Ha ha!--Well! That being the law and the practice of England, is
the glory of England, an't it, Muster Gashford?'
'Certainly,' said the secretary.
'And in times to come,' pursued the hangman, 'if our grandsons should
think of their grandfathers' times, and find these things altered,
they'll say, "Those were days indeed, and we've been going down hill
ever since." Won't they, Muster Gashford?'
'I have no doubt they will,' said the secretary.
'Well then, look here,' said the hangman. 'If these Papists gets into
power, and begins to boil and roast instead of hang, what becomes of my
work! If they touch my work that's a part of so many laws, what becomes
of the laws in general, what becomes of the religion, what becomes of
the country!--Did you ever go to church, Muster Gashford?'
'Ever!' repeated the secretary with some indignation; 'of course.'
'Well,' said the ruffian, 'I've been once--twice, counting the time I
was christened--and when I heard the Parliament prayed for, and thought
how many new hanging laws they made every sessions, I considered that I
was prayed for. Now mind, Muster Gashford,' said the fellow, taking
up his stick and shaking it with a ferocious air, 'I mustn't have
my Protestant work touched, nor this here Protestant state of things
altered in no degree, if I can help it; I mustn't have no Papists
interfering with me, unless they come to be worked off in course of law;
I mustn't have no biling, no roasting, no frying--nothing but hanging.
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