about midnight
Moreover she caused , that the wife of a certain lover that she had should never be delivered of her childe , but according to the computation of all men , it is eight yeares past since the poore woman first began to swell , and now shee is encreased so big , that shee seemeth as though she would bring forth some great Elephant : which when it was knowne abroad , and published throughout all the towne , they tooke indignation against her , and 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 -LRB- who obtained of King Creon but one days respit before her departure -RRB- did burn all his house , him , and his daughter : so she , by her conjurations and invocations of spirits , -LRB- which she useth in a certaine hole in her house , as shee her selfe declared unto me the next day following -RRB- 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 . THE FIFTH CHAPTER