to resorte thereunto and learne by othermens misdéeds to direct better his owne doinges and not with th' exchange of the worlde to alter also his minde but rather asmuche as lyeth in hym to ymitate the lyfe and conuersation of theym who haue lyued well before wherein seinge in this worlde the nature of man in all ages althoughe the singler personnes bee chaunged remeineth stil one so also the good fortunes felicities calamities and miseries whyche happen both in publike gouernement and to euerye priuate state tourne alwayes to one effect and are lyke those of tymes paste so that by the benefyt of stories presentinge afore oure eyes a true kallender of things of auncient date by the commendacion of vertuous and valyaunt personnes and actes we be drawen by desyer to treade the stepps of their renowme and on thother syde considering the sinister fortune horrible cases which haue happened to certeine miserable soules we behold both th' extreme points wherunto the fraile condicion of man is subiect by infirmitie and also are thereby toughte by the viewe of other mens harmes to eschew the like inconueniences in our selues wherein righte honorable like as I haue rather touched sleightelye then vsed tearmes of commendacion at large according to the worthynes of so precious a Iewell as the knowledg of histories for that now a dayes euery mans mouth is open to commende the frute distilling from so florishynge a vine â—o for my part beyng more forwarde then hable to discharge my zeale in that behalfe haue bestowed some of my voyed howers whilest I was in the other sides the Sea in forcynge certeyne Tragicall Discourses oute of theyr Frenche tearmes into our Englishe phrase presumyng to commende vnto your Ladishypp the frutes and effecte of my trauayle folowynge therein the order of suche as haue spente tyme in the lyke studye who are wounte to declare theyr good wyll by bestowynge theyr labours wherewithe beinge vnhappelye denyed other frendshypp of fortune to make good my desyer in gyuing an vnfayned showe of the dutye and seruice I owe you and the house whereof you tooke youre begynnynge am here vppon tearmes of humilitye for preferment of this rude and simple dedication of theis forrein reapportes to youre honor to whose vertues as I haue chiefelye respected to gyue due renowme by preferrynge a true purtraict of your conuersation and lyfe in the vertues giftes and ornamentes of the noble ANGELIQVA chaste PAROLYNA constant IVLIA and renowned CARMOSYNA wyth others whose integretye of life hath gyuen theim a crowne of immortalitye wyth a glorious remembrance of theyr names for euer after theyr deathe so my seconde indeuor was bent to obserue the necessitie of the tyme chiefly for that vppon the viewe and examples of oure Auncesters lyues the fraile ympes of this age maye fynde cause of shame in theyr owne abuses wyth desyer to exchaunge their badd condicion and order of lyuynge wyth the studye and desyer to ymitate the vertue of their predecessours whose lyfe and renowme after death argueth the vndoubted rewarde at tendynge as a thynge of course the vertuouse and well disposed where of the contrarye appeare wounderfull tormentes and sharpp pennaunce prouided to plage the abhominable and vicious lyuer Besides it is a principle and chiefe rule in our nature and disposition to bee rather instructed by examples of familyar authorityes then reformed by seueritye of lawes for that the one seames to gouerne vs by awe and commaundement and in the other appeares a consent of oure fancie marchinge alwayes accordynge to the direction of our owne willes for whiche cause the Historians of olde tyme in theyr seuerall recordes of the actes conquestes and noble attemptes of Princes and greate men haue lefte oute nothynge seruynge for the ornamente and institution of mannes lyfe not forgettynge to sett oute also in naturall coollers theyr tyrannye and other vices withe contempte of vertue yf theyr lyues were founde guiltye in any suche offence But when they paynte oute a good kynge a magistrate without touche of partiall or couetous mynde a courtyar loyall and withoute dissimulation A minister of the Churche not smellynge of hypocrysye but searchynge purelye the honor of God A Ladye chaste honeste curteouse a louer of charitye vsynge a deuoute reuerence to God and feare to hys lawes yt is then that they allure by traines of familyaritye euerye succession to embrace and beholde as in a glasse the vndoubted meane that is hable and wylt brynge theym to the lyke perfection in vertue whyche also moued me to vse a speciall discrecion in coollynge oute suche examples as beste aggreed wyth the condicion of the tyme and also were of moste freshe and famylyar memorye to the ende that wyth the delyte in readynge my dedication I maye also leaue to all degrees an appetitt and honeste desyere to honor vertue and holde vice in due detestation And albeit at the firste sighte theis discourses maye importe certeyne vanytyes or fonde practises in loue yet I doubte not to bée absolued of suche intente by the iudgement of the indifferent sorte seinge I haue rather noted diuersitie of examples in sondrye younge men and women approuynge sufficientlye the inconuenience happenynge by the pursute of lycenceous desyer then affected in anye sorte suche vncerteine follyes For heare maye bée séene suche patternes of chastetye and maydes so assured and constant in vertue that they haue not doubted rather to reappose a felicitye in the extreme panges of death then to fall by anye violent force into the daunger of the fleshelye ennemye to theyr honour In lyke sorte appeareth here an experience of wounderfull vertues in men who albeit hadd power to vse and commande the thinge they chieflye desyered yet bridlynge wythe maine hande The humour of theyr inordinate luste vanquished all mocions of sensualytye and became maisters of theym selues by abstaynynge from that whereunto they felte prouocation by nature who desyereth to sée the follye of a foolishe lover passionynge hymselfe vppon creditt the impudencie of a maide or other woman renouncynge the vowe of her fayth or honor due to virginitie the sharpp pennance attendynge the rashe choice of greate Ladyes in séekynge to matche in anye sorte wythe degrées of inferior condicion or who wisheth to bée priuie to th'inconueniences in loue howe he frieth in the flame of the fyrste affection and after groweth not onelye colde of hymselfe but is easelye conuerted into a contrarye shapp and disposition of deadlye hate maye bée heare assisted wyth more then double expeperience touchinge all those euills the curtesie of an enemye on the behalfe of hys aduersarye wythe a wounderfull lyberalitye in the other in retournynge the benefytt receyued is heare set furthe in fuche lyuelye coollers that there seames to lacke nothynge for the ornament and decoracion of suche a wooke And who takes pleasure to beholde the fyttes and panges of a frantique man incensed to synister conceites by the suggestion of frettynge Ielouzye forcynge hym to effectes of absolute desperation
their peculyar thankes the one for that in preseruing his champions from the malice of daunger and marke of open shame seamed to restore the felde and assist theim with soccour whenne they dispaired most of consolacion the other for that contrary to her nature and cus tume she had torned theirmanifold afflictions into a pleasure more precious acceptable thē al y e desasters of y e whole worlde seamed greuous or hurtfull in which passion of ioye shée mounted into the chamber of Iacke of the clockhouse who resembling a red heyring dryed in the smoake agaynst the beginning of the next lent attended her comming wyth no lesse deuocion then the Iews exspect their MESSIAS and albeit the approch of present ioye forcinge some teares in remembrance of the feare passed seamed for the time to take away y e vse and libertie of her tongue yet she cut of y e traunce of that pleasant sorowe without thassistance of any special counter-charme other then that whych proceded of a vehement desyer to behold and speake wyth her frend in the chymney wherfore after shée had dryed and drained the wet humor of her waterie eyes and dismissed all argumentes of former dule she retired to her auncient complexion of ioy and calling with a smyling voire to him in the topp of the rooffe willed him to discend hardly from his darke troane and theatrie of hell wher sayth she if god had not deuised the meane of your delyuerie and seamed willing that you shold receiue the due guerdon of your loyaltie in consenting to commit my husband to pryson you had stil remeined there norished with the vapour of y e moone longer then eyther I wold haue wished or had bene necessarie for your health Here albeit CORNELIO was sufficiently perswaded of the voice of his Ladie and that he knew all the house to be voyed of suspicion or cause of further daunger yet the remembrance of his perill passed presented such a feare to fall eftsones into the like perplection that hée neyther beleued that which hée hard nor durst forsake his habytacion on highe til he was sommoned the second tyme by his PLAVDINA who by the help of her woman reared a lather to the top of the loft where the grymy roode stode who being discended and in the presence of his Ladye seamed no lesse amased then those desolate or rather dronken creatures who wandring the night by vnknowen waies do thinke theimselues guided by the vision of some ill spirit And the wantō ladie on thother syde seing the ghastlie astonishement of her frend not much vnlike in cōplexion to the chymney swepers cōminge out of the yle of BERGAMASQVA cold not so moderat her present gladnes but burstinge into a soddaine laughter shée seamed to crucifye the remembrance of the tragedie passed wyth the singler contentment shée toke in beholdinge her CORNELIO dyed as it were in the smotheringe tanfat of hyddeous collours And albeit you louers who for a simple glée and respect of fauor of your Ladies haue earste bene sprinkled with the water of semblable affliction and after getting thupper hand of your fortune possesse the presence of your dames in such oglye and deformed attire canne best iudge of the present case of CORNELIO I meane whether hée hadde more cause of shame then astonishmente iuste anger against hys fortune or reason to exclaime his mishappe chieflie for that he fonnd himself so braue a companion in the lothsom badge or lyuerye of the chymneye and whether he had so greate courage to cōmunicate wyth his PLAVDYNA resembling the blacke knight or feryman of ZENOLOZ as he showed hymselfe valyant in thattempte of an enterpryse of so great aduenture yet thauthorytie of my historye aduoucheth thus farr of his doinges at that tyme that notwithstandinge the malice and diuersitie of all his mishapps with the perfumed figure and gréeselie show of himselfe he neyther loste corage to demaunde the due méede and hyer of his daungerous traueile nor forgat to do sacrafise to his fortune for the retorn of her frendshippe affirminge there that they dyd her wronge that christenned her by the name of cruell and suche no lesse abused her that tearmed her by the title of an vnrightuous or rigorous iudge consideringe she doth but iustice sometime to checke or chasten our offences and we no reason to pleade for our selues but by appellacion to the pryuiledge of her fauor neyther is she cruell for euer nor so maliciouslye bente in the begynning but shée is hable and will vse moderacion in her angrie moode and restore vs in the end to treble contentacion And like wise sayth hée as the poore trauellour in a strange contrey hauynge once passed diuerse light peperills and daungers of no great ymportaunce is not only made strōger to encounter greater inconueniences but also restored to a meruelous contentment quiet of minde whē w tout daunger hée may enioye his rest and record his perills paste Euen so fortune this night hathe geuen vs an experience of diuerse desasters bothe to vse her aduertisemente as a speciall armour to resyste thassaltes of semblable accidents hereafter and also to confirme our affections with a stronger bonde or vndoubted vnytie makinge the pleasures of our loue of greater price and moment after so sharp stormes of raging tempestes And what is hée that is worthie to taste of the delites and pleasures of the worlde that is not hable to disgeste one simple pill of bitter confection neyther dothe hope dekaie but with the ende of life and the vertue of a most true and inuincible loyaltie is neuer frustrate nor voyed of his rewarde and tochinge the stormes paste my deare PLAV DINA saith he like as it is a chiefe consolacion to a man in calamytie to knowe his mishapp so there is also a speciall compfort that followeth the remembrance of the euills whiche wée haue alredie suffred and a treble contentmente beinge permitted to recorde theim wythout daunger and hée that is desierous to bée crowned with the garland and glorie of victorie must not feare the malice of perill nor hazarde of lyfe for who contemneth death escapeth his malice but such as feare and flée from hym do often fal into his daunger neither is there lesse fame in the valyant aduenture then in the fortunat victorie And for my parte if my lyfe had ended in thassalte of any of these distresses the same had not exceded a simple oblation of my dutie towardes you whiche also had followed wyth no lesse expedicion then I had great desyer to geue you so vnfayned a shewe of my seruice if in the verye act had not appeared a manifest derogacion and cause of infamie to your honor wherwith meaninge yet to prolonge his discourse hée was interupted with the replie of PLAVDINA who more desyerous to taste of the pleasures to come then willinge eftsones to prefer a second view of y e mischienes passed wished hym to dismisse the remembraunce of their former
who when they wéepe are pleased with tryffles delytinge more in the lollynge of the nursse then in the offer of A monarke But nowe to Ianiquetta who durynge the solitarie time and desolate aboade of Luchyn in his house was maried by the trauell and assistance of her frendes to a mariner or maister of a shipp whose trade was to conueye the marchantes of all partes from porte to porte as their traffique and trade required this mariage was no soner performed in the churche but fame fyllynge the eares of LVCHYN made hym partaker of the newes with aduyse to renewe the earneste of hys fomer bargayne wyth a doble diligence and treble desyer preferrynge as it were an assured hope of spedye victorye the rather for that hée accompted the mariage a conuenient meane to couer the falte of his fowle desier wherein he receyued a successe of his former attemptes for she that detested hys indeuour beyng at libertie thoughte the offence of doble disposicion in offendynge God and the worlde in breakynge the league of her faith and vowe of obedience to her husbande ▪ whose simplicitie and state subiecte to néede and lacke Luchyn forgatt not to feede with large proffers of his frendshyppe in suche sorte as what with the hope of his assistance and feare of the authoritie he bare then in the citie he had him as it were in a famyliar awe neyther suspectynge his accesse too his house nor mislikynge his conference with his wyfe of whome notwithstandynge he coulde not obteyne but the vse of wordes whyche as she durste not denye for the respecte of awe and honour whiche her husbande bare to hym so hauynge a notable wisdome ioyned with her rare gifte of chastetie reposynge her selfe in the grace of GOD to defende her honour kepte his meanynge secrette and woulde not communicate the fowlenes of his intente to anye and muche lesse to her waspishe husbande leauynge in example to all Ladies not sufficiente in vertue rather to resyste all suche alarams of theyme selues or at leaste make a secrett concealement then in bewraynge theyr awne weaknes to breede a bées neste in the heades of their husbandes wyth reaportes of small substance But nowe the amarus traffique of Luchyn and common haunte to the mariners house began to bréede a doubt of his doing amongest his nearest frendes who not knowinge of the mariage of IANIQVETTE ymagyned what might happen and as careful gardeines of their nephewe studied to preuent the wourste wherfore leaste thalluremente of her bewtie and disposiciō of his follie might vnhappely conclud a secret contract betwene theym they accosted hym one day wyth earnest request that in ceassing at last to pursewe the wanton instigacions of his youthe he wold crosse saile and retire to a trade of honest life wherin saye they verye loath to offende hym albeit we haue no great cause to infer ymputacion of any haynous enormytie or desorder not conueniente yet seinge the pleasante tyme of youre younge yeres slipp awaye vnder a vaile of vaine and barreine life whose sequeile if in tyme you abridge not the race of your Ronninge course argues no small inconuenience to your selfe with greate discredit to your deade father we haue thought good to enter into deuise for preseruinge of that whyche yet remeines and to preuent the malice of future tyme wherefore accordyng to the credit and resolued truste reaposed in vs by your late father the verye remembrance of whome restores vs to a speciall care and zeale of youre honor and well doinge we wishe you to conuert this ydle and desolate order of liuing into a disposicion and desier of honest mariage wherby you shall not only deceiue thexspectaciō of y t had sorte deuyninge already of your destruction but eschewe the sentence of ordinary mischiefe appoynted to fall vppon suche as wallowing in sensuall pleasures regarde not the honor and estimacion of their house and whiche appeares euen readie to thonder vpon you if you dispatche not youre selfe of the principall cause of this great and ymynente misfortune wherin for a declaracion of the special care we haue of you we present you heare wyth a franke offer of our traueile diligence and councel to be ready at all tymes to assiste you in the choise of her whom god shal enioyne you to make the lawfull com panion of your bedd The younge man vnderstanding sufficiently their intent cutt of their further discourse wyth hys promise not onelye to make spedie exchaunge of his former trade but also commits hym selfe whollie to their discrecion and wysedomes wyth resolucion to be ready to enter into mariage with such one as they iudged of equalytie and euery way cōuenient for his condicion calling wherin there was such expedicion of diligence vsed by his frendes that wythin a space of two or thre monethes he was maried no lesse richely then honorablie and to a bewtie sufficient to contēt a reasonable man whereof if any reioyced wyth good cause I thinke it was poore Ianiquette who perswadinge herselfe to be ryd by thys meanes of an ymportunat clyent blessed the goodnes of her fortune in prouidinge so well for thennemye of her honor and deliueringe her wyth honestie from y e daunger of hys charmes albeit her conceyte was aunswered wythe a contrarye successe And as our nature for the moste parte now a dayes is growen to such corruption by a contynual desier of filthie gaine that as Aristotle sayth nothing is hable to satisfye the couetusnes of man Euenso thinfection of loue after hee haue once preuayled aboue the wholesome partes in vs is of suche wonderfull operacion that he doth not only choke the gift of our vnderstanding in suche sort as we are founde more apte to embrace the thinges that be hurtfull then hable to followe the loare of wisedome and vertue but also takes awaye the respect and dutie of our conscience whyche you may easely descerne in the discurse of thys Luchyn who notwithstandinge the vowe he made to god and honor that euery man ought to geue to mariage cold not content hym selfe wyth the companye of his owne wyfe but renewed hys resorte wythe alarames of freshe ymportunyties to poore IANIQVETTA whyche being noted and spied diuers times of his wife made her doubt that which was not and albeit she was resolued of a participacion and equalitie of loue yet she feared not muche that the mariners wife deceiued her of any thinge that she accompted due to herselfe for that the common reaport of her chaste and honeste life assured her of the contrary chieflye she repined that so vaine a hope shoulde wythdrawe hym from her companye feling wyth all a certeine wante in thaccomplishment of the exercise and desier of the bedd at hoame And truly as there is nothing more hurtful to the breach of amytie betwene the good man and wife then when the stronger parte conuertes his affection confirmed by vowe into a disposicion and desier to abuse the
By toyling trade the trifling wares which they for money sel Then why should Fenton feare to purchace prayse of men To whom he fraÌ„ckely gyues the gift of this his pleasant pen If he his busye browe haue beate for our auayle And for our pleasure taken paynes why should his guerdon fayle No gredye golden fee no Iem or Iewell braue But of the reader good reporte this writer longes to haue No man of meanest witt no beast of slender brayne That thinckes that such a volume great is wrought with slender pain The thinge it selfe declares what toyle he vndertooke Ere Fentons curious fyle could frame this passing pleasant booke The Frenche to Englishe phrase his mother language hee The darcke to lighte the shade to sonne hath brought as you may see The learned stories erste and sugred tales that laye Remoude from simple common sence this writer doth displaye And what before hee tooke his painfull quyll to write Did lurcke vnknown is playnelie now to be disternd in sight Nowe men of meanest skill what Bandel wrought maye vew And tell the tale in Englishe well that erst they neuer knewe Discourse of sundrye strange and Tragicall affaires Of louynge Ladyes haples haps theyr deathes ad deadly cares And dyuers thinges beside wherby to flee the darte Of vyle deceytefull Cupids bowe that woundes the louers harte Synce this by Fentons meane and trauayle thou doct gayne Good reader yeld hym earned prayse and thanckes for taken paine Then I that made this verse shall thincke as well of the As Fentons worke doth well deserue accompted of to be PETER BEVERLEY IN PRAISE of the translator RYfe is the rule that blames the Idell mynde The ground as great that blaseth trauels gayne Eache tonge can tell a vvorld of vyces kynd And Scacred lynes appoints offences payne But Fenton shovves in svvete and sugred stile What pleasaunt bayte doth eache state beguile What carelesse youth that sees the toylyng Ant But shames to vveare his goulden tyme in vayne VVhose tender lymmes in sommer tyme do haunt The frutfull felds to rest in Borias Rayne VVhen she doth sucke the svvete of heruest toyle And fynds in frost relefe in dryed soyle The slender store that sum do novv possesse VVhose idell boones did loth in youth the lode To those that lyue suffyseth to expresse The loytring child in age knovves no abode But as the shippe tost vvith the byllovv greate So he doth yelde him selfe to fortunes threte VVhat pride deserues vvhat is blacke hatreds hiere VVhat enuye theft vvhat is the mysers mede In fyne vvhat fovvle offence vvhat fact so dire But scripture shovves his rights if thou list rede VVherby each may both shunne the vilest sinne And learne such lyfe as lasting Ioye doth vvinne But Fentons frame hath vvouen an other vvebbe His paynfull penn hath died a straunger hevve He tels vvhen vvitt is in his lovvest ebbe And vvarns the Shunne the bayne that coms by vievve VVhich so doth chaunge the sence of euery vvight That from a man to beast it tournes him quitt As vvhen the mynd through vvant of reasons rayne Vnbridled yelds to fond affections force And feding still the hart vvith amours vayne Conuert each part vnto a sencles cors VVherin he lyues so odde from right and lavve As mountayn beare that prayes deuoyd of avve And subiect thus vnto svvete folyes lore If vvishe he vvinne he shovves vvhat sovver svvete The pacient suckes vvhat bytter blisse in store He heapes vvhen age vvith iudgment iust shall mete VVhen profe shall saye of all vnhappyest vvight That reapest care in lyevv of hopte delight But if disdayne shall quyt him vvith dispyght And yeld him loth for long desired grace Then stabbing glayue the desperat brest must smyte Or frantycke vvyse runne out a sauage race Thus if of gladd or sad he happ the gayne Both haue this end in loue nought is but vayne VVhich reckles race to bring in vvisdoms guyde And for to raine vvith bytt of better skill My paynfull frend did this discours prouide As brake to breake affections lavvles vvill Gyue Fenton then but freuts of his desert And gather thou that best maye please thy hart P. B. The argument I Meane nothere to increase the merueile of menne withe a particular description of the sumptuous buildinges of Princes the magnificall scites and scituations of greate mens houses nor restore to memory the wounderfull pollecies and artificiall deuises of oure Auncestoures in making plats and firme fondacions of Castels and Cities in the bottom of the sea and muche lesse trouble you withe a reaporte of their ingenious trauaill in castinge downe hils and makynge Craggy mountaynes flat with the face of the earthe or forcing stonie Rockes with places here to fore impassible to oppen and make waye to their huge armies but I haue in presente intente to discouer vnto you the meruellous effects of loue which excedinge the opynion of common thynges seames more straunge then the curious construction and frame of any Pallais for necessitie or pleasure threatrie or place of solace buylded by art or industrie of man or other stately Court what sqware quadrante or triangle forme so euer it conteines or other misticall worke yeldinge cause of wonder to the vniuersitie of the earthe seing that a mortal grudge grounded vppon greate spite confirmed withe the continuance of a longe time and pursued extremelye wythe bloddye persecution and vnnaturall crueltie is not onely conuerted vpon a sodaine into perfecte frendeshippe but also by an effecte and operation of loue made so indissoluble that no future accidente or synister deuise of enemyes could once make a breache and muche lesse vtterly dissolue the league of amity so happely begon and sewerly knite together by the vertue of affection whyche wee call commonlye the passion procured by loue wherunto is also added alike effecte of a thankefull mynde arguing vnto vs whythe a famyliar example that as ingratitude is the greatest vice y e raynes in the disposition of man and principall ennemy to the honor of nobilitie soo the contrary deserueth by iustice the tytle of the moste precious vertue y t is wherein as the Thebans were shamefully reproched for the respect of their greate Capttaines Epaimy nondes and Pelopides so the Plateons on the contrarye were worthely renounâ—ed for the large recompence and consideracion they vsed to the benefyte of the Greekes who deliuered them from the seruitude of the Persians like as also the Sycyoniens weare yet the crown of eternal comendacion for the thankefull returne of the curtesye of Aratus by whome they were frankely taken oute of the handes of cruell tyrantes if the acte of Philip Marya late Duke of Myllan deserueth detestacion for the vnnaturall crueltye he committed vppon the person of his wife who albeit was equall in nobilitie exceded him in the giftes of fortune and large possessions of indifferente beaw tye to content a reasonable man nothinge inferior to the beste Ladye of the countrye in
dyed she had not lyued to haue reuenged his wronge nor lamented her owne desolacion for the same affection whyche moued her to suche care of his life woulde also haue procured her to haue bene his companion to the graue whereby one tombe at one instaunt shold haue serued to shroode the ij bodies last remaynder of the whole race house of the MONTANYNS And that which scamed to restore her dollorous passion with a freshe supply and increase of newe sorowe was the heauie newes of diuerse of her neare kynsmen touching the spedy approch of the extreme date delay of the sentēce diffinitiue which as they had not onli indeuored to differ yet som lōger time but also to purchase a moderation of the rigour so beyng no lesse frustrate in the one then voyed of assuraunce or hope of the other they sayed there rested nothing on their powers to performe or discharge the office of true frends on her behalf sauing to perswade her to consolacion and to vse patience in cases of aduersitie chiefly wher there appeares absolute dispaire of all remedie and the sinister suggestion of malicious fortune hath suppressed a hope and expectation of deliuery wherin as an vnfained witnes of their presente dollour they let fall certaine teares to accompanie the pitifull dule of her who vpon the reaport of theis last accurrauntes forgat not to fyll the aire ful of hollowe sighes with open exclamacion against the lawe of nature that seamed so careles of her creatures as not only to leaue them without armour or sufficent resistance against the ordinary assaultes of the world but also to make thē subiect by speciall destenie to the sentence dome of a most vnrighteous and hard fortune but albeit aduersity besides that she is subiect to sondry sortes of calamitie is also so quarellous of her one disposition that for the respect of one simple or peculiar wronge she makes vs to exclaime generally against all liberties and lawes of God and man yet ought we so to checke that same humour of inordinat rage that mortifieth within vs all regarde of dutie and reason that we dispaire not in the goodnes of him who beyng the giuer of all comfort and GOD of consolation is more ready to dispose it on our behalfe then we hable to deserue the gift of so greate a benefit and who in the middes of the teares of this desolate Ladye beyng with the reste of her frendes wholly resolued to endure the rigorous sentence of their fate presented the CATASTROPHE of y e tragedy with such an offer or meane of spedye deliuery of the prisoner that it did not only excede thexpectation of all men but seamed also the worke of suche a wonderfull misterie that no man was hable to imagin the deuise afore their eyes gaue iudgement of theffect ▪ for the same day aboute the nynth or tenth hower of the euenyng ANSEAMNO SALYMBYNO whome heretofore you haue harde to bee sore passioned with the loue of ANGELYQVA hauing spente certaine dayes of recreacion in the contrey is now returned to SYENNA where passyng by the gate of his ladye he chaunced to heare a lamentable noyse of women bewailyng the misery of the montanynes wherwith pursewyng the brute with a more diligente eare spyed at last commyng out of the pallayes of ANGELYQVA certain olde dames his nexte neighboures all to bee sprent and died with the dew of sorowfull teares as though they hadd then cōme from the funeral of some of their frendes of whom he enquired the cause of suche vnacustumable Dule and whether what new misfortune wer happened of late to y e house of y e Montauyns and being at larg resolued of that which you haue hard by speciall reporte went imediatlye to his chamber where he began to discourse diuersely of this soddaine chaunce sometyme determining the deliuerie of CHARLES for the only respect of his syster whose good wil he thought he cold not purchase any waye so well as by the benefyt and pryce of so greate a frendshyppe by and by hee accompted the death of her brother a moste necessarye meane to make him the maister of his desire ouer his sister wherin after he had spente somtyme in secrete cogitacion without any certeyne resolution notwithstandyng what to do he seamed to aske open councel of himselfe in this sorte What cause haue I hereafter to dowte of the thing I chiefly desyer seyng fortune seames to take more care of my contentement then I am hable to wishe or imagyn vndertaking as it seames to presente me wyth theffecte of my busynes whenne I leaste thoughte of any hope or likelihod of good successe for by the death of the MONTANYN who is to be executed to morowe in publike as a rebell or heynous offendor of the state I shal not only see the laste reuenge of the most mortall enemyes of our house but also liue without feare hereafter to be molested by any that shal discend of hym and on the other syde his death takes away al impedimētes offering either to stay or hinder me from enioying of her whom I loue so dearely for her brother being deade and his goodes and liuinge confiscat to the state what stay or support hath she if not in her beauty and loue of some honest gentleman who takyng cōpasion of the losse of so Rare an ornament and worke of nature may entertaine her for his pleasure vntill the glasse of so brikle a gyfte dekay with his delyte in her companye and then for the respect of pytye to bestow her in mariage with some compotent porcion But what SALYMBYNO shal the offer of any vnseamely reueng preuaile aboue that respect and duty thou art borne to beare and owe vnto true vertue or wilt thou so much abuse y e former glory of thy auncestors and present renowne of thy selfe with an acte no lesse detestable afore GOD then hatefull to the cares of all degrees of honestye and wilte thou thus deceaue thexlpectation of thy frends and leaue them in continual reproche to the posteritye of all ages with a note of suche infamye that tyme her selfe can skarce race out of the remembrance of man if all thies lacke authority to diswade the let only the respect and awe of vertue with remorce of conscience kepe the frome comitting so hainousanoffence for to wh at other end haue the auncients put a diffrence betwene the gētlemen creatures of baser condition but that in exposyng fruites of cyuill courtesye wée should also stryue to make our selues noble and excede theim in thimitacion of true vertue and as it is far frō the office of a noble hart to thunder Reueng vpon such as are not hable to resyst thy power so there can be no greater argument or proffe of true magnanimytie then in buryenge the desyer of vengeaunce in a tombe of eternall obliuion to expose moste fruites of compassion where there appeares greate cause to extende the vttermost of rigour and where
the rest haue made me strike saile of my former lybertie wyth franke resignacion of my harte and dearest parte in me to the disposicion of your mercye neyther haue I any cause at all to mislike the sentence of my fate or grudge wyth the lot of my present choice yf the respecte of my vnfained loue and sincere loyaltye maye moue you to paye the tribute of my seruice with an assuraunce of semblable affection wherein because both daunger and distaunce of our abodes denienge the tongue to do his office barreth vs also to vse the benefytt of mutuall conference I humbly craue good Madam an absolute resolution by your letters of that which the secret signes and messengers of loue do not only put me in hope but importes a warrantie of the conquest of your good wyll wherein yf I maye be assisted with the goodnes of the heauens and consent of fortune so farfurth as the same maye make me meritorious of your fauour and that the meritt of my seruice maye bée measured with a graunte of your good wil there shall no peril withstande the proffer of my lyfe to do you pleasure nor any occasion or chaunce whether it be accidental or proper haue power to breake the vowe which my harte hath alredie sworne to dye and lyue in the seruice and contemplacion of youre beautie neyther shal any Ladye in this corner of the world haue more cause to ioye in the choice of her seruaÌ„t then the Peragon Plaudina whose hande I kysse with greate humilitye and honour the remembrance of her name with no lesse sinceritie being absent then desyerous to yelde my homage with due adoracion to the presence of so faire a creature Yours more then his owne Cornelyo The Ladye being darted afore with the desyer of Cornelio and wold gladly haue entred the listes and gyuen the onset if it had not bene for the respect of her honour was nowe so wounded to the quicke that she fel into tearmes of commeÌ„dacion of her chaunce blissynge the goodnes of her fortune that had not onely planted her affection in so highe a place but yeldynge her rewarde wyth semblable glée hath made her the mystres of hym whom her hart had alredye chosen and admitted into vndoubted fauor whiche she confirmed eftesones with such tearmes of gratulation and arguments of present gladnes that yf the remorce of shame and reputacion of her honor hadde not bene impedimentes to the desyer of her harte cloasinge her mouth againste the present conceytes of ioye in this newe societie she had immediatlye dismissed the messenger with absolute assurance to performe the request of him that sent hym wherof albeit shame seamed to abridge the expedicion and offer causes of staye for the time yet wantynge force to mortifye altogether the humour of ragyng desyer the was driuen to gyue place to the prouocation of loue who deuestinge her of honest shamfastnes whiche oughte to be the chiefe habite and decoracion of the beautie of greate Ladyes willed her to deferre no lenger the thynge she had alredye vowed seynge y e iniurie of present tyme denied her to satisfye hym as she woulde at leaste to yelde hym suche contentement as she maye wherfore takynge pen ynke and paper she replied to his letter wyth this aunswere The circumstaunce of your present letter syr seames to argue an excepcion against the frendly lookes and glaunces of mine eyes wherin albeit I could note a great simplicitie want of discrecion in him that constreth the regardes of a Ladye cast at vnwares to the commoditye of hymselfe in wynninge the good will of her that meaneth nothing lesse then to make them the Ministers of loue yet beinge more ready to content you therin then curious of mine owne behauiour I am to acquite you of imputacion that waye and coÌ„uert y e note of y e follie to the ouersight of my selfe And albeit the pleasant encounter of mine eys seaming more liberal on your behalf with a familiaritie more theÌ„ ordinarie to al men may persuade a certein differeÌ„ce I haue put betwen the frendship of you respect of any other with desyer to embrace you aboue any one creature Yet was I of opinioÌ„ that your sondrye vertues reputation of honor would not suffer you to chalenge me for the firste faulte or to conuerte theis regardes of simple and colde fauor into suche consequence as to attempte the violation of that which mine honor grudgeth to lose and the vowe of faith to my husbande forbiddes me to depart withall notwithstanding I yelde you no lesse thankes for your curtesye then you seame to gyue commendacion to my beautye and other giftes you note in me accomptinge the same of greater price by the value and estimacion you make of them neither wil I refuse y e proffer of your present frendship which as I hope is voyde of intent to preiudice mine honor so let it suffise you that I am not only contented to admit you into fauor but also determined to hold you no lesse deare then the tendrest part of my selfe And because letters being incident to manye casualties are commonly the fyrst discloasers of the secretes of louers my aduise is that hensfurth you staye not only the diligence of your pen in sealing such great importance within a dissemblyng pece of paper but also be contented to commit the whole conueighe of our busines to the credit of this bringer who is to yelde you salutacion on the behalf of her who ioyeng no lesse in the vnitye of this frendship then hating the thing that maie seame hurteful to the coÌ„sommarioÌ„ of the same doth wishe your constancie of no longer continuance then you shal fynde cause of credit in the loyaltie of your vnfayned Plaudina The report of this letter preferred such a possibilitie likelihode of good lucke to the Myllanoys that dismissing euen now al argumeÌ„ts of former doubte he determined to accepte the offer of his fortune pursue y e benefit of present time wherin he was so furthered by the diligence of the minister and messenger of their loue that theare seamed to want for the fynall complote of theyr busynes but only the consent of conuenient tyme place which had folowed accordingly yf for the more assurance of the bargaine they had bryâ—ed the good wyll of the blinde goddesse whom as the Poetes haue chrtstened by the name of Dame Fortune gyuinge her charge ouer the change and alteracion of things so she is not so inconstant of her selfe as readye to manifest her mutabilitie when the wretches of the worlde seame to reapose mest assurance in her frendship And as the pleasant apple mustering with delicate glée vpoÌ„ the heyght of the highest spraise is blowen down with the least poffe of winde that breathes and so oppressed wyth the violence of the fal that the fruts is quyte taken awaye in the middest of his glory so the case and quiet of man is fauored
