“Master Rich says just what it suits him to say. The truth is, I went with Master Palmer to remove the books of Sir Thomas because I was obliged to do it. I found Master Rich there, whereat I was surprised. Everybody knows what Rich is, and what confidence should be placed in anything he asserts. I will swear, then, to nothing, nor take any oath on a matter of business in which he is mixed up, being well assured in advance that it can only be something bad.”
Rich’s face became purple.
“My lord chancellor,” cried the new solicitor-general, “the witness insults the court.”
“Master Rich, yes; but the court, no,” growled Audley. He answered nothing, and had not
the appearance of heeding what Richard Southwell was saying, if even he was not pleased with it; for the vile and corrupt men with whom Henry VIII. each day surrounded himself, in order to serve his frenzies, abhorred him and sought only his destruction, or to elevate themselves one above another by crushing each other. “You refuse to swear, then?” said he to the witness, without deigning to listen to the recriminations of Rich.
“Yes, my lord,” replied Southwell.
“The witness will pay a fine.”
“Very well, my lord! I know that I owe it.”
And Southwell retired. Then a profound silence reigned throughout the assembly, because the decisive moment approached.
Meanwhile, the lord chief-justice, the timid Fitz-James, arose at a sign given him by Audley, and in a trembling voice propounded the following questions to the jury: