ied to sleep until the wearisome
business should be ended. When, to my dismay, I was aroused by our
honoured neighbour Mistress Fell standing upright on the seat of her
pew, shrieking with a loud voice: "We are all thieves, we are all
thieves!" This was after the Ranter had finished. While he was yet
speaking, she continued to gaze on him, so says my wife, as if she
were drinking in every word. But afterwards, having loosed this
exclamation about thieves (and she a Justice's wife, forsooth!) she
sat down in her pew once more and began to weep bitterly.'

'Yes,' interrupted Lampitt, who had also come alongside by this time,
'and he continued to pour forth foul speeches, how that God was come
to teach His people by His own spirit, and to bring them off from all
their old ways and religions and churches and worships, for that they
were all out of the life and spirit, that they was in that gave them
forth.... And so on, until our good friend here,' indicating Sawrey,
'being a Justice of the Peace, called out to the churchwardens, "Take
him away, take the fellow away." Whereat Mistress Fell must needs rise
up again and say to the officers, "Why may he not speak as well as
any other? Let him alone!" And I, willing to humour her----'

'Yes, more fool you,' interrupted Sawrey rudely, 'you must needs echo
her, and cry, "Let him alone!" else had I safely and securely clapped
him into the stocks.'

Judge Fell, who had listened with obviously growing impatience, now
broke away from his vociferous companions. Crying once more, 'I thank
you, Sirs, for your well-meant courtesy, but now I pray you to excuse
me and allow me to hasten to my home,' he broke away from the
restraining hands laid upon his bridle and galloped over the sands.
His attendants, who had been waiting at a little distance just out of
earshot, eagerly joined him, and the three figures gradually grew
smaller and then disappeared into the distance.

The other group of riders departed on their different ways homewards,
well satisfied with their day's work. Not without a parting shot from
fat Captain Sands as they separated. Raising his whip he said
mockingly as he pointed at the Judge's figure riding away in urgent
haste: 'Let us hope he may not find the Fox too Foxy when he expels
him from his earth!'

FOOTNOTES:

[10] 'Being beloved,' the historian says, 'for his justice, wisdom,
moderation, and mercy.'

[11] 'The sands are left uncovered at low water to a