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diff --git a/old/51557-0.txt b/old/51557-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index b049c7b..0000000 --- a/old/51557-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4456 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Colloquies of Edward Osborne, by Anne Manning - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The Colloquies of Edward Osborne - Citizen and Clothworker of London - -Author: Anne Manning - -Illustrator: John Jellicoe - -Release Date: March 25, 2016 [EBook #51557] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COLLOQUIES OF EDWARD OSBORNE *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Pinfield and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - -Transcriber's Note. - -Apparent typographical errors have been corrected. The use of hyphens -has been rationalised. - -A list of the author's works, at the front of the text, has been -moved to join related material at the back. - -Small capitals have been converted to full capitals. Italic and bold -font are indicated by _underscores_ and +plus signs+. - - - - - [Illustration: - The Colloquies - of - Edward Osborne - - Citizen and Clothworker - of London - - Illustrations by - John Jellicoe] - - - - - [Illustration: J Jellicoe - "Surely thou art the Widow Osborne"] - - - - - THE COLLOQUIES OF - - EDWARD OSBORNE - - CITIZEN AND CLOTHWORKER - OF LONDON - - - By - - The Author of "Mary Powell," - "The Household of Sir Thos. More," "Cherry & Violet" - and "The Old Chelsea Bun-Shop," etc. - - - _WITH TEN ILLUSTRATIONS BY_ - - JOHN JELLICOE - - - LONDON - JOHN C. NIMMO - NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS - MDCCCC - - - Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. - At the Ballantyne Press - - - - -CONTENTS - - -CHAP. PAGE - - I.—_A Country Lad cometh to Town_ 1 - - II.—_First Day of a London 'Prentice his Life_ 27 - - III.—_Ye Disposition & Economy of Master Hewet's House_ 45 - - IV.—_Noteworthy Deed of a Boy taught of a Woman_ 58 - - V.—_Edward Convalesceth i' the Green Lattice_ 77 - - VI.—_Tib's Malpractyzes_ 102 - - VII.—_Early Setting of a young Morning Star_ 117 - -VIII.—_The Defence of the Bridge_ 133 - - IX.—_Osborne is out of his Time_ 167 - - X.—_Evil Times bring Evil Crimes_ 181 - - XI.—_The Blood of the Martyrs, yᵉ Seed of yᵉ Church_ 194 - - XII.—_A Snake among yᵉ Flowers_ 207 - -XIII.—_Master Hewet ordereth Things discretely_ 231 - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - -_From Drawings by_ JOHN JELLICOE - - -"SURELY THOU ART THE WIDOW OSBORNE" _Frontispiece_ - - PAGE - -"HELD THE OAR TO HIM" _To face_ 40 - -"AND TOOK A LEAP" " 60 - -TRYPHENA AND TRYPHOSA " 88 - -"EATING CURDS AND CREAM" " 120 - -"MAKE WAY FOR THE SHERIFF'S DAUGHTER" " 140 - -"RODE OVER THE BRIDGE" " 152 - -"COVERED HIS FACE AND WEPT" " 192 - -"PROFFERED ME A PIECE OF MONEY" " 240 - -THE MASQUE " 272 - - - - - THE COLLOQUIES OF - EDWARD OSBORNE - - - - -CHAPTER I - -_A Country Lad cometh to Town_ - - -So we left the old grey Horse at the _Tabard_, and set forth a-foot, my -Mother and me, for _London Bridge_: I looking right and left for a -Glimpse of the great, broad River. But no Water could we see; and the -Ways were thronged with Men, Horses, Carts, Wagons, Flocks of Sheep, and -Droves of Oxen, pressing along between Stalls set out with all manner of -Cates. Anon we come to a big Gateway, with its Portcullis-teeth grinning -over our Heads; and a-top of this Gateway, that was flanked with -Turrets, and spanned the Road, were ever so many round, dark Objects, -set on Poles, leaning this Way and that; and my Mother shuddered when -she saw them, and told me they were Traitors' Heads. But between us and -this Gateway lay a Draw-bridge, the which, as we crossed, gave us a -Glimpse of the broad _Thames_, all a-blaze in the Sun. I pluckt at my -Mother's Sleeve, without speaking, and we looked over the Parapet, and -could see Boats ducking and diving under a Row of Houses right across -the River, some of 'em six Stories high, with Balconies and projecting -Gables, looking ready to topple into the Water, that rushed onward with -tremendous Force, eddying and foaming among the Arches. Then I noted at -the Foot of each Pier, strange Projections of Timber-work, and askt my -Mother what they were, and she could not tell me. But a Man that -overheard me said they were called Sterlings, and were strong Piles of -Wood driven into the Bed of the River. Also he told me the Bridge was -sixty Feet above the Water, and that its Founder, _Peter_ of -_Colechurch_, lay y-buried in the Chapel on the Bridge; and more he -would have added but for the Interposure of my Mother, who said, "Come, -Child, we linger," and drew me away. Then we passed under the Gateway, -which was also a Kind of Guard-house, and Toll-gate; and, quod she, "Now -thou art on _London Bridge_." But I should never have found it out; for -to all Seeming, we were in midst of an ill-paved, exceeding narrow -Strete, only some twelve Feet across, with Frippery-shops, and such-like -on either Side. A great, o'erloaded Wagon that went first, cleared the -Way for us, filling the Space all across; but anon it meeteth another -Wagon, even higher than itself, with a Terrier barking a-top; and, the -one essaying to pass the other, their Headgear got entangled in the -Outworks of the upper Stories of two opposite Houses, and I saw the -Terrier jump into an Attick Window, and presently run forth of the Shop -below. Then the Wagoners chode and reviled, for one of 'em must needs -back off the Bridge, and some Sheep and Oxen were coming up behind; and -the Foot-passengers jostled and jibed, and Shopkeepers looked forth of -their Doors, and Wives and Maids from their Lattices, and Swarms of -quick-eyed mischievous favoured Lads peered forth of every Bulk; and my -Mother cried, "Oh! weary on them! we may bide here all Night!" ... when, -looking hard on the Shop to our left, she sayth, "Why here's the _Golden -Fleece_!" - -And so we made bold to enter, between a few Rolls of brown and gray -Cloth; and found Master _Hewet_ seated behind a Desk, holding a Pen, but -not using it, discoursing with a sober-apparelled Friend, and ever and -anon casting a quiet amused Look at the Turmoil on the Bridge. He was -what I then counted a middle-aged, but should now reckon a youngish Man, -somewhere betwixt thirty and forty Years of Age, of a good Presence and -a piercing but pleasant Eye; and with that in his Carriage and Looks -that discovered he had Something within him beyond the common, that -tended to excite Affection and Veneration. So soon as his Eye lighted -pleasantly upon us, "Surely, thou art the Widow _Osborne_!" quod he to -my Mother, "and this, by his Favour, I am sure is the Son of mine old -School-mate. He will, I trust, prove of as good Conditions." - -And, putting down his Pen, he quickly led the Way into a pleasant -Chamber at the Back, o'erlooking the River, wherein, a watering of some -Flowers on the Window-sill, was a middle-aged Gentlewoman, clad in -Black, of a benign Aspect, a mild hazel Eye, and a Tinct that had more -of the Pearl than the Peach in it. "Sister _Fraunces_," quod Master -_Hewet_, "here is Mistress _Osborne_;" whereon the Gentlewoman turned -about and spake courteouslie unto my Mother, whom she made to sit down -and take Wine and Spiced-bread; while I, as a mannerly Youth, stood in -Presence of mine Elders. Then sayth my Mother to Master _Hewet_, "I -come, Sir, in answer to your considerate Letter, to put my Boy in your -Charge:—he's but country-bred, though a good Lad, and come of a good -Stock ... not only born of a Woman, but taught of a Woman, alas -that I should say so! save for his School-teaching." "Marry, his -Brother-prentice, then, is one of another Feather," saith Master -_Hewet_, smiling, "we shall see which turns out best. Leave your Son -with me; and at the End of a Month or so, when he hath looked at the -Trade a little, we will decide whether or no to have him bound." "Alas, -Sir!" saith my Mother, with lengthened Face, "may not all be done now? I -have two small Children at Home, mine Absence is untimeous, and -Travelling is strange to me—I have the Fee ready, the Boy is willing, -and you cannot choose but be satisfied with his Conditions, for the Lad -is a good Lad, though 'tis his Mother that says so." - -"Well," saith Master _Hewet_, after a little Thought, "the Course is -uncommon, for we mainly like to prove a Youth and see whether he be -likely to do Good at the Trade, and be a profitable and desirable -Apprentice before we bind him; but since your Case is in some Respects -singular, it shall be as you say; for, as it happens, this is one of the -Days on which the Court and Master sit to bind and enroll 'Prentices." -So forth we went: he making Way for my Mother, and I following last. - -On our Way to _Mincheon Lane_, we fell in with an uproarious Rabble, -that, with Shouts, were haling Somewhat through the Mud, which proved to -be a Church Image; doubtless, just pulled down from its Niche. The Head -was rare carven, and floridly painted after the Life; but the Trunk was -nothing but a squared Block, with a Cross-piece for the Shoulders, and -looked pitiful enow, now 'twas despoiled of its rich Clothing. An -Ale-house Keeper at the Bridge end turned in-doors with Disgust at the -Sight, which some of the Rabblement noting, they cried out, "Here's a -Bone for you to pick, Sir _Tobias_!" and beset his Door. I afterwards -learned he was an ejected Roman Catholic Parson. - -When we reached the _Clothworkers' Hall_, the Clerk made out my -Indentures; and then I was taken before the Master to be enrolled. - -My Mother having paid the Fee, (Spoon-silver they jocosely called it,) -unto Master _Hewet_, he did not pocket it, but put it into the -Common-box: and the Business was done; my Master exchanging some -pleasant Words with the Master of the Company, and the latter bidding me -(in the only Sentence he spoke to me), mind the Clothworkers' -Motto,—"_My Trust is in God alone_." - -Then, my Mother and I took Leave of one another, aside, as 'twere, in -the Doorway; for she was to lie that Night in _Temstrete_, at her Cousin -_Hale's_, (who was a _Broughton_,) and return to _Ashford_ on the -Morrow. And she kissed me and wept sore, and sayth, "Ah Son, thou art -full young to be cast out of the Nest ... fain I were to keep thee: but -what though? Thou canst not always be at mine Apron-string, and thou -hast a brave Spirit and a good Heart; wherefore, like _Hannah_, Wife of -_Elkanah_, I will entrust my First-born unto the LORD, and see what he -will do for thee.... And remember, _Ned_, thou art the Son of a -Gentleman, and think the Eye of thy Father still upon thee." - -Then quod I, in answer to my Mother, "Cheer up, sweet _Mother_, I will -never disgrace him nor thee: so give over thy weeping, lest they should -deem the Tears on my Face to be mine instead of thine ... don't melt me, -_Mother_, lest they count me but a Boy, and make light of our Country -Breeding." - -"A Boy, indeed! What art thou more?" quod she, smiling through her -Tears; and with one hearty Kiss and her Blessing, went her Ways. - -On our Return to my Master's House, he, noting my Hair to be too long -for a 'Prentice, (for, indeed, my Mother was rather vain of it,) gave me -a Penny, and sent me to Master _Soper_ the Barbitonsor, across the -Bridge, to have it clipt. Here found I a Man having his Beard trimmed, -and another, waiting for his Turn, playing a Mandoline. Seeing me look -forth of the Lattice on the River, boiling and splashing below, and the -Boats shooting the Arches and nearly pitching Head foremost down the -Fall, he stayed his Hand, and told me how many Lives were lost in those -Rapids by the Year. Then I made bold to ask him what was that great -Fortress with Towers, on the north Bank. - -"Thou art a Stranger in _London_, then," saith he, "for every Cockney -knows the _Tower_, whose foundation Stones were cemented, they say, with -Mortar tempered with Blood. And truly, Blood enow hath been spilt within -it to bring a Judgment on its Walls. _Henry_ the _Sixth_ was murdered in -the _Tower_, _George_ of _Clarence_ was drowned in the _Tower_, _Edward_ -the _Fifth_ and _Richard_ Duke of _York_, those pretty Innocents, were -smothered in the _Tower_, _Anne Boleyn_ and _Katherine Howard_ were -beheaded in the _Tower_. And, for all it hath held a King's Parliament, -and is our Citadel of Defence, a royal Palace for Assemblies, a -Council-house for Treaties, a Treasury of Crown Jewels, the royal Mint -of Coinage, the prime Conservator of Records, and the Armoury of warlike -Provisions, yet, for the Tears and the Blood that have been shed in it, -I could say, Down with it, down with it even unto the Ground! And -methinks its evil Story is not yet wound up, but that a dark Cloud hangs -over it e'en now. We shall see! we shall see! Many an ignoble Man rises -aloft, many a proud Man is brought low. 'Tis time enough at one's Life's -end to sing Gloria. Ah! our Bridge Tower, whereof I am Gate-keeper, hath -another guess Foundation than _Cæsar's_; for on every one of its four -Corner-stones is graven the Name of JESUS; _deep, but out of Sight_." - -And he peered into my Face as he spake that Saying, to wit if I felt its -Force. - -"And now my Turn hath come to be trimmed," quod he, "so thou mayst thrum -the Mandoline." - -When I went back, there was a Man with a Burthen leaving the Shop; and -my Master saith, "Follow this Porter to Master _Askew's_ in -_Candlewickstrete_, and bring home my little Daughter, who hath been -spending the Forenoon at her Godfather's." So I went with the -Porter, and on reaching _Candlewickstrete_, which was not full of -Tallow-chandlers' Shops, but of Drapers, he shewed me Master _Askew's_ -House; and I entered and found him in Parley with a Man in a red Coat. -Quod he, "Well, I suppose my Lord must have it, but I like not the -Security;" and handed him over a heavy Bag that seemed full of Money. -Said the Man in Red, stowing the Bag under his Coat, "You were best not -offend my Lord, for I warrant the Loss of his Custom would make you the -worse by a pretty Penny." "Tut!" cries the other, "we could better -afford to lose the Court than the Court to lose the City." On which, -they parted. "Who art thou, my Lad?" quod he. "I'm my Master's new -'Prentice," quod I, "come to fetch Mistress _Anne_." "Ah!" quod he, -"then you're from Master _Hewet_, though you speak as if there were but -one Master in the World.... _Anne!_ sweet _Anne_!" - -And, at his Call, there runneth in a fair little Gentlewoman, about six -Years of Age. Sure, never was seen so sweet a Child! Master _Askew_ -caught her up in his Arms and gave her many Kisses, and told her she -must return with me; whereon she came and placed her Hand in mine, in -full Assurance of Faith. A Gentlewoman, not much turned of thirty, -personable, and of the Complexion they call sanguine, followed her -forth, with many Injunctions to tell her Father how good she had been, -and giving her, at parting, a Piece of sweet Marchpane. - -In the Strete, we were so beshoved about, that Mistress _Anne_ presently -made Request of me to carry her. So I took her up and set her on my -Shoulder, and bade her hold on by my Hair; which she was pleased to say -was shorter than mine Ears, or even than mine Eyelashes. And, in seeking -to admeasure them, she nearly toppled down; so then I said if she were -going to be unruly, besides blinding me with the Crumbs of her -Marchpane, I must set her in the Stokkes. To which she made Answer, -"Then you must put both my Feet into one Hole; and even then I shall -slip them out." Thus prettily she prattled all the Way, till I told her -I thought my Hair was at least shorter than her Tongue. When we reached -my Master's Door, I was passing it unawares, when she lugged at mine -Hair and cried, "Stop, Boy, stop; you must set me down." I said, "Then -you must give me a Kiss." She sayth, "Humph, I've no Objection;" which I -thought very funny and very pretty in so young a little Gentlewoman. - -It was now Supper-time; and, my Fellow-'prentice being out, Mistress -_Fraunces_ shewed me how to lay the Cloth, set forth the Spoons, &c., -and told me that London 'Prentices stood behind their Master's Chair at -Meal Times. Just as _Tib_ the Cook had set the Dishes on the Table, -there entereth a hale, aged Man, white headed, with a merry Eye, and a -thin Cheek besprent with lively red. My Master hailed him with Zest, -crying, "Ha! Master _Cheke_! 'tis of long Time since we met! How fareth -it with thee, Master _Cheke_? Come in, Man, come in and sup with us, -and, if thou wilt, lie to-night in the Green Lattice; there's the old -Bed made up." - -"Old Bed!" quod the other, jocularly; is anything old fit to be offered -to me that am so young and so fine? What though I'm from the Country, -have I not Friends at Court? Marry, Man, my Kinsman is the King's -Sub-tutor, and I've had Speech of him this Day." - -"If you are too fine for old Friends, I have no more to say to you," -quod Master _Hewet_, heartily, and taking his Place at Table, while his -Visitor and Mistress _Fraunces_ did the same. "You can't be _our_ Master -_Cheke_.... Now then, Sir, boiled or roast? You see, though 'tis -_Friday_, we are not quite so scrupulous as we were wont of old Time, in -regard to a broiled Bone or so ... here's nothing from salt Water save a -Dish of Prawns." - -"And very pretty Picking," sayth Master _Cheke_, "for a Man that hath -had one Supper already off a King's Leavings ... for, you see, the -pretty Boy goes to Bed at eight o' the Clock. What a young Miracle 'tis! -A very Saint, Sir! excelling any _Edward_ hath been canonized. Marry, my -Kinsman said I should have seene the sweet Child blush, when 'twas told -him he was King; and then fall a weeping for his Father, whom, -peradventure, none other loved soe purely; for Love kindles Love, they -say, and, of a Surety, if the old King loved any one, he loved _him_." - -"Then, his Grace's Speech on his Crownation-day," quod Mistress -_Fraunces_. "They brought him the three Swords, for the three Kingdoms. -'There ought to be yet another,' quod he, looking about; 'bring me a -Bible.' When 'twas brought,—'This,' saith he, 'is the Sword of the -Spirit; as the other three are the Swords of our Temporal Dominions: by -them we govern, by this we must be governed, and under this we ought to -live, to fight, to rule, and to guide all our Affairs.' A marvellous -Saying for a Boy of nine Year old!" - -"Ah! I dare say my Kinsman put him up to it," said Master _Cheke_, "but -indeed 'twas well rehearsed and well remembered." - -"Nay, I like not to hear the Credit of a good Thing taken away from its -proper Owner in that Way," quod Mistress _Fraunces_ somewhat warmly. -"Why should we say, 'Such an One was prompted?' 'such a Thing was -forecast?' Doubtless, we all get our Teaching ... from ourselves or -others; and some few, I think, be Heaven-taught." - -"Well, well," quod Master _Cheke_, shelling his Prawns; "'twas a pretty -Word, we all must own. How he chode with his Nurse, e'en in the Nursery, -for standing on a Bible to reach Somewhat off a Shelf!" - -"And that was before he learned Lip wisdom of Master _Cheke_," quod -Mistress _Fraunces_. "However, Sir, I disparage not your Kinsman, though -I will not hear you disparage the King. Honour to whom Honour is due." - -I saw an almost imperceptible uprising of Master _Cheke's_ Eyebrows at -this, as though he were inwardly saying, "Place to Ladies:" howbeit, -Mistress _Fraunces_ kept her Ground, and, I thought, becomingly. She -thought so too, and mentioned afterwards that she had given it to him -roundly. - -Master _Hewet_ was diverting the Discourse, when a Cry without of -"Clubs! Clubs!" was followed by a Shrilling and Screaming like Swifts -round a Steeple, and an uproarious Hallooing and Whooping all along the -Bridge. Master _Cheke_ started up, and then re-seated himself, -muttering, "Young Rascallions!" - -"And yet," quod Master _Hewet_, "they are the Stuff our sober -substantial Citizens are made of. Oh, Sir, I don't mind speaking freely -before my 'Prentice Lads. They will hear no dangerous Matter from me, -and cannot be too early made to feel that we are all one Family. Let -them be merry and wise; the Error is in aiming to be one without the -other." - -I would I could call to Mind othermuch that was said: howbeit, I was -young and new to Service, and had not yet attained unto the Facility -which practised Servitors have of noting each Thing said, hinted, or so -much as looked at Table, while attending to such Orders as "The Mustard, -_Osborne_" ... and so forth. - -But, or ever they had well sate down, Mistress _Anne_ had run in to wish -good Night; and, contriving to tarry, had remained awhile at Master -_Hewet's_ Knee, noting all was done and said. And when, referring to -some of the King's Council, Master _Cheke_ said, "They are new to their -Work, but will take kindly to it presently," she softly sayth, "Like our -new 'Prentice!" which made all laugh. - -When Master _Cheke_ had departed, and the Day's Work and Prayer were -ended, Mistress _Fraunces_ said she would sit up for _Miles -Hackathrift_, who was out too late, and bade me go to Bed, for that she -saw I was weary: (and indeed I had ridden the Pillion twenty Mile that -Morning.) Wherefore I thankfully crept up to the Loft a-top of the -House, wherein were two Tressel-beds; and no sooner lay down than I was -asleep; and might have slept all Night without so much as turning; but -by and by I was arouzed by the Light of a Lanthorn held close to mine -Eyes, which opened, somewhat dazed, on a red, swollen Face, that had too -little Brow and too much Cheek and Chin. Then a surly Voice sayth, "So -thou's the new 'Prentice, it seemeth! Good so! how prettily thy Mother -in the Country hath had thine Hair cut!" I said, "It was cut in Town, -not in the Country.—Go away, and take the Light out of mine Eyes, I -pr'ythee.... I think thou hast been drinking Something stronger than -small Ale, and hast broken thine Indenture." ... "Then I'll brake -Something else," quod he; and gave me a Bang on the Head with his -Lanthorn, that put the Candle out. Thereafter he had to go to Bed in the -Dark; but I wot not if he grumbled thereat, so soon fell I again on -Sleep, too weary to resent his Malefices. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -_First Day of a London 'Prentice his Life_ - - -Thou mayest marvel, _Hew_, that I remember so well the minutest -Circumstances of that, my first Day on the Bridge; but by Reason of a -young, quick Apprehensiveness of Novelty, I remember that Day better -than any other (but one) in the Year; and that Year better than many -that came after it. - -Early as I rose the next Morning, it would seem that some one was yet -earlier than I; for my Master's large Bible lay open on the Table, as -though some one had been a reading it. And, whereby my good Mother had -early taught me, during the Famine of GOD'S Word, to snatch a Mouthful -of it whenever it came in my Way, albe it were but a single Sentence to -chew the Cud upon pleasantly at my Work, I cast mine Eye upon the Page, -and lighted by Hap on the Saying, "Whatsoever thine Hand findeth to do, -_do it with thy Might_,"—when my Master's Hand was laid upon my -Shoulder, and made me start. - -"My Lad," quod he, "a Mind sequestering itself to the Exercises of -Piety, lies very open to the farther Discoveries of divine Light and -Love, and invites CHRIST to come and dwell in it." I louted low, to -thank him for his Grace, albeit it seemed to me he took me for a better -and wiser Lad than I was. But good Praise takes root and spreads; and -there was no great Damage in his giving me a little more Credit than I -deserved; inasmuch as we are not born good, but made good. - -Thereafter, Master _Hewet_ taketh me to the very topmost Floor of our -House, next the 'Prentices' Loft, and openeth a creaking Door; whereon -we enter a low, longish Attick, containing two Looms, at one of which -sate a Man weaving. There was a Lattice almost the entire Length of the -Attick, looking down upon the bright shining _Thames_, then sparkling in -the Morning Sun, and all in a Tremble beneath a smart Breeze, while -heavy Barges and light Boats full of Garden Stuff for the Markets were -passing to and fro. The Chamber, though abject to look at, was -delightsome to look from; and the Air was so clear that I could see a -Housewife in a Stamel Petticoat cheapening Neats' Feet on the -_Bankside_, and the _Easterlings_ unloading their Cargoes at the -_Steelyard_. But the Man at the Loom had no Eye for these Things; he -seemed not much under fifty Years of Age, and had a pale, pain-worn -Face, and patient, gentle, though not happy Aspect. A Blackbird in a -Wicker Cage hung at the open Window; there were some two or three old -Books on a Shelf, and a dozen Flowerpots or so on a little Ledge outside -the Attick, between the Roofs, which was railed in and made into a Sort -of little Garden. - -"Here's a Man, now," quod my Master to me in a low Voice, "hath so -little Care for aught beyond these four Walls, as never e'en to have -spared Time to look on _Fisher's_ Head at the Bridge End all the While -the Strete was so thronged with the gazing Rabble as that scarcely a -Horse nor Cart could pass. Nor do I believe he would have cast a Look up -at poor Sir _Thomas More_, save on his Way to the Burreller's. A fair -Morning, _Tomkins_!" - -"A fair Morning, as you say, Master," returned _Tomkins_, "I wish you -Joy of it." - -"Here's your new Scholar," quod my Master; "you will set him going, and -are scarce likely to find him more awkward than _Miles_." - -"I hope I shall find him a good Deal less so, and less froward, too, or -I sha'n't count him good for much," quod _Tomkins_, turning about, and -looking hard at me. "I like his Face, Master," quod he. - -"Here, give him the Shuttle, and let us see how he will handle it," quod -Master _Hewet_. - -"Not mine, he may have _Miles's_," interposed _Tomkins_, rising with -some Difficulty and going to the other Loom; and I then observed he was -very Lame. "Here, Lad, see, this is the Way," quod he. - -So I tried, awkwardly enough, and made them both laugh; and laughed too. -But I went to it with a Will, and anon they said I was mending. - -"_Miles_ might have done an Hour's Work by this Time," observed -_Tomkins_, "but I've seen nought of him." - -"Because Mistress _Fraunces_ hath sent him to _Trolop's_ Milk-farm for -Curds and Cream," quod my Master; "don't be hard upon him." - -"I wish he may not do what he did, the last Time I sent him of an -Errand," quod _Tomkins_ dryly—"tarry by the Way to see a Horse-dealer -hanged." - -"That would have spoiled my Relish for Curds and Cream," quod Master -_Hewet_, "I think he must have returned ere this—_Ned_ shall bring up -your Breakfast, _Tomkins_." - -As we went down, "Do all thou canst, _Ned_," quod my Master, "in the Way -of small Kindnesses, for that poor Journeyman Freeman.