_First Day of a London 'Prentice his Life_
Thou mayest marvel, _Hew_, that I remember so well the minutest
Circumstances of that, my first Day on the Bridge; but by Reason of a
young, quick Apprehensiveness of Novelty, I remember that Day better
than any other (but one) in the Year; and that Year better than many
that came after it.
Early as I rose the next Morning, it would seem that some one was yet
earlier than I; for my Master's large Bible lay open on the Table, as
though some one had been a reading it. And, whereby my good Mother had
early taught me, during the Famine of GOD'S Word, to snatch a Mouthful
of it whenever it came in my Way, albe it were but a single Sentence to
chew the Cud upon pleasantly at my Work, I cast mine Eye upon the Page,
and lighted by Hap on the Saying, "Whatsoever thine Hand findeth to do,
_do it with thy Might_,"—when my Master's Hand was laid upon my
Shoulder, and made me start.
"My Lad," quod he, "a Mind sequestering itself to the Exercises of
Piety, lies very open to the farther Discoveries of divine Light and
Love, and invites CHRIST to come and dwell in it." I louted low, to
thank him for his Grace, albeit it seemed to me he took me for a better
and wiser Lad than I was. But good Praise takes root and spreads; and
there was no great Damage in his giving me a little more Credit than I
deserved; inasmuch as we are not born good, but made good.
Thereafter, Master _Hewet_ taketh me to the very topmost Floor of our
House, next the 'Prentices' Loft, and openeth a creaking Door; whereon
we enter a low, longish Attick, containing two Looms, at one of which
sate a Man weaving. There was a Lattice almost the entire Length of the
Attick, looking down upon the bright shining _Thames_, then sparkling in
the Morning Sun, and all in a Tremble beneath a smart Breeze, while
heavy Barges and light Boats full of Garden Stuff for the Markets were
passing to and fro. The Chamber, though abject to look at, was
delightsome to look from; and the Air was so clear that I could see a
Housewife in a Stamel Petticoat cheapening Neats' Feet on the
_Bankside_, and the _Easterlings_ unloading their Cargoes at the
_Steelyard_. But the Man at the Loom had no Eye for these Things; he
seemed not much under fifty Years of Age, and had a pale, pain-worn
Face, and patient, gentle, though not happy Aspect. A Blackbird in a
Wicker Cage hung at the open Window; there were some two or three old
Books on a Shelf, and a dozen Flowerpots or so on a little Ledge outside
the Attick, between the Roofs, which was railed in and made into a Sort
of little Garden.
"Here's a Man, now," quod my Master to me in a low Voice, "hath so
little Care for aught beyond these four Walls, as never e'en to have
spared Time to look on _Fisher's_ Head at the Bridge End all the While
the Strete was so thronged with the gazing Rabble as that scarcely a
Horse nor Cart could pass. Nor do I believe he would have cast a Look up
at poor Sir _Thomas More_, save on his Way to the Burreller's. A fair
Morning, _Tomkins_!"
"A fair Morning, as you say, Master," returned _Tomkins_, "I wish you
Joy of it."
"Here's your new Scholar," quod my Master; "you will set him going, and
are scarce likely to find him more awkward than _Miles_."
"I hope I shall find him a good Deal less so, and less froward, too, or
I sha'n't count him good for much," quod _Tomkins_, turning about, and
looking hard at me. "I like his Face, Master," quod he.
"Here, give him the Shuttle, and let us see how he will handle it," quod
Master _Hewet_.
"Not mine, he may have _Miles's_," interposed _Tomkins_, rising with
some Difficulty and going to the other Loom; and I then observed he was
very Lame. "Here, Lad, see, this is the Way," quod he.
So I tried, awkwardly enough, and made them both laugh; and laughed too.
But I went to it with a Will, and anon they said I was mending.
"_Miles_ might have done an Hour's Work by this Time," observed
_Tomkins_, "but I've seen nought of him."
"Because Mistress _Fraunces_ hath sent him to _Trolop's_ Milk-farm for
Curds and Cream," quod my Master; "don't be hard upon him."
"I wish he may not do what he did, the last Time I sent him of an
Errand," quod _Tomkins_ dryly—"tarry by the Way to see a Horse-dealer
hanged."
"That would have spoiled my Relish for Curds and Cream," quod Master
_Hewet_, "I think he must have returned ere this—_Ned_ shall bring up
your Breakfast, _Tomkins_."
