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perceivable to those that walked above, rising with
doors in hills far distant, to escape from danger
upon any timely notice, though the place should
be even besieged and surrounded ; and within were
intricate mazes and windings, thorough long entries,
rooms, and galleries, secured with an hundred and
fifty doors.
To find the way out of and into the most remote
apartments, the skilful artist had left a clue of sil-
ver thread, without the guidance of which it was
an impossibility to be done. About this bower
were curious gardens, fountains, and a wilderness,
with all manner of delights for pleasant situation
and recreation, to furnish it as another earthly
paradise for so fair a creature to inhabit; and there
the king often resorted to see his beloved Rosa-
mond.
But this more enraged the queen; not only that
she should have so famous a palace built on pur-
pose for her, but that the king staid whole weeks
on his visits, and another enjoyed the embraces
she expected: wherefore she consulted with her
sons, grown men, how to be revenged; and after
many things argued and considered, it was agreed
amongst them, that Prince Richard, afterwards
king of England, should go over and join the
French, to raise war against his father in Norman-
dy, then belonging to the crown of England, which
whilst he effected, speedily would withdraw the
king to aid his subjects, and subdue his enemies;
and leaving his fair mistress behind him, and Ro-
samond being destitute of her chief defence, might
be open to their plots and contrivances against her
life, which while he was present, wonld be frus-
trated. Nor was Prince Richard slow in this, but
made a fierce war, beat the king's lieutenant, and
took many towns, which news coming to the king's
ear, roused him like a lion from his den, and filled
