Guy Fawkes; or, The Gunpowder Treason: An Historical Romance

by William Harrison Ainsworth

  CHAPTER XIV.

  THE PACKET.

  On recovering from the effects of the wound he had received from thetrooper, Guy Fawkes found himself stretched upon a small bed in acottage, with Viviana and Catesby watching beside him. A thick fold oflinen was bandaged round his head, and he was so faint from the greateffusion of blood he had sustained, that, after gazing vacantly aroundhim for a few minutes, and but imperfectly comprehending what he beheld,his eyes closed, and he relapsed into insensibility. Restoratives beingapplied, he revived in a short time, and, in answer to his inquiries howhe came thither, was informed by Catesby that he had been left for deadby his assailants, who, contenting themselves with making the oldsteward prisoner, had ridden off in the direction of Chester.

  "What has become of Sir William Radcliffe?" asked the wounded man in afeeble voice.

  Catesby raised his finger to his lips, and Fawkes learnt the distressingnature of the question he had asked by the agonizing cry that burst fromViviana. Unable to control her grief, she withdrew, and Catesby thentold him that the body of Sir William Radcliffe was lying in anadjoining cottage, whither it had been transported from the scene of theconflict; adding that it was Viviana's earnest desire that it should beconveyed to Manchester to the family vault in the Collegiate Church; butthat he feared her wish could not be safely complied with. A messenger,however, had been despatched to Holt; and Sir Everard Digby, and FathersGarnet and Oldcorne, were momentarily expected, when some course wouldbe decided upon for the disposal of the unfortunate knight's remains.

  "Poor Viviana!" groaned Fawkes. "She has now no protector."

  "Rest easy on that score," rejoined Catesby. "She shall never want onewhile I live."

  The wounded man fixed his eyes, now blazing with red and unnaturallight, inquiringly upon him, but he said nothing.

  "I know what you mean," continued Catesby; "you think I shall wed her,and you are in the right. I shall. The marriage is essential to ourenterprise; and the only obstacle to it is removed."

  Fawkes attempted to reply, but his parched tongue refused its office.Catesby arose, and carefully raising his head, held a cup of water tohis lips. The sufferer eagerly drained it, and would have asked formore; but seeing that the request would be refused, he left itunuttered.

  "Have you examined my wound?" he said, after a pause.

  Catesby answered in the affirmative.

  "And do you judge it mortal?" continued Fawkes. "Not that I have anyfear of Death. I have looked him in the face too often for that. But Ihave somewhat on my mind which I would fain discharge before my earthlypilgrimage is ended."

  "Do not delay it, then," rejoined the other. "Knowing I speak to asoldier, and a brave one, I do not hesitate to tell you your hours arenumbered."

  "Heaven's will be done!" exclaimed Fawkes, in a tone of resignation. "Ithought myself destined to be one of the chief instruments of therestoration of our holy religion. But I find I was mistaken. When FatherGarnet arrives, I beseech you let me see him instantly. Or, if he shouldnot come speedily, entreat Miss Radcliffe to grant me a few moments inprivate."

  "Why not unburthen yourself to me?" returned Catesby, distrustfully. "Inyour circumstances I should desire no better confessor than a brothersoldier,--no other crucifix than a sword-hilt."

  "Nor I," rejoined Fawkes. "But this is no confession I am about to make.What I have to say relates to others, not to myself."

  "Indeed!" exclaimed Catesby. "Then there is the more reason why itshould not be deferred. I hold it my duty to tell you that the fever ofyour wound will, in all probability, produce delirium. Make yourcommunication while your senses remain to you. And whatever you enjoinshall be rigorously fulfilled."

  "Will you swear this?" cried Fawkes, eagerly. But before an answer couldbe returned, he added, in an altered tone, "No,--no,--it cannot be."

  "This is no time for anger," rejoined Catesby, sternly, "or I should askwhether you doubt the assurance I have given you?"

