I was ordained God’s scourge from above for their dainty
finicality. The hour of their punishment could no longer be
prorogued, but vengeance must have at them at all adventures.
So it was that the most of these above-named goose-quill
braggadocios were mere cowards and cravens, and durst not
so much as throw a penful of ink into the enemy’s face, if
proof were made; wherefore on the experience of their
pusillanimity I thought to raise the foundation of my roguery.