Martin, when he perceived a crowd; on inquiry, he learned that a child had just been bitten by a mad dog. Forgetting of his first terror, that he never fairly overcame it. From that moment it was impossible for him to see a dog unchained within his reach, without a painful uneasi-or conquering his terrors, he jumped ness, which no effort of his mind could subdue. Another veterinary surgeon, "solidement trempé au physique et au moral," M. Barthélemy, was one day bitten by a mad dog under his care. In spite of immediate cautery, he could never afterward endure the sight of a rabid dog-nay, more, he suffered inexpressible uneasiness if the very name of the disease were mentioned in his hearing. One day, in 1847, relates M. Renault, he was passing along the Boulevard Saint from his carriage, pushed aside the crowd, took up the child in his arms, (which the crowd had left sobbing on the ground, without venturing to its assistance,) and carrying it to the nearest chemist's shop, he there thoroughly cauterized the many wounds. After this, he conducted the child to its parents, prescribed what was to be done, and disappeared without giving his name. "All this time," said his servant, "master was as pale as death.” From Bentley's Miscellany. THE CONSTABLE 0 F THE TOWER. AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE. BY WILLIAM HARRISON AINSWORTH. VII. OF THE ROYAL BANQUET IN WESTMINSTER HALL. commodating three hundred guests, were laid within the body of the hall. Upon HOW THE KING'S the dais, at the upper end, was set a table intended for the King and the chief nobles, covered with the fairest napery, and literally blazing with vessels of gold and silver of the rarest workmanship and device. Over the royal chair was a canopy of cloth of gold, embroidered with the King's arms, and at either end of the table stood an open cupboard, nine stages high, filled with glittering salvers, costly ornaments of gold and silver, goblets, and other drinking-vessels. WITHIN the mighty hall built by William Rufus, and renovated and enlarged by Richard II., by whom the marvelous and unequaled Gothic roof was added, preparations had been made on the grandest scale for a banquet to be given by the King to his nobles immediately after the coronation. This vast chamber--supposed to be the largest in the world unsupported by pil lars, and the size of which may be estimat ed from the fact that six thousand persons have been entertained within at one time was magnificently decorated for the occasion. The walls were hung with arras to about half their hight. Banners depended from the huge chestnut beams of the roof, and the sculptured angels supporting the rafters were furnished with escutcheons of the King's arms. Three long tables, each capable of ac About half-way down the hall, on the left, a platform was erected for the minstrels, and on the opposite side was a similar stage for the carvers. No sooner was the solemnity within the abbey at an end, than all who had invitations to the banquet-and they were upward of a thousand persons-proceeded to Westminster Hall, and were promptly conducted by the marshals and ushers to their places. Not a seat at either of the three long tables was soon left vacant; and what with gentlemen waiters, and yeomen waiters, marshals, ushers, grooms, and serving-men, the body of the hall was quite full. Loud flourishes of trumpets from the upper end of the spacious chamber then proclaimed the King's approach. First of all the nobles entered, and were ushered to their places by the vice-chamberlain, Sir Anthony Wingfield; then the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Lord Protector, and lastly the King. Cranmer sat on the right of the royal chair, and the Lord Protector on the left. Grace having been solemnly said, the trumpets were again sounded, and as the first course was brought in by a vast train of attendants, the Earl of Warwick, lord great chamberlain, and the Earl of Arundel, lord chamberlain of the household, magnificently arrayed, and mounted on horses trapped in cloth of gold and velvet, entered the hall by the great door, and rode between the long tables to the dais to superintend the service. It would be superfluous to describe the dishes either at the King's table or at those assigned to the less important guests. It will be enough to say that the banquet was ordered in right regal fashion, with many subtleties and strange devices; that the meats were of the daintiest, and the wines of the best and rarest. "What should I speak or write of the sumptuous, fine, and delicate meats prepared for this high and honorable coronation," quoth an old chronicler, "or of the honorable order of the services, the clean-handling and breaking of meats, the ordering of the dishes, with the plentiful abundance, so that no worshipful person went away unfeasted?" When the second course was served, which was yet more sumptuous than the first, the great door of the hall was again thrown wide open to admit the King's champion, Sir John Dymoke. Armed, cap-à-pied, in burnished steel, having a plame of white ostrich feathers in his helm, and mounted on a charger, trapped in gold