—A few Years -since, a Horse trod upon his Foot and lamed him for Life. My Wife, who -was his Foster-sister, and felt a Kindness for him, had him here to -nurse; and, by the Time he had recovered as much as he was ever likely -to do, he had become so fond of us and of his Attick, that, albeit our -Ordinances are somewhat stringent against Master Clothworkers keeping -Weavers at Journeywork in their own Houses, the Wardens have overlooked -it in his Case, and let him abide on Sufferance. And though I don't -expect to make my Fortune by any Weaving I get out of you or _Miles_, -and have indeed Plenty of very different Work for you, yet 'tis well you -should know somewhat of the Practice of your Craft, and I look to you to -attend to it whenever you would otherwise be in Idleness." - -When we reached the Ground-floor, there was Mrs. _Fraunces_ buying Roses -and Gilly-flowers at the Door, which she afterwards set in Midst of the -Breakfast-table; for 'twas a notable Way of hers I always observed from -the first, to contrive to give e'en the simplest Meal the Air of a -little Banquet, whether by a Posy, a Dish of Fruit, or whatever it might -chance, to grace her plain, plenteous Providings. - -The first Note I had of _Miles Hackathrift_ being at Hand, was when I -returned from carrying up to _Tomkins_ his fried Fish and Bracket. He -came behind me, took me by the Shoulders, and gave me a smart shaking. - -"Come, now," quod I, when he had done, "art thou going to be civil or -troublesome?" - -"Troublesome," replied he decidedly. - -"Oh! well," quod I, "then we shall not come to a good Understanding, it -seems, till I have given you a Beating; but for your Sake I'll put it -off as long as I can." - -"Your Time is mine, sir," quod he, "don't be in a Hurry, nor yet put it -off too long. The smallest Favour shall be cheerfully accepted." - -"Ah," quod I, "if that were a true Word of yours, how pleasantly we -might get on together." - -"Pleasantly! quite the other Way, I think," quod he. "Why, quarrelling's -the very Spice of Life!" - -"Keep Spice for rich Men's Tables, then," quod I, "I can eat my -Breakfast very well without it." - -"Ah!" saith he, "you've been brought up by your Mother!" - -"And what if I have?" quod I quickly. - -"_Have_ you, though?" quod he, laughing. "Marry, you have now told Tales -of yourself! Though I could have guessed it." - -"May there never be a worse Tale to tell of you," quod I. "How mean -you?" quod he, bristling up. "Just what I say and no more," quod I; "my -meaning is full simple, I think." "Like yourself, then," quod he; "I -don't believe you could say Bo! to a Goose." "Nor Pruh! to a Cow, -perhaps," quod I. "Lads! Lads! be quiet there!" cries Mistress -_Fraunces_ from the Parlour. - -"What would be the Effect of that, though?" quod _Miles_, without -minding her, as soon as he had done Coughing by reason of a Fish-bone -that stuck in his Throat. "To set them scampering," quod I, "as I did -one Day, into the midst of a Pleasure Party." "Ha, ha, ha!" cries he, -"I'll try that in _Trolop's_ Fields; there are Lots of Cows there, and -Pleasure Parties too on Summer Evenings. Lovers and Loveresses, a eating -of Curds and Whey!" - -—"Really, Brother," saith Mistress _Fraunces_, the next Time my Master -went into the Parlour,—for though her Voice was low and sweet, it was -so distinct that oft-times I could not help hearing what she was -saying,—"truly, Brother, those Boys of yours wrangle so when they're -together, that it is Misery to hear them." - -"Boys will be Boys," quod he, peaceifyingly, "I was one myself a long -while ago. However, if they have said anything punishable, I must beat -them; but, if not, put a little Cotton Wool into your Ears, Sister -_Fraunces_." - -"Nay," quod she, relenting, "there was nothing punishable in aught they -said; and, as to getting them a Beating, they'll give each other enough -of that, I'm thinking. 'Twas such give and take, snip and snap, parry -and thrust, as that I could scarce forbear laughing." - -"Don't stop your Ears with Cotton Wool, then," quod my Master cheerily, -for a hearty Laugh is worth a Groat. "They'll have little Time for -Fighting, this Morning, for I have Plenty for them to do." - -Despite of this, however, _Miles_ found Time for a little more "snip and -snap," as Mistress _Fraunces_ called it, before Dinner. Seeing me start -forth on an Errand as he returned from one, he quietly saith in passing, -"See how pretty he looks with his Cap on!" whereon it struck me that -every 'Prentice Boy I had seen running about had gone bareheaded; and, -smiling, I put my Cap in my Pocket. - -In those Times, _Hew_, the Saturday Afternoon was somewhat between a -Holiday and a holy Day. People went to Evening Service at three o'Clock, -and, after that, there was no Business done, save in preparation for the -Sabbath; and thoughtful People enjoyed an holy Pause, and young light -Hearts took their Pastime. - -_Miles_, with Mischief in his Eye, proposed to me a Row on the River, -which I, nothing afeard, agreed to, for I had been in a Punt aforetime, -if not in a Wherry. He refused the Aid of a Waterman, saying lightly, -"This young Gentleman knows the Use of a Scull;" and, running hastily -along the Boat to secure the Stroke-oar, his Foot tripped against a -Thwart, and he lost his Balance and fell into the River. I guessed where -he would come up, and, sitting on the further Gunnel to trim the Boat, -held the Oar to him, and guided his Hand to the Side, which enabled him -to scramble in. The Watermen, who had run down to us as soon as they saw -him fall over, laughed when they saw him safe, and cheered me; and he, -looking rather foolish, sayth, "Well, I told them thou knewest the Use -of a Scull." I asked him which Way we should pull; howbeit, he was so -drenched that he must needs go Home to change his Clothes, and bade me -give the Waterman a Penny, saying he had not so much as a _Genoa_ -Halfpenny about him just then to buy a Custard at Mother _Mampudding's_. -When he had changed his Under-garments, and hung his Gown at the Kitchen -Fire, he amused himself by dropping Pellets from the Window on the -People in the Boats that shot the Arch beneath; and _Tib_, with her Head -stretched forth of the other Half of the Lattice, offered to Rehearse -unto me the Name and Calling of every Dweller on the Bridge, from the -Parson and Clerk at the one End, to the old Lady that lived all alone by -herself with her Cats at the other. Howbeit, _Miles_, tiring of waiting -for his Gown to dry, put on another, and bade me bear him Company to -_Finsbury Fields_. But first he lay in Wait behind the Door, and then -stole subtilly forth, like a Cat that had been stealing Cream; and on my -asking him why, he laughed and said, only that Mistress _Fraunces_ might -not see him in his Sunday-gown of a Saturday, for that would be contrary -to Rules and Regulations. - - [Illustration: J.Jellicoe - "Held the oar to him"] - -Arrived at _Finsbury Fields_ I saw what was certainly the finest and -busiest Sight I had ever yet seen in my Life; which indeed is not saying -much. The Fields themselves were open and pleasant, with plenty of -Windmills in full Rotation in the Distance; their white Sails playing -afore a dark Rain-cloud; and the Stretes that led to them beyond _Moor -Gate_, full of Shops kept by Bowyers, Fletchers, and Stringers. Here, on -the open Ground, we found, I say not Crowds, but Shoals of lithe and -limber 'Prentices; and of athletic Freemen, too, and grave and weighty -Citizens, where was Room for all—with Archers' Butts set up in various -Directions; and an infinite Number of the finest young Men the City -could turn out, practising at them with their long Bows; none of them -being allowed to shoot at a Mark nearer than eleven score Yards. Numbers -of the Masters, standing by, were watching, encouraging, and applauding -them, to their great Increase of Emulation. Others again were using -their Wasters and Bucklers, others kicking the Football; in the more -open Ground, Citizens' Sons were racing on Horseback, and some of them -practising Feats of War; others were wrestling, leaping, and casting the -Stone. And on every Hand, Venders of Cakes and Suckets. On the Field, we -came unawares upon Master _Hewet_, who spake us kindly, and noted not -the Matter of _Miles'_ Sunday-gown. And so the Day ended. - -As we went Home, _Miles_ told me how the Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs -were accustomed on St. _Bartholomew's_ Day to see the City Officers -wrestle with all Comers, at a set Place in _Clerkenwell_; and, two or -three Days after, to witness the shooting of the broad Arrow, both of -which I thought I should much delight to behold; but was quite unfit for -when the Time came; as thou, in due Course, shalt know. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -_Ye Disposition & Economy of Master Hewet's House_ - - -My Master's House had six Stories, the lowest of which was sixty Feet -above the River. First came the Kitchen, which, being partly sunk in the -Arch, might, if not in a Bridge, have been counted parcel-underground. -It had a Casement just over the Key-stone, and no thorough Draught; the -Larder being a Lean-to or Afterthought, stuck outside like a Bird's Nest -against the Wall. Level with the Strete lay the Shop, with a small -Ware-room or Writing-closet adjoining; and, behind it, three Steps above -it by Reason of the Kitchen beneath, the common Sitting-room, -overlooking the River. A narrow, steep Stair led to the Floor above, -which had Mistress _Fraunces's_ Sleeping-chamber, wherein lay Mistress -_Anne_, over the Shop, and a Summer-parlour, which for that it had a -Balcony over the River, commonly went by the Name of the Balcony Room. -It was hung with blue Buckram; and, by Reason of its Pleasantness, -Mistress _Fraunces_ made it her chief Sitting-room, while Mistress -_Anne_ played with her Dolls. Also there was a Closet wherein lay _Tib_. -Above this was a large Chamber that covered the whole Floor from Front -to Back, with a Window at either End; and, because of its projecting and -overlapping the Floor below, was sundry Feet the longer: this Room was -wonderful pleasant, and commonly called the Green Lattice, or -Lattice-room, from having a large green Lattice that overlooked the -_Thames_. In my Master's early married Days, which he was wont to say -had been, like those of many a young Husband, his poorest and happiest, -he had been glad to let off this Chamber to a Lodger.—His Father dying, -and leaving him Money, he left the retail for wholesale Business, gave -up his Lodger, and used the best Chamber himself; but with Wealth came, -as usual, a Counterpoise: his Wife died untimely in this same Chamber; -whereon he conceived a Dislike of it; and Mistress _Fraunces_ then -coming to reside with him and occupying his old Quarters, he mounted up -to the fourth Story, to a Room that o'erlooked the Strete. Above this -was _Tomkins_' Attick, and, last of all, our Loft. The Wind whistled -fearsomely up there, o' Nights, and made the Walls rock round us; not -that there was often any one wakeful enough to mind it. - -In the Green Lattice, though unoccupied, there stood a carven Oak Bed, -with dark green Hangings, lined with yellow Fustian, and Linen a Miracle -for Whiteness, ready for any chance Guest. I thought, boy-like, as I -glanced in, passing up and down, 'twas fit for the Sleeping Beauty to -lie in during her Trance of a hundred Years. There was a great Jar of -dead Rose-leaves, that smelt rarely; and I always had the Notion they -had been gathered by Mistress _Anne's_ Mother. I wondered, with a -strange yet pleasing Awe, whether her Ghost ever walked here, now that -her little Girl passed Hours in the Room by herself, singing over her -Dolls; and thought it might perhaps steal softly in and keep about her -when we little wisted. - -_Tib_, the Cook, made and kept but few Friends. She was turned of Forty, -and had a notable scorched Face, that looked like a Kitchen Fire. Also -she was a Woman of much Thirst, both for Ale and News; and would have -been counted a notable cleanly Woman, had she not been so dirty. For -Example, she would set the House afloat with Bucketfuls of cold Water, -till only _Noah's_ Dove could have found Rest for the Sole of its Foot; -and yet, the next Minute, would fling a Tub-full of Dish-water straight -into the River, on the Heads of any Passengers that might hap to be -shooting the Arch. She got into Trouble, once or twice, for this. - -Now, when I fell into my daily Course, Part of my Time was spent under -the Eye of my Master, and within hearing of his pleasant Talk, Part in -running about the Town, and Part with _Tomkins_; so that I was happy -from Morning to Night. For, _Miles_ not being fond of waiting upon the -poor lame Journeyman, I made it a Labour of Love; and he, being a -tender-spirited Man, very sensitive to small Kindnesses, took hugely to -me, as I shortly did to him. He had a busy Mind that was always at Work, -and his Occupation leaving him much Leisure for Headwork, he was always -chewing the Cud upon this or that Problem he had conned at odd Minutes -out of his old Books, or brooding upon Mysteries that were harder to -crack, and less safe for an unlearned Man to meddle with. Also he had a -mechanical Turn, which he exercised at what he called his Play Hours, -thereby only exchanging one hard Work for another; but he was so fond of -it that I was always glad to see his little File and Pincers in his -Hand. Thus it came to pass, that he never cared to stir from his Attick -into the World beneath, (though I found, afterwards, he generally -contrived to creep out somewhere on Sundays when we were all in Church,) -for, he said, Air he had plenty of, Exercise was a Misery to him, and as -for Company, had he not all he cared for, already? A few kind Words from -Master _Hewet_, continual Chat with me, a bright Glimpse of Mistress -_Anne_, and a Visit now and then from Mistress _Fraunces_, were all he -had and all he liked. For Mistress _Fraunces_ he had a wonderful Respect -and even Admiration; commending her gentle Temper, womanly Carriage, and -pleasant Voice; and bidding me note, (which I did on his naming,) that -she had, for her Years, the finest Hand that a Woman was ever graced -with. I said I wondered she had never married. He said, "Aye, indeed, -what can the Men have been about?" with a little Smile that I did not -feel to be quite respectful; and I wondered that even the gentle -_Tomkins_ must have his Fling at single Women. - -Mistress _Fraunces_ was used to accompany my Master to the Hall Dinners; -indeed, being a Sister of the Company, she was liable to a Fine if she -did not, except by Reason of Illness. However, now and then, she stayed -away; and then, when my Master returned, she would ask him with great -Interest what had been served up; and, being a shrewd Marketer, would -price each Item as he went along: thus,— - -"Well, Brother, and what did you have to-day?" - -"Why," saith he, "there was a Porpoise, to begin with." - -"A Porpoise!" then cries she, "oh! what a nasty coarse Fish! They are -seldom or never now seen at Table. Well, what else?" - -"Two Congers and two Turbot." - -"Ah! of course, Nobody would touch the Porpoise. Congers, the largest in -_Wetfishmongersrow_, six Shillings each, this Morning. Turbots, -three—eighteen. Well?" - -"Sirloin of Beef—Half a Veal—a standing Coney with a blue Ribbon round -his Neck." - -"Hold, Brother, not so fast. Beef, we all know, is a Penny a Pound—we -thank King _Harry_ for that. I saw Half a Veal to-day at Half-a-crown." - -"Two dozens Pigeons." - -"Two Shillings." - -"Some of your _French_ Kickshaws—'_Pettiz Birds rostez_.' ... And -'_pain-puffe avec un cold bakemeat_.'" - -"We have that every Sabbath," quod she, dryly, "without its fine Name. I -suppose you had Sweets." - -"Oh, yes; _Leche Lombard_; Pears _en serop_; Fritters, Doucettes, and -_une grande Custard_." - -"Come," saith she, "that was pretty well—enough, and no Profusion. But -the Porpoise spoiled all. And they might have given you a Swan instead -of a Coney. But stay; had you no _Mortreuse_?" - -"No _Mortreuse_." - -"Out on it!" quod she, "then I would not have given a Fig for your -Feast. There's nothing you had, that we can't have at Home, save -Mortreuse: I shall not rest till I know how to make it." - -At this Time, every one in their House seemed, according to their -several Dispositions, peaceful and happy; e'en _Tib_, after her Manner, -whether eating a plentiful Meal, setting the House afloat, stretching -forth of the Kitchen Window in the full Tide of Gossip with the Maid -next Door, or hemming a Lockram Pinner. She and _Miles_ were Friends -to-day, Foes to-morrow. One Minute, she would be giving him a -Sop-in-the-pan; the next, basting him with the Ladle. One Day, because -he had soiled her fresh-scoured Floor with his muddy Shoes, she -protested he should clean it; they had a real, earnest Fight, which a -Man should be above having with a Woman;—and he pulled out a Lock of -her red Hair, a small one,—which she snatched up from the Floor and -pocketed, saying she would shew it to Mistress _Fraunces_. Howbeit, she -did not. - -I affected a quieter Companion in the Attick; and one not without his -Teaching, for he was letterish after his Fashion, and had been in -_Paul's_ School. And, among his much used Books, there was _Lilly's_ -Grammar, and even _Prudentius_ and _Lactantius_; and another, in his -Eyes worth all the Rest, calling it "real Literature," and the others -"mere Blotterature," a Joke of old Dean _Colet's_. This precious Volume -looked to me mighty dull, being full of algebraic Signs; but he earned -many a Headache over it, and gave me a Headache too, sometimes, in -trying to help him. - -Pleasant Hours those were! in that quiet Attick, with the _Thames_ -trembling in silver Light far below, while the Watermen clave it with -their Oars to the mellow Song of "Heave ho, rumbelow!" and "Row the -Boat, _Norman_!" The Blackbird sang as cheerily as if he were in the -green Woods of _Kent_; and ever and anon the pretty Laugh of Mistress -_Anne_ would be heard from the Green Lattice, or she would peep in and -say, "Have a Cake, _Edward_?" "Have a Cherry?" and leave her little Gift -and run away. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -_Noteworthy Deed of a Boy taught of a Woman_ - - -I am now coming, _Hew_, to what hindered me of seeing the Shew in -_Clerkenwell_ on St. _Bartholomew's_ Day. Man proposes, but GOD -disposes: all Things are overruled for Good to them that love him—I'm -sure I found it so in this Case. - -The Weather was now excessive hot: _Miles_ and I used to take Boat -whenever we had a spare Evening, and practice Swimming off _Battersea_. -Also, we sometimes bathed in _Perilous Pond_, wherein many 'Prentices -are yearly drowned; hard by the Well of Dame _Annis_ the Clear. - -As for _Tomkins_, his whole Soul was in the making of the queerest Watch -that ever was seen; howbeit, clumsy as it was, he at last made it go; -though it never could keep up with St. _Magnus_' Clock. - -Master _Hewet_ was anxious, one Forenoon, to communicate by Letter with -an Agent on the Point of embarquing for _Callice_. I had a Race against -Time to the Quay, sped my Errand, and returned beneath a broiling -Noon-day Sun. When I got back, I was overheated and very thirsty, and -thought I would step into the Kitchen for a Drink of cold Water. I had -pulled off my warm blue Gown to cool myself, and went into the Kitchen -with it hanging on my Arm. Leaning forth of the Lattice, according unto -her Wont, was _Tib_, a parleying with the next Door Servant; and with -her left Arm cast about the Waist of Mistress _Anne_, who sate on the -Window-sill with her Back to the River. On seeing me come in, the little -Maiden clapped her Hands, which startling _Tib_, who supposed herself -caught by Mistress _Fraunces_, she maketh no more Ado, but turns short -round in a Flurry, giving a Lurch with her left Arm that cast the pretty -Innocent headlong into the River. I remember _Tib_ squealed; but without -a second Thought, I dropped my Gown that so luckily was off, and took a -Leap that was clean sixty Feet into the River, without so much as a -Thought what I should do when I got there. I remember the Blow the Water -gave my Head, and what a Way I went down, and how I bobbed up again, as -Providence would have it, with the dear little Fondling within -Arm's-length of me, drifting towards the Fall beyond the Arch. I -clutched at her by the pretty Waist, just as the Eddy was going to suck -her in, and, striking out once or twice with the other Arm, though the -Rapids were bearing me down horribly, found myself the next Minute a -clinging on to the Sterling, without Power to climb up it, so spent was -I, and feeling as if I must lose Hold of little _Anne_ after all! I wot -not how much of the Noise I then seemed to hear was the Water singing in -mine Ears, and the Uproar of the Falls; howbeit, there were People -hallooing above and around, and my Master's Voice a-top of all, from the -Parlour Window, overhead, crying, "Hold on, _Ned_, for thy Life! we'll -save you, my brave Boy! Cling to him, _Anne_, if he can't cling to thee!" - - [Illustration: "And took a leap"] - -And, before this, there had been a Roar, as if through a Speaking-trumpet, -of "Boat a-hoy!" and I heard Oars plashing fast, though I could not -spare Strength to turn my Head to see how near Help was. Then a rough, -kindly Hand laid hold of me from behind; and, finding I had no Power to -help myself, the Waterman took me under the Arms, and lifted me clean -into the Boat, with the dear little Girl hanging about my Neck. Oh! what -a Cheer there was! I heard it then, _I hear it now_: it came from around -and from above, as if GOD'S Angels were hovering over us. We were rowed -swiftly to the Landing, where there was a Press of People that mutely -fell back to make Way for Master _Hewet_, as he ran down the Stairs. For -he was greatly loved along the Bridge. He would have caught little -_Anne_ from me; but I could neither speak nor let her go; and he sayth, -"So best!" and burst forth into Tears. That sett off all the rest; and -when some one afterwards said, "Wherefore cheered ye him not when he -came a-land?" another made Answer, "How could we? all were in Tears." So -I went along, carrying little _Anne_, still fast to my Neck, with her -Cheek close pressed to mine, and they said, "It's all right, it's his -Triumph." But I thought not so much of any Triumph, just then, as how -thankful I was to GOD. When we got to the House, Mistress _Fraunces_ -took the poor, drenched Innocent from mine Arms; and Master _Hewet_, -taking me round the Neck, absolutely kissed me. Which was a memorable -Thing for a Master to do by his 'Prentice. Only, you see, I had saved -his Daughter. - -Well, that Evening was spent betwixt laughing and crying—scolding -_Tib_, and _Tib's_ saying she must leave, and Mistress _Fraunces_ saying -no one would take her with such a Character as she must give her; and -then my Master interfering and saying she must go for a While at least, -to her Friends, till he could endure the Sight of her, and then _Tib_ -crying and saying she had got no Friends, and his relenting and saying, -Well, then she must stay till she could get another Place, and keep out -of his Sight all she could, and never do so any more. Then came Supper, -I waiting on my Master, and Mistress _Anne_ nestled in his Arms in a -warm Wrapper, for she said if she went to Bed she should dream of -falling into the Water. And my Master liked to feel he had her safe, and -she and I exchanged many fond Looks; and we grew merry. For Master -_Hewet_ filled me a Cup from a long, narrow-necked Bottle of some -marvellous pleasant Wine, and Mistress _Fraunces_ helped us all round to -a Cake that had ne'er its like for Richness; and there were People -dropping in to inquire, and bewail, and felicitate. So the Bottle was -soon emptied; and when I went to Bed, my Head was in a Maze, and my -Temples beating like Blacksmiths' Hammers. As for Sleep!—whenever it -came nigh me, bang went mine Head against the Water!—and I rose up with -a great Start. While, as long as I lay awake, I heard (and saw too, with -mine Eyes ever so close shut), People cheering and crying and casting -Ropes, and leaning out of Lattices, and rowing Boats that made no Way; -and felt _Anne's_ Arm slipping from my Neck, and I with no Strength to -hold her; and, through and above all, the great Bell of St. _Magnus_ -clanging and tolling, through the livelong Night. - -But, what was very marvellous, when Morning came at last, and, I -suppose, I awoke, though it seemed me I had never fallen on Sleep, ... -there was I, not in the Loft, but in the Green Lattice Chamber, lying on -that beautiful Bed I thought fit for the Sleeping Beauty! And there was -a Chirurgeon with a Lancet in his Hand, and there were Basins and -Bandages, and my left Arm was stiffened, and I felt very weak. Mistress -_Fraunces_ had her Arm aneath mine Head, and my Master, with his grave, -kind Face, stood a-foot of the Bed. And, to my great Surprise, I heard -_Twelve o' the Clock_ striking on the Bell of St. _Magnus_, and, I -think, every other Clock in _London_, my Hearing seemed so tender; and -the Phlebotomist sayth, "He'll do, now.—Next Time you leap from such a -height, my Boy, clasp thine Hands a-top of thine Head. Howbeit, you will -now soon get well." - -—But oh! I did not soon get well. For I wot not what had come over me, -... none of us ever could rightly tell, ... whether the sudden Chill -after being so hot, or the Plunge from so great an Height, or the Turn -of my Blood with Fright at seeing _Anne_ fall in, ... but as soon as -ever I essayed to arise and dress, my Master and _Tomkins_ being by, I -began tumbling about and could neither hear nor see; leastwise Nothing -that was really to be seen and heard. And with such fearsome Pains in my -Head! So hot, and yet so cold! Such Thirst, and such loathing of Food! - -In short, I was sick nigh to Death of what the Leeches call Brain Fever. -Thereon the Kindness I received is past all telling. Mistress _Fraunces_ -seemed never out of Sight. Also _Tib_ was very handy and officious, -never minding climbing ever so many Stairs. And _Miles_ did the odd Work -for all, spake under his Voice, and went about without his Shoes. At -dead o' Night, I sometimes saw my Master at the Bed-foot, reading his -_Tyndal's_ Testament, (one o' the few that scaped burning,) with the -Lamp shaded so as not to shine into mine Eyes. At other Times, -_Tomkins_. But his Book was never the Testament. - -One Night, when the latter was with me alone, I said suddenly, -"_Tomkins_! the Night is far spent, the Day is at Hand!" ... "No, Lad," -quod he, "it wants many Hours yet to Day. It hath but just struck -eleven." "Ah, but," quod I, "those Words I used are Scripture, I think, -for I heard Master _Hewet_, as he sate a-reading, whisper them over to -himself. Do look out for them, will you, that I may know I was not -dreaming. They worry me." - -_Tomkins_ did not much like the Talk; howbeit, he laid down his own -Book, and turned over the other. - -"I don't see them," quod he. - -"How _can_ you, in the Dark?" quod I. - -"I'm not in the Dark!" quod he. - -"Well then," quod I, turning on my Pillow restlessly, "I suppose _I_ am. -I thought you had been, but peradventure I'm wandering again." - -After long Silence, he sayth, in a Voice hushed, and quite altered, "I -have them now ... they are close to your Master's Mark." And continued -reading. - -After a While, I saw him turn back again to his Starting-point, and sit -in a Muze, with his Eyes fixed; and after that, read again. - -I said softly to him, presently, "_Tomkins_, where do you go on Sundays?" - -"Who spoke?" cried he with a Start. - -"_I_ did," quod I. "Who else _should_ speak?" - -"Thy Voice sounded so low and sweet, Boy," quod he, recovering himself, -"that I wist not it was thine." - -"Well, but," persisted I, "where _do_ you go on Sundays?" - -"Not to Church," answered he, after a Pause. - -"But why not, _Tomkins_? Hast thou not a Soul to be saved, as much as -we?" - -"As much, no more," returned he, "if we _have_ any Souls." - -"Oh!" cried I, half starting up, but obliged to fall back again -directly, "could a Man without a Soul _make a Watch_?" - -"Well," quod he, after a Pause, "there you pose me. But all, all is -dark." - -"_Tomkins!