e of Richmond.

IN order to preserve unbroken the chain of events with which the last
book of this chronicle concluded, it was deemed expedient to disturb
the unity of time, so far as it related to some of the less important
characters; and it will now be necessary, therefore, to return to the
middle of June, when the Earl of Surrey's term of captivity was drawing
to a close.

As the best means of conquering the anxiety produced by the vision
exhibited to him by Herne, increased as it was by the loss of the relic
he had sustained at the same time, the earl had devoted himself to
incessant study, and for a whole month he remained within his chamber.
The consequence of his unremitting application was that, though he
succeeded in his design and completely regained his tranquillity, his
strength gave way under the effort, and he was confined for some days to
his couch by a low fever.

As soon as he was sufficiently recovered to venture forth, he mounted to
the summit of the Round Tower, in the hope that a walk round its breezy
battlements might conduce to his restoration to health. The day was
bright and beautiful, and a gentle wind was stirring; and as Surrey
felt the breath of heaven upon his cheek, and gazed upon the glorious.
prospect before him, he wondered that his imprisonment had not driven
him mad. Everything around him, indeed, was calculated to make the
sense of captivity painful. The broad and beautiful meads, stretching
out beneath him, seemed to invite a ramble over them; the silver river
courted a plunge into its waves, the woods an hour's retirement into
their shady recesses, The bells of Eton College rang out merrily, but
their sound saddened rather than elated him. The road between Eton and
Windsor, then marked by straggling cottages with gardens between them,
with here and there a dwelling of a better kind, was thronged with herds
of cattle and their drivers, for a fair was held that day in the town of
Windsor, to which they were hastening. Then there were country maidens
and youthful hinds in their holiday apparel, trooping towards the
bridge. Booths were erected, near which, in the Brocas meads, the rustic
sports of wrestling, running, and casting the bar were going forward,
while numbers of boats shot to and fro upon the river, and strains of
music proceeded from a large gilt barge moored to its banks. Nearer, and
in the broad green plain lying beneath the north terrace, were a company
of archers