, seeing I act with the royal licence andauthority, of which I am the unworthy representative. "

"Truly, your conduct requires explanation, " Jocelyn Mounchensey cried, in a mocking tone. "If I had not been here in London, I should havejudged, from your appearance, and that of your attendants, that a bandof desperate marauders had broken in upon us, and that we must draw ourswords to defend our lives, and save the house from pillage. But afterwhat you have said, I conclude you to be the sheriff, come with yourfollowers to execute some writ of attachment; and therefore, howeverannoying the presence of such a functionary may be, --however ill-timedmay be your visit, and unmannerly your deportment, --we are bound not tomolest you. "

Provocation like this was rarely addressed to Sir Giles; and the choleroccasioned by it was increased by the laughter and cheers of thecompany. Nevertheless he constrained his anger, replying in a stern, scornful tone--

"I would not counsel you to molest me, young man. The mistake you havecommitted in regard to myself may be pardoned in one of your evidentinexperience; who, fresh from the boorish society of the country, findshimself, for the first time, amongst well-bred gentlemen. Of all herepresent you are probably the sole person ignorant that I am Sir GilesMompesson. But it is scarcely likely that they should be aware, as Ichance to be, that the clownish insolent who has dared to wag his tongueagainst me, is the son of a Star-Chamber delinquent. "

CHAPTER IX. 

The Letters-Patent. 

A slight reaction in Sir Giles's favour was produced by his speech, butJocelyn quite regained his position with the company when he exclaimed--

"My father was misjudged. His prosecutor was a villain, and his sentenceiniquitous. "

"You have uttered your own condemnation, Jocelyn Mounchensey, " Sir Gilescried, with a savage laugh. "Know, to your confusion, that the HighCourt of Star-Chamber is so tender of upholding the honour of itssentences, that it ever punishes such as speak against them with thegreatest severity. You have uttered your scandals openly. "

"Imprudent young man, you have, indeed, placed yourself in fearfuljeopardy, " a gentleman near him observed to Jocelyn. "Escape, if youcan. You are lost, if you remain here. "

But instead of following the friendly advice, Jocelyn would haveassaulted Sir Giles, if he had not been forcibly withheld by thegentleman. 

The knight was not slow to follow up the advantage he had gained. 

"Stand forward, Clement Lanyere, " he exclaimed, authoritatively. 

The promoter instantly advanced. 

"Look at this man, " Sir Giles continued, addressing Jocelyn; "and youwill perceive how those who malign the Star-Chamber are treated. Thisdisfigured countenance was once as free from seam or scar as your own;and yet, for an offence lighter than yours, it hath been stamped, as yousee, with indelible infamy. Answer, Clement Lanyere, --and answeraccording to your conscience, --Was the sentence just of the high andhonourable court by which you were tried?"

"It was just, " the promoter replied, a deep flush dyeing his ghastlyvisage. 

"And lenient?"

"Most lenient. For it left my foul tongue the power of speech it nowenjoys. "

"By whom were you prosecuted in the Star-Chamber?"

"By him I now serve. "

"That is, by myself. Do you bear me malice for what I did?"

"I have never said so. On the contrary, Sir Giles, I have alwaysdeclared I owe you a deep debt. "

"Which you strive to pay?"

"Which I _will_ pay. "

"You hear what this man says, Mounchensey?" Sir Giles cried. "You havebeen guilty of the same offence as he. Why should you not be similarlypunished?"

"If I were so punished, I would stab my prosecutor to the heart, "Jocelyn replied. 

At this rejoinder, Lanyere, who had hitherto kept his eyes on theground, suddenly raised them, with a look of singular expression at thespeaker. 

"Humph!" Sir Giles ejaculated. "I must proceed to extremities with him, I find. Keep strict watch upon him, Lanyere; and follow him if he goesforth. Trace him to his lair. Now to business. Give me theletters-patent, Lupo, " he added, turning to the scrivener, as Lanyereretired. "These Letters-Patent, " continued Sir Giles, taking twoparchment scrolls with large seals pendent from them from Lupo Vulp, anddisplaying them to the assemblage, "these Royal Letters, " he repeated inhis steady, stern tones, and glancing round with a look ofhalf-defiance, "passed under the great seal, and bearing the king'ssign-manual, as ye see, gentlemen, constitute the authority on which Iact. They accord to me and my co-patentee, Sir Francis Mitchell, absolute and uncontrolled power and discretion in granting and refusinglicenses to all tavern-keepers and hostel-keepers throughout London. They give us full power to enter and inspect all taverns and hostels, atany time that may seem fit to us; to prevent any unlawful games beingused therein; and to see that good order and rule be maintained. Theyalso render it compulsory upon all ale-house-keepers, tavern-keepers, and inn-keepers throughout London, to enter into their own recognizanceswith us against the non-observance of our rules and regulations fortheir governance and maintenance, and to find two sureties: and in caseof the forfeiture of such recognizances by any act of the parties, coming within the scope of our authority, it is provided that one moietyof the sum forfeited be paid to the Crown, and the other moiety to us. Lend me your ears yet further, I pray ye, gentlemen. These Royal Lettersempower us to inflict certain fines and penalties upon all such asoffend against our authority, or resist our claims; and they enable usto apprehend and commit to prison such offenders without further warrantthan the letters themselves contain. In brief, gentlemen, " he continuedin a peremptory tone, as if insisting upon attention, "you will observe, that the absolute control of all houses of entertainment, whereexciseable liquors are vended, is delegated to us by his most graciousMajesty, King James. To which end ample powers have been given us by hisMajesty, who has armed us with the strong arm of the law. Will it pleaseye to inspect the letters, gentlemen?" holding them forth. "You willfind that his Majesty hath thus written;--'_In cujus rei testimonium hasLiteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste Meipso, apud Westm. 10die Maij, Anno Regni nostri_, ' &c. Then follows the royal signature. None of ye, I presume, will question its authenticity?"

A deep silence succeeded, in the midst of which Jocelyn Mounchenseybroke forth:--

"I, for one, question it, " he cried. "I will never believe that a king, who, like our gracious sovereign, has the welfare of his subjects atheart, would sanction the oppression and injustice which those warrants, if entrusted to unscrupulous hands, must inevitably accomplish. Itherefore mistrust the genuineness of the signature. If not forged, ithas been obtained by fraud or misrepresentation. "

Some murmurs of applause followed this bold speech; but the gentlemanwho had previously counselled the young man again interposed, andwhispered these words in his ear:--

"Your rash vehemence will undo you, if you take not heed. Beyondquestion, Sir Giles hath the king's sanction for what he does, and tocensure him as you have done is to censure the Crown, which is next totreason. Be ruled by me, my good young Sir, and meddle no more in thematter. "

Sir Giles, who had some difficulty in controlling his choler, nowspoke:--

"You have cast an imputation upon me, Jocelyn Mounchensey, " he criedwith concentrated fury, "which you shall be compelled to retract aspublicly as you have made it. To insult an officer of the Crown, in thedischarge of his duty, is to insult the Crown itself, as you will find. In the King's name, I command you to hold your peace, or, in the King'sname, I will instantly arrest you; and I forbid any one to give you aid. I will not be troubled thus. Appointed by his Majesty to a certainoffice, I exercise it as much for the benefit of the Royal Exchequer, asfor my own personal advantage. I have his Majesty's full approval ofwhat I do, and I need nothing more. I am accountable to no man--save theKing, " addressing this menace as much to the rest of the company as toJocelyn. "But I came not here to render explanation, but to act. What, ho! Madame Bonaventure! Where are ye, Madame? Oh! you are here!"

"_Bon jour_, sweet Sir Giles, " the landlady said, making him a profoundobeisance. "What is your pleasure with me, Sir? And to what am I toattribute the honour of this visit?"

"Tut! Madame. You know well enough what brings me hither, and thusattended, " he replied. "I come in pursuance of a notice, served upon youa month ago. You will not deny having received it, since the officer whoplaced it in your hands is here present. " And he indicated ClementLanyere. 

"_Au contraire_, Sir Giles, " Madame Bonaventure replied. "I readilyadmit the receipt of a written message from you, which, though scarcelyintelligible to my poor comprehension, did not seem as agreeably wordedas a _billet-doux. Mais, ma foi_! I attached little importance to it. Idid not suppose it possible--nor do I suppose it possible now"--with acaptivating smile, which was totally lost upon Sir Giles--"that youcould adopt such rigorous measures against me. "

"My measures may appear rigorous, Madame, " Sir Giles coldly replied;"but I am warranted in taking them. Nay, I am compelled to take them. Not having made the satisfaction required by the notice, you havedeprived yourself of the protection I was willing to afford you. I amnow merely your judge. The penalties incurred by your neglect are these:Your licence was suspended a month ago; the notice expressly statingthat it would be withdrawn, unless certain conditions were fulfilled. Consequently, as ever since that time you have been vending exciseableliquors without lawful permission, you have incurred a fine of onehundred marks a day, making a total of three thousand marks now due andowing from you, partly to his Majesty, and partly to his Majesty'srepresentatives. This sum I now demand. "

"Ah! Dieu! three thousand marks!" Madame Bonaventure screamed. "Whatrobbery is this!--what barbarity! 'T is ruin--utter ruin! I may as wellclose my house altogether, and return to my own fair country. As I am anhonest woman, Sir Giles, I cannot pay it. So it is quite useless onyour part to make any such demand. "

"You profess inability to pay, Madame, " Sir Giles rejoined. "I cannotbelieve you; having some knowledge of your means. Nevertheless, I willacquaint you with a rule of law applicable to the contingency you put. '_Quod non habet in cere, luet in corpore_' is a decree of theStar-Chamber; meaning, for I do not expect you to understand Latin, thathe who cannot pay in purse shall pay in person. Aware of thealternative, you will make your choice. And you may thank me that I havenot adjudged you at once--as I have the power--to three months withinthe Wood Street Compter. "

"Ah, Sir Giles! what an atrocious idea. You are worse than a savage totalk of such a loathsome prison to me. Ah! mon Dieu! what is to happento me! would I were back again in my lovely Bordeaux!"

"You will have an opportunity of revisiting that fine city, Madame; foryou will no longer be able to carry on your calling here. "

"Ciel! Sir Giles! what mean you?"

"I mean, Madame, that you are disabled from keeping any tavern for thespace of three years. "

Madame Bonaventure clasped her hands together, and screamed aloud. 

"In pity, Sir Giles!--In pity!" she cried. 

The inexorable knight shook his head. The low murmurs of indignationamong the company which had been gradually gathering force during theforegoing dialogue, now became clamorous. "A most scandalousproceeding!" exclaimed one. "Deprive us of our best French ordinary!"cried another. "Infamous extortioner!" shouted a third. "We'll notpermit such injustice. Let us take the law into our own hands, andsettle the question!" shouted a fourth. "Ay, down with the knight!"added a fifth. 

But Sir Giles continued perfectly unmoved by the tempest raging around, and laughed to scorn these menaces, contenting himself with signing toCaptain Bludder to be in readiness. 

"A truce to this, gentlemen;" he at length thundered forth; "the King'swarrant must be respected. "

Again Madame Bonaventure besought his pity, but in vain. She took holdof his arm, and feigned to kneel to him; but he shook her coldly off. 

"You are a very charming woman, no doubt, Madame, " he saidsarcastically; "and some men might find you irresistible; but I am notmade of such yielding stuff, and you may spare yourself further trouble, for all your powers of persuasion will fail with me. I renew mydemand--and for the last time. Do not compel me to resort to extremitieswith you. It would grieve me, " he added with a bitter smile, "to drag sopretty a woman through the public streets, like a common debtor, to theCompter. "

"Grace! grace! Sir Giles, " cried Madame Bonaventure. Then seeing himremain inflexible, she added, in an altered tone, "I will never submitwith life to such an indignity--never!"

"We'll all protect you, Madame, " cried the assemblage with onevoice--"Let him lay hands upon you, and he shall see. "

Sir Giles glanced at his myrmidons. They stepped quickly towards him ina body. At the same time Jocelyn Mounchensey, whom no efforts of thefriendly gentleman could now restrain, sprang forward, and, drawing hissword, was just in time to place himself before Madame Bonaventure, asshe drew hastily back. 

"Have no fear, Madame, you are safe with me, " the young man said, glancing fiercely at the knight and his troop. 

The greatest confusion now reigned throughout the room. Other swordswere drawn, and several of the guests mounted upon the benches tooverlook the scene. Cyprien, and the rest of the drawers and tradesmenranged themselves behind their mistress, prepared to resist any attempton the part of the myrmidons to seize her. The curtain at the head ofthe room was partly drawn aside, showing that the distinguished personsat the upper table were equally excited. 

"Gentlemen, " Sir Giles said, still maintaining perfect calmness in themidst of the tumult, "a word with you ere it be too late. I don'taddress myself to you, Jocelyn Mounchensey, for you are undeserving ofany friendly consideration--but to all others I would counselforbearance and non-resistance. Deliver up that woman to me. "

"I will die upon the spot sooner than you shall be surrendered, " saidJocelyn, encouraging the hostess, who clung to his disengaged arm. 

"Oh! merci! grand merci, mon beau gentilhomme!" she exclaimed. 

"Am I to understand then, that you mean to impede me in the lawfulexecution of my purposes, gentlemen?" Sir Giles demanded. 

"We mean to prevent an unlawful arrest, " several voices rejoined. 

"Be it so, " the knight said; "I wash my hands of the consequences. " Thenturning to his followers, he added--"Officers, at all hazards, attachthe person of Dameris Bonaventure, and convey her to the Compter. At thesame time, arrest the young man-beside her--Jocelyn Mounchensey, --whohas uttered treasonable language against our sovereign lord the King. Iwill tell you how to dispose of him anon. Do my bidding at once. "

But ere the order could be obeyed, the authoritative voice which hadpreviously been heard from the upper table exclaimed--"Hold!"

Sir Giles paused; looked irresolute for a minute; and then checked hismyrmidons with a wave of the hand. 

"Who is it stays the law?" he said, with the glare of a tiger from whoma bone has been snatched. 

"One you must needs obey, Sir Giles, " replied Lord Roos, coming towardshim from the upper table. "You have unconsciously played a part in acomedy--and played it very well, too--but it is time to bring the pieceto an end. We are fast verging on the confines of tragedy. "

"I do not understand you, my lord, " Sir Giles returned, gravely. "Idiscern nothing comic in the matter; though much of serious import. "

"You do not perceive the comedy, because it has been part of our schemeto keep you in the dark, Sir Giles. "

"So there is a scheme, then, a-foot here, my lord?--ha!"

"A little merry plot; nothing more, Sir Giles--in the working of whichyour worthy co-patentee, Sir Francis Mitchell, has materially assisted. "

"Ha!" exclaimed Sir Giles, glancing at his partner, who still occupiedhis elevated position upon the table--"I presume, then, I have to thankyou, my lord, for the indignity offered to my friend?"

"As you please, Sir Giles, " Lord Roos returned carelessly. "You call itan indignity; but in my opinion the best thing to be done with a manwhose head so swims with wine that his legs refuse to support him, is totie him in a chair. He may else sacrifice his dignity by rolling underthe table. But let this pass for the nonce. Before Sir Francis waswholly overcome, he was good enough to give me his signature. You sawhim do it, gentlemen?" he added, appealing to the company. 

"Yes--yes!--we saw him write it!" was the general reply. 

"And to what end was this done, my lord?" Sir Giles demanded, sternly. 

"To enable me, " replied the imperturbable young nobleman, "to draw out areceipt in full of your joint claims against Madame Bonaventure. I havedone it, Sir Giles; and here it is. And I have taken care to grant arenewal of her licence from the date of your notice; so that nopenalties or fines can attach to her for neglect. Take it, MadameBonaventure" he continued, handing her the paper. "It is your fullacquittance. "

"And think you, my lord, that this shallow artifice--to give it noharsher term--will avail you any thing?" Sir Giles cried scornfully. "Iset it aside at once. "

"Your pardon, Sir Giles; you will do no such thing. "

"And who will hinder me?--You, my lord?"

"Even I, Sir Giles. Proceed at your peril. "

The young nobleman's assurance staggered his opponent. 

"He must have some one to uphold him, or he would not be thusconfident, " he thought. "Whose was the voice I heard? It soundedlike--No matter! 'Tis needful to be cautious. "

"You do not, then, hold yourself bound by the acts of your partner, SirGiles?" Lord Roos said. 

"I deny this to be his act, " the knight replied. 

"Better question him at once on the subject, " Lord Roos said. "Set himfree, Cyprien. "

The Gascon did as he was bidden, and with the aid of his fellow drawers, helped Sir Francis from the table. To the surprise of the company, theknight then managed to stagger forward unassisted, and would haveembraced Sir Giles, if the latter had not thrust him off in disgust, with some violence. 

"What folly is this, Sir Francis?" Sir Giles cried angrily. "You haveforgotten yourself strangely, you have taken leave of your senses, methinks!"

"Not a whit of it, Sir Giles--not a whit. I never was more my own masterthan I am at present, as I will prove to you. "

"Prove it, then, by explaining how you came to sign that paper. Youcould not mean to run counter to me?"

"But I did, " Sir Francis rejoined, highly offended. "I meant to runcounter to you in signing it, and I mean it now. "

"'Sdeath! you besotted fool, you are playing into their hands!"

"Besotted fool in your teeth, Sir Giles. I am as sober as yourself. Myhand has been put to that paper, and what it contains I stand by. "

"You design, then, to acquit Madame Bonaventure? Consider what you say?"

"No need for consideration; I have always designed it. "

"Ten thousand thanks, Sir Francis!" the hostess cried. "I knew I had anexcellent friend in you. "

The enamoured knight seized the hand she extended towards him, but inthe attempt to kiss it fell to the ground, amid the laughter of thecompany. 

"Are you satisfied now, Sir Giles?" asked Lord Roos. 

"I am satisfied that Sir Francis has been duped, " he replied, "and thatwhen his brain is free from the fumes of wine, he will bitterly regrethis folly. But even his discharge will be insufficient. Though it maybind me, it will not bind the Crown, which will yet enforce its claims. "

"That, Sir Giles, I leave competent authority to decide, " Lord Roosreplied, retiring. 

And as he withdrew, the curtains before the upper table were entirelywithdrawn, disclosing the whole of the brilliant assemblage, and at thehead of them one person far more brilliant and distinguished than therest. 

"Buckingham!" Sir Giles exclaimed. "I thought I knew the voice. "

It was, indeed, the King's omnipotent favourite. Magnificently attired, the Marquis of Buckingham as far outshone his companions in splendour ofhabiliments as he did in stateliness of carriage and beauty of person. Rising from the table, and donning his plumed hat, looped with diamonds, with a gesture worthy of a monarch, while all the rest remaineduncovered, as if in recognition of his superior dignity, he descended towhere Sir Giles Mompesson was standing. It need scarcely be said thatJocelyn Mounchensey had never seen the superb favourite before; but hedid not require to be told whom he beheld, so perfectly did Buckinghamrealize the descriptions given of him. A little above the ordinaryheight, with a figure of the most perfect symmetry, and features asaristocratic and haughty as handsome, it was impossible to conceive aprouder or a nobler-looking personage than the marquis. His costume wassplendid, consisting of a doublet of white cut velvet, roped withpearls, which fitted him to admiration. Over his shoulders he wore amantle of watchet-coloured velvet; his neck was encircled by a fallingband; and silken hose of the same colour as the doublet completed hiscostume. His deportment was singularly dignified; but his manner mighthave conciliated more if it had been less imperious and disdainful. 

Sir Giles made a profound obeisance as Buckingham advanced towards him. His salutation was haughtily returned. 

"I have heard something of your mode of proceeding with the keepers oftaverns and hostels, Sir Giles, " the proud marquis said; "but this isthe first occasion on which I have seen it put in practice, --and I amfree to confess that you deal not over gently with them, if the presentmay be considered a specimen of your ordinary conduct. Thoseletters-patent were not confided to you by his Majesty to distress hissubjects, for your own particular advantage and profit, but to benefitthe community by keeping such places of entertainment in better orderthan heretofore. I fear you have somewhat abused your warrant, SirGiles. "

"If to devote myself, heart and soul, to his Majesty's service, and toenrich his Majesty's exchequer be to abuse my warrant, I have done so, my lord Marquis, --but not otherwise. I have ever vindicated the dignityand authority of the Crown. You have just heard that, though my own justclaims have been defeated by the inadvertence of my co-patentee, I haveadvanced those of the King. "

"The King relinquishes all claims in the present case, " Buckinghamreplied. "His gracious Majesty gave me full discretion in the matter, and I act as I know he himself would have acted. "

And waving his hand to signify that he would listen to no remonstrances, the Marquis turned to Madame Bonaventure, who instantly prostratedherself before him, as she would have done before royalty itself, warmlythanking him for his protection. 

"You must thank my Lord Roos, and not me, Madame, " Buckingham graciouslyreplied, raising her as he spoke. "It was at his lordship's instance Icame here. He takes a warm interest in you, Madame. "

"I shall ever be beholden to his lordship, I am sure, " MadameBonaventure said, casting down her eyes and blushing, or feigning toblush, "as well as to you, Monseigneur. "

"My Lord Roos avouched, " pursued Buckingham, "that at the Three Cranes Ishould find the prettiest hostess and the best wine in London; and on myfaith as a gentleman! I must say he was wrong in neither particular. Brighter eyes I have never beheld--rarer claret I have never drunk. "

"Oh, Monseigneur! you quite overwhelm me. My poor house can scarcelyhope to be honoured a second time with such a presence; but should it sochance"--

"You will give me as good welcome as you have done to-day. No lack ofinducement to repeat the visit. Sir Giles Mompesson!"

"My lord Marquis. "

"I lay my commands upon you, good Sir Giles, that no further molestationbe offered to Madame Bonaventure, but that you give a good report of herhouse. Withdraw your followers without delay. "

"Your commands shall be obeyed, my lord Marquis, " Sir Giles rejoined;"but before I go I have an arrest to make. That young man, " pointing toJocelyn, "has been talking treason. "

"It is false, my lord Marquis, " Jocelyn replied. "His Majesty hath not amore loyal subject than myself. I would cut out my tongue rather thanspeak against him. I have said the King is ill served in such officersas Giles Mompesson and Sir Francis Mitchell, and I abide by my words. They can reflect no dishonour on his Majesty. "

"Save that they seem to imply a belief on your part that his Majesty haschosen his officers badly, " Buckingham said, regarding the young manfixedly. 

"Not so, my lord Marquis, These men may have been favourably representedto his Majesty, who no doubt has been kept in ignorance of theiriniquitous proceedings. "

"What are you driving at, Sir?" Buckingham cried, almost fiercely. 

"I mean, my lord Marquis, that these persons may be the creatures ofsome powerful noble, whose interest it is to throw a cloak over theirmalpractices. "

"'Fore heaven! some covert insult would seem to be intended, " exclaimedBuckingham. "Who is this young man, Sir Giles?"

"He is named Jocelyn Mounchensey, my lord Marquis; and is the son of anold Norfolk knight baronet, who, you may remember, was arraigned beforethe Court of Star-Chamber, heavily fined, and imprisoned. "

"I do remember the case, and the share you and Sir Francis had in it, Sir Giles, " Buckingham rejoined. 

"I am right glad to hear that, my lord, " said Jocelyn. "You will notthen wonder that I avow myself their mortal enemy. "

"We laugh to scorn these idle vapourings, " said Sir Giles; "and were itpermitted, " he added, touching his sword, "I myself would find an easyway to silence them. But the froward youth, whose brains seem crazedwith his fancied wrongs, is not content with railing against us, butmust needs lift up his voice against all constituted authority. He hathspoken contemptuously of the Star-Chamber, --and that, my lord Marquis, as you well know, is an offence, which cannot be passed over. "

"I am sorry for it, " Buckingham rejoined; "but if he will retract whathe has said, and express compunction, with promise of amendment infuture, I will exert my influence to have him held harmless. "

"I will never retract what I have said against that iniquitoustribunal, " Jocelyn rejoined firmly. "I will rather die a martyr, as myfather did, in the cause of truth. "

"Your kindness is altogether thrown away upon him, my lord, " Sir Gilessaid, with secret satisfaction. 

"So I perceive, " Buckingham rejoined. "Our business is over, " he added, to the nobles and gallants around him; "so we may to our barges. You, mylord, " he added to Lord Roos, "will doubtless tarry to receive thethanks of our pretty hostess. "

And graciously saluting Madame Bonaventure, he quitted the tavernaccompanied by a large train, and entering his barge amid theacclamations of the spectators, was rowed towards Whitehall. 

CHAPTER X. 

The 'prentices and their leader. 

While the Marquis of Buckingham and his suite were moving towards thewharf, amid the acclamations of the crowd (for in the early part of hisbrilliant career the haughty favourite was extremely popular with themultitude, probably owing to the princely largesses he was in the habitof distributing among them), a very different reception awaited thosewho succeeded him. The hurrahs and other vociferations of delight andenthusiasm were changed into groans, hootings, and discordant yells, when Sir Francis Mitchell came in sight, supported between two stoutmyrmidons, and scarcely able to maintain his perpendicular as he wasborne by them towards the wherry in waiting for him near the stairs. Though the knight was escorted by Captain Bludder and his Alsatianbullies, several of the crowd did not seem disposed to confinethemselves to jeers and derisive shouts, but menaced him with some roughusage. Planting themselves in his path, they shook their fists in hisface, with other gestures of defiance and indignity, and could only beremoved by force. Captain Bludder and his roaring blades assumed theirfiercest looks, swore their loudest oaths, twisted their shaggymoustaches, and tapped their rapier-hilts; but they prudently forbore todraw their weapons, well knowing that the proceeding would be a signalfor a brawl, and that the cry of "Clubs!" would be instantly raised. 

Amongst the foremost of those who thus obstructed Sir Francis and hisparty was a young man with a lithe active figure, bright black eyes, full of liveliness and malice, an olive complexion, and a gipsy-likecast of countenance. Attired in a tight-fitting brown frieze jerkin withstone buttons, and purple hose, his head was covered with a montero cap, with a cock's feather stuck in it. He was armed neither with sword nordagger, but carried a large cudgel or club, the well-known andformidable weapon, of the London 'prentices, in the use of which, whether as a quarterstaff or missile, they were remarkably expert. Evena skilful swordsman stood but poor chance with them. Besides thissaucy-looking personage, who was addressed as Dick Taverner by hiscomrades, there were many others, who, to judge from their habilimentsand their cudgels, belonged to the same fraternity as himself; that isto say, they were apprentices to grocers, drapers, haberdashers, skinners, ironmongers, vintners, or other respectable artificers ortradesfolk. 

Now Dick Taverner had an especial grudge against our two extortioners, for though he himself, being 'prentice to a bookseller in Paul'sChurchyard, had little concern with them, he was the son of aninn-keeper--Simon Taverner, of the Emperor's Head, Garlick Hill--who hadbeen recently mined by their exactions, his licence taken from him, andhis house closed: enough to provoke a less mettlesome spark than Dick, who had vowed to revenge the parental injuries on the first opportunity. The occasion now seemed to present itself, and it was not to be lost. Chancing to be playing at bowls in the alley behind the Three Craneswith some of his comrades on the day in question, Dick learnt fromCyprien what was going forward, and the party resolved to have theirshare in the sport. If needful, they promised the drawer to rescue hismistress from the clutches of her antagonists, and to drive them fromthe premises. But their services in this respect were not required. Theynext decided on giving Sir Francis Mitchell a sound ducking in theThames. 

Their measures were quickly and warily taken. Issuing from an archeddoorway at the side of the tavern, they stationed some of their numbernear it, while the main party posted themselves at the principalentrance in front. Scouts were planted inside, to communicate withCyprien, and messengers were despatched to cry "Clubs!" and summon theneighbouring 'prentices from Queenhithe, Thames Street, Trinity Lane, Old Fish Street, and Dowgate Hill; so that fresh auxiliaries wereconstantly arriving. Buckingham, with the young nobles and gallants, were, of course, allowed to pass free, and were loudly cheered; but the'prentices soon ascertained from their scouts that Sir Francis wascoming forth, and made ready for him. 

Utterly unconscious of his danger, the inebriate knight replied to thegibes, scoffs, and menaces addressed to him, by snapping his fingers inhis opponents' faces, and irritating them in their turn; but if he wasinsensible of the risk he ran, those around him were not, and his twosupporters endeavoured to hurry him forward. Violently resisting theirefforts, he tried to shake them off, and more than once stoodstock-still, until compelled to go on. Arrived at the stairhead, he nextrefused to embark, and a scene of violent altercation ensued between himand his attendants. Many boats were moored off the shore, with a coupleof barges close at hand; and the watermen and oarsmen standing up intheir craft, listened to what was going forward with much apparentamusement. 

Hastily descending the steps, Captain Bludder placed himself near thewherry intended for the knight, and called to the others to make shortwork of it and bring him down. At this juncture the word was given byDick Taverner, who acted as leader, and in less than two minutes, SirFrancis was transferred from the hands of his myrmidons to those of the'prentices. To accomplish this, a vigorous application of cudgels wasrequired, and some broken pates were the consequence of resistance; butthe attack was perfectly successful; the myrmidons and Alsatians wererouted, and the 'prentices remained masters of the field, and captors ofa prisoner. Stupefied with rage and astonishment, Captain Bludder lookedon; at one moment thinking of drawing his sword, and joining the fray;but the next, perceiving that his men were evidently worsted, he decidedupon making off; and with this view he was about to jump into thewherry, when his purpose was prevented by Dick Taverner, and a fewothers of the most active of his companions, who dashed down the stepsto where he stood. The captain had already got one foot in the wherry, and the watermen, equally alarmed with himself, were trying to push off, when the invaders came up, and, springing into the boat, took possessionof the oars, sending Bludder floundering into the Thames, where he sunkup to the shoulders, and stuck fast in the mud, roaring piteously forhelp. 

Scarcely were the 'prentices seated, than Sir Francis Mitchell wasbrought down to them, and the poor knight, beginning to comprehend thejeopardy in which he was placed, roared for help as lustily as thehalf-drowned Alsatian captain, and quite as ineffectually. The latterwas left to shift for himself, but the former was rowed out some twentyor thirty yards from the shore, where, a stout cord being fastened tohis girdle, he was plunged head-foremost into the river; and afterbeing thrice drawn up, and as often submerged again, he was dragged onboard, and left to shiver and shake in his dripping habiliments in thestern of the boat. The bath had completely sobered him, and he bitterlybemoaned himself, declaring that if he did not catch his death of coldhe should be plagued with cramps and rheumatism during the rest of hisdays. He did not dare to utter any threats against his persecutors, buthe internally vowed to be revenged upon them--cost what it might. The'prentices laughed at his complaints, and Dick Taverner told him--"thatas he liked not cold water, he should have spared them their ale andwine; but, as he had meddled with their liquors, and with those who soldthem, they had given him a taste of a different beverage, which theyshould provide, free of cost, for all those who interfered with theirenjoyments, and the rights of the public. " Dick added, "that his lastsousing was in requital for the stoppage of the Emperor's Head, andthat, with his own free will, he would have left him under the water, with a stone round his neck. "

This measure of retributive justice accomplished, the 'prentices andtheir leader made for the stairs, where they landed, after telling thewatermen to row their fare to the point nearest his lodgings; an orderwhich was seconded by Sir Francis himself, who was apprehensive offurther outrage. Neither would he tarry to take in Captain Bludder, though earnestly implored to do so by that personage, who, having in hisstruggles sunk deeper into the oozy bed, could now only just keep hisbearded chin and mouth above the level of the tide. Taking compassionupon him, Dick Taverner threw him an oar, and, instantly grasping it, the Alsatian was in this way dragged ashore; presenting a very wofulspectacle, his nether limbs being covered with slime, while the moisturepoured from his garments, as it would from the coat of a water-spaniel. His hat had floated down the stream, and he had left one boot stickingin the mud, while his buff jerkin, saturated with wet, clung to his skinlike a damp glove. 

Leaving him to wring his cloak and dry his habiliments in the best wayhe could, the leader of the 'prentices collected together his forces, and, disposing them in something like military array, placed himself attheir head, and marched towards the tavern, where they set up a greatshout. Hitherto they had met with no interruption whatever. On thecontrary, the watermen, bargemen, and others, had cheered them on intheir work of mischief; and the crowd on shore appeared rather friendlyto them than otherwise. Flushed with success, the riotous youths seemedwell disposed to carry their work of retribution to extremities, and toinflict some punishment upon Sir Giles proportionate to his enormities. Having ascertained, from their scouts, that no one connected with theusurious knight had come forth, they felt quite secure of their prey, and were organising a plan of attack, when intelligence was brought by ascout that a great disturbance was going on inside, in consequence of ayoung gentleman having been arrested by Sir Giles and his crew, and thattheir presence was instantly required by Madame Bonaventure. 

On hearing this, Dick Taverner shouted--"To the rescue! to the rescue!"and rushed into the house, followed by the 'prentices, who loudly echoedhis cries. 

"_Par ici, Messieurs! Par ici!_--this way, this way!" vociferatedCyprien, who met them in the passage--"the bowling-alley--there theyare!"

But the Gascon's directions were scarcely needed. The clashing of swordswould have served to guide the 'prentices to the scene of conflict. 

CHAPTER XI. 

John Wolfe. 

When Jocelyn Mounchensey called for his reckoning, Madame Bonaventuretook him aside, showing, by her looks, that she had something importantto communicate to him, and began by telling him he was heartily welcometo all he had partaken of at her ordinary, adding that she consideredherself very greatly his debtor for the gallantry and zeal he haddisplayed in her behalf. 

"Not that I was in any real peril, my fair young Sir, " she continued, "though I feigned to be so, for I have powerful protectors, as youperceive; and indeed this was all a preconcerted scheme between my LordRoos and his noble friends to turn the tables on the two extortioners. But that does not lessen my gratitude to you; and I shall try to proveit. You are in more danger than, perchance, you wot of; and I feel quitesure Sir Giles means to carry his threat into execution, and to causeyour arrest. "

Seeing him smile disdainfully, as if he had no apprehensions, she added, somewhat quickly--"What will your bravery avail against so many, _monbeau gentilhomme? Mon Dieu_! nothing. No! no! I must get youassistance. Luckily I have some friends at hand, the 'prentices--_grandset forts gaillards, avec des estocs;_--Cyprien has told me they arehere. Most certainly they will take your part. So, Sir Giles shall notcarry you off, after all. "

Jocelyn's lips again curled with the same disdainful smile as before. 

