He immediately did obey the Summons and Francion came forth having with him a multitude of People to attend him This was a pregnant Demonstration of the good Disposition of Dorini who although he conceived that Francion was much to be condemned for having abused his Cosin yet he would not abandon him in his distresse but did sollicit in the favour of him being obliged to it by the remembrance of the many merry houres which sometimes they had passed together in their agreeable Debauchments He had been himself with Lucio who was the Superior Iudge and represented to him that the brave Frenchman was fallen into the hands of Caraffe who was a Iudge that had a dependance on him and had an ill Report for many irregular proceedings Dorini alleged to Lucio that it was a shame to hear the Impertinences for which Francion was accused which had not the least apparence of Truth and that of Necessity there must be much of Malice in his accusation He told him that if he had known the Confession of Corsegua he could better be enabled to lay open the Case unto him but he was not yet thoroughly advertised of it for those who had been sent unto his Lodging to acquaint him with it did not find him within Neverthelesse that which he had spoken was sufficient to exasperate Lucio against Caraffe who long before had received many complaints against him When they were all before him he did forbid Caraffe to meddle any more in the affair of Francion for he said that the Cognizance thereof should be reserved to himself Caraffe made answer That he did submit unto him in that and in all other things neverthelesse he would make it apparent that in this particular he had done nothing unjustly and that Francion was apprehended for putting off false Quadrubles to a Merchant his Pocket being found to be full of them and that if his Coffers were examined which he had caused to be arrested there would be yet found more of them and peradventure there might be found with them the Utensils of his Profession He certified That he had caused some of his Servants also to be apprehended who might discover more of their Masters practice and could certifie whether their Master did ever imploy them in that felonious exercise or not For this purpose he caused the two Lackyes of Francion to be produced whom the day before before they had apprehended the one was an Italian the other born in Piedmont both of them very young and without any knowledge of the affairs of their Master who had not long entertained them in his Service Lucio did easily perceive it after he had heard them speak but two or three words so that he found their testimony to be of no effect Afterwards he caused the Boxes to be opened where he found nothing but Linnen and his wearing cloaths and in the Portmantle there was nothing at all but Books and Papers which were produced to the shame of those who believed they should have found some great store of counterfeit moneys in them for Corsegua before hand at their first entrance into Raymonds Lodgings had advertised them with all speed to seize upon a little Coffer which they should find in Francions Chamber for he intended to have foysted into his Chamber the Coffer full of the counterfeit Pieces but by misprision he had hid it in the Chamber of Raymond as by and by we shall make apparent Lucio was at the same time informed that not long before Francion had delivered to his Host all the money which he had to keep for him so that there was found in his Chamber no money at all and they who thought to have seized upon it were very much deceived He who brought in the Accusation the day before did then begin to appear and did declare some part of that to Lucio which on the day before he had spoken to the other Iudge but his Fear did make him now more moderate But the Magistrate who was of an admirable apprehension did plainly discover that he was not well grounded in his Accusation and would not vouchsafe him so much patience as to hear him out were it not only for the recreation which he gave him for he took much pleasure to see how he fumbled in his Accusation At the last he demanded of him How long he had known Francion and what was the life which he did lead To which he made answer not only in pursute of the Instructions which he had received but according to the extravagant Inventions of his own Brain Lucio afterwards did put Interrogatories to some Deponents concerning the same Accusation but he found they did nothing agree in their Depositions that this Informer had no knowledge at all of the party whom he accused All the Proof which he could make against him was That false moneys were found in his Pocket But Raymond came up to the Barre and declared That he would make it manifest this was one of the most remarkable Conspiracies that was ever contrived in Italy or peradventure in the World that Valerius was the Man who caused Francion to be accused for false monies He thereupon declared the whole proceedings of the Conspiracy and withall shewed what Corsegua had confessed under his own hand He afterwards discovered in what a great perplexity these Conspirators were because they could not find the false money nor the Utensils in Francions Lodgings but he said He would now doe them the favour to help them out of that Trouble and would inform them where they were Thereupon he gave order that the Leathern Bagg and the little Coffer should be brought into the Court Behold said he What they have hid amongst us to make the Innocent guilty but the Invention did not answer the expectation Corsegua did mistake one place for another and he himself is fallen into my hands so happily that I have caused him to confesse all and to sign his Confession under his own hand Corsegua thereupon protested that whatsoever he had spoken or writ was only upon Compulsion and demanded of the Court that Raymond might be inforced by the payment of some great Fine to make amends for having constrained him to defame his Master and for tormenting his own Body Dorini having heard all this was wonderfully amazed neverthelesse he was glad that the Innocence of Francion should suddenly be acknowledged He therefore was permitted to speak himself unto the Magistrate to whom he did demonstrate that whatsoever Raymond had spoken in the defence of Francion was true and he himself could justifie that Valerius was always an Enemy unto him and that having not long before betrayed him into a Castle he gave a charge to the Captain thereof who was his Friend to put Francion to death but it pleased God to preserve him from that danger The Judge desired him that he would be pleased not to perplex himself for he would impartially do a thorough piece of Iustice
other places you shall find that even there he maketh mention of Francion When he had wrote the Adventures of this Cavallier he did give unto them the Title of The Comical History and this was to the great displeasure of Du Souhait of Champaign and as it were to out-brave him for he before had given the same Title to a Legend of Accounts which he had compiled There was a Contention betwixt these two Spirits who were both of the same time but our Author hath far surpassed him as may plainly appear by the good entertainment which is given to his work when that of Souhait hath dwelled in obscurity being never printed but once Nevertheless there are many People who by reason of that Comical History which Du Souhait did make will not be perswaded but that he composed this also But we ought not to fasten our belief to that opinion This Historical History of Francion was Printed the first time in the Year One thousand six hundred and twenty two but it contained then but Seven Books Some other of the following Books being come into the hands of the Book-sellers after the Death of du Parc they caused them suddenly to be Printed because that those which were already Extant were extraordinarily received but because there were a few breaches in that Original it is said there were some persons did love that work so well as to take the pains to repair those breaches and to insert therein some Accounts of their own Invention as they thought most agreeable to the Nature of the Subject And because they made mention of some things that were but lately done many persons were abused in it and conceived the whole Book to be altogether new and would not believe that Du Parc was any wayes the Author of it Moreover as the Language is every day more polished than other it may be that the Original Copy of the Author had not all those elegancies which are since arrived and that some amendment hath been given to that and those fashions of Speech have been reformed which were no longer in use insomuch that as a small thing in such occasions is of great importance this hath served to deceive the world by attributing this Book unto those persons who have not contributed much unto it But so it is that since that time it hath the happiness to be by every one desired and it hath been oftentimes Printed according to the second Addition without any change and the History containing but Eleven Books it is to be believed that the Author had made Twelve and every one demanded the Twelfth Book but no Man could produce it This is that for which I would convince those who would attribute this History unto others for what did hinder them◅ at they did not put an end unto it We must expect that from the right Author and search out for that which the living did perform At last there is one arrived who was with Sieur du Parc at the hour of his Death he is newly returned from a long Voyage and hath acquainted a Friend of his that he had about him divers Manuscripts which ought to be examined and set in order for the Press There hath been found amongst them a Copy of the greatest part of the Comical History of Francion which in some places was more large than that which we have and had an other beginning and another ending and above all the Twelfth Book so much desired We have so far prevailed that we have caused it to be Printed as you now see it and we have reformed that which ought to be reformed as for example The Epistle to the Grandies and the Narrative of the Preface to the Book which were of the body of the History are inserted in their due places when all that before was put in the beginning of the Book for want of something else Nay and it is most perspicuous that it must be so for there is found another Dedicatory Epistle which doth address it self to Francion which ought to be in the beginning of the History as it is now placed VVe doe observe that in the Eleventh Book Francion doth affirm that he hath made a Book which he calleth His Youthfull Errors which he saith hath been published and yet we cannot find that such a Book was ever printed It is only therefore but a Fiction and Du Parc therein hath taken pleasure to make Francion so to speak to amuse the Readers It cannot be found that in any such Book Du Parc did learn any of the Adventures of this Cavallier for in his Epistle he confesseth that Francion with his own Mouth did relate them to him Nevertheless it is worth your observation to discover if there be not yet another Fiction or if this Francion were indeed a Gentleman who was a Friend to Du Parc and had imparted some of his Memorials to him he having undertaken to compile a History of his Life but we will let that pass as being of no great Importance to our present occasion It may suffice that we do acknowledge the excellence of the Book As for the mo◅n Subjects which are here inserted because they are so handsomely inchased in