Plain was very dangerous, from the resort of thieves and highwaymen. A particular account of robbers at Gad's Hill, near Rochester, in 1590, shows that Shakspeare describes the robbers connected with prince Henry from his own times. The leader wore "a vizard grey bearde;" he administered an oath to the persons robbed, that they should not raise the hue and cry, and gave them a watchword to pass other thieves of the same company. There were companies of thieves in other counties. The carriers of Ludlow were robbed of 3007. A party of twenty clothiers were set upon in Berkshire, but they lost not more than 107. In other places, from Cambridge across the country to Somersetshire, were similar gangs of robbers. In Warwickshire, a robbery was committed on a Mr. Spencer, in his own house, wherein about twenty-four persons were concerned. There was no regular, speedy, national conveyance for letters. They were sent by such opportunities as offered, or by the carriers of goods. In cases of importance, special couriers were employed. In 1577, the expense of sending lord North's sister in a litter, from Kirtling, near Newmarket, to London, was 378.9d. The expense of a foot post from the same distance varied from 3s. 6d. to 4s.; but the messenger was at least two days on the route: the letter would now be carried for a penny in a few hours! A large expense was incurred by the numerous communications of the government during the reign of queen Elizabeth, especially with Scotland. There were postmasters at different stations on that line, who were responsible for the forwarding of the despatches. The superscription of the letters is often curious, urging the messenger to use the utmost haste. In his northern correspondence, lord Burghley had the covers regularly marked with the time of the arrival of the messenger at the different post stations. One instance is as follows: "To sir Raff Sadler and sir James Crofts, knights at Barwicke W. Cecill, for liff, liff, liff, 25th of Novem- ་ ber, at Westminster. 66 Received at Styelton, the xxvi day of November, at six of clocke at nite. "Received at Neverke, the xxvii day of November, at ix of the clocke in the morning. 66 Received at the xxviii day of November, ! at ii of the clocke at afternoon. "Received at Newcastell, the first of December, at xi of the clocke before noon." A letter now (1841) posted at Westminster at six o'clock on the 25th of November, would reach Newcastle, a distance of 278 miles, early the next day, and this for the cost of one penny; while the speed is likely to be still further increased, for the letters sent to Lancaster, a distance of 241 miles, by railway, reach that place twenty-one minutes after eight the next morning! A letter from the council at Greenwich to the earl of Shrewsbury, in May, 1550, has this inscription: "Hast, for thy lyf, post, hast, for thy lyf, post, hast, hast, for thy lyf, hast, hast, hast, for thy lyf, post, hast." This was only to tell the earl to prepare suitable entertainment for the marquis de Mayne, afterwards duke of Guise, who was shortly to pass through the north on his way to Scotland. Such injunctions, as they became more frequent, would by degrees lose their effect. MEDICINE. Medical science and practice were in a very imperfect state, though they had made considerable advances. It is to be apprehended that many persons in this century "died of the doctor," although the practitioners might use their best skill to effect a cure. A minute account is given of the illness and death of the earl of Derby, in 1594, which shows extraordinary medical treatment. Besides rhubarb and manna, and a variety of other drugs, with medical and surgical outward ap 1 plications, "his honour took bezoar stone and unicorn's horn." The statement, in conclusion, gives ten reasons, "which caused many to suppose his honour to be bewitched." The third is, that he dreamed he was stabbed; the eighth, that "he fell into a trance twice when he should have taken his physic." The latter may have tended to prolong rather than to shorten his life! At Norwich, in 1578, the plague was communicated by the queen's attendants in her progress. During its prevalence, every person coming from an infected house was to carry a white wand, two feet in length, in his hand; and the inscription, "Lord, have mercy on us," was written over the door of every infected house. Lord Burghley was often afflicted with the gout; numerous remedies were recommended, amongst them were medicated slippers, oil of stag's blood, and tincture of gold. The latter remedy seems to have proceeded from some alchymist, which was almost the only form in which chemical researches were then pursued. The objects principally sought were two; the