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A new Ballad of the Parrator and the Divell_, attributed by its modern editor to not later than 1616, which throws much light on the proceedings of certain unscrupulous apparitors, and reflects also the strong dislike entertained for the whole tribe of apparitors by people of the time.[184] The devil going a hunting one Sunday and beating the bushes, up starts a proud apparitor. During several stanzas the apparitor narrates to the devil, as one consummately wicked man to another, all the tricks of his trade to drum up cases for himself and his court. He spies on lovers as they pass unsuspecting; he haunts the ale-houses and overhears men's tales over their cups; if business be dull he even devises scandal among neighbors, and sets them at enmity. Thus he concocts his accusations of immorality, or drunkenness, or profanity, or uncharity towards neighbors, and writes them busily down in his _quorum nomina_, or formulas of citations to appear before the official's court.
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My _corum nomine_ beares such swaye, he boasts,
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They'le sell their clothes my fees to pay. But, remarks the devil after listening to all this, surely the innocent pay no court fees,
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But answere and discharged bee.
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My _corum nomine_ sayth not so, rejoins the apparitor,
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For all pay fees before they goe.--The lawier's fees must needs be payd,--And every clarke in his degree--Or els the lawe cannot be stayd--But excommunicate must they bee. The devil, amazed and disgusted at laws which
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turns to go, whereupon the apparitor seeks to arrest and fine him for traveling on the Sabbath. Exclaiming
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Thou art no constable!