That other lord had ambushed him to assassinate him, but this fellow had got the best of him and cut his throat.

However, it was not for that that I left him jailed, but for maliciously destroying the only public well in one of his wretched villages.

The queen was bound to hang him for killing her kinsman, but I would not allow it: it was no crime to kill an assassin.

But I said I was willing to let her hang him for destroying the well; so she concluded to put up with that, as it was better than nothing.
Dear me, for what trifling offenses the most of those forty-seven men and women were shut up there! Indeed, some were there for no distinct offense at all, but only to gratify somebody's spite; and not always the queen's by any means, but a friend's.

The newest prisoner's crime was a mere remark which he had made.