thou knowest, though I desire from thee only hard thwacks and no favour."

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Grammercy for thy valiant courage, Master Nailer," said Sir James Dyer; "thou hast a stout stomach, and art a proper fellow of a swordsman, I warrant me; but you must find another place and season for your sports, and since we have thus, by the gracious goodness of God, and the favour and discretion of the Queen, brought that to a quiet and equitable ending which took it's beginning in contention and ill blood, I shall heartily desire you, good people all, to withdraw yourselves peacefully and speedily, in the fear of God and the Queen."

The multitude retiring with shouts of "Long live Queen Elizabeth!" was the conclusion of this Last Trial by Battle; for though it was awarded twice in the next century, and once even in the present, it never proceeded so far as in this famous case. Of the fate of the other characters of the preceding narrative there is but little to relate; since Sir Edward Crosby, though he was allowed to resume his estates, lived but little longer, and never witnessed the severe Statutes against those of his faith, enacted by

Elizabeth's Council. As there is usually a good deal of uncertainty about the memoirs of such personages as Cocke Lorell, it is not known when he died; but the Reader will probably be glad to learn that Oliver Prow was taken up by Master Recorder Fleetwood, in 1585, when he cleared out the "harbouring houses for such as lyve by theifte ;" and was ultimately one of those who first accepted transportation from the Queen, in 1597, rather than, as he said, "ride the three-legged mare at Tyburn."

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THE GOOSE AND GRIDIRON:

A LEGEND OF PAUL'S.

CHAPTER THE FIRST.

I smell some l'envoy, some Goose in this.

SHAKSPEARE.

IT was no trifling convenience to the choice spirits of a former day, who, like Captain Bobadil, did not wish "the gallants of their acquaintance to be possessed with the knowledge of their lodging," to have the extensive neutral ground of the Public Ordinaries, and Paul'sWalk. In either of these,—no matter in how despicable a covert the remainder of his time

was passed, or in how miserable a dormitory he rested at night,-in either of these might the young London beau, whose spirit exceeded his revenues, shew himself, transmewed from the slough of his homely garments, absolutely fashioned, point-device, in the newest raiment of the day; and comport himself with as much lordliness, and be received with as much worship, as if he had lived in a palace, or had slept upon down. Oh London! old, old London ! whimsical old London! good old London ! merry old London! these were the now-forgotten haunts of many a light-hearted, yet pennyless, roysterer of thine ancient sons: surely it must be a good deed to revive some of the luxurious and jovial scenes which they witnessed; so here follows a singular historical passage in the life of a young Cavalier intimately connected with them. The descriptions, which were sketched glowingly at the time, are by no couthless hand; they have all the freshness and life which mere mortal pen-and-ink can be expected to possess: and so, as the things themselves have passed away; as old Paul's and the Ordinaries are gone, "nothing," as one anciently said, when lamenting after Christmas, "but the hair of their good grey head and beard left,

we must have that, seeing that we cannot now have more of them."

The Church-yard of St. Paul's, in which some of the best Ordinaries were once kept, presented, about the middle of the seventeenth century, an appearance very different to that which it now exhibits. The Cathedral itself was seated in a green burial-ground, decorated with trees, and was surrounded by a stone wall, which, in the Parliamentary times, was watched by a military guard. Concerning these soldierwatchmen, it is known only that they possessed the usual quantity of impudence, so common in Cromwell's troopers; since there is yet extant a Parliamentary Order, which censures their calling out to, and rudely examining, inoffensive passengers; and which commands that they shall not be found " riotous, or playing at ninepins at unseasonable hours, that is to say, between nine in the evening, and six on the following morning."

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Above the wall which was thus protected, arose the old Church of St. Paul; it's general form resembling the more ancient Cathedrals of England, but blended with many features of Roman architecture, in the additions and alterations made by Inigo Jones. In the centre