m should be long without a king; and much robbery would be within the
realm, specially of abbeys and religious houses, and of rich men, as
merchants, graziers, and others; so that, if I would, he at that time would
advise me to find the means to enter into the said castle for mine own
safeguard, and divers persons would resort unto me. _None of Cadwallader's
blood_, he told me, _should reign more than twenty-four years;_ and also
that Prince Edward [son of Henry VI. and Margaret of Anjou, killed at
Tewkesbury], had issue a son which was conveyed over sea; and there had
issue a son which was yet alive, either in Saxony or Almayne; and that
either he or the King of Scots should reign next after the King's Grace
that now is. To all which I answered," Sir William concluded, "that there
is nothing which the will of God is that a man shall obtain, but that he of
his goodness will put in his mind the way whereby he shall come by it; and
that surely I had no mind to follow any such fashion; and that, also, the
late Duke of Buckingham and others had cast themselves away by too much
trust in prophecies, and other jeoparding of themselves, and therefore I
would in no wise follow any such way. He answered, if I would not, it would
be long ere I obtained it. Then I said I believed that well, and if it
never came, I trusted to God to live well enough."[664]

Sir George Neville confirmed generally his brother's story, protesting that
they had never intended treason, and that "at no time had he been of
counsel" when any treason was thought of.[665]

The wizard himself was next sent for. The prophecies about the king he
denied wholly. He admitted that he had seen an angel in a dream giving Sir
William Neville the shield of the earldom in Warwick Castle, and that he
had accompanied the two brothers to Warwick, to examine the tower. Beyond
that, he said that he knew nothing either of them or of their intentions.
He declared himself a good subject, and he would "jeopard his life" to make
the philosopher's stone for the king in twelve months if the king pleased
to command him. He desired "no longer space than twelve months upon silver
and twelve and a half upon gold;" to be kept in prison till he had done it;
and it would be "better to the King's Grace than a thousand men."[666]

The result of these examinations does not appear, except it be that the
Nevilles were dismissed without punishment; and the story itself may be
thought too triflin