the History and they are so well known that they are never to be forgotten we have left them where we found thē They are all ranked in such order that we may affirm we have now the true History of Francion being corrected according to the Manuscript of the Author As for those passages which have relation unto Strangers we will not dispute whether they are better or worse than the Principal of the Book for all beauties do differ in their particulars but we ought to consider that it is so little in comparison of that which du Parc hath wrote and if it should be left out it would not blemish the History Those Discourses may continue where they are to satisfie the Curious who will lose nothing of that which they have once seen Moreover it is a received Maxim that Books of pleasure are permitted to change more freely than any other It is most certain howsoever that if any thing be added to this History it must be according to the Level and Designs of the first Author whom of necessity the others are obliged to follow so that in whatsoever can be done the honour of it is due unto him We ought on the other side to consider that many persons are to be found who assure us that it belongs all to one and the same Author and that those Passages which are suspected to be anothers and not du Parcs were not of so late a date but that du Parc might well arrive to the knowledge of them and might insert them in the last Books of his History and it were unjust for two or three discourses to suspect all the rest We ought to continue in that opinion and not to believe that any other than du Parc was the Author of
upon all and assured him that he already did see more clearly into the cause than he conceived The effect did prove that he did speak the truth for he compared those things which he did then hear with those which were already passed and from thence he did draw infallible consequences of truth He himself did open the Bags where the Instruments were amongst which he found a small Sealâ— and the tooles that made it by mis-regard huddled in amongst the rest on which were the Arms of Valerius so that this was a proof evident enough to demonstrate that all the other tools with the Seal came from his house and did render Valerius more guilty than was before conceived For to what use did those tools serve him Did he make them on purpose to have them carryed into Francion's Chamber Did he find them made to his hand as soon as ever he had the design to betray Francion or could he possibly cause them afterwards to be made in so short a time Of this last there was but little apparence It must be therefore that he had them lying by him many years and that he had made use of them himself The affairs of his house having been a long time in an ebbing condition and he himself having not wherewith to maintain so great a train did make use of this dangerous profession in which this wretched Corsegua and some others as yet undiscovered did assist him and Corsegua himself not six moneths before had been accused for the same fact before Caraff but this petty Iudge who had his Conscience both stained and seared did save him at that time from the danger of the Law by excuses as false as was his money Valerius having filled his Purse with pieces more current than those which he ordinarily vented The Superiour Iudge whose name was Lucio did clearly petceive it but his discretion would not make it apparent at that present and he reserved himself to another occasion to punish the corruptions of Caraff he had found enough besides for this present Cause to conserve the Integrity of Iustice The crime of Valerius was evidently verified and for that of Caraff he had received also information heretofore There remained nothing to clear the cause which was under present consideration and as Lucio was intent on the dispatch thereof he turned to Corsegua and taking him aside he said unto him that he was a wretched fellow to deny a thing which he had confessed before several persons and which he had also signed with his own hand He assured him that if he continued in his perversenesse he would give sentence against him and afterwards send him to the Gibbet Corsegua for all this did think to make use of his accustomed Artifices but Lucio did so affright him that he confessed that whatsoever Raymond had declared was very true and that under his own hand he had acknowledged no more of the things in relation unto the conspiracy against Francion but as in order they were done and as he knew them to be so It was most unlikely to allege that Raymond should have suggested them unto him or had constrained him to write them down and afterwards to sign them for how could he ever entertain such Inventions in his thoughts which did agree so well with the Intentions and the malice of Valerius This Lucio did consider of before hand and examined Corsegua on the fact of his Master and demanded of him where he found or had those tools with which he coyned the false pieces to which he made many impertinent answers but Lucio had already given order that Valerius should be apprehended and carryed to prison which was suddenly put in execution and seeing the perversenesse and stubbornesse of Corsegua he commanded that he should also be carryed thither with the same Man who had accused Francion The Accuser being taken aside and examined by himself did almost presently confesse that whatsoever he had spoken before was very false and did now justifie the truth of what his Companion had not long before acknowledged The Innocence of Francion was then most manifest The Iudge believed that it would be a piece of injustice to detain him prisoner any longer wherefore he did aloud pronounce that he was free to go where he pleased and that those should be severely punished who