tacle as he counted it down. He next produced his receipts and tallies, which were duly filed according as they were for more than the amount delivered, or for the true quantities; and having cast up the difference on paper, and handed a note of it to Master Richard, placed his hands upon the table and stood to receive his share. The steward having counted all the money in his own drawer, made a short calculation, and then handed back a small sum to his confederate. "Is this all?" said Nickol, discontentedly, as he took the money up..

"It is a shilling over and above thy full proportion," replied Master Richard.

Master Richard," said Nickol, lingering before he turned the handle of the door; "thou hast long promised me some better post than this: I am too hard-worked in this situation; and the profits are much less than I expected."

I know not of any other in my gift which thou art fit for," replied the steward coldly.

"There will shortly be a post vacant, Master Richard," persevered the subordinate knave, "for which, methinks, I ought to be as well fitted as another; I mean the wardenship of Hook Tower. Old Simon Devereux, the present keeper, has, I hear, fallen sick, and is shortly like to die."

"That is a post of great trust Nickol," said the steward.

"The more reason, Master Richard, why it ought to be filled by a trusty friend," replied his confederate in a low tone, and with a glance of peculiar intelligence. The steward looked him steadfastly in the face, and whether it was that he read there the offer of services, such as no one but a deeper villain than he had yet dreamt of becoming, could require, or that he thought the man's eye had a spark of lurking danger in it-it had the effect of summoning the unaccustomed blood to his cheek, as he replied with some confusion of manner; "Go to-I will consider of it ;" and hurriedly signed to his confederate to leave the room.

:

"His fortune is within his reach," said Nickol, as he descended, "if he possess but the courage to stretch out his hand to grasp it if he play the bold part, it will go hard with me but I will have my share of the spoil.-Par Dieu! I have earned my pitiful proportion at my own risk somewhat too long; but I foresee I shall not jeopardise myself without good company much longer." So saying he passed out into the court and through the great gateway to the main street. The footsteps of Master Richard were heard pacing his chamber at intervals thenceforth till near midnight; and when he appeared at his usual avocations next day, he bore the marks of having spent a feverish and sleepless night.

By day-break next morning, the troops began to arrive from Tristledermot; and Ross before the hour of noon. was crowded with knights, archers, and men-at-arms. The bountiful intentions of the lady Rosabel being now generally known, and the resolutions of the town council, which had been sitting over night, being momentarily looked for, great numbers of citizens and soldiers were assembled about the high cross in front of Saint Saviour's, at an early hour. "Thank God, our musters are returned, and we need fear the Irish thieves no longer," said one.

"We shall shortly be independent of their protection,” replied another; "the walls will be commenced (I have it on the best authority) early to-morrow."

"And the lady Rosabel defrays all the charges?

"To the amount of twenty thousand marks, as I hear."

"A most noble bounty!-but hark, I hear the bellman."

"Ay, here comes old George in his blue gown; let us listen."

Oyez, oyez; whereas the Irish enemy hath, divers times, of spite and malice aforethought, as also against the peace of our liege lord the king, entered the good town of Ross, and committed therein many heinous and abominable outrages, as well upon the properties and goods as on the persons of certain of the king's majesty's subjects, being honest and respectable burgesses thereof;"-here the bellman was taken with a fit of coughing, which gave Mas

ter Medlicot, who was present, an opportunity of pronouncing the preamble a singular good and wellconceited piece of composition ;— "and whereas," continued the asthmatic bellman, "whereas the said Irish enemy, thieves or wood-kerns, have heretofore escaped the hands of justice by reason of the want of walls, gates, drawbridges, portcullises, or the like, whereby they might be imbarred and hindered of egress out of the said town, until such time as they might make satisfaction for the aforesaid felonies and misdemeanours; and where as the noble and worthy Lady Rosabel of Ross being advertised and informed of the great hindrances, hardships, and losses endured by the inhabitants of the said town in consequence, as also of the divers outrageous affronts, barbarous insults, and unseemly offences put upon them, the said honest inhabitants, by the aforesaid Irish traitors, hath, of her great bounty and liberal generosity, undertaken to expend a certain sum of monies, being ten thousand marks of the current coin of the realm."

Here a severe return of his malady again obliged the bellman to give place to his commentator, who vowed by Saint Giles, that, although only half what he heard, it was, nevertheless, a very liberal bounty.

