laughed at the word invasion. "Pest on Burgundy's ships! I only wish
that the earl would land!" [Com, iii. c. 5] he said to his council.
None echoed the wish! But later in the day came a third messenger with
information that roused all Edward's ire; careless of each danger in
the distance, he ever sprang into energy and vengeance when a foe was
already in the field. And the Lord Fitzhugh (the young nobleman before
seen among the rebels at Olney, and who had now succeeded to the
honours of his House) had suddenly risen in the North, at the head of a
formidable rebellion. No man had so large an experience in the warfare
of those districts, the temper of the people, and the inclinations of
the various towns and lordships as Montagu; he was the natural chief to
depute against the rebels. Some animated discussion took place as to the
dependence to be placed in the marquis at such a crisis; but while the
more wary held it safer, at all hazards, not to leave him unemployed,
and to command his services in an expedition that would remove him
from the neighbourhood of his brother, should the latter land, as was
expected, on the coast of Norfolk, Edward, with a blindness of conceit
that seems almost incredible, believed firmly in the infatuated loyalty
of the man whom he had slighted and impoverished, and whom, by his offer
of his daughter to the Lancastrian prince, he had yet more recently
cozened and deluded. Montagu was hastily summoned, and received orders
to march at once to the North, levy forces, and assume their command.
The marquis obeyed with fewer words than were natural to him, left the
presence, sprang on his horse, and as he rode from the palace, drew a
letter from his bosom. "Ah, Edward," said he, setting his teeth, "so,
after the solemn betrothal of thy daughter to my son, thou wouldst
have given her to thy Lancastrian enemy. Coward, to bribe his peace!
recreant, to belie thy word! I thank thee for this news, Warwick; for
without that injury I feel I could never, when the hour came, have
drawn sword against this faithless man,--especially for Lancaster. Ay,
tremble, thou who deridest all truth and honour! He who himself betrays,
cannot call vengeance treason!"

Meanwhile, Edward departed, for further preparations, to the Tower of
London. New evidences of the mine beneath his feet here awaited the
incredulous king. On the door of St. Paul's, of many of the metropolitan
churches, on the Standard at Chepe, and on Londo