unjustly had accused him But Bergamin and Salviati who were both present did immediatly addresse themselves unto the Magistrate They had thrust themselves into the throng to observe what should become of Francion for they were accessary to the accusation which was formed against him and perceiving that he was acquitted and found innocent they propounded to themselves that he would not stay long in Rome but it was likely enough would so obscure himself that they could not readily be revenged of him They concluded therefore betwixt themselves to arrest him at the Sute of Lucinda and Emilia by which means they should either constrain him to espouse whom he professed to have loved or at least to have him condemned to pay great damages and make amends by some vast sums of money to Emilia Salviati was he who did plead against him as being most experienced in those affairs He declared to the Judge that he opposed the liberty of Francion who ought to be detained for another crime for he alleged that he had promised matriage to the Daughter of Lucinda whom he was accustomed to visit in the night so that he could not repair her honour but only by marrying of her Raymond did very well understand this accusation and besought Lucio that Corsegua might be sent for again that by him he might better understand the Truth of that affair Lucio did immediatly send for him and the Messenger did overtake him being yet not gone so far as half way unto the Prison When he was returned Raymond demanded of him if he did not know Salviati and if it were not he who was imployed on the affairs of Ergastus and who had told him of all the design which that Signior had contrived to deceive Francion by tempting him to love a Lady with whom he himself had already been familiar to the end that he might lose the favour of another Lady whom they both courted Corsegua did readily acknowledge it for he would have been sorry if his Master only himself had been found guilty in the Treachery He was of the same disposition as almost all guilty men are who are glad to have Companions in their wickednesse Lucio perceived that this Emilia had been a Maid too liberal of her honour so that a man could not be much obliged to her when she had agreed but to grant him that which she had already given to another Otherwise the complaint of Salviati had not been altogether inconsiderable As for Francion he always affirmed that he never promised any thing to Emilia neither did he boast that he ever had received from her the least favours of Love
that shall inherit the Estate you leave seeing these authentique proofes of your endeavours to preserve it will magnifie your care and solemnize continuall Anniversaries to your Remembrance These considerations ought to sweeten your sorrow and make you not so much repine at a little transitorie trouble that perchance may disgust in the pursuance of your just Claime In fine by my Advice you should not let your Adversarie rest nor hearken to any composition though he should offer it you need nothing but a definitive Sentence and make you no doubt of obtaining one to your owne contentment for your Cause has Reason and Equity to plead for it Hereupon he fell a turning over Bartolus and Cujas from head to feet and cited Law-cases of all sorts to prove my Fathers Right who good Man believed all he said not considering he was then in a place where they understood nothing better than supposing of false titles and never remember any reasons but such as they know will please their Clients To be short he was directed to a sucking Proctor lately sprung up who I am confident had payed money for his reception I know to whom for there was no likelihood his practise or experience in affaires at the Courts of Judicature could have purchased him the permission to plead Neverthelesse he was not so ignorant but he knew well enough how to increase his Talent and indeed he was so good a Proctor that he procured still for himself however his Clients far'd My Father was like to succeed well in mean time This Fellow to make his profit double suffer'd himself to be gain'd by the Adverse party so played his game with both hands and instead of advancing my Father's businesse retarded it maugre all his earnest solicitations making him believe all the needlesse Demurres he made were necessary and not to be avoided All his discourse was still Monie Monie which he affirmed he must have for severall fees and other charges though there was no occasion of disbursing any thing yet my Father refused not to furnish him as oft as he desired on purpose to induce him to make more Expedition in his Businesse On the other side the Counsellor drew up I know not how many Writings with two words in a line that he might get the more And to swell up the Number his Clerk used a certain kinde of Cacographie that admitted a multitude of superfluous letters you would have judged him a sworn Enemy to those that will have men write as they speak or fancy Duâ—gardismes and spell com hav c. without e and detor dout without b. Besides he had such a full Character eech'd out with long Cloak-bag-string dashes as sometimes a whole Line will scarce containe two Words But the Words were more to be excepted against than the Letters for they signified no more than Ciphers all was but frivolous discourse that had not the least reference to the businesse in agitation This Counsellor had this pretty custome among other commendable qualities that if he had any thing to buy he would be sure to get by the first Bill or Replication came to his hands to be drawn as much money as his occasions required for he did usually calculate before-hand how many sheets would amount to such a summe which computed he presently resolved to fill them though but with old Ballades My Father