of the events that followed the restoration of
the papal authority.
no sooner was the nation’s reconciliation with the see of rome completed, than an express was sent by cardinal pole to pope julius iii., acquainting his holiness with the joyful event. on receipt of the intelligence, public rejoicings on the grandest scale were held at rome, religious processions paraded the streets, masses were performed in all the churches, and a solemn service was celebrated at saint peter’s by the pontiff in person. the event, indeed, was a signal triumph to the pope, and in reply to cardinal pole he thanked him heartily for the great service he had rendered the church, and warmly commended his zeal and diligence. moreover, he issued a bull granting indulgences to all such persons as should openly manifest their satisfaction at the restoration of the papal authority in england.
public rejoicings also took place in london, and in other towns, but they were productive of mischief rather than good, as they led to many serious brawls and disturbances. though compelled to submit to their opponents, who were now in the ascendant, the reformers were far from subdued, but were quite ready for outbreak, should a favourable opportunity occur for attempting it. the triumphant demonstrations of the romanists were abhorrent to them, and constant collisions, as we have said, took place between the more violent adherents of the opposing creeds. in these 195encounters, the protestants, being the less numerous, got the worst of it, but they promised themselves revenge on a future day.
on the sunday after the reconciliation, a sermon was preached by gardiner at paul’s cross, before the king and cardinal pole. a large crowd collected to hear him. on this occasion, in spite of the presence of a strong guard, some interruptions occurred, proving that there were dissentients among the auditors. evidently there was a growing feeling of dislike to philip and the spaniards, fostered by the malcontents, and many a fierce glance was fixed upon the king, many a threat breathed against him, as, surrounded by a band of halberdiers, he listened to gardiner’s discourse.
but if philip was hated even by the romanists, who after all were as true lovers of their country as those of the adverse sect, and equally hostile to the spaniards, the universal feeling was favourable to cardinal pole, whose benevolent countenance pleased the reformers, as much as his dignified deportment commanded their respect. he and the king rode together to saint paul’s, and after hearing the sermon, returned in the same way to whitehall. philip had the sword of state borne before him, but the cardinal contented himself with the silver cross.
a few days afterwards, intimation was sent by the council to bonner, bishop of london, that the queen was in a condition to become a mother. command was given at the same time that there should be a solemn procession to saint paul’s, in which the lord mayor, the aldermen, and all the city companies, in their liveries, should join, to offer up prayers for her majesty’s preservation during her time of travail, coupled with earnest supplications that the child might be a male.
this announcement, which, as may be supposed, was quickly bruited abroad throughout the city, gave great satisfaction to the romanists, but it was anything but welcome or agreeable to the reformers, who saw in it an extension of power to their enemies, and an increase of danger to themselves. if an heir to the throne should be born, philip’s authority in england would be absolute. such was the general impression, and its correctness was confirmed by a petition made to the king by both houses, 196which prayed “that if it should happen otherwise than well to the queen, he would take upon himself the government of the realm during the minority of her majesty’s issue.” as may be supposed, philip readily assented, and an act was immediately passed carrying out the provisions above mentioned, and making it high treason to compass the king’s death, or attempt to remove him from the government and guardianship confided to him.
under these circumstances the solemn procession to saint paul’s took place. vast crowds encumbered the streets as the civic authorities proceeded from guildhall to the cathedral, headed by ten bishops in their robes, the pix being borne before them under a canopy. this gave such offence, that had not a strong military force kept the populace in awe, it is certain that the procession would have been molested. as it was, expressions of antipathy to philip could not be checked. “england shall never be ruled by the spaniard,” was the indignant outcry, which found an echo in many a breast, whether of romanist or reformer.
in spite of all these clamours, the procession reached saint paul’s in safety, and high mass was celebrated by bonner and the other bishops, after which prayers were offered up for the queen, in accordance with the council’s mandate. the mass of the assemblage joined heartily in these supplications, but there were some who refused to recite them, and secretly prayed that philip’s hopes of an heir might be frustrated.
the reader is already aware that cardinal pole, immediately on his arrival in london, had been put in possession of lambeth palace. this noble residence, with the revenues of the archbishopric of canterbury, confiscated on the condemnation of cranmer for high treason, was bestowed on the cardinal by the king and queen; but pole could not be promoted to the archiepiscopal see while cranmer lived.
one of the cardinal’s first acts on taking possession of the palace was to summon all the bishops and principal clergy before him, and, after listening to their expressions of penitence for the perjuries, heresies, and schisms they had committed during the late reigns, he gave them absolution.
