taiiied a suspicion that the high place he apparently possessed in the King's favour was but a blind to ensnare him. Of the original lords-appellants, he asd the Duke of Hereford alone remained. One day, meeting the latter on the road between Brentford and London, he exclaimed : " Cousin, we are on tbe point of being undone on account of the affair of Radcot-bridge." " How can that be ?" demanded Hereford, " since the King has granted us pardon, and has declared in parliament, that we behaved as good and loyal subjects ?" " Our fate will be like others before us," answered Norfolk ; " he will annul that record." " It will be marvellous, indeed," rejoined Hereford, "if the King should cause to be annulled what he has solemnly said before the people." " The world that we live in is marvellous and false," said Xorfolk. '* For had it not have been for some persons, my lord, your father of Lancaster, and yourself, would have been taken or killed when you went to Windsor, after the parliament. The Dukes of Albemarle and Exeter, and the Earl of Worcester and I, have sworn never to consent to the undoing of any lord, without just and reasonable cause. But this malicious project belongs to the Duke of Surrey, the Earls of Salisbury and Wiltshire drawing to themselves the Earl of Gloucester. They have sworn to undo six lords—the Dukes of Lancaster, Hereford, Albemarle, and Exeter, the Marquis of Dorset and myself ; and what is more alarming, have sworn to reverse the attainder of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, which would turn to the ruin of us, and many others." "God forbid!" exclaimed Hereford. E 1 It would be a wonder if the King should assent to such designs. He appears to make me good cheer, and, indeed, he has sworn by St. Edward to be a good lord to me and the others." " So has he often sworn to mc by God's body," rejoined Xorfolk ; "but I do not trust him the more for that. He is attempting to draw the Earl of March into the scheme of the four lords, to destroy the others." " If that be the case," said Hereford, "we can never trust them." " Certainly not," answered Norfolk ; "for, although they may not accomplish their purpose now, they will, doubtless, contrive to destroy us in our own houses in years hence." Shortly after this conversation, Hereford and Xorfolk quarrelled; and the former exhibited a charge against the latter, for having sooken seditious words against the King in a private conversation. Eor want of proof to support the accusation, the lords in parliament declared that the case should be decided by wager of battle, to be fought at Coventry, on the 10th of September. On the appointed day, Hereford, the challenger, first appeared on a white charger, gaily caparisoned, armed at all points, and with his drawn sword in his hand. When he approached the lists, the mareschal demanded who he was. To which he answered, "la m Henry of Lancaster, Duke of Hereford, come hither, according to my duty, against Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, a false traitor against God, the King, the realm, and me." Then taking the oath that his quarrel was just and true, he desired to enter tho lists, which being granted, he sheathed his sword, pulled down his beaver, crossed himself on the forehead, seized his lance, passed the barrier, alighted, and sat down on a chair of green velvet, placed at one end of the lists. He had scarcely taken his seat when the King came into the field with great pomp, attended by the peers, the Count of St. Pol, who came from France on purpose to see this furious trial, and ten thousand men-at-arms, to prevent disturbance. His Majesty being seated on his chair of state, the king-at-arms proclaimed that none but such as were appointed to marshal the field should presume to touch the lists, upon pain of death. Then another herald proclaimed aloud, " liehold here, Henry of Lancaster, Duke of Hereford, who has entered the lists to perform the devoir against Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, on pain of being counted false and recreant."