CHAPTER XI.
THE MARRIAGE IN THE FOREST.
Tresham, for it will have been conjectured that he was one of thespeakers mentioned in the preceding chapter, on separating from LordMounteagle, took the same direction as the conspirators. He hesitatedfor some time before venturing to knock at the garden-gate; and when hehad done so, felt half-disposed to take to his heels. But shamerestrained him; and hearing footsteps approach, he gave the customarysignal, and was instantly admitted by Guy Fawkes.
"What brings you here?" demanded the latter, as they entered the house,and made fast the door behind them.
"I have just heard that Parliament is prorogued to the fifth ofNovember," replied Tresham, "and came to tell you so."
"I already know it," returned Fawkes, gloomily; "and for the first timefeel some misgiving as to the issue of our enterprise."
"Why so?" inquired Tresham.
"November is unlucky to me," rejoined Fawkes, "and I cannot recollect ayear in my life in which some ill has not befallen me during that month,especially on the fifth day. On the last fifth of November, I nearlydied of a fever at Madrid. It is a strange and unfortunate coincidencethat the meeting of the Parliament should be appointed for thatparticular day."
"Shall I tell you what I think it portends?" hesitated Tresham.
"Do so," replied Fawkes, "and speak boldly. I am no child to befrightened at shadows."
"You have more than once declared your intention of perishing with ourfoes," rejoined Tresham. "The design, though prosperous in itself, maybe fatal to you."
"You are right," replied Fawkes. "I have little doubt I shall perish onthat day. You are both aware of my superstitious nature, and are notignorant that many mysterious occurrences have combined to strengthenthe feeling,--such as the dying words of the prophetess, ElizabethOrton,--her warning speech when she was raised from the dead by DoctorDee,--and lastly, the vision at St. Winifred's Well. What if I tell youthe saint has again appeared to me?"
"In a dream?" inquired Catesby, in a slightly sceptical tone.
"Ay, in a dream," returned Fawkes. "But I saw her as plainly as if I hadbeen awake. It was the same vapoury figure--the same transparent robes,the same benign countenance, only far more pitying than before--that Ibeheld at Holywell. I heard no sound issue from her lips, but I _felt_that she warned me to desist."
"Do you accept the warning?" asked Tresham, eagerly.
"It is needless to answer," replied Fawkes. "I have laid the trainto-night."
"You have infected me with your misgivings," observed Tresham. "Wouldthe enterprise had never been undertaken!"
"But being undertaken, it must be gone through with," rejoined Catesby,sternly. "Hark'e, Tresham. You promised us two thousand pounds in aid ofthe project, but have constantly deferred payment of the sum on someplea or other."
"Because I have not been able to raise it," replied Tresham, sullenly."I have tried in vain to sell part of my estates at Rushton, inNorthamptonshire. I cannot effect impossibilities."
"Tush!" cried Catesby, fiercely. "You well know I ask no impossibility.I will no longer be trifled with. The money must be forthcoming by thetenth of October, or you shall pay the penalty with your life."
"This is the language of a cut-throat, Mr. Catesby," replied Tresham.
"It is the only language I will hold towards you," rejoined Catesby,contemptuously. "Look you disappoint me not, or take the consequences."
"I must leave for Northamptonshire at once, then," said Tresham.
"Do as you please," returned Catesby. "Play the cut-throat yourself, andease some rich miser of his store, if you think fit. Bring us the money,and we will not ask how you came by it."
"Before we separate," said Tresham, disregarding these sneers, "I wishto be resolved on one point. Who are to be saved from destruction?"
"Why do you ask?" inquired Fawkes.
"Because I must stipulate for the lives of my brothers-in-law, the LordsMounteagle and Stourton."
"If anything detains them from the meeting, well and good," repliedCatesby. "But no warning must be given them. That would infallibly leadto a discovery of the plot."
"Some means might surely be adopted to put them on their guard withoutdanger to ourselves?" urged Tresham.
"I know of none," replied Catesby.
"Nor I," added Fawkes. "If I did, I would warn Lord Montague, and someothers whom I shall grieve to destroy."
