"Alack, what an unchristian place for an honest poor body to be in at this late hour."

"Well, we must e'en get on as well as we can, and the lanthorn will help us to make sure we go not astray," observed the other, consolingly.

"What to do I knew not," continued she. "The poor mother looked to be scarce alive, that was pitiful enough to see, let her fault have been what it might; but taking away the life of an innocent babe that had scarce began to breathe, could not be ought else than a very devilish and unnatural murder."

"Nay, talk not of murder I pray you, good Gammer!" cried her companion very movingly; "I cannot see the length of my arm, and I know not what monstrous fearful things may be in the darkness, ready to pounce out upon us."

"Nothing unnatural can hurt you if you be not evil inclined, let them here lie ever so thick," observed the old dame; but this seemed not to add much to the other's small stock of courage, for he continued to walk along, looking suspiciously about him in as perfect a fear as ever was, whilst Gammer Lambswool strove to keep as close at his heels as she could.

"Ere I could recover myself from the strange fright, what had been that moment done, had put me in, he returned, and without the child," added

she, with much emphasis. " Whereupon I was so confounded and terrified at the sight of him, that I remember not what further took place, till I found myself at mine own door with a full purse in my hand; but less glad at the sight of it than I was to be quit of the villain's company."

Mercy, Gammer, what be that?" cried Humphrey, in a monstrous fearful voice, as he lifted up. his lanthorn, evidently a trembling from head to foot, and seemed to be gazing at something in the distance.

"Where, I pray you!" inquired the other, eagerly, as she strove to raise herself on her toes for to peep over his shoulder.

"It moves!" whispered her companion, drawing bis breath hard.

"Heaven save us from all harm!" muttered the old woman, beginning to partake of the other's alarm, though she knew not as yet what it was caused by.

"By St. Nicholas, it be making towards us!" added he, as plainly as his fright would allow, and the next moment the lanthorn dropped from his trembling hands, and he fell on his knees, saying of his prayers, with his teeth a chattering as if he was taken with an ague. Gammer Lambswool, being in the dark—for their light had been extinguished by the fall-and hearing something approaching, was about to take to her prayers also, when she

VOL. I.

C

was startled by a quick succession of blows, that seemed to fall upon her companion with a force that quickly put all conceit of a ghost out of her head.

"Why, thou idling varlet!" exclaimed a voice close besider her. "Wert not strictly told not to tarry a moment, and thou hast been gone nigh these two hours past-a murrain on thee."

"Oh, master!" bawled Humphrey, most lustily, writhing under the punishment he was receiving. "Hurt me no more, I pray you. Mercy, good master! In honest truth I tarried no more than I could help."

"Indeed, Master Shakspeare, he is not to blame, for I was hindered from coming," cried the old "But tell me, I beseech you, how fareth

woman.

your sweet wife?"

Badly, as she needs must, when she hath been crying out for you so long," answered he, as if somewhat out of humour."

“Well, dear heart, lead you the way, I will haste to her without a moment's more delaying," said the Gammer, in a sort of coaxing voice; upon which Humphrey, picking up his lanthorn, and quite forgetting his fear in the cudgelling he had lately had, although, in honest truth, he had been scarce hurt at all,-seeing his master and the midwife moving off as fast as they could-kept close to their heels till they reached John Shakspeare's dwelling in Henley Street,

Porter. On my Christian conscience, this one christening will beget a thousand; here will be father, godfather, and all together. Man. The spoons will be the bigger, sir.

He ruleth all the roast

IBID.

With bragging and with boast,

Borne up on every side

With pomp and with pride.

JOHN SKELTON.

No quarrelling, for God's sake! Truly if you do, I shall set a knave between ye.

THOMAS HEYWOOD. (A Woman killed with kindness.)

Now was there an admirable jovial company assembled at the dwelling of Dame Shakspeare, to do honour to the christening of her child, and among them were many of the worthy burgesses of Stratford; for be it understood, John Shakspeare was known to be a thriving man, and such are sure to have no lack of acquaintances; and his excellent partner having come of a family of some repute in those parts, being no other than the heiress of Arden, was much looked up to; and, as she appeared unto all, of an honest kind heart and admirable sweet nature, she possessed every one's good word. Of which the consequence was, the

house could scarce contain the company the occasion had assembled. Some stood about the porch jesting and making merry; others were in the garden, especially of the younger sort, amusing themselves with pleasant talk one with another. One or two decent motherly dames were in the kitchen bustling to and fro, looking to the dinner, of which a huge fire covered with pots and kettles, and having a famous large joint at the spit, a little ragged urchin kept turning-being well minded of all not to let it burn-shewed some preparationthe whilst a stout wench with famous red cheeks and elbows, evidently in her best finery, along with Humphrey, in his Sunday jerkin, kept hurrying in and out, laden with knives, napery, drinking vessels, trenchers, and other needful things at a feasting.

In the best chamber of the whole house which looked to be newly strewed with fresh rushes, and garnished here and there with such flowers as were in season, some in china bowls, and some in parcelgilt goblets, there was a large recess, made by that end of the room abutting out into the street, wherein were most of the principal personages of the company. First, for in respect of his calling, I would give him precedency of the others, there sat Sir Nathaniel the curate, easily to be known by his portly person, his merry eye, his loud laugh, and his free speech. It was bruited abroad that he loved good living better than became a churchman,