The other that rides along with him is Tom Touchy, a fellow famous for
TAKING THE LAW of every body. There is not one in the town where he
lives that he has not sued at a quarter sessions. The rogue had once
the impudence to go to law with the Widow. His head is full of costs,
damages, and ejectments: He plagued a couple of honest gentlemen so long
for a trespass in breaking one of his hedges, till he was forced to sell
the ground it enclosed to defray the charges of the prosecution. His
father left him fourscore pounds a year; but he has CAST and been cast
so often, that he is not now worth thirty. I suppose he is going upon
the old business of the willow-tree.

As Sir Roger was giving me this account of Tom Touchy, Will Wimble and
his two companions stopped short till we came up to them. After having
paid their respects to Sir Roger, Will told him that Mr. Touchy and
he must appeal to him upon a dispute that arose between them. Will it
seems, had been giving his fellow-traveller an account of his angling
one day in such a hole; when Tom Touchy, instead of hearing out his
story, told him that Mr. Such-a-one, if he pleased, might take the law
of him for fishing in that part of the river. My friend Sir Roger heard
them both, upon a round trot; and after having paused some time told
them, with the air of a man who would not give his judgment rashly, that
much might be said on both sides. They were neither of them dissatisfied
with the Knight's determination, because neither of them found himself
in the wrong by it. Upon which we made the best of our way to the
assizes.

The court was sat before Sir Roger came; but notwithstanding all the
justices had taken their places upon the bench, they made room for the
old Knight at the head of them; who for his reputation in the country
took occasion to whisper in the judge's ear, that he was glad his
lordship had met with so much good weather in his circuit. I was
listening to the proceeding of the court with much attention, and
infinitely pleased with that great appearance and solemnity which so
properly accompanies such a publick administration of our laws; when,
after about an hour's sitting, I observed to my great surprise, in the
midst of a trial, that my friend Sir Roger was getting up to speak. I
was in some pain for him, till I found he had acquitted himself of two
or three sentences with a look of much business and great intrepidity.

Upon his first rising the court was