  "I doubt nothing but your compliance with my request," returned Fawkes."And oh! if you hope to be succoured at your hour of need, tell MissRadcliffe I desire to speak with her."

  "The message will not need to be conveyed," said Viviana, who hadnoiselessly entered the room; "she is here."

  Guy Fawkes turned his gaze in the direction of the voice; and,notwithstanding his own deplorable condition, he was filled with concernat the change wrought in her appearance by the terrible shock she hadundergone. Her countenance was as pale as death,--her eyes, from whichno tears would flow, as is ever the case with the deepest distress, wereglassy and lustreless,--her luxuriant hair hung in dishevelled massesover her shoulders,--and her attire was soiled and disordered.

  "You desire to speak with me," she continued, advancing towards thecouch of the wounded man.

  "It must be alone," he replied.

  Viviana glanced at Catesby, who reluctantly arose, and closed the doorafter him. "We _are_ alone now," she said.

  "Water! water!" gasped the sufferer, "or I perish." His request beingcomplied with, he continued in a low solemn voice, "Viviana, you havelost the dearest friend you had on earth, and you will soon lose onewho, if he had been spared, would have endeavoured, as far as he could,to repair the loss. I say not this to aggravate your distress, but toprove the sincerity of my regard. Let me conjure you, with my dyingbreath, not to wed Mr. Catesby."

  "Fear it not," replied Viviana. "I would rather endure death thanconsent to do so."

  "Be upon your guard against him, then," continued Fawkes. "When anobject is to be gained, he suffers few scruples to stand in his way."

  "I am well aware of it," replied Viviana; "and on the arrival of SirEverard Digby, I shall place myself under his protection."

  "Should you be driven to extremity," said Fawkes, taking a small packetfrom the folds of his doublet, "break open this; it will inform you whatto do. Only promise me you will not have recourse to it till all othermeans have failed."

  Viviana took the packet, and gave the required promise.

  "Conceal it about your person, and guard it carefully," continuedFawkes; "for you know not when you may require it. And now, havingcleared my conscience, I can die easily. Let me have your prayers."

  Viviana knelt down by the bedside, and poured forth the most earnestsupplications in his behalf.

  "Perhaps," she said, as she arose, "and it is some consolation to thinkso,--you may be saved by death from the commission of a great crime,which would for ever have excluded you from the joys of heaven."

  "Say rather," cried Guy Fawkes, whose brain began to wander, "whichwould have secured them to me. Others will achieve it; but I shall haveno share in their glory, or their reward."

  "Their reward will be perdition in this world and in the next," rejoinedViviana. "I repeat, that though I deeply deplore your condition, Irejoice in your delivery from this sin. It is better--far better--to diethus, than by the hands of the common executioner."

  "What do I see?" cried Guy Fawkes, trying to raise himself, and sinkingback again instantly upon the pillow. "Elizabeth Orton rises before me.She beckons me after her--I come!--I come!"

  "Heaven pity him!" cried Viviana. "His senses have left him!"

  "She leads me into a gloomy cavern," continued Fawkes, more wildly; "butmy eyes are like the wolf's, and can penetrate the darkness. It isfilled with barrels of gunpowder. I see them ranged in tiers, one aboveanother. Ah! I know where I am now. It is the vault beneath theParliament-house. The King and his nobles are assembled in the hallabove. Lend me a torch, that I may fire the train, and blow them intothe air. Quick! quick! I have sworn their destruction, and will keep myoath. What matter if I perish with them? Give me the torch, I say, or itwill be too late. Is the powder damp that it will not kindle? And see!the torch is expiring--it is gone out! Distraction!--to be baffled thus!Why do you stand and glare at me with your stony eyes? Who are thosewith you? Fiends!--no! they are armed men. They seize me--they drag mebefore a grave assemblage. What is that hideous engine?
The rack!--Bindme on it--break every limb--ye shall not force me to confess--ha! ha! Ilaugh at your threats--ha! ha!"

  "Mother of mercy! release him from this torture!" cried Viviana.

