THE LAST OF THE BARONS

Northern Advocate, 31 October 1936, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE LAST OF THE BARONS

a SSUREDLY Lord Lytton may /\ be classed with the serious y Y novelists, serious in his case v that he took his work with an intent to produce something stable and workmanlike, something which would >. satisfy as regards reality, and accord with human nature, and such a piece of fine work as would never need to : be undertaken again by another. .Making all due allowance for the romantic glamour which was a notable V attribute of Lytton’s own period, we can see in his work real persons, even if at times they may seem slightly ■ci: stiff, pompous and theatrical. As regards this, however, it must be remem-' , bered that we have erred as much in V'. theother direction, in that we now , resent any appearance of the measur- , ed dignity which was once a gain and glory i&'this world of ours. It is true also that the rougher traits of that mediaeval life are softened, and the . objectionable ones far less emphasised than would be the case if the writing were done today. None the less there is, through most of his books Something which \gives a pleasing sense of definite information gained, * : and of a* real introduction to the periods he «has elected to define- \ The, spectacular figure of the great v Eart^f' is one which claims ; attention by. reisson of the importance die men exercised in his day, and, permuch, by the very wide consequences which resulted from the Of his fall anddeath. His was . a personality which was almost bound to appeal to Lytton, who was successively attracted by subjects which cjf: necessity must tend to final catastrbptae; subjects such as , Harold, Eugene Aram, the fall of .Pompeii, and that of Granada.;j If “The Last Days of Pompeii,”, largely because ;of the spectacular 'grandeur of many of . the scenes so capably presented, does, and ■ probably will continue to remain his most popular and best known work, "the; Last of the Barons” is certainly unsurpassed as regards good solid historical research and appraisement. Yet etMairin the threatened ponderousness, - which this might be thought to suggest, there is an attractiveness and a romantic movement which holds oUr thought fully interested and arrested. n Lytton is one of those whose genius enables them to so combine known facts with surmise that we are convinced, and rise from our reading with the feelihg that* this must have been the Way things came to pass, He has developed his main problem with remarkable ableness. History tells us of the great king-maker’s transfer of allegiance from York, his own relativeS;.lid Lancaster, and is not always too convincing as to what great cause could iiaVe .induced such action in a manoT fine character and strong opinions & right and loyalty. When we have read Lytton, we feel that the difficulty has.largely vanished; the reasons' supplied are satisfying. M'history* has no room and no record tor Master Adam Warner, the scientist too much before his day, it hag his prototype in the popular story of Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, and ' this detail certainly provides an able .and attractive addition to plot and cast. • t It is true the story ends somewhat *‘ih the air,” a little weakness to be 'found with more authors than Lytton, when these have absorbed themselves in the fate of. some great personage. Adam, and his fair daughter are slain through envy and ignorance, in truth uh allegory on much which history has bequeathed to us, and Marmaduke Neville, the necessary lover of the sljory» is led a prisoner to Lord Hastings, who will decide whether he lives or dies—but which we are not told. ■' Warwick had been delegated by Edward of York,' how King of- Englatad, to; secure a / French alliance by the marriage of Margaret, Edward’s sister, -to the King .of Prance; he is * most successful, but during his absence Edward, without warning his ambassador, has ratified a treaty with Burgundy, the deadly foe of France, with this same Princess Margaret as the bond. Warwick arrives during a banquet in Edward’s tent, and announces~the coming qf the French envoys who will ratify his treaty. Edward, more embarrassed at this tone than he could have foreseen, remained silent; but De la Roche, impatient to humble his brother’s foe, and judging it also discreet to arouse the King, said carelessly: “It were a pity. Sir Earl, that the citizens, whom you thus deem privy to the thoughts of Kings, had not prevised the Archbishop of Narbonne that, if ne desire to see a fairer show than even the . palaces of Westminster and the Tower, he will hasten back to behold the banners of Burgundy and England waving from the spires of Notre Dame.” Ere the Bastard had concluded, Rivers, leaning back, whispered the King: “For Christ’s sake, sire, select some fitter scene for what must follow! Silence your guest!” But Edward, on the contrary, pleased to think that De la Roche was breaking the ice, and hopeful that some burst from Warwick would give him more excuse than he felt at present for a rupture, said sternly: “Hush, my lord, and meddle not!”

By Edward Bulwer Lytton,

“Unless I mistake,” said Warwick coldly, “he who now accosts me is the Count De la Roche —a foreigner.”

“And the brother of the heir of Burgundy,” interrupted De la Roche—“brother to the betrothed and princely spouse of Margaret of England.” “Doth this man lie, sire?”, said Warwick, who had seated himself a moment, and who now rose agairi. The Bastard sprung also to his feet, but Edward, waving him back, and reassuhiing the external dignity which

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rarely forsook him, replied: “Cousin, thy question lacketh courtesy to our noble guest; since thy departure, reasons of state, which we will impart to thee at a meeter season, have changed our purpose, and we will now that our sister Margaret shall wed with the Count of Charolois.”

"And, this to me. King!” exclaimed the Earl, all his passions at once released—“this to me!—Nay, frown not, Edward —I am of the race , of those Who, greater than kings, have built thrones and toppled them! I tell thee, thou hast misused tiiinb. honour, and belied thine own—thou hast debased thyself in joggling .me, delegated as the Representative of thy Royalty!— Lord Rivers, . Stand back —there are barriers enow between Truth and a King!” ; .

“By St. George and my father’s head!*’ cried Edward, with a rage ho less fidrde than Warwick’s—“ Thou abusest, false lord, my mercy and our kindred' blood. Another word, and* thou leavest this pavilion for the Tower!” 1

“King!” replied Warwick scornfully, and folding his 'arms on his broad breast—“there is not a hair on this Head, which thy whole House, thy guards; and thine armies could dare to touch. ME to the Tower! Send me—and when the third sun reddens the roof of prison-house and palace—look round broad England, and miss a throne!” •_

“What ho there!” exclaimed Edward,; stamping his foot; and at that instaint the' curtain of the pavilion was hastily tom aside, and Richard of Gloucester entered, followed by Lord Hastings, the Duke of Clarence and Anthony Woodville.

“Ah!” continued the King, “ye come in time. George of Clarence, Lord High Constable of England—arrest yon haughty man', who dares to menace his liege and suzerain!” Gliding between Clarence, who stood dumb and thunderstricken, and the Earl of Warwick—Prince Richard said, in a voice which, though even softer than usual, had in it more command over those who heard than when it rolled in thunder along the ranks of Barnet or of Bosworth —“Edward, my brother, remember Teuton, and forbear- —Warwick, my cousin, forget not thy - king nor his dead father!” . . . “Beware!” and Richard’s quick ear catching those, whispered words, the Prince suddenly backed them by agaih drawing aside the curtains of the tent.

“Hurrah! Warwick and the King! A Warwick! A Warwick! God bless the People’s Friend!”

Edward, startled and aghast, drew sullenly into the rear of the tent. •