greeted severally by the multitude with shouts of approbation, or with groans of censure and reviling, accordingly as they were known for men of popular or loyal principles.

Meanwhile, in a small chamber of the palace at Whitehall, richly adorned with painted walls and splendid oaken carvings, and overlooking from its lofty casements the streets through which the crowds were flowing towards the parliament, sat Henrietta with a single lady, a page awaiting, near the door of the apartment, the pleasure of his royal mistress. A frame filled with embroidery stood before her, at which it seems she had but recently been occupied, though now she held a volume of some French romance, from which, however, her eyes glanced so often towards the windows attracted by the mingled clamors of applause and hatred, rising at times even until they penetrated her reluctant ears, as to denote that little of her mind was given to the wild witty author, who apparently engaged her. Her eyes were full of bright and keen excitement; a hectic flush glowed in a spot of vivid crimson high upon either cheek, and her hands trembled with a visible and nervous agitation. Her conversation also, if the light and frivolous sentences that fell from her lips at intervals merited such a title, was broken, interrupted, and evidently embarrassed by some internal conflict which she hesitated to disclose.

For a considerable time she struggled to maintain a semblance of composure; but, as the hours passed onward, her trepidation became more and more apparent. At every step that sounded in the long corridors, at every closing of a distant door, she started-and once or twice, when the rattle of a carriage or the clatter of a horse's hoofs appeared to cease before the gates, she actually hurried to the balcony and gazed abroad into the town, exposing herself as if unwittingly to the rude stare of the transient multitudes who failed to greet her with the smallest tokens of affection or respect.

Twice or thrice, ere the bells chimed ten, the page in waiting was despatched to learn whether no tidings had arrived from parliament; and each time that he returned the bearer of a negative, a peevish exclamation of disgust escaped her, not unnoticed by the lady who attended on her privacy. At length, peal after peal, the steeples rang forth ten, and then, with an exulting smile, as though she could contain herself no longer- Rejoice!' she cried in high triumphant tones, rejoice! my Carlisle-for ere now the king is master in his statesay! and his enemies are all in custody!'

His enemies-your grace,' exclaimed the patriotic lady, to whom, with indiscretion equalled only by that of the rash doating husband whom she thus betrayed, she had divulged the secret—his enemies?'

"His enemies, said I?' returned the queen, in accents sharper than before in truth, then, I spake wrongly! His traitors, rather!-His false, rebellious, and bloodthirsty traitors! By God's help, now his captives-Hampden and Pym, and all their rabble rout!'

And as she spoke, sweeping across the room with such a port as would have well beseemed a Britomart striding upon the prostrate necks of Romans, in their turn subdued and humbled, and, entering again the balcony, she cast a wistful glance down the long avenue.

But scarcely had she turned her back, before the highborn lady whom she had addressed hastily tore a leaf from out her tablets, traced on it some half-dozen words, and pleading, on the queen's return, casual indisposition, quietly left the chamber.

Ten minutes had not well elapsed ere she re-entered it-nor would the change in her demeanor have escaped the close and subtile watchfulness of her imperial mistress, had not that royal lady been herself perturbed too deeply to investigate the mood of others. The Countess of Carlisle's features, cast in the purest and the calmest mould of conscious aristocracy, had worn throughout the morning an expression of grave feminine anxiety, and her broad placid eye had followed with a quiet yet observing scrutiny every unwonted movement, every nervous start, and every change of color that had resulted from the queen's excitement; nor had she tardily discovered that some dread crisis was at hand-though what that crisis was, not having been a party to the councils of the regal circle on the previous night, she might not even guess. The thoughtless words, however, of the fickleminded Henrietta had given her at once the clue which her quick apprehension followed, as it were intuitively, through all its labyrinth; and she at once availed herself of the discovery she had made with a degree of cool and present courage, that, even in that age of prompt and daring action, failed not to wake the admiration which it merited.

Now, however, when the hardening excitement had passed overwhen the nerves, which had been strung so tensely to the performance of her duty, were no longer kept in play-when she knew that her trusty messenger was on his way, and past the palace-gates already, bearing the tidings of approaching insult, outrage, and peril to the liberties of England's parliament, the majesty of England's laws, she for the first time trembled, not for herself, but for her country. She for the first time began to fear that she might be too late, and that the blow might have already fallen, ere her warning should arouse the destined victims to perception of their danger. Her face was paler than its wont; and her blue eye, so tranquil in its usual expression, was slightly anxious.

