ordayned that the next day shee should most cruelly be stoned to death.
Which purpose of theirs she prevented by the vertue of her inchantments,
and as Medea (who obtained of King Creon but one days respit before her
departure) did burn all his house, him, and his daughter: so she, by her
conjurations and invocations of spirits, (which she useth in a certaine
hole in her house, as shee her selfe declared unto me the next day
following) closed all the persons in the towne so sure in their houses,
and with such violence of power, that for the space of two dayes they
could not get forth, nor open their gates nor doore, nor break downe
their walls, whereby they were inforced by mutuall consent to cry unto
her, and to bind themselves strictly by oaths, that they would never
afterwards molest or hurt her: and moreover, if any did offer her any
injury they would be ready to defend her. Whereupon shee, mooved by
their promises, and stirred by pitty, released all the towne. But shee
conveyed the principal Author of this ordinance about midnight, with
all his house, the walls, the ground, and the foundation, into another
towne, distant from thence an hundred miles, scituate and beeing on
the top of an high hill, and by reason thereof destitute of water, and
because the edifices and houses were so nigh built together, that it was
not possible for the house to stand there, she threw it downe before the
gate of the towne. Then I spake and said O my friend Socrates you
have declared unto me many marvellous things and strange chances, and
moreover stricken me with no small trouble of minde, yea rather with
great feare, lest the same old woman using the like practice, should
fortune to heare all our communication. Wherefore let us now sleepe, and
after that we have taken our rest, let us rise betimes in the morning,
and ride away hence before day, as far as we can possible.