d? A. I was conducted to the door of the Council
chamber, where the alarm being given by 4 x 2, the Warder appeared and
demanded, "Who comes there?"

Q. What answer was returned? A. A detachment of his majesty's guards,
having made prisoner of one, who reports himself to be prince of the
house of Judah.

Q. What was then said to you? A. I was asked from whence I came.

Q. Your answer? A. From Jerusalem.

Q. What was then demanded of you? A. Who are you?

Q. Your answer? A. The first among my equals, a Mason, and free by
rank, but a captive and slave by misfortune.

Q. What was you then asked? A. My name.

Q. Your answer? A. Zerrubbabel.

Q. What were you then asked? A. What are your demands?

Q. Your answer? A. To see the sovereign, if possible.

Q. What was then said to you? A. I was then directed to wait with
patience until the Sovereign Master should be informed of my request,
and his answer returned.

Q. What was that answer? A. That the necessary caution should be taken
that I was not armed with any hostile weapons, and that I should then
be admitted.

Q. How were you then received? A. The guard being drawn up on the
right and left of the throne, swords drawn, two of them placed at the
door with swords crossed, under which I was permitted to enter, my
face covered with my hands.

Q. How were you then disposed of? A. I was conducted in front of the
Sovereign Master, who received me with kindness and attention, and
listened with patience to my request.

Q. What did the Sovereign Master then observe to the Council? A. That
this Zerrubbabel was the friend of his youth, that he could neither be
an enemy nor a spy.

Q. What followed? A. The Sovereign Master thus addressed me:
"Zerrubbabel, having now gained admittance into our presence, we
demand that you immediately declare the particular motives which
induced you, without our permission, and with force and arms, to pass
the lines of our dominions?"

Q. Your answer? A. Sovereign Master, the tears and complaints of my
companions at Jerusalem, who have been so long and so often impeded in
the noble and glorious undertaking in which they were permitted to
engage by our late sovereign, Lord Cyrus, the King; but our enemies
having made that great work to cease by force and power, I have now
come up to implore your majesty's clemency, that you would be pleased
to restore me to favor, and grant me employment among the servants of
your household.

Q. Wha