taste and Sypped so strongelie on the cup of licenceous lybertie that yt bredd in her an insatiable thurste of wanton and dissolute lyfe as you shall heare hereafter for her chief and comon excercise there was to force a frizilacion of her haire with the bodkind conuerting the naturall coollour in to a glistering glee suborned by arte to abuse God and nature by alteringe the complexion of her face by a dye of fadinge coollours deuised by pollecye and that with more curiosytie then the most shameles curtisan in Rome glauncing vppon euery one oute of the windowe kepinge priuat banquettes in the nighte with a haunte of masquers with couered face and on the daye sittinge at her gate as a stale to allure a staye of suche as passed by the stretes there was no offer made whyche she dyd not admit no request preferred whiche she dyd not willyngelye heare nor letter sent whyche shée dyd not receiue and aunswere This was the fyrst earneste penny and foundacion of her licencious lyfe wherein she gained at laste the price and chiefe praise from all women that euer made profession to weare the armes of CVPIDO or marched vnder thenseygne of hys mother Venus I wyshe the mothers and gouernours of lytle girles in our contrey wolde respect chieflye ij moste necessarie rules in theducacion of theyr tender ympes the one to barre all secret conference in corners whyche is the greatest corrupter of youthe the other open and publike cacquet in the streetes whiche bringes their honour in question amongest the multitude for as the towne and fortresse besieged seamethe halfe won and not hable to endure the force of the canon yf she demande a parley or composicion so the eare of a woman that is open to the tale of euerie friuolus louer or enclyned to giue the leaste creditt to hys discourse albeyt her honour and chastetie bee not in interest but cleare from imputacion of iuste cryme yet dothe shee leaue a sufficient occasion to the people to dispute and skan her doynges with other tearmes then she deserueth for aswell muste wee avoide the suspicion as theffecte of euyll seinge the good renowme is no lesse necessarie thē thonest life And she that wil be noted of integretie and sincere perfection of liuinge must not only avoide the acte of adulterie but also the suspicion of the same wherfore I wishe all Ladyes to stande so sewerly vpon their guarde that they neyther be affected to th one nor infected wyth thother but rather in deuydinge their doinges into an honeste meane to do nothinge in secret whych shame denieth theym to iustefye in publike nor to be the secretarie of any mans vanitie or cause of the cōmom hawnt or wonder of the people but rather to obserue the pollecie of the serpent who vseth to stoppe her eares w t her taile to th end she be not infected wyth the noyse of the charmer But now to our BLANCHEMARIA who resolued whollie in the studie and exercises of loue somtyme sitting in the window with a lute in her hande sometime passing the streetes with open face more to allure the people to a gaze thē for her necessary affaires or take the open ayre for preseruing of health and now and then for chaunge of recreacion to make solemne banquettes wher the presence of her parentes and frendes and states of grauitie was not tollerable but only the companie of the carpet sect and such as cold make best court to Ladies where amongest the rest of her ordenarye hawnt shee was chieflie pursewed by the lorde GYSMOND GŌNSAGA son and heir to the duke of MANTVA and therle of CELAND one of the greatest reputacion for honor in the dukedom of SCAVOYE both whiche as they did their best to obteine her in mariage omitting no meanes to aduance their seruice and make theim meritorious of her fauour so she made her onlye pastyme toke singler pleasure in the sondry ymportunities of these .ii. woers slenting at their sortes of deuises in woing smiling at their follie carping their gesture and behauiour and counterfetting so artyfyciallie their amarus regardes hollow sighes and often tornes of the eye wyth change of complexion and ympedyment of the tong whilest they were vppon tearmes to obteine her goodwill that she seamed to haue red no other authors or made profession of other experience in the whole discourse of her lyfe afore Signeiur Gonsaga procured thassistance of his mother in lawe the marques of Mounteferrat whose perswacions wyth earnest sute in short tyme had so sommoned the wydow to affection on hys behalf that the mariage was not onely concluded but at point of fynall consommacion by order of the church if the SCAVONIAN erle had not as it were forbidded the banes and intercepted their resolucion by fyne force for vnderstanding that another had entred the lystes and made breache wher he had geuen so many assaltes and at the verye point to praye vpon his mistres he vsinge the nexte offer of conueniente tyme went to the lodging of his ladye whom he founde all alone as he thought somewhat disposed to heare his discourse whiche he broached vnto her in these tearmes with a kinde of countenance and gesture arguing sufficiently the simplicitie of his loue If I were as sewer of meanes to releue my distresse as I am certeine to suffer the smart I colde easelye dismisse my present perplexetie of mynde occupied with treble dowte the one whether I shold blame my selfe of negligence accuse you of rigour good madame or cry out of my fortune which hetherunto hath fauored me with a vainehope of good successe and now left me to the mercie of absolute dispaire for the small remorce and slender compassion which hetherto haue appered in you do argue a great wrōg on your part touching the iustice of my cause seing you haue not only denied pitie towards my sodry passions but also made none accompt any way of the loyall honest loue I beare you for y t you wold neuer allow nor seame to vnderstād any regard or other meanes I preferred for thaduancemente of the same And yet I find a greater falt in my self in suffring an other to cut the earthe frome vnder my féete and marche so farre in my steppes that I haue almoste loste thée tracke of the praye I chieflye desyer but aboue all I complaine vpon our common fortune that hath brought me in daunger of present dispaire loasinge the thing I Iustely deserue you in semblable perill by committinge you to a place where your captiuitie shal be no lesse thē the slaues or seruile sorte of Moares condēned to y e mynes in Portugale or Indya Haue you now forgot the sondrye miseries you endured vnder the gouernement of youre late husband Seigneur Hermes Doth it not suffice that he kept you in the mew as it were in his chamber the space of v. or vj. yeres but that in retournynge to a more desolacion wyth exchaunge
liberall sorte that euerye companye whiche he haunted was pertaker of the renowne he gaue to Blanche Marya who hearynge at laste what estymacion she was in thorowe all LOMBARDIE by the reapport of VALPERGO began to enter into tearmes of rage fyndynge a greate difficultie to dysgeste thyngratitude of her loste louer whose doynges notwithstandynge shée allowed some tymes by iustice and sawe some reason in hys reuenge for that her inorderlie dealynge opened the fyrste way to his discurtesie and by by flattered her selfe with a vaine ymagynacion that menne were borne to beare what ymposicions so euer suche tryflors as she woulde laye vppon theyme and that seynge they were but seruantes they dyd but ryghte to endure and take in good parte any thynge sayed or don by theyr mistres albeyt feedynge still of her malicious coller with a certeine secret desyer of vengance determyned at laste to retorne hys discourtesye with no lesse interest then the losse of hys lyfe with resolucion to procure the spedy effect by the hande of hym whom she presumed to haue so muche at commaundement that a simple requeste of her mouthe woulde make hym the minister of that Beholde with what ympudentie and ragethys Tygresse goth abowte to arme one frende agaynste an other and that yt coulde not suffice to abuse her selfe towardes theim bothe in the filthie vse of her bodye but that with intent to morder the one she puttes in hazarde the equall destruction of them bothe confirmynge her abhomynable adulterye wyth manslaughter and wyllfull morder a synne moste haynous of all other affore GOD and manne wherein as her fretting mynde colde admitt neyther quiett nor contentemēt til her eyes wer witnesses of theffect of her deuise or at leaste she had put her intent vpon tearmes to hym whom she ment to make the bloddie boocher of her beastely wyll so attendynge the offer of conuenient tyme and place she was assisted at last so farfurth that one nyght as they were in bedd together and in the chiefest delite of theyr pleasant excercise she burste soddainly into vehement teares with sighes and other signes of dollour in suche sorte that wyth the counterfaite alarams whiche inwarde sorowe seamed to minister and set a broache her passion appeared so mortall that her ignoraunt bedfelowe thinkynge her soule and bodye to be at point to make present seperacion the one from the other enquired the cause of her grefe wyth addicion y t if yt came by displeasure or wronge don to her by any man his handes onely should gyue the reuenge wyth absolute contentement to her selfe hereafter wherewyth vsing the aduauntage of his promise wherein she accompted a sufficiencie to procure the ende of her enemye tolde hym that as nature had gyuen a certeine facilitie to the vile and base sorte of people to beare and brooke the offer of any iniurie so there was nothynge more contrarye to the condicion of the noble mynde then to bee touched wyth such villanie as puttes the honor in interest or the renowme vppon tearmes of publike infamie I saye thusmuche syr sayth she wéeting his face wyth the dewe of her waterie eyes for that the Lorde Valpergo who enioyed I can not denye the like frendshypp I showe vnto you hath not had shame to blab of his doinges slaundring me wyth no worse tearmes of infamye then yf I were the moste infected strompett that euer abandoned her bodye to the Marynors and raskall crewe alonge the costes of SCICILE yf he had but made a simple vaunte of the fauours he founde in me with participacion but to his frendes my honor had been but in question where now it is past all doubte besides if he had not added iniurius wordes to his indecent slaunder and made a common market tale of the thing which ought to be kepte most secret I could haue disgested the euill wyth an ordynarye pacience wherfore seinge the haynous causes of my gréefe import a speciall iustice and reason of reuenge lett not the enemie of the honor of your deare Blanche Marya escape wythout punishment but in accomptynge the wronge whyche I susteine indifferent to vs bothe to bynde me by the benefytt of this reuenge to a more affeccioned zeale towardes you with an assured loyaltye euen vntyll thextreme dissolucion of my naturall dayes otherwayes yf he lyue in the tryumphe of my slaunder what cause haue I to ioye in lyfe or comfort to expose the best part in me for the contentement pleasure of you who stayeth to do me reason to so manifest a wronge Here the young erle felte hymselfe double passioned whether he shoulde performe thexspectacion of his venemous BASILA whom he loued without measure or absteine from violacion of thinnocent blood of his frende whome the lawe of frendshypp forbad hym any waye to abuse Albeit to appease the present rage of the Countesse he promised an effect of her desyer wyth spedye punishment of hym who is not worthie any waye saith he to serue you but in thought féedyng her humour wyth franke wordes dissimulynge notwithstandynge that whiche he thought on the behalfe of the Lord Valpergo whose honestie he knew to be without malice and that his discrecion and wisdom woulde not suffer hym to sturre vp any synister reporte without great occasion on her part besides he considered that the iustice of the quarell rested in hym for that he had taken the pray as yt were out of his mouth albeit by her procurement and that after the other had discontinued his hawnte and course of repayre thether where with eraminyng the circunstance at large he founde the cause farre insufficient to moue any breache of frendshipp betwene theim but determinynge to continue the league he contented her wyth a dissembled promise and restored in the meane tyme the exercise of their former pleasure wherein he passed certaine moneths wythoute the tender of anye quarell to the Lorde Valpergo who retourned by this time to Pauya enioyed a mutuall conuersacion with therle Sanseuerino wyth suche indifferent familiaritie that for the moste parte they vsed but one bedd and one borde wyth one purse common betwene theim both whiche was not vnmarked of the malicious Blanche Maria who seinge so many fyt occasions with the offer of conuenient tyme and place assistinge therecution of her execrable deuise with prouocation to therle to performe his promisse gaue iudgement of the case as it was that her wickednes was not hable to force an ennymitye betwene the ij Lordes and that therle Gaiazo did but kepe her in breath with faire wordes onely to continue the glott of his pleasure whiche he tooke of her wherefore disdaynynge so greate an abuse in hym whome aboue all men she reserued as the chief piller of her truste she determined to make a second experience of the same meane whiche serued her torne in the dispatche of her first frende wherein she omitted neyther occasion nor expedicion for as often as he came to her house she was eyther sicke
chefest mynister remēbryng with al that the dowtfull mynd ys neuer in quiet and the desiring hart liues alwayes in expectacion protesting vnto you eftesones in the woorde of a gentleman that if your trauaile put me in possession of my praye I shall not bée so gladd to enioye the virgynytie of my deare IVLIA as redy to requite your indeuor in suche sorte as the rewarde of your trauail herein shal be a relefe to you and yours so longe as you liue well well sayeth this olde hagg I will trye your curtesie and your selfe shal be witnes of my diligēce wyshing you no lesse willing to performe but the one halfe of your liberall offer then I dout not to deserue yt with spede for yf euer one woman had power to ouercome an other I make my accompte that she shall not escape my handes till I haue taught her suche a daunce as shée neuer learned in her lyfe wherewith she dismissed y e séely foole of FERARA quarelling with his vnquiet thoughtes and yet in some hope to be holpen by thassistance of hys old Darioletta and broker of bawdry and shée repayred ymediatly to her charge watching her time to execute the same wherin she was furthered by a helpe of fortune who fauored this enterprice so muche that the poore paysant and his wife being one daye abrod at their labor Iulya alone was left at home with whome this lewde messenger after a few familiar gretinges powdred ful of sophisticall hollynes and cursed hipocrisy began to parle in this sorte I meruaile my girle to se thée so forgetful of thy self in abusing so much the precious gyfte of nature and greenes of thy pleasaūt youth that neither respectinge the dewe meritt of the one nor the other lesse worthie to enioye the worst of them both thou hast gotten of late the title of proude cruel doste not thou knowe that the greatest praise to be geuen to a maide of thy age and calling consists cōmes chefly by her curteous behauiour to euery man and that of the contrary parte she is pointed at of the world that seminge to stand altogether vppon her slippers reiectes the honest offers of curtesie and frindshipp arguing by that means her haggard rude disposicion wherin as the chefest point of commendacion of vs women depends vpon certein tearmes of curtesie showes of frendship So are wee chefly bounde to make declaracion of the same on the behalfe of them that seme to honor vs w t semblable professiō beinge boūde therunto by the vertue of their former merits and the leste we can do is to requite thē with the like affectiō God hath not created vs vnder the clymat or constellacion of Mars nor made vs to be ministers of crueltie neither hath he giuen vs the harte of a Lyon or diposiciō of a Tyger but framed vs of a mettal more tractable w t appeares rightly in thintisinge countenaunce of thy flattering face arguing with al that vnder y e vaile of such shinynge beautye ther can not be shrouded a harte of reuenge or disposition of crueltie and as the drawynge regardes of your eyes glauncynge vpon a man with no lesse force then the hot reflection of the Sonne persynge eche thinge vppon earth subiect to his heat doth make him strike saile and seke to be guided by the glymerynge lighte of suche twinkling starres forcing him w t all to pursue your fauour with the frāke offer of his hūble seruice so you are not only bounde to appeare reciprocal in affectiō but also yelde them the dewe mede of so greate a martyrdome deryued of causes in your selfe and not refuse to be courted wyth younge men or mislike their indeuour in sekynge to wyn by their seruice the glory of that whiche the sommonce of your eyes doth halfe promise them wherin althoughe they are partly guided and stirred by nature yet are they chiefly allured and set on fyer by the influence of your beautye our age beside is not void of experience howe diuers maides beinge honored with theyr seruice affection of sundry gentlemē of no small accompte haue semed rather rashely to refuse the profer of suche frindshypp then rightly wayghe the meryt of theyr curtesye and after receyuynge the due sentence of theyr crueltye haue not onely doated vpon such as toke pleasure in theyr gréefe and laughed at theyr follye but also deserued not for any gyfte that was in them to receiue the fauour of one simple regarde of the eye whiche as it is to be noted to procede of y t iust vengeaūce of that God who first stirres in vs the mocions of suche frindshipp So are wee warned in embracynge the contrary to eschewe the perill of semblable accidents And for your parte beinge no lesse fortunat then the best of any age heretofore and honored with no lesse true affection then duetyful seruice of one that is redye to pawne hys lyuynge honor and all that he hath for the interest of your good wyll I meruaile you regard so lyghtlye the rewarde of so greate a vertue and vse so small care in curyng your owne disease which because you dare not declare doth make a secrett martirdome of your florishyng youth albeit for ende yf you wyll willynglye embrace the gyfte of present tyme and vse mine aduise in the pursuete of your pleasure and commodytye I doubte not within lesse then a moment to restore you to treble contentement of mynde relyue the nedefull pouertye of your parents and make you excede the reste of your neyghbours in authoritye and estimation But IVLIA no lesse gladd to here an ende of this pernicious oracion then lothing by good right thimbassing of the detestable and cursed Marmotte whiche she coulde not conceile in suche sorte but the argument of collour in her face bewrayd the iust anger of her mynd replyed vnto her in this sorte I sée quod she the world is no lesse wicked of it selfe then the waye harde to discerne the disposicion of euery people neyther can a man be knowen by his shadow and easyer it is to fall into the danger of the euil then to finde a true paterne of vertue neyther ys pure gold knowen by his glysterynge coollour nor that religiō perfect that smells of supersticion exposyng frutes of execrable corrupcion and sensuall conspiracies ys this the good councell you geue to the youth of GAZOLO is this the example of vertue or instruction of honestie whiche is to be expected in the nomber of your yeres haue you thus longe blayred the eyes of the worlde with a masque of Fained hollynes and now retires to the vomett of your hipocrisie with entente to seduce her who ys no lesse assured in vertue then you vnworthie to enioye the benefyt of life in abusyng your dewtie towarde God and deceyuing the opinnyon and expectacion of all men Albeit my pouertie be great my parents of lesse habilitie to releue me yet hath God so
that I may in any sort reuenge the obstinate crueltie of her who peraduenture after the first taste of the plesant Iewystes of loue wil slacke the bridle of her rigour and conuert the harde and angrye clymate of her inuincible humor into a disposicion of lesse difficultie she easier hereafter to be intreated neither wold I haue the to respect the daÌ„ger or impossibilitie of theÌ„ terprice considering the beginninge of al thinges importe a certeine difficultie but after the oncet is geuen the worste is paste and no cause of feare or doubt remaynes but waighinge the plesure thou shalt do me ymagine also how depely thou shalt leue me in thie debte which wil stody to requite y t wyth the lyke and all I haue els that may stande the in steade wherwyth he preuailed so muche ouer the vyperous inclynacion of hys cotreatur that albeit he knew hys consent weare not so wicked as y e doing of y e acte more detestable yet waighiÌ„g y e preset offer of his frendship w t the great authoritie he had w t the bysshoppe and forgetinge the duetie of hys conscience confirmed eftsones his consent willinge the desolate louer to take harte at grasse and repose himselfe chiefely vpon the aide of hys frendshippe and because sayth he the chiefe conveighe of thys mysterie consistes in the consente of conuenyente tyme and place let it be youer whole indeuour to watche whenne shee goeth into the fieldes alone to th end that in vsinge our aduantage we may haue time to do oure feate wythout dread or danger of any this was not so soone agreed vpon betwene them two as theffect folowed with the expedicion of a momente for the craftie louer marked diligently the howers and tymes of her ordynary labors neither cold she haunt so secret a place but his eye was redye to discouer her and so lyeng in ambushe in the way of her vsuall trade to the corne feldes had her at last brought to his stale which after he had imparted to his marrow they sailed not to followe the trace in as softe subtil manner as the wilie for who when he coms to spoile the powltrye of the fermor is so circumspecte in his doinge that the least noyse of the worlde makes hym take a buâ—he til hys feare bee passed So thys ferrrarois and his fellowe pursewed the pore maide by such secret and vnknowen wayes and wyth a spede more thenne necessarie for thexecucion of a good and lawful busines that her clyente appered at her backe afore shee was ware who hauinge no time to spende in circumstaunce saluted her wyth the cause of hys commynge in thys sort if lengthe of tyme be the true tuch stone to try a difference betwene the fained harte and firme affeccion you haue a sufficient proofe of my constancy or if long seruice wyth sincere loyaltie may seme meritorious you alone can iudge my diligence and I accuse your crueltie but if the trybute of true frendstippe is to be paide wyth a replie of semblable affection why doo you in thys sort suspende my sute doblinge my passion in denying the thynge that is due to me by iust title how can you thus longe kepe me in captiuitie that offers my lyfe for a ransome or when I sue for my right to reward me wyth crueltie which I haue not deserued lesse seminge for one of your calibre and calling it is time nowe to strike saile and remoue the vaile of your ancyente rigor whereof I haue tasted of long time and waighynge indifferently the meryt of my martirdom to yelde me meede accordingly let me once taste of the vertue of your bownty aswell as I haue hetherto lyued vnder the yoke of youre crueltye so that the méede of my owne deser uing may at last geue end to the euils whych I suffer by your meanes wherwyth the poore Iulya no lesse amased at his sodein encownter in that place then vnprouided of an answere to his doubtefull demaunde was dryuen to replie according to the shortnes of her tyme and leasure if you appeale to the length of tyme for declaracion of your loyal loue and proffe of constancy sayth she I craue no other iudge of your fowle desier rather to robb me of that I holde moste dere then to honor me with the offer of true affeccion wherin I am iustified by the diuerse disorderly meanes whych heretofore you haue suborned to aduaunce your wicked intent neyther deserue I of right thimputacion of crueltie much lesse of vnsemely rigor as you terme it considering I neither vsed the one nor the other but as a special vertue in defence of myne honestie and touching your passion and tormeÌ„t procedyng rather by want of discrecion in your self then occasion onmy part I see neither cause to complayne your grefe nor reasoÌ„ to releue it neither can I answe re you with other termes but commit you to themeryt of your follye in wishinge me to geue end to your euilis you presse me with more then is in my power seinge I was neither presse to the beginning nor cause of y e continuance and much lesse experienced in the cure of such discases only I pray you forbere eftsones to pursewe me who beinge not equall as you haue saide in qualytie or callinge is lesse redy to agre wyth you in consent or fulfill the beastely appetyte of your will desiringe you for ende to let me lyue as I am and not to serue me hensforth wyth any processe of vaine ym portunyties for I hadde rather indure the martirdome of a thousand torments then do the thinge that myne honor can not iustifie wher with regarding with good eye y e fierce countenance of her enemy arguing y e present troble of his minde and fearing withal by the secret instinct of her hart the nere approche of an euil torne began to amend her pace which also she dobled now and then as one y t durst not â—on from him that she most abhorred but he that was loth to lose the benefyte of so good a time lesse willing to haue so swete a morsel takeÌ„ out of his mouth fained a certein offer of his seruice to conduct her to y e towne preferring therw t as of freshe diuerse requestes to take pittie of his passion which albeit she hard wythout any aunswere yet was it not in her power to passe the hands of her destinie which by this tyme had brought them into a place conuenient for th execution of hys execrable enterprise far froÌ„ the town out of y e ordenary hawnt of company that which best fauored his intent in the myddest of a corne fielde being a couert most conuenient for such an act wher hauing now but one part to play he taketh her offers to kisse her which albeit she resisted to the vttermost of her litle strength cryeng out againste his force and fowle meaning yet it was but time lost considering she was ymedyatly
pitie to your poore Ianiquette who if euer she offended you is here come to yelde her to your mercie and takynge suche vegance as you thynke good to ymploye her further in the seruice that beste maye lyke you onely I commende vnto your goodnes the wretched state of my children whose miseries accompained with a contynuall crye for releeffe hath here presented me prostrat at your féete kissing y e same with no lesse humylitie then signe of submission wythe request eftsones to accept the offer of youre hande mayde in recompence of the wronge I haue heretofore don you but chiefly alas to redeme my children from the rage and vyolence of hounger and prolonge their lyues that oughte not yet to take ende by the Lawe and course of nature Here loue and pitie seamed to quarrell wythin the harte of Luchyn the one puttinge the praye into his handes prouoked hym to croppe the frutes of his longe desier the other defendinge the cause of the wretched captiue preferred perswacions to the contrarye puttinge hym in remembrance y t the glory can not bée greate where the victorye is won by vnlawfull meanes neyther colde hée tryumphe in a better conqueste then in ouercommynge hym selfe to dismisse her wythout vyolacion wherfore comparing her former constancie with the extreme causes that procured her presente offer respectinge also the duetie of hys owne conscience did not only determyne to assiste her pouertie wyth succor of sustentacion but also to absteine hys handes from deflowringe so rare aparagon wherewyth hée tooke her from the grounde kissing her watery chieke sayde vnto her do awaye these teares of dule and conuert the remembrance of auncient sorowe into an vnfayned hope of present consolecion reapose your selfe vpon the vertue of your inuincible chastetie and ymagyne you haue receiued the due meritte of the same for for my parte god forbidd that the malice of your presente necessitie yeldynge you into my handes shoulde make me gréedie to get that whyche loue colde not conquere nor spoâ—le you of the thinge whych I oughte and will holde in chiefe veneracion wherin being thus by your vertue made maister of my self I fele also mortefied in me the wanton suggestions which earst moued me to loue only the bewtie and body of Ianiqueta and now that reason is be come my guide and distresse rather then loue hathe made you thus prodigal of your honor for the sustentacion of your children yt shal suffice me to haue you at my coÌ„mandemeÌ„t withoute anye affore of wronge to your estimacion or honestie And as your chastetie doth challenge her rewarde so because it is you that is to glory in the gifte of so greate a vertue and I to yelde tribute for that treason I haue wroughte you I assure you here in the mouthe of a gentleman not onely to furnish you of all thinges necessarie with honor and estymacion equall to myne owne sister but also to be as carefull of your reputacion as heretofore I haue sought to seduce and spot it with lasciuious infamy Ianiquetta was restored here to doble contentment bothe to haue her pudicitie respected and vndowted assurance of the liberal promisse of the curteous Luchyn whych she would eftsones haue acknowledged with an humble prostitucion and kissinge of his féete but that he not liking such supersticious reuerence preuented her intente and presented her by the hande vnto his wife wyth these wordes Because the conceite of the Ieleus mynde is seldome satisfyed til the cause of the suspicion be cleane taken away and that the grudge is neuer appeased till thoffendor be punished I haue here broughte you the cause of your greatest doubt with the vision that so many nightes hathe appered in your dreame and broken the swéete course of your naturall sléepe enioyninge you full authoritie to commit her to what penance you will giuinge the stroke of vengance at your own discrection to whom she aunswered that if she had no more cause to be doubtfull of his doinges then raison to bée Ielous of the honestie of the poore woman she had béene as frée from suspicion as far froÌ„ cause of disquiet neyther had her eyes anye cause to complaine of thimpediment of sléepe nor her braine so often assailed wyth the Alaram of hollowe dreames for thexperience and proofe of her vertue sayth shée dyd alwayes assure mee of her honestye whyche yett wyll not stowpe to the malice of thée tyme nor loase the glorye of her renowmée althoughe fortune haue layde her heauye hande vppon her in takynge a waye her husbande whiche temperat modestie in hys wyfe doubled his affection with confyrmation of a sincere good wyll towardes her for euer And in recitinge the laste chaunce and discourse passed betwene hym Ianiquette he saide that if she knewe in what sorte he had kepte his fayth towarde her she woulde not doubte to put hym on the phile of moste true and loyal husbandes willynge her to take her furnishe her with all prouision and other thinges necessarie with no lesse care and liberall allowance then if it were for his deare sister whereunto she put no lesse expedicion then her selfe had cause to reioyce in the honeste continencye of her husbande all whiche beinge made immediatly a common brute thorowe the citye became also of greate wonder amongest the people aswell for that thinstigation of harde necessitie had made Ianiquette ployable to that which she hath longe refuced with great detestation as also for the heroicall vertue of the gentleman who abhorring the wicked offer of fortune and time conuerted his lasciuious desier norished in his intralles by so longe contynuaunce into a disposicion of vertue contrarie to the exspectation of all men An example suer worthie of greate veneracion and wherin the sensuall appetites are so restrayned and gouerned by the rule of raison that I doubte whether the Romaines haue noted more continencye in their Fabia Emilya or Scipyo or the Grecians in theyr olde Xenocrates who is not so meritorious of coÌ„mendation for that being charged with yeres he made a proffe of his chastetie as this Luchin who in y e glorie of his age and full of the hoatt humours of youth made a conqueste of his affections wyth a wonderfull showe of vertue and vndoubted signe and assurance of the perfection of his fayth for whych cause I haue noted vnto you his hystorye which also I wyshe myghte serue to sturre vpp the fraile youthe of our dayes to the ymitacion of the lyke vertue remembryug by the viewe of this discourse that the sensuall appetites and prouocation of the fleshe are not of suche force but they are subiecte to correction neyther is loue so inuincible but the wise and vertuous man maye kepe hym alwayes in awe so that he giue hym not to muche libertye at the first nor creaditt to muche the instigation and humour of his owne fancie FINIS The argument WHose youth and yeres of folly haue made an