"We are all similarly circumstanced," replied Catesby. "Keyes is anxiousfor the preservation of his patron and friend, Lord Mordaunt,--Percy,for the Earl of Northumberland. I, myself, would gladly save the youngEarl of Arundel. But we must sacrifice our private feeling for thegeneral good."
"We must," acquiesced Fawkes.
"We shall not meet again till the night of the tenth of October," saidCatesby, "when take care you are in readiness with the money."
Upon this, the conversation dropped, and soon afterwards Treshamdeparted.
When he found himself alone, he suffered his rage to find vent in words."Perdition seize them!" he cried, "I shall now lose two thousand pounds,in addition to what I have already advanced; and, as Mounteagle will nothave the disclosure made till the beginning of November, there is no wayof avoiding payment. They would not fall into the snare I laid to throwthe blame of the discovery, when it takes place, upon their ownindiscretion. But I must devise some other plan. The warning shallproceed from an unknown quarter. A letter, written in a feigned hand,and giving some obscure intimation of danger, shall be delivered with anair of mystery to Mounteagle. This will serve as a plea for itsdivulgement to the Earl of Salisbury. Well, well, they shall have themoney; but they shall pay me back in other coin."
Early on the following day, Catesby and Fawkes proceeded to White Webbs.Garnet was greatly surprised to see them, and could not conceal hisdisappointment at the cause of their return.
"This delay bodes no good," he observed. "Parliament has been so oftenprorogued, that I begin to think some suspicion is entertained of ourdesign."
"Make your mind easy, then," replied Catesby. "I have made dueinquiries, and find the meeting is postponed to suit the King'sconvenience, who wishes to prolong his stay at Royston. He may probablyhave some secret motive for the delay, but I am sure it in no wayconcerns us."
Everything being now fully arranged, the conspirators had only to waitpatiently for the arrival of the expected fifth of November. Most ofthem decided upon passing the interval in the country. Ambrose Rookwooddeparted for Clopton, near Stratford-upon-Avon,--a seat belonging toLord Carew, where his family were staying. Keyes went to visit LordMordaunt at Turvey, in Bedfordshire; and Percy and the two Wrights setout for Gothurst, in Buckinghamshire, to desire Sir Everard Digby topostpone the grand hunting-party which he was to hold at Dunsmore Heath,as an excuse for mustering a strong party of Catholics, to the beginningof November. The two Winters repaired to their family mansion,Huddington, in Worcestershire; while Fawkes and Catesby, together withthe two priests, remained at White Webbs. The three latter held dailyconferences together, but were seldom joined by Fawkes, who passed histime in the adjoining forest, selecting its densest and most intricateparts for his rambles.
It was now the beginning of October, and, as is generally the case inthe early part of this month, the weather was fine, and the air pure andbracing. The forest could scarcely have been seen to greater advantage.The leaves had assumed their gorgeous autumnal tints, and the masses oftimber, variegated in colour, presented an inexpressibly beautifulappearance. Guy Fawkes spent hours in the depths of the wood. His solecompanions were the lordly stag and the timid hare, that occasionallystarted across his path. Since his return, he had sedulously avoidedViviana, and they had met only twice, and then no speech had passedbetween them. One day, when he had plunged even deeper than usual intothe forest, and had seated himself on the stump of a decayed tree, withhis eyes fixed on a small clear rivulet welling at his feet, he saw thereflection of a female figure in the water; and, filled with the i
dea ofthe vision of Saint Winifred, at first imagined he was about to receiveanother warning. But a voice that thrilled to his heart's core, soonundeceived him, and, turning, he beheld Viviana. She was habited in ariding-dress, and appeared prepared to set out upon a journey.
"So you have tracked me to my solitude," he observed, in a tone offorced coldness. "I thought I was secure from interruption here."
"You will forgive me, I am sure, when you know my errand," she replied."It is to take an eternal farewell of you."
"Indeed!" he exclaimed. "Are you about to quit White Webbs?"
"I am," she mournfully rejoined. "I am about to set out with FatherOldcorne for Gothurst, where I shall remain till all is over."
"I entirely approve your determination," returned Fawkes, after a shortpause.
