"Gear-laider-aboo!" and charged. A landslip could not more effectually have carried all before it. The passage of the compact body of armed men through the crowd was like the descent of a vessel from the stocks through the parted waters; for they charged right ahead, down hill, and held so close together that their united impetus was like the effort of a single inan. Few blows were struck, and no life was taken; but numbers of the citizens were bruised and trampled, and the Irish to a man escaped uninjured. Long ere the prostrate burghers had recovered from the consternation of their sudden overthrow Macgillpatrick and bis men had gained the other side of the Barrow, and were breathing themselves on the heights of Ross Ibercan. With the length of the narrow exposed bridge between them, it would have been madness for the heavy armed town guard to pursue. The rage of the citizens knew no bounds. The mayor, who came up with the guard, fully participated in the indignation of his fellowburghers." God's mercy!" cried one, "they went through us like a thunderbolt!"

66

I am lamed for life!" cried another.

"Three of my ribs are broken," gasped a third.

"We fell before them like nine-pins;" groaned a fourth gathering himself up from the kennel into which he had been tumbled.

"Par Dieu! what's to be done?" asked a fifth, "the town is disgraced for ever if wild wood-kerne are to bowl us down, as the honest gentleman says, like ninepins, in our own high street, and ride off scatheless after, as if the king's burgesses of Ross dwelt in a circle of wattle cabins !"

06

Oh, that our musters were back from Tristledermot," exclaimed another. "Oh, that we lived like other lieges, in a walled town, and not in an open village!" cried the same citizen who had urged the necessity of walling Ross before; "what will they say in Cork and Waterford when they hear how we have been hectored, and pillaged, and beaten in our streets in broad day light by a sort of barelegged savages ?" "Pillaged, neighbour, how is that? I pray God the villains have not broken into any of our warehouses!"

"They have stripped every peg in Master Medlicot's window, I promise you."

"And left scarce a whole bone in the poor man's body."

"The marauding villains!"
"The Irish thieves!"

66

Nay, ye mistake; they paid him for the mantle; I saw the purse-bearer count down five pieces on the stone before his door."

"Not a piece, not a shilling, as I am a broken man!" exclaimed the clothier.

"Thou never wert a whole one," said the witness of the payment and if thy bones have suffered as little as thy purse by thy Irish customers, thou art a good scantling of a man still."

"Thou art a malapert knave ;" cried. the insulted tailor.

"Par Dieu! gentlemen, this is not to the point: what are we to do? that is the matter in hand."

"To the town-hall," exclaimed several voices; we are too confused here, and still too hot for deliberation: to the town-hall, and let us consider which course we should take, discreetly, as becomes the king s lieges."

"I like the proposal," said the Mayor, let the belman summon a meeting in the town hall in half an hour."

It is well resolved," said a citizen, still pale and agitated; " methinks I could give my counsel much the better of a draught of sack after such a perilous piece of work as we have had." This opinion being equally approved of with that of the mayor, the burgesses separated to prepare for their deliberations accordingly.

Meanwhile the lauy Rosabel and her daughter-in-law had returned to their mansion, and sat together in an apart ment removed from the bustle of the streets, ignorant of what had happened to the youth whose ardent looks had driven Lady Anna from the bridge.

Anna; tell it to me and I may perhaps be able to give thee some comfort or assistance."

"Indeed, madam," said Lady Anna, "there was nothing in what he said that I ought not perhaps to have received with thanks, and reflected on with profit but it was a strange occasion to choose for giving advice such as he had never offered in our most private moments before. I cannot think of any cause I have given him to imagine that I stand more in need of such admonition now than before he wedded me;" and she blushed deeply through her tears as she spoke.

"Dear Anna," said the good lady, I thought that thou hadst known Gilbert's impetuous and sanguine temper better than to let this sudden fantasy of his disquiet thee. Remember, too, how far against his will he is forced to leave thee. Think, my dear child, how much more it would grieve thee had he seemed to have been as indifferent as thou deemest him now over anxious: consider how rarely we can hit the happy medium between too much and too little, even in the common affairs of life; then see how hard it is to expect that we should preserve it in the wayward emotions of the heart."

