signes to be gone. Disteus followed her counsell, who being in his shirt ranne out a pace, whom Sagastes (after he had vnfolded himselfe from the clothes) laying his hand on his rapier followed with might and maine not knowing him. Disteus by darke and secret places thought to conuay himselfe away, but as the night was som∣what cleere, he could not: So that what way soeuer he went Sagastes, followed him. And if he was sometimes out of his sight as in some narrow and by lanes, the people told him which way he went. Disteus therefore running in this sort, and Sagastes after him, he tooke a house, because he woulde not be knowen of the people that made a great clamour to see a man run away in his shirt, and another following him with a naked rapier in his hand. Scarce had he recouered the house, when Sagastes came to the very doore. But Disteus kept him out by shutting of a doore at the staires foote, & sought something to defend himselfe being naked; yea, and to hurt his enimie if he could. Sagastes laboured to burst the doore in peeces to come in, & cried out so loud to them within, to open him the doore, that if they did not, he would so cruelly pu∣nish them, that they shoulde know what it was to harbour an vnknowen theefe, of whose fact he made them no lesse guiltie then the principall: Wherupon the Master of the house that by this time was come to see what a noise there was, (fearing Sa∣gastes threates) came to lay hands on his guest & to deliuer him into Sagastes hands. But perceiuing it was Disteus, whom all the citie and countrey so much loued, he fell downe on his knees, beseeching him to conuey himselfe out of a windowe at the backside of the house, bicause he durst not but open his doore to Sagastes; and ther∣fore gaue him an old cloake and a sworde, for he had no time to giue him any more. Disteus by this counsell which he held for good, and by necessitie, as the case requi∣red, being forced to fulfill his friendes request, yeelding him great thankes for his curtesie, went out. Sagastes was melting in his owne heate and anger, that they would not open the doore, and swearing he woulde kill as many as he founde in the house. Whereat the Master of the same, (after he had shewed Disteus the waie to escape) feyning as though he had not knowne what the matter was, came downe, and asking who knocked, opened the dore. Sagastes caused him straight to be taken and bound, and searching euery corner of the house, but not finding him, whom hee sought, came to him againe, swearing by the life of the king, that if he told him not where the man was, or who he was that came into his house, hee woulde presently hange him vp at his owne doore. At which words the good man being afraide, told him (as he heard) that it was Disteus. Sagastes did easily beleeue it, for hee thought none durst haue beene so bold to iniurie him in such sort but onely he: So that see∣ing he had escaped him, without staying any more, he went to Disteus house with a great number of people following him. But no sooner did Sagastes runne out of his sisters house to follow Disteus, but she locked her doore and told Palna what had hapned, requesting her best and speedie aduise in that matter, and to bethinke her of some remedie, that was best for them. Palna at these vnexpected newes was in such a maze and confusion, that she could not answer her a word: But weighing the dan∣ger that Disteus was in, and loue encouraging her (for shee accounted him as her sonne) she answered. Do you deere Mistresse what you thinke good; for I meane in euery perill to follow my sonne Disteus, for whom I shall arme my selfe with no lesse courage and constancie to suffer greefe and sorrow, then I did to giue him content∣ment and pleasure, so that in fewe wordes my resolution is to know what is become of him: For if his person (which the Gods forbid) hath suffred any harme, I will not enioy mine, nor liue in this worlde without his companie. Wherefore you must par∣don
