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were dismissed from king Henry's councils, and delivered up to justice." Henry for once in his life manifested something of the fiery temperament of a Plantagenet, when this answer was reported to him by the agents of the duke of York; for with a loud imprecation-the only one he was ever known to utter-he declared, that "He would deliver up his crown as soon as he would the duke of Somerset, or the least soldier in his army; and that he would treat as a traitor every man who should presume to fight against him in the field."

The earl of Warwick, who commanded York's van-guard, commenced the attack by breaking down the garden-wall which stood between the Key and the Chequer in Hollowell-street, and led his men on through the gardens, shouting, "a Warwick! a Warwick!"

The battle lasted but an hour. The king's army, made up almost all of gentlemen, was inferior in numbers, and pent up in the town. They fought desperately, and a dreadful slaughter ensued in the narrow streets. The king, who stood under his own standard, was wounded in the neck with an arrow at the commencement of the fight. He remained till he was left solus under his royal banner, when he walked very coolly into a baker's shop close by, where York immediately visited nim, and bending his knee, bade him "rejoice, for the traitor Somerset was slain." Henry replied, "For God's sake, stop the slaughter of my subjects!" York then took the wounded king by the hand, and led him first to the shrine of St. Alban's, and then to his apartments in the abbey. When the slaughter, according to his entreaty, was stopped, Henry consented to accompany the victor to London on the following day, May 24th.

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MARGARET OF ANJOU,

QUEEN OF HENRY VI.

CHAPTER II.

Queen retires to Greenwich-News of defeat at St. Alban's-Her despair-She is censured in parliament-Queen's secret council at Greenwich-King restored-Queen in power-Goes to Coventry-Her popularity there-Brief pacification-The "dissimulated love-day"-Old enmities renewed-Her hatred to Warwick-She breaks peace-Early promise of the prince-His badgeLancastrian muster-Queen witnesses the battle of Blore-heath-Her forces worsted-Her precipitate flight-Her successful campaign at Ludlow— Triumph of the Red rose-Queen's Norfolk progress-Defeat at Northampton -Her retreat Falls into the hands of plunderers-Escapes with her sonCaptivity of the king-Queen embarks with her son for Scotland-Sympathy of the Scotch-Visited by the queen-mother of Scotland and the young king -His Scotch establishment-Margaret obtains succours-She returns to England-Wins the battle of Wakefield-Her victory at St. Alban's-Frees king Henry-Offends the Londoners-Earl of March enters London-Queen retreats to York-Lancastrians defeated at Ferrybridge and Towton-K ng and queen retire to Alnwick-Cross the Scotch border-Successful negotiations at the Scotch court-Pecuniary distress of Margaret and Henry-Margaret pawns her gold cup-Resentment of the queen-mother-Selfish policy of Louis XL-Margaret pawns Calais-Her champion, Pierre de Brezé.

QUEEN Margaret, on the approach of York's army, had retired with her ladies and the infant prince to Greenwich, where she remained in a state of agonized suspense during the battle of St. Alban's. The news of the fatal blow the royal cause had received, by the slaughter of her brave friends and the captivity of the king her husband, plunged her into a sort of stupor of despair, in which she remained for many hours. Her chamberlain, sir John Wenlock, whom she had advanced to great honours and loaded with benefits, took that opportunity of forsaking her, and strengthening the party of her foe. He was chosen speaker of the Yorkist parliament, · which king Henry had been compelled to summon.2 The 2 Parliamentary History.

1 Prevost.

king's wound was dangerous, and the alarm and excitement he had undergone brought on a relapse of his malady; so that, when the parliament assembled at Westminster, July 4th, he was declared incapable of attending to public busi ness, and the duke of York was commissioned to govern in his name.'

It was in this parliament, made up of her enemies, that queen Margaret was for the first time publicly censured for her interference in affairs of state, it being there resolved, "that the government, as it was managed by the queen, the duke of Somerset, and their friends, had been of late a great oppression and injustice to the people." The king was petitioned to appoint the duke of York protector or defender of the realm, "because of his indisposition; and sith he would not come down to them, that his commons might have knowledge of him." Henry, being then in the duke of York's power, was not permitted to reject this petition; but it was repeated and urged upon him many times before he would accede to it.3

As soon as the duke of York got the executive power of the crown into his hands, he resigned the custody of the king's person to the queen, and enjoined her to withdraw with him and the infant prince to Hertford-castle, without fail. Margaret was not in a condition to resist this arrangement, but soon after found means to return to the palace of Greenwich with these helpless but precious objects of her care, and appeared entirely absorbed in the anxious duties of a wife and mother. "It seemed," says one of her French biographers, "by her conduct at this period, as if she deemed nothing on earth worthy of her attention but the state of her husband's health and the education of her son, who was a child of early promise." Meantime, however, she strength

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2 Rapin.

