about midnight
They brought a lamp with them , and refreshments of a better kind than those usually afforded to a prisoner , and set them before him . But he refused to partake of them . The only favour he besought was permission to read his Bible ; and the lamp placed within reach , he was soon deeply engrossed in the perusal of those pages from which , when earnestly sought , consolation has ever been derived under the most trying circumstances . Sir Jocelyn had forborne to visit the prisoner from a fear that his presence might be painful ; but the office imposed upon him by the King left him no alternative ; and about midnight he descended to the vault , to ascertain from personal inspection that Hugh Calveley was in safe custody . The door was unlocked by the halberdier stationed at it , and the young man found himself alone with the prisoner . He was inexpressibly shocked by the spectacle he beheld , as he had no idea how severely the unfortunate Puritan had been treated , nor of the sort of prison in which he was confined . Hugh Calveley , who was still intently reading the Bible , which he had placed upon his knee while he held the lamp near it , to throw the light upon its leaves , did not appear to be disturbed by the opening of the door , nor did he raise his eyes .