“A fig for your boasting!” he cried contemptuously.  “You had best get out of my sight, lest I run you through for your impudence!”

Slippery Seal, seeing how matters were going, now raised a cry for help.

“Help! help!  Watchmen, to the rescue!  Here is a desperate young ruffian seeking to murder the Queen’s subjects in broad daylight!  Help, I say, and take the young braggart before the magistrates!  Cannot peaceable citizens walk the streets without being set upon by such bullies as that yonder?”

Two watchmen at that moment came hastening up, and looked at the combatants with questioning eyes.  Tom was flushed, and his sword was still in his hand; but Rosamund had been admitted to the house, and was going hot-foot in search of her father, to come and put a stop to the fight; for she bad perfect faith in his power to do anything he had a mind to.

“We four can testify,” said Slippery Seal, with a voice of great unction, “that as we were peaceably passing down the street, this young fellow, of whom we know no good, made a sudden and unprovoked attack upon honest Master Thring there, whose mouth is still bleeding from the blow.  Thereupon Master Bullen drew his sword to protect him; but he was set upon so furiously, that had he not been a notable swordsman he must needs have been killed.  As it was, his sword was dashed from his band, and there it lies in the roadway before your eyes.  I say, how long are pious and peaceable citizens to be treated thus?  Do your duty, my good fellows, and take this young man into custody.  A taste of the stocks will do him a vast deal of good, and we will bear testimony against him with right good will.  ‘In the mouth of two or three witnesses—­’ you know what says the Scripture.”

“Ay, you blasphemer and liar, we know well what says the Scripture:  ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness;’ and again, ’The mouth that speaketh lies shall be stopped.’”

Looking round quickly, Tom saw Master Cale, with his daughter clinging to his arm, standing in the doorway of the house, and sternly regarding the scene.

“Watchmen,” he said, “if you make any prisoners today, take you those four bullies, who are but too well known in these streets already.  It is they who delight to set upon strangers, and insult and frighten innocent maidens.  Take you them, and I will bear witness against them; for I saw the scene with my own eyes.  Would to heaven that honest citizens could rid their streets of such spawn!

“But I tell you, you mischievous scum, the day will come when we will no longer stand this swaggering and bullying.  We are a patient people; but you can provoke us too far.  I know you four right well.  I would sit you in the stocks in a row, or have you whipped at the cart’s tail from Newgate to Tyburn; and perchance the day may come when—­”