hitherunto by consente of the goddes to spende the future remeynder of my tyme onelye in the seruice of you good madame to whom herewith as the fyrst frutes of my humble and deare zeale towardes you I make a presente of my poore afflicted harte which as it is susteyned by the only viewe and remembrance of your beautie and vertue So beyng denied harbor at your hands his next and last refuge is to exspecte consolacion in death which hitherunto I haue refused for y e present do shonne not for any horror or feare I conceyue of hys malice but onelye to prolonge yet the course of my lyfe to the ende that as my mynde hath alredye vowed to serue you So my bodye as a necessarye instrumente maye be whollye ymployed to the execution of your commaundementes But yf the dedication of myne offer shall receiue an vnthankefull repulse or the merite of my affectioned seruice sente hacke with a paymente of crueltie a vice not like to inhabite where nature and the godes haue disposed so plentifullye all theyr gyftes of grace nor incident commonlye to creatures of so vertuoule norriture and good bringynge vpp you shall sée me immediatlye suffer that which I haue not deserued and you I knowe wil be sorie for the thinge whiche you can not amende wherefore seing you haue the choice both to prolonge my lif with double ioye and abridge my dayes by vndeserued dollor embrace the workes of compassion the chiefe braunches of vertue and refuce the surname of crueltye wherin I preferr eftesones this laste importunitye to th ende that if my requeste be barred to enter the gates of pitye wyth you you maye at leaste giue death his dispatche who attendes vppon the reaporte of your aunswere to execute his charge vppon hym who wisheth you that whiche you hate and sendes you that which he loues Yours more then his owne P. Virley This letter sealed and subscribed with his owne hande he deliuered not withoute abundance of teares to his neyghbour who promisinge hym once againe to bringe him aunswere afore she slepte went her waie leauing the languishynge knyghte buildyng castels in the ayre with a thousand hammors in his heade tickling him selfe to make himself laughe semed sometime to bathe his sorowes in the ioye and cōtentement which vaine hope offred him by visions in his flatteringe conceite but when the lothsome ymage of the cruell inciuilitye of Zilya presented her selfe in hys mynde his pleasure retired into dule with as manye argumentes of presente death as earste he ymagined liklihodes of contentement and ioye semynge to haue in his eye the angrie and frownyng lookes wherewith his mistres receiued the comming of the messenger who arriued now at the pallaice of Zilya mett her comminge out of a gardyne on the backe side of her house where hauynge saluted eche other wyth equall showe of curtesye the Ladye messenger thinkynge to preferre certeine excuses aswell to auoyde imputation whiche mighte be obiected againste her vnsemely execution of so badd an ambassage as also to inferr perswacions on the behalfe of hym by whome she was sente was preuented by the wydowe who tolde her that she merueilled to sée her there at that hower considerynge her former cōuersation whiche hath alwayes argued her to be so frendly to vertue and enemye to exercise of idlenes that she woulde not lett slipp one mynute of tyme wythout it were frutefullye ymployed whereunto the burgesse replyed with thankes for the goood opinion she seamed to haue of her and her doinges with desyer to perseuer therin til iuste occasion deserued the contrarie And touching my being here at this hower saieth she which you seame to tearme an idle vacacion yf my message might be harde and consydered wyth no lesse indifferencie of you then the cause of my commynge importes greate and vnfayned necessitye you woulde I am sewer conuerte that conceite into an opinyon of vertuouse inclination in me for I am perswaded that the tyme ymployed in workes of pitye and releuyng the afflicted and dollorous companie distressed wyth dule is aswell spente and no lesse meritorious afore God then those momentes and seasons ioyned to the contynuall yoke of exstreme labor and toyle of the handes whereof I woulde presentlye presente you a particular discourse if the reaporte of my embassage wolde not be hurtefull to the league of amytie longe ago practised betwene vs Whereunto the curious wydowe hauynge alredye kindled in her harte the coles of disdaine aunswered wyth a countinance deriued of the angrie disposition of her mallencolike mynde that touchynge the reaporte she shoulde be as wearye wyth hearyng the circumstance as vnwillynge to consider of the case And albeit saith she I knowe not the intente of your wordes muche lesse the cause of youre commynge yet the kallendor of my mynde pronosticates the effecte of your embassage to importe requestes of other consequence then mine honor wil be hable to brooke wherefore I praye you lett me be deceiued in mine exspectation and you so curious to kepe the league of our auncient frendshipp that the breathe of your owne mouth do not dissolue that which earst seamed indissoluble nor you become the messenger of reaportes that any waye maye seme indecent for a dame of your degree Madame sayeth the messenger the lytle Simpathia and equalitie of affection whiche seames to be in you in comparison of the vertues of him whose solicitor I am hath moued I thinke this passion in you notwithstandynge for my parte beinge no lesse sorie for the presente affliction of Monsieur de Virley then desierous to releue his distresse with thuttermoste of my indeuor I haue vndertaken the charge of a messenger to deliuer this letter which then she takes oute of her pocket and giues to Zilya vnto you wherein as my fayth lieth in pawne for the performāce of my promise so I beseche you on his behalfe refuce not his presente accompanied wyth a franke offer of his humble seruice lyf liuynge and all that he hath to be imployed onelye at the becke of your commaundemente wherein if amongeste the other beatitudes or vertues giuen vs by speciall name in the scripture the actes of charitye wyth indeuor to succour the afflicted and giue consolation to the comfortles be no lesse acceptable afore God then the reste refuce not madame to releue hym who for your sake hath loste his libertye languisheth in continuall dollor and is redye for wante of reléefe at your hande to take hys leaue of vs wretches in this worlde wyth whiche iuste incitacions to compassion I ioyne also this requeste of myne that if the deserte of my frendshypp maye fynde place of fauor in you you wyll the rather for my sake open and reade the letter retournynge your annswere by me who hath vndertaken no further but the deliuerie of the same and reaporte your resolucion touchinge the contentes of his demaunde Zilya besides the crabbed inclination of her owne nature beinge not acquainted wyth suche
inueighyng withall agaynste the malice of hys fortune that seamed to be his guide in the pursuete of so great persecution and now in the hope expectation of reste and repose from toyle to committ hym to the mercy of a martirdome more intollerable then the torment of the whele and of lesse hope to be deliuered theÌ„ the Damned soules out of theuerlasting flame in hell wherin also his chiefeste greffe grudge of minde semed to stande vpon double termes both for y t he durst neyther discouer his disease to any his owne trendes whom he knewe woulde rather mislike his request then be moued to compassion vpon hys case or studye to releue his distresse nor promise himselfe any likelihod much lesse assurance euer to cooll eyther flower or fruite of his affection to Angeliqua for that he thought she had no reasoÌ„ to remorse vpon him in whose face appeared yet the fresh RemeÌ„brauÌ„ce of the late reuenge and destruction of her kynsmenne But what who doughteth of the tickle dispositioÌ„ of fortune or is not perswaded that the doings of men are as subiect to chaung alteration as the lament to mutability and diuer setie of complexions At 〈◊〉 time as the greate Iupiter somoning the winds and violence of other weather to quarell with the Calme and quiet skye eclypsyng the naturall clerenes of the son by conuerting him into sondry sortes of darke and dim colloures or what constancye or assurance is to be Reapposed in our worldly affaires seynge the veray thoughtes and imaginatioÌ„s of men are disposed gouerned by the reuolucion course of tymes wherin the philosopher is of opinion that no degre is dispensed from the Clymat of the coÌ„stellatioÌ„ for saith he the fauors displeasures of princes are neither so mortal nor of such continuance but being incident to conuersion we see in one momente an assured coniunction of frendship with him who earst pursewed our subuercion with mortall hate And truly he that weigheth y e comutacion of thinges with indiffrent iudgmeÌ„t may iustly note him of gret simplicity that resolues perpetuity or continual stay or abode in any thing that is either accidental or proper to maÌ„ wherin as I am sufficieÌ„tly iustefyed by Auncient Records forraine Authorities So he y t with diligeÌ„ce will coate the Chronicles of England and fraunce within theis C. yeares shall fynde choyse of examples to cleare hys doubt and confirme him in the contrary opinion whych by cause it importes such consequence as rather excedes then seames conueniente for the compasse of my present intent I leaue them to the construction of the diligent reader who syfting nerely the monumentes of that time may find ther more alteracion and chaunge of estates in bothe those realmes within lesse then so many yeres then in the space of ij C. yeares afore for he may sée thear of credible reaport that he that gouerned as king sittinge in the seate Royall of the Realme making the whole multitude tremble at the voyce of his commaundiment was sodainly Deposed and skarcely eskaped the infamie of a cruel and slaundrous death and on the other part the other that attended only the fatal destruction of himselfe and famuly is not only restored to the scepture of the kingdom but also in a moment sytts in the Iudgemente seate vpon vengauâ—â—â— and correction of theym which had geuen sentence and awarded the writ of executioÌ„ against himself Calyr one of the iiij great Bassyas of the great turke had no lesse awe authoritie ouer the whole Mahometian empire then vndowted credit with y e emperour and mighty monarke him self who wold neuer consulte of any enterprise without the councell of this Captaine nor performe any expedition without his coÌ„pany yet vpon a suddaine without any cause sauing the malicious appetite of his maister he was cruelly strangeled in presence by commauÌ„demeÌ„t of him whom he had so faithfully honoured serued on the contrarye syde the valainte Argon Tartare after he was entred into armes agaynste his vncle Tangodor Câ—ny being taken adiudged to passe by the rigor of tormeÌ„tes after receiue y e due hier of vnnatural conspiracy as he was set into Armenya to be executed being at y t point to coÌ„mit himself to y e mercy of y e tormeÌ„tors paste al hope or exspectatioÌ„ of aid was sodainly reskewed by certain TartariaÌ„s of the garrisoÌ„ household seruants to his late father deceased restored after to the dominion kingdom of Tartaria in the yere of our lord a thousauÌ„d two hoÌ„dreth fouerskore fiue thexample of thempresse ADALEDE makes no lesse proâ—e herein then the former recordes for being vnhappely fallen into the handes of the tyrante BERANGER the vsurper at that tyme of thempire after she had longe tried the curtesye of this miserable and wretched disposicion being at the verye brinke and place of execution where was no likelihode nor imaginacioÌ„ of ayed had thassistance of a good fortune for auoidynge his cruell sentence by a secrete and soddaine flighte at the same instaunte was maried after to OTTON the firste of that name and lyued till shée sawe the iuste reuenge of her wronge vpon the same vsurper and his race by OTTON her sonne succedinge his father in the monarkye All which of no losse autoritie then vndoubted credit I haue preferred as assured paterns of y e mobilitie vncertein stay of the state of the affaires of this world wherin also when thoccasion dothe offer you maye note a verefication or lyke accident in the sequeill of this MONTANYNO who after the depopulation of his house by ciuill warre and the most parte of his porc ion wasted in the supplye of that quarell fell into a misery more tragicall then the other and of lesse hope of ayde or delyuerye and yet beinge passed thextreme sommonce of his fortune and attendynge the fatall and last momente of execution after he had dismissed all exspectation of succoure his deliueraunce appeared by hym that procured and pursewed his distresse and the same miserye that fyrste moued his ruine reserued suche a vertue in the ende of his tragedye that by thonly assistance of him whom he thoughte to haue sworne his destruction he was restored wyth more assurance and coÌ„tentement of minde then afore but nowe to our amarous SALIMBINO who tossed in the stormye sea of his vnquiet thoughtes was no lesse passioned on the behalfe of ANGELIQVA then she moste carefull to comforte the calamitie of her brother wyth indeuer to lyue together in mutuall tranquillitye accordynge to the â—omonce of nature and decree of lawe of kynde neyther respectynge the tormente of her ennemye whiche shee knewe not nor regardinge to pranke vp her selfe to please thappetite of any other and albeit it was his chaunce sometime to accoaste her in the strete or other place where he forgat not to giue her the BACHILOMANO with al shew and argumente of humble duty and she in
iustice were closed againste the complaint of innocents neither durst any man inueighe on his behalfe for feare of hym that was thauthor of thact and the ayde of kynsmen is as colde in that countrey as in other places and frendes nowe a dayes resemble the rauen or hungry kyte who neuer flyeth but towardes the place where they hope to fynde some thinge to praye vpon so the frendes of our age be fled so far from the vertue of true frēdshipp that they will not onely refuse to releue hym whome God and nature hath bounde them to susteine but also make no conscience to disclaime the name of a kinsman to the nearest allye they haue and that without any cause onlesse you will impute it to the want of equall welthe wherein mine owne experience moueth me to make a chalenge to some in England if my power were as indifferent to pleade with hym as I haue iuste reason to put hym in remembraunce of his fault albeit that quarels is tollerable which marcheth vnder the flagge of innocency and truth and iuste obiections wil make the guilty blushe but nowe to the sorowful MONTANYN who complayninge the points of his desaster in a darke prison where was no kynd of consolation nor yet the offer of any ECCHO to resounde his dolorous cryes was saluted the nexte daye with a copye of his sentence diffinitiue wherin he was taxed to the some of a M. Florents or losse of lyfe within ix dayes here he founde what it is to haue an euill neyghbour and how greatly they do thurst that destere to drinke of an other mans cupp but chieflye the insatiable longyng of suche as are with child for an other mans liuyng and albeit his conscience was without grudge for any offence or breache of the lawe yet his grief seamed of harde tolleracion because the cursed trayson of a Cankard Clowen shoulde tryumphe ouer hym so farre that to quenche the glot of his couetous rage he shoulde be forced to disinherite himselfe and leaue without succour his deare syster who for her part was so dolorous on the behalf of this newe desaster fallen vpon her brother that she sturred not out of her chamber nor once suffered her eyes to bee dry from teares since the firste newes of that sorowfull accident whiche she complayned with more vehemency because she sawe a present approche of perentory destruction to the little remeinder of the whole house alas saith she is the crueltye of fortune of suche rigorous condicion or her malice of suche perpetuitye that she will graunte no dispense nor admit any oblacion or offer to purchasse her fauor or is ther no sacrafice to satisfye the angry dispositiō of the heauens who ceasse not to thonder whole millions of mishappes vpon this desolate and wretched house of ours with continuaunce of their angrye regards euen vntill thutter dissolution of the same howe much better had it ben for vs fewe which remaine of the dekayed stocke and withered generacion of MONTANYNO to haue passed amongest the rest of our companions by the edge of the sworde of the enemye then in lyuynge to be miserable partakers of the vniuste malice of such as are not onely common enemies to innocency but bearynge a naturall grudge to the veray remembraunce and name of nobility do hunt with open mouth as the rauenyng wolfe to deuoure the discents of noble kynd how can this beare the name of a free cytie or iustely merite the tytle of a state not incident to seruile lawe where the gouernement passeth vnder the conueyghe of a confused multitude whome nature hath ordeined to drawe the yoke of other mens awe and lawe of kynde in their natiuitie framed to be subiect to suche as their rurall force constraines to stoope to the sentence of their dome Ah brother saith she with a freshe supplye of sorowfull teares howe rightely can I conster the cause of thy presente trouble and indifferent vndoing of vs both the example of thy wronge argues sufficiently the detestable disposition of our cursed Senatours who seame more gredye to hunte the chasse of vnlawfull and fylthye gaine then carefull to kepe their conscience wythout spott or grudge of manifest oppression and wronge for yf the desyre of thy litle liuynge in the countrey and glisteringe shewe of thy greate house in the open gaze and eye of the whole worlde passing by the streetes had not sturred vp the couetous humour of that rauenouse marchaunte thou hadst lyued free from care and thy estate farre from anye question in the SENATE house neyther woulde any man haue charged thee with imputacion of a thing which I wold to God thou hadst not onely vndertaken but also broughte to effecte to the ende thou mightest haue bene the author and I the witnes of the iuste reuenge of this villanous crew whose naturall malice more then eyther reason or iustice doth clogge the with this harde imposition of manifest wronge there is no reason that a peltynge marchaunt neuer norished in anye skole of cyuill or curteous education other then in a shoppe amongest prentises and companions of his owne calibre or the son of hym that is a slaue and seruile borne by kynde shoulde eyther beare office in a common welthe and muche lesse sytte in iudgement of theym whose harts by nature abhores to be tryed by the BARBAROVS voice of so vile and base people oh how happy be theis states contreys where hynges gyue lawes and princes vse respect of fauor to suche as resemble them in condicion and vertue neither hath he greate cause to grudge with his dome that hath his cause debated in the presence of his prince and his sentence published by suche as bee of equall honor and Reputatyon where wee alas maye iustlye exclaime againste oure cursed constellacion that hath broughte vs forthe in so vnhappie a tyme and made vs not onely incident but subiect and slaues to a councell more peruerst and partial then corrupcion it selfe I woulde our predecessours or some good fortune of forreine tyme by reducy nge this countrey into a Monarke had established a seat Royall of a Kynge wyth authorititye that only his seede and succession sholde gouerne the whole ▪ rather then by leauing it thus dispersed into diuerse cōfuced liberties to make vs a mutuall praye one to an other for haue we not the Frenchemen at oure backes and the army of the greate Uicare of Rome one the one side with the subtil Florentins ready to inuade vs on the other side in suche sorte as who so is hongry maye boldly praye vppon vs without resistaunce and yet for a more increase of our wrechednes wee mainteine warre with our selues and the best parte subdued and made thrall to suche as are not worthy any waye to be vallet to the worste of vs that feles our selues greued with suche afflictiō but what can satisfy y e couetousnes of man or what benefit can stay hym that is giuen to perfidie or falsehod to what
be taken awaye from the dolourous regarde of suche wretched desolation to th ende that I alon mighte not liue as the od relike or vttermost reste of our subuerted house And albeit we may chalēge the first place in the beadrol of vnhappy wretches seinge our fortune hath exchaunged oure auncient felicitie for a present lyfe of extreme miserye yet yf there be anye cause of consolation in aduersitie we haue raison to ioye in the condicion of our state chefly for that we are not iustely to be charged with imputacion of euil or dishonest trade any waie and that notwithstanding the raging malice of our fortune with the force of pouertie pinchynge extremely the discourse of our lyues hath so confirmed the generositie of our auncestors that we kepe the consent of al voices to be nothing inferior to the best of them in any respect of vertue or showe of true nobilitie For I haue alwaie indeuored to obserue this one rule discipline of the re nowmed Emperour captaine MARCVS ANTHONIVS who persuadeth that as the heyght of estate ought not to alter the goodnes of nature So the frowarde disposition of fortune oughte not to take awaye or diminishe the constancie of the mynde with this addicion that he beareth her malice best that hydes his myserye moste Besides thusmuche dare I aduouche of my selfe that as I was neuer presented with the offer of any good tourne whiche I haue not thankefullie requited to thuttermoste So I haue not bene a nigarde of anye thinge I haue on the nedefull behalfe of my frende or other companion detestynge alwayes that anye iote of ingratitude shold staine the reputatiō wherin I haue lyued hytherunto For as amongest a nomber of vices in men nowe a dayes the note of vnthanfulnes is no lesse detestable then anye of the reste So for my parte I wishe the rigour of THATHENYANS lawe vpon hym who seames eyther forgetfull of the benefyt passed or vnthankefull to the frendship of hym that brought succours to his necessitie when he dispaired of relief wherin my deare sister albeit you maye happelye imagine the cause of this longe circunstaunce yet can you giue no certeine iudgement of the ende or conclusion nor diuine ryghtely the meanynge of the misterye whiche I purpose to reueale vnto you The threatnynge perill whiche earste houered to cut in sonder the fyllet of my lyfe is of so late a tyme that I am sewer youre minde hath not yet dismissed the remembraunce of so fearefull a tragedye neyther haue you forgotten I knowe howe as it were by speciall miracle I was boughte out of the handes of the executioner of iustice and redemed from the rigorus sentence of the partiall senatt without thassistance of any my parentes or alyes by eyther simple offer of worde or effect wherin as I am warned by this experience not onlye to putt small confidence in anye of my kynsmen hereafter but also to reappose no assurance at all in their flatteringe show of fained face so I haue tasted of so great a pleasure at the handes of hym who neuer deserued well of mee nor I cause to ymagyne any one droppe of humanitye in hym on my behalfe that yf I do ryght to his vertue I haue reason to admitt hym not onlye amonge the felowshippe but also the firste and chiefe of my deare frendes for beinge pressed so muche wyth the iniquitte of the tyme wyth freshe assaltes of newe afflictions and forsaken with all of my nearest frendes I had reason to ymagyne and cause to feare that thonly malice of oure mortall enemyes for the extirpation of the whole stocke and roote of oure race had bene the workers of my laste trouble and daunger of deathe But good syster in this distruste I haue abused the vertue of our late aduersary deseruynge to indure pennance for entringe into conceites of conspiracye agaynste hym whose late benefyte excedinge the ymaginacion of all men hath made me bounde to honor the remembrance of his name with a debte of dutie so longe as nature shall phan in mee the breathe of lyfe for in place where I feared most daunger I founde moste sauetie and where I exspected least sewertye I encowntred moste assurance And that hande whiche I attended only to giue the fatal blowe of my destruction hath not only remoued all occasions or offers of present perill but become the chiefest pillor and proppe of mine honour and lyfe hereafter wherin because you shal be partaker of the playnnesse of my tale aswell as you haue vsed patience in the hearinge of the circumstance yt is ANSEAMO SALYMBYNO the son and heir of our aunciente persecutours who hath made so manyfeste a declaration of his affected zeale towardes our howse that in taking your brother owte of the handes of thunrighteous senate present daunger of perentorye destruction he hath seamed so lauishe of his liberal mynde that in place of vii C florentes he hath paide a thousande Duckattes for the ransom of hym who iudged hym the moste crewell enemye of the worlde what argumente of noble harte is this or howe seldom dothe a man encounter suche rare frutes of vertue frendes knitt together by a speciall league of amytie or mutuall vowe of frendeshippe do oftentymes make the worlde wonder of the sondry frutes and effectes of constancie which appeareth betwene theime but where the mortall enemie beinge neyther reconciled nor required nor demaundinge any assuraunce for the pleasure he dothe paieth not only the debte of his aduersarye but restoreth his state when hee is at pointe to performe the last of his fatal somaunce I thinke it excedes all the consideration of suche as vse to discourse vppon the doinges of menne I knowe not what title to geue to the acte of SALYMBYNO nor howe to tearme this his curtesye yf not that his doinges deserue a better meede thenne the renowne of DAYMON and PITHIAS or other moste loyall frendes whome the writters doo fauor wyth suche surnames of glorye but as I am a chiefe witnes of hys vertue so the example of hys presente honestie hathe sturred vppe suche an affected humor wythin me that eyther I wyll dye in thindeuor or els I wylbe equall yf not hable to excede hym in the retourne of hys liberalitie wherein beinge iustelye bownde to engage the beste parte in me for the recompense of that good torne whiche gaue increase to my lyfe I am to craue a special assistance of you Syster for the complotte of the deuise whyche I haue alreadye ymagyned and fullye resolued to performe to th end I maye bee onelye bownde to you for thacquitaunce of the liberalytye of SALIMBINO by whose helxe you that earste Lamented the losse of libertye and lyfe of youre brother maye nowe congratulate hys healthe and happye delyuerye where wyth the faire ANGELIQVA fully resolued by this laste report of her brother that it was SALEMBINO whyche hadde surmounted all her parentes and frendes in the delyuerye of her onelye confort
and consolacion of their whole howse made a frank promyse of her ayde in this sort like as saith she I was neuer hable to ymagyne y t your delyuery was wrought by so Rare a meane nor y t our enemyes dissoluinge the remembraunce of aunciente quarrell wolde retire to a care and conseruacion of the healthe and lyfe of the MONTANYNS euen so I thinke youre debt is the greater by the awthoritie of him that hathe done the benefyte and more worthye of am ple consideracion thenne if the good torne hadde bene don by any of your parentes and allies for thymitacion of a vertue oughte to excede the example of the awthor chieflye wher thoccasion is deryued of suche an vnlikelihod that the compasse of brayne seames insufficiente to ymagine so verteous an acte wherin for my parte if I were as hable as I am willinge his curtesye shoulde bée retorned at soo large an intreste that hymselfe shoulde thinke his benefyt nothinge in respecte of the recompence and the worlde to witnes the generositie of the MONTANYNS but hauynge no waye thassistaunce of fortune to presente him with any thinge that may ballance with the merite of hys curtesye and beinge besides a maide withoute accesse to his house by reason of the smal hawnte I vse with the ladyes his kinswomenne I can do no more but yelde honoure to hys vertue wythe secrete thankes in my harte wythe acknowledginge the debte vntill wee bee hable to discharge it wyth equall recompense albeit brother if you haue deuised the meane wherin you accompte mee necessarye to be ymploied doubte not of mee in anye respecte soo that myne honoure onely bee not distressed Amongeste ann infinitte discourses appearynge seuerallye in my vnquiette mynde saythe hee I canne not reste vppon anye likelye cause or meane to worke theffecte of soo Rare a curtesye in thys gentlemanne on my behalfe nor to procure hym in soo soddayne a momente to breake the bonde of annciente grudge and to conuerte his naturall hate into a frendeshippe withoute a seconde or comparison if it be not the fyer of a couert loue kindled of longe time within the tender parts of his intrails and suppressed with a wonderfull greife to himself til now that encountringe so conueniente an occasion to sette abroache the vessell of his burninge desier withe meane to euente the flame that wyll no longer smother but bulke out into open show he makes open declaracion of that whiche he can no longer conceile ah wonder full force and vertue in loue who hath power to conuerte the minde oppressed w t passion of collor into a disposition tractable beyo nd all exspectacion and in one momente to chaunge that wherein all meÌ„ iudged an ympossibylitie of conuercion it is only thy bewtie ANGELYQYA with respect of other thy perfections whiche haue transformed our late enemye into the parson of a perfecte frende it is the generall â—ame of thy honest and verteous life y t hath sommoned SALYMBYNO to deliuer thy miserable brother abandoned of all his frendes and in dispaire of any good fortune Oh noble gentleman and harte of a kinge lackinge no kinde of magnanymitie what meanes alas haue 3 to approche that honest liberalitie wherunto thou haste bownde me by so sewer obligacion I lyue to serue the and am ready to dye to do the pleasure mine honor is reserued to be ymploied by the and my goodes and lyuinge attende thy sommonce to dispose of them at thy pleasure thow haste also made suche a stealthe of my harte that onely death is hable to redeme it what is there thenne remaininge but that y u ANGELIQVA remoue incontynent the vaile of al supersticion and vnseamely crueltie in disposinge thy selfe to be thankefull to hym who hath won thy goodwill by the wager and warranty of verteous loue and who as a fyrste earneste penny of his seruice and dutye towardes the dyd presente a thousande ducekettes for the raunsome of myne honour and lyfe whyche if they remeyne of equall care vnto the nowe as thabundance of thy late teares with dollorus regardes did earste argue to all the worlde whereof also thou gaueste a chiefe declaration in thy free consente to seâ— mine inheritance for the redemption of my thraldom Sticke not to dispose thy selfe now so frankely on my behalfe that I maye reuenge the fauor whiche SALYMBYNO hath don me for the respect of thy loue with a present no lesse precious and rare then his acte is iustly meritorious of perpetuall fame in all ages And as hee refuced not turne vp the bottom of his coffers to raunsome my libertie So lackinge the consente of equal fortune to retorne his curtesye with semblable payment lett vs make a present of your bewtie whiche I am sewer he wil not abuse any waye consydering that he wantes no furniture of vertue whiche is necessarie for the adorninge of a noble harte which as it is al the meane I haue to make a counterchange of his benefytt and bringe me out of debt with him whose money lyethe in pawne for the libertie of my life So I beseche you good sister consider the iustice of my requeste and prono wnce a resolucion in suche sorte as requitinge that whiche is due to him I maye yelde you alone al homage and holde my life only of you but if your aunswere putt me eyther in doubte or dispaire of this meane to make euen with so true a creditor assure your selfe I wil rather abandon both citye and countrey and disclaime the company of al my frends then liue amongest you with the name of an vnthankeful parson or be pointed at of the worlde not to requite so great a good torne as the deliuerie and sauinge of my life wherefore seinge that in you alone consistes the whole reappose of your desolate brother determine eyther his abode and companye with you for euer or els his departure within these thre daies to wast the remeinder of his wretched life in continual wander in forreine soiles with absolute intente neuer to sett foote within any parte of ITALY hereafter Wherwith the pore ANGELIQVA became no lesse astonied and voyede of sence then if she had bene of a soddayn assailed w t an APOPLEXIE al be it the passion of her mynde quarrellinge so longe with in that her stomake seamed to pant as it were the breathe of it litle bellowes vpon a fordge brake oute at laste by a watery vent at her eyes distillinge whole riuers of teares and restored her to the vse of her speche which she vttered to her brother in this sorte I haue often rede saithe shee that it is easye for an innocente to fynde wordes to speake and verye harde for a man in myserie to kepe a temperaunce in his tale but I doubte I shall finde by a present experience of my selfe that the defence of a prisoner is not only superfluous but also hatefull seaminge rather to reproue then enforme the iudge wherein I am the
the noble mynde nor when the good torne is done the memorye of the benefytt is not hatefull to the thankeful man for albeit my example deserueth cōmendacion for that I opened the waye and became as it were youre brothers guide geuinge the first earnest penny of humanitie betwene vs yet his ymytacion seames meritorious of treble praise for that he hath not onely acknowledged my curtesye and retorned it w t doble interest but also laboured to excede me in the true effectes of sincere nobylitie wherin for your parte beinge my vassal by your owne consente and special gyfte of your brother al be it you haue more reason of doubte thenne cause to reappose assuraunce in my fydelytie for that our newe reconcilement is not yet confirmed with any continuance of longe time nor our amitye iustefied but by one simple profe or experience of late yet shal your selfe be iudge y e whole world witnesse with you y t my hart is no lesse fre frō corruption then farre from dishonest or euil intent on your behalfe and that I pursewe but a consomation of that which GOD hath geuen as a dyuine sacrament and holy law amongest vs wherfore saith he with a fresh charg of honest kysses do away good ladye your teares of present dule and dispaire no more of the perfecte loialtie of your seruaunte who will deale no worse with you hauinge you in his power then at suche time as he languished on your behalfe and durste not discouer the desyer he had to do you seruice neither shal your brother repent him of his curtesie nor you in consentinge to obey him for albeit you are mine by peculiar graunt mutual accord that your fortune hath geuē me such scoape of authority ouer you that your honor waigheth only in y e ballaunce of my disposition yet the respecte of myne owne reputacion and honour that I owe to youre vertue dothe defend you from other iniurye at my hande then in making you y e only maistrys of my hart to craue your cōsent in lawfull mariage and societio of wedlocke whereby thaunciente mutynies and ciuill grudges shall not onlye Retire and receaue ende but our howses reioyned eftsones with this indissoluble bonde of affynitye betwene vs shal lyue hereafter in contynuall quiet enioyenge a mutuall amytie more firme and stronge on both partes then the former quarrells were fatal or ful of mortalytie These newes stayinge the course of wonted teares and dismissinge withal al dollorous argumentes or regardes of sorowe sturred vppe suche a complexion or dye of natural white and redde in the face of the faire SYENNOYSE that she seamed rather a goddes syttinge in her glistering troane then an ymppe or creature of nature forcinge suche a vehemencye of desyer in the harte of SALYMBYNO that he was dryuen eftesones to geue a secōd charg of her goodwil with a franke offer to make participation vnto her of halfe his liuinge and richesse wherewyth shee presented hym a semelye reuerence with a maiestye of modestie and womanly behauiour retorninge his request with thanks due to his liberal offer with further assurance for her part to omit neyther indeuor nor diligence nor declaration of dutie on the behalfe of hym whom god hathe reserued for her laweful husbande companion of bedde wherewith after they had spent some litle momente in embrasinge one an other and certein kysses giuen and receiued recyprocallye betwene theim ANSEAMO knocked for an olde awnte of his lyenge in his house to whose charge and fydelytie he commytted the glorie of his newe conqueste and fyndinge the leaste momente of delaye greatly hurteful to his desyer dispatched ymediatlye seueral messengers to his deare and nearest parentes and frendes who obeyinge the expedition of his short sommance came ymediatelye vnto his house where he requested their assistance of aduise and companye in the consommacion of a busynes of greate importance wherein if they appered willinge or liked of his request he seamed I am sewer to vse aboue an ordinarie seleritie in thexecuiion of his enterprise sending for his awnte with her new charge and his deare ANGELIQVA repaired immediatly not with oute the greate amaze of his frendes to the pallaies of the MONTANIN where skarcely giuinge leaue to the interteynementes and proffers of court wherwith DON CHARLES saluted hym and his companye he recited to hys newe brother in lawe in the hearinge of the rest that as not longe since he with his syster came to his lodginge with request to communicate with him in secrete so for his parte hee is nowe there afore hym to reueale suche thinges as he hadd determined since his departure that in the publike audience witnes of that companie whiche he hadd assembled of purpose and to whom with al the worlde he intended to imparte his rare honestie and vertue with suche reuenge as himselfe mente to take vppon theim as seamed to honoure him with the offer of any pleasure or surmounte him in the gifte of thank efull dealyng whiche wordes seamed to ende as the whole companye was set in order with erspectacion to sée theffecte of this misterie and beinge all in scilence he torned his face with an oraciō to the multitude in these tearmes Me thinkes I sée you all in a wonderfull amaze with seuerall ymaginacion of my entente in procuringe this assemblie at so inconueniente an hower and in suche a place where none of you all my kinsmen and frends nor my selfe hetherunto haue euer sett foote to enter without desier to endomage or do some notable harme to the reste of theym that remaine of the MONTANYN LYNE whiche astonishement I shall also suspende in you till the ende of this shorte preamble which I haue preferred for the better vnderstādinge of the parte I meane to playe And if you will consider with regarde of indifferent iudgement and waighe in equal ballance the thinge whiche is called good in the hartes of suche as differrynge from the brutall sorte do followe the parte of raison properly called spiritual you shall see by that meane that the generosytie and highe harte grafted in vs by our greate mystres and firste mother dame nature doth neuer cease to make shewe of seuerall effectes sometyme bringinge furthe one vertue sometime makynge declaration of an other whiche also do preferre theyr sondrye frutes accordynge to the excellencie of the noble sprynge and fyrste source of the same wherein also this nobylitie of minde hath suche a force and speciall priuiledge by her fyrste founder that albeit all humaine thinges are framed of a mettall of instabilitye subiecte to chaunge yet is she only founde firme and voide of all reuolucion and thoughe she bée one chiefe but and marke whereat Dame fortune doth loase her inconstante arrowes shakynge her persynge dartes againste her on all sydes yet is shee founde soo inuincible againste her assaultes that shee is as voyde of power to moue her as the blustrynge windes
