athan Makepiece hath lain in the stocks for quarreling with, and
using contumacious language toward David Battle; Susannah Silence hath
sat tied in a chair, before her door, with a cleft stick upon her
tongue, for being too free in the use of that member; divers godly
persons have connected themselves with the congregation, and two
unworthy Achans been driven therefrom--the one for incontinence, until
he repent thereof, and the other for denying the just power of the
elders."

Arundel could not forbear smiling at this odd enumeration of important
events, which his informant observing, and construing into disrespect,
immediately added:

"Have a care, Master Miles Arundel, unto thyself. I wish thee well,
for thou art a proper young man, and, did the inner garnishing
correspond with the outer adornment, thou wert indeed a comely vessel
of grace; and, therefore, say I unto thee, there be other matters
touching thee more nearly than those things whereof I have spoken, and
whereat, I know not wherefore, it pleased thee to smile."

"I pray you to pardon my involuntary offence," said the young man,
"and to believe that my smiling betokened no disrespect. My mirth was
awakened by the comical pictures which thine ingenious answer conjured
before the imagination."

"I trow," said Master Prout, "they who come under the displeasure of
our magistrates, will find their punishments no such comical matters.
There be such things as whippings and nose-slittings, as well as
sittings in the stocks, and the like."

"I know," answered Arundel, "that your magistrates are no lambs. Yet
of thy complaisance, tell me wherein I am interested in aught that has
befallen in my absence."

"This Sir Christopher Gardiner, the man who is sometimes called 'The
Knight of the Golden Melice,' is a great friend of thine, is he not?"
asked Master Prout.

"I account it an honor to call him my friend. A worthier or more
honorable gentleman lives not in the colony."

"There be different opinions on that head, my young master. The closer
thy friendship, the worse, I fear, it will be for thee."

"Speak out, Master Prout," exclaimed Arundel, losing patience. "If
thou knowest any talk prejudicial to the fair fame of the Sir
Christopher, let me know it, that the calumniator may be dragged to
light, and receive deserved punishment."

"It would take a long arm to reach his accusers, seeing they are on
the other side of the ocean. Hark ye, young sir--it is in