the Virgin prosper you, and strengthen your arm."

"I obey your Majesty," replied Bedingfeld ; "and yet
I cannot but feel that my place is by your side."

" Ah ! do you loiter, sir ? " cried Mary fiercely. " You
have tarried here too long already. Do you not hear yon
loud-voiced cannon summon you hence ? Are you deaf
to those cries ? To your post, sir — and quit it not for
your head. Stay ! " she added, as the knight was about



THE TOWER OF LONDON. 443

to obey her. " I meant not this. I have been over-hasty.
But you will bear with me Go. I have no fears — and
have much to do. Success be with you. We meet again
as victors, or we meet no more."

"We shall meet ere daybreak," replied the knight.
And quitting the presence, he hurried to the By- ward
ToY/er.

" In case fate declares itself against your Highness, and
the insurgents win the fortress," observed Renard, " I can
convey you beyond their reach. I am acquainted with a
subterranean passage communicating with the farther side
of the moat, and have stationed a trusty guard at its en-
trance."

" In the event your Excellency anticipates," returned
Mary sternly, " but which, I am assured will never occur,
I will not fly. While one stone of that citadel stands
upon another it shall never be surrendered, and while
life remains to her, Mary of England will never desert
it. In your next despatch to the Prince your master,
tell him his proposed consort proved herself worthy
— in resolution, at least — of the alliance."

" I will report your intrepid conduct to the Prince," re-
plied Renard. " But I would, for his sake, if not for your
own, gracious madam, that you would not further expose
yourself."

" To the ramparts ! " cried Mary, disregarding him.
" Let those follow me who are not afraid to face these
traitors."

Quitting the entrance hall, she mounted a broad stair-
case of carved oak, and traversing a long gallery, entered
a passage leading to the Bell Tower — a fortification al-
ready described as standing on the west of the lieuten-
ant's lodgings, and connected with them. The room to
which the passage brought her, situated on the upper
story, and now used as part of the domestic offices of
the governor, was crowded with soldiers, busily employed
m active defensive preparations. Some were dischargmg
their calivers through the loopholes at the besiegers,



4U. THE TOWER OF LONDON.

while others were carrying ammunition to the roof of
the building.

Addressing a few words of encouragement to them, and
crossing the room, Mary commanded an ofBcer to conduct
her to the walls. Seeing from her manner that remon-
strance would be useless, the officer obeyed. As she
emerged from the low arched doorway opening upon the
ballium wall, the range of wooden houses on the opposite
side of the moat burst into flames, and the light of the
conflagration, while it revealed the number of her ene-
mies and their plan of attack, rendered her situation in-
finitely more perilous, inasmuch as it betrayed her to
general observation. Directed by the shouts, the besiegers
speedily discovered the occasion of the clamor; and
though Sir Thomas Wyat, who was engaged at the mo-
ment in personally directing the assault on the Bulwark
Gate, commanded his men to cease firing in that quarter,
his injunctions were wholly disregarded, and several
shot struck the battlements close to the Queen. Seri-
ously alarmed, Gardiner earnestly entreated her to re-
tire, but she peremptorily refused, and continued her
course as slowly as if no danger beset her— ever and
anon pausing to watch the movements of the besiegers,
or to encourage and direct her own men. Before she
reached the Beauchamp Tower, the Bulwark Gate was
carried, and the triumphant shouts of the insurgents drew
from her an exclamation of bitter anger.

" It is but a small advantage gained, your Highness,"
remarked the officer ; « they will be speedily repulsed."

" Small as it is, sir," rejoined the Queen, " I would
rather have lost the richest jewel from my crown than
they had gained so much. Look ! they are gathering to-
gether before the Lions' Gate, They are thundering
against it with sledgehammers, battering-rams, and other
engines. I can hear the din of their blows above all this
tumult. And see ! other troops are advancing to their
aid. By their banners and white coats, I know they are
the London trained-banrls, headed by Bret, Heaven con-



THE TOWER OF LONDON. 445

found the traitor ! He who will bring him to me dead or
alive shall have whatever he asks. Ah, God's death ! they
have forced the Lions' Gate — they drive all before them.
Recreants ! why do you not dispute it inch by inch, and
you may regain what you have lost ? Confusion ! Wyat
and his rebel band press onward, and the others fly.
They pass through the Middle Tower. Ah ! that shout,
those fearful cries ! They put my faithful subjects to the
sword. They are in possession of the Middle Tower, and
direct its guns on the By-ward Tower. Wyat and his
band are on the bridge. They press forward, the others
retreat. Retreat ! ah, caitiffs, cowards that you are, you
must fight now, if you have a spark of loyalty left. They
fly. They have neither loyalty nor valor. Where is
Bedingfeld ? — where is my lieutenant ? why does he not
sally forth upon them ? If I were there, I would myself
lead the attack."