"I knew you would do so, or I should have consulted you upon it," sherejoined. "And as you appear to avoid me, I would fain have departedwithout taking leave of you, but found it impossible to do so."
"You well know my motive for avoiding you, Viviana," rejoined Fawkes."We are no longer what we were to each other. A fearful struggle hastaken place within me, though I have preserved an unmoved exterior,between passion and the sense of my high calling. I have told you Inever loved before, and fancied my heart immoveable as adamant. But Inow find out my error. It is a prey to a raging and constant flame. Ihave shunned you," he continued, with increased excitement, "because thesight of you shakes my firmness,--because I feel it sinful to think ofyou in preference to holier objects,--and because, after I have quittedyou, your image alone engrosses my thoughts. Here, in the depths of thiswood, by the side of this brook, I can commune with my soul,--canabstract myself from the world and the thoughts of the world--fromyou--yes, you, who are all the world to me now,--and prepare to meet myend."
"Then you are resolved to die?" she cried.
"I shall abide the explosion, and nothing but a miracle can save me,"returned Fawkes.
"And think not it will be exerted in your behalf," she replied. "Heavendoes not approve your design, and you will assuredly incur its vengeanceby your criminal conduct."
"Viviana," replied Guy Fawkes, rising, "man cannot read my heart, butHeaven can; and the sincerity of my purpose will be recognised above.What I am about to do is for the regeneration of our holy religion; andif the welfare of that religion is dear to the Supreme Being, our causemust prosper. If the contrary, it deserves to fail, and will fail. Ihave ever told you that I care not what becomes of myself. I am nowmore than ever indifferent to life,--or rather," he added, in a sombretone, "I am anxious to die."
"Your dreadful wish, I fear, will be accomplished," replied Viviana,sadly. "I have been constantly haunted by frightful apprehensionsrespecting you, and my dead father has appeared to me in my dreams. Hisspirit, if such it were, seemed to gaze upon me with a mournful look,and, as I thought, pronounced your name in piteous accents."
"These forebodings chime with my own," muttered Fawkes, repressing ashudder; "but nothing shall shake me. It will inflict a bitter pang uponme to part with you, Viviana,--the bitterest I can ever feel,--and Ishall be glad when it is over."
"I echo your own wish," she returned, "and deeply lament that we evermet. But the fate that brought us together must for ever unite us."
"What mean you?" he inquired, gazing fixedly at her.
"There is one sad consolation which you can afford me, and which you oweme for the deep and lasting misery I shall endure on your account,"replied Viviana;--"a consolation that will enable me to bear your losswith fortitude, and to devote myself wholly to Heaven."
"Whatever I can do that will not interfere with my purpose, you maycommand," he rejoined.
"What I have to propose will not interfere with it," she answered. "Now,hear me, and put the sole construction I deserve on my conduct. FatherGarnet is at a short distance from us, behind those trees, waiting mysummons. I have informed him of my design, and he approves of it. It isto unite us in marriage--solemnly unite us--that though I may never livewith you as a wife, I may mourn you as a widow. Do you consent?"
Guy Fawkes returned an affirmative, in a voice broken by emotion.
"The moment the ceremony is over," pursued Viviana, "I shall start withFather Oldcorne for Gothurst. We shall never meet again in this world."
"Unless I succeed," said Fawkes.
"You will _not_ succeed," replied Viviana. "If I thought so, I shouldnot take this step. I look upon it as an espousal with the dead."
So saying, she hurried away, and disappearing beneath the covert,returned in a few seconds with Garnet.
"I have a strange duty to perform for you, my son," said Garnet toFawkes, who remained motionless and stupified; "but I am right willingto perform it, because I think it will lead to your future happinesswith the fair creature who has bestowed her affections on you."
"Do not speculate on the future, father," cried Viviana. "You know _why_I asked you to perform this ceremony. You know, also, that I have madepreparations for instant departure; and that I indulge no hope of seeingGuy Fawkes again."
"All this I know, dear daughter," returned Garnet; "but, in spite ofyour anticipations of ill, I still hope that your union may proveauspicious."
