With which she jingling goes through all her towns and villages.

Lamb's John Woodvil.

SECOND EDITION.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

HENRY COLBURN, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.

PRINTED BY S. AND R. BENTLEY, DORSET STREET.

BRAMBLETYE HOUSE.

CHAPTER I.

Among themselves the tourney they divide,
In equal squadrons ranged on either side;

Then turn their horses' heads, and man to man,
And steed to steed oppos'd, the justs began."
DRYDEN.

ON crossing the frontiers of France, Sir John and his son had an opportunity of observing the extreme misery of the peasantry, who in addition to the gabelle, and other taxes and impositions by which they were already oppressed, were subject to such perpetual depredation from foreigners and free-booters of all the contending parties, that those who were not already

VOL. II.

B

ruined by contribution and pillage, found it prudent to present an appearance of the most squalid wretchedness, as their only security against further exactions. Leaving these forlorn borderers, like corn between the upper and nether mill-stones, to be ground and crushed by the collision of the two nations, they pushed forward for Paris, at which capital they duly arrived. The Baronet had provided himself with letters to Sir Richard Browne, an envoy of the King's, who still resided at that city, though not recognised as such by the French government. In obedience to the dictates of Cromwell in the late treaty, they had ordered the English monarch out of the French territories, giving him a small supply of money, which was quickly wasted; and making him large promises for the future, which had never been performed. In this emergency, the Spaniards, then at war with the Protector, invited the wandering court into Flanders; where the Duke of York, at the head