very day; and observe the hours of prayer so far as he could.
He had no books with him of any kind. But he could pray God for
fortitude.

* * * * *

Then he knelt down on the earth floor and said his first prayer in
prison; the prayer that had rung so often in his mind since Mary herself
had prayed it aloud on the scaffold; and Mr. Bourgoign had repeated it
to him.

"As Thy arms, O Christ, were extended on the Cross; even so receive me
into the arms of Thy mercy, and blot out all my sins with Thy most
precious Blood."

CHAPTER VII

I

There was a vast crowd in the market-place at Michaelmas to see the
judges come--partly because there was always excitement at the visible
majesty of the law; partly because the tale of one at least of the
prisoners had roused interest. It was a dramatic tale: he was first a
seminary priest and a Derbyshire man (many remembered him riding as a
little lad beside his father); he was, next, a runaway to Rheims for
religion's sake, when his father conformed; third, he had been taken in
the house of Mistress Manners, to whom, report said, he had once been
betrothed; last, he had been taken by his father himself. All this
furnished matter for a quantity of conversation in the taverns; and it
was freely discussed by the sentimental whether or no, if the priest
yielded and conformed, he would yet find Mistress Manners willing to wed
him.

* * * * *

Signs of the Armada rejoicings still survived in the market-place as the
judges rode in. Streamers hung in the sunshine, rather bedraggled after
so long, from the roof and pillars of the Guildhall, and a great
smoke-blackened patch between the conduit and the cross marked where the
ox had been roasted. There was a deal of loyal cheering as the
procession went by; for these splendid personages on horseback stood to
the mob for the power that had repelled the enemies of England; and her
Grace's name was received with enthusiasm. Behind the judges and their
escort came a cavalcade of riders--gentlemen, grooms, servants, and
agents of all sorts. But not a Derby man noticed or recognised a thin
gentleman who rode modestly in the midst, with a couple of personal
servants on either side of him. It was not until the visitors had
separated to the various houses and inns where they were to be lodged,
and the mob was dispersing home again, that it began to be rumoured
everywhere tha