To which they gave her
no answer, but made as if they heard her not.
CHESTER. Only Justice Chester was often up with this, He is
convicted, and it is recorded.
WOMAN. If it be, it is false, said she.
CHESTER. My lord, said Justice Chester, he is a pestilent fellow;
there is not such a fellow in the country again.
TWISDON. What, will your husband leave preaching? If he will do so,
then send for him.
WOMAN. My lord, said she, he dares not leave preaching as long as he
can speak.
TWISDON. See here: what should we talk any more about such a fellow?
Must he do what he lists? He is a breaker of the peace.
WOMAN. She told him again, that he desired to live peaceably and to
follow his calling, that his family might be maintained; and
moreover said, My lord, I have four small children that cannot help
themselves, of which one is blind; and we have nothing to live upon
but the charity of good people.
HALE. Whereat Justice Hale, looking very soberly on the matter,
said, Alas, poor woman!
TWISDON. But Judge Twisdon told her that she made poverty her cloak;
and said, moreover, that he understood I was maintained better by
running up and down a preaching, than by following my calling.
HALE. What is his calling? said Judge Hale.
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