I know , for we sat on this bench sharing our sorrows inter-common . ` When Sebastian had fumed away six weeks at Lindens and gotten just six serpentines , Dirk Brenzett , Master of the Cygnet hoy , sends me word that the block of stone he was fetching me from France for our new font he 'd hove overboard to lighten his ship , chased by Andrew Barton up to Rye Port . ' ` Ah ! The pirate ! ' said Dan . ` Yes . And while I am tearing my hair over this , Ticehurst Will , my best mason , comes to me shaking , and vowing that the Devil , horned , tailed , and chained , has run out on him from the church-tower , and the men would work there no more . So I took 'em off the foundations , which we were strengthening , and went into the Bell Tavern for a cup of ale . Says Master John Collins : `` Have it your own way , lad ; but if I was you , I 'd take the sinnification o ' the sign , and leave old Barnabas ' Church alone ! '' And they all wagged their sinful heads , and agreed . Less afraid of the Devil than of me -- as I saw later . ` When I brought my sweet news to Lindens , Sebastian was limewashing the kitchen-beams for Mother . He loved her like a son . ' `` Cheer up , lad , '' he says . `` God 's where He was . Only you and I chance to be pure pute asses . We 've been tricked , Hal , and more shame to me , a sailor , that I did not guess it before ! You must leave your belfry alone , forsooth , because the Devil is adrift there ; and I can not get my serpentines because John Collins can not cast them aright . Meantime Andrew Barton hawks off the Port of Rye . And why ?
To take those very serpentines which poor Cabot must whistle for ; the said serpentines , I 'll wager my share of new continents , being now hid away in St XXXXX ' church-tower .
Barnabas Collins Dan Devil Hal Lindens Sebastian Will forsooth sinnification