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whom one Wenothus had a single encounter; wherein neither prevailing, though they fought a good while, some of our men went to part them; whereof the famous Hereward taking notice, (for he was within view,) he would not suffer any one to meddle; saying, that it was not just that two or three should set upon one man, and that he would not suffer any of his to do so base a thing: but our men followed them to their ships, and killed one of their mariners with a dart; and taking another prisoner, he told us who they all were, and their names; viz. Hereward, their general, Wenothus, Thurstane, (a young man, afterwards surnamed Provost,) Boter, of St. Edmonds Bury, Siward, Leuric, and Acer, for his stoutness surnamed Hardy. These, notwithstanding they were monks, being skilful men in arms, often gave testimony of their valour in presence of the said Hereward."

All which the King hearing, as he would not speak an evil word of them, deeming it a most unworthy thing to give bad language of such valiant men, so did he forbear to commend their courage above his own soldiers; but considered to make peace with them, in regard the isle was so strongly fortified, and that he knew not how to prevent their coming out thereof, or return. Whereupon, calling together his nobles and counsellors, he told them his thoughts; alleging that now he was to march against the army of the Danes, and soon after of necessity to go into Normandy, it would not be safe to leave such an enemy behind him in the midst of the land, at his back. But some of his nobles, then present, and which were most of his privy council, dissuaded him from so doing; urging, that if he dealt thus favourably with. those that had embroiled his kingdom for so long a time, others would not be afraid to do the like.

To whom the King in anger replied, that he was not able to conquer them, considering the place naturally so defensible. Whereupon, one Ivo-, tael le Bois, moved with some indignation, told him, that he had long known a certain old witch, who, if she were there, would by her art soon destroy their whole strength and places of defence; and drive them out as cowards from the island: which was no sooner said, but that all who stood by became earnest suitors to the King, that he would make no delay to encourage and well reward whomsoever that could by any art or skill vanquish his enemies. The King therefore yielding to these their persuasions, caused this old woman to be privately sent for, that it might not be talked of; and brought his army together again, placing it on all parts of the isle, making fortifications on every side thereof, and appointing strict guards, to prevent the issuing forth of any that were within, lest they should know what was in hand, and use any means to hinder the same.

All which being done, and understood by those that were within, it put them to no little disturbance of mind, and likewise fear; they not knowing what to do, because the King had learned some new way of warring against them; they therefore consulting what was best to be done, concluded to send out some fit person to make a discovery what it was that their enemies were in hand with: but finding no man fit for such a task, the valiant Hereward resolved to undergo it himself, either as a scout or traveller; or to alter his habit, though all were against it: and at length did set forwards, taking with him only his mare called Swallow, which was always very lean and ill shapen, but of pace exceedingly swift, and nimble for action.

And when he went out, he changed his cloaths, cut his hair and beard, and being so clad, met with a potter, whose pots he took from him; and feigning himself a potter, took his way to the King's court, then at Brandon in Suffolk. And being got thither, it happened that he lodged at the house of a widow, where that old witch was entertained, who was to be brought privily, for the destruction of all those in the isle; where he heard them discourse in Latin, what art was to be used for the subduing thereof, they deeming him to be a plain country-fellow, and ignorant of what they then discoursed. And, about the dead time of the night, discerning the woman of the house and that old sorceress to go out of doors, he secretly followed them, and saw, that they went to a certain spring, which was by the side of a garden, and ran towards the east; and hearing them discourse, he understood that they designed to murther him; but, to prevent their purpose, he got away very early in the morning with his pots; and wandering about the King's court on every side, he cried (as potters use to do), "Pots, pots, good pots and pitchers; all good earthen-ware." Whereupon, being called into the King's kitchen, that they might buy some of his pots, there came in one of the constables of the town, and looking upon him, said, that he never saw any man in favour of face and stature so like Hereward, as a poor man might be like to a rich, and a country man to a soldier: insomuch as divers came about him, desiring to see a man like so much famed a person; and thereupon brought him into the King's hall, amongst the knights and soldiers, that they might behold him: but some, when they saw him, said, that a man of no greater limbs could not be of that valour and courage as Hereward was said to be. Others asked him, if he knew, or had ever seen, that wicked fellow, scilicet," Hereward." To whom he answered; "I wish that he were now here amongst us, he being the greatest enemy that I have; for he took a cow and four sheep from me, which were all the goods in the world that I had, except my pots, and this mare; and the only livelihood for myself and my two sons.'

