how constance’s retreat was discovered.
the next day passed as usual with constance. at night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting osbert’s coming.
she was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read. ever and anon she arose, and, going to the window, looked forth. the night was profoundly dark, and nothing was discernible except the trees skirting the lawn.
“he is later than usual,” she thought, as time went on. “will he not come?”
scarcely had she asked herself the question, when she distinctly heard footsteps without, and, concluding it must be osbert, she passed through the window, and flew to meet him. she could just descry a figure wrapped in a mantle, advancing towards her from beneath a tree.
in another moment this person, whom she took to be her lover, reached her, and seized her hand. startled by the proceeding, she involuntarily exclaimed, “is it you?”
“yes, ’tis i—osbert,” rejoined the other, under his breath.
“i had almost given you up,” she returned. “i feared something had occurred to prevent your coming.”
the person she addressed made no reply. he had 172recognised her voice, and mentally ejaculated, “can it be possible that it is constance tyrrell!”
“you do not answer,” she said, after a pause, “and your manner seems strange—very strange.”
“’tis she, by all the saints!” muttered the other. “let us go in!” he added, drawing her through the open window into the room.
no sooner were they within the influence of the light than the countenance of him she most dreaded on earth was revealed to constance.
“the king!” she exclaimed, in accents of affright.
“ay, the king,” rejoined philip, regarding her with fierce exultation. “so, i have found you at last, and where i looked for you least. little did i deem you were the beauty secluded with such jealous care by osbert clinton. little did i expect, when i took the trouble to ascertain who he kept concealed, that i should be so richly rewarded. never for a moment did i suppose that he would dare to rob me of my chief treasure. but he shall pay dearly for his audacity and treachery.”
“be not unjust towards him, sire,” rejoined constance. “in osbert’s place, you would have acted as he has acted. he loved me, and seeing the peril in which i stood, did not hesitate to deliver me.”
“and you have not proved ungrateful for the service,” retorted philip, bitterly. “you have requited his devotion. the love refused to me has been bestowed freely on him.”
“osbert’s love for me was not dishonourable, sire,” she replied, “and in requiting it i committed no crime. i could not return your majesty’s love without guilt. by this time the passion i was unhappy enough to inspire you with must have subsided, and you will view my conduct less harshly.”
“you are mistaken, madam,” rejoined philip, sternly. “i have never ceased to love you. i cannot regard you with indifference—even though you deserve that i should do so. you are necessary to my happiness. you must—you shall be mine.”
“never!” exclaimed constance, energetically.
“hear me,” pursued the king; “you are now wholly in 173my power. having found you, be assured i shall not part with you again. i am willing to excuse your conduct—to pardon your lover’s disobedience and deceit—nay, more, to continue my favour towards him—but this consideration on my part must be met by complaisance on yours.”
“i reject the proposal without a moment’s hesitation, sire,” cried constance, with scorn.
“then mark what i have to say further,” rejoined philip. “i repeat, you are wholly in my power. nothing can deliver you. on your decision hangs your lover’s life. you—you will cause his immediate arrest—his imprisonment, torture—ay, torture—and death.”
“oh, say not so, sire!” she cried, all her firmness deserting her. “what has he done to deserve such barbarous treatment?”
“he has dared to disobey me,” rejoined philip. “he has stepped between me and the object of my desires. but for your sake i am content to forego revenge—nay, to heap greater favours on his head. will you cast him into a dungeon? will you doom him to torture and death?”
“i cannot save him by the sacrifice you propose, sire,” she rejoined, in tones of anguish. “neither would he consent to be so saved.”
“you have avouched the truth, constance,” exclaimed osbert, springing through the open window, and placing himself between her and the king. “a thousand deaths rather than such a sacrifice.”
“my clemency, i find, is thrown away,” said philip, haughtily. “yet i will give you a few minutes for reflection. perhaps your resolution may change.” and he moved towards the window.
“it is needless, sire,” rejoined osbert. “our determination is taken.”
“then prepare to part for ever,” said philip, sternly. “as to you, audacious and insensate traitor, you shall learn whose anger you have braved. it will be small alleviation, methinks, to your imprisonment to know that your mistress is in my power.”
“fear not the threat, osbert,” said constance. “i will never yield to him.”
174“i do not ask your consent,” rejoined philip, derisively. “you are caught in a net from which there is no escape.”
