ich was considered as
a point of honor, rendered the great families implacable in their
resentments, and every moment widened the breach between the parties.
Yet affairs did not immediately proceed to the last extremities; the
nation was kept some time in suspense; the vigor and spirit of Queen
Margaret, supporting her small power, still proved a balance to the
great authority of Richard, which was checked by his irresolute temper.
A parliament, which was soon after assembled, plainly discovered, by
the contrariety of their proceedings, the contrariety of the motives by
which they were actuated. They granted the Yorkists a general indemnity,
and they restored the protectorship to the duke, who, in accepting it,
still persevered in all his former precautions; but at the same time
they renewed their oaths of fealty to Henry, and fixed the continuance
of the protectorship to the majority of his son Edward, who was vested
with the usual dignities of prince of Wales, duke of Cornwall, and earl
of Chester. The only decisive act passed in this parliament, was a full
resumption of all the grants which had been made since the death of
Henry V., and which had reduced the crown to great poverty.

{1456.} It was not found difficult to wrest power from hands so little
tenacious as those of the duke of York. Margaret, availing herself of
that prince's absence, produced her husband before the house of lords;
and as his state of health permitted him at that time to act his part
with some tolerable decency, he declared his intentions of resuming the
government, and of putting an end to Richard's authority. This measure,
being unexpected, was not opposed by the contrary party; the house of
lords, who were many of them disgusted with the late act of resumption,
assented to Henry's proposal; and the king was declared to be reinstated
in sovereign authority. Even the duke of York acquiesced in this
irregular act of the peers, and no disturbance ensued. But that prince's
claim to the crown was too well known, and the steps which he had
taken to promote it were too evident ever to allow sincere trust and
confidence to have place between the parties.

{1457.} The court retired to Coventry, and invited the duke of York and
the earls of Salisbury and Warwick to attend the king's person. When
they were on the road, they received intelligence that designs were
formed against their liberties and lives. They immediately separated
themselves; Richar