window to try its
strength, but no familiarity could reconcile him to it. He found fault
with the length, the thickness, and the twist; nay, the very colour
did not please him. "Will nothing less than hanging serve?" quoth Jack.
"Won't my enemies take bail for my good behaviour? Will they accept of
a fine, or be satisfied with the pillory and imprisonment, a good round
whipping, or burning in the cheek?"

HAB.--Nothing but your blood will appease their rage; make haste, else
we shall be discovered. There's nothing like surprising the rogues. How
they will be disappointed when they hear that thou hast prevented their
revenge and hanged thine own self.

JACK.--That's true; but what if I should do it in effigies? Is there
never an old pope or pretender to hang up in my stead? We are not so
unlike but it may pass.

HAB.--That can never be put upon Sir Roger.

JACK.--Are you sure he is in the next room? Have you provided a very
sharp knife, in case of the worst?

HAB.--Dost take me for a common liar? Be satisfied, no damage can happen
to your person; your friends will take care of that.

JACK.--Mayn't I quilt my rope? It galls my neck strangely: besides, I
don't like this running knot. It holds too tight; I may be stifled all
of a sudden.

HAB.--Thou hast so many ifs and ands! prithee despatch; it might have
been over before this time.

JACK.--But now I think on't, I would fain settle some affairs, for fear
of the worst: have a little patience.

HAB.--There's no having patience, thou art such a faintling, silly
creature.

JACK.--O thou most detestable, abominable Passive Obedience! did I ever
imagine I should become thy votary, in so pregnant an instance? How will
my brother Martin laugh at this story, to see himself outdone in his own
calling! He has taken the doctrine, and left me the practice.

No sooner had he uttered these words, but, like a man of true courage,
he tied the fatal cord to the beam, fitted the noose, and mounted upon
the bottom of a tub, the inside of which he had often graced in his
prosperous days. This footstool Habakkuk kicked away, and left poor Jack
swinging like the pendulum of Paul's clock. The fatal noose performed
its office, and with most strict ligature squeezed the blood into his
face till it assumed a purple dye. While the poor man heaved from
the very bottom of his belly for breath, Habakkuk walked with great
deliberation into both the upper and lower room, to acquaint his
fr