I need not describe the inquiries made by Captain Radford. I briefly
explained the plan I proposed for recovering Aveline; he approved of
what I had done.
"I can bring a force of twenty seamen, who will fight to the death," he
observed; "but I have hopes that we may so manage it as to encounter no
opposition. The sea-wall can easily be scaled, and I propose,
therefore, to have ladders in readiness, so that, climbing over them, we
may avoid the gates. As the Spanish troops will be in the citadel in
attendance on Duke Alva, we may manage even in daylight to do so without
being observed. The boats will be in readiness to receive us, and we
may speedily get aboard my ship."
I do not here mention all the details of our plan. Having arranged it
thoroughly, I then told him I had hopes that some means might be found
of rescuing Master Overton. For that also he was prepared. His idea
was, that if the prison could be found, to force the gates while the
troops were away in the citadel. He believed that many of the citizens
would unite in the attempt, in the expectation of rescuing their own
friends. Indeed, so great was the hatred felt by the great mass of the
population towards the Spaniards, that the instant they were removed,
without considering the consequences, the people were ready to rise, for
the sake of doing any mischief which might present itself.
We found that Master Clough had returned, and once more gone out. We
now waited anxiously for his return, as we could do nothing till the
evening, when Captain Radford proposed once more going among his brother
captains, in order that he might obtain further assistance. We waited
and waited. Still he did not appear, and our anxiety increased. At
length, as it was growing dusk, and Jacob and I were about to prepare
for our expedition, a knock was heard at the door.
"That's the master's!" exclaimed Jacob, hurrying down.
We followed him, when the door opened, and Master Clough appeared with
his wife leaning on his arm, followed by A'Dale and Margery. Both were
agitated and trembling, and could with difficulty find words to explain
what had happened. Till the very moment of their liberation they had
believed that they were to share the fate of many of their
fellow-prisoners, who, it was reported, were to be carried forth and
executed outside the walls on the following day, in honour of the Duke
Alva's appearance in the city. How far the report was correct we could
not tell, but it had served very naturally to agitate them greatly.
They had no time, however, for giving way to their feelings; for the
condition of their liberation, Master Clough informed us, was, that they
were to leave the city that very evening. If found within the walls by
daybreak, they would run the risk of being again incarcerated, and
sharing the doom of the numberless Netherlanders put to death by the
Blood Council. A'Dale was anxious to hear what I had done; and, in
spite of the danger he would have to go through, he insisted on aiding
me in the undertaking. But our first care was to see Madam Clough and
Margery placed on board Captain Radford's ship. Some time was occupied
first in collecting all their jewels and other valuables, loaded with
which they bade a hurried adieu to the house they had so long inhabited,
and to their domestics. With as many men as could be spared from the
house, well-armed, we then set forth, lighted by torches, to the Water
Gate, where Captain Radford had his boat waiting. He had a pass ready,
so that the rest of the party had no difficulty in getting through the
gates. Jacob and I, having seen them thus far safely on their way,
turned back, in order to pay our promised visit to the old witch. As we
walked down to the gate, A'Dale told me that he had resolved to return
on shore again at all risks, if there was any work to be done. I
briefly told him the plans for rescuing Aveline. "That will just suit
my taste," he answered. "I would rather, if a blow is to be struck, be
ready to join in the fray."
As soon as Jacob and I had seen my friends through the gates, we
returned into the city, and made the best of our way towards the abode
of Barbara Trond. The door opened as before, and we entered the vaulted
chamber. She was seated, as she had been at the first visit, before her
cauldron, as if busily employed in her incantations. There was,
however, the smell of a rich stew, and I saw a vessel steaming away on
one side of me from which it appeared to proceed. I had little doubt,
therefore, that the old woman was not unmindful of her creature
comforts. It was most likely that she had only put on her cauldron as
our knock was heard at the door. But she would probably be more useful
to us by the information she managed to pick up in the world than by her
sorceries.
"I judge that you are my visitors," she said; and putting aside her
magic wand, she turned round, as if to discuss matters in a
matter-of-fact way.
"Now, my young sir, do you think you possess sufficient courage and
nerve to enter one of the prisons of the Blood Council? If you do, I
may promise you the freedom of your friend. But recollect the risk you
run is a very fearful one. If you are captured, your life will pay the
penalty."
