appy fate,[*] was not able to deceive even the most
stupid and most prejudiced of her adherents. In proportion as the queen
became the object of public hatred the dethroned monarch, who had been
the victim of her crimes and her ambition, was regarded with pity,
with friendship, with veneration: and men became sensible, that all his
misconduct, which faction had so much exaggerated, had been owing to the
unavoidable weakness, not to any voluntary depravity, of his character.
The earl of Leicester, now earl of Lancaster, to whose custody he had
been committed, was soon touched with those generous sentiments;
and besides using his prisoner with gentleness and humanity, he was
suspected to have entertained still more honorable intentions in his
favor. The king, therefore, was taken from his hands, and delivered
over to Lord Berkeley, and Mautravers, and Gournay, who were intrusted
alternately, each for a month, with the charge of guarding him. While he
was in the custody of Berkeley, he was still treated with the gentleness
due to his rank and his misfortunes; but when the turn of Mautravers and
Gournay came, every species of indignity was practised against him, as
if their intention had been to break entirely the prince's spirit, and
to employ his sorrows and afflictions, instead of more violent and
more dangerous expedients, for the instruments of his murder.[**] It is
reported, that one day, when Edward was to be shaved, they ordered cold
and dirty water to be brought from the ditch for that purpose; and when
he desired it to be changed, and was still denied his request, he burst
into tears which bedewed his cheeks; and he exclaimed, that in spite of
their insolence, he should be shaved with clean and warm water.[***]

* Walsing. p. 126

** Anonymi Hist. p. 838.

*** T. de la Mo'e, p. 602.

But as this method of laying Edward, in his grave appeared still too
slow to the impatient Mortimer, he secretly sent orders to the two
keepers, who were at his devotion instantly to despatch him: and
these ruffians contrived to make the manner of his death as cruel and
barbarous as possible. Taking advantage of Berkeley's sickness, in whose
custody he then was, and who was thereby incapacitated from attending
his charge,[*] they came to Berkeley Castle, and put themselves in
possession of the king's person. They threw him on a bed; held him
down violently with a table, which they flung over him; thrust into his
fun