  "So! ye have condemned me," continued Fawkes, "and will drag me toexecution. Well, well, I am prepared. But what a host is assembled tosee me! Ten thousand faces are turned towards me, and all with oneabhorrent bloodthirsty expression. And what a scaffold! Get it donequickly, thou butcherly villain. The rope is twisted round my throatin serpent folds. It strangles me--ah!"

  "Horror!" exclaimed Viviana. "I can listen to this no longer. Help, Mr.Catesby, help!"

  "The knife is at my breast--it pierces my flesh--my heart is tornforth--I die! I die!" And he uttered a dreadful groan.

  "What has happened?" cried Catesby, rushing into the room. "Is he dead?"

  "I fear so," replied Viviana; "and his end has been a fearful one."

  "No--no," said Catesby; "his pulse still beats--but fiercely andfeverishly. You had better not remain here longer, Miss Radcliffe. Iwill watch over him. All will soon be over."

  Aware that she could be of no further use, Viviana cast a look of thedeepest commiseration at the sufferer, and retired. The occupant of thecottage, an elderly female, had surrendered all the apartments of hertenement, except one small room, to her guests, and she was thereforeundisturbed. The terrible event which had recently occurred, and theharrowing scene she had just witnessed, were too much for Viviana, andher anguish was so intense, that she began to fear her reason wasdeserting her. She stood still,--gazed fearfully round, as if somesecret danger environed her,--clasped her hands to her temples, andfound them burning like hot iron,--and, then, alarmed at her own state,knelt down, prayed, and wept. Yes! she wept, for the first time, sinceher father's destruction, and the relief afforded by those scaldingtears was inexpressible.

  From this piteous state she was aroused by the tramp of horses at thedoor of the cottage, and the next moment Father Garnet presentedhimself.

  "How uncertain are human affairs!" he said, after a sorrowful greetinghad passed between them. "I little thought, when we parted yesterday, weshould meet again so soon, and under such afflicting circumstances."

  "It is the will of Heaven, father," replied Viviana, "and we must notmurmur at its decrees, but bear our chastening as we best may."

  "I am happy to find you in such a comfortable frame of mind, deardaughter. I feared the effect of the shock upon your feelings. But I amglad to find you bear up against it so well."

  "I am surprised at my own firmness, father," replied Viviana. "But Ihave been schooled in affliction. I have no tie left to bind me to theworld, and shall retire from it, not only without regret, but witheagerness."

  "Say not so, dear daughter," replied Garnet. "You have, I trust, muchhappiness in store for you; and when the sharpness of your affliction isworn off, you will view your condition in a more cheering light."

  "Impossible!" she cried, mournfully. "Hope is wholly extinct in mybreast. But I will not contest the point. Is not Sir Everard Digby withyou?"

  "He is not, daughter," replied Garnet, "and I will explain to youwherefore. Soon after your departure yesterday, the mansion we occupiedat Holt was attacked by a band of soldiers, headed by Miles Topcliffe,one of the most unrelenting of our persecutors; and though they weredriven off with some loss, yet, as there was every reason to apprehend,they would return with fresh force, Sir Everard judged it prudent toretreat; and accordingly he and his friends, with all their attendants,except those he has sent with me, have departed for Buckinghamshire."

  "Where, then, is Father Oldcorne?" inquired Viviana.

  "Alas! daughter," rejoined Garnet, "I grieve to say he is a prisoner.Imprudently exposing himself during the attack, he was seized andcarried off by Topcliffe and his myrmidons."

  "How true is the saying that misfortunes never come single!" sighedViviana. "I seem bereft of all I hold dear."

  "Sir Everard has sent four of his trustiest servants with me," remarkedGarnet. "They are well armed, and will attend you wherever you choose tolead them. He has also furnished me with a sum of money for your use."

  "He is most kind and considerate," replied Viviana. "And now, father,"she faltered, "there is one subject which it is necessary to speak upon;and, though I shrink from it, it must not be postponed."

