Then a Spanish impostor came forward, who promised on his life to cure him; and if he did not, they should cut him in an hundred pieces; but he would have no physicians, nor surgeons nor apothecaries with him:  and M. le Duc de Savoie forthwith bade the physicians and surgeons not go near M. de Martigues; and sent a gentleman to bid me, under pain of death, not so much as to touch him.  Which I promised, and was very glad, for now he would not die under my hands; and the impostor was told to dress him, and to have with him no other physicians or surgeons, but only himself.  By and bye he came, and said to M. de Martigues, “Senor Cavallero, M. de Savoie has bid me come and dress your wound.  I swear to God, before eight days I will set you on horseback, lance in hand, provided none touch you but I alone.  You shall eat and drink whatever you like.  I will be dieted instead of you; and you may trust me to perform what I promise.  I have cured many who had worse wounds than yours.”  And the Seigneurs answered him, “God give you His grace for it.”

He asked for a shirt of M. de Martigues, and tore it in little strips, which he laid cross-wise, muttering and murmuring certain words over the wounds:  having done this much for him, he let him eat and drink all he would, saying he himself would be dieted in his stead; which he did, eating but six prunes and six morsels of bread for dinner, and drinking only beer.  Nevertheless, two days later, M. de Martigues died:  and my friend the Spaniard, seeing him at the point of death, eclipsed himself, and got away without good-bye to any man.  And I believe if he had been caught he would have been hanged and strangled, for the false promise he made to M. le Due de Savoie and many other gentlemen.  M. de Martigues died about ten o’clock in the morning; and after dinner M. de Savoie sent the physicians and surgeons, and his apothecary, with a store of drugs to embalm him.  They came with many gentlemen and captains of his army.

The Emperor’s surgeon came to me, and asked me in a very friendly way to make, the embalmment; which I refused, saying that I was not worthy to carry his instrument-box after him.  He begged me again to do it to please him, and that he would be very glad of it...Seeing his kindness, and fearing to displease him, I then decided to show them the anatomist that I was, expounding to them many things, which would here be too long to recite...  Our discourse finished, I embalmed the body; and it was placed in a coffin.  Then the Emperor’s surgeon drew me aside, and told me, if I would stop with him, he would treat me well, and give me a new suit of clothes, and set me on horseback.  I gave him many thanks, and said I had no wish to serve any country but my own.  Then he told me I was a fool, and if he were a prisoner as I was, he would serve a devil to get his freedom.  In the end I told him flat I would not stop with him.  The Emperor’s physician then went back to M. de Savoie, and explained to him the causes of M. de