"'Fore God, you have a goodly dwelling and a rich herc. I do envy thee thine house, sir."

"Barren, barren, barren; beggars all, beggars all," 1 was the reply, to which, after a pause, the squire added, "Marry, good air."

"Ah, 'tis a good air up on these wolds," replied the sportsman. "But I am a stranger here in Gloucestershire; these high wild hills and rough, uneven ways draw out our miles and make them wearisome. How far is it to Stratford ?"

"Marry, 'tis nigh on forty mile, I warrant. Thou'll not see Stratford to-night, sir; thy horse is wappered 3 out, and that I plainly see."

To him replied the stranger wearily:

"Where is the horse that doth untread again

His tedious measures with the unbated fire
That he did pace them first? All things that are,
Are with more spirit chased than enjoyed.'

"Hast been with the hounds to-day?" enquired the honest squire.

"Ah, sir, and that I have," was the reply; "and never have I seen such sport before. For seven long hours they made the welkin ring, and ran like swallows o'er the plain."5

"Please to step in; we be just a-settin' down to supper- a cold capon and a venison pasty. I'll tell

XII.] AN OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN.

259

my serving man to take thy nag to yonder yard, and make him comfortable for the night."

"Thanks, sir, I'll take him round myself, and give the honest beast a drench of barley broth,1 and afterwards, to cheer him up a bit, a handful or two of dried peas."2

Whilst the hunter was seeing to his nag, the squire thus addressed his serving man :

"Some pigeons, Davy, a couple of short-legged hens, a joint of mutton, and any pretty tiny kickshaws, tell William cook."3

DAVY: "Doth the hunter stay all night, sir ? "

:

SQUIRE "Yes, Davy. I will use him well; good sportsmen are ever welcome on Cotswold."

The wants of the Irish hobby having been thoroughly attended to, and the game little fellow having recovered in some measure his natural gaiety of spirits, the squire ushered the stranger into a long low hall, hung with pikes and guns and bows, and relics of the chase as well as of the wars. The stone floor was strewed with clean rushes, and lying about on tables were trashes, collars, and whips for hounds, as well as hoods, perches, jesses, and bells for hawks; whilst a variety of odds and ends, such as crossbows and jumping-poles, were scattered about the apartment. An enormous wood fire blazed at one end of the hall, and in the inglenook sat a girl of some twenty summers.

"My daughter, sir," exclaimed the squire; "as

good a girl as ever lived to make a cheese, brew good beer, preserve all sorts of wines, and cook a capon with a chaudron! Marry! I forgot to ask thee thy name ? "

"Oh, my name is Shakespeare-William Shakespeare, sir. I come from Stratford-on-the-Avon, up to'rds Warwick."

Shakespy, Shakespy; a' don't know that name. Dost bear arms, sir?"

"I am entitled to them-a spear on a bend sable, and a falcon for my crest; but we have not yet applied to the heralds for the confirmation. And you, sir?"

"He writes himself armigero in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation," here put in Davy the serving

man.

"Ah, that I do! and have done any time these three hundred years."

"All his successors gone before him hath done it ; and all his ancestors that come after him may," added Davy, with pride.

"To be sure, to be sure," said the squire. "Well, welcome to Cotswold, Master Shakespeare; good sportsmen are ever welcome on Cotswold. But tell me, how didst thou get thy downfall?"

"The first was at the mound into the tyning by Master Blackett's house at Iccomb; old Dobbin breasted it, and the stones did rattle round mine ears like a house a-coming down. We made a shard1 that let the rest of 'em through. It was the only wall that came in the way of the chase to-day. The

1 A Cotswold word=breach.