There was a matter about to be concluded, but Master Richard could not
tell what it was, for there was a din of talking all about him, and he
saw many clerks and Religious very busy together in the crowd, shaking
their fingers, lifting their brows, and clacking like rooks at
sunset--so the young man related it. There were two fellows with their
backs to him, standing in an open space before the scaffold with guards
about them. One of the two was a clerk, and wore his square cap upon
his head, and the other was not.

The King looked sick; he was but a young man at that time, not two years
older than Master Richard. He was listening with his head down, to a
clerk who whispered in his ear, kneeling by his side with papers and a
great quill in his hand, and the King's eyes roved as he listened, now
up, now down, and his fingers with rings upon them were arched at his
ear. My lord cardinal had a ruddy face and bright holy eyes, and sat in
his sanguine robes with his cap on his head, looking out with his lips
pursed at the clerks and monks that babbled together beyond the barrier.
He was an old man at this time, but wondrous strong and hearty.

At the end the King sat up, and there was a silence, but he spoke so low
and quick, with his eyes cast down, and the shouting followed so hard
upon his words, that Master Richard could not hear what was said. But it
seemed to content the clerks and the Religious [King Henry VI. was a
great favourer of ecclesiastics.], for they roared and clamoured and one
flung up his cap so that it fell beyond the barrier and he could not
come at it again. Then the two prisoners louted to the King, and went
away with their guards about them; and the King stood up, and the
cardinal.