Teu thousand sweet pleasures I felt in my breast; With such a companion, to tend a few sheep, My fair-one is gone, and my joys are all drown'd, And my heart-I am sure it weighs more than a pound. III. The fountain that wont to run sweetly along, And dance to soft murmurs the pebbles among: Thou know'st, little Cupid, if Phoebe was there, 'Twas pleasure to look at, 'twas music to hear: But now she is absent I walk by its side, And still as it murmurs do nothing but chide. Must you be so cheerful while I go in pain? Peace there with your bubbling, and hear me complain. IV When my lambkins around me would oftentimes play, I fling at their fleeces a handful of grass: V. My dog I was ever well pleased to see Come wagging his tail to my fair one and me; And Phoebe was pleased, too, and to my dog said, Come hither, poor fellow; and patted his head. But now, when he's fawning, I with a sour look Cry, Sirrah! and give him a blow with my crook: And I'll give him another; for why should not Tray Be as dull as his master, when Phoebe's away? VI. When walking with Phoebe, what sights have I seen! How fair was the flower, how fresh was the green! What a lovely appearance the trees and the shade. The corn-fields and hedges, and every thing made! But now she has left me, though all are still there, They none of them now so delightful appear: 'Twas nought but the magic, I find, of her eyes, Made so many beautiful prospects arise. VIL Sweet music went with us both all the wood thro', The lark, linnet, throstle, and nightingale too; Winds over us whisper'd, flocks by us did bleat, And chirp went the grasshopper under our feet. But now she is absent, though still they sing on, The woods are but lonely, the melody's gone: Iler voice in the concert, as now I have found, Gave every thing else its agreeable sound. VIII. Rose, what is become of thy delicate hue? And where is the violet's beautiful blue? Does ought of its sweetness the blossom beguile? That meadow, those daisies, why do they not smile? Ah! rivals, I see what it was that you dress'd And made yourselves fine for; a place on her breast; You put on your colours to pleasure her eye, To be pluck'd by her hand, on her bosom to die. IX. How slowly Time creeps, till my Phoebe return! While amidst the soft zephyr's cool breezes I burn! Methinks if I knew whereabouts he would tread, I could breathe on his wings, and 'twould melt down the lead. Fly swifter, ye minutes, bring hither my dear, Nor will budge one foot faster for all thou canst say. X Will no pitying power that hears me complain, Or cure my disquiet, or soften my pain? To be cur'd, thou must, Colin, thy passion remove; But what swain is so silly to live without love? No, deity, bid the dear nymph to return, For ne'er was poor shepherd so sadly forlorn. Ah! what shall I do? I shall die with despair! Take heed, all ye swains, how ye love one so fair. No. 604.] FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1714. Tu ne quæsieris (scire nefas) quem mihi, quem tibi, Ah, do not strive too much to know, What the kind gods design to tio With me and thee.-CRITCH. THE desire of knowing future events is one of the strongest inclinations in the mind of man. Indeed, an ability of foreseeing probable accidents is what, in the language of men, is called wisdom and prudence; but, not satisfied with the light that reason holds out, mankind hath endeavoured to penetrate more compendiously into futurity. Magic, oracles, omens, lucky hours, and the various arts of superstition, owe their rise to this powerful cause. As this principle is founded in self-love, every ma is sure to be solicitous in the first place about hu own fortune, the course of his life, and the time and manner of his death. If we consider that we are free-agents, we shal discover the absurdity of such inquiries. One of our actions, which we might have performed cr neglected, is the cause of another that succeeds it, and so the whole chain of life is linked together. Pain, poverty, or infamy, are the natural product of vicious and imprudent acts, as the contrary blessings are of good ones; so that we cannot sup pose our lot to be determined without impiety. A great enhancement of pleasure arises from its being unexpected; and pain is doubled by being foreseen. Upon all these, and several other accounts, w ought to rest satisfied in this portion bestowed an us; to adore the hand that hath fitted every thing to our nature, and hath not more displayed his good. ness in our knowledge than in our ignorance. It is not unworthy observation, that superstition inquiries into future events prevail more or less, in proportion to the improvement of liberal arts and useful knowledge in the several parts of the world. Accordingly we find, that magical incantations remain in Lapland; in the more remote parts af Scotland they have their second sight; and several of our own countrymen see abundance of fairies. In Asia this credulity is strong; and the greatest part of refined learning there consists in the know ledge of amulets, talismans, occult numbers, and the like. When I was at Grand Cairo I fell into the acquaintance of a good-natured mussulman, who promised me many good offices which he designed to do me when he became the prime-minister, which was a fortune bestowed on his