A ROMANCE.---ROG DUTTON; OR


THE TRUE PROPHECY.
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(BY G. p. r. JAMES,)


.duthor Of f"Da,raley," 'Richelieu,0 "Ihe Rob
/ ber," "JNary Of Burgundy" &c.


"He condemns the court" shouted Clan
vile, in voice not less loud than his OPP
ponent; che stands committed Officers, do
your duty, at every risk. Seize them both,
and away with them to the common Jail.


"Oh, then, if that be So" cried Dntton,
aMark We, that he drives me to resist with
armed hand. Out Of the way, fddler-out
of the way Clear the way to the door,
Allen, ! will take care Of the girl;'' and,
throwing back the edge Of his cloak, he
drew his heavy sword with his right hand,
the bright blade flashing in the eyes Of the
officers, and making them stagger back in
no light alarm.


| In the meantime, Allan, the harper, drew
on his fair Marian towards the door, the
crowd separating on each side to let them
pass, while Roger Dutton followed close
behind, with his naked sword in his hand,
striking no one, but keeping wary watch
around; and the judge, half mad with rage,
nearly eaped over the table in the vehem-
ence Of his denunciations, crying out, eslet
him not pass let him not pass! Strike him
down with your partisans he is rebel to
justice! committed criminal traitor
Strike him down say will put you in
the stocks if you let him pass.''


None of the court keepers who were
armed with partisans ventured to use them
in the violent way that the Judges desired,
but one Of them, a stout, burly, determined
fellow, pushed through the crowd just as
the young nobeman and the rest were APP
preaching the door, and thrusting the staff
of the long heavy weapon that he carried,
between Marian and her lover, as he was
hurrying her along, suddenly separated them
from each other, and cast himself in the
way.


''Ha, ha! - cried the judge with triunl-
phant shout, and all the officers Instantly
made aIush to capture the Steward of Ches-
ter, and the object of his generous rasLness.
But the crowd Of those who took part with
the opponents of the court, though they
dared not offer open resistance, were not
altogether inactive. The fiddler, making a
wlful false step in the way of the tips:af
Rouse, just as he was rushing on, came
suddenly upon his knees, and the long
shanked officer fell over him with most dis
astrous effect, for his heels in the tumble,
hit the stomach of his stout companion,
who was knocked backwards against the
the table, and drove the large inkhorn into
the lap of the judge.


Numbers of others, harpers, rote-pay-
ers, trumpeters, ballad-singers, and con-
iurers, cast themselves between the officers
and the objects of their pursuit, with an
affected eagerness to get out of the hall
where the scene of confusion was taking
place, and in moment all was scramble
and disarray. Blows were given by the
constables with very little ceremony; OBJ


urgatons and remonstrances were shouted
forth by the mob, and the voice of the
Judge was heard above all, roaring forth
orders, directions and reproaches, part of
which could not be heard, and none of
which were attended to. In the mean
while, Roger Dutton drew a step back,
whirled his blade round his head, as if
about to cleave the burly court-keeper to
the waist, and then, with one blow, sever
ed the staff of his raised partisan in two,
the heavy iron axe that formed the head
falling to the ground with loud ringing
sound, amid the merriment of the behold
ers. The man, however, who was deter
mined as well as bold, still kept his place;
and seeing no other resource, Dutton
knocked him down with the pomme of
his sword, caught up the light form of Ma
rian as if she had been feather, and the
people making lane, he bore her at once
out of the court into the open air.


"Away! away he cried to Allan the
harper, who had been struggling to make
his way back to the side of his love.
"Away to the castle this is no time for
delay" And, still carrying Marian in his
arms, he proceeded with hasty step
through the narrow streets, followed by
number of those who had crowded the
courthouse, and were all anxious to cover
his retreat.


Speed and precaution, indeed, were not
a little needed, for in vomiting forth the
crowd, the Pied-poudre Court poured out
all its force of constabes too. They. were
furious with anger and disappointment
and on they rushed in the pursuit, gaining
something on Roger Dutton and his fair
burden, though interrupted at every step
by the manGuvres of the rabble, who took
i. Measure in impeding and annoying them.