ADMIRAL BYNG. To the perpetual disgrace THE HON. JOHN BYNG, Admiral of the Blue, Fell a martyr to political persecution, March 14, 1757, at a time When bravery and loyalty were insufficient Securities for the life and honour of a naval officer. 259 If, as some have thought, this is rather a bitter legend to appear in a place where the wicked ought to cease from troubling, we must remember that a sense of injustice. is the strongest provocation that can influence human. nature. On the other side of Monken Hadley are two very noble residences. Beech Hill House is situated on one of those fine rises of land that lend such charms to this part of Middlesex, and the grounds are diversified with noble plantations. The road that leads from Southgate through Potter's Bar to Hatfield divides this from Trent Park, a very fine seat. It was built by the eminent physician Sir Richard Jebb, who obtained a large grant of land from the Crown, when Epping Forest was broken up. The Park palings enclose nearly five hundred acres, and the enclosure was well stocked with deer soon after the mansion was built. The surface of Trent Park is bolder and more diversified than is usual in other parts of the country; and it contains some remains of Epping Forest, which was a remnant of the primæval woods that, until comparatively recent times, covered so much of Middlesex. Near Monken Hadley is Chipping Barnet; indeed, it may be said to form almost a part of it. Here the terrible battle of Barnet was fought that proved fatal to the house of Lancaster, and in which the great Warwick lost his life. Warwick at one time almost owned counties, and it is said that he had no fewer than thirty thousand people on his various estates. Stow, the ancient chronicler, describes him as coming to London with six hundred retainers, each wearing his livery and badge, the bear and ragged staff; but he was destined to fall at Barnet, and sadly reflected as he fell And who durst smile when Warwick bent his brow? So now my glory, smeared in dust and blood, Dugdale said that the battle was fought near Friern Barnet; but, according to Mr. Norris Brewer, it took place some way off, and nearer St. Alban's Abbey. There is an illustrated MS. at Ghent, where many of the Lancastrians fled after the fray, which shows St. BATTLE OF BARNET. 261 Alban's Abbey very clearly, as overlooking the field of slaughter; but this was probably the work of some monk in whose eyes the wealthiest abbey in England was the most important part of the scene. Then, also, it must be remembered that on a bright day at the end of April the abbey would show quite clearly—it is hardly eight miles distant. In Gladsmere Heath, according to the tenor of modern conjecture, the battle was fought. This was until lately a large and dreary plain, well suited to the business of multifarious slaughter;" but singularly enough, there are no features that can be recognised to confirm this belief. A column was erected at the Gladsmere, in 1740, by Sir James Stanbrook, and on this he says that the battle was fought there: "Here was fought the battle between Edward IV. and the Earl of Warwick, April 14, 1471, in which the earl was defeated and slain." It does not seem, however, that the spade and plough have uncovered the relics we always expect to find on the site of a great battle. CHAPTER XII. Country delights round London--Road from Rickmansworth to Uxbridge -Harefield Harefield Church-Sergeant Newdegate - Uxbridge -Uxbridge Church-Recollections of the Stuart Period-Finale. SHOULD it ever be my good fortune to get the ear of Mr. Cook or Mr. Gaze, I shall urge upon them to advertise as a great attraction, and I fear I must add novelty, a few trips into Middlesex. A most attractive programme might be issued, wherein the expedition would compare favourably with others into foreign lands no sea-voyage-English spoken everywhere, which is perhaps more than could be said of some counties and so the translator, who is often a great deal fagged, I fancy, at the end of the day, could be dispensed with. In his place a local antiquary could with great advantage be installed, who would expatiate upon church monuments, and upon old farms, and halls COUNTRY DELIGHTS ROUND LONDON. 263 that had seen more stirring times, and figured, however humbly, in the country's history. One difficulty at the outset might present itself, but that, under the skilful management of either of the contractors that have been named, would soon disappear. The Continental hotels are so accustomed to visitors from all parts of the world, especially England, that the commissariat is in perfect working order; but in even the most charming parts of Middlesex an excursionist is so rare a sight, that the long-forgotten arts of the landlord of the inn (a word one much prefers to "hotel") would be sorely taxed by the apparition of visitors. Still, I am sure the hosts would not be found wanting, nor would they prove unworthy of their ancestors. I was surprised to find how many Londoners there were to whom scenery is not a matter of indifference, who never saw the beautiful lanes that lead from Kingsbury past Wembly Park, and through Preston on to Kenton, and through Kingsbury Green to the Welsh Harp; of course, many have taken their walks in this direction, but there are many who are quite ignorant of the delights of this charming country. Yet Kingsbury cannot be more than six miles from Paddington, and if a very short ride is taken on the rails, it |