"No time for words! Captain Bottle, you and worthy Master Underhill, testify to this officer my name, the name half London knows me by as a player of the lord chamberlain's company! This lady will have it I am one Sir Valentine Fleetwood. Speak my true name, therefore, upon your oath."
Hal had said enough to inform both Kit and Anthony what name was wanted on this occasion, and the captain instantly answered:
"I will swear to this officer—an thou call'st him such—and maintain it with my sword against any man in England, that thou art no Sir Valentine Fleetwood, but art Master Harry Marryott, and none other, of the lord chamberlain's servants!"
"'Tis the simple truth," said Anthony Underhill, glowering coldly upon the constable. "I will take oath thereto."
The constable held up three fingers of one hand, on Hal's side, and two fingers of the other hand, on Anne's side, and said to her:
"Mistress, here be three oaths against two; thou'rt clearly outsworn!"
"Perjurers!" said Anne, facing Master Marryott and his men.
"Nay, nay, madam!" quoth the constable, becoming severe on the victorious side. "An there be charge of perjury in the case, look to thyself! Since these three have sworn truly, it followeth that thy two oaths be false oaths!"
"Rascal!" cried Hal. "Do you dare accuse this lady of false swearing?"
"Why, why, surely your three oaths be true—"