197and now, before proceeding further, it may be desirable to give a brief description of the ancient edifice occupied by the cardinal.
the present vast and irregular pile, known as lambeth palace, was preceded by a much smaller mansion, wherein the archbishops of canterbury were lodged, and to which a chapel was attached. this building was pulled down in 1262 by the turbulent archbishop boniface, and a new and more important structure erected in its place. of boniface’s palace little now remains save the chapel and crypt. so many additions were made to the palace by successive archbishops, and so much was it altered, that it may almost be said to have become another structure. a noble hall, subsequently destroyed in the time of the commonwealth, was built by archbishop chichely, who flourished in the reign of edward iv.; while the chief ornament of the existing pile, the gateway, was reared by cardinal archbishop morton, towards the end of the 15th century. the steward’s parlour, a chamber of large dimensions, was added by cranmer, and a long gallery and other buildings were erected by cardinal pole.
before entering the palace, let us pause to examine the gateway, a structure of almost unrivalled beauty, and consisting of two large square towers, built of fine brick, embattled, and edged with stone. the archway is pointed, and has a groined roof springing from four pillars, one in each corner. spiral stone staircases lead to the upper chambers, and from the leads of the roof a wonderful prospect of the surrounding metropolis is obtained. connected with the porter’s lodge is a small prison-chamber, having a double door, and high, narrow-grated windows. the walls are cased with stone, and of prodigious thickness, while three heavy iron rings fixed in them attest the purpose to which the room was formerly applied.
passing through the principal court, we enter the great hall, rebuilt by archbishop juxon on the exact model of the old hall, demolished during the protectorate, so that it may be considered a counterpart of archbishop chichely’s banqueting-chamber. nearly a hundred feet in length, proportionately wide and lofty, this noble room has a superb pendant timber roof, enriched with elaborate carvings, and 198lighted by a louvre. in the great bay-window, amidst the relics of stained glass, recovered from the original hall, may be discerned the arms of philip of spain, painted by order of cardinal pole. at the present day the hall is used as the palace library, and its space is somewhat encroached upon by projecting bookcases, filled with works of divinity. at the upper end is the archbishop’s seat.
from the great hall we may proceed to the gallery and guard-chamber, the latter of which was once used as the armoury of the palace. it has an ancient timber roof, with pendants, pointed arches, and pierced spandrels. here are portraits of many of the archbishops of canterbury, among which may be seen that of cardinal pole, copied from the original by raffaelle, preserved in the barberini palace at rome.
pass we by the presence-chamber and other state-rooms, and let us enter the long gallery erected by cardinal pole—a noble room, lighted by windows enriched with stained glass.
hence we will proceed to the chapel erected by boniface. lighted by three lancet-shaped windows on either side, and divided by an elaborately carved screen, on the inner side of which is the archiepiscopal stall, this chapel contains but little of its pristine character, and is disfigured by a flat-panelled ceiling, added by archbishop laud.
beneath the chapel, and corresponding with it in size, is an ancient crypt, with a groined roof, once used as a place of worship. in this part of the palace is a large room built by cranmer, and now called the steward’s parlour, and close to it are the servants’ hall and the great kitchen.
we now come to a part of the palace to which interest of a peculiar nature attaches. this is the lollards’ tower, a large stone structure, erected by archbishop chichely, which derives its name from being used as a place of imprisonment for the followers of wickliffe, called lollards. this time-worn tower faces the river, and on its front is a small niche or tabernacle, formerly occupied by an image of thomas à becket.