" Your Majesty's desires are fulfilled," remarked the
ofiBcer ; " a sally is made by the party from the gate — the
rebels are checked."

« I see it ! " exclaimed the Queen joyfully ; " but what
valiant men are they who thus turn the tide ? Ah ! I
know them now, they are my famous giants — my loyal
warders. Look how the rebel ranks are cleared by the
sweep of their mighty arms. Brave yeomen ! you have
fought as no belted knights have hithterto fought, and
have proved the truth of your royal descent. Ah ! Wyat
is down. Slay him ! spare him not, brave giant ! his
lands, his title are yours. Heaven's curse upon him, the
traitor has escaped ! I can bear this no longer," she
added, turning to her conductor. " Lead on ; I would see
what they are doing elsewhere."

The command was obeyed, but the officer had not pro-
ceeded many yards when a shot struck him, and he fell
mortally wounded at tbe Queen's feet.

" I fear you are hurt, sir," said Mary anxiously.

" To death, madam," gasped the officer. " I should not
care to die, had I lived to see you victorious. When all



446 THE TOWER OF LONDON.

others were clamoring for the usurper Jane, my voice was
raised for you, my rightful Queen ; and now my last shout
shall be for you."

•' Your name ? " demanded Mary, bending over him.

" Gilbert," replied the officer ; " I am the grandson of
Gunnora Braose."

" Live, Gilbert," rejoined Mary — " live for my sake ! "

Raising himself upon one arm, with a dying effort
Gilbert waved his sword over his head, and cried, " God
save Queen Mary, and confusion to her enemies ? " And
with these words he fell backwards, and instantly expired.
The Queen gazed for a moment wistfully at the body.

" How is it," she mused, as she suffered herself to be
led onward by Renard, " that, when hundreds of my sub-
jects are perishing around me, this man's death should
affect me so strongly ? — I know not. Yet, so it is."

Her attention, however, was speedily attracted to other
matters. Passing through the Beauchamp Tower, she
proceeded to the next fortification.

The main attacks of the besiegers, as has been pre-
viously stated, were directed against the Brass Mount, St.
Thomas's Tower, and the By-ward Tower ; — the western
and north-western ramparts, including the Leg Mount, a
large bastion corresponding with the Brass Mount, being
comparatively unmolested. Taking up a position on the
roof of the Devilin Tower, which flanked the north-west
angle of the ballium wall, Mary commanded two sides of
the fortress, and the view on either hand was terrific and
sublime. On the left, the blazing habitations, which be-
ing of highly combustible material were now in a great
measure consumed, cast a red and lurid glare on the moat,
lighting up the ramparts, the fortifications behind them,
and those on the bridge — two of which, she was aware,
were in the possession of the besiegers. In this quarter
the firing had ceased, and it seemed that both parties had
by mutual consent suspended hostilities, to renew them
in a short time with greater animosity than ever. On
the right, however, the assault continued with unabated



THE TOWER OF LONDON. 447

fury. A constant fire was kept up from the temporary
batteries placed before the postern gate ; clouds of arrows
whizzed through the air, shot by the archers stationed on
the banks of the moat ; and another ladder having been
placed against the ramparts, several of the scaling party
had obtained a footing, and were engaged hand to hand
with the besieged. Ever and anon, amid this tunmltuous
roar was heard a loud splash, proclaiming that some
miserable wretdi had been hurled into the moat.

After contemplating the spectacle for some time in
silence, Mary proceeded to the Flint Tower, a fortification
about ninety feet nearer the scene of strife. Here the
alarming intelligence was brought her that Lord Guilford
Dudley was in possession of the Brass Mount, and that
other advantages had been gained by the insurgents in
that quarter. The fight raged so fiercely, it was added,
that it would be tempting Providence in her Majesty to
proceed further. Yielding, at length, to the solicitations
of her attendants, Mary descended from the walls, and
shaped her course towards the White Tower; while
Renard, by her command, hastened to the Martin Tower
(now the Jewel Tower) to ascertain how matters stood.
His first step was to ascend the roof of this structure,
which, standing immediately behind the Brass Mount,
completely overlooked it.

