CIHM Microfiche Series (l\/lonographs) ICIVIH Collection de microfiches (monographies) ml Canadian Instituta lor Historical Mlcroraproductioni / in&titut canadien da microraproductions historiquas 1996 Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes technique et bibliographiques The institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming are checked below. D D D D D D D D Coloured covers / Coiiverture de couleur Ccvt's damaged / Couverture endommagee Covers restored and/or laminated / Couverture restauree et/ou pelliculee Cover title missing / Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps / Cartes geographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black) / Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations / Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material / Relie avec d'autres documents Only edition available / Seule edition disponible Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin / La reliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la m i^i. BUTLRR & TaNNRR, The Selwooo Printinc. Works, Fromb, and London. 00»49554 To MY WIFE W;> INTRODUCTIO N venture answered evt-ry exn«^" '",'""»■'*<-■, and the mens of our romantic .ro^'w;""- ," ^"l'l"''-'d spec" gadly know more of wl.ati'S"'^. '"■""")' 'vho would of I'.nghsh history. But „> *^ "'' '"'-''■aturc l,a.s to ,av '■•••n.e principle n.s its prldec " „, f? ;f' ''""*''"'''' "P°n the presenied. The -reit m^^, L- ""'"-'^ contributions are «^".>- with Lytton John" :,? v"" '^"^ •'''-''-av o aiiam called upon, while sne'n "f""'' •''"d others are -t'efonnervolumeJlLIlX' .[?'"' '"'^^ ""' "^'^d nrH ,^^^°"^«eW and other ,o''e/l""','-°"^''™'^'^ck, I-ord lierncr's Eli^ahethan trlns uf r I-'"' '^'"''''--^ ^on 'cle-are now included If ,?" "'^ iToissari's chron of English literature ha've le ';™'"^"'^" '°^'-" "'« -a t^ s 'l',at have heen read throu'h do« ° '"r" ^"''''■S'^^' P'-'^'^'-'ges '"th equal zest. T„ present mnnt f '"""'' '-"'d ahvL ■stones will, I „„„,,_ 1 L an ace™ -d " 'rr'^^'^'^'S'^^ "'' ^^P=>rate ''t^nuure of our day. ^''^'^'P'-'"''!'-' offenng to the f/reside -nt:JSrS;^!^^'i^ volume he,ins with the 7ents have passed from \^ ^ "'>' ^' Hastings. These Utionl„cka,^.in-,tohsS'fi°r'"'''""'^"^ "f l'-; ..!> for the dead l' dy of her '"''• ^Vi' "-"f"' -search ^'c":S!:^h^r[nS^'^^'^^^^^^ categorical nicety and , e dsbn for"Tt ""' '° ^' ■^'•^'^■^ -Uh o them thro.,uh the air theyTr'elthe '?'",' '° ''='^--' ™"'e -^--r these .wgerm^IfVX-l-,^^^^^^^ iilil.kl viii INTRODUCTION up from English history, for, unlike most people with a history, the Knglish do not, so to speak, live with it. Tliey keep it afar off as a thing that concerns them not, except as a matter of training or of individual taste. Dut the fair form of Edith and that grisly search among the dead is nearer to the popular mind than most other events. Sir Charles Napier's not very well known story of this episode is characteristic enough, flavoured though it is with a morality whicn does not belong to the age of the even'. Foi William II. I have chosen the story of an anonymous writer of some consideralile power. He depicts the King on the eve of the rebellion of Stephen of Aumale ; and the tyranny of the monarch, the feeling of the nobles, the position of Flambard, all assembled at the council, are powerfully shown. " Now, afore Cod and His holy saints ! " exclaims Hugh, Earl of Ciiester, "from the crown of thy head downward, and from the sole of thy foot upward, William of England I thou art, past thought and speech, a matchless tyrant ! " Henry I. is not represented in this volume ; there is no romance which illustrates his reign. The story of Matilda at Reading Abbey is by Charles Macfarlane, and though perhaps not true of this particular abbey, is typical of the position assumed by Matilda during her brief triumph on the English throne. The story of fair Rosamond's death at the hands of Queen Eleanor begins the rule of the lMantai;enets. This is another story belonging to history proper which has de- scended to popular tradition. 'I'he e|)isode in this volume is written by Thomas Miller, and is perhaps one of the least satisfactory stories in the .ohuiie, though perhaps it does not do much violence to the character of this vindictive queen.^ For that great hero of romance, Richard Occur de Lion, Thomr.s Love Peacock's fine story of Afnid Marian is chosen, and Richard stands out well in close analo.:y to the episode dealt with by Scott. The reign of John is not represented, and Henry III. and his queen arc only intro- duced by a slight picture of their court taken from one of the forgotten novels of Mrs. Radcliffe. Miss Porter's romance of the Scottish Chiefs supplies the story for lidward I.'s reign, but this once popular romance is not of a sufficiently high quality to be able to stand in contrast with the rest of INTRODUCTION ^ 1 o the charms of thu Tudo Kn "i; I "Pf ' "■""il^'ion. ful touches of the o i.',"al chmn H ' "" ?^'''-"'' "''-■ '^^""I't- specunens of a famous hstnri"; T'' ' '■"" ■''"^"-- ""•'■^^ .tdveiuures of QuJen I,' '|K in R '" "■^'™">«d. The are particularly deh.'hfn «,f • , ''"'^'^■•"'''. ^Jward II., and of poor soldiers " IL w. 1 I "^ ''","' °^ K^''Hlcn,en Cross fought l.y Oueen Ph-I T"'" '"'"^ of Nevil's Edward in/lX^Cari,\'ndThe'H"'"°- "" '''''"''' °f "■ are the two events in ni„ / . deposition of Richard fancy that the sto'; o Se r"' tl°? "^ '^f '^ ^^o"^- I will be new to many readers^ "•'^■■"'"t-nt of Richard II. The House of Lancaster li- n„f i many romances, romant c thrn^h th ""]" '"''J'^'=' "f are. Henry IV is not renJ! "^ . " ^"""'^ ""^ events for Henry V. I h.ave chosen f*^ ''/ " ''^'''"^"= «'"^y. ""d It represents tL kTng ,„ h " chan "^/'T" ■''"'"' ^•^"■™ with reminiscences of ?he wi 1 ,° ''^'''"»" "^^ monarch, 'l>is author's romances are of c ^' ^^ P-^mce ; and though racter, this particu ar sto v is „„; u"' ^''J'"^''""' in clfa- dehneation 'of London a^ul ITL-^ntTo^:' ""''''' '" "' he disastrous reign of Hen v VT ?h °/ a coronat.on. Of Joan of Arc are a HtHn..rPn7 J' ^ '^"•famed exploits of extremely fine ptc " iZf' '''°"' "''"^ "'" Manning's that does'not li" ^:Z rw'trS"'''^' f"^^ ' ^'^^ work of Mark Twa „ "„> ^ ' ^'"'""^ PJblishe.l con,es out in every sentence put h,?"]f'' °^ P"^P°-^'^ J- cannon shot for^efilt;i,i:-yr^-^-i: Ed!;ti'?wa:;r5;^^!-1,';>-;|7Wpt IS more ornate and more telin' w; '"'''"°" "'''''='' anything which has go^leoe ^T T' "' '" ""■■>■ "''''" mto the secrets of the royal^irot,-se,/o',^!rd":;a\°es"oa X INTRODUCTION on confidential terms with the dissolute and able monarch. Warwick's deep character and Clarence's wayward youth- fuhiess are also well delineated in this clever hit of writing I'he young luhvard V. is not represented, and Richard 111 IS told of hy Mary Shelley in the events which immedialely followed his death, the character of I'erkin Warbeck appear- ing to do duty for Richard Duke of York, whom he nnpersonated. The Tudor sovereigns introduce us 'o other events. I'rom Mrs. Shelley's lomance is chosen the story whicli shows up Henry VII.'s selfishness and cynical cruelty, and one of the best of .Ainsvvorth's stories supplies the illustra- tion of Hc-.,y VIII.'s reif,'n, in the fall of Cardinal Wolsey and the rise of .Anne l! ^tory the picture, the Ly w ,h tS t"h k' '■'""'^"'""s of !■■ ly Castlewood is shown V.u^V''''"' sentiment of of Hick Steele, Schohr 1 "l '"' "'f, I'"''-" K'impse we ge reign of Anne' Tha" ZZnl'" •^^■"ghtful For tlTe whole book. Itisfron^'hX\v' V"'''7' f^'^ '" "-a whatever way it is possible I thhkfi^""""'- , '-""^^d at in wntu,g ,s perhaps truer to histor th n '"'"'^/^^■''^ I'ieee of live Itself. There is nr, f ^ ^ ■ ''^™ historical n.-rri 'he actual episol^:;idotv:';;r 'Y '" ' ""-^^ oneep,sode which woild accoun for m" Pu"""' '"" '' '-^ 'he of th,s great event. And the d^tn ' """ ';'''="'"»•'•' "^es coach going across the country from K '"■ "P^""'^'"^- '''he 'S at once a touch of illuni at ^r^,l "'"?'"" '° <^'''<-'l-^'=^ ordmated to the nhce !^ ° '"'• '"'"'^ the trnth sub- '':he sorry pettiness'^f^ hr^^l", ° ''f^^'S^' understanding, picture of indignant renu^eia ion "r,h'''"^Vhe '''"'"S loyal adherents, the crim hum t ^}"' P'"""" by two of the prince-there tsl7,rrTr ''^"'^ ^^'^"ch trainin- of the n,aster's hand and tll'wh"n ^' '^ "°' '"^cativ? so often will again read it in ,>c ^^"^ '^"'^ this story old delight. *■ " " '" "' P^e^t^-it place with all the The period of the Guelphs opens up new scenes. The xii INTRODUCTION results of 1715, rather than the event ■ themselves, are [HDur trayed for us l>y Sir Walter Scott in the story taken from Riili /{or. Then for Cieorge II. Thackeray Icails us into the court of thi King with its pettiness and its insincerity, its redfaceil kini; and his red faced son, its obsequious courtiers and its fawning hisli jps, the great solemn Pitt, and withal the simplicity if not the commonplaceness of the whole affair. It is a hiting but not an untrue narrative. The accession of (leorgc III. brings us back again to the Stunrts and to Scott, and it is not uninteresting to note that our (,)ueen's grandfather was in touch wit*' the romanticism of the Stuart episode. The story told by Scott has some foundation in fact, and certair.ly in probability. For deorge IV. and William IV. there are no representative stories, and the series closes with a (lesrription of one of ll «„./„ ^,/„, VV.U,u„ II. . A. ,he Dis^,sal of .he Kin,-. ^„,„,,„„,„ , &r.n„s: How MatiWa, Q„een .„d E.npress. treated Reading Abljey . ^i , ,1 "•" ln:.vRV II. : The t^ueen a. Fair Rosamond's Bower. T. Miller 31 "':nh:L^:™'"^'^--°^'-=--7"HcKin, ^ ,, • ■ • '«<"«■" /.OT'i; /V,r,vrf ,0 6. "K.^„v,I,..Ki„Ka„d,M■ena,Co„^t . .,/„. AW.V^, ,, 7. l-.n«ARI, I. : For Wallace or for King Kdward. J. „ J"H€ Porltr cc 3 !'• ^ "°"' ;^'""" '■'"''^"■' '^-^ '^^ '-"« •>" "- 9. tmvARr. III. : The Qneen wins a liat.ie . . />„,„,, ,' - R.cnA«„ „. . The Deposition of the King . ^w,, \l < <■ IIE.NRY V. ; At the Coronation of the King. G. A K.James 86 ^^".f Minniiig ,oj :3. EDWAR„IV.:AttheCourtofKingEdward. Z.,<.Z,v..„ „ 4. R.c.ARD III. : The King is Uead-VVho shall be King » MaryW.SIuU ., % xiv CONTENTS 15- IIllN«Y VII. ; Thf Matri.inc pfa n,iccn. |6. riiNKv MIL: The KiMofii N\» (I, .U.iiy li: Slitll/j, 14 17- Makv : Will M l':ni;knd and Spi\iii wn,. 1 it^iiii.on .lium'uiti 140 IS. Kij/AHKnt : II< KL'tlihvortll . riitid-i. 'n\int .tin\w.^rth m Ihc (111 ■ I'd liLT l-'.iv.mi Sir n\i/lci Jamks I, : Th.' Kin; ,,„d hi, |,-»,.||cr. Si> ir.,//,. 2o. CllARC.Ks I. : Tin. |i,„,|,. ,,f |;,l^|.|,il| .V,.,// 1S5 .■>.,'// 247 Daniel OelM l(> 21. Clfsr.Ks II. : 11,, , Kin- Ouik's du.dl will, Kri.n.i, and '*'"■" Vj> ir.illa- Sfoll J77 «. Jamks II.: ThcF.dlofAri;ylc:. . . . y,^„ tf,,// 3,5 IJ Wli. 1.1AM AND Mahv: i'liillini; for IhcSluatls. tV. M. T/i.irH' ,i,iry„j/ 324 24- Annl: The 'assing of tht Crown from the Stuarts 1%. lii-OKiiF, I. : The First iMghl for the K.illi tf. .1/. //u!.hi„y 340 11 Slu.ir'i .SV;- ;/;, 26. Gkohim; n. : T\w Kin-'i* Dr I'Hr S^oll 37S awin;: rotnii. ((■. .1/. riiivh: 27- Geoks^i III. : II, mtkcrny 4 i 1 w till' (;:ii;c of the Giu-l|il] JS. VlCTOKlA : A Slury of the CImrlist Ki Iphs was taken Sir It ;,//,■,- Sun l.oni lieuctiitsjititt 427 LIST OI" '^LUSTRATIONS And proceeJcil lo W.illh.i ' Bui our Pr "And Iwrorc the ■poli :'--""l„i,h,riBhi„,a„r„|, TO FAm PA(7i irond' imnccs i>f M.iii l'"ina and C'liild \, nill f.iir U( " I-ean Irce i"g. in true Sherwood fash 'i"". wilh hi, Latk 34 " '■'' "d'tle wit he set Quee iscnrd I I'etMccii the King ai„l 'Andc ' as they rode foruard they „ , '' ■"""= """"0 Ihey met more |,e„,,l I>»«whattheIta-ian,callaS,„„.,.n,„„ ' " Was rcclii ipieme Monie clining on a liencii beside a la.ly ■■ "^fynheer Jahn was somewhat loth to,, art «i,l,i. ,•', ' •■ Tressed her hand to his tips" . ' "''' '""^' '^""'^'' " ■ I atte,ul your pleasure, Ata.lam,' sa'i 1 \vi,l,ev '" ' ' ■■Farewell for ever, then.' rejoined Dudley ' " ^\Vh,!e she spoke thus, Dudley bowed deeply"' ' ' ' \Vho ha,l more than once visited his confinement " ' ' She was ,nv,ted one afternoon ,0 view eert.ainar.i.i; ' ' Ijravcry" . ^ t'litu '■ Once or twice lillle irarrvi-tnrt ,..'i • ..Tl E. ■ "' ■'-'™ '"'heir messenircr ' The Prmce started up in his bed " ^ "But all was silent, all was solitary" ' ' " " My uncle surveyed me with attention ■' " " ' s of female ".) 120 IJS '■13 '54 6 3:6 372 3SS 422 Q..S. .■4 From Queen to Queen ^ Siven „p pursuit, tlirouM, ,Z \ ^"'•'■'■•'ns assemWed on the field of its , "l^^^^nty, and re- arose, casting her e^ J ; T' ,;•,"'- "-\l«'e moon ground . thousands and tens , f th ™T"""'™'^ '""'^'- grim and ghastly to the T , "'""^^"'^■^ tl'erc lav, all •heir gashed and'sh it n,;:^;^r "«'" '''^'^reci the wound. Here and there ,e ''" '™'^""« f™'" "» mortal habitation .hco-^r;:"'"^.^ -"' ^"" shook ai.proaching death; and Wnt nt """"'""'' '"•■'^^'"« cruelty, still floated o tit air fron'"^'' '"'"■'"" '"^^'^ field. "" ""' ™"i distant parts of the .i.aif^^r^stt,::^:^":;!"^™^ :'- - ^-i and , As he said .his th ' ,e' « rof't,' "'Vf ™' ^■'''■'"■■>- ' laid their stained weapons dm nil.' ""''''■'" "™>' Woody hands in solemn invn V ''^' '"""^ "'"'^'^ '^^^' gory and mitred, c a rdforrr" '"/'" ''""''y- O'^"' «■■•" towards m n, a^'',,°;' fu """°','"'''=^ '"" S""''- slain I ' thankfulness, and masses for the giv^tf^t'CntirsSt^ir ^°'"--''' - -ept for the friendVof W H„^ ''■'"\''^'" «-• '- bleaching around in he p s,'. vTh ''" ''"'''" "'^^ '^>' --din their .lood.'^dSr^rrhST:;^: 2 WILLIAM I butcherv were kneeling to the God of all, amidst the im- pious havoc ! When prayers were over they began to inter the slain Normans, writing down as killed the names of all those who answered not when called ; of these there were above twenty thousand— in sooth it was a hardly-earned victory. While thus employed a fresh scene of woe took place : the two monks of Waltham presented themselves to the Conqueror. They were followed by a long train of holy men, and came over that desecrated hill chnnting a requiem for the dead. As ilie solemn harmony riung its floating strains upon tlie still air, the soldiers ceased to speak or move, all listening to the mournful melody. The proces- sion wound slowly down the steep, threading among the slain, where scant space was found for living foot to fall unwct with human gore. The sacred band advanced, exalting the reproachful crucifix amidst the sacrilegious desolation; censers in front cast incense, whose curling smoke caught the moonbeams, and circling upwards seemed, in conjunct'on with that solemn dirge, more acceptable to Heaven than did the fierce Odo's exultant prayers. The tonsured supplicants came to demand in God's name that they might inter the dead. " Mercy, great Conqueror ! mercy to the vanquished ! " " It is granted to all," answered William ; " I war not with the dead ! and I will prove my words, holy fathers, even now in your presence. Where is the knight who smote the dead body of Harold with his sword ? Bring him before me." The knight came forth : " Give me thy sword," said the duke, and in a voice of anger that always made those about him quail. The knight tremblingly obeyed. William, taking the weapon in his gauntleted hands, broke it into pieces. " There, base and recreant soldier ! know that he who insults a dead enemy is as much disgraced as he who turns his back upon a living one ! Get thee hence ! " FROM QUREN TO QUEEN 3 "' w'f,'"^!'''' ""'"y' ^""demned a„d cast out by all. No«- holy fathers, do such honour to the dead as bes bescemeth you, «i,hout further let or hmdrance " hands' -'in .r''' "'' "T^^' " "'^ ^''" "''' " ''°°" ''^ "'X i^b^dy'o; Ha';:,?;-' '"- '^^'•°" °^ '"^ -^"'' «-' - Wilham paused for a moment; but the natural generosity vanl '°""r,'' "°' '■'"""- "^'^"''"^ ''y^"y P^li'-al ad vantage, swayed huu. "Granted, even that traitor's corpse; but ye will have some trouble ere ye " ,d it amidst the heaps of slain Si Iham Malet, h,e thee with these good n,onks, and take uch order that none insult them, nor offer indignity to the body of Harold, nor to any Saxon, dead or alive. M^ere Harold fell, and where his standard stood, shall a convent be erected in memory of this great battle " heSt! ""'"''' """"''^ '° ""= ''"°'' '"""^ ''""'^'^"^ "P 'he On arriving there the moonlight fell upon an awful sight A kneehng female figure, her white garn,ents steeped in blood, hung over the disfigured corpse of Harold ; a pro- fus.on of ha,r hid her head, but her lips seemed to be pressed to h>s. The fatal arrow drawn from the wound lay before her, and hillocks of slain rose about her, out of wbich she had drawn the mangled corpse As they approached, she raised her head-it was E ,a 1 Her beauteous face was greatly agitated. " I will not quit him -k>Il me ,f ye will, murderers ! ye shall not divide me from .m now ^\ ,th a violent tone she spoke, dropped a cross she held, and clasped the dead body in her arms with man,ac look and energy, raising it from the ground and pressmg the head to her breast. "Dear lady," said WuLstan, "knowest thou not thy friends? We are all thine own." ^ Sir"unT" "'"Jr ',' "'" ^'"""""-"'"t does he here ? Ha ! b.r U.lham Malet, is it thou ? Get thee hence, thou mur- M WILLIAM I durcr of the Saxons ! Look here, bloodthirsty man, and see wliat ye have done I Hence from my sight, or finisli tiiy hateful work, and add the blood of Editha to that which now clots upon thy horrid weapon ; it is the only Saxon blood that liditha can spare thee, and dying she will bless the hand that sheds it." Malet did not answer, and the good monk saw that he could not answer. " Lady," said he, " we have leave to bear the body hence to Waltham ; and this good knight " "Callestthou a Norman good? O Wulstan ! Wulstan ! cast thine eyes here, and all around, and with thy Saxon tongue canst thou call Normans good ? " " Dear lady of the Saxons ! patience, patience ! Behold this ! " said the monk as he picked up her crucifix ; " let not that fall ! for iiuitting it, what shall support us in this world of miseries— with it, what shall we fear ? " "Father, thy reproof is just, but call not the Normans good, and tell this Norman to go hence from the sight of Editha." " Let us all hence, that we may pay the last homage to the body of the King, and inter his mortal remains with due religious rites at Valtham ; and let us hasten, for day will soon dawn and the victor may change his will, and then who shall say him nay ? " Editha consented. "O God, I am in thine hands! I see there ii one way in which these hateful Normans can yet make liditha tremble"; again she kissed the cold lips of Harold and rose up to let the monks take his body, which they laid upon a bier, and proceeded to Waltham. The rumour soon spread that the Saxon [leople would be safe if they came to bury the dead, and that sorrowful field was quickly covered with wailing and distracted women and children. Then the Normans marched towards Dover, and beiny FRu.M nL-|:E\ T<-> QUEES fo.lrflll cf the r?in ;^-f- Male. !::red;::t\v;;l;''''" ^^- -''-'. «i^ '"'Ig'ven him strict chart J *^.'''"!^'" ! "'e Conqueror '-"cj^^ilhtyand free fro ::r,;: T"""':"" ""' ^-"'^^ - When Editha and h melTn u'?'''^ P"'''^>'''^'"-'e bloody loud waitings filled the a°r Th ^ '"""^"""ions arose, and ■mpulse, and with one accord tht?' ""''u '^^ '""'' ^"'J"-' fe upon .heir knees in S^^^l^ "'-"K of n,ourners f-e the bUro^ ,::":;;;-''.''>■■ -'^ on this spot, 'I'e lifeless hero of tl.e Sa on ' IZI-'r^'^'''"'^''' "'<^y '^^d ;ema,ns of her husband, hrii„s ^ ' "'', ^■"'"'^•^ '^"'■''<-- ">e -V b,g tears rolled doJn he An f "\"'™' ^"'y^^' - l«^n' with an expression of doub ] ""'^ ^" '^>''---' ^"- '"-. as if yet searchinglr i °h T "'''""'"' '''■ !>" looks to heaven, like one m, l " ''°P'-''"^ly raisin., moment of bitterest agony s'^en"?-'"'^ ■'" ">''^ '^^^ad 'hat „,nltitude prayed trith'h '^T'' '""■■''^'^'>-- And all 'ike her bereaved'^f ' ^^',' ^J^" '^ousands were there "Pon that vast crowd fres'h h "^°"^''"'i^ s'i" poured in of desolation, while t^ti'^'--'^-. f-, the field here and there disturbed the re iW ''' , '"'""= ^"«"'^ Ihcn sung the monks -i In ^ v" "' "''"'^^■ ;'- fallen. Kditha si /e" „.;"", "'f ''" """--^ hair h,d the tears which .fr , " ''"''>■' and her rich ™-"f "s with his bioo "• cte!::;'; t:--- °^ "^S 'he hynm, and when the sac ed ,:"' '^''^''"' '"'"'^'^ '" agam raised and borne to th. ^^ ^'''"'^' "'^ ^"^y was -' by the n,anks-" J et'r "'"" "" ^'''^'-'' ''"' ^^■e.c fresh, burst from the crowd """""^ ^^°'' ^°""ds 'M! WILLIAM I " Lady, we fled not from the field; we long lay senseless amidst the slaughter ; we stood by thy husband in many a battle, we deserted him not yesterday, and we will yet die fighting upon his boily, if so the Normans please, for not without a blow shall the guards of Harold fall. Like these weapons," said they, showing their battle-axes gory and gapped, "we are injured, but not yet broken." Editha held out her hand to the speaker, but had no power to do more ; they kissed her proffered hand, lifted the body of their lifeless monarch, and, as the solemn dirge again arose, they bore him to the tomb. The earth was now cast upon the coffin of Harold. It fell with a sound that jarred, ruthless, cold, withering, upon the heart of Editha. It was the last sound she heard. She sunk lifeless in the .irms of those who stood around her. When she recove. d, she found herself in bed ; her weeping companions were by her side. The good AVulstan entered ; he reasoned with the sorrowing queen, but Editha found consolation in her own reflection alone, which told her that life swiftly passes— that health and strength were not be- stowed upon her to cast away as things of no value. Time gradually produced a state of resignation to her life of sorrow, and when Matilda came to England the following letter told her, that her predecessor on the throne stiil lived :— " EDnH.\ TO Matilda. "To thee, Matilda, I send the crown I once wore. While shared with Harold, this gift of the Sa.xons was dear to me. Harold is slain ; the Saxons are no longer a people. Taki; then their crown, and let it bespeak thy protection for the oppressed." —Sir Charles Napilr, William the Com/ueror. At the II the Disposal of King ''='e and governn.ent anL led Lh™,?, °' '^'"<='>-'^^ his «uddenly,andwi,hst"ami„"tl' ""'^'J <^" Cod. burst the presence of King Wirmarv"''^'-''''"^ '^>'«' '"'o ^ "Ne^vs, mighty sLe In- h T'""'" '•''•^'"l«'^d. 'he royal sent, and fling :hL,df "'""''' ''"">-'"S 'o '•Ne::;;'tfd"'' ""i"''^-t " °" '""' """"' 'hey should te pltint'llnnH ""'"''""""' ^"^'^"■'^~«'? bluntness!" ' ^ ^°°'^' '" «">^^"ds of thy saucy love forge"; co'llt"' Sf '''"""^' "^"^ ^•^"^'' "hot <;race stir not with the fairer ."j T '''""'"S ^''i'' 'O-our P0»-cr in the North ' He h!^ = "■'"' => eighty l^-ha,n, at Alnwick and at B n T !"'""'' '' ^"k, at gates of each, with vo ce oft^°,™"°'' ' '""^' "' 'he four proclaimed Stephe de A h^ ' rT . • ""' ""' °' '-™P«. R"f- bounded frorf/SeT '"^« °f England." ' Oh, spacious villain ' " he hath he but one head ? one life"' v' "°''' "''^^'^ '"'''"r •' monstrous rebel i hnsf m„ ! ' '^' ^^"^^^ 'hou ? Oh Karl's blood, ha?" " ' '°=' ^" C°='. 'hat would iap i^it 8 WILLIAM II "liftlur, my I.iegu," said the Knight, "a sword to shed it for your (Irace, if it be (lod's pleasure ; but, by my faith, there will lack ten thousand besides, and sharp and trut ones. Stephen himself " "Ho! what of him?" shouted the Monarch — "whatol our traitor-cousin, in Hell's name? — what of the doubly- damned De Albemarle ? " " Sped to De Mowbray," answered Sir Alberic ; " some say at York— some further south ; but, all agree, with a vast strength, levied in the midland shires as he trooped north. Their numbers, or equipment, or what traitor- names have joined them, as leaders or as allies, God knows, my Sovereign Liege, not I." " Why ! we will march and see ! AVhat recks it ? ho I summon De Miles ! where sleeps Montgomery in this pinch ? Get thee to bed, good Ranulph ; no market now for thy politic wares." "Tush— tush, my Liege— fairer than ever," said Flam- bard ; " wit is sharper than steel, and shall yet be at higher price. Hark, Du Coci, where didst thou, of all men, basket up these tidings ? " "Further north," replied Sir Alberic, "than I have know- ledge of tower and town to ti.-U ye. I have been scouring in bootless quest of one that fiends, surely, have snatched from earth, and met, by the way, with those who had fast knowledge that this is sooth ; the rather, that they them- selves were hot upon the spur to join King Stephen— I pray Heaven and your Grace to pardon me the word." "Oh, gracious fool!" cried Rufus, "to let hence his prating daughter and her champion ! Thou wert right, Ranulph— it is they that have carried the lit torch to this pile of treason! He waited but for them— ha! Black- hearted villains ! Their heads shall answer it. What ! nothing but tricks of treason ? Whither away, my Lord Justiciary?" " To summon aid and couii'-il, I," said Flambard, " and ATTIIH DISPOSAL ,.l.- Till.: KI.V; , "'■It uith such .,|,eed as horse, and h, , .1,1 .n . . ran do it. Uy Cod, n,y I i' ' ' ,' ""'' "•"'"pft'-all ™'^ castles, and fair d Jl'li ,1 f "^' ''"S'^ '''''"'' =""i -d joult-headed frin d «:::°."' ^ ■-'^'- P--» ="'d giving largesses a Th. 7 ^ °""' '° "" "^^ers ; heaped m^unta^" % , "S ^-V-""'"*"""'" "■"^- " grown rarer with us here nU-, "^'"^ "'""^•ys have horns." '"■ '" ^\""--l'ester than unicorns' ^^•^^^ saying, the i.ocurator Fiscal vanished fron, "Conmiand me mf^rhtv t; ■ „ '■»^i'^r.u.nh;:aits::::;t r^SJ^' ^-'' iNorthward," sa d Kufus "n , ^ ^^'^"""^ rushes, and DeMte Xm th t"'^ " entrance of Montgomery "'e castle-ha : 1 ro^ u, on" hir-T, ■"'' °'"'°"""'-">' ™^' ■" ntelyall were' in thl-ir '"nent "^!!, ""->--• I-'-d,- "'ero^.ang^r"^,rr:xr"-^^"'^ 10 WILLIAM II and towers beyond the Trent will fall lo the rebels liy the round score, ere we have power a-foot to strike a stroke 1 " "Write then, good Ranuljih," suiil the Rinj;, "Dispatch — dispatch I Hid the stout SherilTs ride day and night, and summon .ill 'twixt sixty and sixteen. If they slumber or tarry,— fire brand an"ster of your hattle .","" '„ k' u" "" '"""^^ "^« f"" one of the .en were I IH^ '.^ '?'""• ''" """''"y- St. George!" ^° ''^'l' ""-' ^od and his liege-saint, 1' ^'';! J ;,','"^'^'^""^d the Constable. And !" echoed Do TunWidge. f..llow:d"l,;i sSof'Ic',""^'" '""" "■'^ ---'"^Se; •••nd vihr.n,e^long e ba„n r. '°'',/'"'' '"'"''" '" -^ng work of the hall "''^ """''' "'"^ '^e carved roof the be,s, and stron , ',,?:,::"' ^ '""«': "'^"''^' ^^ '<■■ 'ion! Thanks, th'erefor^ " l^alT ''T"'" ""' ''''''■ l!ut, look!-" he added n? ^'fiht-trusty lieges ! '.nve already atdfd t a " rc^pl's^ ^° '^'"'"' '^'^ goodly quiver there are broken 2^7; T" '" ">'' land, ask yonder Knights if suH.^- - """'"'' "^ I'-"?" tl'ey alone fling sco n umn '' '''' "'"^y ""-'>'- ""d s"ea.l,ed '^rand^, ^d" scT hn^lrsTror:? ^'"" ""■'• sa.v, and every token of o.hefs' fea" J u"< T" "'' ^^ answer, on their lives " ^- ''"^ "'<^"' make thc^ligh^ i,:^:i,st:tr;::. ""^^' ■^'^ ^^'^ ■""^""«. 'o the objects of his r::; I.^- I'hot/h?"'" ^"""'^'^'^ asm, indeed, noiv placed i„ .7 J *^''"™' «"'husi- with all around ' " '"""' '"'^ ""S"^'-°"s contrast Arontgomery strode niidwav between fi. I 12 WILLIAM 11 Mowbray's head, struck off by whatsoever hand ? Ask this and ){ive me answer." The wor■'"" •' if it stand thus -r-ll^s ;"S"f ./'■^''^'"«-'-'"-« ruHous,y_..sou„d And, as the heralds oheyed he .trr„l . • ■, steps of the throne, l„,t I ,h„' , f"''^ 'f"''>' "1'"" ""^ "S the peal of the h^n died X- """« l>m,self-then- a guest. bidde":r:ni:ir'::;d^er:r:'r'' '''''" -• warn thee. Mark ' He Hv, T, , "^ "">■ °*^" '•■'f^ Mowbray's head h, t . ^ ''''''" '"•'"« "'^ '^■>i'"r De it recks 'not ,^J'-^t:t"r'" "r" "'^ ^^''^■' '"'"^ (be he the m anes hor'e bov of'^' "'' '""' ' °" *""' bestow this vaunted beau.vTh ^. ?"''' ' ^ °" ''''" »'" ' for slave, or what not evvn''K''T" "'^ ^1"''='' f- *if^S every knight's-fee mano Id . 'T"' '" '' '''•'' '"'' ''..; i-ord jus,iiary,irh: ir;;::;,:;-: r,?"". "-^ at-arms make procla.nation thuf a 1' Tv t'^ '"""■ and city gate." ^ ^^'^ '"'"'^et cross uponis m^;;^tLr:;hr'?°;'' "^"""^ ^-^^^'^ it seemed to all presen as ^[1^'"' '''"'°"^' ""<^ present as ,f the violence of his emotions l--^ H •l\ I 14 WILLIAM II must find speedy vent, either in execrations or tears. A struggle, fearful while it lasted, gave him mastery over both. Pacing slowly, but with little firmness, through the hall, he passed the King, the Marshal, and the Justiciary, and, taking from his baldric the sword which was given to him by the Conqueror, delivered it, without a word, into the hand of I)e Miles. As the constable received it with reluctant awkwardness, I.upus pointed to the inscription upon the blade, " Hugo comes Cestria," and then, with shaken finger, to the chafed Rufus, whose burning eye followed the gesture, well understanding it as a tacit renun- ciation of allegiance upon the Earl's part. The latter, with recovered firmness of step, but looking deadly pale, then made for the hall door, saying to the Barons who thronged between, — " I pray you let me pass ;— this hall grows hot." " Wouldst cool thee in the north ; " said Rufus, " ha. Cousin Earl ? " " My Lord of Chester," said Flambard, speaking now for the first time, " is cousin also to De Albemarle ; look well, my Liege, to that. If choice between be question of near blood, a sparrow's feather will turn the scale." " Hell-born and bred ! " exclaimed the ICarl, " mine is in- deed the blood of kings, and dost thou, mean, undescended caitiff! dare to lift finger or wag tongue against me? " " Not, — " replied the sneering favourite, as he held before him the intercepted letter from De Mowbray, and pointed, insultingly, to the bitter passage—" ' if thou canst leave turning and changing, and blowing hot and cold with the same breath, and looking now backward, now for- ward—' ha? mighty Eci'. ! — " The hand of Lupus was upon his dagger ; but so also was the hand of another upon him, and a voice munnuicd, " Not yet, nor here — be calm." He " looked daggers, but used none," and again moveJ for the door. ^T T1]E DISPOSAL OF 'llh KI\r i5 "Tarry," sajj j,^ j.. ;^ye, nndanoa.hupo,^^•c„:::t:;:'■^■;'^- % s«.ord. 'hesc.holy bishops and a L,,';," ■'"■''''= ' "'"''^ °f not 'ay hand npon hin, ^^e peTtV^"' "l'-' '''°^- '-' <^'^ "•ere was that in the ^-es of evl , '"''' °^ '"''-■'' ■ ^or n.on,shed forbearance. T e p, , .^^ p^"" "'''• -''icl> ad- draw no assurance or countenanc, f 'f ' ""^^'-''^' '^«"ld of the Palatinate, ,i,e Or" Co ! ''?"' ''" "''" '"^"'"ge -ely of crown-tenants. but m "" f""« '""-'^ «clu- ''■n> for a n.unificcnt fri;nd -.nd ^h , ,'"' ^"^ '<"°«" I«ahty of Chest... C.'", t '^ ">^ P^'ncely hos- a«a.n.st the hated Flambard,' wi tL"f" h' '°"' "P^^'^-^X tnghsh nobles, who, howe -^ l^fl , "■''°''-' ^°<^>' "^ port Kufus hn„self IhrouJ .h ° >'„'^'^™'"<^d '" sup. «"'hng that 'hehandof rSainrerott "V"''-'^'^ '" f™'" upon one indiv.dual of theiforr^'"'''^ ^''""'d he i.ea.y My I.icge,"said De Mil,., .t' , ^'a;nchi„g, and not that t /^S ""'' -°""d craves "■ider. I, for one, will fi.L "^ ™''>' should rend it i-- Wood to she'd,: s frr. "r ''^"-'^"^ «•'>'■' -v-these matters of ward h ?. '^t' "'."I '""^ ^1-l'ets of your Grace against Hugh I u n ; ?, °^ '"•""■^'^'l'' 'hat stir 7 archery; and, by "holy s ,u ^ 'TV"'''^''^ '^^>-°"d Curn-ng abruptly to Flam bard T , 7' ^" J-^^'i^iary," «"' hack ye therein neitl^r wft'l '7^'' '"'^ "' ^ «ord I '■here was a distinct ^ r '"'^ """^ '^P'-''^ch." '^ -'•- "ell said, uoble Miio • bv U. ' ! '° '">' =''o"d, "It is ,.,, °''^"^^>'-'"o'her,woareiike.minded c I6 WILLIAM II with the good Constable ! " and there were grim smiles of satisfaction upon almost every face. " I, also, my Liege," said Montgomery, willing enough to go with the stream, in spite of the glance of Rufus, "I also crave that this storm be overblown. Hugh Lupus is mine enemy ; but so God helj) me, as I will not crush him with the hand of office till he be traitor manifest ! If there be any amongst these noble peers whom I offend by this, let them pronounce, and I will bow me to their censure." Kut there was not a single gainsaying voice. I'lambard, who, during all this, had i)laced one foot upon the lowest step of the throne, now murmured in the King's ear, " Let pass, my Liege, and be the shame on me." Then, aloud, "Pardon, great King; very hardly did I look for rebuke at your Grace's hand, nor that the voice of all your lieges should thus be surety lor Hugh Lupus' faith ; I pray God, their pledges be redeemed ! and touch- ing the hot words of arrest your Grace reproves me for, I say but as it is written, (if these holy bishops be well re- membered,) ' The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up.' " He stretchiil his arm towards the Marshal, who, in his turn, waved for free passage to the Earl of Chester. All fell back with alacrity, to mark their triumph over the minister ; and, with a measured step, without a single word of parting reverence, Hugh-Ie-Loup and Reginald de Lacy quitted the royal hall. — Anon., Rufus ; or, llu Red King. Ill How Matilda Queen ^nr^ i;- Treated Jl, ,.^ ^" '^"^ impress seated Reading Abbey Ala. Ida ,nto England, and ,o g ve l.;'"'"-' ""^ "-"'P-- '«o nephews „f u., ,,,^ B^^Jo R ' '"'S'^'^' ""^ "'« Oi' m,atcs did renounce ,1^,> " ^°^" """^ '».->">• of „„. •^"''.Join her standard. Bi' LnT"? '° ^'"S S'^phen cont.nued .o hold the cas,^ o , ^'''''•. "'''^ »""''' have lor that fearful fast, Jn il^rT, " " ''^'^ ""' '-■- d'ocese, and there amidst the I, ! ^^'f ^^ El^-, ,„, „„„ very spot ,vl,ere Hereward the ' Z"!^ ^''"'' '"'^ °" 'he stood ^Vilh■an, the Connueror ""^ ^^""" '»d with collected a great force 'S slT" "" «"'^' ^""'P-' d b.sl,ops were seen n,oum d on '^ t": '" °'"- P-'s our "nd d.recting i„ ,he battle or tL '' "''^ '" ^™°"^ "^'"Ody were the battles whTcht '"'T' """^ "'^"^ -'d J^rs, and until King Stephen '^°"*'''" ^"""g two ;" |'>e great battle of U co/n "VT''"^ and defeated J^arl of (Gloucester, the half h .'"''" P^''^°"- ''V the ^'^P >en .as now Ihro „ I^^^T °' "" "-'"P-" Castle, and his brother "he Bi,h T°" '" ^"^^"^''^ i i8 STEPHEN and led her in triumpli to his cathedral church at Winches- ter, and there blessed all who should he ohedient to her, and cursed all who should refuse to submit to her authority. And this being done, Stephen's brother, the bishop and legate aforesaid, did convene an assembly of churchmen to ratify her accession. At this synod the s.iid legate bore testimony against his brother, and said that God had pro- nounced judgment against him ; and the great churchmen, to whom it chiefly belongs to elect kings and ordain them, did elect Matilda to fill the place which Stephen's demerits had vacated. Vet some of the clergy there who did not think that they could be so easily discharged of the oaths they had taken unto Stephen, or move so far in this matter without a direct command from our lord the pope, and many lords there were, as well of the laity as of the clerg)', who did not like ^^atilda the better for knowing more of her. But not one felt more unhappy at these changes than our good lord abbat, who came back from the last meeting of the clergy at Winchester well nigh broken-hearted ; for, albeit he lamented his errors, he had much affection for King Stephen and great reverence to the obligations o.' an oath, and very earnestly desired peace and happiness to the country. Affairs were in this state, and the flames of civil war were raging all round us, and the health ot our good lord ; bbat was daily breaking more and n. ire, when the Em[iress Matilda passed through Reading wiiliout stopjiing at our abbey to say an orison at her father's grave, being on her way to Westminster, there to be crowned and anointed by those who had crowned K,:ig Stephen only si.\ years ago. But the citizens of London, who were very bold and poiver- ful, loved Stephen more than Matilda, and befo'e the coronation dresses could be got ready they rose upon licr and drove her from the city, flying on horseback and at first almost alone, as she did. This time the daughter of tin Beauclerc found it opportune to come to our abbey, for ^^ATILDA AT READIXG ABBEY 19 ^■'- to procure, then,' A n"ete " ' ""'' '"''■' "°' "'here l-nnounced that she was coW fnH T \ ^"""^''"^ horse '"d put his Least i,«o ourTor? ,T , ^^' ""-' "'"'-• "'e n,an f dust was seen rolh,;" o.^fhe "'"\^'''"^"' "^ ^-a^ cloud from the eastward. ^ '^ ™^'^ '"-'Jond the Kennet poisons »4l,' her T'the'cor^f'' '' "°'"'"^' ''"^ <"■" brin. Kood lord al.hat, ^'and .lh^> '" " «*'>l«ind," said our men do say tl,e contrary 'i"-;' f'^ ''°"^« ('hough so„,e f\ '■■-'^t year, and at th s am. "'"' ^""-^ ^°'"eth at odge and entertain King Ste n ''h" °' "''^ >''^"' '^'-' did h,™ ; and now „,ust I feas h s Cf "'"'"' '■"' '° '"'-■■^^ (^od save Queen AlatiM, ' Thf™^' "■°™" ^"d cry I'eople be slow ol con, nrehe ""'ettered and rustic, 'he;.- hearts turned fr, ': ' '7": ^'^V"" "^'-'>' -^o' ha -d changings? And so „o , as th' '"^ "^'^ ^''^^'"^^ their faith or belief in ,h ^'-' eommoner sort lot and havoc wil, Z'V^^ '-"-Ples of their betters r^t 'h'-^, already „,i.ed peo ,1 L' t' °"'" ''''■ '''''' P^opW-t '"okwards into blood and Z""' ""u '^'""""n^-will go cottage and cottage as Venn , "'" ''" "'a'' between The -U^ress. Leu ar i "d ir" """= '""^ '^='"' ^ "umerous atrendance ■ for .„ , "'"■ 8^'^^' ^nd with a stealthily out of lZ'ouVT" ''"^ ^°""'^-^'l hy get L ™ad. Sooth to s rshT'wa '°"" '*'' J™™<1 her on f -d loud-voiced, nLit ::,::,:rrT' ^'"^ '"^^'-■-' presence. Maugre her hastv fl , u °^ " ^'^''^ ''"Posin.: gold on her head, and S,,^''' '''' ''"' ^ -^"^"net of her garmer.', were of „ , '^ ""' °" ''« breast and -■'h a truculent^;/, ^ -^ «oid A foreigT'loTd her, and another knight, w"th 'a vf " "'^"^ '^'''"^ "before a je«-elled sceptre ' ' ' '"'-" "° 'e" stern, carried Tis mine own fitlm,' u '^''hinourgates,'.S';'--^;;j'^sheasshecame m and do,ng of mine own 20 STEPHEN father, of blessed memory, and much, oh monks ! did you wrong him and me by entertaining within these walls the foul usurper Stephen. The usurper is rotting in the nether- most dungeon of Uristowe Castle, and there let him die : but, oh abbat, lead me to my dear father's tomb, that I may say a prayer for the good of his soul ; and see in the coinintr place what money thou hast in hand, for much do I lack money, and must for the nonce be a borrower ! Hid thy people make ready a banquet in the hall, for we be all fasting and right liungry ; and send into the township and c:ill forth each man that hath a horse and a sword, in order that he may follow us to Oxcnford, and help to be our guard upon the way. Do these few things, oh abbat, and I will yet hold thee in good esteem. The land rings with thy great wealth and power. By Notre Dame of Anjou ! 'tis a goodly house, and the walls be strong, and the ditch round about broad and deep— by the holy visage of St. Luke ! I will not hence to-night though all the rebel citizens of London, that do swarm like bees from their hives, should follow me so far." Our good lord abb.it could do little more than bow and cro.ss himself, and our jirior of the bellicose humour, who partook in our abbat's affection for King Stephen, reddened in the face and turned aside his face and grinded his teeth, and muttered down his own throat, " Beshrew the distaff ! The Beauclerc, her sire, was more courteous unto clerks ! " Our sub-prior, being of a more supple nature, and being, moreover, not without his hopes of being nominated to the abbatial dignity so soon as our lord abbat should be laid under the chancel of the abbey church, kneeled before the Empress-queen, and then formed some of the monks in processionale, and began leading the way to the sepulchre of Henricus Primus. But this roused the abbat and threw the thou>jhts of our prior into another channel, and the lord abbat said in a grim and loud whisper unto the sub-prior, " I am chief here, and none must move without my MATILDA AT RHADIXc ABBEY 3, ;\n ye will not, I can getTe ;„ '^"' "'""^ ''"^"^ '° d" it ' _^° t,me have I to losefand Unev ?,"' T' ''"'"^°"'^- co_m,„g ! " ""a money and aid must be forth- '"hen up spake the lord ahh,. r^ loud voice, "Oh dread hd,e h u^'"'^ ='"<^ ^^id in a '°" of justice, ^„ %™'^^; ;''™. 'hat King of peace and ouse, he did give uf hll ro^; cC'^^' f^ ^-"d this '.«no person, great or .sma ,^1 \""'"^''" ''^ ^="d, » due custom, exact anythinf'n , '' ''^' "'"''•""^^ or a person, lands, or posse "f ,vL "'^"^'■"= f™-" 'he 'he monastery of Readin-' no f ""'^ ''^longing unto •-■"y 'ax for the building of ' Cir ""' """"'>■ "or ask or for horses for carrjint nor f °' ''''^''- ^°^ ^-"riages "■''^■'her for shipn,oney' or "r^ te "' '"''""' °' "^"''siS y' "or . ..." '" "^'''"'^■™°"ey or for presents .oi;^-'^-'ose„st... said Matilda, "I on,y.^^^ ^'r^p^rX!:T::SZJ^ 'T"' °^^" our '-■\"d the foundation chart r^r '^""'^ """^ P''or. o- ai,bat, "recommend ar° "'-'"'™^ I'rimus," said royal founder to observe the carf.'"''"^°" °' "^'^ ^^'d < v.ne favour and preserva ,L a d n' "''^' "■'■^" ^^ '"^ dict-on upon any one that slnll' ^^^^"""""^ ^ "lale- donations. Dread ladie, thou „ ;.'>"'' "' '^'"''"''^ hi, 'he curse of a father is hard t" bearT ' ""*"'^ '^-gh.e- .. '°"o-r^nhri::s\r^'--^^'"«--.her only stretched out her'rig Hand nd '"' "°' •'' '^"^'^ -he 'he mterior of our abbey" ^ """^ P°'"'<^d forward, into K "'e, on the broad slab of STEPHEN which there burnwl unceasing limps, and sweet incense re- newed every hour, and at the edge of which there was ever some brother of the house telling his heads and praying for the defunct King, the founder of the house. Dim was the spot, for death is darkness, and too much light suits ill with the decaying flesh and bones of mortal man, be he king or plough-hind; yet, as the Empress-queen entered, our acolytes touched the tips of three hundred and sixty- five tai>ers-sweet smelling tapers made of the wax brought from (lascony and Spain and Italie-and in an mstant that dun sepulchral place was flooded with light the converging rays meeting and shining brightest upon' the black slab and the graven eiiilaph which began with the proud titles of the Beauclerc King, and which ended with that passage from holy writ which saith that all is vanitv here below. ' Matilda knelt and put her lips to that black slab (wh'ch she safely might do, for it was kept clear of all dirt and dust, It bemg the sole occupation of one of the lay brothers of our house to rub it everyday and keep it clean), and she said an orison, of the shortest, and made some show of .shedding tears; but then she .luickly rose, and would have gone forth from the vault or cappella. But the lord abbat was not mmded that the first visit paid by his daughter to the tomb of her father should pass off with so little cere mony and devotion ; and, he himself taking the lead with his deep solemn voice, the Officium de I-'unctorum or Service for the Dead, was recited and chanted. The Empress-queen was somewhat awed and moved, and there seemed to be penitential tears in her eyes as we chaunted Ueati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur " ; but at the last "requiem aiternam " she flung away from the place and began to talk with a loud shrill voice of worldly affairs and of battles and sieges-for the royal-born woman had the heart of a warrior, and her grandfather t,.e great Conqueror was not more ambitious or avid of dominion than she MATILDA AT READIXG An •;v the abbat to understand hat ,'S no in', I' '^ '''" so soon. Without blushing s he d d .s^ hn ' T' 'f '"""" monks could lodge her an, h ""'^ "■''^■'■^' "^^ telling us that shefouM not Irorr:"" '" '^ '"«'"' seeing that it wis l„„ , „ T/ "'^''•-'^1"%' '" the tcnvn, "•arks The ahhit bok ; !' f''^'"'^'' '>' '""' ■■"«' I""' looked at o e nl r 1 ""."''' "" •^" ""-" '"^"■"^ waiting-wo„K.,;:;o , ir ott;"'' '";' "^^ ""^"•^">- parts, only sn,iled and st ,^^ ^^1:;^ 'T '""'^" ngains;r;,:x:^:-,,::lrr\''^ walls." '"''«'- ^'-•""les within our "But I am your Queen, oh abbat said M-,iH u .. > sovereign of this realn, t?' '"'^ ''^""'"" ""d 1-vful -verit;of ,'ou; ordtn.':.. "''' '° ^" "■^■'"""•- f™"' "- " I.adie," (]uoth the abbat " r ivin „„, .. such right, or that the rule f '.S, ; di '"" ''"■^' be set a.side." l-^ntdict.is ,n any case to " But it hath been set aside " said \rntllrln " , brnow:r------a:^sStr4:?r;: gluttony of the Sa.xo.rn.onk, hf stat 's 'Jf""7^' -'J generally ill observed." "^ °"'' "'^^■'' "'-•r'-- " But I tell thee, oh stubborn monk that I ,Iu. i- queen, that I, thy liege ladie Alatilda In L ' ' "/'''"'r"- ,ourned in half the abbey, and pr.orie^'of E;^!^^ '- 24 STIil'IIEN "Tis because of these civil wnrs which Iniv. .« . rj..«,.o..ede.n,cnonofaIld,sciph:e:!:;:;^:,,S he utter un,lo,n« of this poor ,,eo,,le of ICn..la„d - 1 tlie grace of flo.l, ahl.at of Roadii.L wo, n„ , ' * conduct after the pattern of so.::'2;r:.nd™X^ .n th,s land, or willingly allow that wh„ 1, ,h' pj^.n, -ay have permitted without protest, and to h'sp tu' dishonour of their houses." =>l"rnu.ii Here the eyes of the ICmpressqueen flashed f.re and wrathful and scornful was the voice with wl .ch he s. d -to our good lord ahbat, in presence of,,, OS. j;^!:e";' "Shaveling, I a. : I, re, and will here tarry so Ion., as it su.ts my occasbns! I believe thy trnitorou aff c, ^n f, my false cous.n Stephen hath tuore to do wit "hire obsttnacy than any reverence thou bearest to the r ule ,f thu,e order But, monk, 'tis too late ! thou si o Ide h vekept thy gates closed: I and my maidens are" d, ' thy hou e, and these ,ny faithfu, knights will see thee and thy brethren slam between the horns of the altar rath.T th"n see the Queen of England thrust out like a va.^ran 1 ' fron, the abbey her own father founded " ° °=" As the Enipress-queen said these words the kni.d,ts knit thetr brows and .„ade a rattling with their swords Th chdmuch ternfythe major part of our commun tv'and 1-ehx, betng then of a ti.norous nature, and a gaai over of ot the hall. But our pr.or .spoke out with a ri-ht manful votee aga.nst the insults put upon our good ah at te in were due to the church even from the L'rcitcst of nr,„. that .>er n„her of renowned and happy memor'y, -ou 1 nl; so have treated the hum bksiservant of the clnrch o that if this unseemly business should bf tto 1 s'u "o grave-,t m.ght peradventure happen that ihe armed MATILDA AT RI:ADI\G AUHUY retainers of the al.bcy w„ul,l outla]uli..,li knights, and prmo as g,„„l men as thf hou ISC- would fight for th that (lie fathers and hrotlii church had ofttinies I ifir hves, as (iih nfth, •>uli'nt, lawl( ■ss, ungodly daj 'wn lonstralncd to d icr servants u( the th lese lur- At this discourse of our I.elli, "rned pale and her 1 use prior the Ijnpress wrath than fi ip quivered, thou-1 -qui'rn fi-'ar, as it seemed to ... off noismg with their swords ; and „„. kniKht, spoke words of gentleness and a,c put It as an entreaty rather than a h more through le ; hut her kni:;hts h/i Oi leen should he allowed of them, a native :uniuiodatii)n, an- f'^'"" 'wo Icnights who had cone LnT''.'^"'"" "'^"' ""' ">'-■ ■"ight be readnn-tted but °at „ "'^f" "•'"' "'^ '''-P^-s unbarred even unto hen nf , ''°°" "■°"''' "<" l''-" hos' went to a d s'a ' nto t^'^ '^-' ""'' "' "''^^ ^™'<^d 'here arose a loud cla^ ur ^n ' Lt'''^' ,""''• ^'"-' -ms with great reproaches andtl's f' '"" """■="" ^"'ghts, Sir Kichard a Chaml.rH , ^ <^''' "'"^ °f 'hose known for a most faithless "an J'" "'' '" '^'" ''"■<= sides as often as the mo" ZT T'' ■' "^"'^'^' changing our lord abbat apo ta.H o„lc a 'd f ''"=' ""'' ''''' <^'d <:al1 our good house witl s orm and J' '""^ "^'^ "'^'^'''^" part of us had gathered 1 '„;<;;; ^^^ "^he n,ajor hear what was passing; but ahckf " '° "'"^ ='"d run towards the back of the !bll f "'f ' '°°" -"^^e to Chambre was discoursing ift^' '"' "''"'^ ^''^ ^''^hard a shaking his mailed n/t t'.h" : ''^""^^^™'y ''^="n, and could scantly see the in of ' , ' ''"' 'h^ough which he foot, who wore black n'n a" da black" , '""' " ''"''s'^' °" and who never raised h,s visor and ' "'" '" '"^ '^"^'l'"^. 'hese fe.; came runn g old H ''"' ^""'^'^ ^ord after abbey walls, shoutin." -T ° ' •''''"" ""«'<= °f 'he 'he name of Matilda- "^" ' "^ ""^'' •' " '" in, in o/ustX:t:trSr:r;-';edtonota.w ""■"k of that. The arn ed h ' ' "' ''''"^ "° """e to -undfor ourpostt;:: ,ih"':'\;^ """'' ^"'^ -" net, and we all began to r^ tr tl^' " "'"" '^' '^<="- wringing his hands, and sL " %'"''•'"'' ^°"^ "^^ba. 'ern ! Some traitor hath betraj^ed us ' " '"^'"" ' ''' "- 28 STEPHEN when we came into the garden, we found it thronged with men already armed, and we saw the postern wide open and many more warriors rushing in through it : the evil men who had stayed with the Queen, and who had so much abused our hospitality, had already joined the new comers, and the united and still increasing force was so great that we could not hope to expel them and save our house from robbery and profanation. Our very prior smote his breast in despair. Hut our good abbat, though of a less bellicose humour, had no fear of the profane intruders, for he stood up in the midst of them and upbraided them roundly, and threatened to lay an, interdict upon them all for the' thing that they were doing. But anon the Empress herself came forth with one that waved a flag over her head, and at sight hereof the sinful men set up a shouting and fell to a kissing, some the flag, which was but a small and soiled thing] and some— on their knees— the hand of the Beauclerc's daughter ; and while this was passing, those foreign dam- sels came salting and skipping, and clapping their hands and talking Anjou French, into the garden. There was one of them attired in a short green kirtle, that had tl' smallest and prettiest feet, and the largest and blackest eyes, and the longest and blackest eyelashes, and the laughingest face, that ever man did behold in these parts of the world ; and she danced near to me on those tiny pretty feet, and glanced at me such glances from those black eyes, that my heart thumped against my ribs; but the saints gave me strength and protection, and I pulled my hood over my eyes and fell to telling my beads, and thus, when others were backsliders, I, I'elix the novice, was enabled to stand steadfast in my faith. The Empress had taken no heed of our lord abbat, or of any of us; but when she had done welcoming the knights that came to do her service, and, imprimis, to escort lier on her way to Oxenford, she turned unto the abbat ajid said, — MA-HLDA AT READING ABBEV ., "Monk, thou art too weak ,r, d-ghterofa King, .he w.d^to anl' "" ' ^"^^"- '"^ whom many kings will splf H 7^""' "'' ""'^ f™"" -h'ch we think amounts toTatn T ^l "'^ P"^"^"y. penalty of deprivation ; and when' I ^"'' '"'""''^ "« '"atters, or at the very ,^e« ml, I '"'^ "'"'« f°' such -nd abbats, I will L thlt th'"^ ". ''"°'' °' '"'"'ops imprisoned." '"'" "'°" "' both deprived and - »^:ar^;:t;-ff- very „.,,,., ,„„^^^^ the Pope." ^ '5'"°'* I ^M appeal to his holiness ^tT^hersst;:t"r---"p -eh-beloved subject and We, d the B' l""'' '^^^'^ '^ °"^ "See that you keep his Xtn ,"£ °^ ""'"Chester." upon a throne, and can pTll vou h '' . ' ^'^ P"' y"" So spake our prior wh. ^ m °"'" "herefrom ! " '-.ment the cTnL^rA" r'^'r^'^'^ ''''^ --ent and who knew that MatHda hfd .f "''°" ''' '"P^"°^- her compact with him, and done d TTl "''^' ''",''en o King Stephen's bother the „rl\''«'"y "^'^P'^asing Winchester. "' ""^ '0"ghheart«d Bishop of 'Beshrew me'" mmti, nr ■, •nonksbeproudof stomachl'd V,,"""' "'■^^ ^-ding of Mantes, drive them mf. ^t ct 1°" ' "' ^''"^-" qu't it not while we tarry here ' "'' ""'^ ^^^ '^at they .^ajih:';;:^:;^^^^^'""^"^^'--"^- At this Sir VVallerpn , .It t "-> swords and call d u" thdr "tl"'"'*^'"^ ''"'«'"^ 'i'- ungodly host the abbat and por ^r^' """ '"'""^ ""'^ compelled to retreat into the church f' """'^ '^"'^ "" ^ange of the abbey to those „h " I '. "'"« '^^ «hole ■nvadedit. i^nt as^oon a^e^weret' t," """S-^^-'y of singing a A/^,,, ^ v,„ J ""« '" the choir, instead sPtravi. *""'• 've did chant /„ te, Vomin, Q.s. 30 STEPHEN A strong guard was put at the church-door and in the cloisters ; but it was not needed, as we could oppose no resistance to those who were now robbing our house ; and as it had been determined, therefore, that all who had come into the church should remain, with psalmody and prayer, until these men of • lence should takr their de- parture from the abbey, or complete their wickedness by driving us from it. As they ransacked our house as though it had been a castle taken by storm, and as they shouted and made such loud noises as soldiers use when a casic or a town h's been successfully stormed, we only chat ■ 'd the louder in the choir. For full two hours did these partisans of Matilda ransack the abbey, with none to say them nay. At the end of that time they had gotten all that they considered worth taking. " And now," quoth the violent daughter of the lieauclerc, "let us ride on our way for Oxenford. Methinks we be now strong enough to defy all traitors on the road." And she struck with her riding-wand the grey palfrey, which it much grieved our abbat to lose, and, followed by her knights and her leering and laughing foreign damsels, she rode out at our gate, and with a great host departed from Reading — C. Macfarl.vne, a Legend of Reading Abbey. IV Th( le Qiiteii at Fair Rosamond's Bower lion, until her whole figure ZrZ """"S ^"''■ with head e.evated^'.td^S reyTLTVi"°:H -eld ...r::- a:d"„;x^- ircr - revenge ,s at hand; nor will I d.^-,v7h ,, .. . °^ "^ hungers." She tooL up a 1 1 s 1 eVbel. ttd " "'"■'^' " ;t. Her attendant, 0.i,ha„t U.^.eth^^J'i^X'™ '-er^;L":drr^:::r^i-;v^<;;^^ a commander on the eve of battle '^ '''"°""-- "All as your highness ordered," replied V„al .,i . paused, as ,f afraid to finish the sentence! ^""^ himsSv'S tS^n ''°7tt"""^ "''"■^'' '" '^"' Satan Crusad;r or Saracen^ ' ''^"" "^"" ^'""^^ '^^ % of i^ 32 HENRY 11 " Speak not so loud, lest we should be overheard," said lileaiior, casting her dark eyes cautiously around the apart- ment. " But how," added she, suddenly changing her mood after having walked to and fro in the apartment, "how shall we gain admittance to the palace of Wood- stock ? " "They have no orders to keep out your highness," replied Oliphant, " as I learned from one who hath but little love for the minstrel, but, on the contrary, are to treat you as if nothing was amiss." " Then to-morrow will we take up our abode at Wood- stock," said the Queen, " and until then we leave all to thy management." So saying, she iiuitted the apartment. The next day Eleanor arrived at the palace of Woodstock, and drawing up with her retinue, demanded entrance ; while Oliphant Ugglethred with half a score of soldiers were stationed in an adjacent thicket. As the drawbridge was down, only the huge bars of the portcullis prevented the party from making good their entry ; but a man-at-arms who was pacing to and fro within the gloomy postern, refused to raise the grated doorway without the governor's orders. "The Queen of England demands admission, sirrah," said Eleanor, waving back the attendant who had in vain sued for entrance, and riding up to the strong fastness, "and unless the portcullis is instantly upraised, may doom you to waver over the battlements of the postern." "Were it King Henry himself," replied the warrior, still pacing to and fro with the partisan in his hand, " he knows a sentinel's duty, and must bide the coming of the gover- nor." Meantime De Whycherly arrived, to whom the keeping of the palace was entrusted, and without further parley, ordered the Queen's instant admission, adding, " My orders extend not to the entry of your Highness' attendants." " We take the command upon ourselves," replied Eleanor AT FAIR ROSAMOND'S BOWER 33 haughtily ; and while she snolcp .1, , . thred at their head, drew up f'A t /-"^j'' "'"■ ^'«K'<^- that the knight was abo.t to make 1' "'"''' '""' ■^^^"■^ as it regardc-th our own -.ttendTn, r '■'=-''^'='"«. "so far extend not to my follower" "''' ' ''"'' ""'' >°"' orders said the knight, "mlcommtnH ^ "T ^^'^^ '^at hour," "'<■ King's ..L^ce""'' """' ^^ ^"^o^^d during «.:Jny^;' S.r;d,.^^ff^T::J-"-P''ed K,eanor, sports beyond that period we can r.' k ^f°"^ °" that faces the pleasance '' So Z- " ^^ "'^ P°^'«'" court.yard, and' resfg^ng her IL t "'' '"'° '"^ entered the hall of the palace ^ *'"' '>«™dant, orltrdXrwafutr":?' •" --•' '^^ ^'^de through the iLbyrint a" t vZZ "^ "■^"^ '^°"^- search in despair. Two dV.T ^f^'^^red gave up the able to explore the lab^rinlh' ''''' """ ''"'" '"^^ --e leadSThet; IThV' "'' '""''"'' ^-"- ^till waved\ertorcl^:tdt^rrlott^'^'^■ ^""^ ^"^ of those gloomy depths which hVn , ''" '"'° '°"'e nges; then aga^n .0' examine the'dstlm T "'"""'' '"' .f there was any outlet through the archeH^"' '"" ^^^' sr^s^^t:.srr£°^r----he >ed the way, exolaimfng tSI ZmT "'"'^' ^'^ '^''" sounded awfully through the vau ted '. ^"^' ''^"gh, which to put up her silk before she det'd h'' ',' ''^ '°'^°' went somewhat quicker than / c , ' '"'^ "'"'""S'^ ^^e trail!" ^ "'^" ^ '"ail, yet here is her Ugglethred held his torch f„ ,1, asshesaid.-Rosamondlherflthrri''-'' ""' -^" of scarlet silk from her Ian a„H " ^'"^^"^ ""= '-'"^ lap, and as one end was passed ■li'l I ttl 34 HENRY II through the sheath in her girdle, it became unwound, and at once betrayed her path. There was now no further ditficulty ; the few menials who waited upon, and might yet have aided Rosamond, had flown to sucli hiding-places as were only known to themselves. Gamas Cobbo alone dared to show his teeth before them ; but he, like a dog, kept barking and retreat- ing, until one of the soldiers made a cut at him with his sword, and he fled before them. True as a bloodhound to its track, did Eleanor follow the silken clue,— she came to the foot of the tower— it was still there :— step by step, like a silent guide, it pointed out the way ;— there was no obstacle,— not an arm was uplifted to contest the passage. They entered the chief apartment, which was dark, until their torches broke the gloom, and before- the images of Madonna and child, with clasped hands, and checks bedewed with 'ears, knelt fair Rosa- mond. Kleanor stood for a few moments over her victim, like a dark thunder-cloud lowering above the goodly oak,' before the bolt is launched that prostrates it for ever. As her tall figure drew nearer, the form of Rosamond seemed to shrink before it ; like a dove burying itself in its nest, while the wmgs of the fierce hawk flap coldly above her. She ventured to turn her head as she knelt,— it was an unconscious movement, -her eyes also raised themselves o( their own accord,— it might be that she looked up towards Heaven ; but there only glared the fiery comet that denoted death,— the revengeful countenance of Eleanor hung over her. She uttered a loud shriek, and fell upon the floor. " Hast thou got the phial from Belton ? " said Kleanor. " It is there ! " said Jgglethred, pointing to the table without evincing the least emotion ; " but she will need a goblet to quaff' it from." " Here is one," said Eleanor, taking a silver cup from a niche, and examining it minutely : " the very goblet," added • A...i befo.. ,„, ;,„,,,, „, ^,^.,^„_,^^ ^^_^^ ^^.__^- ^^_^^_ ^^- — fair Kosaniniirl. ■ >\\' AT FAIR ROSAMOND'S BOVVER 35 she, " which I gave to Henry in France, and in which 1 drank to him at our own nuptials ; -cursed be the remem- brance ! But here is that which will sweeten the bitter draught," continued she, emptying the poison into the goblet; "rouse her, Ugglethred, to pledge the health of Henry of England." "What would you with me?" said Rosamond, starting up wildly, and throwing her hair back : " what wrong have I done, that ye cast such menacing looks upon me ? Whom have I injured, that ye seek to harm me? " Eleanor drew her mantle back with one hand, and fixing her baleful glance upon her like the fabled basilisk, as if she would strike her dead with her eyes; while a cold blooded scorn curled her haughty lips, and her nostrils dilated like that of a savage when he is said to smell the blood of his enemy, as she exclaimed, " Cunning harlot I 1 do but demean myself to waste a word upon thee. Is it nothing to step in between me and the affections of the King? to lay out thy allurements and wean him from his yueen?— to sow dissension in our bosoms, and cause him to leave the mighty affairs of his realms to hold dalliance with a strumpet like thyself? Couldst thou fly at none other game? Would none but a king suit thy dainty taste, to pinch and play with thy pallid cheeks? Poor pitiful wretch ! I do thee too much honour to administer with my own hand the death that shall crown thy ambition." "I am not what thou hast named me," said Rosamond m a low, but firm voice. " God is witness that I am not ■ that I have never sought to sow dissension between thee and his Highness ; but that long before I heard of thy name, or knew " she paused- buried her face in her hands, and .idded,-" Heaven knows my innocence I" " What art thou then ?-speak ! " said Eleanor, springing forward and grasping her by the arm, and dragging her towards the light, with as much ease, as if she had but seized the wrist of a child. " Art thou his wife ?-Down on ilil 36 HF.NRY II thy knees, and swear, hy the Holy Virgin, tlmt ihon wert married to Henry befure he knew me, and I will forgive thee. Bring me the damning proofs ! ' idded she, her voice rising as she spoke, "and confirm it in the eyes of all Kngland, and I will give th^i. .iich a dower as never fell to the share of a Norman dau^jhii r. Thou tremblcst ! " con- tinued she, grasping her wrist tighter ; " thy voice falters I thou liest ! " and she drove her back with such force that Rosamond would have fallen had she not caujjht by the figure of ,e Madonna. " Holy Virgin, protect me ! " said Rosamond, folding her hi' lis, and lifting up her beautiful eyes to Heaven, while l''.;r fair cheeks were pale as death ; "grant nie strength to endure this trial, then take me to thyself." "There is some mystery in this affair," said Ut;glethred, turning to Eleanor ; "were it not lictter to awail the return of the King, and confront them face to face ? " " Hold thy peace, fool," replied the an^ry Queen ; "art thou also in league with Rosamond ; and scikest to elude my vengeance by gaining time ? No ! " added shi: sternly, and seizing the goblet as she spoke, " her day ul iiurcy is past. Here," continued she, holding the cup in one hand and brandishing the dag.nv.T in the mhcr, " 1 give thee thy choice, drain me this goblet to the very dregs, or with my own hand I will let out thy lustful blood." "Oh, have mercy on ine ! " exrlainied Rosamond, throw- ing herself on her knees, and laying hold of I'',leanor's garment. "Thou art thyself a mother! oh, sp.ire me for the sake of my children." " Wert thou my daughter, I would show tlue no mcrrv," replied the cruel Queen; "loose thy hold, viper 1 and implore me no longer, lest I set my heel upon all thy poisonous brood, and crush tliem as I would the eggs of .t cockatrice. Answer me, wilt thou drink, or com|iel me to defile my hands with thy blood ? " "Oh- spare my life," rontinm-d Rosamond, still knet-HiiL' AT FAIR ROSAMONDS BOWI-R 37 " let nic not taste of death s "Grant me then a brief space for prayer" snid kn,-, branches " Wh^n .,(,„ i, .u scaling the topmost Shalt die." ^'"' P''" "'^ '"■8'-' •-"«'.. thoi, " Then is my hour indeed at hand " renii .H p remembered the days when she had gaL ,1 "u,;,, f" same casement awaiting the return of Henry Pnen 1 er ;::r^^^;::;^::i:sx^a,!tr^-"" .er h...d She. „ With he;^--t-;- Eleanor aho watched with impatience the rising orb; HENRY II half her disk already stood bold and bare upon the brow of Heaven, making the deep blue of night around her look darker. But the Queen's face still retained the same cold, cruel expression ; not a cloud had faded from her brow ;— her compressed lips and steady eye told that she was firm to her purpose. " It is time," said Eleanor, in a voice which, like the sound of the last trumpet, when it shall awaken the dead, caused Rosamond to spring instantly upon her feet, and, without uttering a word, she held out her arm for the goblet. With steady hand and fixed eye, and such a look as would have driven the blood back into the boldest heart, did Eleanor deliver the cup to her trembling victim. Rosamond held it in her hand for a moment, uplifted her eyes to Heaven, while her lips were seen to move, she then closed them— drained the cup to the dregs,— and uttering a deep groan, fell upon the floor. — T. MlI.i.ER, J-'air Kosamond. 4 hi How the Queen of the Forest met the King of the Land ■p OBIN and Marian u elt and reigned in the forest XV ranging the glades and the greenwoods from the mafns of the lark to the vespers of ti.o nightingale, and admm.stenng natural justice according to Robin's ideas of rect^ymg the inequalities of human condition : raisin, genial dews from the bags of the rich and idle, and return ■ng them ,n fertilising showers on the poor and industrious ■ an operation which more enlightened statesmen have happil, reversed to the unspeakable benefit of the community at arge. The light footsteps of Marian were impressed on the morning dew beside the firmer step of her lover, and they shook Its large drops about them as they cleared them selves a passage through the thick tall fern, without any fear of catching cold, which was not much in fashion in the twelfth century. Robin was as hospitable as Cathmor • for seven men stood on seven paths to call the strangers to his teast. It IS true, he superadded the small improvement of making the stranger pay for it: than which what could be more generous ? For Cathmor was himself the prime giver of his feast, whereas Robin was only the agent to a series 01 strangers, who provided in turn for the entertainment of their successors; which is carrying the disinterestedness of hospitality to its acme. Marian often killed the deer, Which Scnrlet dressed, and Friar Tuck blessed, While Little John wandered in search »f » (piett. if i''% \ 40 KICHARD Robin was very devout, though there was great unity in his religion: it was exclusively given to our Lady the Virgin, and he never set forth in a morning till he had said three prayers, and had heard the sweet voice of his Marian sing- ing a hymn to their mutual patroness. I';ach of his men had, as usual, a patron saint according to his name or taste. The friar chose a saint for himself, and fixed on Saint ISotolph. whom he euphonised into Saint Bottle, and main- tained that he was that very Panomphic Pantagruelian saint well known in ancient I'rance as a female divinity by the name of La Dive bouteillc, whose oracular monosyllable, ■'Trinc(i," i.s celebrated and understood by all nations, and is expounded by the learned doctor Alcofribas, who has treated at large on the subject, to signify " drink." Saint Bottle, then, was the saint of Kriar Tuck, who did not yield even to Robin and Marian in the assiduity of his devotions to his chosen patron. Such was their summer life, and in their winter caves they had sufficient furniture, ample pro- vender, store of old wine, and assuredly no lack of fuel, with joyous music and pleasant discourse to charm away the season of darkness and storms. Many moons had waxed and waned, when on the after- noon of a lovely summer day a lusty, broad-boned knight was riding through the forest of Sherwood. The sun shone brilliantly on the full green foliage, and afforded the knight a fine opportunity of observing picturesque effects, of which it is to be feared he did not avail himself. But he had not proceeded far before he had an opportunity of observing something much more interesting, namely a fine young out- law leaning, in the true Sherwood fashion, with his back against a tree. The knight was preparing to ask the stranger a question, the answer to which, if correctly given, would have relieved him from a doubt that pressed heavily on his mind, as to whether he was in the right road or the wrong, when the youth prevented the inquiry by say- ing : " In God's name, sir knight, you are late to your '1 ' 1 1 '■ nini HI 1 , 'in t if' tr ' mea houi u I ar vicin treac "\ does "J and i "A "h every "G biddir "I suasio "Sa striplir "Th "W. "Isho thy inji "Pe my sec Thereft "It sumptic Here a meeti ceeded The 1 and skill than the as reduc TOR QUERN OF THE FOREST 4, hrrs:""'''"^^'"'^-^^'--^'^--^- you .,...,,.. vicinage." '^' """^ ' ''"°"' ""ne in this " We feared," said the vm.ti, n treacherous: therej^e am I s^ ^ Tu """""'^ "°"'<^ '''= "Who is your„" n ."r ^^'"^"''''■" does he abide?" '^"^ 'he knight ;'■ and where an^Te^aSLdt^ ''°""'' "' '^"'^'^ '^°'^'" «-''. "And what knows he of me? "said the kni»ht He knows you," answered the youth "a, h ^ every wayfaring knight and friar, by fns ^t." '' '"" Oramercy," said the knight ■ " fh^n i j bidding: buthowiflsaylwt ;otcome' " '"' "" i am enjoined to brine vou " saW n,„ ' ,. suas^navai. not, I must u'se'^her:;^^'- '' ""■ "That " said the young forester, " we will see." We are not equally matched, boy" said thp 1, • u "I should get less honour bv thJ. '^'^ the knight, thy injury " ^ ""^ conquest, than grief by " Perhaps," said the youth " mv .!fr».,„.k ■ my seeming, and my cunning more thfn '' """' """" Therefore let it please your knighthood to .'' ''''"^"'• "It Shan please my knighthood to cLs'rtl'"-' sumption," said the knight, springing from hsaddl "''" a mtrnr^wt; t^^o t^^ '^^^ --'.hfretlt of ceeded to fighr ^ ^"'°"' '"'y^'^'''' '^ey pro- anltkii^rt rSeVhad-rs::; fhTt '°''r"^^^^ *an the knight, and showed schal^s'te;' f"°h" ''"' « reduced the latter , ■ great admiratbn ' ' '" ""P°" 42 RICHARD I They liad not fought many minutes by the forest clock, the sun ; and had as yet done each other no worse injury than that the knight had wounded the forester's jerkin, and the forester had disabled the knight's plume ; when they were interrupted by a voice from a thicket, exclaiming, " Well fought, girl : well fought. Mass, that had nigh been a shrewd hit. Thou owest him for that, lass. Marry, stand by, I'll pay him for thee." The knight turning to the voice, beheld a tall friar issuing from the thicket, brandishing a ponderous cudgel. "Who art thou?" said the knight. " I am the church militant of Sherwood," answered the friar. " Why art thou in arms against our lady queen ? " " What meanest thou ? " said the knight. " Truly, this," said the friar, " is our liege lady of the forest, against whom I do apprehend thee in overt act of treason. What sayest thou for thyself?" "I say," answered the knight, "that if this be indeed a lady, man never yet held me so long." " Spoken," said the friar, " like one who hath done execution. Hast thou thy stomach full of steel? Wilt thou diversify thy repast with a taste of my oak-graff? Or wilt thou incline thine heart to our vension, which truly is cooling ? Wilt thou fight ? or wilt thou dine ? or wilt thou fight and dine ? or wilt thou dine and fight ? I am for thee, choose as thou mayest." " I will dine," said the knight ; " for with lady I never fought before, and with friar I never fought yet, and with neither will I ever fight knowingly : and if this be the queen of the forest, I will not, being in her own dominions, be backward to do her homage." So saying, he kissed the hand of Marian, who was pleased most graciously to express her approbation. " Gramercy, sir knight," said the friar, " I laud thee for thy courtesy, which I deem to be no less than thy valour. Now do thou follow me, while I follow my nose, which THE QUEEN OF THE FOREST 43 my lady." ^'"^ ""y '"'"«. •'"'d do thou lead Wh« guide can you foIW * * '' OwbrMk and oVr hollow, So true,,, ghostly, ghostly nose? outlaw, or the woodman S f u' "''""'' ">* ''^^^ ">e o( the young Zpices thr "'f'^^' *'°"gh the close shoots •he narrow glade andTaved h. ^'^"""' " "■" ""^'^ above the plume of the kntht a! 'T ''"'""^ ''^^'^^ they walked in single file t-^ ' •"^."'"' ^y'^"" ""^y^ i" the van, the hofse pi n'g g td fl?'"/ '"' '"""^^""S War, the lady following ""fn main Inf ""^ ^''"'' ""^ and the knight bringing up Th " rT" '^"^^-f'^e." thestrangecompanytnto which hr; '""^^"'"^^"'■"g at Their path had expanded Tffi " ^'"^ ""■°^" him. take Marian's hand a^S whf Th^ '" ""7 '''^ ''"«''' '" presence Of Robin H^or'aSTistoLt ""' '" ""^ ^"^"^' cano;y"o;,i:t^z:h:''r.h:"ef '^. "'^"^ "--^"'"^ verdure, starred with fln J .u ^^ °^ " "=""'»' l^"" of parent ivulet ranT'lpaSn?- '^ u^'^rh^ T^-- «plendourof Itly pSThrchtrT''^' "■"^" ^'"^'"^ had unwillingly cLX;e; ^ J; " °^/°«""«'!- -h an excellent cook, whom LittleTl ".^1^,^':;^^ l"i':^l Si ; 44 RICHARD I away to the forest with the contents of his master's silver snillcry. \'i hundred foresters were here assembled, overready for their dinner, some seated at the table and some lying in "roups under the trees. Robin made courteous welcome to the knight, who took his seat between Robin and Marian at the festal board ; at which was already placed one strange guest in the person of a portly monk, sitting between little John and Scarlet, with his rotund physiognomy elongated into an unnatural oval by the conjoint influence of sorrow and fear : sorrow for the departed contents of his travelling treasury, a good- looking valise which was hanging empty on a bough ; and fear for his personal safety, ot which all the flasks and pasties before him could not give him assurance. The appearance of the knight, however, cheered him up with a semblance of protection, and gave him just sufficient courage to demolish a cygnet and a numblepie, which he diluted with the contents of two flasks of canary sack. But wine, which sometimes creates and often increases joy, doth also, upon occasion, heighten sorrow : and so it fared now with our portly monk, who had no sooner ex- plained away his portion of provender, than he began to weep and bewail himself bitterly. "Why dost thou weep, man?" .aid Robin Hood. "Thou hast done thine embassy justly, and shalt have thy Lady's grace." " Alack ! alack ! " said the monk : " no embassy had i. luckless sinner, ai well thou wottest, but to take to my abbey in safety the treasure whereof thou hast despoiled me." , , .„ "Propound me his case," said Friar Tuck, "and I will give him ghostly counsel." "You well remember," said Robin Hood, " the sorrowful knight, who dined with us here twelve months and a day gone by." -rilK QUHliN OK THE i-OKEST "Well do I," said Friar Tuck. "Hi, in,, i jeopardy with a certain al.bot who wo„: , ""' '" day for their redemption wL •'"""' "° ^""S'^' four hundred pouX whichl 1"'h'7""J'"' '"'"■" ""-' to repay this day, "hou!!, he hL f' ""■ "''''^'' ''« "''« than our Udy the S '' "° "" '''""'^ '" ^'^'^ ^ii:ir:S'::^5';^;»^^/fV'^-.>e..everyet flocMhis raithru. al'^ ^Jnir r::„rorSt''u "'T" hath brought it me duly, principal anriTr ^">"' as Little John can testi/y.'Jho "^l f o .r T ", '""''' lie denied havine it h,it ,k,. ™° '"= sure, sought and found It " ""' '° P™^*^ °"^ '-'!'• We " I ^"ow nothing of vour knlcrht " j , the money was our^wnf a^tll V/ 'i, If. K,""""'' "'"" "She shall bless thee." sad Kr I'r T 'f "l"" '"'" messenger." '^"" '^"<^''. for a faithful him'his'"rors;""Sin''' ""^- '•■"■'-- J""" '-"g^t sprang with singula^ nmSss,'"; '^^^ '° '''"' "« ■sh^d wiHout spying. ^Xu^o ^y''"' '"' '- ^^The stranger knight laughed hear%,fL„,„„,^^^^ ."I have won," saldTh "k'ngTt^'rld'l' '" '°^^" m.rth, and some knowledge • -.nd T . ^ , """' '°'"'-- for them." ^ ' "" ^ """»' lose by paying "Bravely said," answered Robin. "Sfll i, . thee to pay ; for it is not meet (h=.V . becomes treat a rich knight. How m^ch mo \^°°' ^°'''''' ^'^°"'d "Troth, I io.x^:Z'".::vzf'zT '''''" much, sometimes little, so„,etimes none B„t T'""' what thou findest keep: and for th. ,^"' f "^'', an.l lieart and open hand, be it what T,,, ,'','„ °^ "^^ •""'' more." ""' " '"ay. I si all «ish it were i. If |1| t'l- 46 RICHARD I "Then, since thou sayes; v>," said Robin, " not a penny will I touch. Many a false churl comes hither, and dis- burses against his will : and till there is lack of these, I prey not on true men." "Thou art thyself a true man, right well I judge, Robin," said the stranger knight, "and seemest more like one bred in court than to thy present outlaw life." "Our life," said the friar, "is a craft, an art, and a mystery. How much of it, think you, could be learned at court ? " "Indeed, I cannot say," said the stranger knight: "but I should apprehend very little." " And so should I," said the friar : " for we should find very little of our bold open practice, but should hear abun- dance of praise of our principles. To live in seemint; fellowship and secret rivalry ; to have a hand for all, and a heart for none ; to be everybody's acquaintance, and no- body's friend ; to meditate the ruin of all on whom we smile, and to dread the secret stratagems of all who smile on us; to pilfer honours and despoil fortunes, not by fighting in d.iylight, but by sapping in darkness : these are arts which the court can teach, but which we, by 'r Lady, have not learned. But let your court minstrel tune up his throat to the praise of your court hero, then come our principles into play : then is our practice extolled : not by the same name, for their Richard is a hero, and our Robin is a thief: marry, your hero guts an excheiiuer, while your thief disembowls a portmanteau ; your hero sacks a city, while your thief sacks a cellar : your hero marauds on a larger scale, and that is all the difference, for the principle and the virtue are one : but two of a trade cannot agree : therefore your hero makes laws to get rid of your thief, and gives him an ill name that he may hang him : for might is right, and the strong make laws for the weak, and they that make laws to serve their own turn do also make morals to give colour to their laws. " THI-: QUEEN OF THE FOREST 47 " Your comparison, friar," said the stranger, " falls In this: that your thief fights for profit, and your hero for honour. I have fought under the banners of Richard, and if, as you phrase it, he guts exchequers, and sacks cities, it IS not to win treasure for himself, but to furnish forth the means of his greater and more glorious aim." " Misconceive me not, sir kniglit," said the friar. " We all love and honour King Richard, and here is a deep draught to his health: but I would show you, that we foresters are miscalled by opprobrious names, and that our virtues, though they follow at humble distance, are yet truly akin to those of Cceur-deLion. I say not that Riihard is a thief, but I say that Robin is a hero : and for honour did ever yet man, miscalled thief, win greater honour than Robin? Do not all men grace him with some honourable epithet ? The most gentle thief, the most courteous thief, the most bountiful thief, yea, and the most honest thief. Richard is courteous, bountiful, honest, and valiant, but so also is Robin : it is the false word that makes the n.njust distinction. They are twin spirits, and should be friends, but that fortune hath difft;rently cast their lot; but their names shall descend together to the latest days, as the flower of their age and of England ; for in the pure principles of freebootery have they excelled all men ; and to the prin- ciples of freebootery, diversely developed, belong all the ciualities to which song and story concede renown." " And you may add, friar," said Marian, " that Robin, no less than Richard, is king in his own dominion ; and that if his subjects be fewer, y^t are they more uniformly loyal." " I would, fair lady," said the stranger, " that thy latter observation were not so true. But I nothing doubt, Robin, that if Richard could hear your friar, and see you and your lady as I now do, there is not a man in England whom he would take by the hand more cordially than your- self." 48 K1CII.\RD I "Cranicrcy, sir kiiiglu," said Robin But his speech was tut short by Little John calling, " Hark ! " All listened. A distant trampling of horses was heard. The sounds approached rapidly, and at length a group of horsemen glittering in holiday dresses was visible among the trees. " God's my life ! " said Robin, " what means this ? I'o arms, my merrynicn all." " No arms, Robin," said the foremost horseman, riding up and springing from his saddle. " Have you forgotten Sir William of the Lee ? " "No, by my fay," said Robin: "and right welcome again to Sherwood." Little John bustled to re-array the disorganized economy of the table, and replace the dilapidations of the provender. " I come late, Robin," said Sir William, " but I came by a wrestling, where I foimd a good yeoman wrongfully beset by a crowd of sturdy varlets, and I staid to do him right." " I thank thee lor that, in God's name," said Robin, "as if thy good service had been to myself." "And here," said the knight, "is thy four hundred pounds ; and my men have brought thee an hundred bows and as many well-furnished quivers, which I beseech thee to receive and to use as a poor token of my grateful kind- ness to thee : for me and my wife and children didst thou redeem from beggary." "The bows and arrow.s," said Robin, "will I joyfully receive : but of thy money, not a penny. It is paid al ready. My Lady, who was thy security, hath sent it me for thee." Sir William pressed, hut Robin was inflexible. "It is paid," said Robin, "as this good knight can testify, who saw my Lady's messenger depart but now." Sir William looked round to the stranger knight, and in stantly fell on his knees, s.iying, "Cod save King Richard.' TIIK (jffii;^ OK Tlfl^ loKIiST "■CH to- chard." is king "' thcu, And : l„idy fee her. .and ropcned ,n cl,„rUH: "Cud s.-,vc Kinu I. h . a, h,s lady ha.h shown. I have tard n ! Si.daVS:a:::';"""^™' '^' ' '^'- ^'> , ., Marian signed acknowledgment. niso. Robin" ■;;r:;t\!:e.M:rhr!'':','""' ^ '^- -'Idom, and l,e a peer of Gelde L o f " /"""'t'''^ -"i juster hand I never ye. fZd ^ ^"'''" ^'"' Hobm looked round on his men. andS S'tTem ';v:;^„:'T ■i^'"^' "''"" "^^"^ ^- '-<^-. tenancefron, me- and f . •""" "'"^ '"''" ^''"' ""'"■ to thy friar" ' '^'"^ ^ "^""f"' '° P"«t, it shall be inflS:;:::,itrk:T'''" "" "^ '^■^^ --^ -y (^^ in grave cases ,n° ""''^.' '"" '^ "'^ ""™'«^' '' p^^^a,.ponr down.; own t,::,:r;i,:':£;,rr:; ASS'ri::?sr;:^;:r:-^th'"i'^'"«'''^---'- of Gamwell ■ and R,l . ""-* ^"°" ^"<1 Sir Guy presencca formal n^ .'"'"