THE

KING'S COLLEGE MAGAZINE.

FEBRUARY, 1842.

ELLERTON CASTLE;

A Romance.

BY "FITZROY PIKE."

CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH

COMPLETES THE HISTORY OF THE FRENCH CAMPAIGN.

THE time appointed for the surrender of Harfleur had at length arrived; the keys were delivered up, and the besiegers made a triumphant entry. Drum and trumpet poured forth proud notes of rejoicing at the siege thus successfully concluded: in glittering procession the horsemen pranced, and the footmen gaily marched into the conquered town. Without delay the soldiers were quartered through the place; and the deserted houses and possessions of the vanquished were divided among such Englishmen as were intended to remain as a defence and colony to the newly-acquired possession. The rest of the British army tarried not long in Harfleur; the Duke of Clarence, with the Earls of March, Arundel, and others, having parted from the healthy part of the army, the town walls and all damages having been repaired, the march to Calais was commenced early in October. The events that took place on this passage are matter of history; we do not, therefore, dwell upon them; and if this chapter pass, with a few words, over the space of a month's action, it is only that the reader may not be wearied by a repetition of that which he already knows. We shall do no more, therefore, than allude to the various obstacles thrown into the way of the English, as they proceeded slowly on their

Chemistry, in its Application to Agriculture and Physiology, by Justus Liebig. Edited by Dr. Playfair. Second Edition. Taylor & Walton.

To praise this book would be absurd; for the name of Liebig stamps upon it the highest character that can be desired by a scientific man. We will only say that this, the second edition, is improved by very many additions.

Cowper's Poems, with an Introduction by the Rev. T. Dale, and numerous Illustrations. 2 vols.-Thomson's Seasons, with an Introduction by Allan Cunningham, and numerous Illustrations. 1 vol. Tilt & Bogue.

The high reputation of the editors is guarantee for the excellence of these works in that part of the literary department for which Cowper and Thomson are not answerable. Distinct in themselves, they belong to a series of "Tilt's Embellished Classics;" and if the forthcoming editions of Beattie, Milton, Falconer, Gray, Goldsmith, Collins, Young, &c. be provided with editors of equal talent, and be got up in a style of print, paper, and beautiful illustration, equal to the volumes before us, the whole cannot but form a series most acceptable to every lover of poetry. At this season, when compliments are interchanged, and books are freely presented, we would remark that the present of such a work as one of these, the pride of a nation, surrounded with the ornament it deserves, must be, by far, more valuable than the usual donations of those flimsy receptacles of rubbish, Annuals by name, which, while scarcely superior to these editions in beauty of illustration, are, many of them, considerably below zero in the scale of literary excellence.

Edwy, a historical Poem by J. Bell Worrall. Houlston & Hughes.

There is some poetry in the design of this little work,-less in the execution; we will not further discourage the author.

Regulus, the Noblest Roman of them All. A Tragedy, in five acts, by Jacob Jones, Esq., Author of "Spartacus," and other plays. Miller.

We confess to a prejudice against classical plays ;-modern plays, that is to say, that must needs go back to Greece and Rome for a subject. If none but the loftiest passions will suffice, our own forefathers offer field enough. “Henry IV.” with an English Falstaff, is a better play than "Julius Cæsar ;” but we love "The Tempest" better than them both. In tragedy, we had rather hear the poet, than the historian; if history must be adorned, let it be that to which the heart responds. For the ancients, not even Æschylus (and we speak it with no false shame)—not even Eschylus can enlist our whole soul in sympathy. How, then, shall Jacob Jones? It is a fashion to load these exploded nations with the most abject adulation, --to look up to them as models; and yet, with all their beauty, the life has long since fled; the outward and delightful form remains, but it is rather as a petrifaction; for us, they have a soul no longer. As a classical play, " Regulus" deserves much commendation. Since it is classical, the interest is slight; but the style is vigorous and manly. Had the author chosen a theme into which his heart might thoroughly have entered, we doubt not that we should have been able to find many flights of poetry and feeling wherefrom to furnish extracts. Such little indiscretions, however, being (except in a few rare cases) beneath the dignity of this class of writers, we must be content to give the work, as a whole, all the approbation that is due to a tragedy which may be read, from first to last, without the inconvenience arising from a single emotion of any kind; that is to say, it is a very excellent classical play.

THE

KING'S COLLEGE MAGAZINE.

FEBRUARY, 1842.

ELLERTON CASTLE;

A Romance.

BY "FITZROY PIKE."

CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH

COMPLETES THE HISTORY OF THE FRENCH CAMPAIGN.

