Paul's from one of the hills rising from
Mickleham to Norbury Park.
[2] Evelyn, speaking of this night, says, that it was "light as day for
about ten miles round about, after a dreadful manner."--_Memoirs_, vol.
i. p. 391. second edit 4to. Sir Ralph does not seem to make the light
so strong, though he does not absolutely say it was otherwise. Perhaps
Evelyn speaks of a later hour. The flames appear to have become
visible afterwards to the distance of forty miles.--_Edit._
* * * * *
THE GATHERER
AN ODD STORY.
About 150 years since, there was in France one Captain Coney, a gallant
gentleman of ancient extraction, and Governor of Coney Castle. He fell in
love with a young gentlewoman and courted her for his wife. There was
reciprocal love between them, but her parents, understanding it, by way of
prevention, shuffled up a forced match between her and one Mr. Fayel, who
was heir to a great estate. Hereupon Captain Coney quitted France in
discontent, and went to the wars in Hungary against the Turks, where he
received a mortal wound, near Buda. Being carried to his quarters he
languished four days, but a little before his death, he spoke to an old
servant, of whose fidelity and truth he had ample experience, and told him
he had a great business to trust him with, which he conjured him to
perform; that after his death he should cause his body to be opened, take
out his heart, put it in an earthen pot, and bake it to a powder, then put
the powder into a handsome box, with the bracelet of hair he had long worn
about his left wrist, (which was a lock of Madame Fayel's hair,) and put
it amongst the powder with a little note he had written to her with his
own blood, and after he had given him the rites of burial, to make all
speed to France and deliver the box to Madame Fayel.
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