inasmuch as he relied greatly upon the treachery of Clarence, either
secretly to betray or openly to desert the earl. And he knew that if
he did the latter on the eve of a battle, it could not fail morally to
weaken Warwick, and dishearten his army by fear that desertion should
prove, as it ever does, the most contagious disease that can afflict a
camp. It is probable, however, that the enthusiasm which had
surrounded the earl with volunteers so numerous had far exceeded the
anticipations of the inexperienced Clarence, and would have forbid him
that opportunity of betraying the earl. However this be, the rival
armies drew nearer and nearer. The king halted in his rapid march at
a small village, and took up his quarters in a fortified house, to
which there was no access but by a single bridge. [Sharon Turner,
Comines.] Edward himself retired for a short time to his couch, for
he had need of all his strength in the battle he foresaw; but scarce
had he closed his eyes, when Alexander Carlile [Hearne: Fragment], the
serjeant of the royal minstrels, followed by Hastings and Rivers
(their jealousy laid at rest for a time in the sense of their king's
danger), rushed into his room.

"Arm, sire, arm!--Lord Montagu has thrown off the mask, and rides
through thy troops, shouting 'Long live King Henry!'"

"Ah, traitor!" cried the king, leaping from his bed. "From Warwick
hate was my due, but not from Montagu! Rivers, help to buckle on my
mail. Hastings, post my body-guard at the bridge. We will sell our
lives dear."

Hastings vanished. Edward had scarcely hurried on his helm, cuirass,
and greaves, when Gloucester entered, calm in the midst of peril.