, were
compelled to take up arms at the bidding of their lords; but the
peasantry in those days were so dependent on the nobles that every man
was obliged to obey the commands of the lord of the land whereon he
dwelt, for although the lower orders were not vassals and serfs as they
used to be in earlier times, still they were not so free as they are
now. Lord Clifford had come home chiefly for the purpose of leaving
some of his trusty followers to defend the castle in case it should be
attacked, which he thought probable, and as he had taken away all the
fighting-men, there had latterly been none left in the castle but such
as were too old or infirm to do much service. He therefore appointed a
sufficient number to remain as a guard, then prepared to bid adieu once
more to his wife and children. Lord Clifford was fierce and cruel in
the wars, but he was fondly attached to his own family, and it was
perhaps in some measure owing to his strong feelings with regard to
domestic ties, united with a natural ferocity of disposition, that made
him so unsparing towards his enemies as to obtain the name of "the
butcher," by which he is distinguished in history to this very day; for
when his father fell at the battle of Saint Albans, he made a vow that
he would revenge his death by never showing mercy to a partisan of the
house of York, and he kept that vow but too well, as you will presently
hear.

The gentle Lady Margaret watched, with a saddened heart and tearful
eyes, the hurried preparations for her husband's departure, while Henry
and Richard stood near him, gazing with childish admiration on his
stately form arrayed in armour of polished steel, over which he wore a
tabard, or short coat of crimson velvet, richly embroidered with gold,
and under its wide open sleeves the shining armour looked very splendid.
His helmet was adorned with a plume of feathers, and as he was a tall,
handsome man, no doubt he looked very magnificent in the eyes of his
children. It was the last time they ever saw him.

Brougham Castle stood on the bank of a narrow river, and its principal
entrance was an arched gateway opening to the riverside. The drawbridge
had been let down, and some of the horsemen had already passed over, and
were waiting on the opposite bank for their leader, who still lingered
to say a few more parting words to the beloved ones he was leaving
behind. The little baby girl was brought to him for a last kiss, then
he took