further occasion to hate his sonne more deadly; but the funerals of his
younger sonne were scarce finished, when the old man the father with
weeping eyes even at the returne from the grave, went to the Justice and
accused his sonne of the slaughter of his brother, and how he threatned
to slay his wife, whereby the rather at his weeping and lamentation, he
moved all the Magistrates and people to pitty, insomuch that without any
delay, or further inquisition they cryed all that hee should be stoned
to death, but the Justices fearing a farther inconvenience to arise by
the particular vengeance, and to the end there might fortune no sedition
amongst the people, prayed the decurions and other Officers of the City,
that they might proceed by examination of witnesses, and with order of
justice according to the ancient custome before the judging of any hasty
sentence or judgment, without the hearing of the contrary part, like as
the barbarous and cruell tyrants accustome to use: otherwise they should
give an ill example to their successours. This opinion pleased every
man, wherefore the Senatours and counsellors were called, who being
placed in order according to their dignity, caused the accuser and
defender to be brought forth, and by the example of the Athenian law,
and judgement materiall, their Advocates were commanded to plead their
causes briefly without preambles or motions of the people to pitty,
which were too long a processe. And if you demand how I understood all
this matter, you shall understand that I heard many declare the same,
but to recite what words the accuser used in his invective, what answer
the defender made, the orations and pleadings of each party, verily I
am not able to doe: for I was fast bound at the manger. But as I learned
and knew by others, I will God willing declare unto you. So it was
ordered, that after the pleadings of both sides was ended, they thought
best to try and boult out the verity by witnesses, all presumptions and
likelihood set apart, and to call in the servant, who onely was reported
to know all the matter: by and by the servant came in, who nothing