Show THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THIS REALM DOES NOT PARLEY WITH TREASON THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE A DICK TAUS by H B MARRIOTT WATSON copyright by joseph B bowles there was many an adventure be tell me in a pretty broad circuit of life that tickled my ribs to tune and I 1 have cackled over some es capages with a wider mouth than ever I 1 sat out the most roaring comedy of the playhouse but ot all the chances that I 1 encountered what most rarely served my palate was this unexpected meeting in the west country which I 1 admit at the outset and ere I 1 saw clearly the shape of the predicament set my heart a bobbing fast enough it ell in this way on monday in the late sum mer of that year ot grace 1685 that I 1 rode up from the valleys ot the north in the company of ton flack and we came to a pause upon the hind of exeter town tony himself was for caution and would have us turn away to a little roadside tavern that we both knew for a safe resting place with a staunch innkeeper to boot but I 1 was for exeter itself tor to say the truth my stomach was sour with those rank swipes of the countryside and some days since I 1 champee champed cham ped my teeth about a town the facts argued with tony chicken Tie arted as be was and I 1 will not deny it for there right before us lay the argument in the shape of a rambling muddy parti colored chaise that was creeping up the hill now it had so fallen out more by way of a jest than by any material design that we had sacrificed the occupant of this same carriage some ten miles back in the thick ot a waste moorland that after noon a mere idle freak taken out of wantonness and upon a merry dinner and by no means for the sake of the guinea or two that we found in his pockets tony gives the nag a lap of his sword and off she goes a spinning down the highway tor dear life with the coachman all a sweat with terror and the melancholy visage of a gentleman in his red periwig hanging out of the window while there we stood the two of us laugh ing a broadside the nag had a pie bald front to her and the chaise as I 1 have said was in several colors and thus it happened that the lights tall ing suddenly on cm in that tall of the day as we came out upon the back of eter tony drew up and shoved his paw forward with a mighty blank face see there dick says be and what d ye think of thata plain enough what I 1 made of it but I 1 only laughed I 1 make a chaise and the half says I 1 and I 1 warrant to make two by the time we reach exeter tor to be sure or no swipes we bad each of lining to the us a good warm tony cast me a surly glance rot you eald he an it the liquor spoil your wits be d n it it shall mine nor I 1 won t run my neck into the noose for you nor any like you youre a white livered sort of cur you are tony said I 1 with another laugh and I 1 suppose the traps will be waiting for us in a posse outside the white hart and I 1 wonder if the himself was to snatch oft bis hat to us as we passed by sink mel growled tony you torget broad daylight when we took em well bays I 1 I 1 have notion to bleed bleep in exeter and I 1 mind me 0 a very dainty belly under my belt but tony was still in a sour mood and though he bogged jogged bis horse to m summons he spoke no word as we the hill the chaise bad went up vanished but for all that I 1 could see about it twittering hla thoughts were and in athla way we rode up into the town sprinkled with growing lights and not until we came abreast of the white hart that tony opened his mouth there was a space of ball very bare and plain and upon two sides there opened doors into the further parts of the house but the third was filled with a screen of windows separating a little privy corner in which sat the innkeeper very greasy and affable of look I 1 threw down a guinea and he fetched out a pint of wine the which drunken I 1 turned on my heels and clattered up to a great door set with brass knobs but the little fat land lord was on my heels in a moment you cannot enter there said ho in a great taking als a private room and not for strangers but with the wine newly bubbling in my head I 1 made little of him the devil said I 1 1 I will have what I 1 pay tor and I 1 will enter where I 1 list he clasped my arm sart sir he cried indeed this will be most vex ailous to his lordship and will lose me his custom now certain enough that bad I 1 conserved my wits more properly and that dismal juice was not so fluent in my blood I 1 would never have risked this place of deviltry the room was buzzing with sound and the warmth and the fare pleased me very well but where the devil was I 1 gotten and who the devil these bullies might me and why I 1 was thus politely admitted to the board these were the enigmas that floated about in my head not that I 1 was in any embarrassment for it was enough for me it I 1 was to be enter talked thus royally waited upon with the best and conjoined with a high company such as was scattered about me and all without so much as a single trespass upon the pocket but by and by my civil neighbor turned to me you are late says he I 1 sup pose you were held at the court or do you ride from town well says I 1 very careful for I 1 am not the man to trip myself over a word in a manner you may say yes I 1 says and I 1 took a draught of the