n
truth, but taken arms to avenge the supposed wrongs of Warwick, whom
he idolized, saw no object gained in the rise of Warwick's enemy, Queen
Margaret. The mercenaries called to mind the woful state of Henry's
exchequer in the former time. The Saxon squire muttered to himself, "And
what the devil is to become of the castle of Bullstock?" But Sir Henry
Nevile (Lord Latimer's son), who belonged to that branch of his House
which had espoused the Lancaster cause, and who was in the secret
councils of Hilyard, caught up the cry, and said, "Hilyard doth not
exceed his powers; and he who strikes for the Red Rose shall carve out
his own lordship from the manors of every Yorkist that he slays." Sir
John Coniers hesitated: poor, long neglected, ever enterprising and
ambitious, he was dazzled by the proffered bribe; but age is slow to
act, and he expressed himself with the measured caution of gray hairs.

"A king's name," said he, "is a tower of strength, especially when
marching against a king; but this is a matter for general assent and
grave forethought."

Before any other (for ideas did not rush at once to words in those days)
found his tongue, a mighty uproar was heard without. It did not syllable
itself into distinct sound; it uttered no name; it was such a shout as
numbers alone could raise; and to such a shout would some martial leader
have rejoiced to charge to battle, so full of depth and fervour, and
enthusiasm and good heart, it seemed, leaping from rank to rank, from
breast to breast, from earth to heaven. With one accord the startled
captains made to the entrance of the tent, and there they saw, in the
broad space before them, inclosed by the tents which were grouped in a
wide semicircle,--for the mass of the hardy rebel army slept in the
open air, and the tents were but for leaders,--they saw, we say, in that
broad space, a multitude kneeling, and in the midst, upon his good steed
Saladin, bending graciously down, the martial countenance, the lofty
stature, of the Earl of Warwick. Those among the captains who knew him
not personally recognized him by the popular description,--by the black
war-horse, whose legendary fame had been hymned by every minstrel; by
the sensation his appearance had created; by the armourial insignia of
his heralds, grouped behind him, and whose gorgeous tabards blazed with
his cognizance and quarterings in azure, or, and argent. The sun was
slowly setting, and poured its rays upon the bare