had reposed in hym, would not refuse to giue his consent, secretly to conuaye her from out her fathers courte accordyng as she should giue hym direction, and also to make hym self partaker of her journey, and to waite vpon her till she had seen the ende of her determination.

Pedro perceiuying with what vehemencie his ladie and mistresse had made request vnto hym, albeeit he sawe many perilles and doubtes, dependyng in her pretence, notwithstandyng, gaue his consent to be at her disposition, promisyng her to further her with his beste aduice, and to be readie to obeye whatsoeuer she would please to commaunde him. The match beyng thus agreed vpon, and all thynges prepared in a readinesse for their departure: it happened there was a gallie of Constantinople, readie to departe, whiche Pedro vnderstandyng came to the captaine, desiryng him to haue passage for hym self, and for a poore maide that was his sister, whiche were bounde to Constantinople vpon certain vrgent affaires, to whiche request, the captaine graunted, willyng hym to repare aborde with all speede, because the winde serued hym presently to departe.

Pedro now commyng to his mistres and tellyng her how he had handeled the matter with the captaine: she likyng verie well of the deuise, disguisyng her self into verie simple atyre, stole awaie from out her fathers court, and came with Pedro, whom now she calleth brother aboarde the galleye, where all thynges beyng in readinesse and the winde seruyng verie well, they launched forthe with their oores, and set saile, when thei were at the sea, the captaine of the galleye takyng the vewe of Silla, perceiuyng her singular beautie, he was better pleased in beholdyng of her face, then in takyng the height either of the sunne or starre, and thinkyng her by the homelinesse of her apparell, to be but some simple maiden, callyng her into his cabin, he beganne to breake with her after the sea fashion, desiryng her to vse his owne cabin for her better ease: and duryng the tyme that she remained at the sea, she should not want a bedde, and then wisperyng softly in her eare, he saied, that for want of a bedfellow, he hym self would supplie that rome. Silla not beyng acquainted with any suche talke, blusshed for shame, but made hym no aunswere at all, my captaine feelyng suche a bickeryng within him self, the like whereof he had never indured vpon the sea: was like to bee taken prisoner aboard his o wne shippe, and forced to yeeld hym self captiue without any cannon shot, wherefore to salue all sores, and thinkyng it the readiest waie to speed, he began to breake with Silla in the waie of mariage, tellyng her how happie a voiage she had made, to fall into the likyng of suche a one as himself was, who was able to keepe and maintaine her like a gentilwoman, and for her sake would likewise take her brother into his fellowship, whom he would by some meanes preferre in suche sorte, that bothe of theim should haue good cause to thinke them selues thrise happie, she to light of suche a housbande, and he to light of suche a brother. But Silla, nothyng pleased with these prefermentes, desired hym to cease his talke, for that she did thinke her self indeede to bee to vnworthie suche a one as he was, neither was she minded yet to marrie, and therefore desired hym to fixe his fancie vppon some that were better worthie than her self was, and that could better like of his curtesie then she could dooe, the captaine seeyng hymself thus refused, beyng in a greate chafe, he saied as followeth:

Then seeyng you make so little accompte of my curtesie, proffered to one that is so far vnworthie of it, from henceforthe I will vse the office of my aucthoritie, you shall knowe that I am the captaine of this shippe, and haue power to commaunde and dispose of thynges at my pleasure, and seyng you haue so scornfully reiected me to be your loiall housbande, I will now take you by force, and vse you at my will, and so long as it shall please me, will kepe you for myne owne store, there shall be no man able to defende you, not yet to perswade me from that I have determined. Silla with these wordes beyng stroke into a great feare, did thinke it now too late, to rewe her rashe attempte, determined rather to dye with her owne handes, then to suffer herself to be abused in suche sorte, therefore she moste humbly desired the captaine so muche as he could to saue her credite, and seyng that she must needes be at his will and disposition, that for that present he would depart, and suffer her till night, when in the darke he might take his pleasure, without any maner of suspition to the residue of his companie. The captaine thinking now the goole to be more then half wonne, was contented so farre to satisfie her request, and departed out leavyng her alone in his cabin.