The Tower of London: A Historical Romance, IllustratedAinsworth, William Harrison
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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
“I will leave you, dear lady,” replied Gunnora—“but though absent from
you, I will not fail to watch over you. I have powerful friends within
the Tower, and if any ill be designed you, I will give you timely
warning. Farewell!”
A miserable and anxious day was passed by Jane and her husband. Lord
Guilford would fain have departed with Chol-mondeley to join his
father at Cambridge, but suffered himself to be dissuaded from the rash
undertaking, by the tears and entreaties of his consort. As to Cicely
and her lover, their sympathies were so strongly excited for the
distresses of Jane, that the happiness they would otherwise have
experienced in each other’s society, was wholly destroyed. At night,
as the little party were assembled, Gunnora Braose again made her
appearance, and her countenance bespoke that some new danger was at
hand.
“What ill tidings do you bring?” cried Dudley, starting to his feet.
“Fly!” exclaimed Gunnora. “You have not a moment to lose. Simon Renard
has discovered your retreat, and Lord Clinton, with a body of men, is
hastening hither to convey you to the Tower. Fly!”
“Whither?” exclaimed Lord Guilford. “Whither shall we fly?”
“It is useless, my dear lord,” replied Jane, calmly, “to contend
further. I resign myself to the hands of Providence, and I counsel you
to do the same.”
“Come then with me, Cholmondeley,” cried Dudley, snatching up his cloak,
and girding on his sword, “we will to horse at once, and join my father
at Cambridge. If he has a handful of men left we can yet make a gallant
defence.”
“The Duke is arrested, and on his way to the Tower,” said Gunnora.
“Ha!” exclaimed Dudley, “when did this occur?”
“Yesterday,” replied the old woman. “He was taken within his chamber by
my grandson, Gilbert Pot, who has received a hundred pounds in lands,
and the degree of an esquire, for the deed. He submitted himself to the
Earl of Arundel, and his deportment was as abject as it formerly was
arrogant. When he saw the Earl, he fell on his knees, and desired him to
have pity on him for the love of God. ‘Consider.’ he said, ‘I have done
nothing but by the order of you and the whole Council.’ Then the Earl
of Arundel replied, ‘I am sent hither by the Queen’s majesty, and in
her name I arrest you.’ ‘And I obey it, my lord.’ answered the Duke. ‘I
beseech you use mercy towards me, knowing the case as it is.’ ‘My lord,’
rejoined the Earl, ‘you should have sought mercy sooner. I must do
according to my commandment. You are my prisoner!’ And he committed him
in charge to my grandson and others of the guard.”
“How learnt you this?” inquired Lord Guilford.
“From a messenger who has just arrived at the Tower,” replied the old
woman—“and this is the last act of the great Duke of Northumberland. We
shall soon see how he comports himself on the scaffold.”
“Begone,” cried Jane, “and do not stay here to deride our misery.”.
“I am not come hither to deride it,” replied the old woman, “but to warn
you.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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