his person to imminent hazards, from which, however, he escaped uninjured: in one of the last charges which was made to possess the wood, this enthusiastic impetus had carried him far ahead of his division, to where a deeply interested but self-collected spectator of this bloody tumult, sat Father Dennis, mounted on De Lacy's tall, pie-balled, Hungarian stallion, armed with no other weapon than his long stout staff, his constant companion, and ornamented, as we have mentioned in the early part of our story, with a small silver crucifix. No sooner did this strange object meet the eye of Rousewell than he dashed at him, exclaiming, "Vile pander of the scarlet whore, sittest thou there with thy symbolic craft, to encourage the blood-shedding of the chosen? Verily, I will smite thee. Yea, with the sword of the Lord will I utterly destroy thee!" But the peaceful habits of a whole life had not quenched the natural instinct of self-preservation -the monotonous career of the Monk had not destroyed the courage of the man: seeing himself thus attacked, the old man grasped his long staff with both hands at the bottom, and as the fierce fanatic rushed on, he struck the uplifted arm of his assailant with such force as

to cause the sword to fly from his hand, but with the blow the staff broke in the middle, and the crucifix flew far on the plain. The Roundhead, on the instant, discharged his petronel, and Father Dennis fell to the ground. "Lo! the Philistine is fallen!" exclaimed Rousewell." The Lord hath given him to my hands, and verily I will despoil him of his harlotry." With that he dismounted, regained his sword, and rushed towards the prostrate old man, over whom, as to guard his person, the Hungarian horse stood firm and quiet. To the ignorance that is incapable of thought and inquiry, everything out of the ordinary course of things, and not understood, becomes a miracle; and, if not explained, what we are about to relate, would be considered more astonishing, and startling to credulity, than any of the feats of the Prince Bishop of Bamberg. The furious Republican, as we have said, ran at the fallen Priest to despatch him, if not dead, or bear away the "symbol of his craft," as he termed the crucifix, as a triumphant spoil. He perceived motion and life in Father Denis, and uplifted

his sword to inflict the coup de grace, when pie-balled, his eyes sparkling fire, his nostrils distended and glowing, his tail set, and his upper lip curled, seized the ill-fated Rousewell by the up-lifted arm, cast him to the ground, and with his fore-feet almost instantaneously pressed the life out of his body, and sent his spirit in search of that glory which he had promised to those of his recent congregation who should courageously perish in the fight. Father Denis had only been stunned, and here we have to recount that which if not miraculous might be received as proof of an all-ruling and watchful Providence. The ball from the petronel struck against the bible which the pious old man carried in a side pocket of his coat, but its force threw down, and for some time deprived the priest of sense and motion. While the graven image was cast down, the bible was his armour of defence, and he proved that the word of God was even here the word of life. On recovering his senses what was his astonishment-nay, horror at seeing the extended and yet convulsed body almost beside him, one foot of the horse still pressed on the breast of his victim. Father Dennis arose, spoke soothingly to his preserver, pie-bald, who on the instant removed his foot and allowed the good Samaritan Priest to endeavour to administer aid and comfort to the fierce fanatic who would have destroyed him. Mindful of his ministering offices, and not yet wholly a convert from the erroneous doctrine of transubstantiation, the wellintentioned old man was determined that his enemy should die with a wafer in his mouth, while the firm set teeth and started eye-balls of the fanatic Roundhead, seemed at once to resist the idolatrous profanation, and as if a feeling of indignation and horror was not yet extinct, but struggled with death in order to resist the pollutions of Papistry. In this position, kneeling and praying over his enemy, Colonels Webb and De Lacy, their forces joined in pursuit of the republicans, returning, found Father Dennis, while the Hungarian steed was quietly grazing hard by.

