Hale.  Whereat Justice Hale, looking very soberly on the matter, said, Alas, poor woman!

Twisdon.  But Judge Twisdon told her that she made poverty her cloak; and said, moreover, that he understood I was maintained better by running up and down a preaching, than by following my calling.

Hale.  What is his calling? said Judge Hale.

Answer.  Then some of the company that stood by said, A tinker, my lord.

Woman.  Yes, said she, and because he is a tinker and a poor man, therefore he is despised and cannot have justice.

Hale.  Then Judge Hale answered, very mildly, saying, I tell thee, woman, seeing it is so that they have taken what thy husband spake for a conviction, thou must apply thyself to the king, or sue out his pardon, or get out a writ of error.

Chester.  But when Justice Chester heard him give her this counsel, and especially, as she supposed, because he spoke of a writ of error, he chafed and seemed to be very much offended, saying, My lord, he will preach and do what he lists.

Woman.  He preacheth nothing but the word of God, said she.

Twisdon.  He preach the word of God! said Twisdon—­and withal she thought he would have struck her—­he runneth up and down and doeth harm.

Woman.  No, my lord, said she, it is not so; God hath owned him, and done much good by him.

Twisdon.  God! said he; his doctrine is the doctrine of the devil.

Woman.  My lord, said she, when the righteous Judge shall appear, it will be known that his doctrine is not the doctrine of the devil.

Twisdon.  My lord, said he to Judge Hale, do not mind her, but send her away,

Hale.  Then said Judge Hale, I am sorry, woman, that I can do thee no good:  thou must do one of those three things aforesaid, namely, either to apply thyself to the king, or sue out his pardon, or get a writ of error; but a writ of error will be cheapest.

Woman.  At which Chester again seemed to be in a chafe, and put off his hat, and as she thought scratched his head for anger; but when I saw, said she, that there was no prevailing to have my husband sent for, though I often desired them that they would send for him, that he might speak for himself, telling them that he could give them better satisfaction than I could in what they demanded of him, with several other things which now I forget:  only this I remember, that though I was somewhat timorous at my first entrance into the chamber, yet before I went out I could not but break forth into tears, not so much because they were so hard-hearted against me and my husband, but to think what a sad account such poor creatures will have to give at the coming of the Lord, when they shall there answer for all things whatsoever they have done in the body, whether it be good or whether it be bad.  So when I departed from them, the book of statutes was brought; but what they said of it I know nothing at all, neither did I hear any more from them.