"For the foundation, erection, and construction," continued the bellman, "of a good and sufficient wall or walls, with fosse, rampire, and battlements, also gates, drawbridges, bartizans, and other needful works pertaining, round and about the aforesaid good town of New Ross, otherwise Ross Pont; the said works to be commenced at the hour of noon to-morrow, being the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin; and the commencement thereof to be solemnized by a procession of the superior and brethren of the convent of the crouched friars of Saint Saviour's, as also by an assemblage of fair and noble ladies in honour of the bounteous goodnesss of the said Lady Rosabel, as well as by the attendance of the knights, men at arms, and the military musters of the town of Ross ;-This is to give notice that the trades of Ross are hereby required to meet at the hour of ten in the forenoon, at the high cross of the market place, duly marshalled according to their several crafts

and mysteries, with banners, ensigns and music, to assist, as is meet they should, at the said procession and ceremony, and afterwards, as shall seem expedient, at the said works and buildings, from time to time, until the same shall have been completed. God save the king, and"

"And the Lady Rosabel!" reechoed from all sides, amid general huzzas, as the bellman's benediction was cut short by a more violent fit of coughing than had yet seized him." By'r Lady," cried Master Medlicot, bursting through the crowd when he had heard the proclamation out, "'tis time I were at my lap-board, for doubtless many new garments will be needed for the pageant to morrow; and the banner of my guild lieth ripped in my workshop. Some suitable carol will likewise have to be composed for the occasion; and I shall have to fancy a few simple conceits in prose to be delivered by the mace-bearer and vergers." So saying, the busy clothier hurried home, and ascended his shop-board; cut out various pieces of dress which had been ordered in his absence, put them into the hands of his workmen, then clapped on his night-cap and slippers, and laying aside his jerkin, sat down to stitch up the rent in the tailor's banner, and meditate on some apposite verses for the morrow's pageant. As his needle flew through the bunting, poetic thoughts began to chase one another athwart his fancy; his journeymen perceiving that the fit was approaching, discreetly turned their faces to the wall, in order that no perturbation of their countenances might distract their worthy master's attention from his mental occupation; and presently the throes of poetic labour fell upon the laureate of the tailor's guild. "I have it," cried he, suddenly sticking his needle into the work, and clapping his hand to his temples, "an ode by way of apostrophe to the banner of the guild!—a brilliant thought-myself the standard bearerthe subject of my verse held aloft in my hands-the brethren of the guild uniting in the chorus---how shall I begin? in eights or sixes? let me see Come all ye valiant tailors

Who in New Ross do dwell; Good; but it was to be by way of address rather to the banner than to

lookest but poorly: thy fright and ill usage have had a worse effect upon thee than I thought."

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-yea, a handsome allusion to the town would come in rarelyBehold, ye valiant tailors,

Your banner of renown: Beneath whose (whose—whose-yes! —Beneath whose) folds assembled Ye guard your native town; Excellent good, i' faith!-now for a bold description of the enemy, (Giles; heat the lesser goose, and fetch me here my lapboard;) the enemy, as it were, coming down from the woods like savage beasts of prey : Like bears or raging lions

The foe come forth to prey The savage, barbarous, Irish thieves Nay, (Peter thread my needle; my eyes begin to fail;) nay, I say, that throws me out of my image of the lion's cub which is, in truth, the backseam of the stanza-let's try again : The bears and raging lions

"

Come roaring forth to prey, And griffins, and great unicorns, Most barbarous beasts be they; (well done, o' my conscience!) But never yet was suckled

In bear's or lion's den:

'Suckled-there's a poser!--let's see-suckled-buckled knuckled-truckled; cuc-cuc-cuc;" but here his eye, rolling in search of a more auspicious idea, caught a glimpse, through the little window that separated his shop from the dwelling house, of the same friar who had been observed the day before in such familiar conversation with his wife, stealing quietly along the passage that led from her apartment to his backdoor. The ominous rhyme died upon the poor man's lips; his jaw fell, and the paleness of rage, and more than suspicion, succeeded the animation of gratified vanity upon his countenance. He laid down his work and implements, and, trembling with excitement, resumed his walking dress, and hastily quitted the house.

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The first man he met was Master Richard: Why, how now, Master Medlicot?" said the steward; "thou

Why, Master Medlicot, I am grieved to see thee so moved," replied the steward; "hast thou met with any loss in trade ?"

"No, no: my trade is prosperous enough; but I have scarce the heart to say God be thanked."

If," said the steward, at once divining what was wrong, "if there be anything that touches thy private concerns amiss, Master Medlicot, as by thy looks I judge there is, we are too open here to confer with any profit on a remedy. I am going just now to view the ground on which we commence our works tomorrow, and if thou wilt walk with me, I can take thee to a private place where we may consider whatever is the matter uninterrupted."

