t of
that? Sure we know how to behave to our betters. Mr. Gobble, thanks be
to God, can defy the whole world to prove that he ever said an uncivil
word, or did a rude thing to a gentleman, knowing him to be a person of
fortune. Indeed, as to your poor gentry and riffraff, your tag-rag and
bob-tail, or such vulgar scoundrelly people, he has always behaved like a
magistrate, and treated them with the rigger of authority."--"In other
words," said the knight, "he has tyrannised over the poor, and connived
at the vices of the rich. Your husband is little obliged to you for this
confession, woman."--"Woman!" cried Mrs. Gobble, impurpled with wrath,
and fixing her hands on her sides by way of defiance, "I scorn your
words.--Marry come up! woman, quotha! no more a woman than your worship."
Then bursting into tears, "Husband," continued she, "if you had the soul
of a louse, you would not suffer me to be abused at this rate; you would
not sit still on the bench, and hear your spouse called such contemptible
epitaphs.--Who cares for his title and his knightship? You and I,
husband, knew a tailor that was made a knight; but thank God, I have
noblemen to stand by me with their privileges and beroguetifs."

At this instant Mr. Fillet returned with his friend, a practitioner in
the law, who freely offered to join in bailing our adventurer, and the
other two prisoners, for any sum that should be required. The justice
perceiving the affair began to grow more and more serious, declared that
he would discharge the warrants and dismiss the prisoners.

Here Mr. Clarke interposing, observed, that against the knight no warrant
had been granted, nor any information sworn to; consequently, as the
justice had not complied with the form of proceeding directed by statute,
the imprisonment was coram non judice, void. "Right, sir," said the
other lawyer; "if a justice commits a felon for trial without binding
over the prosecutor to the assizes, he shall be fined."--"And again,"
cried Clarke, "if a justice issues a warrant for commitment, where there
is no accusation, action will lie against the justice." "Moreover,"
replied the stranger, "if a justice of peace is guilty of any
misdemeanour in his office, information lies against him in Banco Regis,
where he shall be punished by fine and imprisonment" "And, besides,"
resumed the accurate Tom, "the same court will grant an information
against a justice of peace, on motion, for sending even a