"_Ah I vous etes trop temeraire!"_ Madame Bonaventure cried, tapping hisarm. "Sit down here for awhile. I will give you the signal when you maydepart with safety. Do not attempt to stir till then. You understand?"

Jocelyn did not understand very clearly; but without making anyobservation to the contrary, he took the seat pointed out to him. Theposition was well-chosen, inasmuch as it enabled him to command themovements of the foe, and offered him a retreat through a side-door, close at hand; though he was naturally quite ignorant whither the outletmight conduct him. 

While this was passing, Sir Giles was engaged in giving directionsrespecting his partner, whose inebriate condition greatly scandalizedhim; and it was in pursuance of his orders that Sir Francis wastransported to the wharf where the misadventure before related befelhim. Never for a moment did Sir Giles' watchful eye quit Jocelyn, uponwhom he was ready to pounce like a tiger, if the young man made anymovement to depart; and he only waited till the tavern should be clearof company to effect the seizure. 

Meanwhile another person approached the young man. This was the friendlystranger in the furred gown and flat cap, who had sat next him atdinner, and who, it appeared, was not willing to abandon him in hisdifficulties. Addressing him with much kindness, the worthy personageinformed him that he was a bookseller, named John Wolfe, and carried onbusiness at the sign of the Bible and Crown in Paul's Churchyard, wherehe should be glad to see the young man, whenever he was free to callupon him. 

"But I cannot disguise from you, Master Jocelyn Mounchensey--for yourdispute with Sir Francis Mitchell has acquainted me with your name, "John Wolfe said--"that your rashness has placed you in imminent peril;so that there is but little chance for the present of my showing you thehospitality and kindness I desire. Sir Giles seems to hover over you asa rapacious vulture might do before making his swoop. Heaven shield youfrom his talons! And now, my good young Sir, accept one piece of cautionfrom me, which my years and kindly feelings towards you entitle me tomake. An you 'scape this danger, as I trust you may, let it be a lessonto you to put a guard upon your tongue, and not suffer it to out-runyour judgment. You are much too rash and impetuous, and by your folly(nay, do not quarrel with me, my young friend--I can give no milderappellation to your conduct) have placed yourself in the power of yourenemies. Not only have you provoked Sir Francis Mitchell, whose maliceis more easily aroused than appeased, but you have defied Sir GilesMompesson, who is equally implacable in his enmities; and as if two suchenemies were not enough, you must needs make a third, yet more dangerousthan either. "

"How so, good Master Wolfe?" Jocelyn cried. "To whom do you refer?"

"To whom should I refer, Master Jocelyn, " Wolfe rejoined, "but to mylord of Buckingham, whom you wantonly insulted? For the latterindiscretion there can be no excuse, whatever there may be for theformer; and it was simple madness to affront a nobleman of his exaltedrank, second only in authority to the King himself. "

"But how have I offended the Marquis?" demanded Jocelyn, surprised. 

"Is it possible you can have spoken at random, and without knowledge ofthe force of your own words?" John Wolfe rejoined, looking hard at him. "It may be so, for you are plainly ignorant of the world. Well, then, "he added, lowering his tone, "when you said that these two abominableextortioners were the creatures of some great man, who glozed over theirvillainous practices to the King, and gave a better account of them thanthey deserve, you were nearer the truth than you imagined; but it couldhardly be agreeable to the Marquis to be told this to his face, since itis notorious to all (except to yourself) that he is the man. "

"Heavens!" exclaimed Jocelyn, "I now see the error I have committed. "

"A grave error indeed, " rejoined Wolfe, shaking his head, "and mostdifficult to be repaired--for the plea of ignorance, though it maysuffice with me, will scarcely avail you with the Marquis. Indeed, itcan never be urged, since he disowns any connection with these men; andit is suspected that his half-brother, Sir Edward Villiers, goes betweenthem in all their secret transactions. Of this, however, I know nothingpersonally, and only tell you what I have heard. But if it were notalmost treasonable to say it, I might add, that his Majesty is far toocareless of the means whereby his exchequer is enriched, and hisfavourites gratified; and, at all events, suffers himself to be tooeasily imposed upon. Hence all these patents and monopolies under whichwe groan. The favourites _must_ have money; and as the King has littleto give them, they raise as much as they please on the credit of hisname. Thus everything is _sold_; places, posts, titles, all have theirprice--bribery and corruption reign everywhere. The lord-keeper pays apension to the Marquis--so doth the attorney-general--and simony isopenly practised; for the Bishop of Salisbury paid him £3, 500 for hisbishopric. But this is not the worst of it. Is it not terrible to thinkof a proud nobleman, clothed almost with supreme authority, beingsecretly leagued with sordid wretches, whose practices he openlydiscountenances and contemns, and receiving share of their spoil? Is itnot yet more terrible to reflect that the royal coffers are in somedegree supplied by similar means?"

"'Tis enough to drive an honest man distracted, " Jocelyn said, "and youcannot wonder at my indignation, though you may blame my want ofcaution. I have said nothing half so strong as you have just uttered, Master Wolfe. "

"Ah! but, my good young Sir, I do not publicly proclaim my opinions asyou do. My lord of Buckingham's name must no more be called in questionthan his Majesty's. To associate the Marquis's name with those of hisknown instruments were to give him mortal offence. Even to hint at sucha connection is sufficient to provoke his displeasure! But enough ofthis. My purpose is not to lecture you, but to befriend you. Tell mefrankly, my good young Sir--and be not offended with the offer--will mypurse be useful to you? If so, 'tis freely at your service; and it mayhelp you in your present emergency--for though there is not enough in itto bribe the master to forego his purpose against you, there is amplysufficient to procure your liberation, privily, from the men. "

"I thank you heartily, good Master Wolfe, and believe me, I am notwithheld by false pride from accepting your offer, " Jocelyn replied;"but I must trust to my own arm to maintain my liberty, and to my ownaddress to regain it, if I be taken. Again, I thank you, Sir. "

"I grieve that I cannot lend you other aid, " John Wolfe replied, lookingcompassionately at him; "but my peaceful avocations do not permit me totake any part in personal conflicts, and I am loath to be mixed up insuch disturbances. Nevertheless, I do not like to stand by, and seeoutrage done. "

"Concern yourself no more about me, worthy Sir, " interrupted Jocelyn. "Perhaps I shall not be molested, and if I should be, I am well able totake care of myself. Let those who assail me bear the consequences. "

But John Wolfe still lingered. "If some of my apprentices were onlyhere, " he said, "and especially that riotous rogue, Dick Taverner, something might be done to help you effectually. --Ha! what is thatuproar?" as a tumultuous noise, mixed with the cries of "Clubs!--Clubs!"was heard without, coming from the direction of the wharf. "As I live!the 'prentices _are_ out, and engaged in some mischievous work, and itwill be strange if Dick Taverner be not among them. I will see what theyare about. " And as he spoke he hurried to the oriel window which lookedout upon the wharf, exclaiming--"Ay, ay, --'t is as I thought. Dick _is_among them, and at their head. 'Fore heaven! they are attacking thoseruffianly braggarts from Whitefriars, and are laying about them lustilywith their cudgels. Ha! what is this I see? The Alsatians and themyrmidons are routed, and the brave lads have captured Sir FrancisMitchell. What are they about to do with him? I must go forth and see. "

His purpose, however, was prevented by a sudden movement on the part ofSir Giles and his attendants. They came in the direction of JocelynMounchensey, with the evident intention of seizing the young man. Jocelyn instantly sprang to his feet, drew his sword, and put himself ina posture of defence. The myrmidons prepared to beat down the youngman's blade with their halberds, and secure him, when Jocelyn's cloakwas plucked from behind, and he heard Madame Bonaventure's voiceexclaim--"Come this way!--follow me instantly!"

Thus enjoined, he dashed through the door, which was instantly fastened, as soon as he had made good his retreat. 

CHAPTER XII. 

The Arrest and the Rescue. 

Lupo Vulp had endeavoured to dissuade Sir Giles from putting his designof arresting Jocelyn into immediate execution; alleging the great riskhe would incur, as well from the resolute character of the young manhimself, who was certain to offer determined resistance, as from thetemper of the company, which, being decidedly adverse to any such step, might occasion a disturbance that would probably result in theprisoner's rescue. 

"In any case, Sir Giles, " said the wily scrivener, "let me counsel youto tarry till the greater part of the guests be gone, and the assemblageoutside dispersed; for I noted many turbulent 'prentices among the mob, who are sure to be troublesome. "

"Since the young man shows no present disposition to quit the house, "Sir Giles replied, looking askance at Jocelyn, who just then had movedto another part of the room with Madame Bonaventure, "there is nourgency; and it may be prudent to pause a few moments, as you suggest, good Lupo. But I will not suffer him to depart. I perceive, from hergestures and glances, that our tricksy hostess is plotting some schemewith him. Plot away, fair mistress; you must have more cunning than Igive you credit for, if you outwit me a second time in the same day. Ican guess what she proposes. You note that side door near them, Lupo?She is advising the youth's flight that way; and he, like a hair-brainedfool, will not listen to the suggestion. But it will be well to watchthe outlet. Hark ye, Lanyere, " he added to the promoter, "take three menwith you, and go round quickly to the passage with which yon doorcommunicates. Station yourselves near the outlet; and if Mounchenseycomes forth, arrest him instantly. You see the door I mean? About it, quick!"

And Lanyere instantly departed with three of the myrmidons. 

"I would this arrest could be lawfully effected, Sir Giles, " said LupoVulp, "by a serjeant-at-arms or pursuivant. There would then be no risk. Again I venture to counsel you to proceed regularly. No great delaywould be occasioned, if your worship went to Westminster, and made acomplaint against the young man before the Council. In that case amessenger of the Court would be despatched to attach his person; andeven if he should quit the house in the meanwhile, Lanyere will keep onhis track. That were the surest course. As to the manner of proceeding, I conclude it will be by _Ore tenus_. It is not likely that this youth'sheadstrong temper, coupled with his fantastic notions of honour, willpermit him to deny your worship's accusation, and therefore hisconfession being written down, and subscribed by himself, will beexhibited against him when he is brought to the bar of the Star-Chamber, and he will be judged _ex ore suo_. Your worship will make quick work ofit. "

"_Cum confitente reo citius est agendum_" replied Sir Giles. "No oneknows better than thou, good Lupo, how promptly and effectually thecourt of Star-Chamber will vindicate its authority, and how severely itwill punish those who derogate from its dignity. No part of the sentenceshall be remitted with my consent. This insolent youth shall suffer tothe same extent as Lanyere. Pilloried, branded, mutilated, degraded, heshall serve as a warning to my enemies. "

"Your worship can scarce make him more of a scarecrow than you have madeof Lanyere, " Lupo remarked with a grin. "But do you decide on applyingin the first instance to the Council?"

"No, " Sir Giles replied, "I will not lose sight of him. He shall nothave a chance of escape. Marked you not, Lupo, how the rash foolcommitted himself with Buckingham? And think you the proud Marquis wouldhold me blameless, if, by accident, he should get off scot-free, aftersuch an outrage? But see! the room is well-nigh cleared. Only a fewloiterers remain. The time is come. "

And he was about to order the attack, when the disturbance outsidereached his ears, and checked him for a moment. Sir Giles wasconsidering what could be the cause of the tumult, and hesitatingwhether to go forth and support Sir Francis, in case he stood in need ofassistance, when the discomfited myrmidons rushed into the room. A fewwords sufficed to explain what had occurred, and indeed the bloodyvisages of some of the men showed how roughly they had been handled. Though greatly exasperated, Sir Giles was determined not to be baulkedof his prey; and fearing Jocelyn might escape in the confusion, which anattack upon the 'prentices would occasion, he gave the word for hisinstant seizure, and rushed towards him, as before related. How he wasbaffled has already been told. His wrath knew no bounds when the youngman disappeared. He hurled himself furiously against the door, but itresisted all his efforts to burst it open. Suddenly the bolt waswithdrawn, and Clement Lanyere and his men stood before him. 

"Have you secured him?" Sir Giles demanded, trying to descry thefugitive among them. "Death and fiends! you have not let him escape?"

"No one has passed us, except Madame Bonaventure, " the promoter replied. "She was wholly unattended, and came in this direction. We werestationed within yon anti-chamber, which appears to be the sole means ofcommunication with this passage, and we ought therefore to haveintercepted the young man when he came forth. "

"You were not wont to be thus short-sighted, Lanyere. There must be someother mode of exit, which you have failed to discover, " Sir Giles criedfuriously. "Ha! here it is!" he exclaimed, dashing aside a piece oftapestry that seemed merely hung against the wall, but in realityconcealed a short flight of steps. "Purblind dolts that you are, not tofind this out. You shall answer for your negligence hereafter, if wetake him not. "

And, accompanied by the troop, he hurried down the steps, which broughthim to a lower room, communicating on one hand with a small court, and, on the other, with the kitchen and offices attached to the tavern. Directing Lanyere to search the latter, Sir Giles rushed into the court, and uttered a shout of savage joy on perceiving Jocelyn, sword in hand, scaling a wall which separated the court from the bowling-green. 

Some difficulty, it appeared, had occurred to the hostess in forcingopen a private door in the yard leading to the green, which being rarelyused (for the principal entrance was situated elsewhere), its fasteningswere rusty, and refused to act. This delay favoured the pursuers; and onhearing their approach, Jocelyn strove to effect his retreat in themanner described. 

But Sir Giles was further served, though unintentionally, by MadameBonaventure, who succeeded in drawing back the rusty bolt at the verymoment he came up; and no impediment now existing, the knight thrust herrudely aside, and sprang through the doorway just as Jocelyn leaped fromthe wall. 

Disregarding Sir Giles's summons to surrender, the young man hurried ontill he reached the middle of the bowling-green, where, finding flightimpossible, as there was no apparent outlet at the further end of thegarden, while it was certain that the tipstaves would pluck him from thewall with their hooks if he attempted to clamber over it, he turned, andstood upon his defence. 

Willing to have the credit of disarming him unaided, and confident inhis own superior strength and skill, Sir Giles signed to his myrmidonsto stand back, while he alone advanced towards the young man. A turn inhis strong wrist would, he imagined, suffice to accomplish his purpose. But he found out his error the moment he engaged with his opponent. Indexterity and force the latter was fully his match, while in nimblenessof body Jocelyn surpassed him. The deadly glances thrown at him by theyoung man showed that the animosity of the latter would only besatisfied with blood. Changing his purpose, therefore, Sir Giles, inplace of attempting to cross his antagonist's sword, rapidly disengagedhis point, and delivered a stoccata, or in modern terms of fence, athrust in carte, over the arm, which was instantly parried. For someminutes the conflict continued without material success on either side. Holding his rapier short, with the point towards his adversary's face, Jocelyn retreated a few paces at first, but then, charging in turn, speedily won back his ground. Stoccatas, imbroccatas, drittas, mandrittas, and riversas were exchanged between them in a manner thatdelighted the myrmidons, most of whom were amateurs of sword-play. Infuriated by the unexpected resistance he encountered, Sir Giles, atlength, resolved to terminate the fight; and, finding his antagonistconstantly upon some sure ward, endeavoured to reach him with a halfincartata; but instantly shifting his body with marvellous dexterity, Jocelyn struck down the other's blade, and replied with a straightthrust, which must infallibly have taken effect, if his rapier had notbeen beaten from his grasp by Clement Lanyere at the very moment ittouched his adversary's breast. At the same time the young man's armswere grasped from behind by two of the myrmidons, and he lay at hisenemy's disposal. 

Sir Giles, however, sheathed his rapier, saying, with a grim smile, "that he did not mean to deprive himself of the satisfaction of seeinghis foe stand in the pillory, and submit to the sworn torturer's knife;"adding, "it was somewhat strange that one who could guard his body sowell, should keep such indifferent watch over his tongue. "

Jocelyn made no reply to the sarcasm, and the knight was preparing todepart with his followers, when a loud and tumultuous uproar proclaimedthe approach of the apprentices. The posse of victorious youths madetheir way to the bowling-green by the principal entrance, situated, asbefore mentioned, at a different point from the door by which the othershad gained it. More apprehensive of losing his prisoner, than concernedfor his personal safety (for though the aggressive party greatlyexceeded his own in numbers, he knew well how to deal with them, beingaccustomed to such encounters), Sir Giles gave some orders respectingJocelyn to Clement Lanyere, and then prepared to resist the onslaught, by causing his band to form a solid square; those armed with bills andstaves being placed in the foremost ranks. This disposition beingquickly made, he drew his sword, and in a loud authoritative tonecommanded the apprentices to stand back. Such was the effect produced byhis voice, and the terrors of his countenance, which seldom failed tostrike awe into beholders, that the intending rescuers came to a halt, and showed some hesitation in engaging him. 

"What means this disturbance?" thundered Sir Giles; "and why do youoffer to molest me in the execution of my duty? Know you not thatassemblages like yours are unlawful, and that you are liable to severepunishment, unless you immediately disperse yourselves, and peaceablydepart to your own habitations? About your business, I say, and troubleme no longer! But first, I command you to deliver up your ringleaders, and especially those who, as I am told, have perpetrated the grossoutrage and violence upon the person of Sir Francis Mitchell. An exampleshall be made of them. "

"You waste your breath, Sir Giles, and your big words will avail younothing with us, " Dick Taverner replied. "Now hear me in return. We, thebold and loyal 'prentices of London, who serve our masters and ourmasters' master, the king's highness, well and truly, will not allow anunlawful arrest to be made by you or by any other man. And we commandyou peaceably to deliver up your prisoner to us; or, by the rood! wewill take him forcibly from your hands!"

"Out, insolent fellow!" cried Sir Giles; "thou wilt alter thy tune whenthou art scourged at the cart's-tail. "

"You must catch me first, Sir Giles, " replied Dick; "and two words willgo to that. We have read Sir Francis Mitchell a lesson he is not likelyto forget; and we will read you one, an you provoke us. We have a fewold scores to wipe off. "

"Ay, marry! have we, " cried an embroiderer's apprentice;"these extortioners have ruined my master's trade by theirgold-and-silver-thread monopoly. "

"Hundreds of worthy men have been thrown out of employment by theirpractices, " said a vintner's 'prentice. "We sell not half the wine weused to do. And no wonder! seeing two-thirds of the inns in London areshut up. "

"The brewers will be all ruined, " said a burly 'prentice, with a woodenshovel over his shoulder; "since every day a fresh ale-house is closed;and no new licences are granted. Murrain seize all such monopolists!They are worse than the fly in hops, or smut in barley. "

"Ay, plague take 'em!" exclaimed Dick Taverner. "They are as bad as thelocusts of Egypt. When they have devoured the substance of one set oftradesfolk they will commence upon that of another. No one is safe fromthem. It will be your turn next, Master Mercer. Yours after him, MasterIronmonger, however hard of digestion may be your wares. You will comethird, Master Fishmonger. You fourth, Master Grocer. And when they aresurfeited with spiceries and fish, they will fall upon you, tooth andnail, Master Goldsmith. "

"I trow not, " cried the apprentice last appealed to. "Our masters aretoo rich and too powerful to submit to such usage. "

"The very reason they will undergo it, " replied Dick. "Their riches areonly a temptation to plunder. I repeat, no man is safe from theseextortioners. Since the law will not give us redress, and put them down, we must take the law into our own hands. They shall have Club Law. "

"Ay, ay--'Prentices' law--Club law!" chorussed the others. 

"Sir Giles will make a Star-Chamber matter of it. He will have us upbefore the Council, " laughed the goldsmith's 'prentice. 

"He will buy a monopoly of cudgels to deprive us of their use, " cried abowyer. 

"We will bestow that patent upon him gratis, " quoth Dick, making hisstaff whistle round his head. 

"The prisoner!--gentlemen 'prentices--do not forget him!" cried Cyprien, who, with two other serving-men and the cook, had joined the assailingparty. "Madame Bonaventure implores you to effect his rescue. "

"And so we will, my jovial Gascon, " replied Dick. "Come, Sir Giles! arewe to have the young gentleman from you by force or free-will?"

"You shall have him in neither way, sirrah, " the knight rejoined. "You, yourself, shall bear him company in the Fleet. Upon them, my men, andmake for the door!"

And as the command was given, he and his troop made a sudden dash uponthe 'prentices, who, unable to stand against the bills levelled againsttheir breasts, gave way. Still, the gallant youths were by no meansrouted. Instantly closing upon their opponents, and being quite asnimble of foot as they, they contrived to cut off their retreat from thegarden; and a sharp conflict took place between the parties, as theycame to close quarters near the entrance. Three of the myrmidons werefelled by Dick Taverner's cudgel; and at last, watching his opportunity, with both hands he launched a bowl which he had picked up at Sir Giles'shead. If the missile had taken effect, the fight would have been over;but the knight avoided the blow by stooping down, and the bowl, passingover him, hit Lupo Vulp full in the stomach, and brought him to theground deprived of breath. Meanwhile, Sir Giles, springing quicklyforward, pinned the apprentice against the wall with his rapier's point. 

"I have thee at last, knave, " he cried, seizing Dick by the collar, anddelivering him to the custody of the myrmidons nearest him--"I told theethou should'st visit the Fleet. And so thou shalt. "

Notwithstanding the capture of their leader, the 'prentices foughtmanfully, and it still appeared doubtful whether Sir Giles would be ableto effect a retreat after all, embarrassed as he now was with twoprisoners. Under these circumstances he made a sign to Clement Lanyereto withdraw with Jocelyn through the other door, ordering the twomyrmidons who had charge of Dick Taverner to follow him with theircaptive. 

It was no easy task to carry out the order; but the promoter managed toaccomplish it. Single-handed he drove back all who opposed his progress, while the two prisoners were borne towards the door by the men havingthem in custody. 

Hitherto Jocelyn had made no attempt at self-liberation; awaiting, probably, the result of the 'prentices' efforts in his behalf, or somemore favourable opportunity than had hitherto presented itself. Onreaching the little court the time for exertion seemed to be come. Shaking off the myrmidons who pinioned him, and seizing a bill from oneof them, he instantly stretched the fellow at his feet, and drove offhis comrade. This done, he lent immediate assistance to Dick Taverner, setting him free, and arming him with as much promptitude as he had usedto effect his own deliverance. 

While thus engaged, he received no interruption from Clement Lanyere, though, if he had chosen, the promoter might no doubt have effectuallyopposed him. But Lanyere either was, or feigned to be, engaged with someskirmishers at the door; and it was only when both the prisoners had gotfree, that he rushed towards them, loudly reprehending the men for theircarelessness. But if they were to blame, he was no less so, for heshowed little address in following the fugitives, and managed to take awrong turn in the passage, which led both him and the myrmidons astray, so that the prisoners got clear off. 

How Jocelyn and Dick Taverner contrived to reach the Vintry Wharf, neither of them very distinctly knew, --such was the hurried manner inwhich they passed through the tavern; but there they were, precisely atthe moment that Sir Giles Mompesson, having fought his way through allopposition, issued from the porch at the head of his band. 

Quite satisfied with his previous encounter with the redoubtable knight, and anxious to escape before his evasion should he discovered, Dickbeckoned to his companion, and, making all the haste they could to thestairs, they both jumped into the nearest wherry, when the apprenticeordered the two watermen within it to row for their lives toLondon-bridge. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

How Jocelyn Mounchensey encountered a masked horseman on Stamford Hill. 

Two days after the events last recorded, a horseman, followed at arespectful distance by a mounted attendant, took his way up StamfordHill. He was young, and of singularly prepossessing appearance, with acountenance full of fire and spirit, and blooming with health, and itwas easy to see that his life had been passed in the country, and inconstant manly exercise; for though he managed his horse--a powerful baycharger--to perfection, there was nothing of the town gallant, or of thesoldier, about him. His doublet and cloak were of a plain dark material, and had seen service; but they well became his fine symmetrical figure, as did the buff boots defending his well-made, vigorous limbs. Betterseat in saddle, or lighter hand with bridle, no man could possess thanhe; and his noble steed, which like himself was full of courage andardour, responded to all his movements, and obeyed the slightestindication of his will. His arms were rapier and dagger; and hisbroad-leaved hat, ornamented with a black feather, covered the luxuriantbrown locks that fell in long ringlets over his shoulders. So_débonnair_ was the young horseman in deportment, so graceful infigure, and so comely in looks, that he had excited no little admirationas he rode forth at an early hour that morning from Bishopgate Street, and passing under the wide portal in the old city walls, speeded towardsthe then rural district of Shoreditch, leaving Old Bedlam and itssaddening associations on the right, and Finsbury Fields, with itsgardens, dog-houses, and windmills, on the left. At the end ofBishopgate-Street-Without a considerable crowd was collected round aparty of comely young milkmaids, who were executing a lively andcharacteristic dance to the accompaniment of a bagpipe and fiddle. Instead of carrying pails as was their wont, these milkmaids, who wereall very neatly attired, bore on their heads a pile of silver plate, borrowed for the occasion, arranged like a pyramid, and adorned withribands and flowers. In this way they visited all their customers anddanced before their doors. A pretty usage then observed in the environsof the metropolis in the month of May. The merry milkmaids set up ajoyous shout as the youth rode by; and many a bright eye followed hisgallant figure till it disappeared. At the Conduit beyond Shoreditch, apack of young girls, who were drawing water, suspended their task tolook after him; and so did every buxom country lass he encountered, whether seated in tilted cart, or on a pillion behind her sturdy sire. To each salutation addressed to him the young man cordially replied, ina voice blithe as his looks; and in some cases, where the greeting wasgiven by an elderly personage, or a cap was respectfully doffed to him, he uncovered his own proud head, and displayed his handsome features yetmore fully. 

So much for the master: now for the man. In his own opinion, atleast--for he was by no means deficient in self-conceit--the latter camein for an equal share of admiration; and certes, if impudence could helphim to win it, he lacked not the recommendation. Staring most of thegirls out of countenance, he leered at some of them so offensively, thattheir male companions shook their fists or whips at him, and sometimeslaunched a stone at his head. Equally free was he in the use of histongue; and his jests were so scurrilous and so little relished by thoseto whom they were addressed, that it was, perhaps, well for him, in someinstances, that the speed at which he rode soon carried him out ofharm's reach. The knave was not ill-favoured; being young, supple oflimb, olive-complexioned, black-eyed, saucy, roguish-looking, with aturned-up nose, and extremely white teeth. He wore no livery, and indeedhis attire was rather that of a citizen's apprentice than such asbeseemed a gentleman's lacquey. He was well mounted on a stout sorrelhorse; but though the animal was tractable enough, and easy in itspaces, he experienced considerable difficulty in maintaining his seat onits back. 

In this way, Jocelyn Mounchensey and Dick Taverner (for the reader willhave had no difficulty in recognising the pair) arrived at StamfordHill; and the former, drawing in the rein, proceeded slowly up thegentle ascent. 

 * * * * *

It was one of those delicious spring mornings, when all nature seems torejoice; when the newly-opened leaves are greenest and freshest; whenthe lark springs blithest from the verdant mead, and soars nearestheaven; when a thousand other feathered choristers warble forth theirnotes in copse and hedge; when the rooks caw mellowly near their nestsin the lofty trees; when gentle showers, having fallen overnight, havekindly prepared the earth for the morrow's genial warmth and sunshine;when that sunshine, each moment, calls some new object into life andbeauty; when all you look upon is pleasant to the eye, all you listen tois delightful to the ear;--in short, it was one of those exquisitemornings, only to be met with in the merry month of May, and only to beexperienced in full perfection in Merry England. 

 * * * * *

Arrived at the summit of the hill, commanding such extensively charmingviews, Jocelyn halted and looked back with wonder at the vast andpopulous city he had just quitted, now spread out before him in all itssplendour and beauty. In his eyes it seemed already over-grown, thoughit had not attained a tithe of its present proportions; but he couldonly judge according to his opportunity, and was unable to foresee itsfuture magnitude. But if London has waxed in size, wealth, andpopulation during the last two centuries and a-half, it has lost nearlyall the peculiar features of beauty which distinguished it up to thattime, and made it so attractive to Jocelyn's eyes. The diversified andpicturesque architecture of its ancient habitations, as yet undisturbedby the innovations of the Italian and Dutch schools, and brought to fullperfection in the latter part of the reign of Elizabeth, gave the wholecity a characteristic and fanciful appearance. Old towers, old belfries, old crosses, slender spires innumerable, rose up amid a world of quaintgables and angular roofs. Story above story sprang those curiousdwellings; irregular yet homogeneous; dear to the painter's and thepoet's eye; elaborate in ornament; grotesque in design; well suited tothe climate, and admirably adapted to the wants and comforts of theinhabitants; picturesque like the age itself, like its costume, itsmanners, its literature. All these characteristic beauties andpeculiarities are now utterly gone. All the old picturesque habitationshave been devoured by fire, and a New City has risen in theirstead;--not to compare with the Old City, though--and conveying nonotion whatever of it--any more than you or I, worthy reader, in ourformal, and, I grieve to say it, ill-contrived attire, resemble thepicturesque-looking denizens of London, clad in doublet, mantle, andhose, in the time of James the First. 

Another advantage in those days must not be forgotten. The canopy ofsmoke overhanging the vast Modern Babel, and oftentimes obscuring eventhe light of the sun itself, did not dim the beauties of the AncientCity, --sea coal being but little used in comparison with wood, of whichthere was then abundance, as at this time in the capital of France. Thusthe atmosphere was clearer and lighter, and served as a finer medium toreveal objects which would now be lost at a quarter the distance. 

Fair, sparkling, and clearly defined, then, rose up Old London beforeJocelyn's gaze. Girded round with gray walls, defended by battlements, and approached by lofty gates, four of which--to wit, Cripplegate, Moorgate, Bishopgate, and Aldgate--were visible from where he stood; itriveted attention from its immense congregation of roofs, spires, pinnacles, and vanes, all glittering in the sunshine; while in the midstof all, and pre-eminent above all, towered one gigantic pile--theglorious Gothic cathedral. Far on the east, and beyond the city walls, though surrounded by its own mural defences, was seen the frowning Towerof London--part fortress and part prison--a structure never viewed inthose days without terror, being the scene of so many passing tragedies. Looking westward, and rapidly surveying the gardens and pleasantsuburban villages lying on the north of the Strand, the young man'sgaze settled for a moment on Charing Cross--the elaborately-carvedmemorial to his Queen, Eleanor, erected by Edward I. --and then rangingover the palace of Whitehall and its two gates, Westminster Abbey--morebeautiful without its towers than with them--it became fixed uponWestminster Hall; for there, in one of its chambers, the ceiling ofwhich was adorned with gilded stars, were held the councils of thatterrible tribunal which had robbed him of his inheritance, and nowthreatened him with deprivation of liberty, and mutilation of person. Ashudder crossed him as he thought of the Star-Chamber, and he turned hisgaze elsewhere, trying to bring the whole glorious city within his ken. 

A splendid view, indeed! Well might King James himself exclaim whenstanding, not many years previously, on the very spot where Jocelyn nowstood, and looking upon London for the first time since his accession tothe throne of England--well might he exclaim in rapturous accents, as hegazed on the magnificence of his capital--"At last the richest jewel ina monarch's crown is mine!"

After satiating himself with this, to him, novel and wonderful prospect, Jocelyn began to bestow his attention on objects closer at hand, andexamined the landscapes on either side of the eminence, which, withoutoffering any features of extraordinary beauty, were generally pleasing, and exercised a soothing influence upon his mind. At that time StamfordHill was crowned with a grove of trees, and its eastern declivity wasovergrown with brushwood. The whole country, on the Essex side, was moreor less marshy, until Epping Forest, some three miles off, was reached. Through a swampy vale on the left, the river Lea, so dear to the angler, took its slow and silent course; while through a green valley on theright, flowed the New River, then only just opened. Pointing out thelatter channel to Jocelyn, Dick Taverner, who had now come up, informedhim that he was present at the completion of that important undertaking. And a famous sight it was, the apprentice said. The Lord Mayor ofLondon, the Aldermen, and the Recorder were all present in their robesand gowns to watch the floodgate opened, which was to pour the streamthat had run from Amwell Head into the great cistern near Islington. Andthis was done amidst deafening cheers and the thunder of ordnance. 

"A proud day it was for Sir Hugh Myddleton, " Dick added; "and somereward for his perseverance through difficulties and disappointments. "

"It is to be hoped the good gentleman has obtained more substantialreward than that, " Jocelyn replied. "He has conferred an inestimableboon upon his fellow-citizens, and is entitled to their gratitude forit. "

"As to gratitude on the part of the citizens, I can't say much forthat, Sir. And it is not every man that meets with his desserts, or weknow where our friends Sir Giles Mompesson and Sir Francis Mitchellwould be. The good cits are content to drink the pure water of the NewRiver, without bestowing a thought on him who has brought it to theirdoors. Meantime, the work has well-nigh beggared Sir Hugh Myddleton, andhe is likely to obtain little recompense beyond what the consciousnessof his own beneficent act will afford him. "

"But will not the King requite him?" Jocelyn asked. 

"The King _has_ requited him with a title, " Dick returned. "A title, however, which may be purchased at a less price than good Sir Hugh haspaid for it, now-a-days. But it must be owned, to our sovereign'scredit, that he did far more than the citizens of London would do; sincewhen they refused to assist Master Myddleton (as he then was) in hismost useful work, King James undertook, and bound himself by indentureunder the great seal, to pay half the expenses. Without this, it wouldprobably never have been accomplished. "

"I trust it may be profitable to Sir Hugh in the end, " Jocelyn said;"and if not, he will reap his reward hereafter. "

"It is not unlikely we may encounter him, as he now dwells nearEdmonton, and is frequently on the road, " Dick said; "and if so, I willpoint him out to you, I have some slight acquaintance with him, havingoften served him in my master's shop in Paul's Churchyard. Talking ofEdmonton, with your permission, Sir, we will break our fast at theBell, [1] where I am known, and where you will be well served. The hostis a jovial fellow and trusty, and may give us information which will beuseful before we proceed on our perilous expedition to Theobalds. "

"I care not how soon we arrive there, " Jocelyn cried; "for the morninghas so quickened my appetite, that the bare idea of thy host's goodcheer makes all delay in attacking it unsupportable. "

"I am entirely of your opinion, Sir, " Dick said, smacking his lips. "Atthe Bell at Edmonton we are sure of fresh fish from the Lea, fresh eggsfrom the farm-yard, and stout ale from the cellar; and if these threethings do not constitute a good breakfast, I know not what others do. Solet us be jogging onwards. We have barely two miles to ride. Fiveminutes to Tottenham; ten to Edmonton; 'tis done!"

