about midnight
The yong man in the shape of the great Deuill toke downe the body and layd it before him on horsebacke , who calling his companie away , roode before in poste . When they were come home , he gaue them their money , and vncasing them of their cowles sent them away , and afterwardes buried the body so secretly as he could . In the morning newes came to the Duke that the bodye was taken awaye , who sent for the guarde to knowe what was become thereof . To whome they sayde these wordes : `` Pleaseth your grace , about midnight last past there came into the market-place a companie of Deuils , among whom we sawe the great deuil Lucifer himselfe , who as wee suppose did eate vp the bodye , which terrible sight and vision made vs to take our legges . '' The Duke by those wordes perceiued euidently that the same was but a practise to deceiue them of their purpose , notwithstanding he determined once again to deuise some meanes in the ende to knowe the truthe , and decreed a constitucion that for the space of xx dayes no fresh meate shoulde be solde in Venice : at which decree all the citie marueiled . Afterwardes he caused a verie faire fatte calfe to be solde , sessing the price of euery pounde at a fiorino , which amounteth to a French crowne or thereaboutes , and willed hym that solde it to note and marke them that bought it : thinking with himselfe , that he which is a theefe is licorous of mouth delicate in fare and would not stick to geue a good price , although it cost him a French crown for euery pound : making proclamation , that he which would buye any fresh meate should resort to the market-place where was to bee solde . All the Marchaunts and Gentlemen repaired to buye some of the veale , and vnderstanding that euery pound would not be solde under a Frenche crowne , they bought none at all .