I told her the King had bidden me answer all her desire; that if she
required physician she should be tended of his chirurgeon beside her
own, and she should speak with any priest she would. I had thought it
should apay [gratify] her to know the same; but my words had the
contrariwise effect, for she looked more frightened than afore.

"Nought more said he?"

"Dame," said I, "the Lord King bade me to serve you with all honour and
reverence. And he said, for my Lord of March--"

"Fare forth!" [go on] she cried, though I scarce knew that I paused.

"He answered, that no worser should befall him than he had caused to
better men than he."

"Mary, Mother!"

I thought I had scarce ever heard wofuller wail than she made then. She
sank down in the bed, clutching the coverlet with her hands, and casting
it over her, as she buried her face in the pillows. I went nigh, and
drew the coverlet full setely [properly, neatly] over her.

"Let be!" she saith in a smothered voice. "It is all over. Life must
fare forth, and life is of no more worth. My bird is flown from the
cage, and none can win him back. Is there so much as one of the saints
will speak for me? As I have wrought, so hast Thou paid me, God!"

Not an other word spake she all the livelong day. Never day seemed
longer than that weary eve of Saint Ursula [October 20th]. That morrow
were taken in the town the two sons of my Lord of March, Sir Edmund and
Sir Geoffrey, beside divers of his friends--Sir Oliver Byngham, Sir
Simon de Bereford, and Sir John Deveroil the chief. All were sent that
same day under guard to London, with the Mortimer himself.

No voice compassionated him. Nay, "my Lord of March" was no more, but
in every man's mouth "the Mortimer" as of old time. Some that had
seemed his greatest losengers [flatterers] now spake of him with the
most disdain, while they that, while they allowed him not [did not
approve of him], had yet never abused ne reviled him, were the least
wrathful against him. I heard that when he was told of all, my Lord of
Lancaster flung up his cap for joy.

Some things afterward said were not true. It was false slander to say,
as did some, that the Mortimer was taken in the Queen's own chamber. He
was arrest in the Bishop of Lincoln's chamber (which had his lodging
next the Queen), and in conference with the said Bishop. They took not
that priest of Baal; I had shed no tears had they so done. Sir Hugh de
Turpingto