They are
mentioned in the first scene of the Merry Wives of Windsor, where
the Justice is in a rage with Falstaff for having "beaten his men,
killed his deer, and broken into his lodge." The poet had no doubt the
offences of himself and his comrades in mind at the time, and we may
suppose the family pride and vindictive threats of the puissant
Shallow to be a caricature of the pompous indignation of Sir Thomas.
"Shallow. Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Star-Chamber
matter of it; if he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse
Robert Shallow, Esq.
Slender. In the county of Gloster, justice of peace, and coram.
Shallow. Ay, cousin Slender, and custalorum.
Slender. Ay, and ratalorum too, and a gentleman born, master
parson; who writes himself Armigero in any bill, warrant, quittance,
or obligation, Armigero.
Shallow. Ay, that I do; and have done any time these three
hundred years.
Slender. All his successors gone before him have done't, and
all his ancestors that come after him may; they may give the dozen
white luces in their coat.*****
Shallow. The council shall hear it; it is a riot.
Evans. It is not meet the council hear of a riot; there is no
fear of Got in a riot; the council, hear you, shall desire to hear the
fear of Got, and not to hear a riot; take your vizaments in that.
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