THE time appointed for the surrender of Harfleur had at length arrived; the keys were delivered up, and the besiegers made a triumphant entry. Drum and trumpet poured forth proud notes of rejoicing at the siege thus successfully concluded: in glittering procession the horsemen pranced, and the footmen gaily marched into the conquered town. Without delay the soldiers were quartered through the place; and the deserted houses and possessions of the vanquished were divided among such Englishmen as were intended to remain as a defence and colony to the newly-acquired possession. The rest of the British army tarried not long in Harfleur; the Duke of Clarence, with the Earls of March, Arundel, and others, having parted from the healthy part of the army, the town walls and all damages having been repaired, the march to Calais was commenced early in October. The events that took place on this passage are matter of history; we do not, therefore, dwell upon them; and if this chapter pass, with a few words, over the space of a month's action, it is only that the reader may not be wearied by a repetition of that which he already knows. We shall do no more, therefore, than allude to the various obstacles thrown into the way of the English, as they proceeded slowly on their

return; we intend no detailed account of the sallies and excursions of the foe with which Henry's army was harassed; they are in no way connected with the development of our story.

It was not until fourteen days after the surrender of Harfleur, that news reached the English leaders of a large army raised for the purpose of impeding their advance. The numbers of the English were thinned by disease and other causes, so that ten thousand only remained: the numbers of the French were more than ten times that amount.

But Henry allowed not his soldiers to repine. With his usual kindness, he spoke with them cheerfully and familiarly; faring himself no better than the humblest of his friends, he was well calculated to render his people sanguine in their expectations.

On reaching the banks of the Somme, by Blanquitache, they first met with the enemy, drawn up on the opposite side. The ford was rendered impassable by stakes driven into the river's bed. Marching up the course of the stream, another spot was found at which to cross; and on the 24th of October, the English army arrived at the village of Azincour: the whole force of the French was here assembled to crush the diminished and wearied army of England.

King Henry would have avoided a battle, but he found it inevitable. At night, whilst the French were employed in revelling, gaming, and casting lots for the spoil they expected in their pride, their opponents were engaged in prayer and vigil. Henry, with his principal officers, examined the ground, and fixed upon the situation in which to plant his forces: this was a gentle declivity from the village of Azincour, defended on each side by hedges, trees, and brushwood; the French remaining crowded below.

Before daylight, the king and the whole English army performed together a solemn mass; and the sounds of chanted prayer, strangely commingled with the shouts of the rioters below, ascended to the skies.

In due time the French were prepared for engagement, and rushed exultant upon the foe;-they met with utter ruin.

Shall we relate at length this glorious battle, or would it not be insult to an Englishman to offer an account of his country's greatest triumph? Need we relate the good work that the archers did that day? need we relate the conduct of brave King Harry, as, with a circlet of gold on his helm, and mounted on a milk-white steed, he animated his men, or rushed forward to strike terror into the

foe? It is needless. The field of Azincour was too well fought that the struggle should ever be forgotten; the heroes of that day live in the memory of every man, and shall ever do so to the end of time. Proudly may an Englishman boast of that day's achievements; nor need the vanquished blush, for manfully did they also sustain their parts! It was well for England that the vain Frenchman neglected in his pride to seize advantages, when in his power; it was well for England, else great might have been her loss that day.

Edward and his band neglected not this last and fairest opportunity of reaping a full harvest of laurels. Where was danger that the white banner knew not; where was glory to be earned, of which Heringford bore not off a portion?

The Duke d'Alençon, in command of the second rank of the French, had vowed that he would slay King Henry, the terror of France, or perish in the attempt. Madly he rushed through every obstacle, and engaged furiously with the king: his efforts were unsuccessful-he was vanquished and slain; his death completing the defeat of the second line, which he commanded. The third and last fled without striking a blow. The battle was won.

The loss of the French on this field was terrible: a hundred only of the English fell; two of rank, Earl Suffolk, and Edward's friend, the Duke of York. Honours were granted on the field to many who distinguished themselves; amongst others, for his services then and on previous occasions, the honour of knighthood to Edward Heringford. Every one, also, of his brave band received from King Henry a merited reward.

Having rested from the day's fatigues, the English army lost no time in completing its march to Calais, where it embarked, and, on the evening of the 16th of November, landed at Dover, after a glorious campaign in France, of about three months' duration.

CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST.

THE RETURN TO ELLERTON.

LITTLE did Heringford think of the glory of the past; little did he feel of the soldier's pride, as the shouts of his countrymen welcomed back their king, and hailed the laurels of his army;