第1章

INTRODUCTION

Acertaindegreeofsuccess，realorsupposed，inthedelineationofQueenMary，naturallyinducedtheauthortoattemptsomethingsimilarrespecting"hersisterandherfoe，"thecelebratedElizabeth。Hewillnot，however，pretendtohaveapproachedthetaskwiththesamefeelings;forthecandidRobertsonhimselfconfesseshavingfelttheprejudiceswithwhichaScottishmanistemptedtoregardthesubject;andwhatsoliberalahistorianavows，apoorromance—writerdaresnotdisown。Buthehopestheinfluenceofaprejudice，almostasnaturaltohimashisnativeair，willnotbefoundtohavegreatlyaffectedthesketchhehasattemptedofEngland\'sElizabeth。Ihaveendeavouredtodescribeherasatonceahigh—mindedsovereign，andafemaleofpassionatefeelings，hesitatingbetwixtthesenseofherrankandthedutysheowedhersubjectsontheonehand，andontheotherherattachmenttoanobleman，who，inexternalqualificationsatleast，amplymeritedherfavour。TheinterestofthestoryisthrownuponthatperiodwhenthesuddendeathofthefirstCountessofLeicesterseemedtoopentotheambitionofherhusbandtheopportunityofsharingthecrownofhissovereign。

Itispossiblethatslander，whichveryseldomfavoursthememoriesofpersonsinexaltedstations，mayhaveblackenedthecharacterofLeicesterwithdarkershadesthanreallybelongedtoit。ButthealmostgeneralvoiceofthetimesattachedthemostfoulsuspicionstothedeathoftheunfortunateCountess，moreespeciallyasittookplacesoveryopportunelyfortheindulgenceofherlover\'sambition。IfwecantrustAshmole\'sAntiquitiesofBerkshire，therewasbuttoomuchgroundforthetraditionswhichchargeLeicesterwiththemurderofhiswife。

Inthefollowingextractofthepassage，thereaderwillfindtheauthorityIhadforthestoryoftheromance:——

"Atthewestendofthechurcharetheruinsofamanor，ancientlybelonging（asacell，orplaceofremoval，assomereport）tothemonksofAbington。AttheDissolution，thesaidmanor，orlordship，wasconveyedtoone——Owen（Ibelieve），thepossessorofGodstowthen。

"Inthehall，overthechimney，IfindAbingtonarmscutinstone——namely，apatoneebetweenfourmartletts;andalsoanotherescutcheon——namely，alionrampant，andseveralmitrescutinstoneaboutthehouse。ThereisalsointhesaidhouseachambercalledDudley\'schamber，wheretheEarlofLeicester\'swifewasmurdered，ofwhichthisisthestoryfollowing:——

"RobertDudley，EarlofLeicester，averygoodlypersonage，andsingularlywellfeatured，beingagreatfavouritetoQueenElizabeth，itwasthought，andcommonlyreported，thathadhebeenabachelororwidower，theQueenwouldhavemadehimherhusband;tothisend，tofreehimselfofallobstacles，hecommands，orperhaps，withfairflatteringentreaties，desireshiswifetoreposeherselfhereathisservantAnthonyForster\'shouse，whothenlivedintheaforesaidmanor—house;andalsoprescribestoSirRichardVarney（apromptertothisdesign），athiscominghither，thatheshouldfirstattempttopoisonher，andifthatdidnottakeeffect，thenbyanyotherwaywhatsoevertodispatchher。This，itseems，wasprovedbythereportofDr。

