This last attack happened to excite the indignation of the drunken group, when Gwynn, who was a ferocious fellow, seizing the Jew by the beard, swore he would make a Christian of him. "Hand us the water," cried the reprobate.

"Hands off-you tdrunken schwines," said Mordecai, liberating himself, by throttling the assailant, when Shore and Swan, seizing the bason, sprinkled the water in his face, saying, "Thus I mark you with the sign."

When the Jew bounding back, cried, "Give me fair play," throwing off his cloak, and unbuttoning his vest, "give me fair play, and see vot if I vont leather you all."

"That's a brave fellow," said Phil Colchester, making a party with the Jew, "come on-come on, every one, you round-headed varment," when Phil. and Mordecai, standing in a menacing position, the old trumpeter exclaimed, "Hic-To your tents, O! Israel,'" and aiming a blow at his quondam comrade, Phil, again overthrew the table, breaking bottles and glasses, when the riot had become so noisy, that mine host, with Davenant, the Killegrews, and the

other guests, bursting into the room, the combatants were prevented from further mischief, and threatened to be sent to the Poultry Compter.

"Are you not ashamed, you hypocritical old sinner," said Davenant, "to make this return to our worthy host for your entertainment; to create this riot, to break the peace thus ? Get up, you old beast, get up, and to bed with you."

"Entertainment! you are the captain of these profane players, hey? Is not the labourer worthy of his hire? I ask you that. Wherefore do you talk of en-en-hic-entertainment? Are we to work for nothing -nothing-hey!-This is the way with the wicked-hic-the puffed up, the self exalted. Depend upon it, you are no Samaritan-no

never.

But what should players, and mummers

know of these things? Entertainment! Sir Will-Will-hic-William, I think they call you, well-hic-what did the Samaritan then? Did he exalt himself, did he bear himself proud? God forbid. No, On the morrow when he departed he took out two pence,' did he not? I ask you, and gave them to the host,' saying, 'take

VOL. I.

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care of him,' (or them, it is one and the same) and, whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again-hic-I will repay thee.""

At this moment, Colonel Ingoldsby, who had listened to this drunken reprover, made his appearance; when Shore and Gwynn, who knew him well, were not so drunk, but they were overawed by his presence.

"Is this behaving like soldiers ?” demanded the Colonel, with authoritative voice and dignified air. 66 Το your quarters!" The men were obedient, saying, we did not mean any harm, your honour; we are ready to obey your commands."

"Then, my good fellows, go peaceably to your beds," said the Colonel, when Hold-me-fast, still sitting on the floor, began again. "Colonel In-Ingoldsby-you art the sogers' friendthat is what we all know-hic-Is it not so, my comrades ?"

"Yes, that every soger will say; God bless you, Colonel!" answered all.

66

But," rejoined the old trumpeter-But, there was wanting, as our lord said to Martha --hic- The one thing needful.' What availeth it to do good?" (scrambling upon his hands

and knees) to do good, I say, or to be sogerly? (getting on his legs again) or to walk steadily, (staggering against the Colonel) or ever so uprightly, without grace? None-none at all. You may be a noble ge-ge-general-yeageneralissimo! sure enough; but take my word for it, Master Dicky-hic-Dick Ingoldsby, as his highness used to say: you are his old highness's cousin, I think-well! be it so; but I am sorry to say-hic- you are a vessel of unrigh-righteousness.' The saints that are gone, know these things. Colonel, you know that— hic-I have served in the army of the holy ones, and-hic- watch and pray, for ye know not the hour when he may come.' But, for the knowledge of these things-hic-Hold-me-fast were as one of the wicked, therefore do not include me in the censure, Colonel Ingoldsby, the cen-censure of these ungodly trumpeters."

"Ha-ha-ha, now this is the way these rogues, from the highest to the lowest, have carried on the farce," said Ingoldsby. "Hear the audacious old saint; no respecter of persons. These are the best weapons after all, gentlemen; you may abuse your betters, evade the laws, prac

tice all vices, and contemn all virtues, so that you have but saving grace. But the game is up, Master Hold-me-fast;" when taking him by the collar, he turned him out of the room, and the old hypocrite, assisted by his comrades, staggered, muttering texts all the way up three ‣ stories, to the dormitory provided by mine host, where the six drunken trumpeters soon sunk soberly to sleep.

The company from the different apartments, having discharged their reckonings, had departed. When Davenant's friends assembling at his round table, took a parting glass standing, and joining hands all round; they then adjourned their meeting until the morrow, when they were to reassemble to see the expected royal sight; and to feast it to the honour of the restoration.

The two hosts of the Devil and St. Christopher, pro forma, lighted the worthies to the door, when, as good-night-good-night, echoed in the street, St. Dunstan's giants chimed the quarters, and the watchman cried, "Half past two o'clock, and a star-light mor- orn-ing."