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 according
to the use of the Grecians, which were ready prepared,
no, nor yet the fire could enforce him to confesse
the matter, so obstinate and grounded was he in his
mischievous mind. But the Physitian perceiving
that the menaces of these torments did nothing prevaile,
gan say: I cannot suffer or abide that this young
man who is innocent, should against all law and conscience,
be punished and condemned to die, and the other which
is culpable, should escape so easily, and after mocke
and flowte at your judgement: for I will give
you an evident proofe and argument of this present
crime. You shall understand, that when this caytiffe
demanded of me a present and strong poyson, considering
that it was not my part to give occasion of any others
death, but rather to cure and save sicke persons by
meane of medicines: and on the other side, fearing
least if I should deny his request, I might minister
a further cause of his mischiefe, either that he would
buy poyson of some other, or else returne and worke
his wicked intent, with a sword or some dangerous
weapon, I gave him no poyson, but a doling drinke
of Mandragora, which is of such force, that it will
cause any man to sleepe as though he were dead.
Neither is it any marvaile if this most desperate
man, who is certainly assured to be put to death,
ordained by an ancient custome, can suffer and abide
these facill and easie torments, but if it be so that
the child hath received the drinke as I tempered it
with mine owne hands, he is yet alive and doth but