"I have a soul and body that exact
A comfortable care in many ways."--R. Browning
Don Juan's peril was extreme. Well known as he was to many of the
imprisoned Lutherans, it seemed a desperate chance that, amongst the
numerous confessions wrung from them, no mention of his name should
occur. He knew himself deeply implicated in the crime for which they
were suffering--the one unpardonable crime in the eyes of Rome.
Moreover, unlike his brother, whose temperament would have led him to
avoid danger by every lawful means, he was by nature brave even to
rashness, and bold even to recklessness. It was his custom to wear his
heart on his lips; and though of late stern necessity had taught him to
conceal what he thought, it was neither his inclination nor his habit to
disguise what he felt. Probably, not even his desire to aid Carlos
would have prevented his compromising himself by some rash word or deed,
had not the soft hand of Dona Beatriz, strong in its weakness, held him
back from destruction. Not for one instant could he forget her terrible
vow. With this for ever before his eyes, it is little marvel if he was
willing to do anything, to bear anything--ay, almost to feign
anything--rather than involve her he loved in a fate inconceivably
horrible.
And--alas for the brave, honest-hearted, truthful Don Juan Alvarez!--it
was often necessary to feign. If he meant to remain in Seville, and to
avoid the dungeons of the Inquisition, he must obviate--or
remove--suspicion by protesting, both by word and action, his devotion
to the Catholic Church, and his hatred of heresy.
Could he stoop to this? Gradually, and more and more, as each day's
emergency made it more and more necessary, he did stoop to it. He told
himself it was all for his brother's sake. And though such a line of
conduct was intensely repugnant to his character, it was not contrary to
his principles. To conceal an opinion is one thing, to deny a friend
quite another. And while Carlos had found a Friend, Juan had only
embraced an opinion.
He himself would have said that he had found Truth--had devoted himself
to the cause of Freedom. But where were truth and freedom now, with all
the bright anticipations of their ultimate triumph which he had been
wont to indulge? As far as his native land was concerned (and it must
be owned that his mental eye scarcely reached beyond "the Spains"), a
single day had blotted out his glowing visions for ever. Almost at the
same moment, and as if by some secret preconcerted signal, the leading
Protestants in Seville, in Valladolid, all over the kingdom, had been
arrested and thrown into prison. Swiftly, silently, with the utmost
order and regularity, had the whole thing been accomplished. Every name
that Juan had heard Carlos mention with admiration and sympathy was now
the name of a helpless captive. The Reformed Church of Spain existed no
longer, or existed only in dungeons.
In what quarter the storm had first arisen, that burst so suddenly upon
the community of the faithful, Don Juan never knew. It is probable the
Holy Office had long been silently watching its prey, waiting for the
moment of action to arrive. In Seville, it is said, a spy had been set
upon some of Losada's congregation, who revealed their meeting to the
Inquisitors. While in Valladolid, the foul treachery of the wife of one
of the Protestants furnished the Holy Office with the means of bringing
her husband and his friends to the stake.
Don Juan, whose young heart had lately beat so high with hope, now bowed
his head in despair. And despairing of freedom, he lost his confidence
in truth also. In opinion he was still a decided Lutheran. He accepted
every doctrine of the Reformed as against the Roman Catholic creed. But
the hold he once had upon these doctrines as living realities was
slackened. He did not doubt that justification by faith was a
scriptural dogma, but he did not think it necessary to die for it.
Compared with the tremendous interest of the fate of Carlos and the
peril of Beatriz, and amidst his desperate struggles to aid the one and
shield the other, doctrinal questions grew pale and faint to him.
Nor had he yet learned to throw himself, in utter weakness, upon a
strength greater than his own, and a love that knows no limits. He did
not feel his weakness: he felt strong, in the strength of a brave heart
struggling against cruel wrong; strong to resist, and, if it might be,
to conquer his fate.
At first he cherished a hope that his brother was not actually in the
secret dungeons of the Inquisition. For so great was the number of the
captives, that the public gaols of the city and the convent prisons were
full of them; and some had to be lodged even in private houses. As
Carlos had been one of the last arrested, there seemed reason to suppose
that he might be amongst those thus accommodated; in which case it would
be much easier both to communicate with him, and to alleviate his fate,
than if he were within the gloomy walls of the Triana; there might be,
moreover, the possibility of forming some plan for his deliverance.
But Juan's diligent and persevering search resulted at last in the
conviction that his brother was in the "Santa Casa" itself. This
conviction sent a chill to his heart. He shuddered to think of his
present suffering, whilst he feared the worst for the future, supposing
that the Inquisitors would take care to lodge in their own especial
fortress those whom they esteemed the most heinous transgressors.
