lady; and they passed along the Great Hall, beyond the oriel window, by which a door was opened by a page in waiting, that led to the great dining-parlour.

"Nay, by our Lady, ye enter not here," said the page, confronting Tressel and Berkeley, who were preparing to follow their noble mistress ; 66 none enter the western-wing, but by his Grace's permission."

"Out upon thee for an ill-natured churl," answered Berkeley; "hadst thou come to her Lady's dwelling, we would have given thee a cup of malmsey, ere we had made a stand at any door."

"By the mass," replied the page, "I thank thee for teaching me courtesy, though it belongs not to me to show his Grace's hospitality; but beshrew me, I will drink a cup with thee and thy fellow."

"Spoken like an honest page," said Tressel. "Go to now, why should we not make merry-marry, but this would be a fine place to troll a stave," proceeded Tressel, lifting up his eyes to the lofty roof: "by Saint Ann, there is no need to doff an helmet on entering."

"His Grace of Glo'ster hath a mind

to give himself room enow to grow in," whispered Berkeley, who saw that the page had retired to order them refreshments; "I like not this sudden changing of our noble Mistress' mind, methinks it bodes no good: saw ye ever a woman wooed in such a plight, good Tressel?" "Never, by my faith! but there is no swearing for woman, I trow; beside, he had a tongue, might lure the devil to kneel and pray. She had a mind to use the sword, methought."

"So did I deem," answered Berkeley, "when that he said, 'twas I did kill your husband by my troth, this is a changing world,-she, who did curse his wife, there to consent for to become that wife which she so cursed-I like it not, 't is enough to rouse the saints to work her

woe.

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which floated from the rich tints of shields emblazoned on the quaint-wrought panes. Purple, and gold, and crimson, and azure blazed from the fronts of stars, and the forms of rampant lions, glaring ruddily on the armorial bearings of barbaric heraldry; and saints shone dimly forth in twilight hues, darkened with excessive splendour, and grim warriors stood erect upon the oriel windows, clothed in scaly armour from head to foot, and flaming in various dyes, which the gaudy eye of the artist had fantastically given them. Boars heads, and griffins, and green dragons, and piled spears, and furled banners were all thereon enwrought, on which the crimson sunbeams burst, through every hue of the rainbow.

Around the Hall hung suits of armour -below the high windows, corslets and helms, with vizors and drooping plumes, gauntlets and greaves, and cuishes, with grenonilleries and iron shoes, and triangular shields.

Some of these bore the dints of battle, or were broken in the joints, showing where the heavy battleaxe or keen blade had pierced. Bows and arrows were also hung on high, and banners were suspended around, illuminated with rich bearings, which swayed to and fro as the breeze rushed in when the door was opened. Lamps were also suspended from the roof by long chains, which were let up and down by pulleys. The lamps were of an immense size, in the form of angels, all of iron; the flame issued from the tips of their wings when lighted, and as the wind swept through the apartment, they swung backward and forward with a creaking sound; the rushes on the floor were also swayed by the sudden gusts that at intervals entered and made a rustling sound. At one end of the Hall ran a long oaken gallery, richly carved after the manner of the period, in fir-cones and rude festoons, and the forms of cross-winged cherubs, with full-blown cheeks. In this gallery were the minstrels seated at festivals; behind it ran another division, broken into grotesque arches, and various openings, through which might be viewed the Hall, by those who wished not to mingle in the merriment; behind these were the private apartments, for the guests or retainers of Glo'ster.

In the Hall were various groups; some in armour pacing up and down, their swords and spurs clanking at every tread as they walked in the centre, which was free from rushes. Others conversed apart in two's and three's, their numbers

parlour, where tle Lady nne was seated in a high backed oaken chair, gazing thoughtfully upon the sinking embers, which were only throwing out atful light, as some undecayed brand Souldered or blazed at intervals. Opposite to her, but at a respectful distance, sat Bridget Crosbi whose father had built and given his name to the Hall. He had not long been dead, and Glo'ster had only hired the mansion for the term of seven years, after which Bridget was again to become the sole possessor.

"Then thou dost not belong to his Grace's household, fair maiden," inquired Anne.

"No, my lady," answered Bridget; "it was rumoured that you was coming hither, and the Prioress of St. Helens, with whom I bide at times, said it would be well for me to welcome you to the home of my fathers, as there were none but rude men at arms, who know more of the tug of war than the courtesy which should be shown a lady, and one of gentle blood, whom it behoves all to hold in high esteem."

"Saint Helen bless her," ejaculated Anne. "I had intended to be alone, for I have more of sorrow than I hope will befall thy lot, and it does grieve me much that I did hither come; but by thy presence, much that does oppress me has been soothed; comest thou often here?"

But

"It was my wont," replied Bridget, "until his Grace did put aside the old dark portraits which hung in the large hall. My mother's and my father's pictures were amongst them, and I did love to come and gaze on them for hours, when none beside were with me. his noble Grace made plaint, that they did not stir up the minds of his followers to mighty deeds, and so resolved to hang those gloomy arms and armour in their places, which have cased so many goodly youths who all are dead. So he did move them to another room adjoining this, and I have power to come when ever it fits me best, to gaze upon them; but they look now as if they never were owners of this Hall, so closely are they forced together in the small ante-room, which I will shew your ladyship anon.'

