that, men now, and history hereafter, will consider Edward as
your captive."

"To living men my words and deeds can clear themselves; and as for
history, let clerks and scholars fool themselves in the lies of
parchment! He who has acted history, despises the gownsmen who sit in
cloistered ease, and write about what they know not." The earl paused,
and then continued: "I confess, however, that I have had a scheme.
I have wished to convince the king how little his mushroom lords can
bestead him in the storm; and that he holds his crown only from his
barons and his people."

"That is, from the Lord Warwick!"

"Perhaps I am the personation of both seignorie and people; but I design
this solely for his welfare. Ah, the gallant prince--how well he bore
himself to-day!"

"Ay, when stealing all hearts from thee to him."

"And, Vive Dieu, I never loved him so well as when he did! Methinks it
was for a day like this that I reared his youth and achieved his crown.
Oh, priest, priest, thou mistakest me. I am rash, hot, haughty, hasty;
and I love not to bow my knees to a man because they call him king, if
his life be vicious and his word be false. But could Edward be ever as
to-day, then indeed should I hail a sovereign whom a baron may reverence
and a soldier serve!"

Before the archbishop could reply, the door gently opened, and the
countess appeared. Warwick seemed glad of the interruption; he turned
quickly--"And how fares my child?"

"Recovered from her strange swoon, and ready to smile at thy return. Oh,
Warwick, thou art reconciled to the king?"

"That glads thee, sister?" said the archbishop.

"Surely. Is it not for my lord's honour?"

"May he find it so!" said the prelate, and he left the room.

"My priest-brother is chafed," said the earl, smiling. "Pity he was not
born a trader, he would have made a shrewd hard bargain. Verily, our
priests burn the Jews out of envy! Ah, m'amie, how fair thou art to-day!
Methinks even Isabel's cheek less blooming." And the warrior drew the
lady towards him, and smoothed her hair, and tenderly kissed her brow.
"My letter vexed thee, I know, for thou lovest Edward, and blamest me
not for my love to him. It is true that he hath paltered with me, and
that I had stern resolves, not against his crown, but to leave him to
his fate, and in these halls to resign my charge. But while he spoke,
and while he looked, methought I saw his mother's face, and heard his
dear father's tone, and