_" cried I, "you make my Head ache ready to split, and my -Eyeballs seem too big for mine Eye-lids to shut over them. So hot, too, -as they are! I cannot argue with you. But, oh, _Tomkins_! if all is -dark, remember that 'the Night is far spent, the Day is at Hand!'" - -"So this Book sayeth," rejoined he, thoughtfully. - -"Well," said I, sighing, "I shall soon know." - -"_Know?_ why?" - -"Why, because, _Tomkins_, I think I am very likely dying ... and then, -if I have no Soul, where do you think I shall go to?" - -"I think," quod he, drawing his Hand across his Eyes, "that _you_ will -go to Heaven ... if there be such a Place." - -"I think so too, and feel sure of it," said I. - -"What makes you feel sure?" quod he. - -"Well," quod I, "I seem to have a sort of Witness in myself." - -"I wish I had," quod he, sighing deeply: and returned to his Reading. - -"What have you come to, now?" quod I presently, seeing him stop. - -"_Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven_," quod _Tomkins_. - -"Such? what?" - -"Little Children, like Mistress _Anne_ ... and Lads like you." - -"Ah!" said I, "if I had not got her out of the Water, she'd have been in -Heaven now." - -"I suppose you don't want her to _be_ there, though?" said _Tomkins_. -"Time enough for that—she'll go there when her Hour comes." - -"Oh! then you think there _is_ such a Place to go to, do you?" - -"For you and for her," quod he, cautiously. - -"You say that to humour me, I fear, _Tomkins_, because I am ill. If -there be such a Place for us, why not for you?" - -"Lad, you must keep quiet, and not talk so, or you'll go there sooner -than I wish." - -"Well, I am glad thou admittest there is such a Place," returned I, -beginning to feel greatly spent. "Only I wish you felt you should go -there too." - -"Boy, I'm not good enough," ejaculated he, with a shake of the Head. -"Ah, if you feel that, I don't despair of you," quod I. "There's Hope -for those that feel like forgiven Sinners or unforgiven Sinners: the -only hopeless ones are those that don't feel Sinners at all. And now, -_Tomkins_, just give me Something to drink." - -He did so, holding up my Head on his Arm. "Is there Anything else," quod -he, "I can do for thee?" - -"Why, yes," quod I, wistfully, "and then I think I could go to sleep." - -"What is it?" saith he very kindly. "I'll do it for thee." - -—"_Tomkins_, is it St. _Bartholomew's_ Eve yet? my Head is confused." - -"_Bartholomew's_ Eve, Lad? Why, that's passed!" - -"Oh me! ... how long?" - -"Oh, not many Days—" - -"Days?" And I felt so lost. - -—"Then, the Swifts are gone!" said I. - -"Well, don't let's think about the Swifts," quod he gently. "_Tempus -fugit_, as the Dial-plate says. What is it thou wilt have me to do?" - -"_Tomkins!_"—and I reached his Ear down to me as he leant over me, -"I've been so weak and so queer ever since I fell into the Water, that I -don't believe, at least I can't remember having once said my Prayers ... -will you say one for me?" - -"I can't, Boy," and a hot Tear fell on my Face. - -"Oh, yes, you can! ... and then I should sleep quietly—Ever so short an -one!—" - -"I can't remember _one_" said he, turning away his Head. - -"Not one? Oh, _Tomkins_, indeed, indeed you must! For _my_ Sake—Just -this short one ... 'GOD be merciful to me, a Sinner!'" - -"GOD be merciful to me, a Sinner," repeated he, bursting forth into -Weeping; and I drew his Face down yet closer unto mine. "Thank you, -_Tomkins_" quod I; "now I shall sleep soundly." And I slept. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -_Edward convalesceth i' the Green Lattice_ - - -When mine Eyes opened next Morning, my loved _Mother's_ dear, pale Face -was hanging over me. "Child," quod she, "Misfortunes never come -alone—When Master _Hewet's_ Post came to _Ashford_ with News of thy -Sickness, I was far from Home, in _Westmoreland_, at the Death-bed of -thine Uncle _Lancelyn_; and I wist not till Yesterday, what News was -awaiting my Return." ... And she hung over me, and bathed my Face in her -Tears. "But I am proud of thee, my _Ned_" quod she, "and so would thy -Father have been. And thou hast taken off from thee the Reproach of -being taught of a Woman as well as born of a Woman ... my dear, dear -Son!" - -Oh! what a Heaven it was to get well! There was my loved _Mother_ beside -me at her Sewing, telling me of _Ashford_ and the green Lanes of _Kent_, -and of the wild Hills of _Westmoreland_, till I seemed to be there -myself. There was Mistress _Fraunces_ cockering me up, first with Sweets -and cooling Drinks, and then with savoury and strengthening Things; even -to _Mortreuse_ and _Leche Lombard_! And when I was able to sit up at the -green Lattice, Mistress _Anne_ and I would look down on the Barges and -Boats, and play at divers Games and tell divers Stories. The Lodger that -had beforetime occupied this Chamber, had left a Heap of old Books and -written Papers, which, having Nothing private in them, my Master said I -was free to look over. There was Part of a Chronicle of _English_ -History, whether the Writer's own Composure or a Traduction, I wot not; -but brave and pleasant Reading, about the Courts of _England_, _France_, -_Spain_, and _Flanders_, in the Time of our _Edward_ the _Third_, and -Queen _Philippa_. Another Work was a Romaunt of Love and Chivalry: also -an Account of _London Bridge_, and _Chaucer's Canterbury Tales_, and a -Treatyse on Fysshynge. Likewise, there was a great Roll of Drawings, -done, I afterwards found, by another Lodger, in black and red Chalk, -much fouled, smeared, and chafed, but diverting to look at, being -Representations of Men, Women, Children, Skeletons, Death's Heads, -Bones, Angels, Fiends, Hippogriffs,—and divers other Presentments; with -_H. H._ writ at the End. - -Thus pleasantly passed the Time till the Doctor said I had only now to -pick up my Strength; and my _Mother_ then thought it Time for her to -return to my little Brothers. The Evening before she left, she sayth -unto me somewhat apologetically, "_Ned_, thine Uncle _Edward_ having -died childless, and left all to thine unmarried Uncle _Lancelyn_, who -hath now left me his Heir, I am now well to do, with an hundred Pound by -the Year, real Estate, and, personal Estate, five hundred Pounds, which -I have taken kind Master _Hewet's_ Advice concerning the Disposal of. -And he, being kindly affectioned unto thee just now, (as well he may -be,) is pleased to say thou art sure to make thine own Way in the World, -and to advise my devising all my personal Estate unto thy younger -Brothers, thou being secure of the other at my Death." - -Quod I, "Dear _Mother_, mayst thou live as long as I shall! There is -Nothing thou canst do so much to my Mind as to care for _Thomas_ and -_Julian_, the one of whom is weakly and unfit for active Life, and the -other, I think, will love Farming. Master _Hewet_, I am certified, hath -spoken wisely." And in sooth, I was glad to note what a good -Understanding seemed to exist, on so short Acquaintance, between him and -my dear _Mother_. - -So, when she was gone, I had Nothing to do but to get well. Marry! what -a hard Matter, though, it was!—At first I was glad to think I might go -forth abroad, and resume my old Gossips with _Tomkins_. But the very -first Time I essayed to clamber up to his Attick, though 'twas only two -short Flights, I found myself so weak that I was fain to sit down on the -Stair and shed Tears, whether I would or no. And there, to my very great -Shame, I was found of my Master. He bespake me kindly, and helped me up, -and said this Weakness would soon go off: howbeit, it did not.—I always -think that Chirurgeon bled me too freely: I noted his saying, "We'll -knock him down first, and then build him up again!" which carryeth a -Sound of Smartness, but not always answereth with the Event. Thus, 'twas -now found I must still go softly; and the Weather being sultry, Master -_Hewet_ bade me keep as much as I could i' the open Air and Shade, and -creep out, as my Strength permitted, to the Fields, with Mistress _Anne_ -to my Mate. So we went forth Hand in Hand, for I was past carrying her; -and presently I say, "Oh me, Mistress! ... I must sit down"—and sayth -she, "There's a Door-step i' the Shade a little farther on, with a nice -old Woman on it, selling Mulberries." So we creep on, and the little -Maid buyeth me Mulberries, and I eat and rest, and am refreshed. Then -quod I, "Let's go back now, Mistress;" but sayth she, "Oh, let's try to -go on to _Trolop's_ Milk-farm." So I love not to cross the little -Fondling, and as soon as we reach the green Meadows, the fresh, sweet -Air seems to take away that queer, light, fluttering Feel in my Head, -and to refresh and brace me; and I lie on the Grass i' the Shade, and -she runs hither and thither and gathers Borage, and Blue Bugloss, and -Bushy Red-mint, and bringeth them to me, saying, "What's this?" and -"What's this?" And so we go on Day by Day. - -Now as touching _Miles Hackathrift_. When I first lay sick, I have said -he was mighty softened, and went gently and seemed amain concerned for -me. Howbeit, Boy's Grief not long lasteth, and he soon fell tired of -feeling or feigning any; more by Token, he perceived his was outrun by -that of Everyone in the House. Whereupon he turned about, and grew -indifferent, then jealous, then surly, then envious, doubtless by small -Degrees; but of this, I, being apart from him, was not cognizant; and -the Change made itself apparent to me all at once. First, when Master -_Hewet_ was out, he took Advantage of it to come trampling up Stairs -with all the Clamour he could, singing, "Row the Boat, Norman!" in a -defiant sort of Way; and when Mistress _Fraunces_ put her Head forth of -the Lattice Chamber and sayth, "Make not such a Turmoil, _Miles_," he -pretended to stumble on _Tomkins's_ Stair, and let a heavy Weight roll -all the way down it. When he clattered down after it, Mistress -_Fraunces_, watching her Opportunity, gave him a Rap on the Head, which -I know that white Hand of hers could not have dealt very heavily; -natheless he took Occasion by it to cry out sharply, and then give one -or two dismal Grones, which he was too spirited to have done had he in -verity been mal-entreated. However, finding he might not sing nor slam -Doors while I lay under the Leech's Care, he turned sulky and held -close, so as that scarce yea or nay was to be had out of him. When at -length I returned to our Loft, he took Care to do me to wit how pleasant -it had been to him to have it all to himself; and immediately took -Advantage of my coming back, to oversleep himself of a Morning. Also he -instantly intermitted all the little Share of my Work that had been put -upon him while I was ill. Seeing me turn white from Time to Time, he -said I was shamming for the Sake of Soups and Cordials; and when I went -forth with Mistress _Anne_, he called me a special good Nursery-maid. -All this I cared for very little, knowing that when I got stout, I could -soon put him down; but meantime, 'twas not over-pleasant to be scoffed -at as a languid Lad, who, if trodden on, could not turn again. One Day, -when some Trifle had made me start and change Colour,—I think it was -seeing Mistress _Anne_ go nigh the open Window,—he had half pronounced, -"You Coward!" when, suddenly changing his Mind, he sayth, "Dost know -what new Name I have found for thee, and taught the Lads along the -Bridge? 'The Knight of the Flying Leap!'" Which was humourous, but not -well natured. Howbeit I heard it often enough for awhile, but as a Title -of Distinction instead of Derision; which incensed the Author of it. - -But all these little Clouds blew over during the three Weeks I spent -with my Mother at _Ashford_. When I came back, I was the same Lad as -ever, and took Things as I found them, and fell into my old Place. - - [Illustration: Tryphena & Tryphosa] - -In the October of this Year, Sir _John Gresham_, Mercer, being chosen -Mayor, his Company resolved to get up their famous Pageant of the Maiden -Chariot; and having vainly cast about among their own Fraternity for a -young Damsel sufficiently comely to be the Admiration of all the City, -and likewise able and willing to play the Part of Chariot Maiden, they -at length offered it to the youngest Daughter of Master _Soper_ the -Barbitonsor who lived on the Bridge. Now Master _Soper_ had two -Daughters, good and pretty Girls enow as Times went, _Tryphena_ and -_Tryphosa_ by Name, fresh-coloured, sprightly, and much admired by the -Bridge 'Prentices. These two Sisters were seldom apart, inasmuch as both -their Heads might commonly be seen out of one upper Lattice, looking -after every Thing that passed in the Strete; and 'twas in their Favour -that they always seemed on the best of Terms with one another. But -whether by Reason of any Unguent of Master _Soper's_, or mere Liberality -of Nature, I wot not, the younger, who in no other Wise excelled her -Sister, was notorious for the excessive Length and Thickness of her -glossy flaxen Hair. And this being an indispensable Requisite for the -Chariot Maiden, the Mercers without more Ado offered her the Part, which -she with great Glee accepted. Now hereupon, I lament to say, ensewed -great Disruption between the twain hitherto so harmonious; for Public -Admiration of Beauty is as true a Test of what is the Nature of a -Woman's Heart, as the black Marble the Goldsmiths call Touchstone is of -their precious Metals. If her Head be not turned by it, good: if she can -bear it bestowed upon another and o'erlooked in herself, why, good -also,—she can stand the Touchstone: howbeit, all have not this Virtue. -And, whereas _Tryphosa_ was now so elate with thinking of her white -satin Gown, her golden Sandals, her jewelled Crown, and her Feast in the -Hall, as to suppose the Ground scarce good enow for her to tread upon, -_Tryphena_ was ready to burst with Envy of her Sister, and could scarce -speak peaceably unto her. However, she came to her common Sense and good -Feeling at last, and found her Account in playing Second; many good -Things being in Store for both. A notable Thing was, that Master -_Soper's_ Shop was now literally besieged with Customers who wanted to -have a Glimpse of the Chariot Maiden, insomuch that he said he never had -had such a Trafficking for Pennyworths in any given Year, as he had in -this Month of October; only the worst was that every Customer gave as -much Trouble for a Penny as he should have done for a Shilling, and -would hang about, keeping away fresh Comers, when his Purchase was made. -While _Tryphosa_, who had never to this Time shewn any Symptoms of -Shyness, now turned coy and kept herself close; now and then letting -_Tryphena_ flit through the Shop and be mistaken for her, after which -the two would shut themselves up and go into Fits of Laughter. The Women -all along the Bridge were out of Patience with her for what they would -have it was simulated Bashfulness in one who meant to be stared at from -Morn to Night on _Lord Mayor's_ Day. And they satisfied themselves that -she was shutting herself up for Fear of freckling or sunburning. As for -_Miles_, who always loved to do like the rest, he was evermore running -over to Master _Soper_ to have his Hair cut, till at last it was hardly -longer than the Nap of his Gown; and I almost think he would have -submitted one of his good white Teeth to the Barber's Pincers, if he -could have gained Admittance on no cheaper Terms; just to boast of it -afterwards. At last, when the grand Day came, he and every 'Prentice on -the Bridge mobbed the Barbitonsor's Door till _Tryphosa_ was fetched -away in a close Litter. Then there was a Rush to the _Mercers'_ Hall, -where Master _Gresham_, in his Scarlet and Gold, met his Livery in their -new Gowns furred with Foins and Budge; and accompanied them, mounted, to -_Guildhall_, where the late _Mayor_, _Sheriffs_, and _Aldermen_, met -them on Horseback. Then they all took Barge to _Westminster_ and back, -to the Sound of Trumpets, Sackbuts, and Shawlms, and the firing of small -Guns, and exploding of Crackers. On re-landing at _Three Cranes' Wharf_, -they re-mounted, and proceeded to _Paul's Churchyard_, where they met -the Pageant, consisting of an exceeding magnifical Chariot, twenty-two -Feet high, of the _Roman_ Build, entirely covered with silver embossed -Work, having _Tryphosa_ therein, set on high, in Jewels and spangled -Satin; her fair flaxen Tresses dishevelled, a Sceptre in one Hand, a -Shield in the other, with all the Glory and Majesty possible to -imagine:—_Fame_, blowing of a Trumpet right over her Head, _Wisdom_, -_Modesty_, and all the rest, including the nine Muses, each in their -proper Places; _Triumph_, driving nine white _Flanders_ Horses, three -abreast; Grooms, Lictors, and Pages marching alongside the Equipage; and -a Score of Salvages and Jacks-i'-the-Green, making diverting Remarks to -all; and keeping the Crowd off with Squibs and Crackers. - -Oh! was ever Woman exalted one Day so high (even to the first-floor -Windows), to come down so low into the Retiredness of domestic Life the -next! What was _Cleopatra_ sailing down the _Cydnus_ to this? Did -_Zenobia_, did _Semiramis_ ever have anything so fine in the Way of -Triumph? Pish!—Moreover, there was a separate Table prepared for -_Tryphosa_, who dined in State with her chosen Ladies, attended by -Seneschals, Squires, and Pages, as if she had been a Queen. And had -Swans' Pudding and Leche Lombard, I promise ye! - -—But oh! poor Humanity.—'Twas noted at the Feast, more in special by -some of the chosen Ladies that thought themselves set lower than they -might have been,—that poor _Tryphosa's_ Face was so tanned by Exposure -all Day to Sun and Wind, as that my _Lord Mayor's_ Gown was scarce more -Scarlet. And by the Space of a Fortnight or so from that Hour, 'twas so -blistered and scorched that she hated to be seen, and was obliged to -blanch and mollify it with Buttermilk, Cream of Almonds, and I wot not -what Female Recipes. Which was the more provoking, as some of the -inferior Officers of the Company called, the Day after the Feast, to -know how she fared, and she was constrained to leave their Entertainment -to _Tryphena_. _Miles_, who had a Glimpse of her through an upper -Casement, was so offended at her Aspect that he spent no more Pence at -Master _Soper's_. And by the Fortnight's End, the Matter had ceased to -be talked about, and the two Girls might be seen, sewing together, and -keeping an Eye to the Bridge, as contentedly and harmoniously as ever. - -During my Visit to my _Mother_, a new Inmate had been brought into the -Family: to wit, a superior Kind of Maid for Mistress _Anne_, named -_Damaris_, who had lived aforetime in the Household of Master _Hewet's_ -Brother in the Country. She was a Miracle of Composedness and discreet -Demeanour, which gave her the Air of being somewhat older than she -really was. Mistress _Anne_ now spent the Chief of the Day with her in -the Green Lattice, where _Damaris_ kept herself much reserved, sewing -fine Linen, and teaching her little Charge to read. - -One Day, when I was moving some Laths and Cases that had stood against -the Wall in _Tomkins's_ Attick till they were begrimed with Dust, I was -in Amaze to behold delineated on the White-wash with black Chalk, an -exact Portraicture of _Tomkins_, stooping over his Work, with every Line -and Furrow of his intent, earnest Visage accurately made out. - -"What's this?" quod I. - -_Tomkins_ brake forth into Laughing. "I wist what you would come to," -quod he, "when you set about moving those Laths. That's Master _Hans -Holbein's_ Handywork. He must needs befoul the Wall with his Scrawling, -just after it had been fresh Lime-washed. I told him 'twas a Pity it had -not been scrawled first, and limewashed afterwards. So, then, in his -Despite, he scored it through with that Cross; and then I set the Lumber -against it, and told him Nobody should see it again." - -"Who is _Hans Holbein_?" quod I. - -"A prime _Flemish_ Painter," returned _Tomkins_; "he tables at the -Goldsmith's, nearer the north End of the Bridge. When Master _Hewet_ -first married, he had _Hans Holbein_ for a Lodger; and the Green Lattice -was filled from End to End with his Pictures—there's a Bundle of his -Scratchings down there now. Howbeit, he was too boisterous an Inmate to -please Mistress _Alice_, so Master _Hewet_ was glad to get quit of him. -There's a famous Thing of his at _Surgeons' Hall_; old King _Harry_ -granting the Charter to the Company; howbeit, though he painted half the -Court, he did nothing better, to my Mind, than his Likeness of Mistress -_Alice_, that now hangs at the Foot of her Husband's Bed. When the Door -standeth ajar, thou mayst see it without going in." - -So, the next Time I passed, I looked in, and saw the Presentment of my -Master's late Wife. Of a Truth, she must have been a fair Creature: with -Eyes as blue and truthful as Mistress _Anne's_, and sunny Hair that -would have fallen over her fair Shoulders in as heavy Curls, but for her -Matron's Frow's-paste. Also the same full, cherry Lips, and dimpled -Chin; the same small Nose, small Ear, small Hand; in fine, the -Foreshadow of what Mistress _Anne_ in After-time became, rather than -what she was yet.... Pity, so fair a Lady should die so young! - -And she made a good End, _Tomkins_ told me—knew 'twas at Hand, took -composed Leave of all, and desired she might be buried in the Church of -St. _Martin Orgar_; and that 30_s._ and no more should be spent to bury -her decently, and 10_s._ more for Cakes, Wine, and Spices for the -Mourners. Also 20_s._ out of her own private Purse to be put in the -Common-box of the Fraternity for an Alms; Five Shillings to the mortuary -Priest, and Five Shillings to the Poor in Bread. Six of the Company bare -her to Church, each of whom received a silver Spoon. - -Somewhere about this Time, the _Clothworkers'_ new Overseer came to -examine the Premises; and, when he had concluded his Inspection -below-stairs, told my Master, with some Hesitation, he had Reason to -think there was a Journeyman hid away above who worked in the House. -Master _Hewet_ smiled, and told him of the Exception made in Favour of -_Tomkins_, and accompanied him up-stairs, to let him witness for himself -that his Statement was true. When we went in, _Tomkins_, for once, was -off Duty, intent upon a Book, and so buried in it, that he started and -blushed like a Boy caught conning _Tom Thumb_ in School-time. When the -Overseer was gone, _Tomkins_ sayth to me with a little Dryness, "Who -would have thought of your taking me by Surprise?" - -I made Answer, "Who would have thought of your being surprised?" at -which he laughed. - -"So," quod he, after weaving a little While in Silence, "they've set up -_Erasmus's_ Paraphrase, now, alongside of the chained Bible in St. -_Magnus's_." - -"They have it in all the Churches," quod I; "but how came you to know -it?" - -He was silent awhile, and smiled a little. "Well," quod he, "thou -knowest I have crawled out a little lately, before Breakfast; and I -thought it as well to turn into the Church for a Rest; and found that a -Spell of Reading helped to pass the Time.... I go there o' Sundays, now: -have done so ever since _that Night_." - -"Then," quod I softly, as I leaned over him, "GOD _hath_ been merciful -to you a Sinner." - -And spake never a Word moe. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -_Tib's Malpractyzes_ - - -As about this Time, it being stark Winter, _Tib Pyebaker_ went near to -burn the House down after the Manner following. She took some red-hot -Coals between two Saucepan-lids to warm her Bed therewith; and, whenas -she deemed it heated enow, she would needs not be at the Pains of -carrying the Coals down again, but hid them under the Stairs in a -Broom-cupboard. And by Reason of the undermost Lid-handle making the Lid -to lose its Balance, it fell Topside-t'otherway, and the lighted Coals -were spilled, whereof I passing the Cupboard, was made ware by the -strong Smell of burning. And, looking therein and moving sundry Rags -that were already Tinder, I found the Boards beneath them just ready to -burst into a Flame. Whereupon, without running for Water, I cast my Gown -thereon and crushed it out with my Hands. Now, could I have hidden my -Burns, I might have saved _Tib's_ Credit; whereas the Thing could not be -hid, seeing I could not so much as cut my Meat; and Mistress _Fraunces_ -bruiting it abroad, it came to the Ears of the Bridge Wardens, who, -because of the imperilling of the whole Bridge, would not be hindered of -setting _Tib_ in the Cage, as a Warning to other careless Servants. I -was grievous for her, the Place was so publique; and a Lot of 'Prentice -Boys were staring at her all Day, and offering her Eatables and then -plucking them away. Also _Miles_ made no end of Pretences for going of -Errands past that End of the Bridge, and always feigned to look away -from _Tib_, yet took Care to spy her in her Trouble, out of the Corner -of his Eye, all the Time. - -I never knew one Woman treat another with more silent Contempt than -_Damaris_ expressed for _Tib_, after this Affair of the Cage. It was a -long Time afore the 'Prentices (who now called me _Fire-and-Water_,) -left off asking of _Tib_ where she now kept her Warming-pan, and whether -she cast her hot Ashes out on the Boats that shot the Bridge. For this, -she would sometimes catch them by the Ears and pull them well; but then -they would cry "Clubs!" and a Score of Lads were over their Counters in -a Minute, and she had to run for it and dart breathless into the House, -whither they dared not follow her. Howbeit, when the pleasant Month of -May came, and the Damsels danced before their Masters' Doors to the -Timbrels, _Tib_, who well loved to pound away with the Rest, was so -cross that she would not come forth. - -During the last few Months, _Tomkins_ had been much eased of his -Lameness; and the worn Look of Suffering had altogether departed, -leaving him a much younger looking Man than before this Relief. One day, -to my great Surprise, he told me he was going to be married. I asked -him, to whom; and he said, to an old Acquaintance of his he had long -lost Sight of, but had fallen in with in St. _Magnus_' Church ... one -who would gladly have had him when they were many Years younger, but who -was kind enough to care for him and wish to make him happy now. He -added, reflectively, when he had told me this, "There are a great many -good Women in the World." - -So he removed his Loom to a tidy Lodging in _Shoreditch_, which Master -_Hewet_ furnished for him; and Mistress _Fraunces_ gave him his Wedding -Dinner, and _Miles_ and I helped to eat it. The Wife, though -middle-aged, had a pleasant Aspect; and I thought _Tomkins_ had done a -very good Thing for himself; but his Attick looked very dreary without -him. - -The Marching Watch was revived with great Splendour this Year by the -Lord Mayor, Sir _John Gresham_, both on St. _John's_ Eve, and the Eve of -St. _Peter_: and the Array was augmented by three Hundred Demi-lances -and light Horse, prepared by the City to be sent into _Scotland_ for the -Rescue of the Town of _Haddington_. Five Hundred of the Cressets were -furnished by the great Companies, the other two Hundred by the Chamber -of _London_, and every Cresset had two Men, one to hold, and one to trim -it: and every Cresset-bearer had Wages, his Breakfast, a Badge, and a -Straw Hat. And, what with Halberdiers, Billmen, etc., there mustered -about two Thousand. There were also many City Feasts, some of which -Master _Hewet_ and Mistress _Fraunces_ attended very richly dressed. - -It was some little Time after this, that I, copying a Letter at my -Master's Behest, could not hinder myself of hearing the following -Address made to him by Mistress _Fraunces_. - -"_William_, I have been laying up thy black Velvet Suit with Care, this -Morning, thinking thou wouldest have no more present Occasion for -it.