He engaged a lodging in the Triana suburb, which the river, spanned by a
bridge of boats, separated from the city. There were several reasons
for this choice of residence; but by far the greatest was, that those
who lingered beneath the walls of the grim old castle could sometimes
see, behind its grated windows, spectral faces raised to catch the few
scanty gleams of daylight which fell to their lot. Long weary hours did
Juan watch there, hoping to recognize the face he loved. But always in
vain.
When he went into the city, it was sometimes for other purposes than to
visit Dona Beatriz. It was as often to seek the precincts of the
magnificent Cathedral, and to pace up and down that terrace whose
massive truncated pillars, raised when the Romans founded a heathen
temple on the spot, had stood throughout the long ages of Moslem
domination. Now the place was consecrated to Christian worship, and yet
it was put to no hallowed use. Rich merchants, in many a varying garb,
that told of different nations, trod the stately colonnade, and bought
and sold and made bargains there. For in those days (strange as seems
to us the irreverence of the so-called "ages of faith") that terrace was
the royal exchange of Seville, then a mercantile city of great
importance. Don Juan Alvarez diligently resorted thither, and held many
a close and earnest conversation with a keen-eyed, hawk-nosed Jew, whom
he met there.
Isaac Osorio, or more properly, Isaac ben Osorio, was a notorious
money-lender, who had often "obliged" Don Manuel's sons, not unfairly
requiring heavy interest to counter-balance the hazardous nature of his
investments. Callings branded as unlawful are apt to prove particularly
gainful. The Jew was willing to "oblige" Don Juan also, upon certain
conditions. He was not by any means ignorant of the purpose for which
his money was needed. Of course he was himself a Christian in name, for
none other would have been permitted to live upon Spanish ground. But
by what wrongs, tortures, agonies worse than death, he and those like
him had been forced to accept Christian baptism, will never be known
until Christ comes again to judge the false Church that has slandered
him. Will it be nothing in his sight that millions of the souls for
whom he died have been driven to hate his Name--that Name so unutterably
precious?
Osorio derived grim satisfaction from the thought that the Christians
were now imprisoning, torturing, burning each other. It reminded him of
the grand old days in his people's history, when the Lord of hosts was
wont to stretch forth his mighty arm and trouble the armies of the
aliens, turning every man's hand against his brother. Let the Gentiles
bite and devour one another, the child of Abraham could look upon their
quarrels with calm indifference. But if he had any sympathy, it was for
the weaker side. He was rather disposed to help a Christian youth who
was trying to save his brother from the same cruel fangs in which so
many sons of Israel had writhed and struggled. Don Juan, therefore,
found him accommodating, and even lenient. From time to time he
advanced to him considerable sums, first upon the jewels he brought with
him from Nuera, and then, alas! upon his patrimony itself.
Not without a keen pang did Juan thus mortgage the inheritance of his
fathers. But he began to realize the bitter truth that a flight from
Spain, and a new career in some foreign land, would eventually be the
only course open to him--if indeed he escaped with life.
Nor would the armies of Spain henceforth be more free to him than her
soil. Fortunately, the necessity for rejoining his regiment had not
arisen. For the brief war in which he served was over now; and as the
promised captaincy had not yet been assigned to him, he was at liberty
for the present to remain at home.
He largely bribed the head-gaoler of the inquisitorial prison, besides
supplying him liberally with necessaries and comforts for his brother's
use. Caspar Benevidio bore the worst of characters, both for cruelty
and avarice; still, Juan had no resource but to trust implicitly to his
honour, in the hope that at least some portion of what he gave would be
allowed to reach the prisoner. But not a single gleam of information
about him could be gained from Benevidio, who, like all other servants
of the Inquisition, was bound by a solemn oath to reveal nothing that
passed within its walls.
He also bribed some of the attendants and satellites of the all-powerful
Inquisitor, Munebraga. It was his desire to obtain a personal interview
with the great man himself, that he might have the opportunity of trying
the intercession of Don Dinero, to whose advances he was known to be not
altogether obdurate.
For the purpose of soliciting an audience, he repaired one evening to
the splendid gardens belonging to the Triana, to await the Inquisitor,
who was expected shortly to return from a sail for pleasure on the
Guadalquivir. He was sick at heart of the gorgeous tropical plants that
surrounded him, of the myrtle-blossoms that were showered on his path;
of all that told of the hateful pomp and luxury in which the persecutor
lived, while his victims pined unpitied in loathsome dungeons. Yet
neither by word, look, nor sign dared he betray the rage that was
gnawing his heart.
