THE GREETING.
A merry laugh and cheerful greeting saluted the ear of Wolsey as he
stepped from the boat to the stairs, and received the cordial welcome
of De Freston.
'How is our uncle Daundy? He is a loyal subject to his Majesty, and
as friendly a supporter of the rights of the inhabitants of Ipswich
as any man who lived before him. How fares your father, and your
good and estimable mother? Thomas, let me introduce you to my cousin
Latimer. There is so much wisdom in your young brains, that you must
be akin to each other at Oxford, if not related by blood.'
The scholars bowed, and each could discern in the ease of the other,
that there was more within worth knowing than any external qualities.
They had never met before; but each had, through De Freston, obtained
considerable knowledge of the character of the other.
Latimer was five years older than Wolsey, and already possessed the
advantages of an Oxford school-training, and a university
scholarship; so that, though he had heard much from Ellen and her
father of young Wolsey's attainments, and, though he knew them
capable of forming a good judgment, nevertheless he could not avoid
feeling himself superior to his new friend, which Wolsey, from having
attained a conscious superiority over every one with whom he had yet
conversed upon classical subjects, was not in the least disposed to
allow. He was desirous to meet Latimer, as much to measure himself
by him, and judge of his chance of future acquirements, as to see one
of whom he had heard so much, and who was a relative of the noble
lord, his patron and friend.
'I am glad to meet you, Master Latimer,' he said, with the ease and
importance of a man of years and station; 'it has unfortunately
happened hitherto that, in your various visits to your relatives in
this country, it has never been my lot to enjoy one hour of
conversation with you. The Lady Ellen can tell you with what avidity
I have read your letters, and indulged with her in those descriptive
powers which you have so ably used upon the subject of this Tower. I
hope you have already found that neither your elaborate plan of
architectural beauty, nor your advice concerning the periods of
studious regularity, have been neglected. Many have been the hours
of improvement which have been permitted me in the society of these,
our mutual friends--varied, indeed, according to your express
instructions, and I can truly add, never tediously employed.'
There was something so manly, so easy, so unaffected, and yet so
convincing in this youth's manner of address, that, in a moment,
young Latimer was convinced that he had no common character to deal
with. The thought of superiority vanished, and he found himself
compelled, by the unexpected dignity and simplicity of the speech he
had heard, to reply instanter upon terms of equality.
'My loss has equalled yours, but I will hope that, from this day
forward, we may become better acquainted, and have more frequent
opportunities of exchanging our opinions upon those classical
subjects which are at this time beginning to circulate more freely
among the nations of Europe. I see you have been reading the first
printed edition of Homer, which I had the gratification of forwarding
to Lord De Freston, and I am glad to see it in such hands, for I
understand you can appreciate the beauties of the poet in every
passage. I long to have some hours' conversation with you. My fair
cousin has had the privilege of hearing you read the whole of the
"Iliad," and she has greatly excited my curiosity concerning you.
The Tower is complete, and both Lord De Freston and Ellen tell me
that the place I proposed for acquiring knowledge is so good a one,
as to make each day, nay, each hour, so devoted, of incalculable
profit.'
'You must come with us, Thomas, to the Tower, at once,' laid Lord De
Freston's daughter; 'I have ordered breakfast in my favorite room,
and I shall confine you all, the greater portion of this day, for the
indulgence of your conversation. I have often had each of you as my
companion through the successive gradations of my ascending steps of
knowledge. To-day you must permit me to be a listener to both. I
greet you, therefore, as my guests in the library, and if you will
only pursue the thread of your discourse upon ancient minstrelsy, I
will be as unwearied as Penelope, and, I am sure, far more happy.'
'You do me great honor, Ellen. I can never refuse any of your
requests, and one so agreeable as this it would be a punishment to be
excused.'
'On with you then, young people! on, to the Tower!' exclaimed her
father. And without more ceremony, whilst De Freston remained behind
to give some charge to his boatmen, the young people bent their way
towards a lofty tower, embosomed in the trees of the park, but
commanding such scenes of the river and its banks, as, even now, in
the nineteenth century, could not fail to create admiration.
The Tower still stands, apparently in the pride of beauty, looking
over the waves of the Orwell; and the author has ascended to its
summit, and indulged, years long gone by, in thoughts which now find
their way into these pages.
Freston Tower was first designed by William Latimer, whence it was,
for many years, called by the name of '_Latimer's Tower_.' It was
built by the Lord De Freston, his kinsman, who was related to the
unfortunate William de la Pole, who took his final leave of his
Suffolk friends at this spot, before he was beheaded upon the broad
sea.
The converse of the party, as they went towards the Tower, touched
upon this point, and, singularly enough, was introduced by Wolsey, as
an example of ill-fated ambition.
