Questioned whether he had any motives for dislike to prisoner: said only that he hated favourites; once he fought with him and was thrashed; _was_ once sent back as a truant to the Abbey, coupled between two hounds, but bore no malice for it, oh no!--only actuated by loyalty to the King; Sir John Redfyrne had shown him his duty. Here the magistrates told him they wanted to hear no more. To sum up the story, the jury were of opinion that the identity of Sir Walter Trevannion with Prior Ambrose of Furness was clearly proved, that under that name he had been guilty of high treason, but they recommended him to mercy in consideration of his evident reformation in later years. They found that there was not sufficient evidence to convict the younger prisoner of “misprison of treason.” Thereupon Sir John Redfyrne desired that the Oath of Supremacy be tendered to the younger. The judges declared that the demand could not be refused, although they thought it vexatious, and evidently expecting that the young man would at once show his loyalty, were astonished by a blank refusal. Thereupon Sir John Redfyrne observed they might recognize the true pupil of Richard Whiting. The judges besought the youth, who was only a little more than twenty years of age, to consider the consequences of his refusal. He still remained obstinate, with the evident approval of the elder prisoner, his reputed father. Thereupon sentence of death, after the usual fashion, was pronounced upon both prisoners: to be drawn upon hurdles to the cathedral yard, and there to be hanged, but not till they were dead, cut down alive, and dismembered. The prisoners thanked God for calling them to die in what they called “so good a cause,” and thanked the jury for the patience with which they had heard them, and the desire they had shown to save their lives, with a simplicity which brought tears to all eyes. Sir John Redfyrne, on behalf of the Crown, asked and obtained a week’s respite, such sentences being usually executed on the morrow. The prisoners were removed; a dangerous tendency was visible amongst the mob, many of whom cried, “God bless them.” By desire of Sir John Redfyrne they were separated and placed in solitary confinement. * * * * * [Illustration: “THE POOR LAD GAVE HIM ONE INDIGNANT LOOK.” _Page 143._] So far we have made extracts from the registers of Rougemont. What was Sir John’s object in all this? why did he persist in securing the condemnation of Cuthbert? and then insist upon the delay of a week in its execution? Because he trusted to the weakness of human nature, and thought that the fear of death would extract the secret he craved. And if the fear of death did not extract it, he meant to obtain it by torture; he was provided with a warrant to that effect from the council.