cases only, where it was not found feasible to settle these disputes amicably, was permission accorded by the Master for the disputants to "go to the lawe"-a proceeding evidently regarded with little favour by the heads of the various fellowships. It seems that in no one instance did the Grocers ever give way to this fatuous weakness; but there are several instances to be found in the records of some of the other companies. In particular we may mention the Tailors, who seem in the sixteenth century to have been as prominent in legal squabbles as they were in cudgelling and fisticuffs four hundred years before. For instance, it is recorded that, in the year 1568, there was a "licence granted to one Elston, a member (i. e. of the Tailors' Company), to arrest Brackshaw;" and in the same year leave was also granted by the Master "to Edward Baker to take the lawe of J. Garret." T Amongst other offences punishable by the Master or Wardens may here be mentioned speaking disrespectfully in presence of the court; striking each other, or calling one another names; violating the prescribed regulations as to dress; employing "foreigners "—i. e. non-freemen-to work for them; as well as all frauds whatsoever connected with the management of their several trades. From the chartering of the companies to the present time the titles and duties of the various guild officers have been very much the same. "Master" and "warden" were, even in medieval times, the titles most in vogue; though we meet occasionally with other appellationssuch, for instance, as "bailiff," "purveyor;" and in one instance (that of the Merchant Tailors) the chief officer was styled the "pilgrim;" the derivation of which unique denomination is probably to be deduced from the circumstance that the principal functionary of the Tailors was much employed in making journeys on the business of the company. At the present day ten out of the twelve chief companies of the city of London are presided over by a "master," assisted by two, three, or four "wardens;" whilst the remaining two, the Fishmongers and the Goldsmiths are under the direction of a "prime warden," with five and three ancillary wardens respectively as coadjutors. The fine for refusing to serve office appears to have been very early in use; but it was not always, as we shall see, the mere pecuniary penalty that it has since become. Then the Grocers' fine was "ten marks" in money; but, in addition to this, the recalcitrant member was "to be put out of the brotherhood for alle dayes"-a somewhat severe measure, and one now more honoured in the breach than in the observance. To these principal officers, whatever their style, was intrusted the general management of the company's affairs; and, to carry out chief officers' orders, there was usually a bedel "to warne and summon the felliship," and to perform sundry and divers duties. Amongst other functions, the bedel part was to ride, in the old days of horse processions, at the head of the band, in the pageants of the company, clad in a gorgeous dress, which varied according to the company's livery. The bedel of early days had, however, many less formal duties to perform. He had many real business matters to attend to, and was, we may imagine, altogether a more useful and important officer than his successor in modern times. Many of these more momentous matters now fall to the "clerk to the company"-a functionary whose office dates, generally speaking, no further back than the end of the fifteenth century, but who is now the principal permanent officer of the company. For the further "helpynge and counsellynge" of the Masters and Wardens, there gradually grew up, from towards the end of the fourteenth century, a sort of committee of the brethren-the apparent forerunner of the more modern Court of Assistants, which does not appear to have existed, at least not by name, till the beginning of the sixteenth century. The first mention of the term "assistants" occurs in the records of the Merchant Tailors' Company in 1512. But over and above all these officers of the several companies, there reigned the "right worshipful and gracious lord and sovereign the Maior of London," who, by virtue of his office, is styled "the Master of all the Companies." It seems that the mayor of London had a general supervision over the companies, and that he could even go so far as to fine and imprison the officers at his pleasure. As to the general way in which this supervision was exercised, it is beyond our purpose to inquire; but the following quaint instances, from the accounts of the Brewers' Company, throw a considerable, and by no means unentertaining, light on the kind of proceeding practised in those days. The principal figure in the first-recorded accounts of these fines, or forfeits, is the celebrated "Richard Whityngtone," "thrice Lord Mayor of London." It appears that Whittington, whilst ex-mayor, alleged, before his successor in office, "that the Brewers had ridden into the country and forestalled the malt to raise its price;" whereupon the masters and twelve members of the company, who had attended before the lord mayor on summons, were ordered by his worship to be kept in custody by the city chamberlain till they should pay a penalty of 207. But, though so publicly virtuous, Whittington does not appear to have been above receiving a bribe from the Brewers against whom he had so much bestirred himself; for, shortly after the malt question was settled, as above, there appears an entry in the Brewers' books of 71. 