The Columbian fountain., 1846-03-12
WASHINGTON.

(BY G. p. n. JAMEs,)
.auihor Of "Dnnley," 'sRichslieu," ''Ihe Rob
! ber," ''.Mary Of Burgundy" &c.
/ CHATTER II.
THE PIED-PoUDRE COURT.
The poor girl Marian, still trembling and
agitatad, walked on between them, while
an elderly woman, dressed like an inferior
servant, followed close, whispering words
Of comfort in her ear. Near the two con-
stables, and watching well their proceedings,
came Dutton and the young harper, while
the fiddler, whom the young man had
stripped Of his cloak, seeing that the group
assumed somewhat the form Of a procession,
Jumped into the front, with droll antic,
and began playing rude but merry march
upon his instrument. The boys laughed,
the crowd shouted, and in this guise the
whole party, proceeding through one of
the long arcades of Chester, reached the
door Of the Pied-poudre Court, and began
to enter more calmly and orderly than might
have been expected. It was large hall,
in one of the houses of the city, situated
within the limits Of the fair, and at the far
ther end sat, before huge table, Glanville,
the Judge, with number of clerks and peo-
pie round him, among whom were FIVE or
six tipstaves of his court.
On the right and left hand of the Judge
were doorways, through which he himself,
and his officers came in and went out, with
out passing through the ordinary entrance
appropriated to the people. Glanville HIM
self was stout elderly man, with features,
which had been handsome in the day Of
his youth, but with twinkling eye some
what wrinkled at the corner, and a large
Tipped sensual mouth, which spoke not
well for the propensities of the worthy
Judge.
@What is all this-what is all this Z" he
cried. "Stop that fiddler instantly! How
dare you disturb the court ?''
81 was trying my powers" replied the
fiddler, in whom the spirit of mirth was
Weakened irrepressibly. 81 was trying my
powers like him. of old, to see whether |
could not melt the stones and make the
beasts dance.
1t is possible that his reply would have
subjected him to some severe treatment,
but that the judges eye fell upon poor Ma
rian, the miller's daughter, and his face
lighted up with look of unholy satisfac-
ton.
"Ho, no, maiden," he cried, tscome at
last, are you, How is it that you venture
to dance and sing, and play the Tomblestere
in Chester fair without license Do you
no! know that you may be publicly whip
ped for that ? or set upon ram, with your
face to the tail, and exposed three days
through the fair to all the people,"
cit must first be proved, }" said the young
harper, standing forward-"it must be
proved that she has done any thing Of the
kind, which we all here deny"
.sHo, no, Sir Maapert % cried the Judge.
sTs that you again ? We shall catch you
tripping some of these days. Where is the
man that saw the woman dancing? ?"
81 heard her sing" said small sallow
man, with blush tips to his countenance,
, who stood at the judges left hand, a some
what exaggerated representation Of Master
Slender. 81 heard her sing as she and the
harper went through the fair.
"And what then, thou risen corpse of a
dead colbert" cried Allan. "She sung not
for money. Thou canst not prove that she
OF tOOk Sol Vi tiic PCoPlo, ouu wiz oHui
stop us from singing any pleasant gest we
please, as well as any other persons in the
realmH"
"Not in Chester far-not in Chester
fair !" cried the judge, without license
Of the Earl, or Constable of the Castle. But
we will be merciful, she is too pretty to be
whipped, so let her be committed to our
prison for three days, or till she make hum
BILE snite and show penitence.
"Nay, but this is UNJUST" said Dutton
advancing.
"Who is that man - said the Judge.
Pull off his hood, and letus see his face" !"
ale struck me, your worship-he struck
me-" cried Rouse. Gle felled me to the
gronud while bringing her hither."
"EIa |" cried the Judge. "Seize him, Of
ficers, we will have his hand struck off,"
"Mighty good !" cried Dutton. "But
most worshipful sir, | would have you
hear me first. These good officers were
misusing the poor girl !; and then, would
have laid hands on me. Now, | am no
clerk ecclesiastc to bear the imposition of
hands discretely. am one that would al
ways rather knock than be knocked; SO all
men, especially these good gentleman COM
ing round toward me with their staves--
| \ L to,ch.or