Isopel, we remember, had learned in Long Melford Union to 'Fear God and take your own part!' George Borrow, indeed, was at home with the whole army of prize-fighters, who came down to us like the Roman Caesars or the Kings of England in a noteworthy procession, their dynasty commencing with James Fig of Thame, who began to reign in 1719, and closing with Tom King, who beat Heenan in 1863, or with Jem Mace, who flourished in a measure until 1872.

With what zest must Borrow have followed the account of the greatest battle of all, that between Heenan and Tom Sayers at Farnborough in 1860, when it was said that Parliament had been emptied to patronise a prize-fight; and this although Heenan complained that he had been chased out of eight counties.

For by this time, in spite of lordly patronage, pugilism was doomed, and the more harmless boxing had taken its place.

'Pity that corruption should have crept in amongst them,' sighed Lavengro in a memorable passage, in which he also has his paean of praise for the bruisers of England: Let no one sneer at the bruisers of England--what were the gladiators of Rome, or the bull-fighters of Spain, in its palmiest days, compared to England's bruisers ?[77] [Illustration: THE FAMILY OF JASPER PETULENGRO 'Jasper' or Ambrose Smith was a very old man when this picture was taken by Mr.Andrew Innes of Dunbar in 1878.

In both pictures we see Sanspirella, Jasper's wife, seated and holding a child.