These were so extensive that, by dint of clipping and paring here, adding and eking there, and creating over-lords upon all the estate which Bertram held of the crown, they advanced at the day of contest at the head of ten as good men of parchment as ever took the oath of trust and possession.

This strong reinforcement turned the dubious day of battle.

The principal and his agent divided the honour; the reward fell to the latter exclusively.

Mr.
Gilbert Glossin was made clerk of the peace, and Godfrey Bertram had his name inserted in a new commission of justices, issued immediately upon the sitting of the parliament.
This had been the summit of Mr.Bertram's ambition; not that he liked either the trouble or the responsibility of the office, but he thought it was a dignity to which he was well entitled, and that it had been withheld from him by malice prepense.

But there is an old and true Scotch proverb, 'Fools should not have chapping sticks'; that is, weapons of offence.