WalterBayly，sometimefellowofNewCollege，thenlivinginOxford，andprofessorofphysicinthatuniversity;whom，becausehewouldnotconsenttotakeawayherlifebypoison，theEarlendeavouredtodisplacehimthecourt。Thisman，itseems，reportedformostcertainthattherewasapracticeinCumnoramongtheconspirators，tohavepoisonedthispoorinnocentlady，alittlebeforeshewaskilled，whichwasattemptedafterthismanner:——Theyseeingthegoodladysadandheavy（asonethatwellknew，byherotherhandling，thatherdeathwasnotfaroff），begantopersuadeherthatherpresentdiseasewasabundanceofmelancholyandotherhumours，etc。，andthereforewouldneedscounselhertotakesomepotion，whichsheabsolutelyrefusingtodo，asstillsuspectingtheworst;whereupontheysentamessengeronaday（unawarestoher）forDr。Bayly，andentreatedhimtopersuadehertotakesomelittlepotionbyhisdirection，andtheywouldfetchthesameatOxford;meaningtohaveaddedsomethingoftheirownforhercomfort，asthedoctoruponjustcauseandconsiderationdidsuspect，seeingtheirgreatimportunity，andthesmallneedtheladyhadofphysic，andthereforeheperemptorilydeniedtheirrequest;misdoubting（asheafterwardsreported）lest，iftheyhadpoisonedherunderthenameofhispotion，hemightafterhavebeenhangedforacolouroftheirsin，andthedoctorremainedstillwellassuredthatthiswaytakingnoeffect，shewouldnotlongescapetheirviolence，whichafterwardshappenedthus。ForSirRichardVarneyabovesaid（thechiefprojectorinthisdesign），who，bytheEarl\'sorder，remainedthatdayofherdeathalonewithher，withonemanonlyandForster，whohadthatdayforciblysentawayallherservantsfromhertoAbingtonmarket，aboutthreemilesdistantfromthisplace;they（Isay，whetherfirststiflingher，orelsestranglingher）afterwardsflungherdownapairofstairsandbrokeherneck，usingmuchviolenceuponher;but，however，thoughitwasvulgarlyreportedthatshebychancefelldownstairs（butstillwithouthurtingherhoodthatwasuponherhead），yettheinhabitantswilltellyoutherethatshewasconveyedfromherusualchamberwhereshelay，toanotherwherethebed\'sheadofthechamberstoodclosetoaprivyposterndoor，wheretheyinthenightcameandstifledherinherbed，bruisedherheadverymuchbrokeherneck，andatlengthflungherdownstairs，therebybelievingtheworldwouldhavethoughtitamischance，andsohaveblindedtheirvillainy。ButbeholdthemercyandjusticeofGodinrevenginganddiscoveringthislady\'smurder;foroneofthepersonsthatwasacoadjutorinthismurderwasafterwardstakenforafelonyinthemarchesofWales，andofferingtopublishthemanneroftheaforesaidmurder，wasprivatelymadeawayintheprisonbytheEarl\'sappointment;andSirRichardVarneytheother，dyingaboutthesametimeinLondon，criedmiserably，andblasphemedGod，andsaidtoapersonofnote（whohathrelatedthesametootherssince），notlongbeforehisdeath，thatallthedevilsinhelldidtearhiminpieces。Forster，likewise，afterthisfact，beingamanformerlyaddictedtohospitality，company，mirth，andmusic，wasafterwardsobservedtoforsakeallthis，andwithmuchmelancholyandpensiveness（somesaywithmadness）pinedanddroopedaway。ThewifealsoofBaldButter，kinsmantotheEarl，gaveoutthewholefactalittlebeforeherdeath。Neitherarethesefollowingpassagestobeforgotten，thatassoonasevershewasmurdered，theymadegreathastetoburyherbeforethecoronerhadgiveninhisinquest（whichtheEarlhimselfcondemnedasnotdoneadvisedly），whichherfather，orSirJohnRobertsett（asIsuppose），hearingof，camewithallspeedhither，causedhercorpsetobetakenup，thecoronertosituponher，andfurtherinquirytobemadeconcerningthisbusinesstothefull;butitwasgenerallythoughtthattheEarlstoppedhismouth，andmadeupthebusinessbetwixtthem;andthegoodEarl，tomakeplaintotheworldthegreatlovehebaretoherwhilealive，andwhatagriefthelossofsovirtuousaladywastohistenderheart，caused（thoughthething，bytheseandothermeans，wasbeatenintotheheadsoftheprincipalmenoftheUniversityofOxford）herbodytobereburiedinSt，Mary\'sChurchinOxford，withgreatpompandsolemnity。Itisremarkable，whenDr。Babington，theEarl\'schaplain，didpreachthefuneralsermon，hetriptonceortwiceinhisspeech，byrecommendingtotheirmemoriesthatvirtuousladysopitifullymurdered，insteadofsayingpitifullyslain。ThisEarl，afterallhismurdersandpoisonings，washimselfpoisonedbythatwhichwaspreparedforothers（somesaybyhiswifeatCornburyLodgebeforementioned），thoughBakerinhisChroniclewouldhaveitatKillingworth;anno1588。"[Ashmole\'sAntiquitiesofBerkshire，vol。i。，p。149。ThetraditionastoLeicester\'sdeathwasthuscommunicatedbyBenJonsontoDrummondofHawthornden:——"TheEarlofLeicestergaveabottleofliquortohisLady，whichhewilledhertouseinanyfaintness，whichshe，afterhisreturnefromcourt，notknowingitwaspoison，gavehim，andsohedied。"——BENJONSON\'S

