“Well, Sir, having brought to your remembrance these ancient privileges, I am next to tell you that in 1413, a train of five abjurants of the realm crossed London Bridge on their way to Calais; having issued from a member of the famous Sanctuary of St. Martin’s le Grand, which was founded by Ingelric, Earl of Essex, and his brother Girardus, in 1056, and confirmed by Pope Alexander II., and King William I., in 1068. For these facts I must refer you to Stow’s ‘_Survey_,’ volume i., pages 605-606; and to page 16, &c. of a modest little volume of much curious information by Mr. Alfred John Kempe, entitled ‘_Historical Notices of the Collegiate Church, or Royal Chapel and Sanctuary, of St. Martin’s le Grand_,’ London, 1825, 8vo. As for the circumstance which caused these worthies to fly their country, we have it set down in the following terms, in that Chronicle contained in the Harleian Manuscript, No. 565, folio 74 a. ‘And in the same yere, on Seynt Marie Maudeleyn day,’--July 22nd.--‘John Nyaunser, Squyer, and his men, sclowen Maist^r. Tybbay, Clerk,’--Archdeacon of Huntingdon, and Chancellor to Joan, Queen of Henry IV.--‘as he passyd thorugh lad lane. For the whiche deth the same John Nyaunser and iiij of his men fledden in to Seynt Anne’s Chirche with inne Aldrich gate,’--that is to say, St. Anne in the Willows, as we now call it, though without exactly knowing why,--‘And with inne the said Church they were mured vp. And men of diuers wardes wacched them nyzt and day. And y^e forsaid John Nyaunser and his men for suoren the Kynges lond, and passyd through the Citee of London,’--on August the 21st,--‘toward Caleys, in there schertes and breches,’--a purse about their necks,--‘and ich of them a cross in ther hand.’ Let me add, that you will also find this circumstance recorded in Stow’s ‘_Annals_,’ page 345.” “My worthy Mr. Postern!” exclaimed I, for I now began to grow exceedingly impatient, “I really can bear this no longer: you promise to give me a descriptive history of London Bridge, and here you tell me of nothing but a riot which took place in the street _near_ to it, and of a troop of knaves which _probably_ walked over it. Positively, my good Sir, it’s too bad; and unless your story mend, why----” “‘It shall be mended, Mr. Barbican,’” answered the imperturbable Antiquary, in much the same tone of voice as that with which _Lope Tocho_ calmed the enraged Muleteer, in the same words;--“‘It shall be mended,’ and our Chronicles too, Mr. Geoffrey; but sweeten your disposition, my good friend, I pray you. Remember, that an Antiquary may _ruffle_ his shirt, but never his temper; for though I confess to you that the collateral events which I am obliged to introduce, are somewhat like-- ‘Rich windows that exclude the light, And passages which lead to nothing:’--