h my
bare and clenched fist, with such a force as did drive the tender skin
back from the bone and leave a bleeding tear.

The days lengthened into weeks; and still no word from the outside
world. No trial; no condemnation; no execution; and that which I then
most distasted, no definite knowledge of what should be my fate.

* * * * *

But let me now imagine myself as a free man, outside the Tower's
walls--the which I then saw no chance of my ever being--and let me now
describe the strange and important events that there were happening.

The next day after my arrest the Duke of Buckingham left the court, as
though in haste. He and Lord Stanley had been together in the
apartments of the Duke until a late hour on the night of my arrest.
Whisperings there were to the effect that Buckingham had parted from
the King in a spirit of animosity. Whether this were or were not the
case I know not. However, the next news of Buckingham was of such a
kind that it left no room for a doubt as to their then relations, no
matter what they had been previous to the Duke's departure.

"Buckingham hath rebelled against King Richard: he is now raising an
army in Wales. The Earl of Richmond is coming to his aid. More war
and bloodshed for poor England." Such was the intelligence that now
flew on from mouth to ear throughout the land. Had mine imprisoned
ears but heard it then, how welcome had it been.

Catesby, who had on several occasions attempted to gain admittance to
the Sanctuary, and had as many times met with refusal, was now obliged
to attend to the affairs of state. Thus my fair Hazel was saved from
his further molestation. Those days of tortuous anxiety to me could
have been scarce less agonizing to her.

The Usurper, with that energy ever his chiefest characteristic, now
raised an army to face the rebellious Duke.

Then did commence to fall those fearful rains, that never once did
cease for days and nights I know not how many; but as I think, some ten
days or two weeks.

The army of the Duke, thinking this unceasing rain was a message from
Heaven forbidding them to thus rebel, deserted their leader, and each
particular man did betake himself unto his separate home.

Then, as every congregation of people must have its Judas, the Duke was
betrayed into the hands of the usurping tyrant, and there at Salisbury,
where Richard had taken his post--for he thought that Richmond did
intend joinin