then the pomppe of wanton delytes wherewith princes and other great Ladies are respected serued honored and some time courted by a crew of veneryan carpet knights with diuers ymportunyties and vnseamely requests of loue who as he is an humor of infection deriued of y e corrupt partes in our selues and yet coÌ„mon to vs all by nature so is he chiefly furthered in therecution of his euil by an vsuall frequentacion and hawnte of parties whereof maye bee noted a moste famyliar experience in this LYVIO who during the practis of the two girles toke such viewe of the bewtie and behauiour of CAMâ—LLA seing her only go and come to the chamber of his syster that he began to sipp of the Cuppe of affection no lesse then DIDO kyssing CVPIDO vnder the figure semblance of the litle ASCANIVS son to the valiant ENEAS neyther coulde he be so constant to repulse this first apprehensioÌ„ but maugre his hart he yelded to the somonce of his affection and at the first assalt surrendred the fortresse to him that offred the warr who at the first entry made himselfe lord ouer the free partes of this prisoner rampired him selfe so stronly within thinteriour of his mynd that he was not onely in one instaÌ„te the gouernour of his thoughts but also directing his whole doings by y e diall of his descretion fedd hym onely wyth the vnsauerye Iewice of tormente and contynuall passion in suche sorte as not knowinge whether hee shoulde encounter a retorne of reciprocall glee hee seamed to loue vppon credytte takinge pleasure in interteynynge his vncerteyne thoughts and vaine delite of his flatteryng fancy where in hee had hadde some reason if the conference of CACAMILLA had kindled the coles of this affection in his mind for that as I haue sayde frequentacion bredeth first the desyer so wordes haue force to further theffecte of diuerse thynges whiche otherwaies we colde neuer bringe to passe or if he had bene aunswered wyth a SYMPATHIA or equalitie of frendshipp by her on whose behalfe he comytted such fond ydolatrye but what when a man hath once set a broch the humor of his follie he accomptes it a great symplicitie to desist afore he haue performed euery effecte and suggestion of the blynde guide that gouerneth his vnrulye wil for this yonge Pigeon of the first plume hatching in the secret of his mind that whiche he durst not discouer toke singler pleasure in the repetycion of the delite which he desiered ymagining that CAMILLA had cropped of the same herbe whereof hee had swallowed both the leafe and roote and that shee was no lesse zelous on his behalfe then he y e slaue forced and enchanted by the vertue of her glisteringe beawtie wherein as deserte and solytarie soyles bee harbors moste conuenyente for suche as be occupied wyth passion so hee beganne by lytle and litle to disclayme all companye and places of assemblie and accompted his greatest felycitie to discourse wyth his thoughtes in the open barraine feldes wher onely the ayre did witnes his dollor and the birdes partakers of hys hollowe sighes wherin walkyng one day amonge the rest a long a Coppies or Groue of short wode norished by y e moisture of two or thre pleasante chanelles distilling from certeyne Rockes builded by nature vpon the hight of the mounteynes whych fauoured his dolful complainte with an ECCHO of semblable dule he exposed an effect of his passion in these sorowfull termes what angrye dome of the godds or sinyster permission of the fates is this sayth he which depriuyng my harte of his auncyente lybertie hath made a transport of my thoughtes vpon thymage of a beawtie that resemblethe the clearenes of the heauens and eclipsethe what soeuer is perfecte or fayre vppon earthe frome whence procedes thys newe authorytye whyche commanndinge the strongeste parte in me seameth to force a desier to wishe that wherof myne eyes haue alreadie giuen iudgement touchinge the bewtye of thonely mistres of my thoughtes what soddayne alteration is this to transforme my libertie into a seruile thraldome and yet of more delite and contentement then if I were pronounced thonely soueraine and Lord of the whole patrymonie Alas I thinke thaccidente excedynge the compasse or computacion of nature ympartes his power title with the celestial authorityes aboue for myne eyes do daylye fede vpon the presence of CAMYLLA andene ountreth a contynuall viewe of her companye but the true effecte of that whiche is parfecte vnder the corporal vaile can not bee discerned but by figure force of ymagynacion the which rauishinge my sences hath made me the slaue of her who liuynge without subiection or touch of passion may peraduenture conuerte the SYMPTOMES of my present greefe into a conceyte of litle or no regarde wyth adisdayne of thoffer of my affection To what ende sholde I endeuor to gather the frute when the leaues will graunte me no fauour or who will bende his deuocion towarde the shryne if the sainte close