^'^'f honoured with his ow' Lrs^^homhel^ ;:;rdt^^^^ "^";f """''^'^ °f"" regard. ™"stantl) disCngLnshed with hi.s peeuli.ir Tlie friar could not say, Farewell f« ,i, c something of a heiw h '" the forest, without 49 U' 5° RICHARD 1 i Ye woods, that oft at sultry noon Have o'er me spread your mas^y shade ; Ye gushing streams, whose murmureil tune Has in my car sweet music made, While, where the dancing pebbles show Deep in the restless mountain-pool The gelid water's upward flow. My second flask was laid t > cool : Vc pleasant sights of leaf and flower : Ye pleasant sounds of bird and bee: Ye sports of deer in sylvan power : Ye feasts beneath the greenwood tree : Ye basktngs in the vernal sun : Ye slumbers in the summer dell : Ye trophies that this arm has won : And must you hear your friar's farewell ? But the friar's farewell was not destim o be eternal. He was domiciled as the family confessor oi the Earl and Countess of Huntingdon, who led a discreet and courtly life, and kept up old hospitality in all its munificence, till the death of King Richard and the usurpation of John, by placing their enemy in power, compelled them to return to their greenwood sovereignty ; which, it is probable, they would have before done from choice, if their love of sylvan liberty had not been counteracted by their desire to retain the friendship of Cceur- de-Lion. Their old and tried adherents, the friar among the foremost, flocked again round their forest-banner ; and in merry Sherwood they long lived together, the lady still retaining her former nanit- of Maid Marian, though the appellation was then as much a misnomer as that cf Little John. — Thomas Love Peacock, Maid Marian. VI King and Queen at Court W^hop of Lincoln" S de W . '' ° ^'"^^e.^cr, U,e al^o had the custody of the r .T^f"' *"' "''''P''"". ^ho the Earl of Her ford and .k''' "*' ^"' °''*"^'"'^' realm ; but the Qat keot h""". °' °"'' "°'^'" "^ "'^ The Kin • '^ "'"'•" ■■'Pa«- There ^'^"^.:^'^;:: ^^^^^^ - behold. li"iisehoId, all in the KiZ v by esquires of the also -enty.five Lftot: fs^:rfi,^T-'''r '"^^ ^'^^^ tapestry. The walls were T ''''' "P °^" '^e Troy-town in ancenttapeTrief'^"" "'' '"^ ^'"^^ "'■ t-^!^'^::^:;^" r&"7« z ■'- ^"-^e. the King. sumptuous hvty wi^thj; '"^ '^°"°- -^ dignity, 'n and blowings Th!l T"'''"' '° '■"■''" '^eir piping, ehapel singfn, at. T' '''"'^'^^' "'^ children of thj theLorsb':"^i "'::;/r.hfr '™r" «^"^-^^^ - •''-. all that side of'the' L^ aT 1 1 n "'"^ "■"' "^'•■"' "^^^ii'' .-at hall, needed no,' othTr ^S;:' ''° "' ^^" "'^'" "- ■^f !^oi i:?^:::^ «->^ "-versifier, who. .,.„ad 53 HENRY HI lasted of his golden cup, that Henry should have a butt of wine with his wages, if he would shorten his ballads by one- half. That night, the King played at "Checkere" with the Earl of Norfolk, on a board hid with jasper and chrystal, the checkmen being of the same. Some said the kings and ijueens were of ebony, studded over with jewels, but of this I know not. But, the finest sight of all was the going of the chamber- lain to the cupboard, accompanied of three nobles of the highest estate in the realm that were there present (save the King's family), to receive the King's cup and spice-plates ; and then the bringing up of the voide before his Highness. .And, first, the usher, having assembled the King's sewers, their towels about their necks, with the four esquires of the body and the knights and esquires of the household, to the number of seventeen ; these, with divers other officers, being met at the cupboard, the Chamberlain took the King's towel, and, having kissed it, as the custom is, delivered it to the Earl of Norfolk, he beijig of the highest estate, wlio reverently received the same, and laid it safely upon his shoulder. Then the said chamberlain gave the gold spice-plates covered to the Karl of Hereford ; and then the King's cup of massive gold, covered also, to the Earl of Warwick. At the same time were given to the kniglus of the household the Archbishop's spiceplate and cup, covered also, to be carried up by the .space of one minute after the King's. And, certes, it was a goodly siglit to see all these nobles and gentils marching up the great chamber (the minstrels playing the while), compassed about with esquires, bearing great lights to the number of thirteen, especial care being taken, as the manner all times has been at iho voide, that the lights were odd in number. When this array drew near to the Kin^, lu-, standing up under his cloth of estate, whic-li was rolled up high, with the young Prince Edward on one hand and tin- .Archbislic-ii isimiaauimi^^es^^mis KINO A\D QUEE.V AT COURT ,„ But, when the Chamberlain uncovered the cud all ,1,. mmstrelsn, the chamber blew up louder th.n ^' \ lield on till his Highness tonwThl ^'^'' """^ '" roof in the castle ru'g ":; j^y' '"^ ''""'''' ^ "'^' -ery The Kmg and Archbishop being served his H,„i . ^Hb^XK :::: -'—er^^ ";t-: ;We Kd^ardanJ-i^^rf;^::^ -, ----.- H,ghness forthwith d^ tr .• all n ;."':' '""'■ "'" Edward ; after which it were not meet that the , > should remain, and straight the ereat rh, "^^'=">''l''ge of all there present. ^ '""''^'' "='' ''^°>'''^d The Queen that night sat in her bower with all her ladies I'he dancing being endprl i>i'..r,„ xr Queen. chief°„,instL "^r 1 mV ^"Z^:^ f' country, sang som, of his 'ballads on "he h' rp , ,° '" ''■ t, Mil ■^j^m 54 IIENRV III A more pleasureful sight could not he than the Queen's bower, as it was at that time, where she sat in estate, under a cloth of gold, her ladies standing about her chair, and her maidens on either hand, below the steps of her throne ; and two young damsels of surpassing beauty and richly bedight, sitting on the first step at her feet ; the same that were used so to sit when her Highness kept state in the great hall at festivals. The arched roof v-as curiously wrought in that fashion which King Henry had newly brought into favour ; and, besides these lights, a great crystal lamp that hung from the roof shone over the chamber and upon the goodly assemblage, as they looked upon the Lady Barbara, passing so winningly in the dance. That r.ight the Earl of Rich- mond bore the Queen's spiceplate, and Sir Philip de Kinton her cup. When the Lady Barbara had ended herdanre, the Queen called her to her chair ; and, making her take of the sweet- meats from her own plate, spoke commendalile words to her, as did his Highness King Henry. Then the Queen turning to the I^dy Gloucester, took from her hands a' girdle, richly beset with jewels, and, clasping it on the Udy Barbara, kissed her, and bade her wear it ever, for her sake and for her honour. Her Highness then stretched out her hand to Sir Gaston, who, kneeling, put it to his lips. " May you, sir knight," ^aid her Highness, "as well deserve thi> lady, as she deserves this token of my regard ! " Then the King said many gracious things, and seemed so merry of heart, that he made all around him gladsome : till, the voide being ended, he went forth with the Queen, the trumpets blowing before them ; and the chamber was then speedily avoHcd for all night. —Mrs, Ratci.iiie, Uait,,,, ,/,■ lUondevitlt. 4in^^ VII For Wallace or for King Edward earl's troops seemed countlesf ul ■, u ^^""^""e. The who led ,l,e„, on, being e 2 L^ he ' '''""'™" '"^'^^ had been ^iven to them of tn^^ 'he representations which hitherto a]l-co,.quer ng^n r i .'"' '^''' ^^'"^'^ 'heir ;;- With an i4etu^,;°:—:;i:::^-. upon the destruction. "TLatened their nniversal the^^SrrS::'; r "^"i ""'"^^^ ^^'^-^ 'hrough f™m their Con ds 't i ,L ^ '"'f "f ''^'^ --^d leanin, ^■ate did indeed hove o :e^ kI' ''^^' ^'^"S^le of tlK-ir son^ -ended on the head of U^^ " e IZZ"'. ""T'' ^'^ "- hi^ waving pinmes, ,Sl,e pointed s . 1 '""' '"""'' flan,ing sword, she charged w"h him ^T "'' ^''"^'^'"^ his "f battle. De Warennf saw his '" "'' "^'^""■'" ^hock He heard the shouts" h'seo th?"'"' '"""^^^'^ f^"- •he plains of Stirling rose toll" ""^ °' "'^ "^™' »"d -nding the hill to^ead ;o„td ST "' '^- almost overwhelmed by his flv,n„ . ' " '"^' """^ "ders, men without sl'eh ./ f., .^^ ! 'T" -">°"' „ •*"'^' ""' ail ,n disma) i'il :IS ! hm 56 EDWARD 1 ruslitd past him. He called to them, he waved the royal standard, he urged, he reproached, he rallied, and led tlicm back again. The fight recomnienccd. Long and bloody was the conflict. De Warenne fought for conquest, and to recover a lost reputation. Wallace contended for his country ; and to show himself always worthy of her latest blessing " before he should go hence, and be no more seen." The issue declared for Scotland. But the ground was covered with the slain, and Wallace chased a wounded foe with troops which dropped as they pursued. At sight of the melancholy state of his intrepid soldiers, he tried to check their ardour, but in vain. " It is for Wallaces that we conquer ! " cried they ; "and we die, or prove him the only captain in this ungrateful country ! " Night compelled them to halt ; and while they rested on their arms, Wallace was satisfied that he had destroyed the power of De Warenne. The splendour of this victory struck to the souls of the OHincil of Stirling ; but with no touch of remorse. Scot- land being again r*-scued from the vengeance of her im- placable foe, the disaffected lords in the citadel afiectcd to spurn at her preservation, declaring to the Regent that they would rattvr bear the yoke of the veriest tyrant in the world tlian owe a inoment of freedom to the man who (they preteneed to believe) had conspired against their lives. And niiie\' had a weighty reason f'K this decision : though I)e \TaTenne vvas beaten, his wife w:is n victor. Shf had Blade Edward t- iimphant in the venal hearts of her kinsioen ; ^old. an«i her persuasions, with promises of future honours from the King of England, had sealed them en tirely his. All but the Regent were ready to coniniit every- thing into the hands of Edward. The rising favour of these other lords with the court of England induced him to recollect that he might rule as the unrivalled friend of llruce. should that orince live ; or, in case of his death, he ■'^iifWs ^OR WALLACE OR KLVG EDU'ARd ,; S"=™J,'Jr,M "n" 1:7' '" ""~ o» s„„i.i "•-•'*": • *'"n;:;",i"'''' ""-«' «■» »' travagant, i„o conuadirt, , ' " V -f'^"' "'^^ •°° "- •" their st,ll M„amn.. « ,unl . ,r? "^^' ''^". P'-'-.ed "y if they did not i.Ca t'st o j'' ""™ '"""°'' '" "Dangerous to LnT dangerous a man. ^eheve, that an honester „a„ t ,an ^Vly ''°'' « ' I'vesnot in Scotland, and tlv ''t V'"'" ^^'^"^'^'^ "verto„ping your lit, enc4 e' Ll l"" ^'"^ '"^ "^'"'■■' which yc cannot e^iual." ' "^ "^'°°' ""^ g^'-'^tness '''his speecli, which a hurst of Jn^' ron, hin,, brought down t C rath of r'T", '''^ ^"''"^ himself. ].ord Athol vet u "''"'^ P^")- "!>0" f-iously struck hin Ki kpat cTV■''^ ''"^ °''^ "■°""''. two chiefs con,menc.;i a £ s 7 '"' ^*°^'^' '•'"d the - tl,e extirpation of the ot "' 'r^ ' """ '^'^'^"""'^'^ last breathing of life ne," /V/m'",'"''' "'"> •■"""^t the desperate revenge, t^^l :;:°"'^ ''^'-" f™"' their -Parate then, ; .^„a then Te^^ :;,J";;,;;V''r'i-"= "> and covered with wounds ^ "'^^ msensible When this sad news w-^ .r----,^ • It 58 EDWARD I Wallace, it found him on tlie hanks of the I'^sk, just re- turned from the citadel of lierwick, where, once more master of thnt fortress, he had dictated tlie terms of a conqueror and a ii.itriot. In the scene i.i ijis former victories, the romantic shades of Hawthornd :i i, he now pitched his triumphant camp, and from its erdant hounds despatched the requisite orders to the garrison castles on the horuers. \Vhile em- ployed in this duty, his heart was wrung by an account of the newly aroused storm in the citadel of Stirling ; hut as some equivalent, Jhe chieftains of Midlothian poured in to him on every side ; and acknowledgini; him their protector, he again found himself the idol of gratitude, and the almost deified object of trust. At such a moment, when with one voice they were disclaiming all participation in the in surgent proceedings at Stirling, anotlier messenger arrived from Lord Lennox, to conjure luni, if he would avoid open violence or secret treachery, to march his victorious troops immediately to that city, and seize the assembled abthane-. at once as traitors to tlieir country. "Resume the regency," added he, " which you only know how to conduct, am! crush a treason which, increasing hourlj-, now walks open'. in the day, threatening all that is virtuous, or faithful li> you." He did not hesitate to decide against this counsel ; for, in following it, it could not be one adversary he mn-l strike, but thousands. "I am only a brother to my countrymen," said he hi himself, "and have no right to force them to their duty. When their king appears, tlien these rebellious heads may be made to bow." While he mused upon the letter of Lennox, Kuthven entered, and the friends returned together into the council-tent. But all there was changed. iMosl of the Lothian cliieftains had also received messengers from their friends in Stirling. Allegations against Wallace, ar,L;ii- nients to prove " the policy of submitting themselves aiul M'- i!^mw^^'t^,*^ww- ' FOR WALLACn r,R k,VC KD^ARn ,o ing themselves to tt fo m f"' '" ''■^'' =>" ''^ '"'a-'i- n.ade ,l,cir services .he Yaddofr '"'?''' '""'°" *'"' contents of .heir pack V a" th JT r';'""""'" "'=- ""-' shake .he easy fii.h ,o ;," ' ^ ^""' "^^''^"^ '" 'he re-en.ranee of I'V.TZ r ^-"^ '''^'^"'''"^- «" glances a. each o.her a d .So f '"'"^ ^'°^' '"^P'-ous out of the .ent. ' " ""'"^ g''ded severally Next morninir, instpnrl nr „„ .heir acknowledged Sector .r'';'r "f '"^^^"^ "^ seen at differen. parts of ,h ! ^'" ""'""'"' »■'•■^•-• groups, and when any of U' ,Leri*^'°"'^ ^"^"-'^^'"^ '" separated or withdrew to IZTT y'"" "''Poached they conduct \Vallace attrLued tol fH^ht ?""'■ '"'"^ """«' of Bruce with a sigh when l„ ^ "■"''■ '""^ 'bought ^"bstance Of these t^s^-ntX^ "^^ ^^^^^'^ vmced that nothing but the nrnrl. ^ ' "''" '" ™"- that prince's personal ever, on.'^n"""" °^ '''"«■ and fromfnllingL^ainttoT' ;:7rl^:-^^^^^ snatched it, that he wis nr,.„ ' ''^ ''ad just with such persuas,.n;w T? °t°"' ^°^ ^^'hshire He was followed by 1 1 ord S T', ''"'"'^ '"^ '^"'• several other chiefs'o enua llv h"t "' ""^ ''"^''^"' ''"'^ did not hesitate to declLeTs Li ' '""'"''°"'- ^°"''^ "Ue come. Sir William Walla, e' hv ,h„ the Regent and the assemblln k u ^ ^ command of take these brave troops Sh't"? "^^ «™"->d, to -vice to .heir countr,', ZtVoToZT:;?' '""X ^°°^ have every reason to believe, me^^^s ,o ,' ,??k "■'°' "■^■ agamst the liberties of .he realm U'M *^^" """ the s,a.es; wi.hou. .he .„ " of , rRet'T'"" '"""' tempt of the court which, having ,ou'd! ^ , ' '" ™"- treason, had in mercy .wJl^t ^"" K'""'' "^ high your cr,me, you havl pre umed ,0"^""" ''T'' "" bead of the n-.t:onil tr '^'', '° Pla^e yourself at th,- n.,,,onal truops, and .0 take .0 yourself the &^ 6o EDWARD I merit of a victory won liy tlicir prowess alone ! Your designs are known, and the authority you have despised is now roused to punish. You are to accompany us this day to Stirling. We have brought a guard of four thousand men to compel your obedience." liefore the indignant Wallace could utter the answer his wrongs dictated, liolhwcll, who at sight of the Rcgonl's troops had hastened to his general's tent, entered, followed by his chieftains. " Were your guard forty thousand instead of four," cried he, " they should not force our commander from us — they should not extingnisli the glory of Scotland beneath tin- traitoious devicis of hell engendered envy and murderous cowardice ! " Soulis turned on him with eyes of fire, and laid his hand on his sword. " Ay, cowardice ! " reiterated Bothwell. "The midnight ravisher, the sl.inderer of virtue, the betrayer of his country, knows in his heart that he fears to draw aught but the assassin's steel. He dreads the sceptre of honour: Wallace must fall, lliat vice and her vot.iries may reign in Scotland. A thousand brave Scots lie under these sods, and a thousand yet survive who may share their graves ; but they never will relinquish their invincible leader into the hands nf traitors ! " The clamours o^ the citadel of Stirling now resoundeil through the ton; of Wallace. Invectives, accusations, threatenings, reproaches, and revilings, joined in one tur bulent uproar. Again swords were drawn, and Wallace, in attemi)ting to beat down the weapons of Soulis and Iiuch:iii. aimed at Bothwell's heart, must have received the point of Soulis' in his own body had he not grasped the blade, ami, wrenching it out of the chief's hand, broke it into shiver-.. "Such be the fati' of every sword which Scot draws aganist Scot ! " cried In . " I'ut up your weapons, my friends. The arm of Wallace is not shrunk that he could not defend PUR WALLACI.: OR KIX(; EuWMili 6, h^^lf did he, l,i„k.iK,t violence were n.ressary „ear ..y dcerm,„a„o„, .....e and for ever!" added he " -dinance. i;:;: I itTidStrs ■;"""" ^^"^ did I subn,it to such n,enW chests , '"'; '""""^ ^u,nmons ,o Stirline, ne'"hcr w,M T' "^"^ "'"••'' "Then," answered Wallace, "I sinll n„t ri„i «Iiere I may hear the terms " ' '^"'"^ «"'"« fnends the particulars of the sctne" r.^ ^ "1'^!^' contentions must he terminated," adde he • .n , '';!; Ood.blessing,afewdaysandth:y2L:;." '"' "'"> .Jrd,e^;-,:::;:SLf'^!f;----- Within Will,., .,,,,,, ,„,:^'„- ^'^v^^ it is our steadies, friend who S ; la ZTi " ""' sti^with us to repe, nn-asion, .. c£,s: trel '^ "'" '^ Arrived at the gate of Roslyn, Wal|,ce, rcnrdless of those ceremonials which often delay the business thc^ ! ; n 4 ^il MICROCOPY IIESOIUTION TEST CHART lANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No 2) ^ APPLIED IMAC3E Inc ^ETU '653 Eost Majn Street ^5 Rochester. Ne-> rork 14609 USA ■■^— 1^16) 482 - 0300 - Phone ^S ("6) 288 - 5989 - Fo> EDWARD I pretend to dignify, entered at once into tlie hall where the ambassadors sat. liaron Hilton was one, and I,e de Spencer (father to the young and violent envoy of that name) was the other. At sight of the Scotlish chief they rose, and the good baron, believing he came on a propi- tious errand, smiling, said, " Sir William Wallace, it is your private car I am commanded to seek." While speaking he looked on Sinclair and the other lords. " These chiefs are as myself," replied Wallace. " liut I will not impede your embassy by crossing the wishes of your master in a trifle." He then turned to his friends : " Indulge the monarch of England in making me the first acquainted with that which can only be a message to the whole nation." The chiefs withdrew ; and Hilton, without further parley, opened his mission. He said that King Edward, more than ever impressed with the wondrous military talents of Sir William Wallace, and solicitous to make a friend of so heroic an enemy, had sent him an offer of grace, which, if he contemned, must be the last. He offered him a theatre whereon he might display his peerless endowments to the admiration of the world — the kingdom of Ireland, with its yet unreaped fields of glory, and all the ample riches of its abundant provinces should be his. Edward only required, in return for this royal gift, that he should abandon the cause of Scotland, swear fealty to him for Ireland, and re- sign into his hands one whom he had proscribed as the most ungrateful of traitors. In double acknowledgment for the latter sacrifice, Wallace need only send to Ivngland a list of those Scottish lords against whom he bore resent- ment, and their fates should he ordered according to his dictates. Edward concluded his offers by inviting him immediately to London to be invested with his new sovereignty ; and Hilton ended his address liy showing him the madness of abiding in a country where almost every chief, secretly or openly, carried a dagger against his life ; FOk WALLACIi oR KWC. HOWARD (,3 and theruforo he uxhorlud him no longer to contcml for a nation so unworthy of frcodom, that it bore with impalience the only man who liad the courage to maintain its inde pendence by virtue alone. Wallace rei>lied calmly, and without hesitation: "To this message an honest man can make but one reply. As well might your sovereign exact of me to dethrone the angels of Iieaven, as to reijuire me to subscribe to his pro- posals. They do but mock me ; and awar,- of my rejec- tion, they are thus delivered, to throw the whole blame of this cruelly persecuting war upon me. Edward knows that as a knight, a true Scot, and a man, I should dishonour myself to accept even life, ay, or the lives of all my kindred, upon these terms." Hilton interrupted him by declaring the sincerity of Ed- ward, and contrasting it with the ingratitude of the people whom he had served, he conjured him, with every persuasive of rhetoric, every entreaty dictated by a mind that revered the very firmness he strove to shake, to relinquish his faith- less country, and become the friend of a king ready to re- ceive him with open arms. Wallace shook his head, and with an incredulous smile which spoke his thoughts of lidward, while his eyes beamed kindness upon Hilton, he an.swered : "Can the man who would bribe me to betray a friend be faithful in his friend- ship? But that is not the weight with me. I was not brought up in those schools, my good baron, which teach that sound policy or true selfinterest can be separated from virtue. ^\'hen I was a boy, my father often repeated to me this proverb : — " ' Oii'ii lil.i viriiin, himi->,Uis, cipiima ivium, Xun.jii.iiii -^crvili sub ncxii \i\itui tlH.' I learned it llun ; I have since made it the st.Tnd.ird of my actions, and I answer your monarch in a wore ngnin apLatcd. tliii litli tlic Ki • , I • , - "w" 'i-iiLuicu. uiiis salt clama„o„ theyacknowlcdK. tl.eir disloyalty w tl ,,enT Le de Spencer then proclaimed the Kinir nf l..„i , to be now on the border., ujm ^ i'-ngland thousand men, ready to n arc' w^h T' 1 ' '""''^^'' ..>e heart of tL .ing^nHnd '^ I' ^ rr^tl',"^" ;::7h;r;:;^^ --' -''^-' ^^'^ ^'-"' ven:u"t:':,° ! food, shelter, or succour. He is th^ n *^. Kdward,a„dthusIde,.andh™::;lS%°'^'"« tl.en forced utterance fro„> his labouring l!^ "" '°"' K'll your Sovereign," cried he, " that he mistakes AW -he con.,uerors who ought to dictate tcr.n of pe, e all ce ,s our „n-mcible leader, our redeemer from , avm' the earthly hope m whom we trust, and it is not in ' ' power of men nor devils to bribe us to h,J. -or. Away to your Kin, and ::^l' 1.^^: ;!' i l!i; « ■ i' I'l: 66 EDWARIl I Murray and every honest Scot is ready tu live or to die liy the side of Sir William Wallace." " And by this good sword I swear the same ! " cried Ruthven. " And so do I ! " rejoined Scrymgeour, " or n)ay the standard of Scotland be my winding-sheet I " " Or may the Clyde swallow us up (|uick ! " exclaimed Lockhart of I.ee, shaking his mailed hand at the ambas- sadors. But not another chief spoke for Wallace. Even Sinclair was intimidated, and 'ike others who wished him well, he fea ■ d to utter his sentiments. But most — oh! shame to Scotland and to man — cast up their bonnets and cried aloud, " Long live King Edward, the only legitimate lord of Scotland ! " At this outcry, which was echoed even by some in whom he had confided, while it pealed around him like a burst of thunder, Wallace threw out his arms, as if he would yet pro- tect Scotland from herself, — " Oh, desolate people I " e.xclaimed he, in a voice of piercing woe, " too credulous of fair speeches, and not aware of the calamities which are coming upon you ! Call to remembrance the miseries you have suffered, and start, before it be too late, from this last snare of your oppressor I Have I yet to tell ye that his embrace is death ? Oh ! look yet to heaven and ye shall find a rescue ! " " Seize that rebellious man," cried Soulis to his mar shals. " In the name of the King of England, I command you." "And in the name of the King of kings, I denounce death on him who attempts it ! " exclaimed Bothwell, throwing himself between Wallace and the men ; " put forth a hostile hand towards him, and this bugle shall call a thousand resolute swords to lay this platform in blood ! " Soulis, followed by his knights, pressed forward to exe cute this treason himself. Scrynigi-our, Ruthven, l.ockhati, f ••OR UAI.L.Atl.: OR Kl\(; KOWAKM) R"thven gleamed lids," f T'!,''"' ""= ''^'=^'°" <" flowed around. The" vl L h""^ "™^''-'' =""• '''-"'I nought .0 enforce peaceTh'w^„rh "','"•;''•"'•■• "■' '■'''" '" thed-eadful warfare k^pr/, •,'"''• *"= "''" "°' f^" and breathed no more '" "'"' •'' S'-^P at his feet, ^^ Z::z:tst^n s^ ''-'''" «-"^- -"■^' flict, but Wallace snat hed he h" " r" '° ''' S<="^"' ™n- ^Pringing upon the very „ ' A " ^'" "^'^ ^'"'^' ''"'^ -Spencer had%roclai JeT EdT^jreth °'" T'''^'' ''^ "= his sword, and stretchin■ >'°"-' ^"'i by such baseness, you-vou I ."^ '^' "■"^'"'^ '^"'^^ds «cots,that you re the 'victors'! '".' T "« '■--bom ^•ndyou give, not sel L ° Tl " ^" "'^ ™"quished ; tyrant .- Vou yield jl'rse,'' "'?:''' '" ""^ demands of a »ions, his revenge ! Th nfnoVh '"^f '°«'°"-^' his oppres- "•ould have sold to pu chase ib"' '""" '"^ ^"=01"^ "e 'hen, .olive unmana'cled 2 ; Ls rtt 7'"'' ^ '^"°^ "ce. On the day in which vn^ t :. '" ^""■''J "^ ^«=-''«- -dayi,. „,„^, f^el that you have cxchan yon are in his hand: iged honour for d 's you will sgrace, liberty r I'll* I 1 i i 1 1 ■ 1 1 iiii 1 68 EDWARD I fur bondage, life for dtalli ! I draw lliis sword for you no more. But tlierc yet lives a prince, a descendant of the royal heroes of Scotland, whom I'rovidcnce may conduct to he your preserver, keject the proposals of Edward, dare to defend the freedom you now possess, and that prmce will soon appear to crown your patriotism with glory and happiness ! " " We acknowledge no prince but King Edward of Eng- land ! " cried liuchan. The exclamation was reiterated by a most disgraceful majority on the ground. Wallace was transfixed. "Then," cried Le de Spencer, in the first pause of the tumult, " to every man, woman, and child throughout the realm of Scotland, excepting Sir William Wallace, I pro- claim in the name of King Edward pardon and peace." At these words several hundred Scottish chieftains dropped on their knees before Le de Spencer, and mur- mured their vows of fealty. Indignant, grieved, Wallace took his helmet from his head, and throwing his sword into the hand of Bithweil,— "That weapon," cried he, "which I wrested from this very King Edward, and with which I twice drove him from our borders, I give to you. I relinr^uish a soldier's name, on the spot where I humbled England three times in one day, where I now see my victorious country deliver herself bound into the grasp of the vamiuished ! I go without sword or buckler from this dishonoured field, and what Scot, my public or private enemy, will dare to strike the un- guarded head of William Wallace ? " As he spoke, he threw his shield and helmet to the ground, and, leaping from the war-carriage, took his course through the parting ranks of his enemies, who, awe-struck, or kept in check by a suspicion that oth-irs might not secoiul the ■ ttack they would have made on him, durst not lift an arm or breathe a word as he passed. —Jane I'oRriiR, The Scottish Chiefs. vrii How Queen Isabella left the King her Husband KiiVc;En\vARnTHESFrnvn , , King Kdward the Thrd ','"'" '" ""= ""'''^ l>een nourished with him since he 1,^ ''"""■ "'"' '''^'l the which Sir Hugh had TZ \ 'f°"""'"S °f ''is vouth ; and he were the g^^r^ l''':,,'^:^' "^ ^^'^ ^-''e; envy thought to surmount all ;ther „ ''"'"' ""'' ''>■ whereby after the great discrnl . '"' "' ''"S'and ; -ade a, Stirling, g.e'atmun"'':;:'''-^' ""'• '™- "^^ between the noble barons and , hi- ■"!"' '" '"'"•''''■'■"'l namely, against Sir Hugh Spencer vl^" ™""'"' ""'^ that by his counsel they were d;r.r , '"'' l"" °" '"'". favourable to ,.,e Kinf of Scm"'^'''' ^"^ ">« he was barons had divers "mes. •^"'^ °" "''^ l'°>'" the adWsed what the,! T h^: 7'";'^^'^% '° "^ for remedy, for ut!^^^"^^^- "e Purveyed h™.h.he was more beLe^:;-----^;,^ 'or^::;;i^r^It^---^: "Sir, certain >■""; and without ye take hed 'h'"' '°8^'"'^^ against purpose to put you out of '' .''"" '"^^''""-^'' '^^y ">alicious means I. caused hhe^'"-' '"'^ ■^° '»' "'^ ttat the k,ng made all the said ' ill 1 fl'l i:i)w.\ii|j II li iur'ls to lio taken, anil tlitir liiads lo lie stricken off without delay, and without knowledge or answer to any cause. I'irst of all Sir 'I'honias Karl of Lancaster, who was a nolile and a wise, holy knight, and hath done since many fair miracles in I'ontefr.-cl, where he was heheaded fur the which deed the said Sir Hu| Spencer achieved great hate in all the reahii, and specially of the Queen, and of the ICarl of Kent, brother to the King. And when he perceived the displeasure of the Queen, l>y his subtle wit he set great discord between the King and the (,)neen, so that the King would not see the (^)ueen, nor come in her -ompany ; the which discord endured a long space. 'I'hen was it shewed to the Queen secret!)-, and to the Karl of Kent, that without they took good heed to themselves, they were likely to be desf.oyed; for Sir Hugh Spence- was about to purchase muci; trouble to them. 'I'hen the Queen secretly did purvey to go into Krance, and took her way as on pilgrimage to Saint 'I'liomas of Canterbury, and so to Winchelsea ; and in the night went into a ship that was ready for her, and her yo' ; son Edward with her, and the ICarl of Kent and Sii i.Coger Mortimer ; and in another ship they had put all their purveyance, and had wind at will, and the ne.xt morning they arrived in the haven of Boulogne. AVhen Queen Isabel was arrived at Boulogne, and her son with her, and the F.crl of Kent, the captains and abbot of the town came again.it her, and joyously received her and her company into the abbey, and there she abode two days ; then she departed, and rode so long by her journeys, that she arrived at I'aris. Then King Charies, her brother, who was informed of her coming, sent to meet her divers of the greatest lords of his realm, as the Lord Sir Robert d'Artois, the Lord of Coucy, the Lord of Sully, the Lord of Roye, and divers other, who honourably did receive her. and brought her into the city of Paris to the King lur brother. And when the King saw his sister, whom he had ''•vhiss„l,il,. iviihesi-tfjri-ai r I) a Ik ClJ SIS net yoi; Isf '1 or II pray ri .111111) llicyc i-'ause( 'hat w AfU King c ''arons good a businc's counsdi sister to (lie reaJr '^■i'kii an( ';'■''''-'•) our n-^,"- '? '^^■''^"'"c., fair s„" '■?'' '^''"''^ "' ""'. ■-'"d said: "mT \ °"'"' «'>ell>er the i- .nn,),..^,"'' ''^•'> '00k l,er ;n ^,v .. ■'■ho Ki,,; ^°"- '^ "" ^"^ """.celled ,0 I,.'-''" ^"^«-'" of K,,,",^'^^^ ' •« "-ed and '^■'«" '•nd be ZT '" ^"y ""'" Dice I"! ''°'"<^' '" "0' known iheruof; fo/ '','•' "'"^ '""'.^elf ,„ KOWARD II war with the King uf ICngland, and tu bring his own realm into hatred, it were nothing a|ipertinent nor profitable to him, nor to his realm. ]iut, they concluded, that con- veniently he might aid her with gold and silver, for that is the metal whereby love is attained, both of gentlemen and of poor soldiers. And to this counsel and advice accorded the King, and caused this to be shewed to the Queen privily by Sir Robert d'Artois, who as then was one of the greatest lords of all France. 'I'hen the Queen, as secretly as she could, she c-dained for her voyage, and made her purveyance ; but she could not do it so secretly, but Sir Hugh Spencer had knowledge thereof. 'I'hen he thought to win and withdraw the King of France from her by great gifts, and so sent secret messengers into France with great plenty of gold and silver and rich jewels, and specially to the King, and his privy council ; and did so much that, m short space, the Kmg of France and all his privy council were as cold to help the (^ueen in her voyage, as the) iiad before great desire to do it. And the King brake all that voyage, and defended every person in his realm, on pain of banishing the same, that none should be so hardy to go with the Queen to bring her again into England. And yet the said Sir Hugh Spencer advised him of more malice, and bethought him how he mi','ht get again the Queen into England, to be under the Kmg's danger and his. Then he caused the King to write to the holy father the Pope affectuousl)-, desiring him that he would .send and write to the King of France, that he should send the Queen his wife again into England; for he will accjuit himself to God and the world, and that it was not his fault that she departed from him ; for he would nothing to her but all love and good faith, such as he ought to hold in marriage. Also there werc like letters written to the cardinals, devised by many subtle ways, the which all may not be written here. Also he sent gold and silver great plenty to divers J ni-'sc letters wen. i , •\"d when the Km.r i„ , ^ "^f^ sent in that !,.„ .■ '" '^'-- ^'-vn to';:: „tr „■""■■ '"'-^- "-^ -i^^^ »^x.n of Jong ^" '"s s,ster, whon, he had no^ _Av • , "*■""' With r|> 76 EDWARD III the Oueen came among her men, and there was ordamod fciir bank's, ,me to aid another : the first had in governancf the li;sho|. of Durham, and llio Lord I'cny; the second the Archbishop of York, and tlie Lord Nevill : the third the Bishop of Lincoln, and the Lord Mowbray ; the fourth tlie I ord Edward de Balhol, captain of Berwick, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Lord Ros: every battle had like number, after their quantity. The Queen went from battle to battle, desiring them to do their devoir, to defend the honour of her lord the King of England, and in the name of God, everv man to be of good heart and courage, promis- ing them, that to her power she would remember them as well or better, as though her lord the King were there per- sonally. Then the ( Kicen departed from them, recommend- in" them to God and to Saint (leorgc. Then anon after, the battles of the Scots began to set forward, and in like wise so did the Englishmen ; then the archers began to shoot on both parties, but the shot of the Scots endured but a short space, but the archers of England shot so fiercely, so that when the battles approached, there was a hard battle ; they began at nine, and endured till noon : the Scots had great axes, sharp and hard, and gave with them many great strokes ; howbeit, finally the luiglish- men obtained the place and victory, but they lost many of their men. There were slain of the Scots, the Earl of Life, the Earl of Buchan, the V. 1 of Dunbar, the Earl of Suther- land, the Earl of Strathern, the Earl of Mar, the Earl John Douglas, and the Lord Alexander Ramsay, who bare the King's banner, and divers other knights and squires. And there the King was taken, who fought valiantly, and wa^^ sore hurt; a squire of Northumberland took him, called John Copeland, and as soon as he had taken the King, he went with him out of the field, with eight of his servants with him, and so rode all that day, till he was a fifteen leagues from the place of the battle, and at night he came to a castle called Ogle; and then he said he would not THI-: OUEEX UT.VS A liATTf.K 7; deliver the- Kine of Sr-nt- f nil only to .he^K fo7\ .."^^^ "^ T"'"'^" "■"•"•^' ''"' tl>crc was also taken in ,| if ,',''' °"'- ''''<= ^'"'^ 'lay of Marcl,, .he i'd "v,:'''':, '•'''■',''"">■• ''"^ '-•"' Vesey, the Bishop of Ale do n h^.l ,'' "'" '"^'^ '^"'^-' and divers other knight andT^ ' " '°P "^ •^'- ■^"''^"Vs, of one and other a fif ee" ,h . '^"'^ "^^^'^ '^^^^' ''="' "'emselves as ^eU ^IZ'^;^':'"'] "'-""^™" Newcastle, the year of o L d MCcJxr vt 't^"': '"''^^ next after Saint Afichael -'^^^LXLV I., the Saturday vo^tUttSLTit T"r ^- '''^ ^"^ o' of Newcastle-upon-Tyne I„d „ T, ' f ""^'^'™' ""-' 'own "'arches of Scotland tidl'tTn 1 :" '7"""' °" "^^ P-cy, and the Lord Nevill ^s" t ™","'" ""^ ''"'J Queen departed from Yoru'ow rdTt /^ "'"'^ ""=" "'^ 'he King of Scots in the stron?Tn>v Z";- '"'^'^" '^''^ ^'•■' Earl Moray, and all othe ?r " °^ ''°"'^°"' ''""' 'he over then,. \.hen'^l:':;r;T;er„d".r°"^^'''"^' sea. and had so good wind that ir ? h "" '""'^ 'h« hefore Calais three Iv. . ' r ,^ ^"^ 'P"""" ^he arrived whoseconn^Vhe Ktf 'Id" ''' '"''' °' ^" ^-"'^^ f"^ all .he lords fudtShaTith'::'. So"' 'T"' '" many ladies and damosels with tea; weli?''" ''^"'="" her, as to see their husbands, fatlSsbro '"7''"^^ frrends that lay at siege therl ,„,"■'' others, and other a long space. ^ ''"^"'^ ^"''"^. ^"d had done -/■««w/V C/.,-.«/,/,, by Lord Berxers ca^ . ■ :i,.i :! X The Deposition of the King THE Duke of Bretagne and the Earl of Derby were lovingly concluded together, and when all thing was ready, the dnke and the earl came thither, and when the wind served the Karl of Derby and his company took the sea ; he had with him tliree ships of war to conduct him Into England, ahd the further they sailed the better wind they had, so that within two days and two nights they arrived at Plymouth In ICngland, and Issued out of their ships ; and entered into the town little and little. The bally of I'lymouth, who had charge of tlie town under the King, had great marvel when he saw so much people and men of war enter Into the town ; but the lilsliop of Canterbury appeased him, and said how they were men of war that would do no harm in the realm of I'lngland, sent thither by the Duke of liretagne to serve the Kijig and tin; realm. Therewith the bally was content, and the Earl of Derby kept Iilmself so privy in a clumber, that none of the town knew him. Then the Bishop of Canterbury wrote letters signed with his hand to London, signifying the coming of the ICarl of Derby, and sent them by a sufficient man in post, who took fresh horses by the way, and came to London the same day at niglit, and passed over the bridge and so came to the mayor's lodging, who as then was abed ; and as soon as tli.- mayor knew that a messenger w.is come from the Jllsliop of M h n h th th •* Antl ever as llicy rode forward they met more people." ^^-■"'y of .,„„, „^,,^. ' ■ >^ ...a,.„r roaa i. and , ,, ■ J^ •anls from Imuse t„ i, '"""""lent In; sent „f i I-ancaster, since w^ . ? ''° ""t" receive th,. 7/r of Canter .uyhaTl, TuV°'""^ '"' '"'" ; tl.e W, r 1 °' men In — _i . o'"""- 1 hen t m,. ,i:j , "^ ' "'- ■ 'f:il -g'..s, and squires, such . ^vet; f^ ' '^"'"'■"S 'o Jd 'arry o,ie for another. "" ^'""' "'« ">ey were loth "0 ;-. f'ai^:L't'fh:- totrjr " "'>■'"-'"' •^^ .-.e ,.m, and ever as they ro " ™ h""' '""''"y --'-d -"en, ,von,en, and ch.idVen of In';' ''"'' ""'"1^- o he 'o n>eet with the earl, ti,; hadt^hl' "" "''-' ^'^'^S>- -- J^he mayor rode cheek and k ,"'^ '° ^« '"">• g^eat pleasure for the peopVTo , ^'"^ ''' ''''"• "hid. «•„ t.me sa.d to the earl • "Z ] I ?' ' =""' 'he mayor sorn^ °f your coming." "Thar '. ^^°''' ''°«- "'e People r'fn - ;e rode he LhnS h^CT"' '"-^^-S aC ■='"*" •■'"d every man 8o RICHARD II departed til after diniv.T. Then the mayor and the notable men of the city, and divers other lords ami knights, pre lates, bishops, and abbots, such as were in London came to sec the earl; also the Duchess of Gloucester and her two daughters came to sec the earl, who were his cousins-Cierman. Humphrey their brother was with King Richard, more for fear than lor love. With these ladies was the Countess of Arundel and her thililren, and also tiie (,'ountess of Warwick, with divers other ladies, such as were at London. The people of London were so yn il of the earl's coming, that there was no more workinjj a Londcm that day than an it had been ICaster Day. 'I'o come to a conclusion of this business ; The people took counsel and advice to ride against the King, whom the Londoners named Richard of Itordeaux, King without title or lionour : for the villains of London had the King in such hate, that it was pain for them to hear speaking of him, hut to his condemnation and destruction, for they had mated the Earl of Derby to be their King, and he was niuc'i ordered by their counsels. The Karl of Derby took on him to be King, nnii so to endure for ever, he and his heirs ; and then- to the Londoners did swear and seal, and promised that all the residue of the realm should do tlie same, so solemnly that there sliould never ([uestion be made thereof after ; also they promised him to aid and to assist him always. These promises and bonds once taken and concluded, then it was ordained that twelve hundred men of London, well-armeil, should ride with the carl towards Bristol, and to do so much, that Richard of liordeaux miglu be taken and brought to London, and then to take advice what should be done with him, and to be judged by the law and by the three estates of the realm : also it was ordained (to make the less bruit and slander), that the men of war of Bretagne, such as were come thither with the earl, should be returned home again, for it was said that they had men enough to do their ohii deeds without them ; so that the earl had all the llrrloii- rim i)..:..(.,s,,,u.N- „i; -,„,. ,.,^,. ^^ we.. con....„, .„^d so i:,,^ Tu H^ ut.Uo'l'h' '^' *"-'''' so into IlrctagiR.. lyniouth to the shj]).. and The Karl of Dcruv was chief of that armv •,. , (o> touched him most near^t n T' "•'"°" "'a'' London, and as ho rod" thcontrv fell" '.':'''"'^'' '~"' '-■ame into the King', host of ,h^ '"'" """'"• '''^ings "erbyand of the Undo, r^ '^^T'^Z:' '"^■. '-' °' others knew it or the KinL- hi i, ^ , '' "' "I""'"' •''"d ciurs. not speak tlteo "Nv,e 'Z "t^*^ ""■""'' ""' "-^ abroad, such as were next the Km ''''' 'f"'"'''"' ">'"•>-• knew well the Kin' a, d th- .r"" '" '"■''' ^'-''''' '"' "'^y l-cTil, because , hey had so n ""*-' '''^'-'y '" '''" '" -. were then .ii:::'l::~;:;- licfure, for many fcniuht, s,„m, ™" made yood u^ i™« ; ..^^^tai, J ;,■'"' T" """•"■ "' knowledge that the King w.s' 'one ^.h' "^ '"'' '"^'-■ and had no company witt him h I "'"' °^ '•""'■ I'ousehold, and seemed 1 hT , ^ "' ''"^ "^ ^'' °wn .hat dang; by treaty T ^ ,". ""■ '"' '^ ""l* .■.ither,andto'dosomucht;i ::,r',''-''""'r''^ '" ^'■'^" or by treaty Then h , , """^ '^"''" '^V force .hltbrr,an/wiJ:'l'::::,::^-t^;;j;--panyrode V'llage; there the earl tarried Zdr-,1 ^^f"""^ " S"^^' himself to ride to th , .7i r t? ' ""'' '■'^'""'""'i in horse, and tolav:,le re of\i ""' '~^" """'^-'^ .•e said he would d vl he c "wT'T' '"" ""'= = ^""-^ -.e castle by love a:; JUS--;:;-^-^ r M JlK 83 RICHARD It tlie KiriK w,t), fair words, and to assure him from all i>cril except Boinu to Lond..,,, and to promise him that he sh.ili have no hurt of his body, and to be n.ean for hin. to the Londoners, wlio were not rontcnt with him. The carl's device seemed Kood to them that heard it, and lliey said to him: "Sir, beware of dissimulation: this iMchnrd of IJ<,rdeaux must be taken either quiek or dead and a 1 the other traitors that be about him and of bis counsel, and so to be brought to London and set in the lower; the I.ondo,iers will not sulTer you to do the contrary." Then the earl said ; " Sirs, fear not, but all that IS entcri)ri3ed shall be accomplished ; but if I can eet him out of the castle with fair words, I will do it ; and if I can not, I shall send you word thereof, and then ye shall come and lay siege about the castle, and then we will do so much by force or by assault, that we will have him quick or dead for the castle is well pregnable." To thDse words accorded well the Londoners. So the earl departed from the army, and rode with two hundred men to the castle, whereas the King was amon« his men right sore abashed The earl came riding to the castle gate, which wa, closed, as the case required : the earl knocked at th ite; the porters demanded who was there ; the earl answe i, "I am Henry of Lancaster ■ I come to the King to demi. .d mine heritage of the duchy of Lancaster; shew the King this from me." "Sir," quoth they within, " we shall do it." Incontinent they wem into the hall and into the donjon where the King v.-as, and such knights about hmi as had long time counselled him. Then these news we.e shewed to the King, and said ; "Sir, you- cousin of Derby is at the gate, who demandeth of vou lo be set in possession of the duchy of Lancaster his inheritance " The King then regarded such as were about him and demanded what was best to do. They said : "Sir, in this request is none evil ; ye may let him come in to you will, twelve persons m his company, and hear what he will say ■ 1 TMl. ()f.:i-osm,XV C,i- THE KIM] S.T ■■""i till «l.c. Karl of nZZt "" ""-' -•^"^■^ I'o a,,nLrd hey would sk still and du s no. 1 ', " *"'■' ''^"^ ro". ''■^'h ,0 hi., wife .„e H,rl of Z^^"'" ""' ' =""J >-' '-e »;= ^U|.posc ye should come totL/'^T ^ ""^ '"'^ •"-""' -'"0 jn with ,,elve with h' ,' aTd r '' ^^ ""^ '^' •"■"' '»•'■•"' clovn to the gate and om ;, T"-'' ''■«° """g'ns out and „,ade reverse oIThV'; »-''^' -^"1 i-ued gmoous words, ror ,h,y knew weM 'h ? J'"''^'^'^ *"'" ««l> '«.st then,, and also tney knTw^v 1 th 1"'^'' "° ^^'^ "> J'spleascd with then, .. tlLefolth! ' ,°"''°""^ "•"'=»°^e "\'-' ^ "Mir, what i^your Sea ur?/';. \^'^' »"" '="^" ; .he earl, "j, k„o„. „.e|, ] t, , V"''' ''°"" "I ^-y," ,uoth duchy of ;.a, .aster; I ,,, X "-" ''''^^'•■"'°" °f'he ^ so for other things 1,_. ^'f.'" ""' ^^^ 'hat cause, and "ST,"quoththey, "ye be wel." 'f ^ *'"' ">« King of." '" -e you and to hear ^.r ;!:; " '^'"S -"''• '°'-fhey are, I "'"''• ■•■"dspeciaih U,e I^/"'' """'' ""'"geou f """°"^' four thousand n,en' n ""' ''''^ '" London a , ""^ 'housandarchersand h ""' '^"">Ple.e and T'^" -^'-W. «,,,,,,,_ ,^ ,tf, -^ -y were aha.hc",! ' ^ I ■i^l ^ ,l;i' XI At the Coronation of the King RICHARD or' WOOnVILLE rode away for I.ondnn, accompanied by two yeomen, a pa- , and Ned Dyram, whose talents had not been long in displaying themselves in the service of his master. The first day's journey was a long one, and Richard of Woodville and his train were not many miles from London when they again set forth early on the following morning, so that it was not yet noon, on the ninth of April, when they approached the city of Westminster, along the hanks of the Thames. Winding in and out through fields and hedgerows, where now are houses, manufactories, and prisons, with the soft air of spring breathing upon them, and the scent of the early cowslips, for which that neighbourhood was once famous, rising up and filling the whole air, they came on, now catching, now losing the view of the large, heavy Abbey Church of Westminster, and its yet unfinished towers of the same height as the main building, while rising tall above it appeared the belfry of St. Stephen's Chapel, with its peaked roof open at the sides, displaying part of the three enormous bells, one of which was said (falsely) to weigh thirty thousand pounds. The top of two other towers might also be seen, from time to time, over the trees, and also part of the buildings of the monastery adjoining tlie Abbey ; but these were soon lost as the lane which the AT THE CORONATION OF THE KING 8, -d or„a,nen.ed'wi;h et ,° n^T' ^"'" «— ^--J -""'ist whfch might be d Cel°l '''"^ '"'=^'' ='"'' ^^ '«^ge stone houses-, richlv nr„7 ' ,"" """^ ""^^^. some -rounded „.,.h thL-rot^r^'i;'": ■^^""""^^' -"' the fields ,vero filled with grounsnf f '"''''• "'^' P'-"hs, ^°5"-me, all f]„eking towards T 1 ' """ '" "'^'^ '""I'-Ja; 'he warm -"shine'the ^^^1, e^ ^f T"' '"' "•'^■-" -"' verdure of the young fota ,e ,' . '^' ^''''' ">^' 'ender people, the whole scene as .l u '^'' "^^"^'^ <" the possible to conceive It 'h "^'''' ""'' "vely as it i S'- Stephen's began toll' .r^h"'"'^ ''' '"'' ^'^"■^ o ^^"^-"*^V';:";:t:^dr:r^"-^'"-onvood. to a spot where the hne ;, , ° ^" '"^"^ ^'s they came -^;",»" '''e right htcl'^^ide^'irte^hl;; '"^ ^"-"-.Tn': n„s seems the nearest." he contl ' '"'' ""'^ ""-" '^^t. "tI; T ' """^ "-^''' oahrcity'.f°'""'^ ''-" "- nyram,ridi„np."rit'X 'f '"""'="'" -P''^'^ Ned 'he shortest, good soot t'thr; 7 ,""^'^^- ^hat is the fool's way, and we mi^ht iJ '^ T """ '''°'"'«t often - took it; for thoug, t'/e'ds ro'V"'°°' '''^'^ '"-'^ ^f Stephen's lane, methhfks hat to a™ '° '^<^ «"d of St. '0 '■ .alace court by that gate as i T,^'" '"-" ■'"'■""'^'d "'0''-"g." ^'^'"'^""---"'S's coronation "Indeed I "said Woodville "n :;Nor I either," answered Ned 'Tl T! "'''' '' "'"^ ^°-" "%ei^;^;7^"-^-^--v::::.L-'"^--' .^elis ringing, by the peop ^ , "„ f":: t ","■ ^'°"''' ^^ "- ~ ---"'- 1 hea;:n^;r^^;->-- 88 HENRY V who only ,;ees one thing at once will never know what time he is living in." " Then we had better turn to the left," said Woodville, not caring to hear more of his homily ; " of course, if this he the coronation day, I shall noi get spt'cch of the King till to-morrow ; but we may as well see wliat is going on." "To the left will lead you right," replied his quibbling companion, " that is to say, to the great gate before the palace court, and then we shall discover whether the King will speak with you or not. Kach prince has his own manners, and ours has changed so boldly in one day, that no one can judge from that which the lad did what the man will do." " Has he changed much, then ? " asked Woodville, riding on ; " it must have been sudd-i, indeed, if you had time to see it ere you left him." " Ay, has he ! " answered Dyram ; " the very day of his father's death hfc put on, not the robes of royalty, but the heart, and those who were his comrades before gave place to other men. 'I'hey who counted much upon his love found a cold face, and they who looked for hate met with nought but grace." " Then perhaps my reception may not be very warm," said Woodville thoughtfully. " You may judge yourself better than I can, master mine," replied Ned Dyram. "Did you ever sit with him in the tavern drinking quarts of wine ? " " No," answered Richard of Woodville, smiling. "Then you shall be free of his table," said Ned. " Did you ever shoot deer with hi.-i by moonlight ? " " Never," was his master's reply. " Then you may chance to taste his venison ! " rejoined the man. " Did you ever brawl, swear, or break heads for him, or v.ith him ? " " No, truly," said the young gentleman. " I fought under him with the army in Wales, when he and I were both but 1 1"-'", perchance, you T' , '" "^ '"'"•'■ of others." '°' himself, not with the eyes ^y^'-.anyt.n'adprr'S'^^'- "'--- y^'-; and though he kno«^ and h ''"'", "^"""S 'he last prompted what others did m r , '''^■" ^''°^'- ^ "ever ments he cast off as soon JL °"' "^ ""-" °'d gar- fared better than the reT indeed h "" "'^ ""^^ «"^- I •od hi,n a rough truth and tt TrV;"""'""""'^ "^'^ '( I do his bidding." "" ' 'hall fare better still you to me." "■ "'• S^"™ Jou one when he sent '"^- ^erve you well, n.aJter if .^Vt/T" ^ """' '"'' '«<^'^ >™ have no cause to think ill of ^ "" "'"' ^°" ' '° :^d;s^;---'„-'--=Sen^: r-r-£r:^c-:--e,or.ther he north was seen the old go L Lu'ld " ''"' '"'"''''■ T° alcons .vere kept, and calk-d f^n 1 "° "'''"^ 'he royal ■yew^.whilealitdeinadvan e unon '' '^'-'^-''^nce the «ood the beautiful stone crops'"? Tk ^''«'^">' ^''^^-'^d, "ndyn,g regard, erected in the IT ."^^ ™°numents o Edward the First. To the V "" °^ ^'''""'S ^^X King odge and other office:of , e hlrr';'^ "^""^ -^ J^n>-'s, forn,ing together a la !" '? f '°"^''"' °f St. ^' P''e of buildings. w,th I )k ' II J- :^' 90 HENRY V gates and arches cutting each other in somewhat strange confusion, while the higher storeys, supported by ' corbels, overhung the lower. The effect of the whok-, however, massed together by the distance, was grand and striking, while the trees of the fields, then belonging to the nunnery and afterwards formed into a park, broke the harsher lines and marked the distances down the course of the wide road. A little nearer, but on the opposite side of the way, with gardens and stairs extending to the river, was the palace or lodging of the Kings of Scotland. The edifice has been destroyed, but the ground has still retained the name which it then bore, and many years had not elapsed, at the time I speak of, since that mansion had been inhabited by the monarchs of the northern pan of this island when they came to take their seats in parliament in right of their Eng- lish feoffs. Gardens succeeded, till appeared, somewhat projecting beyond the line of road, the old stern building which had once been the property of Hubert de Burg, Earl of Kent, more like a fortress than a dwelling, though its gloomy aspect was relieved by a light and beautiful chapel, lately built on the side nearest to Westminster by one of the Archbishops of York. Several smaller edifices, sometimes constructed of brick, sometimes of grey stone, were seen on the right and left, all in that peculiar style of architecture so well fitted to the climate of northern Europe and the character of her people, and still between all appeared the green branches of oaks, and beeches, and fields, and gardens, blending the city and the country together. Up the long vista thus presented were visible thousands of groups on horseback and on foot, decked out in gay and "littering colours, and as brilliant a scene displayed itself to the south, in the wide court before the palace, surround- ing which appeared the venerable Abbey, the vast hall, the long line of the royal dwelling, the monastery, the chapel of St. Stephen, with its tall belfry, and many another tower AT THE CORONATION OF THE KING 9, >-' heavy buildifjof the WoJrV"'"''" "'"' ""= '"^'^ "na^rneath. Banners an . ^ ' "'"^ '^^ '"'' "f ''•^^l-cs 'ong sown., of ^k a„d ~c,''"""'"''' '" ""-• """^ mantles of every hue unde the" n ^'V ""'"'^ ••'"'^ dresses of the ladies anri ,1, ' ^ ™''''' ■'"'d head- '"Ppings of the 'rse "c,tc iTT-r' "'^ «-«-- hi'herand thither, rendered. hf V =" "' "'^>' "'"^^-'d 'o 'he palace onHiv ng ,ai bo " rr ^ '•''-'- Cross gently on upon the east, wa coj J 7 V' "'''' "''^''"S out with strea„,ers and flmtenr M """^ ''°"'^' ^" '^''"•'"-'d the old. and those dedea.d ."T ■''''-'" ^^^ Srave, thought, seemed to have coLeforthTT '"' "™- amongst the crowd mi^ht he Hi , .' ""' °"' '^"y- -""d of the long gr«y, hlatoZutlT T" "^•^" ""-^ ve.l which marked the nm, A f / !,' "''"^ ""^ '"'^ ='"d nothing was heard but a ,„h^ r™ ^'^'' ''""•"■"■ ='"d ""ging of the bells, the s^,n2 T",'""' ^'^ J^'^'^' '^e now and then, the deep tone of h° "'""""' ="""' <=-->• W'ndows of the Abbey, or a v u h'""? Z"'" "" "P*^" from the lesser court ol'the pallce ""' °' ""''"'' "'"-'^ ^ardi; Sd^ Tot'fa'^Sr °b^ ^^ ^'^"^ ^^" ^'-e'f courteous carriage gLed hinT'r. ' «°'^'' ""^n and moved along, or perchance '"^' ' ' ''°''^ ^^ ^e simi^icity of'^hose'dayl ailowT' ""' ^"'' ^^ ""-' ^-n^ appr;iti:eVlL';ttr f:S^""-<^apert London King." ""'' ''"^ <^h,ef mourner for the dead fair." "^o" «o"'d give much to be a.s ■>^l::^:sl™C:^-^'^"-'^'n'edas.outciti.en! "He shall not hurt you, good si," replied Woodville. .i; ^1*1 92 HENRY V " Let me hold by your leg, sir squire," said a woman near, " so shall I have a stout prop." " Blessings on his fair good-natured face," cried an old woman ; " he has lost his lady, 1 will wager my life." " You have not much there to lose, good woman," an- swered a man behind her. " Well, he will soon find another lady," rejoined a buxom dame, who seemed of the same party, " if he takes those eyes to court." "Out on it, master," exclaimed a man who had been amusing the people round him by bad jokes ; " is your horse a cut purse? He had his nose in my pouch." " Where he found notliing, I dare say," answered Wood- viUe ; and in the midst of the peal of laughter which fol- lowed from the easily moved multitude he n\ade his way forward to the gates, where he was stopped by a wooden barrier drawn across and guarded by a large posse of the royal attendants, habited in their coats of ceremony. " What now ? what now ? " asked one of the jacks of office, with a large mace in his hand, as Woodville rode up; "you can have no entrance here, sir squire, if you be not of the King's house, or have not an order from one of his lords. The court is crowded already. The King will not have room to pass back." Before his master could answer, however, Ned Dyram pushed forward his horse, and addressed the porter, saying, in a tone of authority, " Up with the barrier. Master Robert Nesenhai.i. 'Tis a friend of the King's, for whom he sent me— Master Richard of Woodville— you know the nan: .." " That's another affair, Ned," replied the other ; " but let me see, are not you on the list of those who must not come to court ? " " Not I," replied Ned Dyram ; " or if I be, you have put me on yourself, Robin ; 'tis but the other day I left his Grace upon this errand." " Well, come in if it be so, varlet," replied the porter, AT THE CORONATION OF THE KING 93 »re .here ? Stand back 'X, or ^Zn''\""'" °' '°" See, Tim, there is a fel , w «l T ""'^ ^"'" P'""' five of vou that U =11 . ^V over-break his neck— into limbo"' ' ""-''""' '"'''• f"^""*'. or you shall was open Richard nf \v J n ^""-' ''arrier when it theirwayon o he ou« T"'' '" '°"°'^"' "'"''^ in the more o K-n stnce uh , ''"'°r''"= '™'" "^'^ ^orse towards the ZslTZrl 'I '"^""^"^' '"^ '"'^^"^'-'d officers, between he doofr' '''P' '=''^" ^^ "^^ '°V^' At first he was ,a ed ° ' '''"' ''" """ "'^ ^bbey. citizen, and he' in^r d o Z T" T"" " =" '^'^'"'"y been in the church ' '"'" '°"S "''^ King had no;T;rih'';:h::tTn;7h';";:i;''t '"^ "'''^'' "'^''^ ^- was a grand sight Thee ^a^T/?, ""'' °" ' " he said was drowned bv th/no 1 "" '"'' "^ "''^t flourish or trumpets from' 1 17 """"'' '""' '' " '-'' There was a loud " hurrah i" f^„™ .u to the Abbey door; a tm" hear ^ En ^T,""'' '''""'''' no other nation on the earth ca ^ i a^ j'^^S'^-'' - sion was seen returnin,. An . ' '"^ "J'"' Proves- and Richard of 3i„e "i.^;? ,'" ""^ " '"^^ "^-"^^ ^^^ca,mi,uncov^:::;:r;;:^;S:;r^:;^He but all eyes were tu'rnek to one person L^ 7,f '^"""^'"^' haughty, l,ut calm and firm .uchZ ' I ' "" ''^P' "°t a heart fixed and confidtl^'ke^'t ""''""' "''"^ -nubore.Ld^:~-s-;;2:::ri 94 HEXRY V soul— Henry of Monmouth returned towards his palace, amidst the gratulating acclamations of his people. Richard of Woodville saw Hal of Hadnock in the whole bearing of the monarch, as he had seen the prince in the hearing of Hal of Hadnock, and he murmured to himself, " He is the same. 'Tis but the dress is altered, either in mind or body. Excluded from the tasks of royalty, he assumed a less noble guise ; but still the man was the same." As he thus thought, the King pissed before him, looking to right and left upon the long lines of people that bordered his way, though, marching in his state, he distinguished no one by word or gesture. His eye indeed, fixed firmly for an instant upon Richard of Woodville, and a slight smile passed over his lip ; but he went on without further notice ; and the young gentleman turned, as soon as he had gone by, thinking, " I will seek some inn, and come to the palace to-morrow. Today, it is in vain." The pressure of the multitude, however, prevented him from moving for some time, and he was forced to remain till the whole of the procession had gone by. He then made his way out of the crowd, which gradually became less compact, though few reti'ed altogether, the greater number waiting either to discuss the events of the day, or to see if any other amusements would be afforded to the people ; but it was some time before the young gentleman could find his horses, for the movements of the people had forced them from the place where they had been left. Just as he was. at length, putting his foot in the stirrup, Ned Dyram pulled his sleeve, saying, "There is a King's page, my master, look- ing for some one in the crowd. Always give yourself .t chance. It may be you he seeks." " I think not," replied Richard of Woodville ; " but you can join him and inquire, if you vill." The man instantly ran off at full spe.;d; an- Ihougii soon forced to slacken his pace amongst the people, he in AT THE CORONATION OF THE KING o, ;-i''n-.,e:ni':j:;;t::^-^ f'^r-'"^ --h hi, '--T rol..s and ..ki„, j:„„e r;!^,;::!'^'^ "'^ '^ ""'""« oflr his give h„n.elf a chance" ''"^ ""-'"'^"'>' "•"'",. ,o the course of En^h'sh L.ory Ihe oy'd ™"'"' '" n^errnnent, pageantry, fear, despair and .h^ '°7°"' """''> ''»ve passed for well nich -^ ,l' . ^ """^^ of death, ^afl door at ,h' Wr" f"' "''''"'' '"' opened, displayed the first stensnr "^^ ^'^ "'"''^h, when Up these they took their wav and ,K '""[' ''°"' '''''''''■ 'l>ron,ed with attend ns7;"tt' "'T"^'' ^ "'""'-' --' on the right, in whUtlt J/" ,'°^^ °^ " ^">^^ Mvords of state met the yo„„., 1'."'^ ™'''-'' ""^^'•'^ ^"^ at the end, which the pieot'dv"? '''-■' '° =* ''""^ antecha„,ber containing severT ■'"" '"" ^ »»'--'ll tabards, waiting either fn se,n '"'"-"' '""^ P'^*?" '" "'e,r -her in whispers. "C t^:Z VT "'''"^' '" '"^' tlie gentleman he brought with hl,« 1 ™"'"'^'^' "'"' ■ng an opposite door, the b^ Sed" "n ' "'' ''"'""^^''- im the door was immediaielv . . ^° O"*-" answered ; 96 HENRY V a large chiir, he found the- KiriK, nttrmled by two men dressed in their hal.its of sl.itc. One of these had just given the visitor admission ; l)ut the other was cnt-axed in pulHng off the hoots in which the monarch had walked to and from the Ahliey, and in placing a pair of emliroidered shoes upon his feet instead. "Welcome, Richard of Woodville," said Henry, as soon as he beheld him ; "so you have come to see Hal of Had- nock before you depart ? " " I have come to see my gracious sovereign, sire," replied Woodville, advancing and beiuling the knee to kiss his hand, "and to wish him heallh and long life to wear his crown, for Jiis own honour and the happii, -ss of his peo- ple." "Nay, rise, Richard, rise," said Hmry smiling kindly "no court cerenioiiies here. And I will tell you, my good friend, that I do really believe there is not one of all those who have >• .outed on iny path to day, or sworn to suppoit my throne, who more sincerely wishes my prosperity than yourself. But say, did you guess that Hal of Hadnock was the Prince of Wales ? " "I knew it, sire," re|)liod Woodville, "from the first mo- ment I saw you. I had served under your Grace's com- mand in Wales." "I suspected as much," replied the monarch, "from some words you let fall." "I do beseech you, sire, to p.irdon me," continued Richard, "if I judged my duly wrongly; but I thought that so long as it was not your pleasure to give yourself your own state, it was my part to know you only as you seemed." " And you did right, my friend," replied the King ; " but were you not tempted to breathe the secret to any one ? " "To no one, sire," answered Woodville boldly, "not for my right hand would I have said one word to the be t friend I had." '''^S:BB^:^:"'j^- -- the King continued his rnn. '"'" '^■'"' '"^■•ivy „hil,. '^l . sire.," an,,«,erccl WoodviL » .k ''^''' '">■ f'"''-"''" " I'l'f hc.-irt and a ,tron,- / ""^'"^ *'"' a smik-, "a, r„ ,„ ""' but a . ingcr of snl! * " '""'' '"ok el Iseivhere. I •1 lover of old am but a -inscr of .„ "' '"" '""s' '"i ballads." ^ ^ '°"e^' >•'>» know, and -I'tX''ff"'''"^<^'''-''"enry ;..,,„,„ , i-' mat. I |(„g,^ 1 . / ' "" "one the "»" 'hat is not fond of n,u ir ' r " ' '"'"-^■^ ''""be the ■t so well myself, that I ranno , / ?'• ''"''"'«• ">« I ,„ve bas son,e discordant pW " ', ' "',"""^' '- «'ho does no, '-eet sounds. -Tis to' ^"'^^.Z'T/'T ""' '^'^ ""b when I have heen sirf nr , j *■ '^^'f'-eshnient also • o„ i "ii- -y uioiig^st: :::t::;? ''"^ -'•'■^t:- r S'ddy, I have sat n,e do4 .o .he or' "' '"' ''"'" '---^'-' <"'- -^ "deed I love it well enotigh but I an ''' "^-^ '"' ''"->■. 'bulk that a truly g,,.at „o' ' ^ ""^ "° POet; and yet -der empire than' .t K g' ° .:,., '"°:'-' '^-rful, and Ca Jh.le we live; but their minds '• ^ J"'' "'"'"^ '^"'b- death ends all our power Vh" ^'""'^ "^•■« «<^eptre, and "'oulds their minds to Its wil T" '"''' "^'^'^ bear" 'he wide future. He arrays h" , ''"'"'^'' '"'^ ^™ ole^ "'"des for battle on t e grand% n °'''^ °' ^°"""^- -^u 'endshisempi.tothe:,^::r:,r?:,:^\n;'''.-d' "OK at flonier— has '^ll § : flllf ,1.1 III i'.- i 58 HENRY V not the song of the blind Greek its influence yet? and so shall the verse of Chaucer be heard in years to come, long after the brow they have this day crowned shall have moul- dered in the grave." The thoughts which he had himself called u.- =eemed to take entire possession of the King, and he remai =d gazmg ,n deep meditation for a few minutes upon the ghttermg -mblems of royaltv which lay upon the table before him, while Richard of WoodviUe stood silent by his side, not venturing to interrupt his reverie. " Well, Richard," con- tinued the King, at length rousing himself "so you go to Burgundy? but hold yourself ready to join me when I have need." . „ "I am always ready, now or henceforward, sire, an- swered the young gentleman, "to serve you with the best of my poor ability ; and the day will be a happy one that calls me to you. I only go to seek honour in another land, because I had so resolved before I met your highness, and because you yourself pronounced it best for me." " And so I think it still," replied Henry. " I would my- self advance you, WoodviUe, but for two reasons ; first, I find every office near my person filled with old and faithful servants of the crown ; and as they fall vacant, I would place in them men who have themselves won renown. Next, I think it better that your own arm and your own judgment should be your prop, rather than a King's favour ; and as yet, there is here no opportunity. Besides, there are many other reasons why you will do well to go, in which I have not forgotten your own best interests. But keep yourself clear of long engagement to a foreign prince, lest your own should need you." "That I most assuredly will, sire," answered Richard of Woodville. " I go but to take service as a volunteer, hold- ing myself free to qui- it when I see meet. I ask no pay from any one ; and if I gain honour or reward, it shall be for what I have done, not for what I am to do." AT THE CORONATION OF THE KING 99 the gracious' LTvou, J '™"'''\'"'^ "'^"'^ y"" f- s.gn, saying, "Stop- yet a moment T h ^^ """^^ '^ this po,nt a I,..,e, and then retire with B^yna d .' ' " Tlie attendants did a^ tl-,.,. ,.. •^>"^"^- A loan, Kichard, a ban'" rr:,,,! fi 7r- claim him i,ack one ;f thel" davsl'^' l'"^' "' ^'^'"' in Burgundy. Vou wi„ fiLd he h^^ ft L a's M """' ^"^ ^o have an eye to correct them But '' """'^^ ' country folic say, I have a ,2 , ■ , "°"' '' -'^^ I wan. his servL for:hrrys;yr;,r;,::;''-- ■ne. You are not yet ready to set'outT" '™' "'" '° JNot yet, sire," replied Woodvillu • "h,„ ■ more I hope to be on the sea " ' " °"^ '^'^'^'^ "Well, then, send the man up to me nnrr h k „ ■ y"u in four days," answered H „ y "i," ^ " '''''' ""'^'^ to-morrow, my good friend l,.r^ '"^ '^'^ V"" rain talk ^unL^r e^ h^Tu' IttL^^f: tf '/ k'^ ^^"""'^ -:d°:^:":Sr^:-",r^'^'^^^^'-"- and ohedienL, argrnVof' 2^.;^^ ^'Z"-' acqu.escence in my opinion whether riJht n ^' '""^ broad and coarse, or neat and half ^ , T"""' P^^''^«' can have plenty, 'and tfu: elt b ta^:; 1^°' "'"^ ^ hosom one can pour forih nl ' i '^ '"'° "'H°^= «-hether they be sa'd or !> is nrlt'n "■■"°" ^"'"■■"'' ^r the present, fare yo^J;iJ' "^ '"^' "■"'"• feasting within. '^' ' '" ^"'^' ""'' '''^ """es were •I'e guests, issued forth in o the ourfh'' "'" "" ""' "' to find a j;av and inv ' ^^ "'■" "°' «"r:>rised and roads ^Kt^ ::;,r::,^::t:r' "" -'^"''^ ^--'^ up to joy and diversion. Th' " s of tL"" """*'' '"""-'^ open, the populace admitted t 1 °"" ""'-' "^™"" palace, and a Irowdofeealhunj''^/"^ '""" "' "'^ round a spot in the cen r. ''"■'""' ^^^'-"'"Wed had been Hghted for h au'- slT " "^"^ ^''^^ "' "'' "-'^ whole, wi,ich wasduirsune?im.nr;"r': 1 '"''""^ '" °^ capped cooks, with a whol. n ^ ^^ half ado.en wh.te- Butts of stro g bee s 1:^ 7 """""^ ""^ '""^""^■ tain, of four streams fl™ . T""' """"'' ^"^ ^ f'^""" the Abbey. o, e loot "', """' "' "^^' ^'■'^'•- "«' '" each other to get a c 'a ' ' ■"" ^°^"'"S ='"'^ P-h;ng dancmg gaily ^^^:tu,^^r:.:^::::;r;r'''^^^^^^^ un,bler, twisting hin.self into every sorrnf "" "''' " for the amusement of the s,,e al " r ?T '■""'"^'-• exclamations „eak of l , ? ''""^ shouts and different Isie 1 ,,°t„ m' ,'"■ J'"-' '"""'^'^ of a thousand tune,with™i^s r^idU """ " """^ ""'"'"' -.prepared for r:;2:::?'rrr:T'^' ^hjth^compe=^^.S^--tir--;"'" I IP^>: !ii IS HENRV V Ricliard of Wooiiville li.i.I ^iixii orders for his horses to bu taken to an inn at Cliaring, while waiting in the hall before the bamiuet; and he now proceeded on foot, through the crowd in the [lalace courts, towards the gates. It was a matter of some difficulty to obtain egress ; for twilight was now coming on, and the multitude were flock- ing from the sights which had been displayed in the more open road to Charing during the last two or three hours, to witness the roasting of the ox, and to obtain some of the slices which were to ue distributed about the hour of nine. At length, however, he found liimself in freer air ; but still, every four oi five yards, he came upon a gay group, either standing and talking to each other, or gathered round a show, or some singer or nmsician. It was one constant succession of faces, some young, some old, some pretty, some ugly, but all of them strange to Richard of Woodville. Nevertheless, more than once he met the same merr) salutations which he had been treated to when on horsi back ; and, as he paused here and there, gazing at thi> or th tt "a;' party, he was twice asked to join in the dance, and itill more freiiuently reiiuired to contribute to the pay- mert of a poor minstrel with his \>\,,c or cithern. — G. F. R. jAMiis, As^inciHirt. xu ^he Beginnmg of the English Defeat in France " ^V'ho or what is fh.- \r ■ i .. does not supersede you in ti,e com,^ 7 ?"" '" "* ? «'"= , " 1 hat is as n,ay be," rJurnJuT"'' '""'"'' ' " »"'"esort, nshisdelega.;" '""'"'^ '" '''-■ ^-'""S, in V'X°""rKi:t^;-'^7^ i.'"^d, but his presence ^ould " "'""'' ^'^ "^ "" ="r;;s interference is nL "em .''"'•'''r "" '^-P-^thi. ■° "^-^ inspired, and, the 2re ^ilM k' "'"" '"''^^ "" possessed." t^reiore, will (,ght u„der her as if -d^rs^Ci-;;;::^'^'""'"^- '■-«'■/■ ^ fake position." *"- ''''^ ™^>' ^ot lind iiersel? i„ I ' . ,ik».il!'' 104 HF.NRY VI simply ridiriilons. I, for one-, am not going lo be led tjy a petticoat." " She wears male attire," observed I)e Retz ; " with iier hair Rowing over it, 1 understand, tied by a string or some- thing." "What is her retinue?" said the .Admiral. "Two or three lances," replied l)e lioiissac, "a chaplain, a s(iuire, two pages, and a nuutre cthdtcL^ " Her entry will be simple and unostentatious," said De Lore ironically. " Th.it depends," said I)e Retz. " Is she noble?" " I am not sure how her name is spelt. I rather think it is only Dare." " Bertrand de Poulengey," observed De Lore, " who escorted her across the country, is as true a son of chivalry as ever lived. He is one of the King's equerries of the stable." " He wears her colours of course ? " "White is her colour, I understand. She wears white- armour, a white surcoat, and has a white banner." " We must give her a good reception, at any rate," said De IJoussac, "since the King so wills it. (loo^l quarter;, and a good table. Who knows but that with this she may be content, as a good little girl should be, and leave u^ to do what is, after all, only men's work." "Only," said La Hire, smiling a little, "we men havi not been able to relieve Orleans." " Nor will she, nor will she," returned the Marslia! quickly. " Notwithstanding all this foolery, nothing will be done. It is a grievous thing, sirs, but Orleans must fall ! " Though the chiefs had so little relish for her assistance, they were forced to yield some outward conformity to thr spirit of the citizens, who were in a tumult of joy at the news of Joan's approach. When, therefore, she drew near to Blois, she saw them coming forth to meet her with every rent the a,r. A,, u.sual her IT '""'' '" -^''^'^ "'a' '^•'""'-r ^^e repaired, a ^^b'^'!: ""' ""^ ""'«'"'■ ;n .mmen™ concourse of n " ^''''^'''^'='^' ""ended hy forward to show thei best 1 ^ I"' '''^ ^'"'^ens were ^but her severe rnld/Te' ":";,': 'i^-.'" ''^ -' "er tra,^ She mquired, according ,o her won /"''"' '" "'^'^ ^^^-t of avouched respertabHi v a, h .' ' '"""' *""'>■ d^me '"« she was to be the ^ ,'n, '"'"^' """ ^^ --red esteemed lady in ,he to n 1 , T' "^""""'^We and organise processions fo hj „, "''''" ^''^''' ''^squerel f-;-"ds to beg Araresch" d i Z"""' '"1 ^-' -« of her 'o. her without delay. He d7 "'""'" '^""^ '° '^I^eak "'_f ^ "^ '^"^ '"' accompanied by l.a " Beau sire," said sh " r/«ir',;rcTis,>« ';--"• ■-■ ■■■* -™Tr;r;r;'>'»i *■ •«■ bo«,i,i„,, *°y. It IS im " ' ^"'^ «"th respect to the con Rest content," said IV R huni^vr." ^hf" be succoured-!!:.. ^°"^^'"=' "">« men of Orleans ' es ; but at onf*. " ■ • you know of ^ ' '1 a.? iirmW lo6 HENRY VI tactics? The Count de Dunois has expressly l)iddcn us to follow the south bank. Leave these things to men who have studied them all their lives " " Only you have not relieved Orleans," she put in. " That's a stale answer," said he impatiently. " To proceed along the northern bank of the Loire would be highly dangerous, and we should inevitably be cut off. I have no right to throw away the lives of the King's subjects in that wa5', nor any mind to risk my own in what would be mere folly. Content yourself with animating us by your i)resence, and cheering the men onward, and we will proceed, fair ard softly, along the southern bank, and through the ,,iovince of Sologne, where the bastilles of the English are weaker and worse guarded." " Nay, but," said Joan, " I will go with you along the north bank, or not at all." "This is sheer obstinacy," said De Boussac, heating, "and shows nothing but wrong-hcadedness. You want to provoke me to throw down my baton, I suppose." "No," .said Joan, "I want you to carry succours u Orleans along the north bank. That is all." " All ? bless my soul ! " " My good girl " interposed La Hire. "Dear captain," said she to him, "do you believe mc sent by Heaven or not?" He was silent. "I, Joan Dare, know nothing of the matter. I am simply sent as a messenger, to lead you to victory. If you do not believe in me, I have no more to say." "Well, but I do believe in you," grumbled De Boussac : "at least the King does, which is to the same effect." " And do not the soldiers ? " "Oh, yes " " Who put it into their hearts ? May it not have been the Holy Spirit ? May not the Lord have chastised tlie nation for its sins by these sad reverses, and may He not THE EN-GUSH DEFEAT r.V ..R.XXCE .07 i wish / J,d," exclaimed l,a Hire ul,l, upon my honour, I didn't mean "::;:;','' ''"' "^"'- " "''• how'!^;:"ieCr^,;--i-"'^o.jo,.;;, „,,, exject:!'^"""" '"=" ^- '"-'<' -ievo OHeans. „e '^b)e reiief at any r:L "s^ -"T i/f' " ^"' "'^ '^ ^^■■^-"- aside her armour " '"'>' '""« "eed to lay 'i"''Sinn'::^^;::;'X£'-" '.«t farted wi.h ,s„n,e „f h s t^ JT "■"'^' '"^ '"^ "-^^ L-re ,v,-,h „,e Maid, and yJ' h^j hT":"'"'' '■""^^•'' ""• 'hey were keeping alon. h . n „ '■"I'' '" '""■''"'•^'le I.er heart smote hin.'for oin „ n"" "V"""' '"'' "'-'» Poulengey and De mJuI" '^\'''"^''' and as De "-y l^-w not she wall; Z""' '"" ''^ "" ~' ;' - ™Pos.,bIe to « e r^:,? ^'"«"^' '"- which tonous, and unproductive. Ncth " "!"''-" '"''^' '"°"''- ""d fur^e, gravel-pits and li.S !^-?"? ""•' ^•>'= ''"' sand ^-•■emed brutish and wretched ' ^ ""^ ""''' '"habitants You will see Orleans,- said IV n "from the very next bndge and " *'"' 'hey rode on, rode on. ^^ ' '""' encouraged by this, she "Oh!" exclaimed she in mi- ''ver lies between us ! Von have ri"'"""". '"^ °™'' " 'he „ " I'-give me, nuaiden,' said Dfli'"' """ '''" "" ' " '^-".s. order ; and the f^mt 1 n^ectr "^ " '' ''^^ 'y ^e'rXrtr:;?^'-'"^''-'-^^. ..Von have f e Jioussac made no an.s»er. ^-s.\er:'rid:d"^n^o';'LTwt?r ^'^ >-'^- I^uno.s waved his hanH V , " ^''' '° ^ay." P^oached, and .prn^g ^0'.^ '""'^ '° "'<^'" - k' ap- ill M'' 110 HENRY VI " Rif;lit welcome, Mareschal ! " rritil he. " And you too, Ij» Hire ! Maid ! you need no herald to announce you I " "Are you the Count de Uunois?" s.iid she. " I am," said he, " and very glad of your coming." "Was it indeed you," said she, "who directed us to come by .Solognc instead of Iteauce? " "Such was," said he, "the advice of our wisest cap- tains." " They were wrong, they were wrong," said Joan. " The I-ord is wiser than they. Vou thought to deceive me, but you have only outwitted yourselves. Let no time be lost now in embarking the supplies." "But a storm is coming on," expostulated De Boussac, "and the wind is contrary." " The wind will c/iaHf;<:, faint-hearted man ! " said she impetuously. " Well, well," said he, " there will be a downright scjuall, but, since you insist, I will give the necessary orders." And in a few minutes all was activity and commotion. "Marshal!" cried Dunois excitedly, " fhe luind has c/iaiiged / " De Boussac started, and lookeo aimit !iiip "It cer tainly has," said he. The squall which the Jfarcschal had spoken of now came on in full force, bending the heads of trees violently to the ground as it swept on its course. Vivid liglitning rent the clouds, and thunder rolled overhead, and thougli i" was scarcely sunset, the gloom amounted almost to dark- ness. The advantage this gave them in embarking close to the English Fort of St. Jean le Blanc, and the impressive fact of the wind having suddenly changed in their favour, were improved on by Father Pascjuerel and the priests of Blois, whose voices were heard above the storm, animating the soldiers by their exhortations. " Mareschal, you are coming with us ? " cried Dunois eagerly. THE E^•OL,S^, OEPHAT ,X pRANCR .„ "Certainly not," re|,li,.,l r... n return for, he oth;conv,'v.. '"' " "'^ •'"'^ '" »" I)unois l,«,k„i oxasperatcj "Faith. I Will/. ,,ij,;^,/^^;'v;.''''''-, me a couple ol hundred Innccs "' •^'■■'^•■«''al. give emLnrkin^ under the very 1^^ ''l" >°"- Vou nre he Kngl.sh will pour the r fi eTm •'™" ''-' "''■'"'^. •■>'•'! Vour beef .,„,, numon:,;"'^" '''--■'>• you are oir. *■" thank me tor havi,,, gon, for, f' T"' ""^ "'^" >-' 'hose barges will go ,„;f ."^ /° " , h""!"'^- ''^"'"^ "f ever surh ., hurricane? r '"'"^ ""^'" "■ Was ^-ewell, .vra,d : 'Z' are r .^'ri "^'■" "^^'^^'^ 'P- Cheer up the besicfi.d, a, , nTl t"' '' ="' """'^ eours. Atind that h„, ,, rrTh , ' '™,„'^""«'"S 'hen, ,suc- >uno,s, I really thi„k |,a l,,? ^h ''"" "" ''*^='dy. .^^ell, the Knglish win hardll com/ ? *''°" '"^ P'^e. '" such weather as this tuX °"' ""^ 'oo^ after you Poulengey ; adieu it Me l?'" '""^ """«• ^dieu, n" -Hire, old friend! i^' ^^^T ''''''■ ^---" the pnests of lllois, see to it^T f' !""" J""" "'i" have can and keep up th; excitlenr ' '° ''^ °"'^ S««'' 'he, I'e Boussac, thus tnlt-.s,™ i.-, -'ched the embark^::''! tLf mfT -^ ""-.. --:^e^';i^i~^^^ ^^forethewi^ndtrndt^: er':f«rad""^^-^ '^^^'^ -'""^ »"no,s- spirits rose like thos^ of , r""^ "'^^' ■ ""^ twenty-live years of age and ,h K °>'- "« "'as now •"Hen-ting much of ttothe ■ "^^ •'"■^H' - FranceT °«"'>, but having no 'Pit It !|i I'i f i; ii 112 HENRY VI earthly parent to thank for his goodness and spirit. It would be very easy to sink him into a mere hero of romance, a purpose I utterly disdain : his own good deeds are his praise. " Maid ! " said he, " you will save us. God shows you to be His angel of deliverance by making the winds speed us on our way, and concealing us from the foe by clouds of darkness " " But how bad it was of the \fareschal to go hack," said Joan, "and to deceive me by coming through Sologne ' " " You must forgive him," said Dunois. " We reallv had pre-arranged it." , The storm had now spent its violence, and the -noon now and then appec.-ed for a moment, as if travelling fast through the troubled clouds that swept the sky-fitfully re- vealmg the dark outlines of the city, the cathedral, and the heavy old nineteenarched bridge, the chasm in which was frowned over on the southern side by Sir William Glads- dale s fort, " Les Tournelles." __ "There lies Glacidas," said Dunois, in a low voice- and there, on the bank, is the famous bastion the English call London. " Joan and her companions listened with breathless interest as he related, in subdued tones, the story of the siege and strained their eyes as though they would pierce the gloom as he pointed out the dimly-discerned objects. A light that twinkled on the bank was suddenly concealed • they thought they were watched, but they floated quietly on Joan asked whether there were any good woman in Orleans with whom she could lodge. "A lodging is provided for you," replied Dunois " in the Rue du Tabourg, at the house of the Duke of Orleans- treasurer, Jacques Bouchier, as respectable a man as anv m the town. His house is close to the town wall, by the Porte Renard; and his wife Colette, and his daughter Charlotte, will treat you like a daughter of the house " i I-: iU^m- ' It was what the Italians call a supreme muinciii ra^ 113- THE ENGLISH DEFH/VT IN ERANCl^. 1,3 "But is there room," said Joan, "for my brothers, for ^.tZH-- '"'''"'-' '"' '^" ^'-- -' ^- ™y ->>- youS" ''"'" ""^ ^""°''' ""'"' '' '''^con.modation for "VVhat is that?" said she, slatting violently, as a heavy sound broke the stillness. /. > ^ "eavy "l-hat," said he, smiling, "is a cannon shot, which we Kr ti::^^"-"^' '°' "'-«" ^""' ''-''^<- '- - She saia, " .. is very terrible, and very grand " They were now winding among the low, long sand-banks or islands that began to be seen dimly heaving i„ narrow yellow hnes from the river, and on which, if they had fixed, they might have remained till morning, to fall an un res,stmg prey ,0 the English. Happily thisLe was averted by careful p.lotnge; and as they stole along, nearer and yet nearer the oty, and within range of the English guns the silence was so intense that Joan's quickened ear could distincdy catch the low ripple of the water against the side of the barge, makmg soft music. It was what the Italians call a supreme moment. All at once they were startled as . by a shot by all the church clocks sounding the first stroke of e,ght, led by the heavy-booming cathedral bell- ".Swinging slow with solemn roar." At the same time, the English drums began to beat to quarters-a summons evidently responded to in an unruly manner by several convivial spirits. Guard was relieved nambeaux and lanterns gleamed from tower, bridge and bastion and sent long, perpendicular, red reflections to the river below. On the town side of the Loire was heard a contniuous, hollow murmur as of thousands of persons speaking under their breath; a woman's call in some dis- tant street of "salt fish, salt fish!" that sounded like a wail or cry. No bark of dogs ; they had all been eaten < I I ( 114 HENRY VI A little shock against the bank, a rope thrown, and they were fixed. A crowd of persons, who seemed to have been silently watching them, now pressed forward. " Is she here ? Where is sh ? " they eagerly whispered. "Here ; she is here," said Dunois, putting Joan into the extended arms of the brave old governor, De Gaucourt; and t irs coursed down the old man's furrowed cheeks. " .'d bless you, my dear ! " was his homely welcome, as he tooK the unyielding steel-clad figure of the girl to his heart. She put her head on his shoulder foi an instant, and gave one little quivering sob ; for her feelings were highly wrought. But it would not do to weep then ! " The Maid ii come ! the Maid is come ! " screamed several scarce human-sounding voices. Oh, what a cry rang through the famished city ! It seemed to give one great sob, and then burst out into an ecstasy of rejoicing. But the sob and the laughter did not cease there : it rose wilder and louder; the sick and wounded dragged them- selves from their beds to their casements, and leant out crying — "What is it? what is it?" "Joan the Maid! Joan the Maid ! " " O merciful Father ! " The tumult grew wilder and wilder as the news spread to distant quarters. Every alley, court, and lane poured its tributary stream into the main streets. "Joan the Maid ! " " Joan the Maid ! " passed from mouth to mouth in frantic accents. " Blessed girl ! where, where is she?" cried the women ; and some of them, faint with hunger and long suspense, fell into hysterical fits of laughter; while men covered their faces and wept. All the church bells were set clanging, the cathedral became one blaze of light, and priests and choristers hurried on their surplices for "Te Deum." The English, startled at the uproar, were beating to arms ; and now and then a rocket came whizzing through the air. Meanwhile, every one was pressing to see, to touch the Maid, as, mounted on a noble white charger, whose hous- THE ENGf.rSH Di^i^KAT IN FRANCR r„ and by .he officers Ldodsorrhr" '^ '^ "'■'^■" citizens, the troops, the wc-r th, [ m ^'""'°"- ''^^ that name, and rich in ,Zt/ """ ^"'"^ ""^^f Therethe;sant-'Te "w' J'";'"r °' P^'"'^" ^'■''"- / '"b »e ueum, as well they m^ht of hungry people who trusted to be fed on T ^°^ :^:i;s-rb:z-"'^--"--^- P-:;. and, intp,eas=you:t regorr„;Ut^..'