ing their pity and compaſſion, and entreating to know in what ſhe had offended, to make them ſo void of humanity towards a diſtreſſed lady, whom they had betrayed into that ſolitary place; being convinced, that her Lord had given no ſuch commands: No, replied they, That is true, nor do we know him; But Antonio and Fronovius have, and we muſt obey them: beſides, you are a heretic and ought not to live.
Deidamia now finding ſhe was betrayed by her wicked ſervants, into the hands of theſe mercileſs villains, and ſeeing nothing but preſent death, before her eyes, ſhe poured out her ſoul to God in vehement petitions, for favour from his hands; and, that, if he ſaw fit, ſhe ſhould live no longer here, that he would receive her into life eternal; and that rather, if it were required, ſhe might ſeal her profeſſion of the reformed religion, in which ſhe had found ſo much heavenly conſolation, with her deareſt blood, than be prevailed with to recant it. But thou, O Lord! ſaid ſhe, who delivereſt Daniel from the fury of the lions, and the three children from devouring flames, canſt, if thou wilt, in this extremity, deliver me from theſe blood-thirſty men, whom I have in no manner injured: But, be it as thou pleaſeſt; ſo that my departing ſoul, when it leaves this mortal body, may find ſhelter in the arms of thy mercy. The villains, who, all this while had eyed her, and ſaw her lovely in her tears, troubled not themſelves about her religion, for their buſineſs was to murder her; and, therefore, the pretended captain ſaid, 'Lady, our time is ſhort, this inſtant you muſt die; therefore ſettle your mind for the fatal ſtroke' To this ſhe made no reply, but continuing on her knees, with eyes uplifted to
