I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, which latter had it of HIS father, this last having in like manner had it of HIS father—and so on, back and still back, three hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it. It may be history, it may be only a legend, a tradition. It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it COULD have happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it.

I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, which latter had it of HIS father, this last having in like manner had it of HIS father—and so on, back and still back, three hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it. It may be history, it may be only a legend, a tradition. It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it COULD have happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it.

I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, which latter had it of HIS father, this last having in like manner had it of HIS father—and so on, back and still back, three hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it. It may be history, it may be only a legend, a tradition. It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it COULD have happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it.

I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, which latter had it of HIS father, this last having in like manner had it of HIS father—and so on, back and still back, three hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it. It may be history, it may be only a legend, a tradition. It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it COULD have happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it.

CONTENTS

XXVII. [In prison.]
XXVIII. [The sacrifice.]
XXIX. [To London.]
XXX. [Tom's progress.]
XXXI. [The Recognition procession.]

ILLUSTRATIONS

[IN PRISON]
["CHAINED IN A LARGE ROOM"]
["THE OLD MAN LOOKED HENDON OVER"]
["INFORMATION DELIVERED IN A LOW VOICE"]
["THE KING!" HE CRIED. "WHAT KING?"]
["TWO WOMEN CHAINED TO POSTS"]
["TORN AWAY BY THE OFFICERS"]
["THE KING WAS FURIOUS"]
[THE SACRIFICE]
["HE CONFRONTED THE OFFICER IN CHARGE"]
["WHILE THE LASH WAS APPLIED"]
["SIR HUGH SPURRED AWAY"]
[TO LONDON]
["MOUNTED AND RODE OFF WITH THE KING"]
["MIDST OF A JAM OF HOWLING PEOPLE"]
[TOM'S PROGRESS]
["TO KISS HIS HAND AT PARTING"]
["COMMANDED HER TO GO TO HER CLOSET"]
[THE RECOGNITION PROCESSION]
[THE START FOR THE TOWER]
["WELCOME, O KING!"]
["A LARGESS! A LARGESS!"]
["SHE WAS AT HIS SIDE"]
["IT IS AN ILL TIME FOR DREAMING"]
["SHE WAS MY MOTHER"]