The Tower of London: A Historical Romance, IllustratedAinsworth, William Harrison
General
The Tower of London: A Historical Romance, Illustrated
Ainsworth, William Harrison
Grey, Jane, Lady, 1537-1554 -- Fiction; London (England) -- Fiction; Tower of London (London, England) -- Fiction
To this Jane assented. But it was evident from her manner she had but
slight hopes.
At an early hour the lord mayor, the aldermen, and all the civic
authorities who had been summoned, arrived. Cranmer and Ridley came
soon after. The Council were then summoned, and by ten o’clock all were
assembled, excepting the Earls of Pembroke and Arundel, Simon Renard,
and De Noailles. As soon as Jane was seated beneath the state canopy,
she ordered a pursuivant to summon them. Proclamation being made, a stir
was heard at the lower end of the council-chamber, and the absentees
presented themselves. All four advanced boldly towards the throne, and
took their place among the Council. Jane then arose, and with great
dignity and self-possession thus-addressed the assemblage:—
“My lords,” she said, “I have summoned you it may be for the last
time, to deliberate on the course to be pursued to check the formidable
tumults and rebellions that have been moved against me and my crown.
Of that crown I cannot doubt I have lawful possession, since it was
tendered me by your lordships, who have all sworn allegiance to me.
Fully confiding, therefore, in your steadiness to my service, which
neither with honour, safety, nor duty, you can now forsake, I look to
you for support in this emergency.”
Here a murmur arose among the Council.
“What!” exclaimed Jane: “do you desert me at the hour of need? Do you
refuse me your counsel and assistance?”
“We do,” replied several voices.
“Traitors!” exclaimed Lord Guilford Dudley: “you have passed your own
sentence.”
“Not so, my lord,” replied Simon Renard. “It is you who have condemned
yourself. Lady Jane Dudley,” he continued in a loud voice, “you who have
wrongfully usurped the title and station of queen,—in your presence I
proclaim Mary, sister to the late king Edward the Sixth, and daughter
of Henry the Eighth of famous memory, Queen of England and Ireland, and
very owner of the crown, government, and title of England and Ireland,
and all things thereunto belonging.”
“God save Queen Mary!” cried the Council.
A few dissentient voices were raised. But the Earl of Pembroke drew
his sword, and cried in a loud voice, “As heaven shall help me, I will
strike that man dead who refuses to shout for Queen Mary.” And he threw
his cap in the air.
“Hear me,” continued Renard, “and learn that resistance is in vain. I
hereby proclaim a free pardon, in Queen Mary’s name, to all who shall
freely acknowledge her,—excepting always the family of the Duke of
Northumberland, who is a traitor, and upon whose head a price is set. I
require your Grace,” he added to Suffolk, “to deliver up the keys of the
Tower.”
“They are here,” replied the Duke, pointing to Magog who bore them.
“Do you yield, my lord?” cried Lord Guilford, passionately.
“It is useless to contend further,” replied Suffolk. “All is lost.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account