showing how constance tyrrell embraced the
reformed faith.
we will now see what had befallen constance tyrrell. when father jerome, in obedience to philip’s injunctions, went over to southampton to see her, he found her in the hospital of the domus dei, in attendance upon derrick carver. so far from attempting to dissuade her from entering a convent, and devoting her life to heaven, the good priest urged her strongly to carry out her design, but, to his great affliction, he found that a sudden and most unexpected change had come over her. the earnest exhortations addressed to her by the enthusiastic derrick carver had already produced a sensible impression, and she seemed more than half disposed to secede from the church of rome, and embrace the reformed faith. in vain father jerome remonstrated with her, and urged her to fly from the mischievous influence to which she was exposed. failing in his endeavours, he repaired to master tyrrell, and informed him of his daughter’s danger; but the old merchant treated the matter with indifference, and the worthy priest departed with a sad heart.
sorely perplexed how to act for the best, father jerome, after much hesitation and delay, caused a communication to be made to the queen, through her confessor, of the lamentable change that had taken place in constance’s religious opinions.
mary manifested great surprise and displeasure at the 154intelligence, and directed that constance should be brought to hampton court, where her majesty was then sojourning, in order that she might confer with the unhappy maiden in person, and see how far the mischief had proceeded, and what could be done for its cure.
constance accordingly was summoned from southampton, and had several private interviews with the queen, who soon discovered that derrick carver had succeeded in effecting her conversion. by the advice of her majesty’s confessor, who felt sure he could bring back the stray lamb to the fold, constance was detained for a time within the palace.
no mention having been made of this proceeding to philip, it was only by accident that he became aware that constance was an inmate of the palace. on making the discovery, he went, wholly unattended, to the apartments wherein he had ascertained she was lodged. on entering the ante-chamber, he found old dorcas, who appeared terrified at the sight of him, and who, without stopping to be questioned, exclaimed that her young mistress was unable to see his majesty.
“but i must see her,” rejoined philip, authoritatively. “go in at once, mistress, and tell her i am here.”
seeing from the king’s manner that remonstrance would be useless, the old woman complied, and drawing aside a piece of tapestry, entered the inner room. in another moment she returned, and prayed his majesty to step in.
passing through the tapestry, philip entered the room, where he found constance alone. she was attired in black, and looked pale as death, and was evidently greatly agitated. she made the king a profound reverence, but did not raise her eyes towards him.
“so you have been here for some days, i find,” cried philip, “and have allowed me to remain in ignorance of your presence, though you know how anxious i have been to behold you again. i began to fear i had lost you for ever, and that you had really carried your threat into execution, and buried your charms in a convent.”
“a great change has come over me, sire,” rejoined constance. “i have wholly abandoned that intention.”
queen mary discovers the perfidy of the king.
p. 155.
“i rejoice to hear it,” cried the king. “i dispatched 155father jerome to you, and i suppose his arguments prevailed?”
“no, sire,” rejoined constance. “i have been turned aside from my purpose by better arguments than any father jerome could employ.”
“nay, i care not who dissuaded you,” replied philip, “i am content with the resolution you have taken. i have been wretched—most wretched, since we parted, constance.”
“your majesty cannot have been half so wretched as i have been,” she rejoined. “however, i have in some degree recovered my peace of mind, and i beseech you not to plunge me into misery again.”
“i must tell you how passionately i adore you,” exclaimed the king. “the love which you kindled in my breast when i first beheld you burns fiercer than ever, and cannot be extinguished. by my hopes of paradise, fair constance, i love you—only you.”
“cease, sire, cease!” cried constance. “i cannot listen to you—i must not.”
“but you must—you shall listen to me,” cried philip, still more passionately. “you shall hear how constantly i have thought of you. your image has been ever before me. i have tried to stifle my love, but without success. it has mastered me, as it masters me now. behold me at your feet, sweet constance!” he added, prostrating himself before her; “not the king—but your suppliant—your slave!”
“rise, sire, i intreat you, from this unworthy posture,” cried constance. “think of your duty to the queen—all your love should be given to her.”
“such love as i bear for you, sweet constance, i cannot give to her majesty,” rejoined philip, “for as i have just declared, you have sole possession of my heart. you need fear no rival in the queen.”
“oh! hush, sire—hush!” exclaimed constance, with the utmost alarm. “you are overheard! ha!—her majesty!”
