Old Places Revisited (Volume 2); Or, the Antiquarian Enthusiast

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXIX. THE NORTHERN CHRONICLES. EXTRACTS CONTINUED: GREAT REJOICINGS IN HREOPANDUN AT THE FATE OF THE TYRANT CEOLWULF.--STRANGE PUNISHMENT ACCOMPANYING HIS SENTENCE OF OUTLAWRY. HIS IGNOMINIOUS EXPULSION FROM THE CITY, AND SUBSEQUENT DEATH. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM DIVIDED AMONG THE DANES. FURTHER SUCCESSES OF KING ALFRED, WHO ANNEXES THE TERRITORY OF MERCIA TO THAT OF WESSEX. K. Hen. Get you therefore hence, Poor miserable wretch, unto your death: The taste whereof God, of his mercy, give you Patience to endure, and true repentance Of all your dear offences. King Henry 7., act ii. sc. 2. Great were the rejoicings that spread through the city when the strange and important tidings were made known. Densely-congregating crowds speedily attested the anxiety of the people to witness the degradation of their late sovereign, whose harsh and unjust acts had enrolled as many enemies as subjects. The impatiently-expected hour of noon at length arrived, and the shrill clangour of trumpets, accompanied by the measured tread of the Danish and Mercian troops, and the hoarsely-murmuring sound of the countless multitude, bore fearful evidence to the agitated ear of Ceolwulf, that the period of his open humiliation drew near. The bolts of his temporary prison were soon afterwards withdrawn; and, derisively arrayed in a robe of unusual magnificence, he was led by an escort of battle-axes to the great gate of the Citadel--that gate which had so often opened to receive the plunder of his subjects. His eyes now sought the ground, a convulsive tremor agitated his frame, and his brow was bathed in perspiration. At the moment of his exposure to the populace, the air was rent with groans and yells, and execrations, that drowned, in their tempestuous uproar, the sil...