Woodstock

ld man — Thy

fitting pla

quell’d the o

l tendril y

of the p

vehemence of his speech and action. He then descended from the pulpit, and spoke a word or two to the corporal who commanded the party o

fanatics of the day; a stiff solemn pace, a severe and at the same time a contemplative look, like that of a man discomposed at the interruptions which earthly objects forced upon him, obliging him by their intrusion to withdraw his thoughts for an instant from celestial things. Innocent pleasures of what kind soever they held in suspicion and contempt, and innocent mirth they abominated. It was, however, a cast of mind that formed men for great and manly actions, as it adopted princ

A battlemented portal of Gothic appearance defended the entrance to the avenue. It was of mixed architecture, but on the whole, though composed of the styles of the different ages when it had received additions, had a striking and im

ample and ancient forest. The wicket of the large iron gate being left unwittingly open, the soldier was tempted to enter, yet with some hesitation, as he that intrudes upon ground which he conjectures may be prohibite

II., been occasionally the residence of the English monarchs, when it pleased them to visit the woods of Oxford, which then so abounded with game, that, according to old Fuller, huntsmen and falconers were nowhere better pleased. The situation which the Lodge occupied w

o deeply engaged in their own conversation that they did not raise their eyes to observe that there stood a stranger in the path before them. The soldier took advantage of their state of abstraction, and, desirous at once to wat

ing their course to a rustic seat, which still enjoyed the sunbeams,

ered immortal. But although the dress was handsome, it was put on with a carelessness which showed the mind of the wearer ill at ease. His aged, yet still handsome countenance, had the same air of consequence which d

ly massive a support for a creature so aerial. But mortal beauty must share human sorrows. The eyes of the beautiful being showed tokens of tears; her colour was heightened as she listened to her aged companion; and it was plain, from his melancholy yet displeased look, t

them no grudge for it, poor knaves; what should they do waiting on me when the pantry has no bread and the buttery no ale? But we have still about us some rugged foresters of the old Woodstock breed — old as m

, in a tone which seemed to intimate his pro

; “is it because I shut my door against a sc

hey will,” replied the lady; “and what good would your present de

ike of masters. What do I do on the earth since the dismal thirtieth of January? The parricide of that day was a signal t

rvice to your king and country — it will not and cannot always be thus. England will not long endure the rulers which these bad times ha

expel us from the only shelter we have left — dilapidate what remains of royal property under my charge — make the p

I trust the King is ere this out of their reach — We ha

st needs lie here like a worthless hound when the hunt is up, when who knows what service I might have shown? An old man’s head is sometimes use

hope that Albert escaped from that fatal day

s quicker than his hands, but far slower than his horse’s heels when he leaves the roundheads behind him. I wou

ung lady, weeping as she spoke,

ruins of Woodstock for my monument, were the only comfort to old Henry Lee. Yes, by t

the maiden, “and submit to that which

. “Thy uncle Everard, wench! — Well, get on. —

said, “if the subj

or any one, affect to care about it? What is it that hath happened of late years — what i

e in store the joyful restora

page in the heavenly book, it will not be turned until long after my day.

be silent for ever, than speak what might, as you

me, drop nought but sweet balm, and honey, and oil, on my distemperature — if that is the phrase f

evish tone of voice; and Alice Lee answered

I am well assured that my uncle

a-week, and a plentiful fast on the other five days? — Will he give us beds beside his half-starved nags, and put them under a short allowance of straw, that his sister’s husband — that I should have called my deceased angel by such a name! — and his sister’s daug

I speak with reverence — that your tongue utters what your better judgment would disown. My uncle Everard is neither a miser nor a hypocrite — neither so fond o

? and thy phrase places them all, with Jack Presbyter himself, on the same footing with our learned prelates and religious clergy! Such is the cant of the day thou livest in, and why

can I answer you? Hear me but one patient word, and I

nay, have some sharp guess touching the ambassador also. — Come, madam, the me

he says, do no good, even on your own principles, and it will give a pretext for proceeding against you as one in the worst degree of malignity, which he thinks may otherwise be prevented. Nay, he has good hope, that if you follow his counsel, t

the hour of affliction, and recommend to him to make his conscience truckle to his interest, and to beg back at the bloody hands of his master’s and perhaps his son’s murderers, a wretched remnant of the royal property he has been robbed of! — Why, wench, if I must beg, think’st thou I will sue to those who have made me a mendicant? No. I will never show my grey beard, worn in sorrow for my sovereign’s death, to move the compassion o

, “cruel injustice. God knows, your way is my way, though it lead to ruin and beggary; a

me, as Will Shakspeare says — thou speakest of lending me thy arm;

heir souls; and the brave, the noble, the generous, become suspicious, harsh, and mean! Why upbraid me with Markham Everard? Have I seen or spoke to him since you forbid him my company, with terms less kind — I will speak it t

e could not hide her sobs, nor conceal the d

th creep into thy heart I wot not; perhaps it is a punishment on me, who thought the loyalty of my house was like undefiled ermine. Yet here is a

le da

y unto my ro

n the temper

hem, to Percy

quote your favourite again, sir. Our little jars ar

) he felt more comfort in it than in any other; and as I have shared his disease, why, it is natural I should take his medicine. Albeit,

peare yourself, sir?

ow. Ben Jonson I knew, and could tell thee many a tale of our meetings at the Mermaid, where, if there was much wine, there was much wit also. We did not sit blowing tobacco in each other’s faces, and turning up the whites of our

them at present,

more fooling out of me just now. The Evil Spirit hath left Saul for the present.

