In the mean season he was delivered to the hands of the executioner.
But there arose a sage and ancient Physitian, a man of a good
conscience and credit throughout all the City, that stopped the mouth
of the pot wherein the stones were cast, saying: I am right glad ye
reverend judges, that I am a man of name and estimation amongst you,
whereby I am accompted such a one as will not suffer any person to be
put to death by false and untrue accusations, considering there hath
bin no homicide or murther committed by this yong man in this case,
neither you (being sworn to judge uprightly) to be misinformed and
abused by invented lyes and tales. For I cannot but declare and open my
conscience, least I should be found to beare small honour and faith to
the Gods, wherefore I pray you give eare, and I will shew you the whole
truth of the matter. You shall understand that this servant which hath
merited to be hanged, came one of these dayes to speake with me,
promising to give me a hundred crownes, if I would give him present
poyson, which would cause a man to dye suddenly, saying, that he would
have it for one that was sicke of an incurable disease, to the end he
might be delivered from all torment, but I smelling his crafty and
subtill fetch, and fearing least he would worke some mischiefe withall,
gave him a drinke; but to the intent I might cleare my selfe from all
danger that might happen, I would not presently take the money which he
offered. But least any of the crownes should lacke weight or be found
counterfeit, I willed him to scale the purse wherein they were put,
with his manuell signe, whereby the next day we might goe together to
the Goldsmith to try them, which he did; wherefore understanding that
he was brought present before you this day, I hastily commanded one of
my servants to fetch the purse which he had sealed, and here I bring it
unto you to see whether he will deny his owne signe or no: and you may
easily conject that his words are untrue, which he alleadged against
the young man, touching the buying of the poyson, considering hee
bought the poyson himselfe. When the Physitian had spoken these words
you might perceive how the trayterous knave changed his colour, how hee
sweat for feare, how he trembled in every part of his body: and how he
set one leg upon another, scratching Ibis head and grinding his teeth,
whereby there was no person but would judge him culpable. In the end,
when he was somewhat returned to his former subtility, he began to deny
all that was said, and stoutly affirmed, that the Physitian did lye.
But the Physitian perceiving that he was rayled at and his words
denyed, did never cease to confirme his sayings, and to disprove the
varlet, till such time as the Officers by the commandment of the
Judges, bound his hands and brought out the seale, wherewith he had
sealed the purse which augmented suspition which was conceived of him
first. Howbeit, neither the feare of the wheele or any other torment
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