d prepares the waie for him, so before anie gaue vp the ghost,
death araied in a stinking smoke stopt his nostrils, and cramd it selfe
full into his mouth, that closed vp his fellowes eyes, to giue him
warning to prepare for his funeral. Some dide sitting at their meate,
others as they were asking counsell of the phisition for their friendes.
I saw at the house where I was hosted, a maide bring her master warme
broth for to comfort him, and she sinke downe dead her self ere he had
halfe eate it vp.

During this time of visitation, there was a Spaniard, one _Esdras_ of
Granado, a notable Bandetto, authorized by ye pope, because he assisted
him in some murthers. This villain colleagued with one _Bartol_ a
desperate Italian, practised to breake into those rich mens houses in
the night where the plague had most rained, and if there were none but
the mistres and maid left aliue, to rauish them both, and bring awaie
all the wealth they could fasten on. In a hundred chief citizens houses
where the hand of God had bin, they put this outrage in vse. Thogh the
women so rauished cride out, none durst come nere them, for feare of
catching their deaths by them, & some thought they cried out onely with
the tyrannie of the maladie. Amongst the rest the house where I lay he
inuaded, where all being snatcht vp by the sicknesse but the good wife
of the house, a noble and chast matrone called _Heraclide_ and her
_Zanie_, and I & my curtizan, he knocking at the dore late in the night,
ranne in to the matrone, & left me and my loue to the mercie of his
companion. Who finding me in bed (as the time requird) ranne at me full
with his rapier, thinking I would resist him, but as good lucke was
I escapt him & betooke me to my pistoll in the window vncharged. He
fearing it had bene charged, threatned to run her through if I once
offered but to aime at him, Foorth ye chamber he dragd her, holding his
rapier at hir hart, whilest I stil crid out, Saue her, kil me, & Ile
ransome her with a thousand duckets: but lust preuailed, no praiers
would be heard. Into my chamber I was lockt, and watchmen charged (as he
made semblance when there was none there) to knocke me downe with their
halberdes, if I stirde but a foote downe the staires. So threw I my
selfe pensiue againe on my pallat, and dard all the deuils in hell now I
was alone to come and fight with me one after another in defence of that
detestable rape. I beat my head against the wals and cald them