tissue, embroidered with the arms of England and France, the champion rode slowly up the center of the hall, preceded by a herald. The champion might well be splendidly equipped and proudly mounted, since, by his office, he was allowed the King's best suit of armor, "save one," and the best charger from the royal stables, "save one," with trappings to boot. As Sir John Dymoke approached the dais, he was encountered by Garter King at Arms, who called out to him in a loud voice: "Whence come you, Sir Knight, and what is your pretense ?" "That you shall hear anon," replied the champion courteously. And addressing his own herald, he commanded him to make proclamation, who, after thrice exclaiming "Oyes!" thus proceeded: "If there be any person here, of whatsoever state or degree, who shall declare that King Edward the Sixth is not the rightful inheritor of this realm, I, Sir John Dymoke, the King's champion, offer him my glove, and will do battle with him to the utterance." As the herald concluded, Sir John took off his gauntlet and hurled it on the ground. This challenge was afterward repeated in different parts of the hall. As the defiance, however, was not accepted, the champion rode toward the dais, and demanded a cup of wine. A large parcel gilt goblet, filled with malmsey, was then handed him by the chief cup. bearer, and having drunk from it, he claimed the cover, which being given him, he retired. The The banquet then proceeded. trumpets sounded for the third course, and when it had been brought in, a sidedoor on the right of the wall was opened, and gave admittance to a device of a very unusual character. Three colossal figures, clad in Anglo-Saxon armor of the period of the Conquest, such as may be seen in ancient tapestry, and consisting of mingled leather and steel, and wearing conical helmets, with fantastic nasal projections, shaped like the beak of a bird, entered, carrying over their heads an enormous shield, the circumference of which was almost as large as King Arthur's famous Round Table, as it had need to be, since it formed a stage for the display of a fullyequipped knight mounted on a charger, barded and trapped. These huge AngloSaxon warriors, it is scarcely necessary to say, were the gigantic warders of the Tower, while the knight they bore upon the shield, it is equally needless to add, was the King's dwarf. Mounted on his pony, which, as we have said, was trapped like a war-horse, Xit carried a tiltinglance in his hand, and a battle-ax at his saddle-bow. As he was borne along the hall in his exalted position, he looked round with a smile of triumph. After the giants came another fantastic personage, partially clad in the skins of wild animals, with a grotesque mask on his face, sandals on his feet, and a massive-looking club on his shoulder. This wild-looking man was Pacolet. As the knightly dwarf was brought within a short distance of the royal table, which, from his eminent position, he quite overlooked, he was met by Garter, who demanded his title and pretense. "I am called Sir Pumilio," replied Xit, in a shrill voice, "and the occasion of my coming hither is to do battle with a wild man in the King's presence, if I be so permitted." "His majesty greets thee well, Sir Pumilio," rejoined Garter, with difficulty preserving his countenance. "Do thy devoir as becomes a valiant knight." "I will essay to do so," cried Xit. "Where lurks the fierce savage ?" he added. "Behold him!" cried Pacolet. While Xit was talking to Garter, the agile mountebank had climbed the shoulders of a tall yeoman of the guard, who was standing near, and he now sprang upon the shield. Xit immediately charged him, and strove to drive him off the stage, but Pacolet adroitly avoided the thrust, and the dwarf had well-nigh gone over himself. The combatants had not a very large arena for the display of their prowess, but they made the best of it, and Pacolet's tricks were so diverting, that they excited general merriment. After the combat had endured a few minutes, Pacolet, apparently sore pressed, struck the shield with his club, and instantly afterward leapt to the ground. Scarcely was he gone than the rim of the shield rose as if by magic, developing a series of thin iron bars, which inclosed the dwarf like a rat in a trap. Great was Xit's surprise and rage at this occurrence, for which he was wholly unprepared. He struck the bars of his cage with his lance, but they were strong enough to resist his efforts; he commanded the giants to liberate him, but in vain. At last he was set free by Pacolet, and carried off amid inextinguishable laughter. Preceded by trumpeters, making a loud bruit with their clarions, and attended by Norroy and Clarincieux, Garter next made proclamation of the King's titles in differ ent parts of the hall. At each proclamation the heralds called out, Largesse ! largesse !" whereupon, many costly ornaments were bestowed upon them by the nobles, knights, and esquires. Toward the close of the feast, the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Henry Hubblcthorne, who, it will be remembered, was the first knight dubbed by the King on his arrival at the Tower, arose from his