Note 1. The two ladies first named were second cousins of the King, and stood in the line of the succession. The details here given are almost entirely fictitious (except such as concern Edward himself), for little is really known beyond the time, the place, and the King's presence. Note 2. The canopy over the throne was called the cloth of estate, often abbreviated into the estate. Note 3. The Duchess Frances appears to have played a quiescent part in this drama, so soon to turn into tragedy. Otherwise she (from whom alone the title was derived) would scarcely have borne so meekly the train of her own daughter. Note 4. This must not be mistaken for swearing. It was an expression used in the most reverential manner, and equivalent to "God's will be done." Note 5. A man infamous for his cruelty, especially to the Protestant prisoners. CHAPTER EIGHT. THE TEMPEST THAT FOLLOWED. "O yet, in scorn of mean relief, Let Sorrow bear her heavenly fruit! Better the wildest hour of grief Than the low pastime of the brute! Better to weep, for He wept too, Than laugh as every fool can do." Hon. Robert Lytton. "Heard you the news, friends?" asked Mr Holland, coming into the Lamb, on the evening of the 14th of August. "News!" cried Dr Thorpe. "I am aweary of the news. There is news every day. My Lord A. to the Tower, and my Lord B. delivered thence; and my Lord C. to the Marshalsea; and my Lord D. to the Fleet; and my Lord E., that yesterday carried the sword afore the Queen, to-day hath his head struck off; and my Lord F., that was condemned to die yestereven, shall bear the Queen's sword this morrow. Pshaw! I am tired of it. 'Tis a game of tables [backgammon], with players that have no skill, and care for nought saving to rattle the dice." Mr Holland laughed a moment, but immediately grew grave. "But heard you my news?" said he. "Do you know Father Rose is deprived?" All cried out together. They had looked for this indeed, but not now. Six months thence, when the Protestant Bishops were all sequestered, and the Prebendaries in the Marshalsea, Bishop Gardiner might stoop to lesser game; but that one of the very first blows should be struck at Mr Rose, this they had not expected. It showed how formidable an enemy he was considered. "Deprived!" cried all the voices together. "Ay, 'tis too true," said Mr Holland. "As a preacher, we shall hear his voice no more." "The lambs are like to fare ill," growled Dr Thorpe, "when all the great wolves be let forth in a pack." "Ah, mine old friend!" answered John, "not many weeks gone, you said of my Lord of Northumberland, `Will none put this companion in the Tower?' Methinks so many henceforward will scarce be over, ere you may say the like with tears of Stephen Gardiner. The fox is in the Tower; but the wolf is out."