"Caistor was a city when Norwich was none,

And Norwich was built of Caistor stone,"

in which is perpetuated the removal of the city from the Roman station of Caistor (Castrum), to the Norman vicus of the present Norwich. Vainglorious little Caistor, whose stones and reputation were thus shamefully plundered, is still a village some three miles from Norwich.

The present City was brought together for shelter under the Castle, a royal fortress in a commanding situation, which then afforded the protection required for the prosecution of peaceful trades. The City was once one of England's chief places of wealth and strength. In the times of which we shall speak it was remarkable for a steadfast adherence to the cause of liberty as opposed to the despotism of the Stuarts. Norwich still remains a populous active manufacturing city,

though its monopoly of the Flemish wares and of the Indian bombazine trade has passed away; and it still retains a conspicuous love of constitutional liberty, but of that quality also it can pretend to no monopoly at present.

Just outside the precincts of its Cathedral, called the Close, there is a large open space surrounded by respectable mansions, which bears the quaint and melancholy name of Tombland, either from its having been a burying-ground or from its being the scene of desperate conflicts between the City and the Close-a sort of debateable land claimed by both parties.

There are no graves now on Tombland, nor was it at all a melancholy spot on a certain Sunday of May 1627, for the parish of St. George's was holding its clerk-ale on the Green. The Green is intersected by a busy highway running down a gentle slope, and on either side tables were set out on the grassy triangles like booths at a fair, sheltered from the wind and weather by coverings of boughs or tent cloth. The tables were covered with pewter and earthenware mugs, while great jacks and tankards full of ale, together with large dishes of bread, meat, cheese, cakes, and butter, completed the provision for the expected feast. These attractive viands were sent in freely by the parishioners as presents to the Clerk, whose privilege it was to give the entertainment and realize the benefit of it. Like the landlord of a public-house, he charged ample payment on his guests, and thus by a double profit eked out his poor stipend.

A large share of the good things came from the Alderman's house, situated in Tombland, and those thought themselves happy who feasted on some of Dame Sherwood's cakes and pastry, for which she was famed through the City. Another liberal donor was the great Flemish manufacturer, Van Diense, who employed hundreds of weavers, and was at the head of that important industry. Nor were the Rector and his lady wanting in hearty liberality on the occasion of their Clerk's benefit. The Clerk's wife