session. A certain wealthy merchant
of London was accused of treason, and very severely punished, simply
because he had been asked to loan money to Margaret, and, though he
refused to make the loan, did not inform the authorities of the
application which had been made to him.

[Sidenote: Great fidelity.]

Among other examples of the shocking cruelty of which those in power
were guilty, in their hatred of Margaret and her cause, it is said
that one man, who was found out, as they thought, in an attempt to
convey letters to and fro between Margaret and some of her friends in
England, was torn to pieces with red-hot pincers in a fruitless
attempt to make him confess who the persons were in England for whom
the letters were intended. But he bore the torture to the end, and
died without betraying the secret.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE RECONCILIATION WITH WARWICK.

[Sidenote: 1469.]

[Sidenote: Great news.]

[Sidenote: Revolt of Warwick.]

In the fall of 1469, Margaret's mind was aroused to new life and
excitement by news which came from England that great opposition had
gradually grown up in the realm against the government of Edward, that
many of his best friends had forsaken him, and that the friends and
partisans of the Lancaster line were increasing in strength and
courage to such a degree as to make it probable that the time was
drawing nigh when Henry might be restored to the throne. The most
important circumstance connected with the change which had taken place
was that the great Earl of Warwick, who had been the most efficient
and powerful supporter of the house of York, and the most determined
enemy of Margaret and Henry during the whole war, had now abandoned
Edward, and had come to France, and was ready to throw all the weight
of his power and influence on the other side.[18]

[Footnote 18: The nature of the difficulties which had taken
place in England, and the circumstances which led the Earl of
Warwick to abandon Edward's cause, are explained fully in the
history of Richard III.]

[Sidenote: Excitement.]

[Sidenote: Margaret sent for.]

Of course, these tidings produced a great excitement all over France.
King Louis XI. was specially interested in them, as they afforded a
hope that Margaret might regain her throne, and so be able to redeem
her mortgage, or else deliver up to him the security; so he called a
council at Tours to consider what was best to be don