Woodstock

es, that make loo

th the acts o

ight, the Newber

shes, where you

apes, your dange

lew between th

ught by Damme

u I s

F CAPTAI

peared behind the trees. They then gazed on each other in doubt, as men who scarce knew whether they stood on hostile or on friendly terms together, and were at a loss how to open a conversation. They

looking to his new acquaintance. “I have heard of

friend,” said Joseph Tomkins, “but beth

ground, and leant upon it as he said gruffly — “So, my tough old knight and you were at drawn bilbo, by way of afternoon se

inst thine? Thou art but a poor knave, doing thy master’s order, nor have I any desire that my own blood or thine should be shed touching this matter. — Thou art, I understand, to give me peaceful possession of the Palace

upon the matter as it now stands; and for your Jerusalem I wot not, but Woodstock is a pretty nest-egg to

y were baulked on my account. Wherefore, if thou wilt deliver me possession tomorrow morning, it shall be done in personal presence of my own followers, and of the Presbyterian man the Mayor, so that the transfer may be made before witnesses; whereas, were there none with us but thou to deliver, and I

sary to enable him to come to a conclusion. “This is all fair sounding, brother,” said he; “but I tell you plainly there are some silver mugs, and platters, and flagons, and so forth, in yonder house, which have survived the general sweep tha

said Tomkins —“nay, I do

n from rusting; but for silver porringers, tankards, and such like, I would as soon have drunk the melted silver, as stolen the vessel made out of it. So that I wo

ners, to whom the property of the estate is as their own; therefore, as thou say’st, we must walk warily in the matter. To lock up the house and leav

ld dame Joan is something dunny, and will scarce know how to manage — and yet — to speak the truth, by the mass I would rather not see Sir Henry to-nigh

esence, he should be such a malignant cavalier, and that he should, like the rest

all the blithe morris-dancers prancing around it to the merry pipe and tabor, with bells jingling, ribands fluttering, lads frisking and laughing, lasses leaping till you might see where the scarlet garter fastened the light blue hose, I think some feeling, resembling ei

, Mr. Green Jerkin? what language is this to one whose hand is at the plou

a fellow as bitter and prompt as thyself — it may be a little more so — younger, at all events — and prithee, why shouldst thou take such

action, he easily might) fit for better company than wood-hunters, deer-stealers, Maid Marions, swash-bucklers, deboshed revellers,

t of breath in time; for here we stand

st, stood a little detached from the rest, as if scorning the vicinity of any rival. It was scathed and gnarled in the branches

how old it is; they say Henry used to sit under it with fair Rosamond, and see the l

ns; “a tyrant and a harlot were fitting

st of the meadow. The King gave ten shillings from the customs of Woodstock to make a new one yearly, besides a tree fitted for the purpose out of the forest. Now it is warped

e edification of all this? — what use of doctrine could be derived fro

, I have seen this greensward alive with merry maidens and manly fellows. The good old rector himself thought it was no sin to come for a while and look on, and his goodly cassock and scarf kept us all in good order, and taught us to limit our mirth within the bounds of discretion. We might, it may be, crack a broad jest, or pledge a friendly cup a turn too often, but it was in mirth and good neighbour-hood — Ay, and if there was a bout at single-stick, or a bell

octrine. If thine ear is so much tickled with tabor tunes and morris tripping, truly it is not likely thou shouldst find pleasan

said the keeper; “for there have been tales about the Lodge

l his daughter, wont to dwell there?” said

ale. But after the best of our men went to the wars, and were slain at Naseby fight, they who were left found the Lodge more lonesome, a

the diminution of a hous

the servants pretended that these things scared them away; but, in my poor judgment, when Martinmas and Whitsuntide came round without a penny-fee, the old blue-bottles of ser

, to a petty household?