It was not, however, accomplished quite so soon as Dick anticipated. Erefifty yards were traversed, they were brought to a stop by anunlooked-for incident. 

Suddenly emerging from a thick covert of wood, which had concealed himfrom view, a horseman planted himself directly in their path; orderingthem in a loud, authoritative voice, to stand; and enforcing attentionto the injunction by levelling a caliver at Jocelyn's head. 

The appearance of this personage was as mysterious as formidable. Theupper part of his features was concealed by a black mask. Hishabiliments were sable; and the colour of his powerful steed was sablelikewise. Boots, cap, cloak, and feather, were all of the same duskyhue. His frame was strongly built, and besides the caliver he was armedwith sword and poniard. Altogether, he constituted an unpleasantobstacle in the way. 

Dick Taverner was not able to render much assistance on the occasion. The suddenness with which the masked horseman burst forth upon themscared his horse; and the animal becoming unmanageable, began to rear, and finally threw its rider to the ground--luckily without doing himmuch damage. 

Meanwhile the horseman, lowering his caliver, thus addressed Jocelyn, who, taking him for a robber, was prepared to resist the attack. 

"You are mistaken in me, Master Jocelyn Mounchensey, " he said; "I haveno design upon your purse. I call upon you to surrender yourself myprisoner. "

"Never, with life, " the young man replied. "In spite of your disguise, Irecognise you as one of Sir Giles Mompesson's myrmidons; and you mayconclude from our former encounter, whether my resistance will bedetermined or not. "

"You had not escaped on that occasion, but for my connivance, MasterJocelyn, " the man in the mask rejoined. "Now, hear me. I am willing tobefriend you on certain conditions; and, to prove my sincerity, I engageyou shall go free if you accept them. "

"I do not feel disposed to make any terms with you, " Jocelyn saidsternly; "and as to my freedom of departure, I will take care that it isnot hindered. "

"I hold a warrant from the Star-Chamber for your arrest, " said the manin the mask; "and you will vainly offer resistance if I choose toexecute it. Let this be well understood before I proceed. And now toshow you the extent of my information concerning you, and that I amfully aware of your proceedings, I will relate to you what you have donesince you fled with that froward apprentice, whose tricks will assuredlybring him to Bridewell, from the Three Cranes. You were landed at LondonBridge, and went thence with your companion to the Rose at NewingtonButts, where you lay that night, and remained concealed, as you fancied, during the whole of the next day. I say, you fancied your retreat wasunknown, because I was aware of it, and could have seized you had I beenso disposed. The next night you removed to the Crown in BishopgateStreet, and as you did not care to return to your lodgings near SaintBotolph's Church without Aldgate, you privily despatched Dick Tavernerto bring your horses from the Falcon in Gracechurch Street, where youhad left them, with the foolhardy intention of setting forth thismorning to Theobalds, to try and obtain an interview of the King. "

"You have spoken the truth, " Jocelyn replied in amazement; "but if youdesigned to arrest me, and could have done so, why did you defer yourpurpose?"

"Question me not on that point. Some day or other I may satisfy you. Notnow. Enough that I have conceived a regard for you, and will not harmyou, unless compelled to do so by self-defence. Nay more, I will serveyou. You must not go to Theobalds. 'Tis a mad scheme, conceived by a hotbrain, and will bring destruction upon you. If you persist in it, Imust follow you thither, and prevent greater mischief. "

"Follow me, then, if you list, " Jocelyn cried; "for go I shall. But beassured I will liberate myself from you if I can. "

"Go, hot-headed boy, " the man in the mask rejoined, but he then addedquickly; "yet no!--I will not deliver you thus to the power of yourenemies, without a further effort to save you. Since you are resolved togo to Theobalds you must have a protector--a protector able to shieldyou even from Buckingham, whose enmity you have reason to dread. Thereis only one person who can do this, and that is Count Gondomar, theSpanish lieger-ambassador. Luckily, he is with the King now. In place ofmaking any idle attempts to obtain an interview of his Majesty, orforcing yourself unauthorised on the royal presence, which will end inyour arrest by the Knight Marshall, seek out Count Gondomar, and deliverthis token to him. Tell him your story; and do what he bids you. "

And as he spoke the man in the mask held forth a ring, which Jocelyntook. 

"I intended to make certain conditions with you, " the mysteriouspersonage pursued, "for the service I should render you, but you havethwarted my plans by your obstinacy, and I must reserve them to ournext meeting. For we _shall_ meet again, and that ere long; and thenwhen you tender your thanks for what I have now done, I will tell youhow to requite the obligation. "

"I swear to requite it if I can--and as you desire, " Jocelyn cried, struck by the other's manner. 

"Enough!" the masked personage rejoined. "I am satisfied. Proceed onyour way, and may good fortune attend you! Your destiny is in your ownhands. Obey Count Gondomar's behests, and he will aid you effectually. "

And without a word more, the man in the mask struck spurs into hishorse's sides, and dashed down the hill, at a headlong pace, in thedirection of London. 

Jocelyn looked after him, and had not recovered from his surprise at thesingular interview that had taken place when he disappeared. 

By this time, Dick Taverner having regained his feet, limped towardshim, leading his horse. 

"It must be the Fiend in person, " quoth the apprentice, contriving toregain the saddle. "I trust you have made no compact with him, Sir. "

"Not a sinful one I hope, " Jocelyn replied, glancing at the ring. 

And they proceeded on their way towards Tottenham, and were presentlysaluted by the merry ringing of bells, proclaiming some villagefestival. 

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Lest we should be charged with an anachronism, we may mention thatthe Bell at Edmonton, immortalized in the story of John Gilpin, was ingood repute in the days we treat of, as will appear from the followingextract from John Savile's Tractate entitled, _King James, hisEntertainment at Theobald's, with his Welcome to London_. Havingdescribed the vast concourse of people that flocked forth to greet theirnew Sovereign on his approach to the metropolis, honest Johnsays--"After our breakfast at Edmonton at the sign of _the Bell_, wetook occasion to note how many would come down in the next hour, socoming up into a chamber next to the street, where we might both bestsee, and likewise take notice of all passengers, we called for anhour-glass, and after we had disposed of ourselves who should take thenumber of the horse, and who the foot, we turned the hour-glass, whichbefore it was half run out, we could not possibly truly number them, they came so exceedingly fast; but there we broke off, and made ouraccount of 309 horses, and 137 footmen, which course continued that dayfrom four o'clock in the morning till three o'clock in the afternoon, and the day before also, as the host of the house told us, withoutintermission. " Besides establishing the existence of the renowned _Bell_at this period, the foregoing passage is curious in other respects. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

The May-Queen and the Puritan's Daughter. 

Popular sports and pastimes were wisely encouraged by James the First, whose great consideration for the enjoyments of the humbler classes ofhis subjects cannot be too highly commended; and since the main purposeof this history is to point out some of the abuses prevalent during hisreign, it is but fair that at least one of the redeeming features shouldbe mentioned. It has ever been the practice of sour-spiritedsectarianism to discountenance recreations of any kind, howeverharmless, on the Sabbath; and several flagrant instances of this sort ofinterference, on the part of the puritanical preachers and theirdisciples, having come before James during his progress through thenorthern counties of England, and especially Lancashire, he caused, onhis return to London, his famous Declaration concerning Lawful Sports onSundays and holidays to be promulgated; wherein a severe rebuke wasadministered to the Puritans and precisians, and the cause of the peopleespoused in terms, which, while most creditable to the monarch, are notaltogether inapplicable to other times besides those in which they weredelivered. "Whereas, " says King James, in his Manifesto, "We did justlyrebuke some Puritans and precise people, and took order that the likeunlawful carriage should not be used by any of them hereafter, in theprohibiting and unlawful punishing of our good people for using theirlawful recreations and honest exercises upon Sundays and other holidays, after the afternoon sermon or service: we now find that two sorts ofpeople wherewith that country is much infested (we mean Papists andPuritans) have maliciously traduced those our just and honourableproceedings. And therefore we have thought good hereby to clear and makeour pleasure to be manifested to all our good people in those parts. "And he sums up his arguments, in favour of the license granted, asfollows:--"For when shall the common people have leave to exercise, ifnot upon the Sundays and holidays, seeing they must apply their labour, and win their living in all working days?" Truly, an unanswerableproposition. 

At the same time that these provisions for rational recreation weremade, all unlawful games were prohibited. Conformity was strictlyenjoined on the part of the Puritans themselves; and disobedience wasrendered punishable by expatriation, as in the case of recusantsgenerally. Such was the tenor of the royal mandate addressed to thebishop of each diocese and to all inferior clergy throughout thekingdom. Arbitrary it might be, but it was excellent in intention; forstubborn-necked personages had to be dealt with, with whom mildermeasures would have proved ineffectual. As it was, violent oppositionwas raised against the decree, and the Puritanical preachers wore loudin its condemnation, and as far as was consistent with safety, vehementin their attacks upon its royal author. 

The boon, however, was accepted by the majority of the people in thespirit in which it was offered, and the licence afforded them was butlittle abused. Perfect success, indeed, must have attended the benignmeasure, had it not been for the efforts of the Puritanical and Popishparties, who made common cause against it, and strove by every means tocounteract its beneficial influence: the first because in the austerityof their faith they would not have the Sabbath in the slightest degreeprofaned, even by innocent enjoyment; the second, not because they caredabout the fancied desecration of the Lord's day, but because they wouldhave no other religion enjoy the same privileges as their own. Thussectarianism and intolerance went for once hand in hand, and openly orcovertly, as they found occasion, did their best to make the peopledissatisfied with the benefit accorded them, trying to persuade them itsacceptance would prejudice their eternal welfare. 

Such arguments, however, had no great weight with the masses, who couldnot be brought to see any heinous or deadly sin in lawful recreation orexercises after divine service, always provided the service itself werein no respect neglected; and so the King's decree prevailed over allsectarian opposition, and was fully carried out. The merry month of Maybecame really a season of enjoyment, and was kept as a kind of floralfestival in every village throughout the land. May-games, Whitsun-ales, Morrice-dances, were renewed as in bygone times; and all robust andhealthful sports, as leaping, vaulting, and archery, were not onlypermitted on Sundays by the authorities, but enjoined. 

These preliminary remarks are made for the better understanding of whatis to follow. 

We have already stated that long before Jocelyn and his companionreached Tottenham, they were made aware by the ringing of bells from itsold ivy-grown church tower, and by other joyful sounds, that somefestival was taking place there; and the nature of the festival was atonce revealed, as they entered the long straggling street, then, as now, constituting the chief part of the pretty little village, and beheld alarge assemblage of country folk, in holiday attire, wending their waytowards the green for the purpose of setting up a May-pole upon it, andmaking the welkin ring with their gladsome shouts. 

All the youths and maidens of Tottenham and its vicinity, it appeared, had risen before daybreak that morning, and sallied forth into the woodsto cut green boughs, and gather wild--flowers, for the ceremonial. Atthe same time they selected and hewed down a tall, straight tree--thetallest and straightest they could find; and, stripping off itsbranches, placed it on a wain, and dragged it to the village with thehelp of an immense team of oxen, numbering as many as forty yoke. Eachox had a garland of flowers fastened to the tip of its horns; and thetall spar itself was twined round with ropes of daffodils, blue-bells, cowslips, primroses, and other early flowers, while its summit wassurmounted with a floral crown, and festooned with garlands, various-coloured ribands, kerchiefs, and streamers. The foremost yokesof oxen had bells hung round their necks, which they shook as they movedalong, adding their blithe melody to the general hilarious sounds. 

When the festive throng reached the village, all its inhabitants--maleand female, old and young--rushed forth to greet them; and such as wereable to leave their dwellings for a short while joined in theprocession, at the head of which, of course, was borne the May-pole. After it, came a band of young men, armed with the necessary implementsfor planting the shaft in the ground; and after them a troop of maidens, bearing bundles of rushes. Next came the minstrels, playing merrily ontabor, fife, sacbut, rebec, and tambourine. Then followed the Queen ofthe May, walking by herself, --a rustic beauty, hight GillianGreenford, --fancifully and prettily arrayed for the occasion, andattended, at a little distance, by Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, the Hobby-horse, and a band of morrice-dancers. Then came the crowd, pellmell, laughing, shouting, and huzzaing, --most of the young men andwomen bearing green branches of birch and other trees in their hands. 

The spot selected for the May-pole was a piece of green sward in thecentre of the village, surrounded by picturesque habitations, andhaving, on one side of it, the ancient Cross. The latter, however, wasbut the remnant of the antique structure, the cross having been robbedof its upper angular bar, and otherwise mutilated, at the time of theReformation, and it was now nothing more than a high wooden pillar, partly cased with lead to protect it from the weather, and supported byfour great spurs. 

Arrived at the green, the wain was brought to a halt; the crowd forminga vast circle round it, so as not to interfere with the proceedings. Thepole was then taken out, reared aloft, and so much activity wasdisplayed, so many eager hands assisted, that in an inconceivably shortspace of time it was firmly planted in the ground; whence it shot uplike the central mast of a man-of-war, far overtopping the roofs of theadjoining houses, and looking very gay indeed, with its floral crowna-top, and its kerchiefs and streamers fluttering in the breeze. 

Loud and reiterated shouts broke from the assemblage on thesatisfactory completion of the ceremony, the church bells pealedmerrily, and the minstrels played their most enlivening strains. Therushes were strewn on the ground at the foot of the May-pole, andarbours were formed, with marvellous celerity, in different parts of thegreen, with the branches of the trees. At the same time, the ancientCross was decorated with boughs and garlands. The whole scene offered aspretty and cheerful a sight as could be desired; but there was onebeholder, as will presently appear, who viewed it in a different light. 

It now came to the Queen of the May's turn to advance to the pole, andstationing herself beneath it, the morrice-dancers and the rest of themummers formed a ring round her, and, taking hands, footed it merrily tothe tune of "Green Sleeves. "

Long before this, Jocelyn and his attendant had come up, and both wereso much interested that they felt no disposition to depart. Gillian'sattractions had already fired the inflammable heart of the apprentice, who could not withdraw his gaze from her; and so ardent were his looks, and so expressive his gestures of admiration, that ere long hesucceeded, to his no small delight, in attracting her notice in return. 

Gillian Greenford was a bright-eyed, fair-haired young creature; light, laughing, radiant; with cheeks soft as peach bloom, and beautifullytinged with red, lips carnation-hued, and teeth white as pearls. Herparti-coloured, linsey-woolsey petticoats looped up on one sidedisclosed limbs with no sort of rustic clumsiness about them; but, onthe contrary, a particularly neat formation both of foot and ankle. Herscarlet bodice, which, like the lower part of her dress, was decoratedwith spangles, bugles, and tinsel ornaments of various kinds, --veryresplendent in the eyes of the surrounding swains, as well as in thoseof Dick Taverner, --her bodice, we say, spanning a slender waist, waslaced across, while the snowy kerchief beneath it did not totallyconceal a very comely bust. A wreath of natural flowers was twined verygracefully within her waving and almost lint-white locks, and in herhand she held a shepherdess's crook. Such was the Beauty of Tottenham, and the present Queen of the May. Dick Taverner thought her little lessthan angelic, and there were many besides who shared in his opinion. 

If Dick had been thus captivated on the sudden, Jocelyn had not escapedsimilar fascination from another quarter. It befel in this way:

At an open oriel window, in one of the ancient and picturesquehabitations before described as facing the green, stood a young maiden, whose beauty was of so high an order, and so peculiar a character, thatit at once attracted and fixed attention. Such, at least, was the effectproduced by it on Jocelyn. Shrinking from the public gaze, and, perhaps, from some motive connected with religious scruples, scarcelydeeming it right to be a spectator of the passing scene, this fairmaiden was so placed as to be almost screened from general view. Yet itchanced that Jocelyn, from the circumstance of being on horseback, andfrom his position, was able to command a portion of the room in whichshe stood; and he watched her for some minutes before she became awareshe was the object of his regards. When, at length, she perceived thathis gaze was steadily fixed upon her, a deep blush suffused her cheeks, and she would have instantly retired, if the young man had not at oncelowered his looks. Still, he ever and anon ventured a glance towards theoriel window, and was delighted to find the maiden still there, --nay, hefancied she must have advanced a step or two, for he couldunquestionably distinguish her features more plainly. And lovely theywere--most lovely! pensive in expression, and perhaps a thought toopale, until the crimsoning tide had mounted to her cheek. Thus mantledwith blushes, her countenance might gain something in beauty, but itlost much of the peculiar charm which it derived from extremetransparency and whiteness of skin--a tint which set off to perfectionthe splendour of her magnificent black eyes, with their darkly-fringedlids and brows, while it also relieved, in an equal degree, the jettylustre of her hair. Her features were exquisitely chiselled, delicateand classical in mould, and stamped with refinement and intelligence. Perfect simplicity, combined with a total absence of personal ornament, distinguished her attire; and her raven hair was plainly, but by nomeans unbecomingly, braided over her snowy forehead. Something in thissimplicity of costume and in her manner inclined Jocelyn to think thefair maiden must belong to some family professing Puritanical opinions;and he found, upon inquiry from one of his neighbours in the throng--anold farmer--that this was actually the case. 

The young lady was Mistress Aveline Calveley, his informant said, onlychild of Master Hugh Calveley, who had but lately come to dwell inTottenham, and of whom little was known, save that he was understood tohave fought at the battle of Langside, and served with great bravery, under Essex, both in Spain and in Ireland, in the times of good QueenBess--such times as England would never see again, the old farmerparenthetically remarked, with a shake of the head. Master HughCalveley, he went on to say, was a strict Puritan, austere in his life, and morose in manner; an open railer against the licence of the times, and the profligacy of the court minions, --in consequence of which he hadmore than once got himself into trouble. He abhorred all such sports aswere now going forward; and had successfully interfered with the parishpriest, Sir Onesimus, who was somewhat of a precisian himself, toprevent the setting up the May-pole on the past Sunday, --for which, thefarmer added, some of the young folks owe him a grudge; and he expresseda hope, at the same time, that the day might pass by without anyexhibition being made of their ill-will towards him. 

"These Puritans are not in favour with our youth, " the old man said;"and no great marvel they be not; for they check them in theirpleasures, and reprove them for harmless mirth. Now, as to MistressAveline herself, she is devout and good; but she takes no part in theenjoyments proper to her years, and leads a life more like a nun in aconvent, or a recluse in a cell, than a marriageable young lady. Shenever stirs forth without her father, and, as you may suppose, goes morefrequently to lecture, or to church, or to some conventicle, thananywhere else. Such a life would not suit my grandchild, Gillian, atall. Nevertheless, Mistress Aveline is a sweet young lady, much belovedfor her kindness and goodness; and her gentle words have healed many awound occasioned by the harsh speech and severe reproofs of her father. There, Sir, --you may behold her fair and saintly countenance now. Sheseems pleased with the scene, and I am sure she well may be; for it isalways a pleasant and a heart-cheering sight to see folks happy andenjoying themselves; and I cannot think that the beneficent Power aboveever intended we should make ourselves miserable on earth, in order towin a place in heaven. I am an old man, Sir; and feeling this to betrue, I have ever inculcated my opinions upon my children andgrandchildren. Yet I confess I am surprised--knowing what I do of herfather's character--that Mistress Aveline should indulge herself withbeholding this profane spectacle, which ought, by rights, to be odiousin her eyes. "

The latter part of this speech was uttered with a sly chuckle on thepart of the old farmer, not altogether agreeable to Jocelyn. The growinginterest he felt in the fair Puritan rendered him susceptible. The eyesof the two young persons had met again more than once, and were notquite so quickly withdrawn on either side as before; perhaps, becauseAveline was less alarmed by the young man's appearance, or moreattracted by it; and perhaps, on his part, because he had grown a littlebolder. We know not how this might be; but we _do_ know that the fairPuritan had gradually advanced towards the front of the window, and wasnow leaning slightly out of it, so that her charms of face and figurewere more fully revealed. 

Meanwhile, the May-pole had been planted, and the first dance round itconcluded. At its close, Gillian, quitting her post of honour near thetree, and leaving the morrice-dancers and mummers to resume their merryrounds, unsanctioned by her sovereign presence, took a tambourine fromone of the minstrels, and proceeded to collect gratuities within itintended for the hired performers in the ceremony. She was verysuccessful in her efforts, as the number of coins, soon visible withinthe tambourine, showed. Not without blushing and some hesitation did theMay Queen approach Dick Taverner. The 'prentice made a pretence offumbling in his pouch in order to prolong the interview, which chancehad thus procured him; and after uttering all the complimentary phraseshe could muster, and looking a great deal more than he said, he wound uphis speech by declaring he would bestow a mark (and that was no slightsum, for the highest coin yet given was a silver groat) upon theminstrels, if they would play a lively dance for him, and she, the MayQueen, would grace him with her hand in it. Encouraged by the laughterof the bystanders, and doubtless entertaining no great dislike to theproposal, Gillian, with a little affected coyness, consented; and themark was immediately deposited in the tambourine by Dick, who, transported by his success, sprang from his saddle, and committing hissteed to the care of a youth near him, whom he promised to reward forhis trouble, followed close after the May Queen, as she proceeded withher collection. Ere long she came to Jocelyn, and held out thetambourine towards him. An idea just then occurred to the young man. 

"You have a pretty nosegay there, fair maiden, " he said, pointing to abunch of pinks and other fragrant flowers in her breast. "I will buy itfrom you, if you list. "

"You shall have it and welcome, fair Sir, " Gillian replied, detachingthe bouquet from her dress, and offering it to him. 

"Well done, Gillian, " the old farmer cried approvingly. 

"Ah! are you there, grandsire!" the May Queen exclaimed. "Come! yourgift for the minstrels and mummers--quick! quick!"

And while old Greenford searched for a small coin, Jocelyn placed apiece of silver in the tambourine. 

"Will you do me a favour, my pretty maiden?" he said courteously. 

"That I will, right willingly, fair Sir, " she replied; "provided I maydo it honestly. "

"You shall not do it else, " old Greenford observed. 

"Come, your gift, grandsire--you are slow in finding it. "

"Have patience, wench, have patience. Young folks are always in a hurry. Here 'tis!"

"Only a silver groat!" she exclaimed, tossing her head. "Why, this youngman behind me gave a mark; and so did this gallant gentleman onhorseback. "

"Poh! poh! go along, wench. They will take better care of their moneywhen they grow older. "

"Stay, my pretty maiden, " Jocelyn cried; "you have promised to do me afavour. "

"What is it?" she inquired. 

"Present this nosegay on my part to the young lady in yonder window. "

"What! offer this to Mistress Aveline Calveley?" Gillian exclaimed insurprise. "Are you sure she will accept it, Sir?"

"Tut! do his bidding, child, without more ado, " old Greenfordinterposed. "I shall like to see what will come of it--ha! ha!"

Gillian could not help smiling too, and proceeded on her mission. Jocelyn put his horse into motion, and slowly followed her, almostexpecting Aveline to withdraw. But he was agreeably disappointed byfinding her maintain her place at the window. She must have remarkedwhat was going forward, and therefore her tarrying emboldened him, andbuoyed up his hopes. 

Arrived beneath the window, Gillian committed the tambourine to DickTaverner, who still hovered behind her like her shadow, and fasteningthe bouquet to the end of her shepherdess's crook held it up towardsAveline, crying out, in a playful tone, and with an arch look, "'Tis alove gift to Mistress Aveline Calveley on the part of that youngcavalier. "

Whether the offering, thus presented, would have been accepted may bequestioned; but it was never destined to reach her for whom it wasintended. Scarcely was the flower-laden crook uplifted, than a man ofsingularly stern aspect, with gray hair cut close to the head, grizzledbeard, and military habiliments of ancient make, suddenly appearedbehind Aveline, and seizing the nosegay, cast it angrily andcontemptuously forth; so that it fell at Jocelyn's feet. 

CHAPTER XV. 

Hugh Calveley. 

Jocelyn at once comprehended that the person who had thus dashed thenosegay to the ground could be no other than Hugh Calveley. But alldoubt on the point was removed by Aveline herself who exclaimed in areproachful tone--"O father! what have you done?"

"What have I done?" the Puritan rejoined, speaking in a loud voice, asif desirous that his words should reach the assemblage outside. "I havedone that which thou thyself should'st have done, Aveline. I havesignified my abhorrence of this vain ceremonial. But wherefore do I findyou here? This is no fitting sight for any discreet maiden to witness;and little did I think that daughter of mine would encourage suchprofane displays by her presence. Little did I think that you, Aveline, would look on and smile while these ignorant and benighted folk set uptheir idol, piping, dancing, and singing around it as the Gentiles didat the dedications of their deities. For it _is_ an idol they have setup, and they have become like the heathens, worshippers of stocks andstones. Are we not expressly forbidden by the Holy Scriptures to makeunto ourselves idols and graven images? The sins of idolatry andsuperstition will assuredly provoke the Divine displeasure, and kindlethe fire of its wrath, as they did in the days of Moses, after theworshipping of the Golden Calf by the Israelites. Thus spake offendedHeaven:--'Let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them, and thatI may consume them. ' Grievously will the Lord punish such as are guiltyof these sins, for hath He not declared, as we read in Leviticus, 'Iwill make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries to desolation?'And be assured, O daughter, that heavy judgments will descend upon theland, if warning be not taken in time. "

"Nay, dear father, I cannot view the matter in the same serious lightthat you do, " Aveline rejoined, "neither do I think evil can be derivedfrom pastimes like the present, unless by the evil disposed. I mustfrankly own that it is pleasant to me to witness such innocent enjoymentas is here exhibited; while as to yon May-pole, with its pretty floraldecorations, I can never be brought to regard it as an emblem ofsuperstition and idolatry. Nevertheless, had you commanded me to refrainfrom the sight, I would unhesitatingly have obeyed you. But I thought Iwas free to follow my own inclinations. "

"Why so you were, child, " the Puritan rejoined, "because I had fullreliance on you, and did not conceive you could have been so easilybeguiled by Satan. I lament to find you cannot discern the superstitionand wickedness lurking within this false, though fair-seeming spectacle. Do you not perceive that in setting up this wooden idol, and worshippingit, these people are returning to the dark and sinful practices ofPaganism of which it is an undoubted remnant? If you cannot discernthis, I will make it manifest to you anon. But I tell you now briefly, "he continued in a voice of thunder, calculated to reach those at adistance, "that the ceremony is impious; that those who take part in itare idolaters; and that those who look on and approve are participatorsin the sin; yea, are equal in sin to the actors themselves. "

Hereupon some murmurs of displeasure arose among the crowd, but theywere instantly checked by the curiosity generally felt to hear Aveline'sreply, which was delivered in clear and gentle, but distinct tones. 

"Far be it from me to dispute with you, dear father, " she said; "and itis with reluctance that I offer an opinion at all adverse to your own. But it seems to me impossible to connect these pastimes with heathenishand superstitious rites; for though they may bear some resemblance toceremonials performed in honour of the goddesses Maia and Flora, yet, such creeds being utterly forgotten, and their spirit extinct, it cannotrevive in sports that have merely reference to harmless enjoyment. Notone, I am sure, of these worthy folk has the slightest thought ofimpiety. "

"You know not what you say, girl, " the Puritan rejoined sharply. "Theevil spirit is _not_ extinct, and these growing abominations prove it tobe again raising its baleful crest to pollute and destroy. Listen to mywords, ye vain and foolish ones!" he continued, advancing to the frontof the window, and stretching forth his arms towards the assemblage. "Repent! and amend your ways ere it be too late! Hew down the offensiveidol, which you term your May-pole, and cast it into the flames! Ceaseyour wanton sports, your noisy pipings, your profane dances, your filthytipplings. Hear what the prophet Isaiah saith:--'Wo to them that rise upearly in the morning, that they may follow strong drink. ' Andagain:--'Wo to the drunkards of Ephraim. ' And I say Wo unto you also, for you are like unto those drunkards. 'O do not this abominable thingthat my soul hateth. ' Be not guilty of the brutish sin of drunkenness. Reflect on the words of holy Job, --'They take the timbrel and harp, andrejoice at the sound of the organ. They spend their days in mirth, andin a moment go down, to the grave. ' Hew down your idol I say again. Consume it utterly, and scatter its ashes to the winds. Strip off thegaudes and tinsel in which you have decked your foolish May Queen. Havedone with your senseless and profane mummeries; and dismiss your RobinHoods, your Friar Tucks, and your Hobby-horses. Silence your pestilentminstrels, and depart peaceably to your own homes. Abandon your sinfulcourses, or assuredly 'the Lord will come upon you unawares, and cut youin sunder, and appoint your portion among unbelievers. '"

So sonorous was the voice of the Puritan, so impressive were his looksand gestures, that his address commanded general attention. While hecontinued to speak, the sports were wholly stopped. The minstrels leftoff playing to listen to him, and the mummers suspended their merryevolutions round the May-pole. The poor denounced May Queen, who on therejection of her nosegay had flown back to Jocelyn, now looked doublydisconcerted at this direct attack upon her and her finery, and poutedher pretty lips in vexation. Dick Taverner, who stood by her side, seemed disposed to resent the affront, and shook his fist menacingly atthe Puritan. Jocelyn himself was perplexed and annoyed, for thoughinclined to take part with the assemblage, the growing interest he feltin Aveline forbade all interference with her father. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Of the sign given by the Puritan to the Assemblage. 

Meanwhile, a great crowd had collected beneath the window, and though nointerruption was offered to the speaker, it was easy to discern from theangry countenances of his hearers what was the effect of the addressupon them. When he had done, Hugh Calveley folded his arms upon hisbreast, and sternly regarded the assemblage. 

He was well-stricken in years, as his grizzled hair and beard denoted, but neither was his strength impaired, nor the fire of his eye dimmed. Squarely built, with hard and somewhat massive features, stronglystamped with austerity, he was distinguished by a soldier-likedeportment and manner, while his bronzed countenance, which bore upon itmore than one cicatrice, showed he must have been exposed to foreignsuns, and seen much service. There was great determination about themouth, and about the physiognomy generally, while at the same time therewas something of the wildness of fanaticism in his looks. He was habitedin a buff jerkin, with a brown, lackered, breast-plate over it, thigh-pieces of a similar colour and similar material, and stoutleathern boots. A broad belt with a heavy sword attached to, it crossedhis breast, and round his neck was a plain falling band. You could notregard Hugh Calveley without feeling he was a man to die a martyr in anycause he had espoused. 

A deep groan was now directed against him. But it moved not a muscle ofhis rigid countenance. 

Jocelyn began to fear from the menacing looks of the crowd that someviolence might be attempted, and he endeavoured to check it. 

"Bear with him, worthy friends, " he cried, "he means you well, though hemay reprove you somewhat too sharply. "

"Beshrew him for an envious railer, " cried a miller, "he mars all ourpleasures with his peevish humours. He would have us all as discontentedwith the world as himself--but we know better. He will not let us haveour lawful sports as enjoined by the King himself on Sundays, and he nowtries to interfere with our recreations on holidays. A pest upon him fora cankerbitten churl!"

"His sullen looks are enough to turn all the cream in the village sour, "observed an old dame. 

"Why doth he not betake himself to the conventicle and preach there?"old Greenford cried. "Why should we have all these bitter texts ofscripture thrown at our heads? Why should we be likened to the drunkardsof Ephraim because we drink our Whitsun-ales? I have tasted nothingmore than my morning cup as yet. "

"Why should our May-pole be termed an idol? Answer me that, goodgrandsire?" Gillian demanded. 

"Nay, let him who called it so answer thee, child, for I cannot, " theold farmer rejoined. "I can see naught idolatrous in it. "

"Why should our pretty May Queen be despoiled of her ornaments becausethey please not his fanatical taste?" Dick Taverner demanded. "For mypart I can discern no difference between a Puritan and a knave, and Iwould hang both. "

This sally met with a favourable reception from the crowd, and a voiceexclaimed--"Ay, hang all knavish Puritans. "

Again Hugh Calveley lifted up his voice. "Think not to make me afraid, "he cried; "I have confronted armed hosts with boldness when engaged in aworse cause than this, and I am not likely to give way before a baserabble, now that I have become a soldier of Christ and fight hisbattles. I repeat my warnings to you, and will not hold my peace tillyou give heed to them. Continue not in the sins of the Gentiles lesttheir punishment come upon you. These are fearful times we live in. London is become another Nineveh, and will be devoured by flames likethat great city. It is full of corruption and debauchery, ofoppressions, thefts, and deceits. With the prophet Nahum I exclaim--'Woto the city, it is full of lies and robbery! What griping usury, whatextortion are practised within it! What fraud, what injustice, whatmisrule! But the Lord's anger will be awakened against it. Palaces ofkings are of no more account in His eyes than cottages of peasants. --Hecutteth off the spirits of Princes: he is terrible to the Kings of theearth. ' He knoweth no difference between them that sit on thrones, andthose that go from door to door. For what saith the prophet Isaiah?--'Iwill punish the stout heart of the King of Assyria, and the glory of hishigh looks. ' Let the Great Ones of the land be warned as well as themeanest, or judgment will come upon them. "

"Methinks that smacks of treason, " cried Dick Taverner. "Our Puritan hasquitted us poor fowl to fly at higher game. Hark ye, Sir!" he added toHugh Calveley. "You would not dare utter such words as those in theKing's presence. "

"Thou art mistaken, friend, " the other rejoined. "It is my purpose towarn him in terms strong as those I have just used. Why should I hold mypeace when I have a mission from on high? I shall speak to the King asNathan spoke to David. "

"He speaks like a prophet, " cried the miller; "I begin to have faith inhim. No doubt the iniquities of London are fearful. "

"If he preach against extortioners and usurers only, I am with him, "Dick Taverner said. "If he rid London of Sir Giles Mompesson and hispeers he will do good service--still better, if he will put downcorruption and injustice as exhibited in the Court of Star-Chamber--eh, Master Jocelyn Mounchensey?"

