William had ended, and there was silence in the hall for some time after, when Sir Thomas said, —

“He spake unto somewhat mean persons, who may do it without disparagement.  I look for authority, I look for doctrine, and find none yet.  If he could not have drawn us out a thread or two from the coat of an apostle, he might have given us a smack of Augustin, or a sprig of Basil.  Our older sermons are headier than these, Master Silas! our new beer is the sweeter and clammier, and wants more spice.  The doctor hath seasoned his with pretty wit enough, to do him justice, which in a sermon is never out of place; for if there be the bane, there likewise is the antidote.

“What dost thou think about it, Master Silas?”

Sir Silas.

“1 would not give ten farthings for ten folios of such sermons.”

William Shakspeare.

“These words, Master Silas, will oftener be quoted than any others of thine; but rarely (do I suspect) as applicable to Doctor Glaston.  I must stick unto his gown.  I must declare that, to my poor knowledge, many have been raised to the bench of bishops for less wisdom and worse than is contained in the few sentences I have been commanded by authority to recite.  No disparagement to any body I know, Master Silas, and multitudes bear witness, that thou above most art a dead hand at a sermon.”

Sir Silas.

“Touch my sermons, wilt dare?”

William Shakspeare.

“Nay, Master Silas, be not angered; it is courage enough to hear them.”

Sir Thomas.

“Now, Silas, hold thy peace and rest contented.  He hath excused himself unto thee, throwing in a compliment far above his station, and not unworthy of Rome or Florence.  I did not think him so ready.  Our Warwickshire lads are fitter for football than courtesies; and, sooth to say, not only the inferior.”

His worship turned from Master Silas toward William, and said, “Brave Willy, thou hast given us our bitters; we are ready now for any thing solid.  What hast left?”

William Shakespeare.

“Little or nothing, sir.”

Sir Thomas.

“Well, give us that little or nothing.”

William Shakspeare was obedient to the commands of Sir Thomas, who had spoken thus kindly unto him, and had deigned to cast at him from his lordly dish (as the Psalmist hath it) a fragment of facetiousness.

William Shakspeare.

“Alas, sir! may I repeat it without offence, it not being doctrine but admonition, and meant for me only?”

“Speak it the rather for that,” quoth Sir Thomas.

Then did William give utterance to the words of the preacher, not indeed in his sermon at St. Mary’s, but after dinner.