manner of life for the future, they may expect at last
to obtain their liberty, and some are every year restored
to it upon the good character that is given of them.
When I had related all this, I added that I did not
see why such a method might not be followed with more
advantage than could ever be expected from that severe
justice which the Counsellor magnified so much.
To this he answered, ’That it could never take
place in England without endangering the whole nation.’
As he said this he shook his head, made some grimaces,
and held his peace, while all the company seemed of
his opinion, except the Cardinal, who said, ’That
it was not easy to form a judgment of its success,
since it was a method that never yet had been tried;
but if,’ said he, ’when sentence of death
were passed upon a thief, the prince would reprieve
him for a while, and make the experiment upon him,
denying him the privilege of a sanctuary; and then,
if it had a good effect upon him, it might take place;
and, if it did not succeed, the worst would be to execute
the sentence on the condemned persons at last; and
I do not see,’ added he, ’why it would
be either unjust, inconvenient, or at all dangerous
to admit of such a delay; in my opinion the vagabonds
ought to be treated in the same manner, against whom,
though we have made many laws, yet we have not been
able to gain our end.’ When the Cardinal
had done, they all commended the motion, though they
had despised it when it came from me, but more particularly
commended what related to the vagabonds, because it
was his own observation.
“I do not know whether it be worth while to
tell what followed, for it was very ridiculous; but
I shall venture at it, for as it is not foreign to
this matter, so some good use may be made of it.
There was a Jester standing by, that counterfeited
the fool so naturally that he seemed to be really
one; the jests which he offered were so cold and dull
that we laughed more at him than at them, yet sometimes
he said, as it were by chance, things that were not
unpleasant, so as to justify the old proverb, ’That
he who throws the dice often, will sometimes have a
lucky hit.’ When one of the company had
said that I had taken care of the thieves, and the
Cardinal had taken care of the vagabonds, so that there
remained nothing but that some public provision might
be made for the poor whom sickness or old age had
disabled from labour, ’Leave that to me,’
said the Fool, ’and I shall take care of them,
for there is no sort of people whose sight I abhor
more, having been so often vexed with them and with
their sad complaints; but as dolefully soever as they
have told their tale, they could never prevail so
far as to draw one penny from me; for either I had
no mind to give them anything, or, when I had a mind
to do it, I had nothing to give them; and they now
know me so well that they will not lose their labour,
but let me pass without giving me any trouble, because
they hope for nothing—no more, in faith,