bottles in the Lodge, what with green caterpillars of the chase, like him who is yours to c

soldier, “where you were crushed like

never contradict a man who has got my head under his be

ust in me. I can be bon camarado to a good soldier, although I have striven with

r Rosamond’s Tower; it was a small turret of great height, with narrow windows, and walls of massive thickness. The Tower had no opening to the ground, or means of descending, a great part of the lower portion being solid mason-work. It was traditionally said to have been accessible only by a sort of small drawbridge, which might be dropped at pleasure from a little

points of safety failed him; and either protract his defence, or, at the worst, stipulate for reasonable terms of surrender. The people of Woodstock, jealous of their ancient traditions, did not relish this new mode of explaining them away; and it is e

metimes within-doors, sometimes by crossing the courts, and frequently in both ways. The different heights of the buildings announced that they could only be connected by the

as Henry of Fair Rosamond; and as his intimacy with Sir Henry Lee permitted him entrance at all times to the Royal Lodge, he used to spend whole days in wandering about the antique apartments, examining, measuring, studying, and finding out excellent reasons for architectural peculiarities, which probably only owed their existence to the freakish fancy of a Gothic artist. But the old antiquary had been expelled from his living by

this miscalled Royal Lodge; verily, I shall rejoice much to see the same destroyed, yea, burned to ashes, and the ashes thrown into the brook Kedr

strife must be a doubtful one — that the advantage of arms was against him — and that, in especial, even if he should succeed in the combat, it would be at the risk of severe retaliation. It must be owned, too, that there was something about the Independent so dark and mysterious, so grim and grave, that

r end, while three loopholes opened on either side, through which any daring intruder might be annoyed, who, having surprised the first gate, must be thus exposed to a severe fire before he could force

r, having an open casque on his head, which displayed features as stern as the painter’s genius could devise. Their arms were buff-jackets, or shirts of mail, round bucklers, with spikes in the centre, and buskins which adorned and defended the feet and ankles, but left the knees bare. These wooden warders held great swords, or maces, in their hands, like military guards on duty. Many an empty hook and brace, along the wal

alty or nobility did not render them sensitive enough to quarrel with such slight inconvenience. On these occasions, it was the tradition of the house, that two cart-loads of wood was the regular allowance for the fire between noon and curfew, and the andirons, or dogs, as they were termed, constructed for retaining the blazing firewood on the hearth, were wrought in the shape of lions of such gigantic size as might well warrant the legend. There were long seats of stone within the chimney, where, in despite of the tremendous heat, monarchs were sometimes said to have taken th

bers far within, abandoning the outmost hall to the yeomen of the guard, who mounted their watch there, and passed away the night with wassail and mirth, exchanged sometimes for fright

d to listen with some interest at first, but, flinging it suddenly aside, he said in a solemn tone, “Perish, Babylon, as thy master Nebuchadnezzar hath

t,” said Joceline, “unless the good knight’

the Independent, “but in due season, when our

re called, the state-apartments, not used since the year

thunder, “dost thou speak of Charles Stewart as blessin

bolts and bucks, not with titles and state affairs. But yet, whatever may have happed since, that poor King was

s, who hold, that bestowing of alms is an atonement and washing away of the wrongs and oppressions whic

Elizabeth, before him, and bluff King Hen

se, the knight and

thought worth no reverence at all — Besides, the state-rooms are unaired, and in indifferen

tair, which seems both to

s, of sleeping, and other accommodation. Downwards, to the kitchen, offices, and vaul

ight, then,” said the Independent. “I

d,” answered the honest keeper, his bile rising so fast that he added, in a mu

wever, and led on towards

arlour — lighted by two oriel windows, so placed as to command each of them a separate avenue, leading distant and deep into the forest. The principal ornament of the apartment, besides two or three family portraits of less interest, was a tall full-length picture, that hung above the chimney-piece, which, like that in the hall, was of heavy stone-work, ornamented with carved scutcheons, emblazoned with various devices. The portrait was that of a man about fifty

our or five soldiers, in red cassocks, bearing away in triumph what seemed a brazen font or laver. Above their heads might be traced in scroll, “Lee Victor sic voluit.” Right opposite to