As we went down, "Do all thou canst, _Ned_," quod my Master, "in the Way
of small Kindnesses, for that poor Journeyman Freeman.—A few Years
since, a Horse trod upon his Foot and lamed him for Life. My Wife, who
was his Foster-sister, and felt a Kindness for him, had him here to
nurse; and, by the Time he had recovered as much as he was ever likely
to do, he had become so fond of us and of his Attick, that, albeit our
Ordinances are somewhat stringent against Master Clothworkers keeping
Weavers at Journeywork in their own Houses, the Wardens have overlooked
it in his Case, and let him abide on Sufferance. And though I don't
expect to make my Fortune by any Weaving I get out of you or _Miles_,
and have indeed Plenty of very different Work for you, yet 'tis well you
should know somewhat of the Practice of your Craft, and I look to you to
attend to it whenever you would otherwise be in Idleness."
When we reached the Ground-floor, there was Mrs. _Fraunces_ buying Roses
and Gilly-flowers at the Door, which she afterwards set in Midst of the
Breakfast-table; for 'twas a notable Way of hers I always observed from
the first, to contrive to give e'en the simplest Meal the Air of a
little Banquet, whether by a Posy, a Dish of Fruit, or whatever it might
chance, to grace her plain, plenteous Providings.
The first Note I had of _Miles Hackathrift_ being at Hand, was when I
returned from carrying up to _Tomkins_ his fried Fish and Bracket. He
came behind me, took me by the Shoulders, and gave me a smart shaking.
"Come, now," quod I, when he had done, "art thou going to be civil or
troublesome?"
"Troublesome," replied he decidedly.
"Oh! well," quod I, "then we shall not come to a good Understanding, it
seems, till I have given you a Beating; but for your Sake I'll put it
off as long as I can."
"Your Time is mine, sir," quod he, "don't be in a Hurry, nor yet put it
off too long. The smallest Favour shall be cheerfully accepted."
"Ah," quod I, "if that were a true Word of yours, how pleasantly we
might get on together."
"Pleasantly! quite the other Way, I think," quod he. "Why, quarrelling's
the very Spice of Life!"
"Keep Spice for rich Men's Tables, then," quod I, "I can eat my
Breakfast very well without it."
"Ah!" saith he, "you've been brought up by your Mother!"
"And what if I have?" quod I quickly.
"_Have_ you, though?" quod he, laughing. "Marry, you have now told Tales
of yourself! Though I could have guessed it."
"May there never be a worse Tale to tell of you," quod I. "How mean
you?" quod he, bristling up. "Just what I say and no more," quod I; "my
meaning is full simple, I think." "Like yourself, then," quod he; "I
don't believe you could say Bo! to a Goose." "Nor Pruh! to a Cow,
perhaps," quod I. "Lads! Lads! be quiet there!" cries Mistress
_Fraunces_ from the Parlour.
"What would be the Effect of that, though?" quod _Miles_, without
minding her, as soon as he had done Coughing by reason of a Fish-bone
that stuck in his Throat. "To set them scampering," quod I, "as I did
one Day, into the midst of a Pleasure Party." "Ha, ha, ha!" cries he,
"I'll try that in _Trolop's_ Fields; there are Lots of Cows there, and
Pleasure Parties too on Summer Evenings. Lovers and Loveresses, a eating
of Curds and Whey!"
—"Really, Brother," saith Mistress _Fraunces_, the next Time my Master
went into the Parlour,—for though her Voice was low and sweet, it was
so distinct that oft-times I could not help hearing what she was
saying,—"truly, Brother, those Boys of yours wrangle so when they're
together, that it is Misery to hear them."
"Boys will be Boys," quod he, peaceifyingly, "I was one myself a long
while ago. However, if they have said anything punishable, I must beat
them; but, if not, put a little Cotton Wool into your Ears, Sister
_Fraunces_."
"Nay," quod she, relenting, "there was nothing punishable in aught they
said; and, as to getting them a Beating, they'll give each other enough
of that, I'm thinking. 'Twas such give and take, snip and snap, parry
and thrust, as that I could scarce forbear laughing."
"Don't stop your Ears with Cotton Wool, then," quod my Master cheerily,
for a hearty Laugh is worth a Groat. "They'll have little Time for
Fighting, this Morning, for I have Plenty for them to do."
