John Deane of Nottingham: Historic Adventures by Land and Sea. William Henry Giles Kingston

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      These quiet rests were generally succeeded by the bustle which was to be found in the various towns and markets through which they passed; but though for the moment the impressions received appear to have worn off, in after-years Jack remembered his old friend’s quaint remarks with no small amount of satisfaction and profit.

      Brinsmead’s droves were often joined by others belonging to different masters. They usually travelled as far as possible in the earliest morning hours, to secure the freedom of the roads. On all occasions the drovers were armed with various weapons to defend their charge from the cattle-stealers who were too often apt to hang upon their skirts, ready to carry off any stray beast they could find, though the gibbet was the penalty if they were captured. Trains of pack-horses also would bear them company as they approached Cambridge, carrying all kinds of stores and goods for Stourbridge Fair.

      Jack, following the advice of his friend, resolved to obtain as much information as he could, and therefore often fell out from his own party, and jogged along by the side of the merchant or pedlar who seemed most ready for his society. Jack had also occasionally to ride on before the drovers, to make arrangements for the feeding and rest of the cattle with some farmer or grazier a little off the high-road. In most instances the worthy farmer was so well pleased with his honest countenance and pleasant manners, that he invited him with Master Brinsmead, who was well-known all along the road, to partake of his family supper. If good old Will found a fitting opportunity, he would on such occasions suggest reading a chapter in the Bible, which he expounded in his own peculiar phraseology, in a clear and edifying manner, never failing to offer up a fervent prayer that a blessing might rest on the house of his entertainers, that his honoured master might prosper, and that he and his companions might be preserved from the dangers of the road, and obtain a satisfactory price for their cattle. Seldom indeed did his hosts refuse his offer, or fail to be sensible that besides his fair payment for keep of man and beast, he had left a blessing behind him.

      At many of these midland farms great bargaining took place, for Mr. Strelley’s droves supplied them with store cattle, as agriculture was beginning to be better understood than it had ever before been in England. Whole carcases were still salted down for winter consumption at the great country-houses. At these also Brinsmead and John Deane were welcome visitors, and chaffering in the steward’s room, or with his honour the squire, or even with my lord or my lady herself, would frequently take up many hours of the day. They had also to buy as well as to sell, for the larger the supply they could take to Stourbridge Fair, the better would it be for their speculation.

      One day Jack had been riding by the side of a travelling merchant, the owner of a train of pack-horses, when, as he was dropping behind to join his own party, he felt a hand pressed on his shoulder, and heard a voice which he thought he recognised exclaiming, “What cheer, lad? Glad to see that thou hast kept to thy intention, and taken up the honest calling of a drover. Better than cutting weasands any day for the sake of keeping a Dutch usurper on the throne,” he added in a lower tone.

      Jack looked at the speaker once or twice, unable to recognise him. At length it occurred to him that he was the very man who had joined him on their poaching expedition.

      “I think I know you,” he said, looking at him again.

      “You ought to do so, for we have met before; and it was not my fault that we did not meet again,” answered the stranger.

      “What! Master Pearson?” said Jack, examining his countenance more narrowly, and looking down on the somewhat clumsy, ill-groomed horse which the speaker bestrode.

      The animal was, however, he saw at a second glance, not destitute of bone and muscle; while the rider’s expression of countenance and general appearance made it difficult to believe that he was of the pacific character his words would imply. A pair of substantial saddle-bags hung across the saddle, and Jack observed that the butts of two pistols projected from the holsters on either side.

      “Why, Master Pearson, you have made good despatch with your business in the north,” said Jack; “for I think I am not wrong in calling you by that name. I hope that it has been successful.”

      “As things generally go with me,” answered Pearson carelessly. “I am now on my way south again to Cambridge and other places; for I also have some interest in the wool trade, and hope to be at Stourbridge Fair: that beats every other mart in the world, in my opinion.”

      “I have heard that it was far above our Goose Fair,” said Jack, “though we are not ashamed of that either.”

      “That is a right curious name you give your fair, Master Deane,” observed Pearson. “There must be a great sight of geese sold there, I’m thinking.”

      “Not exactly,” answered Jack. “I do not know that more geese are sold then than at any other time.”

      “Then come, tell me why it is called Goose Fair: there must be a reason for it,” said Pearson. “If you know it, out with the truth, lad.”

      “The reason why our Nottingham Fair is called Goose Fair? Well, if you needs must know the story, I’ll out with it,” said Jack, thus pressed by his companion. “Of course, having been born and bred in Nottingham, I believe all about it. You must know that some time, since bold Robin Hood ranged through Sherwood Forest, at all events between his days and ours, there dwelt within it, some ten miles away, a worthy knight and his dame. The better half of the knight was a shrew, and led him a wretched life. He had a son, on whom he bestowed all the affection which his wife might have shared. At length death relieved him of his tormentor. The dame died and was buried. He had a wonderfully heavy stone put on the top of her grave, lest she should come to life again; and then he gave all his thoughts to the education of his son. He resolved, moreover, that he should not make the mistake of which he had been guilty by marrying too early. He therefore kept the boy closely confined within the precincts of his own domain, within which not a female of any age, old or young, was allowed to enter. They were all alike, he declared. The oldest might inveigle his boy as well as the youngest. At length the lad having approached the age of twenty-one, and being perfectly contented with his lot, his father thought that he might with safety take him to Nottingham Fair where he had business. Scarcely had they dismounted from their steeds than a damsel with black eyes and rosy cheeks came tripping by. The lad regarded her with eyes of astonishment and admiration.

      “ ‘Oh, father, father, what is that curious animal?’ he asked, seeming about to run after her.

      “ ‘Why, my boy, that is but a goose—a silly, weak, worthless goose,’ answered the knight, greatly alarmed at the effect the sight of the damsel had had on his son. Nevertheless they entered the fair, where not one but hundreds of damsels presented themselves to the astonished gaze of the young man.

      “ ‘Ah, this must be Goose Fair!’ he kept saying to himself; but being well brought up, he kept steadily by his father’s side. This so well pleased the knight, that he promised to give him any fairing he might ask for.

      “ ‘Oh, thank you, dear father!’ he exclaimed instantly. ‘Oh, buy me a goose—by all means buy me a goose!’

      “From that day to this our fair has been called Goose Fair; and really, Master Pearson, I think you’ll allow that there are some very pretty geese to be seen there.”

      Master Pearson laughed at Jack’s account, and at his notion of its importance.

      “Well, there are some fairs abroad which I have visited almost on as grand a scale. There is Leipsic in Saxony, Neuremberg, and Augsburg, all great in their way, but not to be compared to Stourbridge as to the value and amount of property sold.”

      “What! have you ever been to those places?” asked Jack with surprise, glancing at the rough-looking drover, “or do you only speak from having heard of them?”

      “Oh, I have attended the fairs held there myself!” answered Master Pearson. “I have been to many others too, such as that of Frankfort-on-the-Maine; and I tell you, my lad, the great corn-field near Casterton shows a more wonderful sight than any of them. You are lucky in having