So nearly do the solemn and the ludicrous sometimes touch each other, in this strange world of ours, that the flour and water deity was seen projecting from the compressed lips of the lifeless independent. De Lacy, re

joiced at the preservation of his dear old friend, assisted to remount him up on the pie-bald, and it remains for us to explain the act of this extraordinary animal. He was a regularly trained war-horse, and taught to aid his rider with all the powers, of attack and defence which nature had bestowed on him, and, particularly, to guard the body of his rider should he be unhorsed and disabled. These properties of the animal De Lacy well knew, and when he could not dissuade his reverend friend to forego the dangers of

the field, he was determined to afford him all the means of protection that he could, and the event proved that the horse, on an emergency, would be found of more than ordinary use and sagacity as stated by De Lacy.*

Long delay was not permitted; they urged their horses in pursuit of the vanquished and flying foe; less, on the part of De Lacy to complete the work of destruction, than to prevent as much as he could, the cruel butchery, the too certain consequence of defeat in civil contests...

To prevent the unnecessary effusion of blood, as well as to rally his men, that the most effectual and speedy assistance might be rendered to the garrison, De Lacy's intention was now mainly directed towards checking the pursuit, which had become general, and for this purpose had collected around him as many of his small guard as he could draw back from the chase, and who consisted of no more than Court nay the Oxonian, and nine or ten men, In the execution of this duty, he happened to come directly under the man sion house, at the back part of the gardens, and where, in its original state it lay most exposed and defenceless;

to strengthen this quarter, every expedient had been resorted to, and it exhibited a melancholy picture. Magni ficent and once beautiful trees lay half cut through and bent down, their branches, on which the leaves were dried and withered, entwined with one another, while rare and costly shrubs, broken fountains and statues; in short all that had once formed the garden's pride and ornament, mingled in one un sightly ruin filled up the interstices. Two magnificent pavilions blackened with smoke, their walls hastily and coarsely loop-holed, evinced how gal lantly the place had been defended→→ even the house itself, a beautiful gothic

structure, exhibited a similar appear ance, and De Lacy paused at a sight so revolting, associated with the thought of what Lady Eleanor must have suffered, pent up amidst such scenes, and partaking of their terrors, and solely on account of her and his attachment to each other. These reflections for the moment estranged him from all other circumstances, and he stood ri vetted to the spot, when a loud shout from Courtnay, awakened him to matter of more immediate interest and danger-pressing forward round an angle of the walls, he perceived a number of the enemy hastily getting to horse, close by a small gate that had been converted into a sally-port; behind one of whom was a female, who, at the first glance he recognised to be Lady Eleanor Paulet herself. On this party Courtnay had already precipitated himself and small force, and personally encountered Solas Rabishaw, who was at their head, but for whom, high-spirited and determined as the young cavalier proved himself, he was by no means a match, for at the very moment De Lacy came up, the fierce roundhead severely wounded and unhorsed him, and, instantaneously discharging his petronel, shot De Lacy's horse through the head, calling on his men to follow and escape. At this juncture Bunckley and his force appeared returned from the pursuit. Rabishaw saw himself enmershed, and turned his whole attention to secure the capture of Lady Eleanor; he loudly called to the man who had her in charge, “Press thou forward, Faithful Strong, and rid thyself from the power of the Philistine, verily, I will be with thee." But De Lacy, the moment he got clear of his horse, had hamstrung, with a blow of his sabre, that on which Faithful Strong was riding, and before he was aware had dismounted and disabled him, taking once more under his personal care and protection the beloved and precious object of all his soul's affections and solicitude. Rabishaw fought with desperate courage, and encountering Jans Schontz, whom he recognized as the man who had killed his friend Isaak Yalden, he cried out, "Said I not, O! chosen soul-said I not, that I would avenge thee," and he attacked the Dutchman with such fury as put him

