THE MYSTERIOUS F R E E B O O T E R; OR, THE DAYS OF QUEEN BESS. a Romance, IN FOUR VOLUM!8. BY FRANCIS LATHOM, AUTHOR OF MEN AND MANNERS; MYSTERY; ASTONISHMENT; THE IMPENETRABLE SECRET, &c. &c. In winter's tedious nights, sit by the fire SHAKESPEARE. VOL. I. LONDON: inerba-li ress, PRE FACE. No apology can be required for writing a Romance, after the many emineut persons, of both sexes, who have, for centuries past, deemed it no degradation to employ their talents in this species of composition. Story-telling is of ancient and reverend* origin ; and provided the tendency of the story told, be moral, there can be no fair objection raised to its being made the entainment of hours devoted to relaxation. * In reference to the Theagenes and Chariclea of Heliodorus. But |