While Bridget was conversing, the Duke had entered by a private door, which was concealed by the wainscoting, and stood gazing upon the Lady Anne unperceived. His face for the moment had lost its fierce demoniacal expression, his brow was unfurrowed, as if its dark workings had ceased at the sight of one so lovely. For Anne was clad in a rich

mourning robe of black velvet, with her long raven curls unbound; and her beautiful countenance rendered more interesting by sorrow, with an unusual paleness upon her cheeks, her face seemed to wear in the dim twilight more of the repose of a habitant of heaven, than one that belonged to this earth. As Glo'ster gazed upon her for a few moments his harsh features became unrelaxed; but when he thought how he had won her, even in the presence of the "bleeding witness of her hatred," and after having murdered her husband, his haughty brow gradually darkened, and his proud lip curled in all its accustomed contempt, and ambition again reined his thoughts; but this not for long, for forcing his features into repose, he stepped forth into the apartment, and extending his hand to Lady Anne, bade her "good even.”

was

A slight shuddering pervaded the lady as she arose, and her head seemed to shrink by impulse from the salute he imprinted upon her cheek. After requesting Bridget Crosbie not to depart, he sat down for several minutes, and carried on a playful conversation, in which the ladies took a part, charmed by his wit and enamoured of his discourse, for never did Satan when tempting our first mother in Eden talk more eloquently, or shew greater powers of fascination. He then arose, stating that as the king was ill at ease, much of the business of the state devolved upon him, and under pretence of reading his despatches, he retired by the private door; and ascending the staircase, entered the apartment above, and there awaited the return of the ruffians whom he had appointed to murder his brother Cla

rence.

The room in which Glo'ster was seated had an entrance from the pleasure garden (the site of which is still retained in the old ground plans of the Hall, marked as "the void piece of land or pleasance,") by means of an external staircase,* from which the great dining parlourt was also entered by a private door, at which the Duke had gained access to the Lady Anne. But the apartment in which he now sat, for a long time retained the name of the Throne-room,† as it is supposed to have

So late as 1756, a stair-case existed somewhere in this situation, for in that year Lambrooke Freeman, Esq., let to Joseph South and others for seventeen years, the "hall, throneroom," and "free egress up and down the back stairs."

+ These are the names given to these rooms in the oldest descriptions of the premises.

been here where the crown was offered him, it is at present known as the council-chamber. The apartment was hung round with rich arras of crimson, on which was enwrought a stag-hunt in golden tissue; horsemen and hounds glittered upon the drooping tapestry, and huntsmen lifted the bugle. horn to their lips, and by their swelling cheeks appeared to blow lustily; hills and heavy trees were thrown into rude perspective, and the dogs wore strange forms, some of them with heads like lions, for war was more cultivated than the arts. The beautiful ceiling was enriched with carven work, bunches of knot-grass, and festoons, and fir cones, and delicate trefoiled tracery. A splendid bay window looked into the court-yard; along the centre of the room ran a long oaken table, this was covered with cloth of gold, on which were laid innumerable piles of paper, plans of battles which had been fought, and of murders that had yet to be executed. The floor was covered with rushes, not scattered loosely as in the hall, but woven slightly together, after the manner of our rush door-mats; several heavy oaken chairs also stood in the room. In one of these sat Glo'ster, fronting the fire, busied in the perusal of a long sheet of parchment, which was written in a close cramped hand. An iron lamp in the form of a dolphin hung above his head, suspended from the ceiling, throwing its light upon an unsheathed sword, which lay on the table. His brows were closely knit, and while he read, his hand twice grasped, as if involuntarily, the hilt of a dagger which was stuck in his belt. At length a page entered splendidly dressed, and doffing his velvet cap, while the long white plumes swept the floor as he held it in his hand, he bowed his head and said, "There is one without, impatient to speak with your Grace."

"But one?" replied Glo'ster, "by Saint Paul there should be two of them! admit him."Ş

The old fire-place has been removed, but its situation is indicated by a modern one of extended dimensions.-History of Crosby Place, by E. L. Blackburn.

Glo'ster.-When you have done, repair to
Crosby Place;

The page retired, and a fierce-looking ruffian entered, clad in armour; he neither doffed his iron helmet, nor yet bowed, but striding up to within a few paces of the Duke, exclaimed in a deep hollow voice, "Clarence is murdered." "What have you done with the body?" said Glo'ster.

Left it in a vault," replied the ruffian, "until your Grace gives order for its being entombed."

"And your companion," said the Duke, "comes he not for the reward?"

"He gave me no assistance," answered the murderer, "and did sorely grieve that he had undertaken to be there, and fain would have persuaded me to have left the deed undone."

"Why did you not stab him to the heart?" exclaimed Glo'ster, rising from the chair as he spoke : "have you left him to escape?"