At length the shouts of the populace, who thronged the river's side,
announced the approach of their idol; for such Munebraga was for the
time. Clad in costly silks and jewels, and surrounded by a brilliant
little court, composed both of churchmen and laymen, the "Lord
Inquisitor" stepped from his splendid purple-decked barge. Don Juan
threw himself in his way, and modestly requested an audience. His
bearing, though perfectly respectful, was certainly less obsequious than
that to which Munebraga had been accustomed of late. So the minister of
the Holy Office turned from him haughtily, though, as Juan bitterly
thought, "his father would have been proud to hold the stirrup for
mine." "This is no fitting time to talk of business, senor," he said.
"We are weary to-night, and need repose."
At that moment a Franciscan friar advanced from the group, and with his
lowest bow and most reverent manner approached the Inquisitor. "With
the gracious permission of my very good lord, I shall address myself to
the caballero, and report his errand to your sanctity. I have the
honour of some acquaintance with his Excellency's noble family."
"As you please, Fray," said the voice accustomed to speak the terrible
words that doomed to the rack and the pulley, though no one would have
suspected this from the bland, careless good-nature of its tones. "But
see that you tarry not so as to lose your supper. Howbeit, there is
little need to caution you, or any other son of St. Francis, against
undue neglecting of the body."
The son of St. Francis made no answer, either because it was not worth
while, or because those who take the crumbs from the rich man's table
must ofttimes take his taunts therewith. He disengaged himself from the
group, and turned towards Juan a broad, good-humoured, not unintelligent
face, which his former pupil recognized immediately.
"Fray Sebastian Gomez!" he exclaimed in astonishment
"And very much at the service of my noble Senor Don Juan. Will your
Excellency deign to bear me company for a little time? In yonder walk
there are some rare flowers of rich colouring, which it were worth your
while to observe."
They turned into the path he indicated, while the Lord Inquisitor's
silken train swept towards that half of the Triana where godless luxury
bore sway; the other half being consecrated to the twin demon, cruelty.
"Will it please your worship to look at these Indian pinks?" said the
friar. "You will not see that flower elsewhere in all the Spains, save
in the royal gardens. His Imperial Majesty brought it first from
Tunis."
Juan all but cursed the innocent flowers; but recollected in time that
God made them, though they belonged to Gonzales de Munebraga. "In
Heaven's name, what brings you here, Fray Sebastian?" he interrupted
impatiently. "I thought to see only the black cowls of St. Dominic
about the--the minister of the Holy Office."
"A little more softly, may I implore of your Excellency? Yonder casement
is open.--Pues,[#] senor, I am here in the capacity of a guest. Nothing
more."
[#] Well, or well thou.
"Every man to his taste," said Juan, drily, as with a heedless foot he
kicked off the beautiful scarlet flower of a rare cactus.
"Have a care, senor and your Excellency; my lord is very proud of his
cactus flowers."
"Then come with me to some spot of God's free earth where we can talk
together, out of sight of him and his possessions."
"Nay, rest content, senor; and untire yourself in this fair arbour
overlooking the river."
"At least, God made the river," said Juan, flinging himself, with a sigh
of irritation and impatience, on the cushioned seat of the summer-house.
Fray Sebastian seated himself also. "My lord," he began to explain,
"has received me with all courtesy, and is good enough to desire my
continual attendance. The fact is, senor, his reverence is a man of
literary taste."
Juan allowed himself the solace of a quiet sneer. "Oh, is he? Very
creditable to him, no doubt."
"Especially he is a great lover of the divine art of poesy."
No _genuine_ love of the gentle art, whose great lesson is sympathy, did
or could soften the Inquisitor's hard heart. Nor, had his wealth been
doubled, could he have hired one real poet to sing his praise in strains
worthy the ear of posterity. In an atmosphere so cold, the most ethereal
spirit would have frozen. But it was in his power to buy flattery in
rhyme, and it suited his inclination so to do. He liked the trick of
rhyme, at once so easy and so charming in the sonorous Castilian
tongue--it was a pleasure of the ear which he keenly appreciated, as he
did also those of the eye and the palate.
"I addressed to him," Fray Sebastian continued with becoming modesty, "a
little effort of my Muse--really a mere trifle--on the suppression of
heresy, comparing the Lord Inquisitor to Michael the archangel, with the
dragon beneath his feet. You understand, senor?"