to thimperfeuions in the world and to knowe som tyme wherin we offerde yet giues he this councell with al that we conuerte the experience of suche synister encounters to a peculiar defense of our selues againste th assaultes of semblable accidentes and not to vse it as an authoritie or priuiledge to iustifie our wickednes or consume oure tyme in the ymitation of euill wherein as the good men are defended by their vertue so let the worser sorte be ware by so manye millions of examples as our vnhappie age at this present is hable to furnishe in the like affaires And so to our historie the morow after this discourse betwen the dolorous LYVIO and his syster it chaunced that the doughter of RENALDO came all alone to see her companyon CORNELIA who albeit was sufficiently mindefull of her promisse yet was she furthered with a fit occasion by CAMYLLA for that after certaine litle deuises betwene them she asked the cause of the sodaine chaunge and alteracion in her brother why he was no more séene to assiste the honeste assemblies in masque or other sorte to whome CORNELIA aunswered that as she was of equall desyer to knowe thoccasion of his solitarie absence so greuynge aboue the reste with his pyning estate I haue asked saith she the cause of his gréefe which with the circunstance and effecte of all his annoye procedes from you my deare frend and companyon as one in whome is norished the care and trauaile of mynde of my sorowfull brother Howe is it possible saith the simple CAMILLA that I should worke hym any wo seinge hitherunto I haue bene no lesse careful of his wel doing then curious of mine owne health neither haue I saide or don the thing I am sewer wherein was any pointe of euil meanynge towardes hym onlesse he make construction of my simple and honeste zeale lyke as also I would be sorie to be the author of his miscontentemēt any waye the present passion of my brother saith CORNELIA is deriued of a contrarie cause for the to much delite and pleasure he hathe taken in seinge you hathe broughte hym to the brinke of this bane and yet as they wryte of the SCORPION hee hopeth to drawe the remedye frome her that hath geuen him the wounde Yf you make not a more plaine exposition of youre darke texte sayeth CAMILLA I shall hardlye reade the misterye of your readle for as yet I vnderstande nothinge but highe duche eye marye sayeth thother and therein consisteth the chiefeste cause of my greefe for if the peculyar affliction of my brother were comon also to you or that you enioyed but a simple perticipacion of his annoye you shoulde not onlye vnderstande that which I am driuen to vnfolde but be as readie to geue the remedie as hee hathe reason in the meane while to suffer the grefe or I ashamed to be the messenger Do away this philosophie my dearefrende saythe CAMILLA and cutte of at laste my doubtfull suspence touchinge your meanynge for if thuttermoste of that whiche is in me maye stande hym in steade I will eyther performe the full of your demaunde or at least yelde you such reason to the contrarye that you shal be voyde of iust cause to complaine of myne aunswere Here CORNELIA tolde her that thorigynall of her brothers euill proceded of a wonderfull vehemencye of loue he bare to her with addicion that if she yelded hym not the hyer of his zeale wyth a counterchaunge of affection she shoulde see in shorte tyme the ende of his lyfe no lesse desperatelye then in secrete sorowe hee consumeth the beste of his age in the loyall seruitude he hath alreadie vowed on her behalfe and for my parte sayeth shee not without some teares as the violence of his passion only knowen vnto me hathe forced me to stande here thunseamely solycitor of his cause so if it be a vertue to expose compassion vppon thafflicted lette the respecte of my dystresse sturre vppe an increase of pitie in you to ayde the desolation of my carefull brother beholde my CAMILLA the circumstance of my presente extremitie and ymagyn that wyth the losse of my brother dekaieth the onely proppe and pillor of my lyfe and yet simple girle that I am boide of experience in such affayres lo here I am constrayned to builde requestes no lesse inconuenient to my estate then vnseamelye for my yeares albeit for my purgacion to wardesyou I hope the lawe of nature and loue of the syster to wardes her brother will excuse this diligence and indeuor which I vse to preserue the life of him whom I holde no lesse deare then the tendrest part of myne eye wherwith CAMILLA not without argumentes of some litle femynine anger staide her further discourse with this aunswere who wolde haue thought sayeth she that a gentlewoman of your qualytie and callinge wolde haue exceded the lymittes of her estymacion so farr as for the respecte of the folishe appetit of a yonge man to discharge the parte of a shameles messenger in a case no lesse vnworthie for your honour then contrarye to me to whom thimbassage is dressed arte thou so credulus in the constancie of men myne own CORNELIA that thou wilte repose good earnest in that wherin they take pleasure to dissemble or arte thou of opynion that as often as the iolytie of fraile youthe do prefarre sighes and traunces with other dollorous regardes painted by dissymuled pollicie in the forefront of their faces that it is true loue that possesseth theym or honeste desier that moueth their dule nothinge lesse for albeit teares for the moste parte are the true messengers of the dollour of the harte and ought chieflye to moue compassion yet in cases of loue they bee but suborned signes and declaracions of wanton desier and for that cause oughte not to receiue other meede thenne their meanynge dothe meritte seynge wythall that the desierous mynte groundes his pretence moste commonlye vppon the thynge whyche vertue canne not brooke and reason denieth to graunte And admitt it bee a follie peculyar to many and a passion ymparted to all men by nature to follow thinstinct of loue what grudge of conscience I praie you is it to a maide to suffer her vaine louer to pyne vppon creaditte soo that shee stande so surelye vppon the garde of her chastetie that shee be not seduced wyth his flatterynge charmes it is not in our power to lette theym to loue onlye we oughte to be carefull of our honour and shon thinfection leaste we become vnhappye afore the tyme besydes howe greatlye shoulde wee abuse oure dutie and obedience towardes oure parentes in passinge a graunte of oure good will wythoute their consente whyche onely oughte to directe vs in any sorte whatsoeuer No no lett theym almente and measure their mournynge at what intereste they thinke good the same shall not staie the course of my sleepe neither shal their teares eclips y e least momēt of my pleasure contentmente for when
that we seale tharticles of the contract wyth a ful consommation of the secret ceremonies in mariage bothe to take awaye all occasion of offence and also to mortifye the malice of my brother maugre his hart wherin sayth she beinge fully persuaded of youre consente to my proposition and for that in cases of loue delayes and longe consultation bée hurtefull and stâ—rre vp causes of displeasure to the hartes of suche as be striken with the same disease wherof the contrarye the reste of oure humaine affaires require a maturitie of councel to th ende the successe may aunswere therspectation of the parties so I wishe you to attende the benefyt of time this euenynge I meane at the hower of supper when men are gyuen least to suspicion you faile not to come in as secret maner as you can to the gardeine gate wher my woman shal be readye to conueigâ—e you into my chamber to th ende we maye there take aduise of that which we haue to do wherunto LIVIO was not curious in consent and lesse vnmindeful to yelde her the choice of a thousande thankes for offringe the priuiledge which he doubted to demaunde giuyng her assuraunce to vse suche exact wisdome in the conueyghe of so secret a misterie that ARGVS himselfe if he were vpoÌ„ earth shold not descrye his coÌ„ming much lesse any be pryuye to the daunce but such as performed the rounde wherin he was not deceaued for as he was the firste so shee failed hym not at the cloase and bothe theyr miseries of equall qualitie in the ende like as it happenethe often times that those amarous bargaines redoundes to the harmes of suche as bee the parties who albeit do alledge a certaine respect of honestie in theyr doinges by pretence of mariage yet God being the iudge of their offence will not suffer the wronge to the obedience of their parentes in concludyng priuye contractes vnpunished and that wyth suche a penaunce as the remembrance is notorious in all ages But now to our LIVIO who neyther vnmindeful of the hower and lesse forgetfull to kepe appointement attyreth himselfe for the purpose in a nighte gowne girt to hym with a paire of shoes of felte leaste the noyse of his féete shoulde discouer his goinge and for a more honor of his mistres he forgat not his perfumed shyrte spidered with curious braunches accordinge the fansie of his Ladye with his wrought coyffe poudred with diuerse drogues of delicat smell wherewith he stealeth in as secret maner as hée can to the gate of appointement where he founde the guide of his loue whome hee embrased aswell for the seruice he founde in her as also in that she resembled the beautye of his mistres CAMYLLA who after she had taken her nightes leaue of her father and brother with search that euery man was in his place of reste retireth to her chamber with such deuocioÌ„ as commonly they y t fynde themselues in semblable iorneye to worke theffect of such like desir where encountering her infortunat seruant it was concluded to imploye no time in vayne reuerence or idle ceremonies but in a moment they entred their fatal bed together where after certaine amarous threates and other folyes in loue seruyng as a preamble to the part they ment to playe LIVIO entred into the vnhappye pageant of his fatal last pleasure wherin he chaffed hymselfe so in his harnesse and was so gréedie to cooll the firste flower of the virginity of his CAMILLA that whether the passion of ioye preuailynge aboue y e force of the hart and thinner partes smothered with heate coulde not assiste thenterprise accordynge to their office or that he exceded nature in surfettinge vpon his pleasant banquet he founde hymselfe so sharplye assayled wyth shortnes of breath that his vitall forces began to faile him in the middest of the combat like as not longe since it happened to ATTAL VS the cruell king of the HVNES who in y e first nighte of his infortunat mariage in HVNGARYE enforced hymself to so greate a corage in the pleasaunt encounter wyth hys newe wyfe that hys dead bodye founde in her armes the nexte mornynge witnessed his excesse and glottenouse appetit in the skirmyshe of loue whyche also myghte bee the bane of thys LIVIO who respectynge no measure in drinkynge of the delicat wyne no more then yf it had bene but one banquet dressed for hym in the whole course of his lyfe was so ouer charged with desyre in that pleasaunt skirmishe that the conduites of lyfe stoppynge vppon a soddaine barred to adde fourther strengthe to hys gredye appetyt wherevppon he became without m ocion or féelinge in the armes of CAMYLLA who féelynge hym without sence and that he seamed more heauy and rude vppon her then affore dowted a trothe wherin also she was fully satisfyed by the lyght of y e candle which she caused her chamberiere to bringe to the bedde syde where vewinge the dead bodye of him whom she loued no lesse then her self and iudgyng the cause as yt was in deede entred ymedyatly into suche a mortall passion of dollour that albeyt she woulde haue exposed some woordes of compassion on the behalfe of the pytefull accident yet féelyng a generall dymynucion of force thorowe all her partes by thynnundacion or waues of soddaine sorowe she founde her tonge not hable to supplye the desyer of her hart whych wyth the consent of the reste loathynge the vse of longer lyf resigned her borowed tearme to the fates fallynge at thynstant without sence or féelynge vppon the dead body of hym whom shee accompted a dutye to accompanie in the other worlde aswell as she delyted in hys presence durynge their mutuall aboade in thys miserable valey A happye kynde of deathe yf wee had not to consyder the perill whyche attendes suche wretches as hauing no meane to performe theffect of their pleasure but by vnlafull stealthe are so franke for the shortnes of their tyme that in satisfynge the glot of their gredye appetit they make no conscience to sacrifise ther owne lyfe but yf wee passe furthe in the viewe of these offences we shall fynde a derogacion of the honour and integretye of the mynde with a manifest preiudice and hazarde to the healthe of the sowle whyche makes me of opinion that yt is the most miserable ende that maye happen to manne the rather for that the chyefest thynge whyche is regarded in the putsuet of that entreprise is to obeye the sommance of a bestely and vnbridled luste of the fleshe wherein I wyshe oure frantike louers whoe makynge contemplacion vppon causes of loue accomptes yt a vertue to ende their lyues in thys LASCIVIVS bonde of pryuye contract to refrayne that whyche is so indifferent hurtefull bothe to the sowle and body seynge theire death is not onelye without argument of desperation but also their sowles moste sewer to receiue the guerdon of cyuil morder whyche we oughte to feare and eschewe as neare as wee
deadlie hate doubted whether shee shoulde vse force againste her selfe for the spite of the villainy he had don to her or persecute hym vnto deathe whose life shee vtterly detested and waueringe thus in contrarietie of opinions she soughte to appease somwhat the furye of her presente dolloure by recordynge her greete with these lamentable tearmes Alas saithe shée if this bée the rewarde of true loyaltie what assuraunce maye wee reappose in constancie or what meede to be exspected in the vertie of suche vnfained frendshippe as I professed to this vnthankeful and periured knighte haue I refused the seruice of so many gentlemenne offringe franklie to employe their times vnder the becke of my commaundemente to make my affection subiecte to one who hauinge alreadie called oute of me the frutes of his desyer smiles nowe at my simplicitie and laughes to sée mée languishe in dule Ah why were the eyes of my mynde so dymmed with the myste of fonde zeale that I colde not consider the common malice of menne now a dayes who preferring their humble seruice wyth all kinde of othes dienge a thousande times a daye for oure sakes yea offringe their lyues to all kynde of perill doo seame to remeine prisonners in the ward of oure good will vntill their fayned ymportunyties preuailyuge aboue the weake resistance of vs poore wretches do place theime in the possession of their desyer and beinge once made Lordes ouer that whyche onely colde commaunde theym afore God knowethe howe sone they reuolte torninge their seruente affection into a contempte of our fragilitie if I had as carefullie caste all argumentes of future disquiet as I was readie to open myne eares to the sugred breathe of his charmes I hadde eschewed the euill wyth the cause neyther hadde I stande as I do nowe readye to enter into the harde pennaunce of my former follie Ah moste vnthankefull PARTHONOPE howe canste thou soo easelye forgette her who was no nigarde in satysfyenge thy desyers and whose bewtie thou séemedeste earste to haue in no lesse admiracion thenne if I hadde béene sente frome aboue for thanlie solace of my lyfe hath thy presente crueltie preuailed whollie aboue the glorye of thyne aunciente vertue or haste thou vtterlie dismissed the remembraunce of thy othe and protestacion of faythe whyche oughte to call thy conscience to a remorse forcinge a performaunce of thy promisse whereof also sayeth shée castynge her waterie eyes downe to her bigge bellie thou hast lefte mée a pawne whyche witnessing no lesse thy disloyaltye agaynste mée thenne aduowching the frendeshippe thou haste founde at my hande oughte to knocke at the dore of thy conscience for some consideracion of pitie towardes her whome wythout cause thou doste shamefullie abuse Oh vnhappye and wretched Ladye that I am in what companye canne I showe my heade wherin the bignes of my bellie bringing the blodd of shame into my face will not accuse me of treason towardes my husbande beinge so longe tyme absente what wronge dothe the world to my wickednes if euery man salute me by the name of a common and arraunde strompette who defacingâ— her â—â—nciente honour and house wyth the lasciuidus exercise of adulterous abuse deserueth to be registred in the staunderous boke of black defame w t a crown of infamy for euer wherunto like as thy subtil practises Oh â—aytyâ—e knyghte hath aduaunced me so thy tyrany in y e end shal take awaye the life of those ii who ought to be farr more deare vnto the then thou seamest to accompte theim wherwith fallinge into alteracions of more furye she began a cruell warre with her faire haires printinge her nailes without respecte in the rosye dye of her faire face bedewinge her bossome and skirtes of outwarde garmentes with the droppes of teares distilling from her cristal eyes and entring thus into y e pageant of rage had here plaied the laste acte of the tragedie in executinge herselfe if the presence of FYNEA had not preuented the facte who stirringe vpp rather the appitit of reuenge in her mistrys then mynistringe perswacions to patience or moderacion in her dollor incensed her by al the wicked deuises shee colde ymagyne to wreake her iuste anger vppon the villanons bodye of him that so synisterlie procured her passion of vndeserued dule whereunto albeit PANDORA gaue diligent eare with desyer to put her aduise in execution yet hauinge not vtterlie drayned her stomake of all complaints renewed estsones her exclamacion in this sort Ah. sayeth she why was not I traded in the magicall sciences of the COLCHOSE MEDEA or thytalyan CIRCE whose conninge workinge meruailous in the like affaires hath left an ymortalitie to their names to al ages certainly if the heauens had reuealed vnto me any skil in the misterie of their artes eyther sholde PARTHONOPE be myne or els would I raine the shower of vengance vppon him and her that enioyeth the mede of my merite with such ympetuosytie that the sequeile of the world shold haue no lesse cause to cronicle my doings then they seame coÌ„monly to confirme and allowe thactes of the it former enchaunteresses And thou FYNEA sholâ—est haue me to forgett him in whose loue I doate although I wishe nothing so muche as his vtter destruction And now do I see the doe rewarde of my former vnchaste conuersacion for the seruente affection whiche I beare him doth now yelde me doble vsurâ—e of the want on libertie wherin I haue lyued hetherunto neyther shall I be enioyned to other penance for my falte then a loathesome dispaire which atteÌ„des if I do not recouer him whom I haue lost or haue spedie meanes to reueÌ„ge the wrong he hath don me to cut in sunder the strings of my life Wherfore beyng resolued in some parte to folowe thy aduise So muste I also vse thy traueile in th execution of my first attempte whiche is that thou goe furthwith to the vale of Cammonika in the contrey of Bressiant which as they saye is not without great stoare of conninge sorcerers amongest whom it is necessarie that thou learne what so euer it coste some enchauntement of so greate vertue that it maye not onely restore me eftesones to the frendship of hym whome I thynke hath vtterly forsaken me but by the coniuracion of theyr charme haue power to remoue the vaile of his affection from hys newe wyfe that makyng no more accompte of her he may from hensfurth dissolue the league of amytie betwene them for euer wherein if the effect of my desyer bée furthered by a successe of thy diligence assure thy selfe thy traueil shal be so thankefully imployed that chrystennynge the hensfurth by the name of my syster there shal be neither riches nor commoditye anye waye proper or due vnto me whiche shall not be common to vs both FINEA who was not so readie to obey her mystres in this deuelishe enterprise as gyuen of her selfe to bée a fyt minister of euill discending with expedicion into the vale of
made her body and other members the mynisters of her wil which God doth oftentymes suffer as wel for the due correction of heynous faults as also for an example and terror to all offenders in the like affayres I am lothe good Ladyes to passe any further in the pursute of this dolorous tragedye because your eyes alredy wearyed with wepinge methinke I see also your eares offer to close themselues against y e report of this PANDORA whose only offence had bene enough to staine your whole secte with per petual iâ—amie if y e pure chastitie of so many of you offred not to confute the slaunder by your vertue only neither caÌ„ y e impudente and wicked liffe of suche double curtalls as shee was impayre thestimacion of them that wyth thintente of pure integritie do rather giue suck to their honor w t y e milke of simplicytie then being Italyonated with all subteltyes trustinge onlye in the humor of their owne braine do fall at laste into the common slaunder of all the worlde for a famylyar profe wherof I leaue you to skanne the order and doinges of this PANDORA who waringe nowe somewhat colde in her former passions of frensye and rage began to be pinched with the panges Incydente comenlye to all women in the paynfull trauell of childe bearinge wherfor goinge to bed she caused certeyn baynes to be prouided wherin washinge her selfe the next daye beinge hallowed and a feaste of great solempnytye she was caryed in a rych coche to vysitt the companie of other Ladyes amongeste whome she was not worthye to kepe place being the shamefull bother of her own blood and wicked ennemy to the life of maÌ„ Herein is to be noted the destructiun of a woman banished the pallays of reason together with the due mede of their merytt who for the respect of a lyttell pleasure of no more contynuance then a moment do put their honour vpon tearmes of Infamye and there soules in hazard of euerlastinge tormente here the adulterers maye see howe iustelye God ponysheth their infydelytie breach of othes towardes their husbands let also the yong ladyes and lyttel girls learne to direct the cours of their youth by y e contrary of this example and beinge once registred in the boke of maryage let theim staÌ„d vpoÌ„ their guard for falling into y e like folies for ther is nothiÌ„g coÌ„mitted in secret but in y e end it bursts out to a coÌ„moÌ„ brute which our sauior Christ affyrmeth by the mouthe of y e prophet sainge y t what so euer is done in the darkest corner of the house shal be published in y e end in open audience And he who sekes most to conceile his faulte is not onlye by the permission of God the first opner of the same but also beares the badge of shame afore the face of y e world and standes in daunger of grace in the presence of him from whom no secret canne bee hydde FINIS The argument IT may seame to some that delighte in the reporte of other mens faltes with respectt rather to take occasion of synister exclamacioÌ„ then be warned by their euils to eschewe the like harmes in theÌ„ selues that I haue bene to prodigall in notinge the doinges and liues of diuerle ladies and gentlewomen declininge by misfortune from the path of vertue and honour only to sturre vp cause of reproche and leaue argument to confirme their fonde opinion Albeit as their errour appereth sufficiently in the integretye of my meaninge so I hope thindifferent sort will geue an other iudgement of my entente the rather for that I haue preferred these discourses both for the proffit of the present glorye of them that bee paste and instruction of suche as bee to come seing w c al they discouer more cause of rebuke and vices more heynous in men then any we finde committed by women and albeit the historye last recyted hath set fourthe in lyuely collours the furye and madd dispocition of a woman forced by disloyaltie yet if a man maye any waie excuse synne it maye in some sorte be dispensed with all or at leaste with more reason then the tyranous execution followinge committed by a man without occacion where a certaine Ielousye sprong of an vniuste myslyke as she thought is readie to couer the falte of Pandora for what is he so ignorante in the passions of loue that will not confesse that Ielosye is an euill excedinge all the tormentes of the worlde supplantinge oftentymes bothe wytt and reason in the moste wise that be specially when appeareth the lyke treason that Pandora perswaded her selfe to receiuely him that forsoke her but for thother how eaÌ„ he be acquited froÌ„ an humor of a frantike maÌ„ who without any cause of effence in the world committes cruel excution vpon his innocente wife no lesse fayre and fournished in al perfections then chast and verteous with oute comparison neyther is Ioylowsye the cause of morder considringe that the opynion is no sooner conceyued then there followeth as it were a distrust of the partye that thinkes to receiue the wronge with an indifferent desyer to theim both to stande vpon their gard in sort lyke ii enemyes workinge the mutuall destruction the one of the other wherof leauing the iudgement to theim that be of good stomake to disgest all kindes of meates or can carye a braine to â—â—kle with the fumes of euerye brothe that is offred theim I haue here to expose vnto you a myserable accident happening in our tyme whiche shall serue as a bloddye skaffolde or theaterye wherin are presented such as play no partes but in mortal and furious tragideies ⧠AN ALBANOYSE Capteine beinge at the poynte to dye kylled his wyfe because no man should enioye her beavvtie after his deathe ⧠˙ Ë™ DUringe the sege and miserable sacke of MODONA a Cytye of the mores confyning vpoÌ„ y e sea PELOPONESE not farr froÌ„ y e straite of YSTHMYON by y e whiche the venetians conueighe theire great traffique and trade of marchandise Baiazeth themperour of the turkes and great grandfather to SVLTAN SOLYMAN who this daye gouerneth the state of thoriente vsed so many sortes of inordinat cruelties in the persecution of those wretches whom fate with extreme forme of his warr had not onlye habandoned from the soyle of their ancient and naturall bode but also as people ful of desolation and voide of succour euery waye forced them to craue harbor of the lymytrophall townes adioyning their countrey to shroude ther weary bodyes bledinge still with the woundes of their late warre and ouercome besides wyth the violence of hungar and cold ii common enemies that neuer faile to followe the campe of miserie And as in a generall calamitie euerie man hath his fortune So amongest the vnhappie crewe of these fugitiues creatures full of care there was one gentleman no les noble by discente then worthelye reuowmed by the glorye of his own actes who accompting it a
greater signe or argument can a man geue of his owne follie then to beleue that to be true which is but doutfull and yeldinge rashelie to the resolution and sentence of his owne conceites thinks his wife as light of the seare and apt to deceiue him as he is readie to admit synister suspicion which procedes but of an ymperfection in hym selfe iudging the disposition of an other by his own complerion which was one of the greatest faltes in this valyante ALBA NOYSE who fearing euen nowe that which he nede not to dowte began to stande in awe of his owne shadow perswadinge him selfe that his wife was nolesse liberall of her loue towards others then to him and that the benefit of her bewtie was as common to straungers as to him selfe albeit the good Ladye espyeng well enough the gréefe of her husband was not ydle for her parte to studie the meanes to please him and also to frame her life in suche wise euery waye that her chaste and discrete gouernment towardes hym mighte not only remouethe vaile of his late susspicion but also take awaye the thicke miste of frantike Ielowsie that put him in suche disquiet and made him so farr excede the lymites and bondes of discrecion albeit her honeste endeuor herein receiued a contrarye effecte and as one borne vnder a crabbed constellacion or ordeined rather to beare the malice of a froward desteinye she cold not deuise a remedie for his disease nor any hearbe to purge his suspicious humor but the more she sought to prefer a show of sinceritie and honestie of life the more grew the furye and rage of his peruerse fancie thinking the compainye and fellowship of his wife to be as indifferente to others as peculiar to him selfe What life were like to the maried mans state or pleasures semblable to the ioyes of the bedde if either the one or the other might be dispensed with all from the furye of frantique Iellowsie or amōgest a thousand inconueniences which only the maried man doth fynde what greater mischiefe maye be more for the dissolutiō of the mutual tranquilitie of them bothe then where the one loues vnfaynedlie and the other is doubtfull without cause but the ease and quiet of men are of so small a moment and their common pleasures so enterlarded with an ordinarie mishappe that ther is as smal hold of the one slippinge away with the shortnes of tyme as vndowted assurance to haue the other a common gueste and haunt vs in all our doinges not leauing vs till he hath sene vs laide in the pit and longe bedd of rest wherof I haue here presented you a litle proofe in the picture and person of this selly ALBANOYSE who beginnynge as you haue harde to enter into some tearmes of Iellowsie wyth his wife with whom notwithstandynge hee had consumed certeine monethes in such pleasures as mariage doth allowe began to grow more feruent in that furye thenne either his cause did require or wisedom ought to suffer wherw t setting abroch the vessell of that poyson forgat not for hys fyrste endeuor to dogge the doinges of hys wife with secret spies in euerye corner to abridge her libertie in goinge abrode and barr the accesse of any to come to her kepynge notwithstandinge no lesse watche and warde abowte her chamber thenne the good soldiour vppon hys trenche or circumspecte Capteine vppon the walles of hys fortresse whyche broughte the selly Ladye into suche sorow that the state of the caytife and slaue of the gallye bownde to his ore with a chayne of vnreasonable biggnes or hée that by harde sentence of the Lawe dothe lye miserablie in the bottom of a pryson all the dayes of his lyfe seamed of more easie regarde thenne the harde condition of her presente state albeit true vertue hathe suche operation and effecte of her selfe that howe greuouslye soeuer the worlde dothe persecute her or seke to crucifye her wyth the malice of menne yet canne they not so kepe her vnder by anye force they canne deuise but certeine streames and sparkes wyll burste oute nowe and thenne and showe her selfe at laste as shee is hable to wythstande the violence of any mortall affliction whereof an affecte appeares here in the sequeile of this Greke ladye who notinge the disposition of her husbande ouercharged wyth a mad humor of wrong conceites gaue iudgemente ymedyatlye of his disease and beynge not hable vtterlye to expulse his newe feuer studied by her indeuor to inferr a moderacion of his passion wherin for her part she forgat not to make pacience her chiefest defence agaynst the folish assaultes of his wilful follies not only requitinge his extraordinary rage and fits of furie with a dutifull humylitye and obedience of a wife but also ceassed not to loue him no lesse then her honour and dutie bounde her therunto hopinge with thassistance of some conuenient tyme and her discrete behauior towardes hym both to take awaye the disease and mortefie the cause of his euill she seamed neyther to reprehend his falte openly nor w t other tearmes thenne argued her greate humilitie and for her selfe howe euill soeuer he intreated her shee gaue an outwarde showe of thankefull contentmente and when it was his pleasure to shutt her close in a chamber as a birde in the cage shee refused not his sentence but embrasinge the gifte of her presente fortune toke suche consolation as the harde condition of her case wolde admitt giuinge god thankes for his visitation and crauinge with like intercession to haue her husbande restored to the vse of his former wittes Albeit all these dutifull showes of obedience and pacient disgesting of his vnnatural discourtesies together w t a rare and redie disposition in her to frame herselfe whollie to thappitit of his will preuailed no more to enlarge her libertie or redeme her from the seruile yoke of close ymprisonement then to reclayme his hagarde mynde to thunderstandinge of reason or restore the traunce of his frantique humor raging the more as it seamed by the incredible constancye he noted in this mirror of modestie obedience wisedome and chastetie whose example in theym all deserues certeinlye to be grauen in pillers of eternetie and honge vpp in tables of golde in euerye pallace and place of estate to th ende that you ladyes of oure tyme maye learne by ymitacion of her order and gouernement to atteine to the like perfection of vertue whiche she lefte as a speciall patterne to you all to thend also that if any of you by likemisfortune do fal into the daunger of semblable accidentes you may learne here thorder of your gouernement in the like affaires and also to suppresse y e rage of Ielowsie rather by vertue then force which commonly is the foundacion of skandale and slaunder deuorcemente violacion of mariage vpon doth consequētly ensue ciuil discenciōs vtter subuer ciō of houses of antiquitie but now to y e place of our historie This frantique ALBANOYSE and Ielouse
capteine being one of the traine of the lord Iames TRIVOVLSE a great fauorer of the faction of GEBALYNO in Italye and at that tyme gouernor of the duchie of MILLAYNE vnder y e frenche kinge LOYS the thirde of that name whether it were to make a further proffe of the pacience of his wife or by absence to mortefie and forgett his fonde opinion conceiued without cause retired vpon a soddaine to Neweastel y e court and ordenarie place of abode of y e sayd Lord TRYVOVLSE which albeit was of hard disgestion to the ladie for a time yet beinge not vnaquainted with such chaunces and no pren tise in the practise of her husbande retired to her auncient patience and contentment by force dyssimuling with a new greefe and secrete sorowe this newe discourtesie to th ende that her waspishe husbande should take no excepcions to her in any respect but fynde her in this as the former stormes bent wholly to obey thappetit of his will and not to mislike with that whyche he fyndes necessarye to be don This TRIVOVLSE hadde not spente many monethes in fraunce but there was commenced informacion agaynste him to the king that he was reuolted from the frenche and become frend to the Swytzers and sworne to their seigneurye and faction wherewyth ymediatelye fame the common carier of tales filled all eares of MILAN and the prouince there about with this further â—ddicion that the king for that cause had seÌ„t him headles to his graue albeit as fame is rather a messenger of lyes then a treasure of truthe and ra her to be harde then beleued so this brute beinge not true in the laste did ymporte a certeine credit in the fyrste for TRYVOVLSE not liking to liue in the displeasure of his prince abandoned his charg and came into Lumbardy wher beinge sommoned by the messenger of deathe gaue place to nature and dyed who beinge the onelye maister and meynteynor of the ALBANOYSE capteine whilest bee liued colde not casely be forgotten of him after his death for after his departure was past the general doubte of the people and eche voice resolued that he was laide in hys graue Don Capitaino spado resolued whollye into teares seamed here to pass the mistery of a newe traunce whiche with the freshe remembraunce of his auncient harme and gréene wounde of vnworthie Ielowsye bledynge yet in his minde broughte hym in that case that he neyther desyred to liue nor doubted to die and yet in dispaire of theim both his solace of the daye was conuerted into teares and the howers of the night went awaye in vistons and hollowe dreames he loathed the companye of his frendes and hated the thynges that shoulde susteine nature neither was he contented with the presente nor cared for the chaunce of future tyme which sodaine alteracion in straunge maner driue his carefull wife into no lesse astonishement then she had cause and being ignoraunt of the occasion she was also voide of consolation which doubled her gréefe till tyme opened her at laste a meane to communicate familiarly with hym in this sorte Alas syr sayth she to what ende serue these pininge conceites forcing a generall debilytie thorow al your parts or why do you languishe in griefe without discoueryng the cause of youre sorowe to suche as holde your health no lesse deare then the swéete and pleasant taste of their owne lyfe from whence coÌ„mes this often chaÌ„ge of complexion accoÌ„panied with a dispositioÌ„ of malencolicke dompes arguing your inward fretting care of minde why staye you not in time y e source of your skorching sighes that haue alredye drayned your bodye of his wholsome humours appointed by nature to giue sucke to thintrals and inward partes of you and to what ende serueth this whole riuer of teares flowynge by such abundance froÌ„ your watery eyes almost worne awaye with wéeping is your gréefe growen great by coÌ„tinuance of time or haue you conceiued some mislike of newe Yf your house be out of order in any sorte or that wante of dutie or diligence in me procureth your grudge declare the cause to th ende the faulte maye be reformed in me and you restored to your auÌ„cieÌ„t order of quiet we both enioye a mutual traÌ„quillitie as apperteineth But he that labored of an other disease then is incideÌ„t coÌ„monly to men of good gouernemeÌ„t absolued her of all faultes or other mislikes he founde in the state of his house or other his affaires committed to her order lesse lacke of her diligence to make declaracion of her dutye to thutermoste but alas saith he with a depe sighe deriued of the â—retinge dolour of his minde and doubled twise or thrise within his stomacke afore he coulde vtter it what cause of comfort or consolation hath he to lyue in this world from whom the malice of destenie hath taken the chiefeste pillor of his life or to what ende serueth the fruicion or interest of longer yeres in this vale of vnquietnes when the bodie abhorreth alredie the longe date of his abode heare or why shold not this soma or masse of corrupcion which I receiued of the world bée dismissed to earth and my soule haue leaue to passe into the other worlde to shonne this double passion of present torment whiche I féele by the death of my deare frende Ah my deare Ladye and loyall wyfe my grief is so great that I dye to tell you the cause and yet the veray remembrance presents me with treble torments wherin I must confess vnto you that since the death of the late Lorde Ihon Tryuulso I haue had so lytle desyer to lyue that all my felicitie is in thinking to die neyther can ther be any thinge in the world more acceptable to me then death whose hower and time if they wer as certeine as himselfe is moste sewer to coÌ„me in the ende I could somwhat satisfye the greate desyer I haue to die moderate the rage of my passion in thinking of the shortnes of the dome that should giue ende to my dyeng ghost and vnrulye sorowes together besides waighing thinâ—inite miseries of our time accompanieng vs eueÌ„ from the wombe of concepcion with the reaste and reapose which dead men do finde And knowing withall how muche I am in the debte of him that is dead I can not wishe a more acceptable thinge then the spedie approche and ende of my dayes to th ende that being denied the viewe of his presence here I may folow him in thother world where participating indiferently such good and euil as falleth to his share I may witnes with what duetiful zeale affectioned harte I sought to honor and serue hym in all respectes But the Ladye that sawe as farre into the disease of her husbande as his phizicion into his vryne knowynge well enoughe that he dyd not languishe so muche for the desyer of hym that was dead as the ticklishe humour of Ielowsye troubled hym was content to admit his coollours
