and his maple face and famous round belly, did confirm such tales wonderfully. In apparel he was slovenly, and not over clean in his linen; but being of a ready wit and of a cheerful humour, he went on from day to day feasting wherever there was any store of victual, a welcome if not an honoured guest. Beside him was one Stripes the schoolmaster, and, as folks said, a notable conjuror, who had a very lean look with him, and wore such garments as seemed to be clean past all recovery of tailoring, they were so threadbare. By what was going on, it appeared as if he was content to be the butt of the other, for he took in good part all the jests the curate aimed at his shrunk shanks, his lanthorn jaws, his darned hose, and his old fashioned doublet, and moreover assented to what the other said, with a readiness that savoured much of servility. Nearer this way sat a substantial looking yeoman, by name Richard Hathaway, clad in honest homespun, in deep discourse with a neighbouring wealthy sheep farmer, concerning the market price of wool, the state of the crops, and the like matters. A knot of burgesses were standing round two aldermen of the town, who were debating very stoutly upon business connected with the corporation; and the parishclerk, a little dumpy man, with monstrous thick legs, was leaning half out of the casement, in earnest talk with some one in the street below.

At the further end of the chamber were all the

women congregated, apparelled in their very best, and talking as though none had a mind to listen. The rich farmer's wife, sitting very stately in a robe of fine scarlet, with a white hood, a gay purse, and a bunch of keys at her side, hanging from a silken belt of silver tissue; whilst her waist was bound with a sash of grass-green silk richly embroidered, no lack of jewels about her, and on each finger two rings at least, divided the admiration of her companions with the aldermen's wives in watchetcoloured tunics and fringed kirtles, with golden coifs and other costly toys, wherewith they had attired themselves. In the midst of them sat Dame Shakspeare, modestly and matronly clad, and without doubt, as semely a woman as any there, looking contented and happy, and giving very earnest thanks to her good friends and guests as they made up to her with some pretty gift or another-mayhap, a set of apostle spoons, or a standing cup of silver, or a gilt bowl, for the boy, who, with the chrisom-cloth about him in token of his recent baptism, lay in the arms of his nurse-a rosy faced dame, who stood beside her mistress commending of the babe to all comers above all babes that ever lived. And lastly, by the door, giving a hearty welcome to all who entered, dressed in an excellent suit of Lincoln green, and having as cheerful a face as man ever wore, stood worthy John Shakspeare, the giver of the feast.

"Come in, neighbours! I pray you, come in!" exclaimed he, as some were entering. "I am heartily glad to see you, and my good dame be as ready to give you a welcome I'll be bound for't. Well met Thomas Hart! Robert Bruce I commend me to Worthy Hamnet Sadler I am much beholden to you for this visit. Ha, Oliver Dumps!" cried he, as his eyes lighted on a melancholy looking little man, in a new leather jerkin and black karsie hose. "Though most men hugely mislike visits of the constable, I greet you well."

your good will.

"God requite you, neighbour," answered the man, not altering a whit the solemness of his aspect.

"Methinks, we are all indifferently honest," continued his host. "Yet are we well inclined you should exercise your office amongst us with as little hindrance as may be."

"Marry, 'tis a villainous world!" exclaimed the constable. "But if any dishonesty hath been done, point me out the knave, that I may take him up before his worship."

"Nay, by your leave, not so," replied the other. "If you are for taking up, we are only willing you should take up the dinner: but with such an offender we doubt not being able to play the high bailiff as well as any in the county, and would on the instant commit him to safe custody, in our own keeping." Thereupon there was a laugh of those around; for when the host taketh upon himself to

jest, even if his wit be not of the brightest, the guests must lack good manners sadly, if their mirth break not out at it without stinting.

"See you, John a Combe?" enquired the buxom wife of one of the aldermen to the other, as they now stood somewhat apart from the rest, observing the scene I have endeavoured to describe.

"Ay, yonder is he, Mistress Alderman Malmsey," replied the other, pointing to one who had just entered, and seemed by his apparel to be somewhat of a gallant, for he was very daintily dressed in a new puce-coloured doublet, with scarlet hose, buff shoes, and fine rosettes to them: a well starched ruff below his beard, and a handsome rapier at his girdle.

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By our Lady, Mistress Alderman Dowlas, he beareth himself bravely," exclaimed the first.

"I'faith, methinks he is as pretty a man as any of his inches," added the other.

"And then to note how civilly he behaveth himself," continued Dame Malmsey. "He ever speaketh of us women in such delicate respectful terms as would do a woman's heart good to hear; and if any so much as insinuate ought to our prejudice, it moveth him so, he will be ready to fight the biggest man of them all."

"And yet I marvel he should still remain a bachelor," observed Dame Dowlas. "He cannot be less than a good manly age, for as Master Alder

man, my husband, hath told me, it was twenty-five years come Whitsuntide, since old John a Combe bought his wedding suit of his father; and that he is well accommodated for a wife there can be no question, seeing that he hath ever a fair sum of money in his purse at a friend's need, and old John a Combe hath the reputation of well filled coffers."

"Perchance the old man is not willing his son should marry," said her companion, "Or, mayhap, thinks it fit he should wed with none but the chiefest families, for he hath taken infinite pains, and spared not the cost, he should have as good schooling as any in the land; whereof the consequence is, you shall find young John a Combe one of the properest gentlemen to be met with in all Warwickshire."

"Certes, he seemeth not to affect one more than another," exclaimed Dame Malmsey. "But I would wager my best kirtle, there is never a maid for five miles round Stratford, who would not give her ears to have him for a husband.”

"In all sincerity I say it, I wish he may find a wife worthy of him," said the other, to which her companion added a like sincere wish. In the mean while, the object of their friendly commendations passed across the chamber, very courteously returning the courtesies of those he met,-and few were there that did not hasten to greet him, as soon as