had arrived at eight the previous morning, and, faithful to her
husband's wishes, at that hour she ordered the horses to be brought
round, and, joining a party of gentlemen who were also making for
the coast, rode with them to Plymouth. Arrangements were at once
made with the captain of a small ship in the port, and two days
later they landed at Honfleur, where Sir Thomas had enjoined his
wife to wait until she heard from him or obtained sure news of his
fate.

A week after her arrival the news was brought by other fugitives
of the violation of the sanctuary by the king, and the murder of
Somerset and the gentlemen with him, of whom Sir Thomas Tresham
was known to have been one.

The blow proved fatal to Dame Tresham. She had gone through many
trials and misfortunes, and had ever borne them bravely, but the
loss of her husband completely broke her down. Save to see his
wishes concerning their son carried out, she had no longer any
interest in life or any wish to live. But until the future of
Gervaise was assured, her mission was unfulfilled. His education
was her sole care; his mornings were spent at a monastery, where
the monks instructed the sons of such of the nobles and gentry of
the neighbourhood as cared that they should be able to read and
write. In the afternoon he had the best masters in the town in
military exercises. His evenings he spent with his mother, who strove
to instill in him the virtues of patience, mercy to the vanquished,
and valour, by stories of the great characters of history. She
herself spent her days in pious exercises, in attending the services
of the Church, and in acts of charity and kindness to her poorer
neighbours. But her strength failed rapidly, and she was but a shadow