INFORMATIONTODRUMMONDOFHAWTHORNDEN，MS。，SIRROBERTSIBBALD\'S

COPY。]

ThesameaccusationhasbeenadoptedandcirculatedbytheauthorofLeicester\'sCommonwealth，asatirewrittendirectlyagainsttheEarlofLeicester，whichloadedhimwiththemosthorridcrimes，and，amongtherest，withthemurderofhisfirstwife。

ItwasalludedtointheYorkshireTragedy，aplayerroneouslyascribedtoShakespeare，whereabaker，whodeterminestodestroyallhisfamily，throwshiswifedownstairs，withthisallusiontothesupposedmurderofLeicester\'slady，——

"Theonlywaytocharmawoman\'stongueIs，breakherneck——apoliticiandidit。"

ThereaderwillfindIhaveborrowedseveralincidentsaswellasnamesfromAshmole，andthemoreearlyauthorities;butmyfirstacquaintancewiththehistorywasthroughthemorepleasingmediumofverse。Thereisaperiodinyouthwhenthemerepowerofnumbershasamorestrongeffectonearandimaginationthaninmoreadvancedlife。Atthisseasonofimmaturetaste，theauthorwasgreatlydelightedwiththepoemsofMickleandLanghorne，poetswho，thoughbynomeansdeficientinthehigherbranchesoftheirart，wereeminentfortheirpowersofverbalmelodyabovemostwhohavepractisedthisdepartmentofpoetry。

OneofthosepiecesofMickle，whichtheauthorwasparticularlypleasedwith，isaballad，orratheraspeciesofelegy，onthesubjectofCumnorHall，which，withothersbythesameauthor，wastobefoundinEvans\'sAncientBallads（vol。iv。，page130），towhichworkMicklemadeliberalcontributions。Thefirststanzaespeciallyhadapeculiarspeciesofenchantmentfortheyouthfulearoftheauthor，theforceofwhichisnotevennowentirelyspent;someothersaresufficientlyprosaic。

CUMNORHALL。

Thedewsofsummernightdidfall;

Themoon，sweetregentofthesky，Silver\'dthewallsofCumnorHall，Andmanyanoakthatgrewthereby，Nownoughtwasheardbeneaththeskies，Thesoundsofbusylifewerestill，Saveanunhappylady\'ssighs，Thatissuedfromthatlonelypile。

"Leicester，"shecried，"isthisthyloveThatthousoofthastsworntome，Toleavemeinthislonelygrove，Immuredinshamefulprivity？

"Nomorethoucom\'stwithlover\'sspeed，Thyoncebelovedbridetosee;

Butbeshealive，orbeshedead，Ifear，sternEarl，\'sthesametothee。

"NotsotheusageIreceivedWhenhappyinmyfather\'shall;

Nofaithlesshusbandthenmegrieved，Nochillingfearsdidmeappal。

"Iroseupwiththecheerfulmorn，Nolarkmoreblithe，noflowermoregay;

Andlikethebirdthathauntsthethorn，Somerrilysungthelivelongday。

"Ifthatmybeautyisbutsmall，Amongcourtladiesalldespised，Whydidstthourenditfromthathall，Where，scornfulEarl，itwellwasprized？

"Andwhenyoufirsttomemadesuit，HowfairIwasyouoftwouldsay！

Andproudofconquest，pluck\'dthefruit，Thenlefttheblossomtodecay。

"Yes！nowneglectedanddespised，Theroseispale，thelily\'sdead;

Buthethatoncetheircharmssoprized，Issurethecausethosecharmsarefled。

"Forknow，whensick\'ninggriefdothprey，Andtenderlove\'srepaidwithscorn，Thesweetestbeautywilldecay，——

