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"I I fhould fuppofe," "anfwered Mr. Richardfon," that it is a memorial that "on this fpot stood the famous tavern of "that name, fo frequently mentioned by ❝our ancient authors, and the rendezvous "of the Prince of Wales, afterwards "Henry the Fifth, and his profligate "companions. Here it was that prince, 66 with his brothers John and Thomas, "and their party, made fuch a riot "one morning, between two and three "o'clock, that the city magiftrates were

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obliged to interfere, which fo highly. "exafperated the Prince, that the magif "trates were convened before the Chief

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Justice, who having examined the whole affair, difmiffed them with honour, de"claring they did no more than their duty, and what was requifite to main "tain the peace."

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"I wonder," "obferved Charles, that "they were not fearful of offending fich "great perfonages.” Loch kq, zilan

"An honeft man, Charles, is never fearful of doing his duty; fhould he

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neglect, how can he canfwer it to his "own confcience? Nay, the Prince of "Wales, though at the moment exaf"perated, was fo fenfible of this, that "when he came to the crown, he highly "honoured the Chief Juftice, and dif"carded all his loofe companions."

"As the Prince, Sir, frequented this "place, I fuppofe it was very much re"forted to by others, as well as his com❝panions."

"Your fuppofition is right, Charles," returned Mr. Richardson; "for this street "was famous in old times for its convivial "doings;

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"doings; an ancient writer fpeaks of it "thus The cooks cried hot ribs of beef, "roafted; pies, well baked; and other "victuals: then there was clattering of "pewter, pots, harps, pipe, and sawtrie ; "which was a ftringed inftrument that "was played upon with sticks."

A church clock at that moment ftriking three, Mr. Richardfon haftened his children, who had far exceeded their usual hour; but the walk had created them an appetite, and having eaten their dinner heartily, while their father fuperintended his mercantile concerns, they retired to their apartment, revolving on the information they had received, and Charles feeking out the more correct accounts in the History of England, and

reading them to his fifter.

They

They were fo much employed in thefe pursuits, that Mr. Richardfon had dined, and fent for them to take tea with him, before they thought it near fo late; fo true it is that time properly employed never hangs heavy on our hands.

CHAP. IX.

Idleness punished.

THE morning following, the weather proving rainy, Mary appeared highly dif fatisfied; and addreffing Charles, whom fhe observed employed in preparing for his masters, she said, "You have no occafion

66

to hurry, for the weather is so bad that 66 we cannot go out."

"I am forry for it," answered Charles, "but fhall learn my exercifes notwith"standing; for when my leffons are con"cluded, I can amufe myself with reading

"the History of England.".

"You may,

if

you pleafe," replied

Mary; "but, for my part, I am only

"interested

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