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much thereby. In this case we were well rewarded for making so simple an inquiry, for the stranger, noting the interest we took in the fine old building, appeared forthwith to take an interest in us, and thereupon offered to show us over it himself-a civil word how profitable it sometimes is!—he even appeared to enjoy his self-imposed task of doing duty as a guide. Possibly it pleased him to have a talk with a sympathetic soul as it did another antiquary we met later on, who on parting with us jokingly remarked: "It has been a treat to exchange views with a brother lunatic!" so bearing this in mind we chatted with our new friend about things old, of bygone times, and of antiquarian-lore galore-for he was a man whose life seemed in the past, his conversation gave one the impression that he was born at least a century too late for his own pleasure. The result of our discourse was that on leaving the hospital we had so gained his good-will that he further offered to show us something of the town, "As strangers might readily miss so much, and I should like to point out to you a few of the chief objects of interest"; then he added, "It will not be any trouble to me; I've nothing particular to do this morning." We were only too glad to accept his kind aid, and greatly did we enjoy our exploration of Stamford under his helpful guidance.

But to "hark back" a little. Upon entering the old hospital our attention was called to the carved stone figure of the founder over the doorway, where he is shown holding a plan of the building in his hands. Then we were led into a

large, long hall having a heavy oak-beamed ceiling. Here originally (I am now quoting from the notes I made on the spot of what we were told) the poor inmates slept in cubicles, access to which was gained by a gangway down the centre of the hall. Now that the old folk have sleeping accommodation in another portion of the hospital, the floor has been tiled, and the tiles are so laid as to show the shape, size, and plan of the cubicles. A very excellent idea-if changes must be made. Some ancient stained glass in a window here has "the founder's chief crest" painted thereon, "for the founder's family had the right to use two crests; only two other families in England having this right." The "chief crest" is a phoenix, it is placed over a coatof-arms on which three teasels are shown (these teasels puzzled us until our friend explained what they were). The motto given is "X me sped," "Christ me speed," we Anglicised it. An old "gridiron" table of the time of Charles I. stood, when we were there, in the centre of the hall; the ends of this draw out to extend it-an idea that the modern furniture manufacturer might well consider as a possible improvement upon the usual troublesome leaves and screw, nor prize it the less because so long invented. I have a table made in a similar fashion and find it most useful; two rings forming handles to pull out the ends.

Then we came to the chapel, divided from the hall by a carved oak screen; all the inmates are compelled to attend service here twice a day. The large chapel window, with a high transom, is filled

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with fine old stained glass, on a bit of which we discerned the date 1515. The bench - ends are good. As well as these we had pointed out to us in its original position the pre-Reformation altar-stone, distinguished by the usual five crosses upon it. At one side of the altar was an ancient "cope-chair, in this the priest sat down, his cope covering the chair, and from it he blessed the congregation. There were formerly two of these chairs, but one was stolen"! Then we were shown a rare old wooden alms-box of the fifteenth century; this was bound round with iron.

In the quaint old audit room over the hall, where we went next, painted on a wooden panel set in the centre end of the wall we found the following ancient inscription, commencing in Latin and ending in English :

Haec Domus Eleemosynaria fundata

Fuit a Guilielmo Browne

Anno Doni 1495. Anno Regio Henrici
VII Decimo

This structure new contains twelve habitations
Which shall remain for future generations
For old and poore, for weake and men unhealthy.
This blessed house was founded not for wealthy.
Hee that endowed for aye and this house builded.
By this good act hath to sinne pardon yielded.
The honour of the country and this towne

Alas now dead his name was William Browne.
Be it an house of prayer and to diuine
Duties devoted else not called mine.

Ten old men and two old women are boarded and cared for here, we learnt; the women having to act

as nurses if required. Outside the building away from the road is a very picturesque and quiet courtyard with cloisters; these seem verily to enclose an old-world atmosphere, a calm that is of another century. The wall-girt stillness, the profound peace of the place made so great an impression on us that for the moment the throbbing and excited nineteenth century seemed ages removed, as though the present were a fevered dream and only existed in our imagination. So do certain spots enthral one with the sentiment of the far-away both in time and space! From here there is a view to be had of a gable end of the founder's house; the greater part of the building having been pulled down, and only this small portion remaining.

The broad street outside Browne's "Callis " was, we were told, the opening scene of the bullrunning. Most towns in past days, as is well known, indulged in the "gentle sport" of bullbaiting, but from time immemorial in Stamford bull-running took its place as an institution peculiar to the town. The bull-running, we were told, was carried on, more or less, in the following fashion. Early in the morning of the day devoted to the "gentle sport" a bell-man went round to warn all people to shut their shops, doors, gates, etc., then afterwards at a certain hour a wild bull, the wilder the better, was let loose into the streets and then the sport began. The populace, men, women, and boys, ran after the bull, armed with cudgels, with which they struck it and goaded it to fury; all the dogs of the town, needless to say, joining in the

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sport and adding to the medley. By evening if the bull were not killed, or driven into the river and perchance drowned, he was despatched by an axe. Men occasionally of course got tossed, or gored, during these disgusting and lively proceedings, and others were injured in various ways: indeed it seems to have been very much like a Spanish bull-fight vulgarised. This sport continued till about the year 1838. I presume that there was no "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals" then; or is it that cruelty does not count when sport comes in? for as a supporter of the Society once laid down the law to me dogmatically thus: "It's cruelty to thrash a horse, even if he be vicious, but it's not cruelty to hunt a fox or a hare, as that is sport; so we never interfere with hunting : neither is bull-fighting cruel, for that is a sport.' Well, my favourite sport is fly-fishing, and I am glad to learn that it is not a cruel one, as "fish have no feelings." But how about the boy who impales a worm on a hook: has the worm veniently "no feelings" too? Shall we ever have a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Reptiles?

The origin of the Stamford bull-running appears to be lost in the mists of antiquity; of course where history fails legend must step in, and according to legend the sport began thus:- Some time in the thirteenth century (delightfully vague date! why not openly "once upon a time"?) a wild bull got out of the meadows where it was grazing near the town and rushed into the streets; it was chased by the populace, and chased by dogs, and eventually

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