Despite of this, however, _Miles_ found Time for a little more "snip and
snap," as Mistress _Fraunces_ called it, before Dinner. Seeing me start
forth on an Errand as he returned from one, he quietly saith in passing,
"See how pretty he looks with his Cap on!" whereon it struck me that
every 'Prentice Boy I had seen running about had gone bareheaded; and,
smiling, I put my Cap in my Pocket.
In those Times, _Hew_, the Saturday Afternoon was somewhat between a
Holiday and a holy Day. People went to Evening Service at three o'Clock,
and, after that, there was no Business done, save in preparation for the
Sabbath; and thoughtful People enjoyed an holy Pause, and young light
Hearts took their Pastime.
_Miles_, with Mischief in his Eye, proposed to me a Row on the River,
which I, nothing afeard, agreed to, for I had been in a Punt aforetime,
if not in a Wherry. He refused the Aid of a Waterman, saying lightly,
"This young Gentleman knows the Use of a Scull;" and, running hastily
along the Boat to secure the Stroke-oar, his Foot tripped against a
Thwart, and he lost his Balance and fell into the River. I guessed where
he would come up, and, sitting on the further Gunnel to trim the Boat,
held the Oar to him, and guided his Hand to the Side, which enabled him
to scramble in. The Watermen, who had run down to us as soon as they saw
him fall over, laughed when they saw him safe, and cheered me; and he,
looking rather foolish, sayth, "Well, I told them thou knewest the Use
of a Scull." I asked him which Way we should pull; howbeit, he was so
drenched that he must needs go Home to change his Clothes, and bade me
give the Waterman a Penny, saying he had not so much as a _Genoa_
Halfpenny about him just then to buy a Custard at Mother _Mampudding's_.
When he had changed his Under-garments, and hung his Gown at the Kitchen
Fire, he amused himself by dropping Pellets from the Window on the
People in the Boats that shot the Arch beneath; and _Tib_, with her Head
stretched forth of the other Half of the Lattice, offered to Rehearse
unto me the Name and Calling of every Dweller on the Bridge, from the
Parson and Clerk at the one End, to the old Lady that lived all alone by
herself with her Cats at the other. Howbeit, _Miles_, tiring of waiting
for his Gown to dry, put on another, and bade me bear him Company to
_Finsbury Fields_. But first he lay in Wait behind the Door, and then
stole subtilly forth, like a Cat that had been stealing Cream; and on my
asking him why, he laughed and said, only that Mistress _Fraunces_ might
not see him in his Sunday-gown of a Saturday, for that would be contrary
to Rules and Regulations.
[Illustration: J.Jellicoe
"Held the oar to him"]
Arrived at _Finsbury Fields_ I saw what was certainly the finest and
busiest Sight I had ever yet seen in my Life; which indeed is not saying
much. The Fields themselves were open and pleasant, with plenty of
Windmills in full Rotation in the Distance; their white Sails playing
afore a dark Rain-cloud; and the Stretes that led to them beyond _Moor
Gate_, full of Shops kept by Bowyers, Fletchers, and Stringers. Here, on
the open Ground, we found, I say not Crowds, but Shoals of lithe and
limber 'Prentices; and of athletic Freemen, too, and grave and weighty
Citizens, where was Room for all—with Archers' Butts set up in various
Directions; and an infinite Number of the finest young Men the City
could turn out, practising at them with their long Bows; none of them
being allowed to shoot at a Mark nearer than eleven score Yards. Numbers
of the Masters, standing by, were watching, encouraging, and applauding
them, to their great Increase of Emulation. Others again were using
their Wasters and Bucklers, others kicking the Football; in the more
open Ground, Citizens' Sons were racing on Horseback, and some of them
practising Feats of War; others were wrestling, leaping, and casting the
Stone. And on every Hand, Venders of Cakes and Suckets. On the Field, we
came unawares upon Master _Hewet_, who spake us kindly, and noted not
the Matter of _Miles'_ Sunday-gown. And so the Day ended.
As we went Home, _Miles_ told me how the Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs
were accustomed on St. _Bartholomew's_ Day to see the City Officers
wrestle with all Comers, at a set Place in _Clerkenwell_; and, two or
three Days after, to witness the shooting of the broad Arrow, both of
which I thought I should much delight to behold; but was quite unfit for
when the Time came; as thou, in due Course, shalt know.