“sooner than this shall be, my sword shall free the country from a tyrant,” cried osbert, plucking his rapier from its sheath.
“ha! do you dare to raise your hand against me, traitor?” exclaimed philip, stepping towards him, while constance flung her arms about her lover, so as to prevent any movement on his part.
“let him go,” continued the king, after a pause, during which he sternly regarded the pair. “he wants the courage to play the assassin.”
“you are right, sire,” rejoined osbert. “draw, and defend your life.”
“peace, madman!” cried philip, disdainfully. “think you i will deign to cross swords with you?”
“heaven grant me patience, i am driven to the verge of frenzy!” ejaculated osbert, distractedly.
“at last you are beginning to comprehend your true position,” observed philip, in a taunting tone, “and perceive that you are utterly without help.”
“not utterly,” cried a deep voice. and derrick carver strode into the room. “heaven will not desert them in their need. thou hast uttered threats against them which thou wilt never live to execute. thou has ventured into this dwelling, but wilt never return from it. my hand failed me when i first struck at thee, but it will not fail me now.”
“make the attempt, then, if thou think’st so, assassin!” cried philip, keeping his eye steadily upon him.
“hold!” exclaimed osbert. “his life is sacred.”
“not in my eyes,” rejoined carver. “it were a crime to my country and to my religion to spare their deadliest foe. he shall die by my hand.”
“i say it must not be,” cried osbert. “no harm must be done him. persist, and i come to his defence.”
“fool! you destroy yourself, and her who should be dearer to you than life, by this mistimed weakness,” rejoined derrick carver. “leave him to me.”
“again i say, forbear!” cried osbert.
“i owe you no obedience, and will show none,” retorted 175carver, fiercely. “have at thy heart, tyrant!” he exclaimed, drawing his sword.
but ere he could make the meditated attack, philip placed a silver whistle to his lips, and sounding it, rodomont bittern, with his sword drawn in his hand, and followed by half a dozen halberdiers, entered through the window. the party instantly fell upon derrick carver, and, after a brief struggle, disarmed him.
“by saint thomas!” exclaimed rodomont, regarding the enthusiast with surprise, “this is the murtherous villain whom we caught at southampton. i cannot be mistaken in his ill-favoured visage.”
“i will not deny myself,” rejoined the other. “i am derrick carver. heaven has permitted thee to thwart my righteous purpose for the second time.”
“a plain proof that thy purpose is damnable, and that heaven is against thee, thou bloodthirsty villain,” rejoined rodomont. “what is your majesty’s pleasure concerning him?” he asked of the king.
“take him to the tower,” said philip.
“it shall be done, sire. have you any further commands?”
“ay,” replied philip. “an hour ago i would not have believed that osbert clinton would raise his hand against me, but he has done so, and his life is forfeit. take him also with you.”
“here is my sword, sir,” said osbert, delivering it to rodomont. “i am ready to attend you.”
seating himself at the table, on which writing materials were placed, philip took a paper from his doublet and proceeded to sign it. just as he was about to consign the warrant to rodomont, constance, who had appeared transfixed with terror, rushed forward and threw herself at his feet.
“have mercy on him, sire!” she cried. “full well i know what will be his fate if sent to the tower. oh spare him! spare him!”
“i cannot listen to your entreaties,” rejoined philip, coldly. “he has been guilty of high treason, and must pay the penalty of his offence.”
“do not intercede for me, constance,” said osbert. “it is useless; he has no pity in his nature.”
176“i have none for those who deceive me,” rejoined philip, sternly. “take him hence, sir,” he added to rodomont. “here is your warrant.”
“oh no! let him not go thus!” shrieked constance, starting to her feet, and falling into her lover’s arms, “you will not separate us, sire?”
“wherefore not?” demanded philip. “is he your husband?”
“ay, in the eyes of heaven. i am affianced to him,” she replied.
“even were you wedded to him you could not accompany him,” rejoined the king. “but no marriage will ever take place between you. bid him a lasting farewell. you will meet no more on earth.”
“no more! you cannot mean it, sire. oh, unsay those terrible words!” shrieked constance.
philip remained inflexible.
“calm yourself, constance,” said osbert. “i heed not what may happen to myself. my sole distress is in leaving you.”
