"Oh! and who's that?"
"Why, 'tis the good Duchess of Burgundy, as was sister to our brave king, to be sure."
"What, she as I heard say gave that Simnel lad so much money? Well, now, she be a kind lady. But, i' faith! I'm sick o' wars. 'Tis the ruin of all our lives and fortunes; and surely we've had enough i' the past years."
"Marry! my lad, there's always a picking when knights are pricking. 'Tis wars makes poor men rich, and rich men poor, an you only know the way."
"Ay, ay, but you beant as old as I be. I've worked on Swainston Manor for a matter o' twenty-four year come next Lammas. My lord then were the great King-maker, as he were called--Old Bear and Ragged Staff. And what came to him? why, he were slain in battle at Barnet field. Then arter him, my lord were the Duke of Clarence. Well what came to him? why, all along o' being a king's brother, and not having such a good headpiece as t'other brother, he were put i' a butt o' Malmsey--so they sez, leastways--and so were drowned. And now, who's my master? why him, poor lad, as they've got mewed up i' Lunnon Tower. And all for what? because, poor lad, he's his father's son, and bears the name of Warwick, like his grandfather; and like enough he'll come to a bloody end too."[*]
[*] He was executed for trying to escape from the Tower with Perkin Warbeck, in 1498.
"Well, well, I shall be late for the sword strokes an I stop here. Are you coming, gaffer?"
"Marry am I. There'll be a sight worth seeing, I hear. Who'll win the prize to-day, think you?"
"Certes, there's not much question. 'Twill be the stout knight in the plain armour."
"Oh, ay! and who be he?"