Cranford (TV Series)

November 1842 (2007)

Francesca Annis: Lady Ludlow

Quotes 

• [Job Gregson has been arrested and locked up in the town jail] 

  Sir Charles Maulver : I issued the constable with a warrant for this arrest. The offence brought to me was robbery with violence. The man will be tried for that and found guilty.

  Lady Ludlow : He's guilty of poaching - and nothing more.

  Sir Charles Maulver : And nothing less. I'm plagued by poachers too, and they're all vagabonds. Vagabonds can be sentenced purely for their way of life - no specific crime is required. That, Lady Ludlow, is the law.

  Lady Ludlow : And who is it who makes the law? Those such as you in the House of Commons; those such as I in the House of Lords. You can also mete out justice as you see fit - that's your privilege as a magistrate. Convict Job Gregson... of poaching. And I will pay the fine. Five pounds from my own purse to save a father of six from jail. He'll work on my land, unwaged, in reparation.

• Lady Ludlow : Poaching is next to thieving, Mr. Carter. I abhor it for that reason.

  Mr. Carter : Madam, I am convinced it was done because the man was desperate to feed his family!

  Lady Ludlow : Has he no work? Where does he live?

  Mr. Carter : He is a squatter in Hareman's Lane.

  Lady Ludlow : Then he is not, I think, a tenant of mine. I have no responsibility towards him.

  Mr. Carter : He is a tenant of this Earth, my lady.

• Lady Ludlow : He is guilty of poaching, nothing more.

  Sir Charles Maulver : And nothing less! I am plagued by poachers too, and they're all vagabonds. Vagabonds can be sentenced purely for their way of life. No specific crime is required. That, Lady Ludlow, is the law.