cede to their views. It was
of no use, she said, to make any farther effort. They were not strong
enough to meet their enemies in battle, and nothing but fresh
disasters would result from making the attempt. There was nothing to
be done but for herself and the young prince, with as many others as
were disposed to share her fortunes, to return as soon as possible to
France, and there to remain and wait for better times.

[Sidenote: The young prince.]

But the young prince was not willing to adopt this plan. He was young,
and full of confidence and hope, and he joined the nobles in urging
his mother to consent to take the field. His influence prevailed; and
Margaret, though with great reluctance and many forebodings, finally
yielded.

[Sidenote: An army collected.]

So she left the sanctuary, and, with the prince, was escorted secretly
to the northward, in order to join the army there. The western
counties of England, those lying on the borders of Wales, had long
been very favorable to Henry's cause, and when the people learned that
the queen and the young prince were there, they came out in great
numbers, as the nobles had predicted, to join her standard. In a short
time a large army was ready to take the field.

[Sidenote: To Bath.]

Margaret was at this time at Bath. She soon heard that King Edward was
coming against her from London with a large army. Her own forces, she
thought, were not yet strong enough to meet him; so she formed the
plan of crossing the Severn into Wales, and waiting there until she
should have a larger force concentrated.

[Sidenote: To Bristol.]

[Sidenote: Endeavors to cross the river.]

Accordingly, from Bath she went down to Bristol, which, as will be
seen from the map, is on the banks of the Severn, at a place where the
river is very wide. She could not cross here, the lowest bridge on the
river being at Gloucester, thirty or forty miles farther up; so she
moved up to Gloucester, intending to cross there. But she found the
bridge fortified, and in the possession of an officer under the orders
of the Duke of Gloucester, who was a partisan of King Edward, and he
refused to allow the queen to pass without an order from his master.

[Sidenote: Arrival of Edward.]

It seemed not expedient to attempt to force the bridge, and,
accordingly, Margaret and her party went on up the river in order to
find some other place to cross into Wales. She was very much excited
on this journey, and s