CONCLUSION
Justice and Retribution
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WHEN the mysteries were all cleared up, it came out, by confession
of Hugh Hendon, that his wife had repudiated Miles by his command that
day at Hendon Hall- a command assisted and supported by the
perfectly trustworthy promise that if she did not deny that he was
Miles Hendon, and stand firmly to it, he would have her life;
whereupon she said take it, she did not value it- and she would not
repudiate Miles; then her husband said he would spare her life, but
have Miles assassinated! This was a different matter; so she gave
her word and kept it.
Hugh was not prosecuted for his threats or for stealing his
brother's estates and title, because the wife and brother would not
testify against him- and the former would not have been allowed to
do it, even if she had wanted to. Hugh deserted his wife and went over
to the continent, where he presently died; and by and by the Earl of
Kent married his relict. There were grand times and rejoicings at
Hendon village when the couple paid their first visit to the Hall.
Tom Canty's father was never heard of again.
The king sought out the farmer who had been branded and sold as
a slave, and reclaimed him from his evil life with the Ruffler's gang,
and put him in the way of a comfortable livelihood.
He also took that old lawyer out of prison and remitted his
fine. He provided good homes for the daughters of the two Baptist
women whom he saw burned at the stake, and roundly punished the
official who laid the undeserved stripes upon Miles Hendon's back.
He saved from the gallows the boy who had captured the stray
falcon, and also the woman who had stolen the remnant of cloth from
a weaver; but he was too late to save the man who had been convicted
of killing a deer in the royal forest.
He showed favor to the justice who had pitied him when he was
supposed to have stolen a pig, and he had the gratification of
seeing him grow in the public esteem and become a great and honored
man.
As long as the king lived he was fond of telling the story of
his adventures, all through, from the hour that the sentinel cuffed
him away from the palace gate till the final midnight when he deftly
mixed himself into a gang of hurrying workmen and so slipped into
the Abbey and climbed up and hid himself in the Confessor's tomb,
and then slept so long, next day, that he came within one of missing
the Coronation altogether. He said that the frequent rehearsing of the
precious lesson kept him strong in his purpose to make its teachings
yield benefits to his people; and so, while his life was spared he
should continue to tell the story, and thus keep its sorrowful
spectacles fresh in his memory and the springs of pity replenished
in his heart.
Miles Hendon and Tom Canty were favorites of the king, all through
his brief reign, and his sincere mourners when he died. The good
Earl of Kent had too much good sense to abuse his peculiar
privilege; but he exercised it twice after the instance we have seen
of it before he was called from the world; once at the accession of
Queen Mary, and once at the accession of Queen Elizabeth. A descendant
of his exercised it at the accession of James I. Before this one's son
chose to use the privilege, near a quarter of a century had elapsed,
and the 'privilege of the Kents' had faded out of most people's
memories; so, when the Kent of that day appeared before Charles I
and his court and sat down in the sovereign's presence to assert and
perpetuate the right of his house, there was a fine stir, indeed!
But the matter was soon explained and the right confirmed. The last
earl of the line fell in the wars of the Commonwealth fighting for the
king, and the odd privilege ended with him.
Tom Canty lived to be a very old man, a handsome, white-haired old
fellow, of grave and benignant aspect. As long as he lasted he was
honored; and he was also reverenced, for his striking and peculiar
costume kept the people reminded that 'in his time he had been royal';
so, wherever he appeared the crowd fell apart, making way for him, and
whispering, one to another, 'Doff thy hat, it is the King's Ward!'-
and so they saluted, and got his kindly smile in return- and they
valued it, too, for his was an honorable history.
Yes, King Edward VI lived only a few years, poor boy, but he lived
them worthily. More than once, when some great dignitary, some
gilded vassal of the crown, made argument against his leniency, and
urged that some law which he was bent upon amending was gentle
enough for its purpose, and wrought no suffering or oppression which
any one need mightily mind, the young king turned the mournful
eloquence of his great compassionate eyes upon him and answered:
'What dost thou know of suffering and oppression! I and my
people know, but not thou.'
