XXVII. A GNAT, NO GNAT.

ONE, needlessly precise, took causeless exception at a gentleman for using the word “in troth” in his discourse, as if it had been a kind of an oath. The gentleman pleaded for himself, that “in truth” was a word inoffensive, even in his judgment who accused him.

Secondly, that he was born far north, where their broad and Doric dialect pronounced truth, troth, and he did humbly conceive the tone of the tongue was no fault of the heart.

Lastly, he alleged the twenty-fifth Psalm as it is translated in metre:

And thus at last, with much ado, his seeming fault was remitted.

I am afraid if one should declare for troth and peace, and not for truth and peace, it would occasion some offence; however, rather than it should make any difference, the former will be as acceptable to the north of Trent, as the latter will please all good people south thereof.