faire daie light Siluio makyng hymself readie departed likewise about his affaires in the Toune debatyng with hymself how thynges had happened being well assured that Iulina had mistaken him and therefore for feare of further euilles determined to come no more there but tooke his iourney towardes other places in the partes of Grecia to see if he could learne any tidynges of his sister Silla The Duke Apolonius hauing made a long sute and neuer a whit the nerer of his purpose came to Iulina to craue her direct aunswere either to accept of him and of suche conditions as he proffered vnto her or els to giue him his last farewell Iulina as you haue heard had taken an earnest penie of an other whom she had thought had been Siluio the Dukes maÌ„ was at a controuersie in her self what she might do one while she thought seyng her occasion serued so fit to craue the Dukes good will for the mariyng of his man then againe she could not tell what displeasure the Duke would conceiue in that she should seeme to preferre his man before hymself did thinke it therefore best to conceale the matter till she might speake with Siluio to vse his opinioÌ„ how these matters should be handled herevpon resoluyng her self desiryng the Duke to pardon her speeches saied as followeth Sir Duke for that from this tyme forwardes I am no longer of my self hauing giuen my full power and authoritie ouer to an other whose wife I now remaine by faithfull vow and promise And albeeit I knowe the worlde will wonder when thei shall vnderstande the fondnesse of my choyce yet I trust you your self will nothyng deslike with me sithe I haue ment no other thing then the satisfiyng of mine owne contentation and likyng The Duke hearyng these wordes aunswered Madame I must then content my self although against my will hauyng the Lawe in your owne handes to like of whom you list and to make choise where it pleaseth you Iulina giuyng the Duke greate thankes that would content himself with suche pacience desired him likewise to giue his free consent and good wil to the partie whom she had chosen to be her housbande Naie surely Madame ê™ the Duke I will neuer giue my consent that any other man shall enioye you then my self I haue made too greate accompt of you then so lightly to passe you awaie with my good will But seyng it lieth not in me to let you hauyng as you saie made your owne choise so from hence forwardes I leaue you to your owne likyng alwaies willyng you well and thus will take my leaue The Duke departed towardes his owne house very sorrowfull that Iulina had thus serued hym but in the meane space that the Duke had remained in the house of Iulina some of his seruauntes fell into talke and conference with the seruaunts of Iulina where debatyng betweene them of the likelihood of the Marriage betwéene the Duke and the Ladie one of the seruantes of Iulina saied that he neuer sawe his Ladie and Mistres vse so good countenaunce to the Duke hymself as she had doen to Siluio his man and began to reporte with what familiaritie and courtesie she had receiued hym feasted hym and lodged hym and that in his opinion Siluio was like to speede before the Duke or any other that were suters This tale was quickly brought to the Duke himself who makyng better enquirie in the matter found it to be true that was reported and better consideryng of the wordes whiche Iulina had vsed towardes hymself was very well assured that it could bee no other then his owne man that had thrust his Nose so farre out of ioynt wherefore without any further respect caused hym to be thrust into a Dongeon where he was kept prisoner in a very pitifull plight Poore Siluio hauyng gott intelligence by some of his fellowes what was the cause that the Duke his Maister did beare suche displeasure vnto hym deuised all the meanes he could as well by meditation by his fellowes as otherwise by petitions and supplication to the Duke that he would suspende his Iudgement til perfect proofe werâ— had in the matter and then if any maner of thâ—ng did fall out against hym wherby the Duke had cause to take any greefe he would confesse hymself worthie not onely of imprisonment but also of moste vile and shamefull death with these petitions he daiely plied the Duke but all in vaine for the Duke thought he had made so good proofe that he was throughly confirmed in his opinion against his man But the Ladie Iulina wonderyng what made Siluio that he was so slacke in his visitation and why he absented himself so long from her presence beganne to thinke that all was not well but in the ende perceiuyng no decoction of her former surfette receiued as you haue heard and findyng in her self an vnwonted swellyng in her beallie assuryng her self to bee with childe fearyng to become quite banckroute of her honour did thinke it more then tyme to seeke out a Father and made suche secret searche and diligent enquirie that she learned the truth how Siluio was kept in prison by the Duke his Maister and mindyng to finde a present remedie as well for the loue she bare to Siluio as for the maintenaunce of her credite and estimation she speedily hasted to the Pallace of the Duke to whom she saied as followeth Sir Duke it maie bee that you will thinke my commyng to your house in this sorte doeth somethyng passe the limites of modestie the whiche I protest before