“can you still nourish a moment

tis certain — and who knows where a blessing may alight? But then, my poor knaves that

; “there are soldiers in the town, and

ing and loyalty! these rude soldiers are unfit inmates for thy learned halls and poetical bowers; but thy pure and brilliant lamp shall defy the fo

lists at this unpropitious moment will make them deal yet more harshly with the University, whi

e the poor remains which the civil wars have left to the colleges. That, and the risk of my

his daughter; “but you are ever so much mo

se feeling than a little disgust? and though a roundhead, and especially a red-coat, are in my opinion more poisonous than vipers, more loathsome than toads, more h

king forward, stood unexpectedly before the old cavalier, who stared at

le his daughter clung to his arm in terror, little confident that her fath

call myself a poor day-labourer in the great work of England —

you seek here?” said th

ward of the Lords Commissio

to sore eyes,” said the cavalier; “

e; and held it at as much distance from his eyes, as his purpose of reading it would permit. He then read aloud, and as he named the parties one by one

e, that he never lacked a text to justify a murder — d — n him too. Bletson — a true-blue Commonwealth’s man, one of Harrison’s Rota Club, with his noddle full of new fangled notions about government, the clearest object of which is to establish the tail upon the h

r this irreverent and unbecoming fashion. And albeit I know that you malignants think you have a right to make free with that damnation, which you seem

hou art right in some sense — for it is superfluous to curse me

, “for manners’ sake, if not for conscienc

and venison, as complete as any of them have to their estate — that is, if they possess any estate but what they have gained by plundering honest men. Nevertheless, he will give place to those who have made their might their right, and will not expose the lives of good and true men, where the

us walk together into the house, that thou may’st deliver up unto me the vessels, and gold a

vil of the Martyr in my presence, or I will do a deed misbecoming of me on that caitiff corpse o

till, and brawl not — it becomes not grey hairs and feeble arms to rail and rant like drunkards. Put me not to use the carnal weapon in mine own defence, but listen to the voice of reason. See’st thou not tha

upon his guard. The swords clashed smartly together, while Alice, in her terror, screamed wildly for assistance. But the combat was of short duration. The old cavalier had attacked a man as cunning of fence as he himself, or a little more so, and possessing all the strength and activity of which time had deprived Sir Henry, and the calmness which the other had lost in his passion. They had scarce exchanged three passes ere the sword of the knight flew up in the air,

before Giah, in the way of the wilderness of Gibeon; but far be it from me to spill thy remaining drops of blood. True it is, thou art the captive of my sword and of my spear; nevertheless, seeing that there may be a turning

e Joliffe, one of the under-keepers of the walk, who, seeing how matters stood, brandished his quarterstaff, a weapon from which he never parted, and having made i

them is past. It skills not striving against the stream —

et, just edged with a line of white round the toes. He was as tractable as he was strong and bold. Just as he was about to rush upon the soldier, the words, “Peace, Bevis!” from Sir Henry, converted the lion into a lamb, and instead of pulling the soldier down, he walked round and round, and snuffed, as

e me for the thought, but I could almost turn infidel, and believe that Heaven’s blessing goes ever with the longest sword; but it will not be always thus. God knows his time. — Reach me my Toledo, Joceline, yonder it lies; and the scabbard, see where it hangs on the tree. — Do not pull at my cloak, Alice, and look so miserably frightened; I shall be in no hurry to betake me to bright steel again, I promise thee. — For thee, good fellow, I thank thee, and will make way for thy masters without farther dispute or

Heaven, then to earth, and last to the four quarters of the horizon, and then murmured

se goes, never shame to speak it out, man. ’Tis true, I took thee up when thou wert but a ragged Robin,” (as the keeper’s followers in the New Forest are called in popular language,) “made a ke

ere even for your honour’s sake, and Mistress Alice’s — only I could wish your honour would condescend to let me step down before, in case any neighbou

f thy matters are unseemly, they are fitter for a defeated knight — if they are unshapely, why, the l

lesh,” said the steward. “Men call

hou hast not, never blush for the matter, Joseph, for if thou art not in truth honest, thou hast all the better chance to keep t

arm through his own, they walked onward into the forest, in the sam