"Master Richard, I rely upon thy honorable secresy and friendship."

Be not rash to speak of private matters without urgent occasion," replied the steward; "but, if thou hast need of advice, and thinkest mine worth that I am thy friend." using what need I say more, save

I will walk with thee then, Master Richard," said the unfortunate clothier, in pitiable distress of unind. They took their way towards the outskirts of the town together; and it was observed that Master Medlicot and the steward had a long and earnest conversation in the fields.

The joybells ushered in the next day; and long e'er noon the spot appointed for the commencement of the work was surrounded by multitudes from all parts of the country assembled to witness the ceremony of laying the first stone. The streets of Ross that morning, particularly before the mansion of the Lady Rosabel, had been crowded from before daybreak with hurrying crowds of soldiers, citizens and strangers; knights with their retainers; aldermen with the brethren of their guilds; marshals, heralds, friars, mendicant monks, sailors and women, all busily preparing either to witness, or to take their part in the momentous day's proceedings. The sound of horns

and trumpets were heard in all directions; flags and tapestry waved from the house tops; the vessels in the river were hung with streamers and pennons, and two great flagstaffs pitched upon either side of the appointed spot, bore aloft the royal standard, and the standard of the town. The spectators who had their places here, beheld, at noon, a very splendid spectacle emerge from the nearer end of the high street. Banners waving over the heads of the crowd in the distance, first announced the approach of the procession; then the dense mass of spectators which, up to this time, had occupied the space between the houses on either hand, fell back, and up the lane, so formed, were seen advancing, first, two mounted trumpeters with long satin banners waving from their instruments; then a herald, then a knight's company of mounted men at arms, with gay gonfalons fluttering from their lances; then came the brethren of Saint Saviour's, in their blue gowns, two and two, carrying each his long staff with a crucifix at the top. Loud and long were the cheers which hailed the next portion of the cavalcade, at the head of which appeared the Lady Rosabel sumptuously attired, her train borne by four pages, and followed by a long and brilliant array of ladies; a canopy of silk was borne over her head by four aldermen, and she was supported on her right by the prior of Saint Saviour's, bearing a silver trowel, and on the left by her confessor, Father Edmund, in whose hand was a dainty mallet of ivory. The ladies procession was composed of matrons and unmarried damsels; but, of all the fair faces there, whether of wife or maiden, the Lady Anna's was by far the most beautiful: she walked last of the matrons, eclipsing alike those who preceded and those who followod her. All carried mimic implements of labour; some had little mattocks with knots of ribbons tied about the handles; some had hoes and miniature shovels with blades of tin; some bore hammers, whereof the heads were made of sweetmeats; while others displayed little satin bags gaily embroidered, as if for bearing away the rubbish never was seen in Irish town before such a waving of plumes and mantles, such a flashing and laughing of bright eyes, such a glancing and twinkling of pretty tripping feet, such VOL. VII.

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a wreathing of radiant smiles, and bending and bestowing of gracious salutations. The air was rent with shouts of applause; every face was bright with good humour and merriment, and the very mace-bearer who marched before the mayor, could not suppress the unwonted movement of his features; George, the bellman forgot his cough, or, if he coughed, his asthma was drowned in the uproar of admiration and delight. The knights who followed, though their coifs of mail were of silver ring work; though their embroidered hung in points and tassels to the knee over curiously twisted coats of steel chain armour, though their epauliéres were of polished steel, and their basnets glittering with gilded crests, attracted scarce a glance from the spectators. When the ladies had passed, the rest of the procession was left to wind its seemingly interminable length up the green acclivity in solitary state like the march of an army through a deserted country. All flocked to the great flagstaffs, around which the head of the column was now filing, as the various parties proceeded to take up their previously arranged positions. The churchmen, the ladies, and the municipal authorities, arranged themselves about the immediate scene of ceremony; the military formed in lines around them, to keep back the pressing multitude: the trades, as they arrived, filed to the right and left along the intended line of operations, which was marked out by little banners pitched at intervals upon the field; and although they had been overlooked so long as the more attractive part of the procession was within view of the accompanying spectators, now that the circling lines of soldiery had hidden their rivals from view, they came in for their own share of admiration. The vintners and drapers led the way; smiling and smooth citizens, some of them with garden hoes and little spades, scarce heavier than the implements of their fair predeces sors, in their hands. They marched under a well-blazoned banner, and were received with sufficient commendations. Next came the cordwainers and tanners; stout fellows all, well equipped with shovels, hoes, and pickaxes; they bore upon their banner a currier's knife and a cow hide, and marched to the sound of pipe and tabor. The butchers

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