drawer, whether I will or no.

And I know no

rule whereby I should be compelled to aid in killing people, by serving out his muddy ale, or giving them the gripes with his crab-verjuice, which he miscalls wine."

"He is a base varlet, my lord," said the host, shaking him; "a sturdy beggar whom I have known of old; and I claim him by the statutebook. My name is Ninion Saunders, master of this tavern," continued he, pointing to the front. of the house, on the overhanging gable of which was the sign of St. John's Head. "I pay watch and ward, king's dues, and corporation claims, and now lay such claim to this lazy knave as the law giveth me."

"I am at a loss to know by what statute thou seekest to establish thy right to his person," said the young nobleman, "believing him (unless he hath committed some misdemeanour) to be as free as myself."

"You know not the law, my lord," said Ninion, making such a bow as only a host of the olden time could make; "he is poor, ergo,

he is a vagabond. He came into my parlour last night to beg a draught of old October, ergo, he is a beggar, and had not wherewith to pay for what he called for. Now what saith the act passed within the present year?" and fumbling in his huge leathern pocket, he drew forth several pieces of soiled parchment, and read as follows "Samuel Syston :-Item, one pint of Rhenish,'-no that is not it-To William Modeley, carpenter, for repairing the shovel board, item'-no, it is here, copied in my own hand from Alderman Guttle's statutebook-Edward the Sixth, by the grace of God' and so on-It is enacted that henceforth every person, not impotent, and not having any visible regular means of living, found loitering or wandering about, and not seeking work, shall be considered as a vagabond, and may be seized and set to work by any one willing to give him meat and drink for his services; that if he run away, he shall be branded on the breast with the letter V,' for villain, vagabond, very varlet, or whatever way you like to inter

pret it, my masters," added he, looking round on the audience who now encircled him; "and further, that he be judged to be a slave to his employer for two years, during which time it shall be lawful for his said master, only giving the said slave bread and water, or small drink, and such refuse of meat as he shall think fit, to force him to work, by beating, chaining, or otherwise, in such work and labour, how vile so ever it be, as he shall put him unto.'"

May God's curse fall upon all the framers. of such brutal laws," said a joiner who had stopped a moment to listen with the saw in his hand, as he was proceeding to his labour; then clutching the handle of the saw tighter, and grumbling deeper to himself, passed on.

"Who speaks against the laws?" said Ninion; there was no answer, and he read on. "And further, that if the said slave runs away again, he shall be branded on the forehead, or the ball of the cheek with the letter

S, and be adjudged a slave to his master for ever: and finally, if he run away again, he shall be held to be a felon, and shall suffer the pains of death."

The old host read the act aright, for such was the law in force at this period against beggars, and with but few modifications remained so, up to the time of Elizabeth.

"Now," continued the master of St. John's Head, folding up the parchment, and putting it in his pocket, "I have no wish to put in force any part of this law, although it giveth me a full claim to his body; but if the knave will abide with me, (for I like his wit, vagabond though he be,) he shall eat and drink of the best, and have no cause to regret the day that he became drawer to Ninion Saunders, at the St. John's Head, Ludgate Street. Speak I the thing that is fair, my masters ?"

"All fair! all fair!" replied half a dozen of the bystanders, whose names might be spelt at full behind mine host's parlour door, each placed above his own unpaid reckoning.

"Well, what sayest thou to this proposal, Gilbert?" said the young nobleman; "methinks thou mightest manage to lead a merry and an easy life with this worthy host; he speaketh thee fairly but choose for thyself,” added he; "he shall not detain thee another moment if it be against thy will."

"Why, for the matter of that," said Gilbert, hesitating a moment, "I dare at any hour match my light heels against his barrel-belly, when 1 am wearied of his service. And as he gave me a good supper, and I have passed a merry night at his expense, why I will e'en turn drawer for a time, of my own free will, You, my lord, will tell granny that I have taken up a new trade," and kicking up his heels, he exclaimed, "So heigh, Gilbert, for the wine pots."

"Pots, Gilbert - Pots!" shouted the bystanders ; "that shall henceforth be thy

name."

"Whatever you please, my masters," said Gilbert, taking off his cap and making a bow