passed transiently over his clouded brow. Whether he smiled to see the grim old cavalier employed in desecrating a religious house —(an occupation much conforming to the practice of his own sect

a walnut-tree reading-desk, and a huge stuffed arm-chair, covered with Spanish leather. A little cabinet stood beside, with some of its shuttles and drawers open,

itten down in it, and a frame for working embroidery. Some tapestry was displayed around the recess, with more attention to ornament than was visible in th

en on the reading-desk, apparently with some interest. Joceline, who had determined to watch his motions without interfering with them, was standing at some distance in dej

n a smart tone; “what do you here prowling about

if to make what he said fully intelligible, and replied with a dejected appearance and voice, “Alack, my pretty Phoebe, there come those

he astonished girl, who had continued looking alternately at the keeper and at the stranger, as if she had

t his breath waved the curls of her hair; “go, my dearest Phoebe, tri

ke to go there, I think.” “Hush, hush! Phoebe — here is no time for jesting. Down to my hut, I say, like a deer, for the knight and Mrs. Alice are both there, an

the keeper with an expression of fright in her counten

y dearest P

; and if they approached so very near as to touch her cheek, grief, like impatience, hath its privi

t at the window like it wild duck flying from a culverin. Instantly throwing himself into the attitude of a preacher and a reprover of vice, “How now!” he exclaimed, “shameless and impudent as you are! — What — chambering and wantoning in our very presence! — How — would you play your pranks before the steward of the Commissioners of the High Court of Parliament, as ye would in a booth at the fulsome fair, or amidst the trappings and tracings of a profane dancing-school, where the scoundrel minstrels make their ungodly weapons to squeak, ‘Kiss and be kind, the fiddler’s blind?’— But here,” he said, dealing a perilous thump upon the volume

zard having such infinite power over men’s souls as this pestilent fellow Shakspeare. Seeks a wife a foul example for adultery, here she shall find it — Would a man know how to train his fellow to be a murderer, here shall he find tutoring — Would a lady marry a heathen negro, she shall have chronicled example for it — Would any one scorn at his Maker, he shall be furnished with a jest in this book — Would he defy his brother in the flesh, he shall be accommodated with a challenge — Would you be drunk, Shakspeare will cheer you with a cup — Would you plunge in sensual pleasures, he will s

r you with his cavaliers,” mutt

rned not aside in our riding, closing our ranks each one upon the other as becomes men of war, I had torn on that day the bones of that p

a whisper. “Lack-a-day, he talks brave words, if one knew but what they meant. But it is a mercy our good knight did not see him ruffle the book at that rate — Mercy on us, there would c

s eyes, and twists about his face, and clenches his fist, and shuffles and tramples with his feet in that fashion, he is bo

bides here in this turn of times, I dare

Joliffe; “but tell me softly an

some comfits, and the great standing venison pasty, with p

trenchers and towels, they are heinously impoverished down yonder — carry down the capon and the man

paste myself — it is as thick as

nawing through, work hard as they might,” s

ne of sack, with the stone jug o

is enough for supper, and tomorrow is a new day. — Ha! by heaven I thought yonder man’s eye watched us — No — he only rolled it round him in a brown stu

of avenging the challenge in a fitting way, she whispered in his ear, “Do you think our knig

tered, “Go thy way, Phoebe Mayflower, the lightest-footed and lightest-hearted wench that ever tr

r sensible of his presence, and then putting himself to a slow trot, so as best to accommodate himself to the light pace of her whom he convoyed,

tart as if from a reverie. “Is

if your worship hath farther commands, you

r another exhortation,” said the soldier —“truly, I profess

orth amongst us, she will have use of the doctrine with the rest. But young maidens of these parts hear no private homili

wears late, and gets dark — thou hast

r slept in,” rep

all pittance of creature-comforts for refreshm

r, displaying a prudent anxiety to

of strong waters, with a blackjack full of ale, formed comfortable appendages; and to this meal sate down in social manner the soldier, occupying a great elbow-chair, and the keeper,