GOD proceaded of this desire that the worlde should knowe how iustly I seeke meanes to maintaine my honour but to the ende I seeme not tedious with prolixitie of woordes nor to vse other then direct circumstaunces knowe sir that the loue I beare to my onely beloued Siluio whom I doe esteeme more then all the Iewelles in the world whose personage I regard more then my owne life is the onely cause of my attempted iourney beseechyng you that all the whole displeasure whiche I vnderstand you haue conceiued against hym maie be imputed vnto my charge that it would please you louyngly to deale with him whom of my self I haue chosen rather for the satisfaction of mine honest liking then for the vaine preheminences or honourable dignities looked after by ambicious myndes The Duke hauyng heard this discourse caused Siluio presently to be sent for and to be brought before hym to whom he saied Had it not been sufficient for thee when I had reposed my self in thy fidelitie and the trustinesse of thy seruice that thou shouldest so traiterously deale with me but since that time haste not spared stil to abuse me with so many forgeries and periured protestations not onely hatefull vnto me whose simplicitie thou thinkest to bee suche that by the plotte of thy pleasaunt tongue thou wouldest make me beleeue a manifest vntrothe but moste habominable bee thy doynges in the presence and sight of God
many others would haue taken it for a great good Fortune that suche a Prince should haue fallen in loue with theÌ„ Lucilla considering the basenesse of her degree in respect of the high estate of her newe Louer reputed it to be a greate mishap vnto her as she that considered that she could not nourishe or entertaine any suche Loue but with the harme and preiudice of her honour Besides that she feared least that Nicander should once perceiue that this yong Prince hunted after that hauÌ„t he would forsake her for feare of farther displeasure wherefore to auoide bothe inconueniences wher◠〈…〉 then she was wâ—nte to shewe her self sometime at the Doore someâ—â—â—e at the Windowes she now retired her self in suche sort that she could neuer be seen but on the Sundaies and holie daies as she went to a little Churche nere adioinyng to the house Wherefore Nicander not a little meruailyng and greatlie troubled in spirite fearing that Lucilla wauering as women vse to doe had forsaken him and turned her affection els where as one full of gelousie and greef for fault of better comforte he would watche his times and followe her to that Churche there to feede his fancie with a looke or twoo which yet amid his miserie he seemed to esteeme as a releef without the whiche he could not liue Finallie not beeyng able to endure those tormenâ—es that this absence and straungenesse of his Ladie caused him to feele he sent vnto her a conueniente messenger with a letter conteining this effecte The Birde whiche long hath liued in pleasant feeld Esteemes no whit his Cage of wreathed golde The dulted note wherewith he pearst the Skie For greef of minde he can not then vnfolde Yet liues he still but better were to die More worse then death euen suche a life haue I. The Turtle true of his deceased maie Bewailes the want he reakes no more of blisse The swellyng Swanne doeth hardly brooke the place When he his beste beloued birde doeth misse Suche is my ioye Nicander needes must die Lucilla doeth his wonted presence flie How can I liue that double death possesse How should I ioye that drenched am in thrall What foode maie feede or beare a pleasaunt taste Where as the harte lies bathed still in Gall. If this be life then life be farre from me And welcome death to seâ— Nicander free What cause my deare hath thy Nicander wrought That makes thee shunne in whom thou shouldst delight What moues thy minde to â—ewe thee vp so close And keepe thee from thy beste beloued fight If I offended haue then charge me when and how Nicander shall hym cleare or to thy mercie â—ow If no offence but fonde conceipt hath taken holde Condempne hym not that shewes his giltlesse hande Who hetherto hath neuer ment the thyng That iustly might against your honour stande If giltie I I aske no other grace Giue doome of Death and doe my sute deface I saie no more but as I doe deserue So shewe the fruite of my deserued hire Seme not so straunge vnto thy faithfull freende Whose absence setts my scorchyng harte on fire But as my loue to thee no tongue can tell Esteeme the like of me and so farewell Thine owne Nicander The yong Gentlewoman who had fixed all her thoughtes and setled all the contentmentes of her harte onely vpon Nicander neither desiryng any thing in the worlde so muche as to please and content hym Felt an intollerable perplexitie of minde in that she sawe him greeue thus at her late straungenesse and yet thought it better that he should complaine then come by any knowledge of the loue that Don Heâ—cules did â—eare her wherefore hidyng from hym the matter replied in â—his sorte The Birde whiche is restrainde Of former hartes delight I must confesse twixt life and death Doeth alwaie combate fight So doeth the harte compelled By heste of Parentes will Obaye for feare yet forste by loue Continues constant still No absence by consent My deare Nicander I Haue wrought to worke thy wo from thee Like Cressed falce to flie Ne shall