° '^^' ^W^Z::r '""'-' =* "•"'^ disappointed, but satd,- ye sa," ' '' "'"'^ '' "'" ''=^^'= " »> " ^"all even be as ^Hou.ed..Vi;;,aPu:ei!:;^l'!t^i::^;;-'-P'e Jacques Bouchier and his wife were well Tn^ H . c>ive so honourable a guest The hr.?. .^^ '° '■^■ •"o"g» one on its .ifetshown f^'t""^^::,,:"""^' covered with the whitest of damask and « th Z' '^HK.ned pieces of plate; and »eiuS;l::;r^S ff 5^i III !i ii6 HENRY VI were not sorry, when nunois was gone, to see one or two smoking liot dishes make their appearance. But no hospitality could tempt loan to do more than mix some wme and waler in a silver cup, and break some pieces of bread mto it, on which she supped ; and this was the first food she had taken that day. It had been arranged that she was to sleep with Charlotte, Bouchier's eldest daughter ; and, as she retired with her for the night, I)e Poulengey, holding out his hand to her with a cheerful smile, said, — " I think you have reason to be satisfied with this day's work." t "Ah! what do you call work?" said she. "Mine is but just beginning." —Miss Manning, NMt Purpose. XIII At the Court of King Edward splendour. was,TevXls ' °' , \''"^ "f gaie.y and from the first to the a 1 . ^°'"""t' '°""- '^''''" »^i"g. and Its ancient halls an,? , '"^ metropolis ; Proached its huge S w • ^%^''"^"'^'' barge now ap. much that mighf ei^e 'a. '"i "" "' "^^^' "'"«= -=^^ mood Of the spectator T"rKt»'?h''"'''"'^"^'^'"« '° "- craft, reserved for the use of ,h ° *'""' ""'' "''>">' '«»er and streamers, and p" ntl TT'' ^'' '^*"' """'"g^ ;harf,„otfarVro;^h' 'SVst%to'"^' '^^ "^'^ ''"^ Trauor's Gate. On the lalk rJl',, t ' "°* '^""^d 'he *ali of the inner ward no, , ^''°'" ""-" ^attlemented 'he«.damesandknrgh,s^e^ "tr'n' "'^ ""'""■ '-' "nd the gleam of thefr r chTre« / ,"'t"°°"day breezes, "Pon the eye at frequenMn , .''°''' °^ S°''^ g'''"^"^d Over the vast roundTre h h f Z™"" '°"" '° •"-». caned "The Bloody T^w . > tal ^" '"""' ^'"^' "- *">d the royal bannen Lr the T -'t " '"^ ''8'" -•--oneof;hJLr!ft";:;;:.s-:^:a^- Hi UK' ii8 RDWARD IV ospccial favourite with the Kinj; and his brother Richard. The sheriffs of London were bound to find tliis grisly minion his chain and his cord, when he deigned to amuse himself with bathing or " fishing " in the river ; and several boats, hiicd with gapeniouthed passengers, lay near the wharf, to witness the diversions of Bruin. These folk set up a loud shout of " A Warwick 1 — a Warwick ! " "The stout earl, and God bless him ! " as the gorgeous barge shot towards the fortress. The earl acknowledged their greet- ing by vailing his plumed cap, and passing the keepers with a merry allusion to their care of his own badge, and a friendly compjiment to the grunting bear, he stepped ashore, followed by his attendant squire. Now, however, he paused a moment, and a more thoughtful shade passed over his countenance, as, glancing his eye carelessly aloft towards the standard of King Edward, he caught sight of the casement in the neighbouring tower, of the very room in which the sovereign of his youth, Henry the Sixth, was a prisoner, almost within hearing of the revels of his sue cessor ; then, with a quick stride, he hurried on through the vast court, and, passing the White Tower, gained the royal lodge. Here, in the great hall, he left his companion, amidst a group of squires and gentlemen, to whom he formally presented the Nevile as his friend and kinsman, and was ushered by the de|)uty-chamberlain (with an apolot;y for the absence of his chief, the Lord Hastings, who had gone abroad to fly his falcon) into the small garden, where Edward was idliiig away the interval be tween the noon and evening meals — repasts to which already the young King inclined with that intemperate zest and .irdour which he carried into all his pleasures, and which finally destroj-ed the handsomest person, and em bruted one of the most vigorous intellects of the age. The garden, if bare of flowers, supplied their place by the various and brilliant-coloured garbs of the livint; beauties assembled on its straight walks and smooth hw.iid AT Tin. COUKT OF KINc; EDUAKn no ne vuLen of l.ngland, was then in !,„ thirtysixth vear- near ennbroided with fleur de-li. .ound whid.'S ''d't -"Sn^doi^^rr-sirtrs that It seemed like a mantle of .-old 'I I ■ ' ..S-^KL-;: -rr*^ * ■""-■»'*■ -S.7 1" *f,' ™™ t"""'- ■>' • ■»~^« "™ : n.adtdpS'do:nrK;i;'r'---Vift..e,„ea.d 1 1 M I20 EDWARD IV r>-aracter of falseness and self-seeking. Her displeasure was yet more increased by observing tlic ill-concealed smile whi('h the taunt had called forth. "Nay, my lord," she said, after a sliort pause, "we value the peace of our roiaulme too much for so high an ambi- tion. Were we to make a brother even tlie prince of the closheys, we should disappoint the hopes of a Nevile." The earl disdained pursuing the w.ar of words, and, answering coldly, " The Neviles are more famous for making ingrate? than asking favours. I leave your high ness to the closheys," turned away, and strode towards the King, who, at the opposite end of the garden, was reclining on a bench beside a lady, in whose ear, to judge by her downcast and blushing cheek, he was breathing no un- welcome whispers. " Mort-Dieu ' " muttered the earl, who w.is singularly exempt, hims from the amorous follies of the day, and eyed them \. i so much contempt that it often obscured his natural l /wnright penetration into character, and never more than when it led him afterwards to underrate the talents of Edward IV., — " Mort-Dieu ! if an hour before the battle of Touton some wizard had shown me in his glass this glimpse of the gardens of the tower, that giglet for a Queen, and that squire of dames for a King, I had not slain my black destrier (poor Malech !) that I might conquer or die for Edward Earl of March ! " " But see ! " .said the lady, looking up from the enamoured and conquering eyes of the King ; " art thou not aFhanied, my lord — the grim earl comes to chide thee for thy faith- lessness to thy Queen, whom he loves so well." " Pasijue-Dieu ! as my cousin, Louis of France, says or swears," answered the King, with an evident petulance in his altered voice, — " I would that Warwick could be only worn with one's armour ! I would as lief try to kiss through my vizor as hear him talk of glory and Touton, and King John and poor Edward II., because I am not always in " Was reclining' on a bench beside a la.ly." /^iT 120. j^ :i '1 ■ 1 '1 nil i 'fl hi ,1 I^H -. 1 ^ lit 1^ ?- ■- i -i M m j n b (a W 9 on rul Ec the cor atti sid( tol ten( No flaw appt a ha B Hou intro unde coul( old J had I only trimn criins tippet set in in tht folds drawn ..r ss, :l\5 sr: ci'tjr- °' ■'■■ cmnson wrought upon cloth of gold. Over t ' he ? i , ,( ,'!' iliii' EDWARD IV which really betokened the male sex. To add to this un- warlike attire, Edward's locks, of a ric h golden colour, and perfuming the whole air with odours, flowed not in curls, but straight to his shoulders, and the cheek of the fairest lady in his court might have seemed less fair beside the dazzling clearness of a complexion, at once radiant with health and delicate with youth. Yet, in spite of all this effeminacy, the appearance of Edward IV. was not effemi nate. From this it was preserved, not only by a stature little less comtjnanding than that of Warwick himself, ind of great strength and breadth of shoulder, but also by features, beautiful indeed, hut pre-eminently masculine- large and bold in their outline, and evincing by their ex- pression all the gallantry and daring characteristics of the hottest soldier, next to VVarwick, and, without any excep- tion, the ablest captain of the age. "And weicome — a merry welcome, dear Warwick, and cousin mine," said Edward, as Warwick slightly bent his proud knee to his King ; " your brother. Lord Montagu, has but left us. Would that our court had the same joyaunce for you as for him." " Dear and honoured my liege," answered Warwick, his brow smoothing at once— for his affectionate tliough hasty and irritable nature was rarely proof against the kind voice and winning smile of his young sovereign— "could I ever serve you at the court as I can with the people you would not complain that John of Montagu was a better courtier than Richard of Warwick. But each to his calling. I depart to-morrow for Calais, and thence to King Louis. And, surely, never envoy or delegate had better chance to be welcome than one empowered to treat of an alliance that will bestow on a prince, deserving, I trust, his fortunes, the sister of the bravest sovereign in Cliristian Europe." " Now, out on thy flattery, my cousin ; though I must needs own I provoked it by my complaint of thy courtier- ship. But thou hast learned only half thy business, good AT THE COURT OF KFNG EDWARD ,23 Warwick: and it is well Margaret did not hear thee Is fa^r^lad,. than having a fortunate soldier for his brother in- "My liege," rephed Warwick, smiling, "thou knowest I Abates the Lady Margaret is indeed worthy in her ex- iron Wdl that '"" T" ''""' '""'' ^^ ^'"" ''"■ '"-" »' makers ^ And hT ""T' "" ^"' '° "">- ^^'-"^ matters. And the King, leaning his hand on the earl's arm and walkmg with him slowly to and fro the terrace contmued, "Knowest thou not, Warwick, tha" this FrTnch alliance to which thou hast induced us, displea es soTel! our good traders of London ? " ^ "Mort-Dieu!" returned Warwick bluntly; "and what the^. good my lord Ki^g^^^u h'^e^t oiS t 'eTby^^r condescensions. Henrv IV -italpri „^f k:, >='" "y your sultations with the mayVr'oftlitT He:;^"';^ knighthood of the Bath to the heroes of Agincourfnot to the vendors of cloth and spices." "Ah, my poor knights of the Bath ! " said Edward sonH „ , ' f 7, '^™"g^^' ■"«' Warwick," said the Ki,^, careles fy • Jocey L°; o!,T^7' "-- P''i"P-g-ndm';her, Date wavt. i"' "'" '"""'• '•"^ I^'""^ Waer saw seven Z K °"'' • '^"' "'"" '■"^S"'"'. •"=•". the occasion of hose honours-the eve before Elizabeth w-as crowned^ -d 1. was policy to make the city of London have a shle fi 1 m i Inn 124 EDWARD IV in her honours. As to the rest," pursued thu KiiiK, earnestly and with dignity, " I and my house have owed much to London. When the peers of England, save thee and thy friends, stood aloof from my cause, London was ever loyal and true. Thou seest not, my poor Warwick, that these burgesses are growing up into power by the decline of the orders above them. And if the sword is the monarch's appeal for his right, he must look to contented and honoured industry for his buckler in peace, '''his is policy— policy, Warwick; and Louis XL will tell thee the same truths, harsh though they grate in a warrior's ear." The earl bowed his haughty head, and answered shortly, but with a touching grace, " IJe it ever thine, noble King, to rule as it likes thee ; and mine to defend with my blood even what I approve not with my brain. But if thou doubtest the wisdom of this alliance, it is not too late yet. Let me dismiss my following, and cross not the seas. Unless thy heart is with the marriage, the ties I would form are threads and cobwebs." "Nay," returned Edward irresolutely: "in these great state matters thy wit is elder than mine ; but men do say the Count of Charolois is a mighty lord, and the alliance with Burgundy will be more profitable to staple and mart." "Then, in Cod's name, so conclude it! "said the earl hastily, but with so dark a lire in his eyes that Edward, who was observing him, changed countenance ; " only ask me not, my liege, to advance such a marriage. The Count of Charolois knows me as his foe-shame were mine did 1 shun to say where I love, where I hate. That proud dullard once slighted me when we met at his father's court, and the wish next to my heart is to pay back my affront vmiIi my battle-axe. Give thy sister to the heir of Hurgundy, and forgive me if I depart to my castle of Middleham," Edward, stung by the sharpness of this reply, was about to answer as became his majesty of King, when Warwick more deliberately resumed: "Yet think well, Henry of AT THE COURT Ol' KING EDWARD 12,-. Wmdsor is thy prisoner, l,ut l,is cause lives in ^^ar.aret and h,s son. Tht-re is but one power in Europe that can threaten thee wuh aid to the Lancastrians, that power is France. Make Louis thy friend and ally, and thou givest peace to thy l,fe and thy lineage; make Louis thy foe and count on plots and stratagems, and treason-uneasy days and sleepless n.ghts. Already thou hast lost one occasion to secure that wiliest and most restless of princes in reject- mg the hand of the Princess Bona. Happily this loss can now be retrieved. IJut alliance with Burgundy is war with hrance-war more deadly because Louis is a man who de- clares ,t not-a war carried on by intrigue and bribe, by spies and mmions, till some disaffection ripens the hour when young Edward of Lancaster shall land on thy coasts, with the Oriflnmme and the Red Rose, with French sold.ers and English malcontents. Wouldst thou look to Burgundy for help? Burgundy will have enough to guard US own frontiers from the gripe of Louis the Sleepless hdward, my Kmg, my pupil in arms ; Edward, my loved, my honoured hege, forgive Richard Nevile his bluntness, and let not his faults stand in bar of his counsels." " You are right, as yoi. are ever, s.afo-uard of England and p,llar of ,ny state," said the King frankly, and pressing the arm he still held, "Go to France and settle all as thou Warwick bent low and kissed the hand of his soverei.>n And, sa,d he, with a slight, but a sad .smile, "when I am gone my liege will not repent, will not misthink me, "-111 not hsten to my foes, nor suffer merch.nnt and mayor to sigh him back to the mechanics of Flanders ? " ■; Warwick thou deemest ill of thy King's kingliness." Not of thy kingliness, but that same gracious -luality "f yielding to counsel which bows this proud nature to submissKM, often makes me fear for thy firmness when thy will IS won through thy heart. And now, good my lie. c '"'giic me one sentence more. Heaven forfend that 1 III ■;■.'! ■f- ? EDWARD IV should stand in the way of thy princely favours. A King's countenance is a sun that should shine on all. But be- think thee well, the barons of England are a stubborn and hauglity race ; chafe not thy n.ost puissant peers by too cold a neglect of their past services, and too lavish a largess to new men." "Thou aimest at Elizabeth's kin," interrupted Edward, withdrawing his hand from his minister's arm ; " and I tell once for all times that I would rather sink to my earldom of March, with a subject's right to honour where he loves, than wear crown and wield sceptre without a King's un questioned prerogative to ennoble the line and blood of one he has deemed worthy of his throne. As for the barons, with whose wrath thou threatenest me, I banish them not. If they go in gloom from my court, why, let them chafe themselves sleek again ! " "King Edward," said Warwick moodily, "tried services merit not this contempt. It is not as the kith of the Queen that I regret to see lands and honour lavished upon men, rooted so newly to the soil that the first blast of the war- trump will scatter their greenness to the winds. But what sorrows me is to mark those who have fought against thee preferred to the stout loyalty tl,.->t braved block and field for thy cause. Look round thy court ; where are the men of bloody York and victorious Touton ? Unrequited, sullen in their strongholds, begirt with their yeomen and their retainers. Thou standest— thou, the heir of York— almost alone (save where the Neviles— whom one day thy court will seek also to disgrace and discard— vex their old com- rades in arms by their defection) ; thou standest almost alone among the favourites and minions of Lancaster. Is there no danger in proving to men that to have served thee is discredit, to have warred against thee is guerdon and grace ? " " Enough of this, cousin," replied the King, with an effort which preserved his firmness. " On this head «i AT THE COURT UK KING EDWARD 127 cannot agree. Take what else ,hou wilt of royalty, m ,ke wa,^ but trench not on my sweetest prerogative to give and to forg,ve. And now, wilt thou tarry and sup with us? rhe lad,es grow impatient of a commune that detains from theireyes the stateliest knight since the- Round -lahe wa chopped into firewood." Jl^\'"'' "'^'■'" '■■"'' ^''™''=''' *''°^" fl-^"ery of this sort rather angered than soothed; "I have much ye to prepare I leave your highness to fairer homage and more witch ng coun= -Is thin min» " c u , the Kin,,', hon^ / . ^° ^*>''"& ^^ l<'ssed the Kings hand, and retired; and, passing the Queen and her ladies with a lowlier homage than thft with >vh ch he had before greeted them, left the garden. Edward's eye [fZt *"■"■ ■""^•"g'y; The frank expression of his fa e vanished, and, with the deep breath of a man who is throwing a weight from his heart, he muttered - "He loves me-yes-bu. will suffer no one else to love me I This must end some day. I am weary of the bond age. And sauntering towards the ladies he listened in ..lence, but not apparently in displ sure, ,0 his Queen's sharp sayings on the imperious mo. and irritable temn" of the iron-handed builder of his throne '^ brifsh Tu'"''' '"""' '^" '^"'" '"'" ^'^ f^'™ 'he garden he brushed by a young man, the baudekin stripes of whose vest announced his relationship to the King, and who hough far ess majestic than Edward, poss. .'d suffictn,' of family likeness to pass for a very handsome and com!"' person. But his countenance wanted the open and fearless expression which gave that cf the King so masculine and heroic a character. The features were smaller, and Lss clearly cut, and to a phy.,ognomical observer there was much that was weak and irresolute in the light blue eve and the smihng lips, which never closed firmly over the '-.h. He did not wear the long gown then so m.fch n >"Sue, but his light figure was displayed to advantage by a 1 3d EDWARD IV vest, fitting it exactly, descending h.ilf-way down the thigh, and trimmed at the border ami thu collar with ermine. The sleeves of the doublet were slit, so as to show the white lawn beneath, and adorned with aiglets and knots of gold. Over the left arm hung a rich jacket of furs and velvet, something like that adopted by the modern hussar. His hat or cap was high and tiara-like, with a single white plume, and the ribbon of the garter bound his knee. Though the dress of this personage was thus far less effeminate than Edward's, the effect of his appearance was infinitely more so — partly, perhaps, from a less muscular frame, and partly from his extreme youth. For George Duke of Clarence was then, though initiated not only in the gaieties, but all the intrigues of the court, only in his eighteenth year. Laying his hand, every finger of which sparkled with jewels, on the earl's shoulder — " Hold ! " said the young prince in a whisper, "a word in thy ear, noble Warwick." The earl, who, next to Edward, loved Clarence the most of his princely house, and who always found the latter as docile as the other (when humour or affection seized him) was intractnble, relaxed into a familiar smile at the duke's greeting, and suffered the young prince to draw him aside from the groups of courtiers with wliom the chamber was filled, to the leaning-places (as they were called) of a large mullion wijidow. In the meanwhile, as they thus confen tJ, the courtiers interchanged looks, and many an eye ot fear and hate was directed towards the stately form of the i:arl. Amongst those opposed to the lai I, and fit in all qualities to be the head of the new movement — if the expressive modern word be allowed us — stood at that moment in the very centre of the chamber, Anthony Wooiiville — in right of the rich heiress ne had married, the Lord Scales. As when some hostile and lornmlable foe enters the meads where the flock grazes, the gazing herd gather slowly rounil their leader, — sogroupe{l the Queens faction slo^vly, and l>^ AT TIIH CoUki OF KING \i\m.MW ,29 'legroes, round this a,ron,,,li,h,d nobi, ,„an, at the pro 'OngL-d sojourn of Warwick. ^ "Gramcrcy!" said the- Lord Scales, ,„ a somewhat ffec ed .ntonation of voice, "the conjuncon ofThe bea and l,e young hon is a parlous omen, for the which I could "-di des,re we had a w,se astrologer's reading " I,,,,. ') '?,"'■" °'«'--"'-'i ""<; of the courtiers, "that the Duke of Clarence much affects either the Unds o the person of the I.ady Isabel." """ "A passably fair danK«el," returned Anthony, "though a tho„gl,t or so too marked and hich in h.-r i:„ ^ -d wholly unlettered, no doubt f'^L: te r;";t; George of Clarence hath son.e pretty taste in the a ts and poes.es. But as Occleve hath it- "'(;.,l,i, silver, JCW..I, cl„ll,, l,c.,l,ly„g, .nrray,' -c;uld ,n.ake gentle Ceorge amorous of a worLfeatr^ed -ethan h^h-nosed Isabel: '.strange to spell or r d ! as i:r?s:sri::!^"^^'^--'---Hoi:^'.^ "Notest thou yon gaudy popinjay?" whispered the Lord .\nthony Woodville can venr h.. ■<■ '"'^'" ..e;ress^fSa,.sburya^"vrk^'-:^r;^:;--X;?^ And prate of spelling and reading, as if thev were tl- cardmal v.rtues," returned his sullen companion " Bv tl .ahdame, I have two fair daughters at home who wi^'la^k' usbands, I trow, for they can only spin and be chaste two maidenly gifts out of bloom with the White Rose " in the meanwhile, unwittin" or rr,nt,„« . attention they excited, Wa wc^k and r Zn "' ''^ yet more earnestly to confer """' •=°""""='' •j No. George, no," said the earl, who, as the descendant I, fl'i 'i M 130 EDWARD IV I of John o' Gaunt, and of kin to the Kind's hloixl, main taincd, in private, a father's familiarity with the princes of York, though on state occasinns, and wlien in the iKaring of others, he sedulously marked his deference for their rank — " no, George, calm and steady thy hot mettle, for thy brother's and England's sake. I grieve as much as thou to hear that the Queen does not spare even thee in her froward and unwomanly peevishness. But there is a glamour in this, believe me, that must melt away, soon or late, and our kingly Edward recover his senses." "Glamour!" said Clarence; "thinkest thou, indeed, that her mother, Jaciiuetta, has bewitched the King? One word of thy belief in such spells, spread abroad amongst the people, would soon raise the same storm that blew Eleanor Cobham from Duke Humphrey's bed, alon^ London streets in her penance-shift." " Troth," said the earl, indifferently, " I leave such grave questions as these to prelate and priest ; the glamour 1 spoke of is that of a fair face over a wanton heart ; and Edward is not so steady a lover, that this should never wear out. " " It amates me much, noble cousin, that thou Icavest tin court in this juncture. The Queen's heart is with liurgunch — the city's hate is with France — and when once thou an gone, I fear that the King will be teased into mating my sister with the Coi)-* of Charolois." "Ho!" exclaim Varwick, with an oath so loud that ii rung through the ch. iber, and startled every ear that laard it. Then, perceiving his indiscretion, he lowered his torn into a deep and hollow whisper, and griped the princeV arm, almost fiercely, as he spoke. "Could Edward so dishonour my embassy— so palu r and juggle with my faith — so flout me in the eyes of Christendom, I would — I would " he paused, and re \ixed his hold of the duke, and added, with an altcreil voice — " I would leave his wife and his lemans. and yon f f « AT T.ir.: COURT .,..- KING EDvv.ARt) ,3, ■hings of silk, whom he makis neor, ^/A , ■ cannot nmke n,en-,„ ,,,,^1 h ,hr ," ""^^ ''"' of Henry V. But thv ^,1 '"'"'"'"'; f^°"' 'I"-' g""dson Mrode right through the cent o of ih, *' "'"'' ""'' who shrunk, louti.'jg lowZ;: nt'^^trrh ^:r"'T' .ntoa hubhuh "f angry e.vc,anuuions:o'rlL:i'e'estra hjs unmanner y bear nL' as hi.; hl„.u 1 j ' • *' the arch of the' vaulted door '^'""" '''='«""«'' '" -I.OKU Lytton, Za^/ „/ ,^ ^^^^^^^ ir i! XIV The King is Dead — Who Shall be King? THE Karl of Lincoln was waitinj; inklligtnce from tin field of Bosworth, in a palace he inhal)ilcd not far from Toltenham Court, a secluded habitation, surrounded by a garden and a hi(;li wall. This was an i.-ksonie situa tion for a warrior ; but though his uncle loved, he distrusted him : his projected marriage with the l^dy Klizabeth, would probably cause him again to be father of an heir to the crown, and knowing that Lincoln possessed, in the young Duke of York, a dangerous rival, he refused to allmv him to take up arms against Richmond. Lord Lincoln was alone, pacing his large and v,iulted hall in deep an'! anxious meditation. He, who with conscience for his rule, takes, or endeavours to take, the reins ol fate into his own hands, must experience frequent misgivings ; and often foci, that he wheels near the edge of a giddy precipice, down which the tameless steeds he strives to govern, may, in an instant, hurl him and all dependent upon his guidance The simple feelijig ol compassion, arising from the sucini; childhood lose its buoyancy in undue rcinlinement, had first led the princely noble to take charge of his young cousin. Afterwards, when he beheld the boy grow iii health and years, developing the while extraordinary quick ness of intellect, and a sweet ingenuous disposition, la- began to reflect on the station he held, his rights and his TMK KING IS DEAD ,33 injuries; and then the cIcsIk,, w„ oriRina.cd on whi.h he- was now called to act. ShlLnf "k** f^'i"'--'! 'he day, all would stand as before. •Should he be .lefeated -and that second sense, that feelln« of coming event,, which is one of the comn.onest, though the least acknowledged of the secret laws of our nature wh,.spered the yet unreve.iled truth to him-who then would assume Kngland's dia.len,, and how could he secure It for ,ts rightful owner, the only surviving son of Kdward through his brain, while, with the ^eal of a partisan, and the fervour of one wedded to the justice of his cause, he r. volved every probable change of time and fortune At this moment a courier was announced ; he brought tidmgs from the field. As is usual on the eve of a great event, they were dubious and contradictory. Phe armies faced each other, and the battle was imp.M.din- The doubts entertained on both sides, as to the part that Ix.rd Stanley would take, gave still a greater uncertainty to the an' cipations of each. Soon after the arrival of this man, the loud ringing at the outer gate was renewed; and the trampling of horses as they entered the co.rt, announced a more numerous company. There was something in the movements of his domestics, that intimated to the Karl that his visitor was of superior rank. Could it be the King, who had fled; con ||»ered and a fugitive? r „U| ,,„h terms Ik.- applied to the high-hearted R„ hard .- The d„ ,rs of the hall were thrown open, and the ,,ue.sti<,n answered by the entrance of his visitant : it was a woman ; and her name, " l.adv Brampton!" in a tone of won.'er, burst from thj noble's lips. "Even I, my good lord," said the lady; "allow me your private ear; I bring intelligence from Leicestershire All IS lost," she continued, when the closing of the door assured her of privacy; "all is lost, and all is gained- i,? 4 fifajfaitki- < "'' 134 RICHARD 111 Richard is slain. My cmiss.irli^s liroii^Oi' '"'ift intelligence of this event to me at NortliiiiniHon, and I have hnstencd with it hither, that without loss of time you may act." There was a quickness and a decision in the lady's manner that chucked rather than encouraged her auditor. She continued : "Vesper hour h:is long passed— it matters not — London yet is ours. Command instantly that Richard the Fourth be proclaimed King of England." Ixird Lincoln started at these words. The death of his uncle and benefactor could not t)e rucuived by him like the loss of a move at chess ; a piece lost, that required the bringing up of other pieces to support a weak place. " The King is slain," were words that rung in his ears ; drowning every other that the lady uttered with rapidity and agitation. " We will speak of that anon," he replied ; and going to the high window of his hall, he threw it open, as if the air oppressed him. The wind sighed in melancholy murmurs among the branches of the elms and limes in the garden : the stars were bright, and the setting moon was leaving the earth to their dim illumination. "Yesternight," thought Lincoln, "he was among us, a part of our conversation, our acts, our lives ; now his glazed eyes behold not these stars. The past is his ; with the present and the future he has nii participation." Lady Brampton's impatience did not permit the Earl lon^ to indulge in that commune with nature, which we eajjerly seek when grief and death throws us hack on the weakness of our human state, and we feel that we ourselves, our best laid projects and loftiest hopes, are but the playtliings of destiny. "Wherefore," cried the lady, "doesde la Poole linger? Does he hesitate to do liis cousin justice? Does he desire to follow in the steps of his usurping predecessor ? Wherefore this delay ? " " To strike the surer," replied Lincoln. " May not I .isk wherefore this impatience ? " Even as he spoke, steps were heard near the apartmeni , THE Kr.N'G IS DEAD ,35 ami whiU- ,ho . ..s „f |„„h „,.re ,ur,„j ^i„, i„ .j,,,,,,^. „„ Ihc .xi-ccud ..ur.i.kr, l.urd l.ovd entered: there was no triun,|,h, no eager anlici|K.tu.n on his hrow he was lanKuid from III success and fatigue. Lincoln met him wiih the P . . urc„f one who see, hisfriend escaped fromcertain deat!, I . was overjovul to t)e assured of his existence; he v.. gl.H to have his assistance on the present euierue,,. v U know, he said, 'all the evil tidings you l.ring us; ■vf : re- MOW deliberating „n the conduct we are to pursue • your pre,enr« will ,„ ,|i,ate our rneasur.s. Tell nw ,vl,at o he, „ ,,1. num.. to aid us. The Duke of Norfolk, the M.i I,.,.;., .,ir koh..t lirakcnlniry, where are Ihey?" '■'"' "ad scon the Duke fall, the StalTords had accom- pain- ,1 ,., ihulu , uncertainty still hung over the fate of many oilurs This detail of the death nf ,„nny of their lady, till >nd been on; and, ' eive the If ;' " .. King -" ihen coinnion fnendis s .h.luod the impetnosi-. .f .1,, an account if how Ric hard himself !,:ul ... slain, recalled her to thi ir former ti , • ,,| 1,, anain, she said, "It ,s siraiige tha; mmi ,1; „> dangL'is of delay. Why is not th Ku - r... "Do you not kno*," asked Ix. .' . . ,, is procl.iiined ?' I..idy Brampton cl.i,ped her hands, .■„: ,;■ Kichard the Fomih will wear his father's ri,,w "Henry the .Seven.h," .said I.ovel, " possesses and wears the l.nglish crown. Lord Stanley placed the diadem on the head of the Karl of Kichm.md, and his soldiers, with one acclaim, acknowledged him as their soverei-n " '■ I his IS mere trillmy," said the lady ; "the hase-born olT- spnng of Lincaster may dare aspire so high, but one act of oiirs dchn.nes him. The Vorkists are numerous, nd will defeiKl their Km.. : London is yet ours - " Yes." replied Lincoln, " it is in our ,,ower to deluge the :': °' '-?"''"" "",^ '''""^ • '° '-S massacre an.ong ,' at IS, and worse disaster on its wives and maidens I -uM not buy an eternal crown for myself -1 will no 136 RICHARD III strive to place that of Kngland on my kinsman's head— at this cost. \Vu have had over-imich of war: I have seen too many of the noble, young, and gallant fall by the sword. Brute force has had its day ; now let us try what policy can do." The council these friends held together was long and anxious. The lady still insisted on sudden and resolute measures. Lord Lovel, a soldier in all his nature, looked forward to the calling together the Yorkists from ever)- part of tile kingdom. 'J-he Karl, with a stateman's exiicrience, saw more of obstacle to their purpose in the elevation of Henry, than either of his comjianions would allow; the extreme youth of the Duke of York, the oblivion' into which he had sunk, and the stain on his birth, which was yet unremoved, would disincline the people to ha,:ard life and fortune in his cause. It was necessary now to place h'-v in safety, and far away from the suspicious eyes of his li .'^Jing enemy. That morning Lord Lincoln had brought him up from his rural retreat to the metropolis, and shellered him for a few hours under safe but strange guardianship. He V as left at the house of a Flemish money-lender well known at court. It was agreed that Lord Lovel should take him thence, and make him the companion of his ji.urney to Corchester, where they should remain watchijia the turn of events, and secretly preparing the insurrection which would place him on the throne. Lady Urampton was obliged to proceed immediately northwards to join hei husband ; the north was entirely Yorkist, and her inHueno- would materially assis: the cause. The Knrl remained in London; he would sound the inclinations of the nobility. and even coming in contact with the new King, watch ov. i during these deliberations; it was past midnight before tji, friends separated. Lord Lovel presented liKNoung friend. ICdmund Plantagenct, to the Karl, and m ommended him to his protection. Refn-slnncnt wn-. als.) neces.sary :ift, i THE KING IS DEAD ,37 Novel's nuiyuing journey; but he was so intent on accom accompanied by him, on his road to Fssex =''"«'"'^'' stree"'of''°Lldo"f '' f ""^ """"«" ""^ ''"^ ""™- streets ot London towards Lothburv THp hni<;, , the money-lender was .ell-known ^rhimL " r",: eas,Iy entered at past midnight. A pr„n,i ed bribe 'o he apprem,ce who hailed him from the lofty garret window and h,s s,g„et.rn,g sent into his master, at llth pTocurcd adm,ss,on mto the bedchamber of Mynl,eer Jahn "ck on hf, "T:"' "P '" "^^ ^'"'' '"^ ^^-d »"on nightcap on h,s head, his spectacles, with which he had examined j^H. .0.1, .hat t^^'^n h^ :rist U'he,, \Varl,eck heard that the errand of Lovel was to nke fro,n h,m his princely charge, he rose hastily wrZin! . robe round „n,, and opened a small wainscot door ead" 2 mto a lutle ow room, whence he drew the halfXph ,1 ^hutters g,v,ng melancholy distinctness to the dirty and dismantled chamber. One ray fell directly on 1 e re mght-cap and spectacles of old Jahn, wh, se a 1 L^ face was niled with wrinkles, yet they were lincl m clVi ""to ev,|,,„d ,,„, „.^,^ ^^,^^^ benevolence in h close month; for the good hmnour and vivacity of the ,y L on on h.,,, besides he had hin.self a Jon, for whon e -tmed all h,s wealth, of the san,e ago a. the little fello «hose pump roseate hand he held in his „wn br, ;'r,ve ed palm. The boy eame ,„, rubbing his large Z .-s. the disordered ringlets of h„ fair haii shad a fare Tl Um I - 3^fciirtir t igS RICHARD IJl replete with vivacity and intelligence. Mynheer Jahn was somewhat loth to part with the little prince, liut the latter clapped his hands in ecstasy when he heard that Lord Lovel had come to take him away. " I pray you tell me, Sir Knight," said old Warheck, "whether intelligence hath arrived of the victory of our gracious sovereign, and the defeat of the Welch rebels." Richard became grave at these words ; he fixed his eyes enquiringly on the noble: "Dear Lord Lovel," he cried, " for I remember you well, my very good lord, when you came to the Tower and found me and Rol)urt Clifford play- ing at bowls — teU me, how you have fought, and whether you have won." "Mine are evil tidings," said Lovel; "all is lost. . We were vanquished, and your royal uncle slain." Warbeck's countenance changed at thes,^ words ; he la mented the King; he lamented the defeat of the party which he had aided by various advances of money, and his regrets at once expressed sorrow for the death of some, and dread from the confiscation of the property of others Meanwhile, Richard of York was full of some thouglit thai swelled his little breast; taking Lovel's hand, he asked again, " My uncle, Richard the Third, is dead ? " " Even so," was the reply ; " he died nobly on the field of battle." The child drew himself up. and his eyes flashed as hi said proudly, — "Then I am King of England." "Who taught your Gr.ice that lesson?" asked Lovel. "My liege— my brother Edward. Often and often in the long winter niglits, and when he was sick in bed, he told me how, after he had been proclaimed King, he h.-id been dethroned; but that when our uncle died he should be King again ; and that if it pleased God to remove hini, 1 should stand In his place ; and 1 should restore my mother's honour, and this he made me swear." " Bless the boy ! " cried Warbeck, " he speaks must ' Mynlicti Jalm «as somewhat lulh l„ |i,irt «iih iIr- Mill,. |,riiMc." THE KfNG IS DRAD ,39 sagely ; may the saints incline my lord, the Earl of Lincoln to do his royal cousin justice ! " ' "Your Crace," said l.ovel, "shall hear more of this as we proceed on our journey. Mynheer Jahn, the Earl bade n anwh.le, fill th,s long empty purse with gold coins, ile will be my guarantee." This was an inducement not to be resisted. Warbeck countc: out the gold ; the boy with light steps tripL down the creakmg old staircase, and when Lovel had mounted takmg h,s hand, he sprung in the saddle before hini. I he fresh morning air was grateful I,, both, after the close chambers of the Fleming. The noble put his horse from ','rfl '^"';.''"'' '"--f'""' '-"don by a d.lTerent road f on, that by wh.ch he had entered, took his way through Komford and Chelmsford to Colchester The news of the Earl of Richmond's victory and assumr. tion of the crown reached London that night. The citizens heard ,t on their awakening, and Henry the Seventh was King. -Mak^ Wollstoneraft Shlllkv, Perkh, llarbeck. XV The Marria<'e of a Qiieen HENRY Tni-; SICVKNTH was a man "f strimg sense and sound uiuiorstandrng. He was priuient, resolute, and valiant ; on the other hand, he was totally devoid ot generosity, and was actuated all his life \vi base and bad passions. At first the rulin;! feelin;; of his heart was hatred of the House of York— nor did he wholly Sive himself u|. to the avarice that blotted his latter years, till the extinction of that unhappy family satisfied his reven:;e, so that tor want of fuel the flame died away. Most of his relatives and friends had perished in the field or on the scaffold b\ the hands of the Yorkists -his own existence h.id K-en in jeopardy during their exaltation ; .ind the continuance of his reign, and even of his life, depended on their ulter overthrow. The competitors for the crown were the daughters nl Edward the I'ourth. Henry immediately saw the necessity oi agreeing to the treaty entered into by the Countess ul Richmond, for his marriage with the eldest of these prin cesses. He hated to owe his title to the irowii to any [larl of the House of York ; he resolved, if possible, to delay and bre.ak the marriage ; but his own friends were urg.ni with him to comply, and prudence dictated the iiieasurr ; hctheref.ire promised to adopt it-thus efTectiially to silenrc the murmurs of the party of the White Rose. Fortune smiled on the new sovereign. The disappear- .''«&:' THi; iMAKKIAGE oF A QIHRN r4i mce of the two cliildren from the 'lower raiised the Vorkists to settle their .iffections on the younj; Ivlizaheth. She was at Sheriff-Hutton, waiting impatiently for her union with her uncle ; now she received commands to proceed to London, as the affianced bride of that uncle's con<]ueror. Already the common talk ran on the entwining of the two Koses ; and all the adherents of her family, who could gain access, recommended their cause to her, and entreated her, in the (Irst days of power, not to forget her father's friends^ but to incline the heart of her husband to an impartial love for the long rival houses of Lancaster and York. Two parlies arrived on the same day at Sherifr llmion, on the different missions of conducting the I,ady I'.lizaheth and the Karl of Warwick to London. On the morning of llieir departure, they met in the garden of their abode to lake leave of each other. Kli,4al)eth was nineteen years old, Warwick was the exact age of her brother, Kdward the I'ifth ; he was now sixteen. "We are about to travel the same road with far different expectations," said Wann. k. - I go i„ be a [irisoner; you, fair cousin, to ascend a throne." There was a despondeJicy m the youths m^iiiner that deeply affected this I'rincess. " iJear Kdward, ' she re|)lied. cl:isping his hand, "we have been fellow prisoners long, and sympathy has lightened the burthen of our chains. Can I forget our walks in this beauteous p.ark, and the love and c:onfidence we have felt for each other? My dearest boy, when [ am Queen, Esther will claim a boon from .\hasuerns,' ind Warwick shall be the chief noble in my train. ' She looked at him with a brilliant smile ; her heart -:lowed with sisterly affection. She might well eiueriain liigh anticipations of future power; she was in the pride of youth and beauty; the light s|iirit of expected triumph killed up her lovely face. She was about to liecome the iTide of a conqueror, yet one whose laurels would droop without her propping ; she was to be Queen of her native m w^'m^mfrnKpe^mm^nim' '4-2 IIENKY VII land, the pearly i lisp to unite the silken Ixmd with which peace now bimnd long discordant Kn,L;land. She was un- able to coninnniicate this spirit of hope to her desponding friend ; he gazed on her beauty with admiration and deep grief, asking, with tearful eyes, "Shall we ever meet again?" "Yes! in London, in the Court of Henry, we shall again be conjpanions -frii-nils." " I go to the Tower, not to the Court,'' replied Warwick, "and when those gloomy gates close on me, I 'iill pray that my head may soon repose on the cold stone tliat pillows my cousin lidward. I shall sleep uneasily till then." " I'ie, cousin ! " said i;ii/al>eth ; "such thoughts ill be- seem the nearest kinsman of the future (,)iieen of Knglarul. You will remain but a short time in the Tower; but if you nurse thoughts like these, you will pine there as you did before 1 shared your prison here, and the roses with wliicii my care has painted your cheeks, will again fade." "Wan and colourless will my cheek be ere your bright eyes look on it again. Is it not sufhcient grief that I pan from you, beloved friend ! " A gush at once of .-.•irrow, of .iffectioii, of long suppre---- il love, overpowen d the youth. " I shall think of you," he added, " in my prison-house ; and while I know that yoii regret my fate, 1 cannot oe wholly a wretch. Do you not love me? .\iid will you not, as a proof, give me one iit these golden hairs, to soothe poor Warwii'k's misery? Oni only," he said, taking from lier biaided locks the small gift he demanded ; "I will not diminish the rich beauty ol your tresses, yet they will not look lovelier, pressed by tlk jewelled diadem of Knglaiid, than under the green ihaplet I crowned you with a few months past, my (Jiieen of May ! " And thus, the eyes of each glistehing with tears, tin v parted. For a moment Warwick looked as if he wisheil In press his cousin to his heart ; and she, who loved him n- a sister, would have yielded to his embrace; but be ore his ■.mt^A v.t*j! i /A ' Tressed htr hands to his lips.' a h h ri K ll ol t) ilr Sa iii re to ■ SU5 tilt illC slia the to) \ pari > iiiin 1 \ Ko) fe^- teen of r""?^ reco ■fa^^ the H^r T Wt- force of se yet 1\'' 14 J I'rim This coldl liic s ' 1 » arms enfolded her, he slartcl U-,,-1- i . her ha.ul ,o his ins .'e h " °"*-" ''""'• ''^"«''' head f„r .„ inj^'^^^'l'!' ''-'<•• -^n^' '-ndin,- h,s rushed do«„ ,|,e nven "'V""""'' ""'""« "P. nnd Kuard awaited „ LT, T'"'' "'^- -"^' ••" "-hi'h '"s hi", till ou ! , t" ' ''"'" "■""""'-^. «■■'" h.n, -wild (lowe " erfe ' Th '^T'""' '"«""^ "" '^ "'^' Jry; it is Warwick's tears : , '"""""" *"■ '^ gathered the n.nve s n ,d ,i ' Vr"" T '"''''''■" ^'"^ "' her l,„s,„n; with lo s, ^t""' ""' ''"""^ "■^"' reentered Ihe Castle ' " '""""'"" ''^■••<^'. ^he --un her hopefi^,^ r^.~;-7 'hat could enthusiasm in everv i.nvn ,1 ,""'"'"' acclamation and ".deed loouZrTwth :";'•' ""'■" ''"-' ""^'-■'^- «'- •he royal lesson, that with rineesL 1 """■''''=" '"'"'" •"hearann,artmadispo^:St.:r"""""^^^^'"^' -,nise^^riirwi::^;-;-:;j;^^'-e,uhad ■he heiress of the House of York """'"""" Ihe dissatisfaction manifested l,v .k i- ,• , I'rincess ,ec,.iv,.rf ,„,■ • '^"'"'""S of January tnai the state of a Queen appeared mere bondage. In he; II If Jli^ MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 21 1.0 If IB IK Ui tii III 2.2 If yi "^ !■ 1^ III 2,0 1. ^ I.I — 1 = mi U ,1.6 ^ /1PPLIED IISA^GE Inc (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone (716) 288 - 5989 -Fa. 'U HENRY VII heart she wished to reject her uncourteous bridegroom ; and once she had ventured to exprets this desire to her mother, wh.), filled with affriglu, laid aside her intrigues, devoting herself to cultivate a more rational disposition in her daughter. Henry paid the doomed girl one visit, and saw little in her except a bashful child ; while his keener observation was directed towards the dowager Queen. She, with smooth brow and winning smiles, did the honours of reception to her future son-in-law — to her bitter foe. The cold courtesy of Henry chilled her; and a strong desire lurked under her glossy mien, to reproach the usurper with his weak title, to set up her daughter's claim in opposition to his, and to defy him to the field. As soon as Henry departed, her suppressed emotions found vent in tears. Elizabeth was astonished; she knelt before her, caressed her, and asked if all were not well now, since the plighted troth had passed between her and the King. "Has it passed?" murmured the Queen, "and is your hapless fate decided ? Why did I not join you at Sheriff- Hutton ? Why did I not place your hand in that of your noble cousin ? Ah, Warwick ! could I even now inspire you with my energy, you would be free, in arms : and Eng- land to a man would rise in the cause of Edward the Sixth, and my sweet Elizabeth ! " The colour in the Princess's cheeks varied during the utterance of this speech : first they flushed deep red, but the pale hue of resolution succeeded quickly to the agita tion of doubt. " Mother," she said, " I was your child , plastic clay in your hands : had you said these words twi. hours ago, Warwick might have been liberated— I perhap-. i.appy. But you have given me away; this ring is the symbol of my servitude ; I belong to Henry. Say no word. I be.seech you, that can interfere with my duty to him I'ermit me to retire." On the eighteenth of January her nuptials were cele brated. THE MARRI\GE OF A QUEEX ,45 The forbidding manners of Henry threw a chill over the marnnge festtval He considered that he had heen d i th,s step by h,s enemies; and that the chief amon. these, „,nuenced by her mother, was ICli.abetl, h"Z? 1 he poor g,rl never raised her eyes from the mo„,ent s . had encountered at the altar the stern and unkind ^a' of the Kmg Her steps were unassured, her v.,ice fal,:.rin : the name of w.fe was to her synonymous with that of s r,.' «h,le her sense of duty prevented every outward demonstra tion of the despair that occupied her heart ^"'«"^'" veiled' "Xu"'' '"^'S'r""" "^^ deeper, altlun,,!, not less ^ckd She could silence, but not quell the ra-e that arose „, her breast from her disappolntu,ent ; and tl re were many present who shared her sentiu.ents. A f he had been able, Henry had visited the Yorkist, wi ,he heaviest penalt.es. An act of attainder had been nssed agamst the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Lovel th ' s fr , ^idallindeedofnotewho'hadapSti^t:- Those w,.h whom he could not proceed ,0 evtremU e e wholy discountenanced. The Red Rose flourished !n„ nd ree-one s.ngle white blossom, doomed to untin el hhght, being entwined with the gaudier flowers -Marv Wollstoneckakt S.ii:..,.ev, yvXvW IFa./.ri ■t: I' H\ rl XVI The Rise of a New Qiieen KING HEXRV took a turn on the ramparts on the north side of Windsor castle, between tlie Curfew Tower and tlie Winchester Tower, and lingered for a short time on the bastion commanding that part of the acclivity where the approach, called the Hundred Steps, is now contrived. Here he cautioned the sentinels to be vigilant, and having gazed for a moment at the placid stream flowing at the foot of the castle, and tinged with the last rays of the setting sun, he proceeded to the royal lodgings, and entered tl banquet chamber, where supper was already served. Wolsey sat on his right hand, but he did not vouchsafe him a single word, addressing the whole of his discoj.rse to the Duke of Suffolk, who was placed on his left. As soon as the repast was over, he retired to his closet, liut the cardinal would not be so repulsed, and sent one of his gentlemen to crave a moment's audience of the King, which, with some reluctance, was accorded. " Well, cardinal,'' cried Henry, as Wolsey presented him- self, and the ushei withdrew. " You are playing a deep game with me, as you think; but take heed, for I see through it." " I pray you dismiss these suspicions from your mind, my liege," said Wolsey. " No servant was ever more faith- ful to his master than I have been to you." "No servant ever took better care of himself," cried the T/ll- RISK OI-' A x\E\V QCEEN f-i; And he stamped upon the llc.r, us if he could h trampled the cardinal honeath his .,,„t " '^ '''"' own a,grandi.emen., bt'^ it -as irr''?""'" "^ "'>' nnivcr i.-„. .u. __ . ' "^-^ lively to adv"ce your received at your I'M.ls. my soul ovvrflo^s ni.l, ^-n.i.J; .' , serve your highness Tf T i, _, " thereby best ('hristendom." ' ^ "'" P"'":" in ™o:^b;;e;S^,"-'^'"«-^-— ertheless, have amassed ha e ^ IK , P™''"'^^^- "the wealth 1 n,ajes.y ' ' '" '" ^''" "■'"> '^ ^-^ "f ''-,efui„g your "Humph!" exclaimed the King wilytdTn7"th1olr=''f/*™'''-^'"-"'inuedthe just completed_^f ''"■ ''" """!"°" C^"- «'>-h I have li'ift M.i rii li r' ill MS HENRY VIII " And at a cost more lavish than I myself should have expended on it," interrupted the King anj;rily. " If I had destined it for myself, I should not have spent a tithe of what I have done," rejoined Wolsey. " Your highness's unjust accusations force me to declare my inten- tions somewhat prematurely. Deign," he cried, throwing himself at the King's feet, "deign to accept that palace and all within it. You were pleased, during your late residence there, to express your ajiproval of it. .And I trust it will find equal favour in your eyes, now tliat it is your own." " I!y holy Mary, a royal gift ! " cried Henry. " Rise, cardinal. You are not the grasping, selfish person you have been represented." "Declare as much to my enemies, sire, and I shall he more than content," replied Wolsey. " \ou will find the palace better worth acceptance than at first sight miglit appear." " How so? " cried the King. " Your highness will be pleased to take this key," said the cardinal ; "it is the key of the cellar." "You have some choice wine there," cried Henry signi ficantly ; "given you by some religious house, or sent by some foreign potentate, ha ! " "It is a wine that a king might prize," replied the cardinal. "Your majesty will find a hundred hogsheads in that cellar, and each hogshead filled with gold." " You amaze me ! " cried the King, feigning astonishment. " And all this you freely give me ? " " I'reely and fully, sire," re[)lied Wolsey. " Nay, I haw saved it for you. Men think I have cared for myself, whereas I have cared only for your majesty. Oh ! my deai liege, by the devotion I have just approved to you, ami which I would also approve, if needful, with my life, I beseech you to consider well before you arise Anne IJoleyn to the throne. In giving you this coimsel, I know I hazard the favour I have just regained But even at that hazard, 1 THE RISR OF A NEW QVEEN 149 must offer it. Your infatuation l.linds you to the lerriMe eonse.,uences of the step. The union i.s'odiou, to 7 subject.,, but most of all .0 those not tainted with !■ n J her.s,es and o,„n,ons. It will never be forgiven I v the tmperor Charles the Fiftl:, «ho will s.-.L- ^ [ ".;iiKni.y on.red to his ill^^^s lela^, 1^:^^ -^1 gladly make it a prete.xt for breakinghis tru v, hT, Add to ,h,s the displeasure of the apostolic s a , in n ', c.iZ?sSH::r'' '""""' '""°"^'''^^'""''™ ''■'^ " bufdo not^"?'M" '" ''''^"<^''""'^"*. '"^" replied Wolsey; Do non I ,r' ' '""'"' "^ '"J"^'"« J'"" "-''h nil men I o not let a malalhance place your very throne in jeopardy; as, w,th your own subjects and all foreign powers a^iin, you, must neces.sarily be the case." ° " Vou speak warmly, cardinal," said Henry " My .eal pron,|,ts me to do so." re,,lied Wolsey. "Anne boleyn ,s .n no respect worthy of the honour you propose He'm-'' "■''"'" ^° ''°" """'^ """^^ "•°^"^>? ' demanded ■ -Ihose whom I have already recommended to your repled Wolsey; -by a union with either of whom vou would secure the cordial cooperation of Francis, 3 he merests of the see of Ron.e, which, in the eve t of wa iMth Spam, you may need." "No. Wolsey," replied Henry, taking a hasty turn across e chamber; "no considerations of^nterest or s^rity all u,duce „,e to give up Anne. I love her too we 7o^ >at. Let the hon Charles roar, the fo.. Francis snarl and the hydra-headed Clement launch forth his uamrl' ?."' reniam firm to n,v purpose. I will not pi «"ilh you, whatever 1 n.iy do with oil lay the hypocrite 'crs. I cast off 150 l\\i\li\ \lll Catherine tliat I may wed Aniu', hcrause I cannot other- wise ol)t.iin lier. And shall 1 now, when I have dared so much, and wlien the pri/^e is in my grasp, abandon it ? — Never! Threats, expostulations, entreaties are alike unavail- ing." " I grieve to hear it, my liige," replied Wolsey, heaving a deep sigh. " It is an ill-omened union, and will hring woe to you, woe to your realm, and woe to the Catluilir Church." " And woe to you also, false cardinal I " cried Anne IJoleyn, throwing aside tlie arras, and stepping forward. " I have (nurheard what has passed ; and from my heart of hearts I thank you, Henry, for the love you have dis- played for me. Hut I here solennily vow never to give my hand to you till Wolsey i.s dismissed from your coimsels " "Anne!" exclaimed the Ring. " My own enmity I coi.ld foregr)," pursued Anne vehe. mently, " hut I cannot forgive him his duplicity and perfidv towards you. He has just proffered you his splendid palace- of Ham[)ton, and his treasures ; and wherefore ? — I will tell you I because he feared they would be wrested from him. His jester had acquainted him with the discovery just m.i !e of the secret hoard, and he was therefore compelled to have recourse to this desperate move. But I was appraised of his intentions by Will Sommers, and have come in time to foil him." " By my faith, I believe you are right, sweetheart ! " said the King. " Co, tell your allies, Francis and Clement, that the King'.s love for me outweighs his fear of them," cried Anne, laughing spitefully. "As for you, I regard you as nothing. A few weeks ago I would have made terms with you. Now I am your mortal enemy, and will never rest till I have procured your downfall. Henry, you know the soU- terms on which you can procure my hand." The King nodded a playful affirmative. Till' RfSIC 01' /\ \li\V QVEES isr " Then dismiss l.im at oiirc_.i,„, ,■ „ "Nay, nay," .,.,ied I " 'lir'':,'''"' ' -''^ -^-.e coolly .„.n,„;:o:."'""^"' """• ^"^ "■" ™»- '"a.te,s „kIc P"y I'i". to sacriHre me „ ' f""'"' '■^" ^^^'^ >")■ sovcrc-i,,,, I power n.„,ai„in,, w^ r^ T.T ■""" ','""' "'"^ -«'" "^ wi;nd:!.r'"''''^'^'''''^'^''''---e,>omtlK.Ki,,,,,, had disp,a,'d ,o her ad to en r' 'l" "'^' ='"'^'^'"-'" '-' summoned an i„|,cr a.,< ,r , '''" "'•'' «""^'. "'"ry ''■I- K.ng ief Me 1 "'■^■^■''•^f '" ""-' f-"^fe,v Tower. f-hapel, near the nor.h , ° "'^ ''•'"■'' "^ •'^'- <--ri;c.'s — nt to look a^t ' nSfd"'"'" '" '•^"-"'' ^"^ ^ f:ommons-a structure erecdntir'r"" ,'° "'^ •'^'^•'^ "wn reign l.y Jan,es Denton ,n '""' ''"'''' "^ '"■'' of I-ichlield, for the .-comm'odn, \""'' ''""''"^^ '"^'^n ■y^ci choristers as had no :': i'r,: :^;; -^"-O- priests can^:: 'tS "" '"^'^ "^^" —'^'i into one of the '^-'v^^a.^dU'tiimfrrt'r'""^^"--'^- '■ipel, and seized his left arm with an ; Ijut' iron resses of the grasp. The m>'[ r. 153 HENRV Vlli suddenness of the nttack took him by si prise ; but he instantly rccovured himself plu'kid away h's arm, and, drawi J his sword, made a pass at his a- sailant, who, how- ever, avoiiled tire thrust, and darted with inconceivable swiftness throuj;h the archway leading; to tlie cloisters. Thoui^h Henry followed as (iiiickly as he could, he lost sight of the fuj;itive, but just as he was about to enter the passage running between the tome house and the chapel, he perceived a person in the south ambulatory, "vidently anxious to conceal himself, and, rushing up to him and dragging him to the light, he lound it was no other than the cardinal's ji.'ster. Pitch. " What dost Ihou here. kn;ive ? " cried I lenry angrily. " I am waiting for my m.ister, the cardinal," replied the jester, terrified out of his wi's. " Waiting for him here ! " cried the King. " Where is he ?'' "In that house," replied '' tch, pointing to a beautiful bay window, full of stained l .,s, overhanging the exquisite arches of the north ambulatory. " Why, that is Doctor Sampson's dwelling," cried Henry ; " he who was chaplain to the (lueen, and is a strong opponent of the divorce. What doth he there ? " "I am sure I know not," replied Patch, whose term.- increased each moment. " Perhaps I have mistaken the house. Indeed, I am sure it must be Dr. \'oysey's the next door." " Thou liest, knave ! " cried Henry fiercely ; " thy manner convinces me there is some treasonable practice going for- ward. l!ut I will soon nnd it out. ; tempt to give tlie alarm, and I will cut thy throat." With this he proceeded to the back of the north am- bulatory, and, finding the door he sought unfastened, raised the latch and walked softly in. liut before he got half-.v,,/ down the passage Doctor Sampson himself issued from an inner room with a lamp in his hand. He started on seeing the King, and exhibited great alarm. Till- krSR OK A XKW -X keM ,;^3 "The Cardinal of York is li.T,. • i.„ Oh, B„ n„t forward, „,y .ranous lie^e:" fr,..d S.,„,. son, |.lar„.gh„„,df„i his path." ' " U-hcreforc not?" rejoined Ihc K,„,, "ll..„.h„ i« >hat I hear i„ the upp.r .han,b.rV Is 1, ' , with Wolsey? Out of my way, ,,"" he., . '"■ ,'""' .h-anon a.id. and rui./^p .^ J^rt t!::^r;u::^ he^.>ndh.ant.cha„.he. b.et w,th':'::!oi- 1,^^;;; whose sohcitations he was com|)elled to lisi.n Lh ^n cletained in this manner ,^rne:l,rh!;;;'^r^r'^ lenjjth retired mtc .n inner room. "Vile .-vcophant.!" he numered, "they how the knee hefore me. and pay me greater hon,a,e than tVy rJnder 1 Ivmg, but though thoy „ave fed upon my boumy a d , I'y n,y help, not one of then,, if ho w \J,'.r position, but would desert p.. Not o J," "'^' ''"" lend a helping ha,,d to crush mrv'r ^Th' rejotce in my downfall. l!ut they have not de. I knew them from the first -.saw throu .|, th,- - h, nnd despised them. While power lasts^o me I -some of them. While power lusts ! " l,e repeit I any power remaining? I have already aiven u and my treasures to the King ; and the work ol once commenced, the royal j.lunderer will not be 111 he has robbed m. of all ; while his n,in„., l>oleyn, has vowed my destruction. Well I will n, tamely, nor fall unavenged." As these thoughts passed through his mind Paten . ad waned for a favourable moment to appro ch'i ,■ livered him a small billet carefully sealed -.nH f,. asilken thread. Wolsey took ijndtrok S^:!';: h.s oye eagerly scanned its contents, the cxpres'sio,; o? his ved nic. 'iwiiess, :i'ini5h atlon "itent Id I '■)-» III-NRV VIII counlcnnncc totally ilian^jL-d. A Hash rf jciy And triumph irradi.itL'il hi» falUn iV.iiurcs : ami lluiisiirv^ the iicili; into the folds of his rolic, liu iininircd of tin.- , ■^ilcr hy whom It had l)ccn hroughi, and how loii^. "It was l)roUi;lit hy niu.ssiii;,cr (roin Doctor S.ii mii,' replied I'atch, "and was coniniittcd to n't willi .sptd.il injunctions to deliver it to your j;rn( e ininiediatily on your return, and secretly." The cardinal sat down, and for a few jmcnls appeareil lost in deep reflection ; he then arose, and telling I'atiji he should return presently, iiuitted the chamber. Hut tli' jester, who was of an imiuisitive turn, and did not like to hv eonfined to half a secret, determined to follow him, and ac cordingly tracked him along the great corridor, do- i a winding staircase, through a private door near the Ni an Ciateway, across the middle ward, and finally saw him enti r Doctor Sampson's dwelling at the hark of the north anilm latory. He was reconnoitring die windows of the house from the opposite side of the cloisters in the hope of discovering something when he was caught, as before mentioned, by the King. Wolsey, meanwhile, was received by Doctor Sampson at the doorway of his dwelling, and ushered by him into a small chamber on the upper floor, wainscoted willi curiously carved and lustrously black oak. A silver lamp was burning on the table, and in the recess of the window, which was screened by thick curtains, sat a majestic lady, who rose on the cardinal's entrance. It was Catherine of Arragon. " I attend your pleasure, madam," said Wolsey, with a profound inclination. "You have been long in answering my summons," saui the Queen ; " but I could not e.xpect greater promptitude. Time was when a summons from Catherine of Arragon would have been quickly and cheerfully attended to ; when the proudest noble in the land would have borne her mes- '"I attend your pl^surt,-, MaJa,,,,' ,ai,l w uiiuy. ' J\'- 154. 1' V I m Wl m ol; sal dai the set obj roll tcni T/11. RrSE OF A NEW QUEll>^ In place, and .he is „Wi„c.d er ,1 , ' '''""""•■' ^"^'^' •>" »he once rulettcnd his pleasure and Tn ■ ■ '" '^'-'' '"'""y' '" "f a hun,bli canon T ''"'"" '"■■" "' ""^ ''"dlin., -sadly oht.jlj °"- ' '"" '"^'^ '^'-•S"--'! ^i'h me. ^Volse)■ grieves me sorely ,o see you here " '^'- ^' di.;'n::;.Z/":;'::;>;:-|;'f">e Queen proudly. -M al.jec. sta.e. I did not tend V """'"' '" ^""°^'"S "'X error I h^ve^^otl. el'^^sald ' Vr "'^ ''^'^ '^ ^"^'-^ "- penitence and sorrow. ^ *' '" " '""'^ "^ ='«'ected "Vou admit, then thir it,,.,,. '■ ^^-ell, .hat is 'son ell Oh thaT"' l"f ^"''"''^™^- fore you began this ev^fu-m f ^°" '^"'^ •'''"^ed be- s-n which'wii/tt:: Tetd'^rsir ^/"' "'-" ^ with my nei,he>v, the Fmnernr rl ? J "^ 1""''el l.ut ie will cU ;,„ ;.!2^Z^"''' "- -' - ciea, — Ipri^v-esei^rtr'i:;-: -"a^:ir^.-,i^t^:^■^-7'---own S^'^her that you mus" serve m, "' '" '" '^''^'"^■'^ "'• "I'ject is to gain t n e to In\ l' !'"' >'°"^-'^''f- -^'y -league is secret!"!;; a 1 to'I '"."'^ '" '"'■ ""^" •-^-, but let the cause bl^:;;„,i;~-- fu.iW- 156 HENRY VIII nephew, the emperor, will prevail upon the Pope to decide in my favour." " I dare not thus brave the King's displeasure, madam," replied Wolsey. " Dissembler !" exclaimed Catherine. "I now perceive the insincerity of your professions. Thus much I have said to try you. And now to my real motive for sending for you. I have in my possession certain letters that will ruin Anne Boleyn with the King." " Ha ! " exclaimed the cardinal joyfully ; " if that be the case, all the rest will be easy. Let me see the letters, 1 pray you, madam." Before Catherine could reply, the door was thrown violently open, and the King stood before them. "Sob ! " roared Henry, casting a terrible look at Wolsey, " 1 have caught you at your treasonable practices at last ! And you, madam," he added, turning to Catherine, who meekly, but steadily, returned his gaze, ''what brings you here again ? Because I pardoned your indiscretion yester- day, think not I shall always be so lenient. You will leave the castle instantly. As to Wolsey, he shall render me a strict account of bis conduct." " I have nothing to declare, my liege," replied Wolsey, recovering himself. " I leave it to the Queen to explain why I came hither." "The explanation shall be given at once," said Catherine. " I sent for the cardinal to request him to lay before your majesty these two letters from Anne Boleyn to Sir Thomas Wyat, that you might judge whether one who could write thus would make you a fitting consort. You disbelieved my charge of levity yesterday. Read these, sire, and judge whether I spoke the truth." Henry glanced at the letters, and bis brow grew dark. " What say you to them, my liege ? " cried Catherine, with a glance of triumph. " In the one she vows eternal constancy to Sir Thomas Wyat, and in the other— written THE RISE OF A AW OUEE.V „, Ten thomand fuHo. ' ■■ v , "■■^>'^ '<"" hi,.,. ■ >»; .!,» te„,,, „„;;; ,,">■■•'«» Ki.j. . „.,,„, ^„, *■ .' s ■-"„£::: .:::,:■" ;;« « -„ ., . ,„,„.j " I am well assured that A\'v,f „ Anne's chamber when yourn'^iTT"""^^"^ ''" "^^^ '-'"Jv ^"d could not obtain it-w, en C ''Tr""'"' "'"''"-"'- h.mself for her, and for his fHend ' i u """"'^ '^"'<''--'i " Perdition ! " exclaimed .h l^: '""^ " "'^-^y- f"^ clenched hand "Oh '1'"'' ''"■''"= "'' '^"^^ ^nh y-se, during which sh'etntXMl'f H"-''. ^^-r of his countenance "anrl ;,""/ "'•'"ched the workin-s -f I was about to cast yo: off" '" "" ''«'«''-^'^d -a I forgive you, sire- T e ' ■ Queen, clasping his hands, andtlJ"" ' ", "'•■'""-'^ '^e •^l ears. ..Yo„ ,„^ boLn deeded "'h"" "■"" ^-'e- "i^the same mind!" "eceived. Heaven keep y„u "Vou have preserved me " said u not tarry here. Come wiThme to ,u""'^ ', " '"" '■°" "'"^' "No, Henry," replied r I ^ ">'^' 'ods'ngs." «-hile./,.is,hea.." ' "'^ ^'"^"'"^' ""h a shudder, "not "Make no conditions, madam" ,• <^0- niaclam, whi.spered Wolsey :;«he shall be removed to-morrow" said H Jn that rase T q,„ ' ^ Henry. ^-■d the Queen. '°'""" '^ ^-"other my' feelings," 1.^8 HENRY \III her hand. "Come, then, Kate," said Henry, taking " Lord cardhial, you will attend us." " Right gladly, my liege," replied Wolsey. " If tlm mood will only endure," he muttered, "all w,ll go well. l!ut his jealousy must not be allowed to cool. Would that Wyat were here ! " Doctor Sampson could scarcely credit his senses as he hcheld the august pair come forth together, and a word fnim Wolsey explaining what had occurred threw hmi mto transports of delight. But the surprise of the good canon A-as nothing to that exhibited as Henry and Catherine entered the royal lodgings, and the King ordered his own apartments to be 'instantly prepared for her majesty's re- ception. Intelligence of the Queen's return was irstantly conveyed to Anne Boleyn, and filled her with indescribable alarm. All her visions of power and splendour seemed to melt away at once. She sent for her father, Lord Rochford, who hurried to her in a state of the utmost anxiety, and closely questioned her whether the extraordinary change had not been occasioned by some imprudence of her own. But she positively denied the charge, alleging that she had parted with the King scarcely an hour before on terms of the iiost perfect amity, and with the full conviction that she had accomplished the cardinal's ruin. " You should not have put forth your hand against him till you were sure of striking the blow," said Rochford "There is no telling what secret influence h has over the King ; and there may yet be a hard battle to fight. But not a moment must be lost in counteracting his operations. Luckily Suffolk is here, and his enmity to the cardinal will make him a sure friend to us. Pray Heaven you have not given the King fresh occasion for jealousy ! 1 hat is all I fear." , „. ,, u And quitting his daughter, he sought out Suffolk, who, alarmed at what appeared like a restoration of Wolsey to Tni; RfsE OF A \E\V QUHES 'avour, (iromised hcirtilv t^ needed at one. to the roj.; do" t 1, " r'v""' ''"''^ l'^- l>acmg moodily to and fro '''' *" ^''"'"^ ""-" ^^"S "S:,;b:^^^r!;^^'-'7^-said.„edu.e. 'o disturb n,e; l'„i,rntrf '''^ ■^'"g- "J'— nou,h second self, and "no villi t|!' '°'' '"' "'^ ^™"'-. '"y 'he passionate devotion hav TT °' "'^ ''^"'- ^f- -fterall I have do'e for her-a'.l'^ h^'' '"•'""'^ ^°'^>" I have been deceived " ^•■"''•' "^'^'^d for her- 'M^rt'i' 7 'T.!'" -'aimed Suffolk. '^'^af oar ,0 all insin'u'tio s Irown"^^'' ""''. ' '"--' "^ Proofwas afforded which I could n?? " ""■■"'"' '"" ''" "And what was th„ '""y" ^oubt." asked Suffolk! ' '""°""' °f 'he proof, my liege . - "f2Tntl?;L'fof"rTh'""''"^ "^'="' '° him '■But these on^;:ovt%tr.J'^'^':' s-s^r^--^'-^s^^^^h: "s;fi-^:;:;rrtrhrr'''""""'^<^"-'- professes devoted V or m. " u"^^ ^^ "' ""^ '"me she 'hat? Suffolk,!;, she do' , ^^^n I trust her after and my passion is so deen and^w""' "'" —'"lively; no. I cannot be deceived I wil ° "'"'^^ " 2"' "°- Oh, Suffolk t it is frighl;,, ,0 b ,i?eT"V^'' '^'^' P^^^'°"- -a fickle, inconstant won an ™^°'"^''^'-^ of a woman ioveand hate is but a tep ,„d r " ""-" "^P"'' "^ other." P ' a"d I can pass from one to the : 1 1 ' . ' 1 fas 1 1 ffl \ 'f { hH i ;:fff i6o IIENRV Vlll " Do nolliing raslily, my dear liege," said Suffolk ; " no tiling that may bring witli it after icpcntance. Do not be swayed by those who have inflamed your jealousy, and who could practise upon it. Think the matter calmly over, and then act. .i.id till you have decided, see neither Catherine nor Anne ; and, above all, do not admit Wolsey to your secret counsels " " Vou are his enemy, Suffolk, " said the King sternly. " I am your majesty's friend," replied the duke. " I beseech you, yield to me on this occasion, and I am sure of your thanks hereafter." "Well, I believe you are ri^ht, my good friend and brother," said Henry, "and I v,'il! curb my impulses of rage and jealousy. To-morrow, before I see either the Queen or Anne, wc will ride forth into the lorest, and talk the matter further over." " Your highness has come to a wise determination," said the duke. " Oh, Suffolk ! " sighed Henry, " would I had never seen this siren ! She exercises a fearful control over me, and enslaves my very soul." " I cannot say whether it is for good or ill that you have met, my dear liege," replied Suffolk, "but I fancy I can discern the way in which your ultimate decision will be taken. But it is now near midnight. I wish your maje-ty sound and untroubled repose." On the following day a reconciliation took place between the King and Anne Boleyn. During a ride in the Gre.it Park with his royal brother, Suffolk not only convinced him of the groundlessness of his jealousy, but contrived to in- cense him strongly against Wolsey. Thus the Queen and the cardinal lost the momentary advantage they had gained, while Anne's power was raised yet higher. Yielding to her entreaties not to see Catherine again, nor to hold further conference with Wolsey until the sentence of the court should be pronounced, Henry left the castle that very day, THE RISE Ol- A NEW QUIiEN rc-liance on Heav n „?„, ''^' '"" '"■""'S '>- sol! withdrew .0 niackfnas we r ""'•"' '" ""''' ''" "'<;'• As to the ca d nalhir ^V':'""""-''' "" 'he court situation, and ...Zttdl't- "" '^''''''^'""^ ''^ ''i» Henry was presc^ and took In'","- "" ""'^ "^-^•^'°" estate-the Queen sittil.r ' ",'' ""^^■'' ■•• ^'"'h of Opposite tnem w re "iTe'le ' t:.:""".^'^'."'"' ''^"'"^ ' '"'• Canterbury, and the „Zl, n r' . ^^ ""-' -^^^l-bisho,, „f the assemblage wt"^'-;:;''^ ';'^'"''-- ■'■'■e aspc't cf turned on Henry, virooked T""' ^'^"^ ^''^^^ "'"'^ 'he chief object'^f i„te est Is'tiro"' """"""^' ^"' pale as death, had never in h I ?"''"' "'""• "^°"gh wornamoremaies'canddieniHeH t"' ''^>'^ "' ^'^'^^ The proccodu'gs of the cou t then' ' °" '"" °*^'^"'^"- King being lied by the cr'e L "°™"^'-'"^'^d. and the the summo: . Cathe L 1 "^'"^d.ately answered to -plying, she mard, ^rwaTds thrcT"^'- T"' '"''''' "^ 'he King was seated, prostr ed tsTZ ^'"'''t'"'''' most pathetic and eloouent ., > ', ''°""-'^ '^"'''h a «hich she arose, and Zk,W ' '"'■"° ' "'' '' ""= ^'"^^ of out of the court, lean ! fo 7'''""^ '7^^-'-. "alked ceive, Griftlti,. Henry °desed ""' °' '"'^^ S'"'"'-'"' ^--- ' but she would not re urn nnd ! "'" '" "" '>^^ ^'^<^^< by her address upon 1 eJd tot 17' T '""'' """'"^'^'' it by an eulogiun, on her h/r'.cter' T™""' '° ^'^'"^^'^ panied by an expression of deep Te " t af ,1'"""' T'""- conipelled to take in seoaratin» V ,. "'^ '"'P '^<= "'^s his hypocrisy ava.led ^ i f t"" L'""' 'f^' ""' -ed w,th looks of iii-disguisedi:::^,;;;''^^-- .f«r 163 HRNRV Mil (lismiirse then took place liclw.ji'ii the Arrhbislinp of Tan- terl)ury ami tlie Dishop of Koiliesler; hut as the Queen had .ihsented herself, the court was ailjoMrned to the ne.'.t day, when it ayain met, and as she did not then appear, though sunnnoned, she was pronounced contumacious. After repeated adjournments, the last session was held, and judgment demanded on the part of the King, wlien Cani- |)eggio, as had been arranged lietween him an" '""•'■'^* '^ ;h-' flight, AVolsey cin Led "-"^ ^'^''''^ "«'^'i«'-'d ''^o'her cardinal, and pursued h ' '"'"'"" ^om his «. 'ch he Presentlyarr!: d T "7'° 'h^ casde, l.TorJ his approach, but he hiri c , ^ " *"" "'rown open ar :---hecoui;r— -:-;:.^^. -MS:ni,r.;'f'^'^-"^^""^'^^vo,sey. ..,„„ Ca:^-Ian,p^,i::;:;^-;-,_^e,,. hen, his :.„,>- ee ;rj">'''' '" the town fo Vf^''" "" ""' '°''Kings ■ j^/ Ivn,g." 't IS necessary we shoufd ""J ^0"^^', J:™:'^^ •'' '^'-"- your attendants" '■■^^'odgedinHe::;:;J;:-5;*^camp,,;, I will taiie 'opl lodgin upon me; b'.t ; d. Towc Lire not admit 'J'lius much you to the ' i in L 11 si Oi^ 104 IIUNRV \'III Wolscy tricil to look uni'o'vcrmd, and railing to liis gontlunmn iisliur, (;cori;c Cavendish, gave liini .ue in- structions in a low voice, upon which the other immedi- ately placed himself at the head of the retinue, and ordered them to quit the castle all him, leaving only the jester, I'atch, to attmd upon 1 master. Campessio's attendants lieing, cjmparatively spcikinj;, few in number, were allowed to remai-i, and his litter was conveyed to Henry the Third's 'I'ower-a fortification standing in the south side of the lower ward, near the edge of the dry moat surrounding the Round Tower. At the steps rf this tower Wolsey arrival, stepped forward, and, with a s.iUitation of nio'k formality, s.iid, '■ I am sure it will grieve the King, my master, not to be able to accommodate your grace's train , but since it is larger than his own, yoi will scarce blame his want of hospitality.'' " Nor the courtesy of his attenuants," rejoined Wolsey sharply. " I am in no mood for thy jesting now. Stand aside, sirrah, or I will have the rod applied to thy back." " 'I'ake care the King docs not apply the rod to your own, lord cardinal," retorted Will Sonimers. " If he scourges you according to your deserts, your skin will be redder than your robe." And his mocking laugh pursued Wolsey like the hiss of a snake into the tower. Some two hours after this Henry and his attendants returned from the chase. The King seemed in a bliilio humour, and Wolsey saw him laugh heartily as Will Sommers pointed with his bauble towards Henry the Third's Tower. The cardinal received no invitation to the royal banquet ; and the answer to his solicitation fur an interview was that he and Campeggio would be receivoJ in tlie presence chamber on the following morning, but • before. That night a great revel was held in the castle. Mj^ Till- RISK 01^ A SKW OUKKN ,(.-, ;i"i"K. dancing, and fcusiini,- nil.j „,, „„. ,,,,,„. . , J")uus sounds and strains reached \ V I u *" ^ and forced him to contra tUwifh '* '" ""^ '"''"''""• he would hni. . 1 ""'"" ' *""' •'"' f'-'-'^^nt position, when The .norning promised to l.c (Inc, l.u. i, was ,hu, ha^ ;;o;^eareandanm,costIknownotwheJ;;M':::;^:; J^:t^t, St^^cf::-"^^^'" '■-'-■'- »no had received an assurance from the KinL> thnt I ennmy should at length he fully gratified ' ' '" At the appointed hour the two cardinals proceeded to royal lodgings. They were detained for 'some „e sneers of the courtiers who had lately so .crvil,.|v ofthe ;k ", ''"'^■>" °" "^'^ ^'S'" hand. At the foo Of the throne stood ^Vi,l Sommers. and near him the Duts 'llf i6« IIF.NRY Vin of Richmond and Suffolk. Norfolk, Roi liforti, anil :i number of other nobles, all open enemies of W'olsey, were likewise present. Henry wat<:he(l the advance of the rnrdinaU with a stern look, and, after they had niadt an ol)eisance to him, he motioned them to rise. " You have sought an interview with me, my lord.s," he said, with suppressed rage. " What would you ? " " We have brought an instrument to you, my liene," said Wolsey, " which has just been received from his holiness the Pope." " Declare its nature," said Henry. "It is a citation," replied Wolsey, "enjoining your high- ness •-> appear by attorney in the papal court under a penalty of ten thousand ducats." And he presented a parchment, stamped with the great si'il of Rome, to the King, who glanced his eye fiercely over ar.d then dashed it to the ground with an explosion ul ry terrible to hear and to witness. " Ha ! by Saint George ! " he cried j " am I as nothin., th. . the Pope dares to insult me thus ? " " It is a mere judicial I'orm, your majesty," interposed Campeggio; "and is chiefly sent by his holiness to let ymi know we have no further jurisdiction in the matter of llie divorce." "I will take care you have not, nor his holiness either,' roared the King. " By m> father's head, lie shall find I will be no longer trifled with." " But, my liege " cried Campeggio. " Peace," cried the King. " I will hear no apologies nor excuses. The insult has been offered, and cannot be effaced. As for you, Wolsey " "Sire," exclaimed the cardinal, shrinking before tlii' whirlwind of passion, which seemed to menace his utter extermination. " As for you, I say," pursued Henry, extending his h.uid towards him, while his eyes flashed fire, " who by )()ijr T'ln RrSF. OF A N-nU' gUKI-A „- -'-y and .x>or,ii„ luv! " ,, J'"'," ,'""''^"''^ -'» "' '')• your cruelty and narih '7 "' '""' "'''^'"' ••"'d i» c,„„e when yi.u hec v.r"' ''":'• '="''='-'''^' '""'■ olTcnccs." '^"-"'- ""-■ punishment for y„„r .-ienU,eari„«n„d;'::;;::„i"^--- '="""- ^ I w^oulJ not sharpen iIkV in,, 'ord cardinal," said aZ. L^"^ \!'''"'"'''"' ••'8--'rnst y„u, lou removed from " ','■■•""'-■ ■' " fl'undcred the Kinsr " \'„,. one but many, ^^'olsev • nav ,h u ) ""' ""^f^U'ers are not out for justice again vou^', "u"'' "^ ■">' ''^"P''^ "V you shall hear the charl! '.h ",' ■ '"^>' '''"" •'^^'^ ''• «" o'T prerogative, and fo ou ' 'J ^'"">' ^°"'^"y 'o yo" have'obtalned ioH ?'" ."^'T""''"' '"" p'"'''^- «hich authority you a "T f ' ^™"' ""= ''°P^'. '^y •heir substance fronl". "" >' .=P°"-d and taken awaj usurped much of ol ",7 i" T"' ''°""='- '-' ''-^ n.ade a treaty with the K " ^" '"°"; ^'^ ''-■«' ="- ou. our consent, and cone 1 . "T" ^"^ ""^ ^°l^ »■'"'• •he Duke of Ferrara. u,"d 'ot' T^r '" l"""''' '^^^'^ «•"" «"hout our warrant And ffu '"'""'''■" °""">"'-. fumed to couple yourself 'wih""' >°" ''^^'^ P^^" ^^■'•c.rs and instructions a If ""t ""' '"''' '''' '" >°" " "a ! ha I 'The Kin^ !„H r ' °" "^""'"> "•"h «■" ■■'•'■e King and I git^'u our?"" "''''' ''"^ "" "^"^ ' ' « so, cardinal ?"creVu',llSn''''''"^'-'' ^^"^ " ""n 'he cap and bells " °™'""'- " ^°" will soon lilt •i!!!i (6S HENRY VIII " In exercise of your legatine authority," pursued the King, " you have given away benefices contrary to our crown and dignity, for the wl\ich you are in danger of forfeiture of your lands and goods. " Then it has been your practice to receive all the am- bassadors to our court first at your own palace to hear their charges and intentions, and to instruct them as you might see fit. By your ambition and pride you have un- done many of our poor subjects, have suppressed religious houses, and received their possessions ; have seized upon the goods of wealthy spiritual men deceased ; constrained all ordinaries yearly to compound with you ; have gotten riches for yourself and servants by subversion of the laws, and by abuse of your authority in causing divers pardons of the I'ope to be suspended until you, by promise of a yearly pension, chose to revive them ; and also by crafty and untrue tales have sought to create dissension among our nobles." "That we can all avouch for," cried Suffolk. "It was never merry in England while there were cardinals among us." " Of all men in England your grace should be the last to say so," rejoined Wolsey, " for if I had not been cardiii.il you would not have had a head upon your shoulders to utter the taunt." "No more of this !" cried the King. "You have mis- demeaned yourself in our court by keeping up as great state in our absence as if we had been tliere in person, and presumptuously have dared to join and imprint your badge, the cardinal's hat, under our arms, graven on our coins struck at York. And lasdy, whenever in open Parliament allusion hath been made to heresies and erroneous sects, you have failed to correct and notice them to the d.ingrr of the whole body of good and Christian people of this our realm." "This last charge ought to win me favour in the eyes of 1L."' «a THE RISE OF A NEW QUEEN ,6g one who professes the opinions of l.niher " saiH u- i Anne. ; Cut I deny i,, as I do all u/c ^est > "'"^' '" 1 will listen to no defemv UV,i ..',-, Uo not condemn nie unhpir.ii" ■ j , J.rostrating himself. """''^ ""^ '^^^'linal, '■ I have heard too much, and I will h,.n, cried the King llercelv " 7 ,1 " "" "'°'''-' ' " for ever. If yo are 'innocent" '"" '™"' '">' "— - done you. If you ^r^^Z'^VZ^"' '"''"''' ""' '"^ not for leniency from me for I wil o ' ^"^ '° '^'^' '"''^ -■nting himself! he turned o 1 ' ' 'd^^": """'l' ^"^'^' "Are you content, sweetheart^" '" ' '°"' '°"'-'' inSi:^d%cam;iru-:''^?™^™-" the presence-chamber. ^'"''"^S'"' " "'^^X -^'owly quitted ~W. II. AlNSWOKTIl, /fVWy„,-c«//,. 