Juan understood so well that it was with difficulty he refrained from
flinging the unlucky rhymester into the river. But of late he had
learned many a lesson in prudence. Still, his words sounded almost
fierce in their angry scorn. "I suppose he gave you in return--a good
dinner."
But Fray Sebastian would not take offence. He answered mildly, "He was
pleased to express his approval of my humble effort, and to admit me
into his noble household; where, except my poor exertions to amuse and
untire him by my conversation may be accounted a service, I am of no
service to him whatever."
"So you are clad in purple and fine linen, and fare sumptuously every
day," said Juan, with contempt that he cared not to conceal.
"As to purple and fine linen, senor, I am an unworthy son of St.
Francis; and it is well known to your Excellency that by the rules of
our Order not even one scrap of holland---- But you are laughing at me,
as you used in old times, Senor Don Juan."
"God knows, I have little heart to laugh. In those old times you speak
of, Fray, there was no great love between you and me; and no marvel, for
I was a wild and idle lad. But I think you loved my gentle brother, Don
Carlos!"
"That I did, senor, as did every one. Has any evil come upon him? St.
Francis forbid!"
"Worse evil than I care to name. He lies in yonder tower."
"The blessed Virgin have pity on us!" cried Fray Sebastian, crossing
himself.
"I thought you would have heard of his arrest," Juan continued, sadly.
"I, senor! Never a breath. Holy Saints defend us! How could I, or any
one, dream that a young gentleman of noblest race, well learned, and of
truly pious disposition, would have had the ill luck to fall under so
foul a suspicion? Doubtless it is the work of some personal enemy.
And--ah, woe is me! 'the clattering horse-shoe ever wants a nail'--here
have I been naming heresy, 'talking of halters in the house of the
hanged?'"
"Hold thy tongue about hanging," said Juan, testily, "and listen to me,
if thou canst."
Fray Sebastian indicated, by a respectful gesture, his profound
attention.
"It has been whispered to me that the door of his reverence's heart may
be unlocked by a golden key."
Fray Sebastian assured him this was a foul slander; concluding a
panegyric on the purity of the Inquisitor's administration with the
words, "You would forfeit his favour for ever by presuming so far as to
offer a bribe."
"No doubt," answered Juan with a sneer, and a hard, worldly look in his
face that of late was often seen there. "I should deserve to pay that
penalty were I the fool to approach him with a bow, and, 'Here is a
purse of gold for your sanctity.' But 'one take is worth two I give
you's,' and there is a way of saying 'take' to every man. And I ask
you, for old kindness, to show me how to say it to his lordship."
Fray Sebastian pondered. After an interval he said, with some
hesitation, "May I venture to inquire, senor, what means you possess of
clearing the character of your noble brother?"
Juan only answered by a sorrowful shake of the head.
Darker and darker grew the friar's sensual but good-natured face.
"His excellent reputation, his brilliant success at college, his
blameless life should tell in his favour," Juan said at length.
"Have you nothing more direct? If not, I fear it is a bad business.
But 'silence is called holy,' so I hold my peace. Still, if indeed
(which the Saints forbid) he has fallen inadvertently into error, it is
a comfort to reflect that there will be little difficulty in reclaiming
him."
Juan made no reply. Did he expect his brother to retract? Did he _wish_
him to do it? These were questions he scarcely dared to ask himself.
From any reply he could give to them he shrank in shuddering dread.
"He was ever gentle and tractable," Fray Sebastian continued, "and
ofttimes but too easy to persuade."
Juan rose, took up a stone, and threw it into the river. When the
circles it made in the water had died away, he turned back to the friar.
"But what can _I_ do for him?" he asked, with an undertone of helpless
sadness, touching from the lips of one so strong.
Fray Sebastian put his hand to his forehead, and looked as if he were
composing another poem. "Let me see, your Excellency. There is my
lord's nephew and pet page, Don Alonzo (where he has got the 'Don' I
know not, but Don Dinero makes many a noble); I dare say it would not
hurt the Donzelo's soft white hand to finger a purse of gold ducats, and
those same ducats might help your brother's cause not a little."
"Manage the matter for me, and I will thank you heartily. Gold, to any
extent that will serve _him_, shall be forthcoming; and, my good friend,
see that you spare it not."
"Ah, Senor Don Juan, you were always generous."
"My brother's life is at stake," said Juan, softening a little. But the
hard look returned as he added, "Those who live in great men's houses
have many expenses, Fray. Always remember that I am your friend, and
that my ducats are very much at your service also."
