The second part of the historie, called The nature of a woman contayning the end of the strife betwixt Perseus and Theseus. Compiled by C.M.

How the Outlawes seeking their pray, by chance met with Adrianus the wild man, and how they perswaded him to leaue that place, and what followed therof. CHAP. 7. (Book 7)

THey after their custome, diui∣ding themselues into diuers cō∣panies, searches al y^e conueying wayes of their countrie for to finde some fit pray, where some of them trauailing further thē their accustomed compasse, be∣cause fortune had not affoorded them such fauour as at the first to spéede themselues, they were therefore inforced to followe the trace of some way, in which they hoped at last (though it were too long) to méete with some or o∣ther bootie that would bountiously guerdon their tra∣uaile. So long they traced to and fro that they got vp to the top of a high hill, whence they might see downe belowe in the dale a man alone, whose shew was not such as they wished, trimmed vp in gorgeous golden ap∣parell, but couered with a beasts skinne on his backe, bearing a knottie club, such weapons as nature there had framed for him, and walking vp and downe in these deserts, made the sillie beasts with obeisance crouch to his countenance, as did Alcides terrifie the furies in the bosome of burning hell. This was Adrianus that was there alone walking the wide circute of those melan∣cholie meades, to whom they posting apace, thinking by surprizing him, though of himselfe they should reape

small commoditie, yet by his meanes they might bee di∣rected to some more profitable place. This sauage man looking back, and séeing so many suddenly descend from the top of y^e hil, whose vnorderly approach as he suppo∣sed, pretended little good: he naturally foreséeing what inconueniences might followe, addressing himselfe to his defence with his naturall wrought weapon, which was a young oken plant, and perceiuing them especial∣ly to shape their course to him, stoutly stands still to see some end of their actions. To whom when they came néere, his fierce countenance halfe afrighted them, that standing all still like the starre gazers at the transfor∣ming head of Gorgon, durst not once so much as en∣quire what he was, till one hairebraine companion ta∣king the aduantage of his weapon, that was not vsed to the cunning sleights of fence, got quickly within him, and shifting himselfe from the weightie fall of his club, supposed with some nimble sleight to ouercome him: which when the sauage man perceiued, getting hold of him with one of his hands, before the other had performed his purpose, giues him such gripe as squisies perforce the pithie marrow from most of his strength bearing bones, and so leaues him suddenly slaine, that intended such vnacquainted iniurie to him. Which whē the rest of his fellowes saw, being about fortie in num∣ber, though halfe afrayd all of them to set vpon that sil∣lie one, yet loath to leaue their fellowes ruine vnreuen∣ged, they begin altogether to assault him, who with the weight of his weapon delt such right downe blowes a∣mongst them, as whosoeuer it lighted on it quite killed, or at the least lamed them. Long continued their com∣bat, for that they sustained the foile, and therefore were loath for their credits to leaue the field: yet at y^e length being almost halfe of them spoyled, or quite spilled, the rest dispayring to runne away, least he should ouertake

their flight, in all humilitie suddenly throwes downe themselues at his feete, intreating fauour for their rash offence, and that their fellowes death might satisfie his desire: on whom his gentle nature could not inflict fur∣ther furie, but with a good will accepts their homage as they offer their humilitie. And then falling into fur∣ther conference, begins discourse vnto him what they were, and to what ende they were come thither, whom he handles with all humilitie, laying open vnto them his owne estate, his manner of life in those peopleles places, and what euer had happened vnto him since his first remembrance, carrying them home to his Caue, and there letting them see the manner of his life, where they found sorrowfully sitting these two sad sisters, whose fore ill spent liues had brought vpon them this losse, to whom he also begins to relate the strange man∣ner of their arriual. At last, after they had walked with him round about the borders of his bounds, they begin to disswade him from that beastly place of abode to goe abroad into the world, and there learne to liue like a man, shewing what daunger was in the one, and what delight in the other, perswading him that by y^e meanes time would try the trueth of this his fedious search, in be wraying the meanes by which he was brought thi∣ther. Unto whom a great while he would giue no eare, because it should seeme that contented estate wherein he then stoode so fitted his humour, as that he little re∣garded all the gay stories they could tell him of glorie or dignity, wealth, or whatsoeuer good thing this world doth giue. Yet at the last with their incessant perswa∣sions, he determined a while to goe trie the trueth of their storie: but with this promise, that as they profe∣red honestly to vse himselfe, so should they also kindly comfort those two distressed women, that had vnhap∣pily straied from their homes, and rely them only vpon

his reliefe. Which they with many protestations so∣lemnely promised to doe. And so in the end taking away with him those two, by whose meanes he was made the subiect of that nuschāce, departed altogether from that place, and iournied towards their homes againe. In which way nothing was done, saue that they still were telling one to another the storie of their foreled liues: and with that tattle beguiling the time, till they came to the place where was their abode, and there presen∣ting to their Captaine their pray, they begin to relate what happened them in their iourney. Thus with ma∣ny salutations was he intertained, and often imployed in their affayres, wherein he so prosperously procéeded, as that he was not onely beloued of all the companie, but déerely estéemed of their chief Captaine, and so still imployed abroad. In the meane time were the poore Quéenes, whom fortune had thus baned to and fro, busied at home: for by this time were these Outlawes waxen excéeding rich, and their Captaine intirely af∣fecting Liuia his wife, daughter to one of these vn∣knowne Quéenes, had carefully prouided her of the curiousest conceits that all that countrie did affoord: where, for that these two women that had sometimes béen Princes ouer many people, could well skill of that kind of pāpering pride which women are wonted to vse, grew in such great request with their Ladie, that a∣boue all her attendants they especially were honoured. Here hence grew they again into a new mutinie which of them should best deserue to bee desired, one priuilie seeking to spoile what another had curiously conceited, the other practizing means to hinder her sisters work, that it might proue of little worth. Long in this sort gan they disagrée, till at last with their enuious emu∣lation they stirred vp all the assemblie to such strife, as had not the care of the charie Captaine in time refor∣med,

it had brought selfe-working harme vpon their owne heads. Such was the grounded malice of these two cruell creatures, as that though feare in extremi∣tie made them agrée as friends, yet in the least shew of péeping prosperitie they begin again the fierce assaults of deadly foes. Who for the better agréement of their whole house, they were glad to separate in twaine, to sée if that bred friendship being asunder, that brought out nothing but hatred betwixt them whilest they were together.