howe fyne so euer they were aswell to preferr her dutie to thuttermoste as also to auoyde imputacion or cause of suspicion on her parte wherwith entring into termes of persuacion she added also this kynde of consolacion folowinge More do I greue syr sayth she wyth the small care you seame to take of your selfe then the tearmes of your disease do trouble me consideringe the same procedes of so slender occasioÌ„ that the veray remeÌ„brance of so great an ouersight ought to remoue the force and cause of your accident admit your griefe were greate indéede and your disease of no lesse importance yet ought you so to bridle this wilful rage and desyere to dye that in eschewing to preuent the wyl and set hower of the Lorde you séeke not to further youre fatall ende by vsynge vnnaturall force against your selfe making your beastly will the blodye sacrifize of your bodie whereby you shal be sewer to leaue to the remeinder of youre house a crowne of infamie in the iudgement of the worlde to come and put your soule in hazarde of grace afore the troane of iustice aboue you knowe syr I am sewer that in this transitorye and paineful pilgrimage there is nothing more certeine then death whom albeit wee are forbiddeÌ„ to feare yet oughte wee to make a certeine accompt of his coÌ„ming neyther is it any other thinge according to the scripture then the minister and messenger of God executynge his infallible wil vpon vs wretches sparinge neyther age condicion nor state It is he that geues ende to oure miserie heare and saffe conduyte to passe into the other worlde and assoâ—e as we haue taken possession of the house of reste he shooteth the gates of all annoye againste vs fedinge vs as it were with a swete slomber or pleasant sléepe vntil the last soÌ„moÌ„ce of generall resurrection So that syr methinkes they are of the happie sorte whome the great God vouchesafeth to call to his kyngdome exchangynge the toiles manifolde cares incident to the creatures of this worlde with the pleasures of his paradise place of reapose that neuer hath ende And touchinge your deuocion to him that was dead with vaine desyer to visit his ghoste in the other worlde persuadynge the same to procede of a debte and dutifull desyer you haue to make yet a further declaracioÌ„ of your vnfained minde towardes him I assure you syr â–ª I am more sorye to see you subiect to so great a follie then I feare or exspect the effect of your dreame for as it seames but a ridle procedinge of the vehemencie of your sicknes So I hope you will directe the sequeile by sage aduise conuertinge the circumstance into ayre without further remeÌ„braÌ„ce of so foolish a matter wherin also I hope you wyll suffer the wordes of the scripture to direct you who allowinge smal ceremonies to the dead forbides vs to yelde any debte or dutie at all to suche as be alredie passed out of the worlde and muche lesse to sacrifyze oure selues for their sakes vpon their tombes accordynge to the supersticious order of y e barbarians in olde time remeinyng at this daye in no lesse vse amonge the people of the weste worlde but rather to haue their vertues in due veneracion and treadynge in the steppes of their examples to imytate theyr order with like integretye of lyfe And for my parte saith she dyenge her garmentes with the droppes of her waterye eyes prouynge to late what it is to loase a husbande and to forget hym whome bothe the lawe of God and nature hathe gyuen me as a seconde parte of my selfe to lyue wyth mutuall contentement vntyll the dissolucion of oure sacred bonde by the heauye hande of God am thus farre resolued in my selfe protestynge to performe no lesse by hym that lyueth that yf the furie of your passion prevaile aboue your resistaunce or your disease growe to suche extreame tearmes that death wyll not be otherwayes aunswered but that you muste yelde to hys sommance and dye I wyl not lyue to lament the losse of my second husbande nor vse other dule in the funerall of youre corps then to accompanye it to the graue in a shéete or shroode of lyke attire for youre eyes shall no sooner cloase their liddes or loase the lyght of this worlde then theis haÌ„ds shal be readye to performe the effecte of my promisse and the bell that gyueth warnyng of your last hower shall not ceasse his doleful knil til he haue published with like sound y e semblable ende of your deare and louynge wyfe whose simple and franke offer here openynge a most conuenient occasion for her wylfull husbande to disclose the true cause of hys disease preuailed so muche ouer his doubtefull and waueringe mynde that dismissing euen then his former dissimulacion he embraced her not without suche abundance of teares and vnruly sighes that for the tyme they tooke awaie the vse of his tounge Albeit beinge deliuered of his trauÌ„ce and restored to the benefit of his speche he disclosed vnto her the true cause and circumstaunce of his gréefe in this forte Albeit since the time of my sicknes saith he you haue séene what distresse and desolation haue passed me wyth fyttes of straunge and diuerse disposition marueilynge no lesse I am sewer from what fountaine haue flowed the Symptomes of so race a passion wherein also your continuall presence and â—iewe of my weake state is sufficientlye hable to recorde the whole discourse of my disease yet are you neyther partaker of my payne nor priuye to the principall causes of so straunge an euill neyther haue I bene so hardie to discouer theim vnto you because I haue ben hetherto doubtful of that whereof your laste wordes haue fullye absolued me And nowe being weakened with the wearines of tyme sicknes in suche sort as nature hath ridd her handes of me and gyuen me ouer to the order of death who is to spare me no loÌ„ger but to vtter these laste wordes vnto you I accompte it a special felicitie in my harde fortune that in thoppenyng of the true causes of my greâ—e I may cloase and seale vp the laste and extreame tearme of my lyfe And because I wil cleare in few wordes the misterie which seames to amaze you You shall note that there be iij. onely ministers and occasyons of my disease whereof the firste and of leaste importance is for the death of my late Lorde and maister Don Ihon tryuoulso whereof you are not ignorant the second excedinge the firste in greatnes of grefe and force againste me is to thinke that the rigour of my destinies and violence of sicknes yeldynge me into the handes of death will dissolue and breake by that meanes the league of longe and loyall loue whiche from the beginnynge my harte hath vowed vnto you but the thirde and laste of a more strange qualitie then eyther of the reste is to thinke that when I am dead and by time worne
wyth so small a moment of time and subiect to so many chaunges that we oughte neyther esteme so greatlye as we do the tikle pleasures of so small abode nor iudge assurance in suche vncerteine vanities seing withal the same is of suche malicious disposicion that when we haue laied the fundation of oure pleasure and prosperitie with full perfuacion to enioye our quiet without controllement it is then that fortune discouereth her ambushs and inuaoynge vs at vnwares wyth the furye of her malice paieth our former pleasure wyth an interest of treble desolacion that fayleth not to attende vs euen vntill our fatall days of reapose whereof you maye note a familyar proffe in the sequeile of this CORNELIO who beinge vppon the point to taste of the delicat frutes in loue and embrace hys Ladye with suche contentement as louers do commonlye wishe and seldome encounter beholde the malice of the Frenche men began to rage wyth suche extremitie againste the lynage of the SFORCIANS whereof he was one of the chiefest that he was dryuen to auoyde the present daunger of hys lyse wyth a soddaine fleight and secrete stealynge oute of the towne wherin he was so hoatlye puriued with thextremitye of his perill that beyng barred anye leasure to communicate wyth hys dearest frends lesse time to impart his mish ap to his lady or once salute her with a simple farewell which seamed not so greuous to himselfe as of treble-dolour to the sorowfull PLAVDINA who distillynge no small nomber of teares on the behalfe of the soddain departure and absence of her deare frende and restored at laste to a moderation and patience by force began to cast the circumstaunce of his daunger wherin the ymagined all suche doubtes as eyther hope or feare coulde put in her head somtime persuadynge he should bee ouertaken and oppressed by the waye and by and by she feared leaste he were betrayed into the handes of his enemies by the malice of such as he put intruste with his life wherin she was no lesse doubteful of the one then in dispaire of thother and in such perplexitie with the conceite of them both that she seamed no lesse passioned for the time then if the enemies of her frende had cut her CORNELIO in peces afore her face And as she molde haue dismissed theis tragicall conceites of doubte feare and retired to a quiet wyth exspectation of better fortune she was sodainly assailed with a seconde alarame in her hart which mortifyenge all care of the well doinge of her absent CORNELIO preferred a vehement desyer not onely to recouer hym wherin appcared a greate impossibilitye but also wishinge to bée a companyon of his iorney and partaker of his miserye she seamed to expose a franke of that whiche earste she was ash amed and made conscience to graunt as she was voyd of al comfort in this calamitys sauinge that the often remembrance of her frende seamed to restore some litle contentement so ymagininge that the breath of the ayre wolde cary the Eccho of her complaintes into the eares of hym that was gon she saluted his absence with theis tearmes All thinges ought to be hatefull to the eares which seame hurteful to the quiet of the mynde and yet one chiefe consolation wee fynde in miserye is to recorde the circunstaunce of our misfortune neither can that grief be of greate importance whose cause is of small moment but alas what sorow is semblable to the separacion of frendes Ah CORNELIO what auncient grudge procureth this newe mislike or what offence haue I don of late that makes me meritorious of this greate discurtesye Wyl thou paye the merite of my frendshypp wyth so vnthankefull a trybute and abuse therspeaarion whiche all men had of thy vertue haste thou plyed me to thappetit of thy wyll and no we determined to leaue me in the greatest distresse of desyer to enioye thée or canst thow vse so small regarde to the desolate state of the sorowfull PLAVDINA as leauynge her hathed in the teares of vnderserued dule to steale awaye wyth oute the comfort of one simple adieu What nedest thou haue doubted to commununicate wyth her who hath alwayes reserued an equall care of thy sauetye and her owne lyfe And yf the loue thou haste vaunted to bere me had bene matched wyth an vnfained meanynge of continuance and constancie the feare of the enemy had not preuented thy comminge to me for loue alas defyeth the malice of daunger and perill is the thynge that least troubleth the harte that is trulye affectionate What comfort in my present miserie or exspectation of future redresse beinge out of hope eftesones to reclaime hym that receyued but nowe the sentence of continuall exile How am I plunged in a passion of double extremetie meyther content to disclayme my affection and lesse hable to dismisse the remembrance of hym that is the cause of my wo I fynde nowe alas to soone Howe iustelye we women mave exclayme againste nature who framynge vs of a brickle moulde apte to yelde and easye to be wonne hath enioyned vs withall a certeine vehemencie of affection pearsynge the harte wyth desyer in suche sorte as being once thorowlye coyffed wyth loue we are not onelye forsaken when wée wishe thieflye to embrace the obiect of oure appetit but also are subiect to abyde all sortes of reuenge of the ordinarye rigour of men And what rigouro wronge haue I offred the Dh CORNELIO wherof I haue not felte the firste apprehencion For forcyng my selfe to yelde the contentement I spared not the proffer of myne honour to purchasse thy frendshipp and in gyuynge the assuraunce of my good wyll I haue spotted the renowme of my former reputacion whereof the bloode of shame puttes me in remembraunce wyth grudge at so greate a faulte and thy conscience is my present witnes of my vnfayned loyaltye neyther wyll the flatteryng lynes of thy sondrie letters conceile this discurtesye nor the messenger and faythfull solicitour of oure loue forgett to reproche the of vnconstaunt behauyour to thy loyall PLAVDINA who feelynge now what it is to lacke the societye of hym whome the harte hath chosen to loue is equallie pinched wyth the panges of suche as plunged in the passion of desyer do wyshe that they wante and lacke the thynge they chieflye woulde haue whereby they seame to norishe lyfe wyth the onely breathe of a simple and colde hope But why am I so pertiall on myne owne behalfe in exclaimyng againste the discurtesye of hym who peraduenture deserueth not theis tearmes of blame or why doe I not rather respect the true cause of his departure sturred vp as it seameth by the necessitye of the tyme forcinge hym to habandon his parentes countreye and reuenue onles he wolde quenche the thirste of his enemyes wyth the abundance of his blood and appease theyr malyce wyth the price of his heade certeinlye the vertues and gyftes of CORNELIO acquite hym of all argumentes of
inconstancie neyther can a bodye of so rare perfection harbor suche dyssemblynge disposicion But as the desyerous harte is seldome at rest so the doubtefull mynde is dreadefull of deceite and quareliynge continuallye with his good hap or synister fortune is alwayes in ymaginacion what iudgement to resolue vppon the condition of his owne estate so my case is of no lesse perpleritie for wafting indifferētly betwene happie chaunce euil successe I fele my selfe double passioned somtime moued to reioice my good hap in beīg loued of so honest curteouse noble a gentlemā as Cornelio and by by driuen to inueighe againste my euill fortune that hath put suche distance and seperacion of oure bodies when we weare at point to performe the consommacion of our acquaintaunce And albeit the common chaunces of this worlde resemble a confection made of hony and gall and that the banquettes of loue beinge garnished with dishes of both sortes will vs to make choice wyth deliberacion alledgynge that the pleasure is not so great as the repentaunce penaunce of harde disgestion yet I thinke the vertue to performe the vowe of the hart takes awaye the greatnes and haynous disposicion of the faulte wherefore seing my hart hath made his choice and the reste of my partes resolued to performe the quest I wyll not onelye dismisse all doubtes of the assurance of his good wyll but studye to excede hym in affection deuisinge the meanes from hensfurth to make hym féele the force of my goodwill with the desyer I haue to knitt an indissoluble vnitye of the ij mindes whose bodies are forced to lyue in seperacion by the malice of the worlde and angrie dome of our fortune Here yf PLAVDINA inueighed onely vpon ij pointes of her desaster the one for the soddaine departure of her frende and the other for the doubte she seamed to put in the assuraunce of his loue it is to bée thoughte that CORNELIO had cause of treble complaint bothe to be driuen to saue his lyfe by cowardlye flighte to steale awaye in suche secret scilent maner as only his guide was pryuie to his goinge also to bée distressed with such shortnes of time that he was barred to seame thankeful to his Ladye with a simple farewel whiche was sufficient to sturre vp her Ielous humour againste hym but that whiche exceded the rest in greatnes of gréef was that he had no man of trust to carye her newes of his being and muche lesse durste he communicat his buysynes wyth any straunger neyther had he hope to be aduertised of the accurrantes of MYLLAN nor meane to make reaport of his owne estate at MANTVA for that he durst not discouer the place of his present abode there wherefore cryeng out of the constellation and clymat of his destynies he complained his vnhappie case in this sorte If my offence were as greate as my punyshmente is greuous I wolde thinke no submission worthie of place nor my falte meete to be dispensed withall or if I had as iustlye deserued this wronge as I am sewer to suffer the smarte I had no reason to commence cause of complaint agaynste the malice of y e world much lesse accuse the iniquitye of present tyme nor yet crye out of y e synister disposition of fortune to whom as the poetes seame to attribute some power ouer our worldly affaires bestowinge their indeuor therin I thinke rather to féede the time and ymagynacions of the people with a shape or figure of an vnconstante creature then wyth intente to perswade a credit in so senceles an ymage so I am also perswaded by the present experience of her inconstancie that she is not so liberall to geue as readye to take awaye a lesse hable to contynue the felicitie wherwyth she seames to flatter y e conceite of y e simple for whō she hath brought to beleue in her she makes manytimes more desirous of glory then hable to receiue it wherin who maye more iustely exclaime agaynst her mobylitie thē y e vnhappie CORNELIO whō being fauored w t y e offer of a reciprocal affection and at the pointe to be put in the possession of his desyer shee hath not only taken the praie out of my mouthe but comitted me wyth cruelty into the vale of extreme desolacion of what moment are y e greatnes of princes or to what end serues honor or highe callinge seinge bothe the one and the other are subiect to confucion and readye to yelde at the leaste poffe of winde that bloweth from a contrary shoare Yet if I were a simple cytisen or companion of meaner callinge thennemie wolde neyther watche my doings wyth so manye eyes nor pursewe my deathe by publike or pryuate inuacion and I suffered to liue as free from the troubles and tumultes of the worlde as farr from any care or accompte of the doings of great men where nowe alas thonly heighte of my estate tipped wyth the tytle of honor depryueth me of thuse of my contrey societie of my frendes and contemplacion of the thinge I holde no lesse deare thenne the healthe of my soule But if any thinge colde stoppe the couetous humor of man and euerye one contente wyth the lot of his porcion would cease to inuade the dominion of an other kinges shoulde sytt sewer in their troanes and the pallais of princes voide of suspicious feare and care and then myne owne PLAVDINA shoulde not I liue wythout the companie of the nor thou haue cause to doubt the firme constancie of thy seruant whose reputacion of honor and faythe towardes his prince denieth hym for the presente to honor the wyth the duetye whych thy vertues deserue and albeit it is no lesse follye then tyme loste to trauell in dispite of loue and fortune whyche bothe haue conspired my distruction and ioyned in confente to kepe mee frome enioyenge the fauor of her who merites the seruice of one more noble and worthie euery way then I and because no distāce shal dissolue my affection nor dymynishe the leaste braunche of good will nor yet time her selfe haue power to ouertreade the vertue of my faythe I will so dispose of the reste of my life as the same shall make absolute declaracion of the vnfained constancie of my mynd wyth the sincere vowe of loyaltie whiche I haue sworne and dedicated to the seruice of her deuyne bewtie euen vntill the laste and extreme seperacion of my soule and bodie wherin because aduersatie is rather subiect to many miseries then apte to admit any consolation and that the goodwill of fortune comes rather at vnwares then won by speciall sute I wyl perforce contente my selfe wyth the gyfte of presente time and vsinge the remembrance of my mistres as a speciall moderation of the hardnes of my exile so honor thymage and picture of her bewtie painted alreadie in thintralls of my harte that thonly remembrance and inward view of my deare PLAVDINA shall norishe the remeindor or my
loyall seruant and frend that euer bare name to do honor or seruice to any of that noble sect Your desperat resolucion saith DELYO excedinge all thexperience I haue harde or redd of any that haue bene possessed with the like infection argueth the vnbridled humor of loue to be a kynde of rage a thousand times more straunge and lesse reasonable then eyther the burning feuer or frantike maladie of suche as are infected with the fury of frenzye for what greater follye or rather desperacion can be noted in the madman then to Ronne headlong in to the middest of the fyer or coÌ„mit himselfe vnarmed to the mercie of the glaues and sharp swords of his enemie How may a maÌ„ tearme this same amarous rage and effect of smal reason and lesse discrecion which accompanie suche as make themselues a praie to their proper sensualitie if not some spirite or lymme of Sathan sent to torment vs in making vs thabhomynable workemen of such miracles of mischiefe and he that sayth that loue procedeth other wayes then of our selues seameth rather to mocke the truth then hable to iustefy his argument by approued authorities seing the mischief is deriued of our selues and norished of the corruption of our nature whose wicked force preuaileth so much ouer the gifte of our vnderstanding and darkeneth the vertue of the spirit that wée are denied to se and muche lesse to treade the pathe of our dutie honestie or conscience But thamarous Crew of fâ—yuolus louers now a dayes eyther to support their dampnable enterprises with a boulster or showe of a newfounde vertue or to set a more brauerie of their doinges then eyther reason or conscience will allow or rather to make their secte fauored with a fame or name of perpetuitie haue deuised to christen their follie by the name of sincere and true loyaltie whiche they also forget not to confirme by the title of constancie as thoughe without the hazarde of the soule and absolute destruction of the bodie suche execrable villenies and abuses of men colde beare the name or be registred in y e boke of vertue wherin albeit I cold bée assisted with infynities of examples both familiar and aunciente yet because such discourse wold rather seame tedious theÌ„ thankful to the guiltie mynds of a nomber of our contreymen I am content to dismisse al antiquities and pursewe my allegacion with thauthorytie of this CORNELIO who rather enchaunted then rauished with the remembrance of his Ladye and suggestion of his own follie tolde DELIO for ende that if all the waies betwen MANTVA and MYLLAN were strewed or pitched with rasors and euerye gate and windowe decked with the doble cannon readie charged to salute hym at his cominge yet making litle or none accompte of these mortal perils in respect of the dutie he seamed to owe to his deare PLAVDINA he failed not to begyn to perform y e soÌ„monce of her letter the next morning when with ij seruants no lesse strange to him then vnknowen to al men and himself attyred in the wede of a marchaÌ„t trauellor he departed Mantua at the opening of the gates marching no lesse spedelie then by secrete vnknoweÌ„ pathes he measured his time according to thim portaÌ„ce daÌ„ger of his enterprise in such sort as he gat w tin y e walls of Myllan at the verie last glymmer and cloasing of the euening wher refusing y e house of his mother because y e prospect opening vpon the pallais of hys chiefeste enemye seamed more apt to discouer then hable to hyde hys being ther he addressed hym to a deare frende of his called Mesâ—ieur Ambrosio where beyng let in in the darkest of the euenyng he was lodged in a lowe chamber ioyned as a pendle to thuttermost corner of the house moste conuenient to worke his secret misterye His first indeuor after his saffe arryual at MILLAN was to send for an appoticarye whose fidelitie he had earst proued in the enterchaunge and conueighe of diuerse letters betwene his Ladie and hym who not so much amazed to see hym there whom he loked not for as glad of his comminge for the contentement of Plaudina assured hym of the departure of her husbande his second diligence appeared in therpedicion he vsed to aduertise his mistrys of his commynge whom he requested by a letter vnder the conduit of this colcarior to appoint a conuenieÌ„t leasure that he might speake to her in secret for saith he the conference I haue to impart with you is of other importance then to be debated in the hearyng of witnesses and much lesse recorded by anye then the only presence of our selues The Lady althoughe she desired nothyng so muche as the presence of her seruant whose only comyng seamed almoste to make her excede the bondes of reason for ioye yet was she semblablie traunced in a passion of dreedefull conceites and doutefull feare the one for that she feared tho malice of the frenchemen the rather because they extended weekely a priuye searche vppon all the houses and places whyche they iudged frendes to CORNELIO the other chief cause of her dollor was for that by the wronge datyng of her letter she failed of the daye of the departure of her husbande whereby she had not only procured to hym a more daunger theÌ„ neded but also abused his aduenture in beyng not hable to giue so longe a time to their pleasures as he iustelye deserued and they bothe desired notwithstandyng she retorned the messenger with a gentle aunswereâ— wherein aboue all other thinges she gaue singler comendacion to his firme loyaltie andno lesse falte toher owne follie and rashenes whyche because she woulde not onelye excuse but also counteruaile or rather excede wyth a recompence to his contentation she willed hym by y e messenger to passe by the gate in the attire of a masquer where the woulde attende his commynge about x. or xj of the clocke the same euenynge resoluynge vppon a certeine watche worde or other secret instructions whereby she might discerne hym from the reste of his felowshipp Yt is to bée thoughte CORNELIO did neyther mislike the message and muche lesse forgett the hower of appointmente nor yet seame a cowarde in this chiefeste exployte of his aduenture I am rather of opinion that his foolishe rashenes dyd so much excede the vertue of the minde that yf the whole garrison of the frenchemen had bene encamped in the stréete and redie to receyue hym vppon the pointe of their pickes he woulde rather haue accepted the offer of present death then lost so good an occasion to encounter a simple glaunce or glée of his greate frende who no lesse mindefull of her promisse then readie to performe it wyth a double diligence in hope to enioye an interest of suche pleasure as loue yeldes to suche as fortune makes happie and hable to receiue attended hys commynge at the place and hower of accorde And as she was one of the best Courtiars passinge the rest of the traine
perils and seame more willyng to embrace the gyfte of present time for there is not so greate consolacion in the recorde of our miserie past as cause of worthie annoye if we seame vnthankefull to the newe offer or gyfte of oure fortune And albeit sayth she some what smilynge that your boldnes was more then deserued praise yet your felicitye you sée hath defended you from perill and the rashnes of the valyaunt is often times tourned into an encrese of his glorye with double contentement not loked for wherwith embracinge her CORNELIO she helped to dissornishe hym of his loathsom attire and after he had purifyed his grymye bodye in ij or iii. perfumed baines made for the purpose by the Chambriere whilest they were in discourse they entred together the lystes in a faire féelde bed readye dressed armed onely with naked weapons where it is no lesse harde for the ignoraunt to iudge theyr encounters then impossible for thabsent to witnes who wan the price of the battayle onelye I leaue the sentence of them both to the resolucion of you my Lordes that haue or wolde bée speciall sticklors in suche a combat but thus muche I maye ymagine without offence that the innocent hornsbye in the castell founde not so muche pleasure in his prison as CORNELIO toke delite beinge the lieutenant of his bedd in daunsinge the maried mans rounde without other musicke then the instrument of his wyfe which both triumphynge indiffyrentlye ouer the infortunat and miserable birde in the cage ratinge the pleasures of the rest of that nighte with an aduauntage of vij or biii. dayes more at what interest they thought good forgat not to dob hym that was absent knighte of the forqued order of Vulcā And albeit fortune shewed heare a maruelous partialitie cōning in the cōueigh of this buysines I meane to aduaunce the attempte of the louer by the oppression and vniust captiuitie of the innocent husbande yet was not her fauor so cleare but there appeared a threatenyng sommāce of spedie change for that the good man being iustifyed with in vj. or vij dayes tryall was redemed from pryson whose delyuerie was not so acceptable to himself as displeasant to his ij corriuals whereof the one féedyng hym wyth the reuercion and leauynge of an other man gaue hym onely the possession of shapp and bodye of a woman wythout a hart And the other wearye or cloyed with the toile of one kinde of exercise or not hable any longer to mainteine the skirmishe without freshe supplies or fearynge peraduenture the torne of his fortune who neuer yeldes vs pleasure without a sharp repentaunce in the ende if we preuent not her dome by discrecion was as willynge to resigne the forte as at the first he scanted desirous to enter the breache wheruppon resoluynge vpon an other time for the further consommacion complot of their felicitie they departed not without signes of secret sorowe appearynge by the teares standing in their eyes the one to her husbande who wearynge by ignorance a forqued garland made of the leaues of the frée wherof an other had coolled and cropped the frute was content with that he founde and reioysed in his happy encounter the other not without great daūger retired to Mantua where takynge more pleasure in the repeticion of his perils passed then desyrous without better aduise to reitterate or vndertake againe the lyke aduenture he discoursed the whole to his frende DELIO who for his parte reioysynge more in the saffe retorne of his frende then commending his wisdom in thattempt of so rashe perillous an enterprise exclaimed against y e detestable rage furie of loue which as al antiquities do affirme to be of more force infection then al the Ruberbe of Alexandria or antycyria is eyther hable to heale or delaie y t least furie of so vncurable a poyson so y e familiar experiēce of this age iustifiyng the protestaciō of former time doth yeld vs such diuersities of exāples touching y e raging dispositiō of that frātike humour y t we ought not only to shon y e aire of such a pestilēt plage no les thē the mariner y t goth a loofe giueth place to the harde rockes in the daungerous Occean but also to stande so sewerlye vpon our guarde that we seame not once to lysten to thintisynge sommance or lewer of so execrable corrupcion who once takynge possession of the sensible parts within vs besides that he ceasseth not to interrupte our quiett wyth continuall torment and passion stretcheth yet his power so farr that he bringes vs in case not only to commit our lyues to manifest perils forgett the dutye of our conscience with breache of the commaundement of God but also to satisfye the appetit of wanton lubricitie he makes vs corrupt the puritie of the soule with the spott of abhominable adulterye a syn most apte of all other to incense the vengeance of God againste vs whereof we haue sewer prooff in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra wyth diuerse other countreys and common welthes whiche he hath plaged and brought to ruyne for the onely lycencious lyuyng of the people FINIS The argument LIke as all ages from the firste foundacion of the primytiue churche are voide of recorde or remembrance of so greate diuersitie in religion as the wickednes of our presente time doth presente vnto vs So thoppynions at this daye are not so differente one from an other as thabuse of the babylonian or dyabolicall secte of Rome appeares so plainely in their detestable trade of liuinge that their owne villanie and frutes of corruption discouereth to the dymmest eyes that be howe farr they are from the pathe of sincere and true doctrine and yet marching vnworthelie amongeste the troope of the faithful are not ashamed to arrogatt vnto theim selues the title of thanoynted of the Lorde wyth protestacion that they only beare the badge of true christianytie Wherin albeit it agreeth not with the taske I haue taken in hande eyther to axgewe or moue question because bothe the one and the other belonges to the office of the Theologian or deuine of Learninge and authoritie yet seinge a daylye encrease of their disorder wyth a slacke endeuour of suche as hauinge authorytie to expose vnto theym the rodd of reformacion seame rather pertiall on their behalfe thenne readie accordinge to their dutie to yelde due punishment to their detestable errour I maye without offence bowlte out myne opynion touchinge their abhominable trade of lyfe beinge confirmed chieflie therein wyth infynite examples of lasciuious exploites and other inordinat trade of lyuinge in the parsones of such as make semblable profession and truly as we do but righte to yelde a dutifull reuerence to such as be true prelates and pastours of the litle flocke dispersed thorowe the worlde together with a generall zeale to thorder of theim that bee called to the sacred sanctuarie euenso we commit offence in myne opinion in beleuinge that there is anye