"Dear madam, I do not complain; I ought not to be disquieted; but every thing today has gone amiss with me. Father Edmund, too! Oh, dear mother, it was Gilbert's look at him that has given me more pain than any thing else. Advise me, madain-I know not what to do ought I to-to cease attending his masses, or get me another confessor ?"

"Grace de Dieu! my child, that would be ill done indeed; thou art too sensitive, Anna-nay, too suspicious. Forget, my child, that such a thought ever crossed thy imagination. I love Edmund as my own son; young as he is, there is no churchman in all Ferns of whose discreet judgment and sound piety I think so well. God knows what a contrast he is to others of the brotherhood in Ross. No, no, love; it was unbecoming enough in Gilbert to seem to notice poor Edmund's confusion; it would be much more so for thee to affect to remember it."

"Dear mother, I will strive then to think of it no more," said Anna: and

as she took the resolution a servant entered and announced Master Richard. The Lady Rosabel received her steward graciously; invited him to sit, and, perceiving that something unpleasant had occurred, asked him what was the matter?

The steward, incensed against the dealer of the blow under which his cheek was still smarting, recounted, with many aggravating circumstances, the violent, and, as he made it appear, predatory conduct of the Irish, adding that the burgesses were then assembled to deliberate on the best steps to be taken in consequence. The affront,' he added, "has so stomached the mayor and aldermen, that they vow they will have the town walled in, though they pawn their charter lands to raise the money."

"That must not be," said the good lady; "the inheritance of the poor must not be put in mortgage. What sum would they need to raise such a wall as would protect us henceforth against the incursions of these depredators ?"

"Madam?" exclaimed the steward in amaze.

"I ask, Master Richard, what the needful works might cost."

Oh, my lady," cried the careful steward, "the sum would be prodigious; it would amount to more than half of all thy treasure."

"I spoke not yet of my own treasure, Richard," said the good Rosabel; "but it gives me pleasure to see thee so careful of the wealth entrusted to thy hands. Thank a gracious Heaven, I could afford to part with even all that is under thy key, if needful for the good of the town, and still have full enough to leave behind me."

"I humbly trust that I do not offend my lady," replied the steward, becoming very uneasy; "but in a matter of such moment, and when the interests— pardon me, madam, my lady, if I undesignedly give offence-when the interests of thy several heirs, now ont of the reach of consultation, are so coucerned, the apprehension that it was thy purpose to bestow a largess so extraordinary on men-men, I say, who are comparatively strangers to thy noble house, did cause me some uneasiness, I do confess."

Richard," replied the lady, "my

sons are nearer to me than to thee; fear not for their sufficient provision, nor for thine own: but as thou art my servant and theirs, and as I think fit to dispose of the wealth of which God has made me his steward, thou, who art mine, art bound to disburse it without repining. I have long seen the loss which this town, and all who dwell in it daily suffer from the want of walls; and had I never seen reason to desire them before, the events of this day would be enough to satisfy me of the necessity of them now. Trust me, Anna," she said, turning affectionately to her daughter-in-law; “I would not willingly again expose thee to the insolent gaze of strangers riding through our streets without fear of God or man. I have not forgotten the distress that lawless young freebooter caused thee today upon the bridge."

"Dear madam," said the lady Anna, "think not of me; I will not rashly expose myself to similar disrespect but indeed, Master Richard," she added, "I think thou hast surely been misinformed touching these depredations. I am sure the young chieftain, (boldly, and perhaps insolently as he looked,) had not the air of a petty plunderer, as thou wouldst represent him. If he be one of the Fitzpatricks of Ossory, I would stake my hand they have belied him to thee."

"Alas! my Lady Anna," replied the steward, "it grieves me that I should have to speak so of one of thy nation; but Master Medlicot, who is a very honest man, a most reputable citizen, avows that they pillaged him, not only of much goods and wearing apparel but also of certain moneys which he had prepared, my Lady Rosabel, to pay in part liquidation of his debt to thee." "The poor man!" exclaimed the charitable lady; "I trust he has not received any bodily hurt."

"He is so severely bruised, my lady," replied Master Richard, "that he had to leave the meeting just as I came away. Two of his neighbours had to support him, he was so lame; and I hear since that he has taken to bed."

