of which he, with the Members of the Corporation, the Dignitaries of the Church, and the neighbouring Gentry, did gladly partake. The City, on that joyful occasion, was, we may depend on it, brilliantly illuminated; but the effect of the ten thousand lights was much diminished by that of the huge bonfire, which, blazing from the centre of the ample market-place, threw up its glare to the heavens, and falsely notified to far distant vills, that ruthless fire was devastating the gallante Citie of Salisbury. Mirth-and revelry-and joy abounded throughout the City, the merry tabor and pipe were heard in all its quarters, and the festive dance was prolonged to the return of morn-prolonged, and undisturbed, for, as powder was then but of recent invention, and, as yet, but rarely used even in the bloody war, the rocket, I ween, and the squib, and cracker, were then unknown. The noisome Indian Weed* was not then imported; and men, instead of sitting down to the miscalled social pipe, paid due attention to the female race, and, standing up, they joined, and merrily tripped it, in the social dance. Many and many a barrel of good beer and ale were broached amongst the populace on this festive night; but-gentle reader, whence this sudden pause amidst the noise and revelry of men-I seem to see the worthy John Halle step forth on the balcony of the auncient Towne House-I recognise his, to me, well-known portly frame, and features-I seem to see him with his vene

* Tobacco was first brought in by Sir Walter Raleigh, from Virginia, in the year 1586. Would that it had never come !(7)

rable locks gently waving to the passing breeze; and, surrounded by his admiring friends, with cap in hand, soliciting, by his motions, the attention of the numerous multitude. Silence reigns-and I seem to hear him with his loud -yet clear-his wonted sonorous voice-thus address his willing, and assembled, auditors :

Friends and Neighbours!

Truly glad am I thus again to appear before you. Appointed by my fellow-citizens-and, more especially so, as the honoured Mayor of this City, to plead her cause before our most excellent Sovereign, and his noble Privy Council, I obeyed the call thus made on me. I endeavoured to do my duty; but, in the warmth of my heart for the City's good, I freely admit, that I did make use of expressions, which offended our gracious Sovereign; and, whether with right or wrong on my side, I have suffered thraldom for all your sakes. I was cast into prison; yet, at this, I do not repine. Our illustrious Monarch (and long may he live, and reign!) did what seemed him good. In justice to his honourable feelings I must tell you, that he left me not to pine in anxious solitude; he, for the time, deprived me of my liberty it is true, but he daily did graciously inquire for my health, and anxiously strove, that I should feel alone the loss of liberty. Within my prison walls, through his benevolence, I may say, enjoyed the luxuries of a palace (see p. 331); and he took care to make me acquainted, that, though he fully acknowledged my honesty of purpose, yet he could not but regret, that my zeal had led me beyond the bounds of discretion. The kind treatment of my gracious Sovereign won my heart. I have since personally confessed to our illustrious Monarch my sincere regret, that I had offended him; and never-indeed never-shall I forget the gracious condescension, with which he pressed my hand, and desired me to think no more of the past-think of the past, indeed, I must -not with the bitterness of resentment-but with the grateful recollections of his unspeakable goodness. My friends, and neighbours, I feel not disposed to interrupt the enjoyment of the festive reception, with which you have honoured me, by a long and wearisome speech; yet I cannot dismiss you without

