+3d T.+ You talk like sucking infants. Neighbours, I'll be sworn, if I were to take my oath before the best man living, high or low, there was twenty drawn swords, little and great. I'm sure, I might ha' seen 'em, like a fool, had I been worth my head, but my little boy Jack did.
+1st T.+ La, there; and that same's a murrain wise boy, if you mark him, and will see a thing, I warrant you, as soon as the wisest of us all, were he twice as old again.
+3d T.+ I could ha' seen too at his bigness, for all I'm lame now, God help us! You remember the Powder Plot?
+2d T.+ Powder Plot, quotha! I shall not forget it, while the world stands.
+1st T.+ Nor I, were I to die a thousand deaths.
+3d T.+ That very day was I working in our garret.
+1st T.+ Nay, neighbours, beshrew me, this may be true; for I have known this man here able to do as tight a day's work by noon, as the tallest fellow the king keeps (God bless him!) take him from top to toe.
+3d T.+ All's one for that. Mark me! there has not been a glass window there time out of mind: since I came nor after; and I tell you truly (I'm a false liar else) I smelt the powder as hot as if it had been done the next day.
+1st T.+ See, see, the wind! the wind, neighbours, is much; God bless us!
+3d T.+ Go to; I am no made fool, though a born fool, my masters. True, the wind may be something, as you say. But if there had not been something else, I would not give a fart for't. I did not work at court with a master-carpenter for nothing, my boys; and see the king's grace fasting and full, as I did, to a hairsbreadth, as they say. Let me alone for casting my cards, give me but ground enough; and yet I can neither write nor read, heaven make me thankful!
+2d T.+ Heaven make us all thankful! I have seen the king too in my prime, and gave him a beck upon his milk-white steed; as near as one should say, what's this? and all his royal lords and ladies sporting.
+1st T.+ Ay, ay, those were the days (peace be with 'em!) a poor man's tale might be heard at court. There are some lords and ladies now were lousy then.
+3d T.+ Go thy ways, by the rood! Nay, he'll have his old talk, for all the world, up and down.
+1st T.+ It was ever my condition; I care not who knows it; and yet I never scathed the least sucking child that begs his bread; but little does another man know where the king's shoe wrings him, but those that wear it, as my mother would often say; and she lived long enough to know it.