'My father tells me that it was from this place that William de la
Pole, the first Duke of Suffolk, took his departure thirty years ago.
What an ambitious family has that been, and how soon do the rewards
of iniquity fall upon the wicked!'
'My grandfather,' replied Ellen, 'was the last friend that met him at
Ipswich, and brought him on his way to our castle. The vessel which
was to bear him into exile could not get higher up the river than the
channel opposite the priory, and from this spot my father's barge
carried him on board his foreign ship. Alas! he soon heard of his
destruction!'
'And must wo not own, fair Ellen, that the retributive hand of
justice was here displayed against the murderer of the good Humphrey,
Duke of Gloucester? No sooner is de la Pole beyond the precincts of
his native power, than he finds he cannot escape. Oh! that
Gloucester's friends had prevailed to keep the Parliament in the
metropolis, and this blot upon the escutcheon of the Duke of Suffolk
would never have been seen.'
'Say, rather, Latimer, that it would have been well for the merchant
of Ravenspurn to have kept to his northern port, at the mouth of the
Humber, or have come no further south than Hull, than to have
purchased lands, title, and fame, to fall by such a foul and fiendish
crime, and to finish his right of nobility in England!'
'I do not hold with thee, Wolsey, in such a doctrine, that man is
never to aspire to lift himself beyond the mud. The mouth of the
Humber may give birth to as noble blood as the banks of the Orwell;
and, if I mistake not thy spirit, thou wouldst bid fair to be a
candidate for nobility.'
'It should not be my wealth that should entitle me thereto. The
king's favour should be purchased with wisdom, not with gold.'
'Yet wisdom brings gold as naturally as that folly wastes it.'
'Ay! but it wastes faster than it is attained. But here we are at
the Tower.'
'Come, then, in to breakfast; I see Lord de Freston coming; let us
drop the subject of the de la Poles: it always carries with it a pang
to my father's heart.'
The party then stood before the celebrated Tower, the construction of
which arose from an accidental conversation between De Freston and
Latimer, two years previous. The latter had seen the uncommon genius
and application of Ellen to study, and had remarked to her father
that, if her studies were not diversified, she would lose the
sprightliness and vivacity of youth, and forget quickly what she had
learnt with difficulty.
'The way to retain anything is to let an impression of it remain upon
the brain. Overstrained toil does but enfeeble the body, as
overstrained application to any mental pursuit will assuredly one day
create disgust. It will actually impair the powers of perception;
and men who, at one time, have been the most intellectual students,
find themselves overpowered by not being able to diversify their
occupation. Besides,' added Latimer, 'I have found the body sicken,
the brain turn dizzy, and the whole man enfeebled by too much
application to one subject of thought. Hands were given us for
manual labor, and our feet for bodily exercise, so that our frame may
be preserved in health. Therefore, I say, diversify the occupation
of your daughter's time and mind; and body and soul will be
benefited.'
'Ah!' replied De Freston, 'the theory is good, but how is it to be
done? It is now that I feel myself a widower, when my faithful
child, rising into womanhood, requires the matronly guidance of a
mother. If you could project a plan likely to be successful in its
operation, you would indeed add a charm to my existence I could not
easily repay.'
'I can fully imagine your anxiety; and, had I a daughter, at your
time of life, and with your means at hand, I would follow the very
plan I now propose.'
'What is it, cousin Latimer? What is it?'
'Simply this: I would build a tower in the liveliest spot of my
domain. Every room of that tower should command an extensive view of
the beautiful scenery around me, and I would dedicate each to a
different occupation. Each should claim a separate hour for the work
to be performed, and the higher story should possess the greatest
charm; so that neither the hands nor the head of my child should be
weary.'
'Well said! young philosopher. Let me hear your proposition more
minutely laid down. I can imagine the utility, and see much good in
your proposal. I will carry it out if you can satisfy my daughter as
well as myself of the probability of its having a beneficial
tendency.'
'To your daughter, then, as well as to yourself, will I unfold my
scheme.'
It was agreed that the young man should write down his plan, and
submit it to De Freston and Ellen on the following day.
This was most gallantly and ably done by young Latimer in the
following poetical lines, which were presented to De Freston after
the evening's meal:
De Freston's Tower.
Let not thy daughter's mind be fix'd
On learning only, but be mix'd
With arts and studies light:
And let her progress be to rise,
Through woman's duties to be wise.
She will thy care requite.
Nor let her in a cloistered cell,
Like monks and friars dully dwell,
Deprived of Nature's face.
Let life and liberty be seen,
With health and energy, to glean
Whate'er has virtue's grace.
The mind is useless, if the hand,
No occupation can command,
To ease the learning gained;
The eye grows dim o'er books alone
And dull and heavy in its tone,
If once 'tis overstrained.