It must be borne in mind that the Tower is surrounded
by a double line of defences, and that the ballium wall
and its fortifications are much loftier than the outer ram-
parts. Renard found the roof of the Martin Tower
thronged with soldiers, who were bringing their guns to
bear upon the present possessors of the Brass Mount,
They were assisted in their efforts to dislodge them by the
occupants of the Brick Tower and the Constable Tower ;
and notwithstanding the advantage gamed by the insur-
gents, they sustained severe loss from the constant fire
directed against them. Renard's glance sought out Lord
Guilford Dudley ; and after a few moments' search,
guided by the shouts, he perceived him with Cholmcnde-



448 ^HE TOWER OF LONDON.

ley driving a party of royalists before him down the steps
leading to the eastern ramparts. Here he was concealed
from view, and protected by the roofs of a range of habit-
ations from the guns on the ballium wall.

A few moments afterwards, intelligence was conveyed
by the soldiers on the Broad Arrow Tower to those on
the Constable Tower, and thence from fortification to
fortification that Dudley, having broken into one of the
houses covering the ramparts, was descending with his
forces into the eastern ward.

Renard saw that not a moment was to be lost Order-
ing the soldiers not to relax their fire for an instant, he
put himself at the head of a body of men, and hurrying
down a spiral stone staircase, which brought him to a
subterranean chamber, unlocked a door in it, and travers-
ing with lightning swiftness a long narrow passage, speed-
ily reached another vaulted room. At first no outlet was
perceptible ; but snatching a torch from one of his band,
Renard touched a knob of iron in the wall, and a stone
dropping from its place discovered a flight of steps, up
which they mounted. These brought them to a wider
passage, terminated by a strong door clamped with iron,
and forming a small sallyport opening upon the eastern
ward, a little lower down than Lord Guilford Dudley
and his party had gained admittance to it. Command-
ing his men to obey his injunctions implicitly, Renard
flung open the sallyport, and dashed through it at their
head.

Dudley was pressing forward in the direction of the
Iron Gate when Renard appeared. Both parties were
pretty equally matched in i3oint of number, though neither
leader could boast more than twenty followers. Still,
multitudes were hastening to them from every quarter.
A detachment of royalists were issuing from a portal near
the Salt Tower ; while a host of insurgents were breaking
through the house lately forced by Lord Guilford Dudley,
and hurrying to his assistance. In a few seconds, the op-
posnig parties met. By the light of the torches, Dudley



THE TOWER OF LONDON. 4J:9

recognized Renard ; and uttering a shout of exultation,
advanced to the attack.

As soon as it was known to the insurgents that tlie
abhorred Spanish Ambassador was before tliem, with one
accord they turned their weapons against him, and if their
leader had not interposed, would have inevitably slain
him.

" Leave him to me," cried Dudley, " and I will deliver
my country from this detested traitor. Fellow-soldiers,"
he added, addressing Renard's companions, " will you fight
for Spain, for the Inquisition, for the idolatries of Rome,
when swords are draAvn for your country — and for the
Reformed religion? We are come to free you from the
yoke under which you labor. Join us, and fight for your
liberties, your laws — for the Gospel, and for Queen Jane."

" Ay, fight for Jane, and the Gospel ! " shouted Chol-
mondeley. " Down with Renard and the See of Rome.
No Spanish match ! — no Inquisition ! "

" Who are you fighting for ? Who is your leader ? "
continued Dudley ; — " a base Spanish traitor. Who are
you fighting against? — Englishmen, your friends, your
countrymen, your brothers — members of the same faith,
of the same family."

This last appeal proved effectual. Most of the royalists
went over to the insurgents, shouting, " No Spanish
match ! — no Inquisition ! Down with Renard ! "

" Ay, down with Renard ! " cried Dudley. " I will no
longer oppose your just vengeance. Slay him, and we
will fix his head upon a spear. It will serve to strike
terror into our enemies."

Even in this extremity, Renard's constitutional bravery
did not desert him ; and, quickly retreating, he placed his
back against the wall. The few faithful followers who
stood by him, endeavored to defend him, but they were
soon slain, and he could only oppose his single sword
against the array of partisans and pikes raised against
him. His destruction appeared inevitable, and he had
already given himself up for lost, when a rescue arrived.
29



450 THE TOWER OF LONDOI^^

The detachment of soldiers, headed by Sir Thomas
Brydges, already described as issuing from the gate near
the Salt Tower, seeing a skirmish taking place, hurried
forward, and reached the scene of strife just in time to
save the Ambassador, whose assailants were compelled to
quit him to wield their weapons in their own defence,
Thus set free, Renard sprang like a tiger upon his foes,
and, aided by the new-comers, occasioned fearful havoc
among them. But his deadliest fury was directed against
those who had deserted him, and he spared none of them
whom he could reach with his sword.