3s. 4d. "for ij pipes of red wyne to Richard Whetyngton's butler." Another entry records that William Walderne (mayor 1422) behaved well to the company until two or three weeks before the expiration of his term of office, when, beginning to annoy them, they "assuaged his displeasure" by presenting him with "a boar price 20s., and an ox price 17s." Many other entries record the receiving of presents of different kinds by the mayor and his officers in order to obtain favour, or, in other words, "for their labour to the profit of the craft." It is related in eulogy of one John Michelle (mayor 1424) that "he was a good man, and meek, and soft to speak with." When he was sworn into office the Brewers gave him "an ox that cost 21s. 2d., and a boar price 30s. 1d.;" for which thoughtful and timely consideration "he did no harm to the Brewers, and advised them to make good ale, that he might not have any complaint against them." In the year before this a rara avis filled the civic chair. "William Crowmere, mayor this year, was a good man, and pleased all the citizens, especially the Brewers;" for "when the master offered gifts to him, he thanked them, but would not receive any." Robert Chichele (mayor 1422), notwithstanding his having, at the instance of Whittington, imposed the fine above mentioned, is said to have always treated the Brewers well, and early exhorted them to due diligence in their craft, and to prevent transgressors. Thus much, then, for the early history of the ancient Guilds of London, their ancient state, their government, and officers. Their subsequent history-the history of their "liveries," their "observances," their "elections," their "funerals," their "feasts and ceremonies," their "triumphs and pageants," their "monopolies and patents," though exceedingly quaint and interesting, would considerably outrun the limits of the present paper. River of Dart. [The Dart flows in a wild tumultuous stream, and its "cry," in the stillness of night, may be heard far from its banks. It is subject to frequent and sudden inundation. "Dart came down last night" is an expression often in the mouths of the moor-men; and it is said that a year never passes without one person at the least being drowned in the river. Hence the local rhyme : "River of Dart! O river of Dart! Every year thou claimest a heart." Murray.] RIVER of Dart! O river of Dart! Every year thou claimest a heart. Beautiful river, through fringe of fern Such is the dirge men sing by thee: For the cry of Dart is the voice of doom, River of Dart! beside thy stream In the sweet Devon summer I linger and dream ; And thy flying waters strangely clear, While the fierce moor-falcon floats aloft, River of Dart! the praise be thine For the loving eyes that are meeting mine! Where thy swift trout leap, and thy swallows dip, 'Neath a gray tor's shadow 'twas mine to know The pure first touch of a virgin lip, And the virgin pant of a breast of snow. River of Dart! O river of Dart! By thy waters wild I have found a heart. MORTIMER COLLINS. TEMPLE BAR. OCTOBER 1865. Sir Jasper's Cenant. BY THE AUTHOR OF "LADY AUDLEY'S SECRET," &c. &c. CHAPTER XXV. MARCIA'S FESTIVAL. THE widow arrived at the Abbey a day or two after the picnic on Lemley Hills, and once more Sir Jasper was gratified by the sight of that superb matron. She was looking her best, and seemed in very high spirits. The open carriage that had brought her from Roxborough station had passed the deserted Hermitage, and at sight of the closed shutters Mrs. Harding had leaned forward to speak to the servant sitting next the coachman. "Has Mr.-Mr.-Pauncefort left Scarsdale?" she asked. "Yes, ma'am." "For good?" "I believe so, ma'am.” The warm carnation of the widow's cheeks deepened; and a bright flash of triumph illumined her eyes with a more vivid light than that which she imparted to them by the application of belladonna. "The bolder game is always wisest," she thought. "I was half indined to write and ask Marcia if he was still here; but that would have looked bad, and Miss Denison is very artful. Those quiet people always are artful." She awakened from this reverie to find herself at the foot of the broad stone-stairs leading to the terrace, where Sir Jasper and his daughter awaited her coming; and in the next moment she was embracing her darling Marcia with more than ordinary effusion. "And looking so well too, you sweet pet," she murmured fondly; "and dear Sir Jasper looks younger than ever. Ah, if you would only tell me your secret! I really should like to know how you manage it,” she added archly, shaking the plumes in her dazzling bonnet coquettishly as she addressed the Baronet. He liked it. Alas for human weakness! He knew that she was false and hollow, the most cindery and bitter of all the fruits that ever flourished on the shores of falsehood's Dead Sea; he knew that she would have bartered her soul for any of the sordid prizes earth has to give; he VOL. XV. Y |