eit, she pointed up three severall times, and
lay, as it were, transfigured before us, a gazing at some transporting
sighte, and ever and anon turning on her sister looks of love; and, the
while we stoode thus agaze, her spiritt passed away without even a
thrill or a shudder. Cecy and I beganne to weepe; and, after a while,
soe did Gammer; then, putting us forthe, she sayd, "Goe, children, goe;
'tis noe goode crying; and yet I'm thankfulle to ye for your teares."

I sayd, "Is there aught we can doe for thee?"

She made answer, "Perhaps you can give me tuppence, mistress, to lay on
her poor eyelids and keep 'em down. Bless 'ee, bless 'ee! You're like
y'e good Samaritan--he pulled out two-pence. And maybe, if I come to
'ee to-morrow, you'll give me a lapfulle of rosemarie, to lay on her
poor corpse.... I know you've plenty. God be with 'ee, children; and be
sure ye mind how a Christian can die."

Soe we left, and came home sober enow. Cecy sayth, "To die is not soe
fearfulle, Meg, as I thoughte, but shoulde _you_ fancy dying without a
priest? I shoulde not; and yet Gammer sayd she wanted not one. Howbeit,
for certayn, Gammer Gurney is noe witch, or she woulde not so prayse
God."

To conclude, father, on hearing alle, hath given Gammer more than enow
for her present needes; and Cecy and I are y'e almoners of his mercy.

* * * * *

June 24.

Yesternighte, being St. John's Eve, we went into town to see y'e
mustering of y'e watch. Mr. Rastall had secured us a window opposite
y'e King's Head, in Chepe, where theire M'ys. went in state to see
the show. The streets were a marvell to see, being like unto a
continuation of fayr bowres or arbours, garlanded acrosse and over y'e
doors with greene birch, long fennel, orpin, St. John's wort, white
lilies, and such like; with innumerable candles intersperst, the which,
being lit up as soon as 'twas dusk, made the whole look like enchanted
land; while at y'e same time, the leaping over bon-fires commenced,
and produced shouts of laughter. The youths woulde have father goe downe
and joyn 'em; Rupert, speciallie, begged him hard, but he put him off
with, "Sirrah, you goosecap, dost think 'twoulde befitt y'e Judge of
the Sheriffs' Court?"

At length, to y'e sound of trumpets, came marching up Cheapside two
thousand of the watch, in white fustian, with the City badge; and seven
hundred cressett bearers,