The Golden Grasshopper | Page 9

evil were too soon fulfilled. While
the Duke of Northumberland and his party supported Lady Jane and her
husband (the Earl of Dudley), the larger portion of the nation rallied
round Queen Mary, not because she was a Romanist, but because she
was considered to be the legitimate heiress to the Crown, while the
unfortunate Lady Jane was shut up in the Tower. Mary arrived in
London, and was triumphantly proclaimed as Queen on the 3rd of
August, A.D. 1553.
In a short time the estimation in which Master Gresham was held by
the new Romish sovereign of England was made manifest, as he was
deprived of his office and ordered to return home. The journey was
performed on horseback, the Lady Anne riding a horse alone, but each
of her maidens being placed behind a groom. Ernst and the little
Richard were carried in the same manner. They took the road to Bruges,
from thence intending to proceed on to Dunkirk and Calais, that Lady
Anne might not be exposed to a long sea-voyage. The journey was of

necessity performed at a very slow rate, many sumpter mules being
required to carry the baggage and bedding, and some of the inns at
which they had to stop being without any but the roughest
accommodation. At Bruges they rested a day, that the Lady Anne might
see some of the churches and public buildings of that fine city. The
eyes of all the party were, however, grieved with a spectacle which
they would willingly have avoided, since they could not prevent it.
Ernst Verner was the first to apprehend what was about to take place,
and his cry of horror drew the attention of the rest of the party to the
scene. Just such a procession as he had beheld two years before was
passing through the streets. There were Spanish soldiers, and priests in
various coloured vestments, with boys waving censers and banners
borne above their heads. A vast crucifix, with the figure of the Lord of
light and life--that Holy One, full of love and mercy-- nailed to it. How
His heart must grieve, as looking down from heaven He beholds the
deeds of cruelty and injustice performed in His name. The procession
had just arrived at the place of execution, and soon, with but little
ceremony or form, five victims were chained to the stakes there erected,
and the flames burst up, consuming their bodies. The people looked on,
if not with indifference, at all events without exhibiting their feelings,
kept in awe by the Spanish troops, and their dread of the power of the
Emperor. Lady Anne entreated that they might hasten from the city.
"Alas! my wife, I fear, that though we proceed onwards, we may meet
with similar scenes till we are beyond the boundaries of the country.
And now we have a Popish sovereign on the throne of England, I know
not what events may there take place."
"Surely the Princess Mary has herself not escaped suffering, and has
been so exemplary in her conduct, that she would not permit such
deeds to be done as we hear of in this country."
"Her training has been that of the Emperor Charles. She has been
brought up, as he was, by the priests of Rome; and the same training
will in most instances produce the same results," answered the
merchant. "But let us be wise, my wife, and not speak of these things
where any eavesdropper may overhear them. Now that I have lost my

firm friend and patron, the Duke of Northumberland, I feel much
uncertainty as to my own position. There are those who hate me, both
because I am a Protestant, and because they are jealous of my success.
The old Marquis of Winchester has ever turned a green eye towards me,
and is even now plotting to do me ill. He, I doubt not, has been the
chief cause of my recall."
Ernst heard these remarks, though he did not give much heed to them at
the time, but still it left the impression on his mind that his kind patron
was in danger.
Calais was at length reached, and the party once more found
themselves under the protection of the British flag. While waiting for
the rise of the tide to float the vessel out of the river, Master Gresham
took a walk round the fortifications; and he saw enough to convince
him that they had been allowed to go to decay, and were not in a
condition to enable them to resist any sudden attack of the enemy.
Although England was at that time at peace with France, yet at any
moment war might be declared between the rival powers; and any
simple man might know, as well as the