TREVALLTAW. 93 



Strength he stretched forth his right hand and reached his lost weapon ; 

 and taking it by the middle of the shaft, he elevated it for an instant 

 over the bare head of his antagonist — then down it came, resistless 

 as a thunderbolt, fracturing into pieces the skull of the man-at-arms, 

 and bespattering himself with his brains. He himself, exhausted by 

 the fury of the blow, looked for a moment steadily at the Duke of 

 Norfolk, (who stood at the distance of a few yards, supported by two 



soldiers,) and gasped forth slowly and faintly, " Norfolk sully not 



thy victory by shedding further blood spare an innocent woman 



or may the curse of the last Earl of Trevallyan cleave to thee 



and thy house ! Margaret," he added, turning his eyes towards that 



part of the hall where he had left her — " farewell we shall meet 



again God shield thee, Marg " but the remainder of the 



word was lost in the rattle of death ! Thus perished the brave and 

 high-spirited, though proud and intractable Richard Trevallyan, the 

 last of a princely house — a sacrifice to the enmity of a malicious and 

 unprincipled courtier, and the unbridled passions of a brutal tyrant ! 



It is needless to dwell on the incidents which followed — the sack- 

 ing and complete demolition of the castle. Suffice it to say, that 

 these were done so effectually, that nothing was left but a heap of 

 smoking ruins. 



The soldiers who survived the faithful defence of their lord were 

 permitted to retire, or enter into the army against which tliey had so 

 recently fought. Fitzalan was also suffered to depart with the Lady 

 Margaret, who was placed on a litter, and conveyed from the scene of 

 the recent strife, and put under the protection of her own iamily. 



The Duke of Norfolk did not enjoy an unintenupted triumph ; for 

 soon after the death of Trevallyan, Henry caused his queen, Catherine 

 Howard, (the duke's niece,) to be beheaded for real or supposed crimes. 

 Her death was followed by that of his son, the amiable and hand- 

 some Earl of Surrey, who was brought to the block, having been 

 unjustly accused of plotting against the king. Surrey was a young 

 nobleman of the brightest promise : he excelled in every accomplish- 

 ment which adorns the scholar, the courtier, and the soldier ; he 

 encouraged the fine arts by his patronage and example ; and was the 

 first who brought our language in poetry to any degree of refinement. 

 The duke himself did not escape unscathed ; for not only were his 

 future days beclouded and embittered by these severe domestic 