reflecting upon these Abuses one day as he was paying for some such Writings could not forbear saying All he had done and scribled to that instant availed not him a tittle that he could have done as much himself and perchance more though he was not of the profession that it was but frivolous and unnecessary babbling to quote so many Cases in Law whereas he was certaine the Court never took notice of them This reproach awaked the Lawyers passion and thinking his Honour highly interessed by this accusation he returned such unhandsome language as fomented their dispute and of a private Complaint began an open Quarrell But my Father the lesse to provoke his Counsellor by imputing all the knaveries of those Gown-men to one particular person made his Attaque generall and inveighed against the whole Tribe of Practitioners from the Pettifogger to the Bencher with such expressions as spake them little lesse Monsters than they are What shame is this said he among other things that these Villaines should exercise their Robberies thus publiquely without punishment They have found out a thousand subtill tricks to cheat men of their Estates they aggravate slight Trespasses on purpose to foment Contention and if any difference betwixt Partie and Partie grow to a Law-suit they are all furnished with such malices and shifts to protract the Cause and cover their cunning Contrivances that both Plantiff and Defendant shall returne home with losse while they insensibly convey the whole Profit into their owne Pockets Can men be such fooles to be dreyned by these Blood-suckers Doe they not plainly perceive all these bundles of Bill and Answers are made meerely to deceive them To what purpose serve all these unnecessarie Procedures but to render Causes more obscure Why doe they not proceed to sentence as soone as the Parties have produced their Evidence But the worst in all these Jurisdictions is there are so many different formes and manners of proceeding I would gladly know a reason why they should not in all places use the best and shortest way to decide differences yet what need of such a question 'T is palpable enough their Avarice invented these Demurres meerely to abuse and more covertly cheat those who understand not their Pettifogging tricks You are angrie for a slight matter said the Counsellour and I dare say you complain without a cause Is there any thing the Vniverse can boast of more admirable than the manner of canvassing Causes in our Courts Is it not a mark of the Grandeur of Justice to be attended by such severall Formalities which like as many secret Springs serve each in their due Order to compleat the Frame and give motion to that great Machine which you Clients cannot observe without admiration and much contentment As for the difference of Procedures in distinct Jurisdictions it is rather to be commended than condemned for doe not you know every Countrie must have its severall Custome I will grant all you say to please you answered my Father but I am angrie that after all your triflings and our patience Justice is not rendred as it ought if at length we could have but Right done us there as no Delaies no Formalities in your Proceedings that we should think insupportable Hereupon the Counsellor alledged divers things in justification of his honourable profession yet was constrained at last to acknowledge much might be said against it but in conclusion he gave this Reason That the Divinity had sent this Scourge among Mortals to punish the enormities of their Crimes After several like Arguments he was farther urged by my Father to confesse it
long as I can stand over you I hearing him speak to me as to those wretched and sordid Varlets from whose condition I was as far removed as Heaven from Earth did resolve with my self to shew him the error of his Judgement and addressing my self unto his ignorant and most senselesse Honour I shewed unto him that I was not offended at what he said for it had no reference at all to me There are none of quality who by your words will apprehend the little estimation you make of them For my self being in a condition more advanced than is theirs and peradventure as eminent as your own I find my self no ways concerned In this case the poor habit which covers me and which hath caused you to entertain a bad opinion of me might hold it self injured let that therefore decide the controversie by its self I will have no part in it These words being pronounced which without vanity give me leave to say were delivered with an extaordinary grace they were heard by a Gentleman who walked near unto us and perceived that such Reasons could not proceed from a vulgar Spirit although the Baron the greatest Asse in the Court had not the apprehension to conceive what the least of my words did mean The Gentleman therefore by little and little conjecturing that I had good parentage and education did take pitty of me and to draw me from the fury of those mercilesse Barbarians did advise me not to goe forth at that Gate at which I entred I followed his Counsel condemning a thousand times the Nobility of this age who are followed by such unworthy Creatures whose petulant rudenesse is so connived at by them that it doth excite them to commit outrages against all manner of Persons But alas it was not by these people alone that I was so undervalued and so ungently intreated I was in the same manner abused by those who make profession even of Honour and of Modesty In whatsoever place I was there was no Citizen would permit I should have so eminent a regard as himself In the streets they would sometimes thrust me from the wall with their Elbows to have me goe on the other side and would call me Begger if I testified my resentment by any sharp language to them Nay which is more observe but the extreme