—How well thou becamest it, I thought! And so thought Mistress -_Beatrix_. She said she had never seen a Man look so well since thou -warest thy white Sarcenet Coat in the great Muster for King _Harry_." - -"Sarcenet Speeches, Sister," sayth Master _Hewet_. - -"Nay, I know not what you mean by Sarcenet Speeches," returns she, "I am -sure they were sincere enough; and truly I think, Brother, if you pushed -your Fortune a little in that Quarter, you might have Success." - -Finding he uttered no Word, she, after a little waiting, saith, "Dear -_Alice_ hath now been long in her Grave, and would, I am certified, wish -you to be happy." - -—"And what is to make me so?" asks he, huskily. - -"Nay, Brother, a good Wife." - -"I've had one," quod he, "and one is enough to my Share.—Are you tired -of keeping House for me? What would you do, now, if I set a Lady above -you at my Table?" - -"Oh," quod she cheerfully, "I would gladly take the second Place. Or, if -she preferred my Room to my Company, I would take Pattern by the old -Lady at the Bridge End that lives all alone by herself with her Cats." - -"No, dear _Fraunces_" sayth he,—and I have Ground for thinking he -kissed her,—"you shall need neither Alternative—_Alice_ shall have no -Successor in mine House, since she can never have one in my Heart ... -and, as to happy,—why, except for that one great Loss, am I not happy -as Man can be? Believe me, I am content with the Present, and trustful -for the Future. I hope to see...." - -But what he hoped to see, I heard not. - -About this Time, _Miles_ had formed close Acquaintance with some Lads on -the Bridge, who gave their Masters more Trouble than enough. I suppose -he thought it spirited of them, and worthy of all Imitation. One Night, -I awoke out of my first Sleep, and lay listening to the Uproar of the -Winds and Waters, which seemed quite to drown _Miles'_ Snoring, when the -Door suddenly opened, and my Master, with a Lamp in his Hand, sayth, -"_Ned_, are you in Bed?" I say, "Yes, Master." "Then," quod he, where is -_Miles_?" I said, "In Bed too, Master." But he turned his Light on -_Miles'_ Bed, and it was empty. Then quod he, "The Bridge Watchman hath -just called under my Window to say one of my 'Prentices was abroad, but -he wist not which, for in chasing him, he stumbled over an Heap of -Rubbish before a House under Repair, and lost him in the Dark." - -Then he left me, and I lay wondering how _Miles_ could have got out, -since Mistress _Fraunces_ kept the House-key, and what Account he would -give of himself when he came back. Master _Hewet_, I afterwards learnt, -found the Key in the Door, outside, and took it in, and locked the Door. -And so, sate in Wait a good While, till at length some one tries the -Door from without, then gropes about the Ground for the Key, then loudly -whispers through the Keyhole, "_Tib!_ _Tib!_" - -Thereupon the Door is opened, but not by _Tib_; and my Master, collaring -_Miles_, strikes him, but not so severely as for him to do what he did, -which was to fall all along on the Ground and emit one or two hollow -Grones. Master _Hewet_, witting him to be scarce hurt, waxed very angry, -and pulling him up, would know how he got out, but _Miles_ would not -tell. Then he would know why he called on _Tib_ through the Keyhole, as -though expecting her to be at Hand; and he made Answer, Because her Name -came readiest, and he was less afeard of her than of any else, but she -wist not of his being out. My Master said, That should be seen to, and -how did he get the Key? He said Mistress _Fraunces_ had forgotten to -take it up. But Mistress _Fraunces_, when called up, remembered well to -have laid it on her Toilette ere she went to Bed, and was avised _Tib_ -must have fetched it while she was asleep. But, on going to _Tib_, -Mistress _Fraunces_ found her sleeping so heavily, that after much -shaking, all she could get out of her was, "Thieves! Thieves!" So the -Matter stood over; Master _Hewet_ putting it to _Miles_ whether he wist -not that he might have him up before the Wardens, and see him hardly -dealt with. So _Miles_ came back to his Bed, sullen enough. - -But a Woman's own Tongue is oft her worst Enemy. The next Morning, -though Nothing could be got out of _Miles_ nor of _Tib_, yet Mistress -_Fraunces_, being in her own Bed-chamber, instead of at Market, as _Tib_ -supposed, hears _Tib_, who was concluded to be making my Master's Bed, a -talking from his Window to the Maid in the corresponding Window across -the Strete. And although, by Reason of the two Tenements being so very -few Feet apart in their upper Stories, there was hardly need for _Tib_ -to speak above her Breath, yet Mistress _Fraunces_, quickened by -Curiosity, could hear almost every Word, and how that _Tib_ had come -into her Chamber when she was asleep, and took the Key and lent it to -_Miles_, who had promised her a tawdry Ribbon for it: and how the -Watchman saw him go forth, and aroused my Master, who set on him when he -returned, and beat him within an Inch of his Life. And how Mistress -_Fraunces_—But here Mistress _Fraunces_ spoiled all, in her Anxiety to -hear the Particulars of her own Character; for, advancing a little too -near the Casement, that she might not lose a Syllable, she was caught -Sight of by the Neighbour's Maid, who, without Doubt, made a Signal to -_Tib_. Whereupon, _Tib_, after a Moment's Pause, added, and how that if -Mistress _Fraunces_ were not the sweetest and mercifullest of Ladies, -there would be no Chance of her forgiving such a Misdeed when she came -to hear it, as _Tib_ meant she should the very first Time she could find -Heart to confess it to the sweetest and best of Ladies. - -Oh what Potence hath a flattering Tongue! Here was Mistress _Fraunces_ -ready to fly out upon _Tib_ and give her Warning on the Spot, and, in a -Minute, in a Breath, her Wrath was allayed and brought within Compass by -the Commendation of an artful Woman. She goeth to the Stair-foot and -calleth, "_Tib!_ _Tib!_ come down with thee this Instant!" but by the -Time _Tib_ appeared with her Apron at her Eyes, she had lost all Mind to -cast her, characterless, forth of the House, and it sufficed her to -bestow a severe Chiding. Whereat _Tib_ wept, and took Shame to herself, -and made her Peace; and so was kept on. Which I ever thought an -ill-advised Thing. Where there's no Fidelity, there's no Safety. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -_Early Setting of a young Morning Star_ - - -"And _Jacob_ served _Laban_ for _Rachel_ seven Years; and they seemed -unto him but so many Days, for the Love he had unto her." Albeit I was -not serving my Master for my Master's Daughter, yet her being in the -House helped, I wot, to make the seven Years speed like seven Days. -Sure, never was so gracious a Creature! Her Nature was so excellent, and -her Countenance, which was the Index of her Mind, was so full of -Sweetness and Goodness, that one could scarce look upon her without -blessing Him who had created her so lovely. - -Meantime my Master's Fortune and Credit from small Beginnings had risen -mightily, as is often the Case in this commercial and prosperous City. -He had gone through the three Degrees of Wardenship of his Company, had -been elected of the Common Council, and was now Alderman of the Bridge -Ward Without. And if he still lived and went plain, he laid by and laid -out in Commerce the more: there was no Shew, nor no Stinting. - -Yes: those were happy Days! All the fairer they seem now, for the dark -ones that were coming. The only Sorrow among us that I remember was when -the Pestilence brake out, in the fifth Year of our young King, which at -first only prevailed in the North, but at length reached _London_, where -it raged with prodigious Fury, carrying off eight Hundred Souls the -first Week, and mostly after a Sickness of only twelve or twenty-four -Hours. We had it not on the Bridge, which was attributed to the free -Access of fresh Air to our Dwellings; howbeit, Mistress _Anne_ (like a -ministering Angel as she was,—such a Child, too! only in her twelfth -Year!) must needs go about, relieving poor Wretches in their Dwellings; -whereby she caught a low Fever that brought her to Death's Door, and -filled the House with Tears. If my Master, a Man in Years, forbare not -to weep, Reason was, a Lad such as I should weep too. Howbeit, through -the Grace of God, she recovered: but for a long Time she was too -enfeebled to walk, wherefore Master _Hewet_ took her much on the Water -during the long Summer Evenings, after we had been nigh stifled by the -Day's sultry Heat. For the eastern Side of the House was close; and the -western, though open, yet was much exposed to the Glare of the Sun on -the River. We shut it out with Blinds and Lattices all we could; but -still, the Crown of the Day was after Sundown on the Water. Master -_Hewet_ liked his 'Prentices to pull; and sometimes we fell into the -Wake of some Court Barge with Horns and Sackbuts, and lay on our Oars; -Mistress _Anne_ full silent, resting her Head, for Weakness, against my -Master's Shoulder, and with the Tears sometimes stealing down from her -large, bright Eyes. My Master carried her down to the Boat, but 'twas my -Portion, for I will not say Burthen, to carry her up. How light she was! -She did not much like it, and managed presently to ascend slowly, with -the help of my Master's Arm; but I remember the Goodness and Sweetness -with which, with a sweet Blush on her Face, she sayth, "Do you remember -the first Time? But for thee, I had not been here now." - -As she strengthened, we kept out longer, and went up to _Chelsea_ and -_Fulham_, and rambled about the pleasant Fields; eating Curds and Cream -at Milkhouses, and returning by Moonlight; _Miles_ and I singing, "Row -the Boat, _Norman_." - - [Illustration: JJ - "Eating Curds & Cream"] - -Then Master _Hewet_ carried her down into the Country, to the Hall of -his Brother the Squire; and there she abode till she was quite well. -When she returned, the Leaves were falling, and Master _Hewet_ would -walk with her of an Evening to _Finsbury Fields_, and stand with her at -a Distance to see us young Men shoot the long Bow, leap, wrestle, cast -the Stone, and practise our Shields; in all which, _Miles_ came in for -his full Share of Praise; and I was always well content to be thought -equal to him. Sometimes I overshot him, sometimes he overshot me; -sometimes I outleaped him, sometimes he outleaped me; but we loved the -Game beyond the Competition; there was never any ill Blood between us. - -'Twas on _All Saints'_ Day, this Year, that the new Service Book, called -of Common Prayer, was first used in _Paul's_ Church, and the like -throughout the whole City. Dr. _Ridley_, Bishop of _London_, performed -the same in _Paul's_, in his Rochet only; and in the Afternoon preached -at _Paul's_ Cross before the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Livery Companies, -which Sermon, being on the Subject of the new Service, lasted till five -o' the Clock, so that, the Days being short, we returned by Torch-light. - -Then had the Church great Rest. The Enemy, knowing his Time was at Hand, -lay mighty quiet: and, for the Multitude of notable Foreigners that -resorted to us for Safeguard, _England_ might have been called _Christi -Asylum_. Howbeit, the Canker was already i' the Bud! - -The King, earlier in the Year, had ta'en the Measles; and during the -Summer, had ridden a Progress with greater Magnificence than ever he had -done before. In the _January_ following, whether procured by sinister -Practice or natural Infirmity, he fell into an Indisposition of Body -which soon grew to a Cough of the Lungs. Perhaps it had been happy if -Lord _Robert Dudley_ (now my Lord of _Leicester_,) had not recently been -sworn one of the six Gentlemen of the King's Chamber ... we must not -speak ill, _Hew_, of them that are set high in Authority, save upon -great Conviction and Certitude: howbeit, you and I know what the private -Report of that Gentleman is—When I'm sick, don't give me a _Leicester -Cordial_, that's all! - -The common Talk was, that a poisoned Nosegay had been given the pretty -Boy at New-year's-tide, which brought him into this slow but deadly -Languishment. To think, what Poison may lie 'neath Flowers! At all -Events, the Duke of _Northumberland_, now the powerfullest Man in the -Realm since he had swallowed up his unhappy Rival _Somerset_, beginneth -to aim at nothing short of Crown matrimonial for his young Son Lord -_Guilford Dudley_, lately espoused to the Lady _Jane Grey_; therefore -inculcateth on the kingly Boy now a-dying, how much it concerned him to -have a Care for Religion, not only during Life, but after his Death; -which could not be preserved in its Purity to the Realm should the Lady -_Mary_ succeed; and, if he set aside one Sister, he might as well put -away the other also, and devise his Crown to her who after them was his -next Kinswoman, the good and godly Lady _Jane_. - -So soon as this was obtained of him, he might die as soon as he -would—the sooner the better—and, to help Matters, the Leeches were -dismissed, and a Gentlewoman (thought to have received her Instructions -before hand,) set over him; under whose Applications his Pulse presently -failed, his Skin changed Colour, and other Symptoms speedily appeared of -Mortal Dissolution. Turning his Face then to the Wall like good -_Hezekiah_, he was heard by one that sate behind the Curtain to say, "O -LORD GOD, deliver me out of this miserable and wretched Life! O LORD, -thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee; yet, for thy -Chosen's Sake, if it be thy Will, send me Life and Health that I may -truly serve thee!" After a little Space, again he sigheth, "O save thy -People _England_!" Then, turning about, and noting some one behind the -Curtain, "I had thought," saith he, "I was alone." "Sir," sayth the -Attendant, "I heard you speak, but heard not what you were saying." -"Nay," sayth he, "I was but praying to GOD. Oh! I am faint! faint unto -Death! LORD, receive my Spirit!" And forthwith breathed out his white, -innocent Soul. Early ripe, early gathered! - -Thus we sometimes see the Nation's prime Hope, the Desire of all Eyes, -cut off as a sweet Rose snaps its Stalk; and we mourn, thinking the LORD -hath forgotten to be gracious and will no more be entreated, and his -Mercy is clean gone from us for ever; not knowing that, after he hath -tried and purified his own, yea, like Silver over the Fire, till the -thick Scum separates and he seeth his own Image reflected in the bright -Metal, he will return unto us and be gracious, like as a Father pitieth -his Children, and make our latter Day better than our Beginning. Had we -not known the early Setting of this young _Hesperus_, we had not now -sunned ourselves in the Light of our bright Occidental Star. - -And now, the bright Boy being dead, the Duke of _Northumberland_ took -upon him to sit at the Stern, and order all Things according unto his -Pleasure. The Demise of the Crown was kept close that Day and the next, -he hoping to obtain Possession of the Lady _Mary_, who, however, learned -the Secret, and rode off to the Coast. Meantime, he took heed to occupy -and fortify the _Tower_; and, on the second Day, sent for the Lord -Mayor, six Aldermen, not including Master _Hewet_, six Merchants of the -Staple, and as many Merchant Adventurers, to attend the Council at -_Greenwich_, where they were advised of the King's Death and how he had -ordained for the Succession by Letters Patent, to the which they were -sworn, and charged to keep the Matter secret. - -When my Master presently heard of this from one of his brother Aldermen, -(for such Secrets are not long kept,) he said, in his own Family, that -however he might desire a Protestant Succession, he was persuaded that -this would not, nor could not, come to Good. "To say Nothing," quod he, -"of the Lady _Jane's_ questionable Birth; for the Duke, though few know -it, had, when he married her Mother, a Wife living already." - -Howbeit, at Three o' the Clock on the Monday Afternoon, the Lady _Jane_ -was conveyed, in Sight of us all, by Water from _Syon_ to the _Tower_, -and there received as Queen. At Five o' Clock, the King's Death and her -Accession were proclaimed; but few cried "GOD save Queen _Jane_!" A -Drawer at a Tavern within _Ludgate_ said in the Hearing of some, that he -thought the Lady _Mary_ had the better Title; whereon he was incontinent -arrested and set in the Pillory in _Chepe_, whereto both his Ears were -nailed, and then clean cut off. - -Meantime the Duke of _Northumberland_ heareth that the Lady _Mary's_ -Party makes head, whereon he resolves to send Lady _Jane's_ Father, the -Duke of _Suffolk_, to put it down and seize her Person. Whereon the Lady -_Jane_, who hath all along had no Mind to the Crown, weepeth sore, and -begs her Father may be let off that Enterprize and that her -Father-in-law will take it on himself; which he, after short Demur and -much Flattery of his Bravery and Skill, consenteth to do. But his Heart -misgiveth him, both as to what he goes to and what he leaves behind; -and, sayth he to the Council, "Should ye in mine Absence waver in your -Resolution, it may be ye will contrive your own Safety with my -Destruction." Quod they, "Your Grace makes a Doubt of that which cannot -be, for which of us all can wash his Hands clean of this Business?" So -the Duke set forth with eight Thousand Foot and two Thousand Horse; and, -as he rode along _Shoreditch_, quod he to Lord _Grey_, "See how the -People press forward to see us! but not one of them sayth, 'GOD speed -you!'" - -In Truth, Gentle and Simple fell off to the Lady _Mary_, though Bishop -_Ridley_ preached at _Paul's_, to invite us to stand firm to Lady -_Jane_. The Duke's Party melted away; and the Duke of _Suffolk_, -learning how his Daughter's Partizans had defalked to the Lady _Mary_ or -been defeated and captivated, entereth the young Queen's Chamber and -telleth her in brief, she must now put off her royal Robes and be -content with a private Life. To which the meek young Lady made Answer, -that she should put them off with more Contentation than she had put -them on; and would never have done so but to please him and her Mother. -And so ended her ten Days' Reign. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -_The Defence of the Bridge_ - - -On the Third of _August_, the Lady _Mary_ entered _London_ as _Mary_ the -_Queen_; and truly she began to make short Work of it; for, the next -Day, she restored _Gardiner_ to his Bishopric of _Winchester_, and, a -few Days later, made him _Chancellor_; and, on the Fifth, restored -_Bonner_ and _Tunstall_ to their Sees. _Ridley_, _Coverdale_, _Hooper_, -and the rest of our good reformed Bishops, of course, were removed; and -all beneficed Men that were married, or would not abjure the reformed -Faith, were put out of their Livings. - -On the _13th_, _Miles_ and I went to hear what would be said at _Paul's -Cross_. There was one _Bourne_, a Canon, who preached such arrant -_Romanism_ and Flattery of _Bonner_, now Bishop of _London_, to his -Face, that the People hooted and cried, "Pull him down," and _Miles_, -flinging his Cap with good Aim, hit him on the Nose. Another flung a -Dagger, which just missed him, but caused him to quit his Post; and -honest Master _Bradford_, stepping into it, spread forth his Hands with, -"Good _Christian_ People"—whereon there was great Quiet; and by his -savoury and peaceifying Doctrine he allayed the Tumult. The same Day, an -old Priest said Mass at St. _Bartholomew's_, albeit the People went nigh -to pull him in Pieces. - -The following _Sunday_, one Dr. _Watson_ preached at _Paul's Cross_, and -the Churchyard was lined with Soldiers, for Fear of like Tumult that was -on the _Sunday_ before. During the Week, _Northumberland_ had been -arraigned and condemned; and on the _Monday_ next following he was to be -beheaded; howbeit, he desired first to hear Mass and receive the -Sacrament after the _Romish_ Manner: thereby looking, maybe, to obtain -Pardon, but in sooth only proving a Renegade and losing the Grace of a -Confessor. The Lady _Jane_, looking forth of her Prison Window, saw him -on his Way to Mass; a grievouse Thing to her pure Mind; whereof she -spake next Day at Table, saying, "Wo worth him! Should I that am young -and in my few Yeres, forsake my Faith for the LOVE of Life? Much more he -should not, whose fatal Course could not long have lasted." - -On the _14th Sept._ good Master _Latimer_ was sent Prisoner to the -Tower. Seeing a Warder there whose Face he remembered, he cried -cheerily, "What, old Friend! how do you? See, I am come to be your -Neighbour again!" The good _Cranmer_ was committed thither the same Day. -But these Things were done privately: a Boat, more or less, privily -shooting the Bridge and gliding aneath the Traitors' Arch, was ta'en no -Note of; while the Stretes and Highways were all astir with Preparations -for the Queen's Crownation, which was set for the _1st Octr._ The -_Easterlings_ were providing her a mighty fine Pageant, at _Gracechurch -Corner_, with a little Condyt that ran Wine: the _Genouese_ had theirs -in _Phanechurchstrete_, the _Florentines_ at the farther End of -_Gracechurchstrete_, with an Angel in Green and Gold, that, at pulling -of a String, set a Trumpet to his Mouth and made believe to blow -it,—only a real Trumpeter stood behind. With these and such-like Toys -the City amused their Minds, and humoured themselves into receiving the -Queen with due Loyalty. - -But when she came forth ... alas! what an ill-favoured Lady! Sure, we -are all as GOD made us, for Homeliness or Comeliness; but yet a sweet -Nature may be discerned through the plainest Favour; but it could not be -discerned here. And she declined her Head upon her Hand, as though for -some Ache or Ail that constrained her to regard Everything done in her -Honour askance and awry. 'Tis Pity o' my Life! when a Lady is so ill at -Ease, she can't hold her Head strait on her Crownation-day. Doubtless -crowned Heads are liable to Aches as well as those that own ne'er a Cap; -and 'tis a heaven-sent Immunity when they are able as well as willing -for all Public Occasions, like our Royal Lady that now rules the Land. -With Bone-fires and Feastings, there were many private Families enjoyed -that Day more heartily, I wot, than the Queen's Grace in her Chair of -State. The Ceremonial was spun out beyond all Reason; and when she -returned, 'twas with the three Swords of the three Kingdoms borne -sheathed before her, and another unsheathed—alack! not the _Sword of -the Spirit_. - -Old Master _Cheke_ dined with us next Day ... he was now a withered -little old Man, with a frosty Bloom still on his thin Cheek, but no Fire -in his Eye. He was mighty cast down at the late Imprisonment of his -Nephew, who, though now set at large, had had a narrow Escape of it, and -behoved to lie close. Wherefore, to the old Man's Thought, all Joy had -vanished, the Mirth of the Land was gone: and he took up his Parable and -prophesied evil Things. - -"And who knows not," quod he, "whether we shall not shortly have a -_Romish_ King set over us? The Queen is in Love to Death with _Reginald -Pole_; and although he will none of her, he may not be able to resist a -matrimonial Crown. We shall have him sent for presently, and released -from his VOWS, as sure as _London Bridge_ is built on Wool-packs." - -Well I wot Master _Cheke_ had the Truth on't. For the Queen's Grace, -being now seven an' thirty Year old, had no Time to lose, if she minded -to marry at all; and _Reginald Pole_, albeit now in his fifty-fourth -Year, was the very handsomest Man of his Time; more by Token _Michael -Angiolo_ (the greater Shame to him!) had put in his Face for that of our -SAVIOUR in his Scholar's famous Picture of the Raising of _Lazarus_. -Howbeit, e'en a Queen, it seemeth, may woo in vain. She sent for _Pole_ -with a legatine Power, and moreover writ private Letters unto him and to -the _Pope_ with her own Hand. But, albeit the _Pope_ rejoiced in his -Heart at the Thought of regaining _England_, _Pole_ gave such manifest -Signals of hanging back until the Queen were married, as that her Grace -without more Ado entertained Proposals from _Philip_ of _Spain_; she -having, thirty Years before, been promised to his Father! - -This Year, Master _Hewet_ was made _Sheriff_. Well remember I young -Mistress _Anne_, tripping down from her Closet in sky-blue Taffeta, and -flirting a little Feather-fan as she passed me, crying, "Make Way for -the _Sheriff's_ Daughter! Oh, _Ned_, how grand I am!— - - _'Thereof the Mayor he was full fain, - An' eke the Sheriff also_—'" - -I said, "Sure, Mistress, the _Sheriff_ in that Song came to no Good—I -wist not ye had so much Pride." - - [Illustration: JJ - "Make way for the Sheriff's Daughter"] - -She looked about on me with her sweet, smiling Face, and said, "I've no -Pride for myself, _Edward_, but I may have for him!