honor or commendacion at all due to theim whose liues expose more argumentes and proues of infamie then the moste vile and swearinge ruffyan that euer did seruice to thimpudente curtisan of Rome neither is it a seamlye honor or ornamente for the church of GOD to see a prelatte puffed vpp with vanitie iettinge vp and downe the streetes vppon his footeclothe attended vpon as a satrapas with a traine of dashbucklers or squaringe tospottes and hym selfe pinked and razed in thattire of a yonge bridegrome with hys heare curled by art fallinge in lockes as it were by appointment vppon his forheade with more curyositie then an olde ydoll or ymage of venus perfuming the streetes with the smell of muske and amber whiche he hath conyngely inclosed in the seames of his garmentes besides what example of vertue is it to see one of our reuerend religious fathers and gouernous of couentes more geuen to courte the dames with requestes of sensualitie then to torne ouer the leaues of the new testament or other sacred institucions left vnto vs by christe and his disciples and emploie more studie in deuise to seduce and subborne their neighbors wiues and doughters then to visit their diocesse and defende the sely shepe against the malice of the raueninge wolfe seking to deuoure the few that be left Is he worthy to be admitted to feede the flocke or beare the title of christes shepherd that lyues in more adultery fornycation and dronkenes then he that makes an only profession of suche euil all the daies of his life or how is he hable to reclaime such as be out of the waye to saluacion that detesteth the scripture delites in wickednes and preferres absolute examples of the most perentory synne that can bee whereof thytalyan bandell hath drawen a moste true and lyuelye pattorne in the person of a neapolitaine Abbott whyche I haue accompted of necessitie to prefer amongest my volume of discourses as well to the confucion of hym selfe and such as resemble him in condicion as to geue worthie glorie to the vertue of a pure virgyn who had her honor in such reputacion that she sought rather to end her dayes in the defence of her chastetie thenne to commit the vse of her bodie to the fleshly will of an Abbot more full of villanie thenne perticipatinge with thosfice and dutie of a true christian THE VILLENNIE OF an abbot in sekinge to seduce a mayde by force and her vertue in defendyng her honor against him and his companyons of traison ALl men whose experience by trauaile is a wytnes of the singularities of Italye and spaine are of opinion I am sewer that NAPLES is one of y e most riche pleasante and Populus cities in EVROPE bothe for the beautie and fartilitie of the countreye rounde aboute the magnifical plat and scituacion of the towne prospectinge with open casementes vppon the heyghte of the highe sea TyrenuÌ„ and also the warlyke garrison of gentlemen of al contreis lyenge there for the defence of the frontiers with the ciuill disposicion of the people inhabitynge the sayde paradise There maye you see a plaine and pleasante champaine yeldynge a wonderfull solace wyth her delicate aire breathing vppon suche as vse the feildes for wholsome recreacion and noresheth besides all chases of delite necessarie for thexercise of nobilitie And he that wysheth to be priuie to the pleasure of solitarie places maye see there the wonderfull arte and industrie of nature declared in the conueigh of litle hilles or pendells of the earthe hangynge as it were by a frame of Geometrye beawtified on all partes with an infinitie of orenges lemons and other trees odiferous yeldynge a comoditie and pleasure peculiar to the Towne and generall benefitt to the whole countrey and straungers passynge that waye aswell by thintisinge sauour of that trees as sugred taste of the frute The bottoms of which deliteful groues do discouer certeine valleis no lesse ryche in fruteful graftes and plantes of straung kindes then the chaÌ„pion yeldynge a plentiful increase of corne of al sortes where the meadowe also cladd with his grene garmente at all tymes of the yere is honge continuallie with a tapestrie of all coolors of hearbes and flowers w c other liuerie of dame flora who assystes this heauenly glée in the valleys with the ioystes of sondrie cleare springes yeldynge at all tymes of the daye a temperat dewe to take awaie the vehement heate of the son in suche sorte as the straungers passinge by imparting of the ayre and wholsomnes of the place by the breathe of a milde zephir are drawen thether by delite and forced to repose and refreshe their weary bodyes for a tyme with the solace whereof those places yelde an indifferent plentie to al men besides he that is desierus to be pertaker of the merueiles of nature hidden in thintralles of the earthe let hym take a boate and visit the Ylandes where amoÌ„gest the wonders that Pozzollo bringes furthe he shall see the hott poddells from whence distille the baines so necessarie for the health of man with the pubbling troughe or caue of Sibilla by the which as the poetes fayne ENEAS made his entrey in discendyng into hell to speake with his father There apperes also a remembrance of thartificial laborynth of Dedalus with the sumpteous pallays of the Romaine Lucullus whose lodgyngs with so many crooked turnings windinges euery waye windowes chapells and places of solitarie resorte excedyng accordynge to the poetes the coÌ„putation of man were swallowed in a momente in the deuowrynge throate of TyrenuÌ„ by a soddaine trembling or shakyng of the earth coÌ„monly called an earthequake finally he shal be there presented with the secret and most sure lodgings builded by nature in the belly of the harde rockes with other wonders in such infinite nomber that onely that place yeldes pleasure sufficient to fede the eye and mynde of man with more delite then the whole remainder of Europe is hable to furnish wherin I am chiefly moued to note you a particular discriptioÌ„ of this paradise to th end y t as the places of soleÌ„ne solitary regarde do coÌ„monly mortefie in men all occasions of wanton exercise so the planet that gouerneth those plattes of earthly pleasure pricking forward our effeminate dispocition sturreth vp the humor of Lasciuius luste with an inclinacion more readie to performe the fraile suggestion of the flesh then prouide for the health of the deuyne parte of the mynde which is the sowle neyther is our present age so plentiful of vertue or vertuouse effectes but the view of our auncestors liues past giues vs sufficient cause to blushe and be ashamed in that we are founde so weake in thymyâ—acion of their exploites and exercises of vertue wherin besides an infinitie of examples procedyng of the wickednes of our time I maye be bolde to confirme myne opinion with a familiar experience of an Abbot of Naples whose younge discrecion equall to the grenes of his yeres made hym
trustynge that as her desier and intente was to liue in the trade of an honest woman so God woulde assiste her vertuous respecte and defende her chastetie agaynst the malice of the wycked she douted to discouer the case to her mother for feare some slaunder woulde haue followed neyther durste she imparte it to tholdeman leaste in complainynge of the wronge hys pouertie hadde béene founde to weake to contende agaynste thautoritie of thabbot and by that meanes to haue beene worse delte with all then eyther he deserued or she desiered but leauing in example to al women to vse like modestie in semblable distresses shee committed her selfe and cause to the protection of the heauens By this time the valiant messenger of GONSALDO was retorned to his maister communicatinge not onelye the perticularities of her auÌ„swere the disdaine she showed to his letters and small accompte shee seamed to make of the offer of his good wil but also perswaded him to correct the humor of his appetite dismisse the remeÌ„brance of her beautie bestowinge his affection vppon some such as hatbe more discrecion to yelde hym consideration then the folish doughter of a simple artisan which reaport albeit brought an increase of doble passion to the martiredom of the poore Abbot bothe for that the termes of her aunswere argued an agrauacion of her creweltie and absolute dispaire hereafter to enioy y e benefit of her good wil yet he had y e gift to dissimu le thinward panges of his grefe w t a wonderfull patience conuerting his humor of fretting mallencolie into tearmes of sorowful exclamacion in this sorte ah saith he I see wel y e arte ignoraÌ„t in y e forces of loue who is not easely suplanted after he hath once conquered the rampier of the harte neyther arte thou priuie to the operacion of his pilles who differynge from the nature of other passions assailynge the mynde of man doe make vs desyer that we can not gett and loue the thynges whiche hates vs mortallye and is not this a sufficieut experience of the peruersitie of women seinge the more I indeuour to preferr my seruice to my cruell Parolyna the lesse accompte she makes of myne offer and the more I languishe in desyer the greater pleasure takes she in my martiredome that I wishe alas that some oyle of holye thombe might presently close mine eyes againste the lighte of this world or els the vertue of some happie enchauntment distillinge from the arbour and pot of som Elysea mighte with spede remoue the vaile of her rigour and sturr vp an humor of compassion to the reliefe of my painefull tormente I see thy aduise is iustified euery waye by reason when I dispose my selfe to followe thy councel I féele within me I know not what which forceth my wil wyth constrainte to purseue the sommance of mine appetite in suche sorte that the voice whiche vttered the repulse hath also pronounced the fatall sentence of my lyfe wherin he had yet proceded but that the panges of inwarde sorowe compellynge the conduites of waterye humours to discouer theim selues forced a vente at his eyes in greate abundance of teares whiche drownyng the wordes of furder discourse in his mouth moued his vallet also to equal dolor who notwithstandynge preferred suche consolacion to his maister as sorowe woulde giue hym leaue to vtter with a franke offer to pawne his lyfe with the rest of his worldlye porcion to redeme the quiete of the Abbott and put hym in possession of her whome he accompted the sufferayne CATAPLAME for his mortall disease wherewith he conforted eftesones the selye GONSALDO who tellynge hym that after he had gott the consent of conuenient tyme and oportunitie he woulde somon hym to an effect of his promisse dismissinge therewith his faithfull seruant and retirynge hymselfe to a simple comforte in this laste resolucioÌ„ for certeine dayes forbare to visit the streets churches or other places where afore he was wonte to make his offeryngs and purmenadoes thinkynge in shonnyng the places of her repaire and presence he shoulde at laste force a forgetfulnes of her beautie wherein notwithstandynge he seamed to sprinkle water vppon hoatte cinders and brought more oyle to his matche and all hys traueile therin sturred vpp a freshe supplie of drawing baites mouinge an encrease of desyer wyth augmentacion of his follye whiche after he assaide to putt in execution for the more he wente about to roote out the remembrance of her beautye the more suerlye dyd loue imprinte her picture in the bottome of his harte with prouocation not to giue ouer the queste but procede in the pursute of so pleasant a praye in the daye the whole cloisture or circute of his abbaye cold skarcelye comprehende the sondrie ymaginations of hys braine and his bed in the nighte presented hym wyth asmuche reste as he that is bounde to treade continually the laborinth of endles toile wherin rauynge thus in a passion of contrarietye of thoughtes he accused hym selfe of cowardnes for that the offer of so fainte a resistance made hym retire his force without gyuyng a more â—oate assaulte to the place he ment to conquere wherewith remembring howe often he had harde that women what desyer so euer they haue of theim selues to be thankeful to him that courts theim with the offer of loue yet take they notwythstandynge a singler pleasure to be assailed with importunities intermedled with a lytle constrainte or force determined to imploye thuttermost of his forces and to paye hym selfe maugre her resistaunce the hier of hys traueile wyth the moste precious Iewell or treasure she had at suche tyme as fortune woulde gyue hym the fauour of a conuenient tyme and place to leuy the last alaram thynkynge with the aduantage of his pollicie to compell her to treade the daunce which she neuer mente to practise yf not in lawfull mariage here you maye note a familiar experience that he that is in loue albeit he be blynde touchinge the knowledge of reason yet for the deuise and exe cution of a follye he hath more eyes then he whome the Poetes affirme to haue an hundreth lightes for the garde of Iupiters cowe for that this folishe Abbot attendyng daiely an offer of commoditie and aduauntage of tyme to gyue a charge vppon his plainsante enemye at vnwares vsed suche diligent watch to discrye her doinges that he was made priuie to the certeine hower wherein she was determined to attende vpon her parentes to a fearme or graunge they had not the moste parte of a league from the Citye In whiche oportunitye and offer of thankefull tyme the blinde Abbott reaposed a singler commoditie of his cause for that as you haue harde he determined to inuade her wyth an ambushe at vnwares and so rauishe her out of the handes of her parentes by mayne strengthe whereunto he added an effecte without regarde to the slaunder whiche attended so wicked an enterprise or thabuse he committed againste the order
or troubled wyth other bulynes that she coulde not kepe hym companie not lettynge somtime to shoott her gates against hym all whiche because she sawe lacked force to make hym refraine she retired to thassistance of pollecie desyeryng hym wyth simple and colde termes to do her so muche honor as to forbeare from hensfurth all access to her house for that she was in mynde to retourne to her husbande with whome theffect of attonement was alredye wroughte by certeine her frendes who beinge vpon the waye to fetche her hoame she woulde not by any meanes should finde her in the attire of a Cortisan or woman makynge loue Besides syr saith she not without some dissembled teares I féele a remorce of conscience on the behalfe of the longe abuse I haue vsed towardes hym and that albeit my offence procedynge of follye seames not altogether worthye of frée pardon yet it maye appeare in some sorte excusable so he that confesseth his faulte gyueth greate argument of amendement and restoreth the trespasse to sufficient recompense desyerynge you for ende to haue no lesse consideracion of my present case then heretofore you haue founde no wante of good wyll in me to satisfye the respecte of your pleasure at all tymes where with to prefer a more credit to her suborned discourse she promised hym a contynuacion of fauor wyth assuraunce of vnfayned good wyll so longe as nature was content to lende her the vse of lyfe The erle whether he gaue faythe to her fayned woordes or dissembled a credytt for the nonst yet he seamed to perswade a trothe in the matter for that from the hower of suche conference he checked the humour of hys accustomed desyer vsynge exquisitt medecines to mortifye that blynd affection whiche so longe had kepte hym in captiuitye in the bottomles goolphe of his Pyemount And be cause he woulde aswell remoue the cause as take awaye the disease ferynge leaste eyther the viewe of her presence or some force of newe charme mighte eftesones enchaunte hym and sett abroche the humor of former desyers he retired immediatlye to MYLLAN He feared also the fall of some soddaine mischiefe chieflye for that he had sufficient experience of the cursed disposicion of this Viper whose harte was so infected with the poysoned ayre of euery syn that beinge wearye of the excercise of whordome she would make no conscience to furnishe the stage with vnnaturall morders For what exspectation of other frute is in them whose mindes are cleane dispoiled of vertue if not suche as are allowed by the guyde and wicked spirite that gouerneth their diabolicall disposition or who is ignoraunt of the tyrannye of a woman conuerted whollye into the appetit of rage and reuenge neyther is her crueltye any thyng inferior to the deuouring monster and excedes euerye waye the brutishe inclination of the barbarous sorte of creatures whose rage albeit now and then procureth them to vse force against the natural procreacioÌ„ frutes of their owne wombes yet do they staye to committ any kinde of crueltie to suche as haue traffiqned wyth them in the trade of licencious luste accomptinge no greater sacrilege or profanacion of the lawe and ceremonies due to their goddes then to pollute their handes wyth the blodde of suche as earst haue supplied the luste of their sensual pleasure wherin if they whych had no kuowledge of god nor feared the deuill and voyde altogether of discipline and experience in humanitie reserued a certeine honor and respect to nature why shoulde there be eyther frée dispense or tolleracion of punishment to the wretches of our age who notwythstandynge the dayly vse of the lawe written by the very fynger of god and reueiled vnto vs byhys prophetes and Apostles wyth diuerse threateninge inhibicions noted in thinfallible booke do not feare to offende the maiestie of the high este not only in stayninge theyr sowles wyth the spot of adulterie but also in dyenge the earthe wyth the blodd of their bretherne and fellowes in Christe wherein this historie shal present you with a sufficieÌ„t profe for this time The Lord GAIAZO had no soner lefte PAVYA then this infernall goddesse began to attempte the recouerie of her firste louer VALPERGO wherin notwithstandinge there apeared an equalitie of doubt and difficultie chieflie for that she feared that he that laste left her had diciphered her intent wyth reuelacion of the meane she had deuised to procure hys deathe But what enterprise is it that he dare not attempte whose mynde is the bondeman and slaue of syn wherin albeit the beginninge seame to ymport a certeine difficultie for that the soule preferreth a resistance and the conscience waueringe is moued to a remorse and remembrance of repentance yet whan a man is alreadis become old in syn and the harte enuyroned with the braunches of iniquitie the wycked man hath a more facilitie in th execution of mischiefe then he that is good hable to kepe the renowne of vertue euenso when youth is norished in ympudencie and age deuested of honeste shame there is no perill can make the one affraied nor ymputacion of reproch geue cause to the other to blushe like as this ympudent Pyemountâ—â—se renewinge the traffique of her aunciente wickednes practised so far wyth the familiars and frendes of hym whose deathe as you harde she earste conspired by malice excusinge herselfe so amplie by embassages and letters of vehement perswacion that he was content to heare in what sort she was hable to purge her selfe wherin her iustificacion was the sooner admitted for that the iudge was not only pertiall on her behalfe but rather enclyned to foolishe pytie then disposed to enioyne iuste pennance shee promised by protestacion of fayth and religious othe not only to become hys subiect and slaue so longe as her soule was caried aboute vppon the mortall chariot of her bodie but also gaue hym at thinstant a pawne of her lyfe wyth all that she had for the performaÌ„ce of her laste promise Here was the peace eftsones concluded betwene the wicked countesse and vnhappy earle whose articles were registred and seales put to the night folowinge when the Lorde VALPERGO was restored to the possession of the fortresse whiche earste was reuolted and lyued longe dnder the awe of an other prince wherin as they thus renewed the rounde of their amarous daunce the one fynding a more skoape of libertie vnder her recouered louer then afore the other resolued whollie to obserue thappetite of his Ladie beholde a seconde desyer of blodd and suggestion of morder appearing eftsones in the face of this MEGERA who croppinge altogether the hearbe of reuenge longed nowe for the destruction of hym who as you harde promised to do sacrafice on the bodie whyche presentlie she embrased and helde in moste estimacion wherof if she had béene demaunded the cause I thinke she coulde haue geuen no other reason of her malice then that deliting in bloddie enterprises shee accompted it a pryncipall vertue
to commit mischieues of greateste detestacion for the whyche notwythstandynge the rewarde of mordore was thondered vppon her at laste wyth a shamefull and miserable ende to her selfe and vntymelye deathe of hym who as the fyrst companion and next neighbour to her follie wyth equall perticipacion of filthie pleasure reapposed to muche truste in the villenie of her who preferred vice afore vertue and toke pleasure in the deuise of bloddie affaires whereof you shall haue the discourse at large in the last act of this historie BLANCHE Marya seinge her so rempierd in the harte of Valpergo that her only worde was currant to commaunde hym determyned to prefer hym to thoffice of a morderer vppon the person of hym who earst refuced the charge wherin addinge an expedicion to her deuise one night beinge in bedd together after she had embrased and feasted him frankly wyth the filthie follies in loue wherein she had more then sufficient experience shee discontynued her kisses wyth a soddaine scilence and drawinge her traison a farr of tolde hym that it is longe since she had to present hym wyth one request of speciall fauour wherin because shee doubted eyther to moue hys displeasure or receiue a repulse she hathe not onely defferred to be ymportunate but stayed to declare the cause whyche sayth she althoughe it touche you no lesse then the sauegarde of your lyfe and vnworthie infamye to your deare Blanche Marya yet is the respecte of your fauor of such authoritie wyth me that I had rather vse scilence with your frendshipp and contentment then bee thawthor of the thinge that should incense you to anger He gaue her not only libertie to make her demaund but assurance for hys part to performe the effect at what price so euer it were for saith he if the matter ymport any perill to me it behoueth me to vse care of my lyfe but if the honor of you be abused or your selfe destressed you can not ymagyne the diligence I will put to the reuenge of your wronge and vndertake all your quarelles wherfore doubte not good Ladye to ymploye hym who lyuethe but to serue you and is readye to dye to doo you pleasure Here shee asked hym of the frendeshyype betwene therle GAIAZO and hym and what assuraunce hee hadde of hys loyaltie suche experiences saythe hee as nothinge is hable to dissolue our amytie for I woulde not stande to be intreated to offer my bodie to presente daunger to remoue hys perill nor hee I am sewer woulde make anye conscience to redéeme my extremetie wyth the hazarde of hys owne lyfe neyther doo wée vse other thenne a common conuersacion of all thinges betwene vs but nowe to the cause of youre question wherewyth the traitresse seynge sufficiente wordes passed in circumstance thought e nowe tyme to broach a vente for her poyson wherefore kissynge hym in more amarous sorte thenne euer hée felte hym selfe embrased afore tolde hym the poynies wherein hée was deceiued touchynge the truste hee seamed to reappose in hys frende for saythe shée you are not soo constante and assured on hys behalfe as hee full of villanyein dyssemblynge thée malice whyche hee hathe of longe hatched vnder the winge of hys deceytful harte And to vse a simple playnes in soo sewer a case you haue cause to geue uone other iudgemente of hym thenne as youre moste cruell and capitall ennemye in all the worlde wherein because I wyll not presse you to be credulous of a dreame nor moue you to beleue anye thynge whose Author is not of sufficiente authoritie yon shal vnderstande that hee aduowched noo lesse thenne I haue reapported by the breathe of hys owne mouthe at suche tyme as hee practysed wyth mee in youre late absence wyth thys addycion that hee shoulde neuer enioy a perfectte quiett of mynd nor taste of the benefite of assured reste or reappose til his hands had made morsells of your body and deuyded al your partes into small peces confirmynge at the same instaunte hys bloddye resolucion by othe of the honoure and lyfe of a gentlemanne that wythin the compasse of noo longe tyme hee woulde bydde you too suche a banquette that you shoulde not neede anye longer to bee carefull of the worlde nor myndefull to make loue to ladyes wherein hee seamed so resolute groūded in his malice that notwithstandyng all the persuacions I colde prefer I colde neuer wrest from him the originall or cause of this mortall grudge and albeit at that tyme I was entred into termes of collour agaynste you with more iustice to further his spite then reason to preuent your perill or showe fauor in the sauynge of your life yet the remembrance of our auncient loue as a vertue but halfe mortefied or dead in me moued me to suche a remorse on your behalfe that I dyd not onlye thuttermost of my indeuor to remoue the vaile of his entent but also desyered hym with teares to desyste from suche enterprise whilest I was in place where you abode for that I cold not endure the viewe of your iniury and much lesse see you distressed to death with out the spedie sacrafyce of myne owne lyfe whereunto he gaue not onely a deaff eare but bounde him eftesones to his former protestacion by a seconde othe that eyther hys dead carkasse in the place shold witnes hys good wil or els he wolde delyuer the world of the Lord Valpergo all which I had no meane as thē to imparte vnto you by reason of your absence and small accesse you had hether wherein sir seing since thē your felicitie hath defended you from daunger and consomacion of his intent so nowe I beseche you not only to stande vppon your garde in defending his malice but also to preuent his pernicius resolucion with an acte of equall curtesye for yt is more wysdome to take awaye the lyfe of your enemie then in giuinge place to his malice to comit your bodye to the mercie of his morderinge hande besides yt is no breache of vertue to requite thintent of iniurie with an effect of equall reuēge and your wisdom shold be of greater estimacion and his traison more haynous for that he hathe first abused and broken the lawe of frendshyp in dressinge suche mortall ambushes againste so deare a frende wherein for my part as I haue discouered the whole conspiracie vnder a franke reapport of an vnfained trueth so beinge no lesse carefull of your sauetie then curius of myne owne lyfe waghinge theim both in the ballance of indifferent zeale I wishe you to followe my aduise in preuentyng so ymmynent a daunger and for a more assurance of your sauetie to offer thassalte to hym that hathe alreadye sworne your destruction wherein also you shall performe the vertue of a valyant knyghte with full satisfaction of the desyer of her whom you can nott so amplie gratefye if you presented her with the fre gifte of the best Dukedome in Italye and nowe shall I see an effect of the
the cause to procede of the sinister subornation of the Countesse Blanche Marie whose lyfe and trade accordyng to the discourse you haue alredy harde he ymparted at large to the DVKE and reste of the councell she beynge aduertised of the whole had tyme and libertie to flee but god whyche is iuste would not that her wickednes shoulde bée assisted with anye longer date seynge that if she had liued her malice woulde also haue raged vppon therle GAIAZO who by good chaunce was at that tyme out of the towne The nexte daye shée was sente into an other prison in the towne to auoyde conference betwene Dom Pierro and her whereof there was more cause of feare then néeded for that vppon the firste examination she confessed the whole conspiracie trustynge belyke in I can not tell howe manye her thousande crownes where with shée hoped to corrupte the gouernour or suche as bare authoritie vnder him wherin her exspectation was no lesse frustrate then her destinies seamed wearie to fauour her with longer lyfe for the offer of her crownes was hatefull to the vpryghte ministers of instice and other meanes of medyacion hadde no place in the senate for that she was iudged to bée taken oute of prison the seconde daye after the morder and loase her head in the place of publicke execution in the meane while the capteines of the armye purchassed the lyfe of the bastarde of CARDONO and sente hym with diuers letters of comendacion to themperour who for the respecte of hys experience and practis in warre aduaunced him to a charge conueniente for his skil And albeit the laste arreste and sentence diffinitiue of the miserable countesse was communicated vnto her to th ende she mighte put her selfe in readines to passe the dreadfull iourney of deathe yet seamynge to repose muche for her selfe in th' assistance of her coffers she neyther dismayed at the newes nor disposed her self any waye toward God vntill the sergeantes criminall taking her out of her dongeon in the castell led her to the fatall theatrie in the market place where was erected a faire skaffolde to playe the laste acte of her tragedye vppon there y e wretched Ladye entred into open confession of her faltes and former lyfe in the hearyng of the multitude desiring God vpon her knées wyth greate effusion of teares not to deale with her according to her deserts but that she mought enioye the benefytt of his mercye and that he woulde not argue agaynste her for yf he iudged her accordinge to her iniquities shée was not hable to abyde it and so desyering the people to preferr their prayers on her behalf for her better assistance of y e spirit of grace in her perillous passage which she had to parforme she renounsed nature by the deadly blow of the sword of execution whiche toke awaye the head from the parnicious bodie of her who in her life neuer founde any wickednes whyche shee dyd not onelye ymbrace but excede wyth ymitation and increase with further vylanye nor was acquaynted with any vertue whyche she dyd not abuse or conuert into an agrauacion of synne a goodlye example suer for the youth in oure tyme seynge that the greatest parte launsynge indifferentlye into the gulphe of all abhominacion are gouerned onelye by the transport of their vaine foolysh conceits without hauing respect to the suÌ„dry mischefes impositions of shame which fayle not to attend the end of suche exercises for yf the Lord of Cardonne hadd not bene rescowed by th' assistance of a good fortune and taken out of the handes of distresse by speciall ayde of thother Captaynes it may be easely iudged what miserie had thundered vpon him by geuinge himselfe in praye to the flatteringe appetit of a lighte and foolishe woman who seamed to yelde him more glée or fauor for the satisfieng of her own lust and to performe her malicious deuise then for any respect of loyaltye or true loue Indiferent care of his honor or honest regard to her own estimation and trewlye as hys misfortune is great that bestoweth his affectioÌ„ vpoÌ„ a whore for that he is incident to a thousande inconueniences So his folye is no lesse that perswades himselfe to be beloued of a common doxie seinge their amytie continueth no longer then they reape eyther pleasure or profit neyther are they so inconstant in loue as voyde of measure in Imaginacion of mischiefes wherin for that our plentiful time yeldes vs choyse of examples and sorte of familyar experience I am content to abridge the Iustification at this tyme for that to maintain continuall argument of morders or affaires full of peril is often hurtful to the quyet mynde desiring somtime a pleasant recreacion from affliction no lesse then the pylot or weary mariner couets a present calme and appeasement of angrye EOLE after they haue bene longe forwearyed in contending against the malice of their fortune amonge the perillous strayghts of thunquiet occean And albeit the corruption of our owne nature is so great that we take more delight to heare a discours or beadroll of folyes then in reportes enterlarded with admonicions full of reason and wysedom yet am I perswaded that suche as haue their mindes typped wyth vertue caÌ„not be so peruaâ—â— nor voyde of good disposition as the other wretches whose lyues bearynge the badge of infamie makes theim also sequestrated from the reste of the good sort wherin we ought to be fullye resolued that there is no Hystorie howe full of pleasant delyte so euer it appeare which yeldes not with all wholsomme Instructions to dyrecte oure lyues neyneyther ought we to be soscrupulous or ful of curiositie As eyther to condemne or mislike the pleasaunt comodye for that it is not painted with y e serenety of the Stoickes seing the volumes of prophaned records scripture it self do note vnto vs the lyues of sundre vicious parsons not for that we shoulde enter into tearmes of grudge againste the reaport of suche auncient antiquitie nor dispose our selues to the imitation of the like vices but rather in vewynge the strange and greuous punishment whiche ordinarily hath ouerwhelmed suche sin to learne and labor to directe our lyues by the contrary of their examples whiche is one respecte that made me put my penne in exercise to prefer this historie to our vulgar tonge to thend also that the frayle youth of our countrie that folowe the damnable path of iniquitie maye sée howe sewer they are to féele the heauye hand of God who blesseth the good sorte wyth a plentyfull gyft of his grace and punisheth the wycked with sundrye sortes of affliction FINIS The argument WE sholde not neede so muche thassistance of foreine recordes nor reporte of aunciente histories excedinge the compase of our age and memorie if we were as carefull to note thaccydentes of our own time as we seame curious in admiracion of rare things whose glorious antiquitie with parcialitie of fame settes a more price of thindeuor of others theÌ„
their diligence doings deserue by iustice like as the grekes and romans painting with an exquisitedexteritie of y e pen their pollicy in warr the valiantnes of their Captaines their wonderfull fortune and good successe in all enterprises with other discourses of their vertues do argue them more glorious in their owne acts then meritorious in deade of true commendacion for that in arrogatinge vnto themselues the only title and name of all knowledge they make our time seme naked of all vertue sauinge such as is deriued from theim and ymytacion of their doings Albeit we maye obiect with the spartayne agaynste thathenians that those lippwise soldiours or scoole orators had a more facilitie in discouering then facylitie in execucion of noble effects not for that I meane to do such wrong to their estimacion as not to yelde to theim a title of singularitie in all perfections yet I may also be bould to preferr the benefit of oure time which participating wyth their golden age in any respect of honest gift or qualitie is hable to preseÌ„t a furniture of as many examples and authorities of vertue as we rede were found in the politike state of Rome when Cato Camilla or Scipio gouerned that proude Citye or when on Pericles Themistocles or Aristides bare authoritie in the florishinge Acadimia of Athens for if we go about to discourse of the valyantnes in armes or stody to be pryuy to y e sleightes and pollecy in warr we nede not thassistance of one Hannybal discipline of Marius pellecy of Pompeius nor corage of Cesar or Alexander seing our fertile Evropa brings furth such store of excellent captaines that if those great couqwerours and subuertors of whole countries amongs the Grekes and Romains wer now in the feilde with their invincible force they should not finde a mettellus orgalozs without armes nor encounter a company of effemynate Persyans or haue to do with serfull Italyans but they shold buckle wyth the valiant cauelery and gendarmy of fraunce fele the force of the couragious englishmen make a proofe of the puisance of the mightie Almaine and make heade agaynst the armes of the loftie Spanyarde wherein as the shortnes of time denieth me to yelde to euerye captein and souldiour his peculyar commendacion so my endeuor could not escape without ympu tacion of superfluitie if I shold enterlard my Catalogue of the gracious gifts of our tyme withe the due glorye of the fathers of iustice deuising wonderful pollicyes and necessarye Lawes for regarde of the publike weale in the senate wherein our world I thinke oweth nothinge to antiquitie neyther neede I preferr the singularitie and exquisite skil of oure payntors or forgers of curious ymages whose arte at this daye contendes wythe the aunciente conninge of Appelles Albeit vppon the commendacions of these dexterities in armes and arts coÌ„cerning y e hands I find attendinge a worthie cause of generall complaynte agaynst the slowthfulnes of our tyme geuinge wyth al the title of iuste prayse to the diligence of thauncyentes who preseruing the memory of such as deserued reuowme amoÌ„genst them for any vertue hath left vs cause to blush in our owne abuses and be ashamed of the negligence we vse in recording the rarietyes of our time or perfections of suche as are iustly meritorious of prayse and albeit of long time thiniquitie of the bad sort of men haue so much preuailed ouer the worthie renowne of vertuous women that they haue not sticked to whet their malicious tongues with diuerse blasphemous reproches agaynst such as by misfortune haue geuen som salfe bownd to their honor yet ought we not to be vnthanckful to the chastetie and honest conuersacion of the rest who rather then they wold departe wyth the badge of their pudycitie haue bene sene with their bodyes full of wounds and faces died with blode and sometime passed the panges of painfull death in resistinge the force and fleshely vylanye of the wicked corrupters of the virginitie wherin if the Goekes â—aue geuen such great comendacion to the faire Hippo who being made a pray amongest other spoyles of y e countrey to a barbarous pirott on the sea with present daunger to depart wyth the badge of her honor chused rather to bury her body in the belly of some fyshe and consecrat her integrytie to the waues then suffer an insydell pallyard to hurt her soule to the deathe in depryuinge her of that which all the worlde are not able to restore or make good if the Boecyans haue not forgot to engraue in pillors of eternetye the memorye of a Ladye in Thebes who forced to the vyolacion of her bodye by a rude souldiour oft he Kynge of the macedonions dissimuled for the time her dystres wyth fayned showes that she delyted in the pleasure til encountringe at laste a conuenient occasion she reuenged the wronge done to her honor with the death of him that had vsed such force agaynst her where also herself loathing the vse of longer yeares hauing already lost the onlye ioye and felicitie in lyfe gaue place to nature and at thinstanct made a blody sacryfice of herself by her own hands And if the Romains haue had alwayes in their mouthe the prayse of Lucrese whose chastetie they haue placed in the theatrye or circle of Mars and geuen her a chiefe place amonges the trains of the chast Diana if all these I say haue bene so thankfull to the vertuouse womeÌ„ of their time that by their diligence the memorye of their vertue remaineth in recorde to the posteritie of all ages what worthie cause of rebuke haue we who lyuyng vnder a better clymat and constellacion enioying more pure lawes and aspiring nerer thymage or semblaunce of dyuynitie will not erpose the noble frutes of our tyme whyche yeldes not onely example of sembla ble vertue to thauncientes but excedes them in contynent lyuinge and chast disposicion wherof we haue an example of Yphygenne doughter of y e kyng of Ethiopia who hauyng already vowed her vyrginitie to the spouse of oure soules accepted rather the offer of present deathe then to be ioyned in Mariage to a wanton younge prince prouyded for her by her father with a nomber of lyke authorities which I colde infer to proue the sinceritie of womeÌ„ who at the beginning when our religion was first founded did lay the cornerstone of puretie without hauing y e knowledge of man neyther is our age so voide of examples of contynency nor the roote of vertue so cleane extirped from amongest vs but we maye se at this day sundry pattorns of pudycitye in the persons of all degres of women aswel noble as of meaner condicion exceding the vertue of such as antiquitie hath in so great veneraion wherin for a familiar reuenge of our Ladyes now a dayes touching the synyster ympositions of dyuers euil tongues inveighinge agaynst the whole sect I haue presented hereupoÌ„ the stage this historie taken out of Italyon whose authoritie as it is sufficient to
