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78 fellow, from some discourse that I had with him the other day, in this town; for then, talking with him, I heard him say that our religion was naught, and such by which a man could by no means please God. Which saying of his, my lord, your lordship very well knows what necessarily thence will follow, to wit, that we still do worship in vain, are yet in our sins, and finally shall be damned: and this is that which I have to say.

Then was Pickthank sworn, and bid say what he knew in the behalf of their lord the king against the prisoner at the bar.

. My lord, and you gentlemen all, this fellow I have known a long time, and have heard him speak things that ought not to be spoken; for he hath railed at our noble prince Beelzebub, and hath spoken contemptibly of his honorable friends, whose names are, the Lord Oldman, the Lord Carnal Delight, the Lord Luxurious, the Lord Desire of Vain Glory, Sir Having Greedy, with all the rest of our nobility: and he hath said, moreover, that if all men were of his mind, it possible, there is not one of these noblemen should have any longer a being in this town. Besides, he hath not been afraid to rail at you, my lord, who are now appointed to be his judge, calling you an ungodly villain, with many other such like vilifying terms, with which he hath bespattered most of the gentry of our town.

When this Pickthank had told his tale, the judge directed his speech to the prisoner at the bar, saying, Thou renegade, heretic, and traitor, hast thou heard what these honest gentlemen have witnessed against thee?

. May I speak a few words in my own defence?