If they would but go to church like sensible Christians, nobody would have a word against them; but they are like mules and pigs, and they can neither be led nor driven straight.

I go to church every Sunday of my life, and what there is to fall foul of I never can guess.

But men be such blind, obstinate fools, they must always be putting a rope round their necks.

They say London is seething now with plots, and no man can feel safe for a day nor an hour." Cuthbert gave one swift backward thought to his companion of the road and the strange words he had uttered; and he asked with increasing interest of his lively neighbour: "But what do men think to gain by such plots?
What is the object of them ?" "Beshrew me if I know or care! My father says they be all mad together, the moonstruck knaves! They say that the 'Bye' was an attempt to make prisoner of the King's Majesty, and to keep him in captivity till he had sworn to change his laws and his ministers--as they say was done once in Scotland, when he was trying to rule his turbulent subjects there.

As for the 'Main,' that was worse; nothing better than the murder of the King and Royal family, so that the Lady Arabella might be Queen in his stead.