The Last Of The Barons, Complete

g of 1467, presented the rural scene for the sports and pastimes of the inhabitants of Westminster and London. Scarcely need we say that open spaces for the popular games and diversions wer

nd maiden holiday-ground, lately bestowed upon the to

rk] now Whitehall; farther on, the spires of Westminster Abbey and the gloomy tower of the Sanctuary; next, the Palace, with its bulwark and vawmure, soaring from the river; while eastward, and nearer to the scene, stretched the long, bush-grown passage of the Strand, picturesquely varied with bridges, and flanked to the right by the embattled halls of feudal nobles, or the inns of the no less powerful prelates; while sombre and huge amidst hall and inn, loomed the gigantic ruins of the Savoy, demolished in the insurrection of Wat Tyler. Farther o

d its separate pastime or diversion. Around were ranged many carts, or wagons; horses of all sorts and value were led to and fro, while their owners were at sport. Tents, awnings, hostelries, temporary buildings, stages for showmen and jugglers, abounded, and gave the scene the appearance of a fair; but what particularly now demands our attention was a broad plot in the ground, dedicated to the noble diversion of archery. The reigning House of York owed much of its military success to the superiority of the bowmen under its banners, and the Lond

e populace, but of the gallant nobles who surrounded the court of Edward IV., then in th

ranks that now grouped around the competitors for the silver arrow, or listened to the itinerant jongleur, dissour, or minstrel, or, seated under the stunted shade of the old trees, indulged, with eager looks and hands often wandering to their dagger-hilts, in the absorbing passion of

than one solemn occasion, into the deliberations of the court; and Edward had not long since, on the coronation of his queen, much to the discontent of certain of his barons, conferred the Knighthood of the hath upon four of the citizens. On the other hand, though Edward's gallantries-the only vice which tended to diminish his popularity with the sober burgesses-were little worthy of his station, his frank, joyous familiarity with his inferiors was not debased by the buffooneries that had led to the reverses and the awful fate of two of his royal predecessors. There must have been a popular principle, indeed, as well as a popular fancy, involved in the steady and ardent adherence which the population of London in particular, and most of the great cities,

meanest soldier. His haughtiness to the great was not incompatible with frank affability to the lowly. His wealth was enormous, but it was equalled by his magnificence, and rendered popular by his lavish hospitality. No less than thirty thousand persons are said to have feasted

is power abroad, and to repair what he had lost in the eyes of Europe through his marriage with Elizabeth Gray, by allying his sister Margaret with t

this alliance over the rival candidate for the hand of the princess,-name

tout earl were going to France with bows and bills than sarcenets and satins. What will become of our trade with Flanders,-answer me that, M

ing loves not talk about what the king does. 'T is ill jesting with lions. Re

moneys and influence, and a fair wife of his own, whom the king himself has been pleased to commend, is another guess sort of matter. But here is my grave-visaged headman, who always contrives to pick up the last gossip astir, and has a

h, and a strong provincial accent,-"an' it please you, King Edward's edict ordains every Englishman to have a bow of his own height; and he who neglects the shaft on a holiday forfeiteth one halfpenny and some honour. Fo

, it is because they have nobles in their gipsires, [a ki

would leave them the gipsire, if they could not protect it wit

hy tongue. Though I have my jest,-as a rich man and a corpulent,-a l

id Master Stokton, the thin mercer, who had re

s the best 'prentice ever I had. By the blood of Saint Thomas, he will push his way in good time; he has a head, Mast

the archery-ground; and even in his gait and walk, as he thus repair

, the constant broils and wars of the time, the example of their betters, the holiday spectacle of mimic strife, and, above all, the powerful and corporate association they formed amongst themselves, tended to make them as wild, as jovial, and as dissolute a set of young fellows as their posterity are now sober, careful, and discreet. And as Nicholas Alwyn, with a slight inclination of his head, passed by, two or three loud, swaggering, bold-looking groups of appren

tening in the sunlight, the armourial badges of that mighty family. The Pied Bull, which was the proper cognizance [Pied Bull the cognizance, the Dun Bull's head the crest] of the Neviles, was principally borne by the numerous kinsmen of Earl Warwick, who rejoiced in the Nevile name. The Lord Montagu, Warwick's brother, to whom the king had granted the forfeit title and estates of the earls of Northumberland, distinguished his own retainers, however, by the special request of the ancient Montagus.-a Gryphon issuant from a ducal crown. But far more numerous than Bull or Gryphon (numerous as either seemed) were the badges worn by those who ranked themselves among the peculiar followers of the great Earl of Warwick. The cognizance of the Bear and Ragged Staff, which he ass

