When summoned to appear before the council he looked so haggard, neglected, and dirty that King James exclaimed, "Is that a man, or what is it?" On being informed that it was the rebel Story, his majesty replied: "Oh, Story; I remember him—a rare fellow, indeed." Then turning towards him, the king asked: "Pray, Story, you were in Monmouth's army in the west, were you not?"
"Yes, an't please your majesty."
"Pray, you were a commissary there, were you not?" asked the king.
"Yes, an't please your majesty."
"And you made a speech before great crowds of people, did you not?" was the next question,
"Yes, an't please your majesty," answered Story.
"Pray, if you have not forgot what you said, let us have a taste of your fine speech, some specimen of the flowers of your rhetoric."
"I told them, an't please your majesty, that it was you who fired the city of London," boldly answered Story.
"A rare rogue, upon my word," exclaimed James; "and, pray, what else did you tell them?"
"I told them, an't please your majesty, that you poisoned your brother."