However, they are all
with him, and a mighty force of them mean to go back with him to
England. My Lord of Warwick came from Calais to hold counsel with
him, and they have sworn to one another to meet with all their
forces, and require the removal of the King's evil councillors; and
my Lord Duke, with his own mouth, bade me go and summon his trusty
Will Dacre of Whitburn--so he spake, sir--to be with him with all the
spears and bowmen you can raise or call for among the neighbours.
And it is my belief, sir, that he means not to stop at the
councillors, but to put forth his rights. Hurrah for King Richard of
the White Rose!" ended Robert, throwing up his cap.
"Nay, now," said his father. "I'd be loth to put down our gallant
King Harry's only son."
"No one breathes a word against King Harry," returned Robert, "no
more than against a carven saint in a church, and he is about as much
of a king as old stone King Edmund, or King Oswald, or whoever he is,
over the porch. He is welcome to reign as long as he likes or lives,
provided he lets our Duke govern for him, and rids the country of the
foreign woman and her brat, who is no more hers than I am, but a mere
babe of Westminster town carried into the palace when the poor King
Harry was beside himself."
"Nay, now, Rob!" cried his mother.
"So 'tis said!" sturdily persisted Rob. "'Tis well known that the
King never looked at him the first time he was shown the little imp,
and next time, when he was not so distraught, he lifted up his hands
and said he wotted nought of the matter.
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