The talk runneth that he is party in some great conspiracy against her glorious Majesty, whose foes may Heaven confound! If it be true, then is our Achilles wounded in the heel, and is like enough to journey from here to Tyburn free of charges.

Farewell, from thy well-wisher." This letter cast me into terrible woe; for it was plain by it that Ludar was in mortal peril, and without a friend to help him.

I could do naught, for I knew not where he was taken, or if I did, what could I, outside a stone wall, do for him within?
Besides, the message about the maiden put a service on me I was bound to fulfil.

Yet what could I do?
Jeannette saw my trouble and shared it; and, being a shrewd lass, advised me to go to Will Peake and hear what was this news of a new- discovered treason, and who were in it?
So I went and found the Bridge (Sunday as it was), in a flutter.

Will Peake I could not see, but from another gossip I heard that news was come of a terrible plot to murder her sacred Majesty and place on her throne, with the help of Spanish rogues, the upstart Mary of Scotland.
Many wild stories were afloat concerning the business.