Page:New winter evening's companion, of fun, mirth, and frolic.pdf/15

 15

poor fellow having neither money nor friends, was in a most dismal situation. He went round the parish making bitter complaints, and at last came to a lawyer, who, when he had heard the poor man's mournful story, replied to him in this manner: You have nothing to give me: If I undertake your cause and lose it, it will bring me into very foul disgrace, as all the wealth and evidence is on your brother's side. But, however I will undertake your cause on this condition: You shall enter into obligations to pay me a thousand guineas if I gain the estate for you If I lose it, I know the consequence, and I venture upon it with my eyes open. Accordingly he entered an action against the younger brother, and it was agreed to be tried at the next general assizes at Chelmsford in Essex. The lawyer having engaged in the cause of the poor man, and stimulated by the prospect of a thousand guineas, set his wits to work to contrive the best methods to gain his end At last he hit upon this happy thought, that he would consult the first of all the judges, Lord chief Justice Hale: Accordingly he flew up to London, and laid open the cause and all its circumstances. The judge, who was the greatest lover of justice of any man in the world, heard the case patiently and attentively, and promised him all the assistance in his power. (It is very probable that he opened his whole scheme and method of proceeding, enjoining the utmost secrecy.) The judge contrived matters in such a manner, as to have finished all his business at the King's Bench before the assizes began at Chelmsford, and ordered either his carriage or horses to convey him down very near the