So, though I offend some, I shall yet convince all, the
which lieth closer to my purpose. Thus, it was in the year 1560,
or 1650, or mayhap 1710--for my memory is not what it hath been and
I ever cared little for monkish calendars or such dry-as-dust
matter, being active as becometh one who hath to make his way in
the world--yet I wot well it was after the Great Plague, which I
have great cause to remember, lying at my cozen's in Wardour
Street, London, in that lamentable year, eating of gilly flowers,
sulphur, hartes tongue and many stynking herbes; touching neither
man nor mayd, save with a great tongs steept in pitch; wearing a
fine maske of silk with a mouth piece of aromatic stuff--by reason
of which acts of hardihood and courage I was miraculously
preserved. This much I shall say as to the time of these
happenings, and no more. I am a plain, blunt man--mayhap rude of
speech should occasion warrant---so let them who require the
exactness of a scrivener or a pedagogue go elsewhere for their
entertainment and be hanged to them!
Howbeit, though no scholar, I am not one of those who misuse the
English speech, and, being foolishly led by the hasty custom of
scriveners and printers to write the letters "T" and "H" joined
together, which resembleth a "Y," do incontinently jump to the
conclusion the THE is pronounced "Ye,"--the like of which I never
heard in all England.
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