transmuting of baser metals into gold, and the producing an elixir which would prolong life, if it did not quite prevent death. In 1574, a plan for transmuting iron into copper and quicksilver was urged so plausibly upon the government, that a corporation was formed for the purpose, and several leading men about the queen subscribed a capital to carry on the undertaking. It proved a mere delusion. One of the principal persons concerned was sir Thomas Smith, of whom Strype says, "As chymistry is but an handmaid of physic, and usually accompanieth it; so he was as well skilled in that art also, and had apartments in his house for his skill and laboratories, which were going to his greate cost; but especially in labouring to transmute coarser metals into those of more fineness and greater value.” But sir Thomas, when he had bought experience, said of alchymists, "Trust little to the words, and promises, and accounts of men of that faculty. Fain they would be fingering of money; but when it is once in their hands, we must seek it in the ashes." Magnetism and electricity were known; the former was practically employed in the mariner's compass, but no further use was made of either discovery. Skill in astronomy and mathematics frequently led to surgical studies, as in the case of Dr. John Dee, who was consulted even by the queen and her chief courtiers. Cristofer Langton, writing on "physyche," did not hesitate to personify physic as addressing the physicians of that day in severe terms, "Whereas, before I was authour of helthe to everye man sekynge for me; now I am not only a commune murtherer and a commune thefe, but also a mayntayner of parricides," etc. There were many who wrote rules for health, often ridiculous, sometimes mischievous. Sir Thomas Eliot speaks of colds as being only lately known in England. He rightly disapproves of the warm coverings for the head, then used, so that even boys and young men wore two caps. Another physician laments the increase of witchcraft, which he considers more dangerous than the plague. But, at the close of this century, Reginald Scot published the "Discovery of Witchcraft," which did much to meet the foolish ideas on this subject. He relates many amusing stories of imposition and credulity; among the cheats was one who confessed that her conjuration to restore health was muttering these words over the sick : "Thy loaf in my hand, And thy penny in my purse, And I am never the worse." LAWS AND CONSTITUTION. It is not intended to enter far into this subject here; reference has frequently been made thereto in the preceding pages. The principal feature to notice is the decline of the feudal powers and customs, and a greater attention to the forms of legal proceedings. The royal prerogative was strongly asserted, and became almost absolute, during the reigns of the house of Tudor; but it is important to remark, that this was usually administered under the forms of legal proceedings. Henry VII., as well as the succeeding monarchs, humbled many by process of law. An instance of this appears in the "Plumpton Correspondence." Empson caused legal proceedings to be instituted against sir Robert Plumpton, who had been knighted by Richard III., and put into possession of his estate by an award of that monarch. As there was an opening to raise a legal question to his title, this was done. The first warning was in May, 1501, when Plumpton was cautioned that Empson was taking means to secure favourable jurors. We cannot go through all the proceedings, but a verdict being given against him, sir Robert determined to keep possession of his "place" by force, and wrote immediately to his wife, to lay in provisions and prepare accordingly. He was not driven to this extremity, but had to attend further proceedings in London. His wife, the granddaughter of an earl of Westmoreland, wrote in most despairing terms of their circumstances; she sent to borrow money by her husband's directions; but the answer was, "He hath it not to len;" "6 as for wood, there is none that will bey, for they know ye want money-tha will bey none without they have timmer tres, and will give nothinge for them.' Nor could a purchaser be found for land," and your lenten stoufe is to bey, and I wote not what to do." She had not money to purchase the salt fish, then the only food allowed in Lent. She adds, "Sir, for God's sake, take an end, for we are brought to begger staffe, for ye have not to defend them withall; sir, I send you my mare, and iiijs. iiijd. by the bearer hereof, and I pray you send me word as sone as ye may." The difficulties of sir Robert Plumpton increased; on the death of Henry VII., he lost the protection from arrest which he enjoyed as a nominal servant of that |