is lands and titles, and who, on condition of
retaining them, had re-entered the service of Lancaster. This last, a
true server of the times, who had sided with all parties, now judged it
discreet to remain neutral. [This is the most favourable interpretation
of his conduct: according to some he was in correspondence with Edward,
who showed his letters.] But Edward must pass within a few miles of
Pontefract castle, where Montagu lay with a force that could destroy him
at a blow. Edward was prepared for the assault, but trusted to deceive
the marquis, as he had deceived the citizens of York,--the more for the
strong personal love Montagu had ever shown him. If not, he was prepared
equally to die in the field rather than eat again the bitter bread of
the exile. But to his inconceivable joy and astonishment, Montagu,
like Northumberland, lay idle and supine. Edward and his little troop
threaded safely the formidable pass. Alas! Montagu had that day received
a formal order from the Duke of Clarence, as co-protector of the realm,
[Our historians have puzzled their brains in ingenious conjectures
of the cause of Montagu's fatal supineness at this juncture, and have
passed over the only probable solution of the mystery, which is to be
found simply enough stated thus in Stowe's Chronicle: "The Marquess
Montacute would have fought with King Edward, but that he had received
letters from the Duke of Clarence that he should not fight till hee
came." This explanation is borne out by the Warkworth Chronicler and
others, who, in an evident mistake of the person addressed, state that
Clarence wrote word to Warwick not to fight till he came. Clarence could
not have written so to Warwick, who, according to all authorities, was
mustering his troops near London, and not in the way to fight Edward;
nor could Clarence have had authority to issue such commands to his
colleague, nor would his colleague have attended to them, since we have
the amplest testimony that Warwick was urging all his captains to attack
Edward at once. The duke's order was, therefore, clearly addressed to
Montagu.] to suffer Edward to march on, provided his force was small,
and he had taken the oaths to Henry, and assumed but the title of Duke
of York,--"for your brother the earl hath had compunctious visitings,
and would fain forgive what hath passed, for my father's sake, and unite
all factions by Edward's voluntary abdication of the throne; at all
hazards, I am on my w