—May I not? may I -not?" playfully calling after me as I turned away. I said, "Oh, -forsooth, Mistress, ye can do no Wrong." - -"Is that in jest or earnest?" saith she, growing serious. "Am I proud, -_Edward_?" - -When I saw her wistful Look, and thought within me how much indeed she -had to be both proud and vain of, yet was neither, I could carry it no -farther, but said, "In sooth, sweet Mistress, you are not." - -"All's right then," quod she gaily, and hastened to the Window to see -the new Sheriff mount his gray Horse, richly caparisoned. Thereafter, -_Miles_ and I attended her and Mistress _Fraunces_ to the River Stairs, -where the Company were to embark on a Pleasure-party; I thought the -Barge had a goodly and lovely Freight! - -Meantime, the Rumour of the Queen's Match occasioned great Murmuring -throughout the Land. And Sir _Thomas Wyat_, a _Kentish_ Gentleman, -concerted with the Duke of _Suffolk_ and Sir _Peter Carew_ to take Arms -and promote a general Rising, so soon as the _Prince_ of _Spain_ should -set Foot on _English_ Ground. The Duke, no Doubt, looked for the -Re-establishment of his Daughter, Lady _Jane_, now under Sentence, but -allowed the Liberty of the Tower. Sir _Thomas_, Son to that _Wyat_ of -_Allington Castle_ who writ good Verses, had oft been Ambassadour to -_Spain_, where the Cruelty and Subtlety of the People made him tremble -at the Thought of their obtaining a Footing in his native Land. But -alack! _Hew_, how many crying Evils must conspire together to give any -just Pretence for a Rising against constituted Authorities! And a -defeated Rebellion always strengthens the Hands of Government. So it was -in this Instance. We had not as yet been visited with Scourges nor -whipped with Scorpions; 'twas only the Fear of what might be, (presaged, -'tis true enough, by many Foretokens,) that tempted Men to shed Blood -and endanger their Heads for the Sake of their Country. Wherefore, a -Bird of the Air, I suppose, carrying the Matter, Sir _Peter Carew_, -finding the Plot bewrayed, takes Thought only for himself, and flies -over Seas; and _Wyat_, thinking the Hour unripe, yet purposing rather to -hurry forward than retreat, taketh Arms with the declared Aim of doing -no Hurt to the Queen's Person, but of removing her evil Counsellors. - -Thereon the City was all Confusion. Though the 'Prentices had pelted the -_Spanish_ Ambassadours with Snow-balls, and elder People had spoken -against them under their Breath, yet that natural Loyalty there is in -the City, save under the most aggravating Circumstances, drew every one -together to make common Cause with the Queen so soon as 'twas bruited -that _Wyat_ was up in _Kent_. Five hundred of the Trained Bands were -forthwith sent out against him, and the City began to be kept with -harnessed Men. - -The Lord Mayor, this Year, was Sir _Thomas White_, Merchant-taylor; he -that founded St. _John's_ College, _Oxford_. To him, at the _Guildhall_, -cometh my Lord Treasurer, and prayeth him to have at the least two -thousand Men in Harness at all Hours, for the Safeguard of the City. Now -begin the young Men of every Degree to look out and furbish their Arms -and Accoutrements; and the Hum of Preparation is heard throughout the -Stretes. Post following hot upon Post bringeth Tidings that the Duke of -_Suffolk_ in _Warwickshire_, having with all his Industry gotten -together but fifty Men, had given up the Game and betaken himself to a -Tenant of his, who kept him three Days hid in a hollow Oak till he was -taken; but that _Wyat_, with at least four thousand Men, (some made it -fourteen thousand,) was marching fast upon _Southwark_, and the Trained -Bands had gone over to him, which caused the Duke of _Norfolk_, sent -against him, to retreat. - -Here then was a Prospect for the Bridge! the only Access by which he -could command the City. Thou shouldst have seen the Duke ride back, all -crestfallen, with his Guard at his Heels, all smirched and -tatterdemoiled, without Arrows or Strings to their Bows, or a Sword to -their Sides, or a Cap to their Heads. Some of the Urchins cried after -them, "A _Wyat_! a _Wyat_!" and got well cuffed for their Pains. - -Then came the News of a Rising in _Hertfordshire_. On this the Queen -cometh to _Guildhall_, with the Lord Chancellor and all her Council, -guarded by a notable Company of Men at Arms; and, bespeaking the Lord -Mayor and Aldermen, she pleaded sore they would stand by her against the -Arch-traitor that aimed at removing her Counsellors and having the -Custody of her Person; affirming and alleging that she would never once -have entertained thought of her Marriage, had it not been infused into -her by others that 'twas expedient for the Country. When I heard Master -_Hewet's_ Report of her Argument, I remembered the Saying of Master -_Askew_ the Draper to Lord _Warwick's_ Man, 'That the City could -sometimes better spare the Court than the Court the City.' - -They protested they would stand by her—could they do less? And -forthwith, Proclamation was made to this Effect:—Now then, let every -Man that is disaffected, and every Man that is faint-hearted, and every -Man that is of unstable Mind, be off as fast as he can. There's _Wyat_ -ready to welcome all Well-wishers, coming along the _Kent Road_; and -_London Bridge_ is just now open to all those that like to join him, -which it will not be to-morrow; for the Draw-bridge is going to be sawn -asunder and cast into the River, the Gates are going to be shut, the -Gate-houses are going to be manned, the Cannons are going to be planted -to defend them and to take the Range of the _Borough_, the Lord Mayor -and Sheriffs in Harness are going to stand immediately behind the Gate, -and every Man on the Bridge will close his Windows and stand in his Door -with his 'Prentices armed and ready to do Battle. GOD save the Queen! - -Not many crossed the Bridge after that. Those that did were glad to -explain 'twas on necessary and lawful Business, or they got hooted and -sometimes pelted. The Lord Mayor went with my Master into every House, -to see its Condition and Defence. When they reached the Door of the old -Lady that lived all by herself alone with her Cats, they could gain no -Entrance, nor hear Sound of Life within save a dismal Mewing. Master -_Hewet_ was for departing, saying he believed the House safe enough -though its Owner was shy of Strangers; but my Lord Mayor said a silent -House was not always the safest, and there might be Spies and even -harnessed Men shut up. So they persisted knocking; and at length a -skinny old Woman, all trembling with Fear, peered forth and would wit -what 'twas all about. When they told her the Bridge was going to be put -in a State of Defence for Queen _Mary_, she cried, "GOD save her sweet -Majesty!" and let them in, shutting and bolting the Door behind them. -She sayth, "Oh! Sirs, I see ye be loyal and honourable Gentlemen, well -affected to our blessed Queen, wherefore I fear not to trust you with my -Secret—howbeit, I am not the only one in this House." - -The Lord Mayor gave a quick Look at Master _Hewet_. - -—"I was, you must know," continued she, "Sub-prioress of a small -religious House at _Mickleham_ in _Surrey_ ... there were but six of us; -we were harmless and happy enough; howbeit, the Eighth _Harry_, that -called himself Defender of our Faith, turned us out Neck and Heels when -he put down the lesser Monasteries; and my Father, to whom this House -belonged, gave me Shelter in it during his Life, and left it to me at -his Death. Whereby I have been enabled to give House-room and Board to -my aged Superior, who otherwise would have been cast into the Strete, -through all the evil Times; none witting she was under my Roof. And now -that better Days are come, she is past any Advantage of them, being long -Time bed-rid, as ye shall see." - -So she hobbled up-stairs before them, followed by her half-dozen Cats, -and led the Way into a Chamber having a bright Wood Fire kindled on the -Hearth, but nearly bare of Furniture, beyond a Chair, a Table, a -Crucifix, and a Couple of Tressel-beds, on one of which lay an old -Woman, sleeping, on the utmost Verge of Life. She mutely pointed to her, -then led them over the rest of the House, which was utterly disfurnished -and chiefly shut up; she having got rid of the Moveables for what they -would fetch, through the Agency of her only Confidant, Sir _Tobias_. So -now you have the Story of the old Lady that was supposed to live all -alone by herself with her Cats. - -_Miles_' black Eyes kindled like Coals at the Thought of defending the -Bridge.... I confess I felt a Glow within me, and handled my Bill and -Bow with exceeding Complacence. The Mayor complimented my Master on -having a Couple of such smart Lads, and said his Premises would be well -defended. Also he said he wished he had such a fair Daughter as Mistress -_Anne_, who served him with Bread and Wine. - -If the Queen were ever popular, it was that Time! What joyous Smiles and -brisk Words were exchanged as People ran along the Bridge!—what Glory -attended the Guards that manned the Gates!—how we revelled in every -Blow that cut down the Draw-bridge! Splash! it went into the River. -Spontaneously we gave three Cheers. Just before the Approach was cut -off, Lord _William Howard_, (since, Lord _Howard_ of _Effingham_,) with -fifty of his Men, rode over the Bridge to St. _George's_ Church, -_Southwark_, to note the State of Things, and so back. I remember his -looking gaily over his Shoulder as he passed, crying out in Hearing of -us all, "This Bridge hath to-day a Chance of being the _Thermopylæ_ of -_London_!" - - [Illustration: J Jellicoe - "Rode over the Bridge"] - -A Messenger from the Rebels came to parley, and was led blindfold across -the Bridge, to and from Lord _Pembroke_, Commander in Chief. - -On _Saturday_ Morning, _Wyat_ was proclaimed Traitor, and a Price set on -his Head. There was a grand Muster of Horse and Foot in _Finsbury -Fields_. At three in the Afternoon, _Wyat_ advanced upon _London_ from -_Deptford_; and, as soon as his Movement was perceived, an eight Pounder -was levelled at him from the White Tower, the Shot of which took none -Effect. Immediately my Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs made Haste to _London -Bridge_: we gave them three Cheers. The Strete was presently choaked; -People removing their Stalls and Wares, Shop Shutters putting up, young -Men running up and down to Weapons and Harness, young Women beginning to -shed Tears, Children and Maids shutting themselves up in the upper -Stories. - -My Hands trembled so with Emotion I could scarce fasten a Buckle. -Mistress _Anne_, passing, sayth, "Let me do it for you—Ladies of old -Time buckled on Knights' Harness and bade them good Speed, as I bid -you.... But oh! _Ned_, I am in Fear for my _Father_." I said, "But he -hath no Fear, unless for you. Therefore look not forth; the only Danger -is in a random Shot." - -Then she asked me what I thought would happen if the worst came to the -worst. I told her I had not thought about it, so sure was I the best -would come to the best. She said she thought so too; at least she hoped -so; and bade me tell every Word of News I heard through the Wicket. -Presently I heard that _Wyat_, with his Army, was close beyond the -further Bridge Gate; and had pointed two Pieces of Ordnance against the -Bridge: which I thought needless to tell Mistress _Anne_. - -He was a fine Fellow, _Hew_, in his Way, there's no gainsaying. He -thought to free his Country from Harm; and, when he heard a Price was -set upon his Head, he wrote his Name on a Slip of Paper and set it on -his Cap. - -My Master was a-foot and in Harness on the Bridge all Night. The Women -kept close and quite still above-stairs, while _Miles_ and I kept Watch -below, but, I wot, they were as wakeful as ourselves. Towards Daydawn my -Master comes in: Mistress _Anne_, in her white Wrapper over her Dress, -leans over the Rail at the Stair-head, and cryeth, "Is all well?" "All -well, my Heart!" returns her Father. "Oh! thank GOD," cries she; and -meeting him half-way down the Stair, casts herself into his Arms. - -'Twas _Sunday_ Morning; and maybe, a Day of much Prayer, if of little -Church-going: but scarcely a Day of Rest. A Banner of Defiance was -unfurled a-top of the Tower, and a heavy Piece of Ordnance discharged -when they changed the Watch. - -Lord _Howard_ was walking to and fro on the Bridge, his Sword clanking -at every firm, heavy Tread; and anon he goeth to the Gate at the -_Southwark_ End, and calleth in a loud, determined Voice, "_Wyat!_" - -Presently some one makes Answer, "What would ye with him?" - -"I would speak with him," sayth my Lord. - -Answereth the other, "Our Captain is busy; if ye have any Message for -him, I will bear it." - -"Marry," sayth my Lord, "ask of him what he meaneth by this Invasion; -and whether he continue in his Purpose or no." - -The Messenger departed; and in about three Quarters of an Hour returned -with a weighted Purse, containing Master _Wyat's_ Answer; which, being -flung over the Gate, was received and read by my Lord, who tare it up, -as good for Nought. On the _Saturday_ Afternoon, all Boats had been -brought to the City Side of the River, not to be taken therefrom on Pain -of Death. - -My Lord _Howard_ turning in to our House about Noon, for Refreshment, -looketh fixedly on _Miles_, and sayth, "So you are young _Osborne_." -"No, my Lord," quod I, stepping forward, "I am he;" thinking he had -Somewhat to say unto me; but he only looked hard at me, and said "Oh." - -At Table, my Master helping him to Wine, he sayth, "That is a rare -Brilliant on your little Finger, Master _Hewet_—may I be favoured with -a nearer View of it?" "My Lord," sayth Master _Hewet_, "it is a -Token-ring: I never take it off.—However," quod he presently, "you -shall see it, and read the Posy inside; connecting it with the Matter we -spake of just now." I noted a singular Smile on my Lord _Howard's_ Face -as he returned it. - -That Night, like the last, was spent in Harness, but passed not, like -the last, without Event. The Weather was piercing cold; and a good -Watch-fire was kept up just within the Gate, whereat my Lord _Howard_, -Sir _Andrew Judd_, the _Lord Mayor_, Master _Hewet_, and others, stood -and warmed themselves. Meantime, Master _Wyat_, anxious to reconnoitre, -breaks down the Wall of a House adjoining the Gate on his side the -Draw-bridge, by which Breach he ascendeth the Leads of the Gate-house, -and thence coming down into the Porter's Lodge, it being about eleven o' -the Clock, he findeth the Porter sleeping, but his Wife, with sundry -others, watching over a Fire of Coals. On beholding _Wyat_ they suddenly -started; but he commanded them to keep quiet as they valued their Lives, -and they should sustain no Hurt; so they having no Courage to oppose -him, he went forth of the other Side the Gate-house to look across to -the Bridge. There, beyond the Chasm, within the second Gate, he noteth -my _Lord Deputy_, the _Lord Mayor_, and the Rest standing about the Fire -in their Clokes. After noting them well, and seeing there was no Hope of -taking them by Surprise, he returneth whence he came, and doeth his -Party to wit how the City strengthened itself and is on the Alert. -Peradventure to make farther Proof thereof, the Men of _Kent_ thereon -made an Uproar as it were in Sign of assaulting the Bridge, and fired -two Field Pieces. Whereat we were all alive and to Arms in an Instant; -and the Cries that ran along the Bridge shewed the Insurgents we were -ready for them. - -On _Monday_ we were heartened, and doubtless _Wyat_ was disheartened, by -the Bruit of Lord _Abergavenny's_ marching upon him from _Blackheath_ -with three Thousand Men. Thereon ensewed Diversity of Councils, in the -End whereof, Master _Wyat_ decided to march along the _Thames_ next Day, -to get Access to _Middlesex_ by _Kingston Bridge_. One of the -Lieutenant's Men of the Tower being despatched on special Charge across -to the Bishop of _Winchester's_ Palace, a Waterman of the Tower Stairs -prayed him for a Cast in his Boat, which he granted. Seven of _Wyat's_ -Men being on the Look-out, levelled their Arquebusses at the Boat, -charging them to re-land, which they not complying with, the Men -discharged their Pieces with mortal Effect; for the poor Waterman fell -dead, and the Sculler with much Terror rowed back, through the Bridge, -to the Tower Wharf. The Lieutenant, in a mighty Heat at what had -happened, levelled seven great Pieces of Ordnance full against the south -End of the Bridge and against _Southwark_, besides all the Guns on the -White Tower, and over the Watergate, so that the Men and Women dwelling -in _Southwark_ rushed confusedly to Master _Wyat_, and prayed him to -take Pity on them, or they should be utterly undone and destroyed. -Whereat, he, partly abashed, said, "I pray you, Friends, have Patience a -little, and I will presently relieve you of your Fears." And so, gave -Orders to march; and cleared out of _Southwark_ about eleven of the -Clock on _Shrove Tuesday_, without leaving a Penny unpaid to the -Inhabitants, or doing the least Damage beyond sacking and destroying the -Bishop of _Winchester's_ Palace and Library. Thus ended our three Days' -Beleaguerment. Now, leaving the Bridge in sufficient Guard, Master -_Hewet's_ Post lay at one of the City Gates: and a general Muster in St. -_James's Field_ was proclaimed for Six o' the Clock next Morning. - -At four o' Clock, however, the Drums called to Arms, _Wyat_ having -crossed at _Kingston_ and being already at _Brentford_. The -Law-Serjeants went to _Westminster Hall_, that Morning, with Harness -under their Gowns, and the Queen's Chaplain sung Mass before her with -Harness under his Vestments. By ten o' the Clock my Lord _Pembroke's_ -Troop of Horse hovered about _Wyat's_ Party, and Ordnance began to be -fired on both Sides; whereon the Screams of Women and peaceable People -at _Charing Cross_, as well as the Firing, could be heard at the Tower. -_Wyat_ drove back my _Lord Chamberlain's_ Guard, and marched on to -_Ludgate_ in disorderly Array. There he knocked at the Gate; and my Lord -_Howard_ from within asked who knocked: and on his giving his Name, -cried, "Avaunt, Traitor! thou enterest not here." Sundry of his Men -cried, "Queen _Mary_ hath granted our Request, and given us Pardon!" but -'twas known for a Feint; so they had Nought for it but to return whence -they came; and at _Charing Cross_ the Fight was renewed and waxed hot. -At length, a Herald called on _Wyat_ to yield rather than shed more -Blood, and trust to the Queen's Mercy. Whereon, he, astonied and -dejected, replied, "Well, if I must, let me yield me to a Gentleman." -Sir _Morrice Berkeley_ bade him leap up behind him; and two others -picked up young _Cobham_ and _Knevet_, and so carried them off, and the -Fight was ended. They lay, that Night, in the Tower. - -There was Somewhat mighty kindling, _Hew_, in that Defence of the -Bridge: and we all felt triumphant and thankful when the Fight was over; -but thereafter came great Gravity and Sadness, to muse on what might -have been, and on what would shortly befal those Men in the Tower. A -grievouse Thing is a Civil War. - -Then Master _Hewet_,—ah! what a Shrievalty was his! but yet he thanked -God in After-time that it fell not a Year or two later—he must be -present at the beheading the poor guiltless Boy _Guilford_ _Dudley_, and -also of the Lady _Jane_. That same Day, _Hew_, there was set up a -Gallows at every Gate in _London_, and at the Bridge-foot; three or four -at _Charing Cross_ and in many other Places. About four hundred Rebels -were condemned in one Day. The Prisons were so o'er-crowded that they -were kept in Ward in Churches. The Lady _Elizabeth_ was committed to the -_Tower_; daily, new State Prisoners went in, and they that came forth, -'twas but to their Scaffolds. _Suffolk_, _Wyat_, the _Greys_—'twas an -awful Time to be Sheriff! There were City Feasts; but Men met to look -one another in the Face and ask what would come next, rather than for -Potacion and Refection. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -_Osborne is out of his Time_ - - -I was out of my Time; and was examined by the Master and Wardens of our -Company whether I had duly and faithfully served my Apprenticeship: and -being found sufficient and allowed, was presented to the Chamberlain of -_London_ to be made free; was sworn, and paid Two-and-sixpence. - -I remember one of the Wardens eyed me rather curiously when I went up; -and said, "So thou art young _Osborne_?" "Yea," quod the other, "the -Knight of the Flying Leap!" an old Joke I thought every one had -forgotten. Howbeit they shook Hands with me, and said they wished every -Master as good a 'Prentice. - -Thereafter I went to see _Tomkins_, whom I had lost Sight of a long -Time. His Wife was spreading a clean Diaper over the Table, his little -Girl playing with a Kitten on the Hearth, and a straggling Sunbeam -through the Lattice was lighting up his pale, placid Face as he sate at -his Loom. I have thought since, that ministering Spirits might have been -passing to and fro on that Beam, unperceivable to my mortal Sense. - -"Ha!" quod he, "this is a pleasant Sight. What! the blue Gown is thrown -off at last! But how? no Scallops? no Slashes? no Taffeta-lined Cloke, -nor Shirt edged with Silver? Thou keepest within the Statute, at all -Events. Why, _Miles_ goes as fine as a Popinjay! Howbeit, I like your -dark brown better than his Eggs and Spinach; 'tis good Taste, Lad, not -to dress above one's Degree. All the World can see which is the -Gentleman's Son, which the Burreller's." - -"Thou art e'en too hard on poor _Miles_," quod I. "He is working very -hard just now in hope of marrying." - -"All the better," saith _Tomkins_; "many a second-rate Fellow is made -better by a first-rate Wife. What? is he thinking of _Tryphosa_?" - -"Oh no," quod I, laughing, "he thinks her quite too old." - -"Look you there now!" quod he, much amused, "too old, forsooth! To hear -how Boys talk! Marry, you must sup with us, and tell me about -Everything; that is, if you can condescend to eat aught but -Manchet-bread in these grand Days. Step down to _Fishmongersrow_, dear -_Dinah_, and fetch us a Crab." - -"That's a long Step, _Tomkins_," observed his Wife, "would not Something -I could get nearer do as well?" - -"No," quod he gently, "I want a Crab, and I want it from thence; so -oblige me, good _Dinah_." - -"That I will," replied she, cheerfully, tying on her Hood, and departing -the next Minute with her Child in her Arms. - -"I remember," quod _Tomkins_, laughing, "how you and _Miles_ played away -at the Crab on our Wedding-day. And if you spurn such homely Dainties -now, you'll be Home in Time for your real Supper after all. 'Tis but -Three o' the Clock." - -"To hear you Talk," said I, "one would think we lived just now in -_Lubberland_, where the Rivers run Gravy and Apple-sauce, and the roast -Pigs run about, saying, Come eat me." - -"Why, is not Master _Hewet_ Sheriff?" quod _Tomkins_, "and doth he not -ride a gray Horse and wear a velvet Coat and a Jewel in his Cap? Sure, -you must be steeped in Wassail and Feasting." - -"Ah," quod I, "there's little real Mirth in it. Seldom do we see a Smile -now on Master _Hewet's_ Face ... Mistress _Anne_ is in the Country; -Mistress _Fraunces_ does the Honours with all Grace, many People come -and go, new Servants wait, many fine Dishes are cooked and eaten; but -the Times are so bad, there is little Hilarity with it all." - -"Aye?" quod he, lowering his Voice, "is't e'en so?" Then changing his -Manner altogether, he rose, sate by the Fire, and pointed me to a Seat -over-against him. - -"_Ned_," saith he, "what is to be looked for, when the very Heavens -above, though without articulate Voice or Sound, proclaim coming -Judgment? Two Suns shining at once i' the Firmament! The Bow of Mercy, -not indeed withdrawn, but _reversed_; the Bow turned downward and the -two Ends standing upward! Didst see it?" - -I said, I did; it had puzzled the Wise and affrighted the Weak. - -"Well might it do either or both," quod he. "Well! ... we shall see what -comes of it. These Foreshadows are sometimes sent in Mercy, that -thoughtful People may prepare. 'Fearful Sights and great Signs shall -there be from Heaven.' 'And when these Things begin to come to pass, -lift up your Heads, for your Redemption draweth nigh.' 'And he that -endureth unto the End, the same shall be saved.' 'Settle it therefore in -your Hearts not to meditate beforehand what ye shall answer; for _I_ -will give you a Mouth and Wisdom that all your Adversaries shall not be -able to gainsay nor resist.' 'In your patience possess ye your Souls.'" - -"_Tomkins!_" cried I, filled with sudden Admiration, "thou couldst not -always have thus quoted and applied the Bible!" - -"Lad," quod he, "Times are altered. I don't suppose there was ever a -quiet, fair-spoken Man nearer the Edge of the Pit of Destruction than I -was, a few Years back. Just as I was trifling on the Brink, _a Child's_ -Voice called me back. _Ned!_ 'twas thine. I had known, for Months and -Years, what 'twas to lie down with a Heart ill at Peace with GOD. He -that is very glad to get into a good and safe Covert, will not waste his -Time in dallying with too curious Subtleties. Since I have gone the Way -I should, Years have seemed like Days! I have tasted the _Life of Life_: -yet never was more ready to lay it down at my Master's Feet! 'Tis all I -have to give him!" - -"I hope," said I, after a Pause, "there will be no Need." - -"But what have we to expect?" quod he. "Here's the Mass and all its -Mummery revived on every Hand, Mass Priests set in the Place of godly -Preachers, and good Men deprived and cast into Prison. _Philip_ of -_Spain_ and Cardinal _Pole_ will presently sweep all before them, and -make a clear House on 't! Do you remember—but, peradventure 'twas -before thy Time—Master _Chester_ coming to Master _Hewet_, and putting -it to him what he should do with a 'Prentice Lad of his, one _Lawrence -Saunders_, whom he had overheard hard wrestling in Prayer, and found -wholly given to spiritual Contemplation and the reading of godly Books? -Master _Hewet_ advised his cancelling his Indentures and sending him to -_Cambridge_, which he did; and the good Youth did no small Credit to his -kind and enlightened Master. But, last _October_, _Ned_, he preached a -Sermon in _All-hallows'_ Church, the pure Doctrine whereof brought him -into Trouble; for _Bonner_ and the Chancellor called him a frenzy Fool -and committed him to Prison, where he hath lain, in great hardness, ever -since; nor will come forth, I fear me, except to be burned. Then there's -good Bishop _Hooper_—" - -"Ah," said I, "when he was committed to the _Fleet_ last _September_, he -had nothing for his Bed but a little Pad of Straw and a rotten Covering, -with a Tick and a few Feathers therein, in a foul and unwholesome -Chamber. And this we had from his Man _John Downton_, Brother to our -Maid _Damaris_; whereon Master _Hewet_ sent him Money and a good Bed." - -"Then there's young _Hunter_ the 'Prentice," continued _Tomkins_, "was -brought up for refusing to receive the Mass Communion this Easter. His -Master contrived to send him down to his Father's at _Brentwood_, where -he presently fell again into Trouble for reading of the Bible that lay -on the Clerk's Desk, and was set in the Stocks twenty-four Hours. And -then they sent him up to _Bonner_, who set him in the Stocks at his own -Gate for two Days and two Nights, with only a Crust of Bread and a Cup -of Water; the Lad's young Brother all the while sitting by him. Then he -was cast into the Convict Prison, as heavily ironed as one of his tender -Years could bear, and hath lain there ever since, with a Halfpenny a Day -for his Keep. Could you or I shew such Constancy, think you?" - -"You might, but I could not," said I. - -"_You_ might, but _I_ might not," sighed he—"not the Thing that will -follow." - -And, suddenly thrusting his Hand into the very midst of the Fire, which -was burning fiercely, he as suddenly plucked it out; turning on me a -Look I shall never forget! It expressed the Anguish of a Man weighed in -the Balance and found wanting. We sate for a few Seconds in perfect and -most painful Silence; his Hand, in great Blisters, resting on his Knee. -Suddenly I started up and laid my Hand on his Shoulder. - -"_Tomkins_," cried I, "what are you thinking of?" - -"I was thinking," returned he with filling Eyes, "how unworthy I was of -the SAVIOUR that died for me." - -"But your Hand! did not you feel the Smart?" - -"My _Hand_?" cried he, starting and looking down upon it. "_No, not just -then!