sistible comicality of feature, and twisted his own countenance into an exaggerated likeness of the person whom he saluted. Nor was his merriment confined to actions only; for, for each separate person, he had some quaint or whimsical expression, as-" Master Shallow, I desire to live deep in your worship's remembrance," -then turning aside, with a most grotesque visage, he sung "Begone, said she, for oh! that face Betrays thy shallow heart and mind. Black Master Bare, let me stand in your fair memory He cover'd his corpse in a warm black gown, Master John Do-it Then the King of Thessaly, of Thessaly, of Thessaly, No man had ever seen. Master Squele, I pray you call me your intimate. I do much desire your acquaintance, Master Pickbone:-you are well in flesh, good sir. Good Master Hugh Evans-your blessing in Welsh," "Passions of hur hearts, and why not in Latin or in English, look you, Master Mayor's Jester?" "Even for this reason, most excellent Cadwallader of St. Giles's; all things must speak after their own tongue, as Lillybaldo, the Portingale Pedlar, said to King Azias. Your goat bleats, and your sheep baes, and your dog barks; your dog never bleats, neither doth your sheep bark, nor goat bae;-even so thou speakest Welsh, or Goat's tongue; thou speakest not English, or Lion's tongue, nor Latin, or Eagle's tongue; therefore, most worthy Sir Hugh, bless me in Welsh, that the Saints may understand thy meaning." "If you were not an ass, and a knave, and a pied-coated Jester, I would knock thy mad-witted pate on the pank piles, look you." "What! Master Evans, a man of peace, quarrelling with a jester on the Bankside! Bestir thee, man, here's better metal," exclaimed Falstaff,-"A capon and sack,-pig and stewed prunes, and merry boys to help thee eat them." "Fall to, then, my Masters," cried Shallow; "come Bawble, sit by me, and we'll in for a catch anon; and Master Hugh will lay down his choler and join us when the Canary hath mounted." For a time the jollity, even of this whimsical assembly, was exchanged for a silent despatch of the viands before them, although Bawble still played a few practical jokes upon the trenchers and the meat of his nearest neighbours, similar to those exhibited by the modern imitators of these jesters, the clowns of Pantomime. At length, when the repast was concluded, and all the inspiring li quors of that day stood before the party in oaken tankards, leathern jugs, ancient latten beakers, and some silver cups, Bawble suddenly burst out with "Merry men,-merry men,-merry are we Dusty lore, writ of yore,-they who read shall find, Clouds the brain, and leaves a train of cobwebs in the mind. "Well sung, Master Bawble, here's a health for that song," said Bare, drinking a large libation of sack, in which he was joined by Squele, Doit, and Pickbone, whose presence seemed to be marked only by the idle laughs which they uttered, and the quantity of liquor which they consumed; indeed the latter was performing its office so rapidly, that their laughs became less and less frequent, and their heads fell nearer and nearer to the table. "Shallow," said Falstaff, as he saw the situation of his comrades; "Say on, Bully-Rook," replied the young student: "Thou seest these howlets winking and cowering under their drink; Mass! now, if 'twere not a good jape upon them for thou and I to withdraw ourselves to Old Michael Doubletoll, the Miller's in Saint George's Fields, and leave the foo! here with these brainless sots in pawn for the reckoning. Out on't, they cannot take their compotations, without turning them off to sleep it out when they are filled, like the swine." "It is goot discretions to say so," returned Evans; " and I will bear you company, Master Page Falstaff, and excellent Master Shallow."-"Well then, lads," returned Shallow, "steal away as if ye were walking upon felt. By the bones, they will stare me when they shall awake from their sottish slumber. Up boys! up! for the way is a foul one, through marshes and swamps; but old Doubletoll has a merry heart, and half the bravest gallants of Lon go to be jovial at his Mill, and hire his good horses." They now withdrew in silence, unmarked by any but Mistress Nightwork and Bawble, the latter of whom, however, was too much occupied with examining the interiors of the drinking vessels to of fer an opposition to their motions, and the Hostess of the Cardinal's Hat was sufficiently satisfied with the young lawyers who were left, to hinder them that were departing. The Windmill of St. George's-Fields, which was a very popular resort of the Toms and Jerrys of a former