tanker acore me ah he said and seemed to puzzle his wits over the rejoinder but I 1 conceived ha was in no very active condition of mind and it Is like enough that what I 1 said seemed from some comers of aspect to contain a sensible answer so be followed after my example and sipped his wine meditatively his lordship says be soon again Is in high feather athla even ing you may say that said I 1 delivering a glance towards the head of the table where sat a long faced hand some looking fellow whom to say sooth I 1 bad not yet minded in the sat of my appetite he Is fill ing a paunch I 1 warrant I 1 said with a laugh hush whispered he with a scared look on his face and glancing about him you will be over heard overheard I 1 said am I 1 a wench that must walk through her wine and not deal in the kings plain english I 1 permit no man to dictate me upon my language not I 1 the fellow stared at me for a time and then you have a bold tongue said he with what I 1 could perceive was a hint of the ironic 1 I have no doubt you ply it well what is your court says be A the same as yours says I 1 oh says he breaking into a smile I 1 wear my professions very ble then yes you do said I 1 bluntly 1 I am glad I 1 have met you he went on pleasantly and I 1 shall make it m duty to pursue our acquaintance it Is odd indeed and what think you sir 0 the fassett business ah you may well ask says I 1 nodding my head gad and I 1 see you are agreed with me the circum atan ces stand so plain that there Is no denial be sure sou are right war rant that and I 1 myself am game to prove it with the point says I 1 slap ping my sword the gentleman drew away looking at me with some amazement and presently his face took on an expression of contusion and quite BO says he and I 1 took off my gaze from him and was for letting it fall back on my neighbor to interrogate him upon the identity of this fine cock when its passage along the op side ot the table discovered not very far from his lordship himself no other than the prim faced gentleman of the parti colored chaise that tony and I 1 had ransacked that same after noon upon the moors the cully turned a trifle pale and winced moving in his seat then he frowned and seemed mightily taken up with his plate after which he lifted his head again and directed a look on me well says I 1 to myself 1 I am committed to it now and its my bear ing against his and the best ere dentals and with that feeling that the matter was passed out of my hands I 1 turned on my neighbor and says I 1 to him but still keeping an eye on the pale faced booby who may his lordship be I 1 says you are jesting says he his lordship well says I 1 a trifle grimly for I 1 saw the same lordship casting his eyes upon the paper and maybe you can put a name on him it I 1 can t but but he stammered and then who may you be he asked with some suspicion and in another manner D n you I 1 said I 1 ive put you a question and a gentleman should need no reminder of his necessary civilities for by this I 1 saw his lord ships soft and shining eyes directed on us the cullas name I 1 asked als my lord jeffreys he says in a bare whisper you will believe me and I 1 make no shame to admit it that my legs took a tremor at the words says I 1 calmly to my neighbor als well I 1 have some business with his lordship well thinks I 1 an I 1 must lay my back against a wall I 1 must but they shall learn that dick ryder is not tp be browbeat by a lot of scurvy law for so I 1 supposed them what ever fate be in store tor him and so turning to my next door neighbor I 1 began very loudly and as it resuming a conversation with him nay nay but I 1 am at odds with you sir faith I 1 disagree with you entirely upon my soul I 1 have never seen his lordship in a better condl alon and better plumed for service A worm in his head say you God sakes never believe it his wits wear to a knife edge with practice and who Is this that dares pass questions on his lordship he cries in a sharp clear tone come I 1 should like to look on him attentively he says that I 1 might know him again he must be a fellow worth tance it for his future only I 1 prom ise you that shall be secured to him and that he shall know very soon the poor wretch was in so pitiable a way that I 1 found it in my heart to be sorry for him and after all he had served me very kindly at the start so I 1 spoke up rising in my seat and bowing my lord I 1 said the gentleman says well though to him that my remarks in praise of yourself were addressed I 1 was mistook not on you that his comment waa dl erected 1 I am in your debt sir he said for your defense of me you do well I 1 warrant jeffreys has still his wits about him he has an eye for a rogue sir you will do him the jus alce to acknowledge that I 1 hope on our better acquaintance and be laughed somewhat harshly and eyed the board as it inviting a round of ac cla matlon the miserable time servers cackled their loudest and his lordship turning again to me 1 I should know your face says be and offers a kind of wink to the company als no wonder my lord I 1 an pat as you will tl almost as well known as your lordships lord ships and almost as favorably received ha be cried with his cold and bitter laugh I 1 knew not that I 1 was unawares entertaining a rival A learned roan in the law Is this gentleman no doubt well sir I 1 will