similar to that of his companions, his well-fancied habits. A clumsy broadsword was produced, with a wide leathern shoulder-belt, from under Cromwell's cloak; and this with an old pair of his own military boots, carefully soiled for the occasion and fitted with rough iron spurs, and an unpolished headpiece, completed his attire.

"Mind now your bearing," Cromwell said as they left the house; "smoke without ceasing, jostle a little those whom we meet with in the streets, and quote the strongest texts you may remember. When that we reach the inn, the great gate will be closed, the wicket only open.

We will all enter in, and drink till half-past nine of the clock; then go forth you, as if upon some errand-loiter about the gates, until you see our man; follow in after him, and when he passeth up the yard-for he will go directly to the stables-bar instantly the wicket, and advise us ! Now let us move on somewhat smartly."

Without more words, they took their way across the town, toward Holborn, through

quarters which, though now the very heart and the most populous portion of the giant city, were then but sparsely built upon, with frequent gardens intervening between the scattered tenements, and miry lanes unlighted and unpaved instead of regular streets.

The night continued dark, and so unpleasant that when they reached at length the mighty thoroughfare of Holborn, the street was half deserted and nearly silent. Smoking much as they passed along, and speaking little, they reached the well-known hostelry. Its gate, as Cromwell had foreseen, was closed and locked, but a low wicket-door gave ingress to the yard; a long irregular space surrounded on three sides by the rambling buildings of the inn, with three tiers one above the other of open galleries, through which was the access to the chambers,-and bounded at the end by a long range of granaries and pack-stables. The yard was nearly darkfor but one lamp shone dimly over the entrance of the public room, just at the left hand of the

gateway as they entered; and except the lanterns of the hostlers flitting about the farther buildings, no other lights were visible within; but, as if to make up for the deficiency, a large glass lamp on either side the gateway rendered the street in front of it as light as day.

Abruptly entering the tap-room in which were some four or five grave-looking citizens, comfortng themselves after the business of the day with poached eggs and canary, buttered ale, spiced claret, and half a dozen other drinks and dishes fashionable in those days, but long ago forgotten

"Ho! Landlord !" shouted Cromwell"bring us three cans of your best double alegood measure, and be quick about it! Surely my flesh doth thirst for a cool drink, even as the faint spirit thirsteth for a soul-searching exposition of the mysteries that be essential to salvation."

"Such as Lieutenant Profit-by-the-Word poured forth to our great edifying yester even,

Ireton answered. "Verily, good man, he was upheld most marvellously-four hours did he hold forth steadily, not waxing faint in flesh, nor weary in well-doing, but borne along in spirit with exceeding fervour, and his voice ringing like a trumpet, louder at every close. Truly a second Boanerges!"

"Ay! and he touched with the true unction on that hard rock that splits all weaker vessels, the full justification of the soul by faith-the utter needlessness of works to save, when that the soul is filled,―ay as a tankard that doth overflow its brim-(and lo! my can is out. Ho! tapster, fill us the good black gallon jack, and fetch us more tobacco)-or as a mill-dam that doth burst its banks with the true grace of God !"

"Yea!" answered Ireton,-" yea! verily he did; but I bethought me somewhat, that he o'ershot the mark, when he did undertake to that those who have been once in grace prove

may never relapse into sin, and that unto the pure all things are pure and holy."

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the other.

Why thou must be an infidel !" returned "What, know you not that vice and virtue be but names-not of aught tangible or real-not of things that exist without the body -but of mere fantasies, abstractions whose seat is the mind? Surely it is the spirit in which a thing is done, and not the thing itself, that makes the virtue or the vice. Lo! when you slay a man, in hand to hand encounter, fighting it may be in the deadly breach, or riding the cannon's mouth, truly it is imputed not as an act of sin, but an heroical and manly act of glory. As when strong Samson killed his thousands-ay, or yet more to the point, when Heber's wife, the Kenite, smote Sisera within the tent and slew him, though a suppliant and guest; -but had she driven in that selfsame nail, to satisfy vile lust of gain, or murtherous revenge, then had it been guilt in her-shame while on