  "I guess what you mean, daughter," said Garnet, sympathizingly; "youallude to the interment of Sir William Radcliffe. Is the body here?"

  "It is in an adjoining cottage," replied Viviana in a broken voice. "Ihave already expressed my wish to Mr. Catesby to have it conveyed toManchester, to our family vault."

  "I see not how that can be accomplished, dear daughter," replied Garnet;"but I will confer with Mr. Catesby on the subject. Where is he?"

  "In the next room, by the couch of Guy Fawkes, who is dying," saidViviana.

  "Dying!" echoed Garnet, starting. "I heard he was dangerously hurt, butdid not suppose the wound would prove fatal. Here is another grievousblow to the good cause."

  At this moment the door was opened by Catesby.

  "How is the sufferer?" asked Garnet.

  "A slight change for the better appears to have taken place," answeredCatesby. "His fever has in some decree abated, and he has sunk into agentle slumber."

  "Can he be removed with safety?" inquired Garnet; "for, I fear, if heremains here, he will fall into the hands of Topcliffe and his crew,who are scouring the country in every direction." And he recapitulatedall he had just stated to Viviana.

  Catesby was for some time lost in reflection.

  "I am fairly perplexed as to what course it will be best to pursue," hesaid. "Dangers and difficulties beset us on every side. I am inclined toyield to Viviana's request, and proceed to Manchester."

  "That will be rushing into the very face of danger," observed Garnet.

  "And, therefore, may be the safest plan," replied Catesby. "Ouradversaries will scarcely suspect us of so desperate a step."

  "Perhaps you are in the right, my son," returned Garnet, after amoment's reflection. "At all events, I bow to your judgment."

  "The plan is too much in accordance with my own wishes to meet with anyopposition on my part," observed Viviana.

  "Will you accompany us, father?" asked Catesby; "or do you proceed toGothurst?"

  "I will go with you, my son. Viviana will need a protector. And, till Ihave seen her in some place of safety, I will not leave her."

  "Since we have come to this determination," rejoined Catesby, "as soonas the needful preparations can be made, and Guy Fawkes has had somehours' repose, we will set out. Under cover of night we can travel withsecurity; and, by using some exertion, may reach Ordsall Hall, whither,I presume, Viviana would choose to proceed, in the first instance,before daybreak."

  "I am well mounted, and so are my attendants," replied Garnet; "and, bythe provident care of Sir Everard Digby, each of them has a led horsewith him."

  "That is well," said Catesby. "And now, Viviana, may I entreat you totake my place for a short time by the couch of the sufferer. In a fewhours everything shall be in readiness."

  He then retired with Garnet, while Viviana proceeded to the adjoiningchamber, where she found Guy Fawkes still slumbering tranquilly.

  As the evening advanced, he awoke, and appeared much refreshed. While hewas speaking, Garnet and Catesby approached his bedside, and he seemedoverjoyed at the sight of the former. The subject of the journey beingmentioned to him, he at once expressed his ready compliance with thearrangement, and only desired that the last rites of his church might beperformed for him before he set out.

  Garnet informed him that he had come for that very purpose; and as soonas they were left alone, he proceeded to the discharge of his priestlyduties, confessed and absolved him, giving him the viaticum and theextreme unction. And, lastly, he judged it expedient to administer apowerful opiate, to lull the pain of his wound on the journey.

  This done, he summoned Catesby, who, with two of th
e attendants, raisedthe couch on which the wounded man was stretched, and conveyed him tothe litter. So well was this managed, that Fawkes sustained no injury,and little inconvenience, from the movement. Two strong country vehicleshad been procured; the one containing the wounded man's litter, theother the shell, which had been hastily put together, to hold theremains of the unfortunate Sir William Radcliffe. Viviana being placedin the saddle, and Catesby having liberally rewarded the cottagers whohad afforded them shelter, the little cavalcade was put in motion. Inthis way they journeyed through the night; and shaping their coursethrough Tarporley, Northwich, and Altringham, arrived at daybreak in theneighbourhood of Ordsall Hall.