_IV.--The Worst is Done_

_May 7_.

Father arraigned.

_July 1_.

By reason of Willie minding to be present at the triall, which, for the concourse of spectators, demanded his earlie attendance, he committed the care of me, with Bess, to Dancey, Bess"s husband, who got us places to see father on his way from the Tower to Westminster Hall. We coulde not come at him for the crowd, but clambered on a bench to gaze our very hearts away after him as he went by, sallow, thin, grey-haired, yet in mien not a whit cast down. His face was calm but grave, but just as he pa.s.sed he caught the eye of some one in the crowd, and smiled in his old frank way; then glanced up towards the windows with the bright look he hath so oft caste up to me at my cas.e.m.e.nt, but saw us not; perchance soe "twas best.

...Will telleth me the indictment was the longest ever heard: on four counts. First, his opinion concerning the king"s marriage. Second, his writing sundrie letters to the Bishop of Rochester, counselling him to hold out. Third, refusing to acknowledge his grace"s supremacy. Fourth, his positive deniall of it, and thereby willing to deprive the king of his dignity and t.i.tle.

They could not make good their accusation. "Twas onlie on the last count he could be made out a traitor, and proof of"t had they none. He shoulde have been acquitted out of hand, but his bitter enemy, my Lord Chancellor, called on him for his defence, whereat a general murmur ran through the court.

He began, but a moment"s weakness of the body overcame him and he was accorded a seat. He then proceeded to avow his having always opposed the king"s marriage to his grace himself, deeming it rather treachery to have withholden his opinion when solicited. Touching the supremacy he held there could be no treachery in holding his peace, G.o.d only being cognizant of our thoughts.

"Nay," interposeth the attorney generall, "your silence was the token of a malicious mind."

"I had always understood," answers father, "that silence stoode for consent," which made sundrie smile.

The issue of the black day was aforehand fixed. The jury retired and presentlie returned with a verdict of guilty; for they knew what the king"s grace would have "em doe in that case....

And then came the frightful sentence....

They brought him back by water ... The first thing I saw was the axe, _turned with its edge towards him._

Some one laid a cold hand on mine arm; "twas poor Patteson. He sayth, "Bide your time, Mistress Meg; when he comes past, I"ll make a pa.s.sage for ye." ...

O, brother, brother, what ailed thee to refuse the oath? I"ve taken it!

... "Now, Mistress, now!" and flinging his arms right and left, made a breach, through which I darted, fearless of bills and halberds, and did cast mine arms about father"s neck. He cries, "My Meg!" and hugs me to him as though our very souls shoulde grow together. He sayth, "Bless thee, bless thee! Kiss them alle for me thus and thus." ... Soe gave me back into Dancey"s arms, the guards about him alle weeping.

I did make a second rush, and agayn they had pitie on me and made pause while I hung upon his neck. He whispered, "Meg, for Christ"s sake don"t unman me. G.o.d"s blessing be with you," he sayth with a last kiss, then adding, with a pa.s.sionate upward regard, "The chariot of Israel and the hors.e.m.e.n thereof!"

I look up, almost expecting a beautific vision, and when I turn about, he"s gone.

_July 5,6_.

Alle"s over now.... They"ve done theire worst, and yet I live. Dr.

Clement sayth he went up as blythe as a bridegroom, to be clothed upon with immortality.

_July 19_.

They have let us bury his poor mangled trunk; but as sure as there"s a sun in heaven, I"ll have his head!--before another sun has risen, too.

If wise men won"t speed me, I"ll e"en content me with a fool.

_July 20_.

Quoth Patteson: "Fool and fayr lady will cheat "em yet."

At the stairs lay a wherry with a couple of boatmen. We went down the river quietlie enow--nor lookt I up till aneath the bridge gate, when, casting up one fearsome look, I beheld the dark outline of the ghastly yet precious relic; and falling into a tremour, did wring my hands and exclaim, "Alas, alas! That head hath lain full manie a time in my lap, woulde G.o.d it lay there now!" When o" suddain, I saw the pole tremble and sway towardes me; and stretching forth my ap.r.o.n I did, in an extasy of gladness, pity, and horror, catch its burthen as it fell.

Patteson, shuddering, yet grinning, cries under his breath, "Managed I not well, mistress? Let"s speed away with our theft, but I think not they"ll follow hard after us, for there are well-wishers on the bridge.

