if it be so, Cartwright should have but few sane men about him. Yet in
his fall I pray he may find mercy. And I am forced to lean upon you, Mr.
Bailiff, in that behalf."

"_Non tali auxilio_," began the quotation-loving bailiff. But Prynne
gravely pursued his pleading.

"You may recollect what I said to the Commons' House three full years
ago. Indeed it was the very night before Pride's Purge. If fines, I
reminded them, if imprisonments, grievous mutilations, and brandings of
S.L.--which I once called 'stigmata landis;' but 'tis an ill subject for
jesting--could bespeak a true friend to liberty, why then sure I am one
whose voice might well claim, a hearing. Yet it hath been far otherwise
with yonder masterful men of the carnal weapon, who seek their own
advancement in the name of the Commonwealth. I have never coveted the
transient treasures, honours, or preferments of the world, but only to
do to my God, country, aye, and king, too, the best public services I
could, even though it brought upon me the loss of my liberty, the ruin
of my mean estate, and the hazard of my life. When the late king did
wrong I withstood him, to the extent of my poor capacity; but I was not
for seeing the crown and lords of the ancient realm of England subverted
or submerged by the flood of usurpation let in by some members of the
Lower House. My speech of the 4th December, 1649----."

"I heard it," broke in the other, "And well do I remember the hum of
assent and approbation with which it was received."

"It was printed no less than three times last year. Then followed my
tractate upon their deposing and executing their lawful king; and other
leaves against the arbitrary taxation of what I call 'the Westminster