company, he would in no wise let me, for he meant to conceale (vntill he could no longer) his secret loue and affection from me. He therefore being apparelled, and furnished with the best offensiue and defensiue weapons he could choose out, went to helpe Dardanea, least her harebraine brother in his furie might haue laide violent hands vpon her, or else to die in the quarrell, before she should suffer any harme at all. Going therefore about this matter, he met with Placindus, that was comming to seeke him out, by his Aunts commaundement, whom he asked if he knew any thing. Placindus told him, how he should finde Dardanea and Palna in his house, and that he should goe thither quickly, bicause Dardanea was the most sorrowfullest wo∣man in the world for his danger. Disteus went thither out of hand: but knowing that place to be nothing so conuenient and secret, as their present necessitie required, bicause (by missing Palna) Sagastes would out of hand come thither; he brought them to my house, willing Placindus to lye still and take his rest, bicause he might thereby make them beleeue, that he knew nothing of the matter. All three might come secretly to my house, bicause as siths that was not farre from Placindus lodging, so were they both out of the concurse of people and walke of neighbours; and also bicause Sagastes was gone to the King to complaine of the iniurie that Disteus had done him, whom he requested to commaund a search to be made in all suspected houses that were thought most fit to harbour him, and Dardanea and Palna. The King not only granted hereunto (for as you know he desired to haue the least occa∣sion, whereby he might throw downe Disteus partie, to pleasure Sagastes) but tooke this matter vpon him as his owne, and sware to behead Disteus, and as many as were culpable, and euerie one that afterwards helpt him And therefore (to fauour him the more) made Sagastes himselfe iudge in his owne cause, bicause he might take the greater reuenge at his own pleasure. Who, when he saw so good a means for his de∣sire, without more ado beset Disteus house with a priuy watch, hauing first searched it all thorow, where missing him, he went straight to seeke out his sister. They em∣ploied all diligence and labour they thought needfull to bring their purpose to ef∣fect; but my house they ouerslipt, bicause as it was not pliable enough to Disteus his partie, nor I my selfe held for his friend, so was I free from all suspicion that I kept him. But when they could not finde him, he commaunded a proclamation to be made, that euery one vpon paine of his head, that harboured them, or knew where they were, should bring them foorth: and afterwards apprehended Anfilardus and Placindus, and as many as they suspected could tel of them, threatning them to cruel torments, yea, and putting some in practise, though all in vaine to their purpose. It could not choose but kill Disteus his hart to see the ruine of his house, and the impri∣sonment of his friends and familie, who did neuerthelesse comfort himselfe not a little, bicause it was for his Lady and Mistresse sake, whom he had nowe in happie possession, the which thing he forgot not by many sweete and louing words to ma∣nifest vnto her: who could not for all this be comforted, (though she made him not priuie to her inward greefe) when she thought of the vniust and ill name (a thing that greeued her more then death) that was spred abroad of that, which she estee∣med more then life, and when she entred into consideration and feare of the immi∣nent danger wherein her beloued husband was, by meanes of the great searching and awaites that Sagastes had laide in all places to finde them out: Wherefore ta∣king him aside, she saide thus vnto him. I know well my Lord, that my Fortune would not leaue me without some sorrowfull occurrent in so sweete an estate, nor to doe lesse with me then euer turne most bitterly against the pretence of my
