to his grandsire's soul, should have
ruled from the throne of England over the realms of Charlemagne! But it
hath pleased Him whom the Christian knight alone bows to without shame,
to order otherwise. So be it. I forgot my just pretensions,--forgot
my blood, and counselled the king to strengthen his throne with the
alliance of Louis XI. He rejected the Princess Bona of Savoy, to marry
widow Elizabeth Gray; I sorrowed for his sake, and forgave the slight to
my counsels. At his prayer I followed the train of his queen, and hushed
the proud hearts of our barons to obeisance. But since then, this Dame
Woodville, whom I queened, if her husband mated, must dispute this
roiaulme with mine and me,--a Nevile, nowadays, must vail his plume to a
Woodville! And not the great barons whom it will suit Edward's policy
to win from the Lancastrians--not the Exeters and the Somersets--but the
craven varlets and lackeys and dross of the camp--false alike to Henry
and to Edward--are to be fondled into lordships and dandled into power.
Young man, I am speaking hotly--Richard Nevile never lies nor conceals;
but I am speaking to a kinsman, am I not? Thou hearest,--thou wilt not
repeat?"

"Sooner would I pluck forth my tongue by the roots."

"Enough!" returned the earl, with a pleased smile. "When I come from
France, I will speak more to thee. Meanwhile be courteous to all men,
servile to none. Now to the king."

So speaking, he shook back his surcoat, drew his cap over his brow,
and passed to the broad stairs, at the foot of which fifty rowers, with
their badges on their shoulders, waited in the huge barge, gilt richly
at prow and stern, and with an awning of silk, wrought with the earl's
arms and cognizance. As they pushed off, six musicians, placed towards
the helm, began a slow and half Eastern march, which, doubtless, some
crusader of the Temple had brought from the cymbals and trumps of
Palestine.

CHAPTER II. KING EDWARD THE FOURTH.

The Tower of London, more consecrated to associations of gloom and blood
than those of gayety and splendour, was, nevertheless, during the reign
of Edward IV., the seat of a gallant and gorgeous court. That king,
from the first to the last so dear to the people of London, made it his
principal residence when in his metropolis; and its ancient halls and
towers were then the scene of many a brawl and galliard. As Warwick's
barge now approached its huge walls, rising from the river, there was
much