unhappinesse of poverty which is always believed to be the Companion of Vice a man one time having lost his purse in the Crowd it was suspected that I had pick'd it if by some words and actions I had not immediately caused every one of them to entertain a better opinion of me You will tell me that I cannot fall into those inconveniences but only among some vain Worldlings who passe their judgements according to the least apparences but understand that even those who had renounced the pomp and vanity of the world did by a strange unhappinesse entertain the same opinion of me A Frier not knowing who they were did suffer ten or twelve dissolute persons with plush Cloaks on their backs to enter into the Chapel and also did not refuse admission to their Grooms but as for my self who would have followed them he immediately did shut the door upon me I cryed out at the Grate My Father let me speak one word unto you When he came nearer to me I thus proceeded I am not come hither to admonish you neither am I in a capacity so to do neverthelesse I assume the boldnesse to speak unto you what I know which is that your Church ought to be the Image of the celestial house of our great God and that you ought to permit the poor to take the best place as it is in that happy mansion Well well said I and smiling did proceed I see when I would come into your Chapel the better in that place to entertain my Devotion I must buy me a Cloak lined with plush or take one up at the Brokers The Frier was ashamed and because he made hast to leave me he heard not my last words whereupon at the last I raised my voice higher which redounded more unto his shame for many who were round about me did perfectly hear and I found by their smiles that they did approve my words and mocked at him who so ill observed the rules of his Order in not cherishing the poor The Frier neverthelesse had committed a Sin which he could not expiate but by a severe Repentance Consider yet a misfortune greater than the former Those who even knew of what Family I was descended did not intreat me more respectfully The little Youths the Children of Citizens whō I knew in the College and had thē there at my own Law meeting me in the streets would look upon me as if they never saw me before and although in a great humility I did salute them to renew my antient acquaintance they would only put their hand unto their Hat and the proud resalutation did come with an ill will from them so presumptuous they were to see themselves covered with Silk and to have their Grooms better cloathed than my self I did go to visit some of them who seemed to be the most courteous and with whom I had been most familiar To speak the truth they entertained me well in their Lodgings being constrained to it by the Rules of Courtesie but they would none of them take the pains to see me themselves to recompence my visit with their own conceiving that they should debase themselves too much to visit a man so ill appointed as my self and that it would be a dishonour to them if I were seen in their Company If by chance I did meet with any who discoursed on some subject where I had the meanes to make the fruits of my studies more apparent I therein was still infortunate for I durst not open my mouth knowing that the ill opinion which already was conceived of me would cause all which I should speak to be misprised and when I began any discourse I was not listned unto and one or other would constantly interrupt me In the mean time my habit every day did grow worse and worse and I found so often such new Rents that I knew not which way to redresse them I had laid forth all my stock to pay my Pension to my Landlord I had owed it him a long time and the remainder was not enough to buy Stuff to piece my Doublet and my Breeches I made fast my skirts that were unsowed with pins and my Buttons being for the most part fallen off I made use of some broken points to perform their office The rest I covered with my cloak in the best manner that I could to the end that the other defects about me might not be perceived At the last I was enforced to wear again my mourning Doublet because it was better than my grey one I was infinitely sensible of the affronts which I received in that condition and to avoid them I was inforced
old Man be still a Cuckold when his Wife is full of age and witherd as himself Her Husband did approve her reasons and for the time to come did resolve with himself to live in peace and love with so wise a Woman The other Women who by the common report had been advertised that all Cuckolds should be metamorphosed into Doggs did much perplex themselves about it especially those who had too carelesly forfeited their honour They could not sleep all that night ceased not to feel if the hair were come all over their Husbands 〈◊〉 if their ears were not longer and more pendent than before There were some who were not so secret but acquainted their Husbands with what they heard who observing that they fear'd they should be metamorphosed did from thence conjecture that their Wives were not so chast as they ought to have been did beat them so soundly that they had not afterwards a desire to be circumvented by the fair Language of their Wanton Lovers Nevertheless they knew not what wel to believe concerning the prophecy of the Mountebank for they all took him to be a Man of great knowledge experience and it being Holyday every one with impatience attended the hour to see him come upon the place Franâ—… to content himself had imployed all that night in making Unguents with Butter and Bees-wax and Oyl and the juyce of some herbs with other Ingredients and resolved with himself to distribute them and to take good mony for them of which at that time he was in great Necessity He had learned how to