I replied that I would run every risk for the sake of saving the life of
my friend, and asked what plan she proposed.
"I have, you understand, assistants in every direction," she said. "I
have made it to be understood that the minister, Overton, would, if duly
instructed, be disposed to return to the old faith. I have therefore
suggested that a certain learned friar should be allowed to visit him,
who will bring forward such irresistible arguments that he will be
unable to withstand them. I have bribed the guards to shut their eyes,
should they observe anything suspicious, especially if two friars are
seen to go out instead of the one who might have entered. Now see!"
As the old woman spoke, she rose and took from a chest on one side of
the room two bundles.
"Here are two friars' dresses, with all things requisite," she observed.
"Do you dress in one of them, and conceal the other round your body
beneath your gown. I have a pass ready to admit you into the prison;
when there, I must leave the rest to your discretion and judgment.
To-morrow before noon will be the best time to visit the prison, when
the attention of the people will be drawn off towards the ceremony I was
describing to you. This will give you time to see your friend in
safety, and to assist in the rescue of the young lady."
My spirits rose on hearing the plan of the old woman; and I should then
and there have given her the whole of the money with which I hoped to
bribe her, had I not thought it possible she might take the bribe and
neglect to perform her part of the contract. Having a great deal to do,
I took leave of her as soon as these arrangements were made, and
hastened back to Master Clough's house.
Here I was engaged till daylight in seeing his property packed, which
was to be shipped in the morning, and in making arrangements with the
clerks and servants who were still to remain. At length, overcome, I
lay down for an hour on my bed, charging Jacob to call me in ample time
to prepare for my hazardous undertaking. When I arose again I need
scarcely say that I prayed earnestly for protection, that all those in
whom I was interested might escape from the dangers which surrounded us.
I had still much to do, so there was but little time for thought. My
chief consolation was, that should I fail and be captured--when I knew
that my death would be certain--I should leave Aveline under the
guardianship of her father. She would mourn for me, but would, I
trusted, in time, find a balm for her sorrow.
Antwerp was full of prisons, many of the residences of the murdered
burghers and nobles having been converted for that purpose. Dame Trond
had, however, indicated clearly the one in which Overton was confined.
As the hour approached, accompanied by Jacob Naas, I took my way to a
spot near the city walls, where a deep archway existed. The
neighbourhood was little frequented, and we there hoped that I might be
able unperceived to put on the friar's dress. The change could very
quickly be made, so that there was not much risk of being interrupted,
while Jacob kept watch outside, to give due notice of the approach of
any intruder. I sallied forth, still in my servant's dress, with the
faithful Jacob. I did not for a moment conceal from myself the danger
of the undertaking. We hastened along, with two small valises
containing the dresses on our shoulders, like a couple of serving-men
carrying their master's property, looking as unconcerned as possible
when we met any passers-by. I encountered several persons who knew me,
and looked at me very hard; but the change of dress had so altered me,
that they evidently thought they must be mistaken.
We hurried on through the streets till we approached the spot I have
described; then, stopping, we looked round, to ascertain whether any one
was observing us. Finding that the coast was clear, we again hastened
on, and, as we believed, gained the arch without being discovered.
Unpacking our valises, I immediately commenced rolling Overton's
disguise round my body, and fastened it securely. I then hurriedly put
on the dress arranged for myself, with a belt of rope round my waist,
and a large rosary of wood attached to it. As soon as I was dressed I
called Jacob.
"You are the monk to perfection, Master Ernst," he said. "Surely no one
would hesitate to admit you, wherever you may desire to go; and if you
can persuade the minister to dress up in the same way, you will have no
difficulty in getting through the gates of the prison."
These remarks encouraged me greatly, and, with more confidence than I
had expected to feel, I made my way by a circuitous route toward the
prison I have mentioned, while Jacob, putting one valise into the other,
returned homewards.
