"All this provision I had before left in the Tower. The poor guards,
whom my slight liberality the day before had endeared me to, let me
go quietly out with my company, and were not so strictly on the
watch as they usually had been; and the more so, as they were
persuaded, from what I had told them the day before, that the
prisoners would obtain their pardon. I made Mrs. Mills take off her
own hood, and put on that which I had brought for her. I then took
her by the hand and led her out of my lord's chamber; and in passing
through the next room, in which were several people, with all the
concern imaginable I said, 'My dear Mrs. Catherine, go in all haste,
and send me my waiting-maid; she certainly cannot reflect how late
it is. I am to present my petition to-night, and if I let slip this
opportunity I am undone, for to-morrow is too late. Hasten her as
much as possible, for I shall be on thorns till she comes.'
Everybody in the room, who were chiefly the guards' wives and
daughters, seemed to compassionate me exceedingly, and the sentinel
officiously opened me the door. When I had seen her safe out, I
returned to my lord and finished dressing him. I had taken care that
Mrs. Mills did not go out crying, as she came in, that my lord might
better pass for the lady who came in crying and afflicted; and the
more so, as he had the same dress that she wore. When I had almost
finished dressing my lord in all my petticoats except one, I
perceived it was growing dark, and was afraid that the light of the
candles might betray us, so I resolved to set off. I went out
leading him by the hand, whilst he held his handkerchief to his
eyes. I spoke to him in the most piteous and afflicted tone,
bewailing bitterly the negligence of Evans, who had ruined me by her
delay. Then I said, 'My dear Mrs. Betty, for the love of God, run
quickly and bring her with you; you know my lodging, and if you ever
made dispatch in your life, do it at present: I am almost distracted
with this disappointment.' The guards opened the door, and I went
down stairs with him, still conjuring him to make all possible
dispatch. As soon as he had cleared the door I made him walk before
me, for fear the sentinel should take notice of his walk, but I
continued to press him to make all the dispatch he possibly could.
At the bottom of the stairs I met my dear Evans, into whose hands I
confided him. I had before engaged Mr. Mills to be in readiness
before the Tower to conduct him to some place of safety, in case we
succeeded. He looked upon the affair as so very improbable to
succeed, that his astonishment, when he saw us, threw him into such
a consternation that he was almost out of himself; which Evans
perceiving, with the greatest presence of mind, without telling him
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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