encounter of the rebels. Surprising and disastrous had been the tidings in the interim. At first, indeed, there were hopes that the insurrection had been put down by Montagu, who

t, however, language of the insurgents was tempered with all personal respect to the king; they declared in their manifestoes that they desired only the banishment of the Woodvilles and the recall of Warwick, whose name they used unscrupulously, and whom they declared they were on their way to meet. As soon as it was known that the kinsmen of the beloved earl were in the revolt, and naturally supposed that the earl himself must countenance the enterprise, the tumultuous camp swelled every hour, while knight after knight, veteran after veteran, abandoned the royal standard. The Lord d'Eyncourt (one of the few lords of the highest birth and greatest following over whom the Neviles had no influence, and who bore the Woodvilles no grudge) had, in his way to Lincolnshire,-where his personal aid was necessary to rouse his vassals, infected by the common sedition,-been attacked and wounded by

rust and affection we bear you,-and cousin, we think ye shall be to us welcome." [Paston Letters, ccxcviii. (Knight's edition), vol. ii.

according to the old laws of chivalry would have disabled him from entering the lists of knighthood, for the ancient code disqualified and degraded any knight who should marry any old woman for her money! Lord Rivers was the more odious to the people at the time of the insurrection because, in his capacity of treasurer, he had lately tampered with the coin and circulation.] who in obedience to the royal

nd Edward, hearing that Sir Anthony Woodville, who conceived that the fate of his father and brother cancelled all motive for longer absence from the contest, was busy in collecting a force in the

horsemen were seen riding rapidly towards the neighbourhood of Olney. As the village came in view of the cavalcade, with the spire of its ch

gh Edward be, it were sharp work to cut his way from that hamlet through yonder fiel

and disbands them,-a NAME that a People honours! From the moment the White Bear is seen on yon

gh Edward hath used us sorely, it chafes me as Plantagenet and

hty useful when pushing forward to an attack. Now knight and bishop appear themselves and take up the game. Warwick," add

dandled on my knee, and whose sword I girded on at Towton. How his lion heart must chafe

a slight sneer, "play the Paladin, and become the

rch of the rebels! On, for an Edward and a Warwick!" and, spurring to full speed, the little company arrived at the gates. The loud bugle of the new c

black steed. "Marmaduke Nevile, advance our banner; heralds, announce the Duk

(that then adjoined the church), where the king, in complete armour, stood at bay, with stubbor

sible majesty which he could command in his happier hours, "God and our Patron Saint have sent us at least one man who has the

a just cause? But we will not butcher our countrymen for echoing our own complaint, and praying your Grace that a grasping and ambitious family w

y compulsion. Free am I-free ever will I be, while the crown of the Plantagenet is mine, to raise those whom I love, to defy the threats of those sworn to obey me. And were I but Earl of March, instead of king of England, this hall should have swum with the blood of those who

ing to the gates-imposed an unwilling reverence and sullen silence mixed with anger, that, while it chafed, admired. They who in peace had despised the voluptuous monarch, feasting in his palace, and reclining on the lap of harlot-beauty, felt that in war all Mars seemed living in his person. Then, indeed, he was a king; and had the foe, now darkening the landscape, been the noblest chivalry of France, not a man there but had died for a smile from that haughty lip. Bu

to whom the earl was especially dear, and aware that if Warwick were against him all was lost, still relaxed not the dignity of his mien; and leaning on his large two-handed sword, with such inward reso

take not the moment of danger and disaster. And whatever has chanced to alienate your heart fr

osperous hour!" said Warwick, simply, but with affecting e

d, and, bending his knee, kis

the earl, he glanced proudly at the bar

rwick, next to our royal brethren the nearest subject

mighty comrade if you so misthink us. We will fight for the king, but

ye. Go! Warwick and I are men

e willing to forego the present occasion for permanently destroying an influence which he knew hostile to himself and hurtful to

ther and mine accompany me. See, they enter! Please you, a few minutes to con

ow of the earl fled whatever suspicio

councillors who can menace me with dese

ll, threw his arm caressingly over his brother's shoulder, and, taking

id Warwick, "and what

on of the grants and land accorded to them, to the despoiling the an

these, what

ittle but that the insurgents will disband. These not granted, we b

ng than ye deem. What! have they not decoyed to their head my kinsmen, the heirs of Latimer and Fitzhugh, and bold Coniers, whose steel calque should have

d St. John, in evident surpris

the purpose of our misguided countrymen. Ye know well that ever in England, but especially since the reign of Edward III., strange, wild notions of some kind of liberty other than that we enjoy have floated loose through the land. Among the commons, a half- conscious recollection that the nobles are a different race from themselves feeds a sec

Redesdale, now dead?" a

y and romance), as referred to in Wotton's "English Baronetage" (Art. "Hilyard"), and which probably rests upon the authority of the life of Richard III., in Stowe's "Annals," he is represented as still living in the reign of that king. But the whole account of this famous demagogue in Wotton is, it must be owned, full of historical mistakes.] Montagu informs me that the report was false. He was defeated off York, and retired for some days into the woods; but it is he who has entic

s man to triumph!" exclaimed De

rs ago. I have watched him since; and, strange though it may seem to you, he hath much in him that I admire as a subject and should fear were I a king. Brief, thus runs my counsel: For our sake and the realm's safety, we must see this armed multitude disbanded; that done, we must see the grievances they with truth complain of fairly redressed. Think not, my lords, I a

nt to all the earl urged, and expressed their readiness

, "what are we amongst so many

ovince of Yorkshire? Is it not formed of men who have eaten of my bread and drunk of my cup? Let me see the man who

to his bombard, the archer had taken up his bow; the village itself, before disaffected, poured all its scanty population-women, and age, and children-to the walls. And when the earl joined the king upon the ramparts, he found that able general sanguine and elated, and pointi

g, "have ye brought these Ho

gravely; "but we have here

tonished. "You must have passed through Lon

with dismay. Had I waited to collect troops, I might

ne gentleman is more worth than a hundred varlets. '

skilful and too wise

ot conquer,-we mu

hat s

word to redress t

nish my

hom God has joined," returned Warwick. "Not

John," said Edward, sadly; "i

he land's safety," answered Warwick. "And to be plain

those he once thoroughly took to his heart. He was the reverse of grateful for service yielded, yet he was warm in protecting those on whom service was conferred. He was resolved not to give up the Woodvilles, and after a sho

y said; but what you judge it right to promise in my name to them or to the insurgents, I will not suppose that mime honour will refuse to concede. But go not hence, O noblest friend that ever stood by a king's throne!-go

ll not be degraded. And if it be, on consideration, wise to recall from the family of Woodville your grants of lands and lordships, take from your Warwick-who, rich in his king's lo

le camp,-go as sole minister and captain-general of this realm; go with all powers and honours a king can give; and when these districts are at peace, depart to our Welsh provinces,

hen my arm in battle, and sharpen my brain in council! But I play the laggard. The sun wan

broad space where his followers still st

s go before! Marmaduke, mount! The rest I