after a few tender
reproaches, to place implicit credit in her lord's account, and
volunteered to prevent all scandal by the probable story that the
earl, being prevented from coming in person for his daughter, as he
had purposed, by fresh news of the rebellion which might call him from
London with the early day, had commissioned his kinsman Marmaduke to
escort her home. The quick perception of her sex told her that, whatever
license might have terrified Anne into so abrupt a flight, the haughty
earl would shrink no less than Edward himself from making public an
insult which slander could well distort into the dishonour of his
daughter; and that whatever pretext might be invented, Warwick would not
deign to contradict it. And as, despite Elizabeth's hatred to the earl,
and desire of permanent breach between Edward and his minister, she
could not, as queen, wife, and woman, but be anxious that some cause
more honourable in Edward, and less odious to the people, should be
assigned for quarrel, she earnestly recommended the king to repair at
once to the More, as had been before arranged, and to spare no pains,
disdain no expressions of penitence and humiliation, to secure the
mediation of the archbishop. His mind somewhat relieved by this
interview and counsel, the king kissed Elizabeth with affectionate
gratitude, and returned to his chamber to prepare for his departure
to the archbishop's palace. But then, remembering that Adam and Sibyll
possessed his secret, he resolved at once to banish them from the Tower.
For a moment he thought of the dungeons of his fortress, of the rope of
his doomsman; but his conscience at that hour was sore and vexed. His
fierceness humbled by the sense of shame, he shrank from a new crime;
and, moreover, his strong common-sense assured him that the testimony of
a shunned and abhorred wizard ceased to be of weight the moment it was
deprived of the influence it took from the protection of a king. He gave
orders for a boat to be in readiness by the gate of St. Thomas, again
summoned Adam into his presence, and said briefly, "Master Warner, the
London mechanics cry so loudly against thine invention for lessening
labour and starving the poor, the sailors on the wharfs are so mutinous
at the thought of vessels without rowers, that, as a good king is bound,
I yield to the voice of my people. Go home, then, at once; the queen
dispenses with thy fair daughter's service, the damsel accompanies thee.
A