they vainly sought to terrify him by declaring that horrid machines of torture should rend asunder his limbs whiles that he was yet quick, still did the brave and constant Israel, unbeliever as he might be, forget not his pledge, and failed not in his faith unto the Lord Lovel. His resolution sank not even in the sight of his torments, but he remained ever firm to the surety he had given, and never revealed the escape or hiding-place of his benefactor. I may here note farther, as my last knowledge concerning him, that at a future time I learned, that from the very hour he became suspected of a league with the Viscount, they who seized upon him, left not to persecute him, while there was hope of his making any disclosure either by fraud or force; and when it was found that neither might prevail any thing, his goods were confiscated, and himself sent out of the realm, under the law that all Jews were banished from England for ever. Thus was he never left at freedom, until his guards had seen him on board the barque which was to bear him beyond the sea. What afterward became of him, or unto what country he went, I never might hear, yet do I trust that he ended his life in peace, although in exile; for this will I say of him for mine own part, and this doth he well deserve of my report, that the blessing of him that was ready to perish was upon him, and that he caused the heart of the fatherless to sing for joy.

When the lance-man had told me of these sad tidings, he concluded with "And now, I prythee, I youth, having answered all thy demands, tell me who thou art thyself? Thou canst scarce be the Jew's son, though thou shouldest be a cockerell

of some rare line, to draw me a good ten pound out of his purse; for such was the least penny that I owed him."

Hereupon I answered, though with some doubt and pausing, that it mattered but little unto him as to what race I came of: but that I was the orphan of a brave soldier who fell upon Bosworthfield.

"Art thou so, by St. Martin of Tours!" exclaimed the gibing Bernard, "then doth that, with thy name of Richard, thy fresh ruddy looks and blue eyes, spell at length- what I know full well, though I speak it not now. Nay, farther, stripling, it shall be safe for the future, and thou mayest forthwith depart, so thou wilt tell me of one other thing, which is, the secret way into this chamber: for I can well deem that thou knowest it, and perchance somewhat more. And now," continued he with a full stern voice, "mark me, boy; hitherto have I been merry with thee, but as I am once again the royal Harry's follower, set to keep this mansion for him,-I will have this matter from thee strait, or by the blessed Melchior of Cologne! I will send thee trussed neck and heels unto the court, as they carried thy father to his grave, with a pursuivant to declare thy lofty birth unto the king! Choose, then, briefly, and at

once."

I had afore noted the ruffian-like violence of this soldier, and unto this end had drawn me as nigh unto the window as I might, feeling in my bosom for a sharp little dagger which the Lord Lovel had given unto me when I left him for London; deeming that I might yet find strength enow to

plunge it into the lance-man should he closely assail me. As, therefore, he bade me to determine upon what I would now do, I hastily brake forth into that gallery beyond the oriel-window, which, as I have said, overhung the park, and only saying, "This, then, is my choice!" I suddenly leaped therefrom and shot forward, with the speed of a shaft set free from the bowstring.

Although it was my good hap to make mine escape in the heavy mist of a November morning which covered the way I took, yet might I eftsoons hear the loud shouting and heavy tread of my pursuer and his followers; so that I was full fain hastily to return towards the secret passage and cell of the dead Viscount, wherein I deemed that I had left his body for time and for eternity. I well knew that search would there be vain, could I but once gain an entrance, and then, under the deep shadow of night, I might come forth unseen and hasten my flight unto the sea-coast or London; for my royal sire had long since told me, that fugitives be safer in a crowded city than in solitude. I ran with much haste, yet, from often slipping upon the grass that was wet with the mist and dew, my pursuers gained fast upon me, and being without breath to utter either a cry or a vow unto any of the holy saints to aid me, I well nigh deemed that all was lost. Nevertheless I still kept forward with unslackened speed, albeit I could see the forms of them that followed me hastily coming on through the fog, and heard full near and loudly their shouts and whistling as they called upon each other to mark the way in which I was running. At length, however, with spent

strength and lost breath, I suddenly plunged me into the mouth of that hidden passage and vanished from the sight of my pursuers, whose hasty footsteps I soon marked approaching; and I might hear them, and specially Bernard, profanely swear by the mass that they had missed me, they knew not how, for that I took that way and then disappeared like Friar Rush: but they added, moreover, that though the fiend himself were to aid me, I should not 'scape them so; for that the park should be closely watched day and night, the gate locked and guarded, and the roads around planted with those who should soon stop my travelling thence.

As the sound of their voices died away upon mine ear, I went back unto the cell, in much sadness for the loss of the only friends which I possessed on earth. Israel of Castile being now a banished beggar, Sir Gilbert de Mountford and Master St. Leger cut off upon a bloody scaffold, and the last and noblest relique of King Richard, was already a black and stiffened corse before me. There he sate, so solemn, yet so calm, in the very place of his life, that I could almost have called upon him to aid me with his counsel in that hour of doubt and sorrow; and albeit I was then so young, and might well have feared to have been the companion of a dead corse in that gloomy vault, yet did the thought that mine own life hung by so frail a tie, keep my heart from all other terrors. I therefore sate sad and silent, until I bethought me of sending up prayers for mine own deliverance, blended with mine orisons for the timely-departed soul of the Lord Lovel:

in doing whereof my tranquillity and strength returned, and I waited full patiently for the hour which should give me back unto freedom.

That night, as I do well remember me, came down heavily, yet did I linger until the welkin was covered with darkness, ere I left the funeral cell for the last time, and quickly and cautiously closed up its narrow outer entrance in such wise as it might never be suspected by mortal man, by breaking down the earth into it with my sword; well knowing that the other end was past any discovery. Thus, with a sad heart, I bade farewell unto the mouldering dust of the noble Lord Lovel, and betook myself unto a desolate part of the park which overlooked a narrow and lonely country lane. Yet was not mine escape thence effected without much hazard, since I might often hear the heavy tread or low voice of the nightwatching guards who were set to intercept me, as they marched about between the shaking trees and over the dark underwoods, humming as they /best might, some rude ballad of battle foughten in the days of the olden time. Howbeit, as I now well knew the place which I was traversing, I warily passed them by, and at length got me clear of the boundaries of Minster-Lovel.

After crossing divers wild fields and passing through many dark lanes, towards the break of day I heard the heavy and stately beat of a drum sounding forth the slow old English march: and anon I found me near a little hostel, about which some dozen soldiers, but scantily clothed and armed, were gathered, as if rousing them after the night-halt and making them ready for the day's