His impatience to get to London grew hourly, and his
captivity became almost unendurable.
Hendon's arts all failed with the king- he could not be comforted,
but a couple of women who were chained near him, succeeded better.
Under their gentle ministrations he found peace and learned a degree
of patience. He was very grateful, and came to love them dearly and to
delight in the sweet and soothing influence of their presence. He
asked them why they were in prison, and when they said they were
Baptists, he smiled, and inquired:
'Is that a crime to be shut up for in a prison? Now I grieve,
for I shall lose ye- they will not keep ye long for such a little
thing.'
They did not answer; and something in their faces made him uneasy.
He said, eagerly:
'You do not speak- be good to me, and tell me- there will be no
other punishment? Prithee, tell me there is no fear of that.'
They tried to change the topic, but his fears were aroused, and he
pursued it:
'Will they scourge thee? No, no, they would not be so cruel! Say
they would not. Come, they will not, will they?'
The women betrayed confusion and distress, but there was no
avoiding an answer, so one of them said, in a voice choked with
emotion:
'Oh, thou'lt break our hearts, thou gentle spirit! God will help
us to bear our-'
'It is a confession!' the king broke in. 'Then they will scourge
thee, the stony-hearted wretches! But oh, thou must not weep, I cannot
bear it. Keep up thy courage- I shall come to my own in time to save
thee from this bitter thing, and I will do it!'
When the king awoke in the morning, the women were gone.
Pages:
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199