Here Barbara Curll pressed forward, asking wildly for her husband; and Wade replying, with brutal brevity, that he was taken to London to be examined for his practices before the Council, the poor lady, well knowing that examination often meant torture, fell back in a swoon.

“We shall do nothing with all these women crying and standing about,” said Wade impatiently; “have them all away, while we put seals on the effects.”

“Nay, sirs,” said Jean Kennedy.  “Suffer me first to send her Grace some changes of garments.”

“I tell thee, woman,” said Wade, “our orders are precise!  Not so much as a kerchief is to be taken from these chambers till search hath been made.  We know what practices may lurk in the smallest rag.”

“It is barbarous!  It is atrocious!  The King of France shall hear of it,” shrieked Marie de Courcelles.

“The King of France has enough to do to take care of himself, my good lady,” returned Wade, with a sneer.

“Sir,” said Jean Kennedy, with more dignity, turning to Sir Amias Paulett, “I cannot believe that it can be by the orders of the Queen of England, herself a woman, that my mistress, her cousin, should be deprived of all attendance, and even of a change of linen.  Such unseemly commands can never have been issued from herself.”

“She is not without attendance,” replied the knight, “the little Talbot wench is with her, and for the rest, Sir Walter and Lady Ashton have orders to supply her needs during her stay among them.  She is treated with all honour, and is lodged in the best chambers,” he added, consolingly.

“We must dally no longer,” called out Wade.  “Have away all this throng into ward, Sir Amias.  We can do nothing with them here.”

There was no help for it.  Sir Andrew Melville did indeed pause to enter his protest, but that, of course, went for nothing with the Commissioners, and Humfrey was ordered to conduct them to the upper gallery, there to await further orders.  It was a long passage, in the highly pointed roof, with small chambers on either side which could be used when there was a press of guests.  There was a steep stair, as the only access, and it could be easily guarded, so Sir Amias directed Humfrey to post a couple of men at the foot, and to visit and relieve them from time to time.

It was a sad procession that climbed up those narrow stairs, of those faithful followers who were separated from their Queen for the first time.  The servants of lower rank were merely watched in their kitchen, and not allowed to go beyond its courtyard, but were permitted to cook for and wait on the others, and bring them such needful furniture as was required.

Humfrey was very sorry for them, having had some acquaintance with them all his life, and he was dismayed to find himself, instead of watching over Cicely, separated from her and made a jailer against his will.  And when he returned to the Queen’s apartments, he found Cavendish holding a taper, while Paulett and Wade were vigorously affixing cords, fastened at each end by huge red seals bearing the royal arms, to every receptacle, and rudely plucking back the curtains that veiled the ivory crucifix.  Sir Amias’s zeal would have “plucked down the idol,” as he said, but Wade restrained him by reminding him that all injury or damage was forbidden.