As I passed along, many of the people I met bowed and saluted me, as
they are accustomed to treat their priests. I in return muttered a few
words such as are used by the friars on similar occasions. I was afraid
of walking fast, as my inclination prompted, lest I should betray
myself. The streets were already crowded with people in their holiday
attire, prepared to assemble at the festival, though their looks did not
wear a joyful aspect. Fear and doubt rather were visible on every
countenance. The name alone of the Duke and his murderous musketeers
kept them in awe. They had no leader in whom they could confide, even
should they have ventured to resist the tyrannical treatment to which
they were subjected. They knew themselves to be slaves; but at the same
time they were slaves panting to be free, and only waiting an
opportunity for striking a blow for liberty. I could distinguish, as I
walked along, the Protestants from the Romanists, by their looks, and
the way in which they regarded me. The Protestants cast a glance of
defiance as they passed, and made no sign of respect. The Romanists, on
the contrary, wore generally a look of stolid indifference, or made an
abject bow.
Arrived at the prison door, I mustered up all my courage. I required it
to withstand the scrutiny of the jailer when I presented my pass.
"You are the monk who has undertaken the conversion of the heretic
minister?" he observed. "It is well, though I should think half a dozen
will be required before he is brought to the truth. They are fearfully
tough subjects to convince. I have had five or six under my hands, and
one and all preferred going to the stake to recanting."
"Perhaps two of us may work the desired change," I answered; "my
brother, Father Peter, and I hope to get the captive free from his
thraldom; and if we don't succeed to-day, we must try again."
"When is Father Peter coming, then?" said the jailer.
"What! has he not already arrived?" I inquired; "surely, I hoped that
he had been with the prisoner some time already."
"If so, he must have come before I was on guard," answered the jailer.
"Very likely," I replied; "he is always zealous, and would rather be
before than after his time. And was he not here yesterday?"
"Not that I am aware of," answered the jailer.
"I see how it is!" I exclaimed; "they wish to throw all the work upon
me. However, I must waste no longer time. Let a warder show me to the
prisoner, for unless he is brought to the truth very soon, it seems
probable that he will be sent to the stake."
The jailer on this called one of the warders, and directed him to lead
me to the English minister's cell, and on no account to interrupt us.
By the glance the warder gave me, I hoped that he had already been
bribed by old Dame Trond, and that he would not interfere with our
proceedings. I therefore followed him with a light step, passing
through numerous passages to the room in which the prisoner was
confined. The house had been hurriedly fitted up as a prison, the lofty
rooms being divided into two storeys, and each room being again
subdivided by passages into cages, rather than cells, so that the
prisoners could be confined separately from each other. Many of them
had very little light, and still less air; and, as far as I could judge,
every cell almost had an occupant. It was fearful to contemplate what
would be the probable fate of all those human beings, for it was
well-known that of those imprisoned but a very small number escaped
death.
"I conclude that Father Peter is already with the prisoner," I observed,
as I walked along.
The man glanced quickly round at me.
I showed him a gold piece in my hand. He immediately put out his to
receive it, nodding at the same time.
"There," he said at length, as we reached the door of the cell; "I need
not look in, for I should not like to interrupt Father Peter, should he
be at his devotions with the poor heretic. Go in, and may you have
success in your undertaking."
I observed that when he shut the door he did not again lock it or push
to the bolts. The minister was seated with his back to the door when I
entered. When at length he discovered that there was somebody in the
cell, he rose from his seat, and, turning round, confronted me.
"I regret, sir, that you should have come," he said, in a courteous
voice. "You perhaps wish to make known to me the articles of your
faith; but let me say in return that I know them thoroughly, and have no
wish to embrace those which differ, I conceive, from the teaching of the
Gospel."
"I see you do not know me, Master Overton," I said, in a low voice. "Do
not utter any exclamation of surprise; I have come in the hopes of
liberating you!"
"Who--who is it?" he exclaimed, in an undertone. "Ernst Verner? No,
indeed, I should not have known you. But how do you expect to set me
free?"
"You must assume the same disguise I wear," I answered; "I have it
prepared for you. They have allowed you, I see, a pallet-bed. You must
leave your clothes upon it, stuffed out as we can best arrange them; so
that, should the warder look in, he may suppose you to be asleep.
Quickly put on these monkish habiliments. I have already spoken to them
of having a companion; and I hope, before they expect any deception, we
may have got outside the prison gates."
Master Overton quickly understood what was necessary to be done, and,
dressing himself in the friar's robes I had brought under mine, soon
appeared quite as respectable-looking a friar as I did.
