Now, "old King Cole," as Mother Goose tells us for young Helena's father was none other than the veritable "old King Cole" of our nursery jingle-was a "jolly old soul," and a jolly old soul is rarely an independent or ambitious one. So long as he could have “his pipe and his bowl "—not, of course, his long pipe of tobacco that all the Mother Goose artists give him, but the reed pipe upon which his musicians played-so long, in other words, as he could live in ease and comfort, undisturbed by his Roman overlords, he cared for no change. Rome took the responsibility, and he took things easily. But there came a change, and one day King Coel received dispatches from Rome demanding a special and unexpected tax levy, or tribute, to meet the expense of the new Emperor Diocletian. Other things had happened to increase his ill temper, and his "jolly old soul" was vexed by numerous crosses that day. The words of Helena and her cousin, the admiral, carried the day with Coel, and the standard of revolt was raised. The young admiral hastened back to France, whence he did not return, while the king, spurred on to action by the patriotic Helena, gathered a hasty following, and won over to his cause the British-filled legion in his palace-town. Then, descending upon the nearest Roman camps and stations, he surprised, captured, scattered, or brought over their soldiers, and. proclaimed himself free from the yoke of Rome and supreme prince of Britain. an'cient, old. trib'u-ta-ry, subject to another. mas ́sive, very large and solid. tap'es-try, cloth with figures woven an'ces-tors, forefathers. HELENA OF BRITAIN II King Coel, after his first successes, knew that unaided he could not hope to withstand the Roman force that must finally be brought against him. Though urged to constant action by his wise young daughter, he preferred to do nothing. Satisfied with the acknowledgment of his power in and about his little kingdom on the Colne, he spent his time in his palace with the musicians that he loved so well and the big bowl that he also loved. The musicians—the pipers and the harpers-sang his praises, and told of his mighty deeds. No doubt, their refrain was very much the same as the one in the jingle of Mother Goose: 66 'Oh, none so rare as can compare With King Cole and his fiddlers three." But if the pleasure-loving old king was listless, young Helena was not. So, while she advised with her father's boldest captains, and strengthened so wisely the walls of ancient Colchester, or Camalodunum, that traces of her work still remain as proof of her untiring zeal, she still cherished the hope of British freedom and release from Rome. The legions came to Camalodunum. Across Gaul and over the choppy channel they came. Up through the mouth of the Thames they sailed, and landing at Londinium, marched in close array along the broad Roman road that led straight up to the gates of Camalodunum. The Roman trumpets sounded before the gate of the belea guered city, and the herald of the prefect, standing out from his circle of guards, cried the summons to surrender. "Coel of Britain, traitor to the Roman people and to thy lord the Emperor, hear thou! In the name of the Senate and People of Rome, I, Constantius the prefect, charge thee to deliver up to them, this, their City of Camalodunum, and thine own rebel body as well. This done, they will in mercy pardon the crime of treason to the city, and will work their will and punishment only upon thee the chief rebel. And if this be not done within the appointed time, then will the walls of this, their town of Camalodunum be overthrown, and thou and all thy people be given the certain death of traitors.” King Coel heard the summons, and some spark of that patriotism which inspired and incited his valiant little daughter flamed in his heart. "I can at least die with my people," he said. "Say But young Helena interposed. "As I have been the cause, so let me be the end of trouble, my father," she said. to the prefect that in three hours' time the British envoy will come to his camp with the king's answer." Then Helena herself went as envoy to the prefect. wouldst thou with me, maiden?" said he. "What “I am the daughter of Coel of Britain," said the girl, “and am come to sue for pardon and for peace.' دو The Roman people have no quarrel with the girls of Britain," said the prefect. "Has King Coel fallen so low in state that a maiden must plead for him?" 66 He has not fallen at all, O Prefect,” replied the girl; "the king, my father, would withstand thy force but that I know the cause of this unequal strife, and seek to make terms with the victors." Constantius Chlorus was a humane and gentle man, fierce enough in fight, but seeking never needlessly to wound an enemy or lose a friend. What are thy terms?" he demanded. "If but thou wilt remove thy cohorts to Londinium," replied Helena, "I pledge my father's faith and mine, that he will within five days, deliver to thee as hostage for his fealty, myself and twenty children of his councilors and captains. And I bind myself to deliver to thee the chief rebel in this revolt, the one to whose counseling this strife with Rome is due.” The offered terms pleased the prefect, and he said, "Be it so." Again the old king rebelled "I have pledged my word "Surely a Briton's pledge The girl returned to her father. at the terms his daughter had made. and thine, O King," said Helena. should be as binding as a Roman's." So she carried her point, and she with twenty of the boys and girls of Camalodunum went as hostages to the Roman camp in London. 66 Here are thy hostages, Princess," said the prefect as he received the children; "but remember the rest of thy compact. Deliver to me now the chief rebel against Rome." "She is here, O Prefect," said Helena, "I am that rebelHelena of Britain!" "Trifle not The prefect's face changed to sudden sternness. with Roman justice, girl," he said; "I demand the keeping of thy word." "It is kept," replied the princess. "Helena of Britain is the cause of this revolt against Rome. If it be rebellion for a free prince to claim his own, if it be rebellion for a prince to withstand for the sake of his people the unjust demands of the conqueror, if it be rebellion for one who loves her father to urge that father to valiant deeds in defence of the liberties of the |