The attempt made by the conspirators1 to cause a general rising proved completely abortive2. Stafford and his party received some accessions to their numbers as they marched along, but before they reached Charing3 Cross they were attacked and dispersed4 by a troop of mounted arquebusiers, who issued from Whitehall. Several persons were arrested, among whom were the two officers of the Princess Elizabeth’s household, Peckham and Werne, but the ringleaders managed to escape. Next day, Stafford, Dudley, Kingston, Udal, Osbert Clinton, and the rest of the party, were publicly proclaimed as outlaws5, rebels, traitors6, and disturbers of the peace, and a large reward offered for their capture.
Nothing, however, was said about the French ambassador. Only to Gardiner did Philip avow7 that he had been secretly present with Father de Castro at the meeting in the crypt, and the Chancellor8 counselled him not to allow this circumstance to transpire9 publicly, as they had proof enough against the conspirators without it; above all, Gardiner was 330opposed to any proceedings10 being taken against De Noailles. Thus the wily ambassador escaped with impunity11 as on previous occasions. A strict watch, however, was kept upon his movements.
It was confidently anticipated, both by the King and Gardiner, that before many days all the chief conspirators would be arrested, but in this expectation they were disappointed. No traces of any of them could be discovered. Some doubts were entertained as to the fate of Osbert Clinton. Two persons were shot in the boat in which he escaped from Lambeth, and their bodies thrown into the Thames, and it was thought he was one of them; but this was by no means clear.
While the search for the leaders of the outbreak was thus being actively12, though unsuccessfully, prosecuted13, Peckham and Werne were taken to the Tower and put to the torture, in order to compel them to accuse the Princess Elizabeth of complicity in the affair, but nothing could be wrung14 from them, and, with twenty other luckless personages who had been captured at the same time, they were hanged, drawn15, and quartered, and their heads set upon the north gateway16 of London Bridge.
Meanwhile, the religious persecution17 continued with unabated rigour. Bishop18 Hooper, with two others, had undergone martyrdom at different places, and six more prisoners, excommunicated by Bonner, and delivered over to the civil power, were about to perish in the same manner.
Conscious of the odium attaching to these sanguinary measures, Gardiner prudently19 resigned his post at the ecclesiastical tribunal to Bonner, who thenceforward acted as supreme20 judge, and was undeterred by scruples21 of any sort.
A momentary22 check was, however, given to his severity from an unexpected quarter. From the various manifestations23 made towards him by the Protestant party, and from other circumstances, Philip could not fail to perceive that if he took any further part in these barbarous proceedings, he should raise up a host of determined24 enemies, so he caused Father Alfonso to preach publicly, before him and the court, a sermon strongly condemnatory25 of religious persecution. The plan completely answered the King’s expectations, it being felt that such a sermon could not have been preached 331without his sanction, and it was argued, therefore, that he must disapprove26 of the course pursued by Bonner.
The effect of this remarkable27 discourse28—remarkable, indeed, as emanating29 from one who had been designated “The Scourge30 of Heresy”—was to stay the bitter persecution for a while, but, though momentarily checked, it revived with a greater fury than before. The six unfortunate persons excommunicated by Bonner were consigned31 to the flames, and urged to greater activity by the Marquis of Winchester, and other members of the council, the zealous32 prelate looked out for fresh victims.
Bonner had long burned to wreak33 his vengeance34 upon Derrick Carver, and was at last able to gratify his desire. Having procured35 a warrant from the Queen for the deliverance up to him of the prisoner, who was still confined in the Lollards’ Tower, he immediately acted upon it. Before he was taken away, Carver, by permission of the Cardinal36, was allowed to bid farewell to Constance Tyrrell. The interview took place in the Post Room in the Lollards’ Tower, and in order that there might be no check upon their freedom of discourse, they were left alone together.
“Daughter,” said Carver, who appeared more subdued37 than usual, “I am about to win the crown of martyrdom for which I have so long striven, and to inscribe38 my name upon that scroll39 which shall hereafter be a guide to our Church. In quitting you for a while, I expect you to remain stedfast in the faith. Be not shaken by the arguments of the Cardinal, who, though a good man, has been brought up in superstition40 and idolatry, and cannot free himself from the errors of his creed41.”
“Have no fear for me,” replied Constance. “I shall soon follow in the same path you are about to tread.”
“Heaven forbid!” exclaimed Carver, with an irrepressible shudder42. “Oh! Constance, while alone in my cell, I have communed with myself, sounding my breast to its depths, and weighing every thought and action, and I reproach myself that I have led you too far. I have kindled43 a holy fervour in your breast like that which animates44 my own, and which incites45 you to bear witness to your faith by death.”