Whatfloweretcanendurethestorm？

"Atcourt，I\'mtold，isbeauty\'sthrone，Whereeverylady\'spassingrare，ThatEasternflowers，thatshamethesun，Arenotsoglowing，notsofair。

"Then，Earl，whydidstthouleavethebedsWhererosesandwhereliliesvie，Toseekaprimrose，whosepaleshadesMustsickenwhenthosegaudsareby？

"\'MongruralbeautiesIwasone，Amongthefieldswildflowersarefair;

Somecountryswainmightmehavewon，Andthoughtmybeautypassingrare。

"But，Leicester（orImuchamwrong），Or\'tisnotbeautyluresthyvows;

Ratherambition\'sgildedcrownMakestheeforgetthyhumblespouse。

"Then，Leicester，why，againIplead（Theinjuredsurelymayrepine）——

Whydidstthouwedacountrymaid，Whensomefairprincessmightbethine？

"Whydidstthoupraisemyhum\'blecharms，And，oh！thenleavethemtodecay？

Whydidstthouwinmetothyarms，Thenleavetomournthelivelongday？

"ThevillagemaidensoftheplainSalutemelowlyastheygo;

Envioustheymarkmysilkentrain，NorthinkaCountesscanhavewoe。

"Thesimplenymphs！theylittleknowHowfarmorehappy\'stheirestate;

Tosmileforjoy，thansighforwoe——

Tobecontent，thantobegreat。

"HowfarlessblestamIthanthem？

Dailytopineandwastewithcare！

Likethepoorplantthat，fromitsstemDivided，feelsthechillingair。

"Nor，cruelEarl！canIenjoyThehumblecharmsofsolitude;

Yourminionsproudmypeacedestroy，Bysullenfrownsorpratingsrude。

"Lastnight，assadIchancedtostray，Thevillagedeath—bellsmotemyear;

Theywink\'daside，andseemedtosay，\'Countess，prepare，thyendisnear！\'

"Andnow，whilehappypeasantssleep，HereIsitlonelyandforlorn;

NoonetosoothemeasIweep，SavePhilomelonyonderthorn。

"Myspiritsflag——myhopesdecay——

Stillthatdreaddeath—bellsmitesmyear;

Andmanyabodingseemstosay，\'Countess，prepare，thyendisnear！\'"

Thussoreandsadthatladygrieved，InCumnorHall，soloneanddrear;

Andmanyaheartfeltsighsheheaved，Andletfallmanyabittertear。

Anderethedawnofdayappear\'d，InCumnorHall，soloneanddrear，Fullmanyapiercingscreamwasheard，Andmanyacryofmortalfear。

Thedeath—bellthricewasheardtoring，Anaerialvoicewasheardtocall，Andthricetheravenflapp\'ditswingAroundthetowersofCumnorHall。

Themastiffhowl\'datvillagedoor，Theoakswereshatter\'donthegreen;

Woewasthehour——fornevermoreThathaplessCountesse\'erwasseen！

AndinthatManornownomoreIscheerfulfeastandsprightlyball;

ForeversincethatdrearyhourHavespiritshauntedCumnorHall。

Thevillagemaids，withfearfulglance，Avoidtheancientmoss—grownwall;

Noreverleadthemerrydance，AmongthegrovesofCumnorHall。

Fullmanyatravellerofthathsigh\'d，AndpensivewepttheCountess\'fall，Aswand\'ringonwardthey\'veespiedThehauntedtowersofCumnorHall。

ARBOTSFORD，1stMarch1831。

*

KENILWORTH

CHAPTERI。

Iamaninnkeeper，andknowmygrounds，Andstudythem;Braino\'man，Istudythem。

Imusthavejovialgueststodrivemyploughs，Andwhistlingboystobringmyharvestshome，OrIshallhearnoflailsthwack。THENEWINN。

Itistheprivilegeoftale—tellerstoopentheirstoryinaninn，thefreerendezvousofalltravellers，andwherethehumourofeachdisplaysitselfwithoutceremonyorrestraint。ThisisspeciallysuitablewhenthesceneislaidduringtheolddaysofmerryEngland，whentheguestswereinsomesortnotmerelytheinmates，butthemessmatesandtemporarycompanionsofmineHost，whowasusuallyapersonageofprivilegedfreedom，comelypresence，andgood—humour。Patronizedbyhimthecharactersofthecompanywereplacedinreadycontrast;andtheyseldomfailed，duringtheemptyingofasix—hoopedpot，tothrowoffreserve，andpresentthemselvestoeachother，andtotheirlandlord，withthefreedomofoldacquaintance。

