hand to follow the Chase. The report of which deed being come to the ears of the king, he for her life time did allow her eight pence a day."

Chap. XII. Meg accepts the challenge of a French Goliath and kills him in the presence of both armies.

Chap. XIII. Returned to England, Meg marries a soldier, who proposes to 'try her manhood'. Meg refuses, saying: "never shall it be said though I can cudgell a knave that wrongs me, that Long Meg shall be her husband's master."

Chap. XIV. A miller, whom Meg sees beating a boy, is put into a sack by her and hung up on a peg.

Chap. XV. A sculler, who demands a larger fare than Meg thinks is just, is first roundly beaten, then tied by the middle to the stern of his boat and rowed across the Thames once or twice, the lower half of his body dragging in the water.

The following table of rules' which according to the 1635 version Meg enforced in her 'house' at Islington further illustrates the character of this Westminster Robin Hood:

1. "Imprimis, That what Gentleman or Yeoman came into her house, and had any charge about him, and made it privy to her or any of her house, if he had lost it by any default, shee would repay it him ere he past: but if he did not reveale i,t and after said he was rob'd, he should have ten Bastinadoes with a cudgel, and be turned out of doores.

2. Item, whosoever came in and cald for meat, and had no money to pay, should have a good box on the eare, and a crosse made upon his backe, that he could never be suffered to drink more in the house.

3. Item, That if any good fellow came in and bewailed his case, that he was hungry and wanted money, he should have his belly full of meat on free cost, and money in his purse, according to his calling.

4. Item, That if any Ruffler came in, and made an Alehousebrawle, and when he had done, would not manfully goe into the fields and fight a bout or two with Long Meg, the Maides of the house should drie beat him, and so thrust him out of doores.

These and many such principles had she set up in her house, that made her house quiet."

A temperance poem for shoemakers. The following verses are reprinted from the edition of the G. C. published by W. Thackeray, 1678, where they are placed after the address to the reader. They were retained in subsequent editions; even the modernized version of 1739 has them, with numerous changes in the interest of

18th century correctness. The responsibility for their existence rests, I suspect, with some

Schuh

Macher und Poet dazu.

The Old Shoo-maker's Advice to His Son,
Being the Downfall of Alewives.

Young man, that now art in thy prime, beware of drunkenness :
Thy father hath mispent his time in that same fowl excess:
Which made me for to write to thee, the ale-house to refrain,
Because it hath quite ruin'd me, spending my time in vain.

A wall-nut is a pleasant fruit, and hath a bitter skin,
If with the ale-wife thou dispute, she'l make thy purse but thin:
Thy money must maintain her pride, and buy 1) her cobweb-lawn,
Whilst thou for bear and ale beside, dost lay thy cloak to pawn.

Good counsel she2) will seem to give, but if thou stay away
This woman knows not how to live, her trade will soon decay.
Thou workst for her both day and night, and all to pay thy score;
She loves to see thee in her sight, and all to keep thee poor.

Shee'l make a very rogue of thee if thou by her be rul'd,
Hadst thou not better to go free than be by her thus fool'd?
When thou goest home to wig to wag, praising thy own good carriage,
Thy cloaths no better than a rag, O this will spoyl thy marriage.

She evermore will thee perswade never to take a wife,
For why she thinks 'twill spoyl her trade and be the cause of strife.
If thou be ne'r so much in hast, shee'l cause thee for to stay,
The cubbard then must be uncas'd, - "tush, what, will you away?"

She'l bring a piece of powder'd beef, or a Virginy3) trout,
O shee's a very loving thief, shee'l find thy money out.
Her lettice shews as thou maist see, she sells both ale and beer,
But O beware, be rul'd by me; buy not her ware too dear.

For she will hold some folks in talk, both Jeffery, James, and John,
Then with a double-forked chalk, shee'l score two pots for one.
I'le tell you of a story good, ye drunkards mend your lives;
If it be rightly understood you'l never love ale-wives.

1) by; buy in the later editions.

2) counclishe; corrected in the edition of "1680?"
3) "1690?" Virginia.

Two drunkards lov'd each other well, and both liv'd in one house;
The thing is true which I will tell, the best not worth a louse.
One of them dy'd, and left his cloak and sute unto the other;
They spent their coyn in drink and smoak, and ruined each other.

But mark the ale-wive's cruelty; she claim'd all for her own,
Because the man that then did dye was in her debt, 'twas known.
Then have a care, my honest lad, if thou dye ne'r so poor;
If any thing be to be had, 'tis that must pay thy score.

O then live but a civil life, and scape this dragon fell;
Thou mayst prevent much drunken strife, and then thou shalt do well.
Crispine and Crispianus stout were proper men and tall,
But if thou beat this dragon out thou dost more than them all.

For he that can himself subdue and bridle his own will,
O he doth more than if he flew and did ten dragons kill.
Gentlemen of the Gentle Craft, I wish so well to all;

Although you drink your morning's draught, let none procure your fal.

Index.