Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 48815-h.htm or 48815-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/48815/48815-h/48815-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/48815/48815-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/mistressspitfire00fletuoft Transcriber’s note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). MISTRESS SPITFIRE * * * * * * By the same Author. WHERE HIGHWAYS CROSS. “His study of the first and only love of a middle-aged man who, for forty years, has lived only in his work and his thoughts, has no touch of conventionality, but is a singularly truthful and vivid rendering of the late, sudden, and almost convulsive blossoming of a supreme passion.”--_Daily Chronicle._ “I very much doubt whether the story of a middle-aged man’s first and last love has ever been told with more of truth and tenderness than are found here.”--_The New Age._ “A charming idyll. Thoroughly original, and cleverly worked out.”--_Guardian._ LONDON: J. M. DENT & Co. * * * * * * [Illustration: “Good day to you Master Poltroon!” says she] MISTRESS SPITFIRE A Plain Account of Certain Episodes in the History of RICHARD COOPE, GENT., and of his Cousin, MISTRESS ALISON FRENCH, at the Time of the Revolution, 1642-1644 Revised and Edited from the Original Ms. by J. S. FLETCHER Author of “When Charles the First Was King,” etc. [Illustration] London J. M. Dent & Co. Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co. 1897 Second Edition All Rights Reserved _To_ MY FRIEND LIZZIE _The Frontispiece to this book is by Mr J. Walter West, and the Map has been specially drawn by Mr Lewis Kaberry._ CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I OF CERTAIN EVENTS WHICH HAPPENED AT EAST HARDWICK MANOR HOUSE, AUGUST 27-28, 1642 1 CHAPTER II OF MY MEETING WITH MY KINSMAN, ANTHONY DACRE, AT THE WAYSIDE INN--OF MY FURTHER ADVENTURES, MY DISINHERITANCE BY SIR NICHOLAS, AND MY DOINGS WITH THE PARLIAMENTARIANS--AND OF MY EMPLOYMENT ON AN IMPORTANT MISSION BY GENERAL OLIVER CROMWELL 42 CHAPTER III OF MY SECOND MEETING WITH ANTHONY DACRE, AND ITS RESULTS--AND OF MY SERIOUS QUANDARY AS TO WHICH OF TWO DUTIES MUST FIRST BE PERFORMED 77 CHAPTER IV