Here Master Silas interrupted the discourse of the devil’s own doctor, delivered and printed by him before he was the devil’s, to which his worship had listened very attentively and delightedly.  But Master Silas could keep his temper no longer, and cried, fiercely, “Seditious sermonizer! hold thy peace, or thou shalt answer for ’t before convocation.”

Sir Thomas.

“Silas! thou dost not approve, then, the doctrine of this Doctor Duns?”

Sir Silas.

“Heretical Rabbi!”

William Shakspeare.

“If two of A trade can never agree, yet surely two of a name may.”

Sir Silas.

“Who dares call me heretical? who dares call me rabbi? who dares call me Scotus?  Spider! spider! yea, thou hast one corner left; I espy thee, and my broom shall reach thee yet.”

William Shakspeare.

“I perceive that Master Silas doth verily believe I have been guilty of suborning the witnesses, at least the last, the best man (if any difference) of the two.  No, sir, no.  If my family and friends have united their wits and money for this purpose, be the crime of perverted justice on their heads!  They injure whom they intended to serve.  Improvident men!—­if the young may speak thus of the elderly; could they imagine to themselves that your worship was to be hoodwinked and led astray?”

Sir Thomas.

“No man shall ever dare to hoodwink me, to lead me astray,—­no, nor lead me anywise.  Powerful defence!  Heyday!  Sit quiet, Master Treen!—­Euseby Treen! dost hear me?  Clench thy fist again, sirrah! and I clap thee in the stocks.

“Joseph Carnaby! do not scratch thy breast nor thy pate before me.”

Now Joseph had not only done that in his wrath, but had unbuckled his leathern garter, fit instrument for strife and blood, and peradventure would have smitten, had not the knight, with magisterial authority, interposed.

His worship said unto him, gravely, —

“Joseph Carnaby!  Joseph Carnaby! hast thou never read the words ’put up thy Sword’?”

“Subornation! your worship!” cried Master Joe.  “The fellow hath ne’er a shilling in leather or till, and many must go to suborn one like me.”

“I do believe it of thee,” said Sir Thomas; “but patience, man! patience! he rather tended toward exculpating thee.  Ye have far to walk for dinner; ye may depart.”

They went accordingly.

Then did Sir Thomas say, “These are hot men, Silas!”

And Master Silas did reply unto him, —

“There are brands that would set fire to the bulrushes in the mill-pool.  I know these twain for quiet folks, having coursed with them over Wincott.

Sir Thomas then said unto William, “It behooveth thee to stand clear of yon Joseph, unless when thou mayest call to thy aid the Matthew Atterend thou speakest of.  He did then fight valiantly, eh?”