"We must frame an excuse for leaving the prison so soon," I observed.
"I must assert that the prisoner is too obdurate to be moved at present;
and that, unless he is subjected to a little more discipline, I fear
that we cannot hope to be successful."
I now spoke loud enough, should the warder be passing, to let him
suppose that I was arguing with the prisoner. After some time my voice
rose higher and higher. At length I whispered to him, "It is time that
we should set forth." He was more agitated than I should have expected.
"I cannot go in my own strength," he said. "Let us kneel down and
pray."
We did so, and rose greatly refreshed.
"Now," he said, "I am prepared."
I had a staff such as friars were accustomed to use, and requested him
to take it. Pressing against the door, I gladly found it opened. I had
marked the way we came, and was thus able to go forth without
hesitation, till we reached the door where the jailer was stationed.
"Father Peter and I have had hard work," I said, as I saw him, "and I am
afraid we have made but little way. However, we must not despair, and
hope to come again to-morrow."
The jailer looked from me to the pretended Father Peter. It was a
critical moment.
"We must not delay," I observed, "for we have several more heretics to
visit. Come along, Father Peter, come along!"
The jailer, deceived by my coolness, and either believing or pretending
to believe that my companion had been admitted by his fellow, drew forth
the key of the door, and, pulling back the bolts, to my infinite
satisfaction opened it. I almost shoved the seeming Father Peter out of
the door in my eagerness to get him free, and, bestowing a blessing on
the jailer, I followed him into the street. But I did not consider that
we were clear of danger. In the first place, our flight might soon be
discovered by one of the warders who had not been bribed by Dame Trond;
and, should we be pursued, we were too likely to be recognised. I now
wished that we had made some arrangement for changing our dresses, but
it was too late to do that. Unwilling to return to Master Clough's
house, we agreed that our best plan was to make our way direct towards
the Water Gate, in which neighbourhood we hoped to fall in with Captain
Radford and his party. There were one or two spots in that
neighbourhood where I knew we might possibly have time to take off our
friars' dresses. Master Overton had been so long accustomed to wear a
similar costume, that he was perfectly at home in his; and, though it
was much against his will, he followed my example in making the usual
signs to the passers-by who saluted him.
By this time people were proceeding in greater numbers towards the
citadel, literally leaving a considerable portion of the town
depopulated. At length we reached the part of the wall near the Water
Gate which Captain Radford had pointed out as most easy to scale. It
was about an equal distance from the towers, from which, although
sentries were generally placed in them, we hoped that, on this occasion,
they might be withdrawn. The wall, I think I said, was very thick,
there being a passage within it, running completely round the city, with
here and there openings in the inside, to afford light and air. At the
top also was a walk communicating with the various towers. There was
but little difficulty in scaling the wall from the inside to the upper
wall, as from the numerous buttresses and turrets, concealment might
easily be obtained. The risk was in descending on the outer side, where
it was far more open to view. The streets in this part of the city were
especially narrow, with numerous dark passages and archways. The
inhabitants, too, were nearly all Romanists, and they appeared mostly to
have gone out to welcome the Duke; so we had not much difficulty in
finding a secluded spot, where we could get rid of our friars' costume.
Master Overton had been dressed in his gown when taken. Under this he
had the dress of a civilian, which he usually wore. The gown he had
left in the prison when he put on the friar's dress. We both of us
therefore were sufficiently clothed, after getting rid of our friars'
robes, to appear in the streets. Scarce a minute was occupied in
throwing them off. Shoving them up into a dark corner, we again hurried
out, in the hopes of falling in with Captain Radford. It still wanted
several minutes to the time when I expected to meet them. We had taken
our station near the wall at a convenient spot whence we could watch it.
Great was our delight when we saw a rope ladder let over the wall, and,
one by one, a number of armed men descending by it. Among them I
recognised Captain Radford and A'Dale. We hurried forward to meet them.
The former Master Overton warmly embraced.
"Brother of my sainted wife," said the captain; "I little expected thus
to meet you! We parted in anger: we meet as real brothers."