imagination by a doctor very deep in the curious sciences. At his repeated solicitations I went to learn my destiny of this wonderful sage. For a small sum I had his promise, but was required to wait in a dark apart ment until he had run through the preparatory ceremonies. Having a strong propensity, even then, to dreaming, I took a nap upon the sofa where I was placed, and had the following vision, the particulars whereof I picked up the other day among my papers. I found myself in an unbounded plain, where methought the whole world, in several habits and with different tongues, was assembled. The maltitude glided swiftly along, and I found in myself a strong inclination to mingle in the train. My eyes quickly singled out some of the splendid figures. Several in rich caftans and glittering turbans bustled through the throng, and trampled over the 1 bodies of those they threw down; until, to my great surprise, I found that the great pace they went only hastened them to a scaffold or a bowstring. Many beautiful damsels on the other side moved forward with great gaiety; some danced until they fell all along; and others painted their faces until they lost their noses. A tribe of creatures with busy looks falling into a fit of laughter at the misfortunes of the unhappy ladies, I turned my eyes upon them. They were each of them filling his pockets with gold and jewels, and when there was no room left these wretches, looking round with fear and horror, pined away before my face with famine and discontent. for more, 685 to it, with both of which I shall here present my reader : "MR. SPECTATOR, "Finding that you have entertained a useful person in your service in quality of love-casuist, I I have a apply myself to you, under a very great difficulty, that hath for some months perplexed me. couple of humble servants, one of which I have no aversion to: the other I think of very kindly. The first hath the reputation of a man of good sense, and is one of those people that your sex are apt to value. My spark is reckoned a coxcomb among the men, but is a favourite of the ladies. If i marry the man of worth as they call him, I shall oblige my parents, and improve my fortune: but with my dear beau I promise myself happiness, although not a jointure. Now I would ask you, whether I should consent to lead my life with a man that I have only no objection to, or with him against whom all objections to me appear frivolous. I am determined to follow the casuist's advice, and I dare say he will not put me upon so serious a "FANNY FICKLE. thing as matrimony contrary to my inclinations. "I am, &c. About half an hour ago he maintained to my face that a patch always implies a pimple." This prospect of human misery struck me dumb for some miles. Then it was that, to disburden my mind, I took pen and ink, and did every thing that has since happened under my office of Spectator. While I was employing myself for the good of mankind, I was surprised to meet with very unsuitable returns from my fellow-creatures. Never was poor author so beset with pamphleteers, who sometimes marched directly against me, but oftener shot at me from strong bulwarks, or rose up suddenly in "P. S. I forgot to tell you that the pretty genambush. They were of all characters and capacities; some with ensigns of dignity, and others in tleman is the most complaisant creature in the liveries;* but what most surprised me was to see world, and is always of my mind; but the other, two or three in black gowns among my enemies. It forsooth, fancies he hath as much wit as myself, was no small trouble to me, sometimes to have a slights my lapdog, and hath the insolence to contraman come up to me with an angry face, and re-dict me when he thinks I am not in the right. proach me for having lampooned him when I had never seen or heard of him in my life. With the ladies it was otherwise; many became my enemies for not being particularly pointed out as there were others who resented the satire which they imagined I had directed against them. My great comfort was in the company of half a dozen friends, who I found since were the club which I have so often mentioned in my papers. I laughed often at Sir Roger in my sleep, and was the more diverted with Will Honeycomb's gallantries (when we after ward became acquainted), because I had foreseen his marriage with a farmer's daughter. The regret which arose in my mind upon the death of my companions, my anxieties for the public, and the many calamities still fleeting before my eyes, made me repent my curiosity; when the magician entered the room, and awakened me, by telling me (when it was too late) that he was just going to begin. N. B. I have only delivered the prophecy of that part of my life which is past, it being inconvenient to divulge the second part until a more proper opportunity. No. 605.1 MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1714. As I look upon it to be my duty rather to side, with the parents than the daughter, I shall propose some considerations to my gentle querist, which may incline her to comply with those under whose direction she is; and at the same time convince her that it is not impossible but she may, in time, have a true affection for him who is at present indifferent to her; or, to use the old family