to his utmost to defend himself, but a shot from Jans, just at the moment when he was sorely pressed, entered the brain of the fierce republican, who springing up, as it were, out of his saddle, fell lifeless to the ground. Thus perished Solas Rabishaw in the prosecution of an enterprise, for which he was well qualified, and in which he would have succeeded, had De Lacy and Courtnay joined in the pursuit of the vanquished parliamentarians. The possession of the Marquess of Winchester's person was considered of such value by the parliament, that Colonel Norton determined to effect it if possible; he had therefore placed Rabishaw with a party of picked men in ambush to keep a watch upon Basing-house, and in case of a sortie by the garrison to avail himself of the opportunity for effecting the capture of the Marquess, who, having headed the troops in person, disappointed the main part of the project; but as he suc ceeded in getting into the house, Rabishaw seized on Lady Eleanor, and was bearing her away when she was fortunately rescued, and love and loyalty once more triumphant.

We have arrived to the so much more busy, than poetical and sentimental period of our tale, that we cannot stop the action of pressing circumstances, in order to indulge ourselves or our readers with the lovescene that followed the recovery of his Ladylove by our gallant hero. We must commence our movement towards

Oxford: the garrison of Basing-house was re-inforced and provisioned, and its command transferred to Lord Edward Paulet, the Marquess's brother, as the Marquess himself was wounded, and besides had determined to proceed to Oxford, to ascertain the cause and extent of Sir Everard Ashley's conduct, as had been reported to him. They took brief rest at Basingstoke, but fixed on starting from thence at eleven o'clock at night. They moved out of the town in dead silence, Trevanion and Smallcraft being sent on before with twenty men to reconnoitre a wooden-bridge over the Kennett, and ascertain if it was occupied or watched by the parliament's troops.

The harvest moon, now at its full, made all things visible, and they arrived within half a mile of the river when they fell in with their patrol.

They have broken down the bridge, said Trevanion, "and so effectively that I fear our passage this way is impossible; all else, however, is clearI swam my horse across, and went nearly a mile a head." De Lacy did not however receive this report as decisive of his course of action; he judged, that the stream must have gradually deposited considerable quantities of sand and gravel at the back of the piles where the bridge stood, and that there the river might be fordable. He pushed on to the spot, the rest following, and after slight observation, rode into the stream; and although the water rose above his saddle-skirts, he got across and returned again in safety, Giving the Marquess in care of Smallcraft and his Lordship's own groom Rideout, he shifted his saddle on the pie-bald, upon whose strength and steadiness he could rely, and whose greater height would remove his precious charge farther from the water, he placed Lady Eleanor behind him, "Fear not Lady of my heart," said he, as they launched into the stream. "Where you are I have none," replied she, "and sooner would I perish thus, than be doomed to life and separation." Under such inspiration what danger is it that a true and gallant lover would not encounter?-What almost that he would not overcome? They cleared the river in safety, the horsemen carrying the foot en croup the entire body effected the passage without accident. With the precautions necessary to the occasion, they proceeded until they reached the woods above Purley-hall a little before day-light. Such rude accommodation as a cottage afforded was hastily adapted for the repose of the Marquess and Lady Eleanor, and De Lacy having instructed Bunckley to keep all quiet and not to move happen what might, proceeded on foot, accompanied by Smallcraft, and Rideout, the Marquess's messenger, to view the ford of the Thames by Mapledurham, and which was rather more than a mile distant. They adopted the same disguises which had been used on the despatch to Winchester, and set out just as day began to break. Having ascertained that the ford offered safe passage, although the entrance was awkward, as they were returning along the lane, not fifty yards from