There was no time for the exchange of further words, but the men forming
in close order, we marched steadily along the narrow streets. At
another time this would have been impossible; but there was, at present,
little risk of any one interfering with our proceedings. At length we
reached the door which Jacob Naas had marked, and, with an agitated
heart, at once stepped forward and gave the number of raps agreed on
with old Dame Trond. It was an anxious moment. I counted the seconds
as they passed by, dreading lest, after all, she might have played us
false, or have been unable to accomplish her purpose. Crowbars had been
brought by our party, and it was agreed that, should the door not be
opened, we should force our way in. I waited anxiously, drawing my
breath with an unusual quickness. I listened: I fancied I heard a bolt
withdrawn. Slowly the door opened. I sprang forward, and caught sight
of a figure in the doorway. Could it be Aveline?
"Hush!" said a voice from within; "I will trust to you for my reward."
In another instant Aveline herself fell almost fainting into my arms.
She quickly recovered herself.
"Where is my father?" she asked. "Is he safe?"
Captain Radford stepped forward, and, supporting Aveline, we all hurried
towards the walls. There was no time to hear who had carried Aveline
off, or by what means she had been set free. I only knew that it was by
the promised instrumentality of the old woman, and felt that she, at all
events, deserved the reward I had agreed to pay. Few words were
exchanged among us till we got safely back to the wall. This had now to
be scaled. As yet, as far as we could ascertain, we had been
undiscovered. Two of the seamen volunteered to mount the wall first, to
see that our road was clear, and to guard the top till the rest had
gained it. The first having mounted and made the signal that no one was
near, the rest of the men followed. Captain Radford then, taking
Aveline in his arms, mounted the ladder, Master Overton and I holding it
below. As he reached the top, she was safely lifted up. The rest of
the party quickly followed, when the ladder was once more drawn up, and
let down again on the other side. We had now to descend. While I stood
on the top, I could not help looking anxiously round, lest we might be
observed from any of the neighbouring towers.
The place at which Captain Radford and his men had landed was upwards of
a mile from the part of the wall we had scaled. He had directed those
in charge of the boats to row some little way down the river, and not to
return till he should make a signal for them to do so. On our way
Aveline gave me a brief account of what had happened to her, more of
which I heard afterwards. She was on her knees, praying that those dear
to her might be protected from the dangers which threatened them, when
she was startled by hearing the footsteps of several persons approaching
the room. Before she had time to secure the door, they burst it open,
and one of them, throwing a cloak over her, bore her downstairs. In
vain she struggled--in vain she cried out. Overawing the servants, they
hurried her into the streets, and carried her rapidly along till they
reached the door of a large house which stood open. They entered, and
she was conveyed upstairs into a handsome room, when she was placed on a
sofa and left alone. Her sole attendant was a young girl who seemed to
be dumb, and, at all events, from her she could not obtain the slightest
information of any description.
From the behaviour and language of the persons who had committed the
outrage, she was of opinion that they were far above the lower classes.
They had treated her with perfect respect; and it seemed that their
chief object in carrying her off was to obtain a ransom, under the
belief that she was the daughter of Master Clough or of Sir Thomas
Gresham. She added that, on the previous day, an old woman had come to
the house, and had had some conversation with its inmates. She had
visited her also, and told her to keep up her spirits, and to be
prepared to return to her friends within a few hours. True to her word,
she had appeared that morning, and, no one interfering, had, at the time
she had promised, led her downstairs.
"She, however, made me undertake that you would carry the promised
reward to her house this afternoon, as soon as you had seen me in safety
on board."
I, of course, told Aveline that I felt myself bound at all risks to
fulfil my promise to the old woman, and that I should do well to hasten
back at once and pay her the money; I should be able to do so and to
overtake them by the time they reached the boats. A'Dale insisted on
accompanying me.
"I wish that some other means could be found for sending the old woman
her reward," said Captain Radford; "for I fear the risk to you will be
very great, should the part you have taken in liberating my dear
brother-in-law and daughter be discovered."
I answered that I considered that, duty should be first thought of, and
that a promise, to whomsoever made, was a promise still, and that
therefore, at all risks, I would willingly undertake the task.
Aveline was, I saw, very anxious on the subject; and I did my best to
console her by pointing out that I had passed through so many dangers,
that I had every reason to hope that I might be preserved as before.
With the purse of gold, promised to Dame Trond, under my cloak, I once
more, with A'Dale, entered the ill-fated city of Antwerp.