At the mention of this name the Puritan appeared greatly surprised, andlooked round inquiringly, till his eye alighted upon the young man. 

After regarding him for a moment fixedly, he demanded--"Art thou JocelynMounchensey?"

The young man, equally surprised, replied in the affirmative. 

"The son of Sir Ferdinando Mounchensey, of Massingham, in Norfolk?"inquired the Puritan. 

"The same, " Jocelyn answered. 

"Thy father was my nearest and dearest friend, young man, " Hugh Calveleysaid; "and thy father's son shall be welcome to my dwelling. Enter, Ipray of you. Yet pause for a moment. I have a word more to declare tothese people. Ye heed not my words, and make a mock of me, " hecontinued, addressing the assemblage: "but I will give you a sign that Ihave spoken the truth. "

"He will bring the devil among us, I trow, " cried Dick Taverner. 

"'Tis to be hoped he will not split the May-pole with a thunderbolt, "said the miller. 

"Nor spoil our Whitsun-ales, " cried old Greenford. 

"Nor lame our Hobby-horse, " said one of the mummers. 

"Nor rob me of my wreath and garlands, " said Gillian. 

"That he shall not, I promise you, fair May Queen!" Dick Tavernorrejoined, gallantly. 

"I will do none of these things. I would not harm you, even if I had thepower, " the Puritan said. "But I will discharge a bolt against the headof yon idol, " he added, pointing towards the flower-crowned summit ofthe May-pole; "and if I break its neck and cast it down, ye will ownthat a higher hand than mine directs the blow, and that thesuperstitious symbol ought not to be left standing. "

"As to what we may do, or what we may acknowledge, we will give nopromise, Master Hugh Calveley, " rejoined old Greenford. "But e'en letfly thy bolt, if thou wilt. "

Some dissent was offered to this singular proposition, but the majorityof voices overruled it; and withdrawing for a moment, Hugh Calveleyreturned with an arbalist, which he proceeded deliberately to arm inview of the crowd, and then placed a quarrel within it. 

"In the name of the Lord, who cast down the golden idol made by Aaronand the Israelites, I launch this bolt, " he cried, as he took aim, andliberated the cord. 

The short, iron-headed, square-pointed arrow whizzed through the air, and, by the mischief it did as it hit its mark, seemed to confirm thePuritan's denunciation. Striking the May-pole precisely at the summit, it shattered the wood, and brought down the floral crown surmounting it, as well as the topmost streamers. 

The spectators stared aghast. 

"Be warned by this, " thundered Hugh Calveley, with gloomy triumph. "Youridol is smitten--not by my hand, but by His who will chastise yourwickedness. "

Whereupon he closed the window, and departed. Presently afterwards, thedoor was opened by an old, grave-looking, decently-clad serving-man. Addressing Jocelyn, who had already dismounted and given his horse incharge to the youth engaged for a similar purpose by Dick Taverner, thispersonage invited him, in his master's name, to enter; and, with a heartthrobbing with emotion, the young man complied. Chance seemed tobefriend him in a way he could never have anticipated; and he now hopedto obtain an interview with Aveline. 

His conductor led him through a passage to a large chamber at the backof the house, with windows looking upon a garden. The room was panelledwith dark shining oak, had a polished floor, an immense chimney-piece, and a moulded ceiling. Within it were a few high-backed chairs, andsome other cumbrous furniture, while on an oak table at the side, wasspread the simple morning repast of the Puritan and his daughter. Butall these things were lost upon Jocelyn, who had eyes only for oneobject. She was there, and how lovely she appeared! How exquisite infigure--how faultless in feature! Some little embarrassment wasdiscoverable in her manner as the young man entered; but it quicklydisappeared. Her father was with her; and advancing towards Jocelyn, hetook him kindly by the hand, and bade him welcome. Then, withoutrelinquishing his grasp, he presented the young man to his daughter, saying--

"This is Jocelyn, the son of my dear departed friend, Sir FerdinandoMounchensey. Some inscrutable design of Providence has brought himhither, and right glad I am to behold him. Years ago, his fatherrendered me a signal service, which I requited as I best could; andthere is nothing I would not gladly do for the son of such a friend. Youwill esteem him accordingly, Aveline. "

"I will not fail in my duty, father, " she replied, blushing slightly. 

And Jocelyn thought these words were the sweetest he had ever heardpronounced. 

"I would pray you to break your fast with us, if our simple fare willcontent you, " said Hugh Calveley, pointing to the table. 

"I am not over-dainty, and shall do ample justice to whatever is setbefore me, " Jocelyn replied, smiling. 

"It is well, " said the Puritan. "I am glad to find the son of my oldfriend is not a slave to his appetites, as are most of the young men ofthis generation. "

With this they approached the board; and, a lengthy grace beingpronounced by Hugh Calveley, Jocelyn sat down by the side of Aveline, scarcely able to believe in the reality of his own happiness--so like adream it seemed. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

A rash promise. 

During the slender repast, Jocelyn, in reply to the inquiries of thePuritan, explained the two-fold motive of his coming to London; namely, the desire of taking vengeance on his father's enemies, and the hope ofobtaining some honourable employment, such as a gentleman might accept. 

"My chances in the latter respect are not very great, " he said, "seeingI have no powerful friends to aid me in my endeavours, and I mustconsequently trust to fortune. But as regards my enemies, if I can onlywin an audience of the King, and plead my cause before him, I do notthink he will deny me justice. "

"Justice!" exclaimed the Puritan with deep scorn. "James Stuart knows itnot. An archhypocrite, and perfidious as hypocritical, he holdeth as amaxim that Dissimulation is necessary to a Ruler. He has the cowardiceand the ferocity of the hyaena. He will promise fairly, but his deedswill falsify his words. Recollect how his Judas kiss betrayed Somerset. Recollect his conduct towards the Gowries. But imagine not, because youhave been evil intreated and oppressed, that the King will redress yourwrongs, and reinstate you in your fallen position. Rather will he takepart with the usurers and extortioners who have deprived you of yourinheritance. How many poor wretches doth he daily condemn to the samelingering agonies and certain destruction that he doomed your father. Lamentable as is the good Sir Ferdinando's case, it stands not alone. Itis one of many. And many, many more will be added to the list, if thistyrannical Herodias be suffered to govern. "

And as if goaded by some stinging thought, that drove him nighdistracted, Hugh Calveley arose, and paced to and fro within thechamber. His brow became gloomier and his visage sterner. 

"Bear with him, good Master Jocelyn, " Aveline said in a low tone. "Hehath been unjustly treated by the King, and as you see can ill brook theusage. Bear with him, I pray of you. "

Jocelyn had no time to make reply. Suddenly checking himself, and fixinghis earnest gaze upon the young man, the Puritan said--

"Give ear to me, my son. If I desired to inflame your breast with rageagainst this tyrant, I should need only to relate one instance of hiscruelty and injustice. I had a friend--a very dear friend, " hecontinued, in a tone of deep pathos--"confined within the Fleet Prisonby a decree of the Star-Chamber. He was to me as a brother, and to seehim gradually pining away cut me to the soul. Proud by nature, herefused to abase himself to his oppressor, and could not be brought toacknowledge wrongs he had never committed. Pardon, therefore, was deniedhim--not pardon merely, but all mitigation of suffering. My friend hadbeen wealthy; but heavy fines and penalties had stripped him of hispossessions, and brought him to destitution. Lord of an ancient hall, with woods and lands around it, wherein he could ride for hours withoutquitting his own domains, his territories were now narrowed to a fewyards; while one dark, dreary chamber was alone accorded him. Finding hemust necessarily perish, if left to rot there, I prevailed upon him (notwithout much reluctance on his part) to petition the King forliberation; and was myself the bearer of his prayer. Earnestly pleadingthe cause of the unfortunate man, and representing his forlorncondition, I besought his Majesty's gracious intercession. But when Ihad wearied the royal ear with entreaties, the sharp reply was--'Doth hemake submission? Will he confess his offence?' And as I could onlyaffirm, that as he was guilty of no crime, so he could confess none, theKing returned me the petition, coldly observing--'The dignity of ourCourt of Star-Chamber must be maintained before all things. He hath beenguilty of contempt towards it, and must purge him of the offence. ' 'Butthe man will die, Sire, ' I urged, 'if he be not removed from the Fleet. His prison-lodging is near a foul ditch, and he is sick with fever. Neither can he have such aid of medicine or of nursing as his casedemands. ' 'The greater reason he should relieve himself by speedyacknowledgment of the justice of his sentence, ' said the King. 'Thematter rests not with us, but with himself. ' 'But he is a gentleman, Sire, ' I persisted, 'to whom truth is dearer than life, and who wouldrather languish in misery for thrice the term he is likely to last, thanforfeit his own self-esteem by admitting falsehood and injustice. ' 'Thenlet him perish in his pride and obstinacy, ' cried the King impatiently. And thereupon he dismissed me. "

"O Sir!" exclaimed Jocelyn, rising and throwing, his arms round thePuritan's neck; "you, then, were the friend who tended my poor father inhis last moments. Heaven bless you for it!"

"Yes, Jocelyn, it was I who heard your father's latest sigh, " thePuritan replied, returning his embrace, "and your own name was breathedwith it. His thoughts were of his son far away--too young to share hisdistresses, or to comprehend them. "

"Alas! alas!" cried Jocelyn mournfully. 

"Lament not for your father, Jocelyn, " said the Puritan, solemnly; "heis reaping the reward of his earthly troubles in heaven! Be comforted, Isay. The tyrant can no longer oppress him. He is beyond the reach of hismalice. He can be arraigned at no more unjust tribunals. He is where nocruel and perfidious princes, no iniquitous judges, no gripingextortioners shall ever enter. "

Jocelyn endeavoured to speak, but his emotion overpowered him. 

"I have already told you that your father rendered me a serviceimpossible to be adequately requited, " pursued the Puritan. "What thatservice was I will one day inform you. Suffice it now, that it bound meto him in chains firmer than brass. Willingly would I have laid down mylife for him, if he had desired it. Gladly would I have taken his placein the Fleet prison, if that could have procured him liberation. Unableto do either, I watched over him while he lived--and buried him whendead. "

"O Sir, you have bound me to you as strongly as you were bound to myfather, " cried Jocelyn. "For the devotion shown to him, I hold myselfeternally your debtor. "

The Puritan regarded him steadfastly for a moment. 

"What if I were to put these professions to the test?" he asked. 

"Do so, " Jocelyn replied earnestly. "My life is yours!"

"Your life!" exclaimed Hugh Calveley, grasping his arm almost fiercely, while his eye blazed. "Consider what you offer. "

"I need not consider, " Jocelyn rejoined. "I repeat my life is yours, ifyou demand it. "

"Perhaps I _shall_ demand it, " cried Hugh Calveley. "Ere long, perhaps. "

"Demand it when you will, " Jocelyn said. 

"Father!" Aveline interposed, "do not let the young man bind himself bythis promise. Release him, I pray of you. "

"The promise cannot be recalled, my child, " the Puritan replied. "But Ishall never claim its fulfilment save for some high and holy purpose. "

"Are you sure your purpose _is_ holy, father?" Aveline said in a lowtone. 

"What mean you, child?" cried Hugh Calveley, knitting his brows. "I ambut an instrument in the hands of Heaven, appointed to do its work; andas directed, so I must act. Heaven may make me the scourge of theoppressor and evil-doer, or the sword to slay the tyrant. I may die amartyr for my faith, or do battle for it with carnal weapons. For allthese I am ready; resigning myself to the will of God. Is it fornothing, think'st thou, that this young man--the son of my dear departedfriend--has been brought hither at this particular conjuncture? Is itfor nothing that, wholly unsolicited, he has placed his life at mydisposal, and in doing so has devoted himself to a great cause? Likemyself he hath wrongs to avenge, and the Lord of Hosts will give himsatisfaction. "

"But not in the way you propose, father, " Aveline rejoined. "Heavenwill assuredly give you both satisfaction for the wrongs you haveendured; but it must choose its own means of doing so, and its owntime. "

"It _hath_ chosen the means, and the time is coming quickly, " cried thePuritan, his eye again kindling with fanatical light. "'The Lord willcut off from Israel head and tail. '"

"These things are riddles to me, " observed Jocelyn, who had listened towhat was passing with great uneasiness. "I would solicit anexplanation?"

"You shall have it, my son, " Hugh Calveley replied. "But not now. Myhour for solitary prayer and self-communion is come, and I must withdrawto my chamber. Go forth into the garden, Jocelyn--and do thou attendhim, Aveline. I will join you when my devotions are ended. "

So saying he quitted the room, while the youthful pair went forth asenjoined. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

How the promise was cancelled. 

It was a large garden, once fairly laid out and planted, but now sadlyneglected. The broad terrace walk was overgrown with weeds; the stonesteps and the carved balusters were broken in places, and covered withmoss; the once smooth lawn was unconscious of the scythe; the parterreshad lost their quaint devices; and the knots of flowers--tre-foil, cinque-foil, diamond, and cross-bow--were no longer distinguishable intheir original shapes. The labyrinths of the maze were inextricablytangled, and the long green alleys wanted clearing out. 

But all this neglect passed unnoticed by Jocelyn, so completely was heengrossed by the fair creature at his side. Even the noise of the MayGames, which, temporarily interrupted by Hugh Calveley, had recommencedwith greater vigour than ever--the ringing of the church bells, theshouts of the crowd, and the sounds of the merry minstrelsy, scarcelyreached his ear. For the first time he experienced those delicioussensations which new-born love excites within the breast; and theenchantment operated upon him so rapidly and so strongly, that he wasoverpowered by its spell almost before aware of it. It seemed that hehad never really lived till this moment; never, at least, comprehendedthe bliss afforded by existence in the companionship of a being able toawaken the transports he now experienced. A new world seemed suddenlyopened to him, full of love, hope, sunshine, of which he and Avelinewere the sole inhabitants. Hitherto his life had been devoid of anygreat emotion. The one feeling latterly pervading it had been a sense ofdeep wrong, coupled with the thirst of vengeance. No tenderer influencehad softened his almost rugged nature; and his breast continued arid asthe desert. Now the rock had been stricken, and the living waters gushedforth abundantly. Not that in Norfolk, and even in the remote part ofthe county where his life had been passed, female beauty was rare. Nowhere, indeed, is the flower of loveliness more thickly sown than inthat favoured part of our isle. But all such young damsels as he hadbeheld had failed to move him; and if any shaft had been aimed at hisbreast it had fallen wide of the mark. Jocelyn Mounchensey was not oneof those highly susceptible natures--quick to receive an impression, quicker to lose it. Neither would he have been readily caught by thelures spread for youth by the designing of the sex. Imbued withsomething of the antique spirit of chivalry, which yet, though butslightly, influenced the age in which he lived, he was ready and able topay fervent homage to his mistress's sovereign beauty (supposing he hadone), and maintain its supremacy against all questioners, but utterlyincapable of worshipping at any meaner shrine. Heart-whole, therefore, when he encountered the Puritan's daughter, he felt that in her he hadfound an object he had long sought, to whom he could devote himselfheart and soul; a maiden whose beauty was without peer, and whose mentalqualities corresponded with her personal attractions. 

Nor was it a delusion under which he laboured. Aveline Calveley was allhis imagination painted her. Purity of heart, gentleness of disposition, intellectual endowments, were as clearly revealed by her speakingcountenance as the innermost depths of a fountain are by the pellucidmedium through which they are viewed. Hers was a virgin heart, which, like his own, had received no previous impression. Love for her fatheralone had swayed her; though all strong demonstrations of filialaffection had been checked by that father's habitually stern manner. Brought up by a female relative in Cheshire, who had taken charge of heron her mother's death, which had occurred during her infancy, she hadknown little of her father till late years, when she had come to residewith him, and, though devout by nature, she could ill reconcile herselfto the gloomy notions of religion he entertained, or to the ascetic modeof life he practised. With no desire to share in the pomps and vanitiesof life, she could not be persuaded that cheerfulness was incompatiblewith righteousness; nor could all the railings she heard against themmake her hate those who differed from her in religious opinions. Stillshe made no complaint. Entirely obedient to her father's will, sheaccommodated herself, as far as she could, to the rule of lifeprescribed by him. Aware of his pertinacity of opinion, she seldom orever argued a point with him, even if she thought right might be on herside; holding it better to maintain peace by submission, than to hazardwrath by disputation. The discussion on the May Games was an exceptionto her ordinary conduct, and formed one of the few instances in whichshe had ventured to assert her own opinion in opposition to that of herfather. 

Of late, indeed, she had felt great uneasiness about him. Much changed, he seemed occupied by some dark, dread thought, which partially revealeditself in wrathful exclamations and muttered menaces. He seemed tobelieve himself chosen by Heaven as an instrument of vengeance againstoppression; and her fears were excited lest he might commit someterrible act under this fatal impression. She was the more confirmed inthe idea from the eagerness with which he had grasped at Jocelyn's rashpromise, and she determined to put the young man upon his guard. 

If, in order to satisfy the reader's curiosity, we are obliged toexamine the state of Aveline's heart, in reference to Jocelyn, we muststate candidly that no such ardent flame was kindled within it as burntin the breast of the young man. That such a flame might arise was verypossible, nay even probable, seeing that the sparks of love were there;and material for combustion was by no means wanting. All that wasrequired was, that those sparks should be gently fanned--not heedlesslyextinguished. 

Little was said by the two young persons, as they slowly paced theterrace. Both felt embarrassed: Jocelyn longing to give utterance to hisfeelings, but restrained by timidity--Aveline trembling lest more mightbe said than she ought to hear, or if obliged to hear, than she couldrightly answer. Thus they walked on in silence. But it was a silencemore eloquent than words, since each comprehended what the other felt. How much they would have said was proclaimed by the impossibility theyfound of saying anything!

At length, Jocelyn stopped, and plucking a flower, observed, as heproffered it for her acceptance, "My first offering to you was rejected. May this be more fortunate. "

"Make me a promise, and I will accept it, " she replied. 

"Willingly, ", cried Jocelyn, venturing to take her hand, and gazing ather tenderly. "Most willingly. "

"You are far too ready to promise, " she rejoined with a sad, sweetsmile. "What I desire is this. Recall your hasty pledge to my father, and aid me in dissuading him from the enterprise in which he wouldengage you. "

As the words were uttered the Puritan stepped from behind the alleywhich had enabled him to approach them unperceived, and overhear theirbrief converse. 

"Hold!" he exclaimed in a solemn tone, and regarding Jocelyn with greatearnestness. "That promise is sacred. It was made in a father's name, and must be fulfilled. As to my purpose it is unchangeable. "

The enthusiast's influence over Jocelyn would have proved irresistiblebut for the interposition of Aveline. 

"Be not controlled by him, " she said in a low tone to the young man;adding to her father, "For my sake, let the promise be cancelled. "

"Let him ask it, and it shall be, " rejoined the Puritan, gazing steadilyat the young man, as if he would penetrate his soul. "Do you hesitate?"he cried in accents of deep disappointment, perceiving Jocelyn waver. 

"You cannot misunderstand his wishes, father, " said Aveline. 

"Let him speak for himself, " Hugh Calveley exclaimed angrily. "JocelynMounchensey!" he continued, folding his arms upon his breast, andregarding the young man fixedly as before, "son of my old friend! sonof him who died in my arms! son of him whom I committed to the earth! ifthou hast aught of thy father's true spirit, thou wilt rigidly adhere toa pledge voluntarily given, and which, uttered as it was uttered bythee, has all the sanctity, all the binding force of a vow beforeHeaven, where it is registered, and approved by him who is gone beforeus. "

Greatly moved by this appeal, Jocelyn might have complied with it, butAveline again interposed. 

"Not so, father, " she cried. "The spirits of the just made perfect--andof such is the friend you mention--would never approve of the designwith which you would link this young man, in consequence of a promiserashly made. Discharge him from it, I entreat you. "

Her energy shook even the Puritan's firmness. 

"Be it as thou wilt, daughter, " he said, after the pause of a fewmoments, during which he waited for Jocelyn to speak; but, as the youngman said nothing, he rightly interpreted his silence, --"be it as thouwilt, since he, too, wills it so. I give him back his promise. But letme see him no more. "

"Sir, I beseech you--" cried Jocelyn. 

But he was cut short by the Puritan, who, turning from himcontemptuously, said to his daughter--"Let him depart immediately. "

Aveline signed to the young man to go; but finding him remainmotionless, she took him by the hand, and led him some way along theterrace. Then, releasing her hold, she bade him farewell!

"Wherefore have you done this?" inquired Jocelyn reproachfully. 

"Question me not; but be satisfied I have acted for the best, " shereplied. "O Jocelyn!" she continued anxiously, "if an opportunity shouldoccur to you of serving my father, do not neglect it. "

"Be assured I will not, " the young man replied. "Shall we not meetagain?" he asked, in a tone of deepest anxiety. 

"Perhaps, " she answered. "But you must go. My father will becomeimpatient. Again farewell!"

On this they separated: the young man sorrowfully departing, while herfootsteps retreated in the opposite direction. 

Meanwhile the May games went forward on the green with increased spiritand merriment, and without the slightest hinderance. More than once themummers had wheeled their mazy rounds, with Gillian and Dick Tavernerfooting it merrily in the midst of them. More than once the audacious'prentice, now become desperately enamoured of his pretty partner, hadventured to steal a kiss from her lips. More than once he had whisperedwords of love in her ear; though, as yet, he had obtained no tenderresponse. Once--and once only--had he taken her hand; but then he hadnever quitted it afterwards. In vain other swains claimed her for adance. Dick refused to surrender his prize. They breakfasted together ina little bower made of green boughs, the most delightful and lover-likeretreat imaginable. Dick's appetite, furious an hour ago, was now cleangone. He could eat nothing. He subsisted on love alone. But as she wasprevailed upon to sip from a foaming tankard of Whitsun ale, he quaffedthe remainder of the liquid with rapture. This done, they resumed theirmerry sports, and began to dance, again. The bells continued to ringblithely, the assemblage to shout, and the minstrels to play. A strangecontrast to what was passing in the Puritan's garden. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Theobalds' Palace. 

The magnificent palace of Theobalds, situated near Cheshunt, inHertfordshire, originally the residence of the great Lord TreasurerBurleigh, and the scene of his frequent and sumptuous entertainments toQueen Elizabeth and the ambassadors to her Court, when she "was seen, "says Stow, "in as great royalty, and served as bountifully andmagnificently as at any other time or place, all at his lordship'scharge; with rich shows, pleasant devices, and all manner of sports, tothe great delight of her Majesty and her whole train, with great thanksfrom all who partook of it, and as great commendations from all thatheard of it abroad:"--this famous and delightful palace, with itsstately gardens, wherein Elizabeth had so often walked and held conversewith her faithful counsellor; and its noble parks and chases, wellstocked with deer, wherein she had so often hunted; came into possessionof James the First, in the manner we shall proceed to relate, some yearsbefore the date of this history. 

James first made acquaintance with Theobalds during his progress fromScotland to assume the English crown, and it was the last point atwhich he halted before entering the capital of his new dominions. Here, for four days, he and his crowd of noble attendants were guests of SirRobert Cecil, afterwards Earl of Salisbury, who proved himself theworthy son of his illustrious and hospitable sire by entertaining themonarch and his numerous train in the same princely style that the LordTreasurer had ever displayed towards Queen Elizabeth. An eyewitness hasdescribed the King's arrival at Theobalds on this occasion. "Thus, then, " says John Savile, "for his Majesty's coming up the walk, therecame before him some of the nobility, barons, knights, esquires, gentlemen, and others, amongst whom was the sheriff of Essex, and mostof his men, the trumpets sounding next before his highness, sometimesone, sometimes another; his Majesty riding not continually betwixt thesame two, but sometimes one, sometimes another, as seemed best to hishighness; the whole nobility of our land and Scotland round about himobserving no place of superiority, all bare-headed, all of whom alightedfrom their horses at their entrance into the first court, save only hisMajesty alone, who rid along still, four noblemen laying their handsupon his steed, two before and two behind. In this manner he came to thecourt door, where I myself stood. At the entrance into that court stoodmany noblemen, amongst whom was Sir Robert Cecil, who there meeting hisMajesty conducted him into his house, all which was practised with asgreat applause of the people as could be, hearty prayer, and throwing upof hats. His Majesty had not stayed above an hour in his chamber, buthearing the multitude throng so fast into the uppermost court to see hishighness, he showed himself openly out of his chamber window by thespace of half an hour together; after which time he went into thelabyrinth-like garden to walk, where he secreted himself in theMeander's compact of bays, rosemary, and the like overshadowing hiswalk, to defend him from the heat of the sun till supper time, at whichwas such plenty of provision for all sorts of men in their due places asstruck me with admiration. And first, to begin with the raggedregiments, and such as were debarred the privilege of any court, thesewere so sufficiently rewarded with beef, veal, mutton, bread, and beer, that they sung holiday every day, and kept a continual feast. As forpoor maimed and distressed soldiers, which repaired thither formaintenance, the wine, money, and meat which they had in very bounteoussort, hath become a sufficient spur to them to blaze it abroad sincetheir coming to London. " The reader will marvel at the extraordinary andunstinting hospitality practised in those days, which, as we have shown, was exhibited to all comers, irrespective of rank, even to the "raggedregiments, " and which extended its bounties in the shape of alms to thewounded and disabled veteran. We find no parallel to it in modern times. 

Theobalds produced a highly favourable impression upon James, who, passionately attached to the chase, saw in its well-stocked parks themeans of gratifying his tastes to the fullest extent. Its contiguity toEnfield Chase was also a great recommendation; and its situation, beautiful in itself, was retired, and yet within easy distance of themetropolis. It appeared to him to combine all the advantages of a royalhunting-seat with all the splendours of a palace; and his predilectionswere confirmed by a second visit paid by him to it in 1606, when he wasaccompanied by his brother-in-law, Christianus, King of Denmark, andwhen the two monarchs were gloriously entertained by the Earl ofSalisbury. The Danish king drank inordinately; so did the whole of hissuite: and they soon inoculated the English Court with their sottishtastes. Bonnie King Jamie himself got _fou_ twice a-day; and, melancholyto relate, the ladies of the Court followed the royal example, and, "abandoning their sobriety, were seen to roll about in intoxication. " Sosays Sir John Harington, who has given a very diverting account of theorgies at Theobalds, and the inebriate extravagances of Christianus. "One day, " writes Sir John, "a great feast was held; and after dinnerthe representation of Solomon's Temple and the coming of the Queen ofSheba was made, or (as I may better say) was meant to have been madebefore their Majesties, by device of the Earl of Salisbury and others. But alas! as all earthly things do fail to poor mortals in enjoyment, sodid prove our presentment thereof. The lady that did play the Queen'spart did carry most precious gifts to both their Majesties, butforgetting the steps arising to the canopy, overset her casket into hisDanish Majesty's lap, and fell at his feet, though I rather think it wasinto his face. Much was the hurry and confusion. Cloths and napkins wereat hand to make all clean. His Majesty then got up, and would dance withthe Queen of Sheba; but he fell down and humbled himself before her, andwas carried to an inner chamber, and laid on a bed of state. Theentertainment and show went forward, and most of the presenters wentbackward, or fell down; wine did so occupy their upper chambers. " WorthySir John seems to have been greatly scandalized, as he well might be, atthese shameless proceedings, and he exclaims pathetically, "The Daneshave again conquered the Britons; for I see no man, or woman either, that can command himself or herself. " Nor does he fail to contrast these"strange pageantries" with what occurred of the same sort, in the sameplace, in Queen Elizabeth's time, observing, "I never did see such lackof good order, discretion, and sobriety as I have now done. "

Having set his heart upon Theobalds, James offered the Earl ofSalisbury, in exchange for it, the palace and domains of Hatfield; andthe proposal being accepted (it could not very well be refused), thedelivery of the much-coveted place was made on the 22nd May, 1607; thePrince Joinville, brother to the Duke de Guise, being present on theoccasion, where fresh festivities were held, accompanied by anindifferent Masque from Ben Jonson. Whether the King or the Earl had thebest of the bargain, we are not prepared to decide. 

Enchanted with his acquisition, James commenced the work of improvementand embellishment by enlarging the park, appropriating a good slice ofEnfield Chace, with parts of Northaw and Cheshunt Commons, andsurrounding the whole with a high brick wall ten miles in circumference. Within this ring he found ample scope for the indulgence of his huntingpropensities, since it contained an almost inexhaustible stock of thefinest deer in the kingdom; and within it might be heard the sound ofhis merry horn, and the baying of his favourite stag-hounds, whenever hecould escape from the cares of state, or the toils of thecouncil-chamber. His escapes from these demands upon his time were sofrequent, and the attraction of the woods of Theobalds so irresistible, that remonstrances were made to him on the subject; but they provedentirely ineffectual. He declared he would rather return to Scotlandthan forego his amusements. 

Theobalds, in the time of its grandeur, might be styled theFontainebleau of England. Though not to be compared with Windsor Castlein grandeur of situation, or magnificence of forest scenery, still itwas a stately residence, and worthy of the monarch of a mighty country. Crowned with four square towers of considerable height and magnitude, each with a lion and vane on the top; it had besides, a large, lantern-shaped central turret, proudly domineering over the others, and"made with timber of excellent workmanship, curiously wrought withdivers pinnacles at each corner, wherein were hung twelve bells forchimage, and a clock with chimes of sundry work. " The whole structurewas built, says the survey, "of excellent brick, with coigns, jambs, andcornices of stone. " Approached from the south by a noble avenue oftrees, planted in double rows, and a mile in length, it presented astriking and most picturesque appearance, with its lofty towers, itsgreat gilded vanes, supported, as we have said, by lions, its crowd oftwisted chimnies, its leaded and arched walks, its balconies, and itsimmense bay windows. Nor did it lose its majestic and beautiful aspectas you advanced nearer, and its vast proportions became more fullydeveloped. Then you perceived its grand though irregular facades, itsenormous gates, its cloistered walks, and its superb gardens; andcomprehended that with its five courts and the countless apartments theycontained, to say nothing of the world of offices, that the huge edificecomprised a town within itself--and a well-peopled town too. The membersof the household, and the various retainers connected with it, weremultitudinous as the rooms themselves. 

One charm and peculiarity of the palace, visible from without, consistedin the arched walks before referred to, placed high up on the building, on every side. Screened from the weather, these walks looked upon thedifferent courts and gardens, and commanded extensive views of thelovely sylvan scenery around. Hence Cheshunt and Waltham Abbey, Enfield, and other surrounding villages, could be distinguished through the greenvistas of the park. 

On the south, facing the grand avenue, was "a large open cloister, builtupon several large fair pillars of stone, arched over with seven arches, with a fair rail, and balusters, well painted with the Kings and Queensof England, and the pedigree of the old Lord Burleigh, and divers otherancient families. "

The body of the palace consisted of two large quadrangles: one of which, eighty-six feet square, was denominated the Fountain Court, from thecircumstance of a fountain of black and white marble standing withinit. The other quadrangle, somewhat larger, being one hundred and tenfeet square, was called the Middle Court. In addition to these, therewere three other smaller courts, respectively entitled the Dial Court, the Buttery Court, and the Dove-house Court, wherein the offices weresituated. 

On the east side of the Fountain Court stood an arched cloister; and onthe ground-floor there was a spacious hall, paved with marble, andembellished with a curiously-carved ceiling. Adjoining it were theapartments assigned to the Earl of Salisbury as Keeper of Theobalds, thecouncil-chamber, and the chambers of Sir Lewis Lewkener, Master of theCeremonies, and Sir John Finett. Above was the presence-chamber, wainscotted with oak, painted in liver-colour and gilded, having richpendents from the ceiling, and vast windows resplendent with armorialbearings. Near this were the privy-chamber and the King's bed-chamber, together with a wide gallery, one hundred and twenty-three feet inlength, wainscotted and roofed like the presence-chamber, but yet moregorgeously fretted and painted. Its walls were ornamented with stags'heads with branching antlers. On the upper floor were the rooms assignedto the Duke of Lennox, as Lord Chamberlain, and close to them was one ofthe external leaded walks before alluded to, sixty-two feet long-andeleven wide, which, from its eminent position, carried the gaze to Ware. 

In the Middle-court were the Queen's apartments, comprising her chapel, presence-chamber, and other rooms, and over them a gallery nearly equalin length to that reserved for the King. In this quadrangle, also, werePrince Charles's lodgings. Over the latter was the Green Gallery, onehundred and nine feet in length, and proportionately wide. And above thegallery was another external covered walk, wherein were two "loftyarches of brick, of no small ornament to the house, and rendering itcomely and pleasant to all that passed by. "

The gardens were enchanting, and in perfect keeping with the palace. Occupying several acres. They seemed infinitely larger than they were, since they abounded in intricate alleys, labyrinths, and mazes; so thatyou were easily lost within them, and sometimes wanted a clue to comeforth. They contained some fine canals, fountains, and statues. Inaddition to the great gardens were the priory-gardens, with otherinclosures for pheasants, aviaries, and menageries; for James was veryfond of wild beasts, and had a collection of them worthy of a zoologicalgarden. In one of his letters to Buckingham when the latter was atMadrid, we find him inquiring about the elephant, camels, and wildasses. He had always a camel-house at Theobalds. To close ourdescription, we may add that the tennis-court, _manége_ stable kennels, and falconry were on a scale of magnitude proportionate to the palace. 

Beneath the wide-spreading branches of a noble elm, forming part of thegreat avenue, and standing at a short distance from the principal, entrance to the palace, were collected together, one pleasant afternoonin May, a small group of persons, consisting almost entirely of thereader's acquaintances. Chief amongst them was Jocelyn Mounchensey, who, having dismounted and fastened his horse to the branch, was leaningagainst the large trunk of the tree, contemplating the magnificentstructure we have attempted to describe. Unacquainted as yet with itsinternal splendours, he had no difficulty in comprehending them fromwhat he beheld from without. The entrance gates were open, and a widearchway beyond leading to the great quadrangle, gave him a view of itsbeautiful marble fountain in the midst, ornamented with exquisitestatues of Venus and Cupid. Numerous officers of the household, pages, ushers, and serving-men in the royal liveries, with now and then somepersonage of distinction, were continually passing across the FountainCourt. Gaily attired courtiers, in doublets of satin and mantles ofvelvet, were lounging in the balconies of the presence-chamber, staringat Jocelyn and his companions for, want of better occupation. Otheryoung nobles, accompanied by richly-habited dames--some of them thehighest-born and loveliest in the land--were promenading to and fro uponthe garden terrace on the right, chattering and laughing loudly. Therewas plenty of life and movement everywhere. Even in the LordChamberlain's walk, which, as we have said, was contrived in the upperpart of the structure, and formed a sort of external gallery, threepersons might be discerned; and to save the reader any speculation, wewill tell him that these persons were the Duke of Lennox (LordChamberlain), the Conde de Gondomar (the Spanish lieger-ambassador), andthe Lord Roos. In front of the great gates were stationed four warderswith the royal badge woven in gold on the front and back of theircrimson doublets, with roses in their velvet hats, roses in theirbuskins, and halberts over their shoulders. Just within the gates stooda gigantic porter, a full head and shoulders taller than the burlywarders themselves. From the summit of the lofty central tower of thepalace floated the royal banner, discernible by all the country round. 

