the murder of the king, the penalty was 30,000 thrymsas -about L.800; for a prince, one-half; for an alderman, an earl, or a bishop, 8000 thrymsas; for a thane, 2000; and for a ceorl, or churl, supposed by some writers to have been a slave, 260. This account, given by Wade in his History of the Middle and Working-classes, may appear somewhat at variance with the generally-received opinion of the Saxon character; but the statement is supported by Turner. Some of the Saxon monarchs maintained better order-Alfred, for instance; but these were exceptions to the general character of the Saxon kings, who were generally too much engaged in war to attend to the domestic government of the country. After the Conquest, this state of things was somewhat improved; but in 1425, an act of parliament was passed, in which it is recited that many evils, as murders, robberies, and man-slaughters, have been committed heretofore in the city, by night and by day, and people have been beaten and evil entreated, and divers other mischances have befallen, against the king's peace; it is therefore enjoined, that none be so hardy as to be found going or wandering about the streets of the city after curfew tolled at St Martin's le Grand, with sword or buckler, or other arms, for doing mischief, or whereof evil suspicion might arise; nor any in any other manner, unless he be a great man, or other lawful person of good repute, or their certain messenger, having their warrants to go from one to another, with lanthorn in hand.' How far this statute was effectual, we have no means of determining with certainty; but this and similar provisions could have had but little effect in checking the disorders they were intended to prevent, since we read continually, about this period, of the disturbances that took place in the city, occasioned generally, it appears, by the apprentices and serving-men.' Sir Walter Scott, in his Fortunes of Nigel, has given an excellent description of the manner in which a riot frequently cominenced; the following account of one of the many that really occurred, and frequently too, is taken from Lambert's History of London, and will give

the reader a good idea of the state of the metropolis at this period:

'A serious commotion broke out in London, in the year 1517. The rioters consisted of the apprentices, servants, watermen, and priests, and the foreigners were the objects of their illegal proceeding. The complaints against these men, as set forth in Hall's Life of Henry VIII., were "that there were such numbers of them employed as artificers, that the English could get no work. That the English merchants had little to do, by reason the merchant-strangers bring in all silks, cloths of gold, wine, oil, iron, &c., that no man almost buyeth of an Englishman. They also export so much wool, tin, and lead, that English adventurers can have no living. That foreigners compass the city round about, in Southwark, Westminster, TempleBar, Holborn, St Martin's le Grand, St John's Street, Aldgate, Tower Hill, and St Catherine's; and they forestall the market, so that no good thing, for them, cometh to the market, which are the causes that Englishmen want and starve, whilst foreigners live in abundance and pleasure. That the Dutchmen bring over iron, timber, and leather, ready manufactured, and nails, locks, baskets, cupboards, stools, tables, chests, girdles, saddles, and painted cloths." These accusations throw some light on the commercial condition at this time. Preparatory to this commotion, one John Lincoln, a broker, engaged Dr Bell, who preached the Spital-sermon on Easter Tuesday, to inflame the people by magnifying the grievances under which they laboured. The doctor complied, and took these words for his text: "The heavens to the Lord of heaven; but the earth is given to the children of men." From whence the doctor shewed, that as this land was given to Englishmen, and as birds defend their nests, so ought Englishmen to cherish and maintain themselves, and to hunt and drive out aliens, for the good of the commonwealth. And from another text, " Fight for your country," that by the laws of God they were justified, and therefore it was their duty to clear the city of strangers. This sermon had such an effect on many