I liue to loathe What maie content thy minde Hap life or death as true as Steele Thou shalt Luâ—illa finde Thy eares shall neuer heare Nor eyes shall neuer see That any wight shall reape the fruite Whiche planted was for thee 〈…〉 thy self my deare To take against thy will Our absence in good part till tyme Maie betteâ— happe fulfill And therewithall receiue This pledge to cure thy paine My harte is thine preserue it well Till wee twoo meete againe Euer thine Lucilla This sweete aunswere mitigated not a little the moode of the yong Gentleman and so he framed himself the beste he could to tollerate the absence of his Lucilla On the other side Don Hercules who in like maner founde himself depriued of the sight of that yong Ladie whom he loued extreamely was verie muche discontented and perceiuing that neither messages nor faire offers with large giftes sent vnto her whereof neuer any were accepted could once moue her to shewe her self courteous vnto him of so muche as a looke And considering the pouertie wherein her mother liued now in her latter yeres beganne to imagine that it would bee muche easier for hym by offeryng her liberally wherewithall to Marrie her daughter to perswade her to yeeld her into his handes then to winne the yong Gentlewoman to his desire Wherefore hauyng sent a fit persone to Lucillas Mother to let her vnderstande that if she would bee conâ—ent that the yong Prince might enioye her daughter he would giue her suche a dowrie in recompence of his pleasure that no Gentleman of what degree soeuer should for her pouertie refuse to take her to wife whereas if she refused y â— good offer she should therby be constrained through necessitie either to bestowe her vpon some Artificer or Craftesman or if she would needes Marrie her to a gentleman she must giue her to some suche as was so poore as that she shâ—â—ld liâ—e all the daies of her life in want and miserie the whiche in effect would bee nothing els but to be cruell towardes her owne daughter in 〈◊〉 that good hap whiche he did offer besides the fauour that he should be able to shew in furthering her mariage to bothe their ende lesse comfortes The mother beeyng often sollicited and sommoned to this effect and on the one side punished with pouertie and on the other charged with yeres bothe whiche pressed her verie muche after diuers discourses made to and fro with her self lastly she saied And whereto ought I to haue regard but to the wealth and profite of my daughter whiche bothe she shall reape abondantly if by y â— giuyng her self vnto this yong Prince he doeth bestowe vpon her that dowrie whiche he hath promised And although in doyng thereof there be some touch and spot to my daughters honor and mine yet shall it be so recompensed with the benefite of her dowrie that the profit
mouth whereof the scholer was very sorie yet for all this he thought he would not giue ouer his 〈◊〉 imagining that there is no hart so hard or fiintie but by long loue by perseuerance praier and teares maie in the ende be mollified and wrought to be tender In this meane season Gonsales still continuyng his olde familiaritie with the Scholler and hauyng made hym priuie of the loue he bare vnto the Courtisane and what a greefe it was vnto him to see her enioyed by any other then by himself one daie among other talke betweene them of that matter he saied bnto the Sholler that it neuer grieued him so muche to haue a wife as it did then for that if he had bin vnmaried he would haue taken Aselgia for so was the Courtisane named to be his wife without whom he could finde no rest nor quiete in mynde and so long as euery man hath a share with him in her he accompted himself as il as if he had had no parte in her at all And thereto saied further that assuredly if it were not for feare of the Lawe he would ease hymself of that burden by riddyng of Agatha out of the worlde Thereunto replied the Scholler saiyng that in deede it was a greeuous thyng for a Gentleman to be combred with a wife whō he could not finde in his harte to loue and that in suche a case he that did seeke the best waie he could to deliuer himself of that yoke was not altogether vnexcusable though the rigor of Iustice had appoincted seuere punishementes for suche as violentlie should attempt or execute any suche thing But that men that were wise could well enough finde out the meanes whiche waie to woorke their intentes without incurryng any daunger of the Lawe for the matter Whiche language in deede he vsed vnto hym but to feede his humour and to see wherevnto that talke in fine would tende And according to his desire before it was long Gonsales hauing vsed the like speeches twoo or three times and still findyng him to soothe his saiyng tooke one daie a good harte vnto him and brake his minde vnto the Scholer at large and in plaine termes to this effect Alonso for that was the Scholers name I doe assure my self and make full accoumpt that thou art my faste freend as I am thyne and I doubte not but that the freendship whiche is betweene vs doeth make thee no lesse sorie then my self to see me greeue with this continuall trouble of minde wherein I liue because I can not compasse to take this woman whom I loue so dearelie to bee my wife and by that meanes come to haue the full possession of her vnto my self whiche is the thing I doe desire