London Legends, by Paul Pindar (Volume 4) - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842. Excerpt: ... loud and prolonged flourish of their drums cut short his reply to his daughter, and caused him to look again from the window, when, oh! what a sight met his view! There was Cade, in his handsome brigandine and skull-cap, attended, on his right by Robert Poynings, in half armour, bearing a sword of state, and on his left by a young man in an elegant suit of complete armour. The beaver of the latter was raised, and the goldsmith, at a glance, saw beneath it the pert but handsome features of Richard Furnival. "God be merciful to us!" exclaimed the old citizen,--" here's the arch traitor, attended by my sister's son and the heir of my old friend and gossip, Furnival, come to despoil me of my goods and merchandise!" "What! Richard Furnival and Poynings!" cried Johanna, running to the window. "Stand back, girl," said her father sternly; "stand back from the window: this is not fitting company for a maiden.' Then, talking aloud to himself, he continued:--" Ah! there 'a another head! Whose can that be I Fagh! those ragged rogues seem to be proud of their grisly burthens. So, they 're looking this way--Poynings talks aside to Cade. He's councilling him to rob me. Ha! villain! thy head was made to garnish Traitor's Gate, and if thou sufferest him to come here, I pray heaven it may soon be there." The house of Master Hyltoft was one of those dwellings of merchants of the middle ages, of which few perfect specimens remain in this country, built as much as possible for security against any sudden attack of a lawless mob, in the not unfrequent tumults of the period. You entered by a gateway or " porte cocher," which was immediately closed in times of danger. The court-yard, or enclosed area within, was a convenient place for the unloading of merchandise, or for the con...