entices and younger freemen of the city.

As the last scout announced his news and was gravely dismissed, the lord
mayor rose; and being, perhaps, a better educated man than many of
the haughtiest barons, and having more at stake than most of them,
his manner and language had a dignity and earnestness which might have
reflected honour on the higher court of parliament.

"Brethren and citizens," he said, with the decided brevity of one who
felt it no time for many words, "in two hours we shall hear the clarions
of Lord Warwick at our gates; in two hours we shall be summoned to give
entrance to an army assembled in the name of King Henry. I have done my
duty,--I have manned the walls, I have marshalled what soldiers we can
command, I have sent to the deputy-governor of the Tower--"

"And what answer gives he, my lord mayor?" interrupted Humfrey Heyford.

"None to depend upon. He answers that Edward IV., in abdicating the
kingdom, has left him no power to resist; and that between force and
force, king and king, might makes right."

A deep breath, like a groan, went through the assembly.

Up rose Master John Stokton, the mercer. He rose, trembling from limb to
limb.

"Worshipful my lord mayor," said he, "it seems to me that our first duty
is to look to our own selves!"

Despite the gravity of the emergence, a laugh burst forth, and was at
once silenced at this frank avowal.

"Yes," continued the mercer, turning round, and striking the table with
his fist, in the action of a nervous man--"yes; for King Edward has set
us the example. A stout and a dauntless champion, whose whole youth has
been war, King Edward has fled from the kingdom. King Edward takes care
of himself,--it is our duty to do the same!"

Strange though it may seem, this homely selfishness went at once through
the assembly like a flash of conviction. There was a burst of applause,
and, as it ceased, the sullen explosion of a bombard (or cannon) from
the city wall announced that the warder had caught the first glimpse of
the approaching army.

Master Stokton started as if the shot had gone near to himself, and
dropped at once into his seat, ejaculating, "The Lord have mercy upon
us!" There was a pause of a moment, and then several of the corporation
rose simultaneously. The mayor, preserving his dignity, fixed on the
sheriff.

"Few words, my lord, and I have done," said Richard Gardyner--"there is
no fighting without men. The troops at the Tower a