in the lower part of the lollard’s tower is a gloomy chamber of singular construction, the heavy timber roof being supported by a strong wooden pillar standing in the 199centre of the chamber, whence the place is called the post room. tradition asserts that the unfortunate lollards, confined in the chamber above, were tied to this pillar and scourged. the post room is lighted by three low pointed windows looking towards the thames, and its flat-panelled ceiling is ornamented at the intersections with grotesque carvings.
ascending by a narrow spiral stone staircase, we reach the prison-chamber just referred to, which is guarded by an inner and outer door of stout oak, studded with broad-headed nails. a strange, strong room, that cannot fail powerfully to impress the visitor. wainscot, ceiling, floor, every part of the chamber is boarded with dark oak of great thickness. fixed to the wainscot, breast-high from the ground, are eight massive rings. the boards adjoining them are covered with inscriptions—mementoes of the many unfortunates confined there. the prison-chamber is lighted by two small grated windows, narrowing outwardly, one of which looks upon the river.
attached to the palace are a park and gardens of considerable extent, and in the olden time of great beauty. within the gardens, up to the commencement of the present century, grew two singularly fine fig trees, planted by cardinal pole, and trained against that part of the palace which he erected.
lambeth palace came into pole’s hands in a very habitable condition, having been well kept up by his predecessor, cranmer. so well pleased was the cardinal with the mansion, that he not only embellished it in many ways, but enlarged it, as we have previously mentioned. he also took great delight in the gardens, and laid them out in the italian style.
unostentatious of character, and simple in his tastes and habits, pole felt it due to his elevated position to maintain princely state in the residence assigned to him by their majesties, and employ his large revenues in hospitality and charity. when complete, which it was within a month after his occupation of the palace, pole’s household was as numerous and magnificent as wolsey’s, and comprised a high-chamberlain and vice-chamberlain, twelve gentlemen ushers, steward, treasurer, comptroller, cofferer, three marshals, 200two grooms, and an almoner. in his chapel he had a dean, a sub-dean, twelve singing-priests, and the like number of quiristers. besides these, there were his cross-bearers, his pillar-bearers, and two yeomen to bear his poleaxes. the inferior officers were almost too numerous to particularise, comprehending purveyors, cooks, sewers, cup-bearers, yeomen of the larder, of the buttery, of the ewery, the cellar, the laundry, the bakehouse, the wardrobe, the chandry, the wood yard, and the garden. of gardeners, indeed, there were several. besides these, there were a multitude of pages and grooms, a sumpter-man, a muleteer, and sixteen grooms of the stable, each of whom had four horses. then there were tall porters at the gate, yeomen of the chariot, and yeomen of the barge. nor were these all. in addition to those previous enumerated, there were a physician, two chaplains, and two secretaries.
such was the magnificent establishment maintained by pole during his residence at lambeth palace. his hospitality may be judged of by the fact that three long tables were daily laid in the great hall, abundantly supplied with viands, and ever thronged with guests. at the upper table sat the cardinal, generally surrounded by nobles or ecclesiastical dignitaries. a place at this table, not far from his illustrious friend, was always reserved for lord priuli.
apartments in the palace were, of course, assigned to priuli, who had likewise his own attendants. the entire control of the vast establishment devolved upon the noble venetian, who undertook the office in order to relieve the cardinal of a portion of his labours.
amidst all this profusion the poor were not forgotten. dole was daily distributed at the palace gate, under the personal superintendence of pole and priuli. the wants of the necessitous were relieved, and medicines were delivered to the sick. none who deserved assistance were ever sent empty-handed away by the cardinal.
amongst the cardinal’s officers were our old acquaintances rodomont bittern, nick simnel, and jack holiday, the first of whom had been recommended to pole by the king himself. rodomont was appointed captain of the palace guard, and his two friends were made lieutenants. on state occasions they formed part of the cardinal’s body-guard.
