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,