1M^\79 XVII When England and Spain were Friends ON the 2nd of January, 1554, a solemn embassy from the Emperor Charles the Fifth, consisthig of four of his most distinguished nobles, the Count d'Egmont, the Count Lalaing, the Seigneur de Courrieres, and the Sieur de Nigry, chancellor of the order of the Toison d'Or, arrived" in Eondon to sign the marriage-treaty between Pliilil) Prince of Spain and Queen Mary, which had been previously agreed ujion by the courts of England and Siiam. Gardiner, who as long as he found it possible to do so, had strenuously opposed the match, and had recommendeil Mary to unite herself to Courtenay, or 'east to some English nobleman, finding her resolutely U - upon it, con- sented to negotiate the terms of marriage with Renard, tlie Spanish Ambassador, and took especial care that they were favourable to his royal mistress. While this was going forward De Noailles and his party had not been idle! Many schemes were devised, but some were abandoned from the irresolution and vacillation uf Courtenay; others were discovered and thwarted by Renanl. Siill the cliief conspirators, though suspected, escaped delec tion, or rather their designs could not be brought home to them, and they continued to form their plans as tlie danger grew more imminent with greater zeal than ever. At one time it was determined to murder Arundel, I'agel, Rochester, and the chief supporters of the Spanish mateli. Spain. Shortly after their "?'',''""•-'' from the court of 'he Queen in the o nci chamh /I ""^ '" '"''''<^"-- "f when they had declared t h "^"'^ ^^^''"' 'ro»-er, and Spain demanded her 7' marrn' "i: '""'"^ I'™- of d.gnity, but some little i^ude;!.' " '''"""' ''"^ S^™' '"^Xzz\:::;:riz:; ^r ': ''-' °^ '-- my council to confer with you „n l^''" '^'''^°'' ^^^rged strictest conditions, to assure all k """''''• ""''• ^y ">e my kingdom, which I shaTever rf ,""'' ^'^'""^S^s to band." """ ''^^'^ regard as my first hus- As she pronounced the h<,t «,„,j . ^mg placed on her finder by CaTd '^' ^^'"'"^ '' 'he coronation. " "^ '^■'"■dmer on the day of her On the following day thp (>,„. l f-ence with GardLr^Aru,^:; ^L "' " '"' ' '""■ «ere entirely settled, a;d on the t.th of f ' '^''^ ''""' »- signed and delivered on both si^es ■""""' "^ '"^'^ 'ord mayor, theildermen fnd „rt .1°' "' '^°""^''' 'h<^ "f 'he city, were summon;d to S 'l^' '=°'""^°-" 'eceiyed in the presence-chamber of ,.7' ,"''"! "'^'>' ^"' «d Renard, the former of whnl . ^ '"" ''^ '^••'^diner -"or, made them a long ora^Ton' i'"r ''"''"' "' '^'''"- --Oodthatson^:-4--^--m.to ' i| 172 MARY would so humble himself in his union with her highness as to take upon him rather tlie character of a subject than of a monarch of ecpial power." The terms of the treaty were next read, and the chancellor expatiated upon the many important concessions made by the imperial ambassadors, endeavouring to demonstrate that England was by far the greatest gainer by the alliance, and stating " that it was her highness's pleasure and re- quest, that like good subjects they would, for her sake, most lovii ,y receive her illustrious consort with reverence, joy, and iionour." No plaudits, followed this announcement, nor was the slightest expression of joy manifested except by the lords Arundel, Paget, and Rochester,— the main supporters of the match, when it was brought before Parliament. Cardincr glanced at the council — at the civic authorities — as if in expectation of a reply, but none was attempted unless their very silence could be so construed. A\hatever his real sentiments might be, the chancellor assumed an air of deep displeasure, and turning to Renard, who, with arms folded on his breast, scanned tlie assemblage with a c nld scrutinizing gaze, asked in an undertone whether he should dismiss them ? "On no account," replied the ambassador. "Coniptl them to give utterance to their thoughts. We shall tlir better know how to deal with them. My project onci carried, and Philip united to Mary," he muttered to him self, "we will speedily cudgel these stubborn English hull- dogs into obedience." "Renard does not appear to relish the reception which the announcement of her majesty's proposed alliance has met with," observed De Noailles, who stood in one corner of the chamber with Courtenay. " I will give him a fore- taste of what is to follow. Had your lordship been pro- posed to the assembly their manner would have been uidiK different." I know ft," ejaculated 1 1 m f ' ^ ^'i^alieth/' f'erefore I hold her ontVl\"'' '° '"'"'^^'f. "and »:!">- I .il, do at anv cot "'^'' '^™^'''«' ^ f°" RenS; A thousand marks that T «P, ornamented with bro d h '"" " '"'->^fc veHet ^ereranier nn-t a " bone-work hm u- 'fager accepted?" he i,! ■ 1 , '"''S'^'f '^ize. " j, ,u .'■'"""« 'he ambassador's a i' "ini aside "^ '% thoughts are easily guessed, S if!! 'r Thoma Wyat,' Jfl!!: ,74 MARY replied De Noailles, "I am thinking how prosperously all goes for us." , , , ui '• Ri"ht " rejoined Wyat ; "out of that large assemblage three only are favourable to the imperialists. If you ap- prove it, I will myself-though not a member of the council -answer Gardiner's speech, and tcU him we will not suffer this hateful alliance to take place." "That were unwise," rejoined De Noailles; " do not meddle in the matter. It will only attract suspicion towards us." "I care not if it does," replied Wyat; " we are all ready and sure of support. I will go further if need be, and add, if the Queen weds not Courtenay, a general insurrec- tion will follow." ■'Courtenay will never wed the Queen," observed the earl, who had followed them, and overheard the remark. "How?" exclaimed Wyat, in surprise. " No more at present," interposed De Noailles hastily. "Renard'seyes areupo^ us." , . , "What if tliey are?" cried Wyat, glancing fiercely in the direction of the imperial ambassador. "His looks-basilisk though they be-have no power to strike us deud 0,i, that I had an opportunity of measuring swords with l.im He should soon perceive the love I bear liis prince and ' "I share in your hatred towards him," observed Courtenay. "The favour Mary shows him proves the ascendency he lus obtained over her." "If he retains his power, farewell to the liberty of En- lishmen," rejoined Wyat; "we shall become as aljject as the Flemings. But I, for one, will never submit to the yo^c of Spain." .,. , , . , ■ "Not so loud!" cried De Noailles, checking him. "You will effectually destroy our scheme. Renard only seeks some plea to attack us. Have a moment's patience, and some one not connected with the plot will take the responsibility upon himself" ENGLAND AND SPAIN WERE FRIENDS ry, a f.w words passed between he "h r*^'"'^'' ■^'==""^d. council, and the heads of he c.Vic u^ V™""''"^ °' ""> ■"Stance, the Earl of Pembrok^ I ''"'^;'"^=' "nd, at their "We ar- aware mv!^ .? u ^PP^'' ^°''«'ard. "'hat we ougTtr 'nIepS:ir'''^''"'^'"S ^"'^'n-. proval of th! Qu JrELrS h° ^'■'"'■^^ --P^ congratulations-our prayers fnrh u ^" "' heartfelt shall not seek to di gdse Tnr , ^' '""^P'"^"- «"' -e prove this n,atch; JaZ ha" : ',72 , '"^t" ""' '^ munication with pain-withtn ^ '"'^''"P's corn- displeasure, thatdesfgnin. cour T"'T*'"^ displeasure- upon her highness Jta'kf a~ Ipl^ ,t h"" ''''TP--"^^ and to the welfare of her kinminm o °™ happiness, therefore-and we earnestly ent"; °", ^""'^''^'ons are sent them to her majesty that 1^' '""^'^'P '° '^P^e' men, and espouse sS'g t^ „! "' "'' """ •-■"«'«- -mplore of her to dismis^lom 7 ""• ^"'l '''^ father ambassador, M. Simo" Re ard bT T"''' "'^ ""P^™' this match has been contrYyed fid L '" J"''™'"'^"'^hty ceiye to be prejudicial to t tel; ^ro'"""'^^^ "^ ^°" "You do me wrong. Lord Pemh L -. ''"""'"'y-'' "and I appeal to the lord rh,,' ''P"'^'^ ^^"ard; ating this treaty. I h i nyd'e^V'"""' '" -Soti- ^vereign calculated to ^'^0™. °" "''^P"' "^ -"^ of yours." " "^°'" 'he power or authority has SLld'edCrHL' we htd^anv'"';:' "^°"^ ^^'^'^"^"^y "And more than my brother amba, "^ ' '°. '"P^"'" 'ejoined Renard. " ButTdo nn^ '^"' '^"'""'^'^ «"'"§." -well knowing how anxious the /''"" "'''' ' ''"^'^ done, •^ to unite his Ion to so " ^^ l7T' ^''"''^^ ">e Fifth a princess as the Queen of ,hi,° T '"'' ^""^ =° ''^"g.ous -•d he too grea?to in"su" tm Sar./^^' "° ^-^'«- ^- bound to add that your excellency has adyanced i ;> n : i mi r' 176 MARY nothing but the truth," acquiesced Cardincr; "and though, at first, as is well known to Lord I'embroke and others of the council, I was as averse to the match as he or they could be, I am now its warmest advocate. Hut I will not prolong the discussion. Her highness's word is passed to the prince — the contract signed — the treaty concluded. Your remonstrances, therefore, are too late. And if you will suffer me to point out to you the only course that can with propriety be pursued, I would urge you to offer her majesty your loyal congratulations on her choice —to pre- pare to receive her consort in the manner she has directed — and to watch over the interests of your country so care- fully, that the evils you dread may never arise." "If my solemn assurance will satisfy the Earl of Pem- broke and the other honourable persons here present," remarked Renard, " I will declare, in the prince my master's name, that he has not the remotest intention of interfering with the government of this country — of engaging it in any war — or of placing his followers in any office or post of autliority." " Wliatever may be the prince's intentions," rejoined Gar- diner, " he is precluded by the treaty from acting upon them. At tne same time, it is but right to add, that thu^L terms were not wrung from his ambassador, but voluntaril) proposed by him." " They will never be adhered to," cried Sir Thomas Wyat, stepping forward, and facing Renard, whom he regarded with a look of defiance. " Uo you dare to question my word, sir?" exclaimni Renard. "I do," replied Wyat sternly. "And let no Englishni.Tii put faith in one of your nation, or he will repent his folly. I am a loyal subject of the Queen, and would shed my heart's blood in her defence. But I am also a lover of my country, and will never surrender her to the domination uf Spain ! " ''no^astnS:jf;;^^-di„er...you are wel, yo,-; are so, or your te^eri; would o"""" ' """ '' '» ^'^» I care not what tl.P X- '^ "" >'°" '" l"-'--''" K is useless to proceed ur^h''"."'" '""-■" '° '" A-r un ' «•;" never suffe^ it .:'S';;,::" ['" ""T' '^^"^ "^i- alWed to set foot upon our ^^^ ^ -" ">e prince be niese are bold words Sir Tl,n^ .. ^ suspiciously. " Whence do ™ H ' ''''''•■'^'-''' '^^'''^diner " From sure pre.nises n^v i < ■ '"' ^°"' inclusions ? " very loyalty entertained 'by Lrui''":"'^"'' ''^="- " ''''^^ makes them resolute not To p .mjl": /"""'^^ ">e Queen fhey have not forgotten the h^" , ''"""^'-' '''^f^^'f- ^f^y I-hilip's first wi, xr, "; „^" ' '^'''''""^nt experienced lord ehancellor, and rLpo, what / °""^"'; "^" ■"«• "X ">.s match is pcrsisted'in !« „er7 '° '" ''^''"'-■'^- ^' low." '"' a g'-neral insurrection will fol- Thit '^;,i:::f;!^j;;;;;-^ ^ »me r^^ design, sir tself under the garb of loyalty Talc, t T""^ ''" '"'^^^ "ons shall be strictly watched anH v ''5 '"■ ^°"' "c- firm my suspicions, I sh I Id^l "'/ T''' ""=<="" 'o con- her majesty to place you in ar".' ' '"'^ '" ^^-^"""'-"d to CoSlr""" ^'" '"''"'' "^'" '^'^'^P-d He Noailles deeming it" inconsS W h"' th^ d^ t'""/^'^ '^-"-- Queen as your soverei.^n to w ^ , ^ "^ "^ '° ""gl'ty a Vou hear that," cried lonser hesitate the Earl of Arundel. "Ca • "1 .nil to congratulate the Queen on her union ? n you ti !!i ; 1 ; 1 i ''^^1 1 i '^1 1 ii 1 li! ' ■ 178 MARY The earl was warmly seconded by Paget and Rochester, but no other voice joined thum. " The sense of the assembly is against it," observed the Earl of Pembroke. " I am amazed at your conduct, my lords," cried Gardiner angrily. " You deny your sovereign the right freely accorded to the meanest of lier subjects^the riglu to choose for her- self a husband. For shame ! for shame ! Your sense of justice, if not your loyalty, should prompt you to act differ- ently. The Prince of Spain has bo'in termed a stranger to this country, whereas his august sire is not merely the Queen's cnusin, but the oldest ally of the crown. So far from the alliance being disadvantageous, it is highly profit- able, ensuring, as it does, the Emperor's aid against our constant enemies, the Scots and the French. Of the truth of this you may judge by the opposition it has met with, overt and secret, from the ambassador of the King of France. But without enlarging upon the advantages of the union, which must be sufficiently apparent to you all, I shall content myself with stating that it is not your province lu dictate to the Queen whom she shall marry, or whom she shall not marry, but humbly to acquiesce in her choice. Her majesty, in her exceeding goodness, has thought fit to lay before you — a step altogether needless — the conditions of her union. It pains me to say you have received hur condescension in a most unbecoming manner. I trust, however, a better feeling has arisen among you, and th,it you will now enable me to report you, as I desire, to licr highness." The only assenting voices were those of the three lords constituting the imperial party in the council. Having waited for a short time, Gardiner bowed gravely, and dismissed the assemblage. As he was abcit to qtin the presence-chamber, he per- ceived Courtenay standi: ^ in a pensive attitude in the em- brasure of a window. Apparently, the room was entirely It suddenly occurred focTard.n " '" ''"'-' "' ""= ^oor. favourable opportunitv tn "'" ""^ *o"ld be a Of her ''^^ir:^^^:;'Z'Zr'!l:,!'^ announc..„.e„. frankly own ,o you i, «'oulS ,ave be ' '' '''"■ "' «■■" '° me to have nan.ed your "rdsh '"u"'"" "^"^'^^'^'^ have to thank yourself tlfa^surh h '' '° ""-"'"■ ^•"'' you "True," replied Cou 1" """' '^''" ''''-• "''-•■'' 'hem upon the speaker f^uTrh' 'V'"' ^""^ «-"« powerful than ambition." ^"^'^ '^°""'' 'ove more withtlgh. sneer" ^''U^lTt'''^'"''"'^''' "''rdiner endure .,h your .ordsh,y org:;!:.":' " T'"'''"' ^ I never loved till I In^Zf. . """"'h ? " "Be that as it ml" 'Tn^ ''"• ^'^hed Courtenay. chancellor. ''ThrQue'en ^ ^f "''°" ''"." -tur'ned the " Vour lordship has ju't ob erl'""''"' '° ^""^ ""'"n" councl." rejoined Courtenay 'that 'it'lT' "''^"^ "^ ">e -even of the meanest-tr. rh """ P^'vilege of all 7'"- Since her highness .ouH°'' '" u'"™^'^ ^^om they favour. Why deny it'to he/sis^er "'^ '''' "«"' '" •>" own' <^^rdi:r^.S5:i^^?:l^--^erlove."rep,ied ^onie of the weaknesses o 'he 4; "i^^^ '^ "« -''hout *''ness the happiness of a rfvTl " ' '°"''' "°' ^"^^ 'o Courtenay smiled. r>^"::r"nrS- -!-."« Oardiner Sp-^-wiinos/^isrirtrti;: '•■-'i? :Sed"2„:Sr '.-ir^'" ^'' -- p-n /• II sne persists in her il' Nl! I I i iSo MARY match with the Prince of Spain, she will lose her i rown, and then who shall prevent my wedding Elizalieth ? " Gardiner looked at him, as he said this, so fixedly, that the carl involuntarily cast down his eyes. "Your words and manner, my lord," observed the chan- cellor, after a pause, " convince me that you are implicated in a conspiracy, known to be forming against the Queen." " My lord 1 " cried Courtenay. " Do not interrupt me," continued dardincr, — "the con- duct of the counci! to-day, the njenaces of Sir Thomas Wyat, your o*n wore convince me that decided measures must be taken. I shall therefore place you in arrest. And this time, rest assured, care shall be taken that you do not escape." Courtenay laid his hand upon ."lis sword, and looked un- easily at llie dour. "Resistance will be in vain, my lorl, ' pursued (/ardii.i;i ; " I have but to raise my voice, and t le guard will immedi ately appear." "You do not mean to execute your threats, my lord?" rejoined Courtenay. "I have no alternative," returned Cardiner, "unle.-s by revealing to me all you know respecting this cons|)iraiy you will enable me to crush it. Not to keep you longer in the dark, I will tell you that proofs are already before us of your connection with the plot. The dwarf Xit, employed by M. de Noailles to convey messages to you, and who assisted in your escape, has, under threat of torture, niadi a full confession. From him we have learnt that a guitar, containing a key to the cipher to be used in a secret corit spondence, was sent to Elizabeth by the ambassador. Tin; instrument has been found in the princess's possession ai Ashbridge, and has furnished a clue to several of your own letters to her, which we have intercepted. Moreover, mo of the French ambassador's agents, under the disguise of Huguenot preacliers, have been arrested, and have revcilcJ ENGLAND AND SPAIN WERE ,.K„,.v,3s .8. •■S^:,::;:V:: >;---'--" rejoin., <;ar..ine.. Courttnay. ''"'''- "'" '° ''""X 'hen," replied >-wi'i.veup:;,i:f::;,:^;';;:-;-^;j-d,.ov,.ea ''S'":::::^^;;-«-'!;" returned .he chancellor, the enemyof mankind o no ^T" ''""" '"^ ™"' '° ^He Shall .e minerari'^iirra';.^"^"^- ^^^ '° - Oard.ner gave the required pledge. ■ and .hat of .h'e'Se s "t" fT. ""' """ ™"de„,nation, " Not so ■ ■? i ^ !' '"^'"a'ed Courtenay. wot so, rejoined the chancellor "I„,h , 01 parliament it was enacted thn ,? , "-■ '"" "-"''""" death for treason »ho had ati t^d l^T ""'^ ""'"'''' '""''' '■)' 'aking arn,s then.^eUxs or a dL . '^T""''"'""' ^^'^er •hose who A,,/ taken then ' slh ^ t"-'"'^ ""'' P^"0"»lly •approved the crin,e are excepted "a h"" """"^ ''"''"■" ^ ""^;SLt-^?r^'f^-^-r^ ,-«r;rrh^i~-i., "Undoubtedly," answered Gardiner " » iwornit?" "--araintr. 'Have I not Andthe ,„i,,^^,,,^^^^^^^^^^^^^_^^ .oo... were they ,one, than two persons stepoed ilVJ l82 MAR. from behind the arras where thLjy ...'i ri:naiii.d concealed during the foregoing conversation. They weio De Noailles and Sir Thoma. Vyat. " Perfidious villain ! " cried the latter, " I breathe more freely since he is gone. I hod great difficulty in preventing myself from stabbing him on the spot." " It would have been a useless waste of blood," replied De Noailles. "It was fortunate that I induced you to listen to their conversation. We must instantly provide for our own safety, and that of our friends. The insurrection must no longer be delayed." " It shall not be delayed an hour," replied Wyat. " I have six thousand followers in Kent, who only require to see my banner displayed to flock round it. Captain Bret and his company of London trainbands are eagerly expecting our rising. Throckmorton will watch over the proceedings in the city. Vice-Admiral Winter, with his squadron of seven sail, now in the river, under orders to escort Philip of Spain, will furnish us with ordnance and ammunition; and, if need be, with the crews under his command." "Nothing can be better," replied De Noailles. "\VV must get the Duke of Suffolk out of the Tower, and hasten to Lord Guilford Dudley, with whom some plan must be instantly concerted. Sir Peter Carew must start forthwith for Devonshire, — Sir James Croft for Wales. Your destin ation is Kent. If Courtenay had not proved a traitor, wc would have placed him on the throne. As it is, my adviix is that neither Elizabeth nor Jane shall be proclaimed, but Mary Stuart." " There the policy of France peeps out," replied Wy.it. " But I will proclaim none of them. We will compel the Queen to give up this match, and drive the Spaniard from our shores." " As you will," replied De Noailles hastily. " Do not let us remain longer here, or it may be impossible to <\mi the fortress." ENGLAND AND SPAiX WERE FRIENDS ,83 were out of the Tower q.r T-l ^"'l""' As soon as they wHerr, banned ^^Tur^J^::- S^ t^T^ 1 '" ) seated with Jan^LdChSo Z /'t t?"'""^'^ "'"^'^'^ ;^.-ed.ohis.et.a;^'e:c£i--^~:: "•ould have been o ,i ,e ,;-,T;;:"'' ^^ ''' ^-'^-e -own .ight have in.erf ed ^ h e r tr f "'°" '" "" n'enttinh.„::s:::;^-:i;^s,!f:e:rr- .-i"S^^;S%;i^:,rtr:,'-^°^ ''--'• surrection." ^ ^'^^ "° P"f "■ this in- "" those who h^uXd it """ '^'"'^ '''' P^=^ -"--' ""•n a deaf ear lo them n.i; ""f band, do not you ^^i-. and conduct'uVSo th'etalrd^:. '"' P'°' -" --"^ i84 MARY "The duke cannot retreat if he would, madam," inter- posed l)e Noaill'^s. " Courtenay has betrayed us all to Gardinur, and eri- now I doubt not officers are despatched to arrest us." " Jane, you must come with us," cried Dudley. " Never," she replied, rising. " I will not stir from this spot. I inip'ore you and my father to remain here likewise, and submit yourselves to the mercy of the Queen." " And do you think such conduct befitting the son of the great Duke of Northumberland ?" replied Dudley. "No, madam, the die is cast. My course is taken. You must come with us. There is no time for preparation. Let horses be brought round instantly," he added, turning to his esquire. " Father, dear father," cried Jane, " you will not go." But the duke averted his gaze from her, and rushed out of the room. De Noailles made a significant gesture to Dudley, and followed him. " Jane," cried Dudley, taking her hand, " I entreat — nay command you to accompany me." " Dudley," she replied, " I cannot — will not — obey yo\i in this. If I could, I would detain you. But as I cannot, I will take no part in your criminal designs." " Farewell for ever, then," rejoined Dudley, breaking from her. " Since you abandon me in this extremity, and throw off my authority, I shall no longer consider myself bound to you by any ties." " Stay," replied Jane. " You overturn all my gooil resolutions. I cannot part thus." " I knew it," replied Dudley, straining her to his bosom " You will go with me ? " "I will," replied Jane, "since you will have it so." "Come, then," cried Dudley, taking her hand, and lead- ing her towards the door — " to the throne ! " " No," replied Jane sadly—" to the scaffold ! " — \V. H. AiNSWORTii, Tower of London "■Farewell for ever , ho,,,- rejoined Du, !ley.' II il /'",;'■ 1S4. XVIII How the QLieen Visited Her Favourite at Kenilworth A 'n?nZ.?s:"::/r.f "-'''"'- - •- miles round, caught up I, '"""'"""^'y -hoed for upon the road by which thtou ^'"''''^' '^'''^^y '^^'ioned »"dfi^e to the Ltt and 1," '™' '" '"'""=<^' "" "'ke Queen Elizabeth h d emld rT T ''' ^"^'" '^at «"th. The whole 1 c of , 7" ^'"^'^ "^ ^enil- »da round of artillery th a ■; '''^ '°""''"^ '" °"^<^. charged from the ba tlen ent ttV""''' """• ^^ ^'•- "•Mpe-s, and even of 2 .' ""'"^ "^ '^^"'"^ and f-ntly heard amid t the roLrrn" "'^"■"'^"' '^^ "ut 'he multitude. ^ ^"^ '"^""^'ed welcomes of As the noise began to ahits n k ., ^een to appear from t e ga ;f the" ^''"' °' '''«'" -='^ =»>d brightening as it came nearer H ''"^' '"^' '^^"^dening -d fair avenue'that led towa ^f'the TaM^' ^'""« "''^ °P- «'as Imed on either hand bv thVr , ^'^"'°^'^'' "hich '-eicester. The word wn= ""'/"'^'"ers of the Earl of Oueenr Th rf ' ^''"'^'"^ "'ong the line "Th ^^uten! I he Queen! Silence inH ,. b "'« "ne, The came the cavalcade, illumina^ri h " u""^ ^''' ' " inward 'o-hes, in the hand oTas „!'!""'"' ""■^'^ *-^- hght like that of broad day aTaro r^""' "'"■'='' '''' " especially on the princin.f T'^ '^^ Procession, but -'f. arra ed in the moTspS "'"' "^^ Q"*^- her- l-els, formed the cer^ aTS' "'T"' '"' '^'^^'"S -'»> O.s. "t," ^'"= ™^ mounted on a [I 111 Pi 1 86 ELIZABl-TH niilk-whiti; liorse, which shu reined with peculiar grace and dignity ; and in the wliole of her stately and noble carriage, you saw the daughter of an hundred kings. The ladies of the court, who rode beside her Majesty, had taken especial care that their own external appearance should not be more glorious than their rank and the occasion altogether demanded, so that no inferior luminary mi;;ht apiiear to approach the orbit of royalty. I'.ut their personal charms, and the magnificence by which, under every prudential restraint, they were necessarily distin- guished, exhibited them as the very Hower of a realm so far famed for splendour and beauty. The magnificence of the courtiers free from such restraints as prudence imposed on the ladies, was yet more unbounded. Leicester, who glittered like a golden image with jewels and cloth of gold, rode on her Majesty's right hand, as well in quality of her host, as of her Master of the Horse. The black steed which he mounted had not a single white hair on his body, and was one of the most renowned chargers in Europe, having be :i purchased by the Karl at large ex pense for this royal occasion. As the noble animal chafed at the slow pace of the procession, and, arching his stately neck, champed on the silver bits which restrained him, the foam flew from his mouth, and specked his well-formed limbs as if with spots of snow. The rider well became the high place which he held, and the proud steed which lie bt-strode ; for no man in lingland, or perhaps in Europe. was more perfect than Dudley in horsemanship, and all other exercises belonging to his (juality. He was liare- headed, as were all the courtiers in the train ; and the red torchlight shone upon his long curled tresses of dark hair, and on his noble features, to the beauty of which even the severest criticism could only object the lordly fault, as ii may be termed, of a forehead somewhat too high. On that proud evening, those features wore all the gr.itelul solicitude of a subject, to show himself sensible of the h.igh honour whicli tl„. r i,, l-'ci^ and .a„sto^ ^hi'V""^"'"'^ "" "'"■• '""' '"' '"" ^^t. ">ou«l, nciU c J no Tr' ^" •^'-'"- » -""-nt. f^'^-'li-Ws which suited the r" "'">'''^ ^"^■'•' t"" l--nalau.ndanj^,i™;;' -- -^f ^1- K.rr. •^-'^ 'l>uy c.vprc«c.d to!.c , ;' '7' '^^:"""-'^»y pale, taking more nui.,uc ilw, -^ "^"' f"'" "'at he was •I'l'o train nt a' f "T"'''^ "''"' '''^ ''-''"'■ "I-. ti>e < u "■. io:,'" ■' "''r •^"^"■^^■^ """"-■''-"-■'y -'' 'I'e fairest- th",:?" "' '"""' "' "»^ l^^avest counsellors, of tin d tin I "J' " "' '"'^ ""-' »'--' na.ncswere but't^'w X'Ser'^T: /" T"^'" ^'''"-' crowd of kni..hts an,I „ '■''""' ""'« a Ion- however distin -ui. d ^^'T' "■'"" ""' ^"^ '-"' I'crsons into the rear of I ,! '""'" '"'° »'>^J^. as their ^uch august n,ajes^y ''™'""'"'' "''"^^ f™"' was of C;StS;^:--'-^;— chedtheOaller, Amidst hursts oflus ~: Si thf "T f '^• '"cnt, seemed now close at h.nH "'"'' °f <^"chant. ^Pace, now wailing o Tow and : ""' '°"'"'' '^ '''^'^"' «ere gradually pfo on.ed T,; "' '^ "'^^ "'^"'"•^^ ^t'a.nscouldread h"'ear : °" ^. ""^ '^^' ''""-'"S Oallery-tower, and c „ e "'o,?r", f '" ""'""^ '"' '-d^d from thence to AIo'^ , - t"' "^'' "''''^'^ '^''■ ••"r^tdyashghtasdav sn ™ 5°»'er, and which was -the palis.Vonl,:™;;7 MoT '^'k'^^'" ^^^'^'^'^ a«hted, and sent their hores^o tt ,'^ """"^^ '"=- «f Ken.lworth, followingt e A" - "'t °"""« ""'^8^' ^;i^zr^^^^'--"'--s^^ri;s ^■Snal that she vas so farnH T"" "' ""^ '""^'-^ Save 'o-emble a small iL^tlandi'ir "'' "/'^^'^^'^'^ ^^ '->■ or torches, and s^^l^/'^'^l:^^:^ iii ' lit ji i88 ELIZABETM formed to represent sea-horses, on which sat Tritons, Nereids, and other fabulous deities of the seas and rivers, made its appearance upon the lake, and, issuing from be- hind a small heronry, where it had been concealed, floated gently towards the fartlier end of the bridge. On the islet appeared a beautiful woman, clad in ;i watchet coloured silken mantle, bound with a broad girdle, inscribed with characters like the phylacteries of the He- brews. Her feet and arms were bare, but her wrists anil ankles were adorned with gold bracelets of uncommon size. Amidst her long silky black haii, she wore a crown or chnplet of artificial mistletoe, and bore in her hand a rod of ebony tipped with silver. Two nymphs attended on her, dressed in the same antique and mystical guise. The pageant was so well managed, that this Lady of the Floating Island, having performed her voyage with much picturesque effect, landed at Mortimer's Tower with her two attendants, just as Elizab ih presented herself before that outwork. The stranger then, in a well-penned speech, announced herself as that famous Lady of the Lake, re nowned in the stories of King Arthur, who had nursul the youth of the redoubted Sir Lancelot, and whose beaiin had proved too powerful both for the wisdom and tlic spells of the mighty Merlin. Since that early period she had remained possessed of her crystal dominions, she said, despite the various men of fame and might by whom Kenilworth had been successively tenanted. The Saxons, the Danes, the Normans, the Saintlowes, the Clintons, the Mountforts, the Mortimers, the Plantagenets, great thou_:;li they were in arms and magnificence, had never, siie saiJ, caused her to raise her head from the waters which liid her crystal palace. But a greater than all these great names had now appeared, and she came in homage and duty to welcome the peerless Elizabeth to all sport, wliich the casMe and its environs, which lake or land could afford. THE QUHEN vrsns HBR p.vonr.TB ,S, '■elonged to our own „m?n'i ; ^""«'" ""'^ '■•'^« ha, f-'.'d aln.iy clain,., it rrCr -Ifr ' '"" "•"" - "ther.ime ,o have further comn, "" ^' ^'^"^ "' ™"'e ""■•joint interests." ™mnum,ng with you touching ca^e:^:ar:::^-SiS:ir-r"'^^^^ '^ncl took place, which M er 1° hrT''' ''^ "^'^'^ ^""i (Eloquence to describe. '-»"^ham has strained all his 'H^VmX" ;::■": :Kr '° '<«-' -nutcy an ;'-ter Robert -.nel „ .' '^^::;^: ^^^" 'he fashion o J-harge of the splendid fi^ o.t 1"' 1° ''''' '"•^' """- borrowed Lanehan,'s eloquence tn !, '7' ''™''' ^ave -'ered the base-court of^KZlZu'r''': '"^ •-'-™ l°>ver,and moving on thronl ^' """""g'' """iiner's -d heroes of antiquity" ^Clt'TT °' ''""'-' ?«" on the bended kne , at le„°,h ^ ff '"'^ complinients ■-" of the castle, g;rgeou f hu"" 1 'h^ ^'' '° '"^ «-' 'he nchest silken tapestry, mLy 2h r" "''''P""" ^''l' '"S to strains of soft and i P^^^^mes, and sound- ;>'*'y carved oaken If I'tr .'"f- '^™'" "- hron^e, for.ned like a spread 'i. ""''"''''•'^ "^ «'" .-g-upported three maS i f!' f "''?^ outstretch'ed -g" pair of branches in each h'^' '^™'\«S-es, S^-P- '"".".nated by twen.y.four torches of " '''" '^^^ "'"^ :"d of the splendid apartn em "'/:•"• ^' "-e upper >ado«.,ngaroyal throne, and be,!de^./'^'^ '^''"°P>'' °*-'-- ened to a long suite of apartments h"'"' ' '°°^' "'"'^'^ "'"•o« magnificence for the Ou"en ' ^T""'"^ "'"' 'he ^^^'S'^f^^i;:rrX::"^'"'^^''^''- ^- '^™ne -d t "h r r 'T*'' "^<= Q"-" "P 'o '1' i-i-ng the hand which h"\,T' ""''" '"--^'- he'! I ' li too FXIZABF.TH with the air of loval devotion, lie thanked her, in terms of the deepust gratitude, for the lii;;hest honour whirh a sovereign could render to a sul.jert. So handsome did he \ooV. when kneehnf; before her, that I'.li/Uieth was tempted to prolong the scene a little longer than tber.' was, strictly speaking, necessity for ; and ere she raised him, she passed her hand over his head, so near, as almost to touch his long curled and perfumed hair, and with a movement of fondness, that seemed to intim.ite she would, if she dared, li.ave made the motion a slight caress. She at length raised him, and, standing beside th.- throne, he explained to her >he various preparations whirli had been made for her amusement and accommodation, ; 1! of which received her prompt and gracious approbation, Tlie I'.arl then praved her Majesty for permission, that he himself, and the nobles who had been in attendance upon her during the journey, might retire for a few minutes, an.l put themselves into a guise more fitting for dutiful atteii dance, during which sp.ace, those gentlemen of worship (pointing to Varney, Mount, Trcssilian, and others), wh.i had already put themselves into fresh attire, would have the honour of keeping her presence-chamber. "Be it so, my lord," answered the Queen: "you coul.l manage a theatre well, who can thus command a dcnihle set of actors. For ourselves, we will receive your courtesies this evening but clownishly, since it is not our purpose i- change our riding attire, being in effect something faii.ur,! with a journey, v, lich the concourse of our good per"; hath rendered slow, though the love they have shown our person hath, at the same time, made it delightful." Leicester, having received this permission, retired acn.r- dingly, and was followed by those nobles who had attended the Queen to Kenilworth in person. The gentlemen «1m had preceded them, and were of course dressed for the solemnity, remained in attendance. But being mo.! " them of r.ither inferior rank, they remained at an a«lui l, ' . ' vc.es, renuned on her n,i r;!!;;^:,;;;::;j-,;ti- and to h,m she n.ost frequently a,,,!|,l| fo t,f r„ n 3^n, te name, and rank ;\|,ose wh::r l'"s<-nct. Ihese he conununicated conciselv an,l nn. - out son,Mraits of humorous sa,,re, by wh,,;,",,^ allow? shcsaid, look.ns -it Tressilian, whose soiled dross on this occaMon j-reatly ol.scured his «,„.] „,i,n __ ^ 'oet, f It please your Crace " replied kalei,h. '■■■;, !?u *'""''"'' "'■'" f""" ^'" '■•^f^'l''« Knrb ■- said -I'^aLe h. . I have known some poets so thoiwhtle s Zo throw their .loaks into gutters.- " "It must have heen when the sun dazzled both their ^yc^ and tbir judgment," answered Ralei-h The lowedoor was opened, and l.eicester,'accoin„inied hy .several „ his kinsmen, and of the nohle^ who d em hraced his action, reeiUered the castle-hall shoe'r, '':'""'■;"-■ '■'■■'^' ™^ ""«• •■'I'Parelled all in white his si oes l,e,„; of white velvet ; his understocks (or stccktn! o knit s,k; his upper sto.ks of white velvet, li ", "it doth of sivcr, which was shown at the slashed , ^ f "-l.re so well matched by his fair stature, TrarLl' III ill I lllii •• 192 ELIZAHRTH gesture, fine proportion of body, and handsom? counte- nance, that at thai moment hf was admitted !)> a'l who saw him, as the goodliest person whom they had c.er looked upon, Sussex and the other nol>lcs were also richly attired, but, in point of splendour and urnrefulness of nien, Leices- ter far exceeded them all. Klizalieth received him with great complacmcy, "We have one piece of royal justice," she said, "ti attend to. It is a piece of justice, loo, which interests us cs a woman, as well as in the character of mother and guaidian of the luiglish people." An involuntary shudder came over Leicester, is he bowed low, expressive of his readiiK'Ss to receive her royal com- mands ; and a similar cold fit cime over Vaney, wIhki eyes (seldom during liiat evening removed fron his patron) instantly perceived, from the change in his lod hi Wher unfits h.r for s mh '" '""'"^ »•'"■" ■'Ito- -•f;;;e ne,«,,,,.,,Z:;'tf^i^:;;'^ - '■-- ,h.,.s„e Trf«,l,.n come f„r„,,rd. Mas ^^ 7 "'""^■'"^-" Let ^ympnthy for your si.un.ion J IT"""- ^' '"^'^ "-"cl, -vesetyourhc^rtdeepC hi,I ;,'^ '''" ^'^'^'^ '" p"' power. ,l,a„|-- '"J-ng people, i,, wor.l, 2rh I Z' 7 ''"'"""''"^•"'^'^ of ^ "hfch it ennnot con,, "V" '" "'^ ^™"-' "'i"«^ -^nd the affections o[ a ^idd yo ::""' '°' ^^-^""'' ™'"- ^™seand learning heuer than ,"■"'• "' "'•^''^' her love «- «nnot con.rol'si.:^-, : ': , '"'."'-^ «- "'-We.,, and ■^'"..-■ted, who n,ay not, LvV: ,n , , '^"'"'^ ""' '»'">• - ™r court here, as we ha 1 r 1 ,'" ""'™''>-' ='"<^"d 'he testimonials of the ,,Ll-^ V'""' '" 'J"- Here are charge, and the gentlen, ^^^hor "I ''"' '" ""^^ h" Sfttmg forth." '" "hose house she resides so M"t'::;r^ter;/^'''[---hast;,, l™ct,sedontheQue.n forlX' "'"' "' "^ ■"•''-"■- -vealwhere she was, " thes'e rt£ '"""^f '" -^"'^ ""' "■ , "°^- ^-.'" .said the Quee t ''^^ -.cester's veracity! But you ,h "n I ""'"'r ' "' '""^'^ "^ °"^ presence the meanest nf ; ''•' •' f'"'' hearing. I„ ?8-nst the proudest, X V::: ^"''^'^ ^'^^' '-heard f'-oured; therefore you slnl I ' h r/«"'"^' ""-' "'«« ^"^Peak not without a wa , , 7t ''L^'^' """ ''eware !; your own hand; look a, Z^ J f''^" "'^'^<= certificates 'f^ impugn the truth o TT'' =""' "^ '"■^"^""y '^» 'he Oueen spoke h° ■ "■ ""°" '^hat evidence » '■"''■"™"^-^'"'^ -"'■'» consequences ')*! 1 I iiii! ' 1 ^.1 J 194 ELIZABETH rushed on the mind of the unfortunate Tressilian, and while it controlled his natural inclination to pronounce that a falsehood which he knew from the evidence of his senses to be untrue, gave an indecision and irresolution to his appear- ance and utterance, which made strongly against him in the mind of Elizabeth, as well as of all who beheld him. He turned the papers over and over, as if he had been an idiot, incapable of comprehending their contents. The Queen's impatience began to become visible.—" You are a scholar, sir," she said, "and of some note, as I have heard; yet you seem wondrous slow in reading text hand. How say you, are these certificates true or no ? " " Madam," said Tressilian, with obvious embarrassment and hesitation, anxious to avoid admitting evidence which he might afterwards have reason to confute, yet equally de- sirous to keep his word to Amy, and to give her, as he had promised, space to plead her own cause in her own way— " Madam— Madam, your (".race calls on me to admit evi- dence which ought to be proved valid by those who found their defence upon it." " Why, Tressilian, thou art critical as well as poetical," said the Queen, bending on him a brow of displeasure ; " methinks these writings, being produced in the presence of the noble Earl to wliom tliis castle pertains, and his honour being appealed to as the guarantee of their authen- ticity, might be evidence enough for thee. But since thou listes't to be so formal— Varney, or rather my Lord of Leicts- ter,forthe affair becomes yours" (these words, though spok. n at 'random, thrilled through the Earl's marrow and bone.). " what evidence have you as touching these certificates ? Varney hastened to reply, preventing Leicester,-" Jio please your Majesty, my young Lord of Oxford, who is here in presence, knows Master Anthony Foster's hand and hi.- character." . The Earl of Oxford, a young unthrift, whom Foster haii more than once accommodated with loans of usurious m- TUB gUEEN VISITS HER FAVOURITE ,.3 ti-UKht that HisprcseSU'n X :i;fSi^r -^'"^ and mortify the Farl of c„ ' "^ ^ '^'"y Leicester, lodged he had ,.0 i th^n "" "'"^ '" ''''"°"^' "^''"-v- Alalco, and spoke of him ; """^ T'"'"^'^ ^'"^ OoCor ^nd hidden Ci::^n::tn.:::;;;'rr;r"^^"'h« regular course of pra^ice Th„K„r fu '" ""' match. You have donn ,•„ ^ ^ Robsart to the for the wounds which true love dc5s so "e for'""'''""" audacity, and your imrl^n„. < 1 forgive your welh,igh\verp::redty lord T; ■ "•■•"^='!- ^''-^ have So spoke F i/al>eth Tt, Leicester's perfumes." charactlisL; o ' t o ga::,> :tro?:' "^"' -^^ ^"^ "' '^'^ wards when she expel fd'ssx fro' T"'""" '""^ ^^'-- cLarge against his boo, sim r ,oTt v'^":'"'^' "" ' pressed against those of Tress'han ""' '""^ "°" ^^■ toiSf^lni'^f £, '::" r\-"-e<^ himse,,; as- Hood .so feasa!, :;::,''::;; Xedr^'''^-"^'^^^"'- evidence- of his own ev.<, T I "■*'>' ■'"S^'"^' '^e 11 I I* 196 ELIZABETH "As you are Christian woman," he said, "madam, as you are crowned Queon, to do equal justice among your sub- jects—as you hope yourself to have fair hearing (which God grant you) at that last bar at which we must all plead, grant me one small request ! Decide not this matter so hastily. Give me but twenty-four hours' interval, and I will, at the end of that brief space, produce evidence which will show to demonstration, that these certificates, which state this unhappy lady to be now ill at ease in Oxfordshire, are fa'se as hell!" " Let go my train, sir ! " said Elizabeth, who was startled at his vehemence, though she had too much of lion in her to fear ; "the fellow must be distraught — that witty knave, my godson Harrington, must have him into his rhymes of Orlando Furioso ! And yet, by this light, there is some- thing strange in the vehemence of his demand. Speak, Tressilian ; what wilt thou do if, at the end of these four- and-twenty hours, thou canst not confute a fact so solemnly proved as this lady's illness ? " " I will lay down my head on the block," answered Tres- silian. " Pshaw!" replied the Queen. "God's light, thou speak'st like a fool. What head falls in England, but by just sen- tence of English law?" Tressilian was again endeavouring to address the Queen, when Raleigh, in obedience to the orders he had received, interfered, and, with Blount's assistance, half led, half forced him out of the presence-chamber, where he himself indeed began to think his appearance did his cause more liarm than good. " It is a melancholy matter," said the Queen, when Tressilian was withdrawn, " to see a wise and learned man's wit thus pitifully unsettled. Yet this public display of his imperfection of brain plainly shows us th.it his supposed injury and accusation were fruitless ; and therefore, my Lord of Leicester, we remember your suit formerly made to THE QUEEN VJSITS HER FAVOUKlfE r,y due reward from us know nV ^f [ ^°"' ""^M to have all you have, ar^ so^i; "/dlvt Ld ^^^ 1°"' -^^hip. and we render Varnev the hnn '^"°"''' '° O""- service. And a guest, and we ilar a , ".T '^^^^'^''^ "-^ '''^ are under y;urlord!hu'sro,f"'T'f """^ '™"bleso„,e one, the good old Kn Ih Tu::" .''^°J" "''^ -"^f-'-" of daughter he hath"trrt f ^d'w^ih ^''''"Y'^- of grace which we are abouttnT T ^ "P"''^' "'''^'' to his son-in-law VnJ V "' """^ ''='^°"<^*'e him The Ear" thucl ed 17 C^ ^^ "t ^'""'^^■" I'oint, presented on bended kn^.h t , ' '""^ " "^^ ""= took it slowly drew it f " mth m ' ^'" '° ^''^"''^'"'- She of whom I have read in ' T'','""''^' ''""^ "«= '-iry, .odson Harrin^orht: hT'^L d1^? ^tT^r ""^ kneel down In h J"''' ^ """^J- ^'"^ fo«h. and Arise, Sir Richard Van.ey.'- ' '""'' '"'^ ^'°"""'"- Varney arose and retired making ■, ^ .'>e Sovereign ho had done'hrnfs^n.lhZor ^"" " -in"" ai f'^uel'"^ ^""k" ^r" '^•''- -'"'■«"- - ^Wl; forweimend sirTh' ff''^' 'o-morrow in the his honours And "^ '^"''"'' ^""^^^ a companion in such distinciio,f ""'' "°' ''^ P""^' '■" conferring cousin Of Sussex " *""" °" ""^ ""'"^^ '° -"^^ -"> ouf '"" """'^ '^"'- "•>° -ce his arrival at Kenilworth ■fif 11 mm M» I9S r.M/.AlM'TIl and indeed since the commencement jf tliis Progress, had found himself in a subordinate situation to Leicester, was no., wearing a heavy cloud on his brow -a circumstance which had not escaped the Queen, who hoped to appease his discontent, and to follow out her system of balancing policy by a mark of peculiar favour, the more gratifying as it was tendered at a moment when his rival's triumph appeared lo be copplete. At the summons of Queen Elizabeth, Sussex hastily approached her person ; and being asked on which of his followers, being a gentleman and of merit, he would wish the honour of knighthood to be conferred, he answered, with more sincerity than policy, that he would have ven- tured to speak for Tressilian, to whom he conceived he owed his own life, and who was a disJnguishcd soldier and scholar, besides a man of unstained lineage, "only," he said, "he feared the events of that night " And then he stopped. "I am glad your lordship is thus considerate," said Elizabeth ; " the events of this night would make us, in the eyes of our subjects, as mad as this poor brainsick gentleman himself— for we ascribe his conduct to no malice— should we choose this moment to do him grace." " In that case," said the Earl of Sussex, somewhat dis- countenanced, " your Majesty will allow me to name my master of the horse. Master Nicholas Blount, a gentleman of fair estate and ancient name, who has served your Majesty both in Scotland and Ireland, and brought away bloody marks on his person, all honourably taken and requited." The Queen could not help shrugging her shoulders sliL'hdy even at this second suggestion ; and the DucIkss of" Rutland, who read in the Queen's manner that she had expected Sussex would have named Raleigh, and thus would have enabled her to gratify her own wish, while she honoured his recommendation, only waited the Queens assent to what he had proposed, and then said that siic hoped, since these two high nobles had been each permitted THI-: (jyjHHN VISITS • ii:r l■^\v«)L;R|Tl.: dulgence. ''•'"""'•■• ""S'^' '"vc- a si„„lar in- of arms, and promptitude o. *" " '"'"^ ^"^^' ^'-''-'ds pen deserve, s'uch ^i^S,: ^^ ;« ^ -"' -o^'' or boon "7"/;^ 'U'",^'"-" -'<1 E"-both. smiling, - become the good i^^^r, T'' ''^^"-C'-" ^ the two aspirfnts for f I ^'''^-^^'''^' =" your desire. Let Blount :rno/rs :: rr/ r''""'^ ^'^'' ^"-^'i" and, kneeling down rL^Zt'.u"'^''''^'' -^""'^ f°«b Queen that tftie of Lo\'ic::'""'^ "' ^ ^'^«'" m^stinguished or mor; iiEi^ r^^""'^-'' °" « apSS;tr;!::ri^'-r— --.^asti, the Queen's gracb^s nun^ V^'" ''"^ "^""e hall, of 'o advance tL::! trZ^tll '-''.''-- desi;ed *en, and it is both ludicrous anH ,! v . f "'' sometimes ■"an of plain con.mon ense i!" ' ^ ^"^> "''"" "" '>°""t of a pretty woman, or anro. , T""^' '^ ""^ ^^"'^''y fopiKTies which o,!y 'i^w^ ;,. !' '"'" '""^e ^volous -d those to whom long Oracle LTrd '"h"?"' ' "" «">'• nature. Poor Blount wasTnThir ^"^ ""•*"' ^ '^"^eond '"ready giddy frotn a con cLm -s r "°"- "'^ ''^"'1 --=> "'e supposed necessity osuitinrh """="^' '"'"y^ -'" "f bis dress; and .fow thTl; ™""''' '° ''^"^ ''"''^'^ ^'together con.pleted Te co q'esf 'o"f th" "' r"'""""" ^Pint of foppery over his naturTn "^ "'-'"''>' '"baled ^ plain, honest, awkwad a , to a'""""', ""' '""^'^''^ most ridiculous kind "" "'""'""'^ °^ "» "ew and rbe .night-e.pect... advanced up the hall, the whole :i ML m 200 F.LIZABETH length of which he had unfortunately to traverse, turning out his toes with so much zeal that he presented his leg at every step with its broadside foremost, so that it greatly resembled an old-fashioned table-knife with a curved point, when seen sideways. The rest of his gait was in corre- spondence with this unhappy amble ; and the implied mixture of bashful fear and self-satisfaction was so un- utterably ridiculous, that Leicester's friends did not suppress a titter in which many of Sussex's partisans were unable to resist joining, though ready to eat their nails with mortifica- tion. Sussex himself lost all patience, and could not for- bear whispering into the ear of his friend, " Curse thee ! canst thou not walk like a man and a soldier ? " an inter- jection which only made honest Blount start and stop, until a glance at his yellow roses and crimson stockings restored his self-confidence, when on he went at the same pace as before. The Queen conferred on poor Blount the honour of knighthood with a marked sense of reluctance. That wise Princess was fully aware of the propriety of using great circumspection and economy in bestowing these titles of honour, which the Stewarts, who succeeded to her throne, distributed with an imprudent liberality which greatly diminished their value. Blount had no sooner arisen anil retired, than she turned to the Duchess of Rutland. "Our woman wit," she said, "dear Rutland, is sharper than that of those proud things in doublet and hose. Seest thou, out of these three knights, thine is the only true metal to stamp chivalry's imprint upon ? " " Sir Richard Varney, surely — the friend of my Lord cl Leicester— surely he has merit," replied the Duchess. " Varney has a sly countenance, and a smooth tongue," replied the Queen. " I fear me, he will prove a knave — but the promise was of ancient standing. My Lord of Sussex must have lost his own wits, I think, to recommend to us first a madman like Tressilian, and then a r.lowni* i run QUH.N x,siTs „rk FM-o,;.,-n- -o. '«-■ I'ad scalding porr , e in , T" '"" "■°'^'"" ^-^ if forlx.r cutting hi„ tr "h ' 'r"'"' ' ''" ""'^■" •-^''" '" shoulder." '"^ I^'^"'- '"s'ead of striking his ''"S; '!:f::i;/r^T ,'•"'"' ''-^'^■.•' -id .1. ^-ii.i.o-^--:--^^^^^^ 'M-::ti,rs;;^rst':;";'^^^-''.>^".''.".; ■Scotland or son.ovl ere 1 rid "'" "•■"' '" '^^''■""J " d.c-valier; he n.ay b good "'oldT "",' '" ^'^ ■•""'""« => P-postcrous ass ,^ a baC.ingtal'l '" ""' "^■"' ""■"«" '^ .-^c::^~Sr.;:rba::^r----""-er Jn order to obey this si-ml .(,1 ne-ssity of crosing th^i ''Lr ''7, -- under the '"■y '"Wht reach the new buildin!! ^ '"^'"'^' ""« l«n<,ue.ing.roon,, in which p^^ior';^ "- '-K'^ ;:trr'^°^--^"Se::c:c--:- ■'-:n;~.:i:^--f-^;".^ehal, of reception to "-v-maJe knight, we e aL!led " V'V '" '"""->'^''J. "^^^ 7«-ls, etc.. with the S'jr ':rT'''^'f'"---'^ •■■"•aken the bounty of the acTv " °«"°"' '■"'^'"^"1 '" «■'-- l>-ine.ss itVas to reK:L:;'"'^>''"«-ard., those -Hi celebrate the deeds bf w Icl h ""'"'"' '"''""^^- "■e call was of course 111^111"'^ ^ ''"" '""^'"'-l- >; 'Lose to whon, it Jril^rT'^'''"'''"^'' 'arilesse with an amrtntln^ •'""rcs.secl. Varney gave his '^"ei.h bestowedtL :^ h^ ™^l"f-"- -d hun,ili^ ".''".has attained his own 1^" ''''-" '''^"''" '" °"« "'«"-'>■. Honest Blount "a el";" '^ '™"'" '■•"'' its V-- =-'™ "''^'fi'^'ador had left him 202 ELIZABETH of his half year's rent, dropping some pieces in his hurry, then sloopinj; do-.vn to look for them, and tlien dislrihutin^ tliem amongst thi' vaiious claimants, with the anxious face and mien of the parish beadle divitlin^ a dole among paupers. It is unnecessary to say anything of the festivities of the evening, which were so brilliant in themselves, and received with such obvious and willing satisfaction by the Queen, that Leicester retired to his own apartment with all the giddy raptures of successful ambition. It chanced upon the next morning that one of the earliest of the hutjtress train, who apiieared from her chamber in full array for the chase, was the Princess for whom all these ])leasures were instituted, ICngland's Maiden Queen. I know not if it were by chance, or out of the befitting courtesy due to a mistress by whom he was so much honoured, that she had scarcely made one step beyond the threshold of lier chamber, ere Leicester was by her side, and proposed tn her, until the preparations for the chase had been coin pleted, to. view the I'leasance and the gardens which are connected with the castle yard. To this new scene of pleasures they walked, the ICarl's arm affording his Sovereign the occasional support which she required, where flights of steps, then a favourite orna- ment in a garden, conducted them from terrace to terrace, and from parterre to parterre, 'i'he ladies in attendaim-, gifted with [irudence, or endowed perhaps with the aniialilu desire of acting as they would be done by, did not concei\e their duty to the Queen's person re(]uired them, though they lost not sight of her, to approach so near as lo share, or perhaps disturb, the conversation betwixt the (Jueeii and the Earl, who was not only her host, but also her imi>t trusted, esteemed, and favoured servant. They contented themselves with admiring the grace of this illustrious couple, whose robes of state were now exchanged for hunting suits, almost equally magnificent. once ,0 hcT helj,,,, „„, ;";t j"' ;"^' "^^•' "■^" -^"i'"! at herconscious rank and long halts n^' ."' ''" ""^■"' «''i'^l> " -me degree ,o„ n.ascuWne o L '"'"^ ''^'^ '-^-ed y -n ordinary fe„,al. „. "jV" ^'''" '" the I,.,, ,,,,,„. '•> 'he gay luldric, w|,i,.|, , , T ^"''''' "'"J "ossed "ood-knifeinstead^f a ,'"■'' ' '-"file-horn, and a -her inve«n.„. .,f ^^^^^ ^-- a^nast.r, as'did l,i i'erfecfons of hi. f„„„ ,„j ,^ f »» ■ i"- such were the ^"PPosed to he seen to the ! . l ' ' l"''"'"" ^'' ''^'y^ ««er and dress whieh or ,' , k"''"*'" '" '''^ -'•^- "'" '"""^ he represented or J he conversation of KIi,al„..i, , , "<« reached us in detail J "L ," '''""'"'' ^-' '-s distance (and the eyes of court e ° . ""'"^""^ '' '""'' ^ arp were of opinion, that o no^ """" ''"'"-'^ ''•^'^ ^'■^"" "^ I'-h^aheth, in ges,u e and m , '"" '"'' '^e dij;nity derness. Her step was not o ,' ' I .""^'■■^'^'■°" and ten- ""'fi "K.st unwonted in ^^c^^L'"^ '''" "'-J"»'. a l-ent on the ground, and tlL ^ ' •"' '"""^^ deemed -"■'^-w fron, herCpa :r:::.V'"'''' '"^'"■^■"'°" "< ™>ales often indicates exacd ' ' '""'"''' S-ture in ••'■e secret n.ind. The ]J„ch "^ nrXT'"" '""^^''^y "> "-:est. was even heard ^^^r 1^'""' "■''° ventured '" Kh.abeth-s eye, and a hi , 1 ' '^'\'^'^ '^''^•^"^od a tear '-■"-. " -She hem he looks ol'h"" "" '^'"^^'^ ' -^ ^'.'l ^■^'d the Uuchess; "she who "n^^'""'"^ '° ''"''^ "'i"e," °f down a lion.- „ ; "' ,'" ''^^ ''.^"inary „,ood, eould '^•d is sufficiently e-. .■ nVnn "'""'"^"'" 'hese syn pton s »™""dless. The , r^.e ; of : """ ""^ P'°'"'^'> e tir y '- persons of dif/,', .,::;,:[ '^^/^''^^fo'Hersation, he.w ""^-^''-™-.«^e:;;:eS:j^::'SS£;^ i 304 ELIZAHUTII selves anticipated. Gallantry becomes mingled with conver- sation, and alTeition and passion come gradually to mix willi gallantry. Nobles, as well as shepherd swains, will, in such a trying moment, say more than they inlendod, and i|iieens, like village maidens, will listen longer than they sliould. liorses in the me.anwhile neighed and champed the bits with impatience in the base court ; hounds yelled in their couples, and yeomen, rangers, and prickers, lamented the exhaling of the dew, which would i)revent the scent from lying, "liut Leicester had another chase in view, or, to speak more justly towards him, had become engaged in it without premeditation, as the high spirited hunter whii li follows the cry of the houmls that have crossed his path l.\ accident. The Queen- an accomplished and handsome woman— the pride of ICngland, the hope of France and Holland, and the dread of Spain, had probably listened with more than usual favour to that mixture of romanlir gallantry with which she always loved to be addressed ; and the Karl had, in vanity, in ambition, or in both, thrown in more and more of that delicious ingredient, until his ini|ior- tunity becarn* the language of love itself. "No, Dudley," said Elizabeth, yet it was with broken accents—" No, I must be the mother of my people. Other ties, that make the lowly maiden happy, are denied to her Sovereign -No, Leicester, urge it no more. Weie 1 as others, free to seek my own hai)piness-then, indeed but it cannot- cannot be. Delay the cliase-delay it for lull an hour— and leave me, my lord." "How, leave you, madam!" said Leicester; "has my madness offended you ? " " No, Leicester, not so ' " answered the Queen liastily ; " but it is madness, and must not be repeated. Co - Imi go not far from hence-and meantime let no one iiurudc on my privacy." . While she spoke thus, Dudley bowed deeply, and retircii witli a slow and melancholy air. The Queen stood gaiing ••'Clj,.ininj. grotto " '™'^'"'* ""^ '.""■■en tur„.d in,,, „„ -^i^it:^t'::-:;:tir-^--- ;— -t., „ii„i ro:.i<,„;:,rnL rr*-' t"""' ""'''"^ 'l>f mmost extremity of the .r , ^'""' '"""ds ■^1- "ad proceeded Lf , ", "V" --"icd the ",„I "'"'" '"= "^•""'='d fonntain. ■'■I.C cla.sicil „,i,K ; ' i'lt? "" •""*'" «"'""• Numa and KKcria nnd\l ? "efi''^'^'"tionless, hetwix, the 1:1" „r,™"' '"''™'' ^'•■"'■•'ined condition known to o ,e o he^ ' ""-" ''"' '" """«= '- 'he stately form whth 1 u ""'" ''"'• ""^^ "" •->wc for "-'eJ to be the personaJe t re , ' '"^^ '"V ^"S" "'«'n fro,n her seat witlwL ^ "'•■''• ^"'V "ad l^dy, who entered ,,e' 01. .""'"'" "' '"^'^"■■'''"S .he •'-ought, so opportunely' °BVl°h''' "k"' " ^"'^ '" «"' "^"•"■•''■^^^--'-^p'eratt;^:^.:^ I'll 2o6 ELIZABETH inf! aught of tlieir union, and became more .ind more satisfied that tliu person whom she now beheld was Khza- beth herself, she stood with one foot advanced and one withdrawn, her arms, head, and hands, perfectly motionless, and her cheek as pallid as the alabaster pedestal against which she le.uied. Her dress was of pale sea-green silk, little distinguished in that imperfect light, and somewhat resembled the drapery of a Grecian nymph, such an an- titiue disguise having been thought the most secure, where so many masquers and revellers were assembled, so that the Queen's doubt of her being a living form was well justified by all contingent circumstances, as well as by the bloodless check and the fixed cu Elizabeth remained in doubt, even after she had ap- proaclied within a few paces, wli .her she did not gaze on a statue so cunningly fashioned, that by the doubtful light it could not be distinguished from reality. She stopped, therefore, and fixed upon this interesting object her princely look with so much keenness that the astonish- ment which had kept Amy immovable gave way to awe, and she gradually cast down her eyes, and drooped her head under the commanding gaze of the Sovereign. Still, however, she remained in all respects, saving this slow and profound inclination of the head, motionless and silent. I-'rom her dress, and the casket which she instinctively held in her hand, Elizabeth naturally conjectured that the beautiful but mute figure which she beheld was a per- fi)rnier in one of the various theatrical pageants which had been placed in different situations to surprise her with their homage, and that the poor player, overcome with awe at her presence, had either forgot the part assigned her, or lacked courage to go through it. It was natural .iiiJ courteous to give her some encouragement ; and Elizahelli accordingly said, in a tone of condescending kindness,— " How now, fair Nymph of this lovely grotto — art thou spell-bound and struck with dumbness by the charms ol we command thee." "''"^ '"» ^^I'^f"'. .S,,cMk, Instead of answering h i Countess dropped on k„ klee l„T""',: "'' "'"■-""atu "Sket fall from her hand, an 1 cl t "'' !'"' '''"^^"' '^■' l"^^ '°;l^ed .p in ,he Queen's "l'«'°T '"'"" '"S^'"-' " hat may this mean ? " .h, j I"^f>n than helUs the occasion 's, ' ,"""' '' " ^'^"""'-■^ wouldst thou have with us '■' ""^ "''' ''^"'^'■l-what petl:::.''"'^'^"""- •"^''^-'" fai.ea.d forth the t,„h„.,y ^'■.-.os which niled her mind f,' '° ''"""'er, amidst the '" >l'e Queens repeated i>r""'<^ ^' '-'^"h. i" answer '^■«.on, only falter out, " ^" \ *'"' ^''^' ^""=l>' P^o- /' ■J'h'-s folly, maiden •";,,, 'TT" '■"•■rewas something in thc'i.vt. ' " ' ""'"t'ently ; for f'''ant which irritated he, ^:;"-' ^""f"'''™ -f thesup- '-f-hngs. "The sick Larmu^;:;,"" ''' '""^''''^'^ I'l'f'can, nor are w. accustouTd ' i'" "'"'"''^ '° "■^' «"l'out receiving an answer " '' '""-"'''°"^ »» oft C-.::^^'7S:^i'--^'orth.heun.rtunate »gainst ono Varney." She choL T T"""""^'-'-""-^' - *e fatal word, whicl, was s^t W ' "'"'"" '' ■^'"-' "''"^'^ "What. Varney-^i.K:;;r;^?;:;tl"';,'^"'^ '■■"-"■ •""cj—the servant of i If 208 ELIZABETH Lord Leicester ? What, damsel, are you to hlni, or he to you ? " "I — I — was his prisoner — and he practised on my life — and I broke forth to — to " " To throw thyself on my protection, doubtless," said Elizabeth. "Thou shalt have it — that is, if thou art worthy ; for we will sift this matter to the uttermost. Thou art," she said, bending on the Countess an eye whicli seemed designed to pierce her very inmost soul, — " thou art Amy, daughter of Sir Hugh Robsart of Lidcote Hall ? " " Korgive me —forgive me— most gracious Princess!" said Amy, dropping once more on her knee, from which she had arisen. "Kor vnsit should I forgive thee, silly wench?" said Elizabeth; "for being the d.iughter of thine own father? Thou art brainsick, surely. \Veil, I see I must wring the story from thee by inches — thou didst deceive thine old and honourer! father— thy look confesses it, — cheated Mas- ter Tressilian— thy blush avouches it,— and married this same Varney ? " Amy sprung on her feet, and interrupted the Queen eagerly, with, " No, madam, no — .is there is a God above us, I am not the sordid wretch you would make me ! I am not the wife of that contemptible slave— of that most deliberate villain ! I am not the wife of Varney I I would rather be the bride of Destruction ! " The Queen, overwhelmed in her turn by Amy's vehe- mence, stood silent for an instant, and then replied, " Wliy, God ha' mercy, woman ! — I see thou canst talk fast enough when the theme likes thee. Nay, tell me, woman," she continued, for to the impulse of curiosity was now added th.at of an undefined jealousy that some deception h.ad been practised on her, "tell me, woman -for by God's day, 1 WILL know — whose wife, or whose paramour, art thou ? Speak out, and be speedy — thou wert better dally with a lioness than with Elizabeth." rUE QUEEN VISITS HER kavourite .00 ''"t could no, avoid-nern i , '"'"'"'"' '^'''^'' ^''« ^^^ 'he eager words Id "a !, ""' ' """"'" "^"'"^ "^^ Queen, Amy at kn^tbZ J -^'T'' °^ "^^ -"tended '-eicesterknLsita,!'' "'''^ '" ''"P"'^> "'"''e Earl of tonisl!lL!r'^.Thel?H''r'r '"''^ ''-"'"''«''' '" "«er as- kmdlfng anger. " Won 1 1^""'"' ' " '^' ''P'''"^- »"'• dost belie h,n,-_he t°k" L l"" '"/" °" '° ""^-'hou "'■ Thou art suborned t"s aX J"' n '"'" " '""' the truest-hearted gentlennn in ^" , f "°^'"' '°''''. ""d ngl.. hand of our t'ru o ' "olth"' '"' ' """' "^'^'^ ''« "-e »halt have thy hea i ^ „d "" '"« yet dearer to us, thou wiU. n,e_co,„e with nte fnstamh ,'■ ""^ '^^^^™«- ^'°- Que:nl:tL;s;rthar:,'; "™^'- ^•"'^" "«= ■•---^ "Pidly advanced, seized on h '°"'"''""" ^'"'"' ''^''''"''^•'l' swift and long steps out ofTh" ■''™' ''""' '"^'^'^^d with cipalalleyof the Pc°li !'"■';""• -^ •-"""« the prin- Countess, whon, s ?.",%' f ,'"*'' 7''' ''" 'he terrified "tmostexertionscould lu ils I. ^^ " """'' '""^ '^hose indignant Queen. ^ '^'-■''' '""'^ "■'"' 'hose of the firotpTLrand'SieTT'"' n^"""" "^ => ^P'endid "cade, or portico,; ete'losld";',,'"^""" ""^^ - had drawn togeth ir in that , h ," "''^- '''h<^ company "f her Majesty when the h , ° '"'""'^ ""= ^onmunds -'d their astonishnL 'J :"'""■'"'' ^'"""^ ^o forward, -™g Elizabeth advanc" [owar';r' "'"'"' '"^'^^'^ "^ '"easured dignity of motion ,h ,.'? '""' ''^^ "'"^^ "P'% that she'was i the S'^^.f "" -'^-S - fare; and then observed u-irh 7 ,'"" '"' '^'y «'^^e •^^atures were flushed le-wk '''"'' '^"^1'"'^'^' 'h'" he. ■^- was loosened J ^^^^J' "'"" '--«''--". '-^t her ^'-'edastheywe4woXrt;;eSt":?E:;;^- 'ff m iff 210 VAA7.\nET\l mounted highest in his daughter. Nor were they less astonished at tlie appearance of the pale, extenuated, half dead, yet still lovely female, whom the Queen upheld hy main strength with one hand, wliile with the other she waved aside the ladies and nobles who pressed towards her, under the idea that she was taken suddenly ill. " Where is my I-ord of Leicester?" she said, in a tone that thrilled with astonishment all the courtiers who stood around. " Stand forth, my Lord of Leicester ! " If, in tlie midst of the most serene day of summer, when all is light and laughing around, a thunderbolt were to fall from the clear blue vault of lieaven, and rend the earth at the very feet of some careless traveller, he could not ga/c upon the smouldering chasm, which so unexpectedly yawned before him, with half the astonishment and fear which Leicester felt at the sight that so suddenly presented itself. He had that instant been receiving, with a political alTectation of disavowing and misunderstanding their mean- ing, the half-uttered, half-intimated congratulations of the courtiers up'jn the favour of the (lueen, carried apparently to its highest pitch during the interview of that morning, from which most of them seemed to augur that he mi^ht soon arise from their equal in rank to become their master. And now, while the subdued yet proud smile with which lie disclaimed those inferences was yet curling his cheek, tlie (Jueen shot into the circle, her i)as»ions excited to the uttermost; and, supporting with one hand, and appareiiily without an effort, the pale and sinking form of his aliii"^: expiiing wife, and pointing with the finger of the other to her half-dead features, demanded in a voice that souiulcil to the ears of the astounded statesman like the last ilread trumpet-call that is to summon body and spirit to the judgment-seat, " Knowest thou this woman ? " As, at the blast of that last trumjjct, the guilty shall i .ill upon the mountains to cover them, Leicester's iiiw;inl thoughts invoked the stately arch which he had built in his ''•'■Hwmcx VISITS „m,,,uuc;R.T,.,. -.. confusion s.:;,^."! ^:;i'^^^:7";'"vt'''^'' '"^ "^^- I'^aci of tlnne were in as It ^^^^^'^ '^^''* '"'•'^' '''« father's!" ^'"' '"•"'"'' "' '•'ver was thy -^icl'Urehla^kand ? ,:n 7^'"' '"' ' ''"^ f--«"^--». on.y replied. 4;Hid'::::;rrs=,r°"r^'""': my peers ; to them 1 will ,,1 1 ' '"' '^V "'^ sentence of -- " °n-.land, attach hilfhi^^:r;'P^ >-' n.uch::;;;i:':ur,:;:;^har';n'"^^*'^^"^--'->-. ished circle. ' '"'""' J"'"'-^'^ '!>-• aston ..Clemen p™^ r,^';;tr;"^'^^ ""'■""'->'' ''^ 1 -y. villain, ,„ake haste- • " '"'" "'^''^"' --""'>■■ --t:;:,::-:.::::2-'-^o„,h. relationship 'I'e Queen than ahnos aTot r 1 "'?''-" ^'■'-■^='<"" -ith Wuntly,.^-\nditislike .o^,; ': j;;:;''' '," ""' -P>-J Tower to-morrow for nnki, ■ ^ ' ,""^'' ""-' *" ""-■ «ech you to be patien ' ^ "'''' '"^'^ ^ do he- ELIZAIUnil " Patient — God's life ! " exclaimed the Queen — " name not the word to mc , thou kno\v':it not of what he is guilty!" Amy, who had Ijy this time in some degree recovered herself, and who saw her liiisband, as she conceived, in the utmost danger from the raye of an offended Sovereign, instantly (and alas ! how many women have done the same) forgot her own wrongs, and her own danger, in her apprehensions for him, and throwing herself before the Queen, embraced her knees, while she exclaimed, " He is guiltless, madam— he is guiltless ; no one can lay aught lo the charge of the noble Leicester ! " " Why, minion," answered the Queen, " didst not thou thyself say that the Earl of Leicester was privy to thy whole history?" " Did I say so? " repeated the unhappy Amy, laying asiile every consideration of consistency and of self-interest ; " oh. if I did, I foully belied him. May (lod so judge me, as I believe he was never privy to a thouglit tliat would harm me ! " "Woman," said Elizabeth, "I will know who has movcil thee to this, or my wraih— and the wrath of kings is a flaming fire— shall wither and consume thee like a weed in the furnace." As the Queen uttered this threat, Leicester's better ani;il called his pride to his aid, and re[)roa(hed him with tin utter e.xtremity of meanness which would overwhelm him for ever if he stooiK'l to take slielter under the genenms interposition of his wife, and abandoned her, in ivturir fnr her kindness, to the resentment of the Queen. He li:ul already raised his head, with the dignity of a man of honour, to avow his marriage, and proclaim himself the protrclur (if his Countess, when Varney, born, as it appeared, to he lli^ master's evil genius, rushed into the jiresence with evLry mark of disorder on his face and apparel. " What means this saucy intrusion ?" said IClizabclh. Varney, with the air of a man altogether overwhclnii'd master!" fe'-"«-rou>, ,„y ,„„,Kx,,t ,,a,,„„ .^,^^, ^niy, who was \of 1,.. t- nun whom she dee , ted ^5'"/;"'""' "" '" '^' ^« ""-• "-. a.>d «ns ahout .0I; ::: ^^ .>^'--- ""'-'f ■» nea had ,eass„med as soon as the 72' ' "''""' '"' '""■<» -en,ed ,0 open a new scene sh'^rr 1 ''' ""'''"''"^ a fatnt scream, hesought of her M^ ' ''""''• ""<^""« ■niprisoned in the lowest dun, '7 '" ""^'■' ''^^ '« l-e 7'."her as the worst SnI "'.''"-■ "^"^-"> ^-1 clanned, "mysi^htand hen i '"' ^l"^--'." »l>e e.x- i-dgment I u..; left-t l^'^r'""'™^ "^ ''"'•^ most shameless villain ! " ° ^ """ """"'•rable and "And why, sweetheart > ■ sairf ,K r^ "•^w mipulse; "what I,-,,:, . '^"''^"' ""^ved by r thou aecount'est £,' d,:!,': lo^hT/f '^ ^"■^'''^ ^"'- su'cl! ~h °!as::w:;;: :::r:;;;;''"'^'"' r*^ ^°- "-- "'i^^y '^^jl'-^'^inioo^rir^r-^houldbepeL: -«S^^::r --/;:- art d.traughtalr.dy,.. poor distressed you,, h-o, n, ^ '""•''f°"' '~'k .0 this ^--d, and in hone,, e 1 !, n '"' ''"^^ '"^ ^ ^'V be- forthcoming." '""=' "" "^^ ''-■'iuire 1 er to be ''^'Xs:^^^f:.s:::;':~^--''^--ed """-■r n,o.ive, offered tl e,r T '"'""""»'. or l,y some ,- y-en i,riefly ans^ j ^r;,'" '-"^ '''f'" '■ - ; b "" have all (,W. God hlks st'" ""'" '^™"^' "* "«>=ucs-our kinsman HuZon k " ""'' '"'^ "''""^'^ -'i a tongue son.ewhat ro ' t "" f ""-■ ^""-'. H-don, looUo it that noni j^:;^:;; ^„:^ ^'owest. i l.,M 1 214 ELIZAHETH "I!y our lady!" said Hunsdon, taking in his strong sinutty arms the fading and ahiiost swooning form of Amy, " she is a lovely child ; and though a rough nurse, your (".race hath given her a kind one. She is safe with mc as one of my own ladybirds of daughters." So saying, he carried her off unresistingly and almost unconsciously, his war-worn locks and long grey beard mingling with her light-brown tresses, as her head reclined on his strong scjuarc shoulder. The (>ueen followed h.m with her eye -she had already, with that self-command which form so necessary a part of a Sovereign's accomplish- ment, suppressed every appearance of agitation, and seemed as if she desired to banish all traces of her burst of passion from the recollection of those who had witnessed it. " My Lord of Hunsdon says well," she observed ; " he is indeed but a rough nurse for so tender a babe." "My Lord of Hunsdon," said the Dean of St. Asaph, "I speak it not in defamation of his more noble qualities, hath a broad licence in speech, and garnishes his discourse somewhat too freely with the cruel and suiiorstitious oaths, which savour botli of profaneness and of old papistrie." "It is the fault of his blood, Mr. Dean," said the Queen, turning shariily round upon the reverend dignitary as she spoke; "and you may blame mine for the same distcm- peraturc. The lioleyns were ever a hot and plain-siiokin race, more hasty to speak their mind than careful to choose their expressions. And, by my word -I hope there is no sin in that affirmation-I question if it were much cookil by mi.xing with that of Tudor." As she made this last observation, she smiled graciously, and stole her eyes almost insensibly round to seek those m the Earl of Leiiester, to whom she now began to think slie had spoken with hasty harshness upon the unfounded siis picion of a moment. The Queen's eyes found the Earl in no mood to anipt ti,p Uv.nhi-d offer of conciliation. His own looks had THE QVEK, VISITS „,,R ...VOURIT.-: ., now reposed gloomily Th ?".' "'" •^^"^•"« ^ 'l"^y "f guilt. She t„r ed he?t: '" 'f'r" "'"' '-^ <=""--"^ '°Varney, "S,,ea SI rJh, i'"'"!^'' ^^"'" ''""• -^'"J ''"^ elsewhere we look for in vain" ''''•-■'^''' "' '"''■ >^'"cl. -:il:^:::l,;^iiS^i:':j --•--.ru. glance .0. own story. ^^ "''^ ^""^'^ fastened to tell his Happy that I an, I ^ \ Z^^^^;^ '-'y. which, „n' cert.llcate of her physician ,.T "^Miresscd in the "ow^okcnoutwiLiorir':;.r.~!^'-'>- -^ei:^rof:::!i^rifv^^^^--"indeed, I fo.nd her n.oping in 1 1.? 'T"^"'""^ ''^"» " o"t' every word she spoke-which 'd "h r'^'" «^''"''' -^"^ - by the rack-sL rns.In y . S nd ^ ' """ '" how came she hither? \vL . ', ''"''/"'■'"■'"■'-■• ''"' keeping?" '^^''^ ''■^'' XO" 'ler not in safe "My gracious liege," said Vn^n^ .< >_ n.an under whose 'cLrg^fr. ^r■°"'^ «^"''^- loster, has come hither but nn, ' """ ^"^^'°"y e»n travel, to show .ne of he ' '"V """ '""^ ''or,' -* the art peculi.rtf ma„v Z'' "'"t ^"^^ '"'''"•^«-J -Ify. . Heisathandforiiir-"'""^''^ "■'"' "'^^ fi^Ri^haJdtit^^^rnor;;;:^''^^"-"- ■•'^-• My railed on you bitZ ind . ""r""^ felicity ; you; beholding you." ^' "'"^ '"^'"^'' ^eady ,„ .swoon at Q.S. """>• '° be ever most inveter- 2\6 F-MZARP/ni ale in their spleen a^'ainst tliose, whom, in tlieir belter nio- nieiils, tliey liolJ nearest and dearest." " \Vc have heard so, indeed," said Kh/ahelh, "and ^ive faith to the sayint; " " May yuur (Irace then be pleased," said Varney, " In cunuiianci my unfortunate wife to be dehvered into the custody of her friends? " Leicester partly started ; tint, making a strong effort, he subdued his emotion, while Kli/.abelh answered shari'ly, " You are somethijij^ too hasty, Master Varney ; we \sill have first a report of the lady's health and state of niiiiil from Masters, our own physician, and then iK icrniine what shall be Ihcju^hl just. V'ou shall have license, however, iti see her, that if there he any matrimonial quarrel betwist you — such things we have heard do occur, even betwixt a lovini; couple — you may make it up, without further scand.il to our court, or trouble to ourselves." Varney bowed low, and made no other answer. ICIizabeth again looked towards I..eicester, und said, with a degree of condescension which could only arise out of ihe most heartfelt interest, " Discord, as the Italian poet s.iys, will find her way into peaceful convents, as well as into the privacy of families ; and we fear our own guards and ushers will hardly exclude her from courts. My Lord of Leicester, you are offended with us, and we have right to be ofl'cnded with you. We will take the lion's pirt upon us, and be the first to forgive." Leicester smoothed his brow, as by an effort, but the trouble was too deep-si .ited that its placidity should at once return. He said, however, that which fitted the occavion, "that he could not have the happiness of forgiving, bec.iuse she who commanded him to do so, could commit no injury towards him." Elizabeth seemed content with this reply, and intimatoii her pleasure that the sports of the morning should pro( eud. The bugles sounded— the liounds bayed — the horses ' l>"c was dout,., and fear and 1 , ' '""'"'"«'' '■'■^•"'''''■• "^•'n" *^ " ''^"''"''•■f "< the McdUcrra. ''«"e. Ik. could .scare'. l,av'T''"^'"« ">^' '»- "•^"0V'.ep„ed i,:,:M' ,;"M"- •^\-:" - •""", -Si. ">°". and of the earlier creation " '""" ''"'''''" "^ *'-'" ^^ ■'■-iw:::;.'':i,Si:X;:'^""'''Ka,ei,,,^ '<-■ 'o'd n,e .his mo n „,r e t;r' "'^, """'"'^ ^'^^ """■ f- 'he space of twelve h^o rs ^1' T ''"'' '"^ ^'•-"1- P^^m-se. This lady's „,ad 1° i^' ''"'"« ''™"'l '^X a ";;^I'^^curehis'in,;:;t\;'^;-'"'n.a.niU 'J "-en's brains are workiL- likl, " " "' '^■■■' f"""'- .^"""d to mount. Utustnt J""' hark ! the; ^"f snn..deserveour;,ur:.''""' '"'""'•• - >-J ^y. the hearing of LeSer and o^V "'" "' ""^ -' 'f"' "entfrom their usual ril, """-'>"'<=^^^ '"tally dif- ''•^'-'-nheldra.hrannnrrr"- '" ^"^'^' graver and more aml)itioU5 pursuits, :i liitli r sii vcrer and passer of sarcasms at tlie expense of those, who, i. king lif. as tliey find it, were disposed to snatch at c.i> h pa^tiim; .1 presents, now perceived with astonishment that his wii toulil carry as smooth an edge as their own, his laugli be as lively, and his brow as unclouded. By what art of damnalili hyp" crisy he could draw this veil of gaiety over the lila'k thoughts of one of the worst of human bosoms, must re main unintelligible to all but his compeers, if any such ever existed ; but he was a man of extraordinary powers, and those powers were unhappily dedicated in all their energy to the very worst of purposes. It was entirely different with Leicester. However hal 1 tuated his mind usually was to play the part of a gwl courtier, and appear gay, assiduous, and free from all caio but that of enhancing the pleasure of the moment, wIvIk his bosom internally throbbed with the pangs of unsatislied ambition, and jealousy, or resentment, his heart had now a yet more dreadful guest, whose workings could not be over. shadowed or suppressed ; and you might read in his vacant eye and troubled brow, that his thoughts were far aliment from the scenes in which he was compelling himself to play a part. He looked, moved, and spoke, as if by a succtssioii of continued efforts ; and it seemed as if his will had )n some degree lost the promptitude of command over the acute mind and goodly form of which it was the regent. Hii actions and gestures, instead of appearing the consequence could be perfor,,"" „d hi '';•'' '"'^■'"'"^■'>' •-•^^' "'-^y 'o say, then 'how L „ t 1 , '" '^'■'" ^'"' '''• «•" i' *"' only Uy an eC o / ' f"*^ '' '^- ='^'" ""• completed a scn.enc.w^hou.T ""^^ ■"'"''"" "''^' '"-' Ihe olhtr. "'°"' f'"-S'-"i"S I'oih the one .nd v'^^^^:!^^j:^jz ''''-'"- °' '"■'"' accon,plished courtier of ""r„V°"\T'"''°" °' ""^ ""»' the lowest and dulUt „ *T''' »' they were visil.le to couldno.e,"tS„ ^,:'; * ° ^'''^-''ed his person, of the age. Ir i^ZTthJ,. , Tl '"'''"«^"' l^""-^- down ;. ,,l,,„ , , ;,: edl^ '""""''' *°"'<1 have called ^ -re dspl.asure on the Earl of Leicester. ,,„'"'" """""t for it, by supposing ,• o that, ,3,,,e,3u.e which she had ^ith such v,vacity .hat very morning, '■• -ts of her favourite, and, spite of ■ ";■">'• distracted (he usual Jaceful ^V'.en this idea: ,; Se^ t^^ f "'^ ^-"-^ obtained possession of „?,„'; f';:"^' y'-'-''^. "ad once factory apology for the nuLT ''''■'' " '^"" ""'' ^^tis- Earl of "eicelr; „d rwatchfT" ?"' '"'"'"'« "^ '"e "i'b astonishmen , that nsrc^d'l';' ""'^"°"'"l °'»erved "'■Slyence, and «-an, o e"^"l°^ ^"^'"''"g "is repeated "'«e were po„,ts on wh ch "u^'' ""-'i«" (although punctilious) the OueL, *^' "■'"'''"y extremdy hin. time a d L^, .to ":','• °" "^ ^°"'"^>-' '° ^To^d «sist him in do," so w , r' "r^'f. and deigned to ^I'ogcther inconsi^e, t , h Z TT "''"'' ^-'"'='' clear, however ,h.7 ■ "'"''' character. It was '^^' -^-iXh-i tairl-al'tf -"f '°"^'-- "^ nor i; xiii "' ai.| .■ - hadi that expr was dw'.,;iii his efforts i tenor of his 220 ELIZABETH Knrl was summoned by Varncy to s[)eak with him in n different apartment. After having had the message twice delivered to him, he rose, and was about to withdraw, as it were, by instinct — then stopped, and turning round, entreated permission of the Queen to absent himself for a brief space upon matters of pressing importance. "Go, my lord," said the Queen; "we are aware our presence must occasion sudden and unexpected occurrences which require to be provided for on the instant. Vet, my lord, as you wou'.d have us believe ourself your welcome and honoured guest, we entreat you to think less of our good cheer, and favour us with more of your good counten- ance than we have this day enjoyed ; for, whether prince or peasant be the guest, the welcome of the host will always be the belter part of the entertainment. Go, my lord; and we trust to see you return with an unwrinkled brow, and those free thoughts which you are wont to have at the disposal of your friends." Leicester only bowed low in answer to this rebuke, and retired. The noble Lord of the Castle indulged in a prolongiil absence, and some anxiety and wonder took place in the presence-hall, liut great was the delight of his friends when ihey saw him enter as a man, from whose bosom, to :ill human seeming, a weight of care had been just removed With Elizabeth, Leicester playjd his game as one to whom her natural strength of talent, and her weakness in cne or two particular points, were well known. He was too wary to exchange on a sudden the sullen personage wliii h he had [ilayed before ; hut, on approaching her, it seenic.l softened into a melancholy, which h.ad a touch of tenilemess in it, and which, in the course of conversing with l''.li'.il« ih, and as she dropped in comp.assion one m.irk of favour .ilur another to console him, passed into a flow of affei'.jnn.iti' gallantry, the most assiduou-., the most delicate, the iim^t m^^ THE g.,ex VISITS ,IER p.vvoURlTE ., insinuatiii-r vp^ t^ ti. '"'o' >cc ac tjiu .same t ni»a *!, «'>icl. a ().„,,„ was ever add 1 '""1 '^■^''^'^"■ul, u-i,,, '"^tened, as in a sore of encha mml ' " '"'J'^'' '■•"'■^'-■"> -s lulled asleep; her rS 1" o Zjf''^'''"''^' domestic ties, and dedicate he self 7 " ="' ■'^"'^'^' <"• o her people, hegan to be shZ 'n '"^'''^ '° ""= '^"^- of I^udley culminated in the cour^V ^ """' "'°'' "'^ «'ar ij,,» r ■ « 'II Hid, coi rt-nori/nn ov":o::s:is^;n:!:;-r°---nd on y by the internal rebe on 'h rSr*-"' '° '""'■ ™' vmlenco which he exercised eve ,h f'"^' "=''""^' "'^ dental circumstances, wh ch Tthe '' "' '>' """>' ■^^'-■'•• ^-nd during the sul.senue„ ' amns^ '''' "^ "-^ '^■'■"•i''---'- j-red upon that nerve, h " "Iw °' :'"•' '^'^""^ agony. '«''^' vibration of which was H^S: i:n:;^:-'^:-P;. in thereat hal,,a.er ^ splendid mas,,ue,'wl h \T'Z ' "'" ^''''"■"•^-<-- «f o( this evening, when the o'e '''""'■"'^ entertainment «f >vit, which the Tar of ■" """"'i"od a wild career I-ord Willoughby, Raleigh ^TT '"', ^""'""S ^«>"«' ->i"g-" u-e .i?, impeaci;.:: of ;;;;;,: :;.'"" "«'"-^' ^-y you proceed in this a teinnt to ,t " ■■"""• "'^ '"^d, if fere comes a thing may m Vc" u '.,"' "■'"' '"'■^'""- -^^d our learned physician Ma ,:,,'^'"7 j" '^ P'— , -Pph-ant, Lady \-arney^n^y , T? ''^■'"^'-- "^ ''"^ POor )"" leave us, for this 111,,"' dZ. b', "^' "'" ""' "'''^ ™s, wedo not hold our ol ■ ""' """'"•■d Per- decide thereon, without rouTl ''"''IT ''"' "'°"'^'' '« >vhnj think-st thou of th^runa,:^ ^l,, 1'?'^ ""''■ "-'-^. -in.hadbeen'«:v7C^;:;f,~''''"his,ip, ■\"yH". orofChantrev and^ i , , ""' "' ^'"-''^^^ '^'' physician with . e's m 1 -''^""r '" "''■ ^i"^-'" of ■in-e. "'"""^ Miimovable cast of counten- i^sa^ JJ2 Ki.i>^.\i'.i; 111 "The l.n.ly Varney, gracious Soverfijn," said the conn physician Mailers, " is sullen, and wiiiild hold little con ference witlt nic toucliing the state of iier hoalth. talking; wildly of bein;,' soon to plead her own cause before your own presence, and of answering no meaner person's en- quiries." " Now, the heavens forcfend ! " said the Queen ; " we have already suffered from the misconstructions and broils which seem to follow this poor brain sick latly wherever slu- comes. Think you not so, my lord? "she added, a]ipeal- ing to Leicester, with something in her look that indicated regret, even tenderly expressed, for their disagreement of that morning. Leicester conijjelled himself to bow low. The utmost force he could exert was inadequate to the farther effort of expressing in words his acquiescence in the Queen's sentiment. "You are vindictive," she said, " my lord ; but we will find time and place to punish you. ISut once more to this same troul)le-niirth, this Lady Varney. What of her health. Masters?" " She is sullen, madam, as I already said," re|)lied Masters, " and refuses to answer interrogatories, or he amenable to the authority of the mediciner. I conceive her to be possessed with a delirium, which I incline to term rather hypMlutiidrhi than plinnesis ; and I think she were best cared for by her husband in his own house, and removed from all this bustle of pageants, which dis- turbs her weak brain with the most fantastic phantoms. She drops hints as if she were some great person in dis- guise — some Countess or Princess perchance, ("lod help them, such are often the hallucinations of these infirm p( r sons ! " "Nay, tb'Mi," said the Queen, "away with her witii .ill speed. Let Varney care for her with fitting humanity; but let them rid the castle of her forthwith. She will tliink herself lady of all, I warrant you. It is pity so fair a (mni, |K*i§iK»S»*-,*« ™^ yUl^iuV VISIT. ,„,„ FAVOURITE ... "lit, perhaps," said Kli/il,p,i, .. '" our opi.iion of her hcnnK , *'"? ' ""' >"'" ''''^' "^ ""■■" prefer a s.a> Ir a,,! ""V"^''"' "" ^^^^ <<""»" drooping fra,„le o ,ha ;?;:' {""""'i'r '°™' '" "'" Ay, men are lyrants , ,„ ?-,"' ''"''' ''I'- ="'rokon M,, 'he strife aho e ^ LS : "^ ''''''^"' "-' -'"»a.ion of a"djikes.urdycha:,r j,:;.;;;r""'^^™''"-'' "■age contest with then..- r, , 1 , 7"""" "''° "" 'hat give n,y Lord of I eicest^r '"' >■""' '^""^"d. ™«.~t wretched menial, who lived by shifting of trenchers. woiiM have desired to cliange characters with the favourite nt Elizabeth, and the Lord of Kenilworth '. New tortures awaited him as soon as he had rejniiiiil Elizabeth. " You come in time, my lord," she said, " to deriilc .i dispute between us ladies. Mere has Sir Richard X'.inuy asked our pen^iission to depart from the castle wiili hi^ inlirm lady, having, as he tells us, your lordship's contiii Em poor youn.,.erso„_but ,, 1 T^'f ''''"'^' ''"'^^ "f -''is Vnrney hath this day ,„\ ll k"""' "''" ''^'^ '^''''■^^'l '^'nd say.,, he will carry hi, ,"''"' " ""' ""^"'^^^ "f «„(- the enchanted nymph told ul"f' "'''''' '"'^"^ "•••'t 'o dry hi. .ear, L,^ ,:„':;: f -"- a jo,,,- «,dower, How say you, n,y |„rd P.-^uv , ' ' 'o^" ;->mon« our train, or three difiTerent guises- ■„'; 1 ''"', """>' "'"^^'^ '«" attributes-think you e is can r?" "'^ '"'^ "-I- a knave's trick ? " ''■''''^' "^^ '''■•'>'"g his lady such I-eicester was confounded Ijnt ih„ , and a reply ahsolutely nece ssarT ''T fJ- '"^ "^''•^■"'' " thu,k too lightly of one of ,1 ' " ''"^'^'' ^'^ «aid, could deserve' such a Me, ",^:"" ^'"' '" -""--^' ^hJ could he inflicted upon an 'i^^^eem ;en:;;"^^' ''^ "^'^ ■' -.