The ablest of conscience-stretchers. 
That’s well, quoth he; but I should guess,
By weighing all advantages, 740
Your surest way is first to pitch
On Bongey for a water-witch;
And when y’ have hang’d the conjurer,
Y’ have time enough to deal with her. 
In th’ int’rim, spare for no trepans 745
To draw her neck into the bans
Ply her with love-letters and billets,
And bait ’em well, for quirks and quillets
With trains t’ inveigle, and surprize,
Her heedless answers and replies; 750
And if she miss the mouse-trap lines,
They’ll serve for other by-designs;
And make an artist understand
To copy out her seal or hand;
Or find void places in the paper 755
To steal in something to intrap her
Till, with her worldly goods and body,
Spight of her heart, she has endow’d ye,
Retain all sorts of witnesses,
That ply i’ th’ Temple under trees; 760
Or walk the round, with knights o’ th’ posts,
About the cross-legg’d knights, their hosts;
Or wait for customers between
The pillars-rows in Lincoln’s-Inn
Where vouchers, forgers, common-bail, 765
And affidavit-men, ne’er fail
T’ expose to sale all sorts of oaths,
According to their ears and cloaths,
Their only necessary tools,
Besides the Gospel and their souls; 770
And when y’ are furnish’d with all purveys,
I shall be ready at your service.

I would not give, quoth Hudibras,
A straw to understand a case,
Without the admirable skill 775
To wind and manage it at will;
To vere, and tack, and steer a cause
Against the weather-gage of laws;
And ring the changes upon cases
As plain as noses upon faces, 780
As you have well instructed me,
For which you’ve earn’d (here ’tis) your fee. 
I long to practise your advice,
And try the subtle artifice;
To bait a letter, as you bid; 785
As not long after, thus he did
For having pump’d up all his wit,
And humm’d upon it, thus he writ.

NOTES TO PART III CANTO III.

8 q Than Hags with all their Imps and Teats.] Alluding to the vulgar opinion, that witches have their imps, or familiar spirits, that are employed in their diabolical practices, and suck private teats they have about them.

15 r As Rosi-crucian Virtuosos, &c.] The Rosicrusians were a sect that appeared in Germany in the beginning of the XVIIth age.  They are also called the Enlightened, Immortal, and Invisible.  They are a very enthusiastical sort of men, and hold many wild and extravagant opinions.

36 s From Marshal Legion’s Regiment.] He used to preach, as if they might expect legions to drop down from heaven, for the propagation of the good Old Cause.