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'No, no, your most gracious honours, howled Master Tetheridge, suddenly writhing out of the corporal's grip and flinging himself upon the floor at their feet. 'Did I not tell ye where ye could find one of the stoutest soldiers of the rebel army? Did not I guide ye to him? Did not I even creep up and remove his sword lest any of the King's subjects be slain in the taking of him?
For myself, I am glad that it has so come about, for in my blind wrath I might unwittingly have done you an injury. Hearing the clank of your sword as you did come up the ladder, I did opine that you were one of King James's minions, the captain, perchance, of some troop in the fields below. 'All very clear and explicit, Master Tetheridge, said I, re-lighting my pipe.
I'll war'nt he could pick up my old gaffer Jones an' awa' wi' him at his saddle-bow, as easy as Towser does a rotten! But here's good Maister Tetheridge, the clerk, and on great business too, for he's a mun that spares ne time ne trooble in the great cause. 'Room, good people, room! 'cried the little clerk, bustling up with an air of authority.
The two officers rushed to the little window of the mill and roared with laughter, while the troopers, peeping furtively over their shoulders, could not restrain themselves from joining in their mirth, from which I gathered that Master Tetheridge, as, spurred on by fear, he hurled his fat body through hedges and into ditches, was a somewhat comical sight.
It was none other than Master Tetheridge, the noisy town-clerk of Taunton. But how much changed from the town-clerk whom we had seen strutting, in all the pomp and bravery of his office, before the good Mayor on the day of our coming to Somersetshire! Where now was the ruddy colour like a pippin in September? Where was the assured manner and the manly port?
Silence for his most worshipful the Mayor of Taunton! Silence for the worthy Master Stephen Timewell! until in the midst of his gesticulations and cries he got entangled once more with his overgrown weapon, and went sprawling on his hands and knees in the kennel. 'Silence yourself, Master Tetheridge, said the chief magistrate severely.
On that he crawled up on to his knees once more, and from that to his feet, glancing at me askance, as though by no means assured of my intentions. 'You must remember me, Master Tetheridge, I said. 'I am Captain Clarke, of Saxon's regiment of Wiltshire foot.
'Speak, fellow, snarled Saxon, and reaching out a long sinewy arm he seized the loquacious clerk by the lappet of his gown, and shook him until his long sword clattered again. 'How, Colonel, how? cried Master Tetheridge, while his vest seemed to acquire a deeper tint from the sudden pallor of his face. 'Would you lay an angry hand upon the Mayor's representative?