maxim, that," if she marries first, love will come after." The only objection that she seems to insinuate against the gentleman proposed to her, is his want of complaisance, which, I perceive, she is very Now I can discover from this willing to return. very circumstance, that she and her lover, whatever they may think of it, are very good friends in their hearts. It is difficult to determine whether love delights more in giving pleasure or pain. Let Miss Fickle ask her own heart, if she doth not take a secret pride in making this man of good sense look very silly. Hath she ever been better pleased than when her behaviour hath made her lover ready to hang himself; or doth she ever rejoice more than when she thinks she hath driven him to the very brink of a purling stream? Let her consider, at the same time, that it is not impossible but her lover may have discovered her tricks, and hath a mind to VIRG. Georg. ii. 51. give her as good as she brings. I remember a handsome young baggage that treated a hopeful They change their savage mind, Greek of my acquaintance, just come from Oxford, Their wildness lose, and, quitting nature's part, as if he had been a barbarian. The first week after Obey the rules and discipline of art.-DRYDEN. she had fixed him she took a pinch of snuff out of his rival's box, and apparently touched the enemy's little finger. She became a professed enemy to the arts and sciences, and scarce ever wrote a letter to him without wilfully mispelling his name. young scholar, to be even with her, railed at coquettes as soon as he had got the word; and did not want parts to turn into ridicule her men of wit After having irritated and pleasure of the town. one another for the space of five months, she made Exuerint sylvestrem animum; cultuque frequenti, HAVING perused the following letter, and finding it to run upon the subject of love, I referred it to the learned casuist, whom I have retained in my service for speculations of that kind. He returned it to me the next morning with his report annexed The hirelings and black gowns employed by the administration in the last year of the Queen's reign, Dr. Swift, Prior, Atterbury, Dr. Friend, Dr. King, Mr. Oldsworth, Mrs. D. Mauley, and the writers of the Examiner, &c. The an assignation with him fourscore miles from Lon-sooner dark than she conveyed into his room a don. But, as he was very well acquainted with her young maid of no disagreeable figure, who was one pranks, he took a journey the quite contrary way. of her attendants, and did not want address to imAccordingly they met, quarrelled, and in a few days prove the opportunity for the advancement of her were married. Their former hostilities are now the fortune. She made so good use of her time, that subject of their mirth, being content at present with when she offered to rise a little before day, the king that part of love only which bestows pleasure. could by no means think of parting with her; sa that finding herself under a necessity of discovering who she was, she did it in so handsome a manter, that his majesty was exceedingly gracious to her, and took her ever after under his protection: inse much, that our chronicles tell us he carried her along with him, made her his first minister of state, and continued true to her alone, until his marriage with the beautiful Elfrida. Women who have been married some time, not having it in their heads to draw after them a numerous train of followers, find their satisfaction in the possession of one man's heart. I know very well that ladies in their bloom desire to be excused in this particular. But, when time hath worn out their natural vanity and taught them discretion, their fondness settles on its proper object. And it is probably for this reason that, among husbands, you will find more that are fond of women beyond their prime than of those who are actually in the No. 606.] WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1714. insolence of beauty. My reader will apply the same observation to the other sex. I need not insist upon the necessity of their pursuing one common interest, and their united care for their children; but shall only observe, by the way, that married persons are both more warm in their love and more hearty in their hatred than any others whatsoever. Mutual favours and obligations, which may be supposed to be greater here than in any other state, naturally beget an intense affection in generous minds. As, on the contrary, persons who have bestowed such favours have a particular bitterness in their resentments, when they think themselves ill treated by those of whom they have deserved so much. Besides, Miss Fickle may consider, that as there are often many faults concealed before marriage, so there are sometimes many virtues unobserved. To this we may add, the great efficacy of custom and constant conversation to produce a mutual friendship and benevolence in two persons. It is a nice reflection which I have heard a friend of mine make, that you may be sure a woman loves a man when she uses his expressions, tells his stories, or imitates his manner. This gives a secret delight; for imitation is a kind of artless flattery, and mightily favours the powerful principle of self love. It is certain that married persons who are possessed with a