Page:New winter evening's companion, of fun, mirth, and frolic.pdf/17

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gentleman? I mean, my lord, to assert my privilege as an Englishman, without giving a reason why. The judge, who had been deeply bribed, in order to conceal it by a show of candour, and having a confidence in the superiority of his party--Well, Sir, said he, As you claim your privilege in one instance, I will grant you a favour. Who would ye wish to have in the room of that man excepted against? Afrer a small time taken in consideration, My lord, says he, I wish to have an honest man chose in, and he looks round the court; My lord. there is that will in the court, we will have him if you please. Accordingly the miller was chosen in. As soon as the clerk of the court had given them all their oaths, a little dextrous fellow came into the department, and slips ten golden Carolus's into the hands of eleven jurymen, and gave the miller but five, He observed that they were all bribed as well as himself, and said to his next neighbour, in a soft whisper, How much have you got? Ten pieces, said he, He concealed what he had himself. The cause was opened by the plaintiff's counsel; and all the scraps of evidence they could pick up were adduced in his favour.

 The younger brother was provided with a great number of evidences and pleaders, all plentifully bribed as well as the judge. The evidence deposed, that they were in the self-same country where the brother died, and saw him buried. The counsellors pleaded upon this accumulated evidence, and every thing went with a full tide in favour of the younger brother. The judge summed up the evidence with great gravity and deliberation, and now, Gentlemen of the jury, said