where it crossed the road between Reading and Pangbourn, a cloud of moving dust arrested their attention in the direction of the former place, and presently the trampling of horses, accompanied by the jingling of swords and harness, announced the approach of one of the enemy's patrols. The hedge adjoining was one of those small belts of copsewood, called in that country shaws, and with which it is plentifully intersected; they found little difficulty, therefore, the leaves being strong on the trees, in concealing themselves, which they had just effected when the patrol turned off the high-road into the lane, passing close by them. "No signs of the Egyptian meeteth mine espial in this track," said the officer who commanded them, as he closely looked to the ground for evidence of the march of the royalists. Verily none," replied another who rode beside him, which opinest thou better guard this pass, of journey on to Pangbourn I am free to execute mine own especial judgment therein," said the leader, " and unless I am advertised of them, I shall guard this pass, the more that it is one by which there is little traffic." They passed on towards the ford, appearing to those who lay perdue in the greenwood shade to be about two hundred men, "Let the worst come to the worst," whispered De Lacy, as the party had fairly gone by, "we are a match for them, but if they could be got rid of, it would be every way desirable, and under favour of this good cloak I will try it." You, Sir, replied Smallcraft also in a whisper,

are you going to knock all on the head; disguise yourself how you will, you can never look anything but the Cavalier and the gentleman. No, I will do it, and, I have reason to hope, effectually." Here he took from his pocket a letter which had been found on Solas Rabishaw, written by him to a friend at Wallingford, and which Sans Schontz, not deeming it worthy to be classed among the spolia opina, had given to Smallcraft for his pe rusal, and who had accidentally, and fortunately, retained it. He now laid aside his arms and spurs, cut a stout hedgestake, and prepared for his mission. "Throw more dust on your boots," said Ridout, the messenger, the marks of your spur-leathers are

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plainly to be seen.” "I know it," replied Smallcraft, "but I intend to turn that to account." He passed over the opposite hedge into a field, and creeping carefully along the one by the road side in the direction of Pangbourn, for about a hundred yards, got out into the road, and then began to holloa! with all his might this soon brought some of the roundheads to him, and he said, "Verily am I rejoiced that thou art of our own people-sorely was I troubled, least I had misjudged-lead me unto thy captain, I pray thee, I have tidings that will gladden his heart," "Who art thou?" asked the officer, as Smallcraft came him, “and why 66 voice?" liftest thou up th Thou hast heard the cries of Jasper Thumwood," replied Smallcraft," who but now as he journied from his dwelling at Wallingford, had nigh fallen into the hands of the enemy, even as a bird into the snare of the fowler." How so, friend?" asked the officer. "The beast on which I did ride fell with me by the way," said Smallcraft," and was so injured that I was fain to prosecute my journey on foot, having a heavy charge which I must pay this day in Reading at a noted hour." "I do not understand thee," said the officer.

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Listen then to the words which I will deliver unto thee, and thou shalt, replied our mock puritan," as I came about a mile from out of the town of Pangbourn, I lighted of a sudden upon the camp of the host of Pharaoh, even upon the outwatch of the enemy."Know you any person of repute at Reading?" demanded the officer."I hope thy tale may be true, but I must know more about thee, that thou deceivest me not." "To what intent should I deceive thee," replied Smallcraft, doubtless thou hast heard of Solas Rabishaw." "Yea have 1," said the officer, "well do I know that cho

SOLAS RABISHAW."

Thou hast assured me," said the officer; "where tarriest thou in Reading" "I shall abide," said Smallcraft," at the Raven in the marketplace." The officer shook his hand cordially, adding, "Take note what I say unto thee-yea, for this thou shalt be remembered." "I trust in heaven I shall," said Smallcraft to himself, "in the bitterness of your heart," and he got away over the stile that led towards Reading, roaring out the fag end of a hymn in a fanatic strain. He went no farther than the next hedge, when concealing himself until his ears assured him that the coast was clear, he rejoined the small ambush, and they made the best of their way back to Purley. Instantaneously all was in motion, and crossing the Thames without difficulty, arrived at Wallingford at eleven o'clock. Having rested until nine o'clock in the evening, they renewed their march, and arrived about midnight at Oxford, De Lacy having accomplished in four days, a service which under all circumstances, was universally esteemed the most soldierlike and extraordinary of any which distinguished those calamitous times.