mutual esteem, not only catch the air and way of talk from one another, but fall into the same traces of thinking and liking. Nay, some have carried the remark so far as to assert, that the features of man and wife grow, in time, to resemble one another. Let my fair correspondent therefore consider, that the gentleman recommended will have a good deal of her own face in two or three years; which she must not expect from the beau, who is too full of his dear self to copy after another. And I dare appeal to her own judgment, if that person will not be the handsomest that is the most like herself. We have a remarkable instance to our present purpose in the history of King Edgar, which I shall here relate, and leave it with my fair correspondent to be applied to herself. Longum cantu solata laborem Arguto conjux percurrit pectine telas.-VIRG. Georg. i 293. mean time at home The good wife singing plies the various loom. "MR. SPECTATOR, "I HAVE a couple of nieces under my direction, who so often run gadding abroad, that I do not know where to have them. Their dress, their tea, and their visits, take up all their time, and they go to bed as tired with doing nothing as I am after quilting a whole under-petticoat. The only time they are not idle is while they read your Spectators: which being dedicated to the interests of virtue, I desire you to recommend the long-neglected art of needle-work. Those hours which in this age are thrown away in dress, play, visits, and the like, were employed, in my time, in writing out receipts, or working beds, chairs, and hangings for the family. For my part, I have plied my needle these fifty years, and by my good-will would never have it out of my hand. It grieves my heart to see a couple of proud idle flirts sipping their tea, for a whole afternoon, in a room hung round with the industry of their great-grandmother. Pray, Sir, take the laudable mystery of embroidery into your serious consideration, and, as you have a great deal of the virtue of the last age in you, continue your endeavours to reform the present. "I am," &c. In obedience to the commands of my venerable correspondent, I have daly weighed this important subject, and promise myself, from the arguments here laid down, that all the fine ladies of England will be ready, as soon as their mourning is over, to appear covered with the work of their own hands. What a delightful entertainment must it be to the fair sex, whom their native modesty, and the tenderness of men towards them, exempt from public business, to pass their hours in imitating fruits and flowers, and transplanting all the beauties of nature their closets and apartments! How pleasing is the into their own dress, or raising a new creation in amusement of walking among the shades and groves planted by themselves, in surveying heroes slain by brought into the world without pain! their needle, or little Cupids which they have This great monarch, who is so famous in British story, fell in love, as he made his progress through his kingdom, with a certain duke's daughter, who a lady can show a fine genius; and I cannot forbear This is, methinks, the most proper way wherein lived near Winchester, and was the most celebrated wishing that several writers of that sex had chosen beauty of the age. His importunities and the vio-to apply themselves rather to tapestry than rhyme. lence of his passion were so great, that the mother Your pastoral poetesses may vent their fancy in of the young lady promised him to bring her daugh-rural landscapes, and place despairing shepherds ter to his bed the next night, though in her heart she abhorred so infamous an office. It was no • Public mourning on the death of Queen Anne. under silken willows, or drown them in a stream of mohair. The heroic writers may work up battles as successfully, and inflame them with gold or stain them with crimson. Even those who have only a turn to a song, or an epigram, may put many valuable stitches into a purse, and crowd a thousand graces into a pair of garters. If I may, without breach of good manners, imagine that any pretty creature is void of genius, and would perform her part herein but very awkwardly, I must nevertheless insist upon her working, if it be only to keep her out of harm's way. Another argument for busying good women in works of fancy is, because it takes them off from scandal, the usual attendant of tea-tables, and all other inactive scenes of life. While they are forming their birds and beasts, their neighbours will be allowed to be the fathers of their own children; and whig and tory will be but seldom mentioned where the great dispute is, whether blue or red is the more proper colour. How much greater glory would Sophronia do the general, if she would choose rather to work the battle of Blenheim in tapestry, than signalize herself with so much vehemence against those who are Frenchmen in their hearts! His limbs, when fate the hero's soul demands, Thus she. Nor did my friends mistrust the guile. No. 607.] FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1714. The prey is fallen in my successful toils.