by Georgina Lee
“So I will not travel down the Thames as before?”
“No, we think it is better for you to make your way by land to a Kentish port. You and I shall travel as man and wife, begging your pardon, m’lady, dressed in working clothes and with an old, dirty trunk as luggage. By then, we will have found a fishing boat for us to sail in, and then once in France we can travel to Paris, where his lordship is now at the Court of the French king.”
This was just the news we had been hoping for. Suddenly I felt charged with energy and got up to walk about as we continued our talk.
“ And how is my dear husband? Is he well? Does he ask after me?”
“All the time,” he reassured me. “We have a good system for exchanging letters now, trustworthy men who we can rely on.”
“Good. I want you to make sure my husband receives something from me.”
I went over to the desk and opened the top drawer. It was where I kept the Book of Hours left to me by my Aunt Mary, the Scottish Queen. I picked up my quill and quickly wrote inside the flyleaf before giving it to him.
“I am entrusting you with this most precious of my possessions.”
“I will ensure his lordship has it as soon as possible m’lady.”
He hesitated and looked at me searchingly. “I have some news from the Privy Council.”
“Go on.”
He cleared his throat and I knew it was not going to be good.
“They have officially told Lord Seymour that provided he does not have any communication with you, he will not be charged with sedition against the king and country. I must tell you that he has agreed to their demands...”
I started to protest, but he hurried on.
“The king will not tolerate any form of communication between you both. His majesty is absolutely set on it. His lordship had no choice, m’lady; his overriding concern is for you, he would not wish to make matters worse for you in any way.”
“ So that is why I have not heard from for so long.”
There was a long pause as I tried to accept this harsh fact. Crompton and Mrs B. watched me anxiously, waiting for me to speak.
“ So be it. If the result is that I shall be with my husband, then it will all have been worth it.”
They both look relieved that I had seemed to take the news so calmly.
“The time will soon pass, m’lady. The thought that you will be together eventually, must be enough to give you hope,” said Mrs B.
“Will you tell my husband it is all I desire in the whole world?”
He nodded gravely. Hopefully now I would not have to exist much longer in this prison.
Once Crompton had left us, Mrs B. and I sat down beside the window with some sewing, far away from the door where we could have been overheard.
“I wonder what they have in mind,” I whispered. “I am not able to slide down a knotted sheet!”
“Oh no m’lady, I am sure it will not be like that. I suspect it will be when you are taking the air in the courtyard. Those jailors will take a large bribe to turn the other way. I imagine the difficulty will be finding your way outside. The passages here are like a rabbit warren and if you do not know your way about, it is easy to get lost. And you will need to be out and away as quickly as possible.”
“You are not to accompany me this time.” My voice shook as I said it.
“No, dear lady, you will not need me any more, once you are on your way. Crompton will take great care of you. But do not fret, I shall stay with you here as long as you need me.”
“You are a dear friend, I do not know what I should do without you.”
She clicked her tongue and became flustered as she always did whenever I praised her.
“Now shall I see what has happened to our supper?” She got up to look through the grill on the door.
“Her ladyship is wondering when her food is going to appear?”
“When it is ready,” the jailor grunted unhelpfully and she shrugged her shoulders at me.
Somehow these little inconveniences did not seem so bad when I had an escape plan to think about. I started to daydream about the life that William could share in France. I have never been there, never left these shores of course, but I have spoken to those at Court who have travelled all over Europe, and further. I knew a little of the ruins of ancient Rome and the fine opulence of the Vatican. Perhaps William and I would travel when I joined him, the warmer climate of the Mediterranean might do me good. I would not care if I ever came back to England, as long as I was with him. I would miss my family and friends though, and instead I would have to be content with their letters. Who would have thought I would end up living in Europe? But I was getting ahead of myself, one step at a time. I am so desperate to leave this place, how I hate it. Please God it will not be for much longer.
1613 – 1614
All through this time, plans were discussed and various options put forward by each of us. We have all agreed that the less people who knew, the better, but Mrs B. has told aunt Mary and once again she generously gave us a large sum of money. She has not mentioned the letters I have forwarded to the king, so I assumed he was biding his time and keeping them as evidence for some time in the future. I felt bad to have passed them on, but I had no choice. Anyway, it is done and I must think of my own future. If aunt Mary was going to be indiscreet enough to write down her Catholic beliefs, then more fool her. I was confident we shall soon have enough funds and I will repay her. Presumably she lived in the hope that I would agree with her ideas and regarded my escape as the first step towards her goal. I cared not what she thought any more, my only wish was to be with William.
Crompton continued to visit us regularly and one day he told me we had nearly £2,000, which was almost enough for me to begin my new life with William. The biggest drain would be to bribe the guards; at least we knew the ones who would be interested in helping, for the right fee. The coach hire should not be difficult either, especially as Crompton and I would be disguised as poor people. My hiding place has to be very safe and Crompton told me he is more confident about the woman whose house we were to use immediately after the escape and whilst the guards would be looking for me. She would not know who I was, and we would only stay there for as short a time as possible.
