A Trumpeter, being taken prisoner in battle, begged hard for quarter,
declaring his innocence, and protesting, that he neither had killed
nor could kill any man, bearing no arms but his trumpet, which he was
obliged to sound at the word of command. For that reason, replied his
enemies, we are determined not to spare you; for though you yourself
never fight, yet, with that wicked instrument of yours, you blow up
animosity among other people, and so become the cause of much bloodshed.