fall into the daunger of that euill then careful to preuent all occasions of the same wold not admit any dispense or abstinence of trauaile sauynge of the hollydaies which she vsed as seasons of honest recreaciō in the open feldes amongest other her cōpagniōs detestyng vnlauful haunts and secret chattinge with men in corners the chefest meane to bryng their name and doynge in question for she that abandoneth the companie of her companions forsakinge the place of publike assembly to retire into the desolate and darke corners of the chamber doth not only bryng her doyngs in doute but also settes the sclanderer of worke to forge a thousand informacions against her former title name of honestie how clere and strong so euer it seamed in the iudgment of all the world and what other opiniō ys to be had of her that delites in secret conference hatyng to haue her sayngs procede in publike then that shée treates of other affayers then she may wel iustifie for if she liued as she ought vsed none other tearmes then were to be aduouched she neade neither feare y e creaking of y e dore nor vse obscure darke vaults as only witnesses of her talke wherof I could enlarg the proff with authoritie of antiquitie yf the misery of our present time did not prefer examples sufficiēt which I wish may so instructe y e careles mothers of Englād that keping their doughters within the awe of correction they make thē also subiecte to the lawe order of good gouernemēt least both the one the other become the wōder of y e multitude cause of folysh enterluds deuised on publicke stage by the like occasions but now to our Iulya whose chast vpright order of lyuing being yet fresh within the memorie of our age not to be defaced with the lengthe of tyme serues also as a line to lead you yong Ladies to direct your liues as nere as you can by the dyall of her vertues for she treading thus both the stepps of honest traueile traded in the path of true perfection of life deuided the wéeke into dailie exercises of toile and necessary affayers of her father spending the holy dayes only in honest recreacion amonge semely companie in the churche yarde or other conuenient place of publicke assemblie wher being vnhappely spied of a detestable palliard common enemy of the honor of women was sodenly sōmoned by the sentence of her destines fell by no lesse misfortune into y e dāger of a fleshly louer for at y e same instant the noble Loys gonsaga thē byshop of the douchy of Mantua kept his residence at Gazolo where amongest hys traine of houshold gentlemen ther was one who seruyng the byshop in the office of a vallet of his chamber hadd bene no lesse worthye of the credite of that rowmthe then of greter preferment at the hāds of his maister if he had not byn vnhappely encoūtered by the desaster which this history pre sēts vnto you but what a small spot staines a faier garmēt and one vice that is detestable darkneth the credit of a nōber of vertues it is to be noted as I haue said y t in Italye y e méeting of youth daunsing is tollerable so it be in the viewe eye of the people but whatsoeuer other men do thincke of y e art of daunsing I am perswaded that it is rather a discipline deuised within the scoole of Sathan then an exercyse mete to encourage youth to thimitaciō of vertue wherin I appeale to iustifie my opinion to the frute effectes appearing daily in that lasciuius trade leuing a parte the inuectiues and infinite examples which the histories on both partes do infer in detestacion of that wantō allurment or prouocation to sin I thought it sufficiēt to confirme my aduise only w t the authoritie of the Romaine who diswading al men from the exercise of daunsing saith that the countenaunce gestes and other behauyors of a daunser do nothinge differ from the order disposicion of a foole here this valet of chaūber to y e byshop being vnhappelie presēt in an assēbly of youth espied by the like milfortune the order behauior of Iulia who albeit she was y e porest of the cōpanie yet was she nothing inferior to y e best in semely grace and womanly order appearing in her during y e time of the daunce which infectyng alredy the eies of the gallād of FERRARA moued him also w t present desier to go nere take a better view of her beautie which he was not hable to cōsider w t such iudgmēt assured stay of him self but the glymering complexion of her face dyed w t a natural coolor of white and red made suche a breache into his harte that wearing the picture of her beautie in the botome of the same proclaimed her without further aduise y t soueraygne Lady of hys lyfe and only mysters and ruler of hys thoughtes and aduowing herew t to yeald her the whole honor of his seruice protested in secrett to himselfe with lyke vowe and ceremonye of vayne conceyte not to leue the pursute of suche a praye till he had made a conquest of that he ymagined and encountred theffect of his desyre by wearyng the garland of the flower and firste frutes of the maidenhedd of IVLYA whom because he stode on thornes til he had presented the firste ernest penie of his seruice he requested too daunce whyche not knowynge the cause of hys courtesye she refused not to doe as one no lesse redy too performe all requests and affayres of cyuilitie and good bringing vp accordynge to her callynge then excellyng all the reste of her tyme in beautie and other vertues without exception but yf this fonde younglynge and pupill of CVPIDO dyd féele afore the symple mocions of loue beginnyng too tickle him but with desyre onelye to vewe her at large yt is nowe that he resygned hymselfe wholy into the daunger of hym who as a subtill serpent lyeth in wayte to inuade them whome he fyndes vnarmed with vertue laughynge afterwarde to hym selfe at oure redynes to lysten to the lure of hys bayte and ronne hedlonge into the laborynthe of endles dysquyet and that whyche brought more oyle to hys matche and kyndled in hys harte the present sparkes of hoat affection was when he felt the tendernes of her hande whiche albeit was euery daye dipped in dyuers vnholsom confections and alwayes bare tabide the violence of the wether not refrayninge the hardnes or hard labour of any toyle reteyned suche a dilicate softnes and naturall hewe of it selfe that it seamed equall for the fynes smothnes of skyn to some Ladyes which I know are assisted with the helpe of waters and lée made for the nonce and other legerdemeins deuised by the potticarye to preserue their handes in a continual moysture with a fyne whyte pleasant show The plesant reflection of her ladylike hand
sentence of my death saith he and suffer your crueltie to cōmit me to the handes of fatall execucion the worlde wil note you a monster and enemy to nature and God sewer wil cal for a reackonning of so foule and cruel an acte the malice of the worlde saith she is not so greate nor parciall in this respecte as to yelde me infamy in defendynge mine honour nature is abused when we lose so precious a gyfte and touchinge any accompte to make afore God I thincke my soule shall stande in more daunger in condescendyng to your request then yf you wylfullye dye by your owne follye wherefore I aduise you for ende to gyue ouer the pursute of so vaine au enterprise and séeke to bestowe your trauail wher ther is hope of better successe and amongest suche as makyng a cōmon marchandise of their honour will not stick to set it of sale to suche as bid most for it for my part I am no lesse Ielouse of myne honesty then carefull to kepe in entyer the name of my poore parentes neyther shall mine honour be sould for other valewe then the price of my lyfe whiche laste wordes albeit argued to the gentleman a great vnlikelihood to come to the effecte of his desire wyth no less impossibilitie to shake the fortresse of her chastetye or make a breache into a castell of so valyaunt defence yet woulde not he for all that geue place to dispare but retiryng to thassistance of a newe deuise he learned the common haunte of his mystris goinge and comming from the feelde as occasion of her busines did cal her wher he metīg her more oftē thē he was welcome forgott not eftesones to commend vnto her the remēbrance of his cause with a redresse of his grefe hoping with the helpe of his importunitie and assistaunce of tyme to remoue y t stone frō her stomake procure a pleasāt thawe to the frozen harte of this pore cotier wherin he gayned no lesse then if he had spent so much time in nombring the smal sands that couers the deserts of Arabia in so much that she willed him nowe for all to rest cōtēted with that he had don and presse her no further for saith she so longe as my soule and body shal kepe house together I will make such a Iewel of myne honour that there shal neuer friuolous louer haue interest or authoritie to dispose of it neither wil I geue so large a skoape or libertie to my vnruly affections as the pre cious flower of my chastetye shal be a praye or at the disposition of any but such as it shall please thalmightie to ioyne with me in mariage wherfore go open the packe of your tromperie in a market cōuenient for your purpose consider your callynge wyth the profession of your maister who ought to traine you in such sorte as you may rather appeare true patterns and ymages of vertue then ministers of knauery sekyng to seduce poore maides of the contrey who lyuynge in the feare of God with no lesse care of their honest name ought not to listen to the lure of loue or kepe vayne chat with companions lyke to your selfe but folowyng the discipline of vertue to susteine oure honest pouertye wyth the trauaile of oure handes whiche is the porcion appointed to vs by him whome I beseche so mortifie this rage of your follye that hereafter I may lyue in peace and se you restored to the vse of your former sences but he being none other then the slaue of follye disposed whollye to féede vpon the humour of his affections had no other thought then to deuise howe to enioye the firste frutes and pleasant iewiste of the virginity of chaste Iulya who the lesse accōpte she seamed to make of his gréef the greater grewe his desir to pursue her whiche he failed not still to performe with more vehemencie then afore publishyng his affection by the sounde of a nomber of doleful sighes accompanied wyth teares of suche pitiful regarde that they seamed sufficient to pearce a hart wroughte on the forge of flinte or stéele But who is hable to corrupt the chastetie ofher that hath her harte armed with assurance in vertue or what is he that eyther with the smoth stile of his pleasant tounge or suttletye in sleintes and fine deuises or other legerdemeins of folly can make so strong a charme to enchaunt the constancye of a womā resolued in the feare of god w t desire to were a crown of ymortalitie by the renowme of her honest lyfe but it is to be resisted by a speciall confidence in god and assurance in her vertu the pure and holly virgins in time past whose names be registred in the booke of fame haue not they byn strongly assailed wyth semblable assaltes and yet wythout shott or shed of blodde they haue preuailed aboue the malice of theym y t vndertoke to rob them of y e euerlasting glory of their virginitie suerly there is no malyce of mā so great nor deuise so detestable that stands not in awe and stowpes in the presence of true vertu neyther can it pearce and much lesse pos sesse any hart but that which he fyndes vnarmed of a faithe fere in god who wil neyther suffer his seruant to be tempted aboue his power nor see him oppressed long with the malice of y e wicked Here may the slaunderer haue wherwith to stop his mouth and be brought to beleue by famyliar proofe that vertuouse women haue better meanes to resist the veine importunities of loue thē the wicked and euil disposed haue reason to seke to seduce the honor of their chastitie and if by des tenye or ill fortune it happen that some one forget her selfs so far that she falls vnhappely into the daunger of the temptor let her falte and shame be peculiar to herselfe and not staine the rest wyth the reproche of her follye for it is no rea son that when any thinge chaunceth amys all menne become giltie of the falte no more then when one man among a nomber incident to the like desaster becoms a thefe or the worker of some other haynous offence ought to infect other with thinfamy due to him selfe or ympart the penance of the fact amōgest other that himself only deserueth for nature makynge vs all of one mettell hathe geuen vs indifferentlye a semblable perfection wyth speciall decree that euery man shoulde be noted and iudged as he is wyllynge wythall that if anye of her creatures do vnhappely declyne that he alone bere the reproche of his owne facte and not to admitt it for a consequent that the whole nomber sholde be spotted with thimperfection of one besides in the beginning when syn seased first vppon man albeit it is to be supposed that it toke like possession of the woman being made his companion associated vnto him by the will of God yet haue we no reason or meane to persuade that they are eyther inferior
my vnworthynes makes me dispair euer to cooll the frute of so greate a gaine and the feare I féele to craue that I desyer moste yeldes me no lesse doubtefull of theffect of your offer albeit on thother part the honor and felicitye I ymagin in the preferment hath prickt me alredye so full of corage that the worlde hath nothyng of suche hardnes which I dare not attempte nor any thinge of so greate impossibilitye whiche wyll not appeare easye in the pursuete so that my trauell maye receiue his hyer at the haÌ„des of your bountye pardon me I beseche you in discoueryng that whiche almost I kepte secret from mine owne harte and yf my rashenes haue offended you it maye lyke you to do iustice vpon your selfe whose authoritie with the force of extreme passion hath forced me to a lauishenes in the thyng whiche I durste not determyne and muche lesse séeke to set abroche in déede Here the shameles Lady tolde him his last request had preuented her longe meaninge for saith she you haue hyt the marke whereat I thoughte to shoote wherein as I am coÌ„tented to imparte credit to your wordes w t persuacioÌ„ of sufficient assurauÌ„ce in your fidelitye so I praye you embrace mine offer of semblable curtesye w t addicioÌ„ that your desyer to enioye me is nothing in respect of the firme opinion I haue to be so wholly yours as your selfe shal deuise wherof I am heare to seale tharticles of assuraÌ„ce iÌ„ such sorte as you thinke good wherupon I thinke no sortes of kysses or follyes in loue were forgotten no kynde of crampe nor pinchyng by the lytle finger nor his hande layed softelye in her delicate dugge and she againe with her armes aboute his necke to yelde tribut to his curtesye was not vnmindefull I am sewer to coÌ„municate in this place the circumstance of her longe loue and howe often she had béene at point to make declaration of her zeale with the causes of restraint till that hower whiche yf she blessed accordynge to the greatnes of her felicitie he thought it a dutye to honor with treble thanke sgeuynge performing there their firste earnest of their vnhappye pleasure to thindifferent contentement of both thadulterous who there gaue order for the conueighe of the rest of their licencious sequele Here besides a consommacion and effect of detestable whordom wherein the one with impudencie obteineth a gloot of her insatiable luste and the other vnhappely yeldes to thâ—nbridled will of a deuelishe woman yet is the foundacioÌ„ laied betwene the ij wretches to encrease their offence with an acte of greater synne for besides the vice of contaminacion of an other mans bedd the wicked doctor aggréed to a mortall conspiracie and treason agaynste hym whoe was neither doutful of hys honestye nor suspicious of hys fayth and whose lyberallitye deserued a retourne of more credit then to weaue the webb of his distruction for that his chiefest meane of sustentation grewe by the fées and other assistance of the gentleman Ioseph the Hebrue abstained from like acte although he was assailed with semblable importunities in the hoÌ„use of the prince of Egypte desyeryng rather to proue thuttermuste rigour of hym who thoughte hym selfe offended then to synne haynously in the syghte of the great god from whose eyes no secrett is conceiled which in the end he doth not discloase w t no lesse iustice in punishing the faulte then he hath vsed longe pacience in tolleracion of the wickednes Let euery man beholde here an experience of the malice of those that vnder the vaile of good learnyng bolstered with a dissembled showe of a certeine vaine knowledge and skill to discerne the good from the euil and trye the differeÌ„ce of the iuste from the vniuste do studie altogether the peruercion of iustice to seduce all good order honesty and abuse vnder coolour of honest faith the simplicitie of the good sorte whereof how many exaÌ„ples of iniquitie do we sée now a daies in diuerse our professours of learning whose vanitie procureth so many diuorcementes betwene the man wyf yet they affirme for the most part y e such actes are not tollerable neither by thordinance of God institution of men nor any authoritie in the Cyuilyâ—n skoole besides howe many are to be séene who puffed vp w t a litle smatteringe skil in eyther of the lawes which rather settes abroache the humour of their vanity then coÌ„firmes them in good order or integritie of iudgement or lyuing do trade only in corrupting the good sound partes of euery one indusing some to sedicioÌ„ other to thefte periurye false witnes bearing others to habaÌ„don their countrey parentes with the societie felowshipp of all their frendes yet who hath a better grace then they in preferryng an absolute puritye of lyfe a feare of the lawes obedience to theyr soueraignes reuerence to their parentes respecte to the league of loyal frindship yea our vnhappye world or rather the malice of our cursed tyme hath sturred vpp amongest vs suche store of skilfull clarkes or rather dyuinyng deuills who bolking out a false philosophie haue God amende it infected the whole worlde with the ayre of their corrupcion and not satisfyed in thabuse of the mortall wretches and seducyng the fragilitye of man wyth a flattering allurement of sensualitye and pleasures of the fleshe begyn by litle and lytle to dresse war againste God with opinion to conquere that inuincible power and first cause who laughing for a tyme at their follyes wil no doubte make theÌ„ féele in y e ende w t the due punishment and smart of their fond ymaginacions that neither maÌ„ nor his vaine knowledge is of any force against hym froÌ„ whose troane wee receaue thinspiracioÌ„ breath of all goodnes vertue wisdom wherin I am moued to such a playnenes touchynge the vanitie of diuerse our learned meÌ„ now a daies by the sinister succes diuersatie of rare matters happening amongest vs for that we se the most parts of christendom rather tormented by such as abuse y e vertue of true knowleadge with desier to inceÌ„se contrarietie of sectes theÌ„ inuaded with thincursions of the blasphemous infidells and ennemies of our religyon and trulye the domesticall seruant in credit or truste with his maister euil gyuen or affected towardes his Lord is more to be feared then a whole armye of ennemies standyng in battaile araye in the felde whereof the Lorde of CHABRY maie bée a familiar experience by the meanes of this pernicious aduocat who abusyng the Ladye and she comittyng lyke wronge on the behalfe of her husbande determyned bothe for the better conueighe of their abhomynable lyfe the death of the poore gentleman whereuntâ— they added thexecucion with more then an ordynarye spéede for this villanous lawyer practised ymediatlie with a knaue of hys owne disposicion who receiuynge some tj or itj. hundreth crownes with promysse of further rewarde consented to performe the meanyng of his bloddye request attendyng
besett on euery syde with the garde and ministers of money whiche hath suche force ouer the fragilitie of men that some time the seruant conspireth against his Lord to enriche himself w t the spoiles of his maister the sonne grudgeth in the long lyfe of hys father because he kepes hym from thuse of his possession And some we see procureth the death of hym for whose lyf preseruation of health he ought to be in continuall prayer neyther doth the malyce of that wickednes reste altogether in the hartes of the temporal but ther be also of the sacred sorte infected with y e poyson of that â—enemous worme who the more she groweth in strength and force the greater miserye do wée féele that vnhappy is that worlde whiche participateth with so hurtefull an ayre wherin if this abhominable desyer of gaine haue power to disolue that wherein God hath forbidden a separacion by man and nature bounde vs to an equal care and zeale as to our selues I sée not what waye we maye take to fynde assurance of fayth and loyaltye nor vnder what clyâ—nat maye bee founde any whiche imitate the simplicitie of our auncestors seing the malice of our age excedeth in that respect chiefelye all corruption that euer hath bene noted amongest the most infydelles and cruell barbaryans that eyther lyue nowe or haue bene in any time afore And so to our morderinge Tolonyo who buildyng a thousand castels in the ayre vpon the complott made for the dispatche of his wyf was not hable to resolue vppon any certeine meane touching th execution for seaminge as they saye to holde the swyne by the eare he was loath to let her go and doubtefull whiche waye to kepe her wythout daunger to himself somtime he was of opinioÌ„ to worke the fatal meane by poyson wherein appeared absolute perill for that himselfe was ignorant in bruinge the confection the assistaunce of an appoticarie was denied in that he dreaded a discouerye in impartinge the misterye to a straunger he practised with hym who as you haue harde serued his torne in the slaughter of the father and sonnes wherein albeit he was deceiued and the destynie of his wyf rather deferred then her punishment forgiuen yet the daye of her fatall date seamed to approche for that as he half dispaired in the fidelity of his former executioner touchinge this thirde attempte of blode wherein also appeared a difficultie in the acte for that the chaste Ladye sturred not muche out of her house so reaposinge muche for himselfe in thassistaunce of the sprite that guided his entent he abandoned the ayde of any man and committed the effect and circumstance to his owne handes by whom was performed the fatall consommation the nighte folowing his coÌ„ference with the hyered traytour when he strangled her in bede wyth a napking of thin hollande wounde faste about her necke and as she was in the extremetye of her laste pange he cryed for helpe aduouchyng with a troubled countenaunce to the seruantes that came to the resâ—owe of their dead mystrys that it was the soddain fall of a cold rewme with superfluitye of fleame that had forced this mortall suffocacion in his wyfe whyche was easelye beleued of his men and had so stayed wythout further inquiry of the case if God had not awaked with the noyse of the crye the aged man her father who the same night sopped wyth his doughter and lefte her in as good estate as she was euer afore in whome the consent of the destynies of Tolonyo and the iustice of the highest seamed of indifferent operacion in the viewe of his tragedie for that notwithstandynge his teares and sorowe he gaue diligent regarde to the face and throate of his doughter wherof the one was swelled and pooffed vpp wyth blacke blood and in the other appeared a circle or print of y e thing that wrought theffect of her death wheruppon folowed a secret iudgemeÌ„t in himselfe that she was distressed by mortal violence and the deflurion which smothered and stopped the conduites of her breath were the handes of her husbande or some other by his appointement wherein notwithstandyng he was so constant in dissimulynge his opynion for the present that he forbare as then to gyue any show of his grudge attendyng a more fytt tyme and oportunitye for the reuenge of so greate a villenie and that to the terrour and example of all ages touchynge such haynous abuses to theyr honeste wyues whereupon willynge his sonne in lawe to consider of the obsequies accordynge to the meritt of bothe theyr houses he sayed he woulde go procure the companye of diuerse their frendes in the citie for the more pompp and better furniture of the funerall wherein as the aduocat buysyed himselfe to prouide euerye ceremonye and circumstaÌ„ce due to the buyrieng of the dead with more ioye I am sewer in the acte he had don then repentance for the synne so the olde man his father in lawe conuerted into heauynes wyth iuste occasion of reuenge complaineth hym to the iudge cryminall of the place with request to coÌ„me viewe the moste detestable parte which euer earst hath bene parformed by any and whereof sayth he with a nomber of aged teares watteryng his hoarye bearde you wil haue compassion yf you be not as farr from the gifte of pitie as the Athenyan Eymon who for his disposicion of crueltye was called the common ennemy to the curtesye of man wherevnto the magistrate consented aswell by the dutye of his â—the at his first election as desyer to beholde wyth his eyes the cause of the olde mans complaint whome he folowed with his nomber of sergeantes and officers at armes appertaynynge to the house of Tolonyo where yf he marueiled with the viewe of the dead bodye and disorder in doinge the acte he was moued to double amaze wyth the dollour of the olde man vttered in these tearmes Yf the viewe of straunge and horrible thynges moue cause of wounder to the rude and barbarous sorte or experience of vndoubted extremities haue power to procure remorce in the hartes of suche as participate wyth the gyfte of pytie and pure religion I coÌ„mend vnto you syr the miserie of my olde yeres wepinge in the wronge of my late doughter whose ghoaste you maye heare crye oute for reuenge of his wretchednes that forced her lyfe to suche mortall vyolacion and albeyt the tearmes of my complaint may at the first seame to ymport a doute of the truthe and skarce meritorius of compassion yet in thindifferent viewe and consideracion of the matter will appeare the iustice of my cause and iniquitie of hym that hathe so mortallye wounded my harte that I feare yt is also of force to comitt me to deadlye execucion whereof I rather wyshe to haue made a former proff then to stande heare to lameÌ„t the dollorus tragedie of my doughter whom sir I saye and protest with wringing handes to be trayterously strangeled in her sléepe by
wydo wheade and how euyll it became a gentlewoman of her estate and callynge to comit her honor to dowte and honest name to question in visiting the sicknes of one who is neyther parent nor allye nor almoste any waye knowen vnto her whyche as it dryue hym frome further attempte that waye so waighinge the distres of his trend y e vertu which nature hath giuen to onewomaÌ„ to entreat an other thought it a pece of pollecie to geue a secoÌ„d charge of her who first broached his request to his cruel mistrys to whom he preferred suche reasons as he accompted of force to perswade her sometime alledginge the pytie which naturallie is incydent to all women and when and vppon whom it ought to bée exposed hée preferred also the glory w t names of ymmortalytie which diuerse of forreine time haue won by semblable vertue where with he won a seconde graunte of her furtherance so farr furth as at thinstant they wente together to the lodginge of Seignenr Virley in whom the very view of his aunciente frende and nexte neighbour sturred vp a more encrease of sorowe forcinge hym to a further complaint then affore with desyer chiefly that he had neuer made exsperience of her faith nor she cause to attempte the frendshipp of her whose crueltie in preseruinge her honor is greater then is necessarye and compassion lesse then is conuenient for his distresse proceding only of an honest zeale without intent of violacion of honor or honeste name which wyth dyuerse argumentts of ghastelye regarde accompanienge his last wordes wrought such effectes of pytie and remorse in the honest matrone his neighbour that to preuent his further daunger shée gaue hym assurance of her vttermost in boarding eftsoÌ„es the goodwil of his â—oye mistrys with protestacion of waranty that if he wer deliuered of his sicknes she wold procure a mutual conference betwen him and the cause of his vniust torment wherunto albeit he gaue litle credit for that he thought it was but a broth brued of artifyciall liccour to féed him with dropps of vncertaine consolacion yet in the very offer of her frendship appered a hoâ—e of spedie deliuery which she promised eftsones in sort as you haue hard willinge him to reapose himselfe whollie in the vertue of her indeuor and worde which seamed to breath an ayre of such compfort and force thorow all his partes that defyenge the malice of his late sicknes hée seamed euen then to lacke no part of his former health neyther had he néede of restoretiues or force of confections to confirme his recouerye or assistance of staffe or crooche to supporte his feble lymmes weakned with so longe sicknes but perswadinge a wounderfull felicyty in the very remembrance whiche his mistrys seamed to haue of his distresse he ymagyned to syt alredie in the paradise of his pleasure dismissinge ymediatly the messenger who carefull for her part to put her promisse in vse attended thoffer of coÌ„uenient time to worke theffect accordingly wherin she was assisted with a speciall fauor of fortune who for the more expedicion of y e matter brought Zylya the lady messenger to mete w tin iij. daies after in one pew or cloase deske in y e church wher y e solicitor of Seigueur Virley forcing certeine teares in her eyes begaÌ„ to practise for her clyent in such sort y t what w t repeticion of the passion of the knighte speciall reproche againste the crueltie of women in those cases with generall comeÌ„dacion to y e vertue of such as declare compassion vpon the distress of thafflicted she wrought her to a remorse of his paine with consent to preuente his further perill wyth a simple offer of the viewe of her presence and that vnder tearmes of condicion that frome and after the tyme of such frendshipp he shold disclayme al ymportunities in the pursute of further fauor wherewyth she enioyned hym only a libertie of an howers conference the next day at ij of the clocke in thafter none where saith shée I haue more regard to thextremetie of his distresse wyth desyer to stop the course of further daunger in him then to giue hym any cause at al to make his proffit of this frendeshippe or perswade a hope of further fauor in me hereafter prayinge you for your part to giue hym in straite charge neyther to breake the moment of appointmente nor excede the lymyt of his tyme wherein as I reappose a chiefe credit in youre honestie so if the successe aunswere not my exspectacion assure your selfe youre vertue cann not escape wythe oute slaunder and the best parte of youre faythe remeyne in question for euer wherewyth they departed the one to her lodging conuerted whollly into deuise wyth what tearmes she sholde aunswere the day followinge the follie of her folishe louer the other repaireth to her passioned Vyrle who dispairinge still of the goodnes of Zylya preuented the reaporte of the messenger by askinge her what newes and whether his mistrys were still shodd with her mettall of aunciente tyranny or no that you shall try your selfe saith she if you haue the hart to meete her tomorowe in her house at the seconde hower after dynner according to her owne appointement whiche brought such newe ioye into all his desperat partes that he feell of embrasing the bringer of those glade some newes offringe her the choice of a thousand thankes with libertie to dispose of him and all that was his at her pleasure thinking the exposicion of his life to a thousande perils for her sake was farr insufficiente to counteruaile the greatnes of the pleasure shee had procured him in that simple appointmente whiche he promised to performe the next daye accordinge to the hower with intente to endure what soeuer it pleased fortune to bestowe vppon hym agaynst whom to stryue sayth he albeit is as though a man sholde make warr agaynst hymselfe whereof the victorie cannot bee without doble daunger yet am I determined to embrase her doome although the same contend agaynste my felicitie in whiche or suche like termes hee passed the daye whyche seamed to excede the space and compasse of a yeare to hym that lyueth in exspectacion of frendshipp at the handes of his mistrys wyth whose snares he was taken without that he had libertie to giue iudgement of the malice of a woman when she is disposed to spyt out the vttermoste stynge of her venym And sewerly that man is farr from the guide of discrecion that is touched with the furye of such charmes seing the daunger of so many thousandes tastinge of the like abuses ought to warne vs to eschewe such euils in oure selues neytheer haue they don suche wronge to themselues as generall discredit to the whole masculyne sect â–ª for that with out wisdome they haue become subiecte to theim who haue their beyng in this worlde for no other respect then to depende vppon the will and comandement of the man but as this mortall
