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BY THE AUTHOR OF WAVERLEY, TALES OF THE
CRUSADERS, &c. &c.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

PUBLI

NEW YORK:

PRINTED BY J. & J, HARPER, 327, PEARL ST.

1826.

N

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WOODSTOCK.

CHAPTER I.

Some were for gospel ministers,
And some for red-coat seculars,

As men most fit t' hold forth the word,
And wield the one and th' other sword.

BUTLER'S Hudibras.

THERE is a handsome parish church in the town of Woodstock,-I am told so at least, for I never saw it, having scarce time, when at the place, to view the magnificence of Blenheim, its painted halls, and tapestried bowers, and then return in due season to dine in hall with my learned friend, the provost of; being one of those occasions on which a man wrongs himself extremely, if he lets his curiosity interfere with his punctuality. I had the church accurately described to me, with a view to this work; but, as I have some reason to doubt whether my informant had ever seen the inside of it himself, I will be content to say that it is now a handsome edifice, most part of which was rebuilt forty or fifty years since, although it still contains some arches. of the old chantry, founded, it is said, by King John. But it is to this more ancient part of the building that my story refers.

Upon a morning in the end of September, or beginning of October, in the year 1652, being a day appointed for a solemn thanksgiving for the decisive victory at

VOL. I.-2

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