-ANON. "MR. SPECTATOR, "HAVING in your paper of Monday last published my report on the case of Mrs. Fanny Fickle, wherein I have taken notice that love comes after mar that as love generally produces matrimony, so it riage; I hope your readers are satisfied of this truth, often happens that matrimony produces love. "It perhaps requires more virtues to make a good the most shining character whatsoever. A third reason that I shall mention, is the profit that is brought to the family where these pretty arts are encouraged. It is manifest that this way of life not only keeps fair ladies from running out into ex-husband or wife than what go to the finishing any penses, but is at the same time an actual improvement. How memorable would that matron be, who shall have it subscribed upon her monument, "that she wrought out the whole Bible in tapestry, and died in a good old age, after having covered three hundred yards of wall in the mansion-house!" The premises being considered, I humbly submit the following proposals to all mothers in Great Britain: 1. That no young virgin whatsoever be allowed to receive the addresses of her first lover, but in a suit of her own embroidering. II. That before every fresh humble servant, she be obliged to appear with a new stomacher at the least. III. That no one be actually married until she hath the child-bed pillows, &c. ready stitched, as likewise the mantle for the boy quite finished. These laws, if I mistake not, would effectually restore the decayed art of needle-work, and make the virgins of Great Britain exceedingly nimble-fingered in their business. "Discretion seems absolutely necessary; and accordingly we find that the best husbands have been most famous for their wisdom. Homer, who hath drawn a perfect pattern of a prudent man, to make it the more complete, hath celebrated him for the just returns of fidelity and truth to his Penelope; insomuch that he refused the caresses of a goddess for her sake; and, to use the expression of the best of Pagan authors, Vetulam suam prætulit immortalitati,' his old woman was dearer to him than immortality. "Virtue is the next necessary qualification for this domestic character, as it naturally produces constancy and mutual esteem. Thus Brutus and Porcia were more remarkable for virtue and affection than any others of the age in which they lived. "Good-nature is a third necessary ingredient in the marriage state, without which it would inevitably sour upon a thousand occasions. When greatness of mind is joined with this amiable quality, it attracts the admiration and esteem of all who beThere is a memorable custom of the Grecian la-hold it. Thus Cæsar, not more remarkable for his dies in this particular preserved in Homer, which I hope will have a very good effect with my countrywomen. A widow, in ancient times, could not, without indecency, receive a second husband, until she had woven a shroud for her deceased lord, or the next of kin to him. Accordingly, the chaste Penelope, having, as she thought, lost Ulysses at sea, she employed her time in preparing a winding-sheet for Laertes, the father of her husband. The story of her web being very famous, and yet not sufficiently known in its several circumstances, I shall give it to my reader, as Homer makes one of her wooers fortune and valour than for his humanity, stole into the hearts of the Roman people, when, breaking through the custom, he pronounced an oration at the funeral of his first and best-loved wife. relate it. Sweet hope she gave to every youth apart, "Good-nature is insufficient, unless it be steady and uniform, and accompanied with an evenness of temper, which is above all things to be preserved in this friendship contracted for life. A man must be easy within himself before he can be so to his other self. Socrates and Marcus Aurelius are instances of men, who by the strength of philosophy, having entirely composed their minds, and subdued their passions, are celebrated for good husbands; notwithstanding the first was yoked with Xantippe, and the other with Faustina. If the wedded pair would but habituate themselves for the first year to bear with one another's faults, the difficulty would be pretty well conquered. This mutual sweetness of temper and complacency was finely recommended in the nuptial ceremonies among the heathens, who, when they sacrificed to Juno at that solemnity, al- | brought to the hall-door, and shall there be laid ways tore out the gall from the entrails of the vic-upon one half-quarter of wheat, and upon one other tim, and cast it behind the altar. "I shall conclude this letter with a passage out of Dr. Plot's Natural History of Staffordshire, not only as it will serve to fill up your present paper, but, if I find myself in the humour, may give rise to another; I having by me an old register belonging to the place here under mentioned. of rye. And he that demandeth the bacon shall kneel upon his knee, and shall hold his right hand upon a book, which book shall be laid upon the bacon and the corn, and shall make oath in this manner : "Here ye, Sir Philip de Somervile, lord of Whichenovre, mayntener and gyver of this baconne; that I, A. sithe I wedded B. my wife, and sithe I had hyr in my kepying, and at my wylle by a year and a day after our marriage, I would not have chaunged for none other; farer ne fowler; richer ne pourer; slepying ne waking, at noo tyme. And if the seyd B. were sole, and I sole, I would take her to be my wyfe before all