“the queen here!” exclaimed philip, springing to his feet.
and turning, he perceived that the queen was pushing aside the hangings, and about to enter the room. close behind 156her majesty, whose looks proclaimed the depth of her indignation, came sir john gage. for a moment, philip seemed embarrassed, but he quickly recovered himself. mary regarded her faithless consort with flashing eyes, but repressed the bitter reproaches that rose to her lips, though her heart swelled almost to bursting, and the veins on her brow distended with rage.
it was an awful moment, and sir john gage looked greatly troubled. the silence was broken by constance, who flung herself at the queen’s feet, exclaiming:
“do not judge me harshly, gracious madam. do not suppose that i have failed in duty to your majesty. do not deem that i have been a consenting party to this meeting. on my soul i have not. the king will confirm my assertion. speak, sire, speak!”
unable to resist this appeal, philip said, “it is the truth, madam. i alone am to blame.”
“you hear, gracious madam,” cried constance, “his majesty acquits me. my sole crime is, that i have unhappily attracted his attention.”
“and that is crime enough, minion,” said mary, regarding her fiercely. “you shall expiate the offence with your life. i will show you no mercy. call in the guard, sir john,” she added to gage.
“take heed how you obey that order, sir john,” interposed philip. “i am equal in authority here, and i forbid you. your majesty will do well to pause,” he added, with stern significance, to the queen, “ere a breach be made between us that cannot be closed.”
“oh! do not let me be the cause of misunderstanding between yourself and the king your consort, gracious madam,” cried constance. “i am not worth it. if my life will restore the peace i have unhappily disturbed, take it. i will lay it down freely.”
“it will be best to let her go, madam,” observed sir john gage in a low tone.
there was a pause, during which it was evident that mary was struggling hard with her feelings. constance, who still remained in a kneeling posture, watched her countenance with the keenest anxiety. folding his arms on his breast, philip looked on coldly. mary at length spoke.
157“you have said truly, minion,” she observed. “you are not worth a quarrel between the king and myself. his majesty has sought to screen you, by taking all blame upon himself, but i am not to be deceived. if nothing more, you have been indiscreet.”
“indiscretion is a very venial fault,” rejoined philip. “but even that cannot justly be laid to this damsel’s charge. since her presence annoys you, let her leave the palace and return to her family.”
“she shall leave the palace, and that without delay,” rejoined mary. “but she will be more secure in some religious house than with her family.”
“i pray you let me return to my father,” implored constance, who had risen to her feet. “i will die rather than give you further cause of anxiety. but, as your majesty is aware, i have quitted the church of rome.”
“a heretic!” exclaimed philip, aghast at the unexpected declaration. “to what is this sad change attributable? when i first beheld you, you were zealous and devout.”
“i am zealous and devout still, i trust, sire,” rejoined constance. “but my eyes have been opened, and i reject as idolatrous and superstitious the worship which i formerly practised.”
“i lament to hear it,” replied philip, with a look of pious horror. “my confessor, father alfonso, shall take you in hand. he will convince you of your errors.”
“nothing will shake me,” said constance. “my belief is fixed. i would rather endure martyrdom than peril my salvation.”
“your firmness may be put to the test,” observed the queen severely. “your majesty, methinks,” she added to philip, “will scarcely attempt to defend her now.”
“i am horror-stricken!” exclaimed the king. “i could not have believed in so sudden and sad a defection. who is the author of this evil work? to whose baneful counsel have you listened? is it from the would-be assassin, derrick carver, that you have imbibed these pernicious opinions?”
“i have heard the truth from his lips, sire,” returned constance.
“i guessed as much,” said philip; “and it is from this 158polluted source that you expect the water of life to flow. i did not believe you capable of such weakness. i can no longer oppose her majesty’s design of placing you in some religious house, where discipline and good counsel may bring you back to the faith from which you have swerved.”
“if mild measures prove ineffectual, others must be adopted,” observed mary.
“do with me as you will,” said constance, resignedly. “i am in your majesty’s hands, and am prepared to seal my faith with my blood.”
“were anything wanting to convince me of the necessity of utterly extirpating heresy from the realm, i should now be satisfied,” remarked mary. “an example shall be made of this mischievous derrick carver. he shall be delivered over to the religious tribunals, to be dealt with according to his deserts. prepare for immediate departure,” she added to constance. “i myself will give instructions respecting you.”
constance bowed submissively.
by this time the queen’s anger towards her consort had somewhat subsided, and she said to him in a somewhat kindlier tone, “your majesty can have no further business here. i will pray you to accompany me.”
philip bowed. as he quitted the chamber with the queen, he cast a parting glance at constance, who remained in the same humble attitude, with her eyes fixed upon the ground.