weak minds, that they assaulted foreigners as they passed along the streets; for which offence, on the 28th of April, Stephen Studley, Stephen Betts, and some others, who were principals, were committed by the lord mayor to prison. Soon after which, a report was spread that the citizens intended, on May-day following, to destroy all strangers that should be found in the city or its liberties. The king's council hearing of this rumour, Cardinal Wolsey sent for the mayor, and advised him to be on his guard, and prevent the like disturbances for the future. To effect which, he summoned the aldermen, about four o'clock in the afternoon preceding May-day, to meet him at Guildhall immediately. The assembly being met, they, with the approbation of the cardinal, came to the following resolution :-That every man should be commanded to shut up his doors, and keep his servants within. In consequence of which, an order was made and published, by the alderman of each respective ward, that no man, after nine o'clock, should stir out of his house, but keep his doors shut and his servants within till nine o'clock in the morning. Before this order was properly dispersed, it unluckily happened that Sir John Mundy, in his way home, was rudely treated by two young men, playing at bucklers in Cheap, one of whom he ordered to be sent to the Compter. Many 'prentices who were by, rescued the young man from the alderman, crying out: ""Prentices-"Prentices! Clubs--Clubs !" on which so great a body assembled with clubs and other weapons, that the alderman was put to flight. These were increased by a number of serving-men, watermen, and others; and by eleven o'clock at night, there assembled in Cheap about 700, and in St Paul's Churchyard 300. They proceeded in a body to the Compter, which they broke open, and released the rioters, who had been committed there by the mayor for assaulting foreigners; after which they went to Newgate, and took out Studley and Betts, committed for the like offence. A proclamation was issued by the mayor and sheriffs, in the king's name, but without effect. The mob increasing,

they threw sticks and stones at many strangers as they passed, particularly one Nicholas Dennis, a serjeant-atarms, who, being much wounded, cried out : "Down with them." This heightening their resentment, they broke the windows and doors of the houses in St Martin's le Grand, and plundered the house of one Mewtas, a Frenchman, in Leadenhall Street, whom they intended, had they met with him, to have destroyed. Early in the morning they dispersed, from an apprehension of being overpowered by the forces preparing to march into the city, under the command of the Earls of Shrewsbury and Surrey. In this time, by the diligence of the mayor, 300 of them were taken and committed to the Tower, Newgate, and the Compters; and about five o'clock in the morning the riot subsided. Among those committed to the Tower was Dr Bell, for preaching his seditious sermon. A commission of oyer and terminer was immediately made out for the trials of the offenders. On their arraignment, they pleaded not guilty, and their trials were postponed. The commissioners appointed for this purpose were the lord mayor, the Earl of Surrey, and the Duke of Norfolk, who came into the city escorted by 1300 men ; and the prisoners, to the amount of 278, some men, some lads not exceeding fourteen years of age, were brought through the city, tied with ropes. On the first day, John Lincoln and several others were indicted, and found guilty; and the next day thirteen were condemned to be drawn, hanged, and quartered. For this purpose, and to strike a greater terror, ten pair of gallows were set up at the following places:- Aldgate, Blanchapelton, Grass Street, Leadenhall, opposite each Compter, Newgate, St Martin's, Aldersgate, and Bishopsgate. They were made to run on wheels, for the better convenience of removing them to such places as might be properly adapted for the execution of so many rioters. Some little time after sentence was passed, Lincoln, Sherwin, and the two brothers named Betts, were drawn upon hurdles to the standard in Cheapside. The first was executed; but as the others were near being turned off, a reprieve

came from the king, to the universal joy of the populace.'

The police of the country, says Wade, was also extremely defective, and shews that the community was far from having attained a general state of order and security. This, however, did not result from a lenient infliction of criminal punishment; for never were severe laws issued in greater profusion, nor executed more rigorously, and never did the unrelenting vengeance of justice prove more ineffectual. Harrison assures us, that Henry VIII. executed his laws with such severity, that 72,000 'great and petty thieves were put to death during his reign.' He adds, that even in Elizabeth's reign, rogues were trussed up apace;' and that there was not 'one year commonly wherein 300 or 400 of them were not devoured and eaten up by the gallows in one place and another.' In spite of these sanguinary punishments, the country continued in a dreadful state of disorder. Every part of the kingdom was infested with robbers and idle vagabonds, who, refusing to labour, lived by plundering the peaceable inhabitants; and often strolling about the country in bodies of 300 or 400, they attacked with impunity the sheepfolds and dwellings of the people. The laws and police were totally inadequate to control these ruthless spirits, who, by rendering both property and persons insecure, checked the rising prosperity of the country. The cause of these outrages may be partly traced to the changes which had just then taken place in society: the abolition of villanage was undoubtedly both just and beneficial; but the transition of a large body of people, still comparatively barbarous and uninstructed, from bondage to free labour, was naturally attended with transitory outrage and confusion. These statements will enable the reader to make a comparison between the state of crime at former periods and its state at present.