The news of the issue of the fatal battle of Tewkesbury, the capture of the queen, and the death of the prince, was borne to Exeter by fugitives on the following day.  Beyond the fact that the Earl of Devon and other nobles were known to have been killed, and Somerset with a party of knights had taken sanctuary, they could give no details as to the fate of individuals.  In the deepest distress at the utter ruin of the cause, and in ignorance of the fate of her husband, who she could only hope was one of those who had gained sanctuary, Dame Tresham prepared for flight.  This accomplished, she had only to wait, and sit in tearless anguish at the window, listening intently whenever a horseman rode past.  All night her watch continued.  Gervaise, who had cried himself to sleep, lay on a couch beside her.  Morning dawned, and she then knew that her husband would not come, for had he escaped from the field he would long ere this have been with her.  The messenger with the news had arrived at eight the previous morning, and, faithful to her husband’s wishes, at that hour she ordered the horses to be brought round, and, joining a party of gentlemen who were also making for the coast, rode with them to Plymouth.  Arrangements were at once made with the captain of a small ship in the port, and two days later they landed at Honfleur, where Sir Thomas had enjoined his wife to wait until she heard from him or obtained sure news of his fate.

A week after her arrival the news was brought by other fugitives of the violation of the sanctuary by the king, and the murder of Somerset and the gentlemen with him, of whom Sir Thomas Tresham was known to have been one.

The blow proved fatal to Dame Tresham.  She had gone through many trials and misfortunes, and had ever borne them bravely, but the loss of her husband completely broke her down.  Save to see his wishes concerning their son carried out, she had no longer any interest in life or any wish to live.  But until the future of Gervaise was assured, her mission was unfulfilled.  His education was her sole care; his mornings were spent at a monastery, where the monks instructed the sons of such of the nobles and gentry of the neighbourhood as cared that they should be able to read and write.  In the afternoon he had the best masters in the town in military exercises.  His evenings he spent with his mother, who strove to instill in him the virtues of patience, mercy to the vanquished, and valour, by stories of the great characters of history.  She herself spent her days in pious exercises, in attending the services of the Church, and in acts of charity and kindness to her poorer neighbours.  But her strength failed rapidly, and she was but a shadow of her former self when, two years and a half after her arrival at Honfleur, she felt that if she was herself to hand Gervaise over to the Order of St. John, she must no longer delay.  Accordingly she took ship to London, and