“My Lords, an’ ye ask me four hundred times, I will say what I say now: ye get no more of me.”
“We have means to make men speak!” said one of the peers, threateningly.
“That may be; but not women.”
“They can talk fast enough, as I know to my cost!” observed the lord of a very loquacious lady.
“Ay, and hold their peace likewise, as I will show you!” said Constance.
“Is it not true,” enquired the Chancellor further, “that you stale away out of the Castle of Windsor the four childre of Roger Mortimer, sometime Earl of March?”
“It is very true.”
“And wherefore did you so?”
“Because I chose it!” she said, lifting her head royally.
“Madam, you well wot you be a subject.”