The Last Of The Barons, Volume 10.

were assembled,-their steeds blown and jaded, themselves panting and breathless,-to announce the rapid march of the Earl of Warwick. The lord mayor of that year, Richard Lee, grocer and citizen

d been restrained from condemning her revolted metropolis to the horrors of sack and pillage. And the bearing of this august representation of the trade and power of London was not, at the first, unworthy of the high influence it had obtained. The agitation and disorder of the hour had introduced into the assembly several of the more active and accredited citizens not of right belonging to it;

tter educated man than many of the haughtiest barons, and having more at stake than most of them, his manner

ions of Lord Warwick at our gates; in two hours we shall be summoned to give entrance to an army assembled in the name of King Henry. I ha

es he, my lord mayor

yf

ting the kingdom, has left him no power to resist; and that

e a groan, went th

n, the mercer. He rose, tr

e, "it seems to me that our first

e, a laugh burst forth, and was at

an-"yes; for King Edward has set us the example. A stout and a dauntless champion, whose whole youth has been

conviction. There was a burst of applause, and, as it ceased, the sullen explosion of a bombard (or ca

at, ejaculating, "The Lord have mercy upon us!" There was a pause of a moment, and then several

ce are all with Lord Warwick, even though he brought the devil at his back. If you hold out, look to rape and plunder before sunset to-morrow. If ye yield,

s is a judgment of the Lord and His saints. The Lollards and heretics have

t without its favourers. Thus stimulated and encouraged, the orator continued; and concluded an harangue, interrupted more stormily than all that had preceded, by an exhortation to leave

dience till the ragged staves of the Warwickers drove them forth f

devil, what we omitted to do through zeal for the Church. The sole question is, 'Fight or make terms.' Ye say we lack men; verily, yes, while no leaders are found! Walworth, my predecessor, saved London from Wat Tyle

the good name he had already acquired, th

en, and which costs him his crown to-day, ought to make the House of York dear to burgess and trader. He hath sought to break up the iron rule of the great barons,-and never peace to England till that be done. He has failed; but for a day. He has yielded for a time; so must we. 'There's a time to squint, and a time to look even.' I advise that we march out to the earl, that we make honourable terms for the city, that we take advantage of one faction to gain what we have not gained with the other; that we fight for our profit, not with swords, where we shall be worsted, but in council and parliament, by speech and petition. N

uch as the young Alwyn, from his own determined courage, and his avowed distaste to the Lancaster faction, had been expected to favour warlike counsels. The mayor himself, who was faithfully and personally attach

r be it said that the guardians of the city of London could neither defend with spirit, nor make terms with honour

gging sharp claws into Alwyn's arm; "let them g

ell take the request, thus familiarly made, as a compliment not to be received discourteously; moreover, he

ith as much state and order as if not going to meet an invading army,

s day done yourself great credit; you will rise, I have my eye on you! I have

tokton," returned Alwyn, somewhat a

ut don't you think it would be wiser not to join this procession? Edward IV., an' he ever come back, has a long memory. He deals

o will have King Henry's countenance and favour; and it is easy

kton looke

rkists mostly pay on the nail (except King Edward, God save him!), and the Lancastrians are as poor as mice. Moreover, King Henry is a meek man, and does not avenge; King Edward, a hot and a stern m

r wrong who can run with the hare and hunt with the

shook off the mercer's quivering fi

King Edward; but hunt with the hounds,-that is, go with King Henry. Odds costards; it's

nd was soon lost amidst the murmuring, gathering, and swaying

, stealthy, gliding stride, Alwyn made his way through the streets, gained the rive