ynst this troupe." "Ah
false Knaue and theefe," (sayd the honest pore man) "it is thou
then, which by thine infamous filthinesse and insaciable
knauery, doest dishonor the commendable fame of my daughter, and
by like meanes shortnest the hoped yeres of me hir poore vnhappy
father, loosinge through thy wickednesse, the staffe and stay of
myne olde aged life? Thynkest thou Traytor, that liuing till
this day (for all my pouertye) in reputation of an honest Man,
in myne olde Dayes will become an vnshamefast and vyle Minister
and Chapman of my daughter's maidenhoode and virginity? No knaue
thinke not that I forget the wrong receiued of thee, for which
by some meanes or other, I wyll purchase iust reuenge vpon thee
or thyne?" The Gentleman caryng little or nothyng for the old
man's wordes, hauyng in hys hand his desired spoyle, commanded
his Men to marche before with the Mayden, leauing behind the
poore olde Man which thundred against them a thousand bitter
cursses, threatning and reuyling them, by all the termes he
could deuise, desirous (as I think) to haue them turne backe to
kyll him. But thereunto they gaue so little heede, as when he
wylled them to leaue his daughter behynde them: to whome the
amorous courtier addressing himselfe, began to kysse hir, and
assayed by all meanes with pleasaunt Woordes and many sweete
promisses to comfort hir: but the poore Wenche knowyng full
well, that they wente about to play the Butchers wyth her
Chastitye, and to commyt Murder wyth the floure of hir
Virginity, began to cry so piteously with dolorous voice, as she
would haue moued to compassion the hardest Hartes that euer
were, excepte the Hearte of hym which craued nothyng more than
the spoyle of that his sweetest Enimy. When the poore Wenche saw
hir Vertue ready to be spoyled by one, who (not in Maryage
ioyned) wente aboute to vyolate and possesse the same, and knewe
that afterwardes hee woulde vaunte hymselfe for the Victorye of
sutch a precious pryce: "Alas (quod she) is it possyble that the
Souerayne Iustyce of God can abyde a Myschiefe so greate and
curssed, and that the Voyce of a poore Wretched afflicted Mayde
cannot be heard in the presence of the Myghty Lord aboue? Why
may not I nowe rather suffer Deathe, than the Infamy whych I see
to wander before myne Eyes? O the good olde Man my deare and
louing Father, how farre better had it bene for thee to haue
slayne mee wyth thy Dagger, betwene the Handes of these moste
wycked Th