now open,
but in Margaret's time it was in the midst of the forest. The entrance
to the cave is very low. Within, it is high enough for a man to stand
upright. It is about thirty-four feet long, and half as wide. There
are some appearances of its having been once divided by a wall into
two separate apartments.

[Sidenote: Margaret concealed in it.]

[Sidenote: A friend found.]

[Sidenote: Margaret's anger turned to grief.]

For two days Margaret remained in the cave, suffering, of course, the
extreme of suspense and anxiety all the time, being in great
solicitude to hear from her friends, the nobles and generals who had
been defeated with her in the battle. Her host made diligent though
secret inquiries, but could gain no tidings. At length, on the morning
of the third day, to Margaret's infinite relief and joy, he came in
bringing with him De Breze himself, with his squire, whose name was
Barville, and an English gentleman who had escaped with De Breze from
the battle, and had since been wandering about with him, looking every
where for the queen. Margaret was for the moment overjoyed to see
these friends again, but her exultation was soon succeeded by the
deepest grief at hearing the terrible accounts they gave of the death
of her nearest friends, some of whom had been killed in the battle,
and others had been taken prisoners and cruelly executed immediately
afterward. Up to this time, through all the danger and suffering which
she had endured since the battle, she had been either in a state of
stupor, or else filled with resentment and rage against her enemies,
and she had not shed a tear; but now grief for the loss of these dear
and faithful friends seemed to take the place of all other emotions,
and she wept a long time as if her heart would break.

Margaret learned, however, from her friends that the king had made his
escape, and was probably in a place of safety, and this gave her great
consolation. It was thought that the king had succeeded in making his
way to Scotland.

[Sidenote: They leave the cave.]

In the course of the day, one of the party who came with Breze went
out into the neighboring villages to see if he could learn any new
tidings, and before long he returned bringing with him several nobles
of high rank and princes of the Lancastrian line. Margaret felt much
relieved to find her party so strengthened, and arrangements were soon
made by the whole party for Margaret to leave the cave with