hardier stamp
and nobler birth,--some few of the veteran friends of the king's great
father; and these, keeping sternly and loftily aloof from the herd,
regarded Warwick with the same almost reverential and yet affectionate
admiration which he inspired amongst the yeomen, peasants, and
mechanics,--for in that growing but quiet struggle of the burgesses, as
it will often happen in more civilized times, the great Aristocracy and
the Populace were much united in affection, though with very different
objects; and the Middle and Trading Class, with whom the earl's desire
for French alliances and disdain of commerce had much weakened his
popularity, alone shared not the enthusiasm of their countrymen for the
lion-hearted minister.

Nevertheless, it must here be owned that the rise of Elizabeth's kindred
introduced a far more intellectual, accomplished, and literary race into
court favour than had for many generations flourished in so uncongenial
a soil: and in this ante-chamber feud, the pride of education and mind
retaliated with juster sarcasm the pride of birth and sinews.

Amongst those opposed to the earl, and fit in all qualities to be the
head of the new movement,--if the expressive modern word be allowed
us,--stood at that moment in the very centre of the chamber Anthony
Woodville, in right of the rich heiress he had married the Lord Scales.
As, when some hostile and formidable foe enters the meads where the
flock grazes, the gazing herd gather slowly round their leader,
so grouped the queen's faction slowly, and by degrees, round this
accomplished nobleman, at the prolonged sojourn of Warwick.

"Gramercy!" said the Lord Scales, in a somewhat affected intonation
of voice, "the conjunction of the bear and the young lion is a parlous
omen, for the which I could much desire we had a wise astrologer's
reading."

"It is said," observed one of the courtiers, "that the Duke of Clarence
much affects either the lands or the person of the Lady Isabel."

"A passably fair damozel," returned Anthony, "though a thought or so
too marked and high in her lineaments, and wholly unlettered, no doubt;
which were a pity, for George of Clarence has some pretty taste in the
arts and poesies. But as Occleve hath it--

'Gold, silver, jewel, cloth, beddyng, array,'

would make gentle George amorous of a worse-featured face than
high-nosed Isabel; 'strange to spell or rede,' as I would wager my best
destrier to a tailor's hobby, the