Page:Wonderful progidies (sic) of judgment and mercy.pdf/15

Rh and by proceſs of law, was ready to be condemned to death; but on the very day wherein this heavy ſentence was to be pronounced and executed, the devil entered into the priſon, and told the ſoldier, That he was condemned to die; nevertheleſs, if he would give himſelf, body and ſoul to him, he would promiſe to deliver him out of their hands. The priſoner replied, That he had rather die, being innocent, and without cauſe, than to be delivered on that account. The devil then repreſented to him the great danger of death wherein he was, and uſed all manner of craft to delude him; but finding all his arguments uneffectual, he at length left over his entreaties; but yet promiſed him both aſſiſtance and revenge upon his enemies for nothing; adviſing him when he came to his trial, he should plead, Not guilty, and declare his innocence, and the wrong which he had ſuffered, and to entreat the judge to grant him the favour, That one in a blue cap, who was in the court, might make his defence for him; (now this one in the blue cap was the devil himſelf.) The ſoldier immediately accepted his offer; and being called to the bar, and indicted of felony, he preſently deſired to have his attorney, who was there preſent, to plead his cauſe; which being granted him, this notorious witty crafty lawyer began very cunningly to defend his client, affirming him, To be been falſly accuſed, and conſequently would be unjuſtly condemned; and that his hoſt did withhold the money, and had offered him violence: and to demonſtrate the truth of what he aſſerted, he reckoned up every circumſtance of the whole action; yea, the very place where they had hid the money. The host on the other ſide very impudently denied all; wiſhing withal, That the devil might take him ſoul and body if he had the money: this ſubtle attorney in the blue cap, finding now the advantage which he had hitherto looked