nd in
a council of peers, summoned for the purpose, deigned to refute the
rumours still commonly circulated by his foes, and not disbelieved
by the vulgar, whether of his connivance at the popular rising or his
forcible detention of the king at Middleham. To this, agreeably to the
counsel of the archbishop, succeeded a solemn interview of the heads of
the Houses of York and Warwick, in which the once fair Rose of Raby (the
king's mother) acted as mediator and arbiter. The earl's word to
the commons at Olney was ratified. Edward consented to the temporary
retirement of the Woodvilles, though the gallant Anthony yet delayed his
pilgrimage to Compostella. The vanity of Clarence was contented by the
government of Ireland, but, under various pretences, Edward deferred
his brother's departure to that important post. A general amnesty was
proclaimed, a parliament summoned for the redress of popular grievances,
and the betrothal of the king's daughter to Montagu's heir was
proclaimed: the latter received the title of Duke of Bedford; and the
whole land rejoiced in the recovered peace of the realm, the retirement
of the Woodvilles, and the reconciliation of the young king with his
all-beloved subject. Never had the power of the Neviles seemed so
secure; never did the throne of Edward appear so stable.

It was at this time that the king prevailed upon the earl and his
countess to permit the Lady Anne to accompany the Duchess of Clarence
in a visit to the palace of the Tower. The queen had submitted so
graciously to the humiliation of her family, that even the haughty
Warwick was touched and softened; and the visit of his daughter at such
a time became a homage to Elizabeth which it suited his chivalry to
render.

The public saw in this visit, which was made with great state and
ceremony, the probability of a new and popular alliance. The archbishop
had suffered the rumour of Gloucester's attachment to the Lady Anne to
get abroad, and the young prince's return from the North was anxiously
expected by the gossips of the day.

It was on this occasion that Warwick showed his gratitude for Marmaduke
Nevile's devotion. "My dear and gallant kinsman," he said, "I forget not
that when thou didst leave the king and the court for the discredited
minister and his gloomy hall,--I forget not that thou didst tell me
of love to some fair maiden, which had not prospered according to thy
merits. At least it shall not be from lack of lands, or o