201one fine morning, at an early hour, these three personages had scaled the lofty gate-tower, in order to enjoy the goodly prospect it commanded. before them flowed the thames, then a clear and unpolluted stream, its smooth surface speckled, even at that early hour, by many barques. a ferry-boat, laden with passengers and horses, was crossing at the time from lambeth to westminster. on the opposite side stood the ancient abbey, with the parliament house, the star chamber, the beautiful gates of whitehall, designed by holbein, the royal gardens, and the palace. further on could be observed the exquisite cross at charing, subsequently destroyed by fanatical fury. then following the course of the river, the eye lighted upon york-place, durham-place, the savoy, and the splendid mansion then but recently completed by the aspiring duke of somerset. further on was the ancient palace of bridewell, and beyond, baynard’s castle, while above the clustering habitations of the city rose the massive tower and lofty spire of old saint paul’s.
london at the period of which we treat was singularly picturesque and beautiful. the walls encircling it were well fortified and in good repair, and most of its oldest and most remarkable edifices were still standing, no terrible conflagration having as yet touched them. numberless towers, churches, and picturesque habitations, with high roofs and quaint gables, excited the admiration of those who stood that morn on the gateway of lambeth palace; but perhaps the object that pleased them best was london-bridge, which, with its gates, its drawbridges, its church, and lofty habitations, proudly bestrode the thames. having gazed their fill at this wondrous structure, or rather collection of structures, they turned towards the surrey side of the river, and noted saint mary overy’s fine old church, the palace of the bishop of winchester, the ring, at that time much frequented, in which bulls and bears were baited, and the adjacent theatre, wherein, at a later date, many of the plays of our immortal bard were represented. content with this distant survey, they then looked nearer home, and allowed their gaze to wander over the park and gardens of the palace, and finally to settle upon the various courts, towers, and buildings composing the pile.
“by my faith, ’tis a stately edifice, this palace of lambeth!” 202exclaimed rodomont. “our lord and master the cardinal is as well lodged as the king and queen at whitehall.”
“were it not for yonder ague-bringing marshes the palace would be a marvellous pleasant residence,” observed nick simnel.
“why should a sturdy fellow like you, nick, fear ague?” cried rodomont. “lord priuli tells me that his eminence enjoys better health here than he has done since he left the lago di garda—a plain proof that the place cannot be insalubrious, as you would have it.”
“follow my example, nick, and fortify yourself against the morning mists with a thimbleful of aqua vit?,” remarked jack holiday, with a laugh. “’tis a sovereign remedy against ague. but see! yonder are the cardinal and the lord priuli, taking an early walk in the garden. they seem engaged in earnest discourse.”
“i warrant their discourse relates to the recusant protestant divines, who have just been excommunicated by the ecclesiastical commissioners, and are to be burnt,” observed rodomont. “there will be rare doings at smithfield ere long, if gardiner and bonner have their way. but our good lord the cardinal is averse to persecution, and may succeed in checking it.”
“heaven grant he may!” exclaimed jack holiday. “if once the fires are lighted at smithfield, there’s no saying when they may be extinguished, or who may perish by them. ’tis a marvel to me that the late occupant of this palace, cranmer, has so long been spared. if the ecclesiastical commissioners desire to deal a heavy blow against the reformers, why not strike their leader now they have him in their power?”
“i will tell you why,” rejoined rodomont. “in this high place none can overhear us, so we may talk freely. gardiner would fain be archbishop of canterbury, but he knows that if cranmer be burnt, our lord the cardinal will at once be appointed to the archiepiscopal see. therefore cranmer is allowed to live, in the hope that pole may be recalled to rome by his holiness. but the crafty bishop of winchester will be disappointed, for the cardinal is not likely to leave his native country again.”
203“i am rejoiced to hear it,” said simnel. “we could ill spare him. the cardinal is the pillar of the romish church in england.”