the wymen of the worlde, of what condiciones soever they be, good or evylle; as help me God and his seyntes, and this flesh and all fleshes.' "Sir Philip de Somervile held the manors of Whichenovre, Scirescot, Ridware, Netherton, and Cowlee, all in the county of Stafford, of the earls of Lancaster, by this memorable service: The said Sir Philip shall find, maintain, and sustain, one bacon-ne for none other descended of greater lynage: flitch, hanging in his hall at Whichenovre ready arrayed all times of the year but in Lent, to be given to every man or woman married, after the day and the year of their marriage be past, in form following: "Whensoever that any one such before named will come to inquire for the bacon, in their own person, they shall come to the bailiff, or to the porter, of the lordship of Whichenovre, and shall say to them in the manner as ensueth : "Bailiff, or porter, I doo you to know, that I am come for myself to demand one bacon-flyke hanging in the hall of the lord of Whichenovre, after the forin thereunto belonging.' to have one horse and saddle, to such time as he be passed his lordship; and so shall they depart the manor of Whichenovre with the corn and the bacon, tofore him that hath won it, with trumpets, taborets, and other manner of minstrelsy. And all the free tenants of Whichenovre shall conduct him to be passed the lordship of Whichenovre. And then shall they all return except him to whom appertaineth to make the carriage and journey without the county of Stafford, at the costs of his lord of Whichenovre." "And his neighbours shall make oath, that they trust verily he hath said truly. And if it be found by his neighbours before named, that he be a freeman, there shall be delivered to him half-a-quarter of wheat and a cheese; and if he be a villein, be shall have a quarter of rye without cheese. And then shall Knightleye, the lord of Rudlow, be called for to carry all these things tofore rehearsed; and "After which relation, the bailiff or porter shall the said corn shall be laid on one horse, and the assigu a day to him, upon promise by his faith to bacon above it: and he to whom the bacon apperreturn, and with him to bring twain of his neigh-taineth shall ascend upon his horse, and shall take bours. And in the mean time, the said bailiff shall the cheese before him if he have a horse. And if he take with him twain of the freeholders, of the lord-have none, the lord of Whichenovre shall cause him ship of Whichenovre, and they three shall go to the manor of Rudlow, belonging to Robert Knightleye, and there shall summon the aforesaid Knightleye, or his bailiff, commanding him to be ready et Wichenovre the day appointed, at prime of day, with his carriage, that is to say, a horse and a saddle, a sack and a pryke, for to convey the said bacon and corn a journey out of the county of Stafford, at his costages. And then the said bailiff shall, with the said freeholders, summon all the tenants of the said manor, to be ready at the day appointed at Whichenovre, for to do and perform the services which they owe to the bacon. And at the day as. signed, all such as owe services to the bacon shall be ready at the gate of the manor of Whichenovre, from the sun-rising to noon, attending and awaiting for the coming of him who fetcheth the bacon.And when he is come, there shall be delivered to him and his fellows, chapelets, and to all those which shall be there, to do their services due to the bacon.to you a list of several persons, who from time to And they shall lead the said demandant with trumps time demanded the flitch of bacon of Sir Philip de and tabors, and other manner of minstrelsy, to the Somervile, and his descendants; as it is preserved hall-door, where he shall find the lord of Whiche-in an ancient manuscript, under the title of The novre, or his steward, ready to deliver the bacon in Register of Whichenovre-hall, and of the baconthis manner: flitch there maintained.' No. 608.] MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1714. The perjuries that easy maids beguile.-DRYDEN, "ACCORDING to my promise I herewith transmit "He shall inquire of him which demandeth the "In the beginning of this record, is recited the bacon, if he have brought twain of his neighbours law or institution in form, as it is already printed in with him: which must answer they be here ready.' your last paper: to which are added two bye-laws, And then the steward shall cause these two neigh-as a comment upon the general law, the substance bours to swear, if the said demandant be a wedded man, or have been a man wedded; and if since his marriage one year and a day be past; and if he be a freeman or a villein. And if his said neighbours make oath that he hath for him all these three points rehearsed, then shall the bacon be taken down and whereof is, that the wife shall take the same oath as the husband, mutatis mutandis; and that the judges shall, as they think meet, interrogate or cross-examine the witnesses. After this proceeds the regul ter in manner following: "Aubry de Falstaff, son of Sir John Falstaff, kt. with dame Maude his wife, were the first that de manded the bacon, he having bribed twain of his father's companions to swear falsely in his behoof, whereby he gained the flitch but he and his said |