#And when Edward wrote that he 'most singularly' placed his trust in her above all others in his own will

[wonder-worker]

Queens could, of course, be involved in more overtly worldly patronage, often in an intercessory role. A well-documented example is the involvement of the Mercers' Company of London with Elizabeth Woodville in the late 1470s. The queen first interceded for the merchants in 1478, regarding a "fraye" between the king's servants and some London citizens. By December 1479 the company had a much more serious problem; it owed the king an onerous sum for non-payment of its subsidy, and for its alleviation it looked to both Elizabeth and the king's chamberlain (William, Lord Hastings). From the beginning the queen's abilities were recognized as exceptional, not only by the company but by Hastings, who encouraged the merchants to cultivate her rather than himself. In January 1480, after the merchants had given "grete lawde & thanke" to their court connections, including Thomas Grey and "the lord Ryvers", they reported that Hastings had cautioned them "to be more secrete of theyre frendes and that non avaunt be made who that is frendly and laboureth for us Except the quenes good grace oonly, whiche that is, & always hath ben, oure verrey good & gracious lady in the said mater & c.". Evidently dealing with the queen alone would get the company into less political trouble than open lobbying of her relatives -- an indication, perhaps, that Elizabeth was not considered one and the same with "the Woodvilles".

By 8 January 1480, the queen had managed to convince Edward to forgive 500 marks (£333 6s. lOd.) of the fine, and the company decided that she was their most promising option; four days later the fine was further reduced by the same amount.

-Derek Neal, "The Queen's Grace: English Queenship 1464-1503"