THE PLOT.
Father Duncan sat in the eastern window of Goldwell Hall, on the eve
of Christmas, in earnest conversation with the Lady Alice.
'It would be a pious offering to the shrine of the Virgin, if, lady,
these heretics could but receive a shock on the day of the nativity.
It would carry along with it such a conviction of vengeance from on
high, that all the pious in Ipswich would be moved to prayer, and all
the heretics affrighted might see and know that the Papal hierarchy
are supported by miraculous interference.
'What thou dost imagine, relative to that extinction of the flame of
E. in thy votive candles, must be given thee; for the application is
so apposite, that nothing but supernatural suggestion could possibly
have presented it to thy mind.
'Thy devotions, Lady Alice are so intense, thy supplications to the
Virgin Mary so earnest, that she compels the powers of the heavens to
listen to her voice, and to grant thee thy request. The enemies of
Rome must be extinguished. It is impossible that two flames should
shine together with such opposite lights as heresy and faith; and
that which we saw extinguished is, as thou dost premise, a sure
presage of the establishment and extinction of those very powers
which, in the persons of Alice and Ellen, represent the A. and E. in
the flames, or Apostolic and Erroneous, a sure presage I say, most
noble lady, of the extinction of Error, and establishment of the
Apostolic See.
'Ellen Latimer, the daughter of Lord De Freston, is the most subtle
enemy of the Church of Rome. Her power must be extinguished in
Ipswich; and what so effectual as the destruction of her mansion, and
that of her ignoble and heretical father on the same night?'
'It is well conceived, Lady Alice, and thou hast been quick, indeed,
in the application of thy means. Those means are put into thine
hand, thou needest not to be afraid, they will assuredly succeed; and
we shall see a blaze both far and near which cannot fail to be
convincing.'
'Oh, may they convince the impious enemies of Rome that they cannot
prosper! I have well assured Abdil Foley of his reward. He has
engaged to fire the wainscot in those unfrequented apartments of the
castle of De Freston, which, ever since the death of Lady De Freston,
have been closed, and are only occasionally visited by the lord
himself.'
'Abdil gains access thereto from the servant's apartments, and as he
has been engaged in some repairs in that part of the building, he has
conveyed thereto a quantity of shavings, and inserted them behind the
panels, so that the slightest influence of fire will spread beyond
the possibility of its being extinguished.'
'Abdil will be among the merry-makers at the hall, and will seize his
opportunity, just as he is about to leave for his own house, to go up
into his son's room for his cloak. It will be at twelve o'clock. He
will escape, and we must provide for him should he be suspected.
None have any suspicions at the present time.'
'Abdil is now in my hall, and only awaits thy promised absolution to
convince you that he is a good Catholic, ready to do the bidding of
any of the priests of Rome. Shall I send him unto thee, Father
Duncan?'
'Do, my daughter.'
Abdil Foley was one of those weak men, but strong, resolute devotees,
who pinned his faith entirely to the word of the priest, so as to
take everything he told him to do as a message from heaven. He had
been taught to think Lord De Freston and his daughter had changed
their profession of true religion for the false one.
He had been one among others who, though a tenant of the lord of
Freston, had not been disturbed from his occupation, although the
minds of many around him had changed through the very wise and able
exposition of the learned noble who often instructed his tenantry.
He had not been dispossessed because he retained his attachment to
Rome.
Having occasion frequently to visit Ipswich as a carpenter of
considerable skill, he had been noticed by the priesthood for his
bending his will to their suggestions, and the infatuated man had, as
many before and after have done, allowed himself to be made the tool
of the hierarchy to do things diametrically opposed to the Word of
God.
He had found himself completely under the hand of the lady of Cold
Hall, and had been so piously inspired with her spirit, that he had
promised, as a religious act of faith, to set fire to his master's
premises.
Father Duncan understood the character of the man the moment he saw
him, and adapted his mode of address accordingly, as the profound
fool entered the apartment, bowing to the very earth, as if he was
entering into the presence of the Pope himself.
'Abdil, my son, thou art welcome to our presence. Come hither, that
I may lay my hands upon thee, and give thee absolution. Thy
resolution to serve the church of thy fathers is nobly taken, and the
destruction of heretics is a duty which every true son of Rome must
feel to be a privilege, as he is therein made an instrument of
vengeance upon the ungodly.
'The pious lady of this mansion has informed me, that thou dost
desire to have absolution from all sin in the act thou art about to
perform against that pestilent heretic, Lord De Freston. We give it
thee freely and absolutely, and do not only assure thee of perfect
pardon for all thy past sins, but for this act thou shall have free
grace and exculpation for all sins thou mayest commit for twelve
months to come.
'Therefore, my son, kneel down, that we may bless thee and strengthen
thy hands by the taking of them between our own, as an assurance of
their being clean from all iniquity.'
Abdil Foley knelt with the most profound submission, closed the palms
of his hands as if they were two boards glued together, and inserted
them with reverence between the opening palms of Father Duncan.
No wonder that he should be elevated by the imposition. The terms
were such as the greatest villain who had any faith in Rome might
conscientiously accept, and proceed, as Abdil did, to put in practice
the most diabolical act under the pretence of doing God's service.
He returned to Freston seven times more infatuated and diabolical
than he had ever before been. The poor fellow was of a naturally
kind-hearted, easy temper, but was weak, ignorant, and easily imposed
upon; just such as the priests of that day sought for to do the work
they dared not themselves perform.
Everything was arranged, but too successfully, for the destruction of
Lord De Freston's castle, and the late residence of Ellen, his
daughter, in the centre of Ipswich, so long belonging to the
Wingfields. Abdil had been made instrumental in the latter as well
as the former, under the pretence of being employed about some
repairs; so that he was in the plot, and sworn to secrecy.
We shall see, however, that if vengeance inflicted by man is suffered
to prevail for a moment, it recoils upon the head of the perpetrator,
even when he is seeking the ruin of the innocent. How awful were the
intrigues of those days! Truth requires no intrigue, certainly no
violence, to defend it. It is so calm and exalted above passion,
that it scorns alike to put in force absolute cruelty, as it does
absolute condemnation or acquittal.