On the other side of the tree against which Jocelyn was leaning, andlooking down the long avenue, rather than towards the palace, stood DickTaverner, who however bestowed little attention upon his master, beingfully occupied by a more attractive object close at hand. Dickon, itappeared, had succeeded in inducing Gillian Greenford to accompany himin the expedition to Theobalds, and as the fair damsel could not ofcourse go alone, she had cajoled her good-natured old grandsire intoconveying her thither; and she was now seated behind him upon a pillionplaced on the back of a strong, rough-coated, horse. Dick was inraptures at his success. The ride from Tottenham had been delightful. They had tarried for a short time to drink a cup of ale at the Bell atEdmonton, where Dick meant to have breakfasted, though chance had soagreeably prevented him, and where the liquor was highly approved by theold farmer, who became thenceforth exceedingly chatty, and talked ofnothing else but good Queen Bess and her frequent visits to Theobalds inthe old Lord Burleigh's time, during the rest of the journey. Littleheed was paid to his garrulity by the young couple. They let him talkon, feigning to listen, but in reality noting scarce a word he said. Asthey entered the park of Theobalds, however, they found their tongues, and Gillian became loud in her admiration of the beautiful glades thatopened before them, and of the dappled denizens of the wood that trippedlightsomely across the sward, or hurried towards the thickets. The park, indeed, looked beautiful with its fine oaks in their freshly-openedfoliage of the tenderest green, its numerous spreading beeches, itsscattered thorns white with blossom, and the young fern just springingfrom the seed in the brakes. No wonder Gillian was delighted. Dick wasequally enchanted, and regretted he was not like King James, master of agreat park, that he might hunt within it at his pleasure. Of course, ifhe had been king, Gillian would naturally have been his queen, and havehunted with him. Old Greenford, too, admired the scene, and could notbut admit that the park was improved, though he uttered something like agroan as he thought that Queen Elizabeth and the Lord Treasurer could beseen in it no longer. 

After riding for a couple of miles along a road which led them overbeautifully undulating ground, affording glimpses of every variety offorest scenery--sometimes plunging them into the depths of groves, wherethe path was covered by over-arching trees--sometimes crossing the openchace, studded by single aged oaks of the largest size--sometimes, skirting the margin of a pool, fringed with flags, reeds, and bulrushesfor the protection of the water-fowl--now passing the large heronry, tothe strict preservation of which James attached the utmost importance;they at length approached the long avenue leading to the palace. At itsentrance they found Jocelyn waiting for them. 

The young man, who cared not for their company, had ridden on inadvance. The strange events of the morning gave him plenty of materialfor reflection, and he longed to commune with himself. Accordingly, when the others stopped at Edmonton, he quitted them, promising to halttill they came up, before entering the precincts of the palace. If hisride was not so agreeable as their's, it at least enabled him to regain, in some degree, his composure of mind, which had been greatly disturbedby his abrupt parting with Aveline. Her image was constantly before him, and refusing to be dismissed, connected itself with every object hebeheld. At first he despaired of meeting her again; but as he graduallygrew calmer, his hopes revived, and difficulties which seemedinsuperable began to disperse. By the time Dick Taverner and hiscompanions came up, he felt some disposition to talk, and Gillian'shearty merriment and high spirits helped to enliven him. Havingascertained, from one of the royal keepers whom he had encountered, thatthe King, with a large company, was out hawking on the banks of the NewRiver, which was cut through the park, and that he would in allprobability return through the great avenue to the palace, he proposedthat they should station themselves somewhere within it, in order to seehim pass. This arrangement pleased all parties, so proceeding slowly upthe avenue, they took up a position as described. 

More than an hour, however, elapsed, and still James, who no doubt waspleased with his sport, came not. 

Without being aware of their high quality, or having the slightestnotion that the Conde Gondomar was one of them, Jocelyn had remarked thethree personages in the Lord Chamberlain's Walk. He had seen them pause, and apparently look towards the little group of which he himself formedpart. Shortly after this, two of the party retired, leaving the thirdalone in the gallery. By-and-by these two individuals were seen to crossthe Fountain Court, and passing through the great gates, to direct theirsteps towards the avenue. 

As they approached, Jocelyn recognised one of them as Lord Roos, whom hehad seen play so singular a part at Madame Bonaventure's ordinary. Theother was wholly unknown to him. But that he was a person of the utmostdistinction he felt convinced, as well from his haughty bearing andsumptuous attire, as from the evident respect paid him by his companion. In stature he was rather short, being somewhat under the ordinarystandard; but his figure was admirably proportioned, and was displayedto the greatest advantage by his rich habiliments. His doublet was ofsea-green satin, embroidered with silver and black, with rich opensleeves, and his Spanish cloak was of velvet of the same colour andsimilarly embroidered. His hose were of tawny silk, and the plumes inhis bonnet black, striped with white. He was decorated with the order ofthe Golden Fleece, and bore at his side a genuine blade of Toledo, witha handle of rarest workmanship. Bound his throat he wore a large, tripleruff, edged with pointed lace. His face was oval in shape, hiscomplexion of a rich olive hue, his eyes large, dark, and keen, hisfeatures singularly handsome, and his looks penetrating. His hair wasraven-black, cut short, and removed from the forehead. 

Lord Roos and his companion passed close to Jocelyn without appearing tonotice him; but they halted before Gillian, regarding her with insolentadmiration. Evidently she was the object that had brought them forth. The poor damsel was terribly confused by their ardent glances andlibertine scrutiny, and blushed to her very temples. As to DickTaverner, he trembled with rage and jealousy, and began to repent havingbrought his treasure into such a dangerous neighbourhood. 

The person who seemed to be most struck with Gillian's charms was thewearer of the Spanish mantle. 

"En verdad!" he exclaimed, "that is the loveliest piece of rusticity Ihave seen since I came to England. I thought mine eyes did not deceiveme, as to her beauty, when I caught sight of her from the LordChamberlain's gallery. "

"The Conde de Gondomar hath ever an eagle's eye for a pretty woman, "Lord Roos replied, laughing. 

"The Conde de Gondomar!" mentally ejaculated Jocelyn, who had overheardwhat he said. "Why, this is he to whom the ring must be shown. Theopportunity must not be lost. "

Accordingly, regardless of the impropriety of the proceeding, heuncovered his head, and advancing towards the Spaniard said--

"I believe I have the honour of addressing the Conde de Gondomar?"

"What means this intrusion, Sir?" Lord Roos demanded insolently. "Whathave you to say to his Excellency?"

"I bring him a token, my lord, " the young man replied, exhibiting thering, given him by the masked horseman, to the ambassador. 

"Ha!" exclaimed De Gondomar, glancing at the ring, and then regardingJocelyn steadfastly, "I must speak with this young man, my lord. "

"And abandon the damsel?" demanded Lord Roos. 

"No--no--you must take care of her, " De Gondomar replied in a low tone. "Can you not induce Lady Exeter to take her into her service?"

"I will try, " Lord Roos replied. "And see!" he added, pointing down theavenue, "the royal party is returning, so I can at once ascertainwhether her ladyship will second your Excellency's designs. "

"Do so, " said De Gondomar, "and I shall be for ever indebted to you. This girl has quite taken my fancy, and I must not lose her. And now, Sir, " he added, stepping aside with Jocelyn, "you have brought me thetoken from my assured agent, and I understand from it that you are aperson upon whom I may rely. "

"In all that beseems a gentleman and a man of honour and loyalty yourExcellency may rely on me, " Jocelyn replied. 

"I shall require nothing inconsistent with those principles, " theSpanish Ambassador said. "This point disposed of, let me know how I canserve you, for I presume you have some request to prefer?"

"Your Excellency can very materially serve me, " Jocelyn returned. "I amin danger. "

"I thought as much, " De Gondomar observed with a smile. "Since you haveplaced yourself under my protection, I will do my best to hold youharmless. But who is your enemy?"

"I have two deadly enemies, Sir Giles Mompesson and Sir FrancisMitchell, " Jocelyn rejoined. 

"I know them well--instruments of Buckingham, " said De Gondomar. "Theyare indeed dangerous enemies. "

"I have another yet more dangerous, " returned Jocelyn. "I have reason tofear that, by boldness of speech I have incurred the enmity of theMarquis of Buckingham himself. "

"Ah! this, indeed, is serious, " said De Gondomar. 

"I am threatened with arrest by the Star-Chamber, " pursued Jocelyn; "soyour Excellency will perceive that my position is fraught with extremeperil. Still I persuade myself, if I could obtain a hearing of theKing, I should be able to set my enemies at defiance and obtain myright. "

De Gondomar smiled somewhat scornfully. 

"You will obtain little in that way, " he said, "and your enemies willcrush you effectually. But you must explain to me precisely how you arecircumstanced, and I will then consider what can be done for you. Andbegin by acquainting me with your name and condition, for as yet I amentirely ignorant whom I am addressing. "

Upon this Jocelyn succinctly related to the Ambassador all suchparticulars of his history as have been laid before the reader. DeGondomar listened to him with attention, and put some questions to himas he proceeded. At its close his countenance brightened. 

"You are in an awkward dilemma, it must be owned, Master JocelynMounchensey, " he said. "But I think I can protect you in spite of themall--in spite of Buckingham himself. Luckily, he is not at Theobalds atpresent--so the coast is clear for action. The first blow is half thebattle. I must present you to the King without delay. And see, hisMajesty approaches. Stand close behind me, and act as I advise you by asign. "

CHAPTER XX. 

King James the First. 

Meantime the royal cavalcade came slowly up the avenue. It was verynumerous, and all the more brilliant in appearance, since it comprisednearly as many high-born dames as nobles. Amongst the distinguishedforeigners who with their attendants swelled the party were the Venetianlieger-ambassador Giustiniano, and the Marquis de Tremouille, of thefamily des Ursins, ambassador from France. 

These exalted personages rode close behind the King, and one or theother of them was constantly engaged in conversation with him. Giustiniano had one of those dark, grave, handsome countenancesfamiliarized to us by the portraits of Titian and Tintoretto, and eventhe King's jests failed in making him smile. He was apparelled entirelyin black velvet, with a cloak bordered with the costly fur of the blackfox. All his followers were similarly attired. The sombre Venetianpresented a striking contrast to his vivacious companion, the gay andgraceful De Tremouille, who glittered in white satin, embroidered withleaves of silver, while the same colour and the same ornaments wereadopted by his retinue. 

No order of precedence was observed by the court nobles. Each rode ashe listed. Prince Charles was absent, and so was the supreme favouriteBuckingham; but their places were supplied by some of the chiefpersonages of the realm, including the Earls of Arundel, Pembroke, andMontgomery, the Marquis of Hamilton, and the Lords Haddington, Fenton, and Doncaster. Intermingled with the nobles, the courtiers of lesserrank, and the ambassadors' followers, were the ladies, most of whomclaimed attention from personal charms, rich attire, and the grace andskill with which they managed their horses. 

Perhaps the most beautiful amongst them was the young Countess ofExeter, whose magnificent black eyes did great execution. The lovelyCountess was mounted on a fiery Spanish barb, given to her by DeGondomar. Forced into a union with a gouty and decrepit old husband, theCountess of Exeter might have pleaded this circumstance in extenuationof some of her follies. It was undoubtedly an argument employed by heradmirers, who, in endeavouring to shake her fidelity to her lord, toldher it was an infamy that she should be sacrificed to such an old dotardas he. Whether these arguments prevailed in more cases than one we shallnot inquire too nicely; but, if court-scandal may be relied on, theydid--Buckingham and De Gondomar being both reputed to have been herlovers. 

The last, however, in the list, and the one who appeared to be mostpassionately enamoured of the beautiful Countess, and to receive thelargest share of her regard, was Lord Roos; and as this culpableattachment and its consequences connect themselves intimately with ourhistory we have been obliged to advert to them thus particularly. LordRoos was a near relative of the Earl of Exeter; and although the infirmand gouty old peer had been excessively jealous of his lovely young wifeon former occasions, when she had appeared to trifle with his honour, heseemed perfectly easy and unsuspicious now, though there was infinitelymore cause for distrust. Possibly he had too much reliance on LordRoos's good feelings and principles to suspect him. 

Very different was Lady Roos's conduct. This unhappy lady, whom we havealready mentioned as the daughter of Sir Thomas Lake, Secretary ofState, had the misfortune to be sincerely attached to her handsome butprofligate husband, whose neglect and frequent irregularities she hadpardoned, until the utter estrangement, occasioned by his passion forthe Countess of Exeter, filled her with such trouble, that, overpoweredat length by anguish, she complained to her mother Lady Lake, --anambitious and imperious woman, whose vanity had prompted her to bringabout this unfortunate match. Expressing the greatest indignation at thetreatment her daughter had experienced, Lady Lake counselled her toresent it, undertaking herself to open the eyes of the injured Earl ofExeter to his wife's infidelity; but she was dissuaded from her purposeby Sir Thomas Lake. Though generally governed by his wife, Sir Thomassucceeded, in this instance, in over-ruling her design of proceeding atonce to extremities with the guilty pair, recommending that, in thefirst instance, Lord Roos should be strongly remonstrated with by LadyLake and her daughter, when perhaps his fears might be aroused, if hissense of duty could not be awakened. 

This final appeal had not yet been made; but an interview had takenplace between Lady Roos and her husband, at which, with many passionateentreaties, she had implored him to shake off the thraldom in which hehad bound himself, and to return to her, when all should be forgiven andforgotten, --but without effect. 

Thus matters stood at present. 

As we have seen, though the Countess of Exeter formed one of the chiefornaments of the hawking party, Lord Roos had not joined it; his absencebeing occasioned by a summons from the Conde de Gondomar, with some ofwhose political intrigues he was secretly mixed up. Whether the Countessmissed him or not, we pretend not to say. All we are able to declare is, she was in high spirits, and seemed in no mood to check the advances ofother aspirants to her favour. Her beautiful and expressive featuresbeamed with constant smiles, and her lustrous black eyes seemed tocreate a flame wherever their beams alighted. 

But we must quit this enchantress and her spells, and proceed with thedescription of the royal party. In the rear of those on horseback walkedthe falconers, in liveries of green cloth, with bugles hanging from theshoulder; each man having a hawk upon his fist, completely 'tired in itshood, bells, varvels, and jesses. At the heels of the falconers, andaccompanied by a throng of varlets, in russet jerkins, carrying staves, came two packs of hounds, --one used for what was termed, in the languageof falconry, the Flight at the River, --these were all water-spaniels;and the other, for the Flight at the Field. Nice music they made, inspite of the efforts of the varlets in russet to keep them quiet. 

Hawking, in those days, was what shooting is in the present;fowling-pieces being scarcely used, if at all. Thus the varieties of thehawk-tribe were not merely employed in the capture of pheasants, partridges, grouse, rails, quails, and other game, besides water-fowl, but in the chase of hares; and in all of these pursuits the falconerswere assisted by dogs. Game, of course, could only be killed atparticular seasons of the year; and wild-geese, wild-ducks, woodcocks, and snipes in the winter; but spring and summer pastime was afforded bythe crane, the bustard, the heron, the rook, and the kite; while, atthe same periods, some of the smaller description of water-fowl offeredexcellent sport on lake or river. 

A striking and picturesque sight that cavalcade presented, with itsnodding plumes of many colours, its glittering silks and velvets, itsproud array of horsemen, and its still prouder array of lovely women, whose personal graces and charms baffle description, while they inviteit. Pleasant were the sounds that accompanied the progress of the train:the jocund laugh, the musical voices of women, the jingling of bridles, the snorting and trampling of steeds, the baying of hounds, the shoutsof the varlets, and the winding of horns. 

But having, as yet, omitted the principal figure, we must hasten todescribe him by whom the party was headed. The King, then, was mountedon a superb milk-white steed, with wide-flowing mane and tail, and ofthe easiest and gentlest pace. Its colour was set off by its redchanfrein, its nodding crest of red feathers, its broad poitrinal withred tassels, and its saddle with red housings. Though devoted to thechase, as we have shown, James was but an indifferent horseman; and hissafety in the saddle was assured by such high-bolstered bows in frontand at the back, that it seemed next to impossible he could be shakenout of them. Yet, in spite of all these precautions, accidents hadbefallen him. On one occasion, Sir Symonds D'Ewes relates that he wasthrown headlong into a pond; and on another, we learn from a differentsource that he was cast over his horse's head into the New River, andnarrowly escaped drowning, his boots alone being visible above the icecovering the stream. Moreover the monarch's attire was excessively stiffand cumbrous, and this, while it added to the natural ungainliness ofhis person, prevented all freedom of movement, especially on horseback. His doublet, which on the present occasion was of green velvet, considerably frayed, --for he was by no means particular about thenewness of his apparel, --was padded and quilted so as to bedagger-proof; and his hose were stuffed in the same manner, andpreposterously large about the hips. Then his ruff was triple-banded, and so stiffly starched, that the head was fixed immovably amidst itsplaits. 

Though not handsome, James's features were thoughtful and intelligent, with a gleam of cunning in the eye, and an expression of sarcasm aboutthe mouth, and they contained the type of the peculiar physiognomy thatdistinguished all his unfortunate line. His beard was of a yellowishbrown, and scantily covered his chin, and his thin moustaches were of ayet lighter hue. His hair was beginning to turn gray, but his complexionwas ruddy and hale, proving that, but for his constant ebriety andindulgence in the pleasures of the table, he might have attained a goodold age--if, indeed, his life was not unfairly abridged. His large eyeswere for ever rolling about, and his tongue was too big for his mouth, causing him to splutter in utterance, besides giving him a disagreeableappearance when eating; while his legs were so weak, that he requiredsupport in walking. Notwithstanding these defects, and his generalcoarseness of manner, James was not without dignity, and could, when hechose, assume a right royal air and deportment. But these occasions wererare. As is well known, his pedantry and his pretensions to superiorwisdom and discrimination, procured him the title of the "ScottishSolomon. " His general character will be more fully developed as weproceed; and we shall show the perfidy and dissimulation which hepractised in carrying out his schemes, and tried to soften down underthe plausible appellation of "King-craft. "

James was never seen to greater advantage than on occasions like thepresent. His hearty enjoyment of the sport he was engaged in; hisfamiliarity with all around him, even with the meanest varlets by whomhe was attended, and for whom he had generally some droll nickname; hiscomplete abandonment of all the etiquette which either he or his masterof the ceremonies observed elsewhere; his good-tempered vanity andboasting about his skill as a woodsman, --all these things created animpression in his favour, which was not diminished in those who were notbrought much into contact with him in other ways. When hunting orhawking, James was nothing more than a hearty country gentleman engagedin the like sports. 

The cavalcade came leisurely on, for the King proceeded no faster thanwould allow the falconers to keep easily up with those on horseback. Hewas in high good humour, and laughed and jested sometimes with oneambassador, sometimes with the other, and having finished a learneddiscussion on the manner of fleeing a hawk at the river and on thefield, as taught by the great French authorities, Martin, Malopin, andAimé Cassian, with the Marquis de Tremouille, had just begun a similarconversation with Giustiniano as to the Italian mode of manning, hooding, and reclaiming a falcon, as practised by Messer FrancescoSforzino Vicentino, when he caught sight of the Conde de Gondomar, standing where we left him at the side of the avenue, on which he cameto a sudden halt, and the whole cavalcade stopped at the same time. 

"Salud! Conde magnifico!" exclaimed King James, as the Spaniard advancedto make his obeisance to him; "how is it that we find you standing underthe shade of the tree friendly to the vine, --_amictoe vitibus ulmi_ asOvid hath it? Is it that yon blooming Chloe, " he continued, leeringsignificantly at Gillian, "hath more attraction for you than our courtdames? Troth! the quean is not ill-favoured; but ye ha' lost a gudeday's sport, Count, forbye ither losses which we sall na particularize. We hae had a noble flight at the heron, and anither just as guid afterthe bustard. God's santy! the run the lang-leggit loon gave us. LadyExeter, on her braw Spanish barb--we ken whose gift it is--was the onlyone able to keep with us; and it was her leddyship's ain peregrinefalcon that checked the fleeing carle at last. By our faith the Countessunderstands the gentle science weel. She cared not to soil her daintygloves by rewarding her hawk with a _soppa_, as his ExcellencyGiustiniano would term it, of the bustard's heart, bluid, and brains. But wha hae ye gotten wi' ye?" he added, for the first time noticingJocelyn. 

"A young gentleman in whom I am much interested, and whom I would cravepermission to present to your Majesty, " replied De Gondomar. 

"Saul of our body, Count, the permission is readily granted, " repliedJames, evidently much pleased with the young man's appearance. "Ye shallbring him to us in the privy-chamber before we gang to supper, andmoreover ye shall hae full licence to advance what you please in hisbehoof. He is a weel-grown, weel-favoured laddie, almost as much sae asour ain dear dog Steenie; but we wad say to him, in the words of theRoman bard, 'O formose puer, nimium ne crede colori!'

Gude pairts are better than gude looks; not that the latter are to beundervalued, but baith should exist in the same person. We shall soondiscover whether the young man hath been weel nurtured, and if allcorrespond we shall not refuse him the light of our countenance. "

"I tender your Majesty thanks for the favour you have conferred uponhim, " replied De Gondomar. 

"But ye have not yet tauld us the youth's name, Count?" said the King. 

"Your Majesty, I trust, will not think I make a mystery where none isneeded, if I say that my protegé claims your gracious permission topreserve, for the moment, his incognito, " De Gondomar replied. "When Ipresent him of course his name will be declared. "

"Be it as you will, Count, " James replied. "We ken fu' weel ye hae gudereason for a' ye do. Fail not in your attendance on us at the timeappointed. "

As De Gondomar with a profound obeisance drew back, the King put hissteed in motion. General attention having been thus called to Jocelyn, all eyes were turned towards him, his appearance and attire werecriticised, and much speculation ensued as to what could be the SpanishAmbassador's motive for undertaking the presentation. 

Meanwhile, Lord Roos had taken advantage of the brief halt of thehunting party to approach the Countess of Exeter, and pointing outGillian to her, inquired in a low tone, and in a few words, to which, however, his looks imparted significance, whether she would take thepretty damsel into her service as tire-woman or handmaiden. The Countessseemed surprised at the request, and, after glancing at the Beauty ofTottenham, was about to refuse it, when Lord Roos urged in a whisper, "'T is for De Gondomar I ask the favour. "

"In that case I readily assent, " the Countess replied. "I will go speakto the damsel at once, if you desire it. How pretty she is! No wonderhis inflammable Excellency should be smitten by her. " And detaching herbarb, as she spoke, from the cavalcade, she moved towards Gillian, accompanied by Lord Roos. The pretty damsel was covered with freshconfusion at the great lady's approach; and was, indeed, so greatlyalarmed, that she might have taken to her heels, if she had been on theground, and not on the pillion behind her grandsire. 

"Be not abashed, my pretty maiden, " the Countess said, in a kind andencouraging tone; "there is nothing to be afraid of. Aware that I am inwant of a damsel like yourself, to tire my hair and attend upon me, LordRoos has drawn my attention to you; and if I may trust toappearances--as I think I may, " she added, with a very flattering andpersuasive smile, "in your case--you are the very person to suit me, provided you are willing to enter my service. I am the Countess ofExeter. "

"A Countess!" exclaimed Gillian. "Do you hear that, grandsire? Thebeautiful lady is a countess. What an honour it would be to serve her!"

"It might be, " the old man replied, with hesitation, and in a whisper;"yet I do not exactly like the manner of it. "

"Don't accept the offer, Gillian. Don't go, " said Dick Taverner, whosebreast was full of uneasiness. 

"Your answer, my pretty maiden?" the Countess said, with a winningsmile. 

"I am much beholden to you, my lady, " Gillian replied, "and it willdelight me to serve you as you propose--that is, if I have mygrandsire's consent to it. "

"And the good man, I am sure, has your welfare too much at heart towithhold it, " the Countess replied. "But follow me to the palace, and wewill confer further upon the matter. Inquire for the Countess ofExeter's apartments. " And with another gracious smile, she rejoined thecavalcade, leaving Lord Roos behind. He thanked her with a look for hercomplaisance. 

"O Gillian, I am sure ill will come of this, " Dick Taverner exclaimed. 

"Wherefore should it?" she rejoined, almost beside herself with delightat the brilliant prospect suddenly opened before her. "My fortune ismade. "

"You are right, my pretty damsel, it is, " Lord Roos remarked. "Fail notto do as the Countess has directed you, and I will answer for the rest. "

"You hear what the kind young nobleman says, grandsire?" Gillianwhispered in his ear. "You cannot doubt his assurance?"

"I hear it all, " old Greenford replied; "but I know not what to think. Isuppose we must go to the palace. "

"To be sure we must, " Gillian cried; "I will go there alone, if you willnot go with me. "

Satisfied with what he had heard, Lord Roos moved away, nodding approvalat Gillian. 

The cavalcade, as we have said, was once more in motion, but before ithad proceeded far, it was again, most unexpectedly, brought to a halt. 

Suddenly stepping from behind a large tree which had concealed him fromview, a man in military habiliments, with grizzled hair and beard, andan exceedingly resolute and stern cast of countenance, planted himselfdirectly in the monarch's path, and extending his hand towards him, exclaimed, in a loud voice, "Stand! O King!"

"Who art thou, fellow? and what wouldst thou?" demanded James, who hadchecked his horse with such suddenness as almost to throw himself outof his high-holstered saddle. 

"I have a message to deliver to thee from Heaven, " replied HughCalveley. 

"Aha!" exclaimed James, recovering in some degree, for he thought he hada madman to deal with. "What may thy message be?"

And willing to gain a character for courage, though it was whollyforeign to his nature, he motioned those around him to keep back. "Thymessage, fellow!" he repeated. 

"Hear, then, what Heaven saith to thee, " the Puritan replied. "Have Inot brought thee out of a land of famine into a land of plenty? Thououghtest, therefore, to have judged my people righteously! But thou hastperverted justice, and not relieved the oppressed. Therefore, unlessthou repent, I will rend thy kingdom from thee, and from thy posterityafter thee! Thus saith the Lord, whose messenger I am. "

CHAPTER XXI. 

Consequences of the Puritan's warning. 

Coupling Hugh Calveley's present strange appearance and solemn warningwith his previous denunciations uttered in secret, and his intimationsof some dread design, with which he had sought to connect the young manhimself, intimating that its execution would jeopardize his life;putting these things together, we say, Jocelyn could not for an instantdoubt that the King was in imminent danger, and he felt called upon tointerfere, even though he should be compelled to act against hisfather's friend, and the father of Aveline. No alternative, in fact, wasallowed him. As a loyal subject, his duty imperiously required him todefend his sovereign; and perceiving that no one (in consequence of theKing's injunctions) advanced towards the Puritan, Jocelyn hastilyquitted the Conde de Gondomar, and rushing forward stationed himselfbetween the monarch and his bold admonisher; and so near to the latter, that he could easily prevent any attack being made by him upon James. 

Evidently disconcerted by the movement, Hugh Calveley signed to theyoung man to stand aside, but Jocelyn refused compliance; the ratherthat he suspected from the manner in which the other placed his hand inhis breast that he had some weapon concealed about his person. Casting alook of bitterest reproach at him, which plainly as wordssaid--"Ungrateful boy, thou hast prevented my purpose, " the Puritanfolded his hands upon his breast with an air of deep disappointment. 

"Fly!" cried Jocelyn, in a tone calculated only to reach his ears. "Iwill defend you with my life. Waste not another moment--fly!"

But Hugh Calveley regarded him with cold disdain, and though he movednot his lips, he seemed to say, "You have destroyed me; and I will notremove the guilt of my destruction from your head. "

The Puritan's language and manner had filled James with astonishment andfresh alarm; but feeling secure in the propinquity of Jocelyn to theobject of his uneasiness, and being closely environed by his retinue, the foremost of whom had drawn their swords and held themselves inreadiness to defend him from the slightest hostile attempt, it was notunnatural that even so timorous a person as he, should regain hisconfidence. Once more, therefore, he restrained by his gestures theangry impetuosity of the nobles around him, who were burning to chastisethe rash intruder, and signified his intention of questioning him beforeany measures were adopted against him. 

"Let him be, " he cried. "He is some puir demented creature fitter forBedlam than anywhere else; and we will see that he be sent thither; butmolest him not till we hae spoken wi' him, and certified his conditionmore fully. Quit not the position ye hae sae judiciously occupied, youngSir, albeit against our orders, " he cried to Jocelyn. "Dinna draw yourblade unless the fellow seeks to come till us. Not that we are under onyapprehension; but there are bluidthirsty traitors even in our pacificterritories, and as this may be ane of them, it is weel not to neglectdue precaution. And now, man, " he added, raising his voice, andaddressing the Puritan, who still maintained a steadfast and unmoveddemeanour, with his eye constantly fixed upon his interrogator. "Ye sayye are a messenger frae heaven. An it be sae, --whilk we take leave todoubt, rather conceiving ye to be an envoy from the Prince of Darknessthan an ambassador from above, --an ill choice hath been made in ye. Untowhat order of prophets do ye conceive yourself to belong?"

To this interrogation, propounded in a jeering tone, the Puritan deignedno reply; but an answer was given for him by Archee, the court jester, who had managed in the confusion to creep up to his royal master's side. 

"He belongs to the order of Melchisedec, " said Archee. A reply thatoccasioned some laughter among the nobles, in which the King joinedheartily. 

"Tut, fule! ye are as daft as the puir body before us, " cried James. "Ken ye not that Melchisedec was a priest and not a prophet; while tojudge frae yon fellow's abulyiements, if he belongs to any church atall, it maun be to the church militant. And yet, aiblins, ye are na saefar out after a'. Like aneuch, he may be infected with the heresy of theMelchisedecians, --a pestilent sect, who plagued the early ChristianChurch sairly, placing their master aboon our Blessed Lord himself, andholding him to be identical wi' the Holy Ghaist. Are ye aMelchisedecian, sirrah?"

"I am a believer in the Gospel, " the Puritan replied. "And am willing toseal my faith in it with my blood. I am sent hither to warn thee, OKing, and thou wilt do well not to despise my words. Repent ere it betoo late. Wonderfully hath thy life been preserved. Dedicate theremainder of thy days to the service of the Most High. Persecute not Hispeople, and revile them not. Purge thy City of its uncleanness andidolatry, and thy Court of its corruption. Profane not the Sabbath"--

"I see how it is, " interrupted Archee with a scream; "the man hath beendriven stark wud by your Majesty's Book of Sports. "

"A book devised by the devil, " cried Hugh Calveley, catching at thesuggestion; "and which ought to be publicly burnt by the hangman, instead of being read in the churches. How much, mischief hath thatbook done! How many abominations hath it occasioned! And, alas! how muchpersecution hath it caused; for have not many just men, and sincerepreachers of the Word, been prosecuted in thy Court, misnamed ofjustice, and known, O King! as the Star-Chamber; suffering stripes andimprisonment for refusing to read thy mischievous proclamation to theirflocks. "

"I knew it!--I knew it!" screamed Archee, delighted with the effect hehad produced. "Take heed, sirrah, " he cried to the Puritan, "that yemake not acquaintance wi' 'that Court misnamed of justice' yer ainsell. "

"He is liker to be arraigned at our court styled the King's Bench, andhanged, drawn, and quartered afterwards, " roared James, far more enragedat the disrespectful mention made of his manifesto, than by anythingthat had previously occurred. "The man is not sae doited as we supposedhim. "

"He is not sane enough to keep his neck from the halter, " rejoinedArchee. "Your Majesty should spare him, since you are indirectly thecause of his malady. "

"Intercede not for me, " cried Hugh Calveley. "I would not accept anygrace at the tyrant's hands. Let him hew me in pieces, and my bloodshall cry out for vengeance upon his head. "

"By our halidame! a dangerous traitor!" exclaimed James. 

"Hear me, O King!" thundered the Puritan. "For the third and last time Ilift up my voice to warn thee. Visions have appeared to me in the night, and mysterious voices have whispered in mine ear. They have revealed tome strange and terrible things--but not more strange and terrible thantrue. They have told me how thy posterity shall suffer for the injusticethou doest to thy people. They have shown me a scaffold which a Kingshall mount--and a block whereon a royal head shall be laid. But itshall be better for that unfortunate monarch, though he be brought tojudgment by his people, than for him who shall be brought to judgment byhis God. Yet more. I have seen in my visions two Kings in exile: one ofwhom shall be recalled, but the other shall die in a foreign land. As tothee, thou mayst live on yet awhile in fancied security. But destructionshall suddenly overtake thee. Thou shalt be stung to death by theserpent thou nourishest in thy bosom. "

Whatever credit might be attached to them, the Puritan's propheticforebodings produced, from the manner in which they were delivered, astrong impression upon all his auditors. Unquestionably the man was inearnest, and spoke like one who believed that a mission had beenentrusted to him. No interruption was offered to his speech, even by theKing, though the latter turned pale as these terrible coming eventswere shadowed forth before him. 

"His words are awsome, " he muttered, "and gar the flesh creep on ourbanes. Will nane o' ye stap his tongue?"

"Better hae stapt it afore this, " said Archee; "he has said ower meikle, or not aneuch, The Deil's malison on thee, fellow, for a prophet of ill!Hast thou aught to allege why his Majesty should not tuck thee up with ahalter?"

"I have spoken, " responded the Puritan; "let the King do with me what helists. "

"Seize him! arrest him! ye are nearest to him, Sir, " shouted the king toJocelyn. 

