e noblest patron to high-born
warriors, that thy crown and thine honour are as dear to me as if they
were mine own. Whatever sins Richard of Gloucester may live to harbour
and repent, no man shall ever say of him that he was a recreant to the
honour of his country [so Lord Bacon observes of Richard, with that
discrimination, even in the strongest censure, of which profound judges
of mankind are alone capable, that he was "a king jealous of the honor
of the English nation"], or slow to defend the rights of his ancestors
from the treason of a vassal or the sword of a foreign foe. Therefore, I
say again, if thou reject my honest counsels; if thou suffer Warwick
to unite with Lancaster and France; if the ships of Louis bear to your
shores an enemy, the might of whom your reckless daring undervalues,
foremost in the field in battle, nearest to your side in exile,
shall Richard Plantagenet be found!" These words, being uttered with
sincerity, and conveying a promise never forfeited, were more impressive
than the subtlest eloquence the wily and accomplished Gloucester ever
employed as the cloak to guile, and they so affected Edward, that he
threw his arms around his brother; and after one of those bursts of
emotion which were frequent in one whose feelings were never deep and
lasting, but easily aroused and warmly spoken, he declared himself
really to listen to and adopt all means which Richard's art could
suggest for the better maintenance of their common weal and interests.

And then, with that wondrous, if somewhat too restless and over-refining
energy which belonged to him, Richard rapidly detailed the scheme of his
profound and dissimulating policy. His keen and intuitive insight into
human nature had shown him the stern necessity which, against their very
will, must unite Warwick with Margaret of Anjou. His conversation with
Montagu had left no doubt of that peril on his penetrating mind. He
foresaw that this union might be made durable and sacred by the marriage
of Anne and Prince Edward; and to defeat this alliance was his first
object, partly through Clarence, partly through Margaret herself. A
gentlewoman in the Duchess of Clarence's train had been arrested on the
point of embarking to join her mistress. Richard had already seen and
conferred with this lady, whose ambition, duplicity, and talent for
intrigue were known to him. Having secured her by promises of the most
lavish dignities and rewards, he proposed that sh