_ I'd forgotten it." - -"See! see!" cried I, "what may be the Victory of the Spirit over the -Flesh! What has been, may be again. As our Day, our Strength shall be." - -The large Tears came into his Eyes. "_Ned_," quod he, "I will never -doubt it again." - -"And now," said I, "let me dress your Hand, for I know Something of -Burns." So I went out and got white Cotton Wool, and wrapped a great Pad -of it about his Hand, and tied it up neatly; and, just at that Time, his -Wife came in with the Crab. - -"Why, what's the Matter?" cried she, changing Colour. - -"Nothing at all, my Love," returned her Husband cheerfully, "save that -I've burnt my Hand." - -"Ah," said she, "you wist the Handle of the Kettle was loose.... I won't -pity you at all! _Is_ it a very bad Hurt, though?" - -"Nothing to speak of," quod he. - -"Forsooth, and you couldn't smile so, an' 'twere—only thou hast made -such a great Bundle of it. Shall I tie it up neater for thee, Husband?" - -"No, sweet Heart, it does well enough. So now for the Crab.... And so -young Mistress _Anne_ is in the Country?" - -"At the Hall," quod I, "with her Uncle." - -"Ah," sayth he quietly, "the Squire hath two fair Sons ... I think she -will settle down there one of these Days." - - - - -CHAPTER X - -_Evil Times bring Evil Crimes_ - - -I love not to think of that Year: still less of those which followed -after it! In _July_, _Philip_ of _Spain_ landed on our Shores, and as he -placed his Foot for the first Time on _British_ Ground, he drew his -Sword, and carried it a little Way naked in his Hand; which, if it meant -Anything, certes did mean no Good. The Mayor of _Southampton_ brought -him the Keys of the Town, which he took and gave back without the least -Token of Good-will or Civility for the Respect. Five Days thereafter, -his Marriage with the Queen was solemnized at _Winchester_, he being -seven and twenty, and she eight and thirty; and thereon they were -together proclaimed as King and Queen of _England_. An Evil Song to -_English_ Ears! But oh! the Shews and Pageants that were got up to -welcome them in _London_! Giants, offering Addresses; our Condyts -running Wine; and what not? - -Thereafter, the Queen and her King behoved to go to _Hampton Court_; -where, I will just observe, the Hall-door was continually kept shut, so -as no Man might enter, unless his Errand were first known; which might -perhaps be the Fashion in _Spain_, but to plain, honest _Englishmen_, -seemed very strange. - -About this Time there were so many _Spaniards_ in _London_, that for one -_Englishman_ in the Stretes thou mightest meet four _Spaniards_, with -their long, sly Slits of Eyes, and hairy Faces; so that it behoved _us_ -to keep our Hall-doors shut and look to our Spoons, for I never heard -the King Consort undertook to stand Bail for them. About _September_ -they went their Ways; not entirely paying their Bills. - -About this Time, the Disaffection of the Body Politic was betrayed by a -small Rising in _Suffolk_, soon put down. Howbeit, it gave Occasion for -a Talk of twelve thousand _Spaniards_ coming over to strengthen the -Crown. Also, from the Queen's common Ordinary of her Household was -struck off twenty-two Messes of Meat; which was considered to be paring -the Cheese rather close. - -Also, the new Coins were issued: them that we call the Double-face. The -_Spanish_ Prince, to buy good Opinion, had brought over Heaps of Gold -with him. In one Day, there came to the Tower twenty Carts guarded by -_Spaniards_, each containing twenty-seven Chests of Treasure, matted -about with Mats. But Gold won't buy Love: the common Talk was how he -held himself close, and lived sullen, without ever an _English_ Lord at -Court save only the Bishop of _Winchester_. - -Then Bishop _Bonner_ began his Visitation, to see the old Service set -up, and paint out the Scripture Texts on the Church-walls, and set up -the Images. They say that, in conducting this Matter, he was little -short of a raging Madman, whenever he met with any, the least -Opposition.... I think thou mayst believe it of him, when thou hearest -what I have presently to say. - -Master _Hewet's_ Shrievalty was out; and never was Man better pleased to -slip his Neck out of the Collar. We were sitting peaceably together, -when a Woman comes in to him all in Tears. 'Twas _Tomkins'_ Wife, poor -_Dinah_, to do us to wit that _Tomkins_, with sundry others, had been -apprehended by Bishop _Bonner_, and taken for Examination to his Palace -at _Fulham_. "And, unless their Manhood fail them," quo' she, weeping, -"we may give them up for lost; for he makes the Real Presence a Net for -catching Small and Great." We comforted her all we could; but she spake -too true a Word. - -The Constancy of this poor Weaver, _Hew_, shewn under Examination, was -very notable. There were six Prisoners in all; but _Tomkins_, perhaps on -Account of his being the elder of them, was brought most forward. To -intimidate these poor Men the more, Bishop _Bonner_ had got together a -goodly Muster of his Clergy and Friends, Dr. _Chedsey_, Master -_Harpsfield_, and others. Beginning the Attack, according to his Wont, -with the Real Presence, he put it to _Tomkins_ whether or no he believed -in Transubstantiation. On _Tomkins'_ meekly but firmly confessing he did -not, and giving his Reasons for that Confession, _Bonner_ struck him on -the Face with his Fist, and violently tore out a Handful of his Beard. -_Tomkins_ bare this in Silence, remembering Him who stood before -_Caiaphas_. Then _Bonner_, lashing himself up, began anew to question -him; and being still unable to catch him in his Talk, he seized him by -the Wrist; and holding his Hand over a lighted Candle of three or four -Wicks that stood on the Table, savagely kept it there till the Veins -shrank and the Sinews burst. - -"But, _Ned_," quoth this meek Martyr, telling me of it in _Newgate_, -"though one of the Bishop's own Friends that stood by turned so sick -that he cried, 'Hold! enough!' I affirm unto you that I was so rapt, and -in such immediate Communion with my GOD and SAVIOUR, that, _at that -Time_, I felt or was sensible of no Pain! I say not I felt none -afterwards: I feel it now. But ne'er-theless, I tell thee, _Ned_, I am -ready not only to suffer this, but also to die for the Name of the LORD -JESUS, if it be his Will." - -And many other such godly and comfortable Words he spake, both then and -during the next six Months; for I was continually with him. And, during -all that Time, his Courage never waxed faint, but he bare that long -Probation and Suspense patiently and cheerfully; never rising into -Rapture, but full of Love and Hope; and grateful exceedingly unto Master -_Hewet_, for keeping his Wife and Child in Bread all that Time. - -Then saw I, how diverse, yea, how inferior is that Sort of instinctive -animal Courage which made me leap from _London Bridge_, from that moral -Courage which enableth a Man kept low, and contumeliously treated, to -support, by the Space of half an Year, the Prospect of a cruel and -lingering Death. - -—Ah, Boy, thou mayest say what thou listest:—thou art a young -Soldier.—Besides, thou hast _both_ Sorts; one, maybe, from me; and one -from _her_. - -And now, to crown all, came over Cardinal _Pole_, whom our _Spanish_ -King came down to the Water-side to meet, so soon as he had learned he -had shot the Bridge. But in Faith, _Hew_, he was not so evil as the -others. He was no longer the Man for whom Queens might die in Love; -still less the Youth that had bandied Jests with _More_ and -_Erasmus_:—he had known Sorrow, I wot!—his Mother, his Brother, his -Cousin, had been brought with Sorrow to their Graves; and albeit his -Friends did say of him he should be called _non Polus Anglus, sed Polus -angelus_, he carried his Sadness in his Face. - -And now, the Church and Realm of _England_ were proclaimed reconciled to -the Pope of _Rome_, the slavish Parliament put its Neck under the -Queen's Foot, there was great singing of _Te Deum_, and great kindling -of Bone-fires;—Alas! there were to be other Bone-fires soon. - -The New Year opened ominously. About thirty Citizens, Men and Women, -privately receiving the Communion of Mr. _Rose_, their Minister, in a -House in _Bow Churchyard_, were haled to Prison. For thou seest, _Hew_, -Romanism had now, through the Slavishness of our Parliament, been -re-established as _the Law of the Land_, which all Friends of good Order -were bounden to uphold; wherefore those were constrained to break it and -be classed as bad Citizens who chose rather to abide by _the Law of_ -GOD—a Dilemma that ought never to have happened. They that are set in -foremost Places are bounden to stand in the Breach, that Evil ensew not -unto them whose Place is behind them. - -Now, see in what a Strait was Master _Hewet_. He and every other -Alderman had to attend _Paul's_ Church on _Paul's_ Day, where the King -and Cardinal came in great State, to give Thanks for the Re-conversion -of the Realm to the Roman Catholic Church. This was on the 25_th_; and -on the 28_th_, the Bishops had Commission from the Cardinal to try all -such Preachers and Heretics as lay in Prison. By Virtue whereof, -_Gardiner_ and the other Bishops had up before them that very Day, -Bishop _Hooper_, Mr. ROGERS, Mr. _Cardmaker_, and others, in the Church -of St. _Mary Overy_. I stood, with others, at the Church Door, to see -the Prisoners come out. They were remanded to the Compter in _Southwark_ -about four o' the Clock, just as 'twas growing dark, till nine the next -Morning; and as they came forth, I saw good Bishop _Hooper_ look back -and wait a little for Master _Rogers_, whom, when he came up, he -cheerfully addressed with, "Come, Brother _Rogers_, must we two take -this Matter first in Hand, and begin to fry these Fagots?" "By GOD'S -Grace, Sir," quod _Rogers_, "we will." "Doubt not," returns the good -Bishop, "but GOD will give us that." And so passed on, Hand in Hand, -much cheered and pressed on by the People. - -Next Day, they were re-examined and condemned and degraded. The Sheriffs -had much ado to guard them to the _Clink_ in _Southwark_, where they -kept them in Ward till Dark, hoping the Throng would disperse or ere -they brought them across the Bridge to _Newgate_. Howbeit, about eight -o' the Clock, I being alone and busied, heard a great Rumour, followed -by sharp, shrill Cries along the Bridge, and Master _Hewet_, stepping -in, all in a Heat, sayth, "Lights! Lights!" I mutely gave him mine, and -fetched another, and we stood at the Door, protecting the Candles from -the Wind with our Hands. Others were hastily bringing Candles to their -Doors; and still we could hear Men and 'Prentices running forward and -crying "Lights!" - -"They thought to do a Deed of Darkness in the dark," quod Master -_Hewet_, wiping his Brow, "and to smuggle them across to _Newgate_ under -cover of the Night; and so sent forward to have all the Candles at the -Costermongers' Stalls extinguished ... but, if they're ashamed of their -Work, let them abye it!... GOD speed you, Master _Hooper_! GOD save you, -Master _Rogers_! The Blessing of GOD be on you and on all like you!" - -"The same to you all, dear Friends!" responded the cheerful Voice of the -good Bishop as he passed. "The LORD have you all evermore in his -keeping." - -And then Master _Hewet_ went in and covered his Face and wept. - - [Illustration: J Jellicoe - "Covered his face & wept"] - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -_The Blood of the Martyrs, yᵉ Seed of yᵉ Church_ - - -I may as well tell thee now, _Hew_, by way of Relief to heavier Matters, -the ludicrous Form that _Miles's_ Protestantism took. He was never one -of the most serious; and when Master _Hewet_, at the preceding Easter, -had, on Compulsion as Alderman of the Ward, given formal Notice to every -Householder, with their Families, to prepare to confess and receive the -Sacrament, _Miles_ sayth with a knavish Look at me, "I must do Somewhat -first, to confess about." - -Presently after that I heard him coaxing Mistress _Fraunces's_ white Cat -with, "Pussy, Pussy, Pussy! come to Preferment, Pussy!" But Puss, as if -she smelt Mischief in the Wind, flew up the Chimney. Then quod he, -"Thou'rt too good for the Purpose, after all. I must go pay my Duty to -the Sub-prioress that lives all alone with her Cats." Quod I, "What -Mischief are you about now?" Saith he, "If you ask no unpleasant -Questions, you'll hear no unpleasant Answers. What if I want to get up a -little Masque of Puss in Boots?" - -Next Day, at dawning, there was seen in _Chepe_, on the Gallows that had -been set up for the _Kentish_ Rioters, a Cat suspended, apparelled like -a Priest ready to say Mass, with a shaven Crown, and her two forefeet -tied over her Head, with a round Paper like a Wafer-cake put between -them, as though in the Act of raising the Host. Fits of boisterous -Laughter rang through _Chepe_: howbeit, the Queen and Bishops were in -great Dudgeon; and a Proclamation was made, that same Afternoon, that -whosoever should bring forth the guilty Party should have twenty Nobles, -which was afterwards increased to twenty Marks: but I need not say that -nobody ever claimed it. I think I might have put the Money in my Pocket -if I would. - -Howbeit, neither _Miles_ nor I felt ourselves called upon to confess to -the Priest; in special as Master _Hewet_ never enforced it on any, after -the first formal Notice: and I wot, he went not himself. Indeed, it was -marvellous, he said in after Years, that considering how open he laid -himself to Animadversion on these Matters, no Enemy took Advantage of -him; howbeit, I doubt if he had one; there were many to make common -Cause with him, and he was much loved throughout the Ward. - -But I have not done with _Miles_ yet. The next Offence his Protestantism -took was at an Idol of _Thomas à Becket_, which the _Lord Chancellor_ -caused to be set up over the Mercers' Chapel Door, in _Chepe_: which, -within two Days, had its Head lopped off in the Night. Upon this rose -great Disturbance, and one Mr. _Barnes_, a Mercer, who lived -over-against the Chapel, was vehemently accused by my Lord _Wriothesley_ -of being Principal or Accessary to the Deed. He defended himself with -every Semblance of Innocence; nevertheless, he and three 'Prentices were -imprisoned for a Day or two; and, though Nothing was proven against him, -he was, on his Delivery, bound in a great Sum of Money to repair the -Image so often as it should be broken down, and also to watch and defend -the same. I should never have suspected _Miles_ of having had Aught to -do with this Matter, save for his gloomy and guilty Looks while _Barnes_ -lay in Ward, and for his great Access of Gaiety when he was let forth. -Howbeit, there are some People whose absolute Genius and Destiny seems -to be Mischief; and, a Day or two after the Image's Restoration, I heard -_Miles_, after pacing up and down the Chamber awhile like a chafed Lion -in a Cage, exclaim in a Sort of Desperation, "I must do it again!" And -next Day, the _second_ Head was missing. This Time, a hundred Crowns of -Gold were offered for Discovery of the Culprit. But they never were -claimed. Then quod _Miles_, embracing me with an unwonted Ardour of -Affection, "Ned! thou'rt a capital Fellow!" - -Howbeit, _Miles_ presently became absorbed in his Love-affair, which -brought his protestant Zeal to a very ignoble Termination. He now lodged -at some Distance from us, and kept his private Concerns very much to -himself. Having one Day Occasion to speak to him at his Lodging, I there -found not only his Mother, but an exceeding pretty young Woman. "_Ned!_" -quod he, "this is my Wife; I forgot to tell you before, that I was -married!" "I've a great Mind to forget it too!" sayth she, pouting, as I -went up to salute her, "the Saints be my Witness!" at which, I looked -attentively at her and then at him. - -He followed me to the Door when mine Errand was sped. "_Ned_," whispered -he, and coloured all over, "there'll be no more hanging of Cats!... -She's a staunch _Roman_, is _Nell_! and I'm obliged to conform, I can -tell thee! Rely on't, there's much to be said upon both Sides!" And this -was he, had said he was as firm as _London Stone_. - -I shook my Head at him, but was not, just then, going to attempt his -Conversion. By way of confirming myself in the Faith, I passed on to -_Newgate_, where I saw _Tomkins_, young _Hunter_, and their -Fellow-prisoner in the LORD, Master _Rogers_, who was to suffer the next -Morning. To hear him talk, one would have thought he saw Heaven opened, -and the bright Vision that St. _Stephen_ had, revealed to his inward -Eye; and he mightily strengthened his Brethren. His Wife being denied -Access to him, he prayed me give her a Kerchief, the only poor Token he -had to send; and to bid her, if she had Strength for 't, to be by the -Wayside with the Children, next Morn, on the Way to _Smithfield_. I took -her there myself; the poor Soul was wondrously supported; and when the -good Man came by, I held one of his little Children towards him, -prompting him to say, "The LORD will strengthen thee, Father!" Which, -indeed, he did. - -Well, after the Euthanasy of this blessed Proto-martyr, who, as though -to confirm the Courage of those that came after, did literally wash his -Hands in the Flame as if he felt no Smart, _Tomkins'_ Courage, strange -to say, greatly departed from him, and he doubted much if he should hold -firm unto the End. Thereon, great Prayer was made for him by his -Brethren in Bonds, and, I am bold to say, at one or two solitary -Bed-sides: and it came to pass, at all Events, that he was strengthened -to go through his next Examination, with young _Hunter_ and the Rest, in -_Paul's_ Consistory, five Days after _Rogers_ was burned. The Lad -_Hunter_, who stood by his Brother to the Last, heard all five Prisoners -condemned to die by _Bonner_. - -Thereon Mistress _Fraunces_ and I went, under Shadow of Evening, to -_Tomkins'_ Wife. She was in strong Fits, with sundry poor Women about -her; and, leaving Mistress _Fraunces_ to add to their tender -Ministrations, I went on to _Newgate_, if haply Master _Hewet's_ Name -might still serve me to have Access to my poor Friend. Directly I saw -him I knew, by the mild steady Light in his Eye, that his Courage was -safe! "_Ned_," quod he, "I was given over a little While unto Darkness, -just to let me feel that the Strength within me was none of mine; but -now, my Friend hath come back to me, and I rejoice in his Light! Soon we -shall be eternally together; and oh! how much we shall have to tell and -to hear. Little will it matter, then, whether my Ashes were scattered to -the four Winds, or collected in a stone Jug like a _Roman's_. Direct -poor _Dinah_ to the seventy-seventh Psalm; I know it will comfort her. -Dear Master _Hewet_ will keep her from Want; and she will presently -retire to her Friends in the Country. So, thou seest, I have no Fear for -Temporalities! Look! she hath made me this long white Shirt to wear -to-morrow; my Wedding-garment, I call it. Tell her every Stitch she set -in it evidenced her Faith, as every Blow wherewith _Abraham_ clave the -Fagots whereon to offer his Son, proved his. And a lighter Sacrifice is -exacted of her, for she hath not to slay me, only to resign me. And now, -good speed, good _Ned_.... Don't be at _Smithfield_ to-morrow, only -stand by the Way as I go along ... thou hast risked too much for me -already." - -In Sooth I ne'er thought twice of the Risk; but I doubted whether what -he could bear to _feel_, I could bear to _see_. I stood over-against the -Door as he came forth; our Eyes met; and in a Tone that had Somewhat of -Musicalness in it that searched and sank into the very Heart, he sayth, -"The Night is far spent, Lad! the Day is at Hand!" - -Those Token-words drew me irresistibly after him. I felt no Fear, no -Horror just then; only that our two Souls clave together, and that mine -must keep near his till 'twas caught up. So I kept a little in advance, -and eyed him now and then, that he might just see I stood by him; and I -think it gave him Pleasure, for I once heard him say, "The Presence of a -Friend, that cleaveth to us unto Death, how good is it!" - -But Martyrs were forbidden to make long Speeches on Pain of having their -Tongues cut out; and indeed, their Constancy preached enow. Wherefore -this was the last Word I heard from his Lips, for he seemed entirely -addressing himself to another Friend whom we could neither hear nor see. -And, when he got to the Place, I saw him put his Arms affectionately -about the Stake and kiss it, (they all did that,) and then lay aside his -poor Weaver's Garments, prison-worn and tattered, and put on what seemed -indeed the white Robe of Immortality, and then stand firm while they put -the Chain about his Waist. Just then a Man pushed rudely past me with a -Fagot; and there was a Rush and a Press of New-comers that jostled me -from my Place and wanted to feed their greedy Appetites with a good -Man's Pain as if 'twere a mere Show. I pushed at them again, and -struggled forward, amid Blows and reviling, and gat Sight of a Puff of -Smoke, and a bright Flame leaping up. Just then, the Sun, breaking forth -from a stormy Cloud, shone full upon his Face, which, looking upward -with a joyous Smile, seemed transfigured by it. I could see no more ... -mine Eyes were blinded, my Throat choked. I pushed my Way through the -Crowd and went Home to pray for—myself, not for him! - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -_A Snake among yᵉ Flowers_ - - -I can give thee, _Hew_, no very connected Account of the Rest of that -Season.... One Horror followed another—the Land was full of Blood, and -Fire, and Vapour of Smoke. We went softly, and lived gloomy, and -wretched, and desolate. - -Sometimes I wished my Turn would come: then, dreaded it. _Tomkins_ was -continually before mine Eyes. At last, I suppose I altered so, that -Master _Hewet_ sent me down to my Mother, to keep quiet awhile in the -Country. - -Oh! what Happiness that was! The Tears we then shed together had Healing -in them; and soon, away from all hateful Sounds and Sights, we gave over -weeping altogether. My Mother, I found, had, in the first Instance, -outwardly conformed; _kissed Baal_, in Fact; and then, like a good many -other timid yet well-meaning Persons, found many Excuses to make for -having so done, which yet failed to allay Self-disapprobation, and ended -in Contrition and Resolutions of doing so no more. She was favourably -placed for the keeping of such Resolves; having moved out of _Ashford_, -to a remote Country-farm, too far from a Place of Worship for regular -Attendance, wherefore she had set a-foot a little Church within her -House, that was served, under the Rose, by a deprived Minister -harbouring in the Neighbourhood. One of my younger Brothers, a goodly -Lad, was at School; the other, a sickly Urchin, dwelt at Home, inactive -but very happy. - -So here I tarried, Thanks to good Master _Hewet_! till my Mind quite -regained its Strength, as happy as a Rook on _Sundays_, as we say in -_Kent_. The Change was so great, that my Absence seemed much longer than -it really was. On my Return to _London_, as I rode along _Kentstrete_, -my Heart seemed to fly forward to what, in Course of Years, had become -my very Home. And, when we were all re-united beneath the same Roof, and -I had fallen into my old Course, with very little Interference with the -World without, I shortly began to be ware of a deep, new, inward Source -of Happiness, that for a While I neither could nor would understand. -Whatever I did, wherever I went, the very Air I breathed seemed to have -a Glow, and Sweetness, and Freshness in it, whether my Errand led me -through the Skinners' Yards in _Budgerow_, or the Butchers' Stalls in -_Eastchepe_; 'twas all the same!—let the Stretes be ringing with -Noises, there was a Song of Angels in my Head that made me deaf -thereunto. And soon I was ware that this new Sweetness of Living, which -was Serenity abroad, was Rapture at Home; and so all-satisfying was it, -that I took no Care for the Morrow, nor aspired for Aught I had not, but -only coveted to go on just as I was. - -Master _Hewet_, about this Time, was full content with me, and reposed -in me more and more Trust. Whereby I became aware that his Ventures were -becoming more important, his Connexions more extended, his Credit -higher, his Gains greater; and yet, withal, no Abatement of his old Rule -of Simplicity and Plainness; unless with regard to Mistress _Anne_. No -Money was in Sooth spared on her for Teaching or Dressing: her Chambers -for Night and Day had, I believe, every Adornment that Money and Taste -could procure: if her Ornaments were few, it was rather that she did not -affect wearing many, than that there was Anything her Eye coveted that -her Father would not buy for her. But she was one whom Indulgence could -not spoil. Her Money, of which she had ample Allowance from an early -Age, (it being one of Master _Hewet's_ sage Maxims, that Children should -be irresponsible Controulers of some regular Stipend, however small, to -teach them Self-denial, Liberality, and Charity,) her Money, I say, was -freely expended upon others, and employed in gratifying many an innocent -Taste for Flowers, Birds, and such-like. Thus it fell, that I was now -and then made Party to some little Mystery that gave me Pleasure she -wist not she was bestowing, for I am persuaded she was at this Time -living chiefly in a little Dream-land of her own, peopled with none but -good Spirits and fair Prospects. It was, "_Osborne_, dost thou care to -favour me so much as to step down to the _Blanche Chapelton_, and slip -this into the Hand of the poor Basket-maker whose House was burned down -last Night?"—or, _Edward_, I want to buy my Father an Inkstand I have -seen in _Lyme-strete_; 'tis of rare Fancy, and, I think, a real -Antique—a Hare in her Form, made of some glossy, brown Substance; and -between the Hare's Ears is the Mouth of the Inkstand.—The Shop looks -not like one I should care to enter, but 'tis over-against the -Green-gate of _Miguel_ _Pistoy_. Mind not the Price, but see thou tell -not even _Damaris_." - -Now, though Master _Hewet_ so liberally supplied her Privy-purse, there -were certain Household Expenses he made her reckon to a Penny; and, if -she were at Fault, she had to make it good. 