And looking behind him he told her that no place was safe for that discourse where stones were laid together by the power of Art nor would he trust Woods and Trees but as they grew simply and out of method For said he when the Square and Line is once drawn over them I cannot believe but that thereby they are conjur'd into intelligencers and that their Buildings have spies in every corner Therefore Sweet-heart if you be pleas'd to repose so much confidence in me as to walke over the Meadowes and to trust your selfe with a Faith that never blemisht its professor into a place of Trust I will tell you by the way and in the trusty Groves such things concerning the business wherein you would so faine be satisfied as shall not leave you so much as a place for scruple Periissa glad of this profession presently went along with him where by the way Hortensius open'd his breast and shewed her all the secrets that were lockt up there concerning the whole businesse between Maximanus and Honoria himself and Maximanus untill such time as approaching the Tree where Bonella perished in the Hollow by reason of the Secretaries perishing in the Dungeon Periissa as if her divining Soul had bid her stand makes a halt and sayes Will you tell me then Hortensius if these things be true what can you expect but to be made away at last as the rest of his unhappy Instruments have been already You that Act their part must have their Exit Truly said Hortensius I look for no other Why will you stay here then said Periissa Hortensius casting his Eyes up towards the top of the Trees he chanced to spie a Handkerchief in which it seemes Bonella finding her self forsaken and buried alive in such a growing Coffin had wrought her mind in Needle-work and bloudy Characters shadowed with Death which she in her life time having folded up with a double weight both of Substance and Signification threw up to the place where she could not follow which catching fast hold upon a Bough let fall the same friend that help'd it up that it might the better hang out Maximanus his Villany as upon a Signe-post And this was the Inscription viz. HONORIA IS INNOCENT I BETRAID HER SHE AND AMARISSA VVERE CAST INTO A DEAD SLEEP SO VVAS HORTENSIUS AND LAID BETWEEN THEM NOTHING TRUE IN HER ACCUSATION HERE I VVAS PVT BY MAXIMANUS HIS SECRETARY AND THIS HOLLOVV TREE CONTAINS A DEAD TESTIMONY OF A SAD TRVTH Bonella Hortensius and Periissa having both read the Contents were sufficiently rejoyc'd and furnished with ample satisfaction they having viewed the dead body both returned to the place from whence they came both resolving to be instruments of this discovery in order whereunto they communed by the way about the manner of the accomplishment Periissa having brought Hortensius privily to Corderius his house she forthwith declares her self to Hortensius to be Bertaldo his Page shewing him her Apparel her Letters of Credence and calling upon Corderius to witnesse what he thought to be truth Hortensius soon quitted his amorous passion and fell in love with the designe Corderius presently hastens them both away with instructions some other Intelligence relating to discoveries which he himself had lately found out in Honoria her behalf So that they were both gone upon a suddaine Maximanus missing his Engine and guessing rightly that it would soon be employ'd against himself and finding a great many of strange faces with unwonted behaviours daily looking upon him thought it high time for him to look about wherefore placing a strong Guard of confiding men to look well to the Princesse and keep the rest in aw he himselfe makes all the speed he could to Moretania where Lorenzo was and sends Post after Hortensius and Philoret his supposed Mistresse taking his flight as a matter of no small consequence so that they were both seiz'd upon at the Ferry side stay'd too long by contrary winds by the Governour of Molocco by vertue of Letters sent by Maximanus charging them with the Highest Treason and so were put into safe Custody to attend the comming of Maximanus Philoret then in Prison comforts up Hortensius and betakes him to his old Stratagem his Box of Oyntment blacks his Face alters his Habit and so conveighs away his Letters and Instructions together with himselfe at noone day so invisibly as if he had carryed night about him and so went unto the Governour himselfe and preoccupies his understanding with such seasonable truthes as his owne well-furnished abilities and dexterity could easily infuse into a man who had not been possess'd with prejudice nor by assed with interest to either party and so acquainted the Governour with the hard shift that he was faine to make to come to speak with him before the Tyrant Maximanus should batter the Justice of so good a Cause with the engine of his false pretences whereupon he thrusts his hand into a Bason of water that stood there by accident and washes and wipes the disguise from off his face Whereupon the Governour said unto him That he had observ'd many to have put a