not feel pleased that a stranger should have witnessed the scene ✔ which had just taken place, or have heard the oath he had taken to be revenged upon the Earl of Warwick and his brother. "Who is this man ?" he demanded, in a dissatisfied tone. Alice, who felt alarmed for the safety of her lover—for the expression of Edward's countenance was anything but assuring -whispered a few words in the ear of the queen, who hastily replied that he was the last friend of her murdered relatives, and the bearer of the death-token between her brother and herself. "And the witness of their death?" inquired the king; for he could scarcely yet persuade himself that Warwick and his brother would venture on such an extremity. "Even so, your highness," said the honest fellow, respectfully. "Warwick was present?" "He was." "And Clarence?" "And Clarence, too, your grace." As late even as the reign of Henry VIII. it was customary to address the English sovereigns by the titles of "highness" and "grace;" and as late as the reign of Elizabeth we find the form of "the queen's highness" frequently used in the public records. James appears to have been the first king to whom the style of "majesty " was invariably given, "Follow me to my closet," said Edward; "I must question thee !" Repeating his adieus to Elizabeth, the speaker left the privychamber of his queen, followed by Gould, who, despite the services he had rendered, scarcely felt assured as to the intentions of the king towards him; for he had witnessed an oath which it was the interest of the taker should remain a secret to all the world— at least for the present. On reaching the royal closet, Gould related, word for word, all that had occurred, from his first meeting with Sir Richard and John Woodville in the Forest of Dean, to the final scene of their execution at Northampton. When he had finished, all trace of mistrust had vanished from the handsome countenance of Edward, who was forcibly struck, not only with the courage, but the address the narrator had displayed. "Doubtless," he said, "thou dost look for a reward for thy share in this sad work?" "Even so, your grace," frankly answered the young man. "Name it?" "I love my cousin, the chamber-woman of the queen,” replied Gould, blushing deeply; "but my worthy uncle, who has gained both pride and riches in the service of your highness, looks down upon his sister's child, and would fain marry her with one of your highness's body-squires-Thomas Wake-who accused the Duchess of Bedford, but a few hours since, of sorcery." "thou Remem "It shall be seen to," observed the king, with a smile; art a discreet varlet, and I may find service for thee. ber," he added, as he dismissed him, "that a word of what thou hast heard to night will cost thee thy life!" Gould bowed in a manner which showed that he perfectly understood the importance of the caution he had received. Four days later, when the king advanced to the north, in order to inquire into the rebellion, the sturdy woodcutter accompanied him, much to the delight of the pretty Alice, and the despite of her avaricious old father. CHAPTER VI. "Go to your darling people, then, and see EARL OF WARWICK. NEVER did Edward IV., in the course of his romantic, chequered career, make a more fatal error than in advancing into the north-the stronghold of the Neville faction-where Montague, Warwick, and the Archbishop of York were all-powerful. Had he remained in London, the probability is that he might have wearied the rebels out: since his queen remained in the metropolis in safety, even while her husband was in the power of his enemies—a misfortune which took place shortly after his advance to meet them. Warwick first conveyed his royal prisoner to Warwick Castle, and from thence to Middleham, which, being further north, the earl judged the most secure prison of the time. Amongst the few devoted servitors who were permitted to attend him was John Gould, whose shrewdness and devotion made him, each succeeding day, a greater favorite with the captive king. Whilst at Warwick, everything that could be suggested was tried to shake the affection of Edward for his queen. The accusation against her mother, the Duchess of Bedford, was renewed; and Wake even had the effrontery to appear before his captive master and produce certain images of lead, which he asserted he had discovered at Grafton; but the king, however superstitious in other points, rejected the accusation with scorn. At this time there were two kings in England, and both prisoners: Henry VI., a captive in the Tower of London to the party of the house of York, which still held possession of the metropolis, and Edward IV., in the hands of Warwick and his faction. Hitherto the queen had brought her husband female issue only, and her eldest daughter, who was named after her, was consequently heiress to the throne. This circumstance inspired the ambitious Warwick with the idea of a marriage between the Lady Elizabeth and his son, young George Neville, and ruling the kingdom in their name. The Archbishop of York, the uncle of the boy, a proud and ambitious prelate, entered warmly into the scheme, and proposed to his brother that Edward should be removed from Middleham Castle to his seat in Hertfordshire, called the More, where he trusted, by his tact and representations, to induce the captive monarch to consent to an arrangement which would virtually deprive him of the crown. It was not without repeated solicitations that Warwick consented to the removal, and the event proved that the prudent earl was right in his hesitation, The faithful Gould accompanied Edward in his removal to the More, where he was sent under a strong guard, and as completely a captive as in the strong castle of Middleham, his former prison. The only consolation he found in the change was in the circumstance of his being so much nearer to London, which was still devoted to him. He had been about fifteen days a resident with the archbishop, when the devoted servitor, on entering his chamber to assist him to disrobe for the night, found his royal master a prey to the deepest melancholy. He was seated at a table, under a cresset suspended from the ceiling, the light from which fell on a parchment spread out before him, the contents of which were evidently anything but agreeable to him, since once or twice he clutched his hand as if he grasped a sword, and broken curses escaped between his quivering lips. his Respect kept his attendant silent; still he could not prevent eye from glancing from the parchment to the countenance of the captive, with an inquiring look. "Read, John-read!" exclaimed the king, pushing the document near him; see what the traitors propose !" 66 Gould ran his eye over the deed, and smiled. "Fit subject for mirth!" observed the captive, bitterly. "Pardon me, your grace,” replied the bold woodman, respectfully, "if I do not see the proposal in the same light as yourself. Have you signed ?" "The sentence of my eternal condemnation as soon!" exclaimed Edward. "What! give the heiress of my crown to the son of my subtle enemy! Never! A child might calculate the number of my days, were once my name affixed to yonder parchment. Oh, for one hour of liberty !" he added; " dearly should the traitors rue their insolent attempt to wrest the sceptre from my hand!" "Sign it," whispered Gould; " and never shall prince grasp it more firmly." "Art mad? I tell thee it would be the signal for my execution. Warwick thinks to reign in the name of my infant child. His design is clear. The traitors have given me four-and-twenty hours to reflect." "When does the earl arrive ?" demanded Gould. “To-morrow night; and his brother with him." "Promise the archbishop to sign," replied the shrewd wood" and I answer with my life for the result." man; "Never!" interrupted Edward, passionately; "never!" "At least your grace can lead the traitorous priest to suppose that such is your intention." "Wherefore?" "To throw him off his guard. Like most of the Nevilles, his vanity more than rivals his ambition. In the triumph of having vanquished your resistance, he will not refuse you the permission you have so oft requested, of hunting in the chase." "Perhaps not," replied the king, musingly; "and yet I do not see the advantage. Under pretence of doing me honor, the wily priest will cause me to be so attended that escape will be impossible." "Nothing is impossible," observed Gould, firmly, "to those who possess courage and perseverance. As for the guards the traitors may place around you, the more the better for your |