how captain brand sought to capture the
conspirators.
on being brought back to the hostel, derrick carver was again conducted to the vault, there to remain till the hour appointed for his execution. he was so much troubled in spirit, owing to his anxiety for the safety of osbert clinton and his companions, that he could not address himself to prayer, and was pacing to and fro, when the door was unlocked, and the hostess entered. her first business was to set down a little basket which she had concealed under her mantle, and she then informed carver that she had brought him some wine and food. “i have prevailed on master piddinghoe to grant me admittance to you,” she said, “and i have managed to bring in this basket unperceived by the guard. eat, i pray you, if only a morsel, and drink a cup of wine. it will strengthen you.”
“i thank you heartily, good mistress,” replied carver, “but i shall eat and drink no more. there is, however, one great service which you can render me, if you are so minded.”
and he looked at her wistfully.
“what is it?” she replied. “tell me, and i will do it. you may perfectly confide in me.”
carver then, in a few words, informed her of the danger of osbert clinton and his friends, and after describing their appearance, entreated her to warn them speedily.
353“i will do your bidding without an instant’s delay,” she replied. “i have seen the gentlemen you describe, and will find them out, and urge them to instant flight. this accounts for the orders i heard given to master piddinghoe by sir richard de warren, that all the town gates are to be closed, and no one allowed to go forth without a password. luckily, i overheard it, and will give it to your friends.”
“you have removed a load of anxiety from my breast, good mistress,” said carver. “if they are safe, i shall die content.”
“then let no anxiety on their account trouble you further,” she rejoined. “ere many minutes they shall be out of lewes. farewell!”
“farewell, sister; my blessing go with you.”
hereupon the hostess quitted the vault, and carver, whose bosom was no longer oppressed, knelt down and resumed his devotions.
meanwhile, dame dunster, quitting the hostel privily, went in search of osbert and his companions; but she could discover nothing of them, and at last came to the conclusion that they had already flown. she ascertained, however, that in obedience to the sheriff’s orders, all the town gates where shut and guarded.
the hour appointed for the execution was now at hand. the bell of saint michael’s church began to toll solemnly. a great crowd was already collected in front of the star inn, but a clear space was kept by the constables around the stake.
the din and confusion in the street, though it reached his ears, did not distract the prisoner from his devotions, and he continued in earnest prayer, until at last the door of his cell was thrown open, and the sheriff, with captain brand, father josfrid, and two officers provided with halberds, entered the vault. on seeing them, derrick carver immediately arose from his knees, and told them in a firm voice, that he was ready.
“i cannot hold out any hope of pardon to you,” said de warren, “but i would fain hope that you will not die impenitent.”
“i shall die, sir, as i have lived, in the faith i have professed and defended,” replied carver.
354“peradventure, you are of opinion that an attempt will be made to liberate you?” observed brand. “it is well you should be undeceived. the dangerous rebels who have ventured here have fallen into a snare.”
“are they taken?” cried carver.
“they soon will be,” replied brand. “thou thyself mayst possibly behold their capture. we hold them in our hands. their retreat is cut off. it will be my business to convey them to the tower.”
“alas! why did they come hither?” groaned carver.
“that is best known to themselves,” rejoined brand; “but they have done me a good turn by coming.”
“have you aught to confess or declare concerning them?” demanded the sheriff.
“an idle question,” rejoined carver. “think you i would say aught to their detriment?”
thereupon, the sheriff, bidding the officers bring forth the prisoner, quitted the cell, and was presently followed by the others. several persons were assembled in the inn-yard, and amongst them were dame dunster and her handmaidens, weeping bitterly, to whom carver bade an eternal adieu, bidding them be comforted.
the gates, which had been hitherto kept closed, were then thrown open, and the prisoner becoming visible to a portion of the vast assemblage collected in the street, loud cries arose.
the stake, as we have already mentioned, was planted in the middle of the high-street, exactly opposite the star inn, where the throughfare was widest. around the place of execution a large circular space was kept clear by the constables and other officers armed with halberds, and within this ring was heaped up a great pile of fagots with bundles of dried gorse. in front of the stake stood the large empty tar-barrel, commanded by captain brand. it was reared on end, and the top had been staved in. such were the preparations made for the terrible ceremonial.
into this ring derrick carver marched with firm footstep, and his appearance was greeted with outcries of various kinds from the beholders. he was closely attended by father josfrid, who continued to press exhortations upon him, to which he refused to listen. at this juncture captain 355brand came up to him, and said, “thy life shall be spared for a few minutes, that thou mayst know the fate of thy friends.” he then added to the officers: “chain him not to the stake till you receive the sheriff’s signal from yonder window.”
and he pointed, as he spoke, to a large open window on the first floor of the inn, which, unlike all the other windows of the house, was destitute of spectators. every spot, indeed, commanding a view of the place of execution was occupied. the entrance to st. mary’s-lane was blocked up by a small party of horsemen, who, it need scarcely be said, were osbert clinton and his friends. they had stationed themselves at this point in order to secure a retreat in case of need, but were wholly unaware that a party of armed men were slowly ascending the narrow throughfare in their rear.
on quitting derrick carver, captain brand returned to the inn-yard, where he had left his officers, and, putting himself at their head, was about to sally forth and make the arrest he meditated, when his plan was most unexpectedly thwarted by dame dunster, who, suddenly appearing at the open window which we have described as reserved for the high sheriff and his attendants, leaned from it, and waving a kerchief to attract the attention of osbert and his friends, called out to them in a loud voice,—
“save yourselves!—save yourselves!—you are betrayed!”
thus warned, the horsemen turned instantly to ride down the hill, but at once perceived that their retreat in this direction was cut off. osbert did not hesitate a moment, but calling out lustily to the crowd, “make way, friends!—make way!” a passage was instantly opened for him and his companions, and, ere any hindrance could be offered them, they were all within the ring, and close to the prisoner.
“you will not see this good man barbarously put to death, my masters,” cried osbert, “but will aid him to escape.”
several voices instantly answered the appeal, and a great tumult arose amid the crowd.
“think not of me, but save yourself!” cried carver to osbert. “i shall not quit this spot.”
356so suddenly had the daring deed we have described been executed, that surprise took away the power of opposition from the constables and halberdiers, but they now took heart, and encircled the horsemen, who had drawn their swords, and kept them off. at the same time, captain brand, who was issuing from the inn-yard with his men, vociferated,—
“stay them, in the queen’s name!—let them not pass!—they are rebels and traitors!”
“touch us not, good friends,” cried osbert. “we are true men, and would deliver you from spanish bondage and popish thraldom.”
upon this several of the crowd called out,—
“we are for you, masters. this way!—this way!”
and, seconding their words by deeds, they threw themselves upon the constables in front of them, and speedily opened a passage, through which osbert and his companions got out of the ring, and dashed up the high-street.
a number of persons instantly started in pursuit, and as the west-gate was closed, it was thought that the fugitives must infallibly be captured; but those who entertained the notion were wrong, since instead of seeking an exit by that gate, osbert and his companions turned off on the left, and dashing down another thoroughfare as steep and narrow as st. mary’s-lane, descended it in safety, and on reaching the bottom of the hill, found that the water-gate was open, and rode through it ere the warder had time to shut it. being now out of the town, and all admirably mounted, they set pursuit at defiance, and in less than an hour were safe on the other side of kingston hill.
