at once.' .'* Before the houses were tables set out, on which were placed ponderous cakes and flagons of ale and wine, 'unexercised by lungs;' and the sturdy apprentices, who by day were wont to cry 'What lack ye?' threw open their blue cloaks, disclosing their white hose, with a knowing look of independence, as they courteously invited the passer-by to partake of their dainties. Over the doors hung the delicate branches of the graceful birch, with wreaths of lilies and St. John's-wort; and there were suspended pots of the green orpine, in the bending of whose leaves the maiden could read her fate in love. Wending their way through the throng, the three men of the west felt, the two younger especially, something of that pleasure which human beings can scarcely avoid feeling at the sight of happiness in others. Henry whispered to Wolsey, 'This is a merry land;' and the courtier answered, 'You have made it so.'

The three visitors of the city moved slowly along with the dense crowd towards the Cross in West Cheap. They there stationed themselves. The liveries which two of them wore would have secured them respect, if their lofty bearing had not appeared to command it. The galleries of the houses and the windows were filled with ladies. Between the high gabled roofs stood venturous boys and servants. Tapestry floated from the walls. Within was ever and anon heard the cadence of many voices singing in harmony. Then came a loud sound of trumpets; and a greater light than that of the flickering bonfires was seen in the distance, and the windows became more crowded, and the songs ceased within the dwellings.

The procession which was approaching was magnificent enough to afford the highest gratification to one at least of the three spectators that we have described. It suggested, however, the consideration that it did not belong to himself, and threw no particular glory round his throne and person. But, nevertheless, his curiosity was greatly stimulated; and that love of pomp which he had already begun to indulge, in rocessions, and jousts, and tournays, could not * Stow's Survey.

fail of receiving some delight from the remarkable scene that was before him. He was, as Cavendish has described him, 'a young, lusty, and courageous prince, entering into the flower of pleasant youth.' His amusements were manly and intellectual, exercising himself daily in shooting, singing, dancing, wrestling, casting of the bar, playing at the recorders, flute, virginals, and in setting of songs and making of ballads.' * The future sensual tyrant is not readily seen in this description. But here, on MidsummerEve, in 1510, was Henry standing beside the cross in West Cheap, and mixing unknown amongst his subjects, like the Haroon el-Rasheed of the Thousand and One Nights.' Onward came the Marching Watch, winding into Cheap from the little conduit by Paul's Gate. Here, literally,

The front of Heaven was full of fiery shapes,
Of burning cressets.'

The pitchy ropes borne aloft in iron frames sent up their tongues of fire and wreaths of smoke in volumes which showed, afar off, like the light of a burning city. Stow tells us that for the 'furniture' of the Marching Watch there were appointed seven hundred cressets; besides which every constable, amounting to two hundred and forty, had his cresset. Each cresset had a man to bear it and another to serve it, so that the cresset-train amounted in number to almost two thousand men. This was, indeed, civic pomp upon a splendid scale. A poet of the next century, whose name is almost unknown in the ordinary catalogues of English poetry, but who has written with more elegance and taste than half of those we call classics -Richard Niccols, in a performance called 'London's Artillery,' has the following very beautiful lines descriptive of the bonfires and cresset-lights of the great festival of the Summer Solstice :

* Hall.

The Watch, with 'cressets' and 'beacons.'-Grouped from Hollar.

Mingled with the cresset-bearers came on two thousand men of the Marching Watch, some mounted and some on foot. There were demi-lances' on great horses; gunners with their harquebuses and wheel-locks; archers in white

coats, with bows bent and sheafs of arrows by their sides; pike-men in bright corslets; and bill-men with aprons of mail. Following these came the constables of the Watch, each in bright harness gleaming from beneath his scarlet jornet* and his golden chain, with his henchman following him, and his minstrel before him, and his cresset-light by his side; and then came the waits of the city, and morrisdancers footing it to their merry notes; and then, in due order, the mayor himself on horseback, and his swordbearer, his henchmen, his harnessed footmen, his giants, and his pageants. The Sheriffs' Watches,' says Stow,

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came one after the other in like order, but not so large in number as the Mayor's.' Niccols, still apostrophising London, thus describes this part of the solemnity :

Their rich array, open'd their windows wide,

Where kings, great peers, and many a noble dame,

Whose bright, pearl-glittering robes did mock the flame
Of the night's burning lights, did sit to see

How every senator, in his degree,

Adorn'd with shining gold and purple weeds,

And stately mounted on rich-trapped steeds,

Their guard attending, through the streets did ride

Before their foot-bands, grac'd with glittering pride
Of rich gilt arms.'

Onward swept the mighty cavalcade past the Cross at
Cheap, along Cornhill, and by Leadenhall to Aldgate. It
was to return by Fenchurch Street and Gracious Street,
and again into Cornhill and through Cheapside. The
multitude thronged after it, but the three strangers re-
mained almost alone. 6
This costs gold,' said Wolsey.
And it is worth the cost,' replied the king.
• Would they
fight,' said Brandon,' these demi-lances and archers?' 'In-
deed they would,' said Wolsey: and turning round to the
king, such men have fought with your Highness's grand-
sires; and the cry of Clubs of the blue-cloaks is as fearful
a rallying-cry as that of St. George.' 'Come,' said the king,
'we must homeward. Are the streets watched, or shall we

6

*Probably scarf.

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have to knock a knave or two on the pate?" The streets were watched. They again passed Ludgate; and as they descended Fleet Hill they found the lamps still burning before the doors, but the hospitable tables were almost deserted. At due intervals stood a constable in bright harness, surrounded by his footmen and his cresset-bearer; and as they went onward through Fleet Street, and looked to the right and left, up the narrow lanes, there was still the cresset gleaming on the armour. 'We are safe to-night,' said the king. This is a glorious affair, and I shall bring her Highness to see it on St. Peter's Eve. How looks the city, my grave' Almoner, on other than festival nights?" 'It is a melancholy place, your Highness. After curfew not a light to be seen: the one cresset in a street makes it more gloomy; and masterless men cut purses in the dark, while the light-bearer tells the rogues where there is no watch.' 'Ha!' exclaimed the king. This should be remedied,' added the statesman. The cost of one Midsummer-Eve would double the watch for the rest of the year.' 'Ho,' said Harry, ' hang up the thieves, and let the true men keep in their houses.' They break into the houses,' said Wolsey. We will tell our justices to spare none of them,' replied the king. They were by this time at Temple Bar. There were three led-horses waiting, and a dozen foot-men with lighted torches. Slowly they rode, for the way was rough, past St. Clement's, and through the Strand, and by Charing Cross to the palace-gates. Here and there was seen a solitary bonfire, but there was no rush of population as in the city. The large palatial houses were dark and silent. The river, which ever and anon lay spread before them as they looked upon it through the broad open spaces of its bank, was red with the reflection of the city fires. The courtier-priest was at his master's stirrup as he alighted; and Henry whispered, 'Come to me to-morrow. Our people want Empson's head, and the sooner you get his house the better.' With a loud laugh his Highness and Brandon vanished into an inner court of the palace, and the Almoner rode thoughtfully to his lodgings.

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