be greedy of your advice while I 1 may look you there waa a man tried afore me this day that had rum padded a civil and innocent gentleman upon the lings highway and faith the rascal was rash enough to venture into the company of his victim to dinner what dye say to that what sort of sentence would ye deliver on the wretch how was he took said I 1 well said his lordship after a pause and smiling towards the door 1 I fancy the sheriffs officers were summoned upon him nay said I 1 then had I 1 been justice since he was took I 1 would ha hanged him for a poor wit that served him no surer than to be BO took ills lordships lord ships smile stole farther up hla face and opened his lips so that the white teeth shone and he smiled in an ugly fashion to the fellow next him you hear that my lord says he in his sneering way faith they will presently be saying that he alid not deal justice to dame alice lisle the man that ho addressed winced and smiled uneasily for well known that the popular feeling ran high upon the scandalous trial which was but newly concluded though I 1 wondered to hear the prime engine of that infamous conviction jest so wan tonly upon it he said you have a alg nal charter for our tongue I 1 can per belve it Is a righteous conscience keeps you in countenance you are bold upon your virtues I 1 have met your kidney before and it I 1 must hang a knave I 1 prefer to hang one with an insolent front to him that swivels snivels I 1 would disembowel t other in the pillory there Is too much softness in this modern justice my lord says I 1 you speak my feelings like a book faith I 1 would griddle the canting rogue with these two hands atwould be strange to learn sir rah said his lordship to me out of a natural curiosity what robbed thee of thy senses to fetch thee here als an odd new policy for the hare to lie down with the fox with that I 1 got to my feet my lord said I 1 very boldly and in a public voice 1 I have come here unan voted true and I 1 proffer you my apologies for the trespass but I 1 have come upon a pressing private business with your lordship his lordship stared at me with a couf look in bis eye Indeed says he harshly I 1 am not used to have any business with one of your kidney and that not private be says my lord said I 1 the most urgent message and reedeth instant de livery well said he in his tyrannical fashion I 1 hope we shall hear good of this message for I 1 swear it I 1 do not I 1 will have thee hanged the higher and he motioned to me to draw nearer at the same time that the other gentlemen of the king s counsel withdrew to the bottom of the room conversing together but the officers approached and stood a little way off by jeffreys signal but keep ing out of earshot who are you fellow and what pretenses are these you make asked his lordship roughly as soon as we were alone but examining me with curiosity my lord said I 1 1 I make no pre tenses as I 1 shall assure you and as for fay self believe me that I 1 play a truer part than does appear lie started and stared at me under his brows in suspicion what prince he asked brusquely there Is but one said I 1 boldly and one that shall rest so no longer by gods grace and the trusty arma of england you mean the prince of orange he asked in a lower I 1 nodded you are a bold man he said to bring me this message 1 I would do that and more than that for the good of the cause said 1 jeffreys was silent and then come what Is this message then ho inquired with a sardonic glance events have been stirring in the low country said I 1 as your lord ship will bo aware the whole of the north Is disaffected against his majesty it needs but to land I 1 said and your lordship knows what might happen 1 I think sir we were to come to quarters said jeffreys in a low voice but still in his imperious way well it he would take it he was to have it then and there the prince says I 1 whispering Is already landed he started before my eyes but recovering himself I 1 have had runners from plymouth this afternoon he said and there was no news of am port nay said L it was not from plymouth I 1 come my lord you remind me of my duty he exclaimed deliver this message tor I 1 can tarry no longer my lord said I 1 1 I would have come to it sooner were it not for your distrust I 1 am charged by the prince himself no less I 1 have rid den all day upon a circuit three noblemen were named and your lord ship also the prince lies on english soil tonight and would confer with these tour faithful subjects this Is very well you make an excellent liar he said you would come here and offer me a cock and bull tale thinking me a lack wit to see you so impudently stand in your jle my lord said I 1 as warm as may be see in what my position stands I 1 am como here penetrating to your very fireside I 1 staked my head upon the risk als in your office to sound a word and these fellows will take me forth upon a capital charge of treason I 1 have cast my die for the good cause yet my death which would be an evil to me in that casor would profit you nothing my lord nay less than nothing in the coming trouble again he paused the chief justice of this realm does not parley with treason said he but I 1 had a glimpse of the man now I 1 saw what tear ran in his blood he would not have kept me haggling there if be had it not in his heart to coquette |