ress
for 7 pounds, and fitted up a printing office with all the requisite
materials. The account in the papers of the "Archaeological Society,"
goes on to say, "At that time, distance and difficulties of intercourse
made any want of punctuality most annoying, and the plan of printing at
home involved the necessity of a great variety of type and other
materials. Meanwhile type founders, stationers, and engravers, were but
too much given to weary him with delay, or to disgust him with fraud.
Beginning a correspondence with frankness and civility, he often had to
continue it, urging and reiterating entreaties of attention--alternately
coaxing compliance with 'half a piece' to drink his health and success to
his work, or with 'promise of making amends,' or a 'fowl at Christmas,'
or rebuking with reluctant severity, resulting more from devotedness to
his object, than anger or bitterness. A facetious engraver, who was
introduced to him, and invited to his house to assist him, after
remaining there three weeks, agreed for a large portion of the work, and
cut several of the things, all which he ran away with. Other vexations
sprang out of the patronage and assistance he most valued; but, after
many interruptions, the first edition of a part of the book was brought
out in 1736."

In the midst of his labours, however, he was cut off by that virulent
enemy, the small pox, on the 15th January, 1751, at the age of forty-six.
His work was continued by the Rev. Charles Parkens, of whom a curious
anecdote is related;--its accuracy we do not pretend to vouch; the tale
runs that Mr. Parkens had a tame magpie, which had access to her master's
study, and seeing him busily employed in folding and unfolding the
packets that lay before him on his desk, she thought it no harm to be
busy too, until from time to time she flew away _with the __whole borough
of Yarmouth_. Many of the parcels, it is added, were recovered, but
others irrecoverably lost.

"I know not how the truth may be,
But tell the tale as 'twas told to me."

With this cursory glance at the work of the great historian of the
district, we close our chapter on the subjects suggested by the "Old
Market-place." The sketches have been necessarily superficial, but they
afford proof that its chronicles include a variety of matter and incident
that may interest almost every class of mind.

CHAPTER V.
GUILDHALL.

THE GUILDHALL.--_Visit to its dungeons_.--_Bilne