en of the college for the time being, and were held, by a rent of
four marks per annum only, from the Lord de la Warre. It was enjoyed
uninterruptedly by them until the dissolution of this community in the
first of Edward VI., when it was granted to the Earl of Derby along
with the rest of the college lands.

Elizabeth, however, in the twenty-first year of her reign, granted a new
foundation to the college: but the Earl of Derby, who still kept
possession of the college-house and some portion of the lands, suffered
the warden and ministers for some time to lodge there.

The house at Aldport was moated round, and a drawbridge stood before the
main entrance. The mansion was built of timber and plaster, with huge
projecting stone chimneys, gable ends, and deep casements--a fitting
residence in those days for rank and nobility.

Outside the moat was an extensive garden, laid out in a sumptuous style,
beyond which appeared a mound of considerable elevation and extent, the
site of Mancastle, famous in history as one of the strongholds of the
Romans, some account of which may be found in the legend of "Sir
Tarquin."

"I have been thinking," said Dee, after being silent for a space, "that
no savour of dishonesty can attach to our appropriation of this great
treasure, seeing the house and all this fair and goodly inheritance did
once appertain to the wardens of our college, of which patrimony we have
been most unjustly deprived by the statute of King Edward. My gracious
mistress, our Queen, not having reinstated me into this my lawful
possession, I have made bold to remind her Majesty of our wrongs, and to
supplicate her clemency thereupon."

Bartholomew felt fully satisfied of the right they had to these spoils,
his conscience being easily quieted on the score of appropriation.

"The rain becomes heavier, and it is more chill and showery than before.
The mist, too, is driving north-east," said the Doctor. "The clouds are
cumbrous and broken, coiling, as they roll, into huge masses that will
ere long bring some of the dark Atlantic on their tails. Seest thou not,
Bartholomew, as though it were a grim pile of hills on the horizon?"

"I see as it might be a heavy wall of clouds gathering about us; and I
think the wind comes on more fitful and squally. These heavy lunges
betoken an angry and vicious humour in the air that will not be long in
bursting."

"We shall have it about our ears speedily. We must to work while it is