"Forgive him the debt, good Richard," said the charitable Rosabel. "I shall not fail to inform him of your Ladyship's most bountiful charity," said the steward, with an air of

much gratification, taking out his tablets and noting down the discharge. Just then it was announced that a deputation from the aldermen and common council were at the door to confer with the Lady Rosabel on matters touching the welfare of the town. Master Richard's smiles vanished when he heard the order to admit them, and assuming a very grave expression of countenance, he put up his writing materials, and rose to make his reverence to the mayor. When the deputation were seated, one of the aldermen, who was spokesman, arose, and in a set speech, after extolling the Lady Rosabel's great liberality towards the town, and dwelling in strong terms on the affront which had that day been put upon the king's lieges of Ross, by the violent depredations of Irish enemies, went on to inform her of the resolution they had come to of having the town surrounded with a sufficient wall, without delay, and concluded by proposing that, since the poor citizens' treasury was quite inadequate to the expense of such a work, she, of her wonted bounty, would consent to lend the town a certain sum of money, on the security of their charter lands, redeemable by an annual murage tax upon the rest of the inhabitants. While the alderman was speaking, Father Edmund opportunely entered, and on having the proposal referred to him by the good Rosabel, declared at once that it would be little short of sacrilege to put the lands by which so many poor were supported, in pawn for any secular purpose. "I would rather," said he, "take my weapon, like another citizen, and peril my body in defence of the town, than sleep secure in walls that had been raised by a tax upon the widow and the fatherless."

"Thou wouldst not have the lady Rosabel wall the town at her own proper cost, would'st thou ?" demanded Master Richard.

66

Methinks it would be a very wor thy undertaking for one whom God hath endowed with so plenteous a treasury, and with so bountiful a disposition," replied the crouched friar.

Nay, then, if thou advise it," said the steward, "there is little need for me to urge the claim of my young masters who are now upon the sea;

but if Sir Gilbert or Sir Humphry were here "

"Surely," said the alderman, we would not ask the treasure which might otherwise go to the Lady Rosabel's successors, without offering such an equivalent as it is in our power to bestow. If the charter lands be too sacred to be taken in security, the town hath 'honourable dignities and privileges, both of honor and emolument, to confer upon its benefactors."

"What privileges would ye be will ing to bestow?" asked the steward, after a moment's reflection, suddenly seeming to lose a great part of his former hostility to the scheme.

"We would secure to the Lady Rosabel, and to her latest posterity, the hereditary dignity of precedence at all municipal assemblies; to such of them as might be males, the governorship of the Mayor's castle, and the admiralty of the port; we would grant them the tolls of every gate in the newly erected walls; the nomination of all under wardens and gate-keepers therein, and the high wardenship of the walls at large, for ever."

"And this to the Lady Rosabel, her heirs, successors, and assigns?" said the conscientious steward, after some deliberation.

"To her, her heirs, successors, and assigns, in perpetuum," replied the alderman—“think you this enough, Master Richard, to satisfy the just claims of the kuights who are abroad?" "if it satisfy my honored mistress, I am content," said the steward, his scruples quite appeased.

"Master Richard is a faithful steward," said the lady, "anxious alike for the honor and the interest of my house, and I heartily forgive the freedom of his advice, on that account; and, my worshipful masters, although it is not for the sake of vain honors to a family, all of whom are well able to raise themselves to independent dignities, that I would entertain this proposal, yet to these acquittances of their debt on the part of my fellow townsmen, I objeci not. Arrange with Master Richard whatever return seems most suitable, and as far as the thousand marks go in fortifying our town I will

bear the charges. I have spent many happy days in Ross; it has pleased God to prosper me in it, far beyond my deservings, and now in my old age, it will be a great comfort to me to see the worthy citizens, with whom I have lived in friendship and good will for more than fifty years, secured in the enjoyment of peace and safety, within their own gates. And now, my worshipful masters, you will drink a cup of wine to the prosperity of our undertaking."

This splendid liberality, joined to such hospitable attention, raised the gratitude and joy of the worthy burghers to the highest pitch. Lady Rosabel, in the consciousness that she had done a meritorious act, participated freely in the cheerfulness of those around, and when the deputation returned with the glad tidings to the town hall, their encomiums on the excellent lady's hospitality and courtesy were as unbounded as their gratitude for her magnificent bounty, and all Ross resounded with her praises from thence till nightfall.

