nty-four persons
under George Duke of Clarence entered by force a lady's house,
and seized her jewels and her money, upon some charge, God wot, of
contriving mischief to the boy-duke. [See for this and other instances
of the prevalent contempt of law in the reign of Edward IV.,
and, indeed, during the fifteenth century, the extracts from the
Parliamentary Rolls, quoted by Sharon Turner, "History of England,"
vol. iii. p. 399.] Are not the Commons ground by imposts for the queen's
kindred? Are not the king's officers and purveyors licensed spoilers and
rapiners? Are not the old chivalry banished for new upstarts? And in all
this, is peace better than war?"

"Knowest thou not that these words are death, man?"

"Ay, in the city! but in the fields and waste thought is free. Frown
not, my lord. Ah, I know you, and the time may come when the baron will
act what the franklin speaks. What! think you I see not the signs of the
storm? Are Warwick and Montagu more safe with Edward than they were with
Henry? Look to thyself! Charolois will outwit King Louis, and ere the
year be out, the young Margaret of England will be lady of your brave
brother's sternest foe!"

"And who art thou, knave?" cried Montagu, aghast, and laying his gloved
hand on the bold prophet's bridle.

"One who has sworn the fall of the House of York, and may live to fight,
side by side, in that cause with Warwick; for Warwick, whatever be his
faults, has an English heart, and loves the Commons."

Montagu, uttering an exclamation of astonishment, relaxed hold of the
franklin's bridle; and the latter waved his hand, and spurring his steed
across the wild chain of commons, disappeared with his follower.

"A sturdy traitor!" muttered the earl, following him with his eye. "One
of the exiled Lancastrian lords, perchance. Strange how they pierce into
our secrets! Heardst thou that fellow, Marmaduke?"

"Only in a few sentences, and those brought my hand to my dagger. But
as thou madest no sign, I thought his grace the king could not be much
injured by empty words."

"True! and misfortune has ever a shrewish tongue."

"An' it please you, my lord," quoth Marmaduke, "I have seen the man
before, and it seemeth to me that he holds much power over the rascal
rabble." And here Marmaduke narrated the attack upon Warner's house, and
how it was frustrated by the intercession of Robin of Redesdale.

"Art thou sure it is the same man, for his face was masked?"

"My lord