Citation and Examination of William Shakspeare | Page 8

the case."
SIR SILAS.
"Mere quibble mere equivocation! Jesuitical! Jesuitical!"
WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.
"It would be Jesuitical, Sir Silas, if it dragged the law by its perversions
to the side of oppression and cruelty. The order of Jesuits, I fear, is as

numerous as its tenets are lax and comprehensive. I am sorry to see
their frocks flounced with English serge."
SIR SILAS.
"I don't understand thee, viper!"
SIR THOMAS.
"Cease thou, Will Shakspeare! Know thy place. And do thou, Joseph
Carnaby, take up again the thread of thy testimony."
JOSEPH CARNABY.
"We were still at some distance from the party, when on a sudden
Euseby hung an --- " {21a}
SIR THOMAS.
"As well write DREW BACK, Master Ephraim and Master Silas! Be
circumspecter in speech, Master Joseph Carnaby! I did not look for
such rude phrases from that starch-warehouse under thy chin. Continue,
man!"
JOSEPH CARNABY.
"'Euseby,' said I in his ear, 'what ails thee, Euseby?' 'I wag no farther,'
quoth he. 'What a number of names and voices!'"
SIR THOMAS.
"Dreadful gang! a number of names and voices! Had it been any other
day in the year but Allhallowmas eve! To steal a buck upon such a day!
Well! God may pardon even that. Go on, go on. But the laws of our
country must have their satisfaction and atonement. Were it upon any
other day in the calendar less holy, the buck were nothing, or next to
nothing, saving the law and our conscience and our good report. Yet we,
her Majesty's justices, must stand in the gap, body and soul, against
evil-doers. Now do thou, in furtherance of this business, give thine aid
unto us, Joseph Carnaby!--remembering that mine eye from this
judgment-seat, and her Majesty's bright and glorious one overlooking
the whole realm, and the broader of God above, are upon thee."
Carnaby did quail a matter at these words about the judgment-seat and
the broad eye, aptly and gravely delivered by him moreover who hath
to administer truth and righteousness in our ancient and venerable laws,
and especially, at the present juncture, in those against park-breaking
and deer-stealing. But finally, nought discomfited, and putting his hand
valiantly atwixt hip and midriff, so that his elbow well-nigh touched the
taller pen in the ink-pot, he went on.

JOSEPH CARNABY.
"'IN THE SHADOW OF THE WILLOWS AND ELM-TREES,' said
he, 'AND GET NEARER.' We were still at some distance, maybe a
score of furlongs, from the party--"
SIR THOMAS.
"Thou hast said it already--all save the score of furlongs."
"Hast room for them, Master Silas?"
"Yea," quoth Master Silas, "and would make room for fifty, to let the
fellow swing at his ease."
SIR THOMAS.
"Hast room, Master Ephraim?"
"'T is done, most worshipful!" said I. The learned knight did not
recollect that I could put fifty furlongs in a needle's eye, give me pen
fine enough.
But far be it from me to vaunt of my penmanship, although there be
those who do malign it, even in my own township and parish; yet they
never have unperched me from my calling, and have had hard work to
take an idle wench or two from under me on Saturday nights.
I memorize thus much, not out of any malice or any soreness about me,
but that those of my kindred into whose hands it please God these
papers do fall hereafter, may bear up stoutly in such straits; and if they
be good at the cudgel, that they, looking first at their man, do give it
him heartily and unsparingly, keeping within law.
Sir Thomas, having overlooked what we had written, and meditated a
while thereupon, said unto Joseph, -
"It appeareth by thy testimony that there was a huge and desperate gang
of them afoot. Revengeful dogs! it is difficult to deal with them. The
laws forbid precipitancy and violence. A dozen or two may return and
harm me; not me, indeed, but my tenants and servants. I would fain act
with prudence, and like unto him who looketh abroad. He must tie his
shoe tightly who passeth through mire; he must step softly who
steppeth over stones; he must walk in the fear of the Lord (which,
without a brag, I do at this present feel upon me), who hopeth to reach
the end of the straightest road in safety."
SIR SILAS.
"Tut, tut! your worship! Her Majesty's deputy hath matchlocks and
halters at a knight's disposal, or the world were topsyturvy indeed."

SIR THOMAS.
"My mental ejaculations, and an influx of grace thereupon, have shaken
and washed from my brain all thy last words, good Joseph! Thy
companion here, Euseby Treen, said unto thee--ay--"
JOSEPH CARNABY.
"Said unto me, 'What a number of names and voices! And there be but
three living men in all! And