Not
I! He'll never have wit for mine office, but will come in second there
likewise."

"I dare be sworn he will," said the king. "Here, take this, my good
lad, and prank thee in it when thou art out of thy time, and goest a-
hunting in Epping!"

It was a handsome belt with a broad silver clasp, engraven with the
Tudor rose and portcullis; and Stephen bowed low and made his
acknowledgments as best he might.

He was hailed with rapturous acclamations by his own contemporaries, who
held that he had saved the credit of the English prentice world, and
insisted on carrying him enthroned on their shoulders back to Cheapside,
in emulation of the journeymen and all the butcher kind, who were thus
bearing home the King of Shoreditch.

Shouts, halloos, whistles, every jubilant noise that youth and boyhood
could invent, were the triumphant music of Stephen on his surging and
uneasy throne, as he was shifted from one bearer to another when each in
turn grew tired of his weight. Just, however, as they were nearing
their own neighbourhood, a counter cry broke out, "Witchcraft! His
arrows are bewitched by the old Spanish sorcerer! Down with Dragons and
Wizards!" And a handful of mud came full in the face of the enthroned
lad, aimed no doubt by George Bates. There was a yell and rush of rage,
but the enemy was in numbers too small to attempt resistance, and dashed
off before their pursuers, only pausing at safe corners to shout
Parthian darts of "Wizards!" "Magic!" "Sorcerers!" "Heretics!"

There was nothing to be done but to collect again, and escort Stephen,
who had wiped the mud off his face, to the Dragon court, where Dennet
danced on the steps for joy, and Master Headley, not a little gratified,
promised Stephen a supper for a dozen of his particular friends at
Armourers' Hall on the ensuing Easter Sunday.

Of course Stephen went in search of his brother, all the more eagerly
because he was conscious that they had of late drifted apart a good
deal. Ambrose was more and more absorbed by the studies to which Lucas
Hansen led him, and took less and less interest in his brother's
pursuits. He did indeed come to the Sunday's dinner according to the
regular custom, but the moment it was permissible to leave the board he
was away with Tibble Steelman to meet friends of Lucas, and pursue
studies, as if, Stephen thought, he had not enough of books as it was.
When Dean Colet preached or catechised in Saint Paul's in the af