A fortnight later, on July 6th, King Edward died at Greenwich in the sixteenth year of his age and the seventh of his reign.
Sir John had tarried at Chiddingly until the end came; then he hastened up to London, where pressing duties called him.
With him went the two boys—to begin their legal studies under the auspices of their uncle at Gray's Inn, for it was his wish that they should both enter the learned profession of the law.
CHAPTER II
THE APPARITOR
It was the year of grace 1556, the third year of the reign of Queen Mary.
The forebodings of evil with which her reign had been ushered in were bitterly fulfilled.
The headsman's axe had oft-times been in use on Tower Hill: Northumberland had gone to his doom with no man to pity him; his son Lord Guildford Dudley had followed him to the block, perhaps equally unlamented.
But men were moved to deeper pity and compassion when the young, innocent, and hapless Lady Jane suffered for her kinsmen's crimes!