aboue all other thinges in the worlde And for as muche as I dooe perswade my self that by thy meanes and with the helpe of thy profession I maie happ to finde some remedie for my greef I haue thought good to tell thee a conceit whiche I haue thought on oftentimes wherein I meane to vse thee and thy assistaunce for the better accomplishing of my purpose in that behalfe Assuring my self that thou wilte not refuse or denie me any furtheraunce that thy skill maie aforde me or shrinke and drawe backe from the performyng of any freendlie offer whereby I maie come by to finde some ease of minde and bee deliuered of that intollerable tormente of spirite wherewith I am oppressed for the loue of this Aselgia in whom I haue fixed and set all my ioyes and delightes Thou shalte therefore vnderstande that I am determined as sone as I can possible to ridde my handes of Agatha my wife and by one meane or other to cause her to dye And I haue been a good while aboute the execution of this my intent but because I could neuer yet deuise the beste waie to performe it so that her death might not bee laied vnto my charge I haue delaied it hetherto and perforce contente to beare the heauie burthen of my greeued minde till now whiche hence forward I am resolued to beare no longer if thou wilte accordyng to my trust in thee and as the freendship whiche is betweene vs doeth require graunt me thy furtheraunce and helping hand Wherefore knowing that through thy long studie in Phisick thou haste attained so greate knowledge that thou canste deuise a nomber of secretes whereof any one might be sufficient to bryng my purpose to effect I doe require thee to fulfill my desire in that behalfe and to giue me thy helpe to bryng this my desire to passe Whiche if thou dooe I will acknowledge my self so long as I shall liue to be so muche bound vnto thee that thou shalt commaunde me and all that I haue in any occasion of thine as freelie and as boldlie as thou maiest now any thing that is thine owne The Scholer when he had heard Gonsales and his demaunde stoode stil awhile as musing vpon the request and in the meane while discoursed with himself how by the occasion of his intent and resolution of Gonsales he might perhappes finde out a waie to come by the possession of Agatha and to haue her in his handes and at his deuotion But keepyng secrete his thoughtes and meanyng he made hym aunswere That true it was that he wanted not secret composissions to make folke die with poison so as it could neuer bee discerned by any Phisition or other whether the cause were violent or no but that for twoo respectes he thought it not good to yeeld vnto his requeste The one for that Phisicke and Phisitions were appointed in the worlde not to bereue men of their liues but to preserue them and to cure them of suche diseases as were daungerous and perillous vnto them The other because he did foresee in what ieoperdie he should put his owne life whensoeuer he should dispose himself to worke any suche practise considering how seuerelie the lawes haue prescribed punishmentes for suche offences And that it might fall out how warelie so euer the thing were wrought that by some seldome or vnlooked for accident the matter might bee discouered as for the moste parte it semeth that God will haue it in whiche case he were like to incurre no lesse danger then Gonsales and bothe assured without remission to lose their liues And that therefore he would not for the first respect take vppon hym to doe that whiche was contrarie to his profession◠nor for the seconde hazard his life to so certaine a daunger for so hatefull a thing as those practizes are to all the worlde Gonsales verie sorie to heare his deniall told hym that the Lawes and dueties of freendship doeth dispence well enough with a manne though for his freende he straine sometyme his conscience And therefore he hoped that he would not forsake hym in a cause that cōcerne him so waightily as that did And that neither of those twoo respectes if thei were well considered ought to be able
of this that as I wil not maintaine my child in any thing that is euill so I will not see her take a manifest wrong Doe you thinke this to be good then quoth Phylotus that your daughter should bestowe suche hansell on her housband as she hath alreadie bestowed vpon me and then pointyng to his face he saied See here your daughters handie woorke how thinke you is this requisite to be borne with all that you stande so muche in your daughters defence Alberto seeyng his face all swolne and the skinne scratched of perceiued that Phylotus was at a fraie and had good cause to complaine And wonderyng that his daughter was so sodainly become a shrewe saied If this bee my daughters handie woorke I can neither beare withall neither will I allowe it in her so to vse her housebande And therefore I praie you lette me heare the matter debated betweene you and I doubte not but to take suche order as there shall no more any suche rule happen betweene you I am contented you shall debate what you will ê™ Philotus so it maie be doen with quietnesse but I will neuer more contende with her for the maisterie while I liue she hath alredie wonne it I am contented she shall weare it I praie you then quoth Alberto that you wil goe home to your owne house and I will goe fetche my daughter and will