n plain terms,
swearing he would never serve him another day. But whether he altered
his mind on cooler reflection, or was lectured by his wife, who well
understood her own interest, he rose with the cock, and went again in
quest of Sir Launcelot, whom he found on the eve of a very hazardous
enterprise.

"In the midst of a lane, the knight happened to meet with a party of
about forty recruits, commanded by a serjeant, a corporal, and a drummer,
which last had his drum slung at his back; but seeing such a strange
figure mounted on a high-spirited horse, he was seized with an
inclination to divert his company. With this view, he braced his drum,
and, hanging it in its proper position, began to beat a point of war,
advancing under the very nose of Bronzomarte; while the corporal
exclaimed, 'D--n my eyes, who have we got here?--old King Stephen, from
the horse armoury in the Tower, or the fellow that rides armed at my Lord
Mayor's show?' The knight's steed seemed, at least, as well pleased with
the sound of the drum, as were the recruits that followed it; and
signified his satisfaction in some curvetings and caprioles, which did
not at all discompose the rider, who, addressing himself to the serjeant,
'Friend,' said he, 'you ought to teach your drummer better manners. I
would chastise the fellow on the spot for his insolence, were it not out
of the respect I bear to his majesty's service.' 'Respect mine a--!'
cried this ferocious commander; what, d'ye think to frighten us with your
pewter piss-pot on your skull, and your lacquered pot-lid on your arm?
Get out of the way, and be d--ned, or I'll raise with my halbert such a
clatter upon your target, that you'll remember it the longest day you
have to live.' At that instant, Crabshaw arriving upon Gilbert, 'So,
rascal,' said Sir Launcelot, 'you are returned. Go and beat in that
scoundrel's drum-head.'

"The squire, who saw no weapons of offence about the drummer but a sword,
which he hoped the owner durst not draw, and being resolved to exert
himself in making atonement for his desertion, advanced to execute his
master's orders; but Gilbert, who liked not the noise, refused to proceed
in the ordinary way. Then the squire, turning his tail to the drummer,
he advanced in a retrograde motion, and with one kick of his heels, not
only broke the drum into a thousand pieces, but laid the drummer in the
mire, with such a blow upon his hip-bone, that he halted all the days of