illed. While
the Duke of Northumberland and his party supported Lady Jane and her
husband (the Earl of Dudley), the larger portion of the nation rallied
round Queen Mary, not because she was a Romanist, but because she was
considered to be the legitimate heiress to the Crown, while the
unfortunate Lady Jane was shut up in the Tower. Mary arrived in London,
and was triumphantly proclaimed as Queen on the 3rd of August, A.D.
1553.

In a short time the estimation in which Master Gresham was held by the
new Romish sovereign of England was made manifest, as he was deprived of
his office and ordered to return home. The journey was performed on
horseback, the Lady Anne riding a horse alone, but each of her maidens
being placed behind a groom. Ernst and the little Richard were carried
in the same manner. They took the road to Bruges, from thence intending
to proceed on to Dunkirk and Calais, that Lady Anne might not be exposed
to a long sea-voyage. The journey was of necessity performed at a very
slow rate, many sumpter mules being required to carry the baggage and
bedding, and some of the inns at which they had to stop being without
any but the roughest accommodation. At Bruges they rested a day, that
the Lady Anne might see some of the churches and public buildings of
that fine city. The eyes of all the party were, however, grieved with a
spectacle which they would willingly have avoided, since they could not
prevent it. Ernst Verner was the first to apprehend what was about to
take place, and his cry of horror drew the attention of the rest of the
party to the scene. Just such a procession as he had beheld two years
before was passing through the streets. There were Spanish soldiers,
and priests in various coloured vestments, with boys waving censers and
banners borne above their heads. A vast crucifix, with the figure of
the Lord of light and life--that Holy One, full of love and mercy--
nailed to it. How His heart must grieve, as looking down from heaven He
beholds the deeds of cruelty and injustice performed in His name. The
procession had just arrived at the place of execution, and soon, with
but little ceremony or form, five victims were chained to the stakes
there erected, and the flames burst up, consuming their bodies. The
people looked on, if not with indifference, at all events without
exhibiting their feelings, kept in awe by the Spanish troops, and their
dread of the power of the Emperor. Lady Ann