The reign of Edward VI was a singularly merciful one for those
harsh times. Now that we are taking leave of him let us try to keep
this in our minds, to his credit.
NOTES
NOTES
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* Christ's Hospital Costume. It is most reasonable to regard the
dress as copied from the costume of the citizens of London of that
period, when long blue coats were the common habit of apprentices
and serving-men, and yellow stockings were generally worn; the coat
fits closely to the body, but has loose sleeves, and beneath is worn a
sleeveless yellow undercoat; around the waist is a red leathern
girdle; a clerical band around the neck, and a small flat black cap,
about the size of a saucer, completes the costume.- Timbs's
'Curiosities of London.'
-
*(2) It appears that Christ's Hospital was not originally
founded as a school; its object was to rescue children from the
streets, to shelter, feed, clothe them, etc.- Timb's 'Curiosities of
London.'
-
*(3) The Duke of Norfolk's Condemnation Commanded. The King was
now approaching fast toward his end; and fearing lest Norfolk should
escape him, he sent a message to the Commons, by which he desired them
to hasten the bill, on pretense that Norfolk enjoyed the dignity of
earl marshal, and it was necessary to appoint another, who might
officiate at the ensuing ceremony of installing his son Prince of
Wales.- Hume, vol. iii, p. 307
-
*(4) It was not till the end of this reign (Henry VIII) that any
salads, carrots, turnips, or other edible roots were produced in
England. The little of these vegetables that was used was formerly
imported from Holland and Flanders. Queen Catherine, when she wanted a
salad, was obliged to despatch a messenger thither on purpose.- Hume's
History of England, vol. iii, p. 314.
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*(5) Attainder of Norfolk. The house of peers, without examining
the prisoner, without trial or evidence, passed a bill of attainder
against him and sent it down to the commons.... The obsequious commons
obeyed his (the King's) directions; and the King, having affixed the
royal assent to the bill by commissioners, issued orders for the
execution of Norfolk on the morning of the twenty-ninth of January
(the next day).- Hume's England, vol. iii, p. 306.
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*(6) The Loving-Cup. The loving-cup, and the peculiar ceremonies
observed in drinking from it, are older than English history. It is
thought that both are Danish importations. As far back as knowledge
goes, the loving-cup has always been drunk at English banquets.
Tradition explains the ceremonies in this way: in the rude ancient
times it was deemed a wise precaution to have both hands of both
drinkers employed, lest while the pledger pledged his love and
fidelity to the pledgee the pledgee take that opportunity to slip a
dirk into him!
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*(7) The Duke of Norfolks Narrow Escape. Had Henry VIII survived a
few hours longer, his order for the duke's execution would have been
carried into effect. 'But news being carried to the Tower that the
King himself had expired that night, the lieutenant deferred obeying
the warrant; and it was not thought advisable by the council to
begin a new reign by the death of the greatest nobleman in the
Kingdom, who had been condemned by a sentence so unjust and
tyrannical.'- Hume's England, vol. iii, p 307.
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*(8) He refers to the order of baronets, or baronettes- the
barones minor, as distinct from the parliamentary barons;- not, it
need hardly be said, the baronets of later creation.
-
*(9) The lords of Kingsale, descendants of De Courcy, still
enjoy this curious privilege.
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*(10) Hume.
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*(11) Hume.
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*(12) The Whipping-Boy. James I and Charles II had whipping-boys
when they were little fellows, to take their punishment for them
when they fell short in their lessons; so I have ventured to furnish
my small prince with one, for my own purposes.
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*(13) Character of Hertford. The young king discovered an
extreme attachment to his uncle, who was, in the main, a man of
moderation and probity.- Hume's England, vol. iii, p. 324.
But if he (the Protector) gave offense by assuming too much state,
he deserves great praise on account of the laws passed this session,
by which the rigor of former statutes was much mitigated, and some
security given to the freedom of the constitution. All laws were
repealed which extended the crime of treason beyond the statute of the
twenty-fifth of Edward III; all laws enacted during the late reign
extending the crime of felony; all the former laws against Lollardy or
heresy, together with the statute of the Six Articles. None were to be
accused for words, but within a month after they were spoken. By these
repeals several of the most rigorous laws that ever had passed in
England were annulled; and some dawn, both of civil and religious
liberty, began to appear to the people. A repeal also passed of that
law, the destruction of all laws, by which the king's proclamation was
made of equal force with a statute.- Ibid., vol. iii, p. 339.
