Robin Tremayne Part 40

"But how earnest thou safe?" asked Isoult.

"'Is any thing too hard for the Lord?'" she answered, in her soft, measured voice. "There were more prisoners than Sheriff's men, and not enough rope to tie us all together; so they marched some of the women last, and untied. And while we went through a dark alley, I took mine opportunity to slip aside into a doorway, the door standing open, and there lay I hidden for some hours; and in the midst of the night, ere dawn brake, I crept thence, and gat me to the house of my friend Mistress Little, that I knew would be stirring, by reason that her son was sick: and I rapping on her door and calling to her, she knew my voice, and let me within. So there I abode till the gate was opened; and then coming home, Mrs Thekla saw me from her window, and opened to me, not many minutes since."

"I thank G.o.d, that saved thee!" cried Isoult. "Now, Esther, is there any likelihood of Robin escaping likewise?"

"Yes," she said quietly, "if it shall be good in the eyes of the Blessed to work a miracle to that end."

"But no otherwise?" wailed Isoult.

"Not, I think, with aught less," answered she. "They tied him and Mr Rose together, and marched them first, the Sheriff himself guarding them."

Even in this agony there was cause for thankfulness. Mrs Holland was not there, nor Mr Underhill and his wife, nor Mr Ive and Helen, nor Mr Ferris.

When the evening came, Isoult went up to Mrs Rose. She found her, as Thekla said, _awake_ now, and bemoaning herself bitterly. Yet the deepest part of her anguish seemed to be that she was left behind. She flung her arms around her friend's neck, weeping aloud, and spoke to her in French (which, or Spanish, she used when her heart was moved), calling her "_Isoude, chere soeur_" and besought her to call her Marguerite.

"I am so alone now," she sobbed; "it should make me to feel as though I had yet a sister."

There was no change in Thekla, nor any tears from her. The next day, the Lord sent them comfort, in the person of Austin Bernher, who came straight from his good work, and told them that he had seen all the prisoners. Mr Rose, they heard with heavy hearts, was in the Tower; a sure omen that he was accounted a prisoner of importance, and he was the less likely to be released. Robin was in the Marshalsea: both sent from the Clink, where they were detained at first. Austin spoke somewhat hopefully of Robin, the only charge against him being that brought against all the prisoners, namely, absence from ma.s.s and confession, and presence at the service on New Year's night; yet he did not hide his conviction that it would have been better for them all had that service been any other than the Lord's Supper. Isoult asked Austin if he had any hope of Mr Rose.

"None whatever, as touching this life," was his terrible answer.

Both sent a message by Austin.

"Robin's was,--'Tell my father and mother, Austin, that I am, it may be, less troubled than they; for I am ready to serve G.o.d in what way He will have me; and if this be the way, why, I will walk therein with a light heart and glad. That it hath pleased Him to exalt me to this calling, with all mine heart and soul, friend, I thank G.o.d! I can go unto the stake as I would to my bridal; and be a.s.sured of an happier and blesseder meeting therefor hereafter. Kiss the dear childre for me, and tell them G.o.d hath given me some physic that I need, after the which He promiseth me somewhat very sweet.'"

"And none other message, Tremayne?" said Austin, when he paused. "Ay,"

resumed he, "one other. 'Ye now therefore have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.'" Austin did not ask him to whom he should give this; but he showed how well he knew, by waiting till Thekla was present before he gave it.

Afterwards, he told them Mr Rose's words. "Brethren, the Devil hath so great wrath, that he must needs know he hath but a short time. Yet for the elect's sake the days shall be shortened. The trouble shall be very quickly over, and the joy shall be eternal. Our way may be rough; yet shall it not be painful, for we go to G.o.d. Jesus Christ hath wrought for us everlasting righteousness; He now waiteth to see of the travail of His soul and to be satisfied. He died for us, with the fearful weight of the wrath of G.o.d upon Him; we die for Him, with the sweet and certain hope of eternal life."

So much was for all the Gospellers; but there were added a few special words for those at the Lamb.

"I ask not Avery and his wife to have a care of my beloved ones," said he, "for I well know they will. Say only from me to those beloved, that the time is very short, and the glory of G.o.d is very near. There shall be no persecution, no death, no parting, in the presence of the Master, whereunto I go. Bid them come to me; I only pa.s.s on a few moments before them. We shall meet at Home."