Had I a daughter, I would try
To give of learning such supply
As other works should crown:
I'd build a tower six stories there.
With rooms ascending by the stair,
Each one with purpose known.
I'd choose a spot, whence far and wide
Yon lovely river in its pride
Glides gracefully along;
Where every room which higher rose,
A scene extended should disclose,
Fit theme for poet's song.
The basement story on the ground,
Should be with benches fitted round,
And wide the porch and door,
That here my daughter every morn,
Should know the wants of the lowly born,
And listen to the poor.
The story next I'd dedicate
To works of industry, of late
Becoming females bland:
To needlework or tapestry,
Her active fingers should apply.
Taught by some Flemish hand.
The story next--to music's sway
I should devote, that she might play
On lute or lyre with skill:
Her voice accompanied should sound,
Enchanting through the groves around,
And make all nature thrill.
My next to art of painting raised,
Should be with lightest windows glased.
A studio bright and clear:
The tints of nature should be seen,
Landscapes and figures intervene,
Alternate studies here.
My next should be with books supplied,
And writing instruments beside,
With learning's aids at hand:
This study should devoted be,
To learning's richest treasury
All other rooms command.
My last and highest should be given
To contemplate the stars of heaven,
And study their design:
Astronomy should here unfold
Worlds upon worlds, whose works untold
No mortal can define.
And here sometimes at night I'd be,
To let my daughter clearly see,
How works of wisdom shine:
The fires above her soul should charm,
As fires below our bodies warm,
That we may not repine.
So gratified was fair Ellen with this poetical device, that she
scarcely closed her eyes that night for thinking of the spot, and of
the kind of ornamental tower which should be raised for such a
purpose. The next day, the site was fixed upon by Lord De Freston
and his daughter; and Latimer promised to make plans of the
dimensions of the rooms, and drawings of the elevation. How
beautifully the works were completed even the lapse of so many
centuries has not failed to prove. Workmen were soon engaged,
Daundy's ships brought the Caen stone for ornamental copings, and the
bricks from Ipswich were soon laid, and a tower, according in every
respect with the plan of the projector, was erected.
It was before this building that the party then stood, and not until
the previous day had Latimer beheld his fair project carried into
execution. He had, from time to time, visited the work, and had
corresponded with Lord De Freston and his cousin Ellen, concerning
its completion. This, however, was his first visit since the
graceful tower had been opened, and dedicated to the purpose for
which it had been projected. Ellen, indeed, had occupied the
different rooms as dedicated to her pursuits.
The lower room, to charity, from 7 to 8 o'clock.
The second, to working tapestry, from 9 to 10.
The third, to music, from 10 to noon.
The fourth, to painting, from 12 to 1.
The fifth, to literature, from 1 to 2.
The sixth, to astronomy, at even.
There was a turret from this last chamber upon which the only
instruments then used in descrying and describing the stars were
often fixed, when the evenings were such as would allow an
observation, from the leads of the building, of the illumined sky.
They arrived at the foot of the Tower, where awaiting their approach
numerous applicants for the bounty of the Lord De Freston were
sitting upon the benches around. A kind word Ellen had for all, a
gracious greeting she gave them, and after distributing various
donations, and making suitable inquiries, she dismissed them, one by
one, to their respective homes, through the different paths across
the park.
Ellen welcomed her visitors, and followed them up the winding
staircase into the first apartment. She would not allow them to stop
and admire the handy work she was then engaged in, namely, a piece of
tapestry for Lord De Freston, representing the death of Harold, at
Battle. Neither would she pause to indulge them that day with the
sound of her harp, though there it stood, and before her some of the
Welsh lays then so celebrated among minstrels. Neither would she
permit them to waste time upon the beautiful scenery from her
painting-room, though the bay-window from this height gave exquisite
views for the lover of the picturesque.
Breakfast was set out in the room of literature, and thither she
hurried them, determined that she would pass over the usual routine
of her every-day engagements to gratify her mind with the
conversation of her two intellectual friends.
'I have but a short day for your company, as my father has determined
to go to Ipswich upon the business so interesting to you, Thomas
Wolsey, and we must all accompany him this afternoon. Let us, then,
lose no time in thinking about the progress I have made, but let your
conversation be concerning those things by which you are surrounded.'
Handsome shelves, containing costly manuscripts and volumes of such
works as were then printed, graced the sides of the room, and the
only vacant places were the angular spaces between the windows.
Breakfast was placed upon a small table in the bay-window, and
consisted of such plain fare as milk, eggs and butter, with a few
preserves, which were the supplies for the table in that early day.
It is true that the serving-men in the lord's hall had more
substantial feast, for cold venison and boar's-head with large
quarters of pork, were consumed upon broad wooden plates, and not a
few of those plates were seen upon the long tables in the hall, so
large was this nobleman's domestic establishment.