princely though you be, well deserve the fate that I foresee and can
foretell. Yes!" cried the speaker, extending his arms, and gazing
fixedly on the proud face of the earl, which was not inexpressive of
emotion--"yes! I see you, having deserted the people, deserted by
them also in your need; I see you, the dupe of an ungrateful king,
stripped of power and honour, an exile and an outlaw; and when you
call in vain upon the people, in whose hearts you now reign, remember,
O fallen star, son of the morning! that in the hour of their might you
struck down the people's right arm, and paralyzed their power. And
now, if you will, let your friends and England's champions glut the
scaffolds of your woman-king!"

He ceased. A murmur went round the conclave; every breast breathed
hard, every eye turned to Warwick. That mighty statesman mastered the
effect which the thrilling voice of the popular pleader produced on
him; but at that moment he had need of all his frank and honourable
loyalty to remind him that he was there but to fulfil a promise and
discharge a trust,--that he was the king's delegate, not the king's
judge.

"You have spoken, bold men," said he, "as, in an hour when the rights
of princes are weighed in one scale, the subject's sword in the other,
I, were I king, would wish free men to speak. And now you, Robert
Hilyard, and you, gentlemen, hear me, as envoy to King Edward IV. To
all of you I promise complete amnesty and entire pardon. His highness
believes you misled, not criminal, and your late deeds will not be
remembered in your future services. So much for the leaders. Now for
the commons. My liege the king is pleased to recall me to the high
powers I once exercised, and to increase rather than to lessen them.
In his name, I pledge myself to full and strict inquiry into all the