Boiling to Death. In the reign of Henry VIII, poisoners were, by
act of parliament condemned to be boiled to death. This act was
repealed in the following reign.
In Germany, even in the 17th century, this horrible punishment was
inflicted on coiners and counterfeiters. Taylor, the Water Poet,
describes an execution he witnessed in Hamburg, in 1616. The judgement
pronounced against a coiner of false money was that he should 'be
boiled to death in oil: not thrown into the vessel at once, but with a
pulley or rope to be hanged under the armpits, and then let down
into the oil by degrees; first the feet, and next the legs, and so
to boil his flesh from his bones alive.'- Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull's
'Blue Laws, True and False,' p. 13.
The Famous Stocking Case. A woman and her daughter, nine years
old, were hanged in Huntingdon for selling their souls to the devil,
and raising a storm by pulling off their stockings!- Ibid., p. 20.
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*(14) Leigh Hunt's The Town, p. 408, quotation from an early
tourist.
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*(15) From 'The English Rogue': London, 1665.
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*(16) Canting terms for various kinds of thieves, beggars and
vagabonds, and their female companions.
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*(17) Enslaving. So young a king, and so ignorant a peasant were
likely to make mistakes- and this is an instance in point. This
peasant was suffering from this law by anticipation; the king was
venting his indignation against a law which was not yet in
existence: for this hideous statute was to have birth in this little
king's own reign. However, we know, from the humanity of his
character, that it could never have been suggested by him.
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*(18) From 'The English Rogue': London, 1665.
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*(19) Death for Trifling Larcenies. When Connecticut and New Haven
were framing their first codes, larceny above the value of twelve
pence was a capital crime in England, as it had been since the time of
Henry I.- Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull's 'Blue Laws, True and False.' p.
17.
The curious old book called The English Rogue makes the limit
thirteen pence ha'penny; death being the portion of any who steal a
thing 'above the value of thirteen pence ha'penny.'
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*(20) From many descriptions of larceny, the law expressly took
away the benefit of clergy; to steal a horse, or a hawk, or woolen
cloth from the weaver, was a hanging matter. So it was to kill a
deer from the king's forest, or to export sheep from the Kingdom.- Dr.
J. Hammond Trumbull's 'Blue Laws, True and False,' p. 13.
William Prynne, a learned barrister, was sentenced- (long after
Edward the Sixth's time)- to lose both his ears in the pillory; to
degradation from the bar; a fine of L3,000, and imprisonment for life.
Three years afterward, he gave new offense to Laud, by publishing a
pamphlet against the hierarchy. He was again prosecuted, and was
sentenced to lose what remained of his ears; to pay a fine of
L5,000; to be branded on both his cheeks with the letters S. L. (for
Seditious Libeler), and to remain in prison for life. The severity
of this sentence was equaled by the savage rigor of its execution.-
Ibid., p. 12.
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*(21) Hume's England.
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*(22) Christ's Hospital or Blue Coat Scbool, 'the Noblest
Institution in the World.'
The ground on which the Priory of the Grey Friars stood was
conferred by Henry the Eighth on the Corporation of London (who caused
the institution there of a home for poor boys and girls).
Subsequently, Edward the Sixth caused the old Priory to be properly
repaired, and founded within it that noble establishment called the
Blue Coat School, or Christ's Hospital, for the education and
maintenance of orphans and the children of indigent persons.... Edward
would not let him (Bishop Ridley) depart till the letter was written
(to the Lord Mayor), and then charged him to deliver it himself, and
signify his special request and commandment that no time might be lost
in proposing what was convenient, and apprising him of the
proceedings. The work was zealously undertaken, Ridley himself
engaging in it; and the result was, the founding of Christ's
Hospital for the Education of Poor Children. (The king endowed several
other charities at the same time.) 'Lord God,' said he, 'I yield
thee most hearty thanks that thou hast given me life thus long, to
finish this work to the glory of thy name!' That innocent and most
exemplary life was drawing rapidly to its close, and in a few days
he rendered up his spirit to his Creator, praying God to defend the
realm from Papistry.- J. Heneage Jesse's 'London,its Celebrated
Characters and Places.'
