"Then, my lord bishop, let who will stay, we go. My lords, will you attend your king?"
"To death, my liege," said De Boteler and the rest.
"'Tis well—let this man be recalled."
"Tell the commons, that King Richard will see them to-morrow," said De Boteler.
"Then, my lord, the monk is to be freed?" asked Oakley.
"His life is spared till after the conference," said the treasurer; "his freedom depends upon the disbanding of the Essex men."
Oakley was then led forth from the council by De Boteler, who pledged himself that the monk should not be harmed; and, after receiving, from Calverley, a part of the stipulated reward, he retired from the fortress by the way he had entered.
CHAPTER VII.
The Tower clock had just struck ten, and father John was reading a Latin manuscript by the light of a small lamp, when the door of his prison opened, and the glare of a large wax-light, preceding a lady, almost dazzled his eyes. The torch-bearer, placing the torch in a convenient position against the wall, retired, leaving the monk and the lady alone.