Windsor Castle by William Harrison Ainsworth
BOOK IV — CARDINAL WOLSEY
CHAPTER VII
Of the Mysterious Noise heard in the Curfew Tower.
On quitting the kitchen, Henry, having been informed by
Bouchier that Tristram Lyndwood was lodged in the prison-chamber in the lower
gateway, proceeded thither to question him. He found the old man seated on a
bench, with his hands tied behind him; but though evidently much alarmed at
his situation, he could not be brought either by threats or proffers to make
any confession.
Out of patience, at length, the king ordered him to be conveyed to the
dungeon beneath the Curfew Tower, and personally superintended his
removal.
"I will find a means of shaking his obstinacy," said Henry, as he quitted
the vault with Bouchier. "If I cannot move him by other means, I may through
his granddaughter I will interrogate him in her presence to- night."
"To-night, sire!" exclaimed Bouchier.
"Ay, to-night," repeated the king. "I am resolved, even if it should cost
the life of this maiden, whose charms have moved me so, to break the infernal
machinery woven around me. And now as I think it not unlikely the miscreant
Herne may attempt the prisoner's deliverance, let the strictest watch be kept
over the tower. Station an arquebusier throughout the night at the door of
the dungeon, and another at the entrance to the chamber on the ground floor.
Your own post must be on the roof of the fortification, that you may watch if
any attempt is made to scale it from the town side, or to get in through the
loopholes. Keep a sharp lookout Bouchier, for I shall hold you responsible if
any mischance occurs."
"I will do my best, my liege," replied Bouchier; "and were it with a
mortal foe I had to contend, I should have no fear. But what vigilance can
avail against a fiend?"
"You have heard my injunctions, and will attend to them," rejoined the
king harshly. "I shall return anon to the examination."
So saying, he departed.
Brave as a lion on ordinary occasions, Bouchier entered upon his present
duty with reluctance and misgiving; and he found the arquebusiers by whom he
was attended, albeit stout soldiers, equally uneasy. Herne had now become an
object of general dread throughout the castle; and the possibility of an
encounter with him was enough to daunt the boldest breast. Disguising his
alarm, Bouchier issued his directions in an authoritative tone, and then
mounted with three arquebusiers to the summit of the tower. It was now dark,
but the moon soon arose, and her beams rendered every object as
distinguishable as daylight would have done, so that watch was easily kept.
But nothing occurred to occasion alarm, until all at once, a noise like that
of a hammer stricken against a board, was heard in the chamber below.
Drawing his sword, Bouchier hurried down the steps leading into this
chamber, which was buried in darkness, and advanced so precipitately and
incautiously into the gloom, that he struck his head against a crossbeam. The
violence of the blow stunned him for a moment, but as soon as he recovered,
he called to the guard in the lower chamber to bring up a torch. The order
was promptly obeyed; but, meanwhile, the sound had ceased, and, though they
searched about, they could not discover the occasion of it.
This, however, was not so wonderful for the singular construction of the
chamber, with its numerous crossbeams, its deep embrasures and recesses, its
insecure and uneven floor, its steep ladder-like staircases, was highly
favourable to concealment, it being utterly impossible, owing to the
intersections of the beams, for the searchers to see far before them, or to
move about quickly. In the midst of the chamber was a large wooden
compartment enclosing the cumbrous and uncouth machinery of the castle clock,
and through the box ran the cord communicating with the belfry above. At that
time, pieces of ordnance were mounted in all the embrasures, but there is now
only one gun, placed in a porthole commanding Thames Street, and the long
thoroughfare leading to Eton. The view from this porthole of the groves of
Eton, and of the lovely plains on the north-west, watered by the river, is
enchanting beyond description.
Viewed from a recess which has been partly closed, the appearance of this
chamber is equally picturesque and singular; and it is scarcely possible to
pass beneath its huge beams or to gaze at the fantastic yet striking
combinations they form in connection with the deep embrasures, the steep
staircases and trap-doors, and not feel that the whole place belongs to
romance, and that a multitude of strange and startling stories must be
connected with it. The old architects were indeed great romancers, and built
for the painter and the poet.
Bouchier and his companion crept about under the great meshwork of
beams-peered into all the embrasures, and beneath the carriages of the
culverins. There was a heap of planks and beams lying on the floor between
the two staircases, but no one was near it.
The result of their investigations did not tend to decrease their alarm.
Bouchier would fain have had the man keep watch in the chamber, but neither
threats nor entreaties could induce him to remain there. He was therefore
sent below, and the captain returned to the roof. He had scarcely emerged
upon the leads when the hammering recommenced more violently than before. In
vain Bouchier ordered his men to go down. No one would stir; and
superstitious fear had by this time obtained such mastery over the captain,
that he hesitated to descend alone. To add to his vexation, the arquebusier
had taken the torch with him, so that he should have to proceed in
darkness.
At length he mustered up courage to make the attempt; but he paused
between each step, peering through the gloom, and half fancying he could
discern the figure of Herne near the spot where the pile of wood lay. Certain
it was that the sound of diabolical laughter, mingled with the rattling of
the chain and the sharp blows of the hammer, smote his ears. The laughter
became yet louder as Bouchier advanced, the hammering ceased, and the
clanking of the chain showed that its mysterious wearer was approaching the
foot of the steps to meet him. But the captain had not nerve enough for the
encounter. Invoking the protection of the saints, he beat a precipitate
retreat, and closed the little door at the head of the steps after him.
The demon was apparently satisfied with the alarm he had occasioned, for
the hammering was not renewed at that time.