"I take you to witness, father," said Viviana, "that in bestowing myhand upon Guy Fawkes, I bestow at the same time all my possessions uponhim. He is free to use them as he thinks proper,--even in thefurtherance of his design against the state, which, though I cannotapprove it, seems good to him."
"This must not be," cried Fawkes.
"It _shall be_," rejoined Viviana. "Proceed with the ceremony, father."
"Let her have her own way, my son," observed Garnet, in a low tone."Under any circumstances, her estates must now be necessarily yours."
He then took a breviary from his vest, and placing them near each other,began to read aloud the marriage-service appointed by the Romish Church.And there, in that secluded spot, and under such extraordinarycircumstances, with no other witnesses than the ancient trees aroundthem, and the brook rippling at their feet, were Guy Fawkes and Vivianaunited. The ceremony over, Guy Fawkes pressed his bride to his breast,and imprinted a kiss upon her lips.
"I have broken my faith to Heaven, to which I was first espoused," hecried.
"No," she returned; "you will now return to your first and holiestchoice. Think of me only as I shall think of you,--as of the dead."
With this, the party slowly and silently returned to the house, wherethey found a couple of steeds, with luggage strapped to the saddles, atthe door.
Father Oldcorne was already mounted, and in a few minutes Viviana was byhis side. Before her departure, she bade Guy Fawkes a tender farewell;and at this trying juncture her firmness nearly deserted her. Butrousing herself, she sprang upon her horse, and urging the animal into aquick pace, and followed by Oldcorne, she speedily disappeared fromview. Guy Fawkes watched her out of sight, and shunning the regards ofCatesby, who formed one of the group, struck into the forest, and wasnot seen again till the following day.
The tenth of October having arrived, Guy Fawkes and Catesby repaired tothe place of rendezvous. But the night passed, and Tresham did notappear. Catesby was angry and disappointed, and could not conceal hisapprehensions of treachery. Fawkes took a different view of the matter,and thought it not improbable that their confederate's absence might beoccasioned by the difficulty he found in complying with their demands;and this opinion was confirmed the next morning by the arrival of aletter from Tresham, stating that he had been utterly unable to effectthe sales he contemplated, and could not, therefore, procure the moneytill the end of the month.
"I will immediately go down to Rushton," said Catesby, "and if I findhim disposed to palter with us, I will call him to instant account. ButGarnet informs me that Viviana has bestowed all her wealth upon you. Areyou willing to devote it to the good cause?"
"No!" replied Fawkes, in a tone so decisive that his companion felt itwould be useless to urge the matter further. "I
give my life to thecause,--that must suffice."
The subject was never renewed. At night, Catesby, having procured apowerful steed, set out upon his journey to Northamptonshire, whileFawkes returned to White Webbs.
About a fortnight passed unmarked by any event of importance. Despatcheswere received from Catesby, stating that he had received the money fromTresham, and had expended it in procuring horses and arms. He also addedthat he had raised numerous recruits on various pretences. This letterwas dated from Ashby St. Leger's, the seat of his mother, Lady Catesby,but he expressed his intention of proceeding to Coughton Hall, nearAlcester, in Warwickshire, the residence of Mr. Thomas Throckmorton (awealthy Catholic gentleman), whither Sir Everard Digby had removed withhis family, to be in readiness for the grand hunting-party to be held onthe fifth of November on Dunsmore Heath. Here he expected to be joinedby the two Wrights, the Winters, Rookwood, Keyes, and the rest of theconspirators, and undertook to bring them all up to White Webbs onSaturday the twenty-sixth of October.
By this time, Guy Fawkes had in a great degree recovered his equanimity,and left alone with Garnet, held long and frequent religious conferenceswith him; it being evidently his desire to prepare himself for hisexpected fate. He spent the greater part of the nights in solitaryvigils--fasted even more rigorously than he was enjoined to do--andprayed with such fervour and frequency, that, fearing an ill effect uponhis health, and almost upon his mind, which had become exalted to thehighest pitch of enthusiasm, Garnet thought it necessary to check him.The priest did not fail to note that Viviana's name never passed hislips, and that in all their walks in the forest he carefully shunned thescene of his espousals.
