ent of fertile plain lay before me, well tilled
and cared for. A range of lofty hills, which I guessed to be the
Mendips, bordered the whole skyline, and further north there lay a
second chain in the blue distance. The glittering Avon wound its way
over the country-side like a silver snake in a flower-bed. Close to its
mouth, and not more than two leagues from where I stood, rose the spires
and towers of stately Bristol, the Queen of the West, which was and
still may be the second city in the kingdom. The forests of masts which
shot up like a pinegrove above the roofs of the houses bore witness to
the great trade both with Ireland and with the Plantations which had
built up so flourishing a city.

As I knew that the Duke's seat was miles on the Gloucestershire side of
the city, and as I feared lest I might be arrested and examined should I
attempt to pass the gates, I struck inland with intent to ride round the
walls and so avoid the peril. The path which I followed led me into a
country lane, which in turn opened into a broad highway crowded with
travellers, both on horseback and on foot. As the troublous times
required that a man should journey with his arms, there was naught in
my outfit to excite remark, and I was able to jog on among the other
horsemen without question or suspicion. From their appearance they were,
I judged, country farmers or squires for the most part, who were riding
into Bristol to hear the news, and to store away their things of price
in a place of safety.

'By your leave, zur!' said a burly, heavy-faced man in a velveteen
jacket, riding up upon my bridle-arm. 'Can you tell me whether his Grace
of Beaufort is in Bristol or at his house o' Badminton?'

I answered that I could not tell, but that I was myself bound for his
presence.

'He was in Bristol yestreen a-drilling o' the train-bands,' said the
stranger; 'but, indeed, his Grace be that loyal, and works that hard for
his Majesty's cause, that he's a' ower the county, and it is but chance
work for to try and to catch him. But if you are about to zeek him,
whither shall you go?'

'I will to Badminton,' I answered, 'and await him there. Can you tell me
the way?'

'What! Not know the way to Badminton!' he cried, with a blank stare of
wonder. 'Whoy, I thought all the warld knew that. You're not fra Wales
or the border counties, zur, that be very clear.'

'I am a Hampshire man,' said I. 'I have come some distance to see the
Duke.'

'Aye