AND

THE PEDLAR;

OR,

THE SIEGE OF BRISTOL.

46

BY THE AUTHOR OF

99 66
THE HEIRESS," THE MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER," ETC.

Let Brystowe stylle be made thie care;

Guarde it fromme foemanne and consumynge fyre;
Lyche Avone's streme ensyrke ytt rounde,

Ne lette a flame enharme the grounde,

Tylle ynne one flame all the whole worlde expyre.

Song to Ella, Lord of the Castel of Brystowe ynne daies of yore.
(Chatterton, under the name of Rowley.)

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.

1839.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY,

Dorset Street, Fleet Street.

TO MY MOTHER

THESE VOLUMES

ARE DEDICATED,

BY HER AFFECTIONATE CHILD,

THE AUTHOR.

THE PRINCE

AND

THE PED LAR.

CHAPTER I.

"And they were young, and fair, and bright,
Their hearts all joy, their hopes all light,
With laughter in their glancing eyes,
And speech all jest and mockeries.
Sorrow as yet no gloom had flung

O'er their young brows: unstirr'd, still hung
The spangled veil through which gay youth
Looks out upon the field of truth:

Care had not yet displaced one fold,—
The future's history was untold."

WHEN the sun looked down from the hea

vens on the morning of the 24th of July 1643, it shone on a spirit-stirring scene. The peace which had so lately reigned amid the lovely

VOL. I.

B