urch.) Here I be, zur. That old
rogue, Dick Shirley, refuses to send any gowns; he says he has nothing
but noblemen's gowns and gold tufts in his house.

~252~~

THE HON. LILLYMAN LIONISE. By the honour of my ancestry, that fellow
shall never draw another stitch for Christ Church as long as he lives.
Come along, captain: by the honour of my ancestry, we'll uncase the old
_snyder_; we'll have gowns, I warrant me, noble or not noble, gold tufts
or no tufts. Come along, Cook.

In a few moments old Captain Cook and the exquisite returned loaded with
gowns and caps, having got in at the window and completely cleared
the tailor's shop of all his academicals, in spite of his threats or
remonstrances. In the interim, old Mark Supple and Echo had succeeded in
obtaining a supply of broom-handles and other weapons of defence; when
the insignia of the university, the toga and cap, were soon distributed
indiscriminately: the numbers of the university men increased every
moment; and the yell of the town raff seemed to gain strength with every
step as they approached the scene of action. Gown! gown! Town! town!
were the only sounds heard in every direction; and the clamour and
the tumult of voices were enough to shake the city with dismay. The
authorities were by no means idle; but neither proctors or pro's, or
marshal, or bull-dogs, or even deans, dons, and dignitaries, for such
there were, who strained their every effort to quell the disturbance,
were at all attended to, and many who came as peace-makers were
compelled in their own defence to take an active part in the fray.

From the bottom of the High-street to the end of the corn-market, and
across again through St. Aldate's to the old bridge, every where the
more peaceable and respectable citizens might be seen popping their
noddles out of window, and rubbing their half-closed eyes with affright,
to learn the cause of the alarming strife.

~253~~Of the strong band of university men who rushed on eager for the
coming fray, a number of them were fresh light-hearted Etonians and
old Westminsters, who having just arrived to place themselves under the
sacred banners of Academus, thought their honour and their courage both
concerned in defending the _togati_: most of these youthful zealots had
as usual, at the beginning of a term, been lodged in the different inns
and houses of the city, and from having drank somewhat freely of the
welcome cup with old schoolfellows and new frien