day, was a large wooden erection, which stood alone in those immense marshes, a short distance from the main-road which led from London to Fauqueshall, at that time the seat of Edward the Black Prince. It was built in a narrow conical form, extremely high, and was furnished with very long wedge-shaped sails. The windows were small, and at a considerable height in the building; and the door was of solid oak, arched over, ascended by a long sweeping ladder. For the interior, Rembrandt, who learned his magical style of lighting up his pictures from the obscurity prevalent in his father's mill alone, would alone be able to delineate its striking effect. On one side, a large and wide arch in which hung a brazen cresset, led to a winding flight of stairs, lighted by loop-holes, which passed to the upper apartments and works of the mill. Under this arch, for the centre of the building was occupied with the machinery and flour-sacks,were placed a massive carved oaken table, with a settle of the same, and there also an enormous fire-place was erected. Here it was that Gabriel Doubletoll, the Miller, held his merry meetings, in which good wine and boisterous mirth usually compensated for the want of the more convenient appendages of a tavern. When Shallow and his companions arrived at the mill, the time was wearing fast into the afternoon; and the day, which till then had been peculiarly fair and bright, was growing lurid, and exhibiting all the signs of a latent storm, which might be expected to fall about the sunset. "Mass!" said Shallow, looking at the splendid clouds which were rolling up in the sky, "twill be a foul even after so fair a day, Master Falstaff, my waggish page. And what say ye my boys to a ride through the night-storm, all three of us together, on one of old Doubletoll's blind mill horses?"—" Marry, no! Gossip Shallow," returned Falstaff, "I'll e'en shroud me in mill till morning, for your double-riding knights have all been hanged or burned these ten years.-Bones o me! his honour, Sir Thomas, will not have such unreason, as to think that I shall leave mine enjoyment with mine host of saint George's Mill, to wade back to him through a marsh in a foul night, and be smothered by Friar Rush:-No, ny masters, it would be an unchristian act to leave good for evil.-What say you, Master Evans?” "It is fery truly spoken, Master Page Falstaff; put poys, let us into the mill, for I do perceive that mine host has a pottle-pot of sack and sugar, and canaries, and goot burnt wines, and many other excellencies."-" Say'st thou so, young Cockerell," answered Falstaff," then on to the breach, lads; here we should be as bold as lions, or a cudgel-player at a May-game.—In—In.” As they entered, they were met with considerable pleasure by a short stout man, whom they all saluted with equal gratification, by the name of Gabriel Doubletoll. He was dressed in a sort of coarse brown tunic and kirtle, which hung to his knees, and his legs below were cased in gray frieze, which fitted close to his shape, while round, untanned leathern shoes covered his feet. At his gir dle he wore a seal's skin pouch, a case of brass-hafted knives, and a stout dagger, hilted with the same metal. Upon his head was an almost shapeless conical hat of light brown skin, but oh! the face beneath it!-by the lord, sir, as Macklin used to say, it was prodigious!-it was as if a lion in his fiercest rage had suddenly changed colour, his mane turning to a black bush of grizzled hair, and his features becoming red, without his physiognomy being in the least degree altered. Such, from generous living and continu al brawling, was the appearance of Gabriel Doubletoll, the Miller of St. George's-fields. When his guests enter, he seized upon them as old intimates, with the warmest but at the same time the roughest welcomes, and they were all speedily engaged in a spirited discussion of the Miller's sparkling cordials." By St. Thomas!" began Shallow, taking off his cittern and rapier, "but I'm glad to be with tall men at last; men who can empty one a two-quart beaker and not look muzzling after it, nor be overthrown like a country milk-maid. Oh! your good trowler of his pottle loves to meet with men of their hands, with companions good at all a tosspot's weapons, bowl, rapier, and cittern, with a stout voice in a catch. Come, master Miller, and you my merry boys, let's roar out the Good fellows' Round." "Master Shallow," returned Evans, "I shall tell you what is now come into my prain, and-pless us! goot Saint Chiles! how it does rain and pluster in the dark efening:-Fell, my