seat at the upper table, and kneeling before the young monarch, offered him a silver cup, incrusted with gems, and filled with hippocrass. Edward received him very graciously, and having drunk to the prosperity of the good city of London, returned him the cup, bidding him keep it in remembrance of the occasion. So ended this grand and memorable banquet. The King then repaired to the palace, where the jousts and tilting-matches were held in the courts, at which Lord Seymour, to his royal nephew's great contentment, bore away the chief prize. VIII. HOW THE LORD CHANCELLOR WAS DISGRACED. THOUGH the crown had been placed on the youthful Edward's brows, supreme authority rested with the Lord Protector. His only formidable opponent was Southampton, and the removal of the latter, as already intimated, had been resolved upon. A plan for effectually getting rid of him was hit upon by Paget, and, unfortunately for the Lord Chancellor, his own imprudence furnished a pretext for his overthrow and disgrace. Wholly unconscious, however, of the critical position in which he stood, and unaware of the projects of his enemies, Southampton attended the first council held within the palace, and commenced by fiercely attacking Somerset for his usurpation of power, and disregard of the King's will. He had not proceeded far when he was interrupted by Paget, who called: "Hold, my lord; before accusing his highness the Lord Protector, you must answer certain grave charges which I have to prefer against yourself." "What charges be they ?" demanded the Lord Chancellor haughtily. "My lord, I accuse you of gross neg lect of duty," rejoined Paget, "in putting the seal in commission, and deputing to certain masters in chancery the power to hear causes and pronounce decisions; duties which ought by right to be discharged by yourself alone. This you have done without license or authority from the King's majesty, the Lord Protector, or the lords of the council." "No warrant was needed for what I have done," replied Southampton, in a proud and defiant tone. "My attention can not be given at one and the same time to affairs of state and to the business of the Court of Chancery, and I have therefore chosen to devote myself chiefly to the former. But all decisions of the masters will be ratified by myself before enrollment." "You have outstripped your authority, my lord, in what you have done," observed Somerset sternly. "The judges have been consulted upon the matter, and their well-considered answer is, that you, my Lord Chancellor, ought not, without warrant from the council, to have set the seal to such a commission. They regard it as a precedent of very high and ill consequence, and as an indication that a change in the laws of England is intended by you." "Tut! tut! their fears are groundless," remarked Southampton contemptuously. "Hear me out, I pray you, my lord," pursued Somerset. "The judges unanimously declare that by the unwarrantable and illegal act committed by you, you have forfeited your place to the King, and rendered yourself liable to fine and imprisonment at his majesty's pleasure." "What say you to this, my lord?" cried Paget, in a taunting tone. "I say the judges are in error, or have been basely tampered with, to deliver such an opinion," rejoined Southampton furiously."But the scheme is too transparent not to be seen through at a glance. 'Tis a weak device of the Lord Protector to get rid of me. But I tell him to his face that I hold my office by a better authority than he holds his own." "How by a better authority, my lord ?" cried Somerset. "Because it was conferred upon me by my late royal master," returned Southampton, "who not only made me what I am, Lord Chancellor, but one of the governors of the realm during his son's minority, of which office your highness seeks to deprive me. But you can not do it, for the King's will must be observ ed, and by that will, as you well know, none of you have power over the others, or can cause their dismissal. Declare the commission void, if you will. I am content. But think not to deprive me of my office for no fault, or to remove me from the government, for you can not do it." "The arguments you have used, my lord are of little weight," observed Lord Rich. "Each executor under the late King's will is subject to his colleagues, and can not do any act on his own responsibility. Thus, if one of our number should be guilty of high treason or rebellion, he would be clearly punishable, and could not shelter himself under the plea that he was a member of the council, and therefore absolved from his act. If you can show that you have any warrant for what you have done, you will be held ex-、 cused, but not otherwise." "Ay, produce your warrant, my lord, if you have it ?" demanded Paget sarcastically. The Lord Chancellor made no reply. He saw that he was caught in the toils of his enemies. "Can you advance aught in your justification, my lord ?" said the King, who had not hitherto spoken. "If so, we are willing to hear you." "I should speak to little purpose, sire," replied Southampton, with dignity, "for my enemies are too strong for me. But I take Heaven to witness that I