him send his hirelings to seize her. Not in this dress shall she be
found. In robes of state, the sceptre in her hand, shall they drag
the consort of their king to the prison-house of her palace."

"On my knees, great queen, I implore you to be calm; with the loss of
your liberty ends indeed all hope of victory, all chance even of
struggle. Think not Edward's fears would leave to Margaret the life
that his disdain has spared to your royal spouse. Between your prison
and your grave, but one secret and bloody step! Be ruled; no time to
lose! My trusty Hugh even now waits with his boat below. Relays of
horses are ready, night and day, to bear you to the coast; while
seeking your restoration, I have never neglected the facilities for
flight. Pause not, O gracious lady; let not your son say, 'My
mother's passion has lost me the hope of my grandsire's crown.'"

"My boy; my princely boy, my Edward!" exclaimed Margaret, bursting
into tears, all the warrior-queen merged in the remembrance of the
fond mother. "Ah, faithful friend! he is so gallant and so beautiful!
Oh, he shall reward thee well hereafter!"

"May he live to crush these barons, and raise this people!" said the
demagogue of Redesdale. "But now, save thyself!"

"But what! is it not possible yet to strike the blow? Rather let us
spur to the north; rather let us hasten the hour of action, and raise
the Red Rose through the length and breadth of England!"

"Ah, lady, if without warrant from your lord; if without foreign
subsidies; if without having yet ripened the time; if without gold,
without arms, and without one great baron on our side, we forestall a