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mounted on a thick- set steed ; then two more ; and next 
half a dozen trumpeters, to whose instruments are attached 
small banners embroidered with the arms of England and 
France. But who is he that now advances ? A personage 
of middle size, but commanding mien and handsome features ; 
on either side of whose pale lofty brow, and melancholy 
features, terminating in an auburn pointed beard, hang 
waving curls of dark brown hair until they rest upon his 
rich lace collar ; his person is nearly covered by a large 
black velvet cloak, relieved only by one glittering ornament 
on the left shoulder, but when this envelope partly opens, 
a still more brilliant decoration is seen beneath, hanging 
from his neck by a wide blue riband. It is Charles I. on 
his way to Lincoln for the purpose of interesting the people 
of this county in behalf of the Royal cause. Let him then 
pass by — let his few attendant nobles follow — let the captain 
of the guard in his suit of half-armour and his sword drawn, 
trot on ; let his troopers two after two follow him, with their 
steel caps glittering in the sun, and let us mark the issue of 
the King's mission. The citizens of Lincoln will profess 
to be loyal, but next year their loyalty will be sorely tried — 
the war between the Parliament and King Charles will have 
begun, when Lincoln will declare for the former, and Gran- 
tham for the latter. Then the Parliamentary Commissioners 
will hurry over the Heath to seize the Grantham Corporation 
plate, and bands of their party will follow for the purpose 
of plundering such gentlemen's houses as may be supporters 
of the royal cause, when poor Mr. Dymocke's house, near 
Metheringham, will meet with peculiar attention at their 
hands, because he is the Royal champion, and nothing will 
be left in it, the servants' clothes, down to the poor cook's 
working dress being ruthlessly carried off. But a change is 
at hand : Grantham has been seized by Col. Cavendish for 
the King, where he is joyfully received, and Belvoir Castle 
is occupied by Sir Peregrine Bertie ; in vain does the 
