of the London ’prentices, in the use of which, whether as a quarterstaff or missile, they were remarkably expert.  Even a skilful swordsman stood but poor chance with them.  Besides this saucy-looking personage, who was addressed as Dick Taverner by his comrades, there were many others, who, to judge from their habiliments and their cudgels, belonged to the same fraternity as himself; that is to say, they were apprentices to grocers, drapers, haberdashers, skinners, ironmongers, vintners, or other respectable artificers or tradesfolk.

Now Dick Taverner had an especial grudge against our two extortioners, for though he himself, being ’prentice to a bookseller in Paul’s Churchyard, had little concern with them, he was the son of an inn-keeper—­Simon Taverner, of the Emperor’s Head, Garlick Hill—­who had been recently mined by their exactions, his licence taken from him, and his house closed:  enough to provoke a less mettlesome spark than Dick, who had vowed to revenge the parental injuries on the first opportunity.  The occasion now seemed to present itself, and it was not to be lost.  Chancing to be playing at bowls in the alley behind the Three Cranes with some of his comrades on the day in question, Dick learnt from Cyprien what was going forward, and the party resolved to have their share in the sport.  If needful, they promised the drawer to rescue his mistress from the clutches of her antagonists, and to drive them from the premises.  But their services in this respect were not required.  They next decided on giving Sir Francis Mitchell a sound ducking in the Thames.

Their measures were quickly and warily taken.  Issuing from an arched doorway at the side of the tavern, they stationed some of their number near it, while the main party posted themselves at the principal entrance in front.  Scouts were planted inside, to communicate with Cyprien, and messengers were despatched to cry “Clubs!” and summon the neighbouring ’prentices from Queenhithe, Thames Street, Trinity Lane, Old Fish Street, and Dowgate Hill; so that fresh auxiliaries were constantly arriving.  Buckingham, with the young nobles and gallants, were, of course, allowed to pass free, and were loudly cheered; but the ’prentices soon ascertained from their scouts that Sir Francis was coming forth, and made ready for him.

Utterly unconscious of his danger, the inebriate knight replied to the gibes, scoffs, and menaces addressed to him, by snapping his fingers in his opponents’ faces, and irritating them in their turn; but if he was insensible of the risk he ran, those around him were not, and his two supporters endeavoured to hurry him forward.  Violently resisting their efforts, he tried to shake them off, and more than once stood stock-still, until compelled to go on.  Arrived at the stairhead, he next refused to embark, and a scene of violent altercation ensued between him and his attendants.  Many boats were moored off the shore, with a couple of barges close at hand; and the watermen and oarsmen standing up in their craft, listened to what was going forward with much apparent amusement.