The main ports would have to be avoided, as there would be a watch on them once they knew I was missing, so he was spending time in smaller towns on the south coast, trying to find a willing fisherman to take us across the Channel. My disguise this time was a simple washerwoman’s garb and I had to make my hands appear red and chapped. My aunt Mary was discovered on her escape because her lily-white hands gave her away. I did not want the same fate to happen to me.
The date was set. I had been crossing off the days and it reached the stage where I could count the hours. Mrs B. was collected by her brother and our parting was very tearful on both sides, as we doubted we should ever see one other again. I gave her one of my favourite items of jewellery, an emerald hair clip, set in gold scrollwork of the finest quality.
“Wear it and think of me,” I told her as we hugged and cried when it was time for her to leave.
Red eyed, she could not respond, but only looked unhappily at me.
“Go now, my dear friend and may God go with you.”
“And with you also m’lady. If anyone deserves happiness in this life, it is you,” she sobbed.
The jailor jangled his keys impatiently and with one last squeeze of my hands, she went out of my life. I felt a great sense of impatience to be going too and I had to control the urge to throw myself at the door and pummel it with all my strength. Word of my behaviour would no doubt be reported to the king, and I did not want to give him any reason to think that I was acting hysterically. As I have grown older, I liked to believe I had become a little wiser, but controlling my emotions when I lived with my grandmother, was always a great trial for me.
I waited for Patti to appear, as she would be with me for the next week. I went to the wind
ow and looked down at the courtyard, for once Mrs B. had left, Patti would be permitted to come up to my apartments. Within minutes, I saw her cloaked figure hurrying after the jailor and I knew that the first part of the plan had begun. The keys jangled in the lock once more and her small trunk was brought in. Then the door locked again and she gave a deep curtsey before smiling at me. I was so pleased to see her after all this time, that I forgot the usual etiquette, and rushed up to kiss her on both cheeks.
“Patti, it is so good to see you!”
“M’lady, I am honoured that you should send for me.”
“Come sit by the fire and tell me all your news. How well you look!”
We sat together and I studied her face keenly. It was true she had a healthy glow and her eyes sparkled; she looked content with her life and although I was glad for her, I could not help compare our situations.
“How many years is it?” I asked her.
“Too many, m’lady. I am saddened that you have found yourself here. It is the cruellest blow and the people are very much against it.” She lowered her voice. “It is said the king has lost his wits.”
“Let us not speak of his majesty,” I told her hastily. “It does me no good.”
“Of course, m’lady.” Her gaze scanned the walls she raised her eyebrows. “Is it very terrible to be living here?”
“In truth, my apartments are as comfortable as it is possible to make them. I have my furniture and books, I have everything except the one thing I really desire.”
“It must be so hard; you are very brave.”
I laughed, as I did not think of myself as brave. “No, I am not. But I shall not have to bear it for much longer.”
“Why? Is the king to release you?”
We had not told Patti of the escape, but as I started to outline the secret plot, her eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh dear! I am not to be part of it, am I?”
“No, definitely not. As I said in my letter, I wanted you here to replace Mrs B. whilst she has a much-needed rest from caring for me. She was too much a part of the first escape, so we decided she should return home.”
“And not come back to you?”
“No, within a week I shall be gone from here and have no need of you or her anymore.”
“But m’lady, this is a huge risk. There is so much that could go wrong.”
“I know. I must try, I must be with William. You do not know what it has been like for me. I am tired of waiting for the king to release me, I do not think he ever will.”
“But to travel with a man who is not your husband, without a lady to accompany you; I should go with you...”
“I care not for such details! I trust Crompton to escort me, it is better this way and we will attract less attention.”
She still looked doubtful and I stood up, ending the discussion. “Now you must unpack and settle yourself in here, it will soon be time for supper.”
I did not want to think about this plan going wrong or the dangers of escape. I watched as she settled herself in and reflected how different my life had been the last time she had been in my service. Patti had changed over the years, as we all had. Our ages are similar and she had acquired an air of confidence that was not present when we first met. Circumstances have been kinder to her, and I cannot help but think she looks years younger than me. She has kept the good position as housekeeper for a wealthy family and was dressed modestly, but her garments looked new and of good quality cloth. She was happily married, and although they have not yet been blessed with children, she confided in me that it was her dearest wish.
When she told her employers that I had requested her presence here, she said they were rather taken aback. On the one hand it was a great honour, but on the other, I was in disgrace and the Tower is obviously not the most inviting of places to be staying. Anyway, they agreed to release her for one week only and that was quite long enough.