^:oS'e:L:^s;e:;if^-'-'-'-^-"hi^ to us." ■-""-"> ''y ""PUting fickleness "Say not w, madam," renlied tl„. r- i ., -aner women, like the lesse i ■.! „/t "T ''' "•■^' lut.ons and phases, hut who sh^n ''"• ^'^'^ '•'^™- sun, or to Kh>abeth > " " ""'""^ '"".ab.hty ,„ „,, ■-t in it Kith sp- it, at i e :;;r""""V'^ "'""-' f^- S- Pleasin, did it een/ o n T^T" "' "^'^'"•^' agony. had sounded midni;;^:e;'S;:d'^^\;''^'-^^-^ ^'^nnnstance unu.sual in her ,/,,"'" ™'"''a'>>-. a ;'7-;Kof time. HerdX. iTof--^"'- l''^'"'^ "^ for breaking up the con,„nn , , ^™""' 'he signal '"-- of r^,oL : ^ : ;: ;; "'^"--'^ 'o 'heir seu-r j "•amicipate those of .hr::,::::'"' '"■^"""■^ -^ '"^ ^--^V' - "-antusemem with «.h,ehKh.d..,„ and h,-r, ,. I :, ! )|" i f' 22« ELIZABETH next day to be regaled, was an exhibition by the true-hearted men of Coventry, who were to represent the strife Ijctwcen the linglish and the Danes, agreeably to a custom long preserved in their ancient borough, and warranted for truth by old histories and chronicles. In this pageant, one party of the townsfolk presented the Saxons, and the other the Danes, and set forth, both in rude rliymes and with hard blows, the conicntioms of these two fierce nations, and the amazonian courage of the English women, who, according to the story, were the principal agents in the general massacre of the Danes, which took place at Hocktide, in the year of Ciod 1012. This s^iort, which had been long a favourite [lastmie with the men of Coventry, had, it seems, been put down l>y the influence of some zealous clergyman, of the more precise cast, who chanced to have considerable influence with the magistrates. Hut the generality of tlic inhabitants had petitioned the ( jueen that they might have their play agam. and be honoured with permission to repre- sent it before her Highness. And when the matter w.i^ canvassed in the little council, which usually attended the Queen for dispatch of business, the proposal, altlioiij;li opposed by some of the stricter sort, found favour in the eyes of Elizabeth, who said th.at such toys occupied, with- out offence, the minds of many, who, lacking them, mij:lu find worse subjects of pastime ; and that their pastors, how- ever commendable lor learning and godliness, were some- what too sour in preaching against the pastimes of tlmr flocks, and so the pageant was permitted to proceed. Accordingly, after a morning repast, which Master I.ar ham calls an ambrosial breakfast, the principal persons of the court, in attendance upon Her Majesty, pressed to ilic (Sallery-tower, to witness the approach of the two contend- ing jiarlies of English and Danes ; and after a signal 1; ul been given, the gate which opened in the circuit of llic chase was thrown wide, to admit them. On they c:\mc. foot and horse ; for some of the more ambitious burglm- .^t«r THE gciKEN VISITS UER FAVOURITE ..7 '«o different „,„;, , ^^ ", r^"'''^' "'^- ^'-alry of the "'^■y were not |.er„, ttcd to .n, ' " '"'''-'"' ^''''' ="^'='d<^»'S ""'y license toiccoue the T'"" ""'^ ^"''''' '^"^ h^d "f a -r •<::;i:^":i="--'y m-ed "»^,'^'-f^.eh^ ^'.ige, in the grand bittt f '■"■" '•■■^'"'■"^•d on the liayes's traf-edv Th »" '■" "'^ ^»"cl"Mon of Atr Thewhoi/S,; :S":f^'7dinsn.,i,..,,,„> anti masque, or buries, ue of t^ "'' '' =" ^"" °f which the nob,lityand "4trvt "'"" ^'^'^'^ "-V-eants, in to the be^st of thiir I n T 7 P*" '" ""-■ '^''ou-, and wa. of a d.fferem .haract t, l n ' t ' ^' "-^''de play .nfer,or de.ree. and .h"r h;bt , '"^ ^""'^ ^"''"'"' °f ucca.sio„, the nion- ,n "•' '"-■"'-■'' '"'«cd for the l-rogrcss of our tale al o ts "" ""^' ^'^'''^ '^o '"d.crous enouyh. an ,,1 1"" "'"V° "^''"'^'^ '-as furm,dable ,0 deal so nd I „ ■'°"%'''°"='' ^"•^^'i™"/ «ead of iances. and":: „ ' iXj^^ -^'''-Po'- <" fence, both cavalry and inf.nfr. °"^' ' ""d for ■^'0"t headpieces a,'lt"?/n?h""^ '''" "'"'^'P"^ »■'"' These rough runi ™;1 '1 "'"^' "^ "^"•■'' '«'her. •"e -der's^re^:!^::^ r :;'r""'^""" ^^^ -'"' rented before Kli.abeth, in whl ,, f"'",a,nn,ent pre- ^"^h brilliancy, and wl o " "'u » ^ ^"'""^ "■"'' "hose sense of propriety" sZi to h""';' '' ' '"^""'^• »as no less distinguished for dil ""^"""' °f """"d, '>cr councils for Ido .nd f r it'T ■^"'i^'^''"^'"^"', than 'l>e political wish to seenTfn.e f : ^"' "''"''" f™"' "■h^-therfro,na.p.;Vo™;? ; '" ""'"'^^ ="°«^. °' ;;''-hKl.abe.h^ou:::::i'':^;™S;--h„e spirit, <• ueen laughed heartily at the imi? "! """"'" "^-^ Of chivalry. „hich was p^esr:":"':^?:.^ ''"'^^'i- Ml H ,.c»iK»fVl 328 ELIZABETH She railed near htr person the Karl of Sussex and Lord llunsdon, partly perhaps to make amends to the former, for the long and private audiences with which she had in dulged the ICarl of Leicester, by engaging liim in conversa- tion u|)on a pastime, which better suited his taste than those pageants that were furnished forth from the stores of antiquity. The disp lition which the Queen showed to laugh and jest with her military leaders gave the Karl of Leicester the opportunity he had been watching for with- drawing froiv the royal presence, which to the court around, so well had he chosen his time, had the graceful appear- ance of leaving his rival free access to the Queen's person, instead of availing himself of his right as her landlord, to stand per[ietually betwixt others and the light of her countenance. Leicester's thoughts, however, had a far different objec t from mere courtesy ; for no sooner did he see the (Juteii fairly engaged in conversation with Sussex and 1 lunsdon, behind whose back stood Sir Nicholas lilount, grinning; from ear to ear at each word which was spoken, tliaii. making a sign to Tressilian, who, according to appoiiu- menl, watched his motions at a little distance, he extricated himself from tlie press, and walking towards the chase, made his way through the crowds of ordinary spectators, who, with oi)en mouth, stood gazing on the battle of the I'^nglisli and the Danes. When he had accomplished this, which was a work of some difficulty, he shot anoilier t-lame behind liim to see that Tressilian had been e(iually su^rc^^- ful, and as soon as he saw him also free from tlie crowd, lie led the way to a small thicket, beliind which stood a lai key. with two iiorses ready saddled. He Hung himself on the one, and made signs to Tressiliiui to mount the other, wlio obeyed without speaking a .-ingle word. l.ei( ester ihei, spurred his horse, and galloped wilhoiit stopping until he reaiheel a setiueslered spot, environeil by lofty oaks, about a mile's distance from the castle, and m l.orsc to a trcx and , nl ' 'l'-«ou,Uccl, l,ou„d his ">^rc is „„ ;^k o1,u ^ l'™"0""cinK ,hc words. "JI ' -chiles and d:t Ms i:::r""''^''' •- ^--"^ --. ,:: '-" known to many a 1 'wrT' " "^ '""'' "" ' '>•-- P-acc d in balance ^^Z^^ '^::::Jr' ''''"^"'" ■" °^ "" "''■" '^ r^l-U.hcusn,eyou.on,pll!ror. '""' ""''"™' '-' ' i-Ke'wL'r,ry:::^E-'''^-— ..,:.„ '"vn licad.-' * " '''""^' 'f yo" fall, he on your "<-■ Imd scarcely '•onii)l,.|,.d .i ■nstantly closed in LJ^t "■'"""'"• "'■=" "'^T But l.eici-sier .i,- , „',' '^"■C'r; all otl,.. oM.-i ,,' ,"';' "'=•''" °f d<--'"fnco had already seen en,,.,;'',,f S'-^'',"''^"'^ "f "'e lime, '" make hi,,, ,ig|,- witl ,' /'='■'''•■•" » ^f^'ngth and skill Md prefer a secur>. r ' . 7 '" ', '"' ""*" heretofore, '"inutes they fought witi, er^l si'V '"f T'-'- '■■°' ^°""= , operate lunge which : e"' tcr "" " ""-" ""' ''" ■'' Oessilian exposed h„„self di /^"^"^^'^"^ P"' aside, ;-l"™t attempt to dose, the iC (' T^""''' '"''''"''- I"- hand, and stretched Hm r ih ^" '"'^''- ^'"O"' 7"'^' '-- held the point o ^ '^'^■■■"^- U-ith a g„,n "'- 'hroat of his falle," ad v '•''^"-"V'"'"" '"'^ '"'-lies of •••---. ime upon h,,,:^rh;7;;"''''r^'"^'^"'^' O-c no vdlamy nor, vron. towards thee to cctess- III!! iiiFl Li"# 230 ELIZABETH answered Tressiliaii, "and am better prepared for dcalli than thou. Use thine advantane as thou wilt, and nuiy (lod forgive you ! 1 havu given you no cause for this.' " No cause ! " exclaimed the Karl, " no cause I —hut why parley with such a slave?— Die a liai as thou hast lived '. " lie had withdrawn his arm for the purpose of striking the fatal lilow, when it was suddenly sei/.cd from behind. The Earl turned in wiath to shake off thu untNiiected obstacle, but was surprised to fui.l that a strange lookin- boy had hold of his sword-arm, and clung to it with sm h tenacity of grasp that he could not shake him off without ,i considerable struggle, in the course of whicli Trcssilian li.ul opportunity to rise and possess himself once more of liis weaiion. Leicester again turned towards him with looks (if unabated ferocity, and the combat would have reioiii- menced with still more desperation on both sides, hail nut the boy clung to Lord Leicester's knees, and in a sliriil tone implored him to listen one moment ere he prosccut ^1 this quarrel. "Stand up, and let me go," said Leicester, "or, liy Heaven, I will pierce thee with my rapier I -What hast tliim to do to bar my way to revenge ? " " Much — much !" exclaimed the undaunted boy ; " sime my folly has been the cause of these bloody ijuarrels lie- tween you, and perchance of worse evils. Oh, if yoii would ever again enjoy the peace of an innocent niiml, if you hope again to sleep in peace and unhaunted by re morse, take so much leisure as to peruse this letter, :iiiJ then do as you list." While he spoke in this eager and earnest mainn r, to which his singular features and voice gave a gohlm I'ki' effect, he held up to Leicester a packet, secured with .i l'^ "'s I'roauce so powerful in re '■ "°w it came ;^-- K. .nr^ZLlrt 1'°^"^"' --^-^ - -rk '-^•e Amy ,,,d ,,„, "';^ - , ,, ,.^,„ ,^^ ^__^^^^H. ;'Kcdthereasonsandn,anne of 1 t'"''- '" '^''/d she ''--. '"formed him of , ,^1^ "'«'" f-m Cu„n, , '^'■■'ilworth to eniov l,i= '"« "''""de her wiv , ''"'lian's apartment, earne - 1 ! r '' '° ''■"^'^ --efuge in I:^;^^^'«"^"am^!^^~«''ew.ou,d,ti,: •'ded with the most earne ex, ' ■"■ ''''"^ '"'^'^ ^"■"""tnt, and submission r^K '''''''''■^'^"'"s of devoted Particularly respecting her sLr" "'" "' •■"' """Ks-, anj Th T:"^ °; '"''^'■"' "f Vai;.'"' ""' "'-'-■'' ""der the' letter dropj^^ f,,,„ ^ ^,.^ ^ "s hand when he had MICROCOPY >esoiuriON test chaut (ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 2) I If m ^ l!£ 12.0 1.8 15 IIIIII.4 & i^ 1^ _J APPLIED IM^GE Inc — — 165 J Eoit Mam iif«et S'.S Rochester. Ne« 'o'k '4609 USA "-g=£ 1^'6) *8i; - 0300 - Pi^one ^^ (716) 288 - 5989 - Co. 232 ELIZABETH perused it. "Take my sword," he said, "Tressilian, and pierce my heart, as I would l>ut now have pierced yours ! " My lord " said Tressilian, " you have done me great wrong ; but something within my breast ever whispered that it was by egregious error." ■' Error indeed ! " said Leicester, and handed him the letter • " I have been made to believe a man of honour a villain, and the best and purest of creatures a false profl,- gate.— Wretched boy, why comes this letter now, and where has the bearer lingered?" , , , ■„ , " I dare not tell you, my lord," said the boy, with.lraw- ing, as if to keep beyond his reach ;-" but here comes one who was the messenger." Wayland at the same moment came up ; and, interrogate.! by Leicester, hastily detailed all the circumstances of h.s escape with Amy,-the fatal practices which had driven her •o fli.'ht —and her anxious desire to throw herself uml.r Ihe instant protection of her husband,-pointing out tlie evidence of tlie domestics of Kenilworth, " who could noi," he observed, "but remember her eager enquiries after the Earl of Leicester on her first arrival." " The villains ! " exclaimed Leicester ; " but oh, that worst of villains, Varney ! -and she is even now in hU power ! " .,■,»■, "But not, I trust in Cod," said Tressilian, "with any commands of fatal import ? " "No no, no!" exclaimed the ICail hastily. "I saiil something in madness— but it was recalled, fully recnlL^ by a hasty messenger; and she is now-she must now be *"" "Yes," said Tressilian, "she miisf be safe, and I mm! be assured 'of her safety. My own .luarrel with you is eiulal. my lord ; but there is another to begin with the seduci r ! Amy Robsart, who has screened his guilt under the cloak of the infamous Varney." "The seducer of Amy!" replied Leicester, with a voice THE QUEEN VISITS HER FAVOURITE .33 like thunder ; " sav hpr h„~h i , ■ most unworthy hu,h nj sh ^" """■"■''^■•^- '"''"'^■'J. out that mannur of justice whirh' I °'"'" >""' ^'i-. I>"i"t own freewi,,. I need scarj I e^ r' '''"'" '^" ^^ "'^ The generous nature of ■ vL s h , ^■°"™"''""^'™-" from consideration of an th ,'' T "'"'''"">• '""'^^ •xntred at once upon A ^'^ 1 r^Te V". I""""' '"" "ndouhtins couf-Hlence i', he „. i-t.n '' "" '"^"'■'"■^ f-icester, whose mind seemecUo h "' '''""'"'"^"^ 'f ^'"vernnient of cah„ reaso n H r T"'""^ ■"^'""^^ "'« •"e assurance he had ^^ l^^'^' '"^' notwithstanding of his dependents. " ^[^o d ' " "7 'T '" "'^ '''■'"''^ yo" no offence, and an aX;™ .^ """"^' "' ""''" ■ny duty to Sir Hugh Rol sa " o o I"" " '"""'■ """^ -ntter instantly to U,e Qu u '^ I'r '" "'"' ""'^ "«y be acknowledged in her persln' "'' ''"""'^'^^^ ""^^ 'liou shall not need sir" i-,.,>i; ? .i „ "do not dare to interfere 'n„' ,"■' '^''' ''•''"■'^'"''y ^ proclaim Dudley's infanw -, r^T '"" '"""<•'>'» ^''^" i^ and then for'ctlm 7pTac: ShT ''T "■'" ^ '^" death I" "'"' ""- s|"-'^d of life and So saying, he unljound his l„ire„ r l>i-elf into the saddle, and rod a fu r"\ '""' ""''' castle. '^ •^' '"" S.-illop towards the As Tre.ssilian rode alons the hri.l.r , i , i , '""Ch riotous sport he ™, Id ", ' ^^ ^ '''" ^'=^^"<= °f =o countenances ha 'i , °f ch ,' l"™"" "''-" ™-'^ his brief absence ' 'he o 'icmT '"'"' ''"' ^l'-" "^ ^'"' l>.^bited in thei „ °t-, " ""' "'''' ''"' ""^ "'->• groups, like the inhaLS:r;:r' rr '"'^'''^^ - startled by some strant^e nnH , ^ '° '"'^'' '^'-•'=" J"*' Sir Nicholas Bloun ts it fT"' "''"'■ lUR ni f ^Ijl II r 234 ELIZA mini canst not attend, as he,-omes one «lio follows licr >taj,;sty. -Here you are call.-d lor, wislicd for, waited for no man l-.ul you will serve the turn ; and hillK-r you come wall a misbegotton brat on thy norso's nc.k, as if thou wert dry nurse to some suckling devil, and wert just returne.l frou, airing." .,. , ... ''Why, what is the matter?" said Tressilian, lettuig gn the boy, who sprang to the ground like a feather, and bun- self dismounting at the same time. ^^ " Why no one knows the matter," rc,>.icd lilount ; 1 cannot smell it out myself, though I have a nose like other courtiers. Only, my l.ord of Leicester has galloped .ilonu the bridge, as if he would have rode over all in his passage, demanded an ntulience of the (Jncen, and is closeted even now with her, and Kurleigh and Walsinghau>-and you are called for-but whether the matter be treason or worse, no one knows." .,„,., , ., , " He speaks true, by Heaven ! " said Raleigh, who that instant appeared; "you must immediately to the Queen - presence." "Be not rash, Raleigh," said lilnunt, "remember hi> boots.-For Heaven's sake, go to my chamber, dear Tressilian, and don my new bloom-coloured silken Imv I liave worn them Init twice." "Pshaw ! " answered Tressilian ; "do thou take care "I this boy, Blount ; be kind to him, and look he escai>e- you not— much dejiends on him." So saying, he followed Raleigh hastily, leaving Ikmrv, I'.lount with the bridle of his horse in one hand, and \.\k boy in the other. Tressilian traversed the full length of the great hall, " which the astonished courtiers formed various groups, and were whispering mysteriously together, while all kept ilKir eyes fixed on the door, which led from the upper end oi the hall into the Queen's withdrawing apartment. Ka. ^^ pointed to the door-Tressilian knocked, and *as instantly THI' WiEN VISITS HHR FAX-,)UR, ,„ ,,, covered tl,edooron ! '•'""'^"' ' '^"' "'-' '•■'I'-^'ry which ""-""«"'>-■•'' gratification of curiositv ;i".^nc.withwhil:i:^;-,s^rnr^''^''■" ■'■•m stood tho Tord Shf" """",' '^■''"''''^'-■- '^^'^i"" '^n«'anO,o,dinr5a::r^X!:-S.""^'T'''^ unbuckled, .^d lay hcfore hi,n o^ the floor^ ^'^'^^^ "'^^ ^iccomp ice in this r!,.,-,.,,,; i,- i; , ""rl<_^w< are an us-v,; have 1 en an r ''"' ''^^" ^'"'^''^^■'J "" Trc'sihan drop ,ed oV ' " ""? f """ '^"'"» ">J"-^'ice?" -nse showing" n,e:is":f aT"" '''' '^"''''"' '"^ ^^^^ 'hat tnoment of irritation .Ifr'",""^' '"^ ''^''•'"^^- "' of iSst*;""'"" ""''^'"' "'^' "^'^ P- 'a'^y - Counter Amy Dudley-and well if d,. i, '^'^"•'-■''tcr !-I say Dame ^^■i^^oj.fthetrirKoh:::--r--"-'- )ouSTdo^L!-::r' •''" ^"'^ ™^ '''-''-> i^^ ha^h in no Zy dlCd /t" '"^"' "" ''''^ »'^"''-'- "'- ill 236 1-1JZAI5RTH "And will he be the better for thy intercession i" said the Queen, leaving Tressilian, who slowly arose, and rushniL: to l.eieester, who continued kneeling, — "the better for //ly intercession, thou doubly false — thou doubly forsworn ?- of thy intercession, whose viUaijiy hath made me ridiculous to my subjects, and odious to myself?— I could tear oui mine eyes for their blindness ! " liurleigh here ventured to interpose. " Madam," he said, " remember that you are a (Jueen Queen of England — mother of your \k( pie. dive not a«:u to this wild storm J passion." Elizabeth turned round to him, while a tear actually twinkled in her proud and angry eye. " liurleigh," she saiil, "thou art a statesman — thou dost not, thou canst not. comprehend half the scorn— half the misery, that man lia^ poured on me ! " With the utmo.'-t caution — with the deepest reveremx-. Burleigh took her hand at the moment lie saw her heart was at the fullest, and led her aside to an oriel wind(j\v. apart from the others. " Madam," he said, " I am a statesman, but I am also j man— a man already grown old in your councils, who linvi not and cannot have a wish on earth but your glory ami happiness — I pray you to be composed." "Ah, Burleigh," said Elizabeth, " thou little knowest"— here her tears fell over her cheeks in despite of her. "I do — 1 do know, my honoured Sovenign. <) bew.m that you lead not others to guess that which they kim" not ! " " Ha !" said Elizabeth, pausing as if a new train of thou^li; had suddenly shot across her brain. " Burleigh, tliou .in right — thou art right— anything but disgrace — anything bui a confession of weakness — anything rather than seem tin cheated— slighted— 'Sdeath ! to think on it is distraction I' " lie but yourself, my Queen," said Burleigh ; "and mm; far above a weakness *hich no Englishman will ever btlievt rnn quees xwsrrs her favourite .37 yonder proud traitor de nvJd ,1 '/ '" ''''"' ' ''^'^ here .h. could no nt u' r""*-' '?'" •■"'""" '■-'"" had assumed, and a.-a'I " r ''"- ''?"'^ '""^ "'hi-^l' she ^l>ouM I stri've to dte v^rn th" "' "''• "'" >^''>' servant ! " '^" ""'^' ""y HO"J and wise ^areS:S::unfat2r-'^^"^---"^-- ^ynpath'y aided '^a„ ■rr°"'"=" "' P--ssing ''this andsu,;essin«jt:;^,;::r:;::^";;;;'::^'«-"-; X":s^,f-:rrd:s''^"°-^--^--" awomananda u "' he wa T"'"""' "''"''' ^''''^ - features had recov t .'l h ■ ^, '"'"'' "''= '^'•'" "" ''er i'-ntedstatr::^;5::^,^""y.-''her„.e„ '-HShtrs^j^^-i^r^^r'r"^''--'' heed you th«-art her nut " '"" ''""'' ^"'^ '^^e "5"is=i::;s^;--^.-'.--es, .Sr^;rhl:-b{-^^^^^ Marshal, .ny lord s '1 "h' "j"" ""^ "''^'"''^ °f «"^ what you know" ' "■""""' '''^^ f"""^- »"1 ^ay ■■'-^v.n,ac::a?;^h:-:^Sr-itT-si;: ■fifli f"l li li Aill 238 ELIZA liKTIl that, in doing so, he did tlie Karl pood service ; for hail tile Queen at that instant fuund anylhiny on account of which she might vent her wrath upon him, without laying open sentiments of which she was asliamed, it niiglit haw fared hard with him. She paused when Tressilian had finished his tale. " We will take that Wayland," she said, " into our own service, and place the boy in dir Secretaryol'tice for in struction, that he may in future use discretion towards letters. For you, Tressilian, you did wrong in not com- municating the whole truth to us, and your promise not to do so was both imprudent and unduliful. Vet, having given your word to this unhappy lady, it was the part of j man and a gentleman to keep it ; and on the whole, we esteem you for the character you have sustained in this matter. My Lord of Leicester, it is now your turn to tel! us the truth, an e.xercise to which you seem of late to havt been too much a stranger." Accordingly, she extorted, by successive questions, tlu whole history of his first acquaintance with Amy Robsart their marriage — his jealousy — the causes on which it wa^ founded, and many particulars besides. Leicester's con fession, for such it niiglit be called, was wrenclied from him piece-meal, yet was upon the whole accurate, excepiin^ that he totally > .nitted to mention that he had, by iiiii)lii.i lion or otherwise, assented to Varney's designs upon ilu life of his Countess. At length, the haughty lord, like a deer that turns i« bay, gave intimation that his patience was failing; "Madam," he said, "I have been much to blame — imnv than even your just resentment has expressed. Vut. madam, let me say, that my f tilt, if it be unpardonal>li-, was not unprovoked ; and that, if beauty and condesceml ing dignity could seduce the frail heart of a human beiiii;. I might plead both, as the causes of my concealing this secret from your JLijesty." •'"'^ '^l-'^KX VISITS |„:„ K.W..I- in): '::<) tliat she was for ,,,"''' '"^ ''^»^'' '')■ "" "nu l,ut hursdf, lias iiardonc'd «, nuich uil '' \"nr(,r.m', wl,o yo'T royal n.er y o l'„ '"' ""' "'^""'"-' ">>-lf "" l'""ncls of hc-licf as v^l *^ '■ff'-"mcry passes thu •he: no,hi„, ^ -I, ;;' ,: if'^'"^^' l^"' i' shall avail a '.-hand, ;:^ L'::n^K-;"'™r";"^^'"^^°^' - and he designed u^.e, •■" 'V',""-' "-"^ "°' ■^"'«'-'-'- is not this too nil^nt^t r T co: d ,1 '^"' "r^ ''"'" fev marks of court favour, 7Lt he Is, '"'" "" ""' ' my hand and crown at his d.^l Lp V ''T'"'"-' '" "''"'' letter of me- and I ,nn u ' ''""■^'■"■'' """'' could a child \li/,:,;,,::'f,^';'\-"';'i'-, --. as I ^ands. >Ve ,o to the pl^^n^ I^^^^'^" "'j •.-^wecomn.n,dyourc,.,.a.:;;:;::ee'::;^^:""^ >.-er::;^::^LE:::,;-,;;a„,a„d what was the l"-T, "The revels of kZ "^ ''■" '''"^ '" "i'«e next 1-ds and lad -ve "::"'',"'■•':''' >'« «"--'ed, my ...arriage." " '° '"''^'"""^' 'he noble owner's ;n.ere was an universal expression of surprise hath e tri:'a"er'r'™^''""''^ "'^' 'J"-" ^ "he -withit:tu,-r^s?i"i::;^''r'^'"^«'''^"^''^'^'= or curiosity to know'tL 1 a , y , d '-I f I" T f ^''"^ 'he same who, to make u„ , , v ^""^ Rohsan, -';^pa.ean;asth:^.;^;;';;i3^:::r;i^s^^-«-- tor (,od's sake, mridam " said th,. i- . '-i.h a mixture of hum,i,;y,^li/:;l;;«;;;« »pi' - t ii; I ill!! , HI ■'! 240 ELVZARRTH countenance, and speaking so low as to be heard by no one else, " take my head, as you threatened in your anger, and spare me tliese taunts ! Urge not a falling man— t- ad not on a crushed worm." " A worm, my lord ? " said the Queen, in the same tone ; "nay, a snake is the nobler reptile, and the more exact similitude— th,; frozen snake you wot of, which waa warmed in a certain bosom " " For your own sake — for .nine, madam," said the Earl — "while there is yet some reason left in me- " "Speak aloud, my lord," said Elizabeth, "and at farther distance, so please you —your breath thaws our ruff. Wh.it have you to ask of us ? " " Permission," said the unfortunate Earl, humbly, " to travel to Cumnor Place." "To fetch home your bride belike? — Why, ay, — that is but right— for, as we have heard, she is indifferently cared for there. But, my lord, you go not in person — we have counted v.pon pass;, g certain days in this Castle of Kenil- worth, at.d it were slight courtesy to leave us without a landlord during our residence here. Under your favour, we cannot th'nk to incur such disgrace in the eyes of our subjects. Tressilian shall go to Cumnor Place instead of you, and with him some gentleman who hath been sworn of our chamber, lest my Lord of Leicester should be again jealous of his old rival. — Whom wouldst thou have to be in commission with thee, Tressilum?" Tressilian, with humble deference, suggested the name of Raleigh. " Why, ay," said the Queen ; " so God ha' me, thou luisi made a good choice. He is a young kiiight besides, and to deliver a lady from prison is an appropriate first adventure. — Cumnor Place is little better than a prison, you are to know, my lords and ladies. Besides, there are certain fait- ours there whom we would v.-illingly have in fast keeiiin^;. You will furnish them, Master Secretary, with the warrant TJlIi QURfix VISITS nm favuhk/te -Ml "•-■iX'ssary to ?■ -nr,, ,i,„ , ,. '"-'«" Alasco, -Jui o"aK'";' ''"'"^" ^--X and .he >■"". fc'c.ulu..c„_l^,j /'■• V'^'-' a M.mcicMt lorcf with "■"^ -Hi (;,„ be ::;i: ;!:;, :=!:^^ '-•^ "> •■" t-not,.-,.,, ,„; '•"-■>■ Ijuivcd, and Irfi ii, , In ''•e.uc.am,„c. tl ■'''""'''■■^■■ ,''.V Van.., to Cu,n„orp^;"j"^?,/-' '-" "-ried of, ^"■m>c.« asked c.ay.,lv for lane. "''V, "'^■>- ^"'v-^d, ,1,. tr,cksof lying and Van,,/ ''»-■ -^'"'"Id ^ict the court- has.he learned aircad;''',7,:,':r'"' ?" ■""^" °^ "-' . Ihe Countess, mnch fatlu H ^ *'°" '^"'>-^'"P" c.rcu,nstances of hc-r toTnt f"'"^ "'""^^'^ by „.,. chamher. " "I'^'-^'-d a wish to retire to her -)- w;„ siejp to',:,' cr*-'"'' 'r"-- y-'^r I would it were i s>i;cur,ty." ">at n,or,al feeling, ^^.-J^/^^^'^l/^'f "«■■ Countess ;" hut 1««'%'-" "' "'^ "i-'a of soul and body " i'ou, I guess have no choice m .h- '■"^'^■r- ".My lord ecnes I her , "' ^' "'^'•" ^^i'l'^'d >™ "^ll ,nake your own wast "T"^' ^"" ^™' "^'^ "l^"f does, he J f^'«""'J«'tlihhn." .■oster?" '" '""«= """-?-does he indeed, good s-f-K::r;::;sf-- -^utwhat S7^;"-'>al,.haved;^:--5--n. f>-;o?:Sr— «"one..ndeed-but *>^re buL here !" ^"^ Countess. "Oh, tha, Ja„,t Ii lii I Hi ill • '■"; m 5 343 i:i.iz.\I!i:tii "Sin; is belter wliore she is," answered Kustcr— "one of you is enough to perplex a pUin head -but will you taste any refreshment ? " "() no, no— my chamber — my chamber. I trust," she said apprehensively, " 1 may secure it on the inside ? " " With all my heart," answered hosier, " so 1 may secure It on the outside ; " and taking a light, he led the way to a part of the building where Amy had never been, and con- ducted her up a stair of great height, preceded by one of the old women with a lamp. At the head of the stair, which seemed of almost immeasurable height, they er(jssed a short wooden gallery, formed of black oak, and very nar row, at the farther end of which was a strong oaken door whii h opened and admitted them into a miserable apart- ment, homely in its accommodations in the very last degree, and, exce|)t in name, little different to a prison room. Foster stopped at the door, and gave the lamp to the Countess, without either offering or permitting the attend- ance of the old woman who had carried it. The lady stoud not on ceremony, but taking it hastily, barred the duor, ami secured it with the ample means provided on the inside fur that purpose. Varney, meanwhile, had lurked buliind on the stairs, but hearing the door barred, he now came uj) on tiptoe, and Foster, winking to him, pointed with self-complacence to a piece of concealed machinery in the wall, which, playiii;; with much ease and little noise, dro[)ped a part of the wooden gallery, after the manner of a drawbridge, so as to cut off all communication between the door of the bedrouiii, which he usually inhabited, and the landing-place of tlu- high winding-stair, which ascended to it. The rope by which this machinery was wrought was generally carricil within the bedchamber, it being Foster's object to provide against invasion from without ; but now that it was intended to S' -lire the prisoner within, the cord had been brought over to the landing-place, and was there nude fast, when I'll' oi;i.|.\ VISITS iiKR KAVMii^iri hail |,i ,1 il„- ii„sns, -•43 '•"stiT, with mir.li rfitii|iln.rnM, l"'ili"|K.,1 ,.,„„.,„,„„„,,,, ,,„„,„ ,|_^. ,,„„.,,., ^^^ ■>■. fall of ,,,.,,, , ,.wasas,l„rkaspi.cl :„ . unul ,.r,.fo,„„lly .le,,,, „„nK. as |.„sl.r mfmnu..! |„s ron- '■•l.Tatu „, a «lm;KT. Mini, t- the lowest vault of tl„- .ustle \ar,H.y.-ast onrc more a r,vu,l an,l Ion,, look ,lown .ot,', 11"^ sa l>le K..! . and then lollowe.l Foster to the par. of the manor hoiisL most usually inhal.iteil. When they arrived in the parlour, \-arnry reniiest,.! '■•-"•r lo (.et them supper, and ,o,„e of the , ,,„v.t wine. "I will seek Aiasco," 1- .idded ; "we luve work for liitu to ,1„, and we nmst pi ,im i„ ^-ood heart " I'oster groaned at this ...timation, but m,ide no remon strance. " But," said Varney, " to our -raver matt r. I will teach •hce a spring-, Tony, to catrl, a pe.vit - der trap door yonder giin.ra. k of thine, will remair ccure in >p jHarance will it not, though the .supports are withdrawn beneath ? ' "Ay, marry, will it," said l'V)ster, "so Ion- trodden on." " l!ut were the lady to attempt an esrnp,. over it," rephrd V ariiey, " her weight would < arry it i-n. 1 he liody is to re- But their wickedness wis tn i,„ search. But Varney was tak^I on ,h "' ''"'*'' ^" or expressing compunction! wl /he' h"H':^'"'' '■"^"=^'' •0 take a fiendish pleasure in „! ! '' ''°"'' '""'"^'i ">ainsof the murder dr ? ' "^ °"' •" 'hem the re- defed them T how tharitra; "'' 'I "" ^^"'^ '"- '- The despairing grief oT,e!ilhn ""' '''"'-" '" "^^^ ''^="h. ■-d yet warm'femain of w t'had"iaTr'",' ""^ ■"■^"«'^" and so beloved, was such ,h^ ^f-^T^ '"='"' ^'^ '"^'^''y havehimremovedfrom J'eSl, 7' was compelled to »-ed the directionrSriotr;' ^ '' "^^^^ V-ne,, „p„n a second examination, made very li.tle U! Hi! 246 ELIZABETH mystery cither of the crime or of its motives ; alleging, as a reason for his frankness, that though much of what he con- fessed could only have attached to him by suspicion, yet such suspicion would have been sufficient to deprive him of Leicester's confidence, and to destroy all his towering plans of ambition. " I was not born," he said, " to drag on the remainder of life a degraded outcast ; nor will I so die, that my fate shall make a holiday to the vulgar herd." The news of the Countess's dreadful fate put a sudden period to the pleasures of Kenilworth. Leicester retired from court, and for a considerable time abandoned himsell to his remorse. But as Varney in his last declaration had been studious to spare the character of his patron, the Earl was the object rather of compassion than resentment. Tlic Queen at length recalled him to court; he was once more distinguished as a statesman and favourite, and the rest of his career is well known to history. But there was some thing retributive in his death, if, according to an account very generally received, it took place from his swallowing a draught of poison, which was designed by him for anoth( r person. — Sir W.m.ter Scott, Kenilworth, XIX The King and his Jewdler MASTER GEORGK HI-RIOT ■ • was bound to Whhl'u \ ""'^" "^ I-ondon, of valuable workn,ansh,p o k ' I'r "'" '" "''''"''' ^ P'^^e h;s -Majesty might be plea ed '' ^""''''' "'""'^ ^' '^^""ed He hi,„self was therefo e 1 nt'T' "' '''" '" P"-''-^- ™ule, that he n„ght he better t T" "'^ "P^-^'-'.ed narrow, dirty, and^c.otded . L" *-■ f y "--"«" '"^ attendants carried under his arm ^h' "'''"'= °'"^ °f his "P -n red bai.e, the oth.r vo " c- ar'"-' °' ^''''' ""'"^''^ ^"ch was the state of the pol e o the "'" '° "^ '^'''y ■ f°^ "•^■■e often assaulted in the nubll , ""'""P""'' "'^""^" ;;evenge or of plunder; ad those wl'^'' '" ""^ '^^^ °f beset, usually endeavoured, ^ hcT r''P^^''^"ded being "pense, to secure the..,sel ve . \. '""^ ^'^""■"^■d such followers. And this om „,' h '"'"'^^"^*^ "' -"^ed 'he nobility and gentr'^ x endedl T "' "^^ ''""'-" 'o ^ens of consideration, who b" t , '. ''""'' '" "^"^'^ -"■ ^ charge, as it was cal cd mi 'h 1""''^"'°°'J '° '^avel with ^^ ^afe subjects of plunde by he ""'' " ^''" '"^'''^'^ As Master Georie H. . street-robber. 8.^"antattendance,\e«T"'^ '°«'' >^"'«ard with this "anand friend, the ancient k\''°P ''"''^°''"'^™"ntry- T""stal,, who ;as in tendan^^"' T' '''''"^ «"-d I I fill :ili 248 JAMliS 1 (latkoned witti dust, and jslistening here and there with copper filings, and his senses so bemused in the irUensily of calculation, that he ga/ed on his friend tlie goldsmilli for a minute l)efore he seemed perfectly to comprehend who he was, and hes/d him express his invitation to DaMil Ramsay, and pretty Mistress Margaret, his daughter, to dine with him next day at noon, to meet with a noble young couiuryman, without returning any answer. "I'll make thee speak, with a murrain to thee," muttereil Hcrioi to himself; and suddenly changing his tone, he sai.l aloud,— "I pray you, neighbour David, when are you and 1 to have a settlement for the bullion wherewith I supplied you to mount yor:der hall-cloek at Theobald's, and that other whirligig that you made for the Duke of Uuckingham? I have had the Spanish house to satisfy for the ingots, and I must needs put you in mind that you have been eight months behind hand." There is something so sharp and aigre in the demand "f a peremptory dun, that no human tympanum, however in- accessible to other tones, can resist the application. 1 i.nid Ramsay started at once from his reverie, and answered in 3 pettish tone, "Wow, George, man, what needs aw this dm about sax score o' pounds ? Aw the world kens I cm answer aw claims on me, and you proffer- ' yourself Uir time, till his maist gracious Majesty and the noble 1 Hike suld make settled accompts wi' me ; and ye may ken, by your ain experience, that 1 canna g.ing rowting like an un- mannered Highland stot ti. their doors, as ye come U) mine." Heriot laughed, and replied, " Well, David, I see .i de- mand of money is like a bucket of water about your lar,, and makes you a man of the world at once. .\iul no«, friend, will you tell me, like a Christian man, if you wi" dine with me to-morrow at noon, and bring pretty Miv tress Margaret, my god-daughter, with you, to meet wiin our noble young countryman, the Lord of Glenvarluni? THH KING AND HIS IKWELLGR ,4,, i,/'T';'/"""" 'i"^-' "f ';i^"va,lad,!" said ll,.„Ul „„e|,.>„. iuuynt Ills way into oni; of th,. c,„.,ii 1 1 r ■"■-■f,. ■ i"..^;.™r™r;,^z';L;r"i .,.™l:;t'';-"" '" '•"' ""■'""■■ '-^ -...;■»»» 1 "My instructions are few, Andrew, so>m told and no, ard to pracdse. Be honest-be indu'striousl e' ru -a - and you wll soon win wealth and worsh,p.-Here conv I ! 'ft 1 250 JAMES I employer's satisfaction. 'I'lic citizc-n then gave the young scrivener an angel ; and bidding him, on his life, be secret in all business intrusted to him, again mounted his mule, and rode on westward along the Strand. It may be worth whHe to ■.cmind our readers that tla- Temple-liar which Heriot jjassed, was not the arclinl screen, or gateway, of the present day ; but an open railmi;, or palisade, which, at night, and in times of alarm, wa, closed with a barricade of posts and chains. The Strand also, along which he rode, was n ', as now, a continued street, although it was beginning already to assume th.ii character. It still might be considered as an open road, along the south side of which stood various houses and hotels belonging to the nobility, having garden.s behind them down to the water-side, with stairs to the river, fur the convenience of taking boat; which mansions have bequeathed the names of their lordly owners to many of the streets leading frotr! the Strand to the Thames. Tlic north side of the Strand was also a long line of houses, be- hind which, as in Saint Martin's Lane, and other point^, buildingF were rapidly arising ; but Covent Garden was still a garden, in the literal sense of the word, or at least hut beginning to be studded with irregular buildings. All tli.it was passing around, however, marked the rapid increase uf a capital which had long enjoyed peace, wealth, and a regular government. Houses were rising in every diri-c- tion; and the shrewd eye of our citizen already saw die period not distant, which should convert the nearly ui>u.i highway on which he travelled into a connected and regular street, uniting the court and the town witli tiie city of London. lie next passed Charing Cro which was no longer the pleasant solitary village at which the judges were wont to breakfast on their way to Westminster Hall, but btgaii to resemble the artery through which, to use Johnsons e.s- pression, " pours the full tide of London population." The THE KING AND HIS JEWELLER „, '"oN "1(1 the various confusion nti,.n,i,-„„ .1, ■ -new,.. ..en ..,..;"- ---J f ;s:; r^j--r2 - WHO . the ^H«h.est^r^;°Lt,rt;r^""^'^ '° ^^■^-^■•^ leaving His muie and two o hirfo ol '"f ' '"'' ':ourt, he gently knncl^J., followers in the outer and ;as prTs mlv adn i'h' Tf'';^''''= "' "'^ ''"'''^i"'^. -endant^;i,olt:riS";- r r: '^'^-v"^ -der his arm. This i.an also'he eft E hi'^H- """^ jnte.room,-where three or four nj! in t T,'" "" t"t untrussed, unbuttoned, and d"e ed 1 ™' 'r'">' *an the place, and nearness to a K n ' ""'"''''^^ *'^- placing at dice a^jdrS;^::::;;^:;: ,5, JAMHS I benrhcs, and slumlipring with lialfsliiit eyes. A rnrrp sptmding j^allcry, wliirli opened from tlu' anteroom, was occujiicd by two i;i'"llcna'nusliers of the rha^ntjcr, who gave each a smile of recojsnitlon as the wealthy jfolilsniitli entered. No word was spoken on either side; but one of the ushers looked first to Heriot and then to a little door half- covered by the tapcr.try, which seemed to say, as jjlain as ;i look could, " Lies your business that way ? " The citizen nodded ; and the court-attendant, moving on tipti i, and with as much caution as if the floor had been paved with eggs, advanced to the door, opened it gently, and spoke a few words in a low tone. The broad Scottish accen' of King James was heard in reply,—" Admit him instanter, Maxwell. H.ave you hairbourcd sae lang at the Court, and not learned that gold and silver are ever -.velconie ? " The usher signed to Heriot to adv.-mce, and ll' honisl citizen was presently introduced into the cabinet of the Sovereign. The scene of confusion amid which he found the Kin^' seated, was no bad picture of the state and quality "i James's own mind. There was much that was rich .tii^I costly in cabinet pictures and valuable ornaments ; but thcv were arranged in a slovenly manner, covered with dust, ,iiiJ lost half their value, or at least their effect, from the manner in which they were presented to the eye. The talilr ua. loaded with huge folios, amongst which lay light books of jest and ribaldry ; and, amongst notes of unmercit'ull) !"ik orations, and essays on king-craft, were mingled mi.cral.K- roundels and ballads by the Royal 'I'rentice, as he style.l himself, in the art of poetry, and schc.nes for the gcmral pacification of Europe, with a list of the names of Hk King's hounds, and remedies against canine madness. The King's dress was of green velvet, quilted so full as to be dagger-proof—which gave him the appearan< u «i clumsy and ungainly protuberance ; while its being butioned THE KINO AND HIS JE\VJ:t.LRR 253 awry, communirated to his figure m ^Ir nf r . ■ Over hi., green .iouMet he -'re', L oolo re n T' '"' out of the pocket of which peepe.. tlZ^^^^ "Z ..«h^crow„ec grey hat lay on the floor, covered w d l.ut encircled by a carcanet of large l.nla, rubies .nV -re a blue velvet nightcap, i„ ^he ^o t of hi ,'„.: a favo, nte hawk ,n some critical moment of the fli-ht in remembrance of which the King wore thi^highM^^^^^^^ The monarch, who saluted He.iot by the name of Ti.vr ng (.eordte (for it was his we 1 known cus on o !^i^ nicknames to all those with w'-.om h,. ^■. ^ familiarity), enquired what ncwVlata-r- „„"/;" T"" f w;th him, to Cheat his, awmi and nati^'^^^c^l^rS: -.::?:;trt:[i--"'^- ■'-'-• "- «-- silver m .tnre, a;;;;^t^:r oiX "Respecting the Duke of Duckingham's plate," said the ■ 394 JAMES I George Heriot bowed, and said no more. He knew his master too well to vindiratc himself otherwise than by a distant allusion to his order ; and James, with whom economy was only a transient and momentary twinge of conscience, became immediately afterwards desirou? to ieu the piece of pble which the goldsmith proposed to exhil)it, and dispatched Maxwell to bring it to his presence. In the meantime he demanded of the citizen whence he had pro- cured it. " From Italy, may it please your Majesty," roplitd fleriot. "It has naething in it tending to papestrie?" said the King, looking graver than his wont. " Surely not, please your Majesty," said Heriot ; " I weri not wise to bring any thing to your presence that had the mark of the beaat." "You would be the mair beast yourself to do so," said the King; "it is weel kend that I wrestled wi' Dagnn in my youth, and smote him on the groundsill of his own temple; a gude evidence that I should be in time called, however unworthy, the Defender of the Kaith. — But here coiiu'- Maxwell, bending under his burden, like the Golden Ass ol Apuleius." Heriot hastened to relieve the usher, and to place the embossed salver, for such it was, and of extraordin.iry dimensions, in a light favourable for his Majesty's viewing the sculpture. "Saul of ray body, man," said the King, "it is a curioii-; piece, and, as I think, fit for a King's chalmer ; and tin- subject, as you say, Master George, vera adequate aiv'. beseeming^being, as I see, the judgment of Solomon — .1 prince in whose paths it weel becomes a' leeving monarihs to walk with emulation " " But whose footsteps," said Maxwell, " only one of them — if a subject may say so much — hath ever overtaken." " Haud your tongue for a fause fieeching loon!" saiJ ii :i t I THI-: KINf; AND HIS JGWnr.LRR 25, n.....r, lm.l .lo„c. .t, part. •• |,„ok at the l,„„„y ,,„..,. „, v..rk„,ansh,p, a„,l haml your rlnverinn >n"«uo.--And „ln ^ Handiwork may it l.c,(;,.„nlic?" Anu whasu " It was wrought, sir," rq.licd the goldsmith " hv ,h ...nous Florentine. Benvc-nuto a.lln,i^ uTVuS t Kmj'Tth."', ''""'^^- ':"'■'' 'ho Kins;. -send Solomon, KmR of the Jews, to Francis of ]• ranee !-I!o,lv of ,Z nun „ would have kythcd Cellini mad. had he n ev^ do e on th.nR else out of the gate. Francis l-why. he waTa fit;lilmK fule. man,— a imre nirhtin - ful,. „,., h „ ? -.■avia,likeourainnavidat'riimi-;::^-^^:" '■"•|^ l>ne sen. him Solon.on's wit, and lo4 of p'eace „1 Kodhness, they wad hae dune hin, a better turn B ^;;.onK,n should s,t„. other gate com,,any2:nci":; ;;i trust that such will he hi. ,ood for.,:ne." said lleriot. It ,s a cunou, and vera art.dci.al s. ulptur..," sai.l ,1,,. Kmg, „, contmuation ; "hut yet. methinks. the carn.fev or cxee„„o„er there, is l.rand.hing his gulley ow.r t '.he K .Ks face, seemg he is within reach of his weapo" , Ih.nk less wisdon, than S.,l„n,„n's wad have tauiht him at there was danger in ed^e-tools, and that he "a'd h " Md- the sma.k euher sheath his shahhie. or stand farthe; fJeorge Heriot endeavoured to alleviate th's ol.jection I • assurmg ,he Kin, that the vicinity I.e.wi.vt So on on "d ; ith:r.r"""'^^ "••"" ■■" ^""^■•^"-^ ">an in"; and that the perspective should be allowed for King'^"'„:eV":ant':e'a'"'" f™'"-"-' -"■" -a the s . II ere canna be a waur prospective for a Mwfn ■n,, wh.a wishes to reign in luve and die in peace and onour. than to have naked swords flashing in hreen I -" accounted as brave as maist folks ; and' yet I pro es's to Hi' :l ' F 256 JAMES I [ 1 ye I could never look on a bare blade without blinking and winking. But a'tliegither it is a brave piece ; — and what is the price of it, man ? " The goldsmith replied by observing, that it was not his own property, but that of a distressed countryman. "Whilk you mean to mak your excuse for asking the double of its worth, I warrant?" answered the King. "I ken the tricks of you burrows-town merchants, man." " I have no hopes of baffling your Majesty's sagacity," said Heriot ; " the piece is really what I say, and the price a hundred and fifty pounds sterling, if it pleases your Majesty to make present payment." " A hundred and fifty punds, man ! and as mony witches and warlocks to raise them 1 " said the irritated Monarch. " My saul. Jingling Geordie, ye are minded that your purse shall jingle to a bonny tune ! — How am I to tell you down a hundred and fifty punds for what will not weigh as many merks? and ye ken that my very household servitors, and the officers of my mouth, are sax montiis in arrear ! " The goldsmith stood his ground against all this objurga- tion, being what he was well accustomed to, and only answered, that, if his Majesty liked the piece, and desirwl to possess it, the price could be easily settled. It was true that the party required the money, but he, George Heriot, would advance it on his Majesty's account, if such were his pleasure, and wait his royal conveniency for payment, for that and other matters ; the money, meanwhile, lying at the ordinary usage. " By my honour," said James, " and thst is speaking like an honest and reasonable tradesman. We maun get another subsidy frae the Commons, and that will make ae compting of it. Awa wi' it, Maxwell — awa wi' it, and let it be set where Steenie and Babie Charles shall see it as tlicy return from Richmond. — And now that we are secret, my good auld friend Geordie, I do truly opine, that speaking of Solomon and ourselves, the haill wisdom in the country THE KING AND ,„.s JEWELLER ,., ;;;|;^-,a„d,w„en.e.o.o.„.o.heSo.h.„a "Troth, I think there some 1 *''' """" ">'-'>'^'^J>-'r." said James; "-for we our el ■«?.'" "''"' "'"" ^^>'-'." household, is thou thyse^ o?e ^" "' °"^ ™"" '•'"J English, for as -self-opin oied 4 t e^v' '' '"' """"' '>' "'^' ::^ •ntri;^rs^Hr^}^-^ It please your Grace to sav wl, \ ^'^"°'- " ^I^y to deserve such a character^" °" countrymen have done an^lStrKtr' •' I S::; r^r'^'^" ^-"--<^." ^y all the proclamations ttleTelalT °" "^""^ ^"""" hoarse with. Yesterday, nae fartl. r '°" 'hemselves mounted, and about to Hde 1 h >''"'' ^"'' ^' ""^ ''^"^ Edinburgh gutterblood-aS,.^"'^;" f""^'^ '^ "--"«'> whose back was biddin.^ aoori'H ! ?' """'' ''"'^ "I'o" and hat that would ut f~tl ? "''. °"'"' ""'' » <-"■« havings or reverence, .^71^ T haS^r"' -""""' hcggar, so„,e Supplication about db' ^' ", ^'"^^ gracous mother, and siclike trt h "^ ''^ °" spangs on end, and, but for orr In ' m *'■'-■'" ""-' ''"^"^ we have been thought ^" "el n"!'"^"' "'"'"«■ "''--" well as subjects, in E ro,,c T " "'""«" '"'■"-"■^' - been laid endla.^g on t^e ciusir "" '°" "*-' "-""'^ '-- "Your Majesty," said Heriot "k m ■ and therefore they are the bolder' to 1^"™""""" '"'''''' presence." P"^*-" '"'o your gracious "hut;::wo:Mf;:::kC;r'"°"^"'"^^"^j--^ puddings out, that th y maTdlide'thT'-V" "'''''''' ■">' -^-.Oeordie. there iln^^ri't:::?"^.:^ 11 2-r>8 JAMES 1 liver a Supplication, as it suld be done iji the facu of majesty.'' " I would I knew the most fitting and Ixsecming mode to do so," said Heriot, " were it but to instruct our poor countrymen in better fashions." " By my !;alidome," said the King, " ye are a ceevilee/.ed fellow, Geordie, and I carena if I lling awa as much time as may teach ye. And, first, see you, sir — ye shall approach the presence of majesty thus, — shadowing your eyes with your hand, to testify that you are in tlie presence of the Vicegerent of Heaven. — Vera weel, George, that is done in a comely manner. — Then, sir, ye sail kneel, and make as if ye would kiss the hem of our garment, the latch of our shoe, or such like. — Vera weel enacted — whilk we, as being willing to be debonair and pleasing towards our lieges, prevent thus, —and motion to you to rise , — whilk, having a boon to ask, as yet you oliey not, but, gliding your hand into your pouch, bring forth your Supplication, and place it reverentially in our open palm." The goldsmith, who had complied with great accuracy with all the prescribed points of the ceremonial, here completed it, to James's no small astonishment, by ])lacing in his hand the petition uf the Lord of Glenvarloch. '' What means this, ye fausc loon?" said he, reddening and sputtering, " hae I been teaching you the manual exercise, that ye suld present yuur piece at our ain royal body? — Now, by this ligiit, I hatl a^ lief that ye had bended a real pistolet against me, and yet this hae ye done in my very cabinet, where nought suld enter but at my ain pleasure." "I trust your Majesty," said Heriot, as he contiimed td kneel, " will forgive my exercising the lesson you condi scended to give me in the behalf of a friend ? " " Of a friend ! " said the King ; " so nuich the waur - so much the waur, I tell you. If it had been something t.i do yoursell good there would have been some sense in it. and some chance that )ou wad not have come back on mc THE KING AND HIS )liWELLER -:><) , and Maxwell (for the usher hnH " "^ '"" ''"' ''''"^'•■"•- 1 ~^s::^r'^^'''^''^'"'-^" house sae that beerh^n i i '"''='• "^ "V "nther's auld we were of .so „e hinsto > f '' ""' ''°'"'^' ""'' ^''^^ with the metal of 'dZ D' "' T'^ """""'"^ -aist of our co,„p,o.s ht: we w rt- ;'': t' h'''^ '""' '" 'Jlue-banders to harry the ad of T T "" °' ""-' and noultrvvir,) n.J ^ ^ I-oganhouse's dowcot murder?" "^ ^ "ni of the sin of -..*..,.. i:vr :::;:;: rsi;;,. ''"■■- rang again. Uut he came to 'he last, for Lord' Tortho, hill Cocksnail >r\vald an Annandale end run his lai nan, when I think of lee out through these wild passage i! 1 ' l?ll i' III III ill 26o JAMES I in my conscience, I am not sure but we lived merrier in auld Holyrood in those shifting days, than now when we are dwelling at heck and manger. Cantabit vacuus — we had but little to care for." " And if your Majesty please to remember," said the goldsmith, " the awful tusk we had to gather silver-vessail and gold-work enough to make some show before the Spanish Ambassador." "Vera true," said the King, now in a full tide '.' gossip, "and I mind not the name of the right leal lord thit helped us with every unce he had in his house, that his native Prince might have some credit in the eyes of them that had the Indies at their beck." "I think, if your Majesty," said the citizen, "will cast your eye on the paper in your hand, you will recollect his name." "Ay! "said the King, " say ye sae, man? Lord Glen- varloch, that was his name indeed— /«///« et tenax propositi — A just man, but as obstinate as a baited bull. He stood whiles against u.s, that Lord Randal Olifaunt of Glen- varloch ; but he was a lovin-, and a leal subject in tin; main. But this supplicator maun be his son — Ramlal has been long ^one where king and lord must go, Geordii-, as weel as the lik-.' of you — and what does his son want with us ? " "The settlement," answered the citizen, " of a large d- Ijt due by your Majesty's treasury, for money advanced td your Majesty in gi-ent state emergency, about the time ol the Raid of Ruthven." "I mind the thing weel," said King James— "Oil's death, man, I was just out of the clutches of the ^^aster of Glamis and his •_ jmplices, and there was never siller niair welcome to a born Frince, — the mair the shame and pity that crowned King should need sic a petty sum. But what need he dun us for it, man, like a baxter at the breakini;? We aught him the siller, and will pay him wi' our I'un- '•"E K,.NU AND HIS JEWEL^nU 261 ^'-kln, his h.ad "^ nLt^"'''" "''^ ''"^ S^'^-i'h. '-"•e necessity, ,„j no, h Vir^r"'.'""'--'"^'"'^ "" tunate; for he must hivv , . ""''"'^ ''''" ''"Por- the Privileges a. Canip,. 'o "u: ' ^ 'n^'' ^""^-vato,. of and estate of Glenvnrloch ivM '''''^^''•■'^>' ^'''^"V unredeemed uadset." "^ """'^'^ '" virtue of an ■"■p"-i;T'^!:iHe^"7^- "•^-'--'i "- Kin,, l^ow-Duich skipper evict M,> ^!T''''^""- ""•■ «" of 'a ■'-house of ol.Lunt "c ,'" a?'"^' ^"'^ '-^'^'''^ of be-we maun suspend the dic^ ,'"'■"'' "'''""^"" ""t "tlierwise." diligence by writ of favour, or " I doubt that may hardiv b,. " ■• P'ease your M.,je tv ,t, t;'"'T"'' ""' '''"-"• " 'f of Scotland advise' that' t fn"' "•'""■' "' "-'■'- the money. ' '"" "> "» ■'emeid but in pnymg " Ud's fish," said the k" "i ^'^"g hand against the c„r'i?'unt" '"" '""f ''"'^ '>y "><■■ ■thout his am,irs." ' "' "*= '^•''" take some order >"n";s^:::-::::;f^ 7. thke your .,,,,, J"^'icetoallmen h'sm '• ''""^ ''"'"=' "f e.uj ^•■S!!::j-£-=-:^.S;:^d^ ^"-"dpayourdebt ,:',:'" ™"'-"'= '>'' " - - ^"1 he nutst be paid, . ud 1 1"""' T "''^ i»>' »"' : ^'"f how to come by he si llr 't "^'^ ^^V^"^-^" '- Paid- .>^,™aun try ,he city, Cieord'e' ' " " '"''^■"" ^''"l""- '0 sav the fr,,,i, ■■ .,„ ov- ' ' " answered fleriof " „i ""^'ot, please your U II ■|[ nil I'M ,62 JAMES 1 gracious Majesty, what betwixt loans antl benevolences, and subsidies, the city is at this present " " Donna tell me of what the city is," said King James ; "our Exchequer is as dry as Dean Ciles'. discourses on the penitentiary psalms-£.v nihilo nihil fit-V^ ill taking the breeks afT a wild Highlandman-they that come to me for siUer, should tell me how to come by it-the city ye maun try Heriot ; and donna think to be called Jingling C.cordie for nothing-and in verba regis I will pay the lad if you get me the loan-I wonnot haggle on the terms ; and, between you and me, C.eordic, we will redeem the brave auld estate of Clenvarloch. But wherefore comes not the young lord to Court; Meriot— is he comely-is he presentable in the presence?" . "No one can be more so," said George Ileriot ; " but " "Ay, I understand ye," said his Majesty-" I understand ye -/?« mi'^usta f/,;«/(— puir lad-puir lad !-and his father a right true leal Scots heart, though stiff in some opinions. Hark ye, Ileriot, let the lad have twa hundred pounds to nt him out. And, here-here "—(taking the carcanet of rubies from his old hat)-" ye have had these m pledge before for a larger sum, ye auld I.evite that ye are. KLe|, them in gage, till I gie ye back the siller out of the next subsidy." " If it please your Majesty to give me such directions m writing," said the cautious citizen. " Tlie deil is in your nicety, George," said the Kiivj ; "ye are as preceese as a Puritan in form, and a men- Nullifidian in the marrow of the matter. May not a Kiiig^ word serve ye for advancing your pitiful twa hunJred pounds? " " l!ut not for detaining the crown jewels," said George Heriot. And the King, who from long experience was inured to dealing with suspicious creditors, wrote an order upon THh- KIXC AXD HIS JE-.VELLFR a^ described in C u l'e s,id sum, and so for.r .'?T ""'■°'' "''""'^'-•r gave the said (Jeome Hcri, f H ""''"' ''''' ^'aj'-'st)- orthe „,one,.d met u ";?:;;;:": '" ^-' -'" -ne 'noney for his Majesty', or." , "'"' '°' ^ sum of 5°,ooo merksj-utaflch':: :'""', r '" ''>-■ ""''- procured. "'°"= "^ '^""'d conveniently he J And has he ony, air, this Lord Nisei of ours ?..s.d ■' He shall have our o'vn advice '■ s"a1dt, T"'" «rryon his studies to maist ' ,V ""^ ""^ '^'"& " how to -e will have him come Zr ""^'^"'^Se ; and it nuy l.e .^"d liahie Chan™ Zj ""' ""'^ ^'"''y «-"h SteLie '^"'^ee-for 'he Uirn^^itVoLn ? °"''' '"''-^^^ "e would not as yet they k „d ^f . i " " ^""'"""y- '"^^ •-■f ng anent. rr„^J, ^^ ^^ ""tter we have heen '"■il^- U.tween your houghs and Lm '","•'■ ^''■•■'' >""^ ■I'hus ended ih,. ^ °'' ""'' S™'d<-'n with you." 'K scoir, Jwtunes i>/ A'/.r/. iil'i XX The Battle Edgehill of ON ihe loth of October tlie King's army was in full march, his Majtsty getierahssinio, the Earl of I.intl sey general, of the foot ; Prince Rupert, general of tlif horse ; and the first action in the field was hy Prince Rupert and Sir John Uyron. Sir John had brought his body (i; 500 horse from Oxford to Worcester ; the Lord Say, willi a strong party, being in the neighbourhood of Oxford, and expected in the town. Colonel Sandys, a hot man, and who had more courage than ju,3gnient, advances will; about 1,500 horse and dr-igOons, with design to beat Sir John Byron out of Worcester, and take post there for the P.irliament. The King had notice that the Earl of Essex designed for Worcester, and Prince Rupert was ordered to adv.ini . with a body of horse and dragoons to face the enemy, ani! bring off Sir John r)yron. This his Majesty did to anui-e the Earl of Essex, that he might expect him that way ; whereas the King's design was to get between the E:irl ni Essex's army and the city of London ; and his MajtsH's end was doubly answered, for he not only drew Essex on tn Worcester, where he spent more time than he needed, but he beat the party into the bargain. I went volunteer in this party, and rode in my father - regiment ; for though we really expected not to sec the enemy, yet I was tired with lying still. We came to Wor- THE n.ATTLE OF EDGEmLL ,e, 7"-!. ,hc. Prince: i::::i: cZ, .i*:: 't-' '"•" done, resolves to march th<. 1\ = "''■" "''''^ '" I"-' The enemy, who hv a L k *""'?'"« ••'"'' '"'■^'" 'l>^'">- ^Vorces.er, and, as l^,^'^"' '"^™' -sMt n.iles fr.n. c-"e on very conMe Iv ;, '.' "" """" °f "'- n.an h. ••^•irly drawn n„ to rec 7 Zm T"'"'"*^' ^""^ ''"""J '- ^'•■'•■n- The enemy, Xo Tnal^h >f^''" '^'' '''' "■■'^ «■-. ought to hav' d !;ove , o ' ^T'"'''' ' "^'^ "•' hy our posture what our dei.° """"":'"' •'"'■J 8"'-'-^^'J .nforn,ed then.selves h.t we "fnd T' ""''" "''''^ ^'^"^ ^o m.ght have secured the aH?'' '" ''''''^ "^'"". •■'"d front; but without anVr'?d;r '' '"''""^ '" ''^'" "-y came on at al,"L::,ir' Up n Th '"""""^ "' ""'y' proposed to the Prince to hVlt r^ T "°"'''"' '"y ''^'1'" "> be attacked, since wefon r' '"'' '""''•■^ ""^^'^''•'•■^ the ad.antage. The IV nee T "■'"'"•' '" "'''■'^ "^ '"'ted within view of a^^d:;';';"'-'-''^ °' "«^ •advice, so we front for ahout half the numh r't '^"'"' ''"""»'' ^n our 1"»- "P ; and at the nd ;: , r, "'""'^ '° '"^^-^ ^"' -nh orders to retire as soon ' 1 ' "fry dragoons, •hey had been afraid o° T "^\'--'>""y advanced, as if d'tch, and a very high b^k h"f ,"^ "^'-^ ^""^'^ ^'^^ " 300 dragoons, w'h o de' o L nf "T'"''' ''"^'^ '"^-•^ "■emyhad passed the 1 i i?J i °", ""^'^ ^''^" "" 'he - so.n as ourtrunre. und d \ "'""""" "^^■"■ -tSh^!::-ij^?^^ »'s the word for that dav T n.ouihs-for that ■0 conduct the ho of doT 7'"°^ ""'^' "^-^ how -As we expected ,h ""^ '° "'="■ '"*" ^ e s/ood firm m one line with I III 266 CIIARI-ES 1 a reserve, and expected a cli.ir!;e, but Colonel Sandys, showing a great deal more judgment than we thought he was mabter of, extends himself to the left, finding the ground too strait, and began to form his men with a gre.it deal of readiness and skill, for by this time he saw our rmmber was greater than he expected. The I'rince per- ceiving it, and fore.seeing that the stratagem of the dragoon^ would be frustrated by this, immudi.itely charges with the horse, and the dragoons at the same time standing upun their feet, poured in their shot upon tliose that were pas^iii^ the bridge. This surprise put them into such disorder, th.it we had but little work with them. I'or though Coloi-.' 1 Sandys, with tiie troops next him, sustained the shock very well, and behaved themselves gallantly enough, yet llie -on fusion beginning in their rear, those that had not yet p-isheil the bridge were kept back by the lire of the dragoons, ari.l the rest were easily cut in pieces. Colonel Sandys »,.> mortally wounded and taken prisoner, and the crowd wa^ so great to get back, that many pushed into the water, and wert- rather smothered than drowned. Some of them wIh. never came into the figlit, were so frighted, that they never looked behind them till they came to I'ershore, and, i- we were afterwards informed, the lifeguards of the Cericri! who had quartered in the town, left it in di>^order enough. expecting us at the heels of their men. If our business had been to keep the Parliament army from coming to Worcester, we had a very good opportuiiuv to have secured the bridge at I'ershore ; but our design l.iy another way, as 1 have said, and the King was for dr.iwin:; Kssex on to the Severn, in hofies to get behind him, wliidi fell out accordingly. Essex, spurred by this affront in the infancy of \\kii affairs, advances the next day, and came to I'ershore lime enough to be at the funeral of some of his men ; and from thence he advances to Worcester. We marched back to Worcester, extremely pleased willi Tin- ruTTLK iw r;i)(,|..iiii.r. .,,,7 the KooJ success of our first attack, aii.l „ur ,m r, w.rc ,„ tlusl.cd with this httlc victory that it put vij;„ur uito tl,.. whole arim.. Tiic- enc.ny lost about .5,000 nieu, and we earned away near ,50 prisoners, will, 500 horses, some standards and arms, and anions the prisoners their coh.nel ; but he died a httle after of his wounds. Upon the approach of the enemy, Worcester was .luitted and the forces marched hark to join the Kinj;'s army, whirl,' lay then at liridgnorth, I.udlow, and thereahonl. As the KiMK expected, it fell out ; Kssex found so much work at Uorcester to settle Parliament ,,uarters, and secure IJrisiol (.loucesl.r, and Hereford, that it gave the Kin^ a full days march of bin,. So the Km;;, having the start of him, moves towards London ; and Essex, nettled to be both beaten in fight and outdone in conduct, decamps, and follows the King. The Parliament, and the Londoners too, were in a stnii-e consternation at this mistake of their (leiieral ; an,l had the King, wl,o,se great misfortune was always to follow ore npitant .advices, -had the Kmg, I say, pushed on his first design, winch he had formed with very good re.ison, ai„l lor wh,ch he h.ad been dodging with ICsse.x eight or ten (lays, vi^., of marching directly to London, where he b.i.l a very great interest, and where his friends were not yet omiressed and impoverished, as they were afterwards he had turned the scale of his affairs. And every „,an exM.rted It ; for the members began to shift for themselves, expresses wer<; sent on the heels of one another to the lOarl of L'sse.x toh,islen after the King, and, if possible, to bring him to a baltlei^ Some of these letters fell into our hands ami we nnght easily discover that the Parliament were in the last confusion at the thoughts of our coming to Lon.lon. hesides this, the city w.is in a worse fright than the House, and the great moving n,en began to go out of town. In hort they expected us, and we expected to come, but • rovidence for our ruin had otherwise determined it. i 1^1 ifl' liill 268 CIIAKI.F.S I Kssex, iipnn news of tin- K.n^'s iii.ircli, and upon rirc ipt of thu I'.irli.init-rit's Icltcrs, nukus Inn^ niarrlics afur us, and on the J.jrd of Oriolur ruarlics the village of Kinvton, in Warwickshire. Tliu Kin^ was almost as far as Hanbiiry, and there calls a council of war. Some of the old officers that foresaw thu advantage Xhc King had, the concern th.; city was in, and the vast addition, both to the rc|iiitalion of his forces and the increase of his interest, it would ho if the King could gain that point, urgctl the King to march on to London. I'rincc Kiipert and the fresh colonels pressed for fighting, told the King it dispiriticl their men to march with the enemy at their heels ; that the I'arlianiont army was inferior to him by 6,000 men, and fatigued with hiisty marching ; that as their orders were to fight, he had nothing to do but to post himself to advantage, and receive them to their destruction ; that the action near Worcester had let them know how easy it was to deal with a rash enemy ; and that 'twas a dishonour for him, «. ' c forces were so nui' •-"-'■. voices ; an error ,he K of ^' T""'"'^ ''>' "•■'J'-^i'V "f For if all the ortkers arlco,!;^"? ^'^ "'' ""'■'' >-"''"> "f- -opinion, ye, unless herr""o "'" ""^' "' » ''"'■'-"• ■heir votes neveralt red h,; r """"^'^ '"' ^'"'"""■'"' error of our good. I.ut unfort2r""- ''"' "'" "'^'^ ''"^ •he ume, vi., ,h,. of K.^eh, :„d . ' J v" I ''"'^^ '" The resoh.tion for n..htin,- , ■-■''>' g-e an universal jo^o he si^i' "f " ""-■ •""■>• -traordinaryardou^ fo^,l!^L Tr """,""^"-' - 'alk.ng wi.l, n,e al.out ie .sk d „ iT"''''' '"^ ''•"'"^^ ••-PproachinK l.altle i l,', , " •-• "''••" ' "'"".^lu of the done very ten; for t'it„erTf''^<^'^'".^'-J •^"tent of the desi-.n m h "' "'" ™"'*"l' '1"-' -i> people, to ser i'e h It .o" ""f"^ ""'"'• ''^^ •""- answer n,y father as I di!l ' '''^■' '^''"-■'' '"«'- "•>-' "-"?onti!^2\j.'::;:' i''^^"^ "" *? •"" '"^"^-"' f'^h men that have ne^v \ ! " ■"""^" '"^"' "'-'do "P "f My father ,,,i,,dedluZT^'""'''~^-' ' -emed pleased th.u k^' ',^''f ^' "^ "'•>' : '"« «he„ -^edan,nlyat,n: S,^V^^"'"'""^'"'"^ ^ee no farther into things. "■" '""^ ' '-'^"'d 'I tell says 'le hastily, " if tile King should k ill 270 CHARLES I and tak ; prisoners this whole army, General and all, the Parliament will have the victory ; for we have lost more by slipping this opportunity of getting into London, than we shall ever get by ten battles." I saw enough of this afterwards to convince me of the weight of what my father said, and so did the King too ; but it was then too late. Advantages slipped in war are never recovered. We were now in a full march to fight the Earl of Es^ex. It was on Sunday morning, the 24th of October, 1642 ; fair weather overhead, but the ground very heavy and dirty. As soon as we came to the top of Edgehill, we discovered their whole army. They were not drawn up, having had two miles to march that morning, but they were very busy forming their lines, and posting the regiments as they came up. Some of their horse were exceedingly fatigued, having marched forty-eight hours together ; and had they been suffered to follow us three or four days' mar. h farther, several of their regiments of horse would have been quite ruined, and their foot would have been rendered unserviceable for the iiresent. But we had r.o patience. As soon as our whole army was come to the top of the hill, we were drawn up in order of battle. The Kings army made a very fine appearance ; and indeed they were a body of gallant men as ever appeared in the field, and as well furnished at all points ; the horse exceedingly well accoutred, being most of them gentlemen and volunteers, some whole regiments serving without pay; their horsL, very good and fit for service as could be desired. '1 he whole army were not above iS.ooo men, and the enemy not 1,000 over or under, though we had been told they were not above 12,000 ; but tin y had been reinforced with 4,000 men from Nortliampton. T'he King was with the General, the Earl of Lindsey, in tie main battle; Prime Rupert commanded the right ..ing, and the Marquis of TiiH Rvrn.E (n- ei)gi:iiii.l i.'.i\l \V'ill^)U^lll)y, and suvcml otiiur very good Hortf'.' otik . ih • lift. rh'. iL.h.il <.f 1 .If (u being given with two cannon shots, we ma,, 'i, ,' in ..nl... of Ij.ittalia clown the hill, hcing drawn up in two lines witn bodies of re.serve ; the enemy advanced to meet us mueh in the same form, with this dillcrencc only, that they had placed their cannon on their right, and the King had pl.iced ours in the centre, before, or rather between two great brigades of foot. Their cannon began with us first, and did some nn'.^chief among the dragoons of our left wing ; but our officers, perceiving the shot'took the men and missed the hor.ses, ordered all to alight, and every man leading his horse, to advance in the .same order ; and this saved our men, for most of the enemy's shot flew over their he.id.s. Our cannon made a terrible execution upon their foot for a (piarter of an hour, and i)Ut them into great confusion, till the Ceneral obliged them to halt, and c hanged the posture of his front, marching round a small rising ground by which he avoided the fury of our artillery. By this time the wings were eng.iged, the King having given the signal of battle, and ordered the right-wing to fall on. Prince Rupert, who, as is said, commanded that wing, fell on with such fury, and pushed the left wing of the rarlianient army so effectually, that in a moment" he tilled all with terror and confusion. Commissary-tleneral Ramsey, a Scotsman, a Low Ccjuntry soldier, and an cn- nerienccd officer, commanded their left wing, and though he did all that an e.\pert soldier, and a brave commander could do, yet 'twas to no purfiose ; his lines were Innne- diately broken, and all overwhelmed in a trice. 'I'wo regiments of foot, whether as [lart of the left wing, or on the left of the main bod)-, I know not, were disordered In their own horse, and rather trauijiled to death by the horses, than beaten by our men ; but they were so entirely l)roken and disordered, that I do not remember that ever they made one volley upon our men ; for their own horse ijil r'1 272 CHARLES I running away, and falling foul on these foot, were so vigorously followed by our men, that the foot never had a moment to rally or look behind thet. . The point of the left wihg of hor£e were not so soon broken as the rest, and three regiments of them stood firm for some time. The dexterous officers of the other regiments taking the oppor- tunity, rallied a great many of their scattered men behind them, and pieced in some trooi)S with those regiments : but after two or three charges, with a brigade of our second line, following the Prince, made upon them, they also were broken with the rest. Had Prince Rupert fallen in upon the foot, or wheeled to the left, and fallen in upon the rear of the enemy's right wing of horse, or returned to the assistance of the left wing of our horse, we had gained the most absolute and completL victory that could be ; nor had i,ooo men of the enemy's army got off. But this Prince, who was full of fire, and pleased to see the rout of the enemy, pursued them quite to the town of Kineton, where indeed he killed abundance of their men, and some time also was lost in plundering the baggage. But in the meantime, the glory and advantage of the day was lost to the King, for the right wing of the Parhamoiit horse could not be so broken. Sir William Balfour made a desperate charge upon the point of the King's left, and had it not been for two regiments of dragoons who were planted in the reserve, had routed the whole wing, for ho broke through the first line, and staggered the second, wlm advanced to their assistance, but was so warmly receiicJ by those dragoons, who came seasonably in, and gave their first fire on horseback, that his fury was checked, and having lost a great many men, was forced to wheel about to his own men ; and had the King had but three regimenis of horse at hand to have charged him, he had been routed. The rest of this wing kept their grounil, and received the first fury of the enemy with great firmness ; after which. THE BATTLE OF EDGE HILL 273 adrancing in their turn, they were once masters of the Karl of Essex s cannon. And here we lost another advantn-e ■ for.f any foot had been at hand to support these horse,' hnttic of the enemy's foot, hut the foot were otherwise en- gaged. Ihe horse on this side fought with §reat obstinacy and variety of success a great while. .Sir I'hihp Stapicton who commanded the guards of tl,e Earl of ICssev bein.^ engaged with a i>arty of our Shrewsbury cavaliers, 'as we called them, was once in a fair way to have been cut off bv a hrigade of our foot, who, being advanced to fall on ui.on the larhaments main body, ilanked Sir Philip's horse in hc^way, and facing to the left, so furiously charged him «.th their pikes, that he was obliged to retire in great dis- order, and with the loss of a great many men and horses. All this while the foot on both sides were desperately engaged, atjd coming close up ,0 the teeth of one another with the clubbed musket and push of pike, fought with great resolution, and a terrible slaug! ,,r on both sides gmng no quarter for a gre.it while; and they continued to do thus, till, as ,f they were tired and out of wind, either party seemed willing enough to leave off and take breath Ihose whi.h suffered most were that brig.ide whirl, lu,l charged Sir William St.apleton's horse, who, bein.^ bravely engaged ,n the front with the enemy's foot, were, on the sudden, charged again in front and flank by Sir William halfours horse and disordered, after a very desperate de- fence. Here the King's standard was taken, the standard- bearer Sir Edvvard Verney, being killed; but it was rescued again by Captain Smith, and brought to the King the same night, for which the King knighted the captain. i his brigade of foot had fought all the d.ay, and had not been broken at last if any horse had been at hand to sup- port them. The field began to be now clear ; both armies stood, as It were, gazing at one another, only the Kin- Having rallied his foot, seemed inclined to renew the "•I m ! n 274 CHARLlvS 1 charge, and hegan to cannonade ihcni, which they could not return, most of their cannon l)eing nailed while they were in our possession, and all the cannoniers kille' g'-'l'lemen of quality siain. On the other hand we carried off Colonel Esse.^ i! .. !l 'Iffi-I 276 CHARLES I Oiloni;! Ramsey, and the Lord St, John, who also diud of his wounds ; we took five ammunition waggons full of powder, ind brought ofif about 500 horse in the defeat of the lett ' ■ith ghto 1 standards and colo nd lost )lours, seventeen. The slaughter of the left wing was so great, ami the fliglu so effectual, that several of the officers ritl clear a\va\', coasting round, and got to London, where they reported that the Parliament army was entirely defeated -all lost, killed, or taken, as if none but them were left alive to carry the news. Tliis filled them with consternation for a while, but when other messengers followed all was restored to ([uiet again, and tlie Parliament cried up their victory and sufficiently mocked f r,)d and their general witii their public thanks for it. Truly, as the fight was a deliverance to them, they were in the right to give tlianks for it ; but as to its being a victory, neither side had much to boast of, and they less a great deal than we had, — ^D.\NMiiL Df;foi;, Memnirs d/ a Cavd/icr. XXI How King Charles dealt with friends and Foes ':; 'he hfgher classes oYnoliXfr r""'™' "^•^'«-'> •he courtiers who held by Zl^" ^'" '"'"•■ '^"^ to It was one part of CInr f , '"■'"'""" "^ "»^ ""''••v. a^;yrendered^hC;::::i;;,txs„rr'\ '"?"- subsequent rerVn th,. „r , ■ ■ ' " l'"s!|>(,ned to a "Tone, that hell .dTo',': hi " °' '" '^""'>' ^-•■> '" -Mictions with whid'tt iMrr-"'"'"'^-^"""" He was conscious of the "oodna ur " " """'"" '^■''■ -J 'rusted to it, often not in , 'fr^' "' '''' '— ^. sions arising from actions wMrh h ' "'"'' *=''' ''"Pres- •'ejust,fied°on,hegrrK, o ,,,erlr ^™^''"---''' -t Clurles's evenings, unl s sue "^ "T"'^ """^'y- secret pleasures, we^; frenuemlv """" '^''''"''^ '" "'"^e »"y pretence to app.oac ' . ' t re"' T™""^' •^" '^'""'='<^ "Pon the night which we a eTre '^ *-' ' ""^ """^ " ^^^^ -onciled or hu.hied ,o t.^f! Td'-I '^"''" ^"'■^'^'"^• Ptess any feelings of ieilou . f: ^^ '^'^■''^'-■^ '<> ^•^- X II I 273 CHARLES II enjoyed, tliouLjli in a less avowed character, the credit of having liL'Lii royal favourites. Constraint of every kind was banished from a circle so composed, and winch was fru quented at the same time, if not by the wisest, at least by the wittiest courtiers who ever assembled round a monarch, and who, ai many of tliem had shared the wants and shilt^ and frolics of his exile, had then acquired a sort of pro- spective licence, which the good-natured Prince, when he- attained his period of prosperity, could hardly have re strain^l hid it suited his temper to do so. This, however, was the least of Charles's thoughts. His manners wen; such as secured him from indelicate obtrusion ; and h- sought no other protection from over-familiarity than what these and his ready wit afforded him. On the present occasion he was peculiarly disposed t" enjoy the scene of pleasure which had been prepared. 11- even felt a degree of satisfaction on receivijig intelligence from the city that there had been disturbances in the streets, and that some of the more violent fanatics had betaken themselves to their meeting houses, upon sudden summons, to inquire, as their preachers phr.ised it, into the causes of Heaven's wrath, and into the backsliding of the court, lawyers, and jury, by whom the false and bloody favourers of the Popish Plot were screened and clo.cked from dv- served punishment. The King turned to a part of the stately hall, whir. everything was assembled which could, according to the taste of the age, make the time glide pleasantly away. In one place, a group of the young nobility, and of the ladies of the court, listejied to limpson, who was accon panying with his unrivalled breathings on the flute, a young siren, who, while her bosc^m palpitated with iiiido and with fear, warliled to the courtly and august presem l- the beautiful air beginning — " Young I am, and yt^t unskill'd How to m.ike a Inver yield," etc. '"' ""'''' "■'■'•" ^f^'^-OS Am KOES .„ She performed lier task m »''h the strains of (|,e anuiorv n """"" '° ^o^respondin,. -"" -;'H.h the word, h™h Lf •:'• ^"V''^^"'"P'"°- -'^ ■-•'o'theladfesthouglu^top: >^ '" '"'"^'"' "''"'= ""''"-^■nt to the words she 2 ' '" '''"'' ^^^-"'•■■y •^'^^'-^ as quietly as possWe To".'" ""'"'"- f™""l-e ^°ncer,o, perfor.ned l,y a select h. h' l""^ '"''"''^'^ ^' '""'■c,ans, ,vhich the Kino ,1" '""'' °f '"°^' ^JmiraMe I'^rf himself selected. ^'"" ''^°'^ '^^'e was indisputable, ^C^trl:^;;';^^^.^;:--^' 'he e.der courtiers wor ' 'luadrille, ha^ard, and the k" t "".'"' e--""^^°f ombre, lay before the players, au mem d /'"' °' S°'''- "''"'^h '-" of a card or cast o a°d,e M° "'"^'^'^ "'"'' every «>ates was ventured upon tie „!''"^ T"'^ ^"'t of fair ^!'e»t in the old deserted Jlor' °"^ "''''^ - '^'''-h, -vages of Cromwell u,o„ ri"^*^' '',"'' ''^'"'-'^ "- ,^o"rces of good house eepi," and , " ^""^'"''^ "'e '■austed n, the last age by fin" =. ''o-^P'tahty, that, e... I" a fair .ay of beinl iJZZ. f^""'""on, were now '•-l^ewheu, under cov^r o " sS-- ^f "'' ''™''-^'">'- '"S lo the music, the oall mr7 ° "."'"'"'"-■^' " ''-^'-n- »"e practised amon^ ^^"anines of that all-licensed a.e "7 "hilst by the u^ry r^K'^,'f'■^' '^'°^^-'^ --^^ed -'ves at least the j^^easure of „u' ^'"'"'''''^ 'l'^>'"- :!;:--,a,mmg,mtrig:;Lt;^rL%ir£ "f^C"nrr:,r:it^'?r^^'-V Monarch. -" a court wit, now" bea^in: ',;;::;! '^^"'^' ™>^ ^ J-' '*'ng or winning a few piecc°s o "„,h "'\"'"^'--' and anon 5»™e to which he stood neaSt^' ^''^"^'^ °f 'he "lui.tuaries-the gayest and h«, """' '■'""able of ::- 'hat woul|^fl^'::;J::;;:-^r companions- ■''aracter, had l,fe been ' others, have best a continued banq sustained his uei, and its only ll> 38o CHARLES II end to enjoy tin- |v.ssing hour, aiul srml it away n'. (iIcAsanlly as nii^ht hf. liut kinj;s arc least of all e\iin|jte(l from the orilinary Int of Ininianily ; and Sened of Kiliiopia is, amongst monari li-. no solitary example of the vanity of reckonin,:; on a dav "r an hour of undiUirhed serenity. An attendant on ilu court announced ,uddenly to their Majesties that a ladv. who would only announce herself as a peeress of Kni^laml. desired to be admitted into tlie Presence. 'l"he (^)ueen said, hastily, it was ;V/0/.f (//','(■. No peere<~. without announcing her title, was entitled to the priviKi;'. of her rank. " I could be sworn," said a noble in attendam e, " tli.it i! is some whiir of the Duchess of Newcastle." 'I'hc attendant who lirou;^lit the message said that he diii indeeu believe it to be the duchess, both from the singu larity of the message, and that the lady spoke with soiii' what a foreign accent. "In the name of madness, then," said the King, "let u- admit her. Her Grace is an entire raree-show in her own person— a universal masipierade— indeed, a sort of priv.iti bedlam hospital, her whole ideas being like so main patients craved upon the subjects of love and literature, who act nothing in their vagaries, save Minerva, Veiiin, and the nine Muses." "Your Majesty's pleasure must always supersede miiir," said the Queen. " I only hope I shall not be e.xpecled to entertain so a fantastic a personage." " Am I to understand, then, your Majesty's pleasure is, that the lady is to be admitted ? " said the usher. "Certainly," said the King; "that is, if the incognita W really entitled to the honour. It may be as well to inquire her title; there are more madwomen abroad than the Duchess of Newcastle. I will walk into the ante-room my- self and receive your answer." But ere C •■rles had reached the lower end of the apjrt- Tin- K(x<; urn, fripvos axd r,„,s jSl "lent in hi. prnfjress to the antr r. .,,!.. ti i ""'I'iiif,' in her nnm„. , ' ' '"■'"-■ "'^'^ '"i^^"' ness of wriuv'^ .;„.„ , j'-"^"'^'- -'"'■ wr conscious- Chnrlcs,an:;:7;h: -t^™; ;'-.-'"--."„on of 'l'oscf„,„,„.hon or in V .s'' "'^"'j"-' ■-'>• "wr om^rci, ,av. her i,::^:;; "';;:;' r7"'' '■""'"■" was .hcssfd in widow's w V . "'f* ""'""■'"■ -She- wer. worn a , J ,■",;:';• " ""," """' ''''''"" «'>"-'' scaffold: and „ ,ch in ,h , ""' ^'' '"■'^"«'" '" "- even., she had n ; per I I? '"'" '''"'"■'I"'--"' "^ ">^' .Thes,,rpriser::z: -'.^^K;^"T■ -atthesi^^rr^Sei'^^rr^-r'-"^ manner suitable to liis own " "'"^ "^ receiving her in a lir.tish court. H , lo'hed T" ',"'' "" """ '" ">« '"to wh,eh he threw h^^, ","■'"' '" ''' °f "'^l™'"^-. fa^uSiSiS' ^.r ''^'^^""''^'° -^ -ha -mother to one Enali h Eari ';" ''' r "" "' "''^ "^"■"" ;nKn„a„d I hall tt'^ r cf"'^:',:;'^;^ .^"°'^- ' long years of widowhood and sor ow K happiness, „,y Suage are but to n,e the dims "f ' " """ ''' '^"■ hood. I know no tongue 5,'^,!?!, f ""'"'-"""S child- »n. Permit me a th x "*" ''"'''^""^ '"'d n.y ■" render ^i; hom'e " '"" '"'"' """^^^ "' '^-''y, thus i^ ill i' !■ • 282 CIIAKI.HS II Shu 'vould liavi' lini.tliil, but llic Kinj; (jracefully prevcntcil Irt, and, saluting lar < lick, according lo the form, led hi r towards the (^ucen, and liiiiisilf pcrrornuKl the rcrLMUony i>f intrndui'tlim. " Vour Majesty," he said, " must l)e in fiirmed that the Cuuntoss has imposed a restrirtion on I'renih — the lan(;naj;e of gallantry and compliment. I trust your Majesty will, though a foreigner, like herselt, I'md enough of honest Knglish to assure the Countess or Derlpywilh what pleasure wo see her at court, after tin absence of so many years " " 1 will endeavour to do so. at least," said the Qnein, on whom the apjtenrancc of the Countess of Derby ninde .i m(jre favourable impression tlian tliat of many Strang* r^. whom, at the King's rc'iuest, she was in the habit of reeeiv ing with courtesy. Charles himself again spoke. " To any other lady of the same rank I might put ihc cpiestion. why she was so Inn,- absent from the cirde? I fear I can only ask the Counter- of Derby what fortunate cause produces the pleasure m seeing her here ?" " Xo fortunate cause, my liege, though one most siron;; and urgent." The King augured nothing agreeable from this comn^en ■ ■ ment ; and in truth, from the countess's first entrant ! had antici[iated some unpleasant explanation, whuli i, therefore hastened to Jiarry, having first composed lii~ features Into an expression of sympathy and interest. "If," said he, "the cause is of a nature in which we inn render assistance, we cannot e.vpcct your ladyship slinuM enter upon it at the present time ; but a memorial aiKlressrd to our secretary, or, if it is more satisfactory, to ourselves directly, will receive our immedi.ne, and I trust I need not add, our favourable construction." The Countess bowed with some state, and answered. " My business, sire, is indcd important ; but so brief, lli.it it need not for more than a few minutes withdraw your t.ir TIIK MN,, Willi iKiirxos .\\u Kms from what is mure afraid pli-asiiii; ; Tl. to post|ioMf it uvi ri for a nt, tlul I Dirli' '!■■ !•* IS unusual, 'said CU.nk- ' nut V nijiht I '. ari; an unwonted kucsI. and nm.'t l>oos the niattrr r,-.|nire inv privnir >r my part,' said the Count ■on, f?ciun,'i'ssi; Cfjinniand nr isltn ; hut your Majisty L'ss, ■ the whol,_- lav prL'fur h. irni- ie pr^s.-nce of one or t«o of yo.,r .onnsdlors ' Orniond nn instant -and do you, .