Lord Guilford Dudley and his esquire performed prod-
igies of valor. The former made many efforts to reach
Renard, but, such was the confusion around him, that he
was constantly foiled in his purpose. At length, seeing
it was in vain to contend against such superior force, and
that his men would be speedily cut in pieces, and himself
captured, he gave the word to retreat, and fled towards
the north-east angle of the ward. The royalists started
after them ; but such was the speed at which the fugi-
tives ran, that they could not overtake them. A few
stragglers ineffectually attempted to check their progress,
and the soldiers on the walls above did not dare to fire
upon them, for fear of injuring their own party. In this
way they passed the Martin Tower, and were approach-
ing the Brick Tower, when a large detachment of soldiers
were seen advancing towards them.

"Long live Queen Jane!" shouted Dudley and his
companions, vainly hoping they were friends.

" Long live Queen Mary, and death to the rebels ! " re-
sponded the others.

At the cry, Dudley and his little band halted. They
were hemmed in on all sides, without the possibility of
escape ; and the royalists on the fortifications above be-
ing now able to mark them, opened a devastating fire
upon them. By this time, Renard and his party had
turned the angle of the wall, and the voice of the Ambas-



THE TOWER OF LONDON. 451

sador was heard crying — " Cut them in pieces ! Spare
no one but their leader. Take him alive."

Hearing the sliout, Dudley observed to Cholmondeley
— " You have ever been my faithful esquire, and I claim
one last service from you. If I am in danger of being
taken, slay me. I will not survive defeat."

" Nay, my lord, live," cried Cholmondeley. " Wyat or
the Duke of Suffolk may be victorious, and deliver you."

" No," replied Dudley, " I will not run the risk of be-
ing placed again in Mary's power. Obey my last injunc-
tions. Should you escape, fly to Jane. You know where
to find her. Bid her embark instantly for France, and
say her husband with his last breath blessed her."

At this moment, he was interrupted by Cholmondeley,
who pointed out an open door in the ramparts opposite
them. Eagerly availing himself of the chance, Dudley
called to his men to follow him, and dashed through it,
uncertain whither it led, but determined to sell his life
dearly. The doorway admitted them into a low vaulted
chamber, in which were two or three soldiers and a stand
of arms and ammunition. The men fled at their ap-
proach along a dark, narrow passage, and endeavored to
fasten an inner door, but the others were too close upon
them to permit it. As Dudley and his band advanced,
they found themselves at the foot of a short flight of
steps, and rushing up them, entered a semicircular pas-
sage, about six feet wide, with a vaulted roof, and deep
embrasures in the walls, in which cannon were planted.

It was, in fact, the casemate of the Brass Mount. By
the side of the cannon stood the gunners, and the passage
was filled with smoke. Alarmed by the cries of their
companions, and the shouts of Dudley and his band,
these men, who were in utter ignorance of what had
passed, except that they had been made aware that the
summit of the bastion was carried, threw down their
arms, and sued for quarter.

" You shall have it, friends," cried Dudley, " provided
you will fight for Queen Jane,"



452 THE TOWER OF LONDON.

" Agreed ! " replied the gunners. " Long live Queen
Jane."

" Stand by me," returned Dudley, " and these stout
walls shall either prove our safeguard or our tomb."

The gunners then saw how matters stood, but they
could not retract ; and they awaited a favorable oppor-
tunity to turn against their new masters.

Perceiving the course taken by Dudley and his com-
panions, Renard felt certain of their capture, and re-
peated his injunctions to the soldiers to take him alive if
possible, but on no account to suffer him to escape.

Dudley, meanwhile, endeavored with Cholmondeley to
drag one of the large pieces of ordnance out of the em-
brasure in which it was placed, with the view of point-
ing it against their foes. But before this could be ac-
complished, the attack commenced. Darting to the head
of the steps, Dudley valiantly defended the pass for some
time ; and the royalist soldiers, obedient to the injunc-
tions of Renard, forbore to strike him, and sought only
his capture. The arched roof rang with the clash of
weapons, with the reports of shot, and with the groans of
the wounded and dying. The floor beneath them soon
became slippery with blood. Still, Dudley kept his
ground. All at once he staggered and fell. A blow had
been dealt him from behind by one of the gunners, who
had contrived to approach him unawares.