"He left me like a coward, as he is," replied the murderer, "and escaped; but he bid the Duke to look behind him, while I stabbed him in the back, then plunged him into the malmsey-but, head foremost, to make security more firm."

"Thou hast done well," answered Glo'ster; "I would that thou had'st cut thy comrade's throat; but, as thou sayest, he was accessary to the deed, and dare not to divulge. Died the Duke bravely?”

"No, your Grace," replied the murderer," he did beseech us to return to you, and said you would reward us, if we spared his life."

"Poor shallow fool," said Glo'ster, and laughed loudly a horrid fiendish laugh, that echoed through the archedchamber, and even startled himself at its sound; then, looking full in the ruffian's face, he said, "what is thy name!"

"Forest! your Grace," replied the murderer.

"And if thou would'st resolve to do me further service in this line, my good Forest, I would keep thee about my person, and see to it that thou fared'st well," said Glo'ster.

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I am at your Grace's service," replied Forest," and shall be glad to do your bidding."

But sirs, be sudden in the execution;

Withal obdurate; do not hear him plead, For Clarence is well spoken.

stand to prate,

Talkers are no good doers.

Shakspeare's King Richard III.

my retainers." Then, striking the table with the hilt of his dagger, as a summons

for the page, he gave orders that Forest should be attended to, as one of his followers, and they quitted the apartment, leaving Glo'ster alone to his own dark thoughts.

The Duke again resumed his seat, and sat for several moments with his face buried in his hands, in profound thought. At length, the heavy arras moved upon the wall, making a rustling sound, which started him from his reverie, while gusts of wind continued at intervals to moan down the wide chimney. At length he arose from his seat, and began to pace to and fro in the apartment with rapid strides, muttering to himself in a low tone at first, but which gradually arose as his passion increased

"I fain would spare their lives, but curse the brats, they stand between me and the throne. I have shed blood enough to appease an enraged lion; but more must yet be shed, ere I attain the crown I grasp at. Clarence's death sits heavy on my soul just now- poor, weak, confiding Clarence! But why should I let thoughts like these unman me?-he might have died by other hands, and I shed not his blood; 't is the base world that finds these instruments to do such damned work. And Forest! yes, he shall murder the princes when they do arrive. To-night, I hear, they sleep at Northampton: a few more nights, and they shall sleep, where!- what matter, though it be where I shall never go. This world was made for me to stir in : I will be King, if it be alone that I may have these lofty-headed lords kneel at my feet that I may spurn them. But I was born with teeth, and made to bite: surely my sire was a wolf, and from his nature I did draw this love of prey. And what are a few drops of blood!--all, all must die, and those I murder might do many crimes. No, I am no villain; but one who hurries souls from out this wicked world, to find a better place. Hark! methinks I'm like a child, who sees wild faces moving on the wall!again! what sound is that? 't is like a dying groan, for so King Henry moaned when I stabbed him in the Tower, where but to night my brother died."

Glo'ster strained his eyes through the dull gleams of the room, for the ironlamp burned dimly, and shed but an imperfect haze around. Sometimes the wind swept in fitful gusts from the wide chimney, and waved the faint flame aside, leaving that part where he stood in shadowy light. But soon a sound, as of a dying man, seemed to break through

the door of the adjoining apartment, which, was the Duke's sleeping room, and at length the heavy door swung wide open upon its grating hinges, and a dimblue ghastly light issued from it, which gradually filled the space in which he stood. Big drops oozed from his brow, and he placed his hand upon the table to support himself, for his knees knocked together with fear, as a shrill scream rang through the mansion. At length Glo'ster snatched up his sword, and struck the table, but no page appeared; and again another sound arose a horrid burst of fiendish laughter, chilling his very blood by its mockery. He tried to shout, but his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth, like one who attempts to call for help in a dream. Then rose a shadowy form from the lurid haze, and stood full in the centre of the open door, growing in darker relief as the horrid light increased, and pointing its bleeding hand to the Duke-and then a low, sepulchral voice, terrible even by its hollow solemn tone, exclaimed, without moving a pallid lip, for the sound seemed to issue from the earth, "Glo'ster! Glo'ster! Glo'ster! behold thy murdered brother!" Then came a silence more frightful than the sound, for even the wind seemed at that moment to hold its breath. Glo'ster attempted in vain to rally himself; the sword fell unconsciously from his grasp, and he made faint passes with his arm, as though he still held the weapon, uttering in husky accents, which seemed to choke themselves as they arose, "Avaunt, damned spirit! or come in the shape of some tiger or devil-any—any, but thine own—I did not the deed-'twas-'twas

66

By thy command, false Glo'ster," answered the phantom: "again will I visit thee-then thou shalt know that thy hour is at hand."

The spirit then vanished, as though it sank through the floor, and the room was again enveloped in gloom, saving the faint ray which gleamed from the dying lamp as it shot up its feeble flame fitfully. But the Duke had fallen, and lay like one dead, among the scattered rushes, not a sound reigned in the apartment.

Continued at page 157.

SENSATIONS.

All mankind are equally in search of vivid sensations, The young seek them in love; the old in avarice; princes in war; the people in sedition; the christian in original plans of benevolence.