forcibly entered, of barns and granaries despoiled,
of the impunity of all offenders, if high-born, of the punishment of all
complaints, if poor and lowly. "Tell us not," he said, "that this is
the necessary evil of the times, the hard condition of mankind. It was
otherwise, Lord Warwick, when Edward first swayed; for you then made
yourself dear to the people by your justice. Still men talk, hereabouts,
of the golden rule of Earl Warwick; but since you have been, though
great in office, powerless in deed, absent in Calais, or idle at
Middleham, England hath been but the plaything of the Woodvilles, and
the king's ears have been stuffed with flattery as with wool. And,"
continued Hilyard, warming with his subject, and, to the surprise of the
Lollards, entering boldly on their master-grievance--"and this is not
all. When Edward ascended the throne, there was, if not justice, at
least repose, for the persecuted believers who hold that God's word
was given to man to read, study, and digest into godly deeds. I speak
plainly. I speak of that faith which your great father Salisbury and
many of the House of York were believed to favour,--that faith which is
called the Lollard, and the oppression of which, more than aught else,
lost to Lancaster the hearts of England. But of late, the Church,
assuming the power it ever grasps the most under the most licentious
kings (for the sinner prince hath ever the tyrant priest!), hath put
in vigour old laws for the wronging man's thought and conscience; [The
Lollards had greatly contributed to seat Edward on the throne; and much
of the subsequent discontent, no doubt, arose from their disappointment,
when, as Sharon Turner well expresses it, "his indolence allied him to
the Church," and he became "hereticorum severissimus hostis."--CROYL.,
p. 564.] and we sit at our doors under the shade, not of the vine-tree,
but the gibbet. For all these things we have drawn the sword; and if
now, you, taking advantage of the love borne to you by the sons of
England, push that sword back into the sheath, you, generous, great,
and princely though you be, well deserve the fate that I foresee and
can foretell. Yes!" cried the speaker, extending his arms, and gazing
fixedly on the proud face of the earl, which was not inexpressive of
emotion--"yes! I see you, having deserted the people, deserted by them
also in your need; I see you, the dupe of an ungrateful king, stripped
of power and honour, an exile and an