n quitting Middleham, and where his
extraordinary military talents found their first brilliant opening; and
he was therefore absent from London during all the disgusts he might
have removed and the intrigues he might have frustrated.

But the interests of the House of Warwick, during the earl's sullen and
indignant sojourn at his government of Calais, were not committed to
unskilful hands; and Montagu and the archbishop were well fitted to cope
with Lord Rivers and the Duchess of Bedford.

Between these able brothers, one day, at the More, an important
conference took place.

"I have sought you," said Montagu, with more than usual care upon his
brow--"I have sought you in consequence of an event that may lead
to issues of no small moment, whether for good or evil. Clarence has
suddenly left England for Calais."

"I know it, Montagu; the duke confided to me his resolution to proclaim
himself old enough to marry,--and discreet enough to choose for
himself."

"And you approved?"

"Certes; and, sooth to say, I brought him to that modest opinion of his
own capacities. What is more still, I propose to join him at Calais."

"George!"

"Look not so scared, O valiant captain, who never lost a battle,--where
the Church meddles, all prospers. Listen!" And the young prelate
gathered himself up from his listless posture, and spoke with earnest
unction. "Thou knowest that I do not much busy myself in lay schemes;
when I do, the object must be great. Now, Montagu, I have of late
narrowly and keenly watched that spidery web which ye call a court, and
I see that the spider will devour the wasp, unless the wasp boldly break
the web,--for woman-craft I call the spider, and soldier-pride I style
the wasp. To speak plainly, these Woodvilles must be bravely breasted
and determinately abashed. I do not mean that we can deal with the
king's wife and her family as with any other foes; but we must convince
them that they cannot cope with us, and that their interests will best
consist in acquiescing in that condition of things which places the rule
of England in the hands of the Neviles."

"My own thought, if I saw the way!"

"I see the way in this alliance; the Houses of York and Warwick must
become so indissolubly united, that an attempt to injure the one must
destroy both. The queen and the Woodvilles plot against us; we must
raise in the king's family a counterpoise to their machinations. It
brings no scandal on the queen to cons