indeed, they were not at their ease in them. "After this they proceeded to examine me about certain things in my life and conversation. I marvelled what charges would be brought against me, for, though I am not blameless, God knows, yet I have always walked soberly and discreetly, even denying myself in what I judged to be lawful recreations that I might not give offence to any; for I know that in these times any stick is good enough to beat a dog withal, especially if the dog be a poor parson. "'We are credibly informed,' says Master President, 'that you have been seen coursing hares on the Sabbath day. What say you to this?' "For a while I could say nothing, having no remembrance of anything that could be made to bear such a colour; but at the last I remembered something that might by great malice and ingenuity be so interpreted. My brother going abroad after Naseby fight, gave me a greyhound to keep, and though I cared not much for the beast, this kind of dog having but little in him of wit or of affection, I received him for his master's sake. Well, walking abroad one Sunday evening, for the poor creature had been kept at home for some days by ill-weather, a hare chanced to cross my path, which the dog, almost before I could speak his name, had caught and killed. I thought that none had been offended in the matter, save, may be, my patron, and his pardon I had, when I confessed my offence to him. Master President looked mighty grave when I told my story, and said that the Court would consider it. "After this breaks in another Commissioner with, 'We have been informed, Master Parson, that you were seen to stand by a bonfire some three years since.' "''Tis true,' said I, 'I do remember hearing a great shouting in the village; I went forth and found three parts, as I should guess, of my parishioners assembled about a bonfire, but I had no other concern with it.' "'Know you not,' said the Commissioner, 'that there is something superstitious and papistical about bonfires?' "'This, at the least,' said I, 'was not papistical, for 'twas lighted on the fifth of November, and the people had burned--for so I heard, being myself too late to see it--the effigies of the Pope of Rome.' "Then another Commissioner had his turn at me. 'We have heard that you suffer your children to play at cards for pins. Is this so?' "'Am I bound,' said I, 'to answer any question to my own damage?' (For I was minded to have a little sport with them.) "'We shall know how to interpret your silence,' says Master President.