XX
IN ABEYANCE
And on the morrow there was great stir and rustle and preparation.
Those lords and barons in attendance at Court who were from the
vicinity went off to gather their following; and those from distant
parts of the Kingdom sent commands to their constables or stewards to
hasten hither their very last retainer and every man available for
service with the King.
About noon Richard called his principal officers together in council to
consider who were liable to join with Buckingham in the revolt. That
he had confederates of power and prestige was certain enough; for
despite his oft-repeated boast that as many wore the Stafford Knot as
had once displayed the Bear and Ragged-Staff of the King-Maker, and
reckless as he was, yet it was not likely he would attempt to measure
himself against the King--and that King the great Gloucester--without
substantial assistance and cooperation of others of the Nobility. Nor
was it easy to fix upon these confederates. The old, pronounced
Lancastrian lords were either dead or in exile, and there was little
else than general family relationship or former family affiliation,
that could guide the judgment. And the session was long and tiresome
and not particularly satisfactory, for of all the names gone over, only
the Marquis of Dorset and the Courtneys of Exeter seemed likely
traitors, and yet it was very certain there must be many more.
Pages:
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273