Master Silas, as above, looked sourishly, and cried aloud, —

“The witnesses! the witnesses! testimony! testimony!  We shall now see whose black goes deepest.  There is a fork to be had that can hold the slipperiest eel, and a finger that can strip the slimiest.  I cry your worship to the witnesses.”

Sir Thomas.

“Ay, indeed, we are losing the day; it wastes toward noon, and nothing done.  Call the witnesses.  How are they called by name?  Give me the paper.”

The paper being forthwith delivered into his worship’s hand by the learned clerk, his worship did read aloud the name of Euseby Treen.  Whereupon did Euseby Treen come forth through the great hall-door which was ajar, and answer most audibly, —

“Your worship!”

Straightway did Sir Thomas read aloud, in like form and manner, the name of Joseph Carnaby; and in like manner as aforesaid did Joseph Carnaby make answer and say, —

“Your worship!”

Lastly did Sir Thomas turn the light of his countenance on William Shakspeare, saying, —

“Thou seest these good men deponents against thee, William Shakspeare.”  And then did Sir Thomas pause.  And pending this pause did William Shakspeare look steadfastly in the faces of both; and stroking down his own with the hollow of his hand from the jaw-bone to the chin-point, said unto his honour, —

“Faith! it would give me much pleasure, and the neighbourhood much vantage, to see these two fellows good men.  Joseph Carnaby and Euseby Treen!  Why! your worship! they know every hare’s form in Luddington-field better than their own beds, and as well pretty nigh as any wench’s in the parish.”

Then turned he with jocular scoff unto Joseph Carnaby, thus accosting him, whom his shirt, being made stiffer than usual for the occasion, rubbed and frayed, —

“Ay, Joseph! smoothen and soothe thy collar-piece again and again!  Hark ye!  I know what smock that was knavishly cut from.”

Master Silas rose up in high choler, and said unto Sir Thomas, —

“Sir! do not listen to that lewd reviler; I wager ten groats I prove him to be wrong in his scent.  Joseph Carnaby is righteous and discreet.”

William Shakspeare.

“By daylight and before the parson.  Bears and boars are tame creatures, and discreet, in the sunshine and after dinner.”

Euseby Treen.

“I do know his down-goings and uprisings.”

William Shakspeare.

“The man and his wife are one, saith holy Scripture.”

Euseby Treen.

“A sober-paced and rigid man, if such there be.  Few keep Lent like unto him.”

William Shakspeare.

“I warrant him, both lent and stolen.”

Sir Thomas.

“Peace and silence!  Now, Joseph Carnaby, do thou depose on particulars.”