A crafty Widow. endowments, they would either be told that the members of the religious order were complete; or, if they did admit them, they would be employed in the most servile drudgery of that monastery, which might, perhaps, afford them a shelter. Scarce any one who sued to Edward for these unfortunate objects, so interesting on every account, could sue in vain. He beheld their intercessors with the regard he would a mediating angel, and could refuse nothing to them, in that moment of benevolent tenderness. The plan, which had long floated in the brain of the Lady Elizabeth, was now firmly fixed; but as the house of Lancaster continued, at times, to give heavy shocks to that of York, she waited till Edward's power should become more secure, before she put her scheme in execution. A valuable Friend, and an intriguing Mistress. CHAP. VII. A VALUABLE FRIEND, AND AN INTRIGUING MISTRESS. Alas! how should you govern any kingdom, Nor how to be contented with one wife? Well struck in years; fair, and not jealous. SHAKESPEARE. WARWICK, in the mean time, was negociating, with rapid success, his embassy to the court of Savoy; and was soon enabled to return triumphant to his royal master, particularly happy to find that inclination, more than duty, was the motive which actuated the princess to listen to the overtures of Edward. A valuable Friend, and an intriguing Mistress. Warwick, the idol of all ranks of people, was almost sure of succeeding in any mission he might be sent upon. To a majestic and elegant person he united those manners which he could adopt at pleasure, and which he chose, on this important occasion, should be of the most fascinating politeness. He knew the art of appearing "all things to all men;" for, while his natural disposition bordered on the morose, he could, while at the court of Savoy, seem possessed of all those gay and volatile French manners, which, at that time, were so highly in vogue. He threw off his naturally repellent humour, and was the life of every party. spoke several languages with precision, grace, and fluency; which rendered him a desirable acquisition at the tables of the different foreign ambassadors, to whom, in return, he gave the most sumptuous He A valuable Friend, and an intriguing Mistress. entertainments; and which he was well enabled to support, by his great revenues, and the natural munificence of his heart. By grants from the crown, together with his own hereditary fortune, he was possessed of eighty thousand a year. This he employed, as became a nobleman, in continual acts of beneficence and splendid hospitality. We are assured, from respectable historians, that not less than thirty thousand persons lived daily at his board, in the different castles and manors which he possessed in England. Peculiar for his courage, spirit, and generosity, he was dear to all men, while the military adored him for his valour, To a fallen enemy he was the true British foe, ever renowned for shewing mercy to the vanquished. Respectful to a dethroned sovereign, whose imbecility and forlorn state he most sincerely pitied; A valuable Friend, and au intriguing Mistress. haughty and contemptuous in his behaviour to the luxurious Edward, who, though he wished to behold on the English throne, was guilty of a course of life that the noble-minded Warwick shrunk from in disgust. These good qualities were tarnished by an unbounded ambition, which, though it never raised his ideas so high as the crown itself, yet he ever wished to be the chief favourite of the realm. His indefatigable ardour in the field, his stratagems in war, and voluntary hardships, have been well treated of by historic writers. One anecdote we cannot forbear transcribing, as it marks so strongly the cool and undaunted determination of an hero. 1 The earl, after being defeated at Pomfret, ordered his horse to be brought to him, which he stabbed before the whole |