an hangman hates a pardon. Had he been a scholar, he would have maintained all paradoxes; if a chirurgeon, he would never have cured a wound, but always kept it raw; if a souldier, he would have been excellent at a siege; nothing but ejectio firme would out him.

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He is half-starved in the lent of a long vacation, for want of employment; save onely that then he brews work to broach in term-time. I find one so much delighted in law-sport, that when Lewis, the King of France, offered to ease him of a number of suits, he earnestly besought his Highness to leave him some twenty or thirty behind, wherewith he might merrily passe away the time.

"He hath this property of an honest man, that his word is as good as his bond; for he will pick the lock of the strongest conveyance, or creep out at the lattice of a word. Wherefore he counts to enter common with others as good as his own severall; for he will so vex his partners, that they had rather foregoe their right, than undergoe a suit with him.-As for the trumpeter Barreter

"He falls in with all his neighbours that fall out, and spurres them on to go to law. A gentleman, who in a duell was rather scratcht than wounded, sent for a chirurgeon, who, having opened the wound, charged his man with all speed.

to fetch such a salve from such a place in his study. Why, (said the gentleman,) is the hurt so dangerous? Oh, yes, (answered the chirurgeon,) if he returns not in post-haste, the wound will cure itself, and so I shall lose my fee. Thus the Barretour posts to the houses of his neighbours, lest the sparks of their small discords should go out before he brings them fuell, and so he be broken by their making up. Surely, he loves not to have the bells rung in a peal; but he likes it rather when they are jangled backwards, himself having kindled the fire of dissension amongst his neighbours.

"He lives till his clothes have as many rents as himself hath made dissensions. I wonder any should be of this trade, when none ever thrived on't, paying dear rates for their counsells: for bringing many cracked titles, they are fain to fill up their gaping chinks with the more gold.

"But I have done with this wrangling companion, half afraid to meddle with him any longer, lest he should commence a suit against me for describing him. (Fuller's Profane State, 408.)

STRIKING IN THE KING'S PALACE.

Contempts against the King's Palace, or Courts of Justice, have always been looked upon as high

misprisions and, by the ancient law before the Conquest, fighting in the King's Palace, or before the King's Judges, was punished with death. At present, by statute 33 Hen. VIII. c. 12, A.D. 1541, malicious striking in the King's Palace, wherein his royal person resides, whereby blood is drawn, is punished by perpetual imprisonment, and fine at the King's pleasure, and also with loss of the offender's right hand; the solemn execution of which sentence is prescribed in the statute at length. A few months after this act had passed, Sir Edmond Knevet was prosecuted for this offence the solemnities of the punishment required by the act are therein stated.

"This tenth of June, 1541, Sir Edmond Knevet, Knight, of Norfolke, was arraigned before the King's Justices, (sitting in the great Hall at Greenwich, Master Gage, Comptroller of the King's Household, Master Suthwell, Sir Anthony Brown, Sir Anthony Wingfield, Master Wrisley, and Edmond Peckham, Cofferer of the King's Household,) for striking of one Master Clere, of Norfolke, servant with the Earle of Surrey, within the King's House, in the Tennis-Court. There was first chose to go upon the said Edmond, a quest of gentlemen and a quest of yeomen, to enquire of the said stripe; by which inquests he was found guilty, and had judgement to loose his right

hand; whereupon was called to do the execution, first the Sergeant Chirurgeon, with his instrument appertaining to his office; the Sergeant of the Wood-yard, with the mallet and a block, whereupon the hand should lie; the Master Cooke for the King, with the knife; the Sergeant of the Larder, to set the knife right on the joynte; the Sergeant Farrier, with his searing yrons, to seare the veines; the Sergeant of the Poultry, with a cock, which cock should have his head smitten off upon the same block, and with the same knife; the Yeoman of the Chandry, with seare clothes; the Yeoman of the Scullery, with a pan of fire, to heate the yrons, a chafer of water to coole the end of the yrons, and two fourmes, for all officers to set their stuff on; the Sergeant of the Seller, with wine, ale, and beere; the Yeoman of the Ewry, in the Sergeant's stead, who was absent, with bason, ewre, and towels. Thus, every man in his office ready to do the execution, there was called forth Sir William Pickering, Knight Marshall, to bring in the said Edmond Knevet, and when he was brought to the barre, the Chief Justice declared to him his trespass, and the said Knevet confessing, humbly submitted him to the King's mercy for this offence, he was not only judged to loose his hand, but also his body to remaine in prison, and his lands and goods at the

King's pleasure. Then the sayd Sir Edmond Knevet desired that his benigne grace would pardon him of his right hand, and take the left: 'For, (quoth he,) if my right hand be spared, I may hereafter do such good service to his grace, as shall please him to appoint.' Of this submission and request the Justice forthwith informed the King, who, of his goodness, considering the gentle heart of the said Sir Edmond, and the good report of lords and ladies, granted him pardon, that he should lose neither hand, land, nor goods, but should go free and at liberty." (Stowe's Annals, How's Edition, 581.)

1

FEES OF PHYSICIANS.

"The plaintiff, Dr. Chorley, who was a physician living at Doncaster, brought an action to recover his fees from Bolcat, the defendant, who was the executor of a man whom the Doctor had attended a considerable time, and who lived at some little distance from the town: the evidence was, that at Doncaster and its neighbourhood, there was no certain rule about fees, but the general practice was, for a physician to receive two

guineas a week for his attendance. The plaintiff obtained a verdict at the last assizes at York.

"Wood, on the behalf of Bolcat, the executor,