longer in its passage to his lordship’s place of abode than it otherwise would have been.  Had it not been for that fatal delay, in all human probability this noble family would not have had to deplore the double misfortune by which its name and honours have become extinguished; for the letter arrived at his lordship’s lodging on the morning of his death, about an hour after he had left them, and, as nearly as can be computed at the very moment in which he was overwhelmed by the torrent of the Rhine.”

[Illustration:  THE GRANARY, COWDRAY.]

The turreted entrance gateway is less ruinous than the remainder of the buildings and, with the banqueting hall, is as fine a specimen of early sixteenth-century architecture as will be found in England.  Notice the vaulted entrance to the Hall.  On the north side, looking towards the Guard House is the State Bedchamber, wherein Queen Elizabeth slept in 1591.  There are several contemporary accounts of the stately merrymakings which took place during the visit, including the “hunting” scene in which buck deer were guided past Gloriana’s bower, from which she made dead shots at them, reminding one of the “bulls-eyes” with which a later Queen opened the national shooting competition for her worshipping subjects.

On St. Ann’s Hill near the town may be traced the outlines of the stronghold erected by the de Bohuns; the town and surrounding country remained in their hands until Sir David Owen, uncle of Henry VII, married the last of the line.  Sir David sold the estate to the Earl of Southampton, whose son left it to his half brother Sir Anthony Browne, Standard Bearer of England; his son became the first Viscount Montague.

The estate is now held by Lord Cowdray, who has a modern mansion, built in a flamboyant Elizabethan style, near-by.

Midhurst is a pleasant old place with some good ancient houses here and there.  Those in the centre which form the subject of Miss Vigers’ sketch, are being demolished as this is written; their disappearance will be appreciated by motorists in a hurry but by no one else.  The Perpendicular church has been largely rebuilt during the last century and the Montague Chantry lacks its tomb, which has been removed to Easebourne.  Richard Cobden was educated in the Grammar School (founded in 1572).  During the last few years Midhurst has become to some extent a resort for Londoners who appreciate a quiet country town amid beautiful surroundings which may be explored easily.  The walks, not only to the Downs on the south but northwards to the lovely and remote hills which culminate in Blackdown, are among the best in West Sussex.  South, west, and east the town is well served by the Brighton and South-Western Railways, a single line in each direction.

[Illustration:  MARKET SQUARE, MIDHURST.]

The road to Henley is one of the loneliest as it is one of the loveliest in south-west Sussex.  The writer has tramped the long miles to Henley (uphill all the way) without meeting a single pedestrian.  Even the advent of the great Sanatorium on the southern slopes of Bexley Hill does not seem to have made any difference.  Possibly visitors use the public motor which runs between Midhurst and Haslemere.  By so doing they miss one of the finest woodland walks in the south, indescribably beautiful in the scarlet and gold of late autumn.