ThevillageofCumnor，withinthreeorfourmilesofOxford，boasted，duringtheeighteenthofQueenElizabeth，anexcellentinnoftheoldstamp，conducted，orratherruled，byGilesGosling，amanofagoodlyperson，andofsomewhatroundbelly;

fiftyyearsofageandupwards，moderateinhisreckonings，promptinhispayments，havingacellarofsoundliquor，areadywit，andaprettydaughter。SincethedaysofoldHarryBaillieoftheTabardinSouthwark，noonehadexcelledGilesGoslinginthepowerofpleasinghisguestsofeverydescription;andsogreatwashisfame，thattohavebeeninCumnorwithoutwettingacupatthebonnyBlackBear，wouldhavebeentoavouchone\'s—selfutterlyindifferenttoreputationasatraveller。AcountryfellowmightaswellreturnfromLondonwithoutlookinginthefaceofmajesty。ThemenofCumnorwereproudoftheirHost，andtheirHostwasproudofhishouse，hisliquor，hisdaughter，andhimself。

Itwasinthecourtyardoftheinnwhichcalledthishonestfellowlandlord，thatatravelleralightedinthecloseoftheevening，gavehishorse，whichseemedtohavemadealongjourney，tothehostler，andmadesomeinquiry，whichproducedthefollowingdialoguebetwixtthemyrmidonsofthebonnyBlackBear。

"What，ho！JohnTapster。"

"Athand，WillHostler，"repliedthemanofthespigot，showinghimselfinhiscostumeofloosejacket，linenbreeches，andgreenapron，halfwithinandhalfwithoutadoor，whichappearedtodescendtoanoutercellar。

"Hereisagentlemanasksifyoudrawgoodale，"continuedthehostler。

"Beshrewmyheartelse，"answeredthetapster，"sincetherearebutfourmilesbetwixtusandOxford。Marry，ifmyaledidnotconvincetheheadsofthescholars，theywouldsoonconvincemypatewiththepewterflagon。"

"CallyouthatOxfordlogic？"saidthestranger，whohadnowquittedthereinofhishorse，andwasadvancingtowardstheinn—

door，whenhewasencounteredbythegoodlyformofGilesGoslinghimself。

"Isitlogicyoutalkof，SirGuest？"saidthehost;"why，then，haveatyouwithadownrightconsequence——

\'Thehorsetotherack，Andtofirewiththesack。\'"

"Amen！withallmyheart，mygoodhost，"saidthestranger;"letitbeaquartofyourbestCanaries，andgivemeyourgoodhelptodrinkit。"

"Nay，youarebutinyouraccidenceyet，SirTraveller，ifyoucallonyourhostforhelpforsuchasippingmatterasaquartofsack;Wereitagallon，youmightlacksomeneighbouringaidatmyhand，andyetcallyourselfatoper。"

"Fearmenot。"saidtheguest，"IwilldomydevoirasbecomesamanwhofindshimselfwithinfivemilesofOxford;forIamnotcomefromthefieldofMarstodiscreditmyselfamongstthefollowersofMinerva。"

Ashespokethus，thelandlord，withmuchsemblanceofheartywelcome，usheredhisguestintoalarge，lowchamber，whereseveralpersonswereseatedtogetherindifferentparties——somedrinking，someplayingatcards，someconversing，andsome，whosebusinesscalledthemtobeearlyrisersonthemorrow，concludingtheireveningmeal，andconferringwiththechamberlainabouttheirnight\'squarters。

Theentranceofastrangerprocuredhimthatgeneralandcarelesssortofattentionwhichisusuallypaidonsuchoccasions，fromwhichthefollowingresultswerededuced:——Theguestwasoneofthosewho，withawell—madeperson，andfeaturesnotinthemselvesunpleasing，areneverthelesssofarfromhandsomethat，whetherfromtheexpressionoftheirfeatures，orthetoneoftheirvoice，orfromtheirgaitandmanner，therearises，onthewhole，adisinclinationtotheirsociety。Thestranger\'saddresswasbold，withoutbeingfrank，andseemedeagerlyandhastilytoclaimforhimadegreeofattentionanddeferencewhichhefearedwouldberefused，ifnotinstantlyvindicatedashisright。Hisattirewasariding—cloak，which，whenopen，displayedahandsomejerkinoverlaidwithlace，andbeltedwithabuffgirdle，whichsustainedabroadswordandapairofpistols。