the gates of compassion agaynste him in like sorte what pleasure haue I to embrase a shadowe when the bodye disdaineth my homage and offer of seruice oneles there be a felycitie in the life of the CAMELEON liuinge with the breath or ayre of the Skies for in fearinge to discouer my grefe I haue cause to dispaire of the remedie and in fedinge onely vppon vaine and vncertaine ymaginacions I am to expecte no other contentment but such as distilleth from the fountayne of such simple fauours that now I find theim the happiest kinde of creatures to whom nature hath ymparted such rude shappe and grosse vnderstandynge that they cannot in any sorte receaue thimpressions of loue where we alas that are deryued of a more delicate molde and enioyned to a generositye of spirite aboue the reste are barred the beuefyt of all felycitye in admittinge as a principall pleasure y e thing which tormentes vs more mortallie then if we were persecuted with all thafflictions of the worlde Herein appeares the folye and wante of discretion in man doatinge vpon the vanities and passions whiche of hym self hee plantes in hym selfe without foreseinge howe vnhable hee is to restore his quiete after hee bee once attainted with the humour of suche corruption But what may any one man be assisted with speciall priuilege in that which nature hath made common to vs all I meane is it in the power of any to procure dispence from the daunger of loue or staye the coles kindled in our intrailes to burst into blase or open flame no no for of a million that haue fallen into the snares and perils of affection I haue not knowen anye one that hath disposed of hym selfe and thoughtes other wayes then accordynge to the discretion of hym that sekes to mortifye our quiet and triumphe in the seruilitye of vs wretches yet for my parte seinge there is no euill in embrasing things that be faire for that according to
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
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
thoccasion of her vniust anger with intente to performe nolesse of his owne bodie if she wold not giue place to her displeasure vpon his honest purgacion which wyth the dead hawke he sente by a trustie seruante of hys debated at large in a letter wherein after a nomber of iuste reasons to confute her vniust obiections touchinge lightly her rashe iudgement in gâ—uyng sentence of hys vntrothe without hearinge his iustifycation he preferred certeine humble meanes for moderacion of her displeasure onelesse she reaposed felicitie to sée hym consumed in the martirdom of apyning life or dilited in the newes of hys present death w t other instructoÌ„s which he gaue the messenger but chiefly to note the contenance of hys mistres and make faithfull reaport of euery pointe of her aunswere wherwith the messinger posteth to Geniuera to whom with al humylitie he presenteth the charge of his coÌ„mission albeit the passion of her fretting anger denied her pacience to reade the letter and much lesse wold giue her leaue to accept the present thunfayned witnes of the contrarie of that whych she to lightly beleued but charged the messenger vppon great paine to retorne with the tromperies he hadde brought and say vnto his maister that she knew to well his whistle to come at his call and being lately burned she wold take heede eftsones to fall into the fyer wherwyth albeit the seruant went abowte to prefer thexcuse of hys mayster yet the disdaynefull lady chokinge hys honest intent forced him to vnwilling scilence with charge to ympart her resolucion to hys mayster whom sayth she if I loued earst entyer lye I hate nowe wyth a malyce more thenne mortal wher wyth shée flonge out of the presence of the messenger leauynge hym no lesse amased at her crueltie then dowtefull to retorne to hys infortunate mayster whom hee knewe wold skarcely be kept from the daunger of dispaire in hearinge the sorowfull sommonce of his mistres Albeit seinge he had professed to make a faythfull reaporte hee retorned not forgetting to repete euery point of that whyche she had giuen hym in charge and withall restored the letter and deade presente vnto the selly Diego who at the same instant had giuen lyke ende to his euill and lyfe if hys man had not withstanded thexecucion of hys morderinge handes albeit hée colde not giue suche ympedymente to the furye of hys passion but that it kepte hym occupyed wythe hideus groanes and dolefull regardes the moste parte of the after none till at laste hée quallifyed thextremetye of thys furye in complaynynge to hym selfe in thys sorte Alas saythe hee what iudgemente of fortune is thys that beinge at the pointe to reape the frutes of the contente mente I wishe in the world and fede of the only felycitie I haue in this life to be presented with an extremitie of more desperation then euer happened to any that bare the name of infortunat If such iniquitie beare a swaighe