any did offer her any
injury they would be ready to defend her. Whereupon shee, mooved by
their promises, and stirred by pitty, released all the towne. But shee
conveyed the principal Author of this ordinance about midnight, with
all his house, the walls, the ground, and the foundation, into another
towne, distant from thence an hundred miles, scituate and beeing on
the top of an high hill, and by reason thereof destitute of water, and
because the edifices and houses were so nigh built together, that it was
not possible for the house to stand there, she threw it downe before the
gate of the towne. Then I spake and said O my friend Socrates you
have declared unto me many marvellous things and strange chances, and
moreover stricken me with no small trouble of minde, yea rather with
great feare, lest the same old woman using the like practice, should
fortune to heare all our communication. Wherefore let us now sleepe, and
after that we have taken our rest, let us rise betimes in the morning,
and ride away hence before day, as far as we can possible.

THE FIFTH CHAPTER

How Socrates and Aristomenus slept together in one Chamber, and how they
were handled by Witches.

In speaking these words, and devising with my selfe of our departing the
next morrow, lest Meroe the witch should play by us as she had done by
divers other persons, it fortuned that Socrates did fall asleepe, and
slept very soundly, by reason of his travell and plenty of meat and wine
wherewithall hee had filled him selfe. Wherefore I closed and barred
fast the doores of the chamber, and put my bed behinde the doore, and
so layed mee downe to rest. But I could in no wise sleepe, for the great
feare which was in my heart, untill it was about midnight, and then I
began to slumber. But alas, behold suddenly the chamber doores brake
open, and locks, bolts, and posts fell downe, that you would verily have
thought that some Theeves had been presently come to have spoyled and
robbed us. And my bed whereon I lay being a truckle bed, fashioned in
forme of a Cradle, and one of the feet broken and rotten, by violence
was turned upside downe, and I likewise was overwhelmed and covered
lying in the same. Then perceived I in my selfe, that certaine affects
of the minde by nature doth chance contrary. For as teares oftentimes
trickle downe the cheekes of him that seeth or heareth some joyfull
newes, so I being in this fearfull perplexity, could not forbeare
laughi