d Sir Thomas
Vaughan."

"And where are they now?" asked the young King, with alarm.

"I had them sent to Pomfret Castle, that they might do no damage to
your Majesty. Of course," he added, "when thou art crowned your
Majesty must do with them as thou thinkest best."

"Indeed I will release them the moment that I do sit upon the throne,"
exclaimed the King, with great heat.

I heard no more of that which followed, for Richard led the little King
into a private room, whither Buckingham followed them. I then took
Harleston to a place where no one might overhear our conversation, and
told to him my plan of going to London to warn the Queen.

When I had finished my friend thought for some moments ere he remarked
on my plan. "No, it should be dangerous for thee to go," said he;
"Thou shouldst be missed, and then you might find yourself in the
company of Rivers, at Pomfret."

"What then dost thou suggest?" I asked. "Her Majesty must be warned."

"Yes, her Majesty must be warned," he replied, musingly. "Ah! I have
it," said he, speaking rapidly. "Send some faithful servant with a
letter unto the Queen. Do but tell her that the three have been
arrested; sign not thy name, for fear it fall into the wrong hands. A
common soldier will not be missed, whereas Sir Walter Bradley should
be."

But then I thought of a plan that was better than my friend's; so I
retired to a private place, and wrote the following letter, which is
now--through the person to whom it was addressed not following a part
of mine instructions,--in my possession, and which I hope ye will
always preserve after I have gone to join those whose doings I am
putting down.

"_With the King, at Stony Stratford._

"LADY HAZEL WOODVILLE;

"_Lady-in-waiting to Her Majesty the Queen, at Westminster._

"Perfectest of maids and truest of sweethearts; I send thee this
message that its contents may not be seen by eyes not to be trusted.
No one can suspect this packet to contain news of the greatest
importance to the kingdom.

"So soon as thou dost receive this go to the Queen, and tell her that
her brother--Lord Rivers--Sir Richard Grey, and Sir Thomas Vaughan,
were all three arrested, by order of Duke Richard, as we were entering
this place to-day. No offence had been committed by any of these
gentlemen. They were at once sent under a strong guard to the Castle
of Pomfret. Also tell her Majesty that last night the Duke of
Gloucester entertained Lo