48 
Here he describes Emily as seated in the garden, so sad that she 
does not even notice the white doe, which has come to her side. 
But a ray of comfort comes to the heart of the sufferer by the 
fragrance of the flowers around her. The remembrance of her 
dear mother’s love touches the spring of comfort, and she utters 
a touching prayer for the safety of Francis. Then in her agony 
she determines to go to entreat her father to come home, but she 
remembers her promise to her brother and remains. An old 
servant of the family, seeing her distress, offers to go for 
intelligence, and he returns to say that the assault upon Barnard 
Castle has failed, that the army is scattered, and that her father 
and her brothers are prisoners of war. Sad issue, for ‘‘ of that 
rash levy nought remained.” 
We are then taken by the poet to a tower belonging to the 
Nortons on the top of Rylstone Fell, not far from Rylstone Hall, 
which still remains a landmark for a considerable distance in all 
directions, a place not easy of access, for it is, as the poet said, 
‘« Bleak and bare, and seldom free 
As Pendle Hill or Pennygent 
From wind, or frost, or vapours wet.”’ 
When the children of Roger Norton were young, this was their 
place of play, and here they practised games and archery— 
‘“* But now, his child, with anguish pale, 
Upon the height walks to and fro ; 
Tis well that she hath heard the tale, 
Received the bitterness of woe.” 
In the midst of ber distress an old friend of the family tells her 
the particulars of the tragedy at York. He and Francis had 
been allowed to have an interview with her father, and the 
father implored Francis to carry the banner to Bolton Abbey, 
and place it where his father intended it should rest; but no 
sooner is the promise given than Norton and his sons are ordered 
to execution, and the banner is carried before the prisoners. 
Francis suddenly seized the banner from the soldiers, and in the 
confusion escaped carrying it with him. The old man strives to 
comfort her with the thought that her brother still lives, and 
that he might be even then at home, and so ‘to Rylstone Hall 
her way she took.” 
The sixth canto is a continuation of the effort of Francis to 
fulfil his father’s dying request-to carry the banner to Bolton 
Abbey. Pushing his way through the crowd, he gained the 
streets of York and stood in front of York Minster, but he had 
scarcely reached the open country, when his heart was saddened 
by the sound of the Minster bell. As he rushes along the cross 
roads of Yorkshire towards Bolton Abbey, he suddenly remembers 
the great danger he is in from carrying this banner. He has no 
sympathy with the banner, and shall he risk his life in thus 
— oS ee 