'Twas pretty, and diverting, -to hear these two sometimes arguing together over their Account-book: -for Mistress _Anne_ was not a ready Reckoner, and he would by no Means -be put off with a Quip. One Day, they were counting out their Money, -when he said, "_Ned_, this young Gentlewoman can never attain to a -competent Knowledge of Figures. I'll give thee a Couple of Angels to -carry her on into Practice, for I shall save Money i' the End." - -So when he is gone, I say, "Come, Mistress, the Bribe is very high ... -where shall we begin? I suppose 'twill shame you to be put too far back." - -"I hardly know what will be too far back," saith she, rogueing a -little—"My Father sayeth I have done this wrong—" and she gives me a -little Slip of Paper, inscribed with the neatest, prettiest little -Figures. - -"Good now!" said I, "the only Mistake herein is,—you have essayed to -subtract the greater Number from the less; which you know can never be." - -"Yes, it can be, sometimes," saith she, quickly. - -"Never!" say I. "How?" - -"Take V from IV and I remains!" quod she. So I laughed, and told her -many a Spendthrift would like that Reckoning. - -"Well," said I, "I suppose you desire not to begin with Enumeration." - -"Since your Time is so valuable," sayth she, "you need not teach me at -all." - -"Nay, Mistress," say I, "count a Million if you will! I can tarry." - -"How long will that take me?" quod she. - -"Why," say I, "if you count a Hundred a Minute, that is, six Thousand in -an Hour, and count at that Rate for fourteen Hours in the twenty-four, -you may in twelve Days count a Million." - -"Hold, hold!" cries she, "you will make me puzzle-headed for a week!" -and so, runs off. - -Next Time I saw her alone, I say, "Well, Mistress, are you in the Humour -for Practice?" - -"No," quoth she with Decision, "I know Figures already!" And commenced -tinkling on her Virginals. So, there an End ... or might ha' been, were -any Woman two Days o' the same Mind. But, shortly, she cometh to me with -a Tear in her Eye. - -"_Ned_," saith she, "what's to be done? I gave all the Money in my Purse -(there wasn't much), to the Girdler's Widow, hard by St. _Anne_ in the -Willows; and now, I can't make up my Father's Accounts, and shall seem -unto him a Defaulter." - -"Or be one ... which?" quod I. "What is to do?" - -"What _can_ I do?" returns she. - -"Marry," say I, "I can lend you the Money." - -"Nay," quoth she quickly, "it would not be right in me to take it." - -"You have Reason," say I. "It would not." - -"Then what remaineth?" she said. - -"Honesty afore Charity," I made Answer. "You must ask Master _Hewet_ to -deduct it from your next Quarterage, and henceforth give not away his -Money when you have spent your own." - -"He would never have grutched it!" cries she, kindling. - -"Forsooth, then, all's said," quod I, and turned to go. - -"_Ned!_ stop," cries she, "how _canst_ thou be so ill-natured?" and -began to cry a little. "Why did you not, the other Day, as my Father -bade you, put me on some better Method with my Accounts?" - -"Why," said I, "I was about to try, when you started off like a young -Deer from a Gad-fly." - -"Well," saith she, "run this up for me, at all Events, and see if there -be any Error in the Sum-total ... I shall be grateful to you either -Way." - -So I began,—"_To Groceries, four-and-fourpence_...." - -"Four-and-fourpence!" cries she, "Four Pound four!" - -"'Tis here plainly set down," say I, "as four-and-fourpence." - -"Oh, charming!" cries she, "then all's straight!" - -And, catching the Paper from mine Hand, she goes off with it, and I see -no more of her nor her Accounts. - -Only, about a Month after, Master _Hewet_ says, "Well, _Ned_, I have not -paid thee thy two Angels?" - -"I have not earned them, Sir," I say, "Mistress _Anne_ will none of my -teaching." - -"In Faith, then, she has schooled herself to some Purpose," saith he, -smiling, "for she is ready enough now, both at Proportion and Practice. -What a whimsical young Lass it is!" - -In Fact she had, as about this Time, that Necessity for Application to -practical Affairs which makes many Women good Reckoners whether they -have a natural Turn for it or no. For Mistress _Fraunces's_ Health -failing her a little, Mistress _Anne_ undertook the Conduct of the -Household, which the other as readily yielded unto her, witting that the -Pratique would do her good. So she went about, demurely, with the Keys, -measuring this and weighing that, and setting down Everything in a -little Book at her Girdle. 'Twas a Lesson, to see her Tendance, in all -duteous Affectuousness, on good Mistress _Fraunces_, who indeed merited -of her the Love of a Daughter, and whom she soon nursed well. Mistress -_Fraunces_, always very softhearted, told me I should find she had not -forgotten my Care of her, in her Will. Howbeit, I was thankful no -Occasion came of opening it. - -On my Birthday, Mistress _Anne_ came to me smiling, with her Hands -behind her, and said, "Which Hand will you have?" - -I regarded her earnestly, and said, "The right Hand, Mistress." - -"Oh, miserable Choice!" cried she, laughing, and throwing me a worn -Glove of her own; "hadst thou said 'Left,' thou shouldest have had this -brave new Pair of scented Gloves!" - -I said, "I'm content," and took up the cast Glove with Pleasure. - -"Well," sayth she, "you are too indifferent by half about your -Blunder—howbeit, here they are for you; I bought them of Purpose." - -So I bowed reverently and took them in my Hand; but, when she was gone, -I put the other in my Bosom. - -Another Time, I was arranging a Sunshade for Mistress _Fraunces_, in the -blue-buckram Chamber, when Mistress _Anne_ calleth me into the Balcony -to look at some sunset Clouds, which she likened unto an Oliphant with a -Princess on its Back, and to Armies and Fairy Palaces and such-like, till -I told her if she span any more of her gold Cobwebs about me, I should be -unable to leave the Balcony. Without heeding me, she giveth a great Sigh, -and says, "There's one Thing I should like, that I know my Father would -forbid. Pshaw, _Ned!_ thou needs not look so surprise-stricken! 'tis but -to have my Fortune told, by a real Fortune-teller." - -"And so double your Sorrows and deaden your Pleasures, Mistress?" say I. -"Ah, no, 'tis bad tampering with unlawful Quests." - -And then I told her a Tale current in the Part of the Country I came -from, of a Lady who would dabble in Things supernal; and how her -Fore-knowledge, actual or phansied, bred in her such Impatience of her -present Lot and Greediness for Things to come, as to lead her to poison -her Husband. And how the Grass would ne'er grow over his Body, but left -the exact Outline of it, Arms, Legs, Feet, Hands, traced out a-top of -his Grave; as may be seen this Day: and how she, a likely and -well-favoured Woman, finding herself viewed askance by all, albeit no -Crime could be proven against her, did call on Heaven to make her as -thin as a Willowwand if she had any hidden Guilt upon her Soul; and how -from that self-same Day she peaked and pined, dwindled, and fell away, -till there was no Substance, so to speak, in her; for a Child might ha' -carried her, she was the Lightness of one of Mistress _Anne's_ satin -Slippers. - -At the End of this Tale, Mistress _Anne_ drew a deep Breath, and, saith -she, "_Ned_, thou wert always a marvellous Recounter!—Tell me another -Tale, as moving as the last." So I told her another and another; till -the Stars began to come out; and a Singer in a Boat lying a little Way -off began to sing— - - "_What though thine Eyes be like the Sun - That lights up all he looks upon_—" - -"Whose can those be?" quod she. "Aye! whose, indeed?" said I. But I -thought I knew.—Thus, in honeyed Sweetness, lapsed Day after Day. - -But it came to an End. I found at last, whether I would shut mine Eyes -or no, whether I would give Ear or feign Dullness, that I was seeing, -hearing Nothing but Mistress _Anne_. At first, I would not attend to -this; then said (in _Answer_ to Something,) "What Harm?" But yet -Something answered back again, There _is_ Harm. Then quod I, To whom? -There is none, nor never shall be to any save myself, and the only Harm -to me is the Pain; and if the Pain is a Pleasure, or I choose to bear it -and count it as such, where's the Harm and where's the Wrong? - -But the Pleasure was gone. At least, there was so much Pain overlying -it, that it was crushed down and smothered, and struggling to get free -of its Burthen. Then I asked myself what this was about, and whither -could it tend, and what had I lost that I had had before, that made me -seem a different _Ned Osborne_? Also, why did I bring Shame on myself -and bring Master _Hewet's_ keen Observance on me by such and such a -Blunder in my daily Charge? Was his Eye altering towards me? Would it -not needs alter, did he wit the foolish, impossible Things I spent the -best (the _worst_) of my Time in dreaming of? Oh! my Heart would not -bear it! There was Something eating its Way into my Soul, as a Weevil -gnaws its Way into a Garner. - -—No, this could not go on. I thought over it and took my Part; and -after watching and letting slip many Opportunities, I at length, in -Desperation, took the very first that came next, and stood beside Master -_Hewet_ at his Desk when I wist that no Other was or would soon be -within Earshot; and said, "Master, I must go." - -"Whither, Lad?" quod he, surprised, yet kindly,—"On some Errand of -thine own about the Town?" - -I tried to get back my Voice, it faltered so!—and said, "Away ... away -from here." - -"Art ill?" quod he, laying down his Pen, and suddenly looking full at -me. "Dost thou want to go for a While into the Country?" - -"No," I said, "I must go seek another Service." - -"Another Service?" repeated he, with a yet more piercing Look.—"This is -strange ... and sudden. We thought you were so happy." - -"I was," said I. "Only—" - -"Only what?" And he waited: but I spake never a Word mo'. - -"I see how it is!" cried he, suddenly growing red, "Master _Groggett_ -hath tempted thee away from me, with Promise of higher Salary. Pitiful -Fellow! I wot he hath long envied me a faithful Servant. 'Tis against -our Company's Ordinance, to tempt a Man from his Master! Go, however, -since thou wilt, ungrateful Youth!—thy Fidelity hath been undermined; -thou hast never apprized our Kindness, hast never loved us!" - -This unloosed my Tongue, and I said, "I have felt, if I have not -deserved your Kindness, Master _Hewet_. No one hath tempted, nor could -tempt me away, and I but seek to go for that I love you e'en too well." - -"How can you love us too well?" quod he distrustfully. - -—"_One_ of you," I said, faltering. - -"_Anne_?" cried he. And saw it in my Face. - -—"Well, Lad," quod he, softer, "no Need to blush scarlet nor weep, -where no Shame lieth. _That_ would be in _not_ loving her, I think. You -may love too much, you can't love too well." - -"Too well for my Peace," quod I, turning my Head away—"You had better -let me go." - -"Well, I think not," quod he, after a Pause of some Length. "Go to what? -To another House, where Everything will be worse for thee, save that -_Anne_ will be not only out of Reach but out of Sight. You must perforce -conquer yourself _then_, you know. Try to conquer yourself _now_." - -"I don't think I can," I said; so huskily, that he made me repeat it -twice. - -"You meant to try, I suppose," quod he, "when you spake of going away." - -"Yes, Master." - -"Well, try here:—for a little While, that I may think where to place -you. _Ned!_—I have had some Trial of thee; I have tested thee, and I -have trusted thee. Don't betray my Trust in this Matter." - -I said, "I will not." - -"And do thou," quod he, with all his old Kindness, "trust in me. I shall -do what, on Deliberation, I think best for you. And stay thyself with -this Reflection: that if thou wert the first Noble in the Land, sueing -for my Daughter, I would not, in these her so early Days, give her to -thee. Keep a brave, honest Heart, and take Things quietly. You have not -been such a Knave as to speak to her?" - -"No, Master." - -"Your Word is enough," quod he, and left me. I put my Head down on mine -Arms and shed hot Tears that had no Relief in them. Just then, I felt a -kind Hand laid with strong emphatic Pressure on my Shoulder. I kissed -it, in Sign of Reverence and Good-faith: he understood it for such, and -left me without a Word. And I went on mine Affairs with a lightened -Heart. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -_Master Hewet ordereth Things discretely_ - - -Two Days after this, Master _Hewet_ sent me to _Antwerp_. I abode there -six Months, transacting his Affairs. There was much to learn, much to -see. When I returned Home, it was with a strong Heart. Directly I saw -Mistress _Anne_, I felt that I loved her as much as ever; but I also -felt that I could rule myself. She cried, "Oh, _Osborne_, thou art -returned at last! How glad I am!" with her dear, innocent Eyes fixed -brightly on mine; and forthwith began to tell me that one of her Dormice -had died, and to ask me to get her another. I told her I had brought her -a Guinea-pig; she thanked me, but said she did not think she should like -it as much as the Dormouse. - -I found that some Change in Household Arrangements had been made in mine -Absence, whereby my old Quarters were pre-occupied; and that Master -_Hewet_ had taken a Lodging for me at the Barbitonsor's over the Way; -where, in Sooth, both Master _Soper_ and the young Women failed not in -Aught that should be for my Comfort, and at very reasonable Charges. -Howbeit, an Alarm of Housebreakers soon recalled me to mine old Post -again, save that I had the Attick in Place of the Loft; every Woman in -the House thinking it safe with me and unsafe without me. And Master -_Hewet_ said I made the old Place look more like itself. - -Now, mark me, _Hew_! Thus went I on _for three whole Years_, and ne'er -once lost Hold of my Stay. What Man hath done, Man may do. I was not -like one working on Hope, for I had had none given me. I say not that I -was always borne up to High-water Mark. Questionless, there were daily -Ebbs and Flows; and ever and anon, a mighty, powerful, rushing Wind -would come, and drive back the Current on an Heap, leaving bare the -stony Channel; till after a While, with strong Recoil, it came hurrying -back, ready to sweep all before it. But, _I never let go the Rope_! Many -Waters cannot quench Love, neither can the Floods drown it. Deep might -call hoarsely unto Deep, but not prevail.... - -Speak as if I felt it? Why, I _do_! I am an oldish Man now, at least you -think me not over young; but there are some good and pure Feelings, Lad, -thou wilt never become dull to, so long as thou keepest thy Heart with -all Diligence. And the best of it is, that whilst those Feelings, so far -as they were pleasant, are pleasant still, the Pains, then so bitter, -that came from keeping down all that was wrong with a strong Hand, are -now Pleasures too!—that are recalled over and over again: when, maybe, -we seem cogitating or dozing. Give me thy Hand, Lad: I see you believe -me. - -So did Master _Hewet_ believe me. We were, I fancy, often thinking at -the same Time of the same Matter; but thereof spake we none. I was not -watched; neither did he make a Shew of not watching me: only gave me -daily Proofs of a deepening and enlarging Confidence. I heard him say -one Day to one of his fellow Aldermen, ere the Door was well closed -behind me, "It were a poor Word, Master _Bowyer_, to say I could trust -that young Man with untold Gold." - -But those Ebbs and Flows I spake of ... sometimes they arose from mine -own unmanageable Thoughts, I wist not why nor wherefore; sometimes from -the Approach of this or that Suitor ... for, towards the End of the Term -I named, there were full many, I promise you; though, for the most Part, -not dangerous ones: sometimes from Mistress _Anne_ herself, who began to -have _her_ Ebbs and Flows too, both of Spirits and Temper; and who, when -some of her Suitors, more unpleasing unto her than the Rest, did make -Suit to her with Over-boldness, would become pettish and captious, not -only with them but with me and with every one else. - -In one of these little Humours, she accused me of being less regardful -of pleasing her than any one in the House: I would do Nothing for her. I -said there was Nothing I would not do. She said that was fine Talking. I -said, Would she prove me? She was leaning over the Balcony at the Time; -and, looking down therefrom, said, Would I bring her that yellow -Fumitory that grew in the Cleft of the Bridge-buttress? I looked at it -and then at her, and said gravely, it could not be done without -imperilling of Life, but that if she bade me, I would try. She said, -turning red as she spake, she _did_ bid me. Then I said I would take my -Reward beforehand, as I might not be fortunate enough to come back. And -kissed her Hand, and the same Instant was over the Parapet. She cries, -"Oh _Edward_, stay!" and gives a Scream that rings through my Ears and -makes People look forth of their Casements. I was hanging by my two -Hands to the Ballusters, seeking some Ledge for my Foot; but, seeing her -white Face, and knowing she had sent me on a sinfully reckless Errand, -I, without more Ado, gave a sudden Spring back into the Balcony. She -meanwhile, in the Buckram-chamber, had hidden her Face in her Hands, and -was weeping bitterly. I was never so near losing Command of myself as -that Time. - -'Twould amuse thee—it amuses me,—to pass in Review all her Suitors of -that Season. There was Master _Bolsover_, the Merchant-tailor—young -_Bowes_, the Goldsmith, Son of Sir _Martin_—_Guy Burrell_, the -Clothworker;—pretty near all the great Companies, except the -Fishmongers', had their Representative, I think.—Then, for the Court, -there were _Ralph de Cobham_, a Spendthrift, _Lancelyn Ferrars_, and a -sixth Cousin of the _Percies_. These all came and went, like Players in -a Droll. - -Meantime, I came and went, too; ... to _Leeds_, to _Halifax_, to -_Norwich_, to _Stratford_; and again to _Cales_, _Abbeville_, and -_Antwerp_. Master _Hewet_ supplied me with plenty of Money, and kept me -abroad longer than before. I had Time to look at Pictures and Churches, -and to learn to speak the Tongues of the Countries I abode in with some -Fluency. I had Introductions to Merchants of the Staple, among whom were -Men as friendly and enlightened as any I ever knew. - -When I learned that Queen _Mary_ had deceased, and that our gracious -Lady _Elizabeth_ was set on the Throne in her Stead, I thought it hard -to be still kept from Home, where Terror and Tears had now given Place -to Joy and Gladness. Howbeit, Master _Hewet_ would still keep me Abroad, -on some Affairs that seemed of less Moment to me than they did to him. - -I set my Face towards _England_ at last, with a greater Longing for Home -than I had ever had before. That Home was now changed: Master _Hewet_ -had removed into a goodly Mansion in _Philpot Lane_, fit for a Merchant -Prince, and plainly yet nobly furnished. His Household was also -increased by the Addition of several new Servants; but the House on the -Bridge was still his House of Business. - -I know not when I had so desired to see his Face, and to breathe the -same Air with Mistress _Anne_. I hastened to _Philpot Lane_, and the -first Sound I heard on entering the House, was of a Lute, rarely -touched. I stood at Pause and listened with Rapture. I thought, Oh, what -heaven-like Sounds! how sweet an Air! how greatly hath she improved! -when, of a sudden, the Prelude, for 'twas no more, was succeeded by a -lovesick Ballad, sung by a _Man's_ mellow Voice! Oh, my Heart seemed to -leap to my Lips, so great was the Revulsion. I staggered as though I -were shrew-struck; and leaning against the Wall, tried to deafen my Ears -to the hateful Sound. How all the sweet Chords seemed jangled! Who was -the Singer? and what was his Footing here? - -While I put to myself these bootless Questions, the Door at the -Stair-head opened, Voices spake Farewell, some one came forth, a light -Foot ran down the Stair, and, or ever I was aware, or could move off, a -very young Man, habited in russet Damask and blue embroidered Satin, -handsome and of lordly Bearing, nearly ran over me. Looking forth of the -House-door, he turned about again and said to me abruptly, "Canst tell -me where are my People?" - -I made Answer, "I know not your People's Liveries, my Lord," (for I felt -assured he was a Nobleman,) "but I saw a Party of Men in watchet Coats, -with a spotted Dog on their Badges, at the Lane-end." - -"All right," quod he, and proffered me a Piece of Money with a -good-natured Air; but I drew back, on which he looked surprised, gave me -a second Look, slightly bent his Head, and went forth. - - [Illustration: JJ - "Proferred me a Piece of Money] - -I saw he had offered me a Gift, mistaking my Degree; but what I could -not help chiefly noting was, the exceeding smallness of the Coin. I -marvelled so fine a young Gentleman could proffer so mean a Gift. "Ah," -thought I, "'tis the City Wealth brings these Gallants so far east. A -Bag of Gold would be as welcome to them tied round the Neck of _Damaris_ -as of sweet Mistress _Anne_. 'Tis for their own Ends they hawk low, like -a Swift for a Dragonfly." - -Then I leaned against the Wall for a Moment, and said within myself, "O -God, I have Everything that is dear to me at Stake. However my Patience -may be tried, yet make me patient, I beseech thee: I know it is the -Thing of all others in which I am most to seek; yet let me, as at this -Time, struggle with myself not in vain, O LORD." - -Then I ran nimbly up-stairs, into the pleasant Summer-chamber the young -Lord had just left. Therein found I Mistress _Anne_, hanging in a -thoughtful Posture, over a Posy of rare Flowers on the Table. Starting -when she saw me, she said, "Oh, _Osborne_, is it you?" and blushed. - -I stood at Pause, without a Word to proffer. Quod she, "I am glad thou -art safe returned—hast thou seen my Father?" I said, "No, Mistress. -Have you fared quite well since I left?" She saith, "Quite well." Then I -said, "What rare Flowers! shall I bring you some Water for them?" "No," -quod she carelessly, "they are scarce worth the keeping." "Scarce worth -the keeping!" quod I, "nay, they are not such as are to be bought in a -_London_ Herb-market.... Divers of them, these Coronations for Example, -must have come from far." "They all come from far," quod she, "but what -of that? I like them none the better." And commenced pulling a -Gilly-flower to Pieces. I said, "I am glad I am not that Gilly-flower." -She saith, "Why?" But I made no Answer, for how witted I that I was any -better prized? So I turned to go; and just as I gained the Door, I heard -her softly say, "_Edward!_" Then I stayed. She saith, "You will find my -Father in his Closet;" and so, passed me with the Flowers in her Hand; -and I saw that her Eyes were full of Tears ready to shed. When she was -gone, I went back and took up some of the Gilly-flower Leaves she had -scattered, and kissed them. Just then enters Master _Hewet_ from his -Closet beyond, wherein he might ha' heard every Word had been said; but -there was Nought to be shamed of, if he did. - -He saith, "_Ned!_ I am glad to see thee, Lad! How well thou look'st! And -yet, now I observe thee more narrowly, thou look'st amiss. Hath Aught -gone wrong? Nay then, that's well. Methinks, with thine Allowance, thou -mightest go a little braver; which is what few young Men need the egging -on to ... and yet thou gracest whatsoe'er thou hast on." - -Then he told me what he called the grand News of the Day—my Lord -_Talbot's_ Suit to Mistress _Anne_. I said, "Oh! Master, don't kill me," -and hid my Face in my Hands. He saith, "Why, _Ned_, whom am I saving her -for, but _you_? Look up, Boy! He that did save, the same shall have! I -have but one Child, and I mean to make her happy. But mark me, _Ned_, I -wot not whether that is to be done by giving her unto mine adopted Son; -nor, peradventure, art thou any more assured of it. Woo her then, Lad, -with my free Consent, but tell her not just yet, that thou hast it. My -Fancy—a strange one, maybe—is to see what she will in that Case do." - -I knelt, and caught his Hand to my Lips. - -"Thy Father's own Son," quod he smiling, "he had the darker Beard, thou -hast the better Eye. Thou art a Gentleman's Son, and I am no more. Start -fair with the young Lord; he dines with me to-day, and so shalt thou. -And now, be off with thee." - -I passed forth into the Stretes, not heeding in what Direction, for my -Brain was a-fire, and I wanted to quiet it and to think over many -Things—no Place for Solitariness like the Stretes! Then I returned to -my old Quarters on the Bridge, and looked out a Suit I had bought and -wore once at _Antwerp_, but had thought almost too fine for Home, albe -but little garnished ... to wit, of murray-colour, overlaid with a good -silk Lace; and a _Mechlin_ Edge and Tassels to my Bands. Thought I, -peradventure the 'Prentice in his blue Gown had most reason to be proud -of his Favour ... she kissed me then, when she could scarce hold on by -my Hair, 'twas so short; and now it might wind twice round her -Finger.... Then I went across to Master _Soper_, and quod I, "Now, -Master Tonsor, thou must trim me for a Feast; but, mark me, mine Hair -was cut last in _Flanders_, where they trim the Hair little and the -Beard close; so follow the Lead and keep the foreign Fashion, and I'll -give thee Twopence." - -"Marry come up," muttered he, "what Airs these Youngsters bring from -over Seas!" And I felt I was in his power, and that one malicious snip -might put me past Redress; howbeit, he stayed himself with less Work, -more Pay, and acquitted himself handsomely. Then I took my _Flemish_ -Beaver, and my new Cloke across my Arm, and sallied forth; and chancing -to look back, was avised of _Tryphena_ and _Tryphosa_ leaning forth of -their upper Casement to look after me. Being caught at which, they -disappeared. - -As I entered the House, I heard Mistress _Fraunces_ say to _Damaris_, -"Be sure they spoil not the Mortreuse," which avised me we were to have -state. Howbeit, there was a rich plainness in Everything; the -parcel-gilt double Salt-cellar and chased Flagons alone calling -Attention to their Cost. And though Everything set on Table was -far-fetched and of the best, far exceeding the Tables of the best -Merchants in _Antwerp_, we had not too much nor too many of any Thing. I -could not note that Mistress _Anne_ had made any Difference for him—a -few Strings of Pearls were warped into her Hair, and she ware her -mouse-coloured Velvet, which she never thought too fine, with or without -Company; but no Posy. Two Men with _Talbot_ Badges helped Master -_Hewet's_ Men to wait; my Lord sat next Mistress _Anne_, and I -over-against them. As we took our Places, he seemed to remember my Face, -and to be surprised at my sitting down with him; which Master _Hewet_ -noting, in a certain haughtiness in his Air, he saith, "Mine adopted -Son, my Lord, and the Son of mine earliest Friend.... We are all plain -People, but the _Osbornes_ as good as any here sitting, saving your -Lordship's Presence." Whereon, my Lord, recovering, pledged me. - -Now, Mistress _Fraunces_ was so abashed at entertaining an Earl's Son, -as that she lost all her natural Easiness, and could bethink her of -Nothing to say but to ask him ever and anon, whether he liked what he -ate, which he professed to do once and again, though I believe he scarce -marked the Difference of one Dish from another. For the first Time, I -learned what the fair Speech of Lordlings to Ladies is made of ... it -seemed to me rather a flimsy Stuff, Warp and Woof; over-stretched and -loose-wove. Then Master _Hewet_, to leave him and _Anne_ to themselves, -kept up a By-talk with me about _Flanders_; drawing forth of me not so -much about the Staple as about the Country, Towns, Rivers, Houses, -Churches, and People. I had been to _Nürnberg_, and could tell him of -the mighty Works of Genius produced by the Artists of the free Imperial -City, and of the Wealth and Splendour of its Merchants. Mistress -_Fraunces_ was afterwards pleased to say I took the Colour out of the -young Lord: what she intended thereby I never clearly made -out—peradventure, being a Woman, she meant I was brown and red, and he -pink and white; for indeed I was sore sunburned. For good Looks, there -was no Fault to find in my Lord: he had that Easiness of Carriage and -Manner which I think none but young Lords have. He took not much upon -him, considering what he was and with whom; and, for the Rest, he was -pleasant, but not bright. His Hands were womanish for Softness, and I -heard from _Damaris_, who had it from his Men, that one Reason thereof -was, he never washed them in cold Water, only dabbed them a little with -a soft Napkin. Methought, rather than that, I would choose my Hands of a -little coarser Grain. I think he parleyed for a Quarter of an Hour on -the Christian Names of his Ancestry, how the Heads of his House had been -alternately a _Richard_ and a _Gilbert_, a _Richard_ and a _Gilbert_, -for I wot not how many Generations; and then how the Name of _George_ -got in, and then of _Frauncis_, and how he was a _George_ again ... -flimsy Talk and tedious. Mistress _Anne_ sate wondrous quiet, and once -gave me, across the Table, such a Look! Methought if she were secretly -amusing herself, I had no Need to be so jealous unto Death as I felt. - -When my Lord took Leave, he, to my Surprise, invited me to attend him a -little Way. I looked at him, to be assured there was no Mistake; and, -seeing he awaited me, I followed; Master _Hewet_ saying as I departed, -"Fail not to look in on us as thou returnest." In the open Air, my Lord -and I walked awhile without speaking, by Reason of the People we met; -but, proceeding to a side Aisle of _Paul's_, he spake to me of this and -that, I following his Lead, and leaving him to start his Subject. - -At length, quod he, "Master _Hewet_ lives quietly ... they that save -most, shew least; ha, Master _Osborne_?" I coolly replied, "My Lord, it -may be so."