3 Ibid.

Guthrie. Rapin. Parliamentary Hist. The rights of prince Edward were still recognised, and the reversion of the protectorate secured to him when he came of age. It was enacted, also, that the young prince should be at diet and sojourn in the king's court till the age of fourteen years; allowing yearly to the prince, towards his wardrobe and wages, ten thousand marks until the age of eight years; and from the age of eight till fourteen years, twenty thousand marks yearly.—Rolls of Parliament.

5 Paston Papers.

6 Prevost.

ened the party of the Red rose, by holding frequent secret conferences, in her retreat at Greenwich, with the surviving princes of the Lancastrian family and the half-brothers of king Henry, the young gallant Tudors, who were nearly allied in blood to herself.1 She had gathered round her, withal, a band of ardent and courageous young nobles and gentlemen whose fathers were slain at St. Alban's, and who were panting to avenge their parents' blood.

Having thus prepared herself, Margaret remained no longer passive than the arrival of the eagerly anticipated moment when the king's recovery warranted her in presenting him before his parliament. A great meeting of her adherents was previously convened at Greenwich, unknown to the duke of York, in which the preliminary steps for this design were arranged; and on the 24th of February, 1456, king Henry entered the house of lords, in the absence of the duke of York and the leading members of his faction, and declared, "That being now, by the blessing of God, in good health, he did. not think his kingdom was in any need of a protector,3 and requested permission to resume the reins of empire." The parliament, being taken by surprise at the unexpected appearance of their sovereign among them, and the collected and dignified manner in which he addressed them, immediately acceded to his desire. The same day an order was sent by king Henry to the duke of York, demanding the resignation of his office. York, Salisbury, and Warwick were fairly check-mated by this bold move of the queen, and retired into the country. Margaret then caused the heir of the late duke of Somerset, Henry Beaufort, to take the office of prime-minister: the king confided the seals to his beloved friend Waynflete, bishop of Winchester. Henry's health being still in a perilous state, queen Margaret took great pains to amuse him with everything that was likely to have a soothing influence, and to keep him in a tranquil frame of mind. There is, in Rymer's Fœdera, an order in council, stating "that the presence of minstrels was a great solace to the king in his sick state, and therefore the 2 Speed. Hall. 3 Public Acts. Rapin. 4 Guthrie's folio History of England.

1 Guthrie.

bailiffs and sheriffs of his counties were required to seek for beautiful boys who possessed musical powers, to be instructed in the art of ministrelsy and music for his service in his court, and to receive good wages." Henry was also amused and comforted by receiving daily requests from his nobles, and others of his subjects, for leave to go on pilgrimages to various shrines in foreign parts, to pray for the re-establishment of his health;' and, not unfrequently, he was beguiled with hopes that his bankrupt exchequer was about to be replenished with inexhaustible funds, by one or other of the learned alchymists who were constantly at work in the royal laboratory.2

The regal authority was, at this period, exercised in his name by queen Margaret and her council, with great wisdom and ability; yet the impetuosity of her temper betrayed her into the great imprudence of attempting to interfere with the jurisdiction of the Londoners, by sending the dukes of Buckingham and Exeter with the royal commission into the city, for the purpose of trying the parties concerned in a riot in which several persons had been slain; but the populace raised a tumult, and would not permit the dukes to hold a court. The queen took the alarm, and not considering the person of the king safe in London, removed him to Shene, where she left him under the care of his brother Jasper, while she visited Chester, and other towns in the midland counties. The civic records of Bristol prove that she came to that city also, with a great company of the nobility, and was well and honourably received. Her object was to ascertain how the country gentry stood affected to the cause of the crown. Having every reason to confide in the loyal feelings of that portion of their subjects, Margaret decided on bringing the king in royal progress through the midland counties, and keeping court for a time at Coventry. Nothing could exceed the enthusiastic welcome with which the king, queen, and infant prince of Wales were received by the wealthy burgesses of that ancient

1 Guthrie's folio History of England. John Mowbray, duke of Norfolk, called "the good duke," actually performed his vow, and offered his petitions at the holy sepulchre for the restoration of his sovereign's health.-Paston Papers. 2 Rymer's Fœdera. 3 Paston Papers.

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