237 



and Lord Gray, her son, together with the faithful Vaughan, 

 who used to carry prince Edward when an infant.* 



Bitterly does she lament having listened to the evil 

 counsellors, who prevented her from placing a strong 

 escort around the person of her son ; but she remembered, 

 even in the midst of her exceeding grief, that herself and 

 her young family had before been saved by taking refuge 

 in the sanctuary, and she resolved to go thither without 

 delay. Rising up, therefore, in the midst of the dark 

 night, she caused her innocent children to be brought to 

 her, and hastened with them from the palace of West- 

 minster to the residence of the good abbot. She knew 

 that if able to keep her second son in safety, it 

 would ensure the life of the young king ; but she did 

 not go as heretofore into the ancient sanctuary, for the 

 whole of the abbey, with its rooms of state and spacious 

 gardens, was equally privileged, and she felt that she was 

 welcome. Never yet has the right of sanctuary been 

 violated, even in the worst of times ; and, perhaps, a ray 

 of hope is lighting up in the breast of that lone woman ; 

 but now the door is opening, and the venerable Archbishop 

 Rotherham, who resides in York-place, beside the abbey, 

 enters, with a cheerful countenance, and communicates a 

 message, sent him by Lord Hastings in the night, and 

 which he believed to be of good import. Bourchier, the 

 primate, accompanies him, and they come in full cre- 

 dence of the duke's good faith, who has endeavoured, with 

 * Cent. Hist Croyl. Sir Thomas More. Hall. 



