ts, by means of Catesby, a lawyer, who
lived in great intimacy with that nobleman; but found him impregnable
in his allegiance and fidelity to the children of Edward, who had ever
honored him with his friendship.[*] He saw, therefore, that there were
no longer any measures to be kept with him; and he determined to
ruin utterly the man whom he despaired of engaging to concur in
his usurpation. On the very day when Rivers, Gray, and Vaughan were
executed, or rather murdered, at Poinfret by the advice of Hastings,
the protector summoned a council in the Tower; whither that nobleman,
suspecting no design against him, repaired without hesitation.

* Sir Thomas More. p. 493.

The duke of Glocester was capable of committing the most bloody and
treacherous murders with the utmost coolness and indifference. On taking
his place at the council-table, he appeared in the easiest and most
jovial humor imaginable. He seemed to indulge himself in familiar
conversation with the counsellors, before they should enter on business,
and having paid some compliments to Morton, bishop of Ely, on the good
and early strawberries which he raised in his garden at Holborn,
he begged the favor of having a dish of them, which that prelate
immediately despatched a servant to bring to him. The protector then
left the council, as if called away by some other business; but soon
after returning with an angry and inflamed countenance, he asked them,
what punishment those deserved that had plotted against his life,
who was so nearly related to the king, and was intrusted with the
administration of government. Hastings replied, that they merited the
punishment of traitors. "These traitors," cried the protector, "are the
sorceress, my brother's wife, and Jane Shore, his mistress, with others
their associates: see to what a condition they have reduced me by their
incantations and witchcraft:" upon which he laid bare his arm, all
shrivelled and decayed. But the counsellors, who knew that this
infirmity had attended him from his birth, looked on each other with
amazement; and, above all, Lord Hastings, who, as he had since Edward's
death engaged in an intrigue with Jane Shore,[*] [20] was naturally
anxious concerning the issue of these extraordinary proceedings.

* See note T, at the end of the volume.

"Certainly, my lord," said he, "if they be guilty of these crimes, they
deserve the severest punishment." "And do you reply to me," exclaimed
the pr