2d T. By'r lady; but that mun not serve their
turns; for we must know flatly which was plantan
and which defendam,[27] or we shall discharge but a
sorry conscience to the king's justice.
1st T. I'll take my oath upon the corporal Bible,
I saw two glittering swords run a tilt, and two to
that, if need be.
2d T. Neighbours, I cannot tell; we are old
men, or should be at least; some of us have lived
threescore years and upwards in a parish, as they
say; I name nobody; and therefore it is good to be
sure, and make all our tales bonum fidrum: for we
are not all one man's children. And yet, if I be
not mistaken, I am sure I saw three more, and
glittering ones indeed, as you call them. God bless
every good man and woman from the like! They
e'en yearned my heart; and yet, by my fay, I am
a hundred and two, come the time.
3d T. You talk like sucking infants. Neighbours,
I'll be sworn, if I were to take my oath before
the best man living, high or low, there was
twenty drawn swords, little and great. I'm sure,
I might ha' seen 'em, like a fool, had I been worth
my head, but my little boy Jack did.
1st T. La, there; and that same's a murrain
wise boy, if you mark him, and will see a thing, I
warrant you, as soon as the wisest of us all, were
he twice as old again.
3d T. I could ha' seen too at his bigness, for all
I'm lame now, God help us! You remember the
Powder Plot?
2d T. Powder Plot, quotha! I shall not forget
it, while the world stands.
1st T. Nor I, were I to die a thousand deaths.
3d T. That very day was I working in our garret.
2d T. Say you so?