ung fellow just below us, with the Nevile cognizance of t

ed to the centre by a very minute peg, were placed apart, one at each end, at the distance of eleven score yards. At the extremity where the shooting commenced, the crowd assembled, taking care to keep clear from the opposite butt, as the warning word of "Fast" was thundered forth; but eager was the general murmur, and many were the wagers given and accepted, as some well-known archer tried his chance. Near the butt that now formed the target, stood the marker with his white wand; and the rapidity with which archer after archer discharged his shaft, and then, if it missed, hurried across the ground to

it were a yard-measure. One would think he were about

y heart of the white. There was a general movement of surprise among the spectators, as the marker thrice shook his wand over his head. But Alwyn, as indifferent to their re

in his kingdom. His accomplishment was hereditary, and distinguished alike his wise father and his pious son.] The young man thus addressed, and whose honest, open, handsome, hardy face augured a frank and fearless nature, bowed his head in silence, and then slowly advancing to the umpires, craved permission to essay his skill, and to borrow the loan of a shaft and bow. Leave given and the weapons lent, as the young gentleman took his stand, his comely person, his dress, of a better quality than that of the competitors hitherto, and, above all, the Nevile badge worked in silver on his hat, diverted the general attention from Nicholas Alwyn. A mob is usually inclined to aristocratic pre

lanted, the left a little in advance, and the stretched sinews of the bow-hand alone evincing that into that grasp was pressed the whole strength of the easy and careless frame. The public expectation was not disappoin

at I know of," muttered Nicholas, "and I little expected to see him take

u showed me that trick at your father, Sir Guy's-God rest him!

in thee, as it seems to me, my old friend and foster-brother, Nick Alwyn, this is the happiest hour I have known f

bonniest, as they say in the North. We will talk of this anon an' thou wilt ho

Towton-declared that the contest was over,-"unless," he added, in the spirit of a lingering fellow-feeling with the Londoner, "this young fel

and, after all," he added indifferently, "the silver arrow,

was already disposed of by Master Alwyn's arrow. Moreover; the contest was intended for the Londoners, and I am but an interloper, b

e, extending the prize. "Sith Alwyn vails of

r thou hast won it; but as thou seemest a new comer, it is right thou shouldst pay thy tax upon entry,-this be my task. Come hither, I pray thee, good sir," and the nobleman graciously beckoned to the

Nevile, goo

e hearty from the love and honour attached to the name of Nevile than even from a sense of the gracious generosity of Earl Warwick's brother. One man alone, a sturdy, well-knit fellow

oble who had thus honoured him, and contemplated him with that respect and

directing the manoeuvres of his men, and hence preserved that inestimable advantage of coolness and calculation, which was not always characteristic of the eager hardihood of his brother. The character of Montagu differed yet more from that of the earl in peace than in war. He was supposed to excel in all those supple arts of the courtier which Warwick neglected or despised; and if the last was on great occasions the adviser, the other in ordinary life was the companion of his sovereign. Warwick owed his popularity to his own large, open, daring, and lavish nature. The subtler Montagu sought to win, by care and pains, what the other obtained without an effort. He attended the various holiday meetings of the citizens,

m pleased that you bear the name of Nevile. Vouchsafe to inform me to what scion of our H

ption with which I have intruded upon this assembly a name borne by nobles so illustrious, especially if it belong to those less fortunate branches o

her. It becomes not one fresh from the favour of King Edward IV. to show countenance to the son of a man, kinsman though he was, who bore arms for the usurpers of Lancaster. I pray thee, sir, to doff,

ed his, palfrey towards a distant part of the ground, to which

iline, haughty features, spare but powerful frame, and inexpressible air of authority and command

y age of thirty and four, thou wilt learn that no man's fortune casts so b

no king is so sacred that we should render to his resentments our own kith and kin. God's wot, whosoever wears the badge and

ed the courtier, turning to the rest, "in vain would bar the tide of change; and in this our New England, begirt with new men and

rom unbonneting to a greasy mob, from marrying an old crone for vile gold, may the saints ever keep Raoul de Fulke and his sons! Amen!" This speech, in wh

d Hastings leave us, and what fai

he young Lovell. "But as well might we track the breeze

broken ground, Marmaduke Nevile's eye pursued the horsemen with all that bitter feeling of wound