CRIER. Bring forth the prisoner.
CLERK. Prodigality.
CRIER. Prodigality.
CLERK. Pain of the peril shall fall thereon.
CRIER. Pain of the peril shall fall thereon.
SHER. Here, sir.
CLERK. Prodigality, hold up thy hand. [He holds it up.
Thou art indicted here by the name of Prodigality,
For that thou, the fourth day of February,
In the three and forty year of the prosperous reign
Of Elizabeth, our dread sovereign,
By the grace of God, of England, France, and Ireland queen,
Defender of the faith, &c.,
Together with the other malefactors yet unknown,
At Highgate,[417] in the county of Middlesex, aforesaid,
Didst feloniously take from one Tenacity,
Of the parish of Pancridge,[418] yeoman, in the said county,
One thousand pounds of gold and silver sterling.
And also, how thyself, the said Prodigality,
With a sword, price twenty shillings, then and there cruelly
Didst give the said Tenacity upon the head
One mortal wound, whereof he is now dead,
Contrary to the queen's peace, her crown, and dignity.
JUDGE. How say'st thou, Prodigality, to this robbery,
Felony, and murther? art thou guilty
Or not guilty?
PROD. My lord, I beseech you
Grant me counsel to plead my cause.
JUDGE. That may not be; it standeth not with our laws.