In the Great Hall hangs a large picture of King Edward VI seated
on his throne, in a scarlet and ermined robe, holding the scepter in
his left hand, presenting with the other the Charter to the kneeling
Lord Mayor. By his side stands the Chancellor, holding the seals,
and next to him are other officers of state. Bishop Ridley kneels
before him with uplifted hands, as if supplicating a blessing on the
event; while the Aldermen, etc, with the Lord Mayor, kneel on both
sides, occupying the middle ground of the picture; and lastly, in
front, are a double row of boys on one side, and girls on the other,
from the master and matron down to the boy and girl who have stepped
forward from their respective rows, and kneel with raised hands before
the king.- Timbs's 'Curiosities of London,' p. 98.
Christ's Hospital, by ancient custom, possesses the privilege of
addressing the Sovereign on the occasion of his or her coming into the
City to partake of the hospitality of the Corporation of London.-
Ibid.
The Dining-Hall, with its lobby and organ-gallery, occupies the
entire story, which is 187 feet long, 51 feet wide, and 47 feet
high; it is lit by nine large windows, filled with stained glass on
the south side; that is, next to Westminster Hall, the noblest room in
the metropolis. Here the boys, now about 800 in number, dine; and here
are held the 'Suppings in Public,' to which visitors are admitted by
tickets, issued by the Treasurer and by the Governors of Christ's
Hospital. The tables are laid with cheese in wooden bowls; beer in
wooden piggins, poured from leathern jacks; and bread brought in large
baskets. The official company enter; the Lord Mayor, or President,
takes his seat in a state chair, made of oak from St. Catherine's
Church by the Tower; a hymn is sung, accompanied by the organ; a
'Grecian,' or head boy, reads the prayers from the pulpit, silence
being enforced by three drops of a wooden hammer. After prayer the
supper commences, and the visitors walk between the tables. At its
close, the 'trade-boys' take up the baskets, bowls, jacks, piggins,
and candlesticks, and pass in procession, the bowing to the
Governors being curiously formal. This spectacle was witnessed by
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1845.
Among the more eminent Blue Coat Boys are Joshua Bames, editor
of Anacreon and Euripides; Jeremiah Markland, the eminent critic,
particularly in Greek literature; Camden, the antiquary; Bishop
Stillingfleet; Samuel Richardson, the novelist; Thomas Mitchell, the
translator of Aristophanes; Thomas Barnes, many years editor of the
London Times; Coleridge, Charles Lamb, and Leigh Hunt.
No boy is admitted before he is seven years old, or after he is
nine; and no boy can remain in the school after he is fifteen,
King's boys and 'Grecians' alone excepted. There are about 500
Governors, at the head of whom are the Sovereign and the Prince of
Wales. The qualification for a Governor is payment of L500.- Ibid.
GENERAL_NOTE
GENERAL NOTE
One hears much about the 'hideous Blue-Laws of Connecticut,' and
is accustomed to shudder piously when they are mentioned. There are
people in America- and even in England!- who imagine that they were
a very monument of malignity, pitilessness, and inhumanity; whereas,
in reality they were about the first sweeping departure from judicial
atrocity which the 'civilized' world had seen. This humane and kindly
Blue-Law code, of two hundred and forty years ago, stands all by
itself, with ages of bloody law on the further side of it, and a
century and three-quarters of bloody English law on this side of it.
There has never been a time- under the Blue-Laws or any other-
when above fourteen crimes were punishable by death in Connecticut.
But in England, within the memory of men who are still hale in body
and mind, two hundred and twenty-three crimes were punishable by
death!* These facts are worth knowing- and worth thinking about, too.
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* See Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull's Blue Laws, True and False, p. 11.
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THE END
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