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About this time the King's dinner being making ready, Hereward retired into the kitchen; and, after dinner, the servants, cooks, and grooms of the kitchen, gave him some wine and beer, that they might make him drunk, and laugh at him, scoffing at him diversly, having a purpose to shave his crown, and pull off the hair of his beard; and then to hoodwink him, to the intent that he might break his own pots, which they had set about him. But refusing to be thus abused, one of them struck him, whom he requited presently with a blow that knocked him down; insomuch as the rest took up tongs and other things to beat him, which he discerning, forthwith snatched up a fire shovel, and laying about him stoutly, killed one, and wounded divers of them. Whereupon, it being made known in the house, they apprehended him, and put him in ward: and soon after, the King being gone out to hunt, one of the keepers came, and brought a naked sword in one hand, and a pair of fetters in the other, which he threatened to put upon him but Hereward, being too nimble for him, wrested the sword out of his hold, and slew him; and so, over hedges and ditches, hasted to the King's outer court, where he found his mare; and, though some pursued him, got safe away to Somersham wood, where he hid himself till the moon shone after midnight, and then came into the isle.

But whilst he was thus in the wood, he chanced to meet with a person,

whose horse was tired and himself too: and demanding of him who he was, he told him that he was one of the King's servants, who had pursued a man who had killed one of the kitchen boys, and another that had the custody of him after he was apprehended for that fact; and desired him, that for the love of God, and generosity's sake, he would discover to him whether he saw such a fellow or not, whom he then described. To whom he replied, “Because thou requirest me to tell thee, for the love of God, and of generosity, I will. Know, therefore, that I am the man and now that thou mayest be infallibly assured that I am so, and that thou hast spoken with me, take this thy sword with thee for a testimony, and leave thy lance with me." All which he reported to the King, who, with those that were then present, admired Hereward for an excellent soldier.

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The King therefore, according to his former purpose, having prepared divers warlike instruments, brought his whole army to Alreheth, (now Audrey,) causing great store of wood and stone, with divers sorts of faggots, and such like materials, to be carried thither: and summoned all the fishermen in those parts, with their boats, to meet at Cotingelade, that they might transport thither whatsoever was brought, and raise large hills and heaps on this side Alreheth, whereupon to fight. Amongst which fishermen came Hereward himself also with a boat, using all shew of diligence; and the same day, before sun-setting, having set fire on what was so brought, and killed and wounded divers, he made his escape away and to the end he might not be known, he coloured his hair and beard red, neglecting no way to disguise himself, which might further the doing of mischief to his adversaries; whereof the King hearing, commanded, that if ever he could be taken, he should be brought alive to him without any hurt.

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But, having warning by these losses, the king caused more strict guards and watches day and night in every place; and within seven days raised four or five mounts of earth and other materials, in which they placed certain warlike engines; intending on the morrow, with all their force, to assault the isle; and, that they might the better succeed therein, set that old witch before mentioned upon the highest place, in the very midst of them; that being so well guarded she might exercise her wicked art; who, being so got up, made long speeches against the isle, and all those that were in it, making signs and shews of their being vanquished. Howbeit, as she was beginning with her third spell, there were those in the isle that set fire on the reeds growing in the fen all thereabouts; which, by the help of the wind, spread itself no less than two furlongs; and making a horrible noise of crackling amongst the willows, and such like vegetables, did so affright the assailants, that they hastened away as fast as they could; but, being troubled with the smoke, could not tell which way to betake themselves, insomuch as many were drowned, the defendants having the advantage of the wind and smoke, getting out of the isle, and showering multitudes of arrows upon them.

And in this prodigious rout and confusion of the assailants, down tumbled the old witch from the place where she was set, and broke her neck: nay, the King himself hardly escaped death, there being an arrow shot into his target, which he carried away with him to his tent: which so soon as his soldiers saw, they feared he had been wounded; but he told them, he was not at all hurt, otherwise than by evil counsel, in being deceived and abused

through the cunning of that wicked sorceress; expressing, that all the mis chief which had happened, did befal him deservedly, in putting any trust' in her devilish art.