\r li thr Kin-, looking round, ".attend usf,. •Ihe K Slating hiuisLli, i"S led the way nit "Slon, do the san ciiair requested the Cou adj. lining rabiiiet, and, iiitess wouM als.i take ' It needs uicnt, as if to collect her not, sir," she rephcd : then pausm,- f.. ilrawn when tl M'onr M ine from s|)irits, she pi ■ijesty u-eJl said that Illy lonely h.il>ii.i -ded with lirni- li^l.t he pro|.erty of my son- I ca cause had scended to him fr nie not liiiher iliat property which de- rights— was conjured away fr justice, that it niinht " inipuached ? " said the King; "for, on my word, you bring me the first news of it." "Has there one Narrative, as these wild fictions are termed, been printed with regard to the Popish Plot -this pretended Plot, as I will call it — in which the honour of our house has not been touched and tainted ? And are there not two noble gentlemen, father and son, allies of the House of Stanley, about to be placed in jeopardy of their lives, on account of matters in which we are the parties first impeached ? " The King looked around, and smiled to Arlington and Ormond. " The Countess's courage, niethinks, shames ours. \Vhat lips dared have called the immaculate Plot frtkiidi'd, or the Narrative of the witnesses, our preservers from Popish knaves, a wild fictio.. ? But, madam," he said, " though I admire the generosity of your interference in behalf of the two Peverils, I must acquaint you that your interference is unnecessary — they are this morning ac- quitted." "Now may God be praised ! " said the Countess, folding her hands. " I have scarce slept since I heard the news of their impeachment ; and have arrived here to surrender myself to your Majesty's justice, or to the prejudices of the nation, in hopes, by so doing, I might at least save the lives of my noble and generous friends, enveloped in suspicion only, or chiefly, by their connection with us. Are they in- deed acquitted ?" " They are, by my honour," said the King. " I marvel you heard it not." " I arrived but last night, and remained in the strictest seclusion," said the Countess, " afraid to make any inquiries that might occasion discovery ere I saw your Majesty." " And now that we have met," said the King, taking her hand kindly — "a meeting which gives me the greatest pleasure — may 1 recommend to you speedily to return to THE KtNG AVITII FRIEXDS AND FOES .S^ Ihe worUl my dear Cuntess, hns chnn.'ed since we were young. Men fought in ,he Civil AVar 'vith good sw r. w rfarT wl .= rT"'' ^'"" "'^ "" ^^ep, In such hold out a cas.le, I doul.t much if you have the art to par ■ hnd storr^"""'- '■''" '''"' '''''' ™'-' "P"" "^ ke and storm -there ,s no steering the vessel in the teeth of " '''h's is cowardice, my liege," said the Countess " For g.ve the word !-i, is but a woman who speak it Ca rojal father. 1 here ,s Inu one right and one wron.r-one honourable and forward course; and all others wFch d Mate are oblique and unworthy." "Your language, my venerated friend," said Ormnnd who saw the necessity of interfering betw ..t t e d"S the actual sovereign and the freedom of the Countess wl! was generally accustonred to receive, not to p y r 'a^ ^ -hHmeT'Tm'ithT""-'^""' '''"''• ''"' '--'P'--'' 'o n,e tunes It might occasion a renewal of the Civil War nd of all ,ts mysteries, but could hardly be attended ,' ihe effects you sangumely anticipate " "Vou are too rash, my lady Countess," said Arlington not only to rush u|>on this danger your elf h„t , Y .0 involve his Afajesty. Let nie%ay": , "n X: of Snio!" ' ""^ ''•'•""■ "f ' '°''°'"« ■" 'he Tower "And were I to kiss the block there," said the Countess as d,d my husband at lioltonon-the-Afoors, I wou do so willingly, rather than forsake a friend .'-and one o, «J^as,nd,ecaseof the younger Peveri, I hl:r:; 286 CHARLES II " But have I not assured you that both of the Peverils, elder and younger, are freed from peril ? " said the King ; "and, my dear Countess, what can else tempt you to thrust yourself on danger, from which, doubtless, you expect to be relieved by my intervention? Methinks a lady of your judgment should not voluntarily throw herself into a river, merely that her friends might have the risk and merit of dragging her out." The Countess reiterated her intention to claim a fair trial. The two counsellors again pressed their advice that she should withdraw, though under the charge of absconding from justice, and remain in her own feudal kingdom. The King, seeing no termination to the debate, gently reminded the Countess that her Majesty would be jealous if he detained her ladyship longer, and offered her his hand to conduct her back to tlie company. This she was under the necessity of accepting, and returned accordingly to the apartments of state. When Charles had reconducted the Countess of Derby into the presence-chamber, before he parted with her, he entreated her, in a whisper, to be governed by good counsel, and to regard her own s-fety ; and then turned easily from her, as if to distribute his attentions equally among tlic other guests. 'I'hese were a good deal circumscribed at the instant, by the arrival of a party of five or si,\ musicians; one of whom. a German, under the patronage of the Duke of Ijuckin^- hani, was particularly renowned for his performance on the violoncello, but had been detained in inactivity in the ante- chamber by the non-arrival of his instrument, which had now at length made its appearance. The domestic who jilacod it before the owner, shrouded as it was within its wooden case, seemed heartily glad to ho rid of his load, and lingered for a moment, as if interested iti discovering what sort of instrument was to be produced that could weitih so he.avily. His curiositv was s,atisficd, ■^■'iE KING WITH FRIENDS AND FOES .87 greater convenience paced uoW; ""'^ '""= '"' ''" case and instrument iSonc?n "^""''' ""^ "•^"' "'« •he dwarf, GeorrreMiulrTtl:;;t T;r' °""""^'^ appearance, thus suddenlv ,„, ,> ° . ""^"^ unearthly and ran ba^k.vard £ tX«""'' ''' ''•■''" ^'^^'^''^ Oerman,onseoingtkepor'enoTr''"'"-''' '-'"'' '">-' I»- '""'Wed 0. the floor in .?''-*'^°^'"'' fiddle case, that his instruent'smearnrr'' 7'"""- " •"''"" '- -'•ich supplied its placrso soon H '"'° "' ''""'" '"'""' l-e glided ou, of the annrtment ' .""'''"' '"'^ ''^ ^'-'^"'■^'^^■'J. ofl-iscompanions'^ '"'■'"'' ''^' ^""""••-'d l^)' ">ost no;'^;rs;^:^:'^;^;;]f,::^:"f old .lend, rau. ■s the purveyor of ti jest hath "'T"' ''^° ' ^"'''"'« one." ■"'"' '""> ^'^"■ed us up but a stale .ioI"''LK:r''°"°--^^''''°"e moment's atten. .ui^;^s^;e':;;rnt'::-;;'''^^''''^^^'"«- -o"^- our leisure can harj °b= Z^. ', '"'Y'" '°"'8'"'- ""^ '0 'hen,. I, „,s an\i tri o ' B 'r' ,""" '" ''^"•-"".^ ■n a whisper ,0 Orn,ond, ' 'to send the'".:' "" ■"•■ •^""-' especially as he was to-d, y t rid for 'T' """' '"""■"• At any rate, he comes not to I „ " ' ' "'?" "' ""-' '''ot. had the rare fortune to con,e ^ffXlT T^ ''^ -'"' or the Kin,-s deuSrat" nd "''" ''""--" of the floor, n,ost valorou . "a rin'l'ir''"' '" ""-■ "^'^^ 2S8 CHARLES II thou m.iyst have time to repose these flourishing little limbs of thine." " No poetical speech have I, most mighty sovereign," answered the dwarf; "hut, In plain and most loyal ])rose, 1 do accuse, before this ciini|)any, the onco noble I)''ke fif liuckingham of high treason ! " " Well spoken, and manfully. Get on, man," said the King, who never doubted tliat this was the introduction to someth...,; burlesque or win .■, not conceiving that the charge was made in solemn earnest. A great laugh took pl.ice among such courtiers as heard, and among many who did not hear, what was uttered by the dwarf; the former cntert:.ined by the extravagant em- phasis and gesticulation of the little champion, and thi: others laughing not the less loud that they laughed fur example's sake, and upon trust. " What matter is there for all this mirth ?" said he, very indignantly ; " Is it fit subject for laughing, that I, (ieoffrey Hudson, Knight, do, before King and nobles, impeach George Villiers, Duke of liuckingham, of liigh treason : ' "No subject of mirth, certainly," said Charles, composing; his features ; " but groat matter of wonder. Come, cease this inouthing, and prancing, and mummery. If there be a jest, come out with it, man ; and if not, even get thee in the beauffet, and drink a cup of wine to refresh thee after thy close lodging." "I tell you, my liege," said Hudson impatiently, yet in a whispe- intended only to be audil)le by the King, " that il you spend over much time in trifling, you will be convinced by dire e.\perien-e of Buckingham's treason. I tell you— I asseverate to your Majesty— two hundred armed fanatics will be here within the hour, to surprise the guards." "Stand b.ack, ladies," said the King, "or you may hear more than you will care to listen to. My Lord of IJuckiii- ham's jests are not always, you know, quite fitted for feiiiaK ears; besides, we want a few words in private with our littl. TIIK KhV; WITH FRIENDS AND FOES 2.S9 friend. Vou, my Lord of Orn,nnd-yo; , A .n^ton ' (and lu. named one or two otlur.). "may remain with us " Ihe gay rowd Lore back, and dispersed throu-h the l".tn,ent.-the „,e„ to conjecture ,vlut the end ^f ,h,s ".unnnery, as they supposed it. was hkely to prove nd what je.st as Sedley said, the bass f.ddle had l,e ",r;ug u o bed o - and the ladies to adn.ire and eriticse f. 'm f e dress and r.chly embroidered ruff and hood of th. .,nte of Uerby, to .ho,,, the Queen was showing particular attend "And now, in the name of Heaven, and amon-st |-K,s," sa,d the King to the dwarf, "^hat ^::'^ "Treason, ,,,y lord the King ! Treason to his Majesty of England. \ h.,, I „.,, ,Ua,,^,,,^d ,n yonder ins.rt,menT "Y lord, the II,gh l;utch fellows who bore me carr^d me all was ready. S,re, I went where bass fiddle never went before, even ,nto a conventicle of Kifth-Monarch ItY- and -V un they brought me away, the preacher was co c i j^^ ' like the bell-wether at the head of his flock, to surprise your Majesty ,n your royal court- I heard him throulh the sound-holes of my instrument, when the fellow set me down for a n,o,nent to profit by this precious doctrine " It would be singular," said Lord Arlington, "were'there hese w,ld n,en have been consulting together to-day, and tive conventicles have held a solemn fast " "Nay," said the King, " if that be the case, they are cer- tainly determined on some villany." / i- cer " Might I advise," said the Duke of Ormond, " I would summon the Duke of Buckingham to this Presence His connections with the fanatics are well known, thou-h he affects to conceal them." ° " You would not, my lord, do hi^ Grace the injustice to ;i1 iili 2<)0 CHARLES II treat him as a criminal on such a charge as this ? " said the King. " However," he added, after a moment's consider- ation, " Buckingham is accessible to every sort of tempta- tion, from the flightiness of his genius. I should not he surprised if he nourished hopes of an aspiring kind— I think we had some proof of it but lately. Hark ye, Cliiffinch ; go to him instantly, and bring him here on any fair pretext thou canst devise. I would fain save him from what lawyers call an overt act. The court would be dull as a dead horse were Buckingham to miscarry." " Will not your Majesty order the Horse Guards to turn out?" said young Selby, who was present, and an officer. " No, Selby," said the King, " I like not horse-play. But let them be prepared; and let the High Bailiff collect his civil officers, and command the Sheriffs to summon their worshipful attendants, from javelin-men to hangmen, and have them in readiness, in case of any sudden tumult — double the sentinels on the doors of the palace — and see no strangers get in." " Or out" said the Duke of Ormond. " Where are the foreign fellows who brought in the dwarf?" They were sought for, but they were not to be found. They had retreated, leaving their instruments, a circum- stance which seemed to bear hard on the Duke of Buck- ingham, their patron. Hasty preparations were made to provide resistance to any effort of despair which the supposed conspirators might be driven to ; and in the meanwhile, the King, withdrawing with Arlington, Ormond, and a few other counsellors, into the cabinet where the Countess of Derby had had her audience, resumed the examination of the little discoverer. His declaration, though singular, was quite coherent; the strain of romance intermingled with it being in fact a part of his character, which often gave him the fate of beinij laughed at, when he would otherwise have been pitied, or even esteemed. 1 j h 9 I 1 ' On iH i i J 1 ! 1"! i ' 1 1 ijll ■ .1 Wm^ ^^1 i - ■ kli u ■ THE KING WITH FRIEXDS AND rORS .0, "hen it is not (lou-J 'T J"' ''"'^'-' 'I"" the top, 'he end of a deH t 'ti ^1,21 «" ^"^ "^ "-'' - whip may keep it up for 1^J,3 '' ""^ •^l'l"'cn..on of the 'v^-edtheKi„;:::^'l':;cvr:::;:rf,'"^- --•manation of lovellnes.i •, . ""^ hght-an and beautiful of eye who~"hn . ■?"''''''-''"'^'' "^ '^"^l' in such a place ? " ■'•oiacLa with female society ner Jf'rLJr; pS^-'lr r '^"^'^ "'^" '''--• My devotion to ti::r;^L^r~e:i't'"V'"'^^' poor Catholics pay to the 1,1.1. ,! '^"'lier ],ke what we any grosser quahty. IndeS he s"'""' ""," "''^'•■'' "•'"' "f the Rosicrucian system ,1 r'"" '"""-'' '^ ^>'l''"'' ^li«hter. lighter, a^d '?.';„" 2 f'"T ""■^' ^ ''•"•'■"''' life, who have someth L of ,h , ''"' °^ •^^'"'"°" "•hich is doubtless derived (r """"""'''' "' ">»'''-" ™eof the an.ediLtns' "' "" ""'"' ■■'"'' S'"-''"'- di^S''.:-:';:„rrr:;'^"^^'-- -'^'^-hounot all?" >!" to be a mere mortal wench ofter _""'lio?-I, myliege?-Ofiei- aaiiS"^Si,fKm;:'V;r''^^'''r'^"''^''>'-"- no audacity of gallanto;" ' ■°" '"''"-'" ^°" "' pa:;eS:a::rz^j;;::fjs,"^;^-ormondim. - ten minutes, an^ ten ::::t,,, I;;:;--'- '-en I' 292 CHARI.RS II "True," said Charles gravely. "Cnme to the pninl, Hudson ; and tell us what this female has to do with your coming hither in this extraordinary manner." "Everything, my lord," said little Hudson. "I saw her twice during my confinement in Newgate, and, in my thought, she is the very angel who guards my lifr and welfare ; for, after my acquittal, as I walked towards the city with two tall gentlemen, who had lieen in troul)l(- along with nie, and just while we stood to our defence against a rascally mob, and just as I had taken possession of an elevated situation, to have some vantage against the great odds of numbers, I heard a heavenly voice sound, as it were, from a window behind me, counsellin.L; me to take refuge in a certain house ; to which measun- I readily persuaded my gallant friends the Peverils, who have always shown themselves willing to be counselled by me." '•Showing therein their wisdom at once and modesty, said the King. "ISut what chanced next? Be brief be like thy.self, man." "For a lime, sire," said the d .f, "it seemed as if 1 were not the principal object i attention. First, the younger Peveril was withdrawn Irom us by a gentleman of venerable appearance, though something smacking of a Puritan, having boots of neat's leather, and wearing his weapon without a sword-knot. When Master Julian re turned, he informed us, for the first time, that we wert in the power of a body of armed fanatics, who were, .^^ the poet says, jirompt for direl'ul act. And your Maj^■^ly will remark, that both father and son were in shiiil' measure desperate, and disregardful from that moment m the assurances which I gave them, tliat the star which I was bound to worship would, in her own time, shine forth in signal of our safety. May it please your Majesty, in answer to my hilarious exhortations to confidence, tin- father did but say tiisli. and the son fthmi\ which shown! THE KING WITH FRIENDS AND FOES .,:, l>reak forlli wrr,. ,. „„i . inccssity tlicru was to dnngerou 'pas ". ,: C T''' '^ ''""'^'-'^'^ "^ "'c.,e I'oin.ofpike ^";„^^, :"""'•-•'' "»■ <^-"Pn"i..ns, a. distant apart,,,, n Z' ^ '"""•■ "'^'" ^'"'' ■"<'''= -n that I felt a oenin ■ "' ''''■'""^'^"' ""'' ' "'" '■ale is a. highe t, a, the one '"'"", "', '""'■ "'" "■••^■" ^.radoo.ofHo;er:u^;,;;;S;;,''"^:^'""'^'-' on.,o:^,r;L;:i2j:-'"T'''^^''''^-'^ >l'e lang„a,e of common sc!" I '' ' '""'''"-"'' """ .'f romtncts al.outcZ,:^ !:'"'""'"' ''," '"""''='' inoaninf; of it " ' "•• "'•''>' '«= "'''>-' '" '"ake ^epi^^^^r-^iSt^SrS-S™""'---"' with a very dignified air 'Th / ""'''*=""", and said, gentleman's ha;d was "ou J at a"."' '"'^"'"" ' '^'^"' his present engage,«ent and H '""' "'"^ "'''' ''""'"^ Buckingham, htruM^^f S:ed"n' "''"; ''' '""' °^ the Duke of Or,„ond " ° '""'' '"'"^ f™'" King; "and forgive the Duke of n Tc"" '''"^ "'^ I- at an events go on .^t,: il?"""" ^"^' "'>■ ^"^^ ^ ■■■■' ■'i*IIU Ui proud and dignified subm '*.*...««.;-;;™r-s:5;:S™ 3()4 CHARLES 11 accompanied with a horrible grin, which he designed for a smile of gracious forgiveness and conciliation. " Under the Uuke's favour, then," he proceeded, " when 1 said a door of hope was opened to me, I meant a door behind the taiieslry, from whence issued that fair vision— yet not so fair as lustrously ■ 'k, like the beauty of a continental night, where the cloudless azure sky shrouds us in a veil more I'n. ,) than that of day !-l)ut I note your Majesty's impatien.-c ;— enough. 1 followed my beautiful guide into an apartment, where there lay, strangely intermingled, warlike arms and musical instruments. Amongst these 1 saw my own late place of temporary obscurity— a viol, in cello. To my astonishment she turned around the insiru ment, and, opening it behind by pressure of a spring, showed that it was filled with pistols, daggers, and am munition made up in bandoliers. 'These,' she said, 'ari' this night destined to surprise the court of the unwary Charles '—your Majesty must pardon my using her own words; 'but if thou danst go in their stead, thou mayst be the saviour of King and kingdoms ; if thou art afraid keep secret, I will myself try tlie adventure.' ' Now, ma) Heaven forbid that Geoffrey Hudson were craven enough, said I, to let thee run such a risk! You know not - you cannot know, what belongs to such ambuscades and concealments— 1 am accustomed to them— have lurked in the pocket of a giant, and have formed the contents of a pasty.' ' (let in then,' she said, ' and lose no time. Nevertheless, while I prepared to obey, I will not deny that some cold apprehensions came over my hot valour, and I confessed to her, if it might be so, I would ratlic:r find my way to the jialnce on my own feet. But shr would not listen to me, saying hastily, ' I would be in- tercepted, or refused admittance, and that I must embrace the means she offered me of introduction into the Pn-v ence, and, when there, tell the King to be on his guard - little more is necessary ; for, once the scheme is known, it '">•: KING urrii vumsm .and ,.n,.s .,- implored her to wim tl, V ^'"'•'^''^ "'« 'n. ' I -V- left alone and XZ^f't ""„""""'■ ' '"""" fcilo«s entered, whon. I ,1 . '. ^■''" ^' '"° " "'''== sort understood, I Jr i d J llf ';^'^' '""^'' ' '" -""-■ ihe influence of the Duke of .. i '^•""^"«. and under receive from the UadeA i ""^';'"s''--'"'- I ''eard them .l-emselve, w£ the/ „ou d fn '" ^ '"' "^ "^'i'"" -and. for I will do the Uuk. "' " '""'^'^''^'^ ""» tl>cir orders w.re pre t not „ ?".*™"«-' "'"'"^'-d 'he King, but also Lse^^fT ^ ° '''"" ""-" '"'™" "^ who n,i,'Lt be :'th Pesenc; ZT ""' '" ('"'^^' "" fanatics. In other re,,,,.?, m '^i ? "" '""P""" of the ';entlen,an I'e s on r ' n t'h '"' h' '^""«'-' '° "''"•" ""-' obtain the co„,n,:nd of the courT" """'' ""'' '" ''"^•' '" coii;ru,£ai;°td' tirrr. r "'°"«'"^"' ^' ">■•' quietlymadeLrch into th^ ''"«•"" ^'='-" "'"' ^elby which had been brour, ^°."'.«"'^ "f 'he other cases He then signed to S:a,fT ^"' "'■'^"' '"^'™""-'^- him again 'and a^^ a vylr'n" Sr\"^^'"« sure that he heard ,L i. i . *°'^"'"l). whether he was -.KhngortpXrhisSo?^'"^ ■"^""°-^- -"'■ Ihe dwarf answered in the affirmative. .^,Th,s, -d the King, "is carrying the frolic somewhat Ihe dwarf proceeded to state thnf h. ■ . I I,':' 296 CHARLES II could not express the ago.iy which he felt when he found that his bearer, in placing the instrument in a corner, was about to invert its position ; in which case, he sa.d, hum.n frailty might have proved too great for love, for loyalty, for true obediuKo, ,.ay, for the fear of death, wh.ch was hke toersue or. .liscovery; and he concluded that he greatly doubted he could not have stood on his head for many minutes without screaming aloud. „ , . " I could not have blamed you," said the kmg ; placed in such a p..sture in the royal oak, I must needs have roared myself. Is this all you have to tell us of this strange conspiracy' " Sir C.eoffrey Hudson replied in the atfirma- live and the Kmg presently subjoined-" Go, my hltlc friend : your services shall not be forgotten. Smce thou hast crept into the bowels of a fiddle for our service, we are bound in duty and conscience to find you a more roomy dwelling in future." . "It was a violoncello, if your Majesty is pleased to re- member," said the little jealous man, "not a common fiddle ; though, for your Majesty's service, I would have crept even into a kit." , , i "Whatever of that nature could have been performed l.y any subject of ours thou wouldst have enacted in our behalf-of that we hold ourselves certain. Withdraw for a little ; and hark ye, for the present, beware what you suy about this matter. Let your appearance be considered-do you mark me ?-as a frolic of the Duke of Buckingham; and not a word of conspiracy." "Were it not better to put him under some ^strain t, sire?" said the Duke of Ormond, when Hudson had Icti '^"Tt°"' unnecessary," said the King. " I remember the little wretch of old. Kortune, to make him the mode o^ absurdity, has closed a most lofty soul within that little miserable carcass. For wielding his sword and keeping h,^ word he is a perf ~t Don Quixote in decimo-octavo. He THE KING WITH I.RIENDS AND FOES .'97 shall be tak freak of Buckinsh on care of. liui, odd.-,li; iiy I(->rds lot Ihh ' He had not had tl am tiK) villainous and untjralcful ? ' Majesty, he nijans of heii said the Duke of Orniond, "b had yc leen less lenient on other occasions. " My lord, my lord," said Charles hastily—" your lord- ship is Buckingham's known enemy— we will lake other .ind more impartial counsel. Arlington, what think you of all this?" "May it please your .Majesty," said .Arlington, "I think the tinng is absolutely impossible, unless the Duke has had some (luarrel with your Majesty, of which we know nothing. His Grace is very flighty, doubtless ; but this seems actual insam'ty." " Why, faith," said the King, " some words passed be- twixt us this mornin--his Duchess, it seems, is dead -and, to lose no time, hi., Grace had cast his eyes about for means of repairing the loss, and had the assurance to ask our consent to woo my niece, Lady Anne." "Which your Majesty of course rejected?" said the statesman. "And not without rebuking his assurance," added the King. "In private, sire, or before any witnesses?" said the Duke of Ormond. "Before no one," said the King— " excepting, indeed, little Chiffinch ; and ho, you know, is no one." "//;>«r illie /uc/trym.c," said Ormond. "I know his Grace well. While the rebuke of his aspiring petulance was a matter betwixt your Majesty and him, he miglit have let it pass by ; but a check before a fellow from whom it was likely enough to travel through the court, was a matter to be revenged." Here Selljy came hastily from the other room, to say that his Grace of Buckingham had just entered the piesonce- chamber. \ ^ 1 29S CHARLES II The King rose. " Let a boat be in readiness, with a party of the Yeomen," said he. " It may be necessary to attach him of treason, and send him to the Tower." » Should not a secretary of state's warrant be prepared ? " said Ormond. " No, my lord Duke," said the King sharply. " I still hope that the necessity may be avoided." At no period of his life, not even when that life was m imminent danger, did the constitutional gaiety of Charles seem more overclouded, than when waiting for the return of Chilfinch with the Duke of Buckingham. His mind revolted at the idea that the person to whom he had been so particularly indulgent, and whom he had selected as the friend of his lighter hours and amusements, should prove capable of having tampered witli a plot apparently directed against his liberty and life. He more than once examined the dwarf anew, but could extract nothing more than his first narrative contained. The persons who had been despatched to watch the motions of Master Weiver's congregation, brought back word that they had quietly dispersed. It was known, at the same time, that they had met in arms, but this augured no particular design of aggression, at a time when all true Protestants conceived themselves in danger of immediate massacre; when the fathers of the city had repeatedly called out the Train-Bands, and alarmed the citizens of London, under the idea of an instant insurrection of the Catholics ; and when, to sum the whole up, in the emph.itic words of an alderman of the day, there was a general belief that they would all waken some unhappy morning with their throats cut. Who was to do these dire deeds, it was more difficult to suppose ; but all admitted the possibility that they might be achieved, since one justice of the peace was already murdered. There was, therefore, no inference of hostile intentions against the State, to be decidedly derived from a congregation of Protestants par exceikiia, THE KING WITH I-RIENUS AND FOES 299 military from old associations, bringing their arms wiih them to a place of worship, in the midst of a panic so universal. While various reports were making from wiihont, and while their tenor was discussed by the King, ami such nobles and statesmen as he thought proper to consult on the occasion, a gradual sadness and anxiety mingled with, and finally silenced, the mirth of the evening. All became sensil)Ie that something unusual was going forward : and tlie unwonted distance which Charles maintained from his guests, while it added greatly to the dulness that began to predominate in the presence-chamber, gave intimation that something unusual was labouring in the King's mind. Thus gaming was neglected-the music was silent, or 1> ayed without being heard-gallants ceased to make com- pliments, and ladies to expect them ; and a sort of appre- hensive curiosity pervaded the circle. Each asked the others why they were grave; and no answer was returned any more than could have been rendered by a herd of cattle instinctively disturbed by the approach of a thunder- storm. To add to the general apprehension, it began to be whispered that one or two of the guests, who were desirous of leaving the palace, had been informed no one could he permitted to retire until the general hour of dismissal. .■\nd these, gliding back into the hall, communicated in whispers that the sentinels at the gates were doubled, and hat there was a troop of the Horse Cuards drawn up in the court-crcumstances so unusual as to excite the most anxious curiosity. Such was the state of the court, when wheels were lieard without, and the bustle which took place denoted the ■irnval of some person of conseciuence It was indeed the Duke of Buekingh.im ; nor did he I Hi 300 CHARLES II approach the royal presence without emotion. On entering the court, the flanib'aux which were borne around the carriage gleamed on the scarlet coats, laced hats, and drawn broadswords of the Horse (luards —a sight unusual, and calculated to strike terror into a conscience which was none of the clearest. The Duke alighted from the carriage, and only said to the officer whom he saw upon duty, " You are late under arms to-night. Captain Carleton." ".'^'.ich arc our orders, sir," answered Carleton, with military brevity ; and then commanded the four dismounted sentinels at the under gate to make way for the Uuke iil Buckingham. . His Grace had no sooner entered, than he heard behind him the command, " Move close up, sentinels — closer yet to the gate." And he felt as if all chance of rescue were excluded by the sound. As he advanced up the grand staircase, there were other symptoms of alarm and precaution. The Yeomen of the Guard were mustered in unusual numbers, and carried carabines instead of their halberds ; and the Gentlemen Pensioiiers, with their partisans, appeared also in propor- tional force. In short, all that sort of defence which the royal household possesses within itself, seemed, for some hasty and urgent reason, to have been placed under arms, and upon duty. Buckingham ascended the royal staircase with an eye attentive to these preparations, and a step steady and slow, as if he counted each step on which he trod. When he entered the presence-chamber the King stood in the mid.t of the apartment, surrounded by the personages with whom he had been consulting. The rest of the brilliant assembly, scattered into groups, looked on at some distance. .\ll were silent when Buckingham entered, in hopes of receiving some explanation of the mysteries of the evening. -Ml bent forward, though etiquette forbade them to advance. to catch, if possible, something of what was about to pass THE KINC; WITH FRIENDS AND l-'OES 30. betwixt tlie King and his intriguing statesman. At the ■same time, those counsellors who stood around Charles drew back on either side, so as to periiiit the Uuke to paj his respects to his Majesty in the usual form. He went through the ceremonial with his accustomed grace, but was received by Charles with much unwonted gravity " We have waited for you for some time, my lord Duke It IS long since Chiffinch left us, to request your attendance here. I see you are elaborately dressed. Your toilet was needless on the present occasion." " Needless to the splendour of your Majesty's court " said the Duke, "but not needless on my part. Tl, L c anced to be lilack Jlonday at York Mace, and my club a rued. I could not be m the company of Ogle, Maniduc, Dawson, and so forth, but what I must needs make somj preparation, and some ablution, ere entering the circle "I trust the purification will be complete," said the King, without any tendency to the smile which always softened features, that, ungilded by its influence, were dark harsh, and even severe. "We wished to ask your Grace concerning the import of a sort of musical mask which you unSand:"'^'"' "" "'''' ""'''""'' ^' ^ ^ ''"-" '° "It must have been a great miscarriage indeed," said he Duke, "since your Majesty looks so serious on it. I tliought to have done your Majesty a pleasure (as I have seen you condescend to be pleased with such passages), by sending the contents of that bass-viol; but I fear the donemisch!:.""""'^'"""-"'^"''^ '"'''"''' -^ '^- "Not the mischief they were designed for, perhaps," said mitiS-?'"'''^' "^°" '''■ ™^ '"''• "■'^''^" ""'^ """^ " Long may your Majesty remain so," said the Duke 302 CHARLES II " yet I see there is sonietliing misconstrued on my part — it must be a matter unpardonable, however httle intended, since it hath displeased so indulgent a master." " Too indulgent a master, indeed, Buckingham," replied the King; "and the fruit of my indulgence has been to change loyal men into traitors." " May it please your Majesty, I cannot understand this," said the Uuke. " Follow us, my lord," answered Charles, " and we will endeavour to explain our meaning." Attended by the same lords who stood around him, and followed by the Uuke of Buckingham, on whom all eyes were fixed, Charles retired into the same cabinet whicli had been the scene of repeated consultations in the course of the evening. There, leaning with his arms crossed on the back of an easy-chair, Charles proceeded to interrogate the suspected nobleman. " Let us be plain with each other. Speak out, Bucking- ham. What, in one word, was to have been the regale intended for us this evening ? " "A petty mask, my lord," answered the Duke. "I had destined a little dancing-girl to come out of that instrument, 'vho, I thought, would have performed to your Majesty's liking — a few Chinese fireworks there were, which, thinking the entertainment was to have taken place in the marble hall, might, I hoped, have been discharged with good effect, and without the slightest alarm, at the first appear- ance of my little sorceress, and were designed to have masked, as it were, her entrance upon the stage. I hope there have been no perukes singed — no ladies frightened no hopes of noble descent interrupted by my ill-fancietl jest ? " " We have seen no such fireworks, my lord ; and your female dancer, of whom we now hear for the first time, came forth in the form of our old acquaintance, Geoffrey Hudson, whose dancing days are surely ended." THE KING WITH FRIENDS AND FORS 303 "Your Majesty surprises me! I hescech you, let Christian be sent for-Edward Christian -he will lie found odgmg m a arge old house near Sharper the cutl. rs, in he Strand. As I hve by bread, sire, I trusted him with the arrangement of this matter, as indeed the danring-girl was h,s property. If he has done aught 10 dishonour my bat'oT"' °' ''■'"*^'' "'^ character, he shall die under the "It is singular," said the King, "and I have often ob- served ,t, that this fellow Christian bears the blame of all men s enormities-he performs the part which, in a great family ,s usually assigned to that mischiefdoing personage Nobody. When Chiffinch blunders, he always cuo^-e: Christian When Sheffield writes a lampoon, I am sure to hear of Christian having corrected, or copied, or dispersed It-he IS the ame damnee of every one about my court-the scapegoat, who is to carry away all their iniquities ; and he will have a cruel load to bear into the wilderness. liut for Buckingham's sins, in particular, he is the regular and uniform sponsor; and I am convinced his Crace expects Christian should suffer every penalty he has incurred in this world or the next." "Not so," with the deepest reverence replied the Duke I have no hope of being either hanged or damned by proxy; but it ,s clear some one hath tampered with and altered mv icMce. If I am accused of aught, let me at least hear the charge, and see my accuser." "That is but fair," said the King. '"Bring our little friend from behind the chimney-board." Hudson being accordingly produced, he continued: "There stands the uke of Buckingham. Repeat before him the tale you "id us Let him hear what were those contents of the 'ass-yiol which were removed that you might enter it. Be not alraid of any one, but speak the truth boldly " "May it please your .Majesty," said Hudson, "fear is a ihmg unknown to me." 304 CHARLES II " His body has no room to hold such a passion ; or there is too little of it to be worth fearing for," said Buckingham. " But let him speak." Ere Hudson had completed his tale, Buckingham inter rupted him by exclaiming, " Is it possible that I can be suspected by your Majesty on the word of this pitiful variety of the baboon tribe ? " " Villain lord, I appeal thee to the combat ! " said thi- little man, highly offended at the appellation thus bestowed on him. " La you there now ! " said the Duke. " The little animal is quite crazed, and defies a man who need ask no other weapon than a corking-pin to run him through tht- lungs, and whose single kick could hoist him from Dover to Calais without yacht or wherry. And what can you expert from an idiot, who is eiii^niif of a common ropedancini; girl, that capered on a packthread at Ghent in Flanders, unless they were to club their talents to set up a booth at Bartholomew Fair? Is it not plain that, sup|)osing the little animal is not malicious, as indeed his whole kind bear a general and most cankered malice against those who have the ordinary proportions of humanity — Grant, I say, that this were not a malicious falsehood of his, why, what does it amount to ? — 1 hat he has mistaken squibs and Chinese crackers for arms ! He says not he himself touched or handled them ; and, judging by the f' ; . alone, I question if the infirm old creature, when any wl or preconception hath possession of his noddle, can disL nguish betwixt a blunderbuss and a black pudding." The horrible clamour which the dwarf made so soon as he heard this disparagement of his military skill — the haste with which he blundered out a detail of his warlike experi- ences — and the absurd grimaces whicii he made in order to enforce his story, provoked not only the risibility of Charles, but even of the statesmen around him, and added absurdity to the motley complexion of the scene. The THE KING WITH FRIENDS AND FOES 305 withdraw""""'^ this dispute by co,n,„nn,ling the dwnrf ,„ A more regular discussion of his evidence was tl,,., resumed and Ormond «as .he firs, who pointed out tha t went further than had heen noticed, since the little n had men ,oned a certain extraordinary and treasonable conversafon held l.y the Duke's depenlnts, by who^ had been conveyed to the palace. "I an, sure not to lack my Lord of Ornumd's Rood word sa,d the l.uke scornfully; "but I defy him alike that this alleged conspiracy, if any grounds for it at all !»,!'?, ""T 1'""' P'"'' ^'"' "" '° '"™ 'he odium justly attached to the Papists upon the Protestants. Here is a ha f hansed creature, who, on the very day he escapes front the gallows, winch many believe was his most deserved Jestmy, comes to take away the reputation of a Protest.,,! peer-andonwhat? On the treasonable conversation" hree or four Cerman fiddlers, heard through the sound- holes of a violoncello, and that, too, when the creature vs encased ,n ,t, and mounted on a man's shoulders- Tl^ s"tnnH's'r°°' '" '"'r"i"^ "'''' '""«"^S'-'' ^"'^"'^ ^e under- stands German as httle as my horse does; and if he did rghtly hear, truly comprehend, and accurately report what hey sa,d, still, is my honour to be touched by thJ language held by such persons as these are, with whom I have never communicated, otherwise than men of my rank do vWth those of the,r calling and capacity? Pardon me, Te " I presume to say that the profound statesmen who e.'.dea oured to stifle the Po,,ish Conspiracy by the pretended Meal-tub Plot, will take little more credit by thei fig„?.nt about fiddles and concertos." i'f,n,ents The assistant counsellors looked at each other ■ and ri~t- '■" •>-• -^ -'^^^ 'h-.» thi -ror At this point the Peverils, father and son, were an- 3o6 CHARLES II nounced to have reached the palace, and were ordered into the royal presence. When the father and son entered the cabinet of audience, it was easily visible that Sir (leoffrey had obeyed the sum- mons as he would have done the trumpet's call to hor^e ; and his dishevelled grey locks and halfarranged dress, though they showed zeal and haste, such as he would havi used when Charles I. called him to attend a council of war, seemed rather indecorous in a pacific drawing-room. He paused at the door of the cabinet, but, when the Kiii^ called on him to advance, came hastily forward, with every feeling of his earlier and later life afloat and contending In his memory, threw himself on his knees before the King, seized his hand, and, without even an effort to speak, wept aloud. Charles, who generally felt deeply so long as an impressive object was before his eyes, indulged for a moment the old man's rapture. — " My good Sir Geoffrey," he said, "you have had some hard measure; we owe you amends, and will find time to p.iy our debt." "No suffering — no debt," said the old man; "I cared not what the rogues said of me — I knew they could never get twelve honest fellows to believe a word of their most damnable lies. I did long to beat them wlien they called me traitor to your Majesty — that I confess — But to ha\c such an early opportunity of paying my duty to your Majesty, overpays it all. The villains would have per- suaded me I ought not to come to court — aha ! " The Duke of Ormond perceived that the King colourcil much ; for in truth it was from the court that the privak- intimation had been given to Sir Geoffrey to go down tn the country without appearing at Whitehall ; and he, more over, suspected that the jolly old knight had not risen from his dinner altogether dry-lipped, after the fatigues of a d.iy so agitating. " My old friend," he whispered, "you fori;et that your son is to be presented —permit me to have ttiat honour." niK KIN(; will, l.RIUMW ANU ToKs ;,„; the frtshus . I ake Inn, to you, sir, for a faithf,,] s.-rvint i :>icti, axe or gallows, in yoiir Mii,.sfi.v ■ ■ i had.o„,e.h,„gtocomn,un,ca.e which was of co s ™ "ce o h,s s.rv,c.. S,r G.o:/rcy made h,s .niiiury r^^ Ice at tl.-h,nt, and marched o(f i„ the rear of tlL uke th' proceeded to ,n,,„ro of him concerning the cvem of tl day. Charles, m the nie.inwhile, having in ti.e first ,,1=/ ascertamed that the son was not in .h» sa,J".e^nl r with the father, demanded and rece' t Zn h T';^ account of all the proceedings snhse.,uent to th ru '' Juhan wtth the plainness and precision . ,, „,h a : r hT''"' "■'"^" ''^"'^'^ '" -<=h a presence niu^i.! .^11 that had happened down to the entrance of lirid-eno I and h,s Majesty was so mnch pleased with his n.ann ' ,' l.e congratulated Arlington on the.r having gain!! the -idenceofatleast one man of sense to these dr nd |n)ster.ous events. But when Bridgenorth was '^ou "n pon the scene, Julian hesitated to bestow a name uoo„ l"m; and although he mentioned the chapel wh" he had -en filled wuh men in arms, and the v, ,le„t 1 ' .uaL o, the preacher, he added, with earnestness, tl,;;; 'n::'with /. 3o8 CHARLES II standing all this, tlic men dL'|iarii:il wliliiiul Miiiiin:^ lo nny extremity, and had all loft the place before Ins father and he were set at liberty. " And you retired t|uietly to your dinner in Fleet Street, young man," said the King severely, " without |;tving a magistrate notice of the dangerous meeting which was held in the vicinity of our palace, and who did not conceal their intention of proceeding to extremities ? " Peveril blushed, and was silent. The King frowned, and stepped aside to communicate with Orinond, who reporieil that the father seemed to have known nothing of the matter. " And the son, I am sorry to say," said the King, " seeni^ more unwilling to speak the truth than I should liavu ex pected. We have all variety of evidence in this singular investigation --a mad witness like the dwarf, a drunken witness like the father, and now a dumb witness. Youn^ man," he continued, addressing Julian, "your behaviour l^ less frank than I expected from your father's son. I nmNi know who this person is with whom you held such famihar intercourse —you know him, I presume? ' Julian acknowledged that he did, but, kneeling on om- knee, entreated his Majesty's forgiveness for concealing lih name; "he had been freed," he said, 'from his con finement, on promising to that effect." " That was a promise made, by your own account, under compulsion," answered the King, " and I cannot authorise your keeping it ; it is your duty to speak the truth— if you are afraid of Buckingham, the Duke shall withdraw." " I have no reason to fear the Uuke of IJuckinghani," said Peveril ; " that I had an affair with one of his house hold was the man's own fault, and not mine." '• Oddsfish I " said the King, '■ the light begins to break in on me— I thought I remembered thy physiognomy, Wert thou not the very fellow whom I met at Chiffinch's yonder morning ? The matter escaped me since ; but now Till- KING WITH FKIHNDs ANIJ l.„i.;.s ,,„., 1 r.T„llc,t tlum Midst ■!,.„ lh.it thou wcrt the son of ih.. jolly .,ld Ihrcchottlc hnronct yonder " ..'■""'^•"^••'i'' •'"'-'• •'"•nt I met your Ahjo.y at dis,,K.a.cyou; hut- ■ ' "' -"""J ''-"J ""^ ""^lortunc to •• No more of that, 5 „„-!■ ,„an - no „,ore of that But I recolcct you h.ul .ith you that hcauti.ul dan, i,„ " r „ the intended Uniint of tli ■ \k - ^ r,kes me Here. Master IVver.l -yonder da„cin« Z:... I.at mtrodueed you to us l,y the sinK„l,„ ability of h- ' ormance, is she not. l.y your a.count, a dependent o. u. Countess of Derhy?" "I have known her such for year," an,wer,..d Julian I hen we will call the Countess !,,the,,'' said the Kin,- ■ It .s nt we should learn who th. ii.tle f.,iry real lis , d .fshe he now so absolutely at the heck of Hucki Ih and this Master Christian of his-why, I think ,t ^ J .ut c amy to let her ladyship know so much, sincTl ,u s on If she will wish, in that case, to retain her in h ser te csides." he continued, speaking apart, ''this Julian ,0 «hom suspicion attaches in these n.atters ,r„n. his ohs.m . ! lence. ,s also of the Countess's househol.l. We ^ ^f this matter to the bottom, and do justice to all " The Countess of Derby, hastily summoned, entered the oya closet at one door, just as Christian and ^arj, or .nella were ushered in by the other. The old K nS 't Martmdale, who had ere this returned to the Presence was -arce controlled, even by the si«„s which she „ de so 310 CHARLES II mucli was hu desirous of greeting his old friend ; but, as Orniund laid a kind restraining hand upon his arm, he was prevailed on to sit still. The Countess, after a deep reverence to the King, ac- knowledged the rest of the nohility present by a slighter reverence, smiled to Julian I'everil, and looked with sur- prise at the unexpected apparition of Fenella. Buckingham bit his lip, f)r he saw the introduction of Lady Derby was likely to confuse and embroil every preparation which he had arranged for his defence ; and he stole a glance at Christian, whose eye, when fi.\ed on the Countess, assumed the deadly sharpness which sparkles in the adder's, while his cheek grew almost black under the influence of strong emotion. " Is there any one in this Presence whom your ladyshi|i recognises," said the King graciously, " besides your old friends of Orniond ,.' Arlington?" " I see, my liege, two worthy friends of my husband's house," replied the Countess : "Sir Geoffrey I'everil and his son— the latter a distinguished member of my son's house- hold." " Any one else ? " continued the King. "An unfortunat' female of my family, who disappeared from the Island of Man at the same time when Julian I'everil left it on business of importance. She was thought to have fallen from the cliff into the sea." " Had your ladyship any reason to suspect— pardon me," said the King, "for putting such a question -any improi)er intimacy between Mastt^r Peveril and this same female at- tendant ? " " My liege," said the Countess, colouring indignantly, "my hou.sehold is of reputation." "Nay, my lady, be not angry," .said the King; "I did but ask— such things will befall in the best regulated families." " No' in mine, sire," said the Countess. " liesides that. THE KING WITH FRIENDS AND FOES 3,, in conimnn pride and in common honesty Tulian P, ■, "X'Ih fl^,l°°^"^ fi^^dly at Peveril, and then said in this conjecture ? " ' ^^"^ ^"^ '""h Christian stole a glance at 7ir-,h ,„^ j l orth in the midst of a shower of lal.nt L ? "'"''" S"^s:rs^c-:h~r? was wilful and capricious, l„.e ..„ ,rLt geniu es' s ^ . :.' c.;.n, spiled the concert 1,, ^amn^n^Tt,;:^'^:- "I .should like," said the Kins, " to see this ll»l . • ■ stand forth, and bear witness in sucl. man / "^ 'c!" express herself on this mysterious mitter P he«.:nders.and her mode o'fcotru'^iuon-'" ^"' °"^ Chnstian said he knew something of it since h. h ^ ■i>-..ehadnecL:;;^s:::ts,;;t:::vr"''^' Tm::^;:::^^^"-"""-'-^'-^-;::;:": "' ler own sh irl ■ th , „ r , ' ' *^ ""' d«'ar( -assign.:: V^\t."" ''"'"'"'^ ^'-''-'-'■■'™ It. ..(»M,te„ prev,;d ner n,, rurther. T 313 CHARLES II " Everything tells to exculpate my Lord of Buckingham,' said Charles, " from so absurd an accusation : the dwarfs testimony is too fantastic, that of the two Peverils does not 111 the least affect the Duke ; that of the dumb damsel com- pletely contradicts the possibility of his guilt. Methinks, my lords, we should acquaint him that he stands acquitted of a complaint, too ridiculous to have been subjected to n more serious scrutiny than we have hastily made upon this occasion." Arlington bowed in acquiescence, but Ormond spokr plainly.— "I should suffer, sire, in the opinion of the Duki of Buckingham, brilliant as his talents are known to be, should 1 say that I am satisfied in my own mind on this occasion. But I subscribe to the spirit of the times ; and I agree it would be highly dangerous, on such accusations as we have been able to collect, to impeach the character of a zealous Protestant like his Crace. Had he been a Catholic, under such circumstances of suspicion, the Tower had been too good a prison for him." Buckingham bowed to the Duke of Ormond, with .-i meaning which even his triumph could not disguise. ''Tii me la piii;heriU !" \\% muttered, in a tone of deep and abiding resentment ; but the stout old Irishman, who h:i,l long since already braved his utmost wrath, cared little for this expression of his displeasure. The King then, signing to the other nobles to pass int.i the public apartments, stopped Buckingham as he was about to follow them ; and when they were alone, askrd. with a significant tone, which brought all the blood in the Duke's veins into his countenance, " When was it, Ceorge, that your useful friend Colonel Blood became a musician? You are silent," he said; "do not deny ihr charge, for yonder villain, once seen, is remembered lor ever. Down, down on your knees, (leorge, and ackiiovv ledge that you have aljused my easy temper. Seek for no apology— none will serve your turn. I saw the man niyseli, THE KING WITF[ FRIRXn.S AND FOES 3,., among your Oernuns as you rV, i:„.m ■ .,„ 1 and K " , J''"' '"'" ^'"'"y-n^-t ,„ilty, my lie.e and K,ng .a.d the Duke, conscience-striken, and kneeZ down;_"„e,eve that Iwas n,isguided-tha I wa n d iel.eve anythmg but that I was capable of ham nco; l-emg accessory to l.arm, your person " *" Viilif'arth''.?™ '■''': '=''^"^<^ '^'■"8; "I think Of you, v.lhers, as the companion of my dangers and my exile ^ay, that I am convmced you acknowledge more than over you meant to attempt." ' ^ "By all that is sacred," sai.l the Duke, still kneeling ^'M-ie^fiirc;:™;:^.!!,:''^--'''^'^^-^^-^ 'Nay, if you bring Christian on the stage again " said V.lhers, nse-I forgive thee, and only recommen,! one ac of penance-the curse you yourself bestowed on th dt who bit you-marnage, and retirement to your count; The Duke rose al-ashed, and followed the ICiner other friends ; and, by ,heir unanimous advice thoii-l w considerable difficulty, beeame satisfied, that t ' v thus shown herself at Court was sufficient to vindicate the a ild '™" • "'^' ""' '' "-^^ '>- ---' ™--^^ te m e'r ,?"' r '° 7"" '" '"^ '■"""" ^'""'■"'""^- - horn s;"::o T'z: ;: ^^•^"'""^"' -^ => ■'"-^^' -^"ion. inreA..!, -,, the ismg in lorni. i! if i i! •If w [fill II 3M CHARLES II I would," said the King, "that all our political intrigues and feverish alarms could terminate as harmlessly as now Here is a plot without a drop of blood; and all the elements of a romance, without its conclusion. Here we have a wandering island princess (I pray my lady of Derby's pardon), a dwarf, a Moorish sorceress, an impeni- tent rogue, and a repentant man of rank, and yet all ends without either hanging or marriage." " Not altogether without the latter," said the Countess "There is a certain Major Bridgenorth, who, by dint of the law, hath acquired strong possession over the domains of Pevenl, which he is desirous to restore to the ancient owners, with /nuch fair land besides, conditionally, that our young Julian will receive them as the dowry of his only child and heir." "By my faith," said the King, "she must be a foul- favoured wench, indeed, if Julian requires to be pressed to accept her on such fair conditions." " They love each other like lovers of the last age " said the Countess ; " hut the stout old knight likes not the Roundheaded alliance." "Our royal recommendation shall put that to rights said the King; "Sir Geoffrey Peveril has not suffered hardship so often at our command, that he will refuse our recommendation when it comes to make him amends for all his losses." It may be supposed the King did not speak without being fully aware of the unlimited ascendancy which h- possessed over the old Tory ; for within four weeks after wards fhe bells of Martindalc.Moultrassie were ringing for the union of the families, from whose estates it take's it- compound name, and the beacon light of the Castle blazed high over hill and dale, and summoned ail to rejoice who were within twenty miles of it.s gleam. Sir ^VAI.TF.R .Scott, Pcvtril of the Peak w ^i^m XXI] The fall of Argyle AS soon as it was k.unvn abroad that Charles the Stuart, on .he death of his brother, had aus d' IS": he proc a,n,ed K,ng of Scotland, without taki,; t "o't : byjh.ch alone he could be entitled to ass.t.e'.he s::"!^ -At the head of this congregation was the Earl of Argyle tamZ ™^^V"'°"' '''' '""'"'" ■'- aversion of' e yrant to su, h a degree, that, by certain of those f.t tools for any crnne, then in dismal abundance about the court o Holyrood hehad procured his condemnation as a traLr .i.""«^?r".; *r si ■"•" » "'"«' IIS "" 3l6 JAMES II Earl's daiighter-in law, to view certain articles of female bravery which had been sent from Holland by his Lirdship to her mistress ; and, as her custom was, she, on her return home, descanted at large of all that she had seen and heard. The receipt, at that juncture, of such gear from the Earl of Argyle, by such ,i Juditli of courage and wisdom ns the Lady Sophia Lindsay, seemed to me very remarkable, and I could not but jealouse that there was something about it like the occultation of a graver correspondence. I therefori- began to question Mrs. Hrownlee how the paraiilu-rnaiia had come, and what the liarl, according to the last accounts, was doing ; which led her to expatiate on many things, though vague and desultory, tliat were yet in con- cordance with what I had overheard the Lord I'erth say to the Earl of Aberdeen in the Jiishop's liouse : in the end, 1 g.ithered that the presents were brought over by the skipper of a sloop, one Rciderink Macfarlane, whom I forllnviih determined to see, in order to pick from him what intelli gence I could, witlunit being at the time well aware in wli.it manner the same would prove useful. I felt myself, how ever, stirred from within to do so ; and I had hitherto, in all that concerned my avenging vow, obeyed ever) instinctive impulse. Accordingly, n»xt morning, I went early to the shore m Leith, and s.".n found the vessel and Roderick .Macfarlane, t<. whom I addressed myself, in(|uiring, as il 1 intended <■• go thither, when he was likely to depart again for Amstei- dam While I was speaking to him, I observed something in nis mien above his condition ; and that his hands were f.iii and delicate, unlike those of men inured to niariliuie labour. He perceived that I was particular in my in- spection, and his countrnanre became troubled, and n ■ looked as if he wist not what to do. " Fear no ill," said I to him ; " I am one in the inivs '^.i THE FALL Ol-- ARtiYLli 3,7 of jcq-ardy ; in sooth, I have no intent to pass into Hol- land, but only to Icarn whether there be any hope that the Karl of Argyle and those with hin, will try to help their covenanted brethren at home." On hearing me speak so openly the countenance of the man brightened, and after eyemg me with a sharp scrutiny he invited me to come down into the body of the bark where we had some frank communion, his confidence being won by the plain tale of who I was and what I had en uured. After some general discourse, Roderick Macfarlane told me, that his vessel, though seemingly only for traffic, had been hired by a certain Madam Smith in Amsterdam, and was manned by Highlanders of a degree above the com- mon for the purpose of opening a correspondence between Argy e and his friends in Scotland. Whereupon I proffered myselt to assist in establishing a communication with the leads and leaders of the Covenanters in the West Country and particularly with Mr. K.nwick and his associates, the Camcronians, who, though grievously scattered and hunted «ere yet able to do great things in the v.,. ,/ conveying etters.orof intercepting the emissaries and agents of the 1 rivy Council that might be employed to contravene the Mrl s project. As the si.ring advanced, being, in the manner related engaged ,n furthering the purposes of the exiled Coven! ainers, I prepared, through the instrumentality of divers friends, many in the West Country to be in readiness to join the tarl s standard of deliverance. It is not, ho.vever o be disguised, that the work went on but slowly, and thai I.C people heard of the intended descent with something Ike an actionless wonderment, in consequence of those by whom It had been planned not sending forth any declar- ation o their views and intents. And this indisposition •■^pocKdly among the Cameronians, became a settL-d ^^metauce, when, after the Earl had reached Campbelton 3«8 JAMES 11 he publi^ilicd that putiiosclcss proclamation, wherein, thou^li the wrongs and woes of the kingdom were pithily recited, the nature of the redress proposed was in n > man- ner manifest. It was plain indeed, by many signs, that the Lord's time was not yet come for the work to thrive. Sir John Cochrane, one of those who were with Argylu, had, by some espial of his own, a correspondence with divers of the Covenanters in the shire of Ayr ; and he was so heartened by their representations of the spirit among them, that he urged, and overcame the Earl, to let him make a trial on that coast before waiting till the Highlanders were roused. Accordingly, with the three ships and the men they had brought (roni Holland, he went toward Largs, famed in old time for a great battle fought there: but, uii arriving oiiposite to the shore, he found it guarded by the powers and forces of the government, in so much, that he was fain to direct his course farther up the river ; and weighing anchor sailed for Greenock. It happened at this juncture, after conferring with sever.il of weight among the Canieronians, that I went to (Irecnuc k for the purijose of taking !>hi[)ping for any place where I was hkely to find Argyle, in order to represent to him, thai, unless there was a clear account of what he and others with him proposed to do, he could expect no co-operation fronj the societies ; and I reached the town just as the three shi|^ were coming in sight. I had not well alighted from my horse at Dugal M'Vic.i: the smith's public, — the best house it is in the town, and slated. It stands beside an oak tree on the open shore, below the Mansion-house-brae, above the jilace where tin mariners boil their tar-pots. As I was saying, I had nui well alighted there, when a sciuadron of certain timeserving and prelatic-inclined heritors of the shire of Renfrew, undir the counnand of Houston of that ilk, came galloping to thr town as if they would have devoured .Argyle, host, and -r})--- and all; and they rode straight to the minister's glebe, baltl TJII- I'Ar.L OK AKGYLU ler., behind the kirkyard dyke, they set thcinsL-K 319 If array with drawn swords, the meanwhile come to anchor forenent Like the men of the Vessels hav the kirk. ing in the itistance, of what might ensue ; and nie, to see and to hear that the C town I went to he an onlooker, at ; nuch in dread of their a sore heart it was to reenock folk stood durst not, for fear of his blackhole, ven iiipenor, Sir John Shaw, that th. whrth ■r they were I'.ipists, Prelates, or I >■ itun to say that day or I'rushyterian himself not h...ing in ihc way to direct them. Shortly after the ships had cast anchor, Major I'lillarton, with a i)arty of some ten or twelve men, landed at the burn- fcmt, near the kirl., and h.uin- shown a signal for parley, Houston and his nun went to him, and began to chafe and I hide him for invading the country. " We are no invaders," said the Major, " we have come to our native land to preserve the I'rotesuint religion ■ and I ■ini grieved that suih brave gentlemen, as ye appear to be, .hould be seen in the cau,e of a Papist tyrant and usurper." "Y. lee," cried Houston, and (ired his pistol at the -Major, the like did his men ; but they were so well and quickly answered in the same language, liiat they .soon were "l.lii^aled to flee like drift to the brow of a hill, called Kilhlain-brae, where they again showed face. Those on board the .ships seeing what was thus doing on the land, [lointed their great guns to the airt where the cavaliers had rallied, and fired them with such effect that tlie stoureand stones brattled about the lugs of the leritors which so terrified them all that they scampered off; and ii IS said, some drew not bridle till they were in Paisley with whole skins, though at some cost of leather. When these tyrant tools were thus discomfited. Sir John tochrane came on shore, and tried in vain to prevail on U.e inhabitants to join in defence of religion and liberty. ■" he sent foi the baron bailie, who was the ruling oower of the town in tin e absence of their great Sir John, and ordered MIOOCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHAUT (ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 2| 1.0 I.I li> {|2| 1^ lllll^ m 1.25 m i|l| 1.6 _^ /APPLIED IIVMGE li ^— -^ 1653 East Mam Street Z TTj; "ochesler, New York U609 USA "<^S (716) 482 - 0300 ~ Phone ^= (716) 28a - 5989 - Fa« j20 JAMES II him to provide forthwith two hundred bolls of meal for the ships, liut the bailie, a shrewd and gausie man, made so many difficulties the gathering of the meal, to waste time till help would come that the knight was glad to content him- self with little more than a fifth part of his demand. ^reanwhile I had made my errand known to Sir John Cochrane, and when he went off with the meal-sacks to the ships I went with him, and we sailed the same night to the castle of Allengreg, where Argyle himself ihen was. Whatever d(jubts and fears I had of the success of the expedition, were all wofully confirmed, when I saw how things were about that unfortunate nobleman. The con- troversies in our councils .it the Pentland raid were more than renewed among those who were around Argyle ; and it was plain to me tliat the sense of ruin was upon his spirit ; for, after I had told him the purport of my miss'on, he said to ine in a mournful manner — " I can discern no party in this country that desire to be relieved ; tiiere are some hidden ones no doubt, but only my poor friends here in Argyle seem willing to be free. God hath so ordered it, and it must be for the best. I submit myself to His will." I felt the truth of what he said, that the tyranny had indeed bred distrust among us, and that the patience of men was so worn out that very many were inclined to sub mit from mere weariness of spirit; but I added, tu hearten him, if one of my condition may say so proud a thing of so great a person, That were the distinct ends of his intents made more clearly manifest, maybe the dispers<.d hearts of the Covenanters v/ould yet be knit together. " Some think, my Lord, ye're for the Duke of Monmouth to be king, but that will ne'er do,— the rightful heirs canna be set aside. James Stuart may be, and should be, put down ; but, according to the customs registered, as I hae read in the ancient chronicles of this realm, when our THE PALI, OF .\Rf.\-|.|.: ?,-' I iintiun in olden t "e\t IJwful ill :inu;s cut off a kin^' for li as ay raised to the tlm is misdoeds. To this the Karl mad time thoughtful, and then said- rone.' le no answer, Ijut continued some ' It rests not all with me,— those wl ln) are with -T ^^ .iwi^ aie Hiin me, as >ou may well note, take over much upon them, and will not be controlled. They are like the waves, raised and dnven wheresoever any hlast of rumour wiseth them to .o. gave a letter of trust to one of their emissaries, and, ifke lie raven, he has never returned. If, however, I could get to Inverary Idoubt not yet that so.nething n.ight be done; lor I should then be in the n.idst of some that would reverence Argyle." Hut why nec;d I dwell on these melancholious incidents? Ne.xt day the Karl resolved to „,ake the attempt to re.uh Inverary, and I went with him : but after the castle of \rk- .nglass, m the way thither, had been taken, he was obli- gated by the appearance of two English frigates which I ad been sent .n pursuit of the e.vpedition, to return to Allengreg; for the main stores and ammunition brou-ht from Holland were lodged in that castle; the ships also were lymg there; all which in a manner were at stake, and no garnson adequate to defend the same from so great a power. 6 '-»'■ " On returning to Allengreg, Argyle saw it would be a golden achievement, if in that juncture he could master the frigates; so he ordered h,s force, which amounted to about a thousand men, to man the ships and four pri.es which he had, together with about thirty cowan boats be- longing to his vassals, and to attack the frigates. But in this also he was disappointed, for those who were with him, and wedded to the purpo.se of going to the Lowlands mutinied against the scheme as too hazardous, aiul obli.red l">» to give up the attempt, and to leave the castle with a weak and incapable garri.son. Accordingly, reluctant, but yielding to these blind coun- !!■ 322 JAMES II I; ;' I' I -J'. cils, after iiiiittin;; AllL'iigreg, wc marched for the Lowlands, and at tlie head of the Ciaroloch, where we halted, the garrison which had been left at Aller.greg joined us with the disastrous intelligence, that, finding themselves un.ible to witlisland tlie frigates, they had abandoned all. I was near to Argyle when the news of this was brought to him, and I observed that he said nothing, but his cheek faded, and he hastily wrung his hands. Having crossed the river Leven a short way aliove Duni- barton, without suffering any material molestation, we halted for the night, liut as we were setting our watches a party of the government force appeared, so that, instead of getting any rest after our heavy march, we were obligated to think of again moving. The Earl would fain have fought with that force, his numbers being superior, but he was again over-ruled ; so that all wc could do was, during the night, leaving our camp-fires burning for a delusion, to make what haste we could toward filasgow. In this the uncountenanced Ajrtunes of the expedition were again seen. Our guides in the dark misled us ; so that, instead of being taken to Glasgow, we were, after grievous traversing in the moors, landed on the banks oi the Clyde near Kilpatrick, where the whole force broke up. Sir John Cochrane, being fey for the West Country, persuading many to go with him over the water, in order to make for the shire of Ayr. The ICarl seeing himself thus deserted, and but feu- besides those of his own kin left with him, rode about a mile on towards Glasgow, with tlie intent of taking stinie rest in the house of one who had been his servant ; but on reaching the door it was shut in his face, and barred, and admission peremptorily refused. He said nothing, but turned round to us with a smile of such resigned s?dness that it brought tears into every eye. Seeing that his fate was come to such extremity, I pro- Till-; FAI.I. Ol- AkC.Vi.l-: posed to exchanije clotlies with him, that ho niiglit the l)ettcr esi:.ii)e, :iml to conduct him to tlic West Country, where, if any rha.ice were yet left, it was to lie found tliere, as Sir John Cochrane had represented. Where- upon he sent his kinsmen to make the best of their way back to the Highlands, to try what could be done among his clan ; and having accepted a portion of my apparel, he went to the ferry-boat with .Major Kullarton, and we crossed the water together. On landing on the Rcnfew side the Earl went forward alone, a little before the .Major and me ; but on reaching the ford at Inchinnan he was stopped by two soldiers, who laid hands upon him, one on each side, and in the grap- pling one of them the Earl fell to the ground. In a mo- ment, however, his Lordshi|) started up, and got rid of them by presenting his pistols. But five others at the same instant came in sight, and fired and ran in ' him, and knocked him down with their swords. " . ! un- fortunate Argyle," I heard him cry as he fell: and the soldiers were so astonished at having so rudely treated so great a man, that they stood still with awe and dropped their swords, and some of them shed tears of sorrow for his fate. Seeing what had thus hai)pened, .Major Fullarton and I fled and hid ourselves behind a hedge, for we saw another party of troopers coming towards the spot,— we heard afterwards that it was Sir John Shaw of Creenock, with some of the Renfrewshire heritors, by whom the Earl was conducted a prisoner to Clasgow. But of the dismal indignities, and degradations to which lie was sul)jected, and of his doleful martyrdom, the courteous reader may well sfiare me the sad recital, as they are recorded in all British histories. — John Galt, Jiiiixan Gi/hahe. XXIII ''I *i ■i "I Plotting for the Stuarts "\ 1/'11II,K the I'rinco of Orange was at Salisbury, there \ V came a troop of dragoons with orange scarfs, anil quartered in Casilewood, and some of tlieni came up to the Hall, where they took juissession, roljhing nothing however beyond the hen house and the beer cellar ; and only in sisting upon going tlirough the house and looking for papers. The family were away more than six months, and when they returned they were in the deepest r.tate of dejection, for King James had been banished, the I'rincs of Orange was on the throne, and the direst persecutions of those of the Catholic faith were ai)prehended by my I.ady, who saiil she did not believe that there was a word of truth in the promises of toleration that I )utch monster made, or in a single word the perjured wretch said. My Lord and Lady were in a manner prisoners in their own house ; so her Ladyship gave the little page to know, who was by this time growing of an age to understand what was passing about him, and something of the characters of the people he lived with. " We are prisoners," says she ; " in everything but chains we are prisoners. Let them come, let them consign me to dungeons, or strike off my head from this poor little throat ' (and she clasped it in her long fingers). " The blooot be angry at the august salute with which he honoured me ! " The public misfortune had the uffe.-t of making my Lord and his i,ady better friends than they ever had been since iheir courtship. My Lord Viscount had shown both loyalty and spirit when these were rare qualities in the dispirited party about the King ; and the praise he got •leyated him not a little in his wife's good opinion, and P^haps in his own. He wakened up from the listless and supine life which he had been loading ; was always ridin- to and fro m const .tation with this friend or that of the 326 WILLIAM AM) .MARY King's; the page of course knowinj; little of his dcings, liut remarking only his grcalcr chuorfulncss and altered demeanour. Father Holt came to the Hall constantly, hut ' J26. PLOTTING FOR Till-: SIUAKT.S -jj; suJcral.Ic person ,n our par. of .he county for .he affairs of It was arranged ihat the rej-imen, of hco.s (Ircys a.,d I) K-ons, .hen quar.ered a. Newl.ury, should dc-clar. L . e K.ng on a ccr,a,n day, when hkcwise ,he gen.ry a:.L^'^y ""-^hi. less's hand,'" savs Mr. Holt embracng my Lord in a grand manner. "Mr Hoi. I ask your blessing"; and she kne.i down for that, whilst •^Us. iuiher to«L-d her head uo. If! ,>(• ll M '.' if r III 3.'« WILLIAM AM) MARY Mr. Unit (,'ave the s.inie bcnciliiti.in to the little p.if;p, who went down and held my Lords stirrups for him l„ inoiint ; there were two servants waitiiiK there too -aiid they rode out of (\isllewood ^ate. As they crossed the bridge, I (arry could see an officer in scarlet ride up touching his hat, and address my Lord. The party stopped, and came to .some parky or dis- cussion, which presently ended, my Lord putling his horse into a canter after takin- olT his hat and niakin;; a how in the onicer, who rode along side him step for step: the trooper .accomiianying him falling back, and riding witli my Lord's two men. They cantered over the Creen, and behind the elms (my Lord waving his hand, Harry thouglit\ and so they disappeared. That evening we had a great panic, the cow boy coming at milking-tijne riding one of our horses, which he had found grazing at the outer park-wall. All night my Lady Viscountess was in a very ipiiet and subdued moo.!. She scarce found fault with anybody ; she played at cards for si.x hours ; little page Ksmond went tn sleep. He prayed for my Lord and the good cause befor.- closing his eyes. It was quite in the grey of the morning when the porter\ bell rang, and old Lockwood, waking up, let in one of my Lord's servants, who had gone with him in the morning, and who returned with a melancholy story. The officer who rode up to my Lord had, it appeared, said to him, that it was his duty to ijiform his Lordship that he was n(.i under arrest, but under surveillance, and to requust him not to r'Je abroad that day. My Lord replied that riding w.is good for his health, that if the Captain chose to accompany him he was welcome ; and it was then that he made a bow, and they cantered away together. When he came on to W'ansey Down, my Lord all of ,i sudden jmlled up, and the parly came to a halt at iln' cross-way. I'l.oTTI.V; \-nli Till.; STl!.\IMS -!-"» 'Sir, lu! to lIlC ofticiT, are fi )nr t(i t«n : will )Mii !k' mi kiiiil as to lAc tliMi rii.iil, and K-avc iiiu in j;.. Illinr ? " "Your roail is mine, my l.uril," says the nlliitr. "Then "says riy Lord; liul he had no time to say more, for the otVicer, drawinj; a pistol, snapped it at his Lordship; ,is at the same monii't: '''alhrr Moll, drawiiij; a pistol, shot the oliicer through me head. It was doni-, and the man dead in an instant of time. 'I'he ordeily, Hazinj; at the offmer, looked .scared for a moment, and ){ulloped away for his life. " l''ire ! fire ! " cries out l''athcr Holt, sending another shot after the trooper, Imt the two servants were o miirh siiri)rised to use their pieces, and my Lord ralli.,,^; to them to hold their hands, the fellow got away. "Mr. llolt, ///// /,7/.i7/ (■ /m,/," says lilaise, "gets off his horse, e\.imines the pockets of the ilead olliiir for |i:ip'-rs, gives his money to lis two, ane door, made her brmg a hght and wake my Lady, into whose ha d ht ve the paper. She was a wonderful object to look at hi^hlr n.g ht att.re, nor ha. Harry ever seen the like As soon as she had the paper in her hand, Harry stepped ovet t'he'T ?''""f "' ™°"'' °^''"^'' "- --^' "1 E o\er the fireplace, burned all the paners in it .„ i L had seen the priest do before, tZd"w' ^ne' oT it reverence's manuscript sermons, and half-burnt that in t t was da)l,ght. Harry ran back to h,s mistress again Her gentlewoman ushered him again into her I ^' k ^ ci>amber : she told him (from behind" r u;ia furttS ly anon^ '"''' '' '"' '-'^■' ^^ ^'^ ^^^ ^^e But the mysteries of her Ladyship's toilet were as awfullv long on tn,s day as on any other, and, long after tl eTo , was ready, my Lady was still attiring herself. And jt^a the Viscountess stepped forth from her roon, ready fo departure, young John Lockwood comes running up i™ he village w,th news that a lawyer, three oftcers and twenty or four-and-twenty soldiers, were marchim/ 'h upon the house. John had but t;o mtnu" s "e%tar:: them, and, ere he had well told his story, the troop ode mto our courtyard. ^ "^ At first my Lady was for dying like Mary Queen of Scots to whom she fancied she bore a resemblance fn b Lutv Victoire. persuaded Ir that t :Lit"ols'::!r::2 await them, bo her black Japan casket, which Harry PLOTTIXG FOR THE STL'ART.S 331 was to cury to the coach, was taken Lack to her I,adyshi,/s chaml,er, whuher the maid and n,istr«., retired, vlto re c,ameout presently, l.iddmg the pa,e t= cay her Ladyship was ,11, confMicd to her bed with the rheumatism P.y this tunc the .soldiers had reached Castlewood Harry I.sniond saw them from the window of the tapestry parlour : a couple of sentinels were posted at the gate-a ha f dozen "lore walked towards the stable; and some others, preceded by the.r eomn.ander, and a man in black a lawyer probably, were conducted by one of the servants o the sta,r leadn,g up to the part of the house which my Lord and Lady inhabited. ' So the Captain, a handsome kind man, and the lawyer came through the ante-room to the taj.estry parlour and where now was nobody but young Harry l-smond the page. "Tell your mistres.s, little man," says the Captain kindly, that we must speak to her." " My mistress is ill a-bed," said the page " What complaint has she ? " asked the Captain I he boy said, " The rheumatism." "Rheumatism ! that's a sad complaint," continues the good-natured Captain; "and the coacl, is in the yard to fetch the Doctor, I suppose ? " " I don't know," says the boy. " And how long has her Ladyship been ill ? " " I don't know," says the boy. " When did my Lord go away ? " " Yesterday night." 'With Father Holt?" " With Mr. Holt." _'| And which way did they travel ?" asks the lawyer 1 hey travelled without me," says the pa.'e " We must see Lady Castlewood." ° ' she IS s,ck, says the p.age ; but at this moment Victoire II if li |i fll ^^^1 332 WILLIAM AND ^^\RY ca;r,e out. "Hush!" says she; and, as if not knowing that any one was near, "What's this noise?" says she! Is this gentleman tlie Doctor?" "Stuff! we must see Udy Castlewood," says the law- yer, pushing by. •K '"?" u^'t'"' "^ ^^' Ladyship's room were down, and the chamber dark, and she was in bed with a nightcap on her head, and proj.ped up by her pillows, looking none the l<^ss ghastly because of the red which was still on her cheeks, and which she could not afford to forego. " Is that the Doctor ? " she said. "There is no use with this deception, madam," Captain Ucstbury said (for so he was named). "My duty is to arrest tl.e person of Thomas, Viscount Castlewood, a non- juring peer_of Robert Tusher, Vicar of Castlewood-and Henry Molt, known under various other names and designations, a Jesuit priest, who officiated as chaplain here m the late king's time, and is now at the head of the con- spiracy which was about to break out in this country against the authority of their Majesties King William and Queen Mary_and my orders are to searcl, the house for such p.apers or traces of the conspiracy as may be found here \our Ladyship will please to give me your keys, and It will be as well for yourself that you should help us in every way, in our search." " You see, sir, that I have the rheumatism, and cannot move, said the lady, looking uncommonly ghastly, as she sat up in her bed, where, however, she had had her cheek, painted, and a new cap put on, so that she might at least look her best when the officers came. "I shall take leave to place a sentinel in the chamber, so hat your Ladyship, in case you should wish to rise, m.iy have an arm to lean on," Captain \\'estbury said. " Your woman will show me where I am to look;" and Madame Victoire, chattering in her half French and half EivAhh jargon, opened while the Captain examined one draw.r PI.OTTIXG FOR Till' STUARTS aj^ after another; but, as Harry Es.no.ul thought, rather care- lessly, with a smile on his face, as if he was only conducti,,-. tlie examination for form's sake. " "Madame, if you are to ill to leave the bed," the Captain then said, rather sternly, "I must have in four of my men to h t you off in the sheet. I must examine th.s bed, in a word; papers may be hidden in a bed as elsewhere; we know that very well, and " Here it was her Ladyship's turn to shriek, for the Captain with his fist shaking the pillows and bolsters, at last cam J to burn as they say in the play of forfeit.s, and wrenchim. .way one of the pillow.,, said, " Look ! did not I tell you so? Here is a pillow stuffed with paper.'' "Some villain has betrayed u.s," cried out my Lady sitting up m the bed, showing herself full dressed under h.r night-rail. "And now your Ladyship can move, I am sure; permit me to give you my hand to rise. You will have to travel for some distance, as far as He.xton Castle, to-ni.du Will you have your coach ? Your woman shall attend you if you like— and the Japan box ! " "Sir! you don't strike a m,>» when he is down," said my Lady, with some dignity: "can you not spare a woman ? " ' i ■• "Your Ladyshi,. must please to rise, and let me search the bed, said the Captain: "there is no more time to lose inbandying talk." And without more ado, the gaunt old woman got up Harry Lsmond recollected to the end of his life that figure w. h the brocade dress and the white night rail, and the :,'uke of Berwick ; the soldiers of France no longer, but subjc ts of James the Third of Kngland and Ireland King. The li Jelity of the great ma.ss of the Scots (though a most active, resolute, anc gallant Whig party, admirably and enerp tically ordered and disciplined, was known to be in Scotland too) was notoriously unshaken in their King. A > ery great body of Tory clergy, nobility, and gentry, were publ' ' partisans of the exiled Prince; and the indifferents might be counted on to crj King George or King James, according as either should prevail. The Queen, especially in her latter days, inclined towards her own family. The Prin< e was lying actually in London, within a stone'scast of his sister's palace: the first Minister toppling to his fall, and so tottering that the weakest push of a woman's finger would send him down ; and as for liolin; .roke, his suc- cessor, we know on whose side his power and his s|)lendicl elocjuence would be on the day when the Queen should appear openly before her Council and say :— " Tlii.s, n.y Lords, is my brother ; here is my father's heir, and mine after me." Till- PASSING OF THE CRo\V\ ;m i During (he wlioe of llic previous year the I.Iulcii h.iil had many and repeated fits of siekriess, fever, and lelharKy, and her death had tiicn eonstantly looked for liy all her attendants. The Klertor of 1 lanover had wished to send his son, the Duke of Canibndye -to pay his eourt to his eousin the Queen, the Elector said: -in truth, to he on the spot when death should dose her career. Frightened perha[)s to have such a iiuimnt.i w.ir/ under her royal eyes, Her .Nfajesty had angrily forbidden the young Prince's coming into Kngland. F.illier she desired to keep the chances for her lirothcr open yet ; or the people aliout her did Mot wish to close with the Whig candidate till they I ould make terms with him. The riuarrels of her Ministers hefore her face at the Council hoard, the pricks of con- science very likely, the importunities of her Ministers, nd constant turmoil and agitation round about her, had ■veakened and irritated the I'rinccss extremely ; her strength vas giving way under these continual trials of her tempei, ■d from day to day it was expected she must come to a speedy end of them. Viscount Castlewood and his companion came from I'rance, just before Her Kaje^ty was taken ill. The .St. Anthony's fire broke out on the Royal legs ; there was no hurry for the presentation of the young lord at Court, or that person who should a,.pear under his name ; and my Lord Viscount's wound breaking out opportunely, he was kept conveniently in his chamber until such time as his physician would allow him to bend his knee before the (Jueen. At the commencement of J uly that influential lady, "ith whom our party had relations, came frequently to visit her young friend the Maid of Honour at Kensington, and my Lord Viscount (the real or siiin'osititious), who v>as an invalid at I,ady Castlewood's house. On the 27th day of July, the lady in question, who held the most intimate post about the Queen, came in her chair Irom the Palace hard by, bringing to the little oartv -n 344 ANNE Kensington Square intelligence of the very highest im- portance. The final blow had been struck, and my Lord of Oxford and Mortimer was no longer Treasurer. The staff was as yet given to no successor, though my Lord Bolingbroke would undoubtedly be the man. And now the time was come, the Queen's Abigail said : and now my Lord "astlewood ought to be presented to the Sovereign. ■ Court lady with whom our plan was concerted, and who was a chief agent in it, the Court physician and the Bishop of Rochester, who were the other two most active participators in our plan, had held many councils, in our house at Kensington and elsewhere, as to the means best to be adopted for presenting our young prince to his sister the Queen. The simple and easy plan proposed by Colonel Esmond had been agreed to by all parties, which was that on some rather private day, when there were not many persons about the Court, the Prince should appear there as my Lord Castlewood, should be greeted by his sister-in-waiting, and led by that other lady into the closet of the Queen. And according to Her Majesty's health or humour, and the circumstances that might arise during the interview, it was to be left to the discretion of those present at it, and to the Prince himself, whether he should declare that it was the Queen's own brother, or the brother of Beatrix Esmond, who kissed her royal hand. And this plan being determined on, we were all waiting in very nmch anxiety for the day and signal of execution. On the morning then of the 27th day uf July, the Bishop of Rochester breakfasting with Lady Castlewood and her family, and the meal scarce over. Dr. A.'s coach drove up to our house at Kensington, and the Doctor appeared amongst tlie party there, enlivening a rather gloomy company; for the mother and daughter had hail words in tlie morning in respect to transactions at supper two days ago, and other adventures perhaps, and on the day succeeding. Beatrix's haughty spirit brooked remon- aaji^-'-' THE PASSINT. OF TMR CROWN 345 strances from no superior, nuich less from her mother, the gentlest of creatures, whom the girl commanded rather than obeyed. And feeling she was wrong, and that by a iliouiaiid coquetries (which she could no more help exer. cising on every man that came near her, than the sun can help shining on great and small) she had provoked the Prince's dangerous admiration, and allured him to the expression of it, she was only the more wilful and imperious the m )re she felt her error. To this party, the Prince being served with chocolate in his be Ichamber where he lay late sleeping away the fumes of his wine, the Doctor came, and by the urgent and startling nature of his news, dissipatcii instantly that private and minor unpleasantry under which the family of Castle- wood was labouring. He asked for the guest ; the guest was above in his own ap.irtment : he bade Monsieur Bapliste go up to his master instantly, and requested that my Lord Viscount Castlewood would straightway put bis uniform on, and come away in the Doctor's coach now at the door. He then informed Madam Beatrix what her jwrt of the coiiedy was to be: — "In half-an-hour," says he, "Her Majesty and her favourite lady will take the air in the Cedar Walk behind the new Banqueting House. Her Majesty will be dra\in in a garden chair, Madam Beatrix Esmond and her hrotlicr, my Lord Vicsount Castlnvood, will be walking in the private garden (here is I-ady Masham's key), and will come unawares upon the royal party. The man that draws the chair will retire, and leave the Queen, the favourite, and the Maid of Honour and her brother together; Mistress Beatrix will present her brother, and then! — and then, my Lord Disliop \,-ill pray for the result of the interviev,', and his Scots clerk will say Amen I Quick, put on your hood, ^[adam Beatrix : why dotli not His Majesty come down ? Such another chance may not present itself for months again." 