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Years passed on, and Elizabeth was united to John 

 Gray, son and heir to Lord Ferrars of Groby, possessor 

 of the ancient domain of Bradgate,* by reason of his 

 descent from Petronilla, daughter of Grantmesnil, one of 

 the proudest of our Norman nobility. Withdrawn from 

 her quiet home by the stirring incidents that attended 

 the fierce contest between the rival houses of York and 

 Lancaster, Elizabeth accompanied her husband during 

 the campaign, and shared with him in many of its perils. 

 It was even said that Queen Margaret persuaded her to 

 visit king-making Warwick in his camp, under the pre- 

 tence of requesting some little favour, for the stout earl 

 was ever kind to her ; but in reality to make observations 

 relative to the number and condition of his troops. This 

 was on the eve of the great battle of St. Albans, which 

 took place at a short distance from the abbey. The 

 abbey stood, in peaceable times, like a vast granary, 

 which continually received and gave out its produce, 

 into which was gathered both corn, and wine, and oil, bar- 

 ley, and the fruits of the earth, and to which not fewer 

 than twelve cells and hospitals were appended. And 

 scarcely was there a forest, chase, or wood throughout the 

 greatest part of England, which did not in some measure 

 contribute a supply to the abbey of its timber or venison. 

 Successive monarchsbanquetted within its walls, and while 

 the abbots were distinguished for their extensive hospi- 

 tality, the poor were not forgotten. Thus stood St. Albans, 

 * Afterwards the home of Lady Jane Gray. 



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