Ei.tu»h Hall.] THE MURDER OF GLOUCESTER—THE DUKE’S STUDY. 345

other news, and God grant that it may be soon! for as the Lord liveth, I amtruly concerned for your disgrace, and would cheerfully aid you if 1 could;but knowing the oath I have taken to theking, you know I am bound in honour toobey.’ This was the only answer theDuke of Gloucester could obtain; he toowell judged from appearances, that hislife was in jeopardy; ana asked tiie priestwho had said mass, if he would confesshim. This he did with great calmnessand resignation; and with a devout andcontrite heart, cried before the altar ofGod , the Creator of all things, for hismercy and forgiveness. He was repentantof all his sins, and lamented them greatly.

He was right thus to exonerate his con-science, for his end was nearer than heimagined: for being on the point of sitting down to dinner, while he waswashing his hands, four men rushed suddenly out from an adjoining chamber,and, throwing a towel round his neck, strangled him by two drawing one endand two the other. When he was quite dead they carried him to his chamber,undressed him, and placed the body between two sheets with his head on apillow, and covered him with furred mantles. They then re-entered thehall, properly instructed what to say and how to act, and declared that theDuke of Gloucester had been seized with an apoplexy as he was washinghis hands before dinner, and that they had great difficulty to carry him tobed. This was the report published in the garrison and the town, where somebelieved it, and others not. Within two days after, it was published abroadthat the duke had died in his bed at the Castle of Calais; and in consequencethe Earl-Marshal, who was the duke’s near relation, put on mourning, as didall the knights and squires in the town of Calais.” As to the manner of hisdeath, it appears by the confession of Hall, one of the accomplices, that theduke was smothered with pillows, not strangled, as Froissart was informed.

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5,vol. i.