how osbert was induced to join a conspiracy.
amongst those who witnessed the burning of rogers was the french ambassador. on quitting smithfield, he repaired to the court adjoining the conventual church, and was watching the religious procession set out on its return to saint paul’s, when he noticed osbert clinton, whose eyes were following the retreating figure of constance. approaching him, de noailles said, in a low voice, “i am sorry to see poor constance tyrrell among those recusants. has she been delivered over to bonner’s chambre ardente?”
“not as yet,” rejoined osbert, in a troubled tone.
“i trust she never may be,” said de noailles, “for bonner has no pity for a heretic. youth and beauty weigh very little with him. ’tis enough to drive one mad to think that so lovely a creature should be his victim!”
“she never shall be!” exclaimed osbert, moodily.
“how will you hinder it?” said de noailles. “can you snatch her from his grasp if he once secures her? can you unlock the prison in which she will be immured? dare you even approach her now? how, then, will you be able to free her, when she is led to the stake, escorted by a guard as strong as that which accompanied the poor wretch who has just been sacrificed?”
“torture me not thus!” cried osbert. “i feel as though i could sell myself to perdition to accomplish her deliverance.”
293“you shall not need to do that,” observed de noailles, perceiving that osbert was in the right frame of mind for his purpose. “now listen to me. a plot is hatching, having for its object the overthrow of philip, the deposition of mary, and the restoration of the protestant faith, as a guarantee for which the princess elizabeth is to be proclaimed queen. with this movement all the heads of the protestant party are connected, and only await a favourable moment for an outbreak. that moment is at hand. the execution which has just taken place is but the prelude to others equally dreadful. in a few days bishop hooper will be burnt at gloucester, saunders at coventry, and taylor at hadley; and, ere the month be out, others will swell the fearful catalogue. thoroughly alarmed, the protestants feel that, if they do not offer prompt and effectual resistance, they will be exterminated. it is certain, therefore, that they will all rise when called upon, and, if well managed, the scheme cannot fail of success.”
“what has this plot to do with constance tyrrell?” demanded osbert.
“much,” replied the other. “join us, and i will engage to procure her liberation.”
“on those terms i will join you,” said osbert. “what would you have me do?”
“i cannot explain our plans now. but meet me to-morrow, at midnight, in the cloisters of westminster abbey, and i will introduce you to the chief conspirators.”
“i will be there at the hour appointed,” said osbert. “till then, farewell!”
and moving away, he followed the procession to saint paul’s, leaving de noailles well satisfied with his man?uvre.
