Humphry then came
to me, humbly begging I would give him leave to chastise my
servant for his insolence -- 'He has challenged me to fight him at
sword's point (said he); but I might as well challenge him to
make a horse-shoe, or a plough iron; for I know no more of the
one than he does of the other. -- Besides, it doth not become
servants to use those weapons, or to claim the privilege of
gentlemen to kill one another when they fall out; moreover, I
would not have his blood upon my conscience for ten thousand
times the profit or satisfaction I should get by his death; but
if your honour won't be angry, I'll engage to gee 'en a good
drubbing, that, may hap, will do 'en service, and I'll take care
it shall do 'en no harm.' I said, I had no objection to what he
proposed, provided he could manage matters so as not to be found
the aggressor, in case Dutton should prosecute him for an assault
and battery.
Thus licensed, he retired; and that same evening easily provoked
his rival to strike the first blow, which Clinker returned with
such interest that he was obliged to call for quarter, declaring,
at the same time, that he would exact severe and bloody
satisfaction the moment we should pass the border, when he could
run him through the body without fear of the consequence.
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