"TO-MORROW THE ORDER WILL BE GIVEN TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD TO ARREST YOU" I TOLD HIM VERY SHORTLY, AND NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I SEEN SO PITEOUS A SPECTACLE AS THAT LITTLE ROUND RUBICUND MAN I FOUND SIR WALTER IN HIS GARDEN HE THRUST INTO MY HAND SOME PAPERS I MADE BOLD TO ACCOST HIM I BETOOK MYSELF TO AN APOTHECARY’S "OUT OF MY SIGHT, RAPSCALLION!" SHOWING HIM MY DAGGER, I BADE HIM HOLD HIS PEACE HE PLIED THE WHIP RIGHT MERRILY THEY DID BUT MOCK ME WITH JEERS AND HORRID EXECRATIONS "I WILL SURELY EXECUTE UPON YOU ANY VIOLENCE OR INDIGNITY THAT MY FATHER MAY SUFFER" GATHERING MY SPEED, IN FOUR LEAPS I WAS UPON HIM HE CLUTCHED ME BY THE ARM AND POINTED TO A REGIMENT OF DUSKY SHAPES I CROSSED THE GUARD OF RORY MAC SHANE, AND GAVE HIM THE POINT OF MY SWORD "HOW NOW, MY BULLY ROOK!" HEADINGS ON PAGES . . . 17, 81, 129, 217, 311 TAILPIECES ON PAGES . . . 75, 123, 209, 304, 382 *INTRODUCTORY* The Rudds, like many another ancient family, have come down in the world, as the saying goes. They no longer live on the toil of others, but work for their own livelihood. They no longer own manors, or follow their feudal lords to court in armour; but here and there about the world, in business, at the Bar, in the Army or administrative offices, they worthily sustain the honour of their name. The present head of the family cherishes an heirloom, which has descended from father to son through three centuries. It has no commercial value; it would not fetch a shilling in the auction room: indeed, the mere hint of selling it would shock a Rudd. It is a flat leather case, discoloured, frayed at the edges, almost worn out with age. But upon its side may still be seen faint traces of the initials C.R., and within it lies a bundle of faded papers, with the following inscription on the cover: _Certeyn Passages in the Life of Syr Christopher Rudde, knyghte, related by himselfe in the yeare of our Lorde 1641, and written down by his grandsonne Stephen._ It is easy to understand why this old manuscript is treasured by the Rudd family. The "certain passages" in their ancestor’s life are interesting in themselves, as narratives of romantic adventure in various countries of the old world and the new. They give incidental pictures of remarkable scenes and personages, and throw not a little light on the manners and conditions of bygone times. Above all, they seem to me to portray an English gentleman of the great age of Elizabeth—a gentleman who had a proper pride in his country without scorning others, and was ever ready to draw his sword chivalrously in the cause of freedom and justice.