CHAPTER XII.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 233, 19 October 1877, Page 5

CHAPTER XII.

"Death, kind angel, watching by, Gently closed his tranquil eyo : Whilst tho free spirit wing'd her flight From beam to beam of endless light." " In the bridal crown display'd In thy wedding robe array'd Of thy pnrple life-blood wove, For the Slain One's feast of love." Lyra Catholica. The evening of the same day had come. Walter was lying clown, and Arthur Leslie sat at the table engaged in writing letters from Walter s dictation. They were interrupted by the entrance of the jailor. " I bring thee bad news, Master De Lisle," said he. " Indeed ! " answered Walter, with his usual smile ; " let me hear them, friend." " Thou art to die to-morrow." " Impossible ! " cried Arthur starting up ; " the sentence said three days, and lo ! to-morrow is only tlie second." " 'Tis no fault of mine," returned the man , " but express orders have come that the execution take place to-morrow." " 'Tis well ! " said Walter. " Arthur, hold thy peace for an instant. My friend," said he to the jailor, " thou hast brought me the joyfullest tidings that ever I heard ! At what hour, I pray thee must I be ready ! " " Thou art to leave this at eight o'clock ; and for to-night, sir, whatever indulgence thou dost crave thou shalt have. Most prisoners like to feast the night before they are executed, and to take leave merrily of earth. Wouldst like a flask of wine for thy supper ? " "No, friend," said Walter; "I am going to my feasting, not to Je&ve it,

"I trust me, good master," returned the jailor, "thou wilt not forget my poor services ; I have teen as lenient as my office permits." " Thou hast," said Walter ; "be sure I will not forget thee, tt.nd. ere I die, will. give thee the best reward I can." The jailor left the cell ; and as he went along the passage ho muttered to himself,—" They are a strange set. How he rejoices to die I Hark, how those wretches who are to die with him howl and rage ! ' Alack, « now from the saint I must go to the devils.' "• . " Dear Arthur," said Walter to his friend, " I desire to pass the night m prayer and vigil ; wilt thou ask Father Travers to come to me, if possible, at sunrise to-morrow ? " " Yes, father," said Arthur ; " but I know- now why this new order hath come. The queen takes boat to-morrow from Westminster to Greenwich, and it is designed to draw off the people's attention from Tybome. I will hasten, however, to let all I can know of the trick." "Ah, Arthur," said Walter, laying his hand caressingly upon mm, didst thou but know the joy this news gives toe, thou wouldst not be so angry with Walsingham." But as the time passed on, the calm and happiness that surrounded Walter departed, and as great heaviness and agony overshadowed him : it was often thus with the martyrs, the more to likea them to their Lord. Into such an agony we cannot enter, or attempt to sound its mysterious depths. The early dawn brought with it a comforter, better than an Angel. Basil Travers said Mass in Walter's cell, and Arthur served ; and thus Walter received his viat'wvm. From that moment peace returned, and, happy as he had always been until the night before, he seemed now filled with a celestial Joy, "Arthur," hesaid, "thou must be my groom of the chamber to-day, and tire me bravely, seeing my poor hands cannot help themselves, Let me be well apparelled for my bridal day." At length eight o'clock arrived, and the jailor came for Walter. The prisoner rose with alacrity, his irons were knocked off, and after giving the jailor some gold pieces, he passed, accompanied by Basil and Arthur, into the outer court of the prison. The hurdle was ready, and a companion was waiting for Walter, He was one of a gang of notorious highwaymen, wild and ferocious-looking, with an aspect oi sullen despair ; it was with some difficulty he was bound down with ropes to the hurdle ; and then came Walter's turn. He came forward, and making the holy sign, knelt for a moment in prayer, and then, without waiting to be forced, or even helped into it, he leapt into the straw, and " composed himself upon it as if he had been riding in triumph.f" Many Catholics had gained admission to the prison, and were weeping bitterly. " Why weep ye for me," said Walter, •' who am glad at heart of this happy day ? " " Well," said one jailor to another, as the hurdle moved from the prison, " assuredly this man dies for a good cause 1 " Walter was bound to the hurdle by cords passed over his legs only, on account of the already crippled condition of his hands. The prisongates were opened, and the hurdle, closely guarded by pursuivant^ made its way into the midst of a vast multitude. Walter raised himself, and blessing the people, exclaimed, " Qod save you all } God bless you, and make you all good Catholics I " The great multitude swayed to and fro, as the guards beat a passage with their staves, crying " Back, in the queen's name." Ai the procession went on, the crowd grew less dense than immediately outside the prison. The windows of the houses on each aide wore thrown open, and their inhabitants were standing there, some weening, most gazing with wondering curiosity. At the open window or one large house were collected a remarkable group. The French Ambassador was kneeling forward, near him knelt also his wife, and between him and Rose Ford knelt tho Duchess of Bertram, folding in her arms her youngest child, while her eldest was by her side. No word passed between them and Walter. Reverently they all bowed their heads while the mangled hand of the martyr was raised in benediction. The first feeling of the idle mob had been rather one of compassion for the victims ; but as this wore off, the spirit of mischief came into play, and some amused themselves by throwing stones and mud at the hurdle. It roused Walter's companion, who had hitherto lain still, to utter a volley of fearful oaths and curses, and to attempt to defend himself. This, from having both hands and feet bound, was impossible, and his angry and unavailing writhings diverted the mob so much, that they redoubled their annoyance. A shower of mud covered Walter and his companion, and one ruffian getting nearer the hurdle spat into Walter's face, exclaiming as ho did it, " There's holy water for ye." The man by Walter's side was so excited by this, that, making a tremendous effort, he broke the cord that held his arms, and turned towards Walter to wipe of the insult. Walter cast on him his glance of sweet serenity — " Thank ye, my friend, for this kindly office ; I need but few more now," " 'Tis a shame to treat thee so," muttered the man ; " thou hast done no crime, save refusing to chop and change thy religion at the queen's will. I like thy courage, for my part. Well, good father, it is soon over for both of us now, and then we go — thou to heaven, Ito hell." Walter, who had been looking earnestly at him, said — " What is thy name, friend 1 " " Ralph Woodbine," answered the man roughly. "Art thou a Catholic?" " I have served no God save the devil all my life. My mother was Catholic, and my father too, for that matter in Queen Mary's time ; but he changed when Queen Bess came to the crown, and my mother broke her heart and died, because he would bring me up in his fashion." " And what did he teach thee 1 " " Why, nothing. Many, then, what had he to teach ? The God he served was to keep his place as steward in the royal buttery, and Set rich, and leave his riches to me ; and he has lived to sco me here ; " and Ralph laughed hoarsely.