—"A rich Man," pursued he, "like a Prophet, may have least -Honour in his own Street and his own House. Why now, there may be many -cross daily his Threshold and have Speech of him on ordinary Affairs, -that wot not he, for as homely as he is, hath six thousand Pounds by the -Year ... am I within the Mark, Master _Osborne_?" "Marry, my Lord," quod -I, "your honourable Lordship seemeth to know much more of the Secrets of -his strong Box than I do. I never yet asked of him what it held, nor -never was told." "That may be true," quod he, "and yet you may -guess."—"But I never did guess," interrupted I, "I know him for rich, -and liberal, and of high Credit at Home and Abroad; and that is all." -"You would surprise me," quod my Lord, "unless it were clear to me that -you resent my Freedom with you in this Matter." "On my Faith, my Lord," -quod I, "I resent Nothing. I may know the Amount and Success of this or -that Venture of Master _Hewet's_, without having any Key to the Sum -total of his Wealth; but whatever came to my Knowledge, whether by -Chance, by Confidence, or in the Way of Business, it is certain I should -keep locked in my Heart as faithfully as his Trade Secrets what Time I -was his 'Prentice." "Nay, you are a good and honest Heart," quod my -Lord. "Be as honourable to me as to him, I beseech you, and say Nothing -that shall minish me in his good Liking." "Why should I, my good Lord?" -quod I, "our Paths lie wide enough asunder." "Aye, but you have his -Ear," quod he, "in the Way of daily Business, and he spake of you as his -adopted Son. If you are as a Son unto him, his Daughter is unto you as a -Sister, and you may do a good Turn for me, peradventure, with fair -Mistress _Anne_." "My Lord," quod I, "we are on quite a different -Footing from what you suppose, and your Suit would gain no better Favour -from passing through my Hands." "Will you try that?" quod he, smiling. -"Marry, my Lord, why should you put it upon me?" quod I, "you are far -better able to make Suit for yourself ... Earls' Sons do not commonly -seek in vain for fair Ladies' Favour."... "You will, at least, not be my -Foe?" quod he. "No, my Lord," quod I, "unless you give me greater Reason -to be than you have done yet: howbeit, I marvel your Lordship should -value my good or ill Favour at a Pin's Purchase." - -"Ah," quod he, after a Pause, during which we paced half the Length of -the Aisle, "there be some Things that neither Rank nor Money can buy; -and I saw that Mistress _Anne_ had you in her Regard."—"Did you, my -Lord?" cried I, "wherein did she shew it?" But he was thinking of his -own Matters rather than of mine, therefore only said, "I could discern -it and am assured of it; therefore be my good Friend, good _Osborne_, -and speak a good Word for me when you can." - -Then taking a Ring off his Finger, he saith, "I beseech you, accept this -Ruby for the Esteem I bear unto you ... a mere Trifle, yet a good Stone, -I assure you—nay, Sir, be not so unkindly—'beseech you, for my Love." - -I put it aside, saying, "In a Word, my Lord, I cannot. Faith, it were -well your honourable Lordship would turn into another Aisle, for there -is a Tailor behind yonder Pillar taking down the Particulars of your -Apparel in his Notebook, which 'twere Pity o' my Life, for the excellent -Devising thereof, should be copied and sold in a City Frippery." - -He moved off with a Start and a Smile, replacing his Ring. At the same -Time we were accosted by one of those habitual Frequenters of _Paul's -Walk_, that will sue your Charity first, and pick your Pocket -afterwards. My Lord affected first not to hear him, but seeing me feel -for a Trifle to be quit of him, he sought his own Purse, which, not -finding, he turned about in some Anxiety to his Men, who were some Way -behind, and accosted them as soon as they came up, with "Here, -_Cresswell_, _Jenkyn_! I have lost my Purse,—hie back, one of you, to -Master _Hewet's_, where, methinks, I dropped it." "My Lord, I will -return and aid in the Search," quod I, glad of an Excuse for ending so -troublesome a Dialogue; albeit I thought it much more likely he had lost -his Purse in the Place we were in than dropped it at our House. - -However, there I was wrong, for _Damaris_ met us on our Return, saying, -"Oh yes, here is my Lord's Purse," and gave it unto his Man. When she -had watched him depart, "'Twas hardly worth returning for," quod she -disdainfully, "there were but three Nobles; and albeit the Purse had a -Hole in't, 'twas not big enow for a Penny-piece to drop through. But -peradventure he was ashamed we should see it, so was anxious to have it -back." "There's no Shame in Poverty, _Damaris_," quod I, "if we are not -proud with it."—"Nay, I know not," quod she, doubtfully; "Folks always -_are_ ashamed of it, that's certain." - -In the withdrawing Chamber sate Mistress _Anne_ at her Needle, beside -Master _Hewet_ in his great Chair. "Now then," thought I, "every good -Angel be my speed! I believe I can tell as well as most whether a Man be -only setting himself to sleep, or verily and indeed sleeping; and I see -that at this present, Master _Hewet_ is truly and soundly asleep, but -yet his being at his Daughter's Side gives me Freedom of Access unto her -I should not in other Wise enjoy, and will now neither abuse nor -neglect." - -So, without a second Thought, and armed with my Possession of the -Father's private Grace, I sate down over-against her. She said, "So soon -returned?" and began to question me of my Travel. Then my Tongue -unloosed, and I told her how many fair Things I had seen, how many -notable People and Places, yet how none of these had been able to damp -for one Moment my Desire to be at Home, within Sight and Sound of her. -As I went on, waxing more and more fluent, more and more passionate, so -did her Colour wax deeper and deeper, until, with a Look of extreme -Displeasure and Aversion, she said, "_Edward_, thou art beside thyself -... pray let me never more hear such foolish Talk as this—I had better -Thoughts of thee." And arose to go. I arose too, and stayed her, and -prayed her to forgive me if I had spoken Aught amiss,—if she did not, I -could have no Peace. She said, "I cannot just now, I am wounded so -much;" and went away, with flushed Cheeks and Eyes full of Tears. Master -_Hewet_ was roused by her Departure, and, rubbing his Eyes, smiled and -said, "I thought _Anne_ had been here." "She is but just gone," I made -Answer; and the rest of the Evening was sad enough. - -Next Day, I had long Speech of Master _Hewet_, touching foreign Affairs. -He told me of this and that Estate in _Yorkshire_ he had been buying, in -the Parishes of _Wales_ and _Hartshill_, and of his minding to send me -down to see them, if I were ready to start off again so soon. I said, "I -am quite ready, Sir." "Shortly thou shalt go, then," quod he. "And now -take up these Letters to _Anne_, for they concern her more than me, -being Thanks from some of her poor Pensioners." Adding, just as I was -leaving, "Thou didst not make much way last Night, _Ned_ ..." and -smiled; which bewrayed to me that he had heard at least Part of what was -said; which I was mad with him for, and thought not fair. - -And now I began to muse within myself what a provoking Thing it was, -that when all the Obstacles I had counted insurmountable between _Anne_ -and me had suddenly given Way, I should be brought up short by herself! -Certes, an' she cared not for me, there was no more to be said; and -Master _Hewet_ would in no Ways be to blame if he gave her to Somebody -else; neither had I ever sought nor had she ever bestowed any such -Tokens of especial and considerable Regard as should encourage me to -suppose I had only to ask and have. And yet, I had somehow always -thought, "Only give me my fair Chance with the Rest, and I ask for -nothing better." That was my Conceit and Presumption. Therefore with a -very sad and sorry Aspect did I carry up the Letters to Mistress _Anne_, -and used as few Words as need be in the delivering of them. She on her -Part was equally dry, and gave me no Pretence to tarry, and yet I -lingered. Seeing which, and that I was about to speak, (though I -protest, on Somewhat quite as trivial as the Weather,) she suddenly -coloured up very much and said, "_Edward_, if you are going to talk any -more Nonsense, as you did last Night, I would rather go away." "There's -no Need, Madam," said I coolly, "I had not such a Thought in my Head." -On which she coloured still worse, and sitting down again began to read -her Letters. - -_Damaris_ now came in, and began to stitch away at a distant Window. "I -have but to say Farewell, Mistress _Anne_," quod I, "before I start on -my next Journey." "So soon again? where are you going?" quod she, -without looking up from her Letters. "A rolling Stone gathers no Moss." -(This was an unkind Cut, considering her own Father set me rolling.) "To -_Yorkshire_," replied I, "and perhaps I had best say Farewell at once, -for Lord _Talbot_ is coming in at the Gate." - -"Oh then, _Edward_, stay!" cries she with all her old Frankness: -starting up and dropping her Letters. As we both stooped to pick them -up, I said, "I will, if you wish it; but are you assured you know your -own Mind?" "Quite," said she very determinately, "so leave me not by any -Means." - -Then cometh in my Lord, very brave, in blue Silk and Silver. How -laughable it was, if I could but have felt merry! _Damaris_, -questionless, was laughing in her Sleeve. My Lord steps up to Mistress -_Anne_, with easy Assuredness, and touches with his Lips a very pretty -Fabrick of Silk rayed with Silver, for she gave him a gloved Hand. Then -he hoped she had rested better than he had, as in Sooth he saw by her -divine Looks she must needs have done; and he marvelled not that Roses -were at no Price to be had just now at Court, since 'twas plain they -found a more nourishing Soil in the City; and so forth, like a -Valentine, calling her Looks Nature's sweetest Books, her Tresses golden -Meshes, her Voice Musick, her Favour Heaven, with Apostrophes to _Venus_ -and _Cupid_, and Asseverations that he was a Prey to a Mind delighting -in Sorrow, Spirits wasted with Passion, a Heart torn in Pieces with -Care. To which she made Answer, that she hoped he overstated his ill -Condition. To which he responded that if he did, 'twas _error amoris_, -not _amor erroris_. With othermuch i' the same Vein, that he cared no -Whit for mine hearing, but rather enjoyed having another Listener while -he ran off Phrases that it seemed to me he must needs have got by Heart. -I thought, As she liketh not my Fashion, maybe she liketh this. Howbeit, -there was Nothing in her Favour to discover whether she did or no. So -after a set Time given to this Court-like Parry and Thrust, this Quip -and Compliment, whereby I wist not how a Man could suppose his Suit -moved one Way or the other, my Lord takes leave with easy Grace, as a -Man who had, in one Affair, transacted the Business of the Day to his -Satisfaction. - -So soon as he hath departed, Mistress _Anne_ falls a laughing, when in -cometh Master _Hewet_, looking somewhat harassed; seeing which, -_Damaris_ sweeps up her Work and departs, leaving us all with grave -Faces. - -"_Nan_," quoth Master _Hewet_, casting himself into his Arm-chair, "I -must have a few Words with thee of this Suitor of thine." - -"We are not alone, _Father_," interrupted Mistress _Anne_, casting a -quick, apprehensive Look towards me. - -"Tilly-valley," he responded, "none other is within Earshot of us but -_Ned Osborne_, who is only an _alter ego_." - -"He may be thine, _Father_, but he is not mine," quod Mistress _Anne_, -somewhat captiously, "and I pray you to defer what you have to say to me -till we are by ourselves." - -"Maiden, thou art over-hasty," quod Master _Hewet_, looking fixedly at -her, "and, in thy Fear of being over-civil unto one who has been unto -thee as a Brother, and to whom, moreover, thou owest thy Life, art -somewhat failing in good Manners." - -Her Eye sank before his, and she submissively replied, "Well, then, -_Father_, what is it thou wouldest say?" - -"Just this," he returned, "whether Lord or Commoner, the Youth must have -an Answer, so soon as thou knowest thine own Mind." - -"I know it already," quod Mistress _Anne_, shortly. - -"What is it?" saith her Father. She faltered for a Moment,—"Not to have -him," she replied softly. - -"_Ned_, thou hast thine Answer," quod Master _Hewet_. - -"_I_, Sir?" quod I, starting. - -"Hear'st thou not?" returned he imperturbably, "thou hast it from -herself. I told thee I but sought to make my only Child happy,—you -can't make her so, it seemeth,—she won't have you." - -"_Father!_ what _are_ you saying?" cried Mistress _Anne_, trembling -exceedingly. - -He looked at her, but made no Answer. - -"Were you not," said she, leaning over him breathlessly, her Dress -vibrating with the quick beating of her Heart,—"were you not making -Question of Lord _Talbot_?" - -—"Lord _Talbot_? Lord _Marlingspike_!"—quod he, "my Thoughts were as -far from him as from the City Giants! Said I not 'this Suitor of thine'? -Whom should I think of but _Ned Osborne_?" - -"You never told me before, that _I_ might," quod she, turning scarlet, -and then bursting into Tears. I sprang towards her, but she brake away -from me, and was gone in a Moment. Master _Hewet_ leaned back in his -Chair and smiled. "Methinks, _Ned_," quod he, "the Day is thine, this -Time." And, taking the Ring off his Finger, that he had shown Lord -_Howard_ of _Effingham_ on the Bridge, "See," quod he, "how long I have -destined her for thee!" - -—Here 'tis, _Hew_—I always wear it now. Thou mark'st the Posy: - - "_He that did save, - The same shall have_." - -—Many a goodly Hereditament had I with her, too ... the _Barking_ -Estate, and those _Yorkshire_ Lands inclusive. The _Settings_ of my -Ring, Lad! no more—the Casket that went with my Treasure—the binding -of my Book. - -So now thou seest how thou mayest wait a little longer for fair Mistress -_Joyeuse_, without fuming and chafing, lest this Hurt, got in a good -Cause, should lose thee thy Place among thy Rivals. Tut, Lad, 'twill -only grace thee in her Eyes all the more! See how Things came round in -my Case. I had not half thy good Favour, nor the brightness that a Sword -carrieth in a Woman's Eyes. "A plain Man, dwelling in Tents...." Nothing -more! - -Well, what remains to tell? We married, we were happy? Thou knowest it, -and yet sayest, "Go on." _Anne_ and I were married early in the -_October_ of that Year; and on the _29th_ of that same Month, Master -_Hewet_ was chosen Lord _Mayor_ of _London_, and knighted at -_Westminster_. What a Pageant we got up for him! I was a young Husband, -full of Spirits, and ready for Anything that came in my Way, Feasting or -Fighting; in special, then, to do Honour to him unto whom, under Heaven, -I owed all earthly Good. So I took Council with the Master-revellers; -and, between us, we concocted as pretty a Subtlety as ever was devised! -Don't laugh, Sirrah! you'd have thought it very fine. There was the -Symbol of our Mystery, a Golden Ram, ridden by a little Child, -cherub-like for Beauty, followed by rustical Shepherds and Shepherdesses -with Pipes and Tabors and flower-wreathed Crooks. Then came the Players -of the Pageant, which was the Story of _Apollo_ keeping the Flocks of -_Admetus_, and helping him to win his fair Wife; all which was to be -enacted at the proper Time on a goodly Stage representing a pastoral -Wilderness, with Trees, Bushes, Shrubs, Brambles, and Thickets, -interspersed with Birds and Beasts. In the Midst, _Apollo_ playing on -his Lyre: on either Side a Satyr, mopping, mowing, and curvetting. This -was, as you may plainly perceive, altogether diverse from and very -superior to the Drapers' tasteless Pageant of _Salisbury Plain_, whereon -were assembled Shepherds, Shepherdesses, Carders, Spinners, Dyers, -Wool-combers, Shermen, Dressers, Fullers, Weavers, without any Order or -Propriety. - - [Illustration: J Jellicoe - The Masque] - -Ours was of another guess Sort, Sir! I fancy there was some little -Classicality in it; though I say it that should not. After the Hall -Dinner, ('twas noted of all how pretty _Anne_, the young Bride, looked -as Lady Mayoress!) the Players having set up their Stage, _Apollo_ was -discovered lying all along, a playing of his Lyre, with his Crook cast -aside and his Sheep scattered hither and thither: and, quod he, - - "_Whoe'er may it gainsay, - I am the God of Day; - And it is also I - Am God of Poetry: - Howbeit, 'tis my Fate, - Thus cast from high Estate, - In these poor Weeds to keep - The good Admetus' Sheep._" - -—And so forth, explaining why he had been banished from Heaven by -_Jupiter_. Entereth to him _Admetus_, not wisting who he is, beyond his -hired Servant, whereon they parley on Things in general, especially the -Wool Trade and Clothworking, (with a Hit, here and there, at the -Drapers.) Then the merry Sound of Drumes and Pfiffes causeth them to -step aside behind the Trees, and there entereth a Company of Shepherds -and Shepherdesses singing the Praises of their fair Lady _Alcestis_, -represented by a fair Boy i' the Midst, crowned with Guirlands. Then -_Admetus_ doeth _Apollo_ to wit how that he is enamoured of _Alcestis_, -whose Father will in no wise bestow her save on one that shall yoke a -Boar and Lion together in a Car. Then _Apollo_, who hath a dark Lanthorn -aneath his Cloke wherewith he ever and anon maketh a sudden Flare into -_Admetus'_ Eyes, who wisteth not whence it cometh, nor wotteth 'tis the -sunbright Glory of his celestial Guest, biddeth _Admetus_ not to lose -Heart, for that he will accomplish his Task for him. And thereupon -taking up his Lyre, he beginneth to sing and play after such a -transporting Manner, that the Birds give over singing in the Trees and -hop down on his Shoulders, the Beasts begin to glare at him through the -Thickets, and then to gather about him, subdued unto a kind of surly -Softness,—whereon _Apollo_, giving _Admetus_ a private Nod and -continuing his playing, _Admetus_ without more Ado takes a Yoke wreathed -with Flowers from one of the Shepherds, yoketh therewith a Lion and a -Boar into a Car that is presently brought in, placeth _Alcestis_ in it, -driveth her to the Feet of her Father, (a King,) who arriveth -opportunely and can no longer say why the Marriage should not be -solemnizated; and, their Hands being joined by him, the Shepherds and -Shepherdesses dance about them, _Apollo_ still playing; and one and all -chant a Chorus in Praise of Clothworking. - -Ha! that was a notable good Pageant! Far better than mine own, many -Years after, which I need not tell thee, Lad, I did not devise myself. -The Toy was pretty, too, and appropriate—the Story of _Jason_, whom I -believe to have been nothing more nor less than a Merchant-adventurer -that equipped his Ship the _Argonaut_, and by his Traffic and Commerce -carried off the Golden Fleece; that is to say, the Trade of the World. - -Scarce were the Pageants over, and Master _Hewet_, that is to say Sir -_William_, set to his daily and hard Work—(for a Lord Mayor, _Hew_, -hath no lazy Time on't! He presides at the Sittings of the Court of -Aldermen, Common Council, and Common Hall, is Judge of the _London_ -Sessions at _Guildhall_, Justice of the Peace for _Southwark_, Escheator -in _London_ and _Southwark_, Conservator of the _Thames_, signs notarial -Documents, presides at Public Meetings, founds Charities, is Trustee for -Hospitals, attends the Privy Council on the Accession of Sovereigns, -and—not to weary thee with the hearing of what I've had the -doing,—sits daily in his own Justice Room by the Space of four or five -Hours). Well, but, to begin a new Parenthesis, have we not had some fine -Fellows among us? Look at _Fitz-Alwin_ resisting one Sovereign, -_Walworth_ defending another, _Picard_ feasting four Kings at his Table, -_Philpot_ raising a thousand Men at his private Charges to put down -Pirates, _Bamne_ relieving a great Dearth by importing foreign Corn, -_Falconer_ supplying _Henry_ the _Fifth_ with the Wherewithal for his -_French_ Wars, _Whittington_ founding Divinity Lectures and building -_Newgate_, _Wells_ supplying the City with fresh Water, _Eyre_ building -_Leadenhall_ for a Public Garner, and bestowing five thousand Marks on -the Poor, _Stockton_ knighted on the Field by his King for good Service -in Battle, _Fabian_ compiling Chronicles, _White_ founding a College, -and defending our Bridge; and, not to be farther tedious unto thee, Sir -_William Hewet_, the Benefactor of every Hospital, and of the Poor of -every Parish, besides bequeathing a Dowry to every poor Maid in the -Parish of _Wales_ or _Hartshill_ in _Yorkshire_ that should marry within -a Year of his Decease. These Men, _Hew_, were Worthies in their -Generation! And if Master _Hewet_ had a hard Shrievalty, he had a joyous -Mayoralty, under the early Rays of that fostering Sun, our glorious -Sovereign Lady _Elizabeth_! - -There is great Peace in the Land. I say not we are better than we were, -but we are happier and more prosperous. Sometimes I think those Days of -Trial did us good: they tried us even as Silver is tried; the baser -Metal perished. Let us not settle on the Lees, lest a worse Thing come -upon us. - - - Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. - Edinburgh & London - - - - -Works by the Author of "Mary Powell" - -_In crown 8vo, cloth, gilt top, illustrated by_ JOHN JELLICOE _and_ -HERBERT RAILTON, _price 6s. each_. - - -1. The Household of Sir Thos. More. - -2. Cherry & Violet: A Tale of the Great Plague. - -3. The Maiden and Married Life of Mary Powell, afterwards Mrs. Milton; -with the Sequel thereto, Deborah's Diary. - -4. The Old Chelsea Bun-Shop: A Tale of the Last Century. - -5. The Colloquies of Edward Osborne, Citizen and Clothworker of London. - -_The many other interesting works of this author will be published from -time to time uniformly with the above._ - - - - -_BY THE SAME AUTHOR_ - -In crown 8vo, with Illustrations by JOHN JELLICOE and HERBERT RAILTON, -price 6s., cloth elegant, gilt top. - -_Some Press Notices_ - - -The Household of Sir Thos. More - -+Graphic.+—"A picture, not merely of great charm, but of infinite value -in helping the many to understand a famous Englishman and the times in -which he lived." - -+Scotsman.+—"This clever work of the historical imagination has gone -through several editions, and is one of the most successful artistic -creations of its kind." - -+Sketch.+—"In the front rank of the gift-books of the season is this -beautiful and very cleverly illustrated reprint of a work which has -lasting claims to popularity." - -+Magazine of Art.+—"The grace and beauty of the late Miss Manning's -charming work, 'The Household of Sir Thomas More,' has been greatly -enhanced by the new edition now put forth by Mr. John C. Nimmo.... This -remarkable work is not to be read without keen delight." - - -The Maiden and Married Life of +Mary Powell+ (Afterwards Mistress -Milton) And the Sequel thereto, Deborah's Diary - -+Literary World.+—"It is rare in these days of sensational literature, -when the demand for novels of action is supreme, to take up a book which -is so palpitating with real humanity as this, in which the good and evil -are depicted dividing their power over one heart, and not broadly -separated into heroine and villain." - -+Athenæum.+—"Many will welcome the pretty new edition of the late Miss -Manning's most popular work." - -+Gentlewoman.+—"Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon Mr. John -Jellicoe and Mr. Herbert Railton, whose dainty illustrations have so -well caught the spirit of the book." - - -Cherry & Violet A Tale of the Great Plague - -+Athenæum.+—"The late Miss Manning's delicate and fanciful little -cameos of historical romance possess a flavour of their own.... The -numerous illustrations by Mr. Jellicoe and Mr. Railton are particularly -pretty." - -+Sketch.+—"A beautiful book! is the verdict, and one to read and read -again. A similar verdict is to be passed on the drawings with which -Messrs. Herbert Railton and John Jellicoe have enriched this edition." - -+Literary World.+—"Nearly thirty illustrations by Mr. John Jellicoe and -Mr. Herbert Railton enrich the volume, and materially help to make it a -dainty and acceptable book for presentation purposes." - -+Magazine of Art.+—"With such a work of fiction before her as Defoe's -'Journal of the Plague,' Miss Manning showed not only extraordinary -courage, but even a touch of genius, in approaching a similar theme, and -dealing with it charmingly and successfully. It is her own grace and -charm which have rendered this book worth preserving, fit to place with -others of our foremost women writers." - - -The Old Chelsea Bun-Shop A Tale of the Last Century - -+Athenæum.+—"A handsome reprint of Miss Manning's pleasant tale. The -illustrations add to the attractions of the volume." - -+Bookman.+—"The illustrations are capital." - -+Notes and Queries.+—"The work constitutes a delightful gift-book." - -+Artist.+—"We cannot thank Mr. Nimmo sufficiently for bringing out so -charming an edition. If there is any one who does not know 'The Old -Chelsea Bun-Shop,' he must get it and read it now." - -+Art Journal.+—"Mr. Railton's and Mr. Jellicoe's illustrations are as -refined as ever." - - -LONDON: JOHN C. NIMMO, 14 KING WILLIAM ST., STRAND - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Colloquies of Edward Osborne, by Anne Manning - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COLLOQUIES OF EDWARD OSBORNE *** - -***** This file should be named 51557-0.txt or 51557-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/5/5/51557/ - -Produced by Chris Pinfield and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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