It was but a little while that her uncertainty continued-for, ere an hour had elapsed, the queen, whose passions became more and more enkindled with every moment of suspense, sending another messenger to learn whether the Houses were in session still, received for answer, that they had just adjourned until one of the clock, and that the members even now were passing to their lodgings.

"Heavens!' cried Henrietta, almost in despair at this unpleasing and most unexpected news. 'Just Heavens! can it be that he hath failed me! And casting herself down at length upon a couch, she covered her head with a thick veil, and waited in an agonized and speechless fit of mingled hope and terror, the result of her intriguing machinations.'-Vol. i. pp. 235–241.

Scarcely had the five members withdrawn, when a trampling noise as of soldiers marching, was heard without, and the din of grounded arms rang audibly upon the ears of the parliament.

The door of the house was then opened, and the king entered, leaning on the shoulder of the Palsgrave. Our limits will not permit us to give at length our author's description of the scene which ensued, the following abridgment will however suffice to convey some idea of the skill with which it is depicted.

The face of Charles, grave and even sorrowful by nature, was something paler than usual; but with that sort of paleness which conveys no thought of cowardice or trembling, but of immovable resolve. His mouth was firmly closed but not compressed, nor showing aught of effort !—His eye, calm, searching, cold, but keen and hard as iron!-His nostrils only of his features gave token of emotion, or of any feeling hotter than determination; for it was dilated wide, and slightly quivering! Yet was his hand steady, as the columns which upheld the roof above him, and his stride, now that he stood among his lieges-however it had been irregular and hasty ere he enteredwas measured, long, and equal.

As the king advanced along the floor he turned his head from side to side, perusing with deliberate and steady glance, the lineaments of every member whom he passed; and if when at a distance not one eye had sought him, so when he now stood close beside them not one eye avoided him. Each, as Charles came into his line of direct vision, met his hard gaze with an unblenching and unloosing brow; for not one man-even of those the most devoted to his will, of those who would have served him at that moment, who afterwards did serve him, with their whole hearts and lives-but was disgusted, angered, full of deep sorrow, almost to despair......

The glance of Charles, when first it fell upon the coarse and most unpleasing lineaments of Oliver, was instantly averted, but averted merely as men ever turn the eye away from objects naturally hateful or unseemly. At that point of time the face of Cromwell was as tranquil, as immovable, as that of his great future rival; but the tranquillity was no less different, than is the stillness of a hushed volcano and the peaceful calm of heaven. The swollen and corded veins upon the temple, the eyebrows lowered and contorted, the balls gleaming beneath them with a fixed and baleful light, the nostril rigidly distended, and the lips pressed so tightly that they alone of his whole aspect were of a livid whiteness.

Ere Edgar had the time to think, had there been any matter yet for thought, the eye of Charles stole back, half timidly as it appeared, toward that tigerlike and glaring face. Then as it met the sinister and ominous stare of fierce defiance, it brightened also-vivid, and keen, and with a falconlike and noble splendor.

For some short space they gazed-those two undisciplined and haughty spirits into each other's very souls-mutually, as it seemed, conscious at a glance of irremediable and desperate hostility. The king's look, quiet, although high and angry, and most unutterably proud-Cromwell's, sarcastic, bitter, furious, and determined, and withal so savagely triumphant, so mirthful in its dire malignity, that Ardenne thought he never had beheld a countenance so fiendishly ex

pressive! And Charles Stuart's aspect-after a fixed encounter of ten seconds' space-Charles Stuart's haughty aspect quailed beneath it; and as he passed along-for the whole occurred in less time than were needful to recite it-he gazed no more around him, but went directly onward, looking (and that, too, gloomily) upon the ground, toward the Speaker's chair.

But the stern democrat, as if conscious that his genius had prevailed, cast his eyes round him with an air of loftier feeling than Edgar had as yet observed him wear. It was a trifle, at the period when it passed; and none but he noticed it; but after-times and after-deeds stamped it, no more to be erased, upon the tablets of his inmost soul. Meanwhile the king had reached the chair; and Lenthall, the bold Speaker, who had hitherto sat still, as proud, and far more placid, than his visitor, arose and stepped out stately and cold to meet him. Then the king mounted to his place, stood upon the step but spoke not, nor sat down; and there he stood, gloomily gazing on the House, with a dark look of sullen anger, for many minutes.

