hrovetide. This tale I
thought meetest, though it were nothing so."[516]

At this moment the university beadle entered with two of the commissary's
servants, bringing a message to the prior that he should repair at once to
Lincoln, taking Dalaber with him. "I was brought into the chapel," the
latter continues, "and there I found Dr. Cottisford, commissary; Dr.
Higdon, Dean of Cardinal's College; and Dr. London, Warden of New College;
standing together at the altar. They called for chairs and sate down, and
then [ordered] me to come to them; they asked me what my name was, how long
I had been at the university, what I studied," with various other
inquiries: the clerk of the university, meanwhile, bringing pens, ink, and
paper, and arranging a table with a few loose boards upon tressels. A mass
book, he says, was then placed before him, and he was commanded to lay his
hand upon it, and swear that he would answer truly such questions as should
be asked him. At first he refused; but afterwards, being persuaded, "partly
by fair words, and partly by great threats," he promised to do as they
would have him; but in his heart he "meant nothing so to do." "So I laid my
hand on the book," he goes on, "and one of them gave me my oath, and
commanded me to kiss the book. They made great courtesy between them who
should examine me; at last, the rankest Pharisee of them all took upon him
to do it.

"Then he asked me again, by my oath, where Master Garret was, and whither I
had conveyed him. I said I had not conveyed him, nor yet wist where he was,
nor whither he was gone, except he were gone to Woodstock, as I had before
said. Surely, they said, I brought him some whither this morning, for they
might well perceive by my foul shoes and dirty hosen that I had travelled
with him the most part of the night. I answered plainly, that I lay at
Alban's Hall with Sir Fitzjames, and that I had good witness thereof. They
asked me where I was at evensong. I told them at Frideswide, and that I
saw, first, Master Commissary, and then Master Doctor London, come thither
to Master Dean. Doctor London and the Dean threatened me that if I would
not tell the truth I should surely be sent to the Tower of London, and
there be racked, and put into Little-ease.[517]

"At last when they could get nothing out of me whereby to hurt or accuse
any man, or to know anything of that which they sought, they all three
together brought me up a long stairs, into a great