Laying their heads together, plotting and contriving severall wayes, which might be the likelyest to compasse their intent: each of them had his peculiar appointment, to undertake the businesse without fayling, and it was to be performed the next morning. At the houre assigned, they met there againe, and finding the Court well filled with people, the Plaintiffes and Defendants earnestly pleading: _Matteuzzo_ (before any body could descry him) was cunningly crept under the Bench, and lay close by the board whereon the Judge placed his feete. Then stept in _Maso_ on the right hand of _Messer Niccolao_, and tooke fast hold on his Gowne before; the like did _Ribi_ on the left hand, in all respects answerable to the other. Oh my Lord Judge (cryed _Maso_ out aloud) I humbly intreat you for charities sake, before this pilfering knave escape away from hence; that I may have Justice against him, for stealing my drawing-over stockeings, which he stoutly denyeth, yet mine owne eyes beheld the deed, it being now not above fifteene dayes since, when first I bought them for mine owne use.
Worthy Lord Judge (cryed _Ribi_, on the other side) doe not beleeve what he saith, for he is a paltry lying fellow, and because hee knew I came hither to make my complaint for a Male or Cloakebag which he stole from me: hee urgeth this occasion for a paire of drawing Stockeings, which he delivered me with his owne hands. If your Lordship will not credit me, I can produce as witnesses, _Trecco_ the Shoemaker, with _Monna Grassa_ the Souse-seller, and he that sweepes the Church of _Santa Maria a Verzaia_, who saw him when he came posting hither. _Maso_ haling and tugging the Judge by the sleeve, would not suffer him to heare _Ribi_, but cryed out still for Justice against him, as he did the like on the contrary side.
During the time of this their clamourous contending, the Judge being very willing to heare either party: _Matteuzzo_, upon a signe received from the other, which was a word in _Masoes_ pleading, laide holde on the broken boord, as also on the Judges low-hanging Breech, plucking at them both so strongly, that they fell downe immediately, the Breeches being onely tyed but with one Poynt before. He hearing the boards breaking underneath him, and such maine pulling at his Breeches; strove (as he sate) to make them fast before, but the Poynt being broken, and _Maso_ crying in his eare on the one side, as _Ribi_ did the like in the other; hee was at his wits end to defend himselfe. My Lord (quoth _Maso_) you may bee ashamed that you doe me not Justice, why will you not heare mee, but wholly lend your eare to mine Adversary? My Lord (said _Ribi_) never was Libell preferd into this Court, of such a paltry trifling matter, and therefore I must, and will have Justice.