48 Amye Robsart. 
that they do not like to be robbed of it, Of the more horrible part, 
as commonly believed, it has indeed been long since deprived, 
and the more we can arrive at the real facts the better: because, 
though Great Britain is in itself very small, it is, in its name and 
influence, one of the most important countries in the world. Its 
history will be read more and more, as our language spreads: so 
that it seems only a duty on the part of those who have the means, 
to put our historical characters into as respectable a form as possible. 
This may, partly, be done by using secret history to remove the 
false impressions produced by historical novels. 
“ Amy Robsart” has obtained a world-wide celebrity, in Sir 
Walter Scott’s novel of “ Kenilworth.” To say a word against so 
extraordinary a man may seem presumptuous: nevertheless it has 
been said, both of him and others, that historical novels are mortal 
foes to history, and most assuredly, never did any work of that kind so 
utterly confuse and contradict facts as does Sir Walter’s“ Kenilworth.” 
It has also been stated that some of his most famous novels are 
losing their popularity ; because, after the pleasing impression with 
which they were at first received has passed away, and Time has 
revealed that they are untrue and impossible, they naturally fall ito 
some discredit. In our earlier days we devour such things. After- 
wards, they become indigestible, simply because ,the history is so 
grossly perverted as to become almost ridiculous. You may say, 
“ Well, but it is only a story, a novel,” and that “ novel-writers 
are not tied to strict veracity.” The answer is, “If your per- 
sonages and events are altogether fictitious, it does not in the least 
signify what they do or say; but if they are conspicaous figures in 
our national history, and they are made to say and do things which 
they not only never did, but which it is absolutely impossible that 
they ever could have done, and if the style is attractive and the in- 
cidents striking, this will leave upon the public mind, both at home 
and abroad, an impression which perhaps will never be effaced. Such 
misrepresentation is surely to be regretted.” “ Kenilworth” has 
been translated into many foreign languages, and probably every 
person who has read it, has ever afterwards lived under the fullest 
belief, not only that Amye Robsart died in the horrible manner 
a 
