Three days afterwards, Derrick Carver, upon whom the Cardinal1’s goodness had operated like a sovereign cordial, giving him new life and energy, announced that he was strong enough to avail himself of the permission he had received, and, accordingly, the door of his cell was unlocked by Mallet2, who accompanied him to the palace gates, and there let him go, never expecting, as he frankly3 avowed4, to behold5 him again.
“It may be well to follow him and see what he is about,” observed Rodomont, who was standing6 by.
“Nay, his Eminence7 has strictly8 forbidden that,” said Mallet. “The man is to be left to his own devices. If he come back, I shall esteem9 him a greater fool than heretic.”
“Tut, he will return,” said Rodomont. “His Eminence understands him better than you do.”
“Well, we shall see,” rejoined the other.
On that very day, it chanced that Bishop10 Bonner came to Lambeth Palace, and proceeding11 straightway to the Lollards’ Tower, inquired for the prisoner. On learning that he had been allowed to go forth12, he flew into a violent passion, and declared he would have the keeper punished for his gross breach13 of duty. Mallet excused himself, and referred the infuriated bishop to the Cardinal, but Bonner could not obtain an audience till his rage had had time to subside14. Pole listened to his complaints and then replied, calmly,—
256“It is true, I have let the man go on his promise to return in the evening.”
“But what is the promise of such a false knave15 worth?” cried Bonner, contemptuously. “He will infallibly break it.”
“I do not think so,” rejoined the Cardinal. “But tarry with me till eventide, and you will see.”
Bonner agreed, dined with the Cardinal in the banqueting-hall, and, as there were many other important guests that day, he made merry, and thought no more about the prisoner. While he was sitting, however, with his host and Priuli, Rodomont Bittern entered, and, bowing to the Cardinal said,—
“Your Eminence desired to be informed when Derrick Carver came back. As the clock struck five, he returned to his cell.”
Pole smiled, and, turning to the Bishop, observed,—
“I was right in my judgment16 of him, you perceive.”
“I cannot deny it,” replied Bonner. “Nevertheless, I would advise your Eminence to recall your permission. Most assuredly he will do much mischief17 out of doors.”
“If it turn out so, he shall be kept within his cell,” rejoined Pole.
Shortly after this, Bonner took leave of the Cardinal, but, before quitting the palace, he satisfied himself, by personal inspection18, that Carver was safe in his cell. He found him, as usual, reading the Bible, and, if he had dared, would have vented19 his rage upon him by causing him to be tied to the whipping-post in the chamber20 beneath and scourged21.
“I will have him burnt as soon as possible,” he observed to Mallet. “It is monstrous22 that such a vile23 wretch24 should be treated with so much leniency25. And what of the Cardinal’s other cade-lamb, Mistress Constance Tyrrell? Has she been brought back from her apostacy?”
“I cannot say, in sooth, my lord,” replied Mallet. “But I incline to think not, seeing she doth not attend mass.”
“Not attend mass! Then she is still defiled26 by heresy27,” cried Bonner. “We will have her at Smithfield in spite of the Cardinal.” And with this amiable28 resolve he departed.
Next morning Carver went forth again, returning punctually at five o’clock in the evening, and he pursued the 257same course for nearly a week, rather anticipating his time than staying beyond it. One evening, however, he did not appear as usual. Three hours more went by, and still he came not, and then Mallet thought it right to acquaint the Cardinal with his prolonged absence. The information caused Pole to look grave.
“Something must have happened to him,” he said. “I do not believe he would have stayed away of his own accord, still less do I deem he has any design of evasion29. Send Rodomont Bittern to me.”
On Rodomont’s arrival, the Cardinal ordered him to make immediate30 inquiries31 after the prisoner, and to take any persons with him who might aid in the quest.
“My own opinion is that the man has fallen into a snare32.” Pole said. “But I leave it to your shrewdness to discover what has become of him.”
“In obedience33 to your Eminence’s injunctions, his movements have not been watched,” replied Rodomont, “so that we have no clue to guide us. Nevertheless, I will essay to find him.”
“About the business forthwith, and with a good heart,” said the Cardinal. “You are quick-witted, and your penetration34 will put you on the right track.”
