om her son she fled. It was now
more easy for me to read his object in his manner, since his treachery
with Rivers and the others.

We then entered the Palace, where Richard called a council to decide
what measures should be taken in order that the Duke of York might be
brought to keep company with his brother.

"For," said Gloucester, "'tis an insult to his Majesty, to thus fly
from him as though he had the plague. Indeed his Royal Highness of
York must be returned at once to his proper place, beside his brother.
If this news be bruited abroad," continued he, "'twill make England
precious ridiculous in the eyes of all Europe."

Cardinal Bouchier and the Bishop of York were present at this council.

"And what course wouldst thou advise me to pursue, that I may succeed
in releasing the little Duke from his involuntary imprisonment?" asked
Richard, speaking to the Cardinal.

"Ah! your Royal Highness, it may be very difficult, indeed, to change
the mind of the Queen. Thou knowest as well as I how wilful is her
Majesty, when she hath once made up her mind."

"Let her not dare to match her strength against me," cried Gloucester,
who now spoke more freely, as the King had left the room. "By Saint
Paul! if she doth not hand the boy over unto his legal protector I
shall be compelled to take him by force, which I do not like to do."

"Ah! good my lord, commit not the sin of using force on those who have
taken refuge in God's place of protection, where the vilest criminal
need fear no harm!" cried both the Churchmen, with one voice.

"Yes," returned Richard, with his cunning smile, "but, most reverend
sirs, the Duke of York hath committed no offence, and therefore he has
not the rights of Sanctuary; and, on that account, the Queen must
expect force, if she consents not to return him when politely
requested, by two such worshipful gentlemen, to do so."

If the Churchmen were looking for some excuse to enable them to agree
with Richard they now had found one. "Ah! your Royal Highness, who but
thyself could have thought of such a reason?"

"Who indeed?" thought I, but with a different meaning.

"The point is well taken," consented the Bishop of York. "The Prince,
thy nephew, having committed no sin, has--under the customs of Holy
Church--no right nor reason for taking Sanctuary; and besides," he
continued, "I understand that he hath no desire to remain in seclusion,
and is but detained there by her Majesty, his mot