"G.o.d bless Austin Bernher! He is a Barnabas unto us all--the very son of consolation." So wrote Isoult in her diary--and well she might.

During the progress of the Marian persecution, no man was more blessed by the victims and mourners than Austin.

Austin came again, four days later, with yet further bad news. Bishop Bonner had sent his sumner to lay hands upon Mr Holland's shop and goods, and Mrs Holland had suffered some ill usage, because she could not, or would not, tell where her husband was gone. They had not, however, apprehended her; and for Mr Holland, who was expected to return to London that week, Austin was on the look-out.

"Isoult," said her husband to her that night, "when this befell, I was about to tell thee that methought I had now laid up a sufficiency of money for our returning to Bradmond. What sayest thou?"

"O Jack! how can we?" cried Isoult. "Could we leave Robin in prison?

and could we either forsake Mrs Rose and Thekla in their extremity, or carry them with us into Cornwall? But what is thine own thought?"

"Truly, dear heart," he answered, "my thought is that the Lord hath spoken to us reasonable plain, and hath said, 'Tarry where ye are until I bring you word again.'"

"Yes," said she after a pause; "I think we must."

"And take for thy comfort, sweeting," said he tenderly, "one word that hath been much laid upon mine heart of late: 'I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is.' G.o.d's letters be never wrong directed."

On the 10th of January, Austin came again, and brought some notes of Mr Rose's examination before Gardiner. It was plain that Mr Rose had stood forth boldly, and braved the Bishop to his face.

"I wonder, my Lord," said he, "that I should be troubled for that which by the Word of G.o.d hath been established, and by the laws of this realm hath been allowed, and by your own writing, so notably in your book _De Vera Obedientia_, confirmed."

"Ah sirrah, hast thou gotten that?" said the Bishop, who now could not bear to hear of his heretical work.

"Yea, my Lord," calmly answered Mr Rose, "and do confess myself thereby confirmed."

"But," continued Austin, "have you heard that my Lady of Suffolk's Grace is clean escaped?"

"O Austin!" cried Isoult, "tell us all you know touching her."

"Why," said he, "it should seem to have been agreed betwixt her Grace and Mr Bertie ere he left England, but none was told save one Master Robert Cranwell, an ancient gentleman of Mr Bertie's acquaintance, in whom he had great trust. So last New Year, early in the morrow, afore any were stirring, her Grace took her little daughter, and seven of the meanest of her servants, and at four of the clock departed from the Barbican in silence. The d.u.c.h.ess, that was donned like a mean merchant's wife, through much trouble, came safe to Lyon's Quay, where (the morning being misty) the waterman was loth to launch out, yet her Grace persuaded him, and so away rowed they toward Gravesend. I have yet heard with no certainty whither she hath reached; but a.s.suredly she is gone. The Lord keep her safe, and grant her good landing whither He shall see meet to provide the same!"

"Amen, with all mine heart!" said Isoult. "Good Austin, if you hear any further, I would earnestly pray you to do me to wit thereof."

"That will I," said he, "and with a very good will."

The 29th of January was a painful day to the prisoners. Every one of them, from all the prisons, was brought up before the Bishop of Winchester, Dr Gardiner, in his house at Saint Mary Overy, and asked if he would recant. Mr Rose and Robin of course were amongst them. But all answered alike, that "they would stand to what they had believed and taught." When he heard this, the Bishop raved and stormed, and commanded them to be committed to straiter prison than before.

The same day, in the general meeting of the Bishops a.s.sembled at Lambeth, Cardinal Pole reproved some for too much harshness, these doubtless being London and Winchester. Of Cardinal Pole himself people spoke diversely; some saying that he was the gentlest of all the Popish Bishops, and had been known to visit Bishop Bonner's burnings ere the fire was lighted, and to free all of his own diocese: while others maintained that under the appearance of softness he masked great severity. Old Bishop Tunstal was perhaps the best to deal with; for he "barked the more that he might bite the less." If a Protestant were brought before him, he would bl.u.s.ter and threaten, and end after all in fining the man a few n.o.bles, or locking him up for three days, and similar slight penalties. Worst of all was Bonner: who scourged men, ay, and little children, with his own hands, and seemed to revel in the blood of the martyrs. Yet there came a time when even this monster cried out that he was weary of his work. As Bishop of London, said he, he was close under the eyes of the Court, and two there gave him no rest. For those two--King Philip and Dr Gardiner--were never weary.