Good Face upon a bad Matter but he never had observ'd any to put a Bad Face upon a good Cause before But the newes of Maximanus his arrivall broke off all further discourse the Governour doing that which he most desir'd dismiss'd him to his Fellow prisoner promising That neither of them should suffer the least injury from him by any meanes that Maximanus should attempt And that he would see them safely brought to Lorenzo He was no sooner departed the Roome but Maximanus enters the house with such prepared Invectives and high Accusations against Hortensius that had not Philoret forestal'd his market it might have very probably betray'd their Innocence to hard usage But withall Maximanus told the Governour That he could not stay to desire further favour at his hands then that he would secure them both till his returne and then he would make known unto him his further desires concerning them The Governour glad to hear him say so told him That he would have a speciall care that they should be forth-comming So Maximanus posted away towards Lorenzo whom after three dayes journey he finds at Mostoka that was the Emperours Palace CHAP. VIII Maximanus comes to Lorenzo 's Court his dissimulation he perswades Lorenzo to go to satisfie his doubt to a Conjurer whereupon he gives Maximanus Commission to kill Honoria and Amarissa the Governour of Molocco refuses to yeild into his hands Hortentius and Periissa NEwes being brought to Lorenzo that Maximanus was arriv'd at Court all were astonished at the impudence of the man who bare himself high upon the confidence which he had of the Prince his favour towards him but higher upon the strength of his owne braine which he thought stood him at any time in stead of an Army to secure him from all emnity nor did he a little
for me besides thy selfe thou hast eas'd me already let the event be what it will I shall know the truth that 's something nay that 's all For if she be true and faithfull to me my heart 's at rest If she be false yet I am satisfied in this that I cannot wrong her whatsoere I doe Wherefore I will not endure another dayes torment to gaine all Affrica Prepare your self to goe along with me I will be ready this night by ten of the Clock at the Park-gate all alone there meet me privately none shall know where we have been or what we have done Then said Maximanus what great matter is 't for us to steal our Quietus est out of the Devils Office Thou sayest right Maximanus said the Prince honest honest Maximanus how much am I beholding unto thee In comes Bertaldo whilst they were in this discourse whom Maximanus espying patches up his discourse with a piece of a clean contrary colour saying Sir I would not mistrust that woman to gaine the world if you doe you doe your selfe a great deal of wrong Bertaldo saluted Maximanus very kindly seeing Lorenzo look so cheerfully whom he hoped by this time to be dispossess'd of that peaking Devill Jealousie by some Exercisme that Maximanus had then us'd all was well all were merry and joviall a sine time if it would hold But alas this was but that which we call lightning before death mirth before sorrow and laughter before destruction The time appointed is already come wherein Lorenzo and Maximanus were to meet who both kept touch with one another as such meetings seldome faile they accosted betimes in the morning at the Caves mouth this Mandragora the Devils Corn-cutter who when he has you by the foot can easily tell you where the shooe wriâ—â—â— invites them into his Den in this language Sons of Curiosity why stand ye gazing in the open aire descend and satisfie your longings in those demands wherein you would be satisfied and I shall represent the naked truth before your eyes re-acted as at first it was Now this Tredeskin of all natures secrets who musters up his rarities and draws them up in a Parade fitting them for service was richly bribed by Maximanus to present Honoria unto his view in such unseemly postures with Hortensius as might well bereave him so of all his senses that he might easily drive him into most horrid and cruell resolutions against Honoria Forthwith Maximanus leads the innocent Lorenzo by the hand down into the Cave like the venemous Spider who once having entangled the harmlesse silly Flie within his Web he drags him into his hole to torment and there devour him who having thus wilfully forsaken the light and condescended to those deeds of darkness Apollio the Devils Engineer takes a Cushion in his hand stuffed with Mosse that had been gathered off of dead mens Sculs and claps it downe into a Chair whose seat was softned with dead mens hair legg'd and arm'd with dead mens Bones and covered with their Skinnes and bids Lorenzo to sit downe Telling him that now he is come there he must doe as the place requires Then he falls to his conjuring termes and circulations which when he had throughly perform'd he squeezes out of a bottle a glasse of water or juice that was extracted and distill'd out of no other herb or simple but that which