ccosted by the men-at-arms, but the
livery of Leicester protected them.

Soon after they approached the important town of Woodstock, with
its ancient palace, where a century earlier Henry II had wiled away
his time with Fair Rosamond. The park and chase were most extensive
and deeply wooded; emerging from its umbrageous recesses, they saw
a group of spires and towers.

"Behold the spires of Oxenford!" cried the men.

Martin's heart beat with ill-suppressed emotion--here was the
object of his long desire, the city which he had seen again and
again in his dreams. Headington Hill arose on the left, and the
heights about Cumnor on the right. Between them rose the great
square tower of Oxford Castle, and the huge mound {11} thrown
up by the royal daughter of Alfred hard by; while all around arose
the towers and spires of the learned city, then second only in
importance to London.

The first view of the Eternal City (Rome)--what volumes have been
written upon the sensations which attend it. So was the first view
of Oxford to our eager aspirant for monastic learning and
ecclesiastical sanctity. Long he stood drinking in the sight, while
his heart swelled within him and tears stood in his eyes; but the
trance was roughly broken by his attendants.

"Come, young master. We must hurry on, or we may not get in before
nightfall, and there may be highwaymen lurking about the suburbs."

Chapter 6: At Walderne Castle.

The watcher on the walls of Walderne Castle sees the sun sink
beneath the distant downs, flooding Mount Caburn and his kindred
giants with crimson light. In the great hall supper is preparing.
See them all trooping in--retainers, fighting men, serving men, all
taking their places at the boards placed at right angles to the
high table, where the seats of Sir Nicholas de Harengod and his
lady are to be seen.

He enters: a bluff stern warrior, in his undress, that is, without
his panoply of armour and arms, in the long flowing robe affected
by his Norman kindred at the festal board. She, with the comely
robe which had superseded the gunna or gown, and the couvrechef
(whence our word kerchief) on the head.

The chaplain, who served the little chapel within the castle, says
grace, and the company fall upon the food with little ceremony. We
have so often described their manners, or rather absence of
manners, that we will not repeat how the joints were carved in the
absence of forks, nor how necessary the fin