I"ll put ye into the boat and then say, "G.o.d sped ye, lady, with your burthen.""

_July 23_.

I"ve heard Bonvisi tell of a poor Italian girl who buried her murdered lover"s heart in a pot of basil, which she watered day and night with her tears, just as I do my coffer. Will hath promised it shall be buried with me; layd upon my heart, and since then I"ve been easier.

He thinks he shall write father"s life, when we are settled in a new home. We are to be cleared out o" this in alle haste; for the king grutches at our lingering over father"s footsteps, and yet when the news of the b.l.o.o.d.y deed was taken to him, he scowled at Queen Anne, saying, "Thou art the cause of this man"s death!"

Flow on, bright shining Thames. A good, brave man hath walked aforetime on your margent, himself as bright, and usefull, and delightsome as you, sweet river. There"s a river whose streams make glad the city of our G.o.d. He now rests beside it. Good Christian folks, as they hereafter pa.s.s this spot, will, maybe, point this way and say, "There dwelt Sir Thomas More," but whether they doe or not, _Vox Populi_ is no very considerable matter. Theire favourite of to-day may, for what they care, goe hang himself to-morrow in his surcingle. Thus it must be while the world lasts; and the very racks and scrues wherewith they aim to overcome the n.o.bler spiritt onlie lift and reveal its power of exaltation above the heaviest gloom of circ.u.mstance.

_Interfecistis, interfecistis hominem omnium anglorum optimum._

ALESSANDRO MANZONI

The Betrothed

Poet, dramatist, and novelist, Alessandro Francesco Tommaso Manzoni was born at Milan on March 7, 1785. In early manhood he became an ardent disciple of Voltairianism, but after marriage embraced the faith of the Church of Rome; and it was in reparation of his early lapse that he composed his first important literary work, which took the form of a treatise on Catholic morality, and a number of sacred lyrics. Although Manzoni was perhaps surpa.s.sed as a poet by several of his own countrymen, his supreme position as novelist of the romantic school in Italy is indisputable. His famous work, "The Betrothed" ("I Promessi Sposi"), completed in 1822 and published at the rate of a volume a year during 1825-27, was declared by Scott to be the finest novel ever written. Manzoni died on May 22, 1873.

_I.--The Schemes of Don Rodrigo_

Don Abbondio, cure of a little town near Como, was no hero. It was, therefore, the less difficult for two armed bravos whom he encountered one evening in the year 1628 to convince him that the wedding of Renzo Tramaglino and Lucia Mondella must not take place, as it did not suit the designs of their master, Don Rodrigo. Renzo, however, was by no means disposed to take this view of the matter, and was like to have taken some desperate steps to express his disapproval. From this course he was dissuaded by Fra Cristoforo, a Capuchin, renowned for his wisdom and sanct.i.ty, who undertook to attempt to soften the heart of Don Rodrigo.

The friar was held in affectionate esteem by all, even by Rodrigo"s bravos, and on his arrival at the castle he was at once shown into the presence of its master.

"I come," said he, "to propose to you an act of justice. Some men of bad character have made use of the name of your ill.u.s.trious lordship to alarm a poor cure, and dissuade him from performing his duty, and to oppress two innocent persons--"

"In short, father," said Rodrigo, "I suppose there is some young girl you are concerned about. Since you seem to think that I am so powerful, advise her to come and put herself under my protection; she shall be well looked after. Cowled rascal!" he shouted. "Vile upstart! Thank the ca.s.sock that covers your cowardly shoulders for saving them from the caresses that such scoundrels should receive. Depart, or--"

In the meantime, plans were being discussed in Lucia"s cottage.

"Listen, my children," said Agnese, her mother; "if you were married, that would be the great difficulty out of the way."

"Is there any doubt," said Renzo; "_if_ we were married--At Bergamo, not far from here, a silk-weaver would be received with open arms. You know my cousin Bartolo has wanted me to go there and make my fortune, as he has done. Once married, we could all go thither together, and live in blessed peace, out of this villain"s reach."

"Listen, then," said Agnese. "There must be two witnesses; all four must go to the priest and take him by surprise, that he mayn"t have time to escape. The man says, "Signor Cure, this is my wife"; the woman says, "Signor Cure, this is my husband." It is necessary that the cure and the witnesses hear it, and the marriage is then as valid and sacred as if the Pope himself had blessed it."

"But why, then," said Lucia, "didn"t this plan come into Fra Cristoforo"s mind?"