The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25

cealing his falsehood with his usual sol dierly grace, he resigned the conduct of affairs into the EarPs hands; and once again Warwick's name did more than Edwards armies could accomplish. He rode into the rebel camp, pledged himself to redress all their grievances and prom 1 ised complete amnesty to all. When he ended by proclaiming: And now, in the name of Edward w., Lord Suzerain of England and France, I disband this ! army!" it melted away so fast that by all the wide plain.
 Edward looked out when the moon arose. Then he turned abruptly to Lord Hastings and said: "A few hours since 1 and the earth grew spearsl Behold the ] landscape nowl''
 sso vanish all the Kings enemiesr' l said Hastings at subjects commando! No! I am no King while another scatters armies In my realm at his bare will. Fore heaven, this 1 shall not lastl"
 The next day he rode off to Coventry l where Sir Anthony Woodville had raised a small force. There he waited for more men to flock to his banners, but Instead 1 U withdrew from his retinue.
 He retired in much perplexity and irri- tation. In the dead of night he was startled from slumber by the tread of steel-clad men. He sprang from his couch. The Earl of Warwick entered His face was calm, but stern and sad.
 'sKing Edward" said Warwick slowly "you have deceived me. I promised to the Commons the banishment of the l Woodvilles, and to Woodville you have l fownl"
 My promise was given to rebels. with I whom no faith can be heidi" said the King.
 I've will not waste words, King" said Warwick "The Scotch have gained i great advantages. The Duke of Glouces-
 ter is driven back. The Lancastrians in the north have risen. Margaret of Anjou 1 is ready to set sail. Please you to mount 1 and ride northward. We will go first to my castle of Warwick. hard by. At noon tomorrow all will be ready for our north
 ward march,"
 Edward hastily armed and stepped out of his tent. Around him stood a troop of
 torchbearers. The red glare shone on
 steel everywhere. Far as his eyes could
 reach he saw only the spears of War
 wick A confused hum in his own en- campment told him that Anthony Wood
 villes few troops were not even mar 1 shaled into order.
 He mounted a horse that was waiting for him. In a silence moody and resent ful on either part, Edward and his ter l rible subject rode on to the towers of l Warwick.
 The next day from the castle the King
 beheld with amazement the big forces
 that the Earl had been able to collect around his standard so soon. File on file, rank on rank, they moved by with pike ht,pd int 1 sands and the thousands increasing till
 Edward muttered: "Gramercy, I had been mad to cast away such an army" He dissembled his rage at being carried 1 to Warwick's castle so much more like l a prisoner than a ruler, and again he l succeeded in winning the stout Earl's for giveness, for none could lure men and | conquer them better than this son of York.
 Pardoning once more Warwick went l forth to battle against Edwards foes, 1 leaving him behind to enjoy the hospital l ity of the Countess and his daughters. 1 Edward, famous for his armours, was not unwilling to feast and court fair danes,
 especially when he saw Anne, the Earl s
 eldest daughter. Her shy, yet tender 1 smile the blush that so came and went l that it stirred the heart with a sort Of 1 delighted pity for one so softly suscepti-
 ble to every emotion of pleasure and of | pain; her innocent bloom-all tempted 1 Edward the more since the girl betrayed
 none of that delight in his homage that {, he was accustomed to see in the faces of l his court beauties.
 When he returned to London he brought the Countess, with Anne and Isabel, in l his train.
 Anne shrank from Edwards homage in
 vague terror Although too guileless to suspect his motives, her girlish instincts
 told her that his handsome form and his gallant manner held heart not so fair.
 She was delighted when the Queen as- l signed Sybl Warner to her as lady in waiting. Sybll and Anne had played to- gether as children in the court of Henry VI, when the universal tongue pro- claimed that Anne of Warwick was des- tined to be the pride of the young Prince
 Edward of Lancaster.
 Now that dream seemed shattered be- yond hope. Henry prisoner in the Tower through her fathers own hand.
 Margaret exiled in France. and Prince 1 Edward dependent at the court of Louis loyal as she was to her great father, and well though she knew that the cruel ty and superstition of Margaret of Anjou
 had nearly wrecked the land, Anne wept
 in sybills arms as they spoke of the