Reynolds saying,
'Literate men never pay any fees.'
But within one week after, I was likely to have had worse success, but
that the before-named gentlemen stoutly befriended me. In my Epistle of
the _Starry Messenger_, I had been a little too plain with the committee
of Leicestershire; who thereof made complaint unto Sir Arthur Hazelrigg,
Knight for that county; he was a furious person, and made a motion in
the House of Commons against me, and the business was committed to that
committee, whereof Baron Rigby was chairman. A day was assigned to hear
the matter; in the morning whereof, as I passed by Mr. Pullen's shop in
St. Paul's Church-yard, Pullen bad 'God be with you,' and named me by
name. Mr. Selden being there, and hearing my name, gave direction to
call me unto him, where he acquaints me with Hazelrigg's humour and
malice towards me, called for the _Starry Messenger_, and having read
over the words mentioning that committee, he asked me how I would answer
them? I related what I would have said, but he contradicted me, and
acquainted me what to say, and how to answer. In the afternoon I went to
appear, but there was no committee set, or would sit; for both Mr.
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