masters, I do think fe are not so piety as fe ought to have, in so-by'r lady! it is a foeful night, and-"« What now, Mandragora?” cried Falstaff, " hy man, keep up thine heart, and here's that will keep out the storm; send about the flagon, Master Doutletoll, on with more faggots, and now for the catch. Fancy it thy pricksong or thy mottot, my little craven Evans, and sing out bravely." They now commenced the following catch, the point of which consisted in every man calling, and being called knave in his turn. "Shall. Sing we the good-fellows' roundelay, And I the cittern will blithely play; Falst. I'll sing tenor, Evans. The treble for me, Shall. And what shall the base of our music be? Doublet. The wintry wind as it rushes and roars, At the windows, and roof, and the well fasten'd doors; Falst. But, the Wine, and the Sack, and Canary is bright, Shall. to Falst. You're a knave! Doublet to Evans. You're a knave! Evans to Shatl. You're a knave, look you! Omnes. He's a knave who forsakes them till morning." In this manner the hours passed, till night had overspread a sky that had long been dark and lowering. When the sun set it was almost invisible through the thick and deep purple atmosphere which covered it, excepting where, in long streaks of brightly-coloured gold, it shone out between the partings of its veil in the forms of rich cities and brilliant mountains; or where its reflections were cast upon the edges of the other floating masses of clouds which sailed about the sky. In some places, before the FEBRUARY, 1824.No. 262 17 storm began, which Evans had been so much alarmed at, long lines of deep purple appeared drawn through the air, greatly resembling alligators or lizards with many legs, and here and there a branch seemed to issue out of them and pass off into the space beyond. When the tempest began to rage, which after sunset it did with the greatest fury, the whole party,-excepting Evans, who evinced considerable fear by ejaculating mutilated Latin prayers, and fragments of psalms,-continued to roar louder and louder, and finally commence their favourite catch over again. As they came to the accusatory part of the song, the mill-door was suddenly burst open, and Bare, Doit, Squele, and Pickbone, dripping with wet, and having their rapiers drawn, rushed in, railing furiously at their comrades for their desertion, and crying out, "Ye say truly, ye are all knaves together." All but Evans had out their weapons in a moment, and as they were equally warmed with wine, and equally matched, a very pretty piece of sword and dagger play might have followed, but at that instant the trampling of horses' feet were heard in the mill-yard; the glare of several torches gleamed up the steps, and a young man immediately entered the building, habited in a tight dress of black, with a rich hood upon his head, and short thick boots mounted with very large carved iron spurs, upon his feet. In one hand he held an ivory riding wand, and the other supported a large black outer robe, which, as well as all the rest of his dress, was miserably stained with travelling in so stormy a night. As he entered the mill, with his attendants, every voice but that of Evans and the Miller, ejaculated "MASTER WILLIAM GASCOIGNE, by the bones!" Gascoigne was at that time an Utter-Barrister of the Middle Temple, and visitor of St. Clement's Inn, but he was subsequently created a knight, and known as that eminent lord chief justice, whose name is so intimately connected with the life and reign of king Henry V. When Gascoigne entered, all were immediately reduced to as much order as intoxicated and quarrelling men cold suddenly assume; for though he was the junior of nearly every one present, yet his sedate manners, and his profound legal knowledge, had already introduced him to the high favour of king Edward III; and he was likewise greatly respected at his own Inn of the Middle Temple, from which he was nominated a visitor or sub-governor over their tributary Hostel at St. Clement's. All in the mill therefore started at Gascoigne's entrance: some from the knowledge of what he would do, and the fear of what he might do; and the others because they observed the effect which his presence had upon their inebriated companions. His first words were pronounced in a loud and commanding tone, "In the name of our lord king Edward, I charge ye all to drop your weapons, before I order my Apparitors to arrest you." The rapiers and daggers were drapped in a moment, and every one awaited in silence his further speech."How, gentles," he at length began in a milder voice, |