compose Druggs by the books which he had read only for curiosity and to speak the truth his Medicaments did conduce rather unto Good than to Evil for he would not perscribe any thing but with deliberation and judgement It was quite crosse to his desires that this frolick adventure of his should procure damage unto any one but he endeavoured rather to render himself profitable to all as in effect whatsoever we have seen him do in this Village did afford more pleasure than prejudice The Hour being come in which he was to appear in publick he caused all his Merchandise to be carried in a great box on the place by a little boy He would have been glad to have been accoÌ„modated with a Gittern to delight his spectators to counterfeit a Mountebank in the best manner that he could but there being not a Gittern in the Town he entertained them with a Discourse which pleased them better than Musick He made no mention at all of the Cuckolds that should have been transformed into Doggs for the Women who were jealous of the event and â—ound the error of it did now laugh that report into scorn The Oration which he made to commend the excellence of his Druggs was hardly begun but behold there came into that place a Man on Horseback who having listned to him a little time and well observed him did alight and cleaving through the Presse he did approach unto him and kissing his Thigh he said unto him Ah my good Master In what an equipage are you here How glad am I that I have found you again Francion knew well enough when ever he discerned him that it was the Groom of his Chamber but he was not yet pleased to speak unto him and having saluted him with a little Ceremony he only said unto him Withdraw your self We by and by will discourse together Give me leave a little to content these honest people Immediatly he did fall again on the Commendation of his Druggs and to distribute them to those who did desire them Some of them he sold for one Sous and some for two He took as much as was needfull for every Drugg which with a knife he did put upon a Paper and to make it apparent to them that his Druggs were good he took some part thereof upon the point of a knife and giving it to his Boy he would say unto him Go too Sirrah you are a good Boy you shall have this licourish bit and this and this and this Nay and this also That which is most excellent is in the bottom of all the Budgeâ— the best is alwayes there when you are a married Man ask your Wife if it be not so He had many other terms which the Mountebanks do use to allure and circumvent their Merchants and the complacence of his gesture did adde much grace to his Discourse insomuch that Petronius who was the Groom of his Chamber was never more astonished and having considered with himself the Repulse he gave him could not well be perswaded that it was his Masters voice But at last all the Confections being sold he abandoned the Company and entertained Petronius with the testimonies of an Incomparable Joy The Assembly of the Peasants being dispersed they repaired to their Inne to repose themselves Francion demanded of Petronius in the first place where were all his Servants He made answer that after the losse of their Master they were all departed to seek their fortunes believing that he had been dead and as for himself he ceased not to seek after him as well in France as in Italy and if he had not now met with him he would have gon again to Rome to see if he could there find him out Francion did briefly declare unto him all his adventures which did wonderfully astonish him and assuring him that he languished with a desire to be at Rome to see again his Nays he resolved presently to take horse for Lyons to supply himself with moneys to satisfie the expences of his Journy Petronius said unto him That having lost him and not knowing what to do with his Horses and his Baggage he had sold all excepting one Horse and that he had still about him the greatest part of the money Francion was very glad to hear that and having received the moneys of him he bought a little Nagg for Petronius in the same Village and mounted himself on the other and immediately departed leaving all the Townsmen very highly satisfied It was late before they could arrive at Lyons so that Francion was not seen with that goodly habit on his back The next morning very early he did send for a Taylor who did apparel him Cap-a-pea he addressed himself also to a Money-merchant of his Acquaintance who promised to lend him as much money as he desired knowing well enough that he should lose nothing by him He demanded of him Letters of Change to receive money at Rome and gave him others to send unto his Mother for the re-disbursement of the money which he was to borrow Having thus put his affairs in order he travelled the direct way towards Italy being attended by Petronius only to whom he promised great Rewards for his Fidelity He made such a Dispatch that he minded not to take notice of what rare things were to be seen in the Towns which he passed thorough He desired to see nothing
