The most elegant and witty epigrams of Sir Iohn Harrington, Knight digested into foure bookes: three vvhereof neuer before published.

82 Of a Precise Lawyer.

A Lawyer call'd vnto the Barre but lately, Yet one that lofty bare his lookes, and stately, And how so e're his minde was in sinceritie, His speech and manners shew'd a great austeritie. This Lawyer hop'd to be a bidden ghest, With diuers others to a Gossips feast. Where though that many did by entercourse, Exchange sometimes from this, to that discourse: Yet one bent brow, and frowne of him was able, To gouerne all the talke was at the table. His manner was, perhaps to helpe digestion, Still to Diuinitie to draw each question: In which his tongue extrauagant would range, And he pronounced Maxims very strange. First, he affirmd, it was a passing folly, To thinke one day more then another holy. If one said Michaelmas, straight he would chide, And tell them they must call it Michaels tide. If one had sneezde to say (as is the fashion) Christ helpe, 'twas witchcraft, & deseru'd damnation▪ Now when he talked thus, you must suppose, The Gossips cup came often from his nose. And were it the warme spice, or the warme wether, At least he sneezed twice or thrice together. A pleasant ghest, that kept his words in minde, And heard him sneeze, in scorne said, Keepe behinde At which the Lawyer taking great offence, Said, Sir, you might haue vs'd saue reuerence.

I would quoth th' other, saue I fear'd you Would then haue cal'd saue reuerence witchcraft too.