fused to sell it; and that he afterwards did so, I will never believe." They both went before the judge, and the covetous knight triumphantly produced the forged instrument, bearing the impression of the deceased's signet-ring; and brought forward the false witnesses to the sealing. After examining it, the son said, "I know that this is my father's signet, but I know also that he never disposed of the land. How you obtained the signet, I am ignorant, and you will do well to have good testimony of this." The judge, after some deliberation, took each of the witnesses aside in turn; and separately examined them, together with the old knight. He asked the first if he knew the Lord's Prayer, and made him repeat it from beginning to end[1]. He did this accurately, and was then placed apart. When the second witness appeared, the judge said, "My friend, your companion has told me the truth; therefore, unless you
- ↑ Whether this was the usual mode of administering an oath; or whether it is only of the number of those whimsical and arbitrary circumstances which continually occur in these volumes, I am unable to say.
