It was made by the sentry on the wall near the
southern gate. An armed troop was approaching. When they drew
near the gate their scarlet coats embroidered with the figure of
a boar proved them to be the men of the earl of Warwick. The earl
himself was behind them. The gate was opened.
Passing through it and on to the castle, the earl and his company
were soon within its strong stone walls.
"Cousin," said the earl of Warwick to the duke of York as they sat
talking before a huge log fire in the great room of the castle,
"England will not long endure the misrule of a king who is half
the time out of his mind."
The earl spoke the truth. Every now and then Henry VI lost his
reason, and the duke of York, or some other nobleman, had to govern
the kingdom for him.
The earl of Warwick added: "You are the rightful heir to the
throne. The claim of Henry VI comes through Lancaster, the fourth
son of Edward III--yours through Lionel, the second. His claim
comes through his father only--yours through both your father and
mother. It is a better claim and it is a double claim."
"That is true, my cousin of Warwick," replied the duke of York,
"but we must not plunge England into war.
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