the bloody hand of papal cruelty would seize:-Sir Oswin Bolton, a firm friend and adherent of Latimer's, dispatched to him a messenger, imploring him to fly, and endeavour to ensure his safety by secreting himself in the least inhabited parts of Scotland: but he refused to quit his residence; his wife, his Eleouora, his mother, all used their supplications to this effect, but he could not be moved-"I will never give my enemies reason to suppose that I fear them, by flying from them," he said.

The rumour of his danger at last grew so strong, that his heart-broken relatives were in hourly dread of seeing him torn from their arms.-The certainty of the worst is more tolerable to endure than suspense and once more the Lady Benigna dispatched the faithful Cyprian to Sir Oswin Bolton, entreating him, if he had by any means been able to gather a knowledge of the Queen's intentions with regard to her husband, to communicate them to her without reserve.

We

We have already seen Sir Oswin's reply to this inquiry, which, conscious of the fortitude of his friend, he addressed without hestitation to himself;-we have also been informed how soon the confirmation of the sad truths which his epistle contained, reached Latimer, in the arrival of Sir Eldred Pemberton and his body of guards; and we may now satisfactorily resume the thread of our narrative.

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CHAPTER III.

66

Wrapt in clouds of mystery and silence."

WALPOLE.

"Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil?"
SHAKSPEARF.

THE morning arose overcast with gloomy clouds, congenial to the depressed spirits of Latimer's family: Ere the dawn had yet scarcely peeped from the sky, the guards under the command of Pemberton were heard pacing the hall of the castle, and awaiting the appearance of their leader.

The servants of the castle had not been more able to repose than had their superiors; the light of morning therefore afforded something like relief to their anxious minds, by again assembling them to enjoy the consolation of each other's hopes and surmises.

The

The breakfast was prepared; Latimer alone appeared to retain sufficiently his powers of mind to be sensible that it was placed before him. In the course of half an hour, Sir Eldred sent to inquire whether he were ready to begin his journey? -The bishop simply replied, “Tell Sir Eldred I come:" he endeavoured to speak these words in a cheerful tone of voice, but as his eye turned towards the bed in which lay his mother, and whom it appeared much more than probable that he should never behold again, his tones faltered. Upon the sound of the summons, a deep sigh burst from the lips of the Lady Magdalene; Latimer approached the bed; she extended her arms to give him her farewell embrace-" Oh my son," she said, "at this moment we part for ever!""Oh, no, no,” replied Latimer, "if not on earth, we meet again in heaven!"-It was in vain that the Lady Magdalene endeavoured to reply; the fever of agony parched her tongue, and denied her the power of utterance; her son imprinted a fervent kiss on her lips, and quitted her chamber. Arrived

Arrived on the outside, he leant against the wall for support; not his fortitude, but his bodily strength forsook him; his nature fainted under the idea of his having for the last time beheld the author of his being; the appearance of Eleonora recalled his powers into action; he put into her hand the letter which he had on the preceding evening addressed to the Lady Thomasine Blunt; and having repeated to her his directions with regard to the use which she was to make of it in case of his mother's death, he descended with her into the castle hall, where the Lady Benigna stood awaiting his coming.

Sir Eldred Pemberton stepped forward, and informed him that in the outer court of the castle he would find a carriage provided by him, to convey the Lady Benigna and himself to London, in which he should be their companion.

"Promise me," said Eleonora, taking a hand of each of her parents in her's as she spoke, and carrying them to her lips, “promise me, that at whatever price our meet-" ing be affected, I shall see you both again."

"Your