he came to his master’s, where he died: at this, he was so much enraged, that he carried a constable, and seized the Knight, who purposely made no resistance: So taking him before a Justice, he made very great complaints against him.
The Justice very gravely demanded, what the fellow was brought before him for? The butcher said, 'An't please your Worship, for killing my servant.' 'Aye, said the Justice, he looks like a bloody-minded villain, therefore write his mittimus, and see he be well ironed, lest he make his escape.'
I beseech your good Worship not to be so rash and hasty, said the Knight, as to pass sentence upon me so hard. Pray ask this butcher what servant of his I killed? Ay, said the Justice, let him speak. "Then in truth," said the Butcher, "I ought in conscience to speak the truth; it was but a dog, but such a dog, as I say I would not have taken the best five guineas in the country for. Do you see me, Sir, he had rare qualities over other dogs; he would not only fetch home my sheep out of the field, when I wanted them, and save me that trouble, but do you see, Mr. Justice, he would go a sheep-hunting, and drive me home a couple, and sometimes half a dozen of wild sheep, which no body owned, or I did not think fit to enquire after, or they after me; so that he made me a thriving man; besides he was the safeguard of my house; and I believe, that he killed him on purpose that he might rob me."
"Ay, ay," said the Justice; "all this is true, and you speak like an honest man, and he looks indeed like a rogue, and I believe you; but however we can't indeed hang him for a dog; but I'll send him to jail, and there he shall lie and rot in his lousy linen, and drink kennel-water, and not one bit of meat, unless
