iam and
the States of Holland upon King Philip's accession to the
crown of Spain.

** The English.

*** The Dutch.

CHAPTER II. How Bull and Frog grew jealous that the Lord Strutt intended
to give all his custom to his grandfather Lewis Baboon.

It happened unfortunately for the peace of our neighbourhood that this
young lord had an old cunning rogue, or, as the Scots call it, a false
loon of a grandfather, that one might justly call a Jack-of-all-Trades.*
Sometimes you would see him behind his counter selling broadcloth,
sometimes measuring linen; next day he would be dealing in merceryware.
High heads, ribbons, gloves, fans, and lace he understood to a nicety.
Charles Mather could not bubble a young beau better with a toy; nay, he
would descend even to the selling of tape, garters, and shoe-buckles.
When shop was shut up he would go about the neighbourhood and earn
half-a-crown by teaching the young men and maids to dance. By these
methods he had acquired immense riches, which he used to squander* away
at back-sword, quarter-staff, and cudgel-play, in which he took great
pleasure, and challenged all the country. You will say it is no
wonder if Bull and Frog should be jealous of this fellow. "It is not
impossible," says Frog to Bull, "but this old rogue will take the
management of the young lord's business into his hands; besides, the
rascal has good ware, and will serve him as cheap as anybody. In that
case, I leave you to judge what must become of us and our families;
we must starve, or turn journeyman to old Lewis Baboon. Therefore,
neighbour, I hold it advisable that we write to young Lord Strutt to
know the bottom of this matter."

* The character and trade of the French nation.

** The King's disposition to war.

CHAPTER III. A Copy of Bull and Frog's Letter to Lord Strutt.

My Lord,--I suppose your lordship knows that the Bulls and the Frogs
have served the Lord Strutts with all sorts of draperyware time out of
mind. And whereas we are jealous, not without reason, that your lordship
intends henceforth to buy of your grandsire old Lewis Baboon, this is
to inform your lordship that this proceeding does not suit with the
circumstances of our families, who have lived and made a good figure in
the world by the generosity of the Lord Strutts. Therefore we think fit
to acquaint your lordship that you must find sufficient security to us,
our heirs, and assigns that you wil