"What is your fare, coachee," said a stout gentleman alighting from a
hackney-coach.
_Coachee_.--"One shilling, sir."
_Gent_.--"One shilling! What an imposition for such a short distance."
_Coachee_.--"I'll take my oath that is my fare."
_Gent_.--"Will you? very well, I am a magistrate, proceed--(_Coachee
is sworn_)--That will do, the shilling I shall keep for the
affidavit."
* * * * *
Philip III. King of Spain, wept at an _Auto da Fé_, because he saw so
many fellow creatures inhumanly tormented. This was thought by the
Grand Inquisitor to be a great sin, and he terrified the king so much
with his remonstrances, that Philip suffered himself to be bled, and
the blood to be given to the common executioner, to be burnt at the
next _Auto da Fé_, by way of penance.
* * * * *
_Cobweb_ comes from the Dutch word _Kopwebbe_; and _Kop_ in that
language signifies a spider.
* * * * *
(S.I.B.'s interesting paper on the Birth of Edward VI. and Death of
Queen Jane Seymour, did not reach us till our description of Hampton
Court was ready for press: our Correspondent's contribution shall
appear next week.)
* * * * *