After the departure of the mayor and aldermen, Master Richard also withdrew to his private apartment. The steward's office was situated at some distance from the main mansionhouse, and in going thither, Master Richard passed between long and lofty warehouses, which were filled to the windows with merchandize and commodities of value; farther on appeared extensive yards, where timber was piled in stacks, rising to the height of the adjacent buildings; here appeared the entrance into dark and deep vaults, no doubt well stored with rich and costly wines; there stood sheds occupied by shipwrights and carpenters; the masts of a galleys rising over the farthest wall indicated the convenient vicinity of the river, and the bustle which pervaded every part of the great establishment, told of wealth, industry, and prosperity.

Master Richard was respectfully saluted by each workman whom he passed, and various clerks and overseers came to him with accounts and tallies, as he proceeded through the yards. The steward carried these

papers to an apartment where several others were engaged in writing, delivered them to the several bookkeepers; and then, going to a separate building, unlocked the door, and ascended a narrow stairs leading to his private room. Double doors of great thickness admitted Master Richard to a square apartment of moderate dimensions, lighted from above, and lined around the walls with oaken presses. The room was crowded with books and papers; and opposite the fire, on which he threw an additional log as he entered, was his own single arm-chair beside a table loaded with the great volumes in which he kept the lady Rosabel's accounts. The dusk of the evening was now setting in, and the steward lighted a lamp which hung overhead, then pulled the cord which drew the curtain across his window, and drawing his chair to the table opened one of the largest volumes. Hum-ay," he muttered as he turned over the leaves, "it is well; the monies are received—but what of that, if they are to be disbursed to-morrow. Ten thousand marks-it is a round suma heavy sum of money-a full half of all in the strong chest-but let me see the list of the merchandises over and above-hum ; so; powdered beef, eight hundred tierces-malmsey wine, one hundred and twenty hogsheadswhite wine of Aujou, ninety-three puncheons- eighty pipes of Alicant three hundred butts of claret winewell! let's see the spice account, ay ;— one hundred pounds of cinnamon; cloves, eighty bags of five; that is, four hundred pounds of cloves-one hundred and thirty boxes of almondsfifty parcels of mace, and two hundred of pepper-good! and here we have forty bales of cloths, and two hundred and sixty tons of iron in pig and bar-very good; then debts, annual income, houses and buildings, ships, tackle, and findings-Par Dieu, it is a good hundred and twenty thousand marks and better, exclusive of the property at sea. Then the hereditary precedence, the tolls, the royalties of the port, the wardenship of the walls, that is of the town within, and the governorship of the castle-why, ten thousand marks is a round sum, but it is not thrown away after all. But I must stop this wanton

expenditure in unproductive charities. This smooth-tongued friar stands me in the way already; but I will budge him; I will make him leave my path, or there was no meaning in that glance of Gilbert's on the bridge to-day !—I must stop her bounties to these monks, I say; if I stay not her hand in time, a great part of these lands on which the new hospital is built, will slip through my fing-her fingers I mean to say-her fingers their fingers! 'Sdeath, I must not accustom myself to the use of my own name here; who knows who might be evesdropping : ho, Nichol Davys, art thou without?" he cried, darting a suspicious glance round the room; and then, hearing no noise on the stair, put an ivory whistle that lay beside him to his lips, and blew a shrill call. Presently the outer door was heard to open, a foot then sounded on the stair, and the inner doors turning heavily on their hinges, admitted a low, careful looking elderly man.

"What hast thou for me tonight, Nickol," asked Master Richard as the other, after carefully closing the door, advanced to the table, and set down various bags of money, papers, and accounts. "I have received twenty five marks from Master Stafford on account of his last purchase of wine and spices."

"Good," said Master Richard, counting the money and depositing it in a drawer at his right hand.

"Ten marks and eight shillings from Master Medlicot, in part payment of his debt for broadcloths and russets."

66

Good again," cried Master Richard, sweeping up the money; but on this occasion the coin went into the drawer on his left. The features of the collector relaxed in a grin, as he saw its destination. It is so ?" said he.

66

"Even so," said Master Richard; "keep thine own counsel."

"Fear me not," replied the other worthy, and proceeded to tell down various other sums of which some went into the right-hand drawer, and some into the left. Nickol seemed to have been aware of the destination of all except the payment by the clothier, for duly as each item was intended for its separate drawer, he placed it opposite its destined recep