“by our lady, he is a pattern to all,” cried rodomont. “there lives not a better man than his eminence. even the queen, they say, is governed by his advice. he has more influence with her than the king himself.”
“like enough,” observed jack holiday, “for they do say that the royal couple, like other married folk, have an occasional quarrel. her majesty is plaguily jealous.”
“and not without reason,” said rodomont, with a laugh. “it was not to be expected that the king, who is of an amorous complexion, as all the world knows, should continue faithful to a woman eleven years older than himself, and ill-favoured into the bargain. he wants something younger and better-looking.”
“like poor constance tyrrell,” said nick simnel; “she who is shut up yonder,” he added, pointing to the lollard’s tower.
“ay, and she will never get out unless she yields to the king’s wishes,” observed jack holiday.
“don’t be too sure of that,” rejoined rodomont. “it will be her own fault if she remains here another twenty-four hours.”
“how so?—who will unlock the door for her?—not her gaoler?” said holiday.
“not her gaoler, fool,” rejoined rodomont, “but her lover, osbert clinton. since he can’t unlock the door, he will unbar the window. you are both too generous to betray him, i know, and therefore i’ll e’en tell you what occurred last night. while making my rounds, a little after midnight, i entered the outer court, and was standing near the water tower, when looking up, i espied a head above yon ivied wall, which divides the court from the river. in another moment a body became visible as well as a head, and before i could count twenty a man dropped from the top of the wall into the court. it was osbert clinton. i recognised him even in that imperfect light, or i should have challenged him. guessing his purpose, i retired, placing myself so that i could watch his movements without being perceived. as i expected, his errand was to the lollard’s tower, though 204how he hoped to gain admittance to constance’s cell passed my comprehension.”
“and did he gain admittance to her?” inquired holiday.
“you shall hear,” replied rodomont “yon small grated window in the upper part of the tower belongs to her cell. how, think you, he contrived to reach it?”
“nay, i can’t say,” replied holiday. “he could scarcely climb up to it.”
“climb up a tower! no, i should think not. but for the ivy, he would never have got over yonder wall. he reached the window by means of a rope-ladder which he had brought with him. how the plan had been preconcerted is more than i can tell you, but it was evident constance expected him. a slight cough served to announce her lover’s presence to her. at the signal, a cord was immediately let down from the window of the cell, and as soon as it came within osbert’s reach, he caught it, and fastening the rope-ladder to it, the cord was quickly drawn up again, taking the ladder with it. in another minute the ladder was made fast to the bars of the window, and this done, up sprang osbert, and was soon only separated from the object of his affections by the grating.”
“a pize upon the grating!” exclaimed holiday. “i would there had been no envious bars between them.”
“that was exactly my feeling,” said rodomont. “their discourse was in whispers, but i heard enough to learn that osbert proposed some means of escape to her, but judged from his expressions of disappointment that she would not consent to the plan. fear of discovery compelled him to cut short the interview, however he might have desired to prolong it, but before descending he promised to come again to-night. the ladder being unfastened, he was quickly over the wall, and in another minute must have regained the boat, which i conclude was waiting for him. now, what say you, my masters? shall we not aid him in his efforts to get this poor girl away?”
“i will gladly do so,” replied holiday.
“so will i,” said simnel.
“then we will forthwith set our wits to work, and something must come of it,” rejoined rodomont. “if she remains 205here, she is lost. but see! the poor folk are beginning to crowd round the gate in expectation of their dole. how many, think you, are daily fed by the cardinal?”
“fifty or sixty, it may be,” replied simnel.
“upwards of a hundred,” said rodomont. “yonder comes his eminence, with lord priuli. let us go down. this keen morning has given me a rare appetite, and i propose that we hie to the great hall, and break our fast with a cold chine and a flagon of humming ale.”
“agreed,” replied the others.
whereupon they descended to the court, and bowing, reverentially to the cardinal and lord priuli as they passed them, proceeded to the banqueting-chamber, where preparations were already made for a substantial repast. sitting down at a side-table, they fell to work with right good will.