Taking with him his lieutenants35, Jack36 Holiday and Nick Simnel, Rodomont set out on his mission. Revolving37 what the Cardinal had said while dismissing him, he came to the conclusion that he should get on the right track by going to Bonner, who, he suspected, had a strong motive38 for keeping the prisoner out of the way.
Accordingly, he entered the Cardinal’s barge39 with his friends, bidding the oarsmen row them with all possible dispatch to the stairs at Paul’s chain, where, landing, they made the best of their way to the palace of the Bishop of London—a large edifice40, which then stood on the north-west side of the cathedral.
From the porter at the palace gate they ascertained41 that Bonner was attending vespers in Saint Paul’s, where they could speak with him on the conclusion of the service. Rodomont then inquired from the porter whether any heretics had been arrested that day. The man replied that several had been taken at a conventicle in Foster-lane, and 258that the chief sacramentary, who had been holding forth to the others, was detained in a strong-room in the gate till the lord bishop should decide what was to be done with him.
Rodomont then explained to the porter that he was an officer in Cardinal Pole’s household, and with his companions was in search of an heretical prisoner named Derrick Carver, and this perchance might be he.
“Marry, ’tis the very man,” replied the porter.
Whereupon, he unlocked the door of the strong-room, and showed them Carver within it, seated on a bench, with his hands tied behind his back with cords. Rodomont would fain have carried him off at once, but this the porter would not permit, saying they must tarry till the bishop returned from Saint Paul’s.
Half an hour elapsed before Bonner made his appearance, and when he found Rodomont and his comrades there he was exceedingly wroth, and refused to give up the prisoner.
“The knave was taken at a conventicle in Foster-Lane,” he said, “where he was preaching heretical doctrines42, praying against her Majesty43, and giving the communion according to the prohibited book of service. I greatly marvel44 that the Cardinal should allow such a pestilent wretch to go forth to spread contagion45 abroad. Depart now, and tell his Eminence that I will bring back the man to him to-morrow. He is safe here, as ye can bear witness.”
“Our orders are to bring him back wherever we may find him,” rejoined Rodomont, “and those we must obey.”
“What!” cried Bonner. “Will ye take him from me by force?”
“We trust your lordship will not drive us to that extremity,” replied Rodomont. “We claim this man as the Lord Cardinal’s prisoner, and we require your lordship to deliver him up to us. If you resist, the fault will rest with you.”
“E’en take him, then,” rejoined Bonner furiously. “But ye may rest assured I will not be robbed of my prey46. He is a preacher of heresy and sedition47, a blasphemer and traitor48, and I will burn him in spite of the Cardinal. It shall go hard if I burn not Mistress Constance Tyrrell at the same time.”
259Rodomont and his comrades stayed to hear no more, but carried off the prisoner, and placing him in the barge, conveyed him to Lambeth Palace. On arriving there they took him at once before the Cardinal, and Rodomont explained what had occurred.
“Your Eminence will perceive that I was forcibly detained,” said Carver. “Had it not been so, I should have returned at the appointed hour.”
“I sent you not forth to propagate heresy and sedition,” said Pole, severely49. “You have broken the compact between us, and abused my confidence. You can go forth no more.”
Carver bowed his head in submission50, and was taken to his cell in the Lollards’ tower.
End of the Third Book.
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1
cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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mallet
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| n.槌棒 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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4
avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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5
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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6
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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7
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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9
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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10
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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11
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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12
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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13
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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14
subside
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| vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降 | |
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15
knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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16
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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17
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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18
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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19
vented
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| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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21
scourged
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| 鞭打( scourge的过去式和过去分词 )； 惩罚，压迫 | |
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22
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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23
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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24
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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25
leniency
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| n.宽大（不严厉） | |
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26
defiled
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| v.玷污( defile的过去式和过去分词 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
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27
heresy
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| n.异端邪说；异教 | |
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28
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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29
evasion
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| n.逃避，偷漏(税) | |
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30
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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31
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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32
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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33
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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34
penetration
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| n.穿透，穿人，渗透 | |
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35
lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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36
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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37
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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38
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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39
barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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40
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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41
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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43
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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44
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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45
contagion
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| n.(通过接触的疾病)传染；蔓延 | |
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46
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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47
sedition
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| n.煽动叛乱 | |
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48
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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49
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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50
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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