say, the sexton first heard of Sterling and saw his
grave when we showed it to him.

The scenery about Boscombe and the matchless views of the
Channel are a perpetual delight, especially the sight, on
a clear day, of the Needles.

We did not find it necessary to obey the doctor's advice to
go to Yorkshire. After leaving Boscombe, I spent the rest
of my vacation at Malvern Hills, some eight or nine miles
north of Worcester, and some twenty miles from Gloucester.

The chief delight of that summer--a delight that dwells freshly
in my memory to-day, and which will never be forgotten while
my memory endures--was a journey through the Forest of Dean,
in a carriage, in company with my friend--alas, that I must
say my late friend!--John Bellows, of Gloucester. He was,
I suppose, of all men alive, best qualified to be a companion
and teacher of such a journey. He has written and published
for the American Antiquarian Society an account of our journey--
a most delightful essay, which I insert in the appendix.
He tells the story much better than I could tell it. My readers
will do well to read it, even if they skip some chapters of
this book for the purpose. I am proud and happy in this way
to associate my name with that of this most admirable gentleman.

I visited Gloucester. I found the houses still standing
where my ancestors dwelt, and the old tomb in the Church
of St. Mary de Crypt, with the word Hoare cut in the pavement
in the chancel.

My ancestors were Puritans. They took an active part in the
resistance to Charles I., and many traces are preserved of
their activity in the civic annals of Gloucester. Two of
my name were Sheriffs in those days. There were two other
Sheriffs whose wives were sisters of my direct ancestors.
Charles Hoar, my direct ancestor, married one of the Clifford
family, the descendant of the brother of Fair Rosamond, and
their arms are found on a tomb, and also on a window in the
old church at Frampton-on-Severn, eight miles from Gloucester,
where the Cliffords are buried. The spot where fair Rosamond
was born, still, I believe, belongs to the Clifford family.

I got such material as I could for studying the history of
the military operations which preceded the siege and capture
of Worcester and the escape of Charles II. Several of the
old houses where he was concealed are shown, as also one in
Worcester from which he made his escape out of the window
when Worcester was stormed, j