voice softened into a meaning accent that, compelled to worship in
secret, they yet understood, "shelter from your foes and mild laws;
and to you, brave soldiers, that pay which a king's coffers alone can
supply. Wherefore I say, down with all subject-banners! up with the
Red Rose and the Antelope, and long live Henry the Sixth!"

This address, however subtle in its adaptation to the various passions
of those assembled, however aided by the voice, spirit, and energy of
the speaker, took too much by surprise those present to produce at
once its effect.

The Lollards remembered the fires lighted for their martyrs by the
House of Lancaster; and though blindly confident in Hilyard, were not
yet prepared to respond to his call. The young heir of Fitzhugh, who
had, in truth, but taken arms to avenge the supposed wrongs of
Warwick, whom he idolized, saw no object gained in the rise of
Warwick's enemy, Queen Margaret. The mercenaries called to mind the
woful state of Henry's exchequer in the former time. The Saxon squire
muttered to himself, "And what the devil is to become of the castle of
Bullstock?" But Sir Henry Nevile (Lord Latimer's son), who belonged
to that branch of his House which had espoused the Lancaster cause,
and who was in the secret councils of Hilyard, caught up the cry, and
said, "Hilyard doth not exceed his powers; and he who strikes for the
Red Rose shall carve out his own lordship from the manors of every
Yorkist that he slays." Sir John Coniers hesitated: poor, long
neglected, ever enterprising and ambitious, he was dazzled by the
proffered bribe; but age is slow to act, and he expressed himself with
the measured caution of gray hairs.

"A king's name," said he, "is a tower of strength, especially when