" It is over," he groaned to his esquire, " finish me, and
fly, if you can, to Jane."

Cholmondeley raised his sword to comply with his
lord's injunctions, but the blow was arrested by the strong
arm of Renard, who bestriding his prey, cried in a voice
of exultation, " lie is mine ! Bear him to the Queen be-
fore he expires."

Cholmondeley heard no more, but darting backwards,
sprang into the embrasure whence he had endeavored to
drag the cannon, and forcing himself through the aper-
ture, dropped from the dizzy height into the moat.

While this was passing, Mary proceeded to St. John's



THE TOWER OP LONDOl^. 453

Chapel in the White Tower. It was brilliantly illumi-
nated, and high mass was being performed by Bonner and
the whole of the priesthood assembled within the fortress.
The transition from the roar and tnmult without to this
calm and sacred scene was singularly striking, and calcu-
lated to produce a strong effect on the feelings. There,
all was strife and clamor ; the air filled with smoke was
almost stifling ; and such places as were not lighted up by
the blaze of the conflagration or the flashing of the ord-
nance and musketry, were buried in profound gloom.
Here, all was light, odor, serenity, sanctity. Without,
fierce bands were engaged in deathly fight — nothing was
heard but the clash of arms, the thunder of cannon, the
shouts of the victorious, the groans of the dying. Within,
holy men were celebrating their religious rites, undis-
turbed by the terrible struggle around them, and apparent-
ly unconscious of it ; tapers shone from every pillar ; the
atmosphere was heavy with incense ; and the choral hymn
mingled with the scarce-heard roar of cannon. Mar}''
was so affected by the scene, that for the first time she
appeared moved. Her bosom heaved, and a tear started
to her eye.

"How peaceful is the holy place," she observed to
Gardiner, " and what a contrast it presents to the scene
we have just quitted ! I could almost wish that Heaven
had destined me to the cloister instead of the throne,
that I might pass my days in the exercise of my re-
ligion."

" Heaven has destined you to be the restorer and de-
fender of our religion, madam," replied Gardiner. " Had
you not been called to the high station you occupy, the
Catholic worship, so long discontinued in these holy walls,
would not now be celebrated. To you we owe its resto-
ration ; — to you we must owe its continuance."

As Mary advanced to the altar, the anthem ceased, and
silence prevailed throughout the sacred structure. Pros-
trating herself, she prayed for a few moments fervently,
and in an audible voice. She then arose, and observed to



454 THE TOWER OF LONDON.

Gardiner, " I feel so much comforted, that I am assured
Heaven will support me and our holy religion."

As she spoke, solemn music resounded through the
chapel, the anthem was again chanted, and the priests re-
sumed their holy rites. With a heart strengthened and
elated, Mary ascended the staircase behind the altar, and
passing through the gallery proceeded to the council-
chamber, where she was informed that Xit, having cap-
tured a prisoner of importance, waited without to ascer-
tain her pleasure concerning him. Mary ordered the
dwarf to be brought into her presence with his captive,
and in a few moments he was introduced with Bret, who
was guarded by a couple of halberdiers.

On no previous occasion had Xit exhibited so much con-
sequence as the present, and his accoutrements and fan-
tastically-plumed casque added to his ludicrous appear-
ance. He advanced slowly and majestically towards the
chair of state in which Mary was seated, ever and anon
turning his head to see that Bret was close behind him,
and when within a short distance of the royal person, he
made a profound salutation. Unluckily, in doing so, his
helmet fell from his head, and rolled to the Queen's feet.
Slightly discomposed by the accident, and still more by
Mary's frowns, he picked up his helmet, and stammered
forth—

" I am come to inform your Highness that I have taken
a prisoner — taken him with my own hands "

" Who is it ? " interrupted Mary, glancing sternly at
the captive, who remained with his arms folded upon his
breast, and his eyes cast upon the floor. " Who is it ? "
she asked in an imperious tone.

" The arch-traitor Bret," answered Xit, " the captain of
the London Trained Bands, who revolted from the Duke
of Norfolk, and joined the rebels at Rochester."

" Bret ! " ejaculated IMary, in a tone that made Xit re-
coil several steps with fright, while the prisoner himself