in payinge the due hier of the honeste seruice of men what hope hereafter may sustaine the lyfe of faythful louers what exspectacion haue they in the ende of their trauaile when a Ielous enuye hath power not only to take the praie oute of their handes but also ymparte the frute of their hope to an other not worthy any waye to participate w t so glorious a merit Ah Geniuera if thy disdaynefull anger woulde giue the leaue to make a viewe of my innocencie consider indifferentely the circumstaÌ„ce of my former loue w t ymagynacioÌ„ what assurance I haue hereafter vowed on thy behalfe so long as my body beares lif in this earthly corruptioÌ„ I know thou woldest repeale the sentence of thy former iudgement correcte the sinister instincte that sturred vpp the humor of thy crueltie and wype awaye at laste the teares of my vndeserued sorowe wyth a franke offer of that whyche I haue deserued by iustice Ah vaine hope whyche hetherto haste flattered me wyth pilles of ioyfull disgestion leauing me in the ende to the mercye of a miserable dispaire is it I that muste fele thoperacion of thy poyson and liccour of bitter taste it hadde bene better for me to haue bene repulsed in the begynninge then after a pleasaunt profe of reciprocall loue to be refused and lose the earnest of my desyer for so small an occasion y t the only remembraunce makes me blushe at the symplicitye of the cause Albeit fortune shal not altogether tryumphe ouer me for so longe as I liue so longe wyll I kepe my vowe to the faire Geniuera and preserue my life onlye to witnes the constante force of my loue which albeit I can not performe with out an extreme torment in skorchinge flames of contynuall passion yet the remembrance of my dutie to her to whom I offer this deuocion of a burninge sacrafyce of my selfe wyll quallefye in some parte the heat of my skaldynge gréeffe wherewith he retired into suche sighes and signes of lamentable dollor showinge hym indifferently plunged betwene the Alarams of death and panges of frenzie that hys man was at point to ronn for the old lady to come and blisse her son wyth her last farewell Albeit restoring hys traunce by his owne diligence began so far as he durst to reprehend the weaknes of hys mynde for that he seamed so careles of hym selfe as to offer his life at the sommonce of a folyshe girle who sayth he vseth thys cruell pollecie peraduenture to make a tryall of your constancie neyther ought you to do such wronge to your vertue and much lesse kepe war wyth extremities but if you be resolued to loue her you must also determyn to pursewe her by other meanes and giuinge a lytle place to the malice of fortune attende the benefit of a better tyme who is neuer vnthankfull to theym that suffer her with pacience and who also hath power to mollefye for you thys Dyamantyn harte of your mistres albeit it be tempred wyth the mettell and bloud of the most furious and sauage beastes that euer bredd in the desertes of Lybya Diego did not only allowe thadmonicion of his man but also felte cause of comforte in his aduise with intente to persiste in the pursewte of the good will of his misters to whoÌ„ he preferred sondrie letters ambassages by mouthe other excuses wherin he gayned asmuche as in the firste for that the more he courted her with honeste importunityes the greater grewe her vniuste displeasure in suche sorte that in the end she threatned the messenger with seuere punishement if he continued anye longer the queste of his maisters follye for saith she theis handes shall rather giue ende to my life by a willyng force againste my selfe then my harte consente to be thankefull in anye sorte to hym whome I hate no lesse then the stinge of a venemous serpente which as it brought a fresh supplie of dollor to the languishynge Diego tryeng to thuttermost the vertue of his patience so consideringe the litle gaine he
more of this gentleman theÌ„ in forgiuing the falte of thy false coÌ„tracte with thy last minion not only to forbeare to enter into suspicioÌ„ touching thy vnsemely ronnyng awaye with an vnknowen villeine but also crauing the guerdoÌ„ of his constancie is at point to sacrafice his life to appaise thy anger and yeld the contentment for end I aduise you to chaunge opinioÌ„ least I coÌ„mitt to as many morsels thy desloial body as this wofull knight not long since made bloddie deuision of his vnhappie hawke the only cause of his preseÌ„t distresse and by your owne folly ready to giue you a title of the most tyrannouse arrogant gentlewoman that is neither haue I begon this enterprise to leaue it vnperfecte or giue it ouer with this successe wherfore seynge you take pleasure in extremities I will fede your delite with the offer of loue or death wherof as I giue you the benefitt of the choice so I sweare vnto you by hym that is not ignorante of my intente that if you refuce the first you shall not faile in thys place to passe vnder