ot passe by running river. This being said, one
of them moved and turned up my bed, and then they strid over mee, and
clapped their buttocks upon my face, and all bepissed mee until I was
wringing wet. When this was over they went their wayes, and the doores
closed fast, the posts stood in their old places, and the lockes and
bolts were shut againe. But I that lay upon the ground like one without
soule, naked and cold, and wringing wet with pisse, like to one that
were more than half dead, yet reviving my selfe, and appointed as I
thought for the Gallowes, began to say Alasse what shall become of me to
morrow, when my companion shall be found murthered here in the chamber?
To whom shall I seeme to tell any similitude of truth, when as I shall
tell the trueth in deed? They will say, If thou wert unable to resist
the violence of the women, yet shouldest thou have cried for help;
Wouldst thou suffer the man to be slaine before thy face and say
nothing? Or why did they not slay thee likewise? Why did they spare thee
that stood by and saw them commit that horrible fact? Wherefore although
thou hast escaped their hands, yet thou shalt not escape ours. While
I pondered these things with my selfe the night passed on, and so I
resolved to take my horse before day, and goe forward on my journey.

Howbeit the wayes were unknown to me, and thereupon I tooke up my
packet, unlocked and unbarred the doors, but those good and faithfull
doores which in the night did open of their owne accord, could then
scantly be opened with their keyes. And when I was out I cried, O sirrah
Hostler where art thou? Open the stable doore for I will ride away by
and by. The Hostler lying behinde the stable doore upon a pallet, and
half asleepe, What (quoth hee) doe you not know that the wayes be very
dangerous? What meane you to rise at this time of night? If you perhaps
guilty of some heynous crime, be weary of your life, yet thinke you not
that we are such Sots that we will die for you. Then said I, It is
well nigh day, and moreover, what can theeves take from him that hath
nothing? Doest thou not know (Foole as thou art) if thou be naked,
if ten Gyants should assaile thee, they could not spoyle or rob thee?
Whereunto the drowsie Hostler half asleepe, and turning on the other
side, answered, What know I whether you have murthered your Companion
whom you brought in yesternight, or no, and now seeke the means to
escape away? O Lord, at that time I remember