MOCK HEROISM. 129 



chase, and many gentlemen in pursuit, the stagg took Soyle ; 

 and divers, whereof I was one, alighted, and stood, with 

 swordes drawn, to have a cut at him at his coming out of 

 the water; the stagg then being wonderfully fierce and 

 dangerous, made us youths more eager to be at him, but he 

 escaped us all ; and it was my misfortune to be hindered of 

 my coming nere him (the way being sliperie) by a fall ; 

 which gave occasion to some, who did not know mee, to 

 .speak as if I had falne for fear ; which being told rnee, I 

 left the stagg, and followed that gentleman, who first spake 

 it ; but I found him of that cold temper, that it seems his 

 words made an escape from him, as by his denial and repent- 

 ance it appeared. 



" But this made mee more violent in pursuit of the stagg, 

 to recover my reputation ; and I happened to be the only 

 horseman in, when the dogs sett him up at bay, and 

 approaching nere him on horsebacke, hee broke through the 

 dogs, and run at mee, and tore my horse's side with his 

 homes, close by my thigh. Then I quitted my horse, and 

 grew more cunning (for the dogs had set him up again) ; 

 stealing behind him, with my sworde I cut his ham-strings, 

 and then got upon his back, and cut his throat ; which as I 

 was doing the company came in, and blamed my rashness 

 for running such a hazard." * 



Rashness ! what rashness ? Here's a fellow for you now ; 

 armed with a long sword, and probably in the uniform of 

 the city train bands, he sneaks behind a stag at bay with 

 fifty hounds fighting at his front, fifty hounds and an 

 historian are fearful odds. He then cuts his ham-strings in 

 a dastardly manner, and puts an end to the brave animal's 

 existence without doubt, by poking the end of his toledo, 

 as Master Mathewhas it, into the point of junction between 

 the head and neck, precisely in the same manner in which 

 the Laps kill their domesticated reindeer. As for his 

 cutting the throat, I do not believe a word of it; he was of 

 too cold a temper, and did no such thing, depend upon it, 

 he dared not so much as to look at his throat, being too 

 fearful of his own. 



* Quoted iu the notes to the " Lady of the Lake." 