Fray Sebastian thanked him with his lowest bow. Juan's look changed
again; this time more rapidly. "If it were possible," he added, in low,
hurried tones--"if you could only bring me the least word of tidings
from him--even one word to say if he lives, if he is well, how he is
entreated. Three months it is now since he was taken, and I have heard
no more than if they had carried him to his grave."
"It is a difficult matter, a _very_ difficult matter that you ask of me.
Were I a son of St. Dominic, I might indeed accomplish somewhat. For
the black cowls are everything now. Still, I will do all I can, senor."
"I trust you, Fray. If under cover of seeking his conversion, of
anything, you could but see him."
"Impossible, senor--utterly impossible."
"Why? They sometimes send friars to reason with the--the prisoners."
"Always Dominicans or Jesuits--men well-known and trusted by the Board
of the Inquisition. However, senor, nothing that a man may do shall be
wanting on my part. Will not that content your Excellency?"
"_Content_ me? Well, as far as you are concerned, yes. But, in truth,
I am haunted day and night by one horrible dread. What if--if they
should _torture_ him? My gentle brother, frail in mind and body, tender
and sensitive as a woman! Terror and pain would drive him mad." The
last words were a quick broken whisper. But outward expressions of
emotion with Don Juan were always speedily repressed. Recovering
apparent calmness, he stretched out his hand to Fray Sebastian, saying,
with a faint smile, "I have kept you too long from my lord's
supper-table--pardon me."
"Your Excellency's condescension in conversing with me deserves my
profound gratitude," replied the monk, in true Castilian fashion. His
residence at the Inquisitor's Court had certainly improved his manners.
Don Juan gave him his address, and it was agreed that he should call on
him in a few days. Fray Sebastian then offered to bring him on his way
through the garden and court of that part of the Triana which formed the
Inquisitor's residence. But Juan declined the favour. He could not
answer for himself when brought face to face with the impious pomp and
luxury of the persecutor of the saints. He feared that, by some wild
word or deed, he might imperil the cause he had at heart. So he hailed a
waterman who was guiding his little boat down the tranquil stream in the
waning light. The boat was soon brought to the place where the
Inquisitor had landed from his barge; and Juan, after shaking the dust
from his feet, both literally and metaphorically, sprang into it.
The popular ideal of a persecutor is very far from the truth. At the
word there rises before most minds the vision of a lean, pale-faced,
fierce-eyed monk, whose frame is worn with fasting, and his scourge red
with his own blood. He is a fanatic--pitiless, passionate,
narrow-minded, perhaps half insane--but penetrated to the very core of
his being with intense zeal for his Church's interest, and prepared in
her service both to inflict and to endure all things.
Very unlike this ideal were _most_ of the great persecutors who carried
out the behests of Antichrist. They were generally able men. But they
were pre-eminently men wise in their generation, men _of_ their
generation, men who "loved this present world." They gave the Church
the service of strong hand and skilful brain that she needed; and she
gave _them_, in return, "gold, and silver, and precious stones, and
pearls; and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; and all sweet
wood; and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner of vessels of
most precious wood, and of brass, and of iron, and marble; and cinnamon,
and odours, and ointment, and frankincense; and wine, and oil, and fine
flour, and wheat; and beasts, and sheep, and horses and chariots, and
slaves and souls of men." It was for these things, not for abstract
ideas, not for high places in heaven, that they tortured and murdered
the saints of God. Whilst the cry of the oppressed reached the ears of
the Most High, those who were "wearing them out" lived in unhallowed
luxury, in degrading sensuality. Gonzales de Munebraga was a good
specimen of the class to which he belonged--he was no exceptional case.
Nor was Fray Sebastian anything but an ordinary character. He was
amiable, good-natured, free from gross vices--what is usually called
"well disposed." But he "loved wine and oil," and to obtain what he
loved he was willing to become the servant and the flatterer of worse
men than himself, at the terrible risk of sinking to their level.
With all the force of his strong nature, Don Juan Alvarez loathed
Munebraga, and scorned Fray Sebastian. Gradually a strange alteration
appeared to come over the little book he constantly studied--his
brother's Spanish Testament. The words of promise, and hope, and
comfort, in which he used to delight, seemed to be blotted from its
pages; while ever more and more those pages were filled with fearful
threatenings and denunciations of doom--against hypocritical scribes and
Pharisees, false teachers and wicked high priests--against great
Babylon, the mother of abominations. The peace-breathing, "Father,
forgive them, for they know not what they do," grew fainter and more
faint, until at last it faded completely from his memory; while there
stood out before him night and day, in characters of fire, "Serpents,
generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell!"