“fear nothing on my account,” she rejoined, in a low tone. “heaven will protect me. yet i will make one last effort to save you. oh, sire,” she added, approaching the king, “as you are great and powerful, be generous and merciful. forgive him. he will offend no more. i am the cause of his disobedience. when i am gone he will be faithful as ever.”
“on one condition i will spare him,” said philip, in a low tone.
“i dare not ask your majesty what that condition is?” rejoined constance, trembling.
“you may easily guess it,” returned philip. “be mine.”
“then all hope is over,” sighed constance. “i will die rather than assent.”
“so you think now,” muttered philip; “but i will find means to shake your stubbornness. take hence the prisoners,” he added aloud to rodomont.
“i am equally guilty—if guilt there be,” cried constance, with a loud voice. “i take all present to witness that i utterly reject the doctrines of the romish church, and hold 177its ceremonies to be vain, superfluous, superstitious, and abominable.”
“be silent, imprudent girl,” cried philip.
“be not afraid to speak out, daughter,” cried derrick carver. “truly you have profited by my exhortations.”
“i will never forsake my opinions,” cried constance, firmly, “but will maintain them at any tribunal before which i may be brought. after this declaration and confession, your majesty must send me with the other prisoners.”
“you have indeed put it out of my power to befriend you,” rejoined philip, angrily. “since you ask to be brought before a religious tribunal, you shall have your wish.”
“i have succeeded in my design,” whispered constance to osbert. “i shall not be separated from you. your majesty has conferred a boon upon me by this decision,” she added to the king, “and i humbly thank you for it. now, sir,” to rodomont, “you can take me to the tower with my friends.”
“is such your majesty’s pleasure?” demanded rodomont.
“no,” replied philip. “let her be conveyed to some place of imprisonment, but not to the tower.”
“an please your majesty, there is the lollards’ tower at lambeth palace, where heretics are oft confined,” observed rodomont. “no better prison lodgings can be found than the cells therein.”
“are the cells strong and secure?” demanded the king.
“marry, as strong and secure as the dungeons of the tower, sire,” replied rodomont.
“i have heard of those prison chambers in the lollards’ tower,” rejoined philip, “but did not bethink me of them at the moment. take mistress constance tyrrell forthwith to lambeth palace, and see her safely bestowed—safely, i say, but with all comfort and convenience that the prison will admit of—d’ye heed? take derrick carver also thither, and let him be securely lodged. the ecclesiastical court shall deal with him. no intercourse whatever must be allowed between the prisoners.”
178“your injunctions shall be strictly obeyed, sire,” replied rodomont.
“i have changed my mind in regard to osbert clinton,” pursued philip. “in consideration of the important services he has heretofore rendered me, i am disposed to overlook the grave offence he has committed. he is pardoned.”
there was a brief pause, but no word of gratitude escaped osbert.
“do you not hear, sir?” said rodomont, as he gave back the sword to osbert. “have you no thanks for the grace vouchsafed you by his majesty?”
“the grace is unsolicited by me, and claims no thanks,” rejoined osbert, almost fiercely.
“leave him alone,” said philip; “his mind is disordered. when the fit has passed, and he is become calm, he will think differently. away at once to lambeth palace with the prisoners.”
“constance!” exclaimed osbert, rushing towards her.
“farewell for ever!” she rejoined. “do not grieve for me. now i know you are free, i can bear any sufferings that may be inflicted upon me.”
“my freedom shall be employed for your preservation,” he whispered. “i will accomplish your liberation, or perish in the attempt.”
“i forbid it,” she returned. “henceforward i shall strive to shake off all earthly ties, and fix my thoughts entirely upon heaven. farewell for ever!”
with this she disengaged herself from him, and passed forth from the room with derrick carver, attended by the guard, and followed by rodomont. two armed attendants, stationed near the window, remained with the king.
“a word before i go,” said philip, approaching osbert, and speaking in a tone so low and deep as to be inaudible by the attendants. “on peril of your life, i charge you to hold no further intercourse of any kind with constance. look upon her as dead—for dead she is to you. return to your duty, and i will think no more of what has just occurred.”
so saying, he quitted the room with his attendants, leaving osbert overwhelmed by despair.
179while philip returned in his barque to whitehall palace, a barge conveyed the two prisoners to lambeth palace.
on arriving there, they were detained for a short time in the guard-room of the ancient gateway, and as soon as all had been made ready, they were lodged in the prison chambers assigned them in the lollards’ tower.
end of the second book.