The command could not be disobeyed. As Jocelyn drew near, and laid hishand upon Hugh Calveley, the latter looked reproachfully at him, saying, "Thou doest well, son of my old friend. "

Jocelyn was unable to reply, for a crowd now pressed forward on allsides, completely surrounding the prisoner. Some of the noblesthreatened him with their swords, and the warders, who had come up fromthe gateway, thrust at him with their partizans. Jocelyn had greatdifficulty in shielding him from the infuriated throng. 

"Touch him not!" he cried, clearing a space around them with the pointof his sword. "His Majesty has committed him to my custody, and I amresponsible for him. Pardon me if I disarm you, Sir, " he added in anundertone to the prisoner. 

"Here is my sword, " replied Hugh Calveley, unbuckling his belt anddelivering up the weapon it sustained to Jocelyn; "it hath never beendishonoured, and, " he added, lowering his voice, "it hath been twicedrawn in thy father's defence. "

The reproach cut Jocelyn to the heart. 

At this moment the crowd drew aside to allow the King's approach. 

"Hath he been searched to see whether any deadly or offensive weapon isconcealed about him?" demanded James. 

"He cannot have any more offensive weapon than his tongue, " criedArchee, who accompanied his royal master. "I counsel your Majesty todeprive him of that. "

"There is something hidden in his breast, " cried one of the warders, searching in his jerkin, and at length drawing forth a short, clumsypistol, or dag, as the weapon was then called. "It is loaded, an pleaseyour Majesty, " the man continued, after examining it. 

Exclamations of horror arose from those around, and Jocelyn had againsome difficulty in protecting the prisoner from their fury. 

"A dag!" ejaculated James, "a loaded dag, crammed to the muzzle wi'bullets, nae doubt. Haud it down, man! haud it down! it may fire off ofitsel', and accomplish the villain's murtherous and sacrilegious design. And sae this was to be the instrument of our destruction! Dost thouconfess thy guilt, thou bluid-thirsty traitor, or shall the tortureforce the truth from thee?"

"The torture will force nothing from me, " replied Hugh Calveley. "But Itell thee, tyrant, that I would have slain thee, had not my hand beenstayed. "

"Heard ye ever the like o' that?" exclaimed James, his ruddy cheekblanched with fright, and his voice quavering. "Why, he exceedeth inaudacity the arch-traitor Fawkes himsel'. And what stayed thy hand, villain?" he demanded, --"what stayed thy hand, thou blood-thirstytraitor?"

"The presence of this youth, Jocelyn Mounchensey, " rejoined HughCalveley. "Had he not come between us when he did, and checked mypurpose, I had delivered my country from oppression. I told thee, tyrant, thou hadst been marvellously preserved. Thy preserver standsbefore thee. "

"Heaven defend us!" exclaimed James, trembling. "What an escape we haehad. There hath been a special interposition o' Providence in ourbehoof. Our gratitude is due to Him who watcheth ower us. "

"And in some degree to him who hath been made the instrument of yourMajesty's preservation, " observed the Conde de Gondomar, who formed oneof the group near the King. "Since the foul traitor hath proclaimed thename of my young protegé", there can be no need for further concealment. Master Jocelyn Mounchensey hath been singularly fortunate in renderingyour Majesty a service, and may for ever congratulate himself on hisshare--accidental though it be--in this affair. "

"By my halidame! he shall have reason for congratulation, " cried James, graciously regarding the young man. 

"Ay, let him rise by my fall. 'Tis meet he should, " cried the Puritan, bitterly. "Shower thy honours upon him, tyrant. Give him wealth andtitles. I could not wish him worse misfortune than thy favour. "

"Hold thy scurril tongue, villain, or it shall be torn out by theroots, " said James. "Thou shalt see that I can as promptly reward thosethat serve me, as thou shalt presently feel I can severely punish thosethat seek to injure me. Hark ye, Count!" he added to the SpanishAmbassador, while those around drew back a little, seeing it was hisMajesty's pleasure to confer with him in private, "this youth--thisJocelyn Mounchensey, hath gentle bluid in his veins?--he comes of a goodstock, ha?"

"He is the representative of an old Norfolk family, " De Gondomarreplied. 

"What! the son of Sir Ferdinando?" demanded James, a shade crossing hiscountenance, which did not escape the wily ambassador's notice. 

"You have guessed right, Sire, " he said. "This is Sir Ferdinando's son;and, if I may be permitted to say so, your Majesty owes him somereparation for the wrongs done his father. "

"How! Count!" exclaimed James, with a look of slight displeasure. "Doyou venture to question our judgments on hearsay--for ye can knownaething o' your ain knowledge?"

"I know enough to be satisfied that misrepresentations were made to yourMajesty respecting this young man's father, " De Gondomar replied; "for Iam well assured that if you ever erred at all, it must have been throughignorance, and want of due information. This was what I designed toexplain more fully than I can well do now, when I availed myself of yourMajesty's gracious permission to bring the young man into your presence;and I should then have taken leave to express how much he merited yourMajesty's favour and protection. Fortune, however, has outrun my wishes, and given him a stronger claim upon you than any I could urge. "

"Ye are right, Count, " rejoined James cautiously. "He hath the strongestclaim upon us, and he shall not find us ungrateful. We will confer wi'Steenie--wi' Buckingham, we mean--about him. "

"Pardon me, Sire, " said De Gondomar, "if I venture to suggest that yourMajesty hath an admirable opportunity, which I should be sorry to seeneglected, of showing your goodness and clemency, and silencing for everthe voice of calumny, which will sometimes be raised against you. "

"What mean ye, Count?" cried James. "Ye wad na hae me pardon yontraitor?"

"Most assuredly not, Sire, " De Gondomar rejoined. "But I would urge somepresent mark of favour for him who hath saved you from the traitor'sfell designs. And I am emboldened to ask this, because I feel assured itmust be consonant to your Majesty's own inclinations to grant therequest. "

"It is sae, Count, " rejoined James. "We only desired to consult wi'Buckingham to ascertain whether he had ony objections; but as this isaltogether unlikely, we will follow our ain inclinations and do as yourExcellency suggests. "

De Gondomar could scarcely conceal his satisfaction. 

At this moment Lord Roos pressed towards the King. 

"I have something to say in reference to this young man, my liege, " hecried. 

"In his favour?" demanded the King. 

"Yes, yes; in his favour, Sire, " said De Gondomar, looking hard at theyoung nobleman. "You need not trouble his Majesty further, my lord. Heis graciously pleased to accede to our wishes. "

"Ay, ay; nae mair need be said, " cried James. "Let the young man standforward. "

And as Jocelyn obeyed the injunction which was immediately communicatedto him by De Gondomar, the King bade him kneel down, and taking LordRoos's sword, touched him with it upon the shoulder, exclaiming, "Arise!Sir Jocelyn. "

"You are safe now, " whispered De Gondomar. "This is the first blow, andit has been well struck. "

So confused was the new-made knight by the honour thus unexpectedlyconferred upon him, that when he rose to his feet he could scarcelycommand himself sufficiently to make the needful obeisance, and tenderthanks to the King. For a moment, his brow was flushed with pride, andhis breast beat high; but the emotions were instantly checked, as hethought how the title had been purchased. Looking towards the prisoner, he beheld him in the hands of the warders, to whose custody he had beencommitted, with his arms bound behind him by thongs. His gaze had neverquitted the young man during the ceremony which had just taken place, and he still regarded him sternly and reproachfully. 

"Let the prisoner be removed, and kept in a place of safety till ourpleasure respecting him be made known, " cried James. "And now, my lordsand ladies, let us forward to the palace. "

And the cavalcade was once more put in motion, and passing through thegreat gateway entered the Fountain Court, where the nobility of bothsexes dismounted, while their attendants and the falconers and varletspassed off to the offices. 

The prisoner was conveyed to the porter's lodge, and strictly guarded, till some secure chamber could be prepared for him. On the way thitherJocelyn contrived to approach him, and to say in a low tone--"Can I doaught for Aveline?"

"Concern not yourself about her, _Sir_ Jocelyn, " rejoined Hugh Calveley, with stern contempt. "She is in a place of safety. You will never beholdher more. "

CHAPTER XXII. 

Wife and Mother-in-Law. 

Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautiousthat they made no sound. Before drawing aside the arras that covered thesecret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearingnothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and lookedin. 

What did she behold? A young man seated beside a carved oak table, withhis back towards her. He was reading a letter, the contents of whichseemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal. No one else was in theroom, which was spacious and lofty, though somewhat sombre, being whollyfurnished with dark oak; while the walls were hung with ancienttapestry. Heavy curtains were drawn before the deep bay windows, increasing the gloom. The chamber was lighted by a brass lamp suspendedfrom the moulded ceiling, the ribs of which were painted, and thebosses, at the intersections, gilded. Near the concealed entrance wherethe lady stood was placed a large curiously-carved ebony cabinet, against which leaned a suit of tilting armour and a lance; while on itssummit were laid a morion, a brigandine, greaves, gauntlets, and otherpieces of armour. On the right of the cabinet the tapestry was loopedaside, disclosing a short flight of steps, terminated by the door of ananti-chamber. 

Almost as the lady set foot within the room, which she did after a briefdeliberation, dropping the arras noiselessly behind her, the young manarose. Her entrance had not been perceived, so violently was heagitated. Crushing the letter which had excited him so much between hisfingers, and casting it furiously from him, he gave vent to anincoherent expression of rage. Though naturally extremely handsome, hisfeatures at this moment were so distorted by passion that they lookedalmost hideous. In person he was slight and finely-formed; and therichness of his attire proclaimed him of rank. 

The lady who, unperceived, had witnessed his violent emotion wasremarkably beautiful. Her figure was superb; and she had the whitestneck and arms imaginable, and the smallest and most delicately-formedhands. Her features derived something of haughtiness from a slightlyaquiline nose and a short curled upper lip. Her eyes weremagnificent--large, dark, and almost Oriental in shape and splendour. Jetty brows, and thick, lustrous, raven hair, completed the catalogue ofher charms. Her dress was of white brocade, over which she wore a looserobe of violet-coloured velvet, with open hanging sleeves, wellcalculated to display the polished beauty of her arms. Her ruff was ofpoint lace, and round her throat she wore a carcanet of pearls, whileother precious stones glistened in her dusky tresses. 

This beautiful dame, whose proud lips were now more compressed thanusual, and whose dark eyes emitted fierce rays--very different fromtheir customary tender and voluptuous glances--was the Countess ofExeter. He whom she looked upon was Lord Roos, and the chamber she hadjust entered was the one assigned to the young nobleman in the Palace ofTheobalds. 

She watched him for some time with curiosity. At length his rage foundvent in words. 

"Perdition seize them both!" he exclaimed, smiting his forehead with hisclenched hand. "Was ever man cursed with wife and mother-in-law likemine! They will, perforce, drive me to desperate measures, which I wouldwillingly avoid; but if nothing else will keep them quiet, the gravemust. Ay, the grave, " he repeated in a hollow voice; "it is not my faultif I am compelled to send them thither. Fools to torment me thus!"

Feeling she had heard more than she ought, the Countess would haveretired; but as retreat might have betrayed her, she deemed it better toannounce her presence by saying, "You are not alone, my Lord. "

Startled by her voice, Lord Roos instantly turned, and regarded her withhaggard looks. 

"You here, Frances?" he exclaimed; "I did not expect you so soon. "

"I came before the hour, because--but you seem greatly agitated. Hasanything happened?"

"Little more than what happens daily, " he replied. "And yet it _is_more; for the crisis has arrived, and a fearful crisis it is. O, Frances!" he continued vehemently, "how dear you are to me. To preserveyour love I would dare everything, even my soul's welfare. I wouldhesitate at no crime to keep you ever near me. Let those beware whowould force you from me. "

"What means this passion, my Lord?" inquired the Countess. 

"It means that since there are those who will mar our happiness; who, jealous of our loves, will utterly blight and destroy them; who willtear us forcibly asunder, recking little of the anguish they occasion:since we have enemies who will do this; who will mortally wound us--letus no longer hesitate, but strike the first blow. We must rid ourselvesof them at any cost, and in any way. "

"I will not affect to misunderstand you, my Lord, " the Countess replied, her beautiful features beginning to exhibit traces of terror. "But hasit arrived at this point? Is the danger imminent and inevitable?"

"Imminent, but not inevitable, " Lord Roos rejoined. "It _can_ beavoided, as I have hinted, in one way, and in one way only. There is aletter I have just received from my wife; wherein, after her usualupbraidings, remonstrances, and entreaties, she concludes by saying, that if I continue deaf to her prayers, and refuse to break off entirelywith you, and return to her, our 'criminal attachment, '--for so sheterms our love--should be divulged to the deluded Earl of Exeter, whowill know how to redress her wrongs, and avenge his own injured honour. What answer, save one, can be returned to that letter, Frances? If weset her at defiance, as we have hitherto done, she will act, for she isgoaded on by that fury, her mother. We must gain a little time, in orderthat the difficulties now besetting us may be effectually removed. "

"I shudder to think of it, William, " said the Countess, trembling andturning deathly pale. "No; it must not be. Rather than such a crimeshould be committed, I will comply with their demand. "

"And leave me?" cried Lord Roos, bitterly. "Frances, your affection isnot equal to mine, or you could not entertain such a thought for amoment. You almost make me suspect, " he added, sternly, "that you havetransferred your love to another. Ah! beware! beware! I am not to betrifled with, like your husband. "

"I forgive you the doubt, my Lord--unjust though it be--because yourmind is disturbed; but were you calm enough to view the matter as itreally is, you would perceive that my resolution has nothing in itinconsistent with affection for you; but rather that my very love foryou compels me to the step. What _I_ propose is best for both of us. Theremedy you suggest would work our ruin here and hereafter; would driveus from society, and render us hateful to each other. My soul revolts atit. And though I myself have received a mortal affront from your wife'smother, Lady Lake; though she has poured forth all the malice of whichshe is capable upon my devoted head; yet I would rather forgiveher--rather sue for pity from her than go the fearful length youpropose. No, William. The pang of parting from you will indeed beterrible, but it must be endured. Fate wills it so, and it is thereforeuseless to struggle against it. "

"O, recall those words, Frances!" cried the young nobleman, throwinghimself at her feet, and clasping her hands passionately. "Recall them, I implore' of you. In uttering them you pronounce my doom--a doom moredreadful than death, which would be light in comparison with losing you. Plunge this sword to my heart, " he exclaimed, plucking the shiningweapon from his side, and presenting it to her. "Free me from my miseryat once, but do not condemn me to lingering agony. "

"Rise, William! rise, I pray of you, " ejaculated the Countess, overcomeby the intensity of his emotion, "and put up your sword. The love youdisplay for me deserves an adequate return, and it shall meet it. Comewhat will, I will not leave you. But, O! let us not plunge deeper inguilt if it can be avoided. "

"But how _can_ it be avoided?" cried Lord Roos. "Will _they_ listen toour prayers? Will _they_ pity us? Will _they_ hesitate at ourdestruction?"

"I know not--I know not, " replied the Countess, bewildered; "but I standappalled before the magnitude of the offence. "

"They will _not_ spare us, " pursued Lord Roos; "and therefore we cannotspare them. "

"In my turn I bend to you, William, " said the Countess, sinking on herknee before him, and taking his hand. "By the love you bear me, Ibeseech you not to harm your wife! We have wronged her deeply--let usnot have her death to answer for. If the blow _must_ fall, let it beupon the mother's head. I have less compassion for her. "

"Lady Lake deserves no compassion, " replied Lord Roos, raising theCountess, and embracing her tenderly, "for she is the cause of all thismischief. It is to her agency we owe the storm which threatens us withruin. But things have gone too far now to show compunction for either ofthem. Our security demands that both should be removed. "

"I may now say as you have just said, William, and with, far greaterreason, " cried the Countess, "that you love me not, or you would notrefuse my request. "

"How can I comply with it?" he rejoined. "Nothing were done, if onlypartly done. Know you the charge that Lady Roos means to bring againstyou? Though alike false and improbable, it is one to find easy credencewith the King; and it has been framed with that view. You willunderstand this, when I tell you what it is. In this letter, " he added, picking up the paper he had thrown down, and unfolding it, "she accusesyou of practising sorcery to enslave my affections. She declares youhave bewitched me; and that she has proof of the manner in which it wasdone, and of the sinful compact you have entered into for the purpose. "

"O William! this is false--utterly false!" exclaimed the Countess, indespair. 

"I know it, " he rejoined. "You have no need to practise otherenchantments with me than those you possess by nature. But what I tellyou will show you the extent of their malice, and steel your heart, asit hath already steeled mine, against them. "

"But this accusation is too monstrous. It will not be believed, " criedthe Countess. 

"Monstrous as it is, it is more likely to be believed--more certain tobe maintained--than the other which they lay at our door. We may denyall their assertions; may intimidate or give the lie to the witnessesthey may produce against us; may stamp as forgeries your letters whichhave unluckily fallen into their hands; but if this charge of witchcraftbe once brought against you, it will not fall to the ground. The Kingwill listen to it, because it flatters his prejudices; and even my voicewould fail to save you from condemnation--from the stake. "

"Horrible!" exclaimed Lady Exeter spreading her hands before her eyes, as if to exclude some dreadful object. "O to live in an age when suchenormities can be perpetrated! when such frightful weapons can be usedagainst the innocent--for I _am_ innocent, at least of this offence. Allseems against me; all doors of escape--save _one_--closed. And whitherdoes that door lead? To the Bottomless Pit, if there be truth in aughtwe are told by Heaven. "

Lord Roos seemed unable or unwilling to reply; and a deep pause ensuedfor a few moments, during which the guilty pair shunned each other'sregards. It was broken at length by Lady Exeter, who said, reproachfully, "You should have burnt my letters, William. Without them, they would have had no evidence against me. Imprudent that you were, youhave destroyed me!"

"Reproach me not, Prances, " he rejoined. "I admit my imprudence, andblame myself severely for it. But I could not part with a line I hadreceived from you. I inclosed the letters in a little coffer, which Ideposited in a secret drawer of that cabinet, as in a place of perfectsafety. The coffer and its contents mysteriously disappeared. How it waspurloined I cannot inform you. "

"Do your suspicions alight on no one?" she inquired. 

"They have fallen on several; but I have no certainty that I have beenright in any instance, " he replied. "That I have some spy near me, I amwell aware; and if I detect him, he shall pay for his perfidy with hislife. "

"Hist!" cried Lady Exeter. "Did you not hear a noise?"

"No, " he rejoined. "Where?"

She pointed to the little passage leading to the ante-chamber. Heinstantly went thither, and examined the place, but without discoveringany listener. 

"There is no one, " he said, as he returned. "No one, in fact, could haveobtained admittance without my knowledge, for my Spanish servant, Diego, in whom I can place full confidence, is stationed without. "

"I distrust that man, William, " she observed. "When I asked whom youthought had removed the letters, my own suspicions had attached to him. "

"I do not think he would have done it, " Lord Roos replied. "He has everserved me faithfully; and, besides, I have a guarantee for his fidelityin the possession of a secret on which his own life hangs. I can disposeof him as I please. "

"Again that sound!" exclaimed the Countess. "I am sure some one isthere. "

"Your ears have deceived you, " said the young nobleman, after examiningthe spot once more, and likewise the secret entrance by which theCountess had approached the chamber. "I heard nothing, and can findnothing. Your nerves are shaken, and make you fanciful. "

"It may be so, " she rejoined. But it was evident she was not convinced, for she lowered her tones almost to a whisper as she continued. It mightbe that the question she designed to put was one she dared not askaloud. "What means do you purpose to employ in the execution of yourdesign?"

"The same as those employed by Somerset and his Countess in the removalof Sir Thomas Overbury; but more expeditious and more certain, " hereplied under his breath. 

"Dreadful!" she exclaimed, with a shudder. "But the same judgment thatovertook the Somersets may overtake us. Such crimes are never hidden. "

"Crimes fouler than theirs have never been brought to light, and neverwill. There was one in which Somerset himself was concerned, involvingthe destruction of a far higher personage than Overbury; and this darenot even be hinted at. "

"Because the greatest person in the land was connected with it, "returned the Countess, "I conclude you refer to the death of PrinceHenry?"

"I do, " answered Lord Roos. "Somerset would never have been questionedabout Overbury, if his fall had not been resolved upon by the King. "

"One other question, and I ask no more, " said the Countess, scarcelyable to syllable her words. "Who is to administer the deadly draught?"

"Luke Hatton, Lady Lake's apothecary. He is a creature of mine, andentirely devoted to me. "

"Our lives will be in his hands ever afterwards, " said the Countess, ina deep whisper. 

"They will be in safe keeping, " he rejoined, endeavouring to reassureher. 

"O, William! I would I could prevail upon you to defer this project. "

"To what end? The sooner it is done the better. It cannot, indeed, bedeferred. I shall send for Luke Hatton to-night. "

At this announcement, the Countess, who had gradually been growingfainter and becoming paler, lost all power of supporting herself, and, uttering a cry, fell into his outstretched arms in a state of completeinsensibility. 

While Lord Roos, half distracted, was considering what means he couldadopt for her restoration, a man, with an almost tawny complexion, hairand eyes to match, and habited in the young nobleman's livery of crimsonand white, suddenly entered from the ante-chamber. 

"How dare you come in unsummoned, Diego?" cried Lord Roos, furiously. "Begone instantly, sirrah!". 

"I crave your lordship's pardon, " replied the Spanish servant; "but Iwas obliged to apprise you that your wife, the Baroness Roos, and LadyLake are without, and will not be denied admission. "

"Damnation!" exclaimed Lord Roos. "What brings them here at such anhour? But you must on no account admit them, Diego--at least, till Ihave had time to remove the Countess to her own chamber. What a cursedmischance!"

Diego instantly withdrew, apparently to obey his lord's command; but hehad scarcely entered the little passage when two ladies pushed past him, and made their way into the room. They arrived just in time to interceptLord Roos, who was conveying his insensible burthen towards the secretstaircase. 

The young nobleman was as much confounded by their appearance as if twospectres had risen before him. Both ladies were very richly attired, andthe younger of the two was by no means destitute of beauty, though of apale and pensive character. The elder had a full, noble figure, haughtyfeatures, now lighted up with a smile of triumph as she gazed on LordRoos. Very different was the expression of the other, who seemed so muchgrieved and agitated by what she beheld, as to be almost ready to lapseinto the same condition as the Countess. 

If Lord Roos could have seen the grin upon Diego's swarthy visage, as hestood at the entrance of the passage leading to the ante-chamber, hewould have had little doubt to whom he was indebted for this surprise. 

It is needless to say that the ladies who had thus broken upon LordRoos's privacy, and obtained full confirmation of their suspicions (ifthey had any doubts remaining) were his wife and mother-in-law. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

The Tress of Hair. 

How to extricate himself from the dilemma in which he was placed, LordRoos scarcely knew. But he had a good deal of self-possession, and itdid not desert him on the present trying occasion. After suchconsideration as circumstances permitted, he could discern only onechance of escape, and though well-nigh hopeless, he resolved to adoptit. If consummate audacity could carry him through--and it was requiredin the present emergency--he had no lack of it. 

Hitherto, not a word had passed between him and the intruders on hisprivacy. Lady Lake seemed to enjoy his confusion too much to do anythingto relieve it, and his wife was obliged to regulate her movements bythose of her mother. Without breaking the silence, which by this timehad become painfully oppressive, he proceeded to deposit the stillinanimate person of the Countess of Exeter upon a couch, and, casting ahandkerchief, as if undesignedly, over her face, he marched quickly upto the spot where Diego was standing, and said to him, in a deep, determined tone, but so low as not to be overheard by the others:

"You have betrayed me, villain; and unless you obey me unhesitatingly, and corroborate all my assertions, however startling they may appear, you shall pay for your treachery with your life. "

This done, he turned towards the two ladies, and with more calmness thanmight have been expected, addressed himself to Lady Lake:

"You imagine you have made an important discovery, Madam, " he said; "adiscovery which will place me and a noble lady, whose reputation you andyour daughter seek to injure, in great perplexity. And you concludethat, being completely (as you fancy) in your power, I shall consent toany terms you and Lady Roos may propose, rather than suffer you to goforth from this chamber and reveal what you have seen in it. Is it notso, Madam?"

"Ay, my lord, " Lady Lake replied, bitterly. "You have stated the mattercorrectly enough, except in one particular. We do not _imagine_ we havemade a discovery; because we are quite sure of it. We do not _fancy_ youwill agree to our terms; because we are certain you will only too gladlyscreen yourself and the partner of your guilt from exposure anddisgrace, at any sacrifice. And allow me to observe, that the toneadopted by your lordship is neither befitting the circumstances in whichyou are placed, nor the presence in which you stand. Some sense of shamemust at least be left you--some show of respect (if nothing more) oughtto be observed towards your injured wife. Were I acting alone in thismatter, I would show you and my lady of Exeter no considerationwhatever; but I cannot resist the pleadings of my daughter; and for hersake--and _hers_ alone--I am content to suspend the blow, unless forcedto strike; in which case, nothing shall stay my hands. "

"I thank your ladyship for your clemency, " said Lord Roos, with mockhumility. 

"O, my dear lord! do not for ever close the door between us!" cried LadyRoos. "Return to me, and all shall be forgiven. "

"Peace, Elizabeth!" exclaimed Lady Lake, impatiently. "Know you not, from sad experience, that your husband is inaccessible to all gentleentreaty? His heart is steeled to pity. Solicit not that which is yourright, and which must be conceded, whether he like or not. Let him bendthe knee to you. Let him promise amendment, and implore pardon, and itwill then be for you to consider whether you will extend forgiveness tohim. "

Lady Roos looked as if she would fain interrupt her mother, but she wastoo much under her subjection to offer a remark. 

"It is time to undeceive you, Madam, " said Lord Roos, wholly unmoved bywhat was said. "I am not in the strait you suppose; and have not theslightest intention of soliciting Lady Roos's pardon, or making anypromise to her. "

"O mother! you see that even _you_ fail to move him, " said Lady Roos, tearfully. "What is to happen to me?"

"You will make me chide you, daughter, if you exhibit this weakness, "cried Lady Lake, angrily. "Let me deal with him. In spite of youraffected confidence, my lord, you cannot be blind to the position inwhich you stand. And though you yourself personally may be careless ofthe consequences of a refusal of our demands, you cannot, I conceive, beequally indifferent to the fate of the Countess of Exeter, which thatrefusal will decide. "

"I am so little indifferent to the safety of the Countess, Madam, that Icannot sufficiently rejoice that she is out of the reach of yourmalice. "

"How, my lord!" exclaimed Lady Lake, astounded at his assurance. "Out ofreach, when she is here! You cannot mean, " she added, with anundefinable expression of satisfaction, "that she is dead?"

"Dead!" ejaculated Lady Roos; "the Countess dead! I thought she was onlyin a swoon. "

"What riddle is it you would have us read, my lord?" demanded Lady Lake. 

"No riddle whatever, Madam, " replied Lord Roos. "I only mean to assertthat the person you behold upon that couch is not the Countess ofExeter. "

"Not the Countess!" exclaimed Lady Roos. "Oh, if this were possible!But no, no! I cannot be deceived. "

"I now see the reason why her face has been covered with a 'kerchief, "cried Lady Lake. "But it shall not save her from our scrutiny. "

So saying, she advanced towards the couch, with the intention ofremoving the covering, when Lord Roos barred her approach. 

"Not a step nearer, Madam, " he cried, in a peremptory tone. "I will notallow you to gratify your curiosity further. You and Lady Roos may makethe most of what you have seen; and proclaim abroad any tale yourimaginations may devise forth. You will only render yourselvesridiculous, and encounter derision in lieu of sympathy. No one willcredit your assertions, because I shall be able to prove that, at thismoment, Lady Exeter is in a different part of the palace. "

"This bold falsehood will not serve your turn, my lord. Whoever she maybe, the person on that couch shall be seized, and we shall thenascertain the truth. "

And she would have moved towards the door, if Lord Roos had not caughthold of her arm, while at the same time he drew his sword. Thinking fromhis fierce looks and menacing gestures that her mother might besacrificed to his fury, Lady Roos fell on her knees before him, imploring pity; and she continued in this supplicating posture till LadyLake angrily bade her rise. 

"You have come here without my permission, Madam, " Lord Roos criedfuriously to his mother-in-law, "and you shall not depart until Ichoose. Secure the door, Diego, and bring me the key. It is well, " hecontinued, as the injunction was obeyed. 

Lady Lake submitted without resistance to the constraint imposed uponher. She could not well do otherwise; for though her screams would havebrought aid, it might have arrived too late. And, after all, she did notintend to settle matters in this way. But she betrayed no symptoms offear, and, as we have stated, ordered her daughter to discontinue hersupplications. 

"And now, Madam, " said Lord Roos, releasing Lady Lake, as he took thekey from Diego, "I will tell you who that person is, " pointing to thecouch. 

"Add not to the number of falsehoods you have already told, my lord, "rejoined Lady Lake, contemptuously. "I am perfectly aware who she is. "

"But I would fain hear his explanation, mother, " said Lady Roos. 

"What explanation can be offered?" cried Lady Lake. "Do you doubt theevidence of your senses?"

"I know not what I doubt, or what I believe, " exclaimed Lady Roosdistractedly. 

"Then believe what I tell you, Bess, " said her husband. "This is thecountess's handmaiden, Gillian Greenford. "

"An impudent lie!" cried Lady Lake. 

"A truth, my lady, " interposed Diego. "A truth to which I am ready toswear. "

"No doubt of it, thou false knave, and double traitor! thou art worthyof thy lord. There is no lie, however absurd and improbable, which hecan invent, that thou wilt not support. Thou art ready now to perjurethyself for him; but let him place little reliance on thee, for thouwilt do the same thing for us to-morrow. "

"I scarcely think it probable, my lady, " Diego replied, bowing. 

Lady Lake turned from him in supreme disgust. 

"Admitting for a moment the possibility of your lordship's assertionbeing correct, " said Lady Roos, "how comes Gillian Greenford (for somethinks you name her) in her mistress's attire?"

"'T is easily explained, chuck, " Lord Roos rejoined. "Anxious, no doubt, to set herself off to advantage, she hath made free with the countess'swardrobe. Your own favourite attendant, Sarah Swarton, hath oftenarranged herself in your finest fardingales, kirtlets, and busk-points, as Diego will tell you. Is it not so, rascal?"

"'T is precisely as my lord hath stated, my lady, " said the Spaniard toLady Roos. "When Sarah Swarton hath been so habited, I have more thanonce mistaken her for your ladyship. "

"Yet Sarah is very unlike me, " said Lady Roos. 

"That only shows how deceptive appearances are, chuck, and how little weought to trust to them, " observed Lord Roos. 

"How can you suffer yourself to be thus duped, Elizabeth?" said LadyLake. 

"Because her ladyship would rather believe me than you, Madam, " rejoinedLord Roos. "But she is _not_ duped. "

"Heaven forgive him!" exclaimed Diego, aside. 

"And supposing it were Gillian, how would the case be mended, as far asyou are concerned, Elizabeth?" said Lady Lake. "Are you not as muchinjured by one as by the other?"

"It may be, " replied her daughter, "but I am jealous only of theCountess. I would kneel to any other woman, and thank her, who wouldtear my husband from her embraces!"

"Weak fool! I disown you, " exclaimed Lady Lake, angrily. 

"What a wife!" cried Diego, apart. "His lordship is quite unworthy ofher. Now I should appreciate such devotion. "

At this juncture there was a slight movement on the part of LadyExeter, and something like a sigh escaped her. 

"She revives!" whispered Lady Lake to her daughter. "We shall soon learnthe truth. I will find a means to make her speak. Well, my lord, " sheadded aloud, and speaking in a sarcastic tone, "if you will have it so, it is idle to dispute it. But what will the Countess say, when shediscovers your infidelity?"

On this a brisker movement took place on the couch, and a hand wasraised as if to snatch away the 'kerchief. 

"We have her, " whispered Lady Lake triumphantly to her daughter. "Surely, " she proceeded aloud, "the Countess will deeply resent thetransfer of your affections to her handmaiden. "

Lord Roos saw the peril in which he stood. A moment more and Lady Lakehad gained her point, and the Countess betrayed herself. 

"Lady Exeter will place little reliance on any representations you maymake, Madam, " he said, giving particular significance to his words, "except so far as they concern herself, and then she will take care torefute them. As to the circumstance of Gillian Greenford visiting me, fainting in my arms (from excess of timidity, poor girl!) and beingdiscovered by you and Lady Roos in that position, the Countess willlaugh at it when it comes to her knowledge--as why should she dootherwise? But she will feel very differently when she finds that youand your daughter insist that it was she herself, and not herhandmaiden, whom you beheld. Rely on it, Madam, Lady Exeter willcontradict that assertion, and disprove it. "

"Let it be disproved now. Let the person on that couch disclose herfeatures, and we shall then see whether she be the Countess or Gillian. "

"Ay, let her do that, my lord, --let her speak to us, " urged Lady Roos. 

"Diablo! how is this request to be complied with, I marvel?" said Diegoapart. 

But Lord Roos was too experienced a player to be defeated by this turnin the game. 

"Gillian has already been sufficiently annoyed, " he cried; "and shallnot submit to this ordeal. Besides, she has relapsed into insensibility, as you see. "

"She does what your lordship wills her, it is clear, " said Lady Lake, contemptuously. "We know what construction to put upon your refusal. "

"I care not what construction you put upon it, " cried Lord Roos, losingpatience. "You and Lady Roos may think what you please, and act as youplease. Enough for me, you can prove nothing. "

"Why, this is more like yourself, my lord, " retorted Lady Lake, derisively. "Having thrown aside the mask, you will be spared thenecessity of further subterfuge. The Countess, doubtless, will imitateyour example, lay aside her feigned insensibility, and defy us. She needbe under no apprehension; since she has your own warrant that we canprove nothing. "

"Your purpose, I perceive, is to irritate me, Madam, " cried Lord Roos, fiercely; "and so far you are likely to succeed, though you fail in allelse. I have no mask to throw off; but if you will have me declaremyself your enemy, I am ready to do so. Henceforth, let there be noterms kept between us--let it be open warfare. "

"Be it so, my lord. And you will soon find who will be worsted in thestruggle. "

"Oh, do not proceed to these fearful extremities, dear mother, anddearest husband!" cried Lady Roos, turning from one to the otherimploringly. "Cease these provocations, I pray of you. Be friends, andnot enemies. "

"As you please--peace or war; it is the same to me, " said Lord Roos. "Meantime, I am wearied of this scene, and must put an end to it. Diego!" And beckoning his servant to him, he whispered some directionsin his ear. 