come vnto you straight waie and I doubt not but to take suche order betweene you as shall fall out to bothe your likinges I praie God you maie ê™ Philotus and I will goe home and there will staie your commyng Alberto likewise went to his owne house and callyng Emelia saied neuer a woorde to her but willed her to followe hym and commyng to the house of Philotus whom he founde within tariyng his commyng And it fortuned at the same 〈◊〉 Philerno and Brisilla bothe were gone into the Toune to buye certaine thynges that thei had neede of And Alberto beginnyng first to rebuke his Daughter that would seme in suche maner to abuse her housebande and with a long discourse he preached vnto her with what duetie and obedience women ought to vse their housebandes withall and not to take vpon them like Maisters to correcte and chastice theim Emelia denaied not onelie the facte but also she denaied Philotus to be her housebande What haue wee here to dooe quoth the Father how canst thou shamelesse queane denaie that whiche within these fower daies was performed in the face of the whole worlde Emelia standyng stiffe to her tackelyng would in nowise confesse that euer she was Married Then her Father beganne to charge her with her owne woordes whiche he had vsed to her before how she had disguised her self in mannes apparell and so stolne awaie forthe of doores the which Emelia neuer denaied Why then quoth her father did not I meete thee in the streates and at the requeste of thy housebande here presente did forgiue thee thy faulte to whom I then deliuered thee and with whom thou haste euer sithence remained Emelia made flat deniall of any of all these saiynges to bee true Alberto in a greate furie would haue taken witnesse of Philotus in the matter but Philotus fearyng an other banket at night when he should goe to bedde durste not in any wise seeme to contrarie Emelia In the ende after greate fendyng and prouyng had in the matter Emelia from poinct to poincte discoursed to her Father how she firste fell into the likyng of Flanius and by his practise so conueighed her self awaie in his Pages apparell and had with hym remained all this while till now he had tourned her awaie Her father would in nowise allowe this tale to be true but Flanius beeyng well knowne to bee a courteous Gentleman Alberto deuised to sende for hym who presently at his gentle intreatie came to the house of Philotus where he spared not to confesse a truth that onely for the loue that he bare to Emelia he deuised to steale her awaie and there came one vnto him in the likenesse of Emelia and in the same apparell that he had prouided for her whom he verie charely kept vntill suche tyme as he sawe with his owne eyes that Emelia was Married in the Churche to Philotus and then assuryng hym self that he had been deceiued by some Spirite that had taken vppon the similitude and likenesse of Emelia he presently came home and tourned her awaie and what was become of her he could neuer learne Alberto muche amazed to heare this tale saied Seignior Flanius doe you knowe your Emelia again if you see her and then poinctyng to his daughter he saied Is not this the same Emelia that you speake of whiche you haue tourned awaie I knowe not ê™ Flanius the one from the other but sure I sawe with myne eyes twoo Emelias so like that the one of theÌ„ of force must needes bee the Deuill There is no question ê™ Philotus but that is my wife if there bee euer a Deuill of them bothe I knowe it is she Out alas that euer I was borne what shall I now dooe I knowe I haue Married the Deuill And by fortune as Alberto chaunced to looke forthe of thâ— windowe he espied Philerno and Brisilla in the Streate commyng homewardes Peace ê™ Alberto here commeth the other Emelia wee shall now trie whiche of them is the Deuill I thinke before we departe By this Philerno was come in and hearyng how matters had been debated and were falne out againe knowing Alberto to be his Father and what preiudice his sister Emelia was like to sustaine if she should be forsaken by her freende and louer Flanius confessed the whole matter humblie desiryng his Father to forgiue hym When he had a while wondered at the circumstaunce and the truthe of euery thyng laied open and come to light all parties were well pleased and contented sauyng Philotus for when he remembred first the losse of his loue Emelia then how Philerno had heaten hym what a bedfellowe he had prouided hym while he hym self went and laie with his Daughter these thinges put all together made hym in suche a chafe that he was like to runne out of his wittes But when he had regarded a good while and sawe how little helpe it did preuaile hym he was contented in the ende that his Daughter Brisilla should Marrie with Philerno and Flanius verie ioyfully receiued againe his Emelia when he knewe she was no Deuill and bothe the Marriages consummate in one daie And so I praie God giue them ioye and euery old dotarde so good successe as had Philotus FINIS The Conclusion GEntle Reader now thou hast perused these Histories to the ende I doubt not but thou wilte deeme of theÌ„ as thei worthily deserue and thinke suche vanities more fitter to be presented on a stage as some of them haue been then to bee published in Printe as till now thei haue neuer been but to excuse my self of the follie that here might