"Jack!" cried I. "What, to see him do that he did, more in especial when his pride was bolned [swollen, pulled up] by being create Earl of March--when he had larger following than the King himself, having nine score knights at his feet; when he arose from the King's table ere the King stirred, as though he were lord and master of all; when he suffered the King to rise on his coming into the presence, all meekly and courteously, yet himself, when the King entered, kept his seat as he micht afore a servitor; when he walked even with the King, and sometimes afore him; when he was wont to put him down, and mock at him, and make him a laughing-stock. I have heard him myself say to the King--`Hold thy peace, lad!' and the King took it as sweetly as if he had been swearing of allegiance." "I have eyes in mine head, my fair warrior, and ears belike. I saw so much as thou--maybe a little more, since I was something oftener in my Lord's company than thou." "But thou sawest what he was?" said I. "So did I; and sorry am I to have demerited the wrath of Dame Cicely de Chaucombe, for that I oped not the King my master's even." "Nay, Jack! I never meant thee. I have somewhat more reverence for mine husband than so." "Then art thou a very pearl amongst women. Most dames' husbands find not much reverence stray their way--at least from that quarter. I misdoubt if Vivien's husband ever picks up more than should lightly slip into his pocket." "Sir James Le Bretun is not so wise as thou," said I. "But what I meant, Jack, was such as my Lord of Lancaster and my Lord of Kent, and my Lord of Hereford--why did never such as these tell the King sooth touching the Mortimer?" "As for my Lord of Hereford," saith Jack, "I reckon he was too busied feeling of his pulse and counting his emplastures, and telling his apothecary which side of his head ached worser since the last draught of camomile and mallows. Sir Edmund de Mauley was wont to say he had a grove of aspens at Pleshy for to make his own populion [Note 1], and that he brake his fast o' dragons' blood and dyachylon emplasture. Touching that will I not say; but I reckon he thought oftener on his tamarind drink than on the public welfare. He might, perchance, have bestirred him to speak to the King had he heard that he had a freckle of his nose, for to avise him to put white ointment thereon; but scarce, I reckon, for so small a matter as the good government of the realm." "Now, Jack!" said I, a-laughing. "My Lord of Kent," went he forth, "was he that, if he thought he had hurt the feelings of a caterpillar, should have risen from his warm bed the sharpest night in winter to go and pray his pardon of his bare knees. God assoil him, loving and gentle soul! He was all unfit for this rough world. And the dust that Sir Roger cast up at his horse-heels was in my Lord of Kent's eyes as thick as any man's. He could not have warned the King, for himself lacked the warning."