In May the superior court sat at Westminster. Thirty-six Yorkers were in jail. Their offence consisted in rescuing two cows from an officer who had seized them because their owners had refused to do military duty on the frontier or to pay for substitutes. Ethan Allen was there by order of Governor Chittenden, with one hundred Green Mountain Boys, to aid the court. Three prisoners were discharged for want of evidence, three more because they were minors. Allen, hearing of this, entered the court-room in his military dress, large three-cornered hat profusely ornamented with gold lace, and a large sword swinging by his side. Breathless with haste, he bowed to Chief Justice Robinson and began attacking the attorneys. Robinson told him the court would gladly listen to him as a citizen, but not as a military man in a military dress. Allen threw his hat on the table and unbuckled his sword, exclaiming: "For forms of government let fools contest; whate'er is best administered is best." Observing the judges whispering together, he said: "I said that fools might contest, not your honors, not your honors." To the state's attorney, Noah Smith, he said: "I would have the young gentleman know that with my logic and reasoning from the eternal fitness of things, I can upset his Blackstones, his whitestones, his gravestones, and his brimstones." Then he continued: Fifty miles I have come through the woods with my brave men to support the civil with the military arm, to quell any disturbances should they arise, and to aid the sheriff and court in prosecuting these Yorkers, the enemies of our noble State. I see, however, that some of them, by the quirks of this artful lawyer, Bradley, are escaping from the punishment they so richly deserve, and I find also, that this little Noah Smith is far from understanding his business, since he at one moment moves for a prosecution and in the next wishes to withdraw it. Let me warn your honors to be on your guard lest these delinquents should slip through your fingers and thus escape the rewards so justly due their crimes. Allen then put on his hat, buckled on his sword, and departed with great dignity. CHAPTER XVII. ALLEN AT GUILFORD.--"ORACLES OF REASON."--JOHN STARK.--ST. JOHN DE CRÈVECŒUR.--HONORS TO ALLEN.--SHAY'S REBELLION.--SECOND MARRIAGE. In 1782 the rebellious York element in Windham County again called Ethan to the field. In Guilford forty-six men ambushed and fired on Allen's party in the evening. Allen, knowing the terror of his name, entering Guilford on foot, uttered this proclamation: "I, Ethan Allen, do declare that I will give no quarter to the man, woman, or child who shall oppose me, and unless the inhabitants of Guilford peacefully submit to the authority of Vermont, I swear that I will lay it as desolate as Sodom and Gomorrah by God."