'II. :ll 34'> ANNE 1:1 The I'rince was latu and lazy, and indeed had all but lost that chance through his indolence. The Queen was actually about to leave the garden just when the party reached it; the Doctor, the Bishop, the Maid of Honour, and her brother, went off together in the physician's coach and had been- gone half an hour when Colonel Esmond came to Kensington Square. In half an hour more the coach returned; the Bishop descended from it first, and gave his arm to Beatrix, who now came out. His Lordship went back into the carriage again, and the Maid of Honour entered the house alone. We were all gazing at her from the upper window, trying to read from her countenance the result of the interview from which she had just come. She came into the drawing room in a great tremor and very pale; she asked for a glass of water as her mother weiit to meet her, and after drinking that and putting off her hood, she began to speak : " We may all hope for the best," says she ; " it has cost the Queen a fit. Her Majesty was in her chair in the Cedar Walk, accompanied only by I.ady , when we entered by the i)rivate wicket from the west side of the garden, and turned towards her, the Doctor following us. They waited in a side walk hidden by the shrubs, as we advanced towards the chair. My heart throbbed so I scarce could speak ; but my I'rince whispered, 'Courage, Beatrix,' and marched on with a steady step. His face was a little flushed, but he was not afraid of the danger. He who fought so bravely at Mal- plaquet fears nothing." Esmond and Castlewood looked at each other at this comiiliment, neither liking the souiul of it. "The Prince uncovered," Beatrix contnin d, "anl I saw the Queen turning round to I.ady M.isliaui, as if asking who these two were. Her Majesty looked very pale and ill, and tlien flushed up ; the favourite made us a signal to advance, and I went up, leading my I'rince by the TIIF. PASSrXG OF THE CRoW.V :^47 hand, quite close to the cliair ; ' Your Majesty will give my Lord Viscount your hand to kiss,' says her lady, and the Queen put out her hand, which the I'rince kissed, kneulin? on his knee, he who should kneel to no mortal man or woman. "'You have been long from Knyland, my Lord,' says the Queen ; ' wliy were you not here to give a home to your mother and s er ? ' " ' I am come, madam, to stay now, if the Queen desires me,' says tlie I'rince, with another low how. " ' You have taken a foreign wife, my Lord, and a forei;;n religion ; was not tliat of England good enough for you ? ' "'In returning to my father's Cluirch,' says the Prince. ' I do not love my mother the less, nor am I the less faithful servant of your Majesty.' " Here," says Beaxtri.i, " the favourite gave me a little signal with her hand to fall back, which I did, though I died to hear what should pass : and whispered something to the Queen, \yhich made Her Majesty start and utter one or two words in a hurried manner, looking towards the I'rince, and catching hold with her hand o' 'le arm of her chair. He advanced still nearer towards , he began to speak very rapidly ; I caught the words, ' Father, blessing, forgiveness,' and then presently the I'rince fell on his knees ; took from his breast a paper he had there, handed it to the Queen, wlio, as soon as she saw it, flung up both her arms with a scream, and took away that hand nearest the Prince, and which he endeavoured to kiss. He went on speaking with great animation of gesture, now clasping his hands together on his heart, now opening them as though to say : ' I am here, your brother, in your power.' Lady Masham ran round on the other side of the chair, kneeling too, and speaking with great energy. She clasped the Queen's hand on her side, and picked up the paper Her Majesty had let fall. The Prince rose and made a 348 ANNE further speech as though he would go ; the favourite on the other hand urging her mistress, and then, running back to the Prince, brought him back once more close to the chair. Again he knelt down and took the Queen's hand, which she did not >"ithdraw, kissini- it a hundred times ; my Lady all the time, with sobs and supplications, speak- ing over the chair. This while the Queen sat with a stupefied look, crumpling the paper with one hand, as my Prince embraced the other ; then of a sudden she uttered several piercing shrieks, and burst into a great fit of hysteric tears and laughter. ' Enough, enough, sir, for this time,' I heard Lady Masham say : and the chairman, who had withdrawn round the Banqueting-room, came back, alarmed by the cries. ' Quick,' says Lady Masham, ' get some help,' and I ran towards the Doctor, who, with the Bishop of Rocliester, came up instantly. Lady Masham whispered the Prince he might hope for the very best and to be ready ;o-morrow ; and he hath gone away to the Bishop of Rochester's house to meet several of his friends there. And so the great stroke is struck," says Beatrix, going down on her knees, and clasping her hands. " God save the King ! God save the King ! " Beatrix's tale told, and the young lady herself calmed somewhat of her agitation, we asked with regard to the Prince, who was absent with Bishop Atierbury, and were informed that 'twas likely he might remain abroad the whole day. "We are glad," says Lady Castlewood, taking her daughter's hand, and speaking in a gentle .-lice, "that the guest is away." Beatrix drew back in an instant, looking round her at us three, and as if divining a danger. " Why glad? " says she, her breast beginning to heave ; " are you so soon tired of him?" " We think one of us is devilishly too fond of him," cries out Frank Castlewood. ri THE PASSING OF THE CROW'X 'And which is it- 3-19 ■ou, my Lord, or is it mamma, who or is is it the head ..jealous because he drinks my health ? „, ,s .s u tne neaa of the fam, y (here she turned with an in.perious look towards Colonel Ksn.ond), "who has taken of late to preach the Kmg sermons ?" 'i t" l""", ""' '"^ ^°" "- '°° '''■<='= "'"' H's Majesty " I thank you, madam," says Beatrix, with a toss of the head and a curtsey. I!ut her mother continued, with very great calmness and U'S'i! / : At least we hnve not said so, though we might were .t posstLIe for a mother to say su,:h words to her own daughter, your father's daughter." "Eh! man pin," breaks out Beatri.v, "was no better han other persons' fathers." And again she looked towards the Colonel. Vn.nf '■'ll' \^''°^'' "^ ^'-^ ""---'^J ">ose two or three Ircnch words; her manner was e.wtly imitated from that of our foreign guest. " Vou had not learned to speak French a month ago father » '"*'' ""'"'"' ''""^■' " "°'' '° '1'"^'' '" "^ ^"^"^ lieatri.x, no doubt, saw that slip she had made in her flurry, for she blushed crimson: " I have learnt to honour "•e Kmg, says she, drawing up, "and 'twere as ,vell that others suspected neither His Majesty nor me." "If you respected your mother a little more," Frank wid, 1 rix, you would do yourself no hurt." "I am no child," says she, turning round on him : "we have hved very well these five years without the benefit of your adv,ce or example, and I intend to take neitlier now \\hy^does not the head of the hou.se speak?" she weni on; he rules everything here. When his chaplain has done smgmg the psaln,s, will his I.ordship deliver the sermon? I an, tired of the psaln,s." The Prince had used almost the very same words in regard to Colonel Esmond that the imprudent girl repeated in her wrath. ft- < . 11! r i \ -J ^ ■ I (! I'i u srio ANNE " You show yourself a very apt scholar, madam," says the Colonel : and, turning to his mistress, " Did your guest use these words in your Ladyship's hearing, or was it to Beatrix in private that he was pleased to impart iiis opinion regarding my tiresome sermon ? " " Have you seen him alone ? " cries my Lord, starting up with an oath : " by God, liave you seen him alone ? " " Were he liere, you wouldn't dare so to insult me : no, you would not dare " : cries Frank's sister. " Keep your oaths, my Lord, for your wife ; we are not used here to such language. Till you came, there used to be kindness between me and mamma, and I cared for her when you never did, when you were away for years with your horses and your mistress, and your Popish wife." Colonel Esi jnd could not refrain from a smile, to see how easy Frank's attack was drawn off by that feint. " I fancy " says Mr. Fsmond, rather scornfully, '' it is about my Lord Castlewood's sister, and not his wife, the question is. Let us bring our talk back to it, as you will have me meddle in it. And I will give you frankly my opinion, that a house where a Prince lies all day, who respects no woman, is no house for a young unmarried lady ; that you were better in the country than here : that he is here o na great end, from which no folly should divert him : and that having nobly done your part of this morning, Beatrix, you should retire off the scene awhile, and leave it to the othur actors of the play." As the Colonel spoke with a perfect calmness and polite- ness, such as 'tis to be hoped he hath always shown to women, his mistress stood by him on one side of tho table, and Frank Castlewood on the other, hemming in poor Beatrix, that was behind it, and, as it were, surround- ing her with our approaches. Haling twice sallied out and been beaten back, she now, as I expected, tried the ultima ratio of women, and li.nd recourse to tears. Her hcautiiul eyes filled with them : i THE PASSING OF THE CR(W.\ .-., ga,„,st „,e-n,y brotlnr, n,y mother, and y„, A .t -c, ourselves ? What wou d you In™ o m c'' T y- are the chief of theconspirry ,'^ , , ', 'f:'''^'''' '"' arc, sir and that n,y "-othe/ and^ro \:^ i, i^^ulv you .d them : whither would you have n,eX V ° 1 would but remove from the l>r;n,.,. " mmsm Are not two such cha„,p,ons enough to ^„ara „,e ^ " ^ h ■ T'"""» -™"'""l>v; "™- «".!. you wo "'lulling, no evil could happen to mo " ^_'r It tlie Prince knew us would he try ■' • >^ |u,et . he comes ot a country where the piiiMiit o 'r-> it ; I 352 ANNE k.ngs is thought no dishonour to a wonu-in. Lc us go dearest Beatrix ! Shall wc go to Walcote or to Cast e«ood ? We are best away from the city, and when the 1 r.nce ,s acknowledged, and our champions have restored h.m, and he hath his own house at St. James's or Windsor, we can come back to ours here. Do you thmk so, Harry and Frank and Harry thought with her, you may be sure, "We will go then," says Beatrix, turn.ng a httle ,«.: "Ijdy Masham is to give me warning to-n.ght how H.r Majesty is, and to-morrow " •'I think we had best go to-day, my dear," says my I.ady Castlewood; "we might have the coach and sleep a. Hoimslow, and reach home to-morrow. lis t«>.lv. o'clock ; bid the coach. Cousin, be ready at one. "For shame!" burst out Beatrix, in a passion of tear* and mortincation. "You disgrace me by your cruel pr. cautions; my own mother is tl,e first to suspect me, an would take me away as my gaoler. I will not go with yo mother; I will go as no one's prisoner. If I wanted o deceive do you think I could find no means of eva, m you? My family suspects me. As those mistrust me i . ought to love me most, let me leave them ; I w,ll go, but wiM go alone : to Castlewood, be it. I have been unhap,. there" and lonely enough ; let me go back, but spare ... at least the humiliation of setting a watch over my misen, which is a trial I can't bear. Let me go when you «,l but alone, or not at all. You three can stay and tnumiil, over my unliappincss, and I will bear it as I have borne .. before, Let my gaoler-in chief go order the coach th.^t , to take me away. I thank you, Henry Esmond, for yom ha" tn "he conspiracy. All my life long I'll thank yo. and remember you, and you, brother, and you mother, ho. ■ shall I show my gratitude to you for your careful defence o, niv honour ? . She swept out of the room with the air of an emprt''. THE PASSING OF THE CROWN 353 flinging glances of defiance at us all, and leaving us con- ([uerors of the field, but scared, and almost ashamed of our victory. Beatrix's departure took place within an hour, her maid going with her in the post-chaise, and a man armed on the coach-box to prevent any danger of the read. Ksniond and Frank thought of escorting the carriage, but she in- dignantly refused their company, and another man was sent to follow the coach, and not to leave it till it had passeii over Hounslow Heath on the next day. We had a gloomy and silent meal ; it seemed as if a darkness was over the house, since the bright face of Beatrix had been withdrawn from it. In the afternoon came a message from the favourite to relieve us somewhat from this despondency. " The Queen hath been much shaken," the note said : "she is better now, and all things will go well. Let my Lord Castlewoou be ready against we send for him." At night there came a second billet : "There hath been a great battle in Council ; Lord Treasurer hath broke his staff, and hath fallen never to rise again ; no successor is a|>pointed. Lord 1! ieceives a great Whig company to night at Golden .Siiuare. If he is tiimming, others are true ; the (.)ueen hath no more fits, but is abed now, and more (|uiet. Be re.idy against morning, when I still hope all will be well." The I'rince came home sliortly after the messenger who bore this billet had left the house. His Royal Highness was so much better for the Bishop's litiuor, that to talk affairs to him now was of little service. He was helped to tlie royal bed ; he called Castlewood familiarly by his own name ; he quite forgot the part upon the acting of which his crown, his safety, depended. 'Twas lucky that my Lady Castlewood's servants were out of the way, and only those heard him who would not betray him. He inquired after the adorable Beatrix, with a royal hiccup in his voice ; he 354 ANNE was c.isily Rot to l)cd, ami in a niimitu or two plniipcd in that deep slum\)er and for-, t fulness witli which liaccliu-, rewards the votaries of that n"d. The account of the previous evening was known all ovir the town early next day. A violent altercation had taken place before the (^ucen in the Council Chamber ; and ;il' the coffee-houses had their version of the quarrel. Tlu news i)ron(;ht my Lord Hishop early to Kensington Sc|u,uv, where he awaited the waking of his royal master al)ii\.. stairs, and spoke confidently of having him proclaimed .1- Prince of Wales and heir to the throne liefore that day w.i- over. The ISishop had entertained on the previous afui noon certain of the most influential gentlemen of the tn:- lirilish party. His Royal Highness had charmed all, bniii Scots md Knglish, Papists and Churchmen : " lv.cn Quakers," says he, " were at our meeting ; and, if tli stranger took a little too much liritish punch and ale, 1;. will soon grow n ore accustomed to those liquors ; and my Lord Castlcwood," says the P.ishop with a laugh, " mu< bear the cruel charge of having been for once in his iifi'.. little tipsy. He toasted your lovely sister a dozen tim.-. at which we all laughed," says the Bishop, "admirin„' - ..luch fraternal affection. Where is that cliarming nyiii|il„ and why doth she not adorn your Ladyship's tea-table wn her bright eyer, ? " Her Ladyship said drily that Beatrix was not at hms that morning; my Lord Bishop was too busy with grt,: affairs to tnmble iiimself much about the prcseiK x- •■ absence of any lady, however beautiful. We were yet at table when Dr. A came from t:i Palace with a look of great alarm ; the shocks the (,iuc.. had had the day before had acted on her severely ; hj hi been sent for, and had ordered her to be blooded. Ti.. surgeon of Long Acre had come to cup the Queen, .11.: Her Majesty was now more easy and bre.Uhed more fre-!; No second visit could be paid to the Queen on thai J.- Till- PASSING OF Tirr-: CROWN ,r,,-, M any rate ; and when our Kuest ahovu Rave liis signal that lie was awakf, the Doctor, the llishop, and Colonel Esmond waited upon the I'rincc's /mV, and l.rou^ht liiui llieir news, cheerful or duliioUi. The doctor had to go away presently, hut promised to keel, the I'rince conslanlly ■u'luamted with what wa.. taking place at the I'alace hard by. Ills counsel was, and the Jiishop's, that as soon as ever the Qiieei.'s malady took a favourahle turn, the Prince should he introduced to her bedside ; t'.e Council sum- Mioned ; the guard at Kensington and St. James's, of which two regiments w, e to he entirely relied on, and one known not to he hostile, would declare for the I'rince, as the Hiieen would before the Lords of her Council, designating liiiii as the heir to her throne. With locked doors, and Colonel Ksmond acting as secretary, the I'rince and his Lordship of Rochester j.assed many hours of this day, composing Proclamations and Ad- dresses to the Country, to the Scots, to the Clergy, to the people of London and England; announcing the arrival of the exile descendant of three Sovereigns, and his ac knowledi-ment by his sister as htir to the throne. Kvery safeguard for their liberties, the Cluiich and People could ask, was promised to them. The Ihshop could answer for 1 le adhesion of very many prelates, who besouglit of their teks and brother ecclesiastics to recognise the sacred Jht of the future Sovereign and to purge the country of the sm of rebellion. During the composition of these p.npers, more messengers than one came from the Palace reganiing the state of the august patient there lying. At midd.iy she was somewhat belter; at evening the torpor again seized her and she wndcred in her mind. At night Dr. A . was with us asain, with a report rati er mor. favourable; no instant danger at any rate was apprehenc.J. In the course of the asi two years Her Maicstv had liad many attacks similar uut more severs. 'I lii I . I ■ I ; ' : [III i 'i 356 ANNE By this time wc had finished a half-donfti of Proclama tioiis (Ihi; wording of thcni so as to offend no parties, and not to nivc umlminc to Whip or Dissenters, reii'jired vi ry f(re.it caution), and the youM(! Prince, who had indeed shown, during a lonj; day's l.ibour, both alacrity at sei/inj; the information given him, and ingenuity and skill in turniiii; the phrases which were to go out signed by his name, her. exhibited a good-humour and thoi'ghtfulncss that ouglit to lie set down to his credit. "Were these papers to be mislaid," says he, "or our scheme to como to mishap, my Lord Esnumd's wriim- would bring him to a place where I heartily hope never f, see him ; and so, by your leave, I will copy the papers myself, though I am not very strong in spelling; and if they are found they will implicate none but the person tin y most concern"; and so, having carefully copied the i' . clamations out, the I'rince burned those in Coliiiiul Ksmond's handwriting : " And now, and now, gentlemen," says he, "let us go to supper, and drink a glass with llit ladies. My Lord Ksmond, you will sup with us toni^lil; you have given us of late too little of your conii)any." The Prince's meals were commonly served in tin chamber which had been lieatrix's bedroom, adjoinini- that in which he slept. And the dutiful practice of his entertainers was to wait until their royal guest bade tlieni take their places at table before they sat down to partake of the meal. On this night, as you may suppose, only Frank Castlewood and his mother were in waiting wlitii the supper was announced to receive the Prince, who li.id passed the whole of the day in his own apartment, with tlic Bishop as his Minister of State, and Colonel Esmond officiating as Secretary of his Council. The Prince's countenance wore an expression by no means pleasant, when looking towards the little company assembled, and waiting for him, he did not see Beatrix's bright face there as usual to greet him. He asked Lady nil-: I'AssrNr. oi-thi£ ckown 357 Ksiiiund for his fair introducer of yesterday: her ladyshi, only cast her eyes down and said (juittly, llealrix could not l)e of the supper that niyht. Our guest swallowed his supper very sulkily : it was not till the second liottle Mis Highness began to rally. When hidy CastlewDod asked leave to depart, he sent a message to Ileatrix, hoping she would \k present at the next day's dinner, ,ind applied himself to drink, and lo talk afterwards, for which there was subject in plenty. The next day we heard from our informer at Kensington that the Queen was some vhat helter, and had been up foi an hour, though she was noi well enough yet to receive any visitor. .At dinner a single cover was laid for His Royal High- ness ; and the two gentlemen alone waited on him. W'e Iwd had a consultation in the mornin;; with I.ady Castle- wood, in which it had been determined tl .it, should His Highness ask further ([uestions about lieatr'<, he should be answered by the gentlemen of the house. He was evidently disturbed and uneasy, looking towards the door constantly, as if expecting some one. There laniu, however, nobody, except honest John I.ockwood, wlien he knocked with a dish, which those within took from him ; so the meals were always arranged, and I helieve the council in the kitclien were of opinion that my young lord had brought over a priest, who hud converted us all into Papists, and tiiat l'a|)ists were like Jews, eating together, .and not choosing to take their meals in the sight of Christians. The Prince tried to cover his displeasure : he was but a clumsy dissembler at that time, ar.d when out of humour could with difficulty keep a serene i:ountenance ; and havmg made some foolish attempts at trivial talk, he came to his point presently, and in as easy a manner as he could, saying to Lord Castlewood, he hoped, he requested, his lordship's mother and sister would be of the supjxir that ff .t ■Mil N ! I ll' tl I P'l ' g^wr<' tS ANNE ni,;;lit. As Ihr time luin;; licnvy cm him. anJ liu imist not go abroad, would not Miss Beatrix hold hitn con)i)any at a game of cards ? At this, looking up at l-'sinond, and taking the signal from him, l,ord (.'astlcwood inftirnicd his Royal Highness that his sister I'.catrix was not at Kensington ; and that her family had thought it best she should (juit the town. "Not at Kensington !" says he. "Is .she ill? she wa> well yesterday; wherefore should she quit the town ? Is ii at your orders, my lord, or Colonel r'.smend's, who seem-. tlie master of this house ? " " Not of this, sir," says I-'rank very nobly, " only ot our house in the country, whieh he hath given to us. This is my mother's house, and Walcote is my father's, and the Marijuis of Ksmond knows he hath but to give hi-s word, and I return his to him." "The Marquis of ICsmond I — the Mar(]uis of Esmond," says the Prince, tossing off a glass, " meddles too much with my affairs, and presumes on the service he hath done me. If you want to carry your suit with lieatrix, my lonl. by locking her uj) in gaol, let me tell you that is not iIk way to win a woman." "I was not awatj, sir, that I had spoken of my suit t" Madame lieatrix to your Royal Highness." "I>ah, bah, monsieur! we need not bo a conjuror tu see that. It makes itself seen at all moments. \'ou arc jealous, my lord, and tlic m;iid of honour cannot look at another face without yours beginning to scowl. That which you do is unworthy, monsieur; is inhospitable — is, is laclic, yes, lache" (he spoke rapidly in French, his rage carryiic him away with each phrase); "I come to your house; 1 risk my life ; I pass it in ennui ; I repose myself oji your fidelity ; I have no company but your lordship's sermons or the conversations of that adorable young lady, and you take her from me, and you, you rest ! Merci, monsieur ! I shall thank you when I have the means ; I shall know t'l TriE PASSING oi- rm- CJoWX -y, rucompcnsc a devotion a liitl^; im|)orti.,inle, my '.jrd-a little imponunatc. 'Vr a month past your airs of protector have- annoyed niu beyc d measure. You duis^n to offer me the crown, and bid me take it on my knees like Kim,' lohn -eh ! I know my history, monsieur, and mock mysdf of frowning barons. I admire your mistres.s, and you send her to a liastile of the Province ; I enter your house, and you mistrust me. I will leave it, monsieur; from toni^llt I will leave it. I have other friends whose loyalty will not he so ready to tiuestion mine. If I have Garters to give away, 'tis to noblemen wlio are not so re.idy to think evil. Uring me a coach and let me quit this place, or let the fair Ileatn.x return to it. I will not have your hospitality at the expense of the freedom of that fair creature." ■J'his harangue was uttered with rapid gesticulation such as the I'rench use, and in the language of that nation ; the Prince striding up and down the room ; his face flushed and his hands trembling with anger. He was very thin and frail from repeated illness and a life of pleasure. Either Castlewood or Esmond could have broke him across their knee, and in half a minute's struggle put an end to him ; .ind here he was insulting us both, and scarce deigning to hide from the two, whose honour it most concernetl "the passion he felt for the young lady of our family. My Lord Castlewood replied to the Prince's tirade very nobly and simply. -Sir," says he, "your Royal Highness is pleased to forget that others risk their lives, and for your cause. Very few Englishmen, please God, would dare to lay hands on your sacred [lerson, though none would ever think of re- speetmg ours. Our family's lives are at your service, and everything we have, e.Nce|)t our honour." " Honour ! bah, sir, who ever thought of hurting your honour? " says the Prince with a peevish air. "We implore your Royal Highness never to think of hurting It," says Lord Castlewood, with a low bow. 'I'he ii! In ':,ti •I'll . I in ■[ il '"' 360 ANNE niglit being warm, the windows were open both towards the Gardens and the Square. Colonel ICsmond beard through the closed door tiie voice of the watchman calling the hour in the Square on the other side. He opened the door communicating with the Prince's room ; Martin, the servant that had rode with lieatrix to Hounslow, was just going out of the chamber as Esmond entered it, and when the fellow was gone, and the watchman again sang his cry of " I'asi ten o'clock, and a starlight night," Esmond spoke to tlic Prince in a low voice and said, "Your Royal Highness hears that man ? " "Aprl's, monsieur? " says the Prince. " I have but to beckon him from the window, and send him tifty yards, and he returns with .i guard of men, and I deliver up to him the body of the person calling himsi;lf James the Third, for whose capture Parliament hath offered a reward of ^500, as your Royal Highness saw on our ride from Rochester. I have but to say the word, and, by the Heaven that made me, I would say it if I thought the Prince, for his honour's sake, would not desist from insult- ing ours. But the first gentleman of ICngland knows his duty too well to forget himself with the humblest, or pi.Ti! his crown for a deed that were shameful if it were done." " Has your lordship anything to say," says the Prince, turning to Frank Castlewood, and quite pale with anger; " any threat or any insult, with which you would like to end this agreeable night's entertainment ? " " I follow the head of our house," says Castlewood, bow- ing gravely. " At what time shall it please the Prince that we should wait npon him in the morning ? " " You will wait on the Bishop of Rochester early, you will bid him bring his coach hither ; and prepare an apart- ment for me in his own house, or in a place of safety. The King will reward you handsomely, never fear, for all you have done in his behalf. I wish you a good night. and shall go to bed, unless it pleases the Marquis 0. THE PASSING OF THE CROWN 361 Esmond to call his colleague, the watchman, and that I should pass the ni.ht with the Kensington guard. Fare you well, be sure I will remember you. My Lord Castle- wood, I can go to bed to-night without need of a chamber- ain. And the Prince dismissed us with a grim bow, locking one door as he spoke, that into the supping-room, and the other through which we passed, after us It led imo the sn,all chamber which Krank Castlewood or ^^onm•,n■BaMhlc occupied, and by which Martin entered when Colonel 1-smond but now saw him in the chamber At an early hour next morning the Bishop arrived, and was clo.scted for some time with his master in his own aiiartment, where the Prince laid open to his counsellor the wrongs which, according to his version, he ha.l received from the gentlemen of the Esmond family. The worthy prelate came out from the conference with an air of great satisfaction ; he was a man full of resources, and of a most assured fidelity, and possessed of genius, and a hundred good qualities ; but cni.tious and of a most jealous temper that could not help exulting at the downfall of any favour- ite; anu he was pleased in spite of himself to hear that the I'.smond Ministry was at an end. "I have soothed your guest," says he, coming out to the two gentlemen and the widow, who had been made aciiuainted with somewhat of the dispute of the night before. (By the version we gave her, the Prince was only made to exhibit anger because we doubted of his intentions in respect to lieatrix : and to leave us, because we ques- tioned his honour.) " But I think, all things considered tis as well he should leave this house ; and then, my Lady Castlewood," says the Bishop, "my pretty Beatrix may come back to it." "She is quite as well at home at Castlewood," Esmond's mistress said, "till everything is over." "You shall have your title, Esmond, that I promise .vou," says the good Bishop, assuming the airs of a Prime VM^ !' i'ii f/ii i;i I ' 11 11= B .|f^''q: I: 362 ANNE MinistLT. "The Prince hath uNi)ressed himself most nobly in regard of the httle difference of last niglit, and I promise 5011 he hath listened to my sermon, as well as to that of other folks," says the Doctor archly. The Prince entered the room presently with a smile on his face, and if he felt any offence against us on the pre- vious night, at present eNhibitcd none. He offered a linnd to each gentleman with great courtesy. " If all your bishops preach so well as Doctor Atterbury," says he, "I don't know, gentlemen, what may happen to me. I spoke very hastily, my lords, last niglit, and ask pardon of both of you. liut I must not stay any longer," says he, "giving umbrage to good friends, or keeping pretty girls away from their homes. My l.ord Bishop hath found a safe place for me, hard by at a curate's house, whom the Bishop can trust, and whose wife is so ugly as to be beyond all danger ; we will decamp into those new quarters, and I will leave you, tlianking you for a hundred kindnesses here. Where is my hostess, that I may bid her farewell ? to welcome her in a house of my own, soon, 1 trust, where niv friends shall have no cause to quarrel with me." Lady Castlewood arrived presently, blushing with grca! grace, and tears filling her eyes as the Prince graciously saluted her. As characters written with a secret ink come out with the applic.ition of fire, and e'isajjpear again and leave the pajjcr white, so soon as it is coo , a hundred names of men, hi"h in repute and favouring the Prince's cause, that were writ in our private lists, would have been visible enough on the great roll of the const ™cy, had it ever been laid opcji under the sun. What crowds would have pressed forward, and subscribed their names and protested their loyalty, when the danger was over! What a number of Wlli^^ now high in place and creatures of the all powerful Minister, scorned Mr. Walpole then ! If ever a match was gained by the manlijicss and decision of a few at a nioii eiit ol THE PASSING OF THE CROWN 363 dai-er; if ever oi;e was lost by the irca,:l,fry and ini- bc-ility of those that had the cards in tliuir hands and nnaht have played them, it was in that momerucus game which was enacted in the next three days, and of which the noblest crown in the world was the stake, From the conduct of my Lord ISolingbroke, those who were mterested in the scheme they had in hand saw pretty well that he was not to be trusted. Should the Prince prevail, it was his lordship's gracious intention to declare for him : should the Hanoverian party bring in their bovereign, who more ready to go on his knee, and cry "Cod save King Ceorge"? And he betrayed the one I'rmce and the other; but exactly at the wron-r time Uhen he should have struck for King James, he faltered and coquetted with the Whigs; and having committed himself by the most monstrous professions of devotion which the Elector rightly scorned, he proved the justice' "f their contemnt for him by flying and taking rene-ade service with St. Germains, just when he should have kept aloof: and that Court despisec him, as the manly and reso- lute men who established the Elector in England had before done. He signed his own name to every accusation of insincerity his enemies made against him; and the Kin- and the Pretender alike could show proofs of St. John's treachery under his own hand and seal. Our friends kept a pretty close watch uiion his motions as on those of the brave and hearty Whig party, that made little concealment of theirs. They would have in the IJector, and used every means in their power to effect their end. My Lord .'.(ailborough was now with them. His expulsion from power by the Tories had thrown that great captain at once on the Whig side. \Ve heard he'"' was coming from Antwerp; and, in fa. , on the day of the Queen's death, he once more landed on English shore. A great part of the army was alw.iys with their illustrious leader ; even the Tories in it were indignani at the injustice f i I f ! , if ,| ( I ■ I > I iC 364 ANNE of the persecution which the Whig officers were made to undergo. The chiefs of these were in London, and at the head of thorn one of the most intrepid men in the world, the ScoU Duke of Argyle, whose conduct on the second day after that to which I have now brought down my story, ended, as such honesty and bravery deserved lo end, by establishing the present Royal race on the Englisli throne. Meanwhile there was no slight difference of opinion amongst the councillors surrounding the Prince, as to the plan His Highness should pursue. His female Minister at Court, fancying she saw some amelioration in the Queen, was for waiting a few days, or hours it might be, until he could be brought to her bedside, and acknowledged as her heir. Mr. Esmond was for having him march thither, escorted by a couple of troops of Horse Guards, and openly presenting himself to the Council. During th.; whole of the niglit of the zqth-joth July, the Colonel was engaged with gentlemen of the military profession, whom 'tis needless here to name ; suffice it to say that several of them had exceeding high rank in the army, and one of them in especial was a General, who, when he heard the Duke of Marlborough was coming on the other side, wavwl his crutch over his head with a huzzah, at the idea th.it he should march out and engage him. Of the three Secretaries of State, we knew that one was devoted to us. The Governor of the Tower was ours ; the two companies on duty at Kensington barrack were safe ; and we had intelligence, very speedy and accurate, of all that toot place at the Palace within. At noon, on the 30th of July, a message came to tlie Prince's friends that the committee of Council was sittiii.i; at Kensington Palace, their Graces of Ormond and Shrews- bury, and Archbishop of Canterbury and the three St"re- laries of State, being there assembled. In an hour after- wards, hurried news was brought that the two great Whig ill THE PASSING OF T'lE CROWN 365 Dukes, Arpiyle and Somerset, had broke into the Council CliamliLT without a summons, and taken their seat at table. After holding a debate there, the whole party proceeded to the chamber of the Queen, who was lying in great weak- ness, but still sensible, and the Lords recommended his (■.race of .Shrewsljury as the fittest person to take the vacant place of Lord Treasurer. Her Majesty gave him the staff, as all know. "And now," writ my messenger from Court, " lunv or never is the time." Now or never was the time indeed. In spite of the Whig nukes, our side had still the majority in the Council, and Esmond, to whom the message had been brought (the personage at Court not bein^ aware that the Prince liad quitted his lodging in Kensington Square), and Esmond's gallant young aide-de-camp, Frank Castlewood, putting on sword and uniform, took a brief leave of their dear lady, who embraced and blessed them both, and went to her chamber to i)ray for the issue of the great event which was then pending. Castlewood sped to the b.irrack to give warning to the captain of the Guard there ; and then went to the " King's Arms " tavern at Kensington, where our friends were as- sembled, having come by parties of twos and threes, riding or in coaches, and were got together in the upper chamber, fifty-tliree of them ; their servants, who had been instructed to bring arms likewise, being below in the garden of tlie tavern, where they were served with drink. Out of this garden is a little door that leads into the road of the I'alace, and through this it was arranged that masters and servants were to march, when that signal was given, and that personage appeared, for whom aU were waiting. There was in our company the famous officer ue.\t in command to the Captain-General of the Forces, his Grace the Duke of Ormond, who was within at the Council. There were with him two more lieutenant-ocncrals nine major generals and brigadiers, seven colonels, eleven Peers > ■ I m m If f 1 , t i '1 1 '.' i '• ,1] k ' rt f'l jl. 366 ANNE of rarliamont, nnd twenty-one niemlicrs of the House o( (j)innions. 'I'lie (luaril was with us within and without the I'alacc ; the Qucun was with us ; the Council (save thi' two Whiy Dukes, that must have succumbed); the day was our own, and witlt a beating heart Ksmond walkeil raiiidly to the Mall of Kensington, v,-here he had partt^! with the I'rince on the night before. Ho ran to the curate's house in Kensington Mall, an. I asked for Mr. Bates, the name the Prince went by. 'I'lio curate's wife said Mr. liates had gone ab.oad very early in the morning in his boots, saying he was going to tlio Dishop of Rochester's house at Chelsey. liut the Ijishup had lieen at Kensington himself two hours ago to seek lor Mr. liates, and had returned in his coach to his onn house, when he heard that the gentleman was gone thither to seek him. This absence was most unpropitious, for an hour's delny might cost a kingdom ; Esmond had nothing for it but to hasten to the "King's Arms," and tell the gentlemen there assembled that Mr. C.eorge (as we called the Prince there) was not at home, but that Esmond would go fetch him ; and taking a Ceneral's coach that happened to be there. Esmond drove across the country to Chelsey, to tlu liishop's house there. 'I'lie porter said two gentlemen were with his lordshi[>. and Esmond had passed this sentry up to the locked doo: of the liishop's study, at which he rattled, and was atl mitted presently. Of the Bishop's guests one was a brotlitr prelate, and the other the Abbe G . "Where is Mr. George?" says Mr. Esmond; "now i- the time." The Bishop looked scared. " I went to his lodging," he said, "and they told me he was come hither. I returned as quick as coach would carry me; and he hath not beu: here." The Colonel burst out with an oath ; that was all he TME PASSIXG oi.- THR CR.,\VN 367 l.nlfan.hour ' "''^' "''' ""^'^ "^ f^-.sington in «-«•„ very i,„pa,io,n by this ..L. ' ■^""'" ''""' ^"'^ Kiluc, tl,c. P.hcL,, / '"-■ S'-'-'en before Kensington «cre tandin and 1 "r "M' "''-' '^''"i^'-'-oaches hoard^presenyn ",!"'■ '" '^T' ^'-^-^N we .0 the window orfltr:'"'',"',' ^""'^' "' "» "" s..etorKensin,to:;^t:r^;r:::^i^^;'^;-">eH„i. "It's Onnonds Guards," says oT "" '""""«■ -SX-?dS,;^:f:SL:''^^-'"-''"-- -::^:;::rtdi^trr;;,:::':^,:r^^ K^-"sn,gton on which we could rely °"-''" "' fanmus, that n . elv tot' '"\°''! "'"'^ is so ancient and - no' good but' ,Ts h.^r "' '-'■''''^'' """'^ '^'^ gluing Marlborou.h" "^ ^°" P™""-^ ">•-■ °f d,^;::ir '^"'"^' '^^^''^'™"'' -•-" "^-00. with a '-S'^™- ^at^t^V -- <^^ Coione,. -Is Mr. ;;Da„,n hi™, ,00k here !" says Casd.wood, holding out a ■ - I found ,t ,n the book-the what you call it' U D ; :iiii I t'H] III f!! 368 ANN!' 'I'.ikuni I'asilikuiii,' -tliat villiiii M.iiliji |nit it llu pj Ik viiil liis youn^i; iiiislicss liadc liiin. Il \v;is cliiii lol lo \w. 'jut it was menu for liiiii 1 know, anj I liroku tliL' si^il and read it." The whole assembly of offi: ers suemeti :• swim a\va\ before I^smoiid's e)es as he read the itapi r ; all that wa^^ written on il was : " liealrix Ksmond is sent away tn prison, to Castlewood, where she will pray for happiu days. " '* Can you guess where he is ? " says (Castlewood. " Ves," says (.Colonel Ksmond. Me knew full well I'Yank knew full well : our inslinet told whither that Iraitui had lied. He had courai,e ' ■ turn to 'he eoinpany and say *' (lentlemen, I fear veiy mu('h that .Mr. (ieorge will rmi be here to-day: somethinj; haih lia|>pened— and -and 1 very much fear some accident may befall him, which mu-t keep him out of the way. Having had your noon's draughi. you had best pay the reckoning anil go home ; there 1 an be no game where there is no one to plav it." Some of the gentlemen went away without a word, olln r- called to iiay their duty to Her .Nfajesty and ask for lur health. 'I'lic little army disappeared into the darkness mil of which it had been called ; tliere had been no writin:;~, no paper to im|ilicale any man. Some few officers ami members of Parliament had been invited over night i" breakfast at the " King's .Arms" at Kensington ; and llin had called for their bill and gone home. " Does my mistress know of this ? " Esmond asked m l"'rank, as they walked along. " My mother found the letter in the book, on the toilit t.ible. She had writ it ere she had left hou Fi " Mother met her on the stairs, with her hand u[)on 1 door, trj ing to enter, and never left her after that till s went away. He did not think of looki. at it there, 1 had Martin the chance of telling him. I believe thj pt Till.: I'A^SI.V; oi.- Till.: CK.nvx :i''9 ;l^vil n„;,„t ,„> harm, il,„„i;l, l|.,lfk,M li , , I'-rank never s.i, ' ^ '"'"«'"« ""•' '^•"-•^•" 'l-or J .aid, •MVI.cn \, ' ,*'•' ■"'"'''"' "' "'^' ...o.u.nt ' ""■>■ '"'''"' ""-'"".^ tl.c street that '='-'^ rar;'.J;i-:-,!-S^».:^, .-.;.;n., -.that ...taii.inered : " Well" say. 1 "i '' '''""'"-'J aiid ■:i'^Bi^B~' - ^l'^'. "J"notkillhi,„'" "'•■"y. H^"ry,"sa). '™V;r;:v!:r:,!;ir;5-,S':f- -,.„ lilt; liishop was Ijreikin.- " ""' '"" '••"^■•" ;''"'- ''.aiJy, a,:, t!;^^:::^.:;,-'^^-^.Hrases 1^"! Ks,„o,ui sternly U.cJe hi, i° "■^■'""" '^ ''^■^™''; 1-P-S and take cJofZn '""«"^'' '^""' '-•" ^^'''he;ayi;:j.;:^-;''.-'>--d ..,,,;,,:;>: -'» a tall youn^ Sle n, i ''""'"^ '' ""■ ■'"■^'■'---•s. -'™pe„.i,.j.:,',j:;;;;;; :-«-y^-"^witha,,,ht- ° P^ss. He had set off at siv uLZ' "''" '"^'^ i" the afternoon. Ill'd 1 "'"«' '"""'' "''^ « li^d done ■ he wi« T , '"°'' "''' 'iU'i-kly as we '-^.d-hettTtVe "'"■"' "'"■^"■" »'-- Repassed the very spot where the car was u^set I If :!,'{! t ! i i lit 370 ANN!' fmirliin years sinrc, ami Moliun lay. Tin.- \ill.im- was nul up yit, niir the- forj;!; liylitcil, a, wu rud.! thriiiiHli it, iiassin^; ljy lliu ilms, wliL-rc llic ruoks wcrt' still ruosling, ami Ijy the cliiirili, anil over the briilnc. Wc not off our horses at i1k l)riil;;c ami walkul up to tlic natu. "If shi; is safe," says I'raiik, tretiililin;;. anil his hoiiesi eyes filliii;; with tears, "a silver statue to Our Laily ! '' Ih was t;oinj; to rattle at the great iron knot ker on the o.il, gate; Imt ICsniond sto|ipeil hi^ kinsman's hanil. He luni his own fears, his own hopes, his own despairs and griel-, too ; but he spoke not a word of these to his conipaiiioii, or showed any si};ns of emotion. He went and tapped at the little window at tlie poiln , lodjje, gently, but repeatedly, until the man came to the bars. "Who's there?" says he, looking out. It was tln servant from Kensington. "My Lord Ca^tlewood ami (."olonel ICsiuomI," we s.ii.l. from below. "Open the gate and let u.-, in without ain noise." "My Lord Castlewood ? " says the other; "my loid- here, and in bed." "Ol)en, d you," says Castlewood, wiih a eur.se. " I shall open to no one," says the man, shutting lli glass window as Frank drew a [listol. He would have lim: at the porter, but INmond again held his hand. " There are more ways than one," says he, " of entering such a great house as this." Frank grumbled that the we^! gate was half a mile rounil. " ISut I know of a way tliat',- not a hundred yards off," says Mr. Esmond ; and le.idinj his kinsman close along the wall, and by the shrubs wliirji had now grown thick on what had been an old moat al«.ii.; the house, they came to the buttress, at the side of whiih the little window was. Esmond climbed up to this easili. broke a pane that had been mended, and touched ik S[)ring inside, and the two gentlemen passed in that w.n THIC ..ASSrNT. or TltR c-Rou-.V ,-, M'-v t>n,l no. fasten,, I his „, ';''"' f''^ "-' ■.vi.....an.M:a,j'r. :,::^,'':'<'^T-'-^''>-i ^i'M.>...,v.i wiMn,i™it. J:; :;;'•'- ^ ■•:••- '-I- ..-^K nn.J hn,iaT ;:;'";"' V"'f'"« '^'''' ''- "^'A .It him. v J , "'"'"f ""^ ''"'"•■ ••"«! sh- l,„„h- '■■imc- ;,^.ii„ to ' , . ;" ' "■"' ""•■ ''"•"'' »»•''il'^ nn,l she not, and hu.he.l at hi,, n "^,^' ™">' ! ''"' ■''Ik- «ouI,1 "as tills all ? " — " All " ,1, '.i-"d, °i'".::,: r"° 'r* '- "» """"'■■■'■ -i '»;'-» "s:;ti;:;is-:'^f.: '"■"-' ilJI ill ' 372 ANNE be a lie ; if it be, we sli.ill find it out from the genllcmnn wlio is aslucp yoiidcT. See if the floor leailiiig to my lady's rooms" (so wu called the rooms at the north-west angle of the house), " see if the door is barred as he saith." We tried; it was indeed as the laciiviey had said, closed within. " It may have been opened and shut afterwards," says poor I'^smond; "the foundress of our family let our ancestor in that way." " Wliat will you do, Harry, if— if what that fellow saith should turn out untrue ? " The youni; man looked scared and frightened into his kinsman's face ; I dare say it wore no very pleasant expression. " Let us first go see whether the two stories agree," says Esmond : and went in at the passage and opened the door into what had been his own chamber now for well nigh five- and-twenty years. A candle was still burning, and the Prince asleep dressed on the bed— Ksmond did not care for making a noise. 'I'he Prince started up in his bed, .eeing two men in his chamber : "Qui estlh?" says he, and took a pistol from under his pillow. "It is the Marquis of Esmond," says the Colonel, "conic to welcome His Majesty to his house of Ca^tlewood, and to report of what hath happened in London. Pursuant lo the King's orders, I passed the night before last, after leav- ing His Majesty, in waiting upon the friends of the Km;;. It" is a pity that His Majesty's desire to see the country and to visit our poor house should have caused the Kin- to bed, whereon he was lying in his clothes, " the Doctor ua^ with nie yesterday morning, and after watching by my sister all niyht, told me I might not hope to see the Queen." 'Tlx I fiiicj ,.l.iili..l ii|. ill Ims I,oI, ^ll * I Il THE PASSING OF TFIE CROWN 373 compass, the dishonour of our family " " ' ""' "' says'lheTr' f'"'"^"' ""^" '^•-•^ '-" "o dishonour," "That was meant to end seriously " ■'o-::^iC:n^i:i^:;tr!:!r-->^--'-e Fm'nk'"'srs "rr" .'"r""'- ""^ ^™"S hath been done !' li (.1/: If'!! [J 374 ANNE ilMi writing and spcllinc;. H.id the gracious lover been happv he had not passed his time in sighing.' In fact, ami actually as he was speaking, Esmond cast his eyes down to- wards the table, and saw a paper on which my yoimg I'rincc had been scrawling a madrigal, that was to finish hi-^ charmer on the morrow. " Sir," .says the Prince, bu' ig with rage (he ' id assimicil his Royal coat unassisted by this time), "did » come hen to receive insults ? " " To confer them, may it please your Majesty," says the Colonel, with a very low bow, "and the gentlemen of our far.;A' are come to thank you." ' lA//(v//V//>)« ■/ " says the young man, tears starting intn his eyes with helpless rage and mortification. " What will you with me, gentlemen ? " " If your Majesty will please to enter the next apartment, " says Esmond, preserving his grave tone, " I have some papers there which I would gladly submit to you, and liy your permission I will lead the way " ; and, taking the pj per up, and backing before the I'rince with very gni: ceremony, Mr. Esmond passed into the little chaplain- room, through which we had just enteretl the hou^u " I'lease to set a chair for His Majesty, Erank," says tin Colonel to his companion, who wondered almost as mucli at this scene, and was as much puzzled by it, as the otlitr actor in it. Then going to the crypt over the mantelpiece. I the Colonel opened it, and drew thence the papers which si long had Iain there. " Here, may it please your Majesty," says he, " is the | Patent of Marquis sent over by your Royal Father at S: Ciermains to Viscount Castlewood, my father : here is tin witnessed certificate of my father's marriage to my moiher. and of my birth and christening ; I was christened of tli-i: religion of which your sainted sire gave all through liii; *■ shining an example. These are my titles, dear Frank, x^'' this what I do with them : here go Baptism and Marri.ii.''- THE PASSING OF TFIR CROWN 373 '"' '^^'■<= "'<^ ^rnl■llllisatc and the August Si- n \f , ■ , .01. ,™, ,„.,„,„ ,,. p,.™rT.;t;; r ;,ri ■ifter Trix." ^ "' '^"""^ y, " il ne nous reste qu'nne chose .1 faire" : he placed his sword npon the table, and the fingu- of h's two hands upon his breast : — "We have one nior thin^; to do," says he; "you do not divine it?" Ih stretched out his arms : — " Einhrassons nous ! " Horses were fetched and put to the chariot ])re>:Cnliv, My lord rode outside, and as for Ksmond he was so tiri-J th It he was no sooner in the carriage than he fell asleep, and never woke till night, as the coach came into .\lton. As we drove to the " Hell Inn " comes a mitred coach with our old friend Lockwood beside the coachman. My l.ach Castlewood and the Bishop were inside ; she gave a littlj scream when she saw us. The two coaches entered the inr, almost together ; the landlord and people coming out witli lights to welcome the visitors. We in our coach sprang out of it, as soon as ever we sy,^ the dear lady, and above all the Doctor in his cassock. \\'li.it was the news ? \Vas there yet time ? Was the Queen alive ? These questions were put hurriedly, as Boniface stood wait- ing before his noble guests to bow them up the stair. The IJishop's news was reassuring : at least all was not lost ; the (^ueen yet breathed, or was alive when they left London, six hours since. (" It was Lady Castlewood wlw Ill THE PASSING OF TIlIl CROWN 377 iiisiited on con: up rfgiinc'iits from Portsmouth, and llii; Doctor said.) Arj;ylc 1 liiu Wliigs wcru on the alert sent abroad for liad marched more ; but the Jiishop swore as he spoke), and pest on tliem (I am not sure I'euple. And all might be saved, if so too Were our , , , . ; o - — -", •■ L.nl) the Prince could ueat London m tnne. We called for horses, instantly to return to London. We never went up poor crest follen homface s sta.r.s, 1ml into our coaches again. The Prince and h,s 1 rune Mmister in one, Esmond in the other, with only his dear mistress as a companion. Castle.voo.I g.tlloj.ed forwarJ.s on horseback, to gather the rince s fr.ends and warn them of his coming. \\ e travel cd through the night-Es.nond discoursing to his n.istress 0. .he events of the last tWenty-four hours : of Castlewood's nde and his ; of the Prince's generous behaviour and their reconciliation. The night seemed short enough ; and the surhl hours ,,assed away serenely in that fond company So we came along the road ; the Bishops coach heading ours; and, with some delays in procuring horses, we got to Haininersmuh about four o'clock on Sunday mornim- the first of August, and half an hour after, it being then bri,.ht day, we rode by my Lady Warwick's house, and so down the street of Kensington. Early as the hour was, there was a bustle in the street and many people moving to and fro. Round the .-tte leading to the I'alace, where the guard is, there was espe, ^rlly great crowd. And the coach ahead of us stopped, and tlie^ Bishops man got down to know what the concourse There presently came from out of the gate-Horse Guards « th heir trumpets, and a company of heralds with their abards. Ihe trumpets blew, and the herald-at-arms came or„ard and proclaimed Glo,<,;i;, by the Grace of God of Oreat britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the '•aim. And the people shouted, God save the King ! — W. U. Thackerav, Eiinond. L-''M I I I. ,lll :i !i i I ^1 f i XXV The First Fight for the Fallen Stuarts ON the morning whun wc were to depart from Glasgow, Andrew l-'airscrvicu bounced iiUo my aiiaitiiicnt likt a madman, jumping up and down, and siiiguig, with niuu vehemence than tune, "The kiln's ull tire tile kiln's t>n (ire - The kiln's un tire -slie's a' in it hnve." With some diliiculty I prevailed on him to cease his con founded clamour, and e\|)lain to me what the matter was. He was pleased to inform me, as if ne had been bringiii,; the finest news imaginable, " lliat the Hielands were clu.iii broken out, every man o' them, ard that Rolj Roy, and a his breekless bands, wad he down upon Glasgow or twenH four hours o' the clock gaed round." " Hold your tongue," said I, " you rascal ! 'V'ou must 1* drunk or mad ; and if there is any truth in your news, is i; a singing matter, you scoundrel ? " " Drunk or mad ? nae doubt," replied Andrew daunt lessly; "ane's aye drunk or mad if he tells what grit l.ilk- dinna like to hear. — Sing? Od, the clans will make u> | sing on the wrang side o' our mouth, if we are sae drunk or mad as to bide their coming." I rose in great haste, and found my father and Ow.r als. foot, and in considerable alarn Andrew's news proved but too true in tlie main Th great rebellion which agitated Britain in the year 1715 Inil already broken out, by the unfortunate Earl of Mar' ' -ITU TME K„«T ncT KOR TME STUARTS ,,, i-^i-'i and ^.o^a \u::::t "r'"^' ''""■ "- Jacobite agc-nis (Kashlcl.l, ,L ''''■'^' "^ ^'""^^ "^ ""= '■"^crnment aa,.,ai,ucj ;i,l, tl " 1, '' ""-' ''■^^^''^ "f a conspiracy on,- ,,rcZ \ , ""^"^'^■^- ramifications have any vital c-ff.ctunLh '= "" "^^ '^'^'ant to l''"n«ed into ,n„c„ coirsi!!;, '''"""''' """^"' "'^»-". »- ■''-Mhat,L,,ou;d;::;^M;^:'X'--'^-">y'athcr's .>"d nuke- the l,est of our «„ „ T"''"?' ''^"1'°^'^. ;"y^.herwi,„,.y,,„.„:;^^^;;^- Iac,ua,ntcd ••ovenimcnt in any volunr ., . I'^^sonal service to the •l>"^i,'li he d,,i,ked war as . n ^T, '" "■>' '^'"P'^al ; for -".an would luve^:!:^'',"'";;'''^''""™!'--!.!.. derenceofcivilandrdi.iousinj,;; '''' """ »"''"«'>• ■" ■l-rter, «entlen,en oM,, --'orv „! ""'"'"'"■ "' '"- ^'ion, mustering u,en \ ,d \ "' "'^'^^^ '•"^'^ady in escaped beintr sion„oVi "^^ '^<= narroivlv w.re^ftenco™A 'd toHkr"" """""^ ""^" "-- a"J .--here ^L;t::"s:,:;r°"'-^"''^^ '""-'' ''- i-.rs:i^rij-:i-j;7--e,a--'-'' ^"Pl'-t the credit of Go ve n," e, i' "''"' '^'"'"^ '° "l'»n 'he funds, on w"ich h "' "" '" ""■■^■' ""' '"" Sgr^^-:^--^r':^:::^i^^^ jf 111 Ml! 1 1 ' ' I I !| rnt ! '-I ni I 1 j. mi ki Im 38o CiKORGU I Si. '•! lliu moricyc.l iiUi-Tisi, as all had tlie grcaicst confiilcmu in his zeal, skill, and activity. He was aUo the orjian liy which they coniniunicatcd with Ciovcrnincnt, anil contriveii, from funds belonging to his own house, or over which liu had command, to find purchasers for a quantity of tlit national stock, which was suddenly flung into the niarki I at a depreciated price when the rebellion hroke out. I w.i- not idle myself, but obtained a commission, and levied, at my father's expense, about two hundred men, with whom I joined Cieneral Carpenter's army. The rebellion, in the meantime, had extended it.self t" England. The unfortunate Karl of Derwentwater h.iJ taken arms in the cause, along with General Foster. Wy poor uncle. Sir Hildebrand Osbaldistone, whose estate w.is reduced to almost nothing by his own carelessness and tin expense and debauchery of his sons and household, was easily persuaded to join that unfortunate standard. Before doing so, however, he exhibited a degree of precaution ol which no one could have suspected him — he made his will '. By this document he devised his estates at Osbaldiston Hall, and so forth, to his sons successively, and their nis heirs, until he came to Rashleigh, whom, on account of the turn he had lately taken in politics, he detested with all his might,— he cut him off with a shilling, and settled tlu estate on me as his next heir. I had always been rather .1 favourite of the old gentleman ; but it is probable that. confident in the number of gigantic youths who now ariiutl around him, he coi"<''dered the destination as likely t' remain a dead letter, hich he inserted chiefly to show hi> displeasure at Kashleigh's treachery, both public ami domestic. But Heaven had decreed a more speedy extinction of h;s numerous and healthy lineage, than, most probably, W himself had reckoned on. In the very first muster of the conspirators, at a place called Green-Rigg, Thornclii! Osbaldistone quarrelled about precedence with a gentluiiian T"K l.-IK-sr i.|,.,IT ,,oK '"Ih STU.MM.S ;,,Si 'h-^ir c-on.n.andcr a siL, i„ en f T""";"'"'"' ""•'>• «^^'' ■•>iKl.t he relied upon bv 1 , ■ ' '''' ""-■'■■ 'I'^'ipl""-' -dn, ...,,.„ L^'Sjf;;--'-«i.l. .heir „,,,.,, '!>••" line, had nciuircd ,J7' '"f^/™™ l'i» ---M.l.ms in 'I'luor when Kin. ia„„., ,, ' ,"•. '"'I^"''^ <="i> of stronL' ^' A'"r,Mi,. The "pir «'::"""■"'.''>■ "^^- "--«<--.ut f-ge, .he exact c,uan.i y o bn , 1 T'l'"' "'"""'""'■ I I'Ut it occasioned a ev X of w 1', '"•' ''--^' --""«ed, "-ee day, wi.h the nlVd 1^'", ';; ^■•^'"-'' ■•" "- ->d of ti-ngue. ' """■ """'■'■. I'^ri'ftually on his l>Kkon broke liis n.-rl, „. , ,i. ■ ">'<;">pt to show off a L nH \"ry"" «^i''«<-'. in an --hed to pain, upon a v"^'-'?' ""'''■"'"^^■- -''-^ '-■ i--d tl,e insurgents He ^ "rT, '■"■":'-"' -'- ''ad l««d gate; she fell in ha ■,"',""'^' "' '^ '"-'•■- jockey lost his life ' " "'"^ "'^' ""fortunate ^~rSy^rrr'>^^f''adthehest '■^'-ashire,ontheday,l ( "-^'T;;^' ' ™"^ ''^-'"n, in ''•-■cades, fighting w hgtt ,1? ' ''T'^"'" ^"-''^•d '1- !-■ was nev^r able e .ctK to'"'' ,'°"""' ""^'^ '"-'-'^ 'l"arrei, and did not un o „l r "^ ""' ""-■ ^""^^ "^ ^ide he was engaged „\"';'"'''^^'^ '^" "'"'^h King's 'he sa„,e engagen ent ^ \ •^''. '";'^''"-'^ ^->- l-'dly m "•hichhewasnothl;;."!, 7'";' "-''"•^' "™"^» °f OldSirHildebra,rentStr'V''^-^''«- '"ccessive losses, becan e b ,h ^""^'■■f"^-"'-^ by these °f 'he unhappy .ison: s' and w r^led^' 'T"'"'' "- his wounded son John ^ '^ '" '*'=«gate with "i"^X:t:^^.;;;--"'r<^-^andiostno ^ ^ enaeavounng to relieve the distresses of I. ■ < 'l| »i;| ■Mil ' iiii 38a GEORGE I these near relations. My father's hitcrest with Govern ment, and the general cimipassion excited by a [larent who had sustained the successive loss of so many sons within so short a time, would have prevented my uncle and cousin from being brought to trial for high treasor But their doom was given forth from a greater tribunal. John died of his wounds in Newgate, reco",' .inding to me, in his last breath, a cast of hawks wliich i.e had at the Hall, and a black spaniel bitch called l.ucy. My poor uncle seemed beaten down tn the very earth by his family calamities, and the circumstances in which he unexpected'; found himself. He said little, but seemul grateful f--.: such attentions as circumstances permitted nw to '> V* him. 1 did not witneiis his meeting with my frr'o, r for the first time for so many years, and unilcr circumstances so melancholy ; but, judging from my father's extreme depression of spirits, it must have bei.n melancholy in the last degree. Sir HildLhrnnd siiuke with great bitterness against Raslileigh, now his only surviving child : laid upon him the ruin of his house, and the deaths of all his brethren : and declared that neither he nor thoy would have plunged into political intrigue, but for tli.it very member of his family who had been the first to desurt them. He mentioned the contents of his will, and supplied me with an authenticated copy ;— the original he had deposited with my old acquaintance, Mr. Justice Inglewood, who, dreaded by no one, and confided in by all as a kind of neutral person, had become, for aught I know, thi depositary of half the wills of the figliting men of both factions in the county of Northumberland. I could not ascertain by my own observation, or through the medical attendants, that Sir Hildebrand Osbaldistonc died of any formed complaint bearing a name in the science of medicine. He seemed to me completely worn out inf. broken down by fatigue of body and distress of mind, and THE FIRST KIcriT KOR T„E STUARTS ,., .he las, du.ir:tf ;~d'rh''''T "-.^ ^="''"' '■"" "«>-■ will, and re, rL m h , f':L' ','"" ' ^'■°"'<^ "« "Pon least char,„s for him L *"' '" ,""^ *'"'''' "hich had '"e fox in .he fablj confen nt" h'' ■"-' '="' "^'^ ''''= '^■ach;and, morcove,! dourntTK T '"'>°"'' "^^ ^^e which he entertain'cd against Ra if' T> ''"^"'^'= ''- l^'-Kh) Osbaldistone, who loudT f "''"^•'«'' '""'^ Si^ Rash- father Sir Ilildel.rand's vi 11 !, '^"^"--""^ '» '•"^ck his -y father's desire trn'li:!'',, ■:" '''"''"''"' ^^''^-ed his"nSe^!!;:X-;-;'>',fnherited;.hesaid^ ;f not the injur,, , Zv T^ Sck'' j;*^ "•^' '''■^•<"-' I'rank, the natural heir inH h , *"' P™P-«y to should take effect '■ ' "''" detern.ined the be,,uest .4t^:;::^::^^f:::'S"--a-.ogetheracon ''ad given to Govfmm ■,? '^''°"'"'- ^'"^ infom.ation h< extreme plausiii, .r^. h',;" ""'^'"'y -"-'""ed, and hi ">e artful manner i,r hi hh' °"'" ■""^"i«ence, and meritandinfluence had ,1. °"'"''^'^'° '''""^^ l'"'l> patrons among ministers' "" '^''^"'' P^'"^"^'^'' ''i"' •he'r:":;'^;;S:;-;;!>-p-ibie,n,,.therb, >-''ed in my person the rtht '" ' ''*' P'"'' °'^ ''"^ ^Tecting Osbaldistone Ifa l' I, °;""";' '"^"^ ■"""«''«'=■ '° 'he desk, as I L „ "'•"' ""^ '""""anding me J'H.ngness t; comply Shtr^h 't'"' '"'"-'ed my ^-ine me, I .ece'v^d t Letts ^Z "^^ "■'«"' u.icciions t-.- jju down to Os- 'I! i J ■' ■ r 11 t t *■ :iS4 GUOKCJi-: I baldistonu I l:ill, and take possession of it as the lieir and representative of the family. I was directed to aiiply to Squire Inglewood for the cojiy of my uncle's will deposited with him, and take all necessary measures to secure thai possession which sages say makes nine [loints of the law. Upon the whole, I was glad to escape from London, from Newgate, and from the scenes which both exliibited, to breathe tlie free air of Xorlhumberland. Andrew Fair- service had continued in my service more from my father's pleasure than my own. At present there seemed a Iirospect that his local acquaintance with Osbaldistone Hall and i;s vicinity might be useful ; and, of course, hi: accompanied me tin my journc)-, and I enjoyed the pros pect of getting rid of him, by establishing him in his old quarters. We performed our journey to the North without anv remarkable adventure, and we found the country, so lately agitated by rebellion, now peaceful and in good order. The nearer we approached to Osbaldistone Hall, the more did my heart sink at the thought of entering that deserted mansion ; so that, in order to postpone the evil day, I resolved first to make my visit at Mr. Justice Inglewood's. Old Justice Inglewood received me with great courtesy, and readily e.xhibited my uncle's will, which seemed to be without a flaw. He was for some time in obvious distress, how he should speak and act in my presence ; but when he found that, though a supporter of the present Governmi lU upon principle, I was disposed to think with pity on those who had opposed it on a mistaken feeling of loyalty and duly, his discourse became a very diverting medley of wli.it he had done, and what he had left undone,— the pains he had taken to prevent some squires from joining, and to wink at the escape of others, who had been so unlucky as to engage in the affair. We were tete-a-tele, and several Dumpers had been quaJTed by the justice's special desire, when, on a sudden. rHE FIRST PrOHT POR THE STUARTS .S-, 'o an infernal conve,,;. ^'''''""' ">••"'>' transplanted " Pooh > pooh I hk . /,^ ^" ^■'«^'-'"«>cy " '>"">bugnoC,, ;-!:::ir "''■ "^^'^'"''^'^ '" » Beauchamp, and an.lnssadornl- '""""' "'"'^^-Earl of -hen the S)uke rJ™ of (,H™'''°''"'"^^ ''""' '•'""oe, ">ed, I dare say. ' B t ou :" Vr"' '"^'^ "^=" "^ IVederick Vernon at the Hr„.,"' '"'^""'d «'> '■■ather Vaughanv ""'' "'"^" ''e played the part of „;':r '~"hen Vaughan .as M,ss Vernon's "-'i^°£s country by th. time-o enn ; " d' 7''- ''"" ""' "^ "^^ Juty to apprehend him.-r: ^l! offf^u '' " "'"'"'J '- "'V my dear lost Die ! ' "^ "'^^ >«"'■ l""»per to J--::;;:;: -::;;:;•/ .^ -. v" """«'■ >""" -"-l-mn I., of silt Vc.iir luifis near kis^ ,1, , ' -anr::r:h::':,::ern;:d't^S^\^r"^- ^'^^- »^. ;. hat Miss vernon-sat;::;::^,,;:;."^^^^''-^'''"' %i^^:::^;;rrs:r,^"''.'^-'>^'." replied ,^-•0 brought n,ore mon , "Het::; "j'°" '"'^'^ '^•"""^ lor Fenwick's plot, and L. ,h "''' """'''^'""^d to death h-din the Kn'ghsl dg ,ffai 'T,f I-'° 'r" "'^'^ ^'"^ -Hi as he had nfarried m sSj'\ '^'"°.""'-"''^ "-"'e; "' lireadalbane, he posses ,.H "■'''■"'"" "^ ">« house ■h.Vfx -n possessed great nin..pnro will, -,n ,i n.cis. There was a talk „f h:- p ■ , """ali tbeir "f h.s l,e,„g demanded to be r^f^ r-ill r' If!! /i! :|i 'i ;. I 386 GEORGE I 'I f ' I i,; given up at the Peace of Ryswick, but he shammed ill, and his death was given publicly out in the French papers. But when he came back here on the old score, we old cavaliers knew him well, — that is to say, I knew him, not as being a cavalier myself, but no information being lodged against the poor gentleman, and my memory being shortened by frequent attacks of the gout, I could not have sworn to him, you know." " Was he, then, not known at Osbaldistone Hall ? " 1 inquired. "To none but to his daughter, the old knight, and Rashleigh, who had got at that secret as he did at every one else, and held it like a twisted cord about poor Die's neck. I have seen her one hundred times she would have spit at him, if it had not been fear for her father, whose life would not have been worth five minutes' purchase if he had been discovered to the Government. — But don't mistake me, Mr. Osbaldistone ; I say the Government is a good, a gracious, and a just Governmrnt ; and if it has hanged one-half of the rebels, poor things, all will acknow- ledge they would not have been touched had they stayed peaceably at home." Waiving the discussion of these political questions, I brought back Mr. Inglewood to his subject, and I found that Diana, having positively refused to marry any of the Osbaldistone family, and expressed her particular detesta- tion of Rashleigh, he had from that time begun to cool in zeal for the cause of the Pretender ; to which, as the youngest of six brethren, and bold, artful, and able, he had hitherto looked forward as the means of making his for- tune. Perhaps — for few men were better judges where his interest was concerned — he considered their means and talents to be, as they afterwards proved, greatly inadequate to the important task of overthrowing an established Government. Sir Frederick Vernon, or, as he was called among the Jacobites, his Excellency Viscount Beauchamp, THE FIRST FIGHT FOR THE STUARTS 387 since we had not heard of s^ 1 -.^^ "°' "*"' with his bro hJ i. hw n °"^ ^' ^""^ '"'""^ '""> hires' »-■„;:;''• ""•"i~ '■'*' i'-- another, but by seclusion^ , ^ """''"S^ '''"^ u J , -"^ *<=ciusion m a convent, h order to fulfil :;:S^Srrd,S:r^neS^^^^r spared, absent, and unable ,0 support the task "^ on' versu,g with Justice Ingle.ood, wlfo in his tu™ yfwned and proposed to retire early. I took leave "™7^"^"'=<^> night, determining the next' day, be ore beak as toT/' over to Osbaldistone Hall breakfast, to ride be1d!"''hr°^r'."''r'-''i '" '"^ p™p°^^'- -^^ "ou>d befor T T • """' ^ '"'"^^ -"y appearance there ' °°"'^"^"- They were fit company," he added. 388 GEORGE I " for cacli olher, Sir Rashluigh having lost all right to mingle in thu society of men of honour ; but it was hardly possible two such d — d rascals sliould collogue together without mischief to honest people." He concluded by earnestly recommending a toast and tankard, and an attack upon his venison pasty, before 1 set out in the morning, just to break the cold air on the wolds. There are few more melancholy sensations than those with which we regard scenes of past pleasure when altered and deserted. In my ride to Osbaldistone Hall, I passed the same objects whicli I had seen in company with Miss Vernon on the day of a memorable ride from Inglewood Place. Her spirit seemed to keep me company on the way ; and when I approached the spot where I had first seen her, I almost listened for the cry of the hounds and the notes of the horn, and strained my eye on the vacant space, as if to descry the fair huntress again descend like an apparition from the hill. But all was silent, and all was solitary. When I reached the Hall, the closed doors and windows, the grass-grown pavement, the courts, which were now so silent, presented a strong contrast to the gay and bustling scene I had so often seen them exhibit, when the merry hunters were going forth to their morning sport, or returning to the daily festival. The joyous bark of the fox-hounds as they were uncoupled, the cries of the hunts- men, the clang of the horses' hoofs, the loud laugh of thu old knight at the head of his strong and numerous descend ants, were all silenced now and for ever. While I gazed round the scene of solitude and empti- ness, I wa.s inexpressibly affected, even by recollecting •Jiose whom, when alive, I had no reason to regard with affection. But the thought that so many youths of goodly presence, warm with life, iiealth, and confidence, were within so short a time cold in the grave, by various, yet all violent and unexpected modes of death, afforded .n t\ If] I / .,h THE FIRST FIGHT FOR THE STUARTS 389 picture of mortality at wh..ch the mind trembled. It was , le consola.,on ,0 me, that I returned a proprietor to The halls wh,ch I had left almost like a fugitive. My mind wa! not hab,tuated to regard the scenes around as m'y p per; and I felt mysel an usurper, at least an intruding stranger nd could hardly d.vest myself of the idea, that some of .he bulky forms of my deceased kinsmen were, like the gigantic spectres of a romance, to appear in the gateway and dispute my entrance. ^ While I was engaged in these sad thoughts, my follower Andrew whose feelings were of a very different nature exerted himself in thundering alternately on every door in he buildmg ealhng, at the same time, for admittance, in a one so loud as to intimate, that h,, at least, was full; sen- sible of his newly-acquired importance, as squire of the body to the new lord of the manor. At length, timidly and reluctantly, Anthony Syddall, my uncle's aged butler and major-domo, presented himself at a lower window well fenced with iron bars, and inquired our business "We are come to tak your charge aff your hand, my auld friend, said Andrew Fairservice ; "ye may gie ud your keys as sune as ye like-ilka dog has his day Ml tak the plate and napery aff your hand. Ye hae had vour am time o't, Mr. Syddall ; but ilka bean has its black, and Ilka path has its puddle; and it will j,;st set you hence forth to sit at the board-end, a« weel as ;' did Andrew lane syne. ° C:i,ecking with some difficulty the forwardness of mv fol ower, I explained to Syddall the nature of my right and the title I had to demand admittance into the Hall as into my own property. The old man seemed much agi- tated and distressed, and testified manifest reluctance to Sive me entrance, although it was couched in a humble and submissive tone. I allowed for the agitation of natural feelings, which really did the old man honour ; but con turned peremptory in my demand of admittance, explaining ■ iCl rii i » ■ I I I ! ill 390 GEORGE I ill to him that his refusal would nl)li;;c me to apply for Mi Iiiyl.'woDil'.s warrant, and a cuiistablc. "We are come from Mr. Justice Inglewood's this morn ing," said Andrew, to enforce the menace; -"and I saw Archie Rutledge, the constable, as I came up liy ;— the country's no to be lawless as it has been, Mr. Syddall, letting rebels and I'ajjists gang on as they best listed." The threat of the law sounded dreadful in the old man's ears, conscious as he was of the suspicion under which hu himself lay, from his religion and his devotion to Sir Hildebrand and his sons. He undid, with fear and tremb- ling, one of the postern entrances, which was secured with many a bolt and bar, and humbly hoped that I would excuse him for' fidelity in the di.scharge of his duty.— I reassured him, and told him I had the better opinion uf him for his caution. " Sae have not I," said Andrew ; " Syddall is an aulil sneck-drawer ; he wadna be looking as white as a sheet, and his knees knocking thegither, unless it were lor some thing mair than he's like to tell us." " Lord forgive you, Mr. Fairservice," replied the butler, "to say such things of an old friend and fellow-servant '— Where" — following me humbly along the passage -"when- would it be your honour's pleasure to have a lire lighted ? I fear nie you will find the house very dull and dreary But perhaps you mean to ride back to Ii jlewood Place to dinner? " " Light a fire in the library," I replied. "In the library!" answered the old man ;— "nobudv has sat there this many a day, and the room smokes, f(ir the daws have built in the chimney this spring, and tliert were no young men about the Hall to pull therii down." "Our ain reek's better than other folk's fire," said .An- drew. " His honour likes the library ; — he's nane o' ymir Papishers, that delight in blinded ignorance, Mr. Syddall. Very reluctantly, as it appeared to me, the butler led ihu l-n lately arm, LTZC"'''''' '""'"' '' ' " "-' usual. There was'a fire "f .l^'r ,"""7 'i"'"'"^""'''-' "-an notwithstanding what Svlh 1 1 '' "'"-'' ^'""""^ '^'^■a^ly. l'"haps to conceal h,so«'n "„,'>''' "" T'^^' '^"' father "'■' *as burning clear nw ["';' "''•' '"'"'"•^ °''^"vcd, tl'e morning." ' ''"' ''^'' ^'""ked woundily in \»'isliing to 1„. alone till T . "^■^' painful ,,,,„.,,i„ ;■ ,.i, ''■■'■"^•^•:,"' ">y«^''f Ton, the called, I d,,i,,,, „ svdda '',T^!'''"« """"^ ■"<-■ ^- ''-' "^ about a , 'rer '"? "^ '-"-^'--rd, who departed with obvious du nce T '""' ''" ""'"■ ''^ to procure the attendance of , " ""^'"•^ '^"drew 'vhom he could r , the ,1 uhr'' ^' "' ^"'"' ^^'""'^^ "l- -d Sir Kash,eigh/;how ':;;;:. "^"'"^ ';-"« '•api.st, '"Pnse, being in the n,.i..l,t ■ "">' '^'••■*1"-Tate en- -dertook thfs ta \v^'ttr r'r ,^"""" *•"■''--- '" ''"■■•'g n,e up from Tr^nl- T '''' "'"' P™'"''^^"'! I'^^-^byterians likl him";- Zl' T' " "™ '""^"^'"^ '■^;,"' the Pope,theD {and th?p'/''7 ^"^ -'face ;'" I beo' theircompanym ,.. fo ;r ""-'^"^ ^"'">'-- ;« I was at asbaldstone Hal th uT' ''^' "'«''' '*«^"m in my bit yard if r ^7' ' '''"'" '"-^ °" i'^a 'l'<""""g to the full-ill 1 ;''"''''' ^•"yP'«"^e'' Srandfather) "walkirbv^l/T?" ."^ "'" Vernon's ■W your honour 'wa' fleveH ' ■ '" "'^ S'""^-' •' I ye wadna listen to ," i^' a" "th^'r '^^ "'«'''' I •■ >"aft and deevilry amon. the P ^^ ', "''■■'■'-' ''^' ! -■■[-■■bociilyeentm^haTawfu.'n, u'.""''^"' •"" ^ -'- 'jct along, sir " -'sembling that of the portrait so often mentioned, that I looked hastily at he ttTl' rr''"^ '" ''' " ^"""y- My fi-t id- was e the dea/h r' ^"^''-'y'^i^'-'-'. or that the piH o the dead had arisen and be.n placed before me A second gance convinced me of my being in my sen es, Id tim t:"!^ h ''°;' ':'"t ""' ^"' '''' -d ^""^'-t Se h! but V "T "° ''"""' °' "'^ fi"^<^ »ho stood oeside her, but Vaughan. or rather Sir Frederick V.rnon t '* ■If ' i , I (1 ( I , .,,,4 OROROE I in a du:ss made to imitate that of his ancestor, to whose picture hii coutcnance possessed a family resemblance. He was the first that spoke, for Diana kept her eyes fast fixeil on the ground, and astonishment actually riveted my tongui to the roof of my mouth. "We are your suppliants, Mr. Osbaldistone," he saiil. "and we claim the refuge and proturtion of your roof till we can pursue a journey where dungeons and death ga|« for nie at every step. "Surely," I arliculaled with great difficulty- " Mi^^ Vernon cannot suiipose— you, sir, cannot believe, thai I have forgot your interference in my difficulties, or that I am ca|)al)le of betraying any one, much liss you ? " " I know it," said Sir Frederick ; "yet it is with the nl"^l inexpressible reluctance that I impose on you a < onfiden.T. disagreeable perh.aps -certainly dangerous -and which I would have specially wished to have conferred on some oik else. But my fate, whi'h has chased me through a life "I perils and escapes, is now pressing me hard, and 1 have no alternative." .\t this moment the door opened, and the voice of ik officious .Andrew was heard—" A'm bringin' in the caunk- —ye can light lliem gin ye like-Can do is easy carried about wi' ane." I ran to the door, which, as I hoped, I reached in imik to prevent his observing who were in the apartment. I turned him out with hasty violence, shut the door afitr him, and locked it ;— tlien instantly remembering his tw" companions below, knowing his talkative humour, ami recollecting Syddall's remark, that one of them was suf posed to be a spy, I followed him as fast as I could to the servants' hall, in which they were assembled. Andrew's tongue was loud as I opened the door, but my unexpected appearance silenced him. "What is the matter with you, you fool?" said I ; "yon stare and look wild, as if you had seen a ghost." rm HRSTFrCHT FORTH,.: STUARTS 395 fellows tonight, and Mr US n ""'','"•''» for those .rood occasion to det in then '"f ='«"•""'" "-ere w ,. no no further interm ,r«,. ,K,. , ""•'>■ '^°""' ''.'vo could not have had Timt to \ ' """ ' """"Sht he l>cfore I interrupted iZ \T '"'° """^^ *"'' "'^'" chief n,a, he rV:., tf rds^^ otSis"'^' -'■ they cost two lives '"'^ occasion -^'"n;:"^:Sr:7-t''^^'"'''^^-- privacy for my Quests I retn^n H , """'' '° '«="f'= and aLed. ^ii'/T^'iyZ:'::^'''''"''- summons, concluding that it was hv h ' ""*'>' had been secreted in the Hall Da„ '°"T"'' "^^^ 'hank me for the cau.io,, " "'"*'' •>" ^^^ '° h- so often foind ^^iXfrJZ^I^'TV) ^"^ ™^=c:srt^™--r- whl:x:tsr:jrT'^^°"^^^^'-^" -cun..ancrre;\w2 1,;:; r,- -^'-^"- - ^^^ I .-.Iways suspected Rashleigh Osbaldistone," said Sir F r I . I* I; I if 396 GEORGli I Frederick ; " but his conduct toward:; my unprotected child, which with difficidty I wrung from lier, and his treachery in your father's affairs, made me hate and despise him. In our last interview I concealed not my sentiments, as I should in prudence have attempted to do ; and in res:nt ment of the scorn with which I treated him, he added treachery and apostasy to his catalogue of crimes. 