"Well!" said Isoult, "then wherefore, thinkest, fared he ill?" "Ah, dear heart!" replied he, "afore a jury of wolves, a lamb should be convicted of the death of a lion." "Who tried him?" asked Dr Thorpe. "My Lord of Northumberland himself hath been on the Bench," said John, "and it is of the act of compassing and procuring his death that my Lord of Somerset is held guilty." "Knave! scoundrel! murderer!" cried Dr Thorpe, in no softened tone. "Jack, if I were that man's physician, I were sore tempted to give him a dose that should end his days and this realm's troubles!" "Good friend," said John, smiling sadly, "methinks his days shall be over before the troubles of this realm." "But is there an other such troubler in it?" asked he. "Methinks I could name two," said John; "the Devil and Dr Stephen Gardiner." "Dr Gardiner is safe shut up," he answered. "He may be out to-morrow," said John. "And if not so, the Devil is not yet shut up, nor shall be till the angel be sent with the great chain to bind him." "Nay, Jack! the wise doctors say that was done under Constantine the Emperor, and we have enjoyed the same ever sithence," answered he. "Do they so?" replied John, somewhat drily. "We be enjoying it now, trow?--But the thousand years be over, and he is let out again. And if he were ever shut up, methinks all the little devils were left free scope. Nay, dear friend! before the Kingdom, the King. The holy Jerusalem must first come down from Heaven; and _then_ `there shall be no more pain, neither sorrow, nor crying.'" When the two were alone, John said to his wife--"Isoult, who thinkest thou is the chief witness against my Lord of Somerset, and he that showed this his supposed plot to the King and Council?" "Tell me, Jack," said she. "I cannot guess." He said, "Sir Thomas Palmer, sometime of Calais." "God forgive that man!" cried Isoult, growing paler. "He did my dear master [Lord Lisle] to death,--will he do my Lord of Somerset also?" "`Ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake.' They that are so shall have their names written in Heaven." Avery spoke solemnly, and said no more. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note 1. Crowns were coined with either a rose or a sun on the obverse; and were distinguished accordingly. Note 2. 872 (Machyn's Diary, page 8); 938 (News Letter, Harl. Ms. 353, folio 107). Note 3. The line of Grey de Wilton is the youngest branch of the royal House of York. Note 4. John Earl of Warwick, eldest son of Northumberland, had married Anne, eldest daughter of Somerset. Note 5. This ancient English shout is always spelt thus; but there is reason to think that the first word was sounded _ah_. Note 6. Convicted. The Duke was acquitted on the first count, of high treason; and the people, hearing the announcement, "Not Guilty," supposed that the trial was ended, and the Duke completely acquitted. CHAPTER SIX. A CRIME WHICH WAS A BLUNDER.