"Youridewellprovided，sir，"saidthehost，lookingattheweaponsasheplacedonthetablethemulledsackwhichthetravellerhadordered。

"Yes，minehost;Ihavefoundtheuseon\'tindangeroustimes，andIdonot，likeyourmoderngrandees，turnoffmyfollowerstheinstanttheyareuseless。"

"Ay，sir？"saidGilesGosling;"thenyouarefromtheLowCountries，thelandofpikeandcaliver？"

"Ihavebeenhighandlow，myfriend，broadandwide，farandnear。Buthereistotheeinacupofthysack;fillthyselfanothertopledgeme，and，ifitislessthansuperlative，e\'endrinkasyouhavebrewed。"

"Lessthansuperlative？"saidGilesGosling，drinkingoffthecup，andsmackinghislipswithanairofineffablerelish，——"I

knownothingofsuperlative，noristheresuchawineattheThreeCranes，intheVintry，tomyknowledge;butifyoufindbettersackthanthatintheSheres，orintheCanarieseither，I

wouldImaynevertoucheitherpotorpennymore。Why，holditupbetwixtyouandthelight，youshallseethelittlemotesdanceinthegoldenliquorlikedustinthesunbeam。ButIwouldratherdrawwinefortenclownsthanonetraveller。——Itrustyourhonourlikesthewine？"

"Itisneatandcomfortable，minehost;buttoknowgoodliquor，youshoulddrinkwherethevinegrows。Trustme，yourSpaniardistoowiseamantosendyoutheverysoulofthegrape。Why，thisnow，whichyouaccountsochoice，werecountedbutasacupofbastardattheGroyne，oratPortSt。Mary\'s。Youshouldtravel，minehost，ifyouwouldbedeepinthemysteriesofthebuttandpottle—pot。"

"Introth，SigniorGuest，"saidGilesGosling，"ifIweretotravelonlythatImightbediscontentedwiththatwhichIcangetathome，methinksIshouldgobutonafool\'serrand。

Besides，Iwarrantyou，thereismanyafoolcanturnhisnoseupatgooddrinkwithouteverhavingbeenoutofthesmokeofOldEngland;andsoevergramercymineownfireside。"

"Thisisbutameanmindofyours，minehost，"saidthestranger;

"Iwarrantme，allyourtown\'sfolkdonotthinksobasely。Youhavegallantsamongyou，Idareundertake，thathavemadetheVirginiavoyage，ortakenaturnintheLowCountriesatleast。

Come，cudgelyourmemory。Haveyounofriendsinforeignpartsthatyouwouldgladlyhavetidingsof？"

"Troth，sir，notI，"answeredthehost，"sincerantingRobinofDrysandfordwasshotatthesiegeoftheBrill。Thedeviltakethecaliverthatfiredtheball，forablitherladneverfilledacupatmidnight！Butheisdeadandgone，andIknownotasoldier，oratraveller，whoisasoldier\'smate，thatIwouldgiveapeeledcodlingfor。"

"BytheMass，thatisstrange。What！somanyofourbraveEnglishheartsareabroad，andyou，whoseemtobeamanofmark，havenofriend，nokinsmanamongthem？"

"Nay，ifyouspeakofkinsmen，"answeredGosling，"Ihaveonewildslipofakinsman，wholeftusinthelastyearofQueenMary;butheisbetterlostthanfound。"

"Donotsayso，friend，unlessyouhaveheardillofhimlately。

Manyawildcolthasturnedoutanoblesteed。——Hisname，Iprayyou？"

"MichaelLambourne，"answeredthelandlordoftheBlackBear;"asonofmysister\'s——thereislittlepleasureinrecollectingeitherthenameortheconnection。"