1 ai that time fondly hoped that his defecti'in would be of iittli- consequence. The Earl of Mar had a gallant army in Scotland, and Lord Derwentwater. with Korster, Kenmure, \Vint^^rton, and others, were assembling forces on the Border. As my connections with the.se English nobility p.id gentry were extensive, it was judged proper that I should accomiiany a detachment of Highlanders, who, under Brigadier Macintosh, of Borlum, crossed the Firth of Forth, trave.-sed tlie low country of ScotlaiTl and united themselves on the Borders with the Eng! insurgent^. My daughter accompanied me through the perils and fatigues of a march so long and difticnlt." "And she will never leave her dear father!" exclaimed Miss Vernon, clinging fondly to his arm. " I had hardly joined our English friends, when I becanu' sensible that our cause was lost. Our num'. -rs diminishcJ instead of increasing, nor were we joi-.ied by any except of our own persuasion. The Tories of the High Church re mained in general undecided, and at length we wen cooped up by a superior force in the little town of Preston We defended ourselves resolutely for one day. On tlic next the hearts of our leaders failed, and they resolved to surrender at discretion. To yield myself up on such terni'i. were to have laid my liead on the block. About twenty or thiity gentlemen were of my mind; we mounted oi:r horses, anc, placed my dnugliter, who insisted on sh.iring my fat^ in the centre of our little party. My companions, struck with her covirage and filial piety, declared that ll'.cy would die rather than leave h;r behind. We rode in a THE FIRST FIGHT FOR TIIF- STUARTS 397 portun ty of escauinff hv « , ', 7'"-'^' """ a safe op- r / ui CTLajjing oy sua, and found mv>:<.lf „i,i' . .-'gam to draw towards the North aT 1, , ' / ^'"'''^'^ appointed to meet me in ,uT ■ t "■"-''' ^"'""^ ^as n.e to a seapo^o" 'Z So ^y, X r^'- '"' '"''' to carry me fron, „,y na.iv, co' „ ry for ev r ' ' 'nT'^' stone Hall was for the nrose.u , ;,V ^^ '^' "'''"''J'- ci>arge of old SyddaV w o" .^ " e:'!'^:' fi^" '"^ former occasions, we drew to it as to a Vc^ o T" "" secure refuge. I resun.ed a dress whh, )"''^" '"'^ with good effect to scare Z "' '"'•'" "^"1 -sties, who chance" an rr":: """' "' '''■ expected from time to tin, tn > "''''""'' '^'^ "rival of our fri "dly ,, d " ^^ ^' ''''''''' °^ ">«= «rore me in flesh and l.lo , h \;;;™ °"'^^7- '"utyand sunk snnits Tl, . '"""-","'"' I'lmniished ^he had resisted e.'^ ouc ^^ O^^Z TT' """ ''''''' ;l-,r of con.posed^ndth 1;:^::^^^ ^tX"^"r "O" and constancy. Her father .h ^ ''''"""^ss resnU. 0' .he effect of her pra s" on , nv in" """n '"'' ^""""^ "l^iating upon theln. ^ ""^' ^"''^ "'■' ""-1'"' ll U [ ! 1 ,! i'Jil :i:i li I tl '11 398 GEORGE I I " She has endured trials," he said, " which might have dignified the history of a martyr ;— slie has faced danger and death in various shapes ; she has undergone toil and privation, from which men of the strongest frame would have shrunk ;— she has spent the day in darkness, and the night in vigil, and has never breathed a murmur of weak- ness or complaint. In a word, Mr. Osbaldistone," he con- cluded, " she is a worthy offering to that God to whom " (crossing him-^elf) " I shall dedicate her, as all that is left dear or precious to Frederick Vernon." There was a silence after these words, of which I well understood the mournful import. The father of Diana was still as anxious to destroy my hopes of being united to her now as he had shown himself during our brief meeting in Scotland. " We will now," said he to his daughter, " mtrude no further on Mr. Oslialdistone's time, since we have ac- quainted him with the circumstances of the miserable guests who claim his protection." I retiuested them to stay, and offered myself to leave the apartment. Sir b'rederick observed, that my doing so could not ;.at excite my attendant's suspicion; and that the place of their retreat was in every respect commodious, and furnished by Syddall with all they could possibly want. " We might perhaps have even contrived to remain there, concealed from your observation ; but it would have be. n unjust to decline the most absolute reliance on your honour." " You have done me but justice," I replied.— "To you. Sir Frederick, I am but little known ; but Miss Vernon, 1 am sure, will bear me witness that " "I do not want my daughter's evidence," he said politely. but yet with an air calculated to prevent my addrcssm;; myself to Diana, "since I am prepared to believe all that is worthy of Mr. Francis Osbaldistone. Permit us now to retire ; we must take repose when we can, since we ..re -im^^^^msi'^ THE FIRST FIGHT FOR THE STUARTS ,09 He drew his daugluer's arm wiihin his and with -, prc^ound reverence, disappeared with her' beld ''.h: I felt stunned and chilled as thev retired T„ • ■ desire to behold her. I had tl ' „. hf r n '"''' "'°" and her cold, passive manner, expressive of 1 ,t e exce .t' accused her or1n:^re::e^:fr^;ih;.^>;tSe] her father with pride-with cruelty-with ana ticism 1 gett,„g that both were sacr,fici„g tl.eir interes a Td'l"^ n. her ,n^c,,nat.on, to the discharge of what .H.y\^J::^Z ,hf'Jh"^7''\^'"'°" ""'••' ■"'S"' ^■»">»l"^. «'ho thought he path of salvation too narrow to be trodden by an heret,c; and Diana, to whom her father's safety had been or many years the principal and moving spring of thou, ,us hopes, and act.ons, felt that she had disch rged her dm n es.gn,ngto h,s will, not alone her property in he world but the dearest affections of her heart. But i7 was not irT T ' '""" ""'■ =" ^"^" =» -'-nt, full a "re ciate these honourable motives • vet mv s„l„.n ■ ' ■guoble means of discharging U,;,r ' '°"«'" "" " I am contemned, then," I said, when left to mn ^ ■e tenor of Sir Frederick's conn^Jnicat'o s!!- I ™ Z -^^chi^o-^-tiri^^t^i/T-r:- IS: 4 If ; m^^^^MWX. 400 GEORGE I M initposl, and while under my roof, at least, no danger shall tlircaten licr, if it be such as the arm of one determined man ni,ss,on expressed in Diana's features - ,[,e wild and dis- torted faces of the executioners, who crowded around us «-.th moppmg and n.owing"; grin.aces ever changing, and eaci, more Indeous than that which preceded. I sw the r,g,d and inllexible fanaticism painted in the fa,-e of the father -I saw him lift the fatal match-the deadly signal riv^ "h 7 T u''"'"-'^ '■'^"" ""^ '^8^''" ='"'1 4i". in nval thunders, by the echoes of the surrounding cliffs, ^nd I awoke from fiincied horror to real apprehension I he sounds m my dream were not ideal. They reverl.er ated on my waking ear.,, but it was two or three n.inutes eel could collect n.yself .so as distinctly to un.lerstand hat they proceeded fron, a violent knocking at the gate. 1 leaped from my couch in great apprehension, took my sword under my arm, and listened to forbid the admission of any one. But my route was necessarily circuitous, l-ecause tiie hbrary looked not upon the quadrangle, bu .nto the gardens. When I had reached a staircase the wuidows of «n„h opened upon the entran, ,- court, I heard the feeble and nn.midated tones of .Syddall expostulating with rough voices, which demanded adnnttance by the warrant of Justice Standish, and in the king's natne, and threatened the old domestic with the heaviest penal con- sequences It he refused instant obedience. Kre they had cea.sed I heard, to my unspeakable provocation, the voi'c,. of .■\ndrew bidding .Syddall s.and aside, and let him open ihc door. ' •' If they come in King (icorge's name, we have naethins to fear -we hae spent baith blude and gowd for him ~wt 4 GEORGE I candle towards nic, and surveying mc from head to fool "right welcome to Osbaldistonc Hall ! — I can forgive your spleen — it is hard to lose an estate and a mistress in one night ; for we shall take possession of this poor manor house in the nan.c of the lawful heir, Sir Rashleigli Osbaldistone." Rashleigh stro ' once or twice through the :ooni, cairn up to the side-table, on which wine was stili standing, anil poured out a large glass with a trembling hand ; but when he saw that we observed his tremor, he suppressed it by a strong effort, and, looking at us with fixed and darin;; composure, carried the bum|)er to his head without spilling a drop. " It is my father's old Burgundy," he said, luokiiii; to Jobson ; " I am glad there is some of it left. — You will get proper persons to take care of the house and properly in my name, and turn out the doating old butler, and tliat foolish Scotch rascal. Meanwhile we will convey thest persons to a more proper place of custody. I have pro- vided the old family roach for your convenience," he said, "though I am not ignorant that even the lady could bravr the night-air on foot or on horseback, were the errand more to her mind." Andrew wrung his hands. -" I only said that my maslir was surely speaking to a ghaist in the library — and the villain Uancie to betray an auld friend, that sang aff tin same psalm-book wi' him cvi'ry Sabbath for twenty years ! " He was turned out of ihi house, together with Syddall, without being allowed to conclude his lamentation. His expulsion, however, led to some singular consequences Resolving, according to his own story, to go down for the night where Mother .Simpson would give him a lodging I'ra old acciuaintancu' s:ike, iie had just got clear of the avenui, and into the old wood, as it was called, though it was now used as a pasture-ground rather than woodland, when he suddenly lighted on a drove of Scotch cattle, which were Iving there to repose themselves after the dav"s journey. , S.Y«,W».ri=r Till- FIRST I.-k;||T VOR TiU- STUARTS 4,,,-, At this An.lrew was in no way surprised, it bein.- tlu- w<.ll known custom of his countrymen, who take care o th. 1 drove, to ,uarter themselves after ni.-ht upon the h s " UK osed grass-ground they cm fmd, and dep.rt before Ik was both surprised and startled, when a H.ddandcr >pr.nK,ng up, accused bin, .,f disturbing the catt e and -fused h„n to pass forward u!i he had spoken to i las "r he moun,a,neer conducted Andrew into a thi.ke. here he found three or four n.ore of his cuuntryn,,., '• nd " ^aid Andrew, "I saw sune they were ower'n.o y nu; L :^;-s^tr::;;nr^'''----'^-«" ihe report he made to them. ton, _rnLU at "And troth," said Andrew, " I tauld them a' I ken'd • for "ti^m;;:;-"^^^^'^^"'^''™"'''— -^-'"'^-i- ■1-hey talked in whispers an.ong tlun.selves. and at len..,h Elected ,he.r cattle together, and drove then, do ; V entrance of the avenue, which „,ight be half a mile'di ant from the house. They proceeded to drag ,. 'ether ome felled trees which lay in the vicinity, ,„ af , makj ten,porary barr.cade across the road, ab^ut lif.cc^ "rd yo,,te avenue. It was now near daybreak, ^^d ^tbl 2 sf^ r ' """ ,"""«'^'^ "'"> ""^ '^'"-K ".oon- ;,r , r"? ™"" '^^ ''-'-•--^•j -'1' -."c dis- miss. Ihe lunibermg .sound of a coach drawn by four l-r.es, and escorted by si.v n,en on horseback was hearj ;-n,g up. he avenue. The Highlanders hstenj:; a^::;! ^^1)- Ihe carnage contained Mr. Jobson ind h,< -^— pr.oners. The e.,.or, consist ;;'Kar; ml of several horsen,en, peace-officers and the.r a.ssista.f.s Has shut behmd the cavalcade by a H,ghiandn>an. •Ill i' ,' r m rk'-yajsiry 4o6 GEORGE I stationed there for that purpose. At the same time the carriage was impeded in its farther progress by the cattle, amongst which wc were involved, and liy the barricade in front. Two of the escort dismounted to remove the felled trees, which they might think were left there by accident or carelessness. The others began with their whips to drive the cattle from the road. "Who dare abuse our cattle?" said a rough voice.— " Shoot him, Angus ! " Rashleigh instantly c.illed out—" A rescue ! a rescue ! and, firing a pistol, wounded the man who spoke. " Claymore!" cried ihele.-ider of the Highlanders, and .i scuffle instantly cominenced. The officers of the law, sur- prised at so sudden an attack, and not usually possessing the most desperate bravery, made but an imperfect defence considering the superiority of their numbers. Sonic attempted to ride back to the Hall, but, on a pistol bein;; fired from behind the gate, they conceived themselves surrounded, and at length galloped off in different directions. Rashleigh, meanwhile, had dismounted, and on foot had maintained a desperate and single-handed conflict with the leader of the band. The window of the carriage, on my side, permitted me to witness it. At length Rashleigh dropped. " Will you ask forgiveness for the sake of God, Kinj James, and auld friendship ? " said a voice which I knew right well. " No, never ! " said Rashleigh firmly. "Then, traitor, die in your treason ! " retorted MacGregor, and plunged his sword in his prostrate antagonist. In the next moment he was at the carriage door— handed out Miss Vernon, assisted her father and me to alight, and dragging out the attorney, head foremost, threw him under the wheel. "Mr. Osbaldi^-'.o) e," he said, in a whisper, "you have nothing to fear— I must look after those who have.— Vour THE FIRST FIGHT I'ON THE STUv^RTS 407 Macd'!!'"""" ^ '" ^''f^'y-FTew-^ll. and forget not the He whistled his band gathered round him, and. hurry- .ng Diana and her father along with him, they were nhnost ms.an.ly lost in the glades of the fores. The coac iZan Tr^ S!^" "f/'-"'-;:'^ •"- horses, and ZTZ first discharge of f.rearms ; but the animal.,, stopped by the barncade, remained perfectly still ; and well for obson'tha, they d,d so, for the slightest motion would h. ,u dragged .he >H,eel over his body. My fi.st object was to rel e v'e h m for such was the rascal's terror that he never -ould have risen by his own exertions I next commanded him to ;™'i:d'mv:',f r' "•^'"t'^'^- ""' ■" "- — •, .:: availed myself of ,t .0 make „,y escape, and enjoined him to go down to the Hall, and call some of his party who had been left there, to assist the wounded.-But 'jobs,,:: f a's had so mastered and controlled every faculty of h,s mind ^t he was totally incapable of moving. I now resolved .0 go mysef, but ,n my way I stumbled over the body of a man, as I thought, dead or dying. It was, however, Andrew Fairserv.ce, as well and whole as ever he was in his life, «ho had only taken this recumbent posture to avoid .he gashes, stabs, and pistolballs, which for a moment or two m hat I did not inquire h„w he came thi.her, but instantly commanded his assistance Rashleigh was our first object. He groaned when I ap- proached him, as much through spite as through pain, and i We'IVrVl'""'"'""-''^' ""^ '^80, .0 speak no word Id htr >°f ' '°;""'her wounded man of his par.y, who obson ? f °";'' '''"■ ' ""-■" "'"> difficul.y inade son understand that he must enter the coach also, ^ support Sir Rashleigh upon the seat. He obeyed, bul It '"'/'/ ^" -"' ''^'f comprehended my mcai ing. A.-. When we reached the mansion, therefore, we heard such a buzz as arises when bees are alarmed, and mustering in their hives. Mr. Jobson, however, who had now in sonu: measure come to his senses, found voice enough to make himself known. He was the more anxious to be released from the carriage, as one of his companions (the peace- officer) had, to his inexpressible terror, expired by his side with a hideous groan. Sir Rashleigh Osbaldistone was still alive, but so dread fully wounded that the bottom of the coach was filled wiih his blood, and long traces of it left from the entrance-do»r into the stone hall, where he was placed in a chair, soin, attempting to stop the bleeding with cloths, while other, called for a surgeon, and no one seemed willing to go Kj fetch one. " Torment me not," said the wounded man- "I know no assistance can avail me— I am a dying man.' He raised liimself in his chair, though the damps and chiil of death were already on his brow, and spoke with a nriii- ness which seemed beyond his strength. " Cousin Francis," he said, "draw near to me." I approached him as L requested.—" I wish you only to know that the pangs of death do not alter one iota of my feelings towards you. I hate you ! " he said, the expression of rage throwing a hideous glare into the eyes which were soon to be closed for eve-— "I hate you with a hatred as intense, now while I lie bleeding and dying before you, as if my foot tiode on your neck." " I have given you no cause, sir," I replied,— " and fn your own sake I could wish your mind in a better temper THE FIRST FrCFlT FOR T.IF STUARTS 40, he sa,d, "and may the curse of a dying man c e.ve to t '" stiffened but ,1, . ? ' l'"-ame glared, his hmhs It gave me to understand that the onr>nrtnn« . ofMae,.egorandhispar,.irrr::r™ »tottish nobles and i-entrv enL'ir„.H in ti, ■ ■ -11 as those of Kntian^ ^T^",,^ " ':^""-"-. - further the escape of Sir Fed2k Venn ^ """°"' '" ar>d trusted agent of the ho se of s u.r w^ "'' '' """''^ njatter enough to have ruined t.f'S.aT. "70^0? of whose sagacity and courage they had known . ^' .-rs, was the person whont they ^Sd'To: To ^^'I . Ijl IM Is! 410 GEORGE I his escape, and the place of meeting was fixed at Osbaldi- stone Hall. You have already heard how nearly the plan had been disconcerted by the unhappy Rashleigh. It suc- ceeded, however, perfectly; for when once Sir Frederick and his daughter were again at large, they found horses prepared for them, and, by Macdregor's knowledge of the country — for every part of Scotland, and of the North of England, was familiar to him— were jc.iducted to the west- ern sea-coast, and safely embarked for France. The tame gentleman told me that Sir Frederick was not expected to survive for many months a lingering disease, the conse- quence of late hardships and privations. His daughter was placed in a convent, and although it was her father's wish she should take the veil, he was understood to refer the matter entirely to her own inclinations. When these news reached me, I frankly told the state of my affections to my father, who was not a little startled at the idea of my marrying a Roman Catholic. But he wa- very desirous to see me " settled in life," as he called it ; and he was sensible that, in joining him with heart and hand in his commercial labours, I had sacrificed my own inclinations. After a brief hesitation, and several questions asked and answered to his satisfaction, he broke out with - " I little thought a son of mine should have been lord of Osbaldistone Manor, and far less that he should go to a French convent for a spouse. But so dutiful a daughter cannot but prove a good wife. You have worked at thi; desk to please me, Frank ; it is but fair you should wive to pl'-ase yourself." How I sped in my wooing I need not tell. I lived long and happily with Diana. — Sir Walter Scott, /!ui Roy. li. XXVI The King's Drnuing-room at sea, caused the nionanl, „,.,„„ ,h„ ' native Hanover whirl, -vere ,„ ' " '" '"' compelled hi,n to e nain i „' : " '"'^ "''"' ''^■"'' =""' amo,'gsthisluvi " „ "s" \ "■""' """'"'■"•^'>-' who.^inueshaderLt'rr::-::::^-'':'"-^^'^^ console h,m for his enforced absence fto„ ' T' '" -■a hear . he accenu of In::;;::;!,;::^'^^^ '>'''-'■-'' I O this lieluvod sovL'ri'iu-n \t^ w .Ma lert had ajesty for his pr<. go to Court like "niotion, the two J'Hirney to Kensington together, en^^a^ '"r the puri.ose, as my J.ord W'rothal wanted hy its rightful use, and lli.iiik /(is gentlemen made thp ,'"ig a hackneyco.irh 's carriage was now "1 town. Tiiey alighted owner, who had returned l^ hi., 1 'he sentries on duty kne at K, ■ensmgton Palace Cate '"■ •■md saluted tli( house whe ■ i IN ; i.i| .1: ?r ■ aM good (leneral. 412 GKOKC.R il and henof nintlustly made their way on foot to the summer residence of tlie sovereign. Walking' under the portico of the iiaiare, they entered the i;allcry whiili leads to the great blai k marlilo staircase (wliidi hath been so richly decorated and painted liy Mr. Kent\ and tlicn passed through several rooms richly hung with taiieslry and adorned with pictures and Inistos, until they came to the King's great drawing-room, where that famous "Venus" by Titian is, and, amongst other ■nasterpieces, the picture of "St. Fran-'s adoring the infant Siviour," performed by Sir I'etcr Paul Rubens ; and here, with the rest of the visi- tors to the Court, the gentlemen waited until His Majesty issued from his private apartments, where he was in confer- ence with certain personages who were called in the news- paper language of that day His M-j— ty's M-n-strs. George Warrington, who had never been in a palace before, hai leisure to admire the place, and regard the people round him. He saw fine pictures for the first time too, and I dare say deliglited in that charming piece of Sir Anthony Vandyke representing King Charles the First, his Queen and Family, and the noble picture of " Esther before Ahasuerus," painted by Tintoret, and in which all the figures are dressed in the magnificent Venetian habit. \Vith the contemplation of these works he was so enrap- tured, that he scarce heard all the remarks of his good friend the General, who was whispering into his yojng companion's almost heedless ear the names of some oi the personages round about them. " Yonder," says Mr. Lambert, " are two of my Lords of the Admiralty, Mr. Gilbert KUiot and Admiral lioscawen : )v,ir lioscawen, whose fleet fired the first gun in your waters two years ago. That stout gentleman all belaced with gold is Mr. Fo.\, that was Minister, and is now content to be Paymaster with a great salary." " He carr =s the iwri fames on his person. Why, hi> waistcoat is a perfect Potosi ! " says George. Till- KIN-GS l>K'.\\\-|\,;_K()o.M A/U; 41:! money and to si).n,l ii " ,• lU love, to fji-t promotion in ^ ;''',: 7"'^''='^ '"-■- -ry l.:,l, ti-nc, and «a, love 1 .'v 1 l v '"' '" ^""^ f!"" J'^ulu-, ', With tl,cnu n V ord "' f"'^'. •^"'' ''^"-' ''V th. Lean, lock. Afy o ds of U " ;• "'" ''•■"'"-■'' ""«- ■•^l>^- 'Wand .heycal'hnnf^n" ''"">■;, ''^™ "^ Ten sndorhad him broke '.n , r " ''''"^^'' •^■"'«^- a .^enchn.n.o.i ,::::: l^-.r^i':;:^'- made Tom T <-TMfnin .1 . "inj, ana tne W\n" a footman. I wish my .stout old Jililc 1 " '"' i^ the soldiers' darhn.-\nd a, Ir?"'''' '"-■■■'■ ''" "Oh, indeed ! " says the poker of a nobleman " T 1, the honour of speaking to Mr - " *"'""■ ^ '"ve ^l^tt^Ti^T"":-^ yottrlordship-s servic. ™tered it. Th..;' ^^ ^^^ ''.'"'I ''- "efore you Harrington, is the first i" Kngland, .M I sliall hav i'ile r- .Si)eaker Onslow. Where •e to present you myself to His M delays much longer." A s he commoner >ur uncle ? lajesty i* I ! ■spoke the worthy 'rM' : ■ i 4M GEORCE 11 ("icneral nddrcssed himself entirely to his young friend, making no sort of account of his colleague, who stalked away with a scared look as if amazed at the other's audacity. A liundred years ago, a nobleman was a nobleman, and expected to be admired as such. Sir Miles's red waistcoat appeared in sight presently, and many cordial greetings passed between him, his nephew, and Cieneral Lambert: for Sir Miles was the most affectionate of men. So the General had (juitled my Lord Wrotham's house? It was time, as his lordship himself wished to occupy it? Very good; but consider what a loss for the neighbours ! "We miss you, we positively miss you, my dear Cieneral," cries Sir Miles. " My daughters were in love with those lovely young ladies— upon my word tliey were -, and ni) I.ady Warrington and my girls were debating over and over again how they sliould find an opportunity of making the acquaintance of your charming family. We feel as if we were old friends already ; indeed we do, (lencral, if you will permit me the liberty of saying so ; and we love you, if I may be allowed to speak frankly, on account of your friendship and kindness to our dear nephews : though we were a lit'le jealous, I own a little jealous of them, beeau>o they went so often to see you. Often and often have 1 said to my Lady Warrington, ' My dear, why don't »■• make acquaintance with the General ? '.Vliy don't we ask him and his ladies to come over in a family way and dine with some other i)lain country gentlefolks?' Carry my most sincere respects to Mrs. Lambert, I pray, sir; and thank her for her goodness to these young gentlemen. My own flesh and blood, si- , my dear, dear brother's boys : " He passed his hand across his manly eyes : he was chokii\^ almost with generous and affectionate emotion. Whilst they were discoursing— George Warrington the while restraining his laughter with admirable gravity— the door of the King's apartments opened, and the pages THE KING'S DRAWING-ROOM 4,;, lu-Tf/K'";"" '!" ^'"'"''y- ""^ «•- f""o-<=d by l,i, L ;. °''^" "'■S'^"'^^-' "^^ ""'«=• » very corpul Pnnce, w,th a coat and face of bla^ins scarlet- hchind e came various gentlemen and officers of ; e a .^ J o^' .eorge at once recognised the famous Mr. s! c V HuT by h,s tall stature, his eagle eye and I.eak, h s g a7u and n>ajcst,c presence. As I see that solemn fig , re .„ even a hundred years off, I protcs,t I f,,, a prl'n f' and a des.re to take my hat off. I am not f igl ™ed i .eorge the Second; nor are my eyes da.zled ify . ,„„! ailoX """'r-r'" °' "" ""'''' "'-'""■- 'he I,uk of Culloden and I-ontenoy; but the Croat Commoner the .err,b e Cornet of Horse ! His figure bestrides our narr v .sle of a century back like a Colossus ; and I hush as he passes m ,s gouty shoes, his thunderbolt hand wrapped flannel IVrhaps as we see him now, issuing wi 1 dark ooks from the Royal closet, angry scenes have been ass ,,- -etween hun and his august n,as.er. He has been bo " hat o d n.onarch for hours with prodigious long speech"^ full of eUxiuence, voluble with the noblest phL s u on the commonest topics; but, :t n.ust be con essed u.t erT epuls.ve ,0 the ,ttle shrewd old gentleman, "at wlo"e S elays hM^self,"as the phrase i.s, and wh^ has th „ o horough d.shke for fine Av,/.^ -nd for fine J . " hesubhmeMmister passes .solemnly through the .owd : e company ranges itself respectfully round the wall ,^' '.f f r^""^"°'""' U,e circle, his Royal .son lai" , im e behurd, and engaging select individuals in co we^ ' tion for his own part. ^-omersa- The monarch is a little keen fresh-coloured old man with e y protrtjd.ng eye.,, attired in plain old-fashioned nfT coloured clothes and l,rown stockings, his only ornament .he blue ribbon of his Order of the Garter. He speZ „' a German accent, but with ease, shrewdness, and siScity ddres,„g ,hose ndividuals whom he hasa n,ind to nodce" cr passing on w,th a bow. He knew Mr. Lambert well :i fM|l 416 r.i'ORdi- It will) li.ivl served nmlcr His Majesty at Octt' i;cii, and witli Ill's Royal sun in Si olland, and he congratulated liiin good- liuniiiuredly on his promotion. "It is not always," His NFajcsty was pleased to say, " that we can do as we like ; but I was glad when, for once, I could give myself thai pleasure in your case, (ieiieral ; for my army contains no heiler officer as you." The veteran lilushed and bowed, dee|ily gratified at tliis speech. Me:iiiwhile, the liest of .Monarchs was looking at Sir .Miles WarrinL'ton (whom His Majesty knew perfectly, as the eager recipient of all favours from all Ministers), and at the young gentlem-.n by his side. " Who is this? " the Defender of the Faith condescended to ask, pointing towards (leorge Warrington, who stood before his sovereign in a res|)ectful attitude, clad in poor Harry's best cmliroidered suit. With the deepest reverence Sir Miles informed his King, th.'t the young gentleman was his nephew, .Mr. Cieorge \Varrington, of Virginia, who asked leave to (lay his humble duty. "This, then, is the other brother?" the venerated Prime deigned to observe. " He came in t'nic, else the other brother would have spent all the money. My Lord liish(i|i of Salisbury, why do you come out in this bitter weather ? You had much better .stay a? home I " and with tlii.s, tii^; revered wieldcr of liritannia's sceptre passed on to othe. lords and gentlemen of his Court. Sir Miles Warrington was deeply affected at the Royal condescension. He clapped his nephew's hands. • Cod bless yon, my boy." he cried ; " I told yon that you would see the greatest monarch and the finest gentleman in the Torlil. Is he nut so, my 1 ,oril liishop ? '' "That, that he is'" cried his lordship, clasping liii ruflled hand.s, and turning his fine eyes up to the sky, "the best of princes and of men." "That is Mastei Louis, my l.ady Yarmouth's favouriit.' TIM: Kr\(;s rdv'.wvi.vMcmM ■417 Milmf; to a vounn K<-'nilemari who prusunlly the stout .111(1 ncplic\v,"ia)s I,atiil)Lrt, poi stucl with .1 crowd round Iv... , ,„.,..-„„,• Dukf of CuinLerland came Uj. to our little uroiip 111. Royal lIlKhiuss held out his hand to his old r„,„. pan.on „, amis. "Congratulate you on your protnotlon, l.anil.crl, he .said Koodnaturcdly. .Sir .Miles U'arrinsrton's eyes wore ready to l.urst out of his head with rapture ' "I owe It sir, to your Koyal Ilighness's good offices," suid the grateful (leneral. " Not at all ; not at all : ought to have had It a ion- tune before. Always I.een a good oftker , perhaps there'll be some employment for you soon. This is the gentleinan whom James Wolfe introduced to me .' " " His brother, sir." "Vou were with poor \ed Ihaddock in America-a prisoner and lucky enough to escape. Come and .see me sir, ,n l>a 1 Mall. I!n„g him to my levcV, Lambert." And he broad back of the Royal Prince was turned to our friends. "It is raining! You came on foot, Ceneral Lambert? You and Cleorge must come home in my coach, lou mu^t and Ml come home with me, I say. li> Ceorge, you must ! I'll have no denial," cried the enthusiastic taronef and he drove George aijj the ( and darlings. Mora and Dora ieneral liack to Hill .Street presented the latter to my Lady Warrlngt of a col' aon, as \\\i anil insisted upon their p.i id hi rtak 7 must be hungry after their rid "« " What, there is only cold mutton ? Well, .... can eat cold mutton. And a good glass of my l" rington's ovn cordial keep the cold wind mutton ! Our an old soldier my Lady War. prepared with her own hand L>e! Iclous cordial ! (. ■11, my deal Cleneral," says the h Is, will ■a|iital bare -It, "our own from the cou....^, We keep a plain table ; but .ill tlie \\ ospltal ■y, SI X years aid if a day. Conqueror have been remarkable ibr thei and our laeal may look a little arrington's since the ir love of mutton ; iiaiity, and i.s, for we are ! I i 1 I ,!lll II I I'M r 4i,S riTORcn ;i plain people, and I am obliged to keep my rasials of ser- vants on lioard wages. Can't g've tlicni seven-year old mutton, you know." Sir .Miles, in liis ncpliew'.s presence and hearing, described to his wife and daughters (leorgu's reception at ("ourt in such flattering terinsth.it (Icorge hardly kjiew him;elf, or the scene at which he had been present, or how to look his uncle in the i:u\\ or how to contradict him l)eforc his f.iniily in the midst of the astonishing narrative he was relating. Lambert sat by for a while with opeji eyes, lie, too, had beiMi at Kensington. He had seen none of the wonders which Sir Miles described. — W. M. Tii.vcki;kav, yirciniuns. XXVII Mow the Gage of" the Ciuelphs was Taken up •* T IIAVK often hca ■ said Darsio Latin.cr ,o Im na, taktn u,. the champion's gauntlet at < present KinL''s .aptr offering to accept the comhat, provided a fair field shou d be all,.ued for it. I have hitherto considered i as the actors of a scene so daring -How could vou have courage to go through with it ? " ^ " "Had Ihad leisure /or renection," answered his sister shou d have refused, frotr, a .ni.v.urc of principle and f f ar l>ut like many people, who do danng ictions I _«cnt on because I had not time to think of rctreai'n.- Ihe matter was little known, and it is said the K ,g h" d comn,anded .hat i, should not be farther en,,uired il !^ om prudence, as I suppose, and lenity, though my u^icle ooses to ascribe the forbearance of the ElecL" tf Hanover, as he calls him, sometimes to pusillanimity and —cs^to^a presumptuous scorn of'the .ctio!^':;;^ I! ! replied his sister ■ 'but I ;ot so terrible a ill! 0,durt, aided by an occasional gratuity from the Stewarts ; to which the annuity paid for my board formed a desirable addition. She was not ill-tempered, nor very covetous— neither beat me nor starved me— but she was so completely trammelled by rank and prejudices, so awfully profound in genealogy, and so bitterly keen, poor lady, in British politics, that I sometimes thought it pity that the Hanoverians, who murdered, as she used to tell me, her poor dear father, had left his dear daughter in the land of the living. Delighted, therefore, was I, when my uncle made his appearance, and abruptly announced his purpose of conveying me to England. My extravagant joy at the idea of leaving I-ady Rachel Rougedragon, was somewhat qualified by observing the melancholy look, lofty demean- our, and commanding tone of my near relative. He held more communication with me on the journey, however, than consisted with his taciturn demeanour in general, and seemed anxious to ascertain my tone of character, and particularly in point of courage. Now, though I am a tamed Redgauntlet, yet I have still so much of our family spirit as enables me to be as composed in danger as most of my sex : and upon two occasions in the course of our journey— a threatened attack by banditti, and the overturn of our carriage — I had tne fortune so to conduct myself, as now Till- GAGE WAS TAKEN UP ^.m to ronvcy to my uncle a very favourable idea of u,y .»tre,„d,ty. Probably this encouraged him to put i,, execution the singular scheme which he had in agitation 1-re we reached London we changed our means of conveyance, and altered the route by which we am-roached the e,ty more than once ; then, like a hare which doubles repeatedly at some distance from tlie seat she means to occupy, and at last leaps into her form from a distance as great as she can clear by a spring, we made a forced march and anded ,n private and obscure lodgings in a little old street m W estmmster, not far distant from the Cloisters "On the morning of the day on which we arrived mv uncle went abroad, and did not return for some hours Meantime I had no other amusement than to listen to the tumult of noises which succeeded each other, or reigned in confusion together during the whole morning. Paris I had thought the most noisy capital in the world, but Paris seemed midnight silence compared to London. Cannon tliundered near and at a distance-drums, trumpets, and military music of every kind, rolled, flourished, and pierced the clouds, almost without intermission. To fill up the concert, bells pealed incessantly from a hundred steeples 1 he acclamations of an immense multitude were heard from time to time, like the roaring of a mighty ocean, and all this witliout my bemg able to glean the least idea of what was going on, for the windows of our apartment looked upon a waste back-yard, which seemed totally deserted -My curiosity became e.xtreme, for I was satisfied, at len-th that It must be some festival of the highest order wWcli called forth these incessant sounds. " My uncle at length returned, and with him a man of an unjirepossessing. I need not describe him to you, for— do not look at thif That moment." ipectable round— he rides behind i pose ? " said iJarsie. person, .Mr. Cristal N i 4 1 'Hi. ,' j m ixon, I 422 GEORGE III " The same," answered Lilias ; " make no gesture that may intimate we are speaking of him." Darsie signified that he understood her, and she pursued her relation. " They were both in full dress, and my uncle, taking a bundle from Nixon, said to me, 'Lilias, I am come to carry you to see a grand ceremony— put on as hastily as you can the dress you will find in th.it parcel, and prepare to attend me.' I found a female dress, splendid and elegant, but somewhat bordering upon the antitjue fashion. It might be that of England, I thought, and I went to my apartment full bf curiosity, and dressed myself with all speed. " My uncle surveyed me with attention—' She may pass for one of the flower-girls,' he said to Nixon, who only answered with a nod. " We left the house together, and such was their know- ledge of the lanes, courts, and bypaths, that though there was the roar of a multitude in the broad streets, those which we traversed were silent and deserted; and the strollers whom we met, tired of gazing upon gayer figures, scarcely honoured us with a passing look, although, at any other time, we should, among these vulgar suburbs, have attracted a troublesome share of observation. We crossed at length a broad street, where many soldiers were on guard, while others, exhausted with previous duty, were eating, drinking, smoking, and sleeping beside their piled arms. "'One day, Nixon,' whispered my uncle, 'we will make these redcoated gentry stand to their muskets more watch- fully.' " ' Or it will be the worse for them,' answered his attendant, in a voice as unpleasant as his physiognomy. " Unquestioned and unchallenged by any one, we crossed among the guards, and Nixon tapped thrice at a small postern door in a huge ancient building which was straiglit Pa-t 42-'. It ! ■■:!, • I ''1 ll HOW THE GAGE WAS TAKEX UP 4.^3 before us. It opened, and we entered without my per- ceiving by whom we were admitted. A few dark and narrow passages at length conveyed us into an inmiJnsc (.othic hall, the nmgnin.cnce of wliich haffles my powers of descrijjtioji. " It was iMuminatcd by ten thousand wax lights, whose splendour at first dazzled n>y eyes, coming as wc did from these dark and secret avenues. Hut when my sight be-an to become steady, how shall I describe what I behetd ? Beneath were huge ranges of tables, occupied by princes and nobles in their robes of state-i-.igh officers of the crown wearmg their dresses and badges of authority- reverend prelates and judges, the sage.s of the church and law, in their more sombre, yet not less awful robes-with others whose antique and striking costume announced their importance, though I could not even guess who they mi-ht be. But at length the truth burst on me at once-it was and the murmurs around confirmed it, the Coronation Peast. At a table above the rest, ana extending across the upper end of the hall, sat enthroned the youthful Sovereign himself, surrounded by the princes of the blood, and other dignitaries, and receiving the suit and homage cf his subjects. Heralds and pursuivants, blazing in iheir fan- tastic yet splendid armorial habits, and pages of honour gorgeously arrayed in the garb of other days, waited upon the princely »i^nqueters. In the galleries with which this spacious hall u..s surrounded, shone all, and more than al, that my poor imagination could conceive, of what was brilliant in riches, or captivaiing in beauty. Countless rows of ladies, whose diamonds, jewels, and splendid attire, were their least powerful charms, looked down from tiieir lofty seats on the rich scene beneath, themselves forming a shew asdaz/hng and as beautiful as that of which they were spectators. Under these galleries, and behind the banquet- ing tables, were a multitude of gentlemen, dressed as if to attend a court, but whose garb, although rich enough to 1!= ■ i ir ili ■III 4-M GEORGE III have adorned a royal drawing room, could not distinguish them in such a higii scene as this. Amongiit these we \vandered for a few minutes, undistinguished nnd unre- garded. I saw several young persons dressed as I was, so was under no em'i.irrassnient from the singularity of my habit, and only rejoiced, as I hung on my uncle's arm, at the magical splcndeur of such a scene, and at his goodness for procuring me the pleasure of beholding it. "By-and-by, I perceived that my uncle had acquaintances among those who were unde. the galleries, and seemed, like ourselves, to be mere spectators of the solemnity, They recognised each other with a single word, sometimes only with a gripe of the hand —exchanged some private signs, doubtless — and gradually formed a little group, in the centre of which we were placed. " ' Is it not a grand sight, Lilias ? ' said my uncle. ' All the noble, and all the wise, and all the weallhy of Britain, are there assembled.' " ' It is indeed,' said I, ' all that my mind could have fancied of regal power and splendour.' " ' Girl,' he whispered, — and my uncle can make his whispers as terribly emphatic as his thundering voice or his blighting look,— 'all that is noble and worthy in this fair land are there assembled— but it is to bend like slaves and sycophants before the throne of a new usurper.' "I looked at him, and the dark hereditary frown of our unhappy ancestor was black upon his brow. " ' For God's sake,' I whispered, ' consider where we are.' " ' Fear nothing,' he said ; ' we are surrounded by friends.'— As he proceeded, his strong and mu'^cular frame shook with suppressed agil, :on. — 'See,' he said, 'yonder bends Norfolk, renegade to his Catholic faith ; there stoops the Bishop of , traitor to the Church of England; and, —shame of shames ! yonder the gigantic form of Errol bows his head before the grandson of his father's murderer 1 HOW THK GAr.H WAS TAKI-X L'l' 4..;, But a sign shnll be sen this night amongst thcni -.I/,v,., Ma,e, JcM, UM„rsi„, shall he read on these walls as distinct y as the spectral handwriting made then, visible on those of Belshazzar ! ' "'i^or Cod's sake,' said I, dreadfully alarmed, 'it is impossible you can meditate violence in such a presence ' ' "None ,s intended, fool,' he answered, 'nor can the slightest mischance happen, provided you will rally your boasted courage, and obey my directions. Hut do it coolly and quickly, for there are an hundred lives at stake. '•'Alas! what can I do?' I asked in the utmost terror. U-iy be prompt to execute my bidding,' said he • ' it IS but to lift a glove-Here, hold this in your hand-throw the tram of your dress over it, be firm, composed, and ready— or, at all events, I step forward myself.' "'If there is no violence designed,' I said, taking, mechanically, the iron glove he put into my hand. '■ I could not conceive his meaning ; but, in the excited state of mind m which I beheld him, I was convinced thai disobedience on my part would lead to some wild ex plosMon. I felt, from the emergency of the occasion, a sudden presence of mind, .-.nd resolved to do anything that might avert violence and bloodshed. I was not long held in suspense. A loud flourish of trumpets, and the voice of heralds, were mixed with the clatter of horses' hoofs while a champion, armed at all points, like those I had read of in romances, attended by squires, pages, and the whole retinue of chivalry, pranced forward, mounted upon a barbed steed. His challenge, in defiance of all who dared impeach the title of the new sovereign, was recited aloud — once, and again. Rush in at the third sounding,' said my uncle to me • ' .>ring me the parader's g.ige, and leave mine in lieu of it ' ' " 1 could not see how this was to be done, as we were surrounded by people on all sides. But, at the third "■ H H ' t II:' I ' 426 r.EORGF. Ill souniling of the trumpets, a lane opened as if by word of c(jniinand, betwixt me and tlie champion, and my uncle's voice said, 'Now, I.ilias, now !' " ANith a swift and yet steady step, and with a presenc e of mind for which 1 have never since been able to account, I discharged the perilous commission. I was hardly seen, I believe, as I exchanged the pledges of battle, and in an instant retired. ' Nobly done, my girl ! ' said my uncle, at whose side I found myself, shrouded as I 1 as before, by the interposition of the bystanders. 'Cover our retreat, gentlemen,' he whispered to those around him. "Room vasmade for us to approach the w.iU, which seemed to open, and we were again involved in the dark pass.nges througli which we had formerly passed. In a small anteroom, my uncle stopped, and hastily muffling nie in a mantle which was lying there, we passe' the guards- threaded the labyrinth of empty streets uiid courts, and reached our retired lodgings without attracting the least attention." — SiK Walter SC(51t, ly 'he delegate, was borne before hm, hke the or.flamme. Never was such a gaunt „im crew. As they advanced their numbers contin.nll creased for they arrested all labour in "11 '7 r '"" engme was stopped, the plug was driven' ouVofeve^r bolle? every fi.e was extinguished, every man was n'ed ou ' clJr""TV°'''' "'' '"''""^ ^'^ '° <=ease until .he Charter was the law of the land: the mine and the mHI t^e foundry and the loom-shop were until that co Lm 'on to be ,dle : nor was the mighty pause to be confined to these great enterprises. Every trade of every kind a„d III If! i ' 428 VICTORIA description was to l>c stopped: tailor and cul>1ilcr, brush' maker and sweep, tinker and carter, mason and builder, all, all ; for all an enormous Sabbath that was to com- pensate for any incidental suffering that it induced by the increased means and the elevated condition it ultimately would insure — that paradise of Srtizans, that Utopia of Toil, embalmed in those ringing words, founds cheerful to the Saxon race — " A fair day's wage for a fair day's woik." At Mowbray Castle the scout that Mr. Mountchesney had sent off to gather news had returned, and with intelli- gence that all had ended happily, and that the people were dispersing and returning to the town. The company staying at Moivbray had viewed the cast'j, and were in the music-room, r.nd Sybil Gerard had been prevailed upon, though with reluctance, to sing. Some Spanish church music which she found there called forth all her powers : all was happiness, delight, rapture, Lady Maud 111 a frenzy of friendship, Mr. Mountchesney con- vinced that the country in August might be delightful, and Lady Joan almost gay because Alfred was pleased. Lady de Mowbray had been left in her boudoir with the Murninx Post. Sybil had just finished a ravishing air, there was a murmur of luncheon — when suddenly the dog, who had persisted in following his mistress, and whom Mr. Mount- chesney had gallantly introduced into the music-room, rose, and coming forward from the corner in which he reposed, barked violently. " How now ! " said Mr. Mountchesney. " Harold ! " said Sybil in a tone of remonstrance and surprise. But the dog not only continued to bark but even howled. At tlus moment the groom of the chambers entered the roon. abruptly and with a face of mystery said that he wished to speak with Mr. Mountchesney. That gentleman immediately withdrew. He was absent some little time, the A STORV OI- Tfll. CHARTIST RIOTS 4...) clog very agitate Udy Joan liec(,iiiin(,' disquieted, when lie returned. His changed air struck the vigilant eye of his wife. " What has happened Alfred ? " she said. "Oh! don't he alarmed," he replied with an ohvious affection of ease. " There are some trouhlesome people in the park ; stragglers I suppose from the rioters. The gate keeper ought not to have let them pass. I have given directions to Uentley what to do, if they come to the castle." " Ut us go to mama," said I..idy Joan. And they were all almut leaving the music room, when a servant came running in and called out, " M Hentley told tne to say, sir, they are in sight." " Very well," said Mr. .Mountchcsney in a calm tone hut changing colour. " Vou had better go to your mama, Joan, and take .Maud and our friend with you. I will stay below for while," and notwithstanding the remonstrames of his wife, Mr. Mountchesney went to the hall. " I don't know what to do, sir," said the house steward. " They are a very strong party." " Close all the windows, lock and bar all the doors " said Mr. Mountchesney. "I an, frightened," he continued " about your lord. I fear he may fall in with these people " " My lord is at Mowbray," said Mr. Hentley. " He nuist have heard of this mob there." And now emerging from the plantations and entering on the lawns, the force and description of the invading party were easier to distinguish. They were numerous, though consisting of only a section of the original expedition, for Gerard had collected a great portion of the Mowbray men and they preferred being under his command to following a stranger whom they did not " like on a somewhat licen- tious adventure of which 1 .tural leader disapproved The invading section there....- were principally composed of Hell cats, though singular enough .Morley of all men in , II il l:„ I'll «i 430 VICTORIA the worUl arrouip.iniud them, attended by Devilsdust, D.indy .Mi< K. nnil others of th.it youthful ilass of which these list were ihe idols and heroes. There were perhaps ci(;lileen hundred or two thousand persons armed with bars nn l>hid){eons, in (jciicral a grimy crew, whose dress and api)earancc revealed the kind of labour to which they were accustomed. The difTercnce between them and the minor- ity of Mowbray operatives was instantly recognisable. When they perceived the castle this dreadful band gave a ferocious shout. I.idy de Mowbray showed blood; she was coini)Osed and courageous. She observed the mob from the window, and reassuring her daughters and ?/bil, the said she would go down and speak to tl. ;. She was on the poir.t of leaving the room with this object when Mr. Mountchesney en'ered and hearing her purpose, dissuaded her from attempting it. " Leave all to t " he said , "and make yourselves quite easy ; they w. > away, I am cer- tain they will go away," and he again ((.i ed them. In the meantime Lady de Mowbray ; J her friends ob- served the i)roceedings below. When the main body had advanced within a few hundred yards of the castle, they halted and seated themselves on the turf. This step reas- sured the garrison : it was generally held to indicate that the intentions of the invaders were not of a very settled or hostile character ; that they had visited the place probably in a spirit of frolic, and if met with tact and civility might ultimately be induced to retire from it without much annoyance. 'I'his was evidently the opinior of Mr. Mountchesney from the first ; and when an mcouth being on a white mule, attended by twenty or thirty miners, advanced to the castle and asked for Lord de V )wbray, Mr. Mountchesney met them with kindness, saying that he regretted his father in-law was absent, expressed his readiness to represent him, and inquired their pleasure. His courteous bear;ig evidently had an influence on the Bishop, who, dropping his usual brutal tone, mum- bled something about his wish to drink Lord de Mowbray's health. A STdKV (>1- Till- CHARTIST KIdTS 4:;i "You shall all Jriiik liis lioalih," saiil Mr. Nfouiilrlu ,m.y, Ininiouriiijj him, and hu ^.n-c ilirci limis that a ((iiiple iif harrcls of ali; shcjiil.! hi> Ijroai hcil in tin: park licfnro thi; castle. The llishop was pleased, the p.oplc were in Kond humour, some men liet^an ilanciiiL;, it seemed that the i loud had blown over, and Mr. Mountthesney sent up a hulletin to Lady de Mowbray that all danger was past and that he hoped in ten minutes they would all have disappeared. The ten minutes had expired : the liishop was still drink- ing ale, and Mr. .Mountehesiiey still makinij civil speeches and keeping his immediate attendants in humour. "I wish they would go," said Lady di: Mowbray. " How wonderfully .Alfred has managed them," said I.ady Joan. " After all," said Lady .Maud, " It must be confessed that the people ''Her sentence was interrupted; Harold who had been shut out but ,.ho h.'d laid down without quietly, though moaning at ii 'ervals, now s|)rang at the door with so much force that it trembled or ;s hinges, while the dog again barked with renewed violence. .Sybil went to him ; he seized her dress with his teeth and would have pulled her away. Suddenly uncouth and niysioriuus sounds were heard, there was a loud shriek, the gojig in the hall thundered, the great alarm bell of the tower sounded with- out, and the housekeeper followed by the female domestii s rushed into the room. "O ! my l.idy, my lady," they all exclaimed at the same time, "tUs Hell-cats are breaking into the i ustle.' lier)re any one of the terrified company could reply, the voice of Mr. .Mountchesney was heard. He was approach- ing them; he was no longer calm. He hurried into the room ; he was pale, evidently greatly alarmed. " I have come to you," he said ; " these fellows have got in bulow. While there is time and we can manage them, you must leave the place." "I am ready for anything," said I.ady de .Mowbray. 'I '! 432 VICTORIA Lady Joan and Lady Maud wrung their hands in frantic terror. Sybil, VL'ry pale, said, " Let me go down ; I may know some of these men." "No, no," said Mr. Mouulchesney. "They are not Mowbray people. It would not be safe." Dreadful sounds were now heard; a blending of shouts and oaths and hideous merriment. Their hearts trem- bled. " The mob are in the house, sir," called out Mr. Benlley, rushing up to them. " They say they will see everything." " Let them see everything." said Lady de Mowbray, " but make a condition that they first let us go. Try, .Alfred, try to manage them before they are utterly ungovernable." Mr. Mountchesney again left them on this desperate mis- sion. Lady de .Mo'vbray and all the women remained in the chamber. Not a word was spoken : the silence was complete. Even the maid-servants had ceased to sigh and sob. /" feeling something like desperation was stealing over them. The dreadful sounds continued — increased. They .seemed to approach nearer. It was impossible to distin- guish a word, and yet their import was frightful and fero- cious. "Lord, have mercy on us all!" exclaimed the house- keeper unable to restrain herself. The maids began to cry. After an absence of about five minutes Mr. Mountchesney again hurried in and leading away I^dy de Mowbray,he said, " You haven't a moment to lose. Follow us ! " There was a general rush, and following Mr. Mountches- ney, they passed rapidly into several apartments, the fearful noises every moment increasing, until they reached the library which opened on the terrace. The windows were broken, the terrace crowded with people, several of the mob were in the room, e^■en Lady de Mowbray cried out and fell back. A STORY OF THE CflARTIST RIOTS 433 "Come on," said Mr. Mountchesney. " The mob have possession of the castle. It is our only chance." "But the mob are here," said Lady dc Mowbray, much terrified. "I see some Mowbray faces," cried Sybil, springing for- ward with a flashing eye and a glowing check. liamford and Samuel Carr: Uamford, if you be my father's friend, a,d us now ; and Samuel Carr, I was with your mother this morning : did she think I should meet her son thus ? No you shall not enter," said Sybil, advancing. They ,eca.'. nised her, they paused. "I know you, Couch man ; vou told us once at the convent that we might summon you in our need. I summon you now. O, men, men ! " she ex- claimed, clasping her hands. " What is this ? Are you led away by strangers to such deeds ? Why, I know you all ' Vou came here to aid, I an, sure, and not to harm. Guard these ladies ; save them from these foreigners ! There',s Butler, he'll go with us, and Godfrey Wells. Shall it be said you let your neighbours be plundered and assailed by strangers and never tried to shield them ? Now, my good friends, I entreat, I adjure you, Butler, Wells, Couchman what would Walter Gerard say, your friend that you have so often followed, if he saw this ? " " Gerard for ever ! " shouted Couchman. " Gerard for ever ! " exclaimed a hundred voices "■lis Ins blessed daughter," said others; "'tis Sybil, our angel Syi)il." ' ' "Standby Sybil Gerard." Sybil had made her way upon the terrace, and had col- lected around her a knot of stout followers, who, whatever may have been their original motive, were now resolved to do her bidding. The object of Mv. Mountchesney was to descend the side-step of the terrace and gain the flower- garden, from whence there were means of escape. But the throng was still too fierce to permit Lady de Mowbny and her companions to attempt the passage, and all that Sybil li ! ( I 434 VICTORIA and her followers could at present do, was to keep the mob off from entering tlie library, and tc exert themselves to obtain fresh recruits. At this moment an unexpected aid arrived. " Keep back there ! I call upon you in the name of God to keep back ! " exclaimed a voice of one struggling and communing with the rioters, a voice which all imme- diately recognised. It was that of Mr. St. I.ys. "Charles Gardner, I have been your friend. The aid I gave you was often supplied to me by this house. Why are you here ? " " For no evil purpose, Mr. St. Lys. I came as others did, to see what was going on." "Then you see a deed of darkness. Struggle against it. Aid me and Philip Warner in this work ; it will support you at the judgment. Tressel, Tressel, stand by me and Warner. That's good, that's right ! And you too, Daventry, and you, and you. I knew you would wash your hands of this fell deed. It is not Mowbray men who would do this. That's right, that's right ! Korm a band. Good again. There's not a man that joins us now who does not make a friend for life." Mr. St. Lys had been in the neighbourhood when the news of the visit of the mob to the castle reached him. He anticipated the perilous consequences. He hastened im- mediately to the scene of action. He had met Warner the handlo&ni weaver in his way, and enlisted his powerful influence will; the people on his side. The respective bands of Sybil and Mr. St. Lys in time contrived to join. Their numbers were no longer con- temptible; they were animated by the words and presence of their leaders : St. Lys struggling in their midst ; Sybil maintaining her position on the terrace, and inciting all around her to courage and energy. The multitude were kept back, the passage to the side- steps of the terrace was clear. A STORV OF THE CHARTIST RIOTS 435 " Now," said Sybil, and she encouraged I.ady de Mow- bray, her daughters, and followers to advance. It was a fearful struggle to maintain the communication, but it was a sucr ossful one. 'l^hey proceeded breathless and treml,Iing, until they reached what was comnionly called the Grotto, but which was in fact a subterranean way excavated throu-h a hill and leading to the bank of a river wliere there were boats. The entrance of this tunnel was guarded by an iron gate, and Mr. Mountchesney had secured the key. The gate was opened, \Varner and his friends made almost super- human efforts at this moment to keep back the multitude Lady de Mowbray and her daughters had passed through,' when there came one of those violent undulations usual in mobs, and which was occasioned by a sudden influx of persons attracted by what was occurring, and Sybil and those who immediately surrounded her and were guarding the retreat were carried far away. The gate was closed, the rest of the party had passed, but Sybil was left, and found herself entirely among strangers, In the meantime the castle was ii. possession of the mob The first great rush was to the cellars : the Bishop himself headed this onset, nor did he rest until he was seated among the pr ; bins of the noble proprietor. This was not a crisis 0. _orkscrews ; the heads of the bottles were knocked off with the same promptitude and dexterity as if they were shelling nuts or decapitating shrimps; the choicest wmes of Christendom were poured down the thirsty throats that ale and spirits had hitherto only stimulated ■ Tummas was swallowing Burgundy ; Master Nixon had <.ot hold of a batch of tokay; while the Bishop himself, seafed on the ground and leaning against an arch, the Ion-- per- spective of the cellars full of rapacious figures brandishing bottles and torchss, alternately quaffed some very old Port and some Madeira of many voyages, and was making up his mind as to their respective and relative merits. While the cellars and offices were thus occupied, bands f I 436 VICTORIA were parading the gorgeous saloons and gazing with wonderment on their decorations and furniture. Some grimy ruffians had thrown themselves with disdainful deligl.t on the satin couches and the state beds; others rifled the cabinets with an idea that they must be full of money, and finding little in their way, had strewn their contents — papers and books and works of art — over the floors of the apartments ; sometimes a band who had escaped from below with booty came up to consummate their orgies in the magnificence of the dwelling-rooms. Among these were Nixon and his friends, who stared at the ptcui es and stood before the tall mirrors with still greater astonishment. In- deed many of them had never seen an ordinary looking- glass in their lives. "'Tis Nature! "said Master Ni.von, surveying himself, and turning to Juggins. Many of these last grew frantic, and finished their debauch by the destruction of everything around them. But while these scenes of brutal riot were occurring there was one select but resolute band who shared in none of these excesses. Morley, followed oy half a dozen Mowbray lads and two chosen Hell-cats, leaving all the confusion below, had ascended the great staircase, traced his way down a corridor to the winding steps of the Round Tower, and supplied with the necessary instrument", had forced his entrance into the muniment room of the castle. It was a circular chamber lined with tall fire-proof cases. These might have presented invincible obstacles to any other than the pupils of Bishop Hatton ; as it was, in some instances the locks, in otl.ers the hinges, yielded in time, though after prolonged eflbrts, to the resources of their art ; and while Dandy Mick and his friends kept watch at the entrance, Morley and Devilsdust proceeded to examine the contents of the cases : piles of parchment deeds, bundles of papers arranged and docketed, many boxes of various size and materials ; but the desired object was not visible. A baftled A STORY OP Till- CHARTIST RIOTS 437 ONpression came over the face of Morley ; he paused for an instant in his labours. The thought of how much he had sacrificed for this, and only to fail, came upon him --upon him, the votary of Moral Power in the midst of havoc which he had organised and stimulated. He cursed Baptist Hatton in his heart. " The knaves have destroyed them," said Devilsdtist " I thought how it would be. They never would run the chance of a son of Labour being lord of all this." Some of the cases were very deep, and they had hitherto in general, in order to save time, proved their contents with an iron rod. Now Morley with a de.'iperate air mount- ing on some steps that were in the room, commenced formally rifling the cases and throwing their contents on the floor ; it was soon strewn with deeds and papers and bo.\es which he and DevilsduU the moment they had glanced at them hurled away. At length when all hope seemed to have vanished, clearing a case which at first appeared only to contain papers, Morley struck something at Its back ; he sprang forward with outstretched arm, his body was half hid in the cabinet, and he pulled out with triumphant exultation the box, painted blue and blazoned with the arms of Valence. It was neither large nor heavy ; he held it out to Devilsdust without saying a word, and Morley descending the steps sate down for a moment on a pile of deeds and folded his arms. At this juncture the discharge of musketry was heard. "Hilloa!" said Devilsdust with a queer e.xpression Morley started from his seat. Dandy Mick rushed into the room. "Troops, troops! there are troops here!" he exclaimed. "Let us descend," said Morley. " In the confusion wc may escape. I will take the box," and they left the muni- ment room. One of their party whom Mick had sent forward to reconnoitre fell back upon them. "They are not troops," :! 438 VICTORIA he said ; "they are ycomrnry ; they arc firing »way and cutting every one down. Tliey have cleared the ground floor of the castle and are in complete possession below. We cannot escape this way." " Those accrrsed locks ! " said Morley, clenching the box. "Time has beat us. Let us see, let us see." He ran back into the muniment room and examined the egress from the window. It was just possible for any one very lithe and nimble to vault ufon the roof of the less elevated part of the castle. Revolving this, another scout rushed in and said, " Comrades, they are here ! they are ascending the stairs." Morley stamped on the ground with rage and despair. Then seizing Mick by the hand he said, " You see this window ; can you by any means reach that roof?" " One may as well lose one's neck that way," said Mick. •' I'll try." " Off ! If you land, I will throw this box after you. Now mind ; take it to the convent at Mowbray and deliver it yourself from me to Sybil Gerard. It is light ; there are only papers in it ; but they will give her her own again, and she will not forget you." " Never mind that," said Mick. " I only wish I may live to see her." The tramp of the ascending troopers was heard. " Good-bye my hearties," said Mick, and he made the spring. He seemed stunned, but he might recover. Morley watched him and flung the box. " And now," he said, drawing a pistol, " we may fight our way yet. I'll shoot the first man who enters, and then you must rush on them with your bludgeons." The force that had so unexpectedly arrived at this scene of devastation was a troop of the yeomanry regiment of Lord Marney. The strike in Lancashire and the revolt in the mining districts had so completely drained this county of military, that the lord lieutenant had insisted on Lord A STORY 01.' TIIR CfrARTlST RIuTS 439 Mamey quitting his agricultural neighbourhood and nunrtcr 4th d fixed ;fr;"''"°"'^^- ^^■^"'■" '^''- '- town within t '"^,'"-''"^;i"''«^^^ =« =• I'Tge manufacturing lown within ten miles of Mowbray, and a desoatch nn Sundayevening from the mayor of that rown LvtTr athed tlTS ;r " '^^- "r »- °^ '^^ "--s h°c ^er el u^rrhtLtrng-r <::"''"" ^^^--'^ "> --^ tgremont had not departed more than two hours when a orseman arrived at Lord Marney's head-quarters bHng "o!i:ZtfT? ''"'^,'=-egerated report' of L' i n u f- rection and of the havoc that was probably impending I ord Marney being of opinion that Egremont's forces w^re by , o ut^ m'" /'" ""i!'""' "^•"^•^'^ therefore aronceo set out for Mowbray with his own troop. Crossing Mo« -y Moor, he encountered a great muhitude, now'head'd iZ^ZllT: l:^^^'"!'-^'--". His mind inflam d lather of Sybil was picked out -the real frl„„^ I champion of the People-and shot d ad Ti st ," aro",^ a groan which almost quelled the spirit of LoMm them. They defied the troopers, though themselves armed only with stones and bludaeons ; they rushed at th T men and tore .hem from their saddlL.'ie a Ij^f 440 VICTORIA slones rattled on the helmet ofl.oM Marney and seemed never to cease. In vain the men around him charged the infuriated throng ; the people returned to their prey, nor did they rest umil Lord Marney fell lifeless on Mowbray Moor, literally stoned to death. 'Ihebe disastrous events of course occurred at a sub- sequent period of the day to that on which half a dozen troopers were ascending the staircase of the Round Tower of Mowbray Castle. The distracted house steward of Lord de Mowbray had met and impressed upon them, now that the castle was once more in their possession, of securing the muniment room, for Mr. Bentley had witnessed the ominous ascent of Morley and his companions to that important chamber. Morley and his companions had taken up an advan- tageous position at the head of the staircase. "Surrender," said the commander of the yeomanry. " Resistance is useless." Morley presented his pistol, but before he could pull the trigger a shot from a trooper in the rear, and who from his position could well observe the intention of Morley, struck Stephen in the breast ; still he fired, but aimless and with- out effect. The troopers pushed on ; Morley fainting, fell back with his friends who were frightened, except Devils- dust who had struck hard and well, and who in turn had been slightly sabred. The yeomanry entered the muniment room almost at the s?me time as their foes, leavmg Devils- dust behind them, who had fallen, and who, cursmg the Capitalist who had wounded him, managed to escape. Morley fell when he had regained the room. The rest surrendered. " Morley ! Stephen Morley ! " exclaimed the commander of the yeomanry. " You, you here ! " " Yes. I am sped," he said in a faint voice. " No, no succour. It is useless, and I desire none. Why I am here is a mystery ; let it remain so. The world will misjudg-.-- A STORY OF TIIR CHARTIST RIOTS 44. "le ; the ,„.,„ of (K.ace tlu-y w,ll say was ,-, hvpocritc.. The world will be wrong, as it always is. Dealli is Imter," he sa.d will, a deep sigh, and si.caking with great difficuhy, mere Imter from y„u ; l,ut just. We h.ive struggled together before, Kgreniont. I thought I had scotched you then, but you escaped. Our lives hav;. been a struggle suice we first met. \'our star has controlled n.ine ; and now I feel I have sacritice '1 i ! 44i VICTORIA Whethfir from heedlessness or from insane intention, for the deed sealed their own doom, the drunken Hell cats brandishing their torches, while they rifled the cellars and examined every closet and corner of the offices, had lel fire to the lower part of the liuilding, and the flames that had for some time Inirnt unseen, had now nained the principal chambers. The liishop was lying senseless in the main cellar, surrounded by his chief officers in the same state : indeed the whole of the basement was covered with the recumbent figures of Hell-cats, as black and thick as torpid flies during the last days of their career. The funeral pile of the children of Woden was a suni|jtuous one ; it was prepared and lighted by themselves ; and the flame lh.-it, rising from the keep of Mowbray, announced to tl-'; startled country that in a short hour the splendid miiinckry of Norman rule would cease to exist, told also the pitiless fate of the ruthless savage, who, with analogous pretension, had presumed to style himself the Liberator of the People. The clouds of smoke, the tongues of flame, that now began to mingle with them, the multitude whom this new incident and impending catastrophe summoned li.ack to the scene, forced Sybil to leave the garden and enter the park. It was in vain she endeavoured to gain some part less frequented than the rest, and to make her way unobserved. Suddenly a band of drunken rulVuns, with shouts and oaths, surrounded her ; she shrieked in frantic tenor ; Harold sprang at the throat of the foremost ; another advanced, Harold left his present prey and attacked the new assailant. The brave dog did wonders, but the odds were fearful ; and the men had bludgeons, were enraged, and had already wounded him. One ruffian had grasped the arm of Sybil, another had clenched her garments, when an officer, covered with dust and gore, sabre in hand, jumped from the terrace, and hurried to the rescue. He cut down one man, thrust away another, and placing his left arm round Sybil, he defended her with his sword, jm A STORY 01' THE CirAKTIST RIOTS 44-, round and pressed Syl.il „, his h^.art. '•\\c w,ll never part again," saul ICyren.ont. Mever, inurrnund Syliil ni;i'::::f,.5sr;:„r:s"" ^' '^''^ "^"--""■' - " No," said Lady l!,,rd.,ir, .luki„« her head, ".hey n.ake '' Lord \-alentine met then, last year at Naples " And what does lie say of her ? " " Oh ! he raves ! " "Uiiat a romantic hisf.ry I And what a fortunate u,an IS Lord Marney. If one eonld only have foreseen event ■" e«:lanned l.ady St. Julians. " He was always a favoHte of nnne thongh. Uut s.,ll t though, his brother was very las. person who ever would die. „.. «,s To ve'; " I fear Lord Marney is entirely lost to us " slid I n,l, liardolf, lookn,^- very solemn. ' ''"''> "Ah ! he alw.ays had a twist," said Lady St. fulians "and used to hreak.ast with that horrid Mr. ■Vene a d' and do those sort of things. But still, with his immense fortune, I should thmk he would hecome rational " "You ,nay well say immense," said L.ady Bardolf M . Onnsl.y, and there is no Letter judge of anothe manstncome, says there are not three peers in the kinTj , who have so much a year clear." " 'Lhey say the .VIowbray estate is forty thousand a year " sa,d Lady St. Juhans. MW Lady de Mowbr.-,j 1 I 444 VICTORIA unilerst.nnd that Mr. Mdunlcliesney has resolvoil not to a{>{)eal against the vi:rdii:i." "You know he has not a shadow of a < h;mrc," said Lady Kardoir. " Ah ! what chaiiKcs wc have sim in that family! They say the writ of ri^ht killed poor Lord dc Mowhray, but to my mind he never recovered the iiurning of the (,'astle. We went over to them directly, and I never saw a man so cut up. We wanted them to come to us at I'ire- hrace, but he said he ^hollld b'ave the county immediately. I remember Lord IJardolf mentioninj! to me, that he looked like a dyinj^ man." "Well, I must say," said Lady St. Julians, rallyin.;? as it were from a fit of abstraction, " that I am most curious to see Lady Marney." The reader will infer from this conversation that Dandy Mick, in spite of his stunning fall, and all dangers which awaited him on liis recovery, had contriveil, in spite of fire and fiame, sabre and carbine, trampling troopers and plundering mobs, to resell l1 Oonvtnl •>! Mowbray with the box of paiiers. There he emiuired for Sybil, in whose hands, and whose hands alone, he was enjoined to deposit them. She was still absent, but, faithful to his instructions, Mick would deliver his charge to none other, and ex- hausted by the fatigues of the terrible day, he remained in the courtyard of the convent, lying down with the box for his pillow until Sybil, under the protection of Egremont, herself returned. Then he fulfilled his mission. Sybil was too agitated at the moment to perceive all its im|)ort, but she delivered the box into the custody of Egremont, who, desiring Mick to follow him to his hotel, bade farewell to Sybil, who, equally with himself, was then ignorant of the fatal encounter on Mowbray Moor. We must drop a veil over the anguish which its inevit- able and speedy revelation brought to the daughter of Gerard. Her love for her father was one of those jirofound emotions which seemed to form a constituent part of her llllg A ST- KY oi- Till.; C||.\IM|ST Rlops 4.,-, cxisl.,..-... She r..,„.,i,„.,l r„r a l„nK' ,Kri,„l i„ |„.|,,I... „„, «..mhe.l only l.y ,h.. snrrcl .arcs of Irsul.,. ' |„,, „ ^ j.no>her nmurnor in this s.nson ,.f sorrow who „u,st ,0, l" t^. and ,he most .nnsuLratc. thought ,,,,.1,1 ,|..v„.. ... o,c„ sorrow an,l re on, ,1c h.r ,„ a change of life wi„,:h a. He hrst has ,n ,. sonH.thi„K .lepressin, were eMen.led l,y •.«re,non. ,„ Aral.ella. He supplie,! in an infant cv.-ry arran«en,e,n whuh ha,l l,ecn ne^le, ,ecl l.y h. hro.l.er 1 wh„h ronld secur.. her co„v,.nien,:e and ,en,l to her h. ,„„. "-s. IMw.-en Marney AUU-y where he inM>,e,| f.^.L l-resent that Arabella shouKl r.si.le an,l Mowhray |.Vre ".on. pas.ed his life f„r „,,„y „,„„„„_ „„,., ,/• ;^ mannKement wh.eh we need no, .race or analyse' l,a,ly Marney eame over one da, ,o the C.nvent a. M nvl.ray '"I cam..,! ha, k Syl.il to Marney Abbey, never n.nin to .|n..,tmu,l,,nherbri,lal.Jay,wh.^thelLand.o;;n;e^ of Marney departed for Italy, where they passe.l nearly a l>i.rinK the previous per„.,l however many important even, had ,,,...urred. l.or,l Marney had pla,.e,f hin s „ on„nun,..a„o„ w,th Mr. Ila.ton, who had soon be.o.ne ac,,uanue< w,th all that had occurre.l in the mnnin ™ room o Mowbray Ca.stle. The idea that he ha,! depriv •Sybil of her ,nhentan,.e, ha,l, ever since he ha.l 1, Lame aciuainted with her, been the pla^iie-spot of Ha.ton's life and there was nothing that he desired more ardently than o see her restored to her rights, and ,o be instrumental in that res oration. How successful he was in purstiin- he claim, the rea.ler has already learnt Dandy Alick was rewarde,! for all the dangers he hid encountere. ,n the service of Sybil, and what he ...ncei d was the v,nd„at,on of popular riglus. Lord M. , y esmb lished him in business, and Mick took Devilsdus. for a partner. Devilsdust having thus obtained a position in society and become a ca.malist, thought i, but".- 44fi VICTORIA homage to the sorial decencies to assume a decorous appellation, and he railed himself by the name of the town where he was horn. The firm pl'y-" - GLisgow The Ship's Adventure l?y \V. CLARK RUSSELL Author uf- Wri-rli of llic (//■,i«,-v™c, " "John Holilswurth, Chief Cro'.vii 8vo. Cliith. Pricf' 6s. " We meet witli all the old skill and chann that have delighted us for so long a time past." — St. Jaiiiei's. " We welcome with pleasure Mr. Clark Rus.sell's return to good form. It is one of the breeziest novels he has written." — Daily Nczvs. " One of the best books that Mr. Clark Ru.s.sell has written for many a long daj-." — Spen/cei: " The story is emphaticall)' good reading, and there is no falling off in tin- inimitabl)' fresh and vigorous de- scription of the high seas by fair and foul weather." — Saturiiay Review. " Mr. Russell has done nothing better."— r//un,M„un. •ri.e p.c.ure uf ,l,e vcy .nriaM ,lays „f Virgil N .xcclk-n.ly pnmlo.l. a„.l ,:,e p.„„n,,i:« ,„ ,1„. „„ry ar. ,yn,pa.l,ctic an,i i„,er.,,i„g." —■V''' '••'"'■■ ' I ho Oi,l I),.,nini„n' l,a.l not previously allrawlcl aliemion, her new ,u„y must have assured her repulalion-'^.l/a,,,/,,.,,.^ G».mi,\,„. ■■ So exact in historical colour, so rich in alowinj. in.aginalion an,l siir- Mi.B .i.lvenlure, so fuil of pictorial charm an,l poetic .lescriplion, s„ chan-ed vvuh emol.on .and lender melancholy was ■ The Old Donnnion,' thai i, Cn, w.lh hvely am.c, aiions that I turned to • Uy Order ,„' ,l,e Company,' an,l 1 hnd nojuslihcalion for disappointment. "- -7fe /.,/,„, „. '7^'Vf'";^?',''''; """' '' ■" ••■"">■ '■'•■■'I"-"'-' ^"l"-^' ■" "'= ■•"■'h-''^ --.ilier »ork The Old IJominron.' . . . We are sure every reader of her new book wdl pronocmce it a hiillianl succes,." - 7/„ /,■,■/,„■/, „',Mj,, .■ri''Z?'^^"°' ""■' "^'"'"■•■■'"y'lws more than fulhlled the promise of the Old Dominion' ... a tile of in-, iii , .l.i„. ,1 . ■ ■ a laie oi in};uiioii-, e.\cilinf; adventure, al once catching the altenlion, and holdinj; it from li.st lo Ia-l."-yv„. (;&-;,. "Will hold the reader enlhralled from lirsl lolasi." "There is not a dull p.age i„ ihe l.ook. "_?■/,, .'•f/u-ic. 1!V THli .SAME AUTHOR The Old Dominion Third Eiiijjish ICdition. Crown 8vo, (if. "We have h.ad of late an ahun.lance of romance, lull not h.iie, than this. The heroine is adoraUe. The wliole I.00U is a inaMeipiece of romance. '—Briliih Weekly. " It is an e.xciling narrative of a perilous .adventure, ami of a hale that was rotucrted into love as strong as death. The characters are drawn nh a strong hand, and the interest is sustained to tiie end."— A,,,,/,. Cardigan By R. W. CHAMBERS, Author of "Ashes of I'^mpirc." Crown Svo. 6,s-. " Unquestionably a stirrin;,; talc, palpitatin.;,', never falterin;^ in interest, ami written in a st\le at once vigorous, cultured and |)ictures(iUO." — /'<;// Mitll Gni^ctte. "One of the most spirited and interesting; historical novels we have rcail for a Ioul; time." — Spettaloi: " With all its dash and excitement, tliere is no slovenly workmanship in this story. ' ('ardi,L;an ' is a fine and inspirint; story, fittin;,dy told." — Alhi'iueiini. " I have not read for a Ion:; time a story so sweet and absorbing;, so I'ull Dfthrillini; adventures, so synip.ithetit in its inter|)retation of I\n^lish .md Colonial feeling', and .so distinguished by the fire und fervour of youth antl by a healthy, vigorous imajjinatioii." — Maiulusti-r Chrouidc. The Westerners By STEWART EDWARD WPilTE Crown Svo. Cloth, 6.y. ".Since the days of Mr. lirct I lane's immortal ' Luck of KoariiiL; ("amp,' no better talc of the making of an American mining camp has been written. \ very com- mendable and cheer)- book." — Daily Mail. " Alwa)s forcible and effectixe, in a style which recalls that of Mr. Seton Merriman." — A/mi'/ii's/er Giiaiciian. "The conditions of uie rough mining camp, with the saloon for its social centre, and the jiosition of the spirited girl, are graphicall\- conveyed. The book offers considerable insight into the life of the day and the district."— Ai/'/i' AVicf. " There is humour with ap|)arent truth in the pic- tures of one of those mining camps with which Urct Hartc has familiarized us." — Times. Karad ac % K. ami IIKSKKTIl 1"RI(II.\R|, .l"i"t Aml„„s„l "A.M,„|,,„ M,,,v,ury." Crouii Svo, Os. "A story of love a,ul chivalry, wnvcn about the and fini.h, a,ul ,s cmmcntly rca,lablc."-.sV,v.w.,„„. "■\ l-mverCul a.ul wcll-constructc.l rn.nanco -.mhors W a very fine sense of the dramat;.-, nlKn to this ,s addcl constructive skill, a strikin ■s the ,nev it,-,l,|e result. "-G/^w^w,, //,,,,/,/ lives c.ire The , and stor\- '■INST n,n,ox so,,,. ,HT ,;,:|.,„„. n'v.ur.ums Another Woman's Territory By ■■ALIKxN" .\iilli,,r ,,r "A I).M,.|„er „f ,!,. Ki„;,.,- -,|„, ,„„„M ,,:,:,,•■ ,,c. Crown 8vo. jnd Kdition. Ox. "The descriptions of scenery in an Australian marsh- ^-.nc arc specially- realistic, but the strength o^^ book seems to lie in the tuo principal women, whSe u-onder u love and self-repression are very str kindly depicted."-/',,// jU„U Ga::ctle. i^Kin^ij " ' Ahcn ■ has before shown herself to be a keen cveal both ,ts sweetness ansfar rcn.oved from the ordinary, and should enjoy no mconsiderable popularit\-."_/)„„^,, ^,f;.,r/>sa- That Sweet Enemy By KATHARINE TYNAN Crown 8vo, 6^. 211(1 lulition. "This is Mrs. Ilinkson's /v.?/ novel" —Th: World. " AiKitlier delightful story." — 'iforiiiiig Post. "This is the most vivacious of her stories." — 'J7ie rniokiiian. " A book wliich I can heartil)- recommend." — Wlulehall Revieiv. " Another capital Irish story." — Pull Moll Ga::ette. " .\ sweet talc, sweetly told." — Glas^i^ow Herald. " To our thinUinj; this is the ver)- best book that even Katharine 'I'yiian has written, and that is a biy word. It is one of those stories, pleasant, brif^ht and wholesome, that <;ives delight and hurts not. In ' .'\unt Theodosia' the author has drawn what Thackeray in his ' Round About ' properly calls one of the prize characters in fiction." — preeiiian's Jounial. ' I can prai se and recommend 'That Sweet emy. It is a charming and wholesome story.' — Ladys PUtorial. Stephen Calinari A .. . ^>' .'^'LIAN STURGIS b.'arcon,>ariso,rvvid;tfw"i..:' '::::::''''?:•■" years n a siru'lc nnv,.! i u "-" "*' '''t'' yet wntt.-n.- U/catnrc J\lr. Stiirms has Marr'd in Making By BARONKSS VON HUTTlilV are to b- f,. (.'rouii Svo. 6.V. " I'unocncy, point and tliere. —Utcralurc. ;; I« •■'■•ousing widespread inLerest."~/.W««„ abl A very clever piece of work.'- GcntUwown.. A .story of power and fascination.'' ^rC" A NEW MILITARY NOVEL The Coming Waterloo liy Caitain \V. H. CAIRXES Aiilliiir 1.1 " l.nr.l KciljeiH a> .1 Solilii-r in IVnre .iii.l War." Crown cSvo, clotli, 6.v. 4ih lulition. Givt!S an cxpusition of th(j use of inoiltTii arms aiul ai)iiliaiii:(.'s in warfare. Ihe aiitlmr de- scribes an imaginary canipainii against a Conti- nental I'ower, and liraws 'irgely for his matter upon our rec(-nt ('.vperiences, teaching as they do lessons invaluable as to the altered con