Hall; Sir Jeoffry being about to go forth a-hunting, and being a man
with a choleric temper and big, loud voice, and given to oaths and
noise even when in good-humour, his riding forth with his friends at
any time was attended with boisterous commotion.  This morning it
was more so than usual, for he had guests with him who had come to
his house the day before, and had supped late and drunk deeply,
whereby the day found them, some with headaches, some with a nausea
at their stomachs, and some only in an evil humour which made them
curse at their horses when they were restless, and break into loud
surly laughs when a coarse joke was made.  There were many such
jokes, Sir Jeoffry and his boon companions being renowned throughout
the county for the freedom of their conversation as for the scandal
of their pastimes, and this day 'twas well indeed, as their loud-
voiced, oath-besprinkled jests rang out on the cold air, that there
were no ladies about to ride forth with them. 

'Twas Sir Jeoffry who was louder than any other, he having drunk
even deeper than the rest, and though 'twas his boast that he could
carry a bottle more than any man, and see all his guests under the
table, his last night's bout had left him in ill-humour and