“True. But surely you should rejoice that you have kindled such a flame,” she rejoined.
332“No; I would quench46 it,” he cried. “Seek not martyrdom. Rush not upon fiery47 torments48—but live—live a godly life.”
“These words are strange from you, who have so often painted the glories of martyrdom to me, and urged me to share them with you.”
“I repent49 that I did so,” he rejoined. “Were you to suffer with me, your torments would afflict50 me a thousand times more than my own. ’Twere terrible that a frame so fair as yours should be consumed by fire. It must not be. You are young and beautiful. You love, and are beloved. Live and be happy. Live for Osbert Clinton.”
“Alas!” exclaimed Constance, “I know not if Osbert still lives. It is thought he perished on that fatal night when he came here to liberate51 us. He has not been heard of since. But if he lives, it is as a proscribed52 rebel, with a price set on his head, and if he be taken, his doom53 is certain. I have nothing left but to die.”
“No, you must live,” said Carver, solemnly. “Osbert Clinton is not dead. He did not perish on that disastrous54 night, as you suppose. I have seen and spoken with him at the window of my cell, which he reached as he did when you, dear daughter, were its occupant. He and his friends are not disheartened by the ill success of their enterprise. It was rash and precipitate55, and failed in consequence. But they are planning another insurrection, and I pray Heaven to crown it with success, since it has for its aim the restoration of our religion and the downfall of Philip!”
“I rejoice to hear that Osbert still lives,” said Constance; “but I fear these plots will eventually conduct him to the scaffold.”
“If he should so perish, then seek for a martyr’s crown, if you will,” said Carver; “but while he lives, live for him. Something tells me you will yet be united.”
“I dare not hope so,” she rejoined.
“If my last prayers will avail to ensure your happiness, you shall have them,” said Carver. “And now we must part. Once more I exhort56 you to continue stedfast in the faith. But be not influenced by the desire of vain-glory, which, perchance, may be my own besetting57 sin. And now receive my blessing58!”
333And as she bent59 before him, he spread his arms over her head, and pronounced a solemn benediction60.
There was then a deep silence, broken only by Constance’s sobs61.
“Weep not, dear daughter,” he said. “Our parting ought to be joyous62 rather than sad, seeing that my trials are well-nigh over, and I am about to reap my reward. Farewell!” he added, taking her hand, and pressing his lips to it. “Forget not what I have said to you.”
“Fear me not!” she rejoined, sinking upon a bench. “Farewell!”
Carver cast a compassionate63 look at her, and then striding resolutely64 towards the door, he called out that he was ready, whereupon Mallet65 instantly appeared.
Without hazarding another glance at Constance, he then quitted the chamber66, and was taken by Mallet to the gate, where he was delivered to the officers sent for him by Bonner.
A barge67 awaited him, and in this conveyance68 he was taken to Paul’s Wharf69. Thence he was escorted to the consistory at Saint Paul’s, where Bonner was sitting in judgment70 with the Lord Mayor, the sheriffs, and several members of the council.
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1
conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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abortive
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| adj.不成功的，发育不全的 | |
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charing
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| n.炭化v.把…烧成炭，把…烧焦( char的现在分词 )；烧成炭，烧焦；做杂役女佣 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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6
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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avow
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| v.承认，公开宣称 | |
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chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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transpire
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| v.(使)蒸发，(使)排出 ；泄露，公开 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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prosecuted
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| a.被起诉的 | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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condemnatory
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| adj. 非难的，处罚的 | |
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disapprove
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| v.不赞成，不同意，不批准 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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emanating
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| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的现在分词 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
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30
scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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31
consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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32
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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33
wreak
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| v.发泄；报复 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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35
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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36
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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37
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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38
inscribe
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| v.刻；雕；题写；牢记 | |
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scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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40
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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41
creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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42
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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43
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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44
animates
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| v.使有生气( animate的第三人称单数 )；驱动；使栩栩如生地动作；赋予…以生命 | |
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45
incites
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的第三人称单数 ) | |
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46
quench
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| vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制 | |
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47
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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48
torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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49
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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50
afflict
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| vt.使身体或精神受痛苦，折磨 | |
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51
liberate
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| v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由 | |
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52
proscribed
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| v.正式宣布（某事物）有危险或被禁止( proscribe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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54
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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55
precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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56
exhort
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| v.规劝，告诫 | |
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57
besetting
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| adj.不断攻击的v.困扰( beset的现在分词 )；不断围攻；镶；嵌 | |
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58
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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59
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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60
benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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61
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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62
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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63
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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64
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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65
mallet
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| n.槌棒 | |
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66
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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68
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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69
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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