acted for the best." "You had best make your submission, my lord," observed Lord Seymour. "This haughty tone will only make mat ters worse." "Is it you who counsel submission, my Lord Admiral ?" cried Southampton, almost fiercely. "I have declared that I had no ill design in what I did. I be lieved, and still believe, that I had power to act as I have acted; but you all declare otherwise. I therefore submit myself humbly to the King's mercy. If I am to be deprived of mine office, I pray that, in consideration of past services, I may be dealt with leniently." "Strict justice shall be done you, doubt it not, my lord," said Edward. "Withdraw, we pray you, while we deliberate upon the matter." Upon this intimation, the Lord Chancellor quitted the council-chamber. After the council had deliberated for some time, Lord Rich thus addressed the King: "Considering the prejudice that | might ensue if the seals were allowed in the hands of so arrogant a person as Lord Southampton, we are of opinion that he should be deprived of his office, and fined, and remain a prisoner in his own house at your majesty's pleasure." "Is that the opinion of the whole council ?" demanded Edward. "It is, my liege," replied Somerset. "You can not pardon him," he added, in a low tone. "On whom shall the seals be bestowed?" inquired the King. "None were more fitting for the office than the Lord St. John," replied Somer set. "Be it as you suggest," rejoined the King. "Let Lord Southampton be recalled." As the Lord Chancellor reentered the council-chamber, he saw from the looks of all around him that the decision was against him. He therefore attempted no defense, but, with his arms folded upon his breast, listened calmly while his sentence was pronounced. A deep flush, however, suffused his swarthy features when he heard that the great seal was to be delivered to Lord St. John. "His majesty will not gain much by the exchange," he muttered; "but the Lord Protector will. He will find the new Lord Chancellor sufficiently subservient. I pray your majesty to let me be removed at once." His request was acceded to; and he was conducted by a guard to his own residence, Ely House, where he was detained a close prisoner. state, he assumed a haughtiness of deportment, and an arrogance of tone, especially disagreeable to the old nobility, whose hatred of him was increased by his undisguised efforts to ingratiate himself with the Commons. Called upon to fulfill his lavish promises to his adherents, Somerset found it no easy matter to satisfy their importunities. But he had a resource which in these days could readily be made available. The Church had been largely stripped of its possessions by the late King, but a good deal yet remained of which it might be deprived. A bill was hastily passed, by which nearly three thousand charities, colleges, free-chapels, and other religious establishments, were suppressed, and their rents and revenues confiscated, and transferred to the Crown. Out of the funds thus obtained, the Lord Protector enriched himself and rewarded his associates. Calculating upon a long lease of power, Somerset determined to build himself a palace which should surpass that of Whitehall. Accordingly, he selected a site on the banks of the Thames, and recking little that it was occupied by the ancient church of St. Mary-le-Strand and other time-honored monastic structures, he sacrilegiously ordered their demolition. With as little scruple as had actuated him in the choice of a situation for his proposed palace, he set to work to procure building materials. There were plenty of churches to supply him with masonry. Without hesitation he pulled down the large church of Saint John of Jerusalem, with its noble tower, the cloisters on the north side of Saint Paul's, with the charnel-house and chapel, and appropriated the wreck to his own use. These sacrilegious proceedings were generally condemned, and the su perstitious believed they would bring him ill-luck. In spite, however, of this disapFREED from his most dangerous foe, probation, Somerset House was commencSomerset felt perfectly secure. So slaved, and eventually completed. ishly subservient to his will were the coun- While the Lord Protector was thus excil, that he did not always deem it neces-ercising the power he had so unscrupu sary to consult them. In many important matters he acted without other authority than his own. Both civil and military appointments were made by him. He signed warrants for arrest and imprisonment, and issued mandates under his own seal. He held private conferences with foreign ambassadors, and did not always disclose the nature of the negotiations concluded with them. Maintaining a perfectly regal IX. IN WHAT MANNER THE LORD HIGH ADMIRAL DISCHARGED THE lously obtained, holding a court, lording it over the council, controlling their de crees, and occasionally sharply reproving them, conferring with foreign ambassadors, signing decrees and warrants, disposing of offices and treasures, making presentations and promotions, ordering arbitrary arrests and imprisonments, after the fashion of the imperious Harry, and in all other respects comporting himself |