the King, and being intimately versed in court scandal, he directed his lash with telling effect.  As a contrast to the malicious pleasantry of the Cap Justice, were the gambols and jests of Robin Goodfellow—­a merry imp, who, if he led people into mischief, was always ready to get them out of it.  Then there was a dance by Bill Huckler, old Crambo, and Tom o’ Bedlam, the half-crazed individual already mentioned as being among the crowd in the base court.  This was applauded to the echo, and consequently repeated.  But the most diverting scene of all was that in which Jem Tospot and the three Doll Wangos appeared.  Though given in the broadest vernacular of the county, and scarcely intelligible to the whole of the company, the dialogue of this part of the piece was so lifelike and natural, that every one recognised its truth; while the situations, arranged with the slightest effort, and on the spur of the moment, were extremely ludicrous.  The scene was supposed to take place in a small Lancashire alehouse, where a jovial pedlar was carousing, and where, being visited by his three sweethearts—­each of whom he privately declared to be the favourite—­he had to reconcile their differences, and keep them all in good-humour.  Familiar with the character in all its aspects, Nicholas played it to the life; and, to do them justice, Dames Baldwyn, Tetlow, and Nance Redferne, were but little if at all inferior to him.  There was a reality in their jealous quarrelling that gave infinite zest to the performance.

“Saul o’ my body!” exclaimed James, admiringly, “those are three braw women.  Ane of them maun be sax feet if she is an inch, and weel made and weel favourt too.  Zounds!  Sir Richard, there’s nae standing the spells o’ your Lancashire Witches.  High-born and low-born, they are a’ alike.  I wad their only witchcraft lay in their een.  I should then hae the less fear of ’em.  But have you aught mair? for it is growing late, and ye ken we hae something to do in that pavilion.”

“Only a merry dance, my liege, in which a man will appear in a dendrological foliage of fronds,” replied the baronet.

James laughed at the description, and soon afterwards a party of mummers, male and female, clad in various grotesque garbs, appeared on the stage.  In the midst of them was the “dendrological man,” enclosed in a framework of green boughs, like that borne by a modern Jack-in-the-green.  A ring was formed by the mummers, and the round commenced to lively music.

While the mazy measure was proceeding, Nance Redferne, who had quitted the stage with Nicholas, and now stood close to him among the spectators, said in a low tone, “Look there!”

The squire glanced in the direction indicated, and to his surprise and terror, distinguished, among the crowd at a little distance, the figure of a Cistertian monk.

“He is invisible to every eye except our own,” whispered Nance, “and is come to tell me it is time.”