“I care not who tries me,” replied Joy.  “I am a true man; and, though I don’t belong to the congregation, am as honest as a great many who do, and he is a horrid villain, who—­”

“Enough,” interrupted the Governor, “a quick tongue often prejudices, while a slow one seldom doth.  Do I understand that it is thy desire to be tried by the Assistants?”

“It is not my desire to be tried by any one,” said Joy; “but, sith I am to be put on my deliverance, I think that I shall stand a better chance in the hands of honorable gentlemen, some of whom have been soldiers, than in the dirty paws of tinkers, and cobblers, and mere mechanicals.”

No smile mantled over the faces of his grave judges, but it was obvious, from the twinkling of eyes and glances shot by one to another, that the speech of Joy had done him no harm with those who, even thus early, began to feel annoyed at the approach of the clouted shoe.

“Art thou prepared for thy trial? inquired the President.

“At any moment, and the sooner the better, your worship.  I had rather mount guard, for a week, in steel helmet and corselet, with breast, back, culet, gorget, tasses, sword, musket and bandoliers, in the hottest sun that ever roasted a blackamoor, or stand up to my knees, six months, in snow, without my mandilion, than lie a day longer in that ace—­I mean that kennel of a lock-up.”

“It, meseems, thou art in a hurry to have justice done thee, good fellow,” said, with a grim smile, the gentleman who was the third one described, stroking, with his embroidered glove, the tuft of hair that hung below his chin.

“You are a soldier, Captain Endicott, and can look a man straight in the eyes,” paid Joy; “and, though people give you credit for a hot temper, I will trust you.”

Endicott elevated his eye-brows at this ambiguous compliment, and for a moment seemed at a loss how to take it, especially as he remarked a peculiar expression on the faces of his colleagues.

“Being a soldier thyself,” he replied, fastening his eyes sternly on the face of the prisoner, “thou art bound to know that it becomes not one in the ranks to prattle.”

Joy made no answer, but returned a cool and unabashed look to the gaze of the other.

“If the witnesses have been called, let them appear,” said the President.

Two men, of a rather moan appearance, now stepped forward; an oath by the uplifted hand was administered, and one commenced his testimony.

The substance of his story was, that Joy, on a certain occasion, and, at a certain place, in his presence and hearing, had declared, with a profane exclamation, that there were men in the colony, wiser, and more learned, than either the magistrates or ministers; and that, between them both, what with their long prayers and intermeddling in every body’s affairs, they were like to ruin the plantation.

Upon the conclusion of the testimony, the witness was sharply cross-questioned by Governor Winthrop, and some inquires were made by various Assistants, but nothing further was elicited.  As for Joy, he disdained to ask a question, declaring that his accuser, Timpson, had already been in the stocks for leasing; and, besides, had been cudgelled by himself for stealing.