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 hushed, and a general whisper
ran among the country people that Sir Roger was UP. The speech
he made was so little to the purpose, that I shall not trouble my
readers with an account of it; and I believe was not so much
designed by the Knight himself to inform the court, as to give
him a figure in my eye, and keep up his credit in the country.

I was highly delighted, when the court rose, to see the gentlemen
of the country gathering about my old friend, and striving who
should compliment him most; at the same time that the ordinary
people gazed upon him at a distance, not a little admiring his
courage, that was not afraid to speak to the judge.