"Your Case is hard, Son _Dancey_, but I can onlie say for your Comfort, that, soe far as Honesty and Justice are concerned, if mine owne Father, whom I reverence dearly, stoode before me on the one Hand, and the Devil, whom I hate extremely, on the other, yet, the Cause of the latter being just, I shoulde give the Devil his Due." _Giles Heron_ hath found this to his Cost. Presuming on his near Connexion with my Father, he refused an equitable Accommodation of a Suit, which, thereon, coming into Court, _Father's_ Decision was given flat agaynst him. [Illustration: The Beggar-Woman's Dog.] His Decision agaynst _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 the 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 impartial Justice; and thou, Dame _Alice_, come up hither, because thou art of the 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 the 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," sayth _Mother_, "I won't mind giving thee a Piece of Gold;" soe the Bargain was satisfactorily concluded. _Father's_ Despatch of Businesse is such, that, one Morning before the End of Term, he was tolde there was noe other Cause nor Petition to be sett before him; the which, being a Case unparalleled, he desired mighte be formally recorded. He ne'er commences Businesse in his owne Court without first stepping into the Court of King's Bench, and there kneeling down to receive my Grandfather's Blessing. _Will_ sayth 'tis worth a World to see the Unction with which the deare old Man bestows it on him. In Rogation-week, following the Rood as usuall round the Parish, _Heron_ counselled him to go a Horseback for the greater Seemlinesse, but he made Answer that 'twoulde be unseemlie indeede for the Servant to ride after his Master going afoot. His Grace of _Norfolk_, coming yesterday to dine with him, finds him in the Church-choir, singing, with a Surplice on. "What?" cries the _Duke_, as they walk Home together, "my _Lord Chancellor_ playing the Parish-clerk? Sure, you dishonour 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 honouring _his_ Master." Sure, 'tis pleasant to heare _Father_ taking the upper Hand of these great Folks: and to have 'em coming and going, and waiting his Pleasure, because he is the Man whom the King delighteth to honour.