company, (by reason of the bruit which was dispersed throughout all the
region there of their beastly wickednesse) put all their trumpery upon
my backe, and departed away about midnight. When we had passed a great
part of our journey, before the rising of the Sun, we came into a wild
desart, where they conspired together to slay me. For after they had
taken the goddesse from my backe and set her gingerly upon the ground,
they likewise tooke off my harnesse, and bound me surely to an Oake,
beating me with their whip, in such sort that all my body was mortified.
Amongst whom there was one that threatened to cut off my legs with his
hatchet, because by my noyse I diffamed his chastity, but the other
regarding more their owne profit than my utility, thought best to spare
my life, because I might carry home the goddesse. So they laded me
againe, driving me before them with their naked swords, till they came
to a noble City: where the principall Patrone bearing high reverence
unto the goddesse, Came in great devotion before us with Tympany,
Cymbals, and other instruments, and received her, and all our company
with much sacrifice and veneration. But there I remember, I thought my
selfe in most danger, for there was one that brought to the Master
of the house, a side of a fat Bucke for a present, which being hanged
behind the kitchin doore, not far from the ground, was cleane eaten
up by a gray hound, that came in. The Cooke when he saw the Venison
devoured, lamented and wept pitifully. And because supper time
approached nigh, when as he should be reproved of too much negligence,
he tooke a halter to hang himselfe: but his wife perceiving whereabout
he went, ran incontinently to him, and taking the halter in both her
hands, stopped him of his purpose, saying, O husband, are you out of
your writs? pray husband follow my counsel, cary this strange Asse out
into some secret place and kill him, which done, cut off one of his
sides, and sawce it well like the side of the Bucke, and set it before
your Master. Then the Cooke hearing the counsell of his wife, was well