Page:Singular adventures of Sir Gawen, and the enchanted castle.pdf/2

 THE SINGULAR ADVENTURES OF A

OWARDS the latter end of the reign of Henry VIII a man of some fortune, & considerable curiosity. fond of enterprise, and insatiate of knowledge, travelled through the northern counties of England The following singular adventure is still extant among the family writings, and is still recorded by his posterity. "It was towards sunset (saith the manuscript) when Sir Gawen after having traversed a very lone and unfrequented path, arrived at the edge of a thick and dark forest; the sky was suddenly overcast, and it began to rain, the thunder rolled at a distance, and sheets of livid lightening flashed across the heath.—Overcome with fatigue and hunger, he rode impatiently along the borders of the forest,