we usually call Jewes-eares this he bids Lorenzo drink still telling him that now he is come there he must needs doe as the place requires Lorenzo neither knowing what he did nor yet what farther injunctions might be required at his hands once wish'd he had not put himselfe under a power wherein he was so ignorant of the danger of the disobedience the frighted judgment of his brain that then was ray'd with his own hair standing stiffe an end like ported feathers of some Porcupine told him That now he was gone so farre it was no wisdome and perhaps no safety to retire Wherefore he drank it off then Apollio takes the milk of the Hienna which he held out to him in a little cup whose materiall was a dry'd and well wrought Toad-stool which this Apollio called Eye-bright Water willing him to wash his eyes therewith not forgetting to tell him That now he was come there he must needs doe as the place requir'd Which he obeys These two Informers thus sufficiently corrupted they could presently hear a fearfull noise as that of Waters falling downe their Precipice then another like that of Thunder afterwards a hollow sound resembling that which men doe use to hear immediately after Earthquakes And at last a rusling noise like flames of Fire after they have newly made their eruptions out of their mothers womb Apollio cryes silence to the four Elements and all obey Forthwith they might hear the language of Court-ships the smacks of Kisses the clapping of Cheeks and the laughing at Jests And these so Acted to the life that Lorenzo might easily suppose them to be Honoria's words laughter before he saw her Then he might see Honoria with Hortensius his Armes about her Neck and hers about his Middle entring a loof and after those lascivious postures that were between them more uncivil then fitting to be express'd He beheld Hortensius throwing her downe against a Flowry bank committing those non dicenda's which my Pen cannot be guilty of the relation insomuch that Lorenzo's fancy was so strong that his imagination thought it so reall as that he drew his Sword and would have executed vengeance upon a delinquency that never had a being but in the Hiennas milk that had wash'd his Eyes had not Apollio with his black rod forbade the enterprise by a wasted prohibition over the Prince his Head Lorenzo cryes aloud I have seene enough and will be reveng'd for what I 've seene Apollio Brandishes his Black Rod againe and tells him He must see all with patience now he is there and be as much displeas'd afterwards as the cause required Lorenzo was now vexed that he must see more and have for the present no other subject but a Type to wreak his fury on In discontent he flings himselfe downe into the Chaire in such disorderly method that he brake the legs and armes thereof recovering himselfe from the fall with bruising his right hand which was a good Omen viz. that at last he should break the bones of that delusion wherein he had seated himself by such perswasion and recover himself by the crush of Maximanus Now the scene is altered and there appeares a faire goodly Chamber with a Rich Bed which Lorenzo remembred well enough exactly to set forth his owne Apollio with his Charming instrument drawes open the Curtaines so that Lorenzo plainly saw Hortensius between Honoria and Amarissa kissing Honoria and Amarissa with violent hands snatching the kisses head and all from the embracing Armes of the as much Beautifull as abus'd Honoria together with some other Non-credenda's
heart said Corderius in the two folios of my unfeigned lips which assures you that I love you and have loved you long have travailed a great many Miles and I have been a suiter to you many Yeares and though it seems never so strange to you yet let my words finde credit for truths sake and be the happiest Woman in the world These words spoken with such a grace attended with so much gravity and proceeding from such a presence fraught Fortunata not only with wonder but Confidence not so much out of the manner as matter of his discourse that there was something in it extraordinary that promised a reality and good meaning in the man wherefore she desired to know his name Corderius told her that she that must be his Wife must never know that untill she be so Fortunata desired to know what Countryman he was Corderius told her that that was another secret which must not be knowne and to cut you off from all those ordinary demands of Women in your Condition said Corderius Lady you must know that that Woman which carryes my Wives eye in her head must looke no further then my self for if I should tell you my name what Countryman I am who sent me hither what meanes I have to Maintaine you c. It may be you would or would not have me for this or that respect wherefore Madam I shall never aske you but these two questions First Can you Love Secondly Can that Love have any Influence upon my person I neither thinke my selfe so amiable or my Condition so inviting as to deserve the complement of an intire affection but if