GOLDWELL HALL.
Goldwell Hall, Caldwell Hall, or, as it was afterwards designated on
account of the frigidity of its stern and haughty bigot, Mistress
Alice De Clinton, Cold Hall, was a spacious building, and stood upon
an imposing eminence at the eastern boundary of Ipswich, being held
by the Bishop of Norwich, as guardian of his niece, and afterwards
appropriated to religious purposes by its proud possessor.
It was there that, in the times of the persecution of the Protestants
in Suffolk, many of those furious zealots who sat in conclave upon
the Reformers used to meet and deliberate upon the best method of
putting an end to the growing errors of enlightenment.
Alice De Clinton had, like many haughty favorites, learned to hate
the unfortunate Wolsey, when she found herself no longer supported in
the dignity of her imperial influence in his house.
Alice retired from the splendor of Wolsey's court, carried with her
the keenest hatred of the Reformers, on the very account of Ellen's
reception at York Place; but when she came to Goldwell Hall--when she
found that Latimer, Ellen, and Lord De Freston, were the most popular
friends of the heretics, and lived in Ipswich, beloved by
thousands--it was said that even her cold, stern, and immoveable
nature was roused to rage, and she exclaimed--
'The fire shall burn them or me!'
Strange language for a high-born dame; but in those days, as in
these, unsubdued tempers, fed by superstition, will be guilty of any
cruelties, and yet call them virtues.
Alice was a compound of hatred, such a character as can scarcely be
seen now-a-days; she would have pricked the dead tongue of Ellen with
a savage joy, could she have had it plucked out and laid before her
whilst she had a bodkin in her hand.
She fed hatred in her own bosom very willingly, and the insidious
priests of Rome found her hall so cold to anything like love, that
they could induce her to believe and almost to do anything they bade
her.
Rome was an idol in her heart, because it suited the pride of her
nature. The religion of Rome, which was corrupted so as to exalt the
Virgin Mary into being styled the Queen of Heaven, was easily adapted
to make a proud woman believe she was a sort of queen upon earth.
The elevation it gave to female influence in the affairs of the
church--the pretended excellence which it attributed to female
devotion, when carried to external self-denials, instead of inward
humility--all tended to puff up the owner of Goldwell Hall, and make
her conceive that she had more influence in the church than the
bishop, and much more dignity than if she had gone to Winton.
She was closeted with Father Mortimer Duncan and Thomas Pountenay,
priests of St. John the Baptist, in which chapelry stood the domain
of Goldwell, and talking to them about the then unsettled state of
affairs in the church; and something may be gathered very instructive
from their conversation, as showing the kind of intrigue then going
on under the garb of devotion.
'Can nothing be done, father, against these pestilent heretics? Has
the church lost all her power, because these infatuated people have
returned from their impeachment without conviction, through the
leniency of your proud townsman, Wolsey?
'Why, though belonging to Ipswich, and associated with his youth,
should he have been so weak as to spare the strong arm of Rome, when
he could have crushed this monster in the person of De Freston? He
has verily done more to root disaffection in his native town, by this
poor weakness of his heart, than if he had boldly delivered that
heretic to the flames. But can nothing be done?'
'We have been praying in our chapel, lady, beside those ever-burning
candles, which thou hast so graciously presented to our Lady, and, as
we looked upon the seven flames, we saw them divide; yes, lady, the
burning flames of thy candles all appeared to be divided; and all on
a sudden one half was, by an unseen hand, extinguished. We communed
deeply upon this subject; we wondered what it could import, the more
especially as we both perceived in the seven flames two illuminated
letters, A. and E., just as brother Pountenay has here depicted them;
what can it import?'
'Which was extinguished--which half--which letter, father?' exclaimed
the proud lady, with a degree of agitation which rendered her whole
frame tremulous.
'It was the letter E.'
'Now our lady be praised for that!' exclaimed the marble Alice. 'I
can perceive its importance! It is sufficient confirmation for me!
It will do, good father--it will do! It is a sign--yes it is a sign
to me from heaven! It shall come to pass! I have long thought upon
it. It has been upon my mind; and this wonder, which you both have
witnessed in my candles, shall assuredly be before long revealed.
Was it in both the candles?'
'It was.'
'Were both halves extinguished at each side of the altar at the same
time?'
'At the same moment, lady.'
'Good! it is as I conjectured! O, Father Duncan, how wonderful are
the manifestations given to the faithful! I can see its import. I
know it well! It is a good omen for the Church of Rome, and it is
well I understand it.'
'Thou art a wonderful prophetess, lady, we are but instruments; but
if thou art enlightened from the burning of thine own sacred candles,
we hope it imports only good to thee.'
'Good to me! yes, yes! good to me! It is always good to me to be
employed in the service of Rome. Hark! the warder's bell announces a
stranger. Go! fathers and friends Duncan and Pountenay; go! ye must
require refreshment after your long matin devotion. Go into the
refectory and partake of what thou wilt. My stranger's bell has
answered to the porter's, so that I expect not a known
friend--therefore retire.'
'It will answer, brother Duncan, it will answer! She will do it!
The end justifies the means, and if it be but for the good of our
fraternity, no matter though a foolish woman doth it.'
'But had we not better prompt her somehow, to let it be on a stormy
night?'
'Leave that to me. I can introduce it. True, a night of thunder and
lightning would be a very plausible suggestion; and it would be a
good subject for us to descant upon the vengeance of Heaven against
the heretics--leave it to me!'