evill. Furthermore I, who by her great cruelty, was turned into a foure
footed Asse, in most vile and abject manner: yea, and whose estate
seemed worthily to be lamented and pittied of the most hard and stonie
hearts, was accused of theft and robbing of my deare host Milo, which
villany might rather be called parricide then theft, yet might not I
defend mine owne cause or denie the fact any way, by reason I could not
speake; howbeit least my conscience should seeme to accuse me by reason
of silence, and againe being enforced by impatience I endevored to
speake, and faine would have said, Never did I that fact, and verely the
first word, never, I cried out once or twise, somewhat handsome, but the
residue I could in no wise pronounce, but still remaining in one voice,
cried, Never, never, never, howbeit I settled my hanging lips as round
as I could to speake the residue: but why should I further complaine of
the crueltie of my fortune, since as I was not much ashamed, by reason
that my servant and my horse, was likewise accused with me of the
robbery.

While I pondered with my selfe all these things, a great care [came] to
my remembrance, touching the death, which the theeves provised for me
and the maiden, and still as I looked downe to my belly, I thought of my
poore gentlewoman that should be closed within me. And the theefe which
a little before had brought the false newes against me, drew out of the
skirt of his coate, a thousand crowns, which he had rifled from such
as hee met, and brought it into the common treasury. Then hee carefully
enquired how the residue of his companions did. To whom it was declared
that the most valiant was murdred and slaine in divers manners,
whereupon he perswaded them to remit all their affaires a certaine
season, and to seeke for other fellowes to be in their places, that by
the exercise of new lads, the terror of their martiall band might be
reduced to the old number, assuring them that such as were unwilling,