off neither at so cheap a rate unlesse for he assured him he should be put to a most cruel death he would declare the Author of the Plots which were contrived against Francion and who was the man that did imploy them on that affair Raymond perceived by his Physiognomy that he had a wicked and a treacherous Soul and his own Genius did presage unto him that he might understand by this Man something of the Conspiracy against the life and the honour of Francions This man was possessed with so great a fear to hear Raymond to speak in this manner to him that one might read his guilt in his face for he veryly believed that if he made not a free confession Raymond would kill him without Compassion he told him therefore that he would confesse unto him all that he did know if he would pardon him his faults whereupon Raymond commanded him to declare unto him readily what he kept concealed in his heart The apprehension of death and torment had left such and impression in his sensible parts that he trembled in every joynt and was not able to speak At the last he desired to have some respite given him but Raymond would allow him no time at all whereupon he began to cry for mercy The Master of the house did well perceive that Raymond had stayed that man for which he was extremely sorry for he desired that no violence might be offered to any one in his house for he was afraid that he himself might have been accused to have taken part with the French and troubled for it He therefore besought Raymond that he would dismisse him but Raymond was in a wonderfull choler and swore that he would kill him himself if he might not be suffered to do with him as he would Hortensius also who at that time was more than a Fool did begin to speak for him but he did thrust him back so rudely that he thought he should have been hurled up the Mountains towards Polonia sooner than he desired so that poor man he was constrained to retire himself into his own lodging not daring to make the least complaint Not long afterwards he returned into Raymonds Chamber where was Audebert and diverse servants who did secure the prisoner Raymond continued his threatnings to him and assured him that he should be a dead man before the next morning if he would not confesse all the circumstances of his guilt and told him that before he killed him he was resolved to wrack him He first of all demanded of him who he was he told him that his name was Corsegua and that he was an antient servant to the house of Valerius a Gentleman of Rome Raymond suddenly conceived that it was that Valerius of whom Francion sometimes had spoke unto him who was his great enemy Observing that this man having confessed this did forbear to speak any more he commanded him to proceed in his confession but he besought him to have a little patience till he had reovered his Spirits Audebert told him that he imployed more time and words making in his supplication than in making his confession that he must answer to what was demanded not passe away the time unprofitably whereupon he said that he could confesse nothing else but only that he did assist the Serjeants who came to search the lodgings of a man accused for coyning false money and although he was no Serjeant himself yet he did oftentimes goe with them as an Assistant and as for that which they had done in that house they had received Orders for it from the Court of Justice Raymond told him that there was more than that in the businesse for being no Officer of Justice he had some ill design of his own that brought him along with them He would not confesse any thing but said there were many more besides him who lived altogether on the same employments as he did By little and little he began to reassume his Spirits and was resolved to conceal this secret as long as possibly he could but Raymond perceiving his obstinacy caused a fire to be kindled and an Iron to be put into it to burn the foales of his Feet He began also to think upon some other torment to rack him and did propound them all to the wicked Corsegua the more to affright him But he said he could not be perswaded that men could be so unmercifull as so cruelly to use those who were after their own Image and so like unto themselves whereupon he took upon him the part of a consciencious and a religious man and said It were better to dye than to wrong a poor neighbour For his part his course of life was only honestly to gain his livelihood in solliciting the causes of poor men or by executing the commandment of the Judges with the Officers of Iustice But for all that Raymond could not be perswaded that he was an innocent Man Hortensius pronounced aloud that if he was guilty of the Injury done unto Francion there were no punishment in the World that could be too grievous for him It was not enough he said to tie him to a dead Body as Mezentius tyed those who had offended him nor to put him into the brazen Bull where Phalaris did put him who made it nor to cut off his ey-brows rubbing them over with honey to expose him to the heat of the burning Sun and afterwards to shut him up in a long Tub stuck full of nailes the sharp points all inwards and then tumble it down from the top of a steep and a high Mountain as the Carthaginians served Regulus for whatsoever the expertest Tyrants in this nature invented were but pleasures to the torments which he deserved Then turning unto Raymond he said unto him If you please I will search the Books of Antiquity to find out the most horrible punishments which the most barbarous Nations ever used that we may at once put them all in practice on that most abhominable person who betrayed Francion Raymond could not abstain from smiling at his conceit and told him he needed not so much to trouble himself Corsegua observing that they looked merrily round about him entertained a greater confidence insomuch that for all the punishments which they had threatned to inflict upon him he would not confesse any thing more than what he had spoke before but now the Iron began to be red with heat and the Grooms had already pucked off his Shoes when Audebert said Before you put the Iron to the plant of his Feet give me a cord He took it and did wind it under his arm-pits and afterwards made it fast to two cramps of Iron which were struck into the wall under the window Afterwards they began with another end of a Cord to bind his Leggs with all the force they had which although it did put him to great pain yet he still persisted in his obstinacy Raymond said It was because they did