the lord mayor was a speedy reply to a communication from the queen's ministers on the subject:-- "Right honorable, where yesterday I receaved letters from her Ma'tes most honorable privie councill, advertisinge me that her highnes was enformed that Venison ys as ordinarilie sould by the Cookes of London as other flesh, to the greate distruction of the game. Commaundinge me thereby to take severall bondes of xl'li the peece of all the Cookes in London not to buye or sell any venison hereafter, uppon payne of forfayture of the same bondes; neyther to receave any venison to bake without keepinge a note of theire names that shall deliver the same unto them. Whereupon presentlie I called the Wardens of the Cookes before me, advertisinge them hereof, requiringe them to cause their whole company to appeare before me, to thende I might take bondes accordinge to a condition hereinclosed sent to your Ho.; whoe answered that touchinge the first clause thereof they were well pleased therewith, but for the latter clause they thought yt a greate inconvenience to their companie, and therefore required they might be permitted to make theire answeres, and alledge theire reasons therof before theire honors. Affirmed alsoe, that the Tablinge howses and Tavernes are greater receyvors and destroyers of stollen venison than all the rest of the Cittie: whereupon they craved that eyther they maye be likewise bounden, or else authoritie may be geven to the Cookes to searche for the same hereafter. I have therefore taken bondes of the wardens for their speedy appearance before theire honors to answere the same; and I am bolde to pray your Ho. to impart the same unto their Ho., and that I maye with speede receyve theire future direction herein. And soe I humbly take my leave. London, the xj'th of June, 1585. "Your honors to commaunde, "THOMAS PULLYSON, maior." I dare say that the registers of the Privy Council contain some record of what was done on the occasion, and would enable us to decide whether the very reasonable request of the Cooks of London had been complied with. Whether this be or be not so, the above document establishes beyond question that in the summer of 1585 cooks'-shops, tabling-houses (i.e. ordinaries), and taverns, were abundantly supplied with stolen venison, and that the offence of stealing must have been very common. J. PAYNE COLLIER Kensington, Oct. 26, 1849 * * * * * "PRAY REMEMBER THE GROTTO!" ON ST. JAMES' DAY.