I

the remark, as you already must well know, that our cause has been heard, and that our gracious Sovereign and his noble Privy Council were pleased to decide our claims against us. At the same time I must candidly tell you, that your Monarch was strongly of opinion, that, in these, to be regretted, disputes, there was much of misapprehension on every side. He stated it to be his wish, and he graciously desired, that I would, in person, my friends, and neighbours, impart that wish to you, that all dispute should cease, and that nought but good feeling, and good will, should, in all future times, exist between this, his beloved, City of Salisbury and our illustrious Prelate. He was pleased to add, that we possessed but one interest, and that discord would only weaken our bonds, and render us the derision of the realm-that he could not assent to set aside those ancient, and feudal, rights appointed by the wisdom of our ancestors; and which, although sometimes wrongly resisted, he regarded as the connecting links, and the firmest bond, of society throughout his dominions; but, that he felt assured, that our right reverend Prelate would ever take especial care, that his privileges should be exercised with all tenderness, and affection, for us. With these kind words did our gracious Sovereign address me; and our illustrious Prelate most readily responded, that his desires should be ardently obeyed, and that he had nothing more at heart than the welfare of the City and Citizens of Salisbury. Not content with this, our most excellent Monarch insisted, that, in his presence, on the behalf of our City, and myself, the right reverend Prelate and I should join hands, which, believe me, was no sooner said than done; and I trust, that you will uphold the treaty, which I have thus entered into on your part, and that, for the future, peace and harmony will for ever reign. Having thus, in good faith, imparted the wishes of our gracious Sovereign, let me add, "may God bless him," and, thanking you all for your attentive hearing-heartily thanking you for these most pleasing testimonies of your kind affection for me, which I shall ever bear in most grateful recollection, I conclude by drinking in this bumper of good old wine "Prosperity to the City of Salisbury, and long life, and happiness, to you all."

To this unassuming-and frank-and manly address there could, gentle reader, be but one

response the hats, and caps, of the numerous assemblage, that thronged the extensive market-place even to its remotest angles, simultaneously waved in concert to three successive cheers-cheers, such as have ne'er been heard, before, nor since, in Salisbury's far-famed Citie. Men did say, that, on that festive occasion, the astounding huzzas of the joyful, and manytongued, multitude did seem to shake the timbered foundations of the auncient Gild-halle, and that (as it was written in an olden chronicle long since lost) "the ecchoes and re-ecchoes therof wer borne adowne the streme of Avonnes faire waters and struccke upon the cares of the goode mene of Dunctone." The acclamations of "John Halle for ever!" Long live John Halle!" every where resounded through that festive night; and, in the morn-languor did rest upon the frames of every class of men, and it has been said, that "the heads of all the Citizens did ake throughout the ensuing day."

In the preceding interesting correspondence the last document bears the date of the "xvii of Novembre." The important case was, we may presume, soon after heard, and decided, before Edward, the Fourth, and his Privy Council; and the deputation, we may conclude, returned to Salisbury about the close of the above month. In the revolution of time the annual election of the Mayor took place on the first day of November, (All Saints' Day,) a few weeks before the happy return of the doughty John Halle; and, having suffered as he had done in their service, they gratefully, and rightly, say I, thought,

that they could not do better than elect their worthy, and respected, fellow-citizen again, as their chief officer for the fourth time! For this decided, and praise-worthy, conduct the following reason is given in the Leger of the City : "per quod materia maioritatis pendebat in placito"-in other words, that the question, whether John Halle was worthy, or not, to hold the office of Mayor, was then in debate. Whilst this question, therefore, was pending, it would have been both unwise and ungracious in his fellowcitizens not to have re-elected him.

During this mayoralty we find him in the following year, the sixth of Edward, the Fourth, presiding as Mayor at an assembly held on the 25th of July, being the feast of St. James, the Great.

In the year 1470 circumstances arose, which, to my mind, display the worthy veteran, John Halle, as a true patriot, inasmuch as he dared, for the sake of his native City, to place himself in a situation, by which his life and property were greatly endangered. Richard Neville, the great Earl of Warwick and Salisbury, (whose armorial bearings adorn the windows of the halle of John Halle,) had, by his adroit manœuvres, succeeded in bringing about a marriage between that weak Prince, George, Duke of Clarence, the second brother of the King, and the Lady Isabella, his eldest daughter. The mind of the Duke of Clarence, from real, or imaginary, causes, (unnecessary here to develope,) became alienated in its affections from his brother, the Sovereign on the Throne, and