16
seat of the assizes. He dismissed his man and his horses, and sought out for a single house. He found one occupied by a miller. After some conversation, and making himself quite agreeable, he proposed to the miller to change clothes with him. As the judge had a very good suit on, the man had no reason to object. Accordingly the judge shifted himself from top to toe, and put on a complete suit of the miller's best. Armed with the miller's hat and shoes, and stick, away he marches to Chelmsford : He had procured good lodgings to his liking, and waited for the assizes that should come on next day When the trials came on, he walked like an ignorant country-fellow backwards and forward along the county-hall. He had a thousand eyes within him, and when the court began to fill, he soon found out the poor fellow that was the plaintiff. As soon as he came into the hall, the miller drew up to him: Honest friend, said he, How is your cause like to do to-day? Why, replied the plaintiff, My cause is in a very precarious situation, and if I lose it, I am ruined for life. Well, honest friend, replied the miller, Will you take my advice? I will let you into a secret, which perhaps you do not know, every Englishman has the privilege to except against any one juryman through the whole twelve; now do you insist upon your privilege, without giving all reason why, and, if possible, get me chosen in his room, and I will do you all the services in my power. Accordingly, when the clerk of the court had called over the jurymen, the plaintiff excepted to one of them by name. The judge on the bench was highly offended with this liberty. What do you mean, says he, by excepting against that
