“My lords!” cried the officer to the combatants, “I command you to lay down your weapons.”
But finding no respect paid to his injunctions, he rushed between them, and with the aid of the halberdiers, forcibly separated them.
“My lord of Surrey,” said the officer, “you are my prisoner. I demand your sword.”
“On what plea, sir?” rejoined the other.
“You have drawn it against the king's son—and the act is treason,” replied the officer. “I shall take you to the guard house until the king's pleasure is known.”
“But I provoked the earl to the conflict,” said Richmond: “I was the aggressor.”
“Your grace will represent the matter as you see fit to your royal father,” rejoined the officer. “I shall fulfil my duty. My lord, to the guard-house!”
“I will procure your instant liberation, Surrey,” said Richmond.
The earl was then led away, and conveyed to a chamber in the lower part of Henry the Eighth's gate, now used as a place of military punishment, and denominated the “black hole.”