All of them agreeing in this dismall resolution, they commanded Pe∣dro
to put off his garments, which he yeelding to do (albeit vnwillingly)
it so fell out, that fiue and twenty other theeues, came sodainly rushing in
vpon them, crying, Kill, kill, and spare not a man.
They which before had surprized Pedro, desiring nowe to shifte
for their owne safetie; left him standing quaking in his shirt, and so
ranne away mainely to defend themselues. Which the new crewe
perceyuing, and that their number farre exceeded the other: they fol∣lowed
to robbe them of what they had gotten, accounting it as a pre∣sent
purchase for them. Which when Pedro perceyued, and saw none
tarrying to prey vppon him; hee put on his cloathes againe, and moun∣ting
on his owne Horsse, gallopped that way, which Angelina before
had taken: yet could hee not descry any tracke or path, or so much as the
footing of a horse; but thought himselfe in sufficient securitie, beeing rid
of them that first seized on him, and also of the rest, which followed in
the pursuite of them.
For the losse of his beloued Angelina, he was the most wofull man
in the world, wandering one while this way, and then againe another,
calling for her all about the Forrest, without any answere returning to
him. And not daring to ride backe againe, on he trauailed stil, not kno∣wing
where to make his arriuall. And hauing formerly heard of sauage
rauenous beasts, which commonly liue in such vnfrequented Forrests: he
not onely was in feare of loosing his owne life, but also despayred much
for his Angelina, least some Lyon or Woolfe, had torne her body in pee∣ces.
Thus rode on poore vnfortunate Pedro, vntill the breake of day ap∣peared,
not finding any meanes to get forth of the Forrest, still crying and
calling for his fayre friend, riding many times backeward, when as hee
thought hee rode forward, vntill hee became so weake and faint, what
with extreame feare, lowd calling, and continuing so long a while with∣out
any sustenance, that the whole day beeing thus spent in vaine, and
darke night sodainly come vppon him, hee was not able to hold out any
longer.
Now was hee in farre worse case then before, not knowing where, or
how to dispose of himselfe, or what might best bee done in so great a ne∣cessity.
From his Horse hee alighted, and tying him by the bridle vnto a
great tree, vppe he climbed into the same Tree, fearing to bee deuoured
(in the night time) by some wilde beast, choosing rather to let his Horsse
perish, then himselfe. Within a while after, the Moone beganne to rise,
and the skies appeared bright and clcare: yet durst hee not nod, or take a
nap, lest he should fall out of the tree; but sate still greeuing, sighing, and
mourning, despairing of euer seeing his Angelina any more, for he could
not be comforted by the smallest hopefull perswasion, that any good for∣tune
might befall her in such a desolate Forrest, where nothing but dis∣mall
feares was to be expected, and no likelihood that she should escape
with life.