At that time it was that Raphe, surnamed Waer (Earl of the East An gles), having privily got together a great strength, inviting divers of the English to his wedding, obliged them to his party deceitfully, by an oath; and wasted the whole country, from Norwich to Thetford; whereof the two, Earls, and all the rest of the chief persons who then were in this isle, having notice, repaired to them, leaving only Hereward, with the monks a and his own soldiers, to defend this place. Leord bas Things standing therefore thus, the King discerning that all his endeavours were fruitless, as to the conquering this isle by war or power, having lost so many men in his attempt to that purpose; he at length, by the counsel of William then Bishop of Hereford, and others, determined, that all the goods and possessions belonging to that abbey, which lay withoutt he compass of the isle, should be seised on, and divided amongst his soldiers, to the end that they might keep guards on the outsides thereof. Of which the monks having knowledge, they forthwith consulted together, their abbot being returned (who, dissembling to go with those Earls, fled with the ornaments and treasure of the church to Angerhale); and resolved not only to yield peaceably to the King, in case he would restore unto them peaceably and honourably all the lands belonging to their church, but to give him a thousand marks; and accordingly sent cunningly, without the knowledge of the noble Hereward, to make that tender to him, the King being then at Warwick; who acceptably entertaining it, they gave admission to him and his soldiers, to come privately into the isle, when Hereward was gone out with his men to forage; to the end that the business might be done without resistance; which being discovered to Hereward by one of the said monks (whose name was Alwyne, the son of Orgar), he grew so enraged, that he resolved to set fire to the church and the town: but, at the earnest intreaty and prayer of that monk, wishing him rather to have regard to his own safety, as also telling him that the King, with all his army, was then at Wyccheford (within the distance of one furlong), and desiring him that he would secure himself by flight, in case he had no mind to make his peace ; he yielded to those his persuasions, because he had often accompanied him in his military adventures, and been faithful to him; and thereupon presently betook himself to those his ships, which he had to guard the isle, into a large and spacious meer, called Wide, not far from Welle (this being the seventh year of their so holding of the same isle against the King); and sailed thither, in regard there were free passages out of it; and there resolving to stay a while, employed some of his soldiers towards Saham, to plunder and pillage the country; to whom he sent out scouts, to bring them back to him, lest they should be taken; which scouts, finding them in a little island, called Stuntney, thought them to be their enemies; and therefore two of them (viz. Scarfulte and Broher) got amongst the reeds; and with their swords each shaved the other's crown, expecting thereby to find the more favour being taken: but at length discovering that they were all of a side, they went away together, and soon got to their master: who had not been long in the said meer, but that the country people and the King's soldiers so beset them, that, being forced to flee, he killed his own horse, lest any

VOL. III.

F

mean fellow should boast that he had taken him; and so getting away into Bruneswald, and the great woods of Northamptonshire, he very much wasted the country thereabouts with fire and sword.

Yet afterwards he made his peace: And having issue one only daughter, called Turfride, married to Hugh de Evermue, Lord of Deping in Lincolnshire, with the forest adjoining; entertaining the said Hugh upon a time at bis house in Huntendon, it happened, that through a quarrel which arose then betwixt them, he was there wretchedly slain by his said son-in-law, and buried at Crouland.

HOURS AFTER TEA.
No. IV.

His early dreams of good outstripp'd the truth,
And troubled manhood follow'd baffled youth.

BYRON.

MANY writers have noticed the great and peculiar change which the feefings undergo as we pass from youth to maturity, and which must be familiar to all who have been accustomed to reflect on the subjects of their own consciousness. This change, if not universal, is certain to take place in minds of fervent or susceptible temper. The charm of novelty, the feeling of freshness, and the gaiety of hope, will for some time play about their hearts, but every year impairs the rainbow-hues which fancy has painted on the gloominess of life, and they awaken at last to a perception of sameness and insipidity.

"There's not a joy the world can give like that it takes away,

When the glow of early youth declines in feeling's dull decay ;
'Tis not on youth's smooth cheek the blush alone, which fades so fast,
But the tender bloom of heart is gone, ere youth itself be past.”

BYRON.

But the most poetical, if not the most philosophical, account of this alteration in the state of our feelings, is to be found in a poet, who atones for all his faults by the felicity, originality, and splendour of occasional passages.

"Heaven lies about us in our infancy!
Shades of the prison-house begin to close
Upon the growing boy;

But he beholds the light, and whence it flows,
He sees it in his joy!

The youth who daily further from the east
Must travel, still is nature's priest,

And by the vision splendid

Is on his way attended;

At length the man perceives it die away
And fade into the light of common day."

WORDSWORTH.

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