to his footing who will pafs by day. The water rushing under you as you jump from beam to beam, and cross from fide to fide of the rickety pathway. He is a venturefome man, without the fear of death before his eyes, who will go by night over that bridge. For there be as many arches on it as beneath it. water pirates thereabouts. regions where both meet.

There be land pirates and And these be the fpecial And gold and silver—yea,

copper alfo, hath its peculiar value in these parts :-perhaps, too, fomewhat higher than in more recognised mercantile establishments, as it is apt to be more scarce. Where a Lombard would give a noble or two for your jewel, a fellow here would fatisfy you with a mark or so, not to speak of a cross. And there are strong arms, and nimble fingers, and unfcrupulous confciences here; they not being prone to recognise the peculiarities of mine and thine, which a selfish fociety hath impofed. For the gentlemen of Paul's and Smithfield hold orgies above in yon tower-like building, quaffing French aquavitæ or Brand-wine, that cometh up by the basket from the skipper below. And the faid skipper will carry your knacks to some foreign merchant, maybe, at Amfterledam or Cales. And if you be troublesome

First View of the Tower.

129

and covetous in the matter if you be a stranger in their ways, without a comrade in the company (which no honest householder hath), or (what is as well for the purpose) a pair of loaded daggs: or again, my friend, if you have laid your rapier on the table, thinking there was no need of it in fuch good fociety, peradventure you may be cast out o' window, and fo float down to the Island of Dogs, or to the Nore, or further for that matter. And none shall know or care what hath happened.

Steadily they launch into the Pool. And now the oars bend to the manly strain.

"How gloomy is that worm-eaten Hold!"

""Tis."

"Unbefitting a palace."

"Tis meet enough a prifon, though."

"Ah!"

"Farewell, my lords: I am bound to pick up one at the

stairs yonder: we shall meet anon!"

"God-speed my Lord Southampton !"

And the gay young Earl's light wherry glided past.

"Her Highness never lodges here?" inquired Effex.

"In the late Queen's time fhe did; but 'twas com

VOL. I.

K

pulfory. You may fee the chamber where her royal Mother was shut up: There! fome way behind—in the yard-the window's now in view."

""Twas i' th' White Tower his Grace your Lordship's Father lived?"

"Ay! lived; if a man can live in the imminent expectation of his death. 'Twas a quaint thought, though. He scratched his name-the title dying with th' attainderon the wall, never finishing it; as who fhould fay- Part of me only is i' th' prison.""

"Those who holp him to 't paid for it, and dearly, too!

"Is that the Keep where the infants were confined?” "Ay! and dearly did their uncle bide it!"

"Sir Thomas Cheney told me 'twas a tale devised by Gloucefter's enemies."

"Belike! belike! How knoweth he?”

And Effex grew talkative on this theme. And Leicester listened, scarcely interrupting him by occafional questions, which feemed to keep alive the interest of each. But the memory of the heroes of an extinct dynafty roufed little

A Sigh for Plantagenet.

131

fympathy in the hearts of the Tudor nobles: and the long chain of argument fo convincing, the attested proof on proof which the Knight was in the habit of adducing in the matter, utterly failed to convince the Earl of Richard's paternal love, his patriotism, or his innocence.

Alas, poor Richard! Hath a century of bondage fo bound the once free spirit of thy country? and hath the world grown fo flavish as to hug its chains? Doth none perceive that tyranny hath run rampant lately in this Ile; and that the royal will is now all-powerful; and, upstart like, writes its decrees in the best blood of Britain? Oh, if there be yet no honest judgment for thee, hapless Prince, let pitying History bid us tread gently on the last Plantagenet's memory!

"And what art thou, thou idol Ceremony?
Art thou aught else but Place, Degree, and Form,
Creating awe and fear in other men?

Therein thou art less happy, being feared,

Than they in fearing."

KING HENRY V. act. III. fc. III.

AKE way-make way! Back water there!
Shove along-you in the green coat, you!

What new Knight's boat's that i' th' road

ftead? Swamp it, an ye lift! Give way, there-way!

way! for the noble Earl of Leicester !—the high and puiffant Lord of Leicefter! Way! way! way!"

And

countless barges are fpeedily drawn afide, and moored without more ado to bulks and rings on the wharf, as the Earl's meiny reaches the ftairs of Greenwich.