Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1915-06-04
Saved on the
Callows
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

two nephews in the Tower of London,
one of whom was the rightful heir to
the throne, and made himself king of
England in the princes stead.
At that time there lived in England
Robert Percy, a young man of the
most admirable qualities. 1t was some
time before the secret of the murder
of the young princes began to leak
out, and when it did there were low
mutterings ON the part of the people.
Percy, who was familiar with the
kings treachery, was more loud spoken
than others, and Richard, aware of
the young mans influence with the
masses and fearing that he would
bring about a revolt, ordered his arrest
on charge of high treason.
On the day that Percy was conduct
ed along a street leading to the Tower,
surrounded by men at arms, the curbs
were lined with sympathizers, who
breathed prayers that he might escape
the danger threatening him and NUT
tered maledictions on the head of the
tyrant.
At an upper window stood Lady
DlNhlblhs IL NOuhSti hAht-i
ter of the Earl of Clarendon. She
looked down on young Percy, walking
erect between his guards, his bearing
indicating that he was ready and will
ing to lay down his life in contending
against crime. Every one believed
that he was going to his death. His
manly beauty, his noble bearing and
the crown of martyrdom rendered him
an object of pity to all. But to Lady
Gwendolen he was more than this
Within those few minutes during
which he was passing her heart left
her bosom and settled upon him. Per
cy, happening to look in her direction,
saw the lovelight in her eyes, and his
load was lghtened.
Richard, fearing to order Percy to
execution without a trial, lest it excite
the people to revolt, directed attorneys
to prepare Il case against him. Per
sons were hribed to swear that he had
been heard advocating the kings as
sassination and placing the Duke of
Richmond on the throne. Lady Gwen
dolen, hearing of this, begged her ia
Their to induce lawyers to defend the
accused. The earl not only knew that
the case was hopeless. but did not dare
to oppose the king; consequently he
refused to have anything TO do with 1t.
One day Lady GwendOlen went to
that quarter of London given over TO
lawyers and found Roger Moore, an
old attorney who had we'd her ia
Their, and consulted him as to what
might be done to save young Percy.
After listening to what the girl had to
say he replied that Percy's case was
hopeless because the king had decree1
that he should die. He will surely be
convicted" said the old man. After
his conviction there is but one way by
which he may legally escape the gal
lows But should he go free under this
statute the king would doubtless find
some other way to get rid Of him."
Lady Gwendolen asked the attorney
to what law he referred, and he re-
piled that 1t was decree of King Ed
ward ~, naming condition on which
man about to be hanged should go
free. AS soon as the girl heard the
condition her face lighted with hope
avail in the end?
Percy was convicted of high treason
against the king and sentenced to be
hanged and quartered on certain
> date. At the time an army was gath
ering under the Duke of Richmond tC
depOse the king, and Richard was gath
ering his forces to meet II. There had
been former attempt to put the duke
on the throne in the kings place, but
}. he was wicked and had defeated al
:. attempts against his authority
There was no one he feared TO leave
in his rear so much as Robert Percy
!, and when he had made all prepare
:, tons to march against his opponent.
he delayed a day TO make sure tina
this dangerous enemy was dead.
The day before the one set for tn,
execution Lady Gwendolen BickforC
n was closeted with Roger Moore, an(
n on the following morning, when thu
!. crowd went to Tyburn to witness tn,
"a hanging, these two were Of the NUN
~ Der, and when the prisoner arrived
they occupied seats near the scaffold
When all was ready and the con
demned man was about to be swun
l. off Roger Moore arose and said:
7, "Mr. Sheriff. as counsel for the pris
/, Oner l claim his body under an edic
(. OF King Edward ", who decreed tina
Y whenever a man is convicted of Grim
and is about to be hanged, If there b
woman willing to marry him, b
shall 90 free. This woman beside me l
b, willing and ready to marry the prls
lie oner."
k, This speech naturally disconcerte
~ the sheriff who had never heard O
{ the statute, The judge who had cor
&c victed the prisoner was present mt tn
hanging. and the matter was referre
to him. He at once confirmed Roge