Page:History of england froude.djvu/557

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1528.]
THE PROTESTANTS
535

At this moment the University beadle entered with two of the commissary's servants, bringing a message to the prior that he should repair at once to Lincoln, taking Dalaber with him. 'I was brought into the chapel,' the latter continues, 'and there I found Dr Cottisford, commissary; Dr Higdon, Dean of Cardinal's College; and Dr London, Warden of New College; standing together at the altar. They called for chairs and sat down, and then [ordered] me to come to them; they asked me what my name was, how long I had been at the University, what I studied,' with various other inquiries: the clerk of the University, meanwhile, bringing pens, ink, and paper, and arranging a table with a few loose boards upon tressels. A mass book, he says, was then placed before him, and he was commanded to lay his hand upon it, and swear that he would answer truly such questions as should be asked him. At first he refused; but afterwards, being persuaded, 'partly by fair words, and partly by great threats,' he promised to do as they would have him; but in his heart he 'meant nothing so to do.' 'So I laid my hand on the book,' he goes on, 'and one of them gave me my oath, and, commanded me to kiss the book. They made great courtesy between them who should examine me; at last, the rankest Pharisee of them all took upon him to do it.

'Then he asked me again, by my oath, where Master Garret was, and whither I had conveyed him. I said I had not conveyed him, nor yet wist where he was, nor whither he was gone, except he was gone to Wood-