At length he spoke. Gentlemen,' he said, in high voice, clearly audible to the most distant corner, though neither musical nor pleasing, -Gentlemen of the Commons, I am sorry for this my cause of coming to you. Yesterday I did send a sergeant to demand some, who by my order were accused of treason. Instead of prompt obedience, I received a message!' and he uttered the last word with the most concentrated scorn and insolence. I must, then, here declare to you, that though no king that ever was in England could be more careful of your privileges than I have been, and shall be, yet, I can tell you, treason hath no privilege; and, therefore, am I come to tell you, that I must have these men and will, wherever I may find them!'

'As he spoke, he looked around the hall with a deliberate air, scanning the faces of all present, if he might find his men; then, raising his voice higher yet, he called aloud, till the roof rang again. Ho! Ï say, Master Hollis ! Master Pym!'

No answer was returned, nor any sound, save an increased and angry tumult in the lobby, with a brandishing of partizans, and a producing of concealed but ready pistols, so that some members thought to see the soldiers instantly rush into the chamber.

6

⚫ After a little pause, finding he got no answer, he turned to the Speaker. Say,' he exclaimed, say, Mr. Speaker, be any of these men here present?”

For a moment Lenthall paused, as doubting whether to hurl his own defiance, and that of the assembled Commons, into his very teeth; but ere the echoes of the monarch's voice had ceased, he had resolved upon the wiser and more prudent part, and bending with most deferential courtesy his knee, 'I have, sir,' he replied, nor eyes to see, nor tongue to speak in this place, save as this House, whose servant I am sworn, shall order me. And, therefore, must I pray your majesty to pardon me that I return no further answer!'

Ha! sir,' returned Charles sharply, and with incipient fury, but a moment's thought convinced him that the humble answer of the Speaker defied at once, and rendered hopeless, any charge of violence

against him. 'Ha! sir,' again he said, but in a milder tone, 'I do believe my eyes are to the full as good as yours, and I do see my birds are flown; but this I tell you, and so look ye to it-I hold this House to send them to me! Failing of which, I shall myself go seek them! For, sirs, their treason is most foul, and such as you shall thank me, all of you, now to discover. And I assure you, on a king's word I assure you, I never did mean any violence, and they shall have fair trial-I meant not any other !'......

Stepping down from the chair, he walked, uncovered still, but at a quicker pace than that with which he entered, toward the lobby; but now as he departed, his looks were not turned haughtily from side to side, but sadly bent upon the floor; nor was his passage silent as before-for member after member started up as Charles went past him, with bent brow and clenched hand; and groans both loud and deep

saluted him.

As he came nigh the seat of Cromwell, the king raised his visage, haggard now and pale, as with an anxious curiosity to look upon the man before whose eye he felt himself to have recoiled; and, as he met it, Oliver sprang upon his feet, his long tuck rattling in the scabbard as he rose, and stamping on the floor with fury, shouted aloud, in tones not mild nor measured, the word Privilege! A dozen voices took it up, though not so loudly, nor with so marked defiance as the first daring speaker, and the whole House was in the wildest and most uncontrolled confusion.'-Ib. pp. 254-263.

We need not dwell on the events which followed. The triumph of the patriots was complete, and Charles, foiled and dispirited, retired from the metropolis, to raise his standard at Nottingham. The civil war now raged with fearful violence and doubtful issue, until the remodelling of the parliament's army and the entry of the Scotch Covenanters into England placed the king at the entire mercy of his exasperated opponents. The principal battles which occurred from Edge Hill to Worcester are described with considerable power and vividness; indeed, we should refer to our author's accounts of these engagements as the most favorable specimens of his style. The scenes are depicted with much graphic effect, and the character of the two armies, the genius of their commanders, and above all the forethought, sagacity, calm determination, and dauntless courage of Cromwell, are brought out in the clearest and happiest form of military description. We select the following sketch of the battle of Naseby, as most suited to our limits.

'A little after ten, on that bright summer morning, Rupert's bold cavaliers had cleared the woodlands; the heads of Astley's columns were seen slowly taking up their ground, and wheeling into line to form the centre, while Langdale with his northern horse was toiling at a full mile's distance in the rear to bring up their field ordnance. Still no material opposition was offered to the royalists, except that now and