prisoners entered it through a massive archway of masonry, and
were placed in file, standing, with their backs against the wall.
A rope was stretched in front of them, and they were also guarded
by their officers. It was a chill and lowering morning, and a
light snow which had fallen during the night whitened the great
empty space and added to the general dismalness of its aspect.
Now and then a wintry wind shivered through the place and sent the
snow eddying hither and thither.
In the centre of the court stood two women, chained to posts. A
glance showed the King that these were his good friends. He
shuddered, and said to himself, “Alack, they are not gone free, as
I had thought. To think that such as these should know the lash!-
-in England! Ay, there’s the shame of it–not in Heathennesse,
Christian England! They will be scourged; and I, whom they have
comforted and kindly entreated, must look on and see the great
wrong done; it is strange, so strange, that I, the very source of
power in this broad realm, am helpless to protect them. But let
these miscreants look well to themselves, for there is a day
coming when I will require of them a heavy reckoning for this
work. For every blow they strike now, they shall feel a hundred
then.”
A great gate swung open, and a crowd of citizens poured in. They
flocked around the two women, and hid them from the King’s view.
A clergyman entered and passed through the crowd, and he also was
hidden. The King now heard talking, back and forth, as if
questions were being asked and answered, but he could not make out
what was said. Next there was a deal of bustle and preparation,
and much passing and repassing of officials through that part of
the crowd that stood on the further side of the women; and whilst
this proceeded a deep hush gradually fell upon the people.
Now, by command, the masses parted and fell aside, and the King
saw a spectacle that froze the marrow in his bones. Faggots had
been piled about the two women, and a kneeling man was lighting
them!
The women bowed their heads, and covered their faces with their
hands; the yellow flames began to climb upward among the snapping
and crackling faggots, and wreaths of blue smoke to stream away on
the wind; the clergyman lifted his hands and began a prayer–just
then two young girls came flying through the great gate, uttering
piercing screams, and threw themselves upon the women at the
stake. Instantly they were torn away by the officers, and one of
them was kept in a tight grip, but the other broke loose, saying
she would die with her mother; and before she could be stopped she
had flung her arms about her mother’s neck again. She was torn
away once more, and with her gown on fire. Two or three men held
her, and the burning portion of her gown was snatched off and
thrown flaming aside, she struggling all the while to free
herself, and saying she would be alone in the world, now; and
begging to be allowed to die with her mother. Both the girls
screamed continually, and fought for freedom; but suddenly this
tumult was drowned under a volley of heart-piercing shrieks of
mortal agony–the King glanced from the frantic girls to the
stake, then turned away and leaned his ashen face against the
wall, and looked no more. He said, “That which I have seen, in
that one little moment, will never go out from my memory, but will
abide there; and I shall see it all the days, and dream of it all
the nights, till I die. Would God I had been blind!”
Hendon was watching the King. He said to himself, with
satisfaction, “His disorder mendeth; he hath changed, and groweth
gentler. If he had followed his wont, he would have stormed at
these varlets, and said he was King, and commanded that the women
be turned loose unscathed. Soon his delusion will pass away and
be forgotten, and his poor mind will be whole again. God speed