tracts, cites the case as establishing a contrary doctrine ; but he seems to be mistaken. Then, too, there is the other great case of Thornborow v. Whiteacre, 2 Lord Raymond, 1164, in which the court on demurrer were inclined to hold good a contract to deliver, in consideration of 2s. 6d. paid, and 47. 175. 6d. to be paid, two rye-corns on the then next Monday, and double every succeeding Monday for a year, which would have required the delivery of more rye than was grown in the whole year; the judge observing, that although the contract was a foolish one, yet it was good in law, and the defendant ought to pay for his folly: but the case was compromised, and no judgment was given. But on the question of the tediousness of chancery the Devil and the author are sound; for that institution seldom failed to ruin one party to the litigation, and frequently ruined both.

Hearing of his friend's escape, the Frenchman, after fruitless endeavors to interest the clergy in his behalf, retains Bagsby to effect his discharge. The G. in B., learning this, endeavors to seduce the lawyer from his client, and to act for him. Bagsby refuses to listen until he shall receive a retaining-fee. The Devil thereupon pulls out an immensely long and serpentine purse, one end of which still seems hid in his pocket: and the lawyer's virtue begins to ooze out, when some callers interrupt them, and the purse rushes like a live thing into its owner's pocket; it was, in fact, a fee tail: and the owner disappears. The picture of this feeing scene is enough to make a lawyer sigh at its improbability.

In the discharge of his duty to his French client, Bagsby goes to France, and is there associated with a Jesuit,

a friend of the Frenchman. The Devil observes, “A double-tongued Jesuit, and an old, wily, slippery, English lawyer! Fearful odds! What chance have I between them? I don't feel myself at all comfortable." So great is his dread of this partnership of law and religion, that he accedes without much demur to Bagsby's proposition, to compromise the affair, by having his client pay back half the moneys, and the Devil remit half the sins, and at the end of fourteen years the question to be resumed as left on that day. Bagsby draws up an interminable instrument, which the Devil has not the patience to read, but seeing the heads are right, executes and delivers it, and receives a check for half his moneys. Thereupon he goes into a fit of immoderate laughter, and informs Bagsby that his principal reason for postponing his claim fourteen years is the hope that the lawyer will then be dead. "Literæ scripta manent," responds Bagsby, and explains that the instrument reserves to his client the option of cancelling whichever half of the eight and twenty years he pleases, and that of course he will cancel the first half, and will have no difficulty in sinning one second on the first year of the renewed claim, and double each succeeding year, especially as he will have the advantage of the clause in the original contract giving credit for extra sinning before or after, and will thus be credited with the sins of the latter half of the term. "So, altogether, if he makes proper use of the money yet remaining in his hands, what with interest and compound interest, I think you might almost as well be in chancery!" The Devil curses his imprudence in dealing without his own lawyer ; but finally his admiration of the trick overcomes his anger, and he says, "I will do myself the pleasure of

calling upon you at Lyon's Inn ere long. I admire your talents, and shall cultivate a more intimate acquaintance; for you have convinced me, that notwithstanding a considerable portion of self-conceit to which I plead guilty, I have yet much to learn. People say that I have a very extensive circle of friends among gentlemen of your profession, but I assure you that the report is not to be relied on. Indeed, considering the facilities of introduction which I possess, and the inducements I frequently have in my power to hold out, I am often surprised that I have not more on my list."

An appropriate tail-piece to this entertaining volume represents the gentleman in black hanged by his caudal member to a gallows.

The author of "The Gentleman in Black” was not the only one who thought that lawyers were a match for his Satanic Majesty, as the following song bears witness:

“A lawyer, quite famous for making a bill,
And who in good living delighted,

To dinner one day with hearty good will
Was by a rich client invited.

But he charged six and eightpence for going to dine,
Which the client he paid, tho' no ninny,

And in turn charged the lawyer, for dinner and wine,
One a crown, and the other a guinea.

But gossips, you know, have a saying in store,
He who matches a lawyer has only one more.

The lawyer he paid it and took a receipt,

While the client stared at him with wonder. With the produce he gave a magnificent treat, But the lawyer soon made him knock under. That his client sold wine, information he laid,

Without license; and spite of his storming,
The client a good thumping penalty paid,

And the lawyer got half for informing.
But gossips, you know, have a saying in store,
He who matches a lawyer has only one more."

In the "Herdsman's Happy Life," found in Byrd's Songs (1588), we read,

"For lawyers and their pleading

They 'steem it not a straw;
They think that honest meaning
Is of itself a law;

Where conscience judgeth plainly,

They spend no money vainly."

In another old ballad, called "Robin Conscience," we find the following: —

"Thus banished from the court I went,

To Westminster incontinent,

Where I alas was sorely spent

for coming:

The lawyers did against me plead;

"Twas no great matter,' some there said,

'If Conscience quite were knock'd in th' head:

then musing,

From them I fled with wingèd haste;

They did so threaten me to baste,
Thought it was vain my breath to waste
in counsel.

For lawyers cannot me abide,

Because for falsehood I them chide;
And he that holds not on their side
must down still."

"MICHAELMAS TERM"

is the title of an ancient broadside ballad preserved in the British Museum. The benefits derived by people of various occupations at this season are described, and lawyers come in for a share : —

"Some atturnies, and some that solicite law cases,
That at the vacation in the country plods,
They, like to King James, can use double faces,
And bribe to set neighbor with neighbor at odds.
Now hither they come, with their bags full of law;
But the profits they all to themselves do confirm:
Although it be but for a trusse of rye straw,
The case must be try'd at Michaelmas term.

The lawyers' hands are still itching for fees,
Which makes the plain husbandman let out his farm,
To come up to London to eat bread and cheese,

While lawyers eat roast meat in Michaelmas term."

"Law, a Comic Song," set to the music of Malbrook, is perhaps old enough to bear resuscitation:

"Come list to me a minute,

A song I'm going to begin it:
There's something serious in it,
So, pray, attention draw.
'Tis all about the Law,
So, pray, attention draw.
Experience, I have bought it,
And now to you I've brought it:
Will you or not be taught it?

I sing the charms of Law.

L-A-W-law,

Which has met with a deuce of éclat.