"MichaelLambourne！"saidthestranger，asifendeavouringtorecollecthimself——"what，norelationtoMichaelLambourne，thegallantcavalierwhobehavedsobravelyatthesiegeofVenlothatGraveMauricethankedhimattheheadofthearmy？MensaidhewasanEnglishcavalier，andofnohighextraction。"

"Itcouldscarcelybemynephew，"saidGilesGosling，"forhehadnotthecourageofahen—partridgeforaughtbutmischief。"

"Oh，manyamanfindscourageinthewars，"repliedthestranger。

"Itmaybe，"saidthelandlord;"butIwouldhavethoughtourMikemorelikelytolosethelittlehehad。"

"TheMichaelLambournewhomIknew，"continuedthetraveller，"wasalikelyfellow——wentalwaysgayandwellattired，andhadahawk\'seyeafteraprettywench。"

"OurMichael，"repliedthehost，"hadthelookofadogwithabottleatitstail，andworeacoat，everyragofwhichwasbiddinggood—daytotherest。"

"Oh，menpickupgoodapparelinthewars，"repliedtheguest。

"OurMike，"answeredthelandlord，"wasmoreliketopickitupinafripperywarehouse，whilethebrokerwaslookinganotherway;and，forthehawk\'seyeyoutalkof，hiswasalwaysaftermystrayspoons。Hewastapster\'sboyhereinthisblessedhouseforaquarterofayear;andbetweenmisreckonings，miscarriages，mistakes，andmisdemeanours，hadhedweltwithmeforthreemonthslonger，Imighthavepulleddownsign，shutuphouse，andgiventhedevilthekeytokeep。"

"Youwouldbesorry，afterall，"continuedthetraveller，"wereI

totellyoupoorMikeLambournewasshotattheheadofhisregimentatthetakingofasconcenearMaestricht？"

"Sorry！——itwouldbetheblithestnewsIeverheardofhim，sinceitwouldensuremehewasnothanged。Butlethimpass——Idoubthisendwillneverdosuchcredittohisfriends。Wereitso，I

shouldsay"——（takinganothercupofsack）——"Here\'sGodresthim，withallmyheart。"

"Tush，man，"repliedthetraveller，"neverfearbutyouwillhavecreditbyyournephewyet，especiallyifhebetheMichaelLambournewhomIknew，andlovedverynearly，oraltogether，aswellasmyself。CanyoutellmenomarkbywhichIcouldjudgewhethertheybethesame？"

"Faith，nonethatIcanthinkof，"answeredGilesGosling，"unlessthatourMikehadthegallowsbrandedonhisleftshoulderforstealingasilvercaudle—cupfromDameSnortofHogsditch。"

"Nay，thereyoulielikeaknave，uncle，"saidthestranger，slippingasidehisruff;andturningdownthesleeveofhisdoubletfromhisneckandshoulder;"bythisgoodday，myshoulderisasunscarredasthineown。

"What，Mike，boy——Mike！"exclaimedthehost;——"andisitthou，ingoodearnest？Nay，Ihavejudgedsoforthishalf—hour;forI

knewnootherpersonwouldhaveta\'enhalftheinterestinthee。

But，Mike，anthyshoulderbeunscathedasthousayest，thoumustownthatGoodmanThong，thehangman，wasmercifulinhisoffice，andstampedtheewithacoldiron。"

"Tush，uncle——trucewithyourjests。Keepthemtoseasonyoursourale，andletusseewhatheartywelcomethouwiltgiveakinsmanwhohasrolledtheworldaroundforeighteenyears;whohasseenthesunsetwhereitrises，andhastravelledtillthewesthasbecometheeast。"

"Thouhastbroughtbackonetraveller\'sgiftwiththee，Mike，asIwellsee;andthatwaswhatthouleastdidst:needtotravelfor。Irememberwell，amongthineotherqualities，therewasnocreditingawordwhichcamefromthymouth。"

"Here\'sanunbelievingpaganforyou，gentlemen！"saidMichaelLambourne，turningtothosewhowitnessedthisstrangeinterviewbetwixtuncleandnephew，someofwhom，beingnativesofthevillage，werenostrangerstohisjuvenilewildness。"ThismaybecalledslayingaCumnorfattedcalfformewithavengeance。——

But，uncle，Icomenotfromthehusksandtheswine—trough，andI

carenotforthywelcomeornowelcome;Icarrythatwithmewillmakemewelcome，wendwhereIwill。"

