and the word began to pass among the
more desperate, "Lambe them, lads; lambe them!"--a cant phrase of the
time, derived from the fate of Dr. Lambe, an astrologer and quack, who
was knocked on the head by the rabble in Charles the First's time.

Julian began to be much alarmed at these symptoms of violence, and
regretted that they had not gone down to the city by water. It was now
too late to think of that mode of retreating, and he therefore requested
his father in a whisper, to walk steadily forward towards Charing Cross,
taking no notice of the insults which might be cast upon them, while the
steadiness of their pace and appearance might prevent the rabble from
resorting to actual violence. The execution of this prudent resolution
was prevented after they had passed the palace, by the hasty disposition
of the elder Sir Geoffrey, and the no less choleric temper of Galfridus
Minimus, who had a soul which spurned all odds, as well of numbers as of
size.

"Now a murrain take the knaves, with their hollowing and whooping,"
said the large knight; "by this day, if I could but light on a weapon, I
would cudgel reason and loyalty into some of their carcasses!"

"And I also," said the dwarf, who was toiling to keep up with the longer
strides of his companions, and therefore spoke in a very
phthisical tone.--"I also will cudgel the plebeian knaves beyond
measure--he!--hem!"

Among the crowd who thronged around them, impeded, and did all but
assault them, was a mischievous shoemaker's apprentice, who, hearing
this unlucky vaunt of the valorous dwarf, repaid it by flapping him on
the head with a boot which he was carrying home to the owner, so as to
knock the little gentleman's hat over his eyes. The dwarf, thus rendered
unable to discover the urchin that had given him the offence, flew
with instinctive ambition against the biggest fellow in the crowd,
who received the onset with a kick on the stomach, which made the poor
little champion reel back to his companions. They were now assaulted
on all sides; but fortune complying with the wish of Sir Geoffrey the
larger, ordained that the scuffle should happen near the booth of a
cutler, from amongst whose wares, as they stood exposed to the public,
Sir Geoffrey Peveril snatched a broadsword, which he brandished with the
formidable address of one who had for many a day been in the familiar
practice of using such a weapon. Julian, while at the same time he
called loudly for a peac