A Triumph. CHAP. XIV. A TRIUMPH. Then will I raise aloft the milk white rose' With whose sweet smell the air shall be perfum'd. SHAKESPEARE. THE House of York, at this time, seemed wanting in no support; but, fixed on an apparently firm foundation at home, thought only of ensuring her conquests abroad, and humbling the pride of France and her allies. But the demon of discord again seemed to unite his force against the happiness of the Yorkists; and the best blood in the * Device of the House of York. A Triumph. kingdom was to be shed as a sacrifice for Edward's crimes and follies. From private enemies of the virtuous Princess of Savoy, or from what cause was unknown, he took, or appeared to take, a rooted aversion to her, and refused to ratify the treaties of his marriage, declaring he never would unite his fate to her's. The hopes of Lady Elizabeth again strengthened; and it is universally believed, that she and her confessor were the chief agents in a plot to calumniate this unfortunate and worthy princess. It is very certain she shewed, no longer, a repugnance at receiving the visits of the prince; and the tie of his affection for her seemed now more indissoluble than ever. Warwick, enraged at his duplicity, no longer able to endure the conduct of the man who had thus called his integrity in こ A Triumph. question at the court of Savoy, and from whom he had also received the most virulent abuse for his virtuous expostulations, quitted his party for ever, and united himself to the house of Lancaster. The name of Warwick, skilled in arms, brave as a lion, diffused terror against whoever he marched. A large body, composed of the chief nobility and bravest soldiers in the kingdom, revolted from Edward, to join their beloved Warwick. Even Lord Hastings, whose love and loyalty to his master were proverbial, felt himself wavering, and half inclined to follow the earl; but he reflected on the confidence which Edward placed in him, and in which he was determined to fall, sooner than abuse. Lady Elizabeth trembled at the disaffection of the peers, and was fearful all her hopes of being Queen of England A Triumph. would, by this untimely revolt, be for ever blighted, by the means of her intrigues to strengthen her power. With fears she besought Lord Hastings, who, she knew, had great influence over the minds of the people, not to desert his prince in this perilous moment. His own noble principles of loyalty, and not the artifice of Lady Elizabeth, were the springs that actuated his conduct. He had long perceived the deep-veiled ambition of this lady; and was particularly ardent in his wishes to see the Princess of Savoy in possession of her just rights. He was now commanded by Edward to be for ever silent on that subject; and, though the despotic feature of the times obliged him to obey the royal mandate, he was strenuously determined not to pay his court to Lady Elizabeth, farther than the cold and distant rules of politeness A Triumph. due to her sex and rank in life required. The ideas he entertained of her exactly corresponded with those of an unfortunate Lollard, who expired in prison for uttering the following expression:-" If she is really a princess, I owe her homage as the spouse of Edward; but, if only Elizabeth Grey, I think her no more virtuous, nor more to be respected, than the mistress of another man." Though Hastings, and several other noble lords, still kept firmly attached to Edward, and rallied all the force they were able, to oppose the rebels; yet this unfortunate alienation of the Earl of Warwick, from the cause that he had so long and faithfully served, greatly weakened the house of York: and the heir of Lancaster was hastening on with a powerful army, to take fixed possession of the throne. How often thus do we see pri |