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hard by in a stately castle, had offered 300 crowns, but it was refused. Upon this he desired the host to send for the merchant, and to bring his horses with him; which he accordingly did, though within himself he laughed heartily, seeing him so meanly clad, and knowing they were of great price; yet contrary to his expectation, he bought the two the Earl had bid for, and gave 400 crowns for them: then the host supposed him to be some nobleman in disguise, especially as be bought costly tables and other furniture, and enquired for two servants. The Duke hearing that Fortunatus had bought the horses out of his hand, was very angry, and sent to the inn-keeper to know who it was. The host told the messenger he was a stranger, in plain habit, newly come, which he at first did not think capable of purchasing an ass. Whereupon the Earl sent to apprehend him, suspecting him to have committed some robbery, and notwithstanding all the excuses he could make, sent him to prison, and was compelled to deliver the horses up to him, pay 300 crowns as a fine set npon him, and obliged to depart his territories, with an oath never to discover what passed between them.
