Then out Will. Addle* ran, to know
Whence came the dreadful sound;

And saw the champions stout engag'd,
With many a bleeding wound.

"Hold your dead-doing hands," cry'd he, Ye bold and hardy wights:

Know

ye not these walls sacred are

To peace, and peaceful knights.

Should but Sir Blue-string chance to know

You caus'd here these alarms,

You would be ta'en in custody,
Of serjeant 'clep'd at arms.

Then company running between,

Did farther harm prevent;

God knows there how much precious blood

Had otherwise been spent.

* Wm. Pultney.

But still his Lordship glowd with ire,
And bloody vengeance vow'd,

On him who had him thus abus'd,
To cane him 'fore a crowd.

Wherefore for pen and ink he call'd,
And these words strait did write,

Which by a brother Peer he sent,

His second in this fight.

"Meet me," said he, "thou recreant knave,

"I mean thy blood to spill, "Because we will not parted be,

"On Constitution-hill.

"A second likewise with thee bring,

"As I have one provided,

"That all our quarrels there at once "May fairly be decided."

The Peer straitway to th' Mitre goes,

And for the lawyer sent, Who to him instantly repairs, Suspecting the event.

Crowle having soon perus'd the scroll,

Was not the least dismay'd;

But, with a bold undaunted air,

Thus to the Peer he said:

"Go, tell my Lord, this challenge I "With as much joy receive, "As would a condemn'd criminal,

"At Tyburn, a reprieve.

"I'll meet him there without delay, "Arm'd with my trusty steel,

"We soon shall see if he's a man

"Whose arm my blood can spill."

Then having ta'en a second bold,

Unto the Park he flies,

Where long he had not been before

The two Peers he espies.

"Welcome, proud Peer," quoth he, "our

wrongs

"Shall now revenged be,

"Or by my fall or thine"--this said,

He drew full manfully.

The Peer that instant did the same,
And many thrusts were made,
On both sides, but no deadly wounds
Were given, as is said.

Then Crowle, indignant at delays,

Straitway ran in and clos'd,

And much blood had been shed, had not

Their seconds interpos'd.

"Oh! what a Peer might have been lost!

"And what a lawyer too!

"But, thanks to Fate! they parted were,

"Nor did much harm ensue.

"God prosper long this peaceful land,

"And peace and plenty send,

"And grant that all domestic broils.

May have as harmless end."