ith a subject's
right to honour where he loves, than wear crown and wield sceptre
without a king's unquestioned prerogative to ennoble the line and blood
of one he has deemed worthy of his throne. As for the barons, with whose
wrath thou threatenest me, I banish them not. If they go in gloom from
my court, why, let them chafe themselves sleek again."

"King Edward," said Warwick, moodily, "tried services merit not this
contempt. It is not as the kith of the queen that I regret to see lands
and honours lavished upon men rooted so newly to the soil that the first
blast of the war-trump will scatter their greenness to the winds; but
what sorrows me is to mark those who have fought against thee preferred
to the stout loyalty that braved block and field for thy cause. Look
round thy court; where are the men of bloody York and victorious
Towton?--unrequited, sullen in their strongholds, begirt with their
yeomen and retainers. Thou standest--thou, the heir of York--almost
alone (save where the Neviles--whom one day thy court will seek also
to disgrace and discard--vex their old comrades in arms by their
defection)--thou standest almost alone among the favourites and minions
of Lancaster. Is there no danger in proving to men that to have served
thee is discredit, to have warred against thee is guerdon and grace?"

"Enough of this, cousin," replied the king, with an effort which
preserved his firmness. "On this head we cannot agree. Take what else
thou wilt of royalty,--make treaties and contract marriages, establish
peace or proclaim war; but trench not on my sweetest prerogative to give
and to forgive. And now, wilt thou tarry and sup with us? The ladies
grow impatient of a commune that detains from their eyes the stateliest
knight since the Round Table was chopped into fire-wood."

"No, my liege," said Warwick, whom flattery of this sort rather angered
than soothed, "I have much yet to prepare. I leave your Highness to
fairer homage and more witching counsels than mine." So saying, he
kissed the king's hand, and was retiring, when he remembered his
kinsman, whose humble interests in the midst of more exciting topics
he had hitherto forgotten, and added, "May I crave, since you are so
merciful to the Lancastrians, one grace for my namesake,--a Nevile whose
father repented the side he espoused, a son of Sir Guy of Arsdale?"

"Ah," said the king, smiling maliciously, "it pleaseth us much to find
that it is easier to the warm