enchauntement procedyng of the beautie of women bothe pleasant and hurtefull to men seames too bee typped with a certeine vertue of delite drawing the fondlinges of the worlde to bee in loue with the cause of their owne distruction So I am of oppinon also that yt is a kinde of punishemeÌ„t whiche God hath appointed to plage and torment vs for our offences that waye seynge that the most of vs now a dayes syppynge of the cupp of that infection do conuert the remembrance and care whiche wée oughte to haue of thestimacion of vertue into a speciall affection towardes oure fonde fancies séekinge our felicitie and quiet in the tombe wherein is shrowded the topp and roote of all our my shapps Besides vertuouse and chaste Ladyes are not so simple nor voide of discrecion but they beholde affarr of and are pryuye to the meanyng of thies franke offers of seruice and loyaltie sett out fynelie with diuerse coollours of fayned vertue not doutynge also that suche masqued louers disfer nothynge from the venemous skorpion whose poison lyeth altogether in her taile for that the ende of such loue argues a subuercion of the renowme and former vertues of a man whych of falleth out rightelie in y e sequeile of this Virey who thinking to haue made a greate conquest in the victorie of free conference with his vnkynde mistrys is nowe vppon the waye to her pallais or rather pathe of hys owne misfortune with more contentement I am sewer then hertofore he hathe receiued disquiett by his former torment And beinge now in the base courte of herl odgyng he found her in a lowe hal attended vppon with one gentlewoman only where after certeine cold gretinges entermedled with a countenance of counterfaite ioye on her parte she slented at his sicknes with thies tearmes yf euerye euill were as mortal in deède as yt is made by reapport a sleighte salue colde not so soone cure so great disease nor vnproued medecins worke suche meruelous operacions in so shorte a tyme speciallye vppon so daungerous a greeff as yours Seigneur Virley seamed to bée by the reaport of al men vnto me whiche shall serue me as an vndouted experience hereafter that the passions of men bée of no longer aboade then the subiect of their affectioÌ„ appeares before their eyes neyther bée they other thinges then certeine mirroiers or lookinge glasses wherein albeyt are represented the veray licknes or fygure of theime that beholde theime yet takyng awaye the obiect or cause and the forme vanisheth also as the poff of winde passinge along the straite of a plaine or déepe valleye Ah madame saith he how easye yt is to deuise of my disease and harde for me to hope for remedye at youre hande that doutes of the greatnes of my passion and easlye may he prefer either mirth or sorowe at hys pleasure whose mind is free from conceits of dout or dispayre where theharte truelye passioned dreades to make declaracion of eyther of theim least in excedyng in the one or seaminge to muche a nigard of the other the showe of eyther of theim bringe his sute or honest intent in Iâ—lewse suspicion with theym in whom onely resteth the Cataplama of his sore so that I accompte hym now the most infortunat man whose state is vnhapelye broughte vnder the awe of suche two mortal extremeties and for my parte yf I were as frée from thextreame pointes of affection as you seame farre from reason to doute of the greatnes of my gréeff I coulde with better will allowe your discreditt in the faythe and inconstancye of menne but alas hee that is caughte with the snares of true loue canne beholde no other figure nor make other liknes thenne of the true cause of hys affection the picture whereof remeyneth for euer within the sewrest part of the hart whiche in deede as you saye is the true mirroer wherein appereth not a fayned shadowe fadyng with the forme but a contynuall viewe and remeÌ„brance of her by whome wée lyue in suche heauenly contemplacioÌ„ in whych dyol or lokyng glasse I haue ympryn ted y e true effect of the thing which by vertue ofdue meritt ought to restore streÌ„gth to my preseÌ„t weaknes dealing so extreamelie w t me from the first tyme of this contemplacion that thonly offer of hope to restore in th ende my dekayed partes hathe hetherunto preuented theffect of vtter destruction to euery pece and member of my bodie And touching thargumentes of healthe whiche you note in me I am to yeld you alone all homage and honour for the same for that the fauor whiche I fynde in thys present appointement and conference with you hathe sturred vpp thys glee of good lykyng thorow all my partes with more contentement of the happy encounter theÌ„ my former gréeues gaue me cause of extreme dystresse and yet my martirdome hath neyther bene so small nor secrett but the whole worlde hathe witnessed my panges and you also myghte haue beleued theyme yf eyther the sorowe of my selfe or reapport of such as tooke pitie of me had bene of creditt with you whereof also I am yet to endure a more harde share yf yt maye bee ymagyned by any braine so that the same were hable to force a remorse in you on my behalfe for the greatest felicity I haue in this worlde is to haue the fauor of any coÌ„maundement at youre hande what perill soeuer yt ymportte to th ende my diligence and readie indeuor to do you seruice therein or other your affaires what so euer maye iustefye the vowe of my vnfained hacte towardes you like as also I perswade my selfe to bee reysed from a hundreth thousande deathes together when I ymagyn but a simple compassion in you touchynge the torment I suffer for youre beautie wherein yf euer I hadde reason to take pleasure by a delite whyche nature hathe wroughte in the thynge I am sewer alredie to haue hadd my parte of a thousande annoies by the regards of crueltie I haue found in you â—â—â—â—el at last good ladie the comission of former torments ceasse hensfurth to plage him that is readye in the place to comitt hys bodie to any sacrafy ce for the ransome of your fauour what moueth you alas to a discreditt or doute of my payne wyth opynion that my passion is dyssembled lett the sondrye sortes of teares heretofore distilled on the behalfe of youre discurtesye so many dayes broughte to end with continuall sorow and nyghtes drawen out at lengthe with drayninge sighes ye the present viewe of my pale and ghastelye ghost perswade you of the contrarye with assurance of my vndowted loyaltie for euer wherewith he behelde her not without a vente of soddayne teares trycklynge alonge hys cheekes and shee for her parte regarded the earthe wyth a face full of dysdaine as yt seamed whyche notwithstandynge he construed to a proffitt of hys sute pursewynge the same eftesones in this sorte Ah madame haue you the hart to deface the glorie of that deuyne
as if the kynge of Spaine had don her the honor to visytt her castell whiche sturred vpp in hym a seconde offer of his seruice not onelye on her behalfe but also towardes the leaste ymppe deryued of her house wherewith Geniuera to assiste the contentement of her mother in the companye of the younge knighte with the pleasure she toke her selfe in his semelye conference craued in smylynge order a participacion in peculiar of the liberall offer whiche he exposed by generall tearmes to her mother and her whole house DOMDIEGO whiche had not yet exceded an ordinarie regarde in beholdynge the beautye of the younge Ladye founde cause in the misterye of her woordes to glaunce wyth more iudgement vppon her in suche sorte that at the instant he felt him self assailed with such soddaine alteration that his astonishment woulde not giue hym leaue to aunswere otherwayes then with a percynge glée of his eyes fedynge with firme contemplation vpon the freshe dye of white and red appearinge in all partes of her diuine face wherein also for a more decoracion of this wonderfull worke of nature thattire of her heade presented suche an artificiall deuise that it seamed she had the same daye some fore knowleage of the commynge of hym whome her beautye made prisoner and her crueltye enioyned a moste harde and longe penance for she had vppon the vttermoste parte of her heade a call or coronet of golde restynge vppon a wreath or garlande of flowers of sondrie coollors pletted by curious sleighte of the fingers within her enameled haires whiche couerynge one parte of her sholders dispersed theym selues also some time vppon her delicate forehead and some tyme wafynge vnpon her roasye chéekes accordyng to to the mylde breathe of the euenynge winde whiche gaue theym mouynge disposed theym selues with suche seamelye grace with increase to the beautye of her that ware theym that who had sene the porte and maiestie whiche nature ioyned to this rare worke woulde haue iudged that loue and the three graces had had no other place of harbor but in this pece of wonderful perfection At either of her eares hong two faire and riche orient perles whiche increased also the glée of her golden haires besides the large glistering forehead of this Nymphe whereupp on was sett a border of riche dyamondes founded vppon a frame of pure golde castynge suche pearcynge glymers to the beholders that it presented rather a ranke or order of shynynge starres when the elamente in the heate of the sommer is moste cleare exposynge beames of wonderful bryghtnes then an attire of a mortall creature whereuppon attended two sparklynge eyes assisted on eyther syde by an equall Simmetria or iuste proporcion with certeine knottes and borders of vaines of the coolor of azure with a special vertue to drawe and mortefie any harte made of the hardeste mettall that euer was yeldynge so liberallie their seruent beames that who so disposed hym selfe to contemplacion of thies two twinklyng starres was in no lesse daunger to loase the benefitt of hys sighte then in tymes paste wée reade certeine Philosophers became blinde vppon the mounte Olympium with continual regarde of the sonne to iudge the dispacicion of the heauens then appered her delicate nose aunsweringe in proportion the reste of her face deuidynge also her two chekes of the coollor of a fyne incarnatt resemblynge two rounde aples come alredie to the fulues of their maturitie nexte to the whyche succeded her courall mouthe breathinge a perfume more precious and sweete then any confection made of the Amber muske or other droge aromatike comynge oute of ARABIA and if some tyme she chaunced to disclose and open her lippes resemblyng in roundenes and collour two cheris in their full ripenes excedyng also the softnes of any thinge that euer was accompted delicate or tender there appered twoo rawes of perles of suche rare whitenes that thorient I say complayneth of wante of connynge to make comparison with the coullor of her téethe And so discending some what lower this Dyana discouered a necke whose complexion giueth cause of shame to the whitnes of the glorius lillie and makes blushe the pure allablaster her stomake also somewhat raised by two rounde and precius dugbugges of equall seperation was couered with a braue and softe vaile more tender then the thyn lawne whyche hyndred no waye the viewe of her trauellynge brestes panting and drawinge a pleasante breathe accordyng to the motion of thaffection whyche gouerned thinner partes of y e thoughtes of this earthlie goddesse who besydes all thys was assisted with a gyfte of suche naturall beautie bestowinge courteise regardes vppon all men accordyng to their indifferent meritt that the same made her no less worthie to bee honored and serued of the greatest princes of the worlde then the rarietie of her perfection restored her a merueile wonder to all menne whyche is a vertue farre from the moste parte of oure faire dames who glorienge in the glee of their beautie are moued I can not tell with what opinion of suche disdaine with desier to appere more perfecte then is necessarie that in sekyng to sette a fairer enamel of that whyche nature hathe made sufficientlye precious they do not only impaire the credit of renowme by suborned meanes of ymperfection of theym selues but also by their owne follye deface the glorie of that whyche sturreth vpp the chiefest cause of affection in men to do theym honor and seruice wherein as my purposse is not to discouer the doinges of any in such cases so I hope this allegation of a troth in couarte manner will defende me from the displeasures of suche as fynde theym selues infected with the humor of that follie wherwith in preferryng my integretie I wishe theym all as worthie as they are desierous to weare the badge of glorious beautie and so to Dom Diego whome I thynke you will iudge hadde sufficient cause of astonishement beynge so valyantlye assailed without thynkynge of suche an assalte wyth so stronge an armye as the beautie behauiour and princely shapp of this faire ympp and veraye nestcockle of nature eye I thynke that the moste sparynge pilgrym that euer vndertoke to mortefye hys bodye with painefull trauell in deuocion to anye sainte ▪ wolde haue renounced his vowe and caste a waye bothe skripp and staff to haue donne honour to so faire an obiecte as the beautie of this nymphe and I doubte whether she moste assured and staide Philosopher of olde tyme wolde haue made any conscience to forsake his profession of contemplacion of naturall thinges with iudgemente of thelamentes to haue disposed him selfe and skil to the seruice of so rare a perfection I thynke also that if the doughter of Mynos hadd bene fauored with semblable beautie and blyssed with equall giftes and grace of this Ladie that her Hipolites wolde haue lefte the shippe and dogges of Dyana to haue pursued the quest of so diuiue a misterye as appeared in all partes of this Geniuera
be thoughte that Geniuera enioyed litle quiet and lesse contentemente in this meane while solicited I can not tell by what desyer to defye whollye the remembrance of Diego wherein she was the rather forthered by an information that he bare still the tarssell of hys fyste whyche she iudged to be done onely in despite of her So when her woman offred to presente thimbassage of the knighte she fell into suche tearmes of frenzie that the simple brute or name of Dom Diego sturred vp such hainous alterations within her that to her former wroth was added a present wodnes in such sorte that she seamed for the tyme to labor indifferently betwene thextreme panges of death and vse of longer lif albeit restored at laste by the greate diligence of her woman she coulde not so wholly dismisse her furie but she imparted the passion of her anger to her eyes who after they had some what eased her inwarde greef by a nomber of dollorous teares put her eâ—tesones in the possession of her former speache whiche she witnessed in theis exclamations Ah traitor and disloyall knighte vnworthie euery waye to participat with the breathe of the common ayre and no lesse meritorious of the honor or bare title of knighthodde hath the coÌ„stant honest loue I haue borne the deserued this vnhoneste recompense is it a vertue to pretende loyaltye vnder a masqued vyserne of detestable deceite if theis be the frutes of thy fayth purifyed thorowe so many othes what exspectatioÌ„ of assurance is there in the promisse of any man Is it I that must fele the stynge of thy infectioÌ„ What cause haue I giuen the to imagin the spoile of mine honor and imparte the praye to an other vnworthie euery waye of iust comparison to me Yf not in louynge the more then was conuenient to thy inconstante and dissemblinge disposition I haue embased mine honor to aduaunce thy renowme howe couldest thou without blushing attempte the offer of my good will hauing thy conscience poysened wyth so many spotes of abhominable traison howe dareste thow presente me the baise les â—ains by the mouth of a messenger seinge thy whole bodye is alredie vowed to the seruice of an other no no seinge God hath reueiled the vnto me afore thy villanye put effecte to the ruine of mine honor I doubte not only to defende me hereafter from the force of thy deceitfull charmes but also sweare vnto the by the eternall maiestie of the higheste that albeit force makes me the treasores of thye wickednes yet assure thy selfe from hensfurth at my handes of such fauor as thou maist exspect of the most mortall enemy thou hast in the world wherwith to giue the last farewel to the pore Diego she writ ymediatly certeine lynes and deliuered theym sealed to her page with commissyon that the nexte daye hee shoulde méete the knyghte on the waye commynge thether and delyuer the letter wyth Instruction besydes that affore hee came to the house hee shoulde reade the contentes and performe the effecte whereof the page beinge made to the string fayled not of any point for the next day hée met Dom Diego a quarter of a league frome the house presentynge hym the letter wyth hys commission by mouth who kissinge the paper of his mistres in honor of her that sent it opened the packet and founde that whych foloweth Albeit the coutynuall complaynt of my gréeffe ymportes no dispence of my dollor yet in exclayming against the wroÌ„g thou haste don me I shal so desypher thy villanye that the whole world shall fynde cause not onely to proclayme open shame vpon the but also by my misfortune beware of thin fections of thy detestable traison whereunto if I haue added more credit then ther was cause on thy side the remeÌ„braÌ„ce of that whyche is past preferring a contynuall view of thy periured trothe is to defende mée hereafter from the offer of semblable perill neyther wyll I liue hensfurthe in feare of future euyl or stand in awe eftsones to be infected by the for that I haue not onely banished the remembraunce of Diego oute of euery corner of my mynde but also am of intente to performe such vengance and punishmente of my selfe that if I fele any vaine member or other parte in me bente neuer so little to fauor the or sewe for grace on thy be halfe to vse no lesse crueltie in tearinge the same from the reste then thy disloyaltie hath sturred vp suche iuste cause of vnsemely tyranny in me And for thy parte O periured knight sith it is thy only trade to beate euery bushe where thou thinkeste to bée eyther birde or neste goo pitche thy nettes where thou art sewer of praye and baite thy hookes with tearmes of deceite to entrapp her whose late presente is of more force wyth the then the honeste and chaste loue which vertue began in vs both for seing abirde hath made y t more lighte then the winde that supportes her in the ayre God forbid that Geniuera eyther admit thy excuses or allowe thy iustifycacion and muche lesse wishe the other good then to sée the torne in peces wyth the moste extreme tormentes that euer martired any traitor whych is the laste fauor thou hast to hope for of me who lyueth not but to worke the spite aboue any enemye thou hast in the world Geniuera la blonde He had no soner redd these sorowfull newes but liftynge hys eyes to heauen he called God to witnes of hys innocencye who onely beyng priuye to thynteggretie of hys mind colde also iustefye hys loyall meanynge towardes her who vniustly abused the sincere vertue of hys vnmouable affection and as he ment ther to prefer some discourseâ—n hys purgacion the page who was not so amplie instructed of hys mistres as mortall enemye to Dom Diego staide thintente of hys meaninge by the reaporte of that whyche he hadde in charge by mouth saying that he colde do no greater pleasure to Geniuera then to shon all places of her repaire seing saith he that as the frendshipp you haue vowed to the doughter of the Lord Sero hath discouered your vntroth towardes her So she hath geuen iudgement agaynst youre vertue for fedyng two simple gentlewomen indifferently with the foode of one vncerteine hope wherewith he departed leauinge the knight in lesse care thenne affore for that conferringe her grudge with the cause he thought the small occasion founded also vpon an vntrothe wold in shorte tyme take awaye the force of her collor albeit hee colde not so whollie dismisse the remembrance of her displeasure nor gouerne his owne passion but retorning to his castell aboue an ordynary pase went to hys chamber wher pulling the poore hawke from the pearche committed her presentlye to a thousande morsels and cursing her that sent her wyth his owne follie in receiuing so vile a thinge enchaunted as he thought by some furye or magicall charme determyned ymediatlye to presente hys mistres with the sacrafize of
studie of solytarie philosophie vpon the wilde and riche mountes Pireney was reliued and restored when he was leaste in opinion or hope of succour For as you haue hard he had a neyghbour and deare frende called Dom Roderico who aboue the rest lameÌ„ted chiefly thaâ—sence and misfortune of Diego It chaunced within twenty and two monethes after the pilgrim began his voyage that this Roderico hauyng bene in Gascoyne to dispatche certeine necessary affaires there in his retorne to Barcelonia whether he had missed the path of his righte waye or that the sprite of god as it was moste lyke guided hym was or he wyste vpon the caryre that ledd him directly to that place of the mouÌ„tes where was thordinary residence of his great frende Diego who grew so fast into declynation and debilitie of hys body that if y e clemency of the highest had not ouer shadowed him he had wroughte the wretched effecte of that which he chiefly desired that is with the losse of life to giue ende to his harde pennance Dom Roderico wandring thus in the wildernes of y e mountes dispercing his traine to discouer some places of habitacion was aduertised by one of his people being within tweluescore yardes of the hermits caue of a tracke steppes of men not without some merueile notwithstandyng for that thinfertillety of y e place showed no aboad nor repaire for ciuil people wherupoÌ„ as they debated were in deuise to appoint one of the companie to follow the trace somwhat further they sawe one enter the mouth of the caue which was Dom Diego who came from the top of the hill affore mencioned wher he had newly performed his morninge coÌ„plaint with his face directly toward the cost where he iudged was thoracle of the saint to whoÌ„ he dressed his deuocions y e knight sente one of his valletts to approche the caue know what they were y t liued so solitarily and withall to demaunde the highe waye to Barcelonia but he discouering a far the scituacion of the hoale so wel fortefied rampierd with stones and blockes cowched in the forme of a trenche fearing the same to be the receptacle or forte of some that kept house by the highe waie side liuing of large reuenue durst neither come nere it nor aske the way as he was coÌ„manded by his maister to whom as he retorned with more fear of his shadow then true reaporte of that he had in charge so the valiant knight of more courage then his cowardly seruant put spurres to his horsse gallopyng to the veraye dore of the caue where he ceased not to call and knocke till he sawe comme owte a maÌ„ so disfigured with leannes of his face other exterior deformotie of his bodye that his veraye regard moued compassion to Roderico who asking what he was demauÌ„ded also the coÌ„mon waye to Barcelonia this was the seruant of Diego who aunswered that he could yelde him no reason of y e waye to Barcelonya and lesse instructe him touchinge the costes of the contrey for that saieth he not without some sighes other doleful regardes we are two pore brethern whom the aduenture of fortune hath brought hether to do pennance mortifie our present age for the synnes and offences of our youth passed which wordes of two pore bretherne broughte thether as strangers by the guide of fortune with the presente remembrance of Diego his seruante argued such suspicion to Roderico that he alighted not for that he thoughte to encounter him whom he most desired to embrase but to sée only the singularities of the rocke and the mistery of the closse castel builded in the bellye of the earth where finding hym whom he serched without knowing notwithstaÌ„dynge what he was entered into conference together of the difference betwen the felicitie of the solitary lif miseries which they fynde that participate with the wretched follies of this worlde for sayeth he the mynde withdrawen froÌ„ y e viewe of worldly vanities takes his only pleasure in the contemplacioÌ„ of heaueÌ„ly thinges being alwaies more apte to obserue the coÌ„mandements of God with a sincere reuerence to their maker then those whiche haunte the coÌ„mon conuersation of men Wherin truely when all is said continuall frequentâ—cioÌ„ one with an other delites ambicious couetousnes superfluities of all vices whiche we finde in this confused amassâ— corrupte worlde do cause vs to mistake our selues forget our dutie towardes our creator fall into a perillous disdaine of pitie charitie some time to diuerte the sinceritie of the true religion abuse thintegritie vndoubted interpretation of the gospell which I leaue to be debated at large by y e theologiaÌ„s to whoÌ„ such charge doth cheifly apperteine As y e vnknowen hermit the knight Roderico were in deuises certeine of his seruantes visitinge euery cell and celler of the caue founde in the toppe of a vawlte framed of certeine sparres of wood rammed in y e earthie wal at both endes two saddells the one wherof seamynge to haue serued heretofore some faire Ienett was couered with crimsyn veluett fringed rounde aboute wyth siluer throme stodded with nailes of sondrie enameyle and armed wyth plates of steile wrought curiouslye vppon with certeine rayes and streames of pure golde which albeit the rouste had defaced the stéele loste nothinge of his entyer and beautye and as one of the companie offred to buye theym seing neyther horsse nor moyle worthie to weare such furniture y e knight hauing ended his discourse with y e maister hermitt souÌ„ded to horsse with intent to leaue the poore men in peace and searche some other meane to fynde out the high waye whereuppon he that was desyerous to buy the saddels presented theym to his maister who as he behelde theym felte a seconde motion or remembrance of his frende Diego wherwith searchinge the harneys euery pendell of the sadle he founde this inscription written in spanishe vppon the crooper Quebratare la fe es cosa muy fea which is in englishe to breake thy faith is a detestable thinge This deuise restored cause of newe astonishmente for that it agreed wyth thordynary stampp whiche Dom Diego bare alwaies in his armour which the rather confirmed him in opinion that without doubte the sadle apperteined to the one of the two pilgrims whom as he began to beholde with a more percinge regarde then afore without discerninge in either of theim any signe or marke of knowledge by reason of their hideus and disfigured hewe So Dom Diego seinge the diligence of his frende with desier he hadd to discouer him began to labor of a passioÌ„ of trembling feare with such Ielewse doubte of him selfe that the blodd moued in thinner parts and ascended maugre his resistance into the face and other places of discouery bewrayed thinward alteratioÌ„ of his minde which with the vncerteine regard of his eyes showed to Roderico an absolute assurance of that which earst he durste not suspecte
which also I wil not faile to put in execution y t is that afore thy traiterous cliaÌ„te Diego quenche his thurste w t the precious Iewste of my virginitie theis haÌ„des are readie to giue me a fatal pasport to visit with bloodie ghoste the loyaltie of him whoÌ„ thou hast slain by traiterous coÌ„spiracie therfore if I maye honestly requeste the whom I hate or if there be exspectacioÌ„ of fauor in a mortal enemie I besech y t either performe the laste facâ—e of thy crueltie vpon me or according to thy dutie dismisse me with my woman and page to go whether our fortune will guide vs. God forbid saieth Roderico that in doinge wrong to the hope of my frend I becoÌ„me thoccasioÌ„ of his vntimely death losse of you waÌ„dring by the vnknowen pathes of this wilde desertes and continuing stil his former earnest to moue her to some pitie vpon y e poore penitencier he seamed to gaine asmuch as if he had assailed to nomber the sand lying vpoÌ„ the brinke of the endles occean albeit with y e supplie of seuerall discourses they arriued at last at the rich hospital of Dom Diego who for wante of curious coÌ„ceites to welcome his cruel mistres presented his loathsome parsonage ouergrowen with haire and for a more showe of humilitie fel prostrate afore her embracings her féete not without great effusion of teares sayinge â–ª Alas good madam the only hope of my life coÌ„pforte of my carefull harte how long shall I hange in the doubteful ballance of my presente death or lyfe what date alas haue you appointed to giue ende to my desperate sorowes yf my pennance not sufficiente for th offence I haue committed Yea What tormente haue you in store whiche I am not readye to endure to yelde you contentement neither hadd I hadd breath at this present to put you in rem em brance of my distresse if I had not with holden my handes from fatal violatioÌ„ to witnes my loayltie on your behalf and much lesse bene in case to preferre mine innocencie yf the onelye foode of secrett contemplation of your beautye hadd not distilled continuall â—orriture to the vitall partes of my consumed corps And as you maye easelye ymagine what pleasure I founde in this longe and paineful absence so I greue not in any thing that is past nor refuce to abide any future punishment yf only I maye receiue at your handes the rewarde of my constancie whiche I maye boldlye compare wyth the moste assured that euer was Geniuera swellynge with disdaine and full of femenine rage appearing in her sparklyng eyes other partes of her face dyd not only refuce to aunswere but also forbarre to behold hym whom she hated she barred him also y e benefit of her face in bestowing her lookes to the contrary side which moued cause of doble sorow to the poure afflicted louer who beynge yet vppon his knées renewinge the sorce of his teares with the viewe of the tyrannye of his mistres seamed to drawe with muche ado a feble voyce from the veray bottom of his stomacke and restored the tearmes of his former complainte in this sorte seyng neyther the sincerity of my faithe approued with so longe and loyall seruice nor the view of my present misery wherof I haue made a painefull experience without intermission thies xxij monethes bee of force to perswade a creditt in my constancie seynge also my dolefull teares deriued of the iniustice of your disdaine are denied to worke effectes of tuste pitie in you and lastelye seyng without the consente of your goodwill I fynde an ympossibilitie to liue I beseche you 〈◊〉 by the vertue and courtesie whyche oughte to appâ—â—◠〈…〉 I coniure you as the laste requeste wherewith 〈◊〉 tuâ—at seruant will troble you in this worlde to morâ—â—◠〈…〉 â—ur owne handes the remembrance of that offenâ—◠〈…〉 you ymagyn I haue done agaynst you with there 〈…〉 presente deathe refuce not oh cruell mistres to do vengaunce vppon hym who is wearye of his life and receiue at laste this willinge offer ymportyng two singler commodities the one a pleasure to me to buye thy conteÌ„tement with y e price of my blod the other an absolute quiet to thy self in being satiffied w c his death whose lif thou abhorrest wherin certeinly for my part I am to accompt y t hower most happie which closyng vp my mortall eyes doth sounde also the fatall retraict of my longe sorowes but the chiefest felicity I accompt in this last acte of my life is that in being so willing to dye by the stroake of thy hande I shall leaue the to ymagin how ready I was to honor the with the vnfained seruice of my life the world to giue iudgement of my loyalty the gods to take vengaunce of thy cruelitie yf there be reason in my requeste why defarre you th executioÌ„ or yf I haue failled in my demande why staye you to aunswere it is nowe alas that I méete the full of my mishapp beinge denied both death and life by her to whom of al the worlde I haue most desiered to make declaratioÌ„ of obedience in any sorte what so euer Alas why staye you to ridd me from tormente your selfe out of care to behold any more this desolat knight who denied to participat other fauor accomptes it a laste felicitie to giue vp the ghoste in your presence wherewith fyndinge no remorce of stubborne disdaine in his mistres who in all this time wold not giue him y e fauor of a simple looke of the eye much lesse dispose her selfe to aunswere in any sorte to his coÌ„plaintes felte suche warr betwene the force of his passion debilitye of his sences beinge voyde of natural strength that in kissing her foote he fell into a deadly sowne pronouncyng only theis wordes with the departure of his breath ah feble rewarde of vnfayned loyaltye Roderico amased no lesse with the tragicall farewell of his frende then moued with iuste anger againste the vnséemely tyranny of Geniuera commaunded certeine of his companie to restore the traunce of Diego and with the reste addressed hym to the mercilesse gentlewoman whome he threatned in this sorte If the contynuance of thy crueltye force me to chaunge affection assure thy selfe detestable woman and enemye to the vertue of all your secte thou shalte not escape without the hier of the wronge wherewith thou abuseste the honor whiche is offred the makes thou suche conscience to yelde compassion or admitt the honeste seruice of so noble a gentleman as this presented with suche humilitie that earste without regarde of honestie or vertue committed thy selfe and honor as a fugitiue to the gouernement of a ronagate straunger what crueltye can be greater or by what reason canst thou challenge other ameÌ„des or consideration of the wronge thou hast vniustly conceiued then an humble prostitutioÌ„ with so many teares in token of repentance And for thy parte what canste thou desyere
theis solitarye desertes aswell to endure the pennance of myne owne indiscretion as also to continue in secrett prayer to thalmightye for the continual quiet of her who may boldly vaunte to be the mistres of the most loyall seruante that euer mente honor or seruice to Ladie Who doubtes in y e merueilous forces of loue let him be absolued with this example seing that as the impressiō which we cal loue hath power to bringe to an vnitie the mindes that liued in seperation make indissoluble peace with the quarells which seame immortall quallifying the rigour of those hartes whiche without this passion no other pollecie could appaise So when he discouereth the full perfection of his effectes he preferres suche a facilitie in thinges whiche earste seamed impossible that by his onely meane they become neither dangerous to pursewe nor harde to obtaine whych appered rightly in this younge Lady in whom as the sinister conceite of a former Ielowsie her affected zeale contracted to an other with her iust cause of anger for his death had engendred a disdayne to Dom Diego an extreme desier to reuenge her wronge vpon Dom Roderico and by the same meane to ende her owne lyfe So loue remouinge the vaile that blinded the eyes of her vnderstandinge and breakinge thadamante rocke planted in the middeste of her stomake brought her in one instante to beholde with open eyes the constancy patience and perseuerance of her first and moste loyall seruant whose last prayer and intercession on her behalf stirred vp in her more remorce thē al y e seruices of court or pennance in the painfull wildernes wer hable to prefer whereof she exposed a present effect in castinge her armes a bout the necke of the desperat knyght to whom she forbare no sortes of kisses nor amarus embrasinges seamynge no lesse passioned wyth ioy and loue on hys behalfe then earste he seamed plunged in dispair and sorowe ballancing indifferently betwene life and death in his presence neyther was she hable to pronownce any worde vpon the soddayne tyll beyng restored to the vse of her tongue by the discontynuance of her traunce she excused her former rigour wyth tearmes of humylitie and desyeringe pardon of the follies wher wyth she had abused hys patience offred her selfe hereafter to be the slaue and seruant of hys shadow takyng thassistāce of thym perfections in loue to be in some sort contrybutarye to her falte for that sayth she as loue hathe this vice of nature that such as accompte theym selues to sée moste cleare are they whych most often commit greatest faltes by ignorance So besydes the confession of the wronge I haue don you so many wayes Lo I am ready to abide the punishment of your owne iudgemeut without crauing any dispence of iustice or moderacion of pennance for any respecte of fauor And albeit for my parte I haue not escaped wythout passiō but y t the stormes of aduersatie which you haue séene me endure haue driuen me to thuttermost of my patience yet I my selfe happie to haue passed that awaye for thexperience I haue made of two effects of verteous extremities the one of constant loyaltie in you whych only hath right to chaleng y e crowne of glory frō hym that sacrafized himself vpon the blodie body of hys Lady who in dyenge so gaue ende to his annoyes where you haue chosen a kynde of languishynge life of more hard tolleracion a thousād tymes then the sharp arrowes of death the other consistes in the clemencie wher wyth you haue mortefied so well the rage of your aduersaries that I whych earst hated you to death am now so vanquished by your courtesye that I accompte myne honor and lyfe of to small value to requite your merit wherin also I acknowledge a debte to Seigneur Roderico whose wisedome makes me ashamed of my follie in resisting his rightfull demaunde touching the reléeffe of your vndeserued destresse wherunto as he wold haue replied wyth semblable humylitie Dom Roderico preuented hys meanynge in embrasinge theym both with peculiar commendacion to theyr vertues and speciall thankes to the goodnes of their fortune for that w t out peril of honor they had passed that dangerus passage aduising them to retorne w t hym to hys castel frō whēce hée sayde he wolde gyue warning to their mothers to whom he also vndertoke to cooler thaccidente wyth some other circumstance of fayned substance wher vpon they mounted on horsbacke leauing the stately hospitall to the nexte hermyt and vsing easye iorneys they toke away the tediousnes of the way with the pleasant deuises whych passed betwen the two louers embrasing one an other in honest sort as a simple recompense of their longe and weary annoyes till tyme with the consent of the churche gaue authoritie to consommat the rest of their desiers from the house of Roderico was aduertisement giuen to the two Ladye mothers in equall care for the loss of their childrē excusing the secret departure of Geniuera in that she went to sée Dom Diego lyinge sicke in a castell of hys frende Seigneur Roderico where if it pleased theym to giue their consente the mariage sholde be performed wherin there nedes no pithie solycitors to neither of the widowes for that for the more honor of the feaste and contentmente in the allyance they failed not there in parson at the day appointed where the mariage was performed with pompp accordyng to the magnificence of both their houses And so it is to be thought that the stormes and tormentes past endured by theim both yelded thys conclucion of other tast then they whych wythout painful trauaile in the presence of loue possesse the fyrste daye the full of their desiers whose pleasures certeinly as they resemble the condicion of hym who norished al the dayes of hys lyf in deintie fare cannot iudge so well of delite as he that some times findes want of suche delicatie soo also an extreme thruste makes vs fynde the wyne more pleasant and a long fasting giues a better taste to oure meate neyther is loue wythout annoye any other thyng then a cause without an effecte for he that wyll takeawaye the paynfull traueills and longe sute robbes the louer of the prayse of hys constancie and doth wronge to the glory of hys pursewt seyng that he only is worthy to weare the crowne of tryumphe who encountringe all conflictes doth reapose more assurance in the vertue of hys constancie then feare in any sorte the malice of any fortune Let thys be then the mirrour of loyal louers in detestacion of thimpudicitie of suche whych feare not to giue a charge wher they fynde good countenance and readye retire at the first repuise ympartinge also a participacion of worthy rebuke to thothers who to contente the humor of their fonde affection doo accompte it a vertue to exchaunge their former generositie wythe a gloriouse title to be reputed as true and faythfull champions of loue for y t the perfectiō to loue