The next days passed slowly and I kept checking through all my escape garments, to make sure everything was there, although I have looked at them a hundred times. I kept them under my bed, tucked well out of sight and it was lucky that my chambers were not searched. There was a white linen petticoat, a brown wool skirt with matching bodice, black boots and an old grey cloak that was slightly too big for me. My small bag contained the most basic of essentials, I wanted to take more, but Crompton warned me that a woman of my station would not have travelled with many possessions. The last time he visited, just before Mrs B. left, he was buoyed up with our chances of success and was very confident that this time, we would succeed. His last words to me were that my husband was waiting for me. As I fell asleep the night before my escape, this thought helped to calm and prepare me for what lies ahead over the next days and possibly weeks.
It seemed that I had only just fallen asleep when there was the most dreadful commotion outside my door. We were woken by shouting and stamping boots, it sounded as if a whole army was about to descend on us. Suddenly there were half a dozen men in the chamber, their torches blazing in my face.
“What is the meaning of this? How dare you burst into my presence in such a manner?”
They looked at me with menace and my heart started to beat furiously. Sir Gervase Helwys, recently appointed to replace Sir William Waad as Constable, came forward and his face told me everything I needed to know.
“ My lady, the king knows of your attempted plans to flee this place. I have been ordered to remove you immediately to a more secure location within the Tower; you are to follow me at once.”
“No! No! You are mistaken, there is no escape plan,” I shouted, but even as I said it, someone pulled out my disguise clothes and held them up.
“Those are mine,” said Patti, but he held up his hand to silence her.
“I would advise you not to get involved any more than you already are, mistress,” he said and she got out of bed to put her arm round me.
“Can my lady not be moved in the morning, ’tis the middle of the night?” she asked.
“The Lady Arbella is to follow me at once, you may join her if you wish. The remainder of your possessions will be brought to you at daybreak.”
“I am in my night attire, I must have some privacy.
“We shall wait outside. Make haste my lady. I will give you a minute, that is all.”
They stepped into the passage and I waited as Patti quickly lit a candle before helping me out of bed. I fired questions at her, which I knew she could not answer.
“How did they find out? Do you think we have been betrayed? Who would do such a thing?”
She remained silent as she guided my feet into slippers and wrapped a long cloak round me before re-plaiting my hair. I just had time to look round the chamber once more before the guards returned and we had to follow them along in the dark. I felt as if history was repeating itself and the memories of the last time my plans were discovered flooded my mind.
“Where am I being taken?” I asked him.
“Your new apartments will be in the Bell Tower,” he said, and as we made our way there, in the dark and cold, I began to understand why it was chosen. I tried to remain calm.
“You are mistaken sir, I am innocent of any plan to escape. Where is your proof?”
He did not reply and we passed more guards through the same passages and stairways that I saw when I arrived here. Then we entered what I knew to be his own lodgings, through chambers with locked doors, up several flights of stairs until eventually he paused outside the entrance to what appeared to be a small, narrow door. It looked like a sturdy cupboard. This he opened to reveal a black wrought-iron gate with heavy locks, which took a couple of minutes to undo.
“This is the only way to your new quarters. You will see that escape is impossible from here.”
We followed him through. It led into a gloomy, windowless passage so cramped that we had to pass in single file, and so low that the taller of the guards had to stoop. I felt as if I was going into the mouth of hell
itself. At the end, there was another thick iron gate to unlock. Once inside, he turned to face me. We had arrived inside a large, round chamber where candles had been lit in preparation. There was a little basic furniture.
“M’lady, I am sorry that you have brought yourself to this as a result of your foolish aims, contrary to his majesty’s wishes. I myself have been lax in the care of you and will suffer for it.”
“I do not know...”
“Please do not demean yourself with further lies. We have discovered everything: Crompton’s mistress in Cheapside, the hired coach, the boat to take you to France. Denial is pointless; the king is beside himself with rage at your disloyalty and lack of humility.”
There was a long silence. Patti was still holding me and it is as well she was, for I could feel myself losing balance and the chamber began to swim before my eyes.
“What will happen to me?” I managed to ask.
“In future you will reside here in the upper floor of the Bell Tower, which will be made as comfortable as possible in keeping with your status. Your possessions will be brought to you in the morning. I strongly advise you not to think of further escape, there is only one way in or out, as you have seen. I bid you good night.”
He turned to go and I tried one last time.
“Please sir, I beg you, do not do this! I am innocent of these charges. You must believe me.”
“I have to follow my orders m’lady, I have no choice.”
The key was turned in the lock and once again, we were alone. I gave a groan that came from the depths of my soul, and my whole body began to shake uncontrollably; I was never going to leave this place. I knew I was never going to see William again.
1615
There is a rumour that my husband is dead. One of the guards told me that he heard it on good authority, whatever that means. I refused to believe it, I am sure if it were true, I would know in my heart. Perhaps it is just a ploy to put an end to my dreams of ever being with him, I would not be surprised, the king hates me and cares not for my happiness. I cannot seem to think properly any more and my mind feels strange, as if I am not at one with it.