Drunk with the blood of the saints, they yet cried ceaselessly for more; they filled London and the whole land, as Mana.s.seh did Jerusalem, with innocent blood, which the Lord would not pardon.

In the same month, by command of Bishop Bonner, Mr Prebendary Rogers was removed from the Marshalsea to Newgate, and there set among the common felons. At this time, the worst of all the prisons was Newgate (excepting the Bishop of London's coal-hole, where Archdeacon Philpot and others were placed); somewhat better was the Marshalsea; still better the Fleet; and easiest of all the Counter, where untried prisoners were commonly kept to await their trial. Alexander, the keeper of Newgate, was wont to go to Bishop Bonner, crying, "Ease my prison! I am too much pestered with these heretics." And then an eas.e.m.e.nt of the prison was made, by the burning of the prisoners.

Men grow not into monsters all at once. It is a gradual proceeding, though they generally run the faster as they near the end. But the seeds of the very same sin lie in all human hearts, and the very same thing, by the withdrawal of G.o.d's Spirit, would take place in all.

G.o.d's restraining grace is no less marvellous than His renewing grace.

This world would be a den of wild beasts but for it.

On the same 29th of January--a black day in the Protestant calendar-- Bishop Hooper was condemned to death, and also Mr Prebendary Rogers; but with the latter the Bishop said he would yet use charity. "Ay,"

observed Mr Rogers to Austin Bernher, "such charity as the fox useth with the chickens." And such charity it proved. Dr Rowland Taylor of Hadleigh, and Mr Bradford of Manchester, were also adjudged to death: both of whom, by G.o.d's grace, stood firm. But Mr Cardmaker, who was brought to trial with them, and had been a very zealous preacher against Romanism, was overcome by the Tempter, recanted, and was led back to prison. Yet for all this he did not save himself. More than once during this persecution, he who loved his life was seen to lose it; and he that hated his life to keep it,--even the lower life of this world.

During this season of trial, Augustine Bernher was almost ubiquitous.

On the 29th of January, he brought a letter of which he had been the bearer, from Bishop Hooper to Mr Rose and the others who were taken with him; Mr Rose having desired him to show the letter to his friends. The good Bishop wrote, "Remember what lookers-on you have, G.o.d and His angels." Again, "Now ye be even in the field, and placed in the forefront of Christ's battle."

Mr Rose remained in the Tower very strictly guarded, yet Austin was allowed to see him at will.

"Austin," said Isoult to him, "I marvel they never touch you."

"In very deed, Mrs Avery, no more than I," replied he; "but I do think G.o.d hath set me to this work, seeing He thus guardeth me."

On January 27, Parliament broke up, having repealed all laws against the Pope enacted since 1528; and re-enacted three old statutes against heresy, the newest being of the reign of Henry the Fifth. And "all speaking against the King or Queen, or moving sedition," was made treason; for the first offence one ear was to be cut off, or a hundred marks paid; and for the second both ears, or a fine of 100 pounds. The "writer, printer, or cipherer of the same," was to lose his right hand.

All evil prayers (namely, for the Queen's death) were made treason. The Gospellers guessed readily that this shaft was aimed at Mr Rose, who was wont to pray before his sermon, "Lord, turn the heart of Queen Mary from idolatry; or if not so, then shorten her days."

The Council now released the three sons of the Duke of Northumberland who were yet in the Tower; Lord Ambrose (now Earl of Warwick), Lord Henry, and Lord Robert Dudley; with several others, who had been concerned in Wyatt's rebellion. Dr Thorpe said bitterly that they lacked room for the Gospellers. The d.u.c.h.ess of Northumberland, mother of these gentlemen, died a few days before their deliverance. Her imprisoned sons came forth for her burial.

And before they broke up, Parliament received the Cardinal's blessing; only one of eight hundred speaking against it. This was Sir Ralph Bagenall, as Mr Underhill told his friends. Isoult asked him what sort of man he was, and if he were a true Gospeller.