ternoon the list was filled up. One of the aldermen had
inserted the name of a troublesome nephew, another that of a foreman
with whom he had had a dispute about wages, and who had threatened to
proceed against him in the court. Some of the names were inserted from
mere petty spite; but with scarce an exception the aldermen responded to
the invitation of the mayor, and placed on the list the name of some one
whom they, or Southampton, would be the better without.

When the list was completed the mayor struck out one of the first names
inserted by his clerk and inserted that of John Stilwell in its place.
His instructions were that he was to notify to an officer, who would
arrive with a company of soldiers on the following day, the names of
those whom he deemed suitable for the queen's service. The officer after
taking them was to embark them on board one of the queen's cutters,
which would come round from Portsmouth for the purpose, and would convey
them to Dover, where a camp was being formed and the troops assembling.

Upon the following day the company marched into the town, and the
officer in command, having seen his men billeted among the citizens,
called upon the mayor.

"Well, Mr. Mayor," he said, "I hope you have a good list of recruits
for me. I don't want to be waiting here, for I have to go on a similar
errand to other towns. It is not a job I like, I can tell you, but it is
not for me to question orders."

"I have a list of fifty men, all active and hearty fellows, who will
make good soldiers," the mayor said.

"And of whom, no doubt, Southampton will be well rid," the officer said
with a laugh. "Truly, I pity the Earl of Peterborough, for he will
have as rough a body of soldiers as ever marched to war. However, it is
usually the case that the sort of men who give trouble at home are just
those who, when the time comes, make the best fighters. I would rather
have half a dozen of your reckless blades, when the pinch comes, than a
score of honest plowboys. How do you propose that I shall take them?"

"That I will leave entirely to you," the mayor said; "here is a list
of the houses where they lodge. I will place the town watch at your
disposal to show you the way and to point out the men to you."

"That will be all I shall require," the officer said; "but you can give
me a list of those who are most likely to give trouble. These I will
pounce upon and get on board ship first of all. When they are secured