His decision against mother was equallie impartiall, and had something comique in it. Thus it befelle. A beggar-woman's little dog, which had beene stolen from her, was offered my mother for sale, and she bought it for a jewel of no greate value. After a week or soe, the owner finds where her dog is, and cometh to make complaynt of y^e theft to father, then sitting in his hall. Sayth father, "Let's have a faire hearing in open court; thou, mistress, stand there where you be, to have impartiall justice; and thou, Dame Alice, come up hither, because thou art of y^e higher degree. Now, then, call each of you the puppy, and see which he will follow." Soe Sweetheart, in spite of mother, springs off to y^e old beggar-woman, who, unable to keep from laughing, and yet moved at mother's losse, sayth: "Tell'ee what, mistress ... thee shalt have 'un for a groat." "Nay," saith mother, "I won't mind giving thee a piece of gold;" soe the bargain was satisfactorily concluded. Father's despatch of business is such, that, one morning before the end of term, he was tolde there was no other cause nor petition to be sett before him; the which, being a case unparallelled, he desired mighte be formally recorded. He ne'er commences businesse in his owne court without first stepping into y^e court of King's Bench, and there kneeling down to receive my grandfather's blessing. Will sayth 'tis worth a world to see y^e unction with which the deare old man bestows it on him. In Rogation-week, following the Rood as usuall, round y^e parish, Heron counselled him to go a horseback for y^e greater seemlinesse, but he made answer that 'twoulde be unseemlie indeede for y^e servant to ride after his master going a-foot. His grace of Norfolk, coming yesterday to dine with him, finds him in the church-choir, singing, with a surplice on. "What!" cries y^e Duke, as they walk home together, "my Lord Chancellor playing the parish clerk? Sure, you dishonor the King and his office." "Nay," says father, smiling, "your grace must not deem that the King, your master and mine, will be offended at my honoring _his_ Master." Sure, 'tis pleasant to heare father taking y^e upper hand of these great folks: and to have 'em coming and going, and waiting his pleasure, because he is y^e man whom y^e King delighteth to honor. True, indeede, with Wolsey 'twas once y^e same; but father neede not feare y^e same ruin; because he hath Him for his friend, whom Wolsey said woulde not have forsaken him had he served Him as he served his earthly master. 'Twas a misproud priest; and there's the truth on't. And father is not misproud; and I don't believe we are; though proud of him we cannot fail to be.