[Gutenberg 47923] • Runnymede and Lincoln Fair: A Story of the Great Charter

*Runnymede and Lincoln Fair* was the last story drawing upon the wars and great affairs of English history which its author was destined to write. Like *Cressy and Poictiers* , which is already included in "Everyman's Library," and which preceded it by some three years in its original issue, it first ran as a serial through the magazine particularly associated with Edgar - the *Boys' Own Magazine* ; it was first published as a separate book in 1866.

Some further particulars of the brief career of its writer may be added to what has already been told of him in the earlier volume. John George Edgar was the fourth son of the Rev. John Edgar of Hutton in Berwickshire, who was said to be a representative of the ancient family of Edgar of Wedderlie, settled for ages in the parish of Westruther in that county. There seems to be some disagreement as to the date of his birth. The Gentleman's Magazine for 1864 and Cooper's Biographical Dictionary give it as 1834, but James Hannay in Characters and Criticisms, published in 1865, says that Edgar was born in the year 1827. From Edgar's literary record and subsequent career one is inclined to believe the latter version the more correct; and to further quote Hannay: "He was educated at Coldstream school under a man of good local reputation, Mr. Richard Henderson, and the Latin he acquired there proved of great value to him afterwards, in reading the old mediaeval chronicles. He went to a commercial situation in Liverpool in 1843; and in 1846 left Liverpool for the West Indies, where he remained till 1848. Returning to Liverpool in the last-mentioned year, he resumed his Liverpool duties till 1852, when he settled in London."