MR CONSTABLE requested that Sir Walter would introduce Queen Elizabeth in his next romance as a companion to Mary Stuart of the Abbot. The great novelist consented, and having selected that period when the sudden death of the first Countess of Leicester opened to her husband's ambition the way to sharing a crown, gave to his romance the name of "Kenilworth." It was published in January 1821, in three volumes, and at once excited the deepest interest. "Kenilworth," writes Mr Lockhart, "continues, and I doubt not, will ever continue, to be placed in the very highest rank of prose fiction. The rich variety of character and scenery and incident in this novel has never indeed been surpassed, nor, with the one exception of the 'Bride of Lammermoor,' has Scott bequeathed us a deeper and more affecting tragedy than that of Amy Robsart." Refer-ing to his materials for the novel, Sir Walter writes in 1831: "The reader will find I have borrowed several incidents, as well as names, from 'Ashmole's Antiquities,' and the more early authorities; but my first acquaintance with the history was through the more pleasing medium of verse. There is a period in youth when the mere power of numbers has a more strong effect on ear and imagination, than in more advanced life. At this season of immature taste the author was greatly delighted with the poems of Mickle and Langliome, poets who, though by no means deficient in the higher branches of their art, were eminent for their powers of verbal melody above most who have practised this department of poetry. One of those pieces of Mickle, which the author was particularly pleased with, is a ballad, or rather a species of elegy, on the subject of Cumnor Hall, which, with others by the same author, were to be found in Evans's 'Ancient Ballads' (vol. iv., p. 130), to which work Mickle made liberal contributions." Among the sports at Kenilworth got up to entertain Queen Elizabeth, was a mock battle between the English and the Danes, somewhat resembling the ancient hocktide play. On a preconcerted signal the combatants engaged, but the concussion was less violent than had been anticipated. This was not owing to any apprehension of each other, but to the fear of being pushed into the lake. When the battle raged furiously the former precaution was neglected, and the pressure causing the railings to yield, many were precipitated into the water. This scene is depicted in the accompanying illustration. [Illustration: 080] [Illustration: 081]