And thus time flew by. On the evening of the twenty-sixth of October, inaccordance with Catesby's intimation, the conspirators arrived. Theywere all assembled at supper, and were relating the differentarrangements which had been made in anticipation of the importantevent, when Garnet observed with a look of sudden uneasiness to Catesby,"You said in one of your letters that you would bring Tresham with you,my son. Why do I not see him?"
"He sent a message to Coughton to state, that having been attacked by asudden illness, he was unable to join us," replied Catesby, "but as soonas he could leave his bed, he would hasten to London. This may be asubterfuge, but I shall speedily ascertain the truth, for I have sent myservant Bates to Rushton, to investigate the matter. I ought to tellyou," he added, "that he has given substantial proof of his devotion tothe cause by sending another thousand pounds, to be expended in thepurchase of arms and horses."
"I hope it is not dust thrown into our eyes," returned Garnet. "I havealways feared Tresham would deceive us at the last."
"This sudden illness looks suspicious, I must own," said Catesby. "Hasaught been heard of Lord Mounteagle?"
"Guy Fawkes heard that he was at his residence at Southwark yesterday,"returned Garnet.
"So far, good," replied Catesby. "Did you visit the cellar where thepowder is deposited?" he added, turning to Fawkes.
"I did," replied the other, "and found all secure. The powder is inexcellent preservation. Before quitting the spot, I placed certainprivate marks against the door, by which I can tell whether it is openedduring our absence."
"A wise precaution," returned Catesby. "And now, gentlemen," he added,filling a goblet with wine, "success to our enterprise! Everything isprepared," he continued, as the pledge was enthusiastically drunk; "Ihave got together a company of above two hundred men, all well armed andappointed, who will follow me wherever I choose to lead them. They willbe stationed near Dunsmore Heath on the fifth of next month, and as soonas the event of the explosion is known, I shall ride thither as fast asI can, and, hurrying with my troops to Coventry, seize the PrincessElizabeth. Percy and Keyes will secure the person of the Duke of York,and proclaim him King; while upon the rest will devolve the arduous dutyof rousing our Catholic brethren in London to rise to arms."
"Trust to us to rouse them," shouted several voices.
"Let each man swear not to swerve from the fulfilment of his task,"cried Catesby; "swear it upon this cup of wine, in which we will all mixour blood."
And as he spoke, he pricked his arm with the point of his sword, andsuffered a few drops of blood to fall into the goblet, while the others,roused to a state of frenzied enthusiasm, imitated his example, andafterwards raised the horrible mixture to their lips, pronouncing at thesame time the oath.
Guy Fawkes was the last to take the pledge, and crying in a loud voice,"I swear not to quit my post till the explosion is over," he drained thecup.
After this, they adjourned to a room in another wing of the house,fitted up as a chapel, where mass was performed by Garnet, and thesacrament administered to the whole assemblage. They were about toretire for the night, when a sudden knocking was heard at the door.Reconnoitring the intruder through an upper window, overlooking thecourt, Catesby perceived it was Bates, who was holding a smoking andmud-bespattered steed by the bridle.
"Well, what news do you bring?" cried Catesby, as he admitted him. "Haveyou seen Tresham?"
"No," replied Bates. "His illness was a mere pretence. He has leftRushton secretly for London."
"I knew it," cried Garnet. "He has again betrayed us."
"He shall die," said Catesby.
And the determination was echoed by all the other conspirators.
Instead of retiring to rest, they passed the night in anxiousdeliberation, and it was at last proposed that Guy Fawkes should proceedwithout loss of time to Southwark, to keep watch near the house of LordMounteagle, and if possible ascertain whether Tresham had visited it.
To this he readily agreed. But before setting out, he took Catesby asidefor a moment, and asked, "Did you see Viviana at Coughton?"
"Only for a moment, and that just before I left the place," was theanswer. "She desired to be remembered to you, and said you were neverabsent from her thoughts or prayers."
Guy Fawkes turned away to hide his emotion, and mounting one of thehorses brought by the conspirators, rode off towards London.