"Well, get on," she said impatiently.
"Lacking that assoilment," he said, "I did not know if I were a fit knight to come into your presence."
"Why, I am an old horse," she said, "and not to be frightened by a dab of pitch. If you never showed yourself but after confession you might live in a cave, or so it was in my time."
"Then," said he, "know this. I came to my Castle and they shot upon me. So I have gathered together certain of my men and have taken my mother's Castle of Cramlin and hold it. So that is my news. And when I have the pardon of the Bishop and have paid forfeit, or what it is, I will get more of my men. For my standard is set up in Castle Cramlin and my men come to it from here and there. So in a fortnight or less I will retake my Castle; and I shall hang my brothers-in-law, send my half-brother across the sea, and put my sisters into nunneries. These are my projects."
"Body of God!" the old lady said. "By the Body of God!"
Then the Cornish knight moved round and stood beside the Princess and spoke to the Young Lovell.
"Ah, gentle lord," he said, "may I ask you a fair question?"
"By God's wounds," the Young Lovell said, "you shall ask me none. Who be you?"
"A poor knight," Sir Bertram answered, "but the commissioner of the most dread King Henry!"
"Then you are a friend of the false Percy," the Young Lovell said. "Get you gone. You are no friend to me."