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presbyterian, Mother Dannable as she is called, is going to kick her heels in Newgate." Charles was a strapping fellow, and a notable hand at a street riot; but knowing his master was up to his ears in business, he was very diligent, and one of the best apprentices in London, as times went, for the greater number of them were incorrigibly wicked.

The bookseller now forgot his nineteen crowns, and the Jew stole off with his panels; when, clasping his hands, old Waller exclaimed, "the Lord's will be done! if she has perpetrated this mischief, why the law must take its course. What-how-tell me, young man. What are

the circumstances of this calamitous affair. Heigh-ho! I shall certainly lose my mortal

senses.

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Why, Sir," said the apprentice, "by what I could learn, she shied a Roman Catholic Bible at a young man's head, and has done for him, that is all. I did not see him myself, but the blood is on the stones, I suppose half a pail-full at least."

"And they are pulling down the house! O Lord! the old Black Eagle. Alas! aláck-a-day!"

that," said Charles, "I know this, that whole of the shop

"I don't know as for who was a lad of veracity; they have smashed in the front, window-frames and all, for I was present in the thick of it."

"O! you were, were you," said the wily old Waller, grinning maliciously; " then, you rascal, I'll have you hang'd. A ringleader, I'll be sworn. I'll come on the City-chamber for damages. And I give you notice hereby, gentlemen, I shall subpoena you all as witnesses, in evidence of this rogue's confession. I know thee of old, young scape-gallows. I am sorry for you, Master Barlowe, but it behoves all masters to keep their 'prentices at home in times like these. So thou must look to it, and abide all consequences;" on saying of which he took himself off, muttering all the way down, "Yea! trust me, Master Barlowe, but I will seek swingeing compensation; aye that I will, if there be any such thing as law in the land."

As soon as the bibliopolist had departed, Barlowe, with a searching look, enquired, "Charles, have you had any concern in this rumpus? Now answer me truly. I trust to

your candour, for this may turn out a serious affair."

"I have not, master; I told you so before," reddening, a little affronted, the high-spirited chap, at having his word doubted; "I was only a spectator, master, and getting myself jammed in the crowd, got a scratch or two, (the blood was then trickling from the wounds,) from a dead cat, with a brick-bat tied to her tail, which they were dinging in at the shop door, when lending the fellow who threw it a clout o' the ear, for he was but a hobbyty-hoy, I got clean out of the fray, and came straight home."

"I am satisfied," said the master, 66 you have acted discreetly, Charles, and you are a good fellow. So get you gone, you careless rogue, and get your broken pate looked to."

"What dauntless chaps. these London 'prentices are," said Ingoldsby, as soon as Charles's back was turned; "I shall never forget their charge on the king's troops, at Naseby, under that old file Dick Skippon. * My

* Major Skippon, a soldier of fortune, one of those extraordinary men who have been made by the cir

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bloody boots and spurs! how they laid it on ;

cumstances of such times as these, which, however they may be deplored, have brought genius and talent to light, which might have remained in obscurity. This Skippon had been a common soldier, and served in Holland. He was very illiterate, but had by nature that species of address which inspired his followers with confidence. He was appointed to form that corps, chiefly composed of city apprentices, he led to the field to join the Earl of Essex. The joining of these newlyraised forces, was fatal to the king for they fought with such bravery and resolution at the battle of Newberry, that they preserved the army of Essex.

Skippon thus addressed his train bands:

"Come, my boys, my brave boys, let us pray heartily, and fight heartily; I will run the same fortune and hazards with you. Remember the cause is for God, and for the defence of yourselves, your wives and children. Come, my honest brave boys, pray heartily, and fight heartily, and God will bless you."

To encrease these forces to the utmost of their power, the city apprentices were encouraged to enlist by an ordinance of parliament, which delivered them from the authority of their masters, who were commanded to receive them on their return, and disbanding from military service, with a clause to indemnify

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and who'd have thought it of such raw ones;

the said masters from the damages they might sustain by their apprentices' absence.

The Lord Say and Seal, at a meeting at Guildhall, thus invoked the citizens to take up arms for the parliament:" This is now not a time for men to think with themselves that they will be in their shops to get a little money. This is a time to do that in common dangers; let every man take his weapon in his hand, let him offer himself willingly to serve his God, and to maintain his true religion. You may remember what God saith by the prophet, My heart is set upon those people that are willing to offer themselves willingly upon the high places.' Let every man therefore shut up his shop; let him take his musket, let him offer himself readily and willingly; let him not think with himself,

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Who shall pay me?' but rather think this, I will come forth to save the kingdom, to serve my God,' &c.

"Do as you do in common dangers. When there is a fire, men ask not who shall pay him for his day's wages, but every man cometh forth of his doors, helps to quench the fire, brings a bucket if he have one, borrows one of his neighbour if he have not; when the fire is quenched then the city will regard to repair any man that hath suffered all day: That do you, every one bring forth his arms if he have it, or borrow

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