le is it that
this article of accusation does not refer to any imprisonment, real or
supposed, at Middleham, in 1469, but to Clarence's invasion of England
in 1470, when Edward's state, person, and life were jeopardized by his
narrow escape from the fortified house, where he might fairly be called
"in straite warde;" especially as the words, "after procuring great
commotions," could not apply to the date of the supposed detention in
Middleham, when, instead of procuring commotions, Clarence had helped
Warwick to allay them, but do properly apply to his subsequent rebellion
in 1470. Finally, Edward's charges against his brother, as Lingard
himself has observed elsewhere, are not proofs, and that king never
scrupled at any falsehood to serve his turn. Nothing, in short, can
be more improbable than this tale of Edward's captivity,--there was no
object in it. At the very time it is said to have taken place, Warwick
is absolutely engaged in warfare against the king's foes. The moment
Edward leaves Middleham, instead of escaping to London, he goes
carelessly and openly to York, to judge and execute the very captain of
the rebels whom Warwick has subdued, and in the very midst of Warwick's
armies! Far from appearing to harbour the natural resentment so
vindictive a king must have felt (had so great an indignity been offered
to him), almost immediately after he leaves York, he takes the Nevile
family into greater power than ever, confers new dignities upon Warwick,
and betroths his eldest daughter to Warwick's nephew. On the whole,
then, perhaps some such view of the king's visit to Middleham which has
been taken in this narrative, may be considered not the least probable
compromise of the disputed and contradictory evidence on the subject.

THE END.

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Edward Bulwer-Lytton

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