Per contra, if he
erred with open eyes, and if he remain contumacious, he will have
to deal with the King and with the Court of High Commission, to
say nothing of the King's favorite. That's the sum and substance,
Ralph Percy."
"Why was my Lord Carnal sent?" I asked.
"Probably because my Lord Carnal would come. He hath a will,
hath my Lord, and the King is more indulgent than Eli to those
upon whom he dotes. Doubtless, my Lord High Admiral sped him
on his way, gave him the King's best ship, wished him a favorable
wind - to hell."
"I was not ignorant that she was other than she seemed, and I
remain contumacious."
"Then," he said shamelessly, "you'll forgive me if in public, at
least, I forswear your company? You're plague-spotted, Captain
Percy, and your friends may wish you well, but they must stay at
home and burn juniper before their own doors."
"I'll forgive you," I said, "when you 've told me what the Governor
will do."
"Why, there's the rub," he answered. "Yeardley is the most
obstinate man of my acquaintance. He who at his first coming,
beside a great deal of worth in his person, brought only his sword
hath grown to be as very a Sir Oracle among us as ever I saw. It's
'Sir George says this,' and 'Sir George says that,' and so there's an
end on't. It's all because of that leave to cut your own throats in
your own way that he brought you last year.
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