"My lord shall be obeyed, " said Diego, as he received his commission. "Gillian shall be conveyed with all care to her chamber. "

"We must have some proof that she has been here, " thought Lady Lake. But how to obtain it? I have it. "Take these, " she added in a whisper toher daughter, and giving a pair of scissors; "and contrive, if possible, to sever a lock of her hair before she be removed. "

By a look Lady Roos promised compliance. 

While this was passing, Diego had approached the couch; and fasteningthe kerchief securely round the Countess's face, he raised her in hisarms, and moved towards the secret staircase, the tapestried covering ofwhich was held aside by Lord Roos to give him passage. 

Rapidly as the Spaniard moved, he did not outstrip Lady Roos, whosedesign being favoured by the escape from its confinement of one of theCountess's long dark tresses, she had no difficulty of possessing, herself of it in the manner prescribed by her mother. Lady Exeter wasaware of the loss she had sustained, and uttered a stifled cry; but thiswas attributed to the fright natural to the occasion by Lord Roos, whohad not noticed what had taken place, and only caused him to hurryDiego's departure. But before the latter had wholly disappeared with hisburthen, the perfumed and silken tress of hair was delivered to LadyLake, who muttered triumphantly as she received it--"This will convicther. She cannot escape us now. "

The prize was scarcely concealed when Lord Roos, sheathing the swordwhich he had hitherto held drawn, advanced towards his mother-in-law. 

"Now that the object of your disquietude is removed, Madam, it will notbe necessary to prolong this interview, " he said. 

"Have we then your lordship's permission to depart?" rejoined Lady Lake, coldly. "We are not, I presume, to avail ourselves of the private meansof exit contrived for your amorous adventures, lest we should make otherdiscoveries. "

"Your ladyship will leave by the way you entered, " rejoined Lord Roos. "I will attend you to the door--and unfasten it for you. "

"Before we go, I would have a word with my husband--it may be my last, "said Lady Roos to her mother. "I pray you withdraw a little, that we maybe alone. "

"Better not, " rejoined Lady Lake. But unable to resist her daughter'simploring looks, she added, "Well, as you will. But it is useless. "

With this she proceeded to the little passage, and remained there. 

As Lady Roos turned to her husband, she saw, from the stern andinflexible look he had assumed, that any appeal made to him would beunavailing, and she attempted none. A moment elapsed before she couldutter a word, and then it was only a murmur to heaven for guidance andsupport. 

"What say you, Elizabeth?" demanded Lord Roos, thinking she hadaddressed him. 

"I asked for support from on High, William, and it has been accorded tome, " she replied in a low sweet voice. "I can now speak to you. It isnot to weary you with supplications or reproaches that I thus detainyou. I have something to impart to you, and I am sure you will eagerlylisten to it. Come nearer, that we may not be overheard. "

Lord Roos, whose curiosity was aroused by her manner, obeyed her. 

"I am all attention, " he said. 

"I feel I am in your way, William, " she rejoined, in a deep whisper;"and that you desire my death. Nay, interrupt me not; I am sure youdesire it; and I am equally sure that the desire will be gratified, andthat you will kill me. "

"Kill you, Bess!" cried Lord Roos, startled. "How can you imagine aughtso frightful?"

"There is a power granted to those who love deeply as I do, of seeinginto the hearts of those they love, and reading their secrets. I haveread yours, William. Nay, be not alarmed. I have kept it to myselfhitherto, and will keep it to the end. You wish me dead, I say; and youshall have your wish--but not in the way you propose. Having lost yourlove, I am become indifferent to life--or, rather, life is grownintolerable to me. But though death may be a release, it must not comefrom your hand. "

"You cannot mean to destroy yourself, Elizabeth?" cried Lord Roos, appalled. 

"I mean to trouble you no longer. I mean to make the last and greatestsacrifice I can for you; and to save you from a crime--or, if you mustshare the crime, at least to screen you from punishment. Look, here!"she added, producing a small phial. "Bid me drink of this, and ereto-morrow you are free, and I am at rest. Shall I do it?"

"No--no, " rejoined Lord Roos, snatching the phial from her. "Live, Bess, live!"

"Am I to live for you, William?" she cried, with inexpressible joy. 

He made no answer, but averted his head. 

"In mercy give me back the phial, " she exclaimed, again plunged into thedepths of despair. 

"I must refuse your request, " he replied. 

"Have you done, Elizabeth?" demanded Lady Lake, coming forth from thepassage. 

"A moment more, mother, " cried Lady Roos. "One word--one look!" sheadded to her husband. 

But he neither spoke to her, nor regarded her. 

"I am ready to accompany you now, mother, " said the poor lady faintly. 

"Nerve yourself, weak-hearted girl, " said Lady Lake, in a low tone. "Revenge is ours. "

"If I could only strike her without injuring him, I should not heed, "thought Lady Roos. "But where he suffers, I must also suffer, and yetmore acutely. "

And scarcely able to support herself, she followed her mother to thedoor of the ante-chamber, which was unlocked, and thrown open for themby her husband. He did not bid her farewell!

As Lady Lake passed forth, she paused for a moment, and said--

"To-morrow, my Lord, we will ascertain whether the tress of hair we haveobtained from the fair visitant to your chamber, matches with that ofGillian Greenford or with the raven locks of the Countess of Exeter. "

And satisfied with the effect produced by this menace, she departed withher daughter, before Lord Roos could utter a reply. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

The Fountain Court. 

On the morning after the eventful passage in his life, previouslyrelated, our newly-created knight was standing, in a pensive attitude, beside the beautiful fountain, adorned with two fair statues, representing the Queen of Love and her son, heretofore described asplaced in the centre of the great quadrangle of the Palace of Theobalds. Sir Jocelyn was listening to the plashing of the sparkling jets ofwater, as they rose into the air, and fell back into the broad marblebasin, and appeared to be soothed by the pleasant sound. His breast hadbeen agitated by various and conflicting emotions. In an incrediblyshort space of time events had occurred, some of which seemed likely toinfluence the whole of his future career; while one of them, though ithad advanced him far beyond what he could have anticipated, appearedlikely to mar altogether his prospects of happiness. 

Though the difficulties, therefore, that surrounded him had beenunexpectedly overcome; though, by the exertions of the Conde deGondomar, who had followed up his first success with wonderfulpromptitude and perseverance, and had dexterously contrived, by all theinsidious arts of which lie was so perfect a master, to ingratiate hisprotegé still further with the King, without the protegé himself beingaware of the manner in which he was served; though James himselfappeared greatly pleased with him, at the banquet in the evening, towhich, owing to the skilful management of the Spanish ambassador, he wasinvited, and bestowed such marked attention upon him, that the envy andjealousy of most of the courtiers were excited by it; though he seemedon the high-road to still greater favour, and was already looked upon asa rising favourite, who might speedily supplant others above him in thisever-changing sphere, if he did not receive a check; though his presentposition was thus comparatively secure, and his prospects thusbrilliant, he felt ill at ease, and deeply dissatisfied with himself. Hecould not acquit himself of blame for the part he had played, thoughinvoluntarily, in the arrest of Hugh Calveley. It was inexpressiblypainful to him; and he felt it as a reproach from which he could notfree himself, to have risen, however unexpectedly on his own part, bythe unfortunate Puritan's fall. How could he ever face Aveline again!She must regard him with horror and detestation, as the involuntarycause of her father's destruction. A bar had been placed between them, which nothing could ever remove. And though, on the one hand, he wassuddenly exalted far beyond his hopes; yet on the other he was assuddenly cast down, and threatened to be for ever deprived of the blisshe had in view, the possession of which he coveted far more than wealthor grandeur. Additional complexity had been given to his position fromthe circumstance that, at De Gondomar's secret instance, of which, likeall the rest, he was unaware, he had been appointed as officer incustody of Hugh Calveley, until the latter, who was still detained aclose prisoner in the porter's lodge, should be removed to the Tower, orthe Fleet, as his Majesty might direct. This post he would havedeclined, had there been a possibility of doing so. Any plan he mighthave formed of aiding the prisoner's escape was thus effectuallyprevented, as he could not violate his duty; and it was probably withthis view that the wily ambassador had obtained him the appointment. Infact, he had unconsciously become little more than a puppet in the handsof the plotting Spaniard, who pulled the strings that moved him atpleasure, regardless of the consequences. What De Gondomar's ulteriordesigns were with him had not yet become manifest. 

These perplexing thoughts swept through Sir Jocelyn's breast, as hestood by the marble fountain, and listened to the sound of its fallingwaters. 

While thus occupied, he perceived two persons issue from the archedentrance fronting the gate (adjoining the porter's lodge, in which theprisoner was still detained), and make their way slowly across thequadrangle, in the direction of the cloister on its eastern side, abovewhich were apartments assigned to the Secretary of State, Sir ThomasLake. 

The foremost of the two was merely a yeoman of the guard, and would notfor a moment have attracted Sir Jocelyn's attention, if it had not beenfor a female who accompanied him, and whom he was evidently conductingto Sir Thomas Lake's rooms, as Sir Jocelyn not only saw the man pointtowards them, but heard him mention the Secretary of State's name. 

Something whispered him that this closely-hooded female, --the lower partof whose face was shrouded in a muffler, so that the eyes alone werevisible, --was Aveline. Little could be discerned of the features; butthe exquisitely-proportioned figure, so simply yet so tastefullyarrayed, could only be hers; and if he _could_ have doubted that it wasAveline, the suddenness with which her looks were averted as she beheldhim, and the quickness with which she stepped forward, so as even tooutstrip her companion--these circumstances, coupled with the violentthrobbing of his own heart, convinced him he was right. He would haveflown after her, if he had dared; would have poured forth all hispassionate feelings to her, had he been permitted; would have offeredher his life, to deal with as she pleased; but his fears restrained him, and he remained riveted to the spot, gazing after her until she enteredthe great hall on the ground floor, beneath the Secretary of State'sapartments. Why she sought Sir Thomas Lake he could easily understand. It was only from him that authority to visit her father could beobtained. 

After remaining irresolute for a few minutes, during which themagnificent structure around him faded entirely from his view like avision melting into air, and he heard no more the pleasant plashing ofthe fountain, he proceeded to the great hall near the cloister, resolvedto wait there till her return. 

CHAPTER XXV. 

Sir Thomas Lake. 

A grave-looking man, of a melancholy and severe aspect, and attired in aloose robe of black velvet, was seated alone in a chamber, the windowsof which opened upon the Fountain Court, which we have just quitted. Hewore a silken skull-cap, from beneath which a few gray hairs escaped;his brow was furrowed with innumerable wrinkles, occasioned as much bythought and care as by age; his pointed beard and moustaches were almostwhite, contrasting strikingly with his dark, jaundiced complexion, theresult of an atrabilarious temperament; his person was extremelyattenuated, and his hands thin and bony. He had once been tall, butlatterly had lost much of his height, in consequence of a curvature ofthe spine, which bowed down his head almost upon his breast, and fixedit immoveably in that position. His features were good, but, as we havestated, were stamped with melancholy, and sharpened by severity. 

This person was Sir Thomas Lake, Secretary of State. 

The table at which he sat was strewn over with official documents andpapers. He was not, however, examining any of them, but had just brokenthe seal of a private packet which he had received from his wife, whenan usher entered, and intimated that a young maiden, who was without, solicited a moment's audience. The request would have been refused, ifthe man had not gone on to say that he believed the applicant was thedaughter of the crazy Puritan, who had threatened the King's life on theprevious day. On hearing this, Sir Thomas consented to see her, and shewas admitted accordingly. 

As soon as the usher had retired, Aveline unmuffled herself, and, coldand apathetic as he was, Sir Thomas could not help being struck by hersurpassing beauty, unimpaired even by the affliction under which shelaboured; and he consequently softened in some degree the customaryasperity of his tones in addressing her. 

"Who are you, maiden, and what seek you?" he demanded, eyeing her withcuriosity. 

"I am daughter to the unfortunate Hugh Calveley, now a prisoner in thepalace, " she replied. 

"I am sorry to hear it, " rejoined Sir Thomas, resuming his habituallysevere expression; "for you are the daughter of a very heinous offender. The enormity of Hugh Calveley's crime, which is worse than parricide, deprives him of all human sympathy and compassion. In coming to me youdo not, I presume, intend to weary me with prayers for mercy; for noneis deserved, and none will be shown. For my own part, I shall not uttera word in mitigation of the dreadful sentence certain to be pronouncedupon him; nor shall I advise the slightest clemency to be shown him onthe part of his Majesty. Such an offender cannot be too severelypunished. I do not say this, " he continued, somewhat softening hisharshness, "to aggravate the distress and shame you naturally feel; butI wish to check at once any hopes you may have formed. Yet though I haveno pity for him, I have much for you, since, doubtless, you are innocentof all knowledge of your father's atrocious design--happily prevented. And I would therefore say to you, shut out all feelings for him fromyour heart. The man who raises his hand against his sovereign cuts offby the act all ties of kindred and love. Affection is changed toabhorrence; and such detestation does his horrible offence inspire, thatthose of his own blood are bound to shun him, lest he derive comfort andconsolation from their presence. Thus considered, you are no longer hisdaughter, for he has himself severed the links between you. You nolonger owe him filial duty and regard, for to such he is no moreentitled. Leave him to his fate; and, if possible, for ever obliteratehis memory from your breast. "

"You counsel what I can never perform, honourable Sir, " replied Aveline;"and were he even branded like Cain, I could not shut my heart towardshim. Nothing can make me forget that I am his daughter. That hisoffence will be dreadfully expiated, I do not doubt; but if I canalleviate his sufferings in any way, I will do so; and I will nevercease to plead for mercy for him. And O, honourable Sir! you regard hisoffence in a darker light than it deserves. You treat him as if he hadactually accomplished the direful purpose attributed to him; whereas, nothing has been proven against him beyond the possession of a weapon, which he might keep about his person for self-defence. "

"The plea you urge is futile, maiden, " rejoined Sir Thomas; "he isjudged out of his own mouth, for his own lips have avowed his criminalintention. "

"Still, it was but the intention, honourable Sir!"

"In such cases, the intention is equal to the crime--at least in theeyes of law and justice. No plea will save Hugh Calveley. Of that restassured. "

"One plea may be urged for him, which, whether it avail or not, is thetruth, and shall be made. It is painful to speak of my father as I mustnow do; but there is no help for it. Of late years he has been subjectto strange mental hallucinations, which have bordered close uponmadness, if they have not reached that terrible point. Nocturnal vigils, fastings, and prayers have affected his health. He has denied himselfsufficient rest, and has only partaken of food barely sufficient tosustain nature, and no more. The consequence has been that strangefancies have troubled his brain; that at dead of night, when alone inhis chamber, he has imagined that visions have appeared to him; thatvoices have spoken--awful voices--talking of prophecies, lamentations, and judgments, and charging him with a mighty and terrible mission. Allthese things I have heard from his own lips, and I have heard and seenmuch more, which has satisfied me that his intellects are disordered, and that he cannot be held accountable for his actions. "

"If such be the case, he should have been kept under restraint, and notsuffered to go abroad, " said Sir Thomas. "Such madmen are highlymischievous and dangerous. Much blame rests with you, maiden. "

"The whole blame is mine!" she exclaimed. "I confess my error--mycrime--and will atone for it willingly with my life, provided he bespared. If a sacrifice must be made, let me be the victim. "

"There is no sacrifice, and no victim, " returned Sir Thomas gravely, though he was not unmoved by her filial devotion. "There is an offender, and there will be justice; and justice must be satisfied. Inexorable asfate, her dread sentences cannot be averted. "

"O, honourable Sir! you may one day recall those words; for which of uscan hold himself free from offence? My father is not guilty in the eyesof Heaven; or if he be, I am equally culpable, since I ought to haveprevented the commission of the crime. O, I shall never forgive myselfthat I did not follow him when he parted from me yesterday!"

"Let me hear how that occurred, maiden?" asked Sir Thomas. 

"It chanced in this way, Sir. I have already described my father's stateof mind, and the distempered view he has been accustomed to take of allthings. Yesterday, May-day sports were held in the village of Tottenham, where we dwelt; and as such things are an abomination in his sight, hetook upon him to reprove the actors in the pastimes. They who witnessedhis conduct on that occasion would hardly hold him to be under the duecontrol of reason. Amongst the spectators was the son of an old friend, whose name having accidentally reached my father, he invited him intothe house, and a misunderstanding having arisen between them, the lattersuddenly left--dismissed almost with rudeness. On his departure, myfather was greatly disturbed--more so than I have ever seen him. Afterawhile, he withdrew to his own chamber, as was his habit, to pray, and Ihoped would become tranquillized; but the very reverse happened, forwhen he reappeared, I saw at once that a fearful change had taken placein him. His eye blazed with preternatural light, his gestures were wildand alarming, and his language full of menace and denunciation. He againspoke of his mission from Heaven, and said that its execution could nolonger be delayed. "

"This should have been a warning to you, " observed Sir Thomas, knittinghis brows. 

"It should, honourable Sir. But I did not profit by it. I knew and feltthat he was no longer under the dominion of reason--that he waslabouring under some terrible delusion that approached its crisis; but Idid not check him. I yielded passive obedience to his injunction, that Ishould depart instantly with an old servant to London; and I agreed totarry at a house, which he mentioned, till I heard from him. I had sadforebodings that I should never hear from him again--or if I _did_, thatthe tidings would be worse than none at all; but I obeyed. I could not, indeed, resist his will. I set forth with my attendant, and my fatherparted with us at the door. He placed money in my hand, and bade mefarewell! but in such a tone, and with such a look, that I felt hissenses were gone, and I would have stayed him, but it was then too late. Breaking from my embrace, he sprang upon his horse, which was readysaddled, and rode off, taking the direction of Edmonton; while I, with aheart full of distress and misgiving, pursued my way to London. Eremidnight, my sad presentiments were verified. A messenger traced me out, bringing intelligence of the direful event that had happened, andinforming me that my father was a prisoner at Theobalds. As soon as Icould procure means of reaching the palace, I set forth, and arrivedhere about an hour ago, when, failing in my efforts to obtain aninterview with my father, who is closely confined, and none suffered tocome near him save with authority from the Secretary of State, I soughtan audience of you, honourable Sir, in the hope that you would grant mepermission to see him. "

"If I do grant it, the interview must take place in the presence of theofficer to whom his custody has been committed, " replied Sir Thomas. "With this restriction, I am willing to sign an order for you. "

"Be it as you please, honourable Sir; and take my heartfelt gratitudefor the grace. "

Sir Thomas struck a small bell upon the table, and the usher appeared atthe summons. 

"Bid the officer in charge of Hugh Calveley attend me, " he said. 

The man bowed, and departed. 

Sir Thomas Lake then turned to the paper which he had just opened beforeAveline's appearance, and was soon so much engrossed by it that heseemed quite unconscious of her presence. His countenance becamegloomier and more austere as he read on, and an expression ofpain--almost a groan--escaped him. He appeared then to feel sensiblethat he had committed an indiscretion, for he laid down the paper, and, as if forcibly diverting himself from its contents, addressed Aveline. 

"What you have said respecting your father's condition of mind, " heobserved, "by no means convinces me that it is so unsound as to renderhim irresponsible for his actions. It were to put a charitableconstruction upon his conduct to say that no one but a madman could becapable of it; but there was too much consistency in what he has saidand done to admit of such an inference. But for the interposition ofanother person he owned that he would have killed the King; and thedisappointment he exhibited, and the language he used, prove such tohave been his fixed intention. His mind may have been disturbed; butwhat of that? All who meditate great crimes, it is to be hoped, are notentirely masters of themselves. Yet for that reason they are not to beexempt from punishment. He who is sane enough to conceive an act ofwickedness, to plan its execution, and to attempt to perpetrate it, although he may be in other respects of unsettled mind, is equallyamenable to the law, and ought equally to suffer for his criminalitywith him who has a wiser and sounder head upon his shoulders. "

Aveline attempted no reply, but the tears sprang to her eyes. 

At this moment the door was thrown open by the usher to admit SirJocelyn Mounchensey. 

The emotion displayed by the young couple when thus brought togetherpassed unnoticed by the Secretary of State, as he was occupied at themoment in writing the authority for Aveline, and did not raise his eyestowards them. 

"Are you the officer to whom my father's custody has been entrusted?"exclaimed Aveline, as soon as she could give utterance to her surprise. 

"Why do you ask that question, mistress?" demanded Sir Thomas, lookingup. "What can it signify to you who hath custody of your father, provided good care be taken of him? There is a Latin maxim which hisMajesty cited at the banquet last night--_Etiam aconito inestremedium_--and which may be freely rendered by our homely saying, that'It is an ill wind that bloweth nobody good luck;' and this hath provedtrue with Sir Jocelyn Mounchensey--for the gust that hath wrecked yourfather hath driven him into port, where he now rides securely in thesunshine of the King's favour. Nor is this to be wondered at, since itwas by Sir Jocelyn that his Majesty's life was preserved. "

"The King preserved by him!" exclaimed Aveline, in bewilderment. 

"Ay, marry and indeed, young mistress, " rejoined Sir Thomas. "Hearrested the fell traitor; was knighted on the spot for the service, bythe King; was invited afterwards to the grand banquet in the evening, and received with more distinction than any other guest; and he is now, as you find, entrusted with the custody of the prisoner. Thus, if yourfather has done little good to himself, he hath done much to SirJocelyn. "

Aveline could not repress an exclamation of anguish. 

"No more of this, I entreat, Sir Thomas, " cried Sir Jocelyn. 

"It is right she should hear the truth, " replied the Secretary of State. "Here is her authority for admittance to her father, " he continued, giving it to him. "It must take place in your presence, Sir Jocelyn. Andyou will pay strict attention to what they say, " he added in a low tone, "for you will have to report all that passes between them to thecouncil. Something may arise to implicate the girl herself, so letnaught escape you. Be vigilant in your office, as is needful. I mentionthis as you are new to it. If the prisoner continues obstinate, as hehath hitherto shown himself, threaten him with the torture. The rackwill certainly be applied when he reaches the Tower. I need not give youfurther instructions I think, Sir Jocelyn. Be pleased to return to mewhen the interview is over. "

Upon this, he bowed gravely, and sounded the bell for the usher. Unableto offer any remonstrance, Sir Jocelyn approached Aveline, who couldscarcely support herself, with the intention of offering her assistance;but she shrank from him, and again muffling her face, went forth, whilehe slowly followed her. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

The forged Confession. 

Some little time had elapsed since Aveline's departure on her sorrowfulerrand, and Sir Thomas Lake was still alone, and once more deeplyengrossed in the consideration of the document, which, it will berecollected, had occasioned him so much disquietude; and the feeling byno means diminished when the usher entered and announced Lady Lake. Severe and inflexible as we have described him, the Secretary of Statewas generally yielding enough towards his lady, of whom he stood ingreat awe, and whom he treated with the utmost deference; but on thisoccasion, contrary to habitude, he received her very coldly, and withoutrising motioned her to a seat beside him. Disregarding the want ofattention, which, under other circumstances, she would have resented, Lady Lake took the seat indicated without remark, and continued silenttill the usher had retired. Then turning quickly towards her husband, and fixing an inquiring look upon him, she said in a low voice--

"What think you of this document, Sir Thomas?"

"This forgery?" he rejoined in the same tone, but without raising hiseyes towards her. 

"Ay, this forgery, if you choose to call it so, " she returned. "Let mehave your opinion upon it? Is it as it should be? Are its expressionssuch as would be used by a guilty woman, like the Countess, imploringpity, and seeking to shield herself from disgrace? Do you find faultwith it? Can it be amended in any particular?"

"I find such grave fault with it, " replied the Secretary of State, stillwithout looking up, "that I would amend it by casting it into theflames. Lady Lake, it is my duty to warn you. This is a fearful crimeyou would commit, and severely punishable by the law. You may excuse itto yourself, because you have an end in view which seems to justify themeans; but the excuse will not avail you with others. You have said thatin a conflict with one so cunning and unscrupulous as our nobleson-in-law, you are compelled to fight him with his own weapons--to meettrick with trick, manoevre with manoeuvre; but take my word for it, youwould more easily defeat him by straight-forward means. Be ruled by mein this one instance. Abandon a scheme which must inevitably lead toconsequences I shudder to contemplate; and let this fabricatedconfession be destroyed. "

"Give it me, " she cried, snatching the paper from him. "You were evertimid, Sir Thomas; and if you had not lacked courage, this expedientwould not have been necessary. Odious and dangerous as it is, themeasure is forced upon me, and I shall not shrink from it. But youshall not be called upon to play any part in the transaction. I alonewill do it. I alone will be responsible for all that may ensue. "

"We shall all be responsible!" he rejoined. "You will not only ruinyourself, but all your family, if this fearful step be taken. Hithertowe have had right on our side, but henceforth we shall be more culpablethan the others. "

"I am resolved upon the course, " cried Lady Lake; "and all yourarguments--all your warnings will not dissuade me from it, so you mayspare your breath, Sir Thomas. As you see, I have omitted the charge ofwitchcraft, and have only made the Countess confess her criminality withLord Roos, and of this we have had abundant proofs; nay, we should havethem still, if those condemnatory letters of hers, which had come intoour possession, had not been stolen. That mischance necessitates thepresent measure. Having managed to deprive us of our weapons, Lord Roosthinks himself secure. But he will find his mistake when this documentis produced to confound him. "

"I tremble at the thought, " groaned the Secretary of State. 

"These fears are worse than womanish, " exclaimed his lady. "Shake themoff, and be yourself. Who is to prove that the confession proceeds notfrom the Countess? Not she herself; since no one will believe her. NotLord Roos; for he will be equally discredited. Not Diego; for histestimony would be valueless. The Countess's hand-writing has been soskilfully imitated, that the falsification cannot be detected. Compareit with this note written by herself to Lady Roos, and which, though itproves nothing, has so far answered my purpose. Compare, I say, thewriting of the confession and the signature with this note, and declareif you can discern any difference between them. As to the signatures ofLord Roos and Diego affixed to the document, they are equally wellsimulated. "

"That the forgery is skilfully executed, I do not deny, " replied theSecretary of State; "and that circumstance, though it does not lessenthe crime, may lessen the chance of detection. Since nothing I can urgewill turn you from your design, and you are determined to employ thisdangerous instrument, at least be cautious in its use. Terrify Lord Rooswith it, if you choose. Threaten to lay it before the Earl ofExeter--before the King himself--in case of our son-in-law'snon-compliance with your demands. But beware how you proceed further. Donot part with it for a moment; so that, if need be, you may destroy it. Do you heed me, my lady?"

"I do, Sir Thomas, " she replied. "Be assured I will act with duecaution. --I am glad to find you are coming round to my views, and aredisposed to countenance the measure. "

"I countenance it!" exclaimed the Secretary of State, in alarm. "No suchthing. I disapprove of it entirely, and cannot sufficiently reprehendit. But, as I well know, when you have once made up your mind, the fiendhimself cannot turn you from your purpose, I give you the best counsel Ican under the circumstances. I wash my hands of it altogether. Would toHeaven I had never been consulted upon it--never even been madeacquainted with the project. However, as you have gone so far with meyou may go a step further, and let me know what story you mean to attachto this confession? How will you feign to have obtained it?"

"The statement I shall make will be this, and it will be borne out by somany corroborative circumstances that it will be impossible tocontradict it. You observe that the document is dated on the 10th ofApril last. It is not without reason that it is so dated. On that day Iand our daughter, Lady Roos, attended by her maid, Sarah Swarton, proceeded to the Earl of Exeter's residence at Wimbledon, for thepurpose of having an interview with the Countess, and we then saw her inthe presence of Lord Roos and his servant Diego. "

"But you gained nothing by the journey?" remarked her husband. 

"Your pardon, Sir Thomas, " she rejoined; "I gained this confession. Onthe way back I reflected upon what had occurred, and I thought howflushed with triumph I should have been if, instead of meeting withdiscomfiture, I had gained my point--if I had brought the haughtyCountess to her knees--had compelled her to write out and sign a fullavowal of her guilt, coupled with supplications for forgiveness from myinjured daughter and myself--and as a refinement of revenge, had forcedLord Roos and his servant to attest by their signatures the truth of theconfession! I thought of this--and incensed that I had not done it, resolved it _should_ be done. "

"An ill resolve!" muttered her husband. 

"In Luke Hatton, our apothecary, I had the man for my purpose, " pursuedLady Lake. "Aware of his marvellous talent for imitating any writing hepleased--aware, also, that I could entirely rely upon him, I resolved tocall in his aid. "

"Imprudent woman! You have placed yourself wholly in his power, " groanedSir Thomas. "Suppose he should betray the terrible trust you havereposed in him?"

"He will not betray it, " replied Lady Lake. "He is too deeply implicatedin the matter not to keep silence for his own sake. But to proceed. Thedocument, such as you see it, was drawn out by myself and transcribed byLuke Hatton, and the writing so admirably counterfeited that LadyExeter herself may well doubt if it be not her own. Then, as to thecircumstances, they will all bear me out. We were known to have been atWimbledon on the day in question. We were known to have had an interviewwith Lady Exeter, at which Lord Roos and Diego were present. Theinterview was private, and therefore no one can tell what took place atit; but the probabilities are that what I shall assert really didoccur. "

Sir Thomas signified his assent, and she went on. 

"The plot is well contrived, and, with prudent management, cannot failof success. We have the time of the supposed occurrence--the actors init--and the scene--for I shall describe the particular room in which theinterview really did take place, and I shall further bring forward SarahSwarton, who will declare that she was concealed behind the hangings, and heard the Countess read over the confession before she signed it. "

"Another party to the affair--and a woman!" ejaculated Sir Thomas. "Thedangers of discovery are multiplied a hundredfold. "

"The danger exists only in your imagination, " said his Lady. "Come, admit, Sir Thomas, that the scheme is well contrived, and that they mustbe cunning indeed if they escape from the meshes I have woven for them. "

"You have displayed ingenuity enough, I am free to own, if it had beendirected to a better end; but in the best contrived scheme some flaw isever found, which is sure to mar it. "

"You can detect no flaw in this I am persuaded, Sir Thomas. If you can, let me know it?"

"Nay, it is only when too late that such things are found out. Thesupposed armour of proof is then found wanting at some vital point. However, I will say no more, " he observed, perceiving her impatience. "What is done cannot be undone. Have you prepared our daughter? Will sheconsent to aid you?"

"She will, " replied Lady Lake. "I had some difficulty with her at first, but I found means to overrule her scruples, and she consented at last toact as I desired, provided all other means failed of accomplishing theobject in view. And they _have_ failed since we have lost those letters, for though I have one other proof left which might perhaps be adduced, Ido not attach much importance to it. "

"What is it?" inquired Sir Thomas, quickly. 

"You shall know anon, " she answered. "Suffice it, I have done all Icould to avoid having recourse to the present measure; and havedelayed--its execution to the last moment. "

"But that proof of which you were speaking?" cried Sir Thomas. "Let mehear it? Perhaps it may obviate the necessity of this dangerousproceeding?"

"I do not think so. But you shall judge. Last night, our daughter andmyself obtained secret admittance to Lord Roos's chamber, and we foundthe Countess there, and fainting in his arms. "

"Why that is enough to convict them. You want nothing more. "

"Hear me to an end, and you will change your opinion. Placing theinanimate Countess on a couch, and covering her face with ahandkerchief, Lord Roos had the effrontery to assert that we weremistaken; insisting that it was not Lady Exeter we beheld--but herhand-maiden, Gillian Greenford; and he appealed to the perfidious knave, Diego, in confirmation of his assertion. "

"But you did not leave without satisfying yourselves of the truth?"demanded Sir Thomas. 

"His lordship took care we should have no means of doing so, " sheanswered. "He caused Diego to convey her away by a secret staircase. "

"'Sdeath! that was unlucky. You have no proof then that it was theCountess you beheld?"

"Nothing beyond a lock of her hair, which was secured by Lady Roos asthe man was removing her. "

"That may be enough, " cried the Secretary of State; "and prevent thenecessity of resorting to this frightful expedient. We must see thegirl, and interrogate her. Gillian Greenford you say she is called. Sheshall be brought hither at once. "

"It is possible she may be without, " returned Lady Lake. "Before I camehere, I summoned her in your name. "

"We will see, " cried Sir Thomas, striking upon the bell. And the usher, appearing to the summons, informed him that in effect the damsel inquestion was in attendance. "She seems much alarmed, Sir Thomas, " saidthe usher, "and has with her a young man, who appears to take a tenderinterest in her, and wishes to be present at the investigation. "

"Let him come in with her, " said the Secretary of State. And seeing theusher pause, he inquired if he had anything further to say. 

"His Excellency the Spanish Ambassador and my Lord Roos are without, anddesire admittance, " replied the man. 

Sir Thomas consulted his lady by a look; and as she made no objection, he signified his pleasure that they should be admitted, and accordinglythe door was thrown open for the entrance of all the persons mentioned. 

Gillian came first, and seemed much embarrassed by the situation inwhich she found herself. She had been well tutored for the part she hadto play; but the instructions she had received entirely fled from hermind as she found herself in the presence of two such awful personagesas Sir Thomas Lake and his lady, both of whom fixed keen glances uponher. Feeling ready to drop with fright, she looked at Dick Taverner, asif imploring his support. But this Dick declined to afford. His jealousyhaving been roused by what he had heard, he determined to be governed inhis conduct towards her by the result of the investigation. Accordingly, though it cost him an effort, he held back. As the Conde de Gondomarappeared, Sir Thomas Lake arose, and made him a profound salutation, which was returned with equal ceremony by the Spanish Ambassador. Thelatter, however, did not take a seat, but remained standing with LordRoos, whose presence was acknowledged by a cold and distant bow from hisfather-in-law. The young nobleman did not appear in the slightest degreedisconcerted by the reception he met with, or apprehensive of the resultof the investigation. He jested apart with De Gondomar; and both he andthe Spanish Ambassador appeared greatly amused by Gillian'sembarrassment. Behind him stood his servant Diego. 

