"Though you come from the King," said Mr. Coke, "you cannot and shall not see my father, for if he be disturbed in his sleep he will not be fit for any business; but if you will do as we do, you shall be welcome. In two hours my father will rise, and you can then do as you please." To this proposal the messenger was compelled to assent, so he waited. At three o'clock, Sir Edward rang a little bell to give notice to his servant to come to him. The Royal messenger then entered, and gave the King's letter to the Chief Justice, who at once made out the warrant for Somerset's apprehension. The messenger went post-haste back to Royston with the warrant, and on being introduced into the Royal presence, found the King sitting with his arm round the favourite's neck. When the officer with the fatal document entered the room, James was saying to the man whom he himself was causing to be arrested on a charge of murder: "When shall I see thee again?" the favourite being on the eve of his departure for London. Somerset, when arrested by Sir Edward's warrant, exclaimed indignantly at the affront thus offered to a peer of the realm, even in the presence of the King's Majesty. In his anger he appealed to James. "Nay, man," said the King, "if Coke sends for _me_, I must go." No sooner, however, was Somerset out of the room, than his wily master added: "Now the de'il go with thee, man, for I will never see thy face any more." It is difficult to understand what was really the King's belief, or what were really the King's motives, on this occasion. To some persons he asserted that he did not believe Somerset had anything to do with the actual murder. Yet it was he who caused his favourite to be arrested; and when that arrest had been made and the Chief Justice had arrived at Royston, the King spoke with exceeding angry energy, charging Sir Edward to prosecute the affair with the utmost diligence. He was to search into the very bottom of the conspiracy, and to spare no man, however great he might be; the King concluding his adjuration thus: "God's curse be upon you and yours if _you_ spare any of them, and God's curse be upon _me_ and mine, if _I_ spare any one of them." Not only the Earl of Somerset, but his wife, the young and beautiful Countess of Somerset, was also arrested as being implicated in the crime; and whilst their trials were in course of preparation, many other persons of inferior rank were tried, condemned, and executed. On the 7th November, Mrs. Anne Turner, who had been about Lady Somerset from her childhood, was tried, convicted, and hanged. On the 16th of the same month, Sir George Ellways, Lieutenant of the Tower, was also convicted, and was hanged on Tower Hill on the 20th. A week later, namely, on the 27th, James Franklin was tried, convicted, and, a few days afterwards, hanged.