Sosaying，hepulledoutapurseofgoldindifferentlywellfilled，thesightofwhichproducedavisibleeffectuponthecompany。Someshooktheirheadsandwhisperedtoeachother，whileoneortwoofthelessscrupulousspeedilybegantorecollecthimasaschool—companion，atownsman，orsoforth。Ontheotherhand，twoorthreegrave，sedate—lookingpersonsshooktheirheads，andlefttheinn，hintingthat，ifGilesGoslingwishedtocontinuetothrive，heshouldturnhisthriftless，godlessnephewadriftagain，assoonashecould。Goslingdemeanedhimselfasifheweremuchofthesameopinion，foreventhesightofthegoldmadelessimpressiononthehonestgentlemanthanitusuallydothupononeofhiscalling。

"KinsmanMichael，"hesaid，"putupthypurse。Mysister\'ssonshallbecalledtonoreckoninginmyhouseforsupperorlodging;andIreckonthouwilthardlywishtostaylongerwherethouarte\'enbuttoowellknown。"

"Forthatmatter，uncle，"repliedthetraveller，"Ishallconsultmyownneedsandconveniences。MeantimeIwishtogivethesupperandsleepingcuptothosegoodtownsmenwhoarenottooproudtorememberMikeLambourne，thetapster\'sboy。Ifyouwillletmehaveentertainmentformymoney，so;ifnot，itisbutashorttwominutes\'walktotheHareandTabor，andItrustourneighbourswillnotgrudgegoingthusfarwithme。"

"Nay，Mike，"repliedhisuncle，"aseighteenyearshavegoneoverthyhead，andItrustthouartsomewhatamendedinthyconditions，thoushaltnotleavemyhouseatthishour，andshalte\'enhavewhateverinreasonyoulisttocallfor。ButIwouldI

knewthatthatpurseofthine，whichthouvapourestof，wereaswellcomebyasitseemswellfilled。"

"Hereisaninfidelforyou，mygoodneighbours！"saidLambourne，againappealingtotheaudience。"Here\'safellowwillripuphiskinsman\'sfolliesofagoodscoreofyears\'

standing。Andforthegold，why，sirs，Ihavebeenwhereitgrew，andwastobehadforthegathering。IntheNewWorldhaveIbeen，man——intheEldorado，whereurchinsplayatcherry—pitwithdiamonds，andcountrywenchesthreadrubiesfornecklaces，insteadofrowan—treeberries;wherethepantilesaremadeofpuregold，andthepaving—stonesofvirginsilver。"

"Bymycredit，friendMike，"saidyoungLaurenceGoldthred，thecuttingmercerofAbingdon，"thatwerealikelycoasttotradeto。Andwhatmaylawns，cypruses，andribandsfetch，wheregoldissoplenty？"

"Oh，theprofitwereunutterable，"repliedLambourne，"especiallywhenahandsomeyoungmerchantbearsthepackhimself;fortheladiesofthatclimearebona—robas，andbeingthemselvessomewhatsunburnt，theycatchfireliketinderatafreshcomplexionlikethine，withaheadofhairincliningtobered。"

"IwouldImighttradethither，"saidthemercer，chuckling。

"Why，andsothoumayest，"saidMichael——"thatis，ifthouartthesamebriskboywhowaspartnerwithmeatrobbingtheAbbot\'sorchard。\'Tisbutalittletouchofalchemytodecoctthyhouseandlandintoreadymoney，andthatreadymoneyintoatallship，withsails，anchors，cordage，andallthingsconforming;thenclapthywarehouseofgoodsunderhatches，putfiftygoodfellowsondeck，withmyselftocommandthem，andsohoisttopsails，andheyfortheNewWorld！"

"Thouhasttaughthimasecret，kinsman，"saidGilesGosling，"todecoct，anthatbetheword，hispoundintoapennyandhiswebsintoathread。——Takeafool\'sadvice，neighbourGoldthred。Temptnotthesea，forsheisadevourer。Letcardsandcockatricesdotheirworst，thyfather\'sbalesmaybideabangingforayearortwoerethoucomesttotheSpital;buttheseahathabottomlessappetite，——shewouldswallowthewealthofLombardStreetinamorning，aseasilyasIwouldapoachedeggandacupofclary。