outlaw; and when you call in vain
upon the people, in whose hearts you now reign, remember, O fallen star,
son of the morning! that in the hour of their might you struck down the
people's right arm, and paralyzed their power. And now, if you will,
let your friends and England's champions glut the scaffolds of your
woman-king!"

He ceased. A murmur went round the conclave; every breast breathed hard,
every eye turned to Warwick. That mighty statesman mastered the effect
which the thrilling voice of the popular pleader produced on him; but
at that moment he had need of all his frank and honourable loyalty to
remind him that he was there but to fulfil a promise and discharge a
trust,--that he was the king's delegate, not the king's judge.

"You have spoken, bold men," said he, "as, in an hour when the rights of
princes are weighed in one scale, the subject's sword in the other, I,
were I king, would wish free men to speak. And now you, Robert Hilyard,
and you, gentlemen, hear me, as envoy to King Edward IV. To all of you
I promise complete amnesty and entire pardon. His highness believes you
misled, not criminal, and your late deeds will not be remembered in your
future services. So much for the leaders. Now for the commons. My liege
the king is pleased to recall me to the high powers I once exercised,
and to increase rather than to lessen them. In his name, I pledge myself
to full and strict inquiry into all the grievances Robin of Redesdale
hath set forth, with a view to speedy and complete redress. Nor is this
all. His highness, laying aside his purpose of war with France, will
have less need of impost on his subjects, and the burdens and taxes will
be reduced. Lastly, his grace, ever anxious to content his people, hath
most benignly empowered me to promise that, whether or not ye rightly
judge the queen's kindred, they will no longer have part or weight
in the king's councils. The Duchess of Bedford, as beseems a lady so
sorrowfully widowed, will retire to her own home; and the Lord Scales
will fulfil a mission to the court of Spain. Thus, then, assenting
to all reasonable demands, promising to heal all true grievances,
proffering you gracious pardon, I discharge my duty to king and to
people. I pray that these unhappy sores may be healed evermore, under
the blessing of God and our patron saint; and in the name of Edward IV.,
Lord Suzerain of England and of France, I break up this truncheon and
disband this army!"