you can finde in your heart to Marry me I aske no more I 'le finde cause enough for ever to banish all repentance from your heart so that reason shall finde no fault in your election Weigh my words as seriously as you can I have no ends upon you but what are Honourable and Just Portion I aske none Proportion and Comelinesse I see your Parentage and Piety I hear of And of this you may assure your selfe had you a Fortune of your owne able but to have bought the Cloathes upon your Back you could not be my Wife And one thing more I must tell you I must have your speedy Answer Fortunata thought it not convenient that her consent should be obtained upon the first blush yet her Colour as if it went on Errants to her intellectualls to know the meaning of so strange yet effectuall manner of Wooing and returning againe into her Cheekes with so fresh a dye as if it had made hast in it's returne gave him some private intelligence that her faint heart was ready to yeeld up her Mayden garrison upon the first summons but that her modesty mutinyed against its higher officer and would not suffer so regular fortifications to be so soon sleighted by such a loving Enemy wherefore she desired longer time to consider of what he had said and she would returne him an answer worthy of his respect Corderius told her bluntly it must not be and that he would neither be beholding for a Wife to time persons or second thoughts and that she was at her owne disposall to chuse a Husband whose condition was but servitude And that the ignorance of all worldly respects that must give him a Wife in Marriage needed not consideration and the Poverty that should bring him a Bed-fellow did not deserve the advice of Friends This was his humour and that if she would take him upon those termes Happinesse should be her joynture Contentment the life she should lead and Sufficiency her constant maintenance More then that she that is to be his Wife should never know before she were his and if she were ordain'd his Spouse she would be satisfied with that assurance Fortunata took occasion by the Fore-top fearing it would be bald behind and thought it better wisedome to lay hold of an opportunity that might advance her though to an unknown Estate then to be constantly wedded to even reckonings at the years end Wherefore she thus resolv'd upon the question Sir whose Name I know not whose Country I must not know whose Estate is I know not what who means to carry me I know not where I am yours I know not how And with that word Corderius opening his Armes to receive her into his Bosome Fortunata falls upon his Breast and weeping clings so close unto him as if a bleeding Vine had been tackt unto some stately Frontispice whose teares Corderius soone wip'd off drying her Bedewed cheeks with this breath of comfort Lady if you knew your owne happinesse you should finde you have no cause for what you doe except you wept for joy Fortunata having fully consented that Corderius should break a Bridall Cake over her head hastens to her Lady-Aunt and Mistresse and with a clear'd up countenance tels her That she is come to take her leave of her Why whither art thou going said her Mistresse I am going to me be Married said Fortunata To be Married said her Aunt I prethee to whom Truly Madam I cannot tell you said her Neice What is his name said the Lady I doe not know said Fortunata How comes that about said the Mistresse He would not tell me said the Maid Whither doth he mean to carry thee said Besanca He will not tell me said Fortunata Art thou in earnest said the Lady Yes forsooth said the Waiting Gentle-woman Art thou not out of thy wits Girl said Besanca Madam I hope not said Fortunata I 'le have him and if it please the fates if there were no more men in the world The Girle is bewitcht upon my life said Besanca what hath he done to her where is this fellow let me speak with him Away she flies upon Corderius and in furious manner begins to expostulate the case with him whose pretty kind of answers no lesse satisfied the Lady then with much probability that her Neece was likely to clime up to some preferment through some fantasticall Stair-case Wherefore after many doubts resolved she gives consent with this proviso that Favorinus her own Brother should go along with her together with a servant of the Ladies call'd Prickette who should see them marryed for he was resolv'd to carry her away with him presently she as resolute to be gon up he takes her behind him on Horse-back without any more circumstance He is a Prince and his Humour must be obey'd Farewell Aunt God b'y Cosen Look to your Sister said Besanca I warrant you said Corderius all shall be well enough take you no care They shake hands at one another and cry Da Da and this was all the solemnity of their departure They had not advanced seven miles onward in their journey but they lost their way and the night overtaking them they were bewildred in a Forrest at last they met with a Forresteer who brought them to a poore Inne where they were glad