ve
little other clerkship than sufficed our bold fathers before us, yet in
the free towns of Italy and the Rhine,--yea, and in France, under her
politic king,--we may see that a day is dawning wherein new knowledge
will teach many marvels to our wiser sons. Wherefore it is good that a
State should foster men who devote laborious nights and weary days to
the advancement of arts and letters, for the glory of our common land. A
worthy gentleman, now at this board, hath deeply meditated contrivances
which may make our English artisans excel the Flemish loons, who now
fatten upon our industry to the impoverishment of the realm. And, above
all, he also purposes to complete an invention which may render our
ship-craft the most notable in Europe. Of this I say no more at present;
but I commend our guest, Master Adam Warner, to your good service,
and pray you especially, worshipful sirs of the Church now present, to
shield his good name from that charge which most paineth and endangereth
honest men. For ye wot well that the commons, from ignorance, would
impute all to witchcraft that passeth their understanding. Not," added
the earl, crossing himself, "that witchcraft does not horribly infect
the land, and hath been largely practised by Jacquetta of Bedford, and
her confederates, Bungey and others. But our cause needeth no such aid;
and all that Master Warner purposes is in behalf of the people, and in
conformity with Holy Church. So this wassail to his health and House."

This characteristic address being received with respect, though with
less applause than usually greeted the speeches of the great earl,
Warwick added, in a softer and more earnest tone, "And in the fair
demoiselle, his daughter, I pray you to acknowledge the dear friend of
my beloved lady and child, Anne, Princess of Wales; and for the sake of
her highness and in her name, I arrogate to myself a share with Master
Warner in this young donzell's guardianship and charge. Know ye, my
gallant gentles and fair squires, that he who can succeed in achieving,
either by leal love or by bold deeds, as best befit a wooer, the grace
of my young ward, shall claim from my hands a knight's fee, with as much
of my best land as a bull's hide can cover; and when heaven shall grant
safe passage to the Princess Anne and her noble spouse, we will hold at
Smithfield a tourney in honor of Saint George and our ladies, wherein,
pardie, I myself would be sorely tempted to provoke my jeal