Sir Thomas.

“Thou urgedst him.  He beareth no ill-will toward thee.  Thou knewedst, I suspect, that the blackness in his mouth proceeded from a natural cause.”

William Shakspeare.

“The Lord is merciful!  I was brought hither in jeopardy; I shall return in joy.  Whether my innocence be declared or otherwise, my piety and knowledge will be forwarded and increased; for your worship will condescend, even from the judgment-seat, to enlighten the ignorant where a soul shall be saved or lost.  And I, even I, may trespass a moment on your courtesy.  I quail at the words natural cause.  Be there any such?”

Sir Thomas.

“Youth!  I never thought thee so staid.  Thou hast, for these many months, been represented unto me as one dissolute and light, much given unto mummeries and mysteries, wakes and carousals, cudgel-fighters and mountebanks and wanton women.  They do also represent of thee—­I hope it may be without foundation—­that thou enactest the parts, not simply of foresters and fairies, girls in the green-sickness and friars, lawyers and outlaws, but likewise, having small reverence for station, of kings and queens, knights and privy-counsellors, in all their glory.  It hath been whispered, moreover, and the testimony of these two witnesses doth appear in some measure to countenance and confirm it, that thou hast at divers times this last summer been seen and heard alone, inasmuch as human eye may discover, on the narrow slip of greensward between the Avon and the chancel, distorting thy body like one possessed, and uttering strange language, like unto incantation.  This, however, cometh not before me.  Take heed! take heed unto thy ways; there are graver things in law even than homicide and deer-stealing.”

Sir Silas.

“And strong against him.  Folks have been consumed at the stake for pettier felonies and upon weaker evidence.”

Sir Thomas.

“To that anon.”

William Shakspeare did hold down his head, answering nought.  And Sir Thomas spake again unto him, as one mild and fatherly, if so be that such a word may be spoken of a knight and parliament-man.  And these are the words he spake:-

“Reason and ruminate with thyself now.  To pass over and pretermit the danger of representing the actions of the others, and mainly of lawyers and churchmen, the former of whom do pardon no offences, and the latter those only against God, having no warrant for more, canst thou believe it innocent to counterfeit kings and queens?  Supposest thou that if the impression of their faces on a farthing be felonious and rope-worthy, the imitation of head and body, voice and bearing, plume and strut, crown and mantle, and everything else that maketh them royal and glorious, be aught less?  Perpend, young man, perpend!  Consider, who among inferior mortals shall imitate