proposal--by choosing to themselves, in the interim, another mayor in lieu of the contumacious John Halle. Edward, the Fourth, was evidently moved by the humility of the good people of Salisbury-his messenger, I ween, related to him the general gloom-the heartfelt sorrow, and consternation, which prevailed. He possessed the fury of the tiger against those, by whom he was opposed, but he was swayed by lamb-like feelings in favour of those, who yielded obedience, and bent their necks, to his yoke. Edward, the Fourth, was "a marchant," and so was the worthy John Halle, and their ships, had, in all probability, often plowed the main in company. I am sure, that he was actuated neither by vindictive, nor by supercilious, feelings against him; yet did he esteem it a duty, which he owed to himself, and his realm, by way of example, to commit, temporarily, the intrepid John Halle to durance vile. This potent Sovereign was naturally of good temper, and a man of infinite jest withal-a great lover of fun; (see the ballad of " Edward IV., and the Tanner of Tamworth," in Percy's "Reliques of Ancient English Poetry," Vol. II. p. 83;) and, I trow, he well enjoyed the encagement of the civic mayre—the captivitie of his brothere marchant ; yet, tempering justice with mercy-content with proving his power, and determination, I should not wonder, if he daily sent his captive—a dinner of the best, that his royal table could supply, and if he, in his gallantry, graciously condescended by letter, under his own hand and seal, to assure the amiable spouse of John Walle and his hopeful issue, that they had nought to fear for the personal safety of their beloved relative. He sought not, indeed, to oppress; but, as a good King, to support his power, and keep his realm in order. In the mean while, gentle reader, you may rest well assured, that John Halle did ever bear in mind his affectionate partner-that he solaced her, and bid her comfort in numerous letters, assuring her of the gracious kindness of his good Sovereign, and his deep regret, that he had permitted his private feelings to overcome his better judgment, and public duty. The solitude of imprisonment, we may well believe, gave rise to much cool reflection on the part of John Halle; the virtues of his good heart had ample space, and time, to resume their wonted sway, and (aided by the wise counsels of his consort) prepared the way for an altered, and better, state of affairs. The following is the letter, which their gracious Sovereign was pleased immediately to return in answer to the humble address of the Citizens of Salisbury : 66 "By the Kynge. Trusty and welbeloved we grete you wele and forasmoche as we have undrestoude as wele on the behalve of the Reverende Fader in God oure righte trusty and welbeloved the Bisshop of Salisbury as on youres that certaine differences and discordes of longe tyme have hangen and yit do be twyx you for suche thyngs as eyther partie claymeth of other to have and to be dewe We desiringe equite and righte to be ministred indifferently and agood accorde and reste to be sette betwyxt you Woll and charge you straytly that ye gyvinge full auctorite and power unto iiii or vi persones sufficient amonges you suche as shalbe thoughte unto youre discretions moste behovefull in this partie to com'une trete answere appoynte finyshhe and conclude in youre name all thynges that may concerne the seid differences and discordes sende the seid persones with all maner of evidences for youre partie the same may towche the same to be and appere before us and oure Counsaile the vi day of Novembre next comyng and with Goddes grace suche direcc'on shalbe sette thereon as shall accorde to the plesure of God and to the ease of bothe parties—and that ye faile nat heryn as ye woll eschewe oure displesure the perille that may falle Yeven undre oure privie seal atte oure palois of Westm're the xxi day of Octobre "To oure trusty and welbeloved the Citezens and Inhabitaunts of the Cite of Newe Salisbury." The above letter was, as we may feel assured, most welcome to the Citizens. Its softened tone proved to them, that the displeasure of their King was assuaged; and they erringly-most erringly-presumed on this. Willing to pay their worthy Mayor every compliment, and still clinging to the vain hope, that his exertions might enable them to attain their, mistakenly founded, desires, the Corporation issued a power of attorney, in which John Halle, John Aport, John Hampton, and Thomas Pyrie were appointed as the four, in compliance with the letter of the King, to appear before him, and his noble Council. The question here arises-did the City act either with propriety, or good policy, in the appointing of John Halle as one of this deputation? Surely not. It is true, that they paid him a great compliment; but does not this seem to be at the expense of their Sovereign? whom they thus indirectly (as it may have appeared to him) accused of harshness, if not of injustice, in having committed John Halle to ward; and, that this construction was put on the conduct of the Citizens, we may conclude from the following letter: "By the Kynge. Trusty and welbeloved we grete you wele and where as nowe late to th'entente that a good direccion and accorde myght be sette in the matiers of difference and discorde betwix the Reverende Fader in God oure right trusty and welbeloved the Bisshop of Salisbury and you We desire ye shulde sende unto us and oure Counsaile iiij or vi personnes with sufficient auctorite on youre behalf to com'une trete appointe and conclude in all the seid maters accordynge wherunto ye have made suche an auctorite how be it the principall persone named therin (whiche is called John Halle) is for certaine offenses and rottous-demeanynge in warde and nat atte his liberte Wherfore sith suche persones as shall entende to the seid matiers muste be atte their large and fredome considerynge also that we conseyve ye effectually desyre the seid variaunces to be eased and sette atte reste We woll and desire that ye puttynge in the place of the seid Halle a nother persone suche as ye thynke beste sende heder in all haste the same auctorite to th'entente aboveseid Yeven undre oure privie seale atte Westminstre the xiiij day of Novembre. "To oure trusty and welbeloved the Citezens and Inhabitaunts of the Cite of Newe Saruin." We cannot be surprised, that the appointment of John Halle should have ministered cause of displeasure unto the King-he had committed him to ward for "rottous-demeanynge❞—he had denounced him as an improper person to serve the office of Mayor; and how could it be expected, that he should, at the indirect bidding of the Corporation of the City, liberate this declared delinquent to plead her "riotous demeanour. cause before him? The above renewed privy seal was therefore issued; and, eftsoons, a messenger, to whom was also intrusted the following letter from the deputation at Westminster, was again despatched to the City of Salisbury: 66 * Right Reverent Sirs and Brethren we com'aund us unto you assuring you yt. after oure apparence before the King and the Lords of his Counsaile for as much yt. John Halle named principal in oure auctorite was by the Kynges high com'aundement in warde and nat at his libertie it was considred by the same yt. a newe auctorite shold be made by an other privie seale the whiche was delivered to us on Friday last past for the spede of the whiche we h'tly pray you yt. anon after the sight of the sayde privie seale & of yis oure writinge ye assemble the peple & procede to th'execution of the seid privie seale and th'auctorite so ensealed sende to us with the same in all haste possible yt. we may procede ferrer in expedic'on of us and eschuyng of costs of the Cite the whiche be not small sitthe toure comynge hider and the Holygost be among you Wrote in London in the xviith day of Novembre "By yor. Brethren "J Aport "J Chafyn "Joh Hampton "J Chippenham "Ths Pyrie "To Will'm Wotton the maior lieutenant of Sarum and to the Citezens and the Inhabitaunts in the same." It must be here observed, that this letter is signed by J. Aport, John Hampton, and Thomas Pyrie, the three delegates, who were named with John Halle, and also by J. Chafyn, and J. Chippenham, which latter |