l, and the thick darkness hath closed in upon the life. And
I, at the least, have no spell to bid them avaunt. If holy Mary aid
thee in that avoidment, 'tis more than she doth for me."

Isabel seemed at a loss for a reply. "I have had no lack of time for
thought, fair Cousin, while I yonder lay. And the thought would not
away,--when we stand together, I and Harry of Bolingbroke, at that Bar
of God's judgment, shall I desire in that day that I had said ay or nay
to him now?"

"Forsooth, Custance, I am not thy confessor. These be priests'
matters--not gear for women like thee and me."

"What, child! is thy soul matter for the priest's concernment only? Is
it not rather matter for thee--thee by thyself, beyond all priests that
be? Thou and the priest may walk handed [walk hand in hand] up to that
Bar, but methinks he will be full fain to leave thee to bide the
whipping."

"Nay, in very deed, Custance, thou art a Lollard, else hadst thou never
spoken no such a thing!"

"What, be Lollards the only men that have a care for their own souls?
But be it as thou wilt--what will it matter _then_? Isabel, in good
sooth I have sins enough to answer for, neither will I by my good-will
add thereto. And if it be no sin to stand up afore God and men, and
swear right solemnly unto His dread face that I did not that which I did
before His sun in Heaven--good lack! I do marvel what sin may be.
There is no such thing as sin, if it be no sin to swear to a lie!"

"But, Custance, the King's Highness asketh not thee to deny that thou
wert wed unto my Lord of Kent, but only to allow openly that the same
were not good in law."

"Can a law go backwards-way?"

"Fair Cousin, the priest was excommunicate afore."

"God wot if he were!" said Custance shrewdly.

"Bishops use not to leave their letters tarry two months on the road,
child. There have been riddles writ ere now; ay, and black treachery
done--by shaven crowns too. Canst thou crede that story? 'Tis more
than I can."

"Custance, I do ensure thee, the King's Grace sware into me his own
self, by the holy Face of Lucca, and said, if thou didst cast any doubt
of the same, my Lord Archbishop should lay to pledge his corporal oath
thereon."

"His corporal oath ensure me! nay, nor an' he sware by Saint Beelzebub!"
cried Custance in bitter scorn. "I have heard of a corporal oath ere
now, child. I know of one that was taken at Conway, by an old
white-haired man [Note 1], w