"You are handmaiden to the Countess of Exeter, I presume?" demanded LadyLake of the damsel. 

"I am, my lady, " she answered. 

"The girl does not look as if the imputations cast upon her charactercan be true, " observed Sir Thomas Lake. 

As this was said, poor Gillian became suffused with blushes, and hungher head. 

"Before I put any further questions to her, " remarked Lady Lake, "Iwill ask Lord Roos if he still persists in affirming that it was thisdamsel who visited him last night?"

Dick Taverner looked as if his fate depended upon the response the youngnobleman might make to the inquiry. 

"I must decline to answer your ladyship's question, " returned Lord Roos. 

"Why cannot he speak out?" muttered Dick. "This uncertainty is worsethan anything. "

"What says the damsel herself, " observed Sir Thomas Lake. "Does sheadmit the charge?"

"You cannot expect her to do that, Sir Thomas, " interposed Lord Roos. 

"I expect her to answer my question, " rejoined the Secretary of State, sharply. "Were you in Lord Roos's room last night?" he added, toGillian. 

"Oh, dear! I am ready to faint, " she exclaimed. "Catch me, Dick--catchme!"

"Answer 'yes' or 'no, ' or I won't, " he rejoined. 

"Well, then, 'yes!' if I must say something, " she replied. 

Poor Dick fell back, as if struck by a shot. 

"I don't believe it, " cried Sir Thomas. 

"Nor I either, " said Dick, recovering himself. "I don't believe shecould do such a wicked thing. Besides, it was the foreign ambassador, there, " he added, pointing to De Gondomar, "who seemed most enamouredof her yesterday; and I shouldn't have been so much surprised if she hadgone to see him. Perhaps she did, " he continued, addressing the poordamsel, who again hung her head. 

"I can take upon me to affirm that such was not the case, " observed DeGondomar. 

"Have you the lock of hair with you?" whispered Sir Thomas to his lady. 

"I have, " she replied, taking a small packet from her bosom. 

The movement did not pass unnoticed by Lord Roos and the SpanishAmbassador, between whom an almost imperceptible smile passed. 

"If you have put all the interrogations you desire to make to Gillian, Madam, " said Lord Roos to his mother-in-law, "perhaps she may bepermitted to depart? The situation cannot be agreeable to her. "

"A moment more, my lord, " cried Lady Lake. "If I detain her it is toclear her character. I know her to be perfectly innocent. "

At this announcement, Dick Taverner's countenance brightened, and heextended his arms towards Gillian, who gladly availed herself of hissupport. 

"I am quite sure she was not the person I surprised in your chamber lastnight, " continued Lady Lake. 

"Indeed, Madam! How do you arrive at that conviction?"

"Because that person's hair was jet black, whereas Gillian's, as wesee, is of the exactly opposite colour. "

Dick Taverner could not help pressing his lips against the back of thepretty damsel's neck as this was uttered. 

"Your proof of this, Madam?" demanded Lord Roos. 

"Behold it!" she cried. "This look of hair was cut off before yourvisitant escaped, and has remained in my possession ever since. Ha! howis this?" she exclaimed, as she unfolded the packet, and disclosed atress of fair hair, evidently matching Gillian's lint-white locks. "Whattransformation has taken place! Witchcraft has been practised. This isthe Countess's work. "

"The minion must have been there, after all, " cried Dick Taverner, thrusting Gillian from him. 

"The charge of witchcraft will not serve your turn, Madam, " said LordRoos derisively. "The explanation is simple. Your eyes have deceivedyou. "

"Most palpably, " cried the Conde de Gondomar, who had caught Gillian inhis arms, as the jealous apprentice cast her from him. "I am afraid herladyship cannot see very clearly. "

"I see clearly enough that a trick has been practised upon me, " LadyLake rejoined sharply. "But let Lord Roos look to himself. I will havemy revenge, and a terrible one it shall be. "

"Do not commit yourself, " said Sir Thomas in a low tone. 

"Your business here is at an end, fair maiden, " said the Conde deGondomar to Gillian; "and as your lover abandons you, I am ready to takecharge of you. "

So saying he led her forth, followed by Lord Roos, whose smile oftriumph exasperated his mother-in-law almost beyond endurance. 

For a moment Dick Tayerner remained irresolute; but his mistress had nosooner disappeared, than he rushed after her, vowing he would have herback if it cost him his life. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

The Puritan's Prison. 

Hugh Calveley, it has already been intimated, was lodged in a vaultbeneath the gateway. The place was commonly used as a sort of black-holefor the imprisonment of any refractory member of the royal household, orsoldier on guard guilty of neglect of duty. Circular in shape, itcontained a large pillar, to which iron rings and chains were attached. The walls were of stone, the roof arched with ribs springing from thepillar that supported it, and the floor was paved. Window there wasnone; but air was admitted through a small grated aperture in the roof;and thus imperfectly ventilated, it will not be wondered at that thevault should be damp. Moisture constantly trickled down the walls, andcollected in pools on the broken pavement; but unwholesome as it was, and altogether unfit for occupation, it was deemed good enough for thosegenerally thrust into it, and far too good for its present tenant. 

As the prisoner exhibited no violence, the thongs with which his handswere bound were removed on his entrance to the vault, and he was allowedthe free use of his limbs. The breast-plate in which he was clad wastaken from him, and his vesture was again closely searched, but nofurther discovery was made either of concealed weapon, or of any paperor letter tending to show that he had accomplices in his dread design. The only thing found upon him, indeed, was a small Bible, and this, after it had been examined, he was permitted to retain. To theinterrogatories put to him by Master Dendy, the serjeant-at-arms, hereturned the briefest answers; and when he had said as much as hethought fit, he obstinately refused to make further reply. 

Incensed at his perversity, and determined to extort a full confession, in order that it might be laid before the King, the serjeant-at-armsordered the manacles to be applied. But though the torture wasexquisite, he bore it with firmness, and without uttering a groan;maintaining the same determined silence as before. Had he dared, MasterDendy would have had recourse to severer measures; but having no warrantfor any such proceeding, he was obliged to content himself with threats. To these Hugh Calveley replied by a grim smile of contempt; but as theserjeant-at-arms was departing to make his report to Sir Thomas Lake, hesaid, "I have something to disclose; but it is for the King's earalone. "

"Better reveal it to me, " rejoined Dendy, halting. "I have it in mypower to render your situation far more tolerable, or to inflictgreater torment upon you. Make your choice. "

"Deal with me as you please, " returned Hugh Calveley sternly. "What Ihave to say is to the King, and to the King only; and though you breakevery bone in my body with your engines, and tear off my flesh withred-hot pincers, you shall not force the secret from me. "

Master Dendy looked at him, and felt disposed to place him in thedreadful instrument of torture called Skeffington's irons, which washanging against the wall; but the consideration that had hithertorestrained him--namely, that he was without authority for the step, andmight be called to account for it--weighed with him still; wherefore hecontented himself with ordering the prisoner to be chained to thepillar; and having seen the injunction obeyed, he left him. 

In this miserable plight Hugh Calveley remained for some hours, withoutlight and without food. How the time was passed none knew; but the twoyeomen of the guard who entered the vault found him on his kneesabsorbed in prayer. They brought a lamp with them, and refreshments of abetter kind than those usually afforded to a prisoner, and set thembefore him. But he refused to partake of them. The only favour hebesought was permission to read his Bible; and the lamp placed withinreach, he was soon deeply engrossed in the perusal of those pages fromwhich, when earnestly sought, consolation has ever been derived underthe most trying circumstances. 

Sir Jocelyn had forborne to visit the prisoner from a fear that hispresence might be painful; but the office imposed upon him by the Kingleft him no alternative; and about midnight he descended to the vault, to ascertain from personal inspection that Hugh Calveley was in safecustody. The door was unlocked by the halberdier stationed at it, andthe young man found himself alone with the prisoner. He wasinexpressibly shocked by the spectacle he beheld, as he had no idea howseverely the unfortunate Puritan had been treated, nor of the sort ofprison in which he was confined. 

Hugh Calveley, who was still intently reading the Bible, which he hadplaced upon his knee while he held the lamp near it, to throw the lightupon its leaves, did not appear to be disturbed by the opening of thedoor, nor did he raise his eyes. But, at last, a deep groan issuing fromthe breast of the young man aroused him, and he held up the lamp toascertain who was near. On discovering that it was Sir Jocelyn, heknitted his brow, and, after sternly regarding him for a moment, returned to his Bible, without uttering a word; but finding the othermaintained his post, he demanded, almost fiercely, why he was disturbed?

"Can I do aught for your relief?" rejoined the young man. "At least, Ican have those chains taken off. "

"Thou speakest as one in authority, " cried Hugh Calveley, regardinghim, fixedly. "Art thou appointed to be my jailer?"

Sir Jocelyn made no answer, but averted his head. 

"This only was wanting to fill up the measure of my scorn for thee, "pursued the Puritan. "Thou art worthy of thine office. But show me nofavour, for I will receive none at thy hands. I would rather wear thesefetters to my death, however much they may gall my limbs, than have themstruck off by thee. I would rather rot in this dungeon--ay, though itwere worse than it is--than owe my liberation to thee. The sole favourthou canst show me is to rid me of thy presence, which is hateful to me, and chases holy thoughts from my breast, putting evil in their place. "

"Why should this be so, O friend of my father?" exclaimed Sir Jocelyn. "And why should my presence be hateful to you? There is no man livingwhom I would less willingly offend than yourself; and in all I havedone, where you have been concerned, I have had no free agency. Judge menot then too harshly. I commiserate your situation from the depths of myheart, and would relieve it were it possible. "

"Then wherefore persist in troubling me?" rejoined Hugh Calveley. "HaveI not good cause for my dislike of you? You have disappointed theexpectations I had formed of you. You failed me when I put yourprofessions to the test. You thwarted my design at the moment when itssuccess was certain, and when the tyrant was completely in my power. Butfor you I should not be here, loaded with these fetters; or if I were, Ishould be consoled by the thought that I had liberated my country fromoppression, instead of being crushed by the sense of failure. What seekyou from me, miserable time-server? Have you not had your reward for theservice you have rendered the King? Is he not grateful enough? I haveserved as your stepping-stone to promotion. What more can I do?"

"You can cease to do me injustice, " returned Sir Jocelyn. "Honours, procured as mine have been, are valueless, and I would rather be withoutthem. I sought them not. They have been forced upon me. Look at thematter fairly, and you will see that all these consequences, whether forgood or ill, have sprung from your own desperate act. "

"It may be so, " rejoined the Puritan. "I will not dispute it. But thoughill has accrued to me, and good to you, I would not change positionswith you. You will wear the tyrant's fetters for ever. I shall soon befree from mine. "

"Have you nothing to say concerning your daughter?" demanded the youngman. 

"Nothing, " replied the Puritan, with an expression of deep pain, which, however, he checked by a mighty effort. "I have done with the world, anddesire not to be brought back to it. "

"And you refuse to be freed from your chains?"

"My sole desire, as I have said, is to be freed from you. "

"That wish, at least, shall be granted, " replied Sir Jocelyn, as, with asad heart, he departed. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

The Secret. 

Thrice was the guard relieved during that long night, and as often wasthe prisoner visited. On the first occasion, he was found to be stillengaged with his Bible, and he so continued during the whole time theman remained in the vault. 

The next who came discovered him on his knees, praying loudly andfervently, and, unwilling to disturb him, left him at his devotions. 

But the third who entered was struck with terror at the prisoner'sappearance. He had risen from the ground, and was standing as erect asthe fetters would permit, with his hands outstretched, and his eyesfixed on vacancy. He was muttering something, but his words wereunintelligible. He looked like one who beheld a vision; and thisimpression was produced upon the man, who half expected some awful shapeto reveal itself to him. But whatever it might be, spirit of good orill, it was visible to the Puritan alone. 

After gazing at him for some minutes, in mixed wonderment and fright, the halberdier ventured to draw near him. As he touched him, the Puritanuttered a fearful cry, and attempted to spring forward, as if to graspsome vanishing object, but being checked in the effort by the chain, hefell heavily to the ground, and seemed to sustain severe injury; forwhen the man raised him, and set him against the pillar, though he madeno complaint, it was evident he suffered excruciating pain. Thehalberdier poured out a cup of wine, and offered it to him; but, thoughwell-nigh fainting, he peremptorily refused it. 

From this moment a marked change was perceptible in his looks. The hueof his skin became cadaverous; his eyes grew dim and glassy; and hisrespiration was difficult. Everything betokened that his sufferingswould be speedily over, and that, however he might deserve it, HughCalveley would be spared the disgrace of death by the hands of theexecutioner. The halberdier was not unaware of his condition, and hisfirst impulse was to summon assistance; but he was deterred from doingso by the earnest entreaty of the Puritan to be left alone; and thinkingthis the most merciful course he could pursue under the circumstances, he yielded to the request, scarcely expecting to behold him alive again. 

It was by this same man that the door of the vault was opened to SirJocelyn and Aveline. 

The shock experienced by the maiden at the sight of her father hadwell-nigh overcome her. She thought him dead, and such was Sir Jocelyn'sfirst impression. The unfortunate Puritan was still propped against thepillar, as the halberdier had left him, but his head had fallen to oneside, and his arms hung listlessly down. With a piercing shriek hisdaughter flew towards him, and kneeling beside him, raised his headgently, and gazing eagerly into his face, perceived that he still lived, though the spirit seemed ready to wing its flight from its fleshlytabernacle. 

The situation was one to call forth every latent energy in Aveline'scharacter. Controlling her emotion, she uttered no further cry, but setherself, with calmness, to apply such restoratives as were at hand toher father. After bathing his temples and chafing his hands, she had thesatisfaction, ere long, of seeing him open his eyes. At first, he seemedto have a difficulty in fixing his gaze upon her, but her voice reachedhis ears, and the feeble pressure of his hand told that he knew her. 

The power of speech returned to him at length, and he faintly murmured, "My child, I am glad to see you once more. I thought all was over; butit has pleased Heaven to spare me for a few moments to give you myblessing. Bow down your head, O my daughter, and take it; and thoughgiven by a sinner like myself, it shall profit you! May the mercifulGod, who pardoneth all that repent, even at the last hour, and watchethover the orphan, bless you, and protect you!"

"Amen!" exclaimed Jocelyn, fervently. 

"Who was it spoke?" demanded the Puritan. And as no answer was returned, he repeated the inquiry. 

"It was I--Jocelyn Mounchensey, the son of your old friend, " replied theyoung man. 

"Come nigh to me, Jocelyn, " said the dying man. "I have done you wrong, and entreat your pardon. "

"O, talk not thus!" cried Jocelyn, springing towards him. "I havenothing to forgive, but much to be forgiven. "

"You have a noble heart, Jocelyn, " rejoined Hugh Calveley; "and in thatrespect resemble your father. In his name, I conjure you to listen tome. You will not refuse my dying request. I have a sacred trust tocommit to you. "

"Name it!" cried the young man; "and rest assured it shall befulfilled. "

"Give me some wine, " gasped the Puritan, faintly. "My strength isfailing fast, and it may revive me. "

And with, great effort he swallowed a few drops from the cup filled forhim by Jocelyn. Still, his appearance was so alarming, that the youngman could not help urging him not to delay. 

"I understand, " replied Hugh Calveley, slightly pressing his hand. "Youthink I have no time to lose; and you are right. My child, then, is thetrust I would confide to you. Son, behold thy sister! Daughter, beholdthy brother!"

"I will be more than a brother to her, " cried Sir Jocelyn, earnestly. 

"More thou canst not be, " rejoined Hugh Calveley; "unless--"

"Unless what?" demanded Sir Jocelyn. 

"I cannot explain, " cried the Puritan, with an expression of agony;"there is not time. Suffice it, she is already promised in marriage. "

"Father!" exclaimed Aveline, in surprise, and with something ofreproach. "I never heard of such an engagement before. It has been madewithout my consent. "

"I charge you to fulfil it, nevertheless, my child, if it be required, "said Hugh Calveley, solemnly. "Promise me this, or I shall not diecontent. Speak! Let me hear you. "

And she reluctantly gave the required promise. 

Sir Jocelyn uttered an exclamation of anguish. 

"What afflicts you, my son?" demanded the Puritan. 

"To whom have you promised your daughter in marriage?" inquired theyoung man. "You have constituted me her brother, and I am thereforeentitled to inquire. "

"You will learn when the demand is made, " said the Puritan. "You willthen know why I have given the promise, and the nature of the obligationimposed upon my daughter to fulfil it. "

"But is this obligation ever to remain binding?" demanded Sir Jocelyn. 

"If the claim be not made within a year after my death, she isdischarged from it, " replied Hugh Calveley. 

"O, thanks, father, thanks!" exclaimed Aveline. 

At this moment the door of the vault was thrown open, and two personsentered, the foremost of whom Sir Jocelyn instantly recognised as theKing. The other was his Majesty's physician, Doctor Mayerne Turquet. Aglance sufficed to explain to the latter the state of the Puritan. 

"Ah! parbleu! the man is dying, your Majesty, " he exclaimed. 

"Deeing! is he?" cried James. "The mair reason he suld tell his secret, to us without procrastination. Harkye, prophet of ill!" he continued, ashe strode forward. "The judgment of Heaven ye predicated for us, seemsto have fallen on your ainsell, and to have laid you low, even afore ourarm could touch you. Ye have gude reason to be thankful you have escapedthe woodie; sae e'en make a clean breast of it, confess your enormities, and reveal to us the secret matter whilk we are tauld ye hae tocommunicate!"

"Let all else withdraw a few paces, " said Hugh Calveley, "and do thou, OKing, approach me. What I have to say is for thine ear alone. "

"There will be no danger in granting his request?" inquired James ofhis physician. 

"None whatever, " replied Doctor Mayerne Turquet. "The only danger is indelay. Your Majesty should lose no time. The man is passing rapidlyaway. A few moments more, and he will have ceased to exist. "

On a sign from the King, Sir Jocelyn then stepped aside, but Avelinerefused to quit her father, even for a moment. 

As James drew near, Hugh Calveley raised himself a little in order toaddress him. "I say unto thee, O King, " he cried, "as Elijah said untoAhab, 'Because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of theLord--behold! I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thyposterity. And I will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam theson of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for theprovocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel tosin. '"

"Now the muckle Diel seize thee, villain!" exclaimed James furiously. "Is it to listen to thy texts that thou hast brought me hither?" And asHugh Calveley, exhausted by the effort he had made, fell back with agroan, he bent his head towards him, crying, "The secret, man, thesecret! or the tormenter shall wring it from thee?"

The Puritan essayed to speak, but his voice was so low that it did notreach the ears of the King. 

"What sayest thou?" he demanded. "Speak louder. Saul of our body!" heexclaimed, after a moment's pause, during which the sudden alterationthat took place in the prisoner's features made him suspect that all wasover. "Our belief is he will never speak again. He hath escaped us, andta'en his secret wi' him. "

A loud shriek burst from Aveline, as she fell upon her father's lifelessbody. 

"Let us forth, " cried the King, stopping his ears. "We carena to bepresent at scenes like this. We hae had a gude riddance o' this traitor, though we wad hae gladly heard what he had to tell. Sir JocelynMounchensey, ye will see that this young woman be cared for; and when yehave caused her to be removed elsewhere, follow us to the tennis-court, to which we shall incontinently adjourn. "

So saying, he quitted the vault with his physician. 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

Luke Hatton. 

Feigning sudden indisposition (and the excuse was not altogether withoutfoundation), the Countess of Exeter quitted Theobalds Palace on the dayafter her unlucky visit to Lord Roos's chamber, and proceeded to herhusband's residence at Wimbledon, where she was speedily joined by herlover, who brought her word of the advantage he had gained over theirfoe. 

"I have fairly checkmated my gracious mother-in-law, " he cried, with alaugh; "and it would have diverted you as much as it did me and DeGondomar, who was present on the occasion, if you could have witnessedher rage and mortification, when she discovered the change that had beeneffected; and that in place of your magnificent black ringlet (which Inow wear next my heart, and shall ever keep as a love-token), she hadonly a sorry specimen of your hand-maiden's lint-white locks. As I live, it was truly laughable. The good lady would have annihilated me if shecould; and threatened me with terrible reprisals. At first, she tried toattribute the transformation, which she could not otherwise account for, to witchcraft; and though I derided the charge, I must needs say, thetrick was so cleverly performed, that it _did_ look like magic. Thepacket containing the tress of hair had never been out of her ownkeeping. This she affirmed; and it was true. But there was a friendlyhand to open it nevertheless; to purloin its priceless treasure; and tosubstitute something of a similar kind, though of comparatively littlevalue in its place. That hand, --one not likely to be suspected, was noother than that of my lady's confidential attendant, Sarah Swarton. Thejuggle was played by her at the instance of Diego. Anticipating somesuch occurrence as the present, and desirous of having a spy upon themovements of our enemies, I some time since directed Diego to pay secretcourt to Sarah, and my forethought has now been rewarded. The maindifficulty lay with poor Gillian. She was greatly embarrassed by hersituation; and her perplexity was increased by the presence of a jealouslover in the shape of an apprentice, who refused to leave her till hisdoubts should be satisfied. This was awkward, as the story could not bevery well reconciled so as to suit all parties. Accordingly, when thediscovery was made, which seemed to proclaim the poor girl's infidelity, the youth's rage and consternation were nearly equal to Lady Lake's; acircumstance that added considerable zest to the comedy. But I see itdoes not divert you so much as I expected, and therefore, to relieveyour mind, I may tell you that the jealous varlet soon repented of hisrash determination, and pursuing his mistress, whom Do Gondomar hadconsiderately taken under his protection, prevailed upon her to give theamorous ambassador the slip, and return with him to her father's abodeat Tottenham. "

"I am right glad to hear it, " said the Countess. "Though I have seen solittle of Gillian, I cannot help taking an interest in her; she is sopretty, and so innocent in appearance, and her manners are so artlessand engaging. I owe her some reparation for the mischief I have doneher, and will not neglect to make it. I am sorry I ever was induced byyou to take her into my service; and I am thankful to hear she hasescaped De Gondomar's snares. "

"You are wonderfully interested about her, methinks, Frances; and I hopeshe will be grateful for your consideration, " rejoined Lord Roos, with alaugh. "But I should not be surprised if De Gondomar still gained hispoint. It is not his way to give up a pursuit he has once undertaken. However, to leave the pretty damsel to her fate, which will dependentirely on her own conduct, let us return to ourselves. We have goodreason to be satisfied with the issue of this adventure of the lock ofhair. Nevertheless, that recurrence to the charge of witchcraft on thepart of my vindictive mother-in-law shows the extent of her malice, andI cannot doubt that in threatening me with reprisals she will be as goodas her word. It behoves us, therefore, to be beforehand with her. Whatshe may intend I cannot say, but I am satisfied she has a formidablescheme on foot, and that nothing but her husband's interpositionprevented its disclosure when she was so violently incensed against me. "

"You fill me with terror, William, " exclaimed the Countess. "Will thiswoman's hostility towards me never cease?"

"Never, " replied Lord Roos, with a sudden change of manner, and layingaside the levity he had hitherto exhibited. "There is but one way ofending the struggle. Luke Hatton can help us to it. Persuaded we shouldrequire him, I have brought him with me. He waits in the hall below withDiego. Shall I summon him to our conference?"

"On no account, " exclaimed Lady Exeter hastily; "I will not see him. Youhave done wrong to bring that poisoner here, my lord. You will destroyme. "

"Listen to me, Frances, " replied Lord Roos. "The next step taken by LadyLake will be fatal to us. There must be no delay, no irresolution on ourpart, or all is lost. I cannot depend upon myself, or I would not callin another's aid. You will comprehend how wanting in firmness I am, whenI tell you what happened the other night. Incredible as it may sound, mywife, in order to prove her devotion to me and to free me from furtherannoyance on her part, offered to take poison; and but for myinterference (fool that I was to stay her!) would have drained thephial containing the deadly potion. The weakness was momentary, and Ireproached myself for it when too late. But it convinced me that afirmer hand than mine must be employed in the task. "

"And can you, after what you have related, William, --can you seriouslymeditate the destruction of a fond woman, who has generosity enough tolay down her life for you? This is more incredible than the rest--moremonstrously wicked. "

"Wicked it may be; but the excuse--if I have any--lies in myoverwhelming passion for you, Frances, " replied Lord Roos in a frenziedtone. "And it seems decided by the relentless destiny that governs me, that the continued indulgence of the fatal passion shall only bepurchased at the price of my soul. That penalty I am prepared to payrather than lose you. I will become obdurate, will turn my heart tostone, so that it shall no more melt at the tears of this fond, foolishwoman; and I will slay her without remorse. Any other obstacle betweenus shall be removed;--be it her mother, her father--your husband! I willimmolate a hundred victims at the altar of our love. I will shrink fromnothing to make you mine for ever. For I would rather share eternal balewith you, Frances, than immortal bliss with another. "

"You almost make me fancy some evil being has obtained possession ofyou, William, " said the Countess, gazing at him with affright. 

"It may be that the Fiend himself hath accepted my wild offer, " herejoined gloomily; "but if my wish be granted it matters not. "

"I will not listen to such fearful impiety, " said the Countess, shuddering. "Let us dismiss this subject for the present, and recur toit when you are calmer. "

"It cannot be postponed, Frances. Time presses, and even now Lady Lakemay have got the start of us. I shall be calm enough when this is over. Will you consent to see Luke Hatton?"

"Why need I see him?" inquired the Countess with increasing uneasiness. "Why will you force his hateful presence upon me? If the deed must bedone, why can you not alone undertake it?"

"I will tell why I cannot, " he replied in a sombre tone, and regardingher fixedly. "I must have a partner in the crime. It will bind us toeach other in links not to be severed. I shall have no fear of losingyou then, Countess. I go to bring Luke Hatton to you. "

And without waiting for her reply he strode out of the room. Lady Exeterwould have arrested him, but she had not the nerve to do so, and with anexclamation of anguish she fell back in her chair. 

"What dominion sin has usurped over me!" she mentally ejaculated. "Ihave lost the power of resisting its further encroachment. I see theenormity of the offence I am about to commit, and though my soul revoltsat it, I cannot hold back. I am as one on the brink of a precipice, whobeholds the dreadful gulf before him, into which another step mustplunge him, yet is too giddy to retreat, and must needs fall over. Pityme, kind Heaven! I am utterly helpless without thy aid. "

While the unhappy lady thus unavailingly deplored the sad position inwhich her own misconduct had placed her, and from which she felt whollyincapable of extricating herself; while in this wretched frame of mind, she awaited her lover's return, --with, as we have shown, some remains ofgood struggling with the evil in her bosom, --we will cast a hasty glanceround the chamber in which she sat. And we are prompted to do this, notbecause it merits particular description, but because it was the roomreferred to by Lady Lake as the scene of the confession she had forged. 

The apartment, then, was spacious and handsomely furnished in the heavytaste of the period, with but little to distinguish it from other roomsvisited by us in the course of this story. Like most of them, it had agloomy air, caused by the dark hue of its oaken panels, and the heavyfolds of its antiquated and faded tapestry. The latter was chiefly hungagainst the lower end of the chamber, and served as a screen to one ofthe doors. At the opposite end, there was a wide and deep bay window, glowing with stained glass, amid the emblazonry of which might bediscerned the proud escutcheon of the house of Exeter, with the twolions rampant forming its supporters. On the right of the enormouscarved mantel-piece, which, with its pillars, statues, 'scutcheons, andmassive cornice, mounted to the very ceiling, was hung a portrait of theEarl of Exeter--a grave, dignified personage, clad in the attire ofElizabeth's time; and on the left, was a likeness of the Countessherself, painted in all the pride of her unequalled beauty, andmarvellous in resemblance then; but how different in expression from herfeatures now!

In the recess of the window stood an oak table, covered with a piece ofrich carpet fringed with gold, on which a massive silver inkstand andmaterials for writing were placed; and this table was seized upon byLady Lake as a feature in her plot. Here she would have it theconfession was signed by the Countess. 

Another point in reference to this scheme must not be passed unnoticed. We have mentioned the heavy hangings at the lower end of the room. According to the plotter, it was behind these that Sarah Swarton--theintended witness of the imaginary scene--was concealed. The principalsubjects represented on the arras were the Judgment of Solomon, and theTemptation of our first Parents in the Garden by the Serpent. Thehangings had evidently not been removed for years, and did not reachwithin two feet of the ground--a circumstance that had escaped theattention of Lady Lake--proving the truth of her husband's observation, that in the best contrived plot some imperfection will exist certain tooperate in its detection. 

To return to the unhappy Countess. So lost was she in reflection, thatshe did not remark Lord Roos's return till made aware of it by a slighttouch on the shoulder. When she raised her eyes, they fell upon anobject that inspired her with the dread and aversion that a noxiousreptile might have produced. She had never seen Luke Hatton before; andif she had figured him to her mind at all, it was not as anythingagreeable; but she was not prepared for so hideous and revolting apersonage as he appeared to be. His face was like an ugly mask, on whicha sardonic grin was stamped. His features were large and gaunt, and hehad the long, hooked nose, and the sharp-pointed bestial ears of asatyr, with leering eyes--betokening at once sensuality and cunning. Hehad the chin and beard of a goat, and crisply-curled hair of a paleyellow colour. With all this, there was something sordid in his looks aswell as his attire, which showed that to his other vices he added thatof avarice. A mock humility, belied by the changeless sneer upon hiscountenance, distinguished his deportment. It could be seen at oncethat, however cringing he might be, he despised the person he addressed. Moreover, in spite of all his efforts to control it, there was somethingsarcastic in his speech. His doublet and hose, both of which had enduredsome service, and were well-nigh threadbare, were tawny-coloured; and hewore a short yellow cloak, a great ruff of the same colour, and carrieda brown steeple-crowned hat in his hand. 

"I await your ladyship's commands, " said Luke Hatton, bowingobsequiously. 

"I have none to give you, " Lady Exeter rejoined with irrepressibledisgust. "I have not sent for you. Go hence. "

Not at all abashed by this reception, Luke Hatton maintained his place, and threw an inquiring glance at Lord Roos. 

"My dear Countess, " said the young nobleman, seating himself negligentlyupon a tabouret beside her, "I must pray you not to dismiss this worthyman so hastily. You will find him eminently serviceable; and as to histrustworthiness, I have the best reasons for feeling satisfied of it, because I hold in my hand a noose, which, whenever I please, I cantighten round his neck. Of this he is quite aware, and therefore hewill serve us faithfully, as well from fear as from gratitude. "

"Her ladyship may place entire confidence in me, " remarked Luke Hatton, with a grin. "This is not the first affair of the kind in which I havebeen engaged. I have prepared potions and powders which Mistress Turner(with whose reputation your ladyship must needs be acquainted) used tovend to her customers. My draughts have removed many a troublesomehusband, and silenced many a jealous wife. I have helped many an heir tothe speedy enjoyment of an inheritance, which, but for my assistance, would not have come to him for years. The lover with a rival in his way, who has come to me, has soon been freed from all anxiety on that score. The courtier, eager for a post which a superior held, has gained it bymy aid. Yet none of those whom I have thus benefited have beensuspected. Your ladyship, I repeat, need have no fears of me--and noscruples with me. State your wishes, and they shall be implicitlyobeyed. "

"I have no wish, except to be relieved of a presence which isdisagreeable to me, " replied the Countess. 

Again Luke Hatton consulted Lord Roos with a regard. 

"I find I must act for her ladyship, " said the young nobleman. "You willtake, therefore, the instructions I shall give you, as proceeding fromher. What two names do you find upon that paper?"

"Those of your lordship's wife and mother-in-law, " returned Luke Hatton. 

"You comprehend what her ladyship would have done with those persons?"said Lord Roos, looking at him steadfastly. 

"Perfectly, " replied Luke Hatton. 

"O, do not give this fatal order, my Lord!" cried Lady Exeter, trembling. 

"How many days do you require to effect their removal?" demanded LordRoos, without appearing to notice her remark. 

"I do not require many hours, " replied Luke Hatton; "but it will be wellnot to be too precipitate. Neither must they die at the same time. Allprecaution shall be taken. The names are placed in a particular order. Is it so the Countess would have them taken? In that case I mustcommence with Lady Roos. "

"Wretch! dost thou dare to make such an appeal to me?" cried Lady Exeterrising. "Begone, instantly, I say. Thou hast no order whatever from me;or if thou fanciest so, I revoke it. "

"The order cannot be revoked, " cried Lord Roos, grasping her arm. "Thisis not a time for hesitation or repentance. Having commenced the work, you must go through with it--whether you will or not. "

"Whether I will or not!" exclaimed Lady Exeter, regarding him withangry surprise. "Have I heard you aright, my Lord? Am I to be forcedinto association in this foul deed? Have I sunk so low in your esteemthat you venture to treat me thus?"

"Pardon me, Frances--pardon me!" he cried, imploringly. "I have saidmore than I intended. If I appear to exercise undue influence over younow, you will forgive me hereafter, because the situation is one thatrequires decision, and that quality I possess in a higher degree thanyourself. Luke Hatton must obey the orders given him. And you mustsanction them. "

"Never!" she exclaimed, emphatically. 

"Then we part for ever, " cried Lord Roos. "No matter what the pang maybe--nor what befals me--I will go. Farewell for ever, Countess!"

"Stay!" she cried. "We must not part thus. "

"Then you consent?" he exclaimed. "Luke Hatton receives his orders fromyou?"

"Ask me not that question!" she cried, with a shudder. 

"If her ladyship will but sign this, " said Luke Hatton, holding towardsher the paper on which the names were written, "it will suffice for me. "

"You hear what he says, Frances. You will do it?" cried Lord Roos. "'Tisbut a few strokes of a pen. "

"Those few strokes will cost me my soul, " she rejoined. "But if it musthe so, it must. Give me the pen. "

And as Lord Roos complied, she signed the paper. 

"Nov you may go, " said Lord Roos to Luke Hatton, who received the paperwith a diabolical grin. "You may count upon your reward. "

"In a week's time, my lord, " said Luke Hatton, still grinning, andshifting his glance from the half-fainting Countess to the youngnobleman; "in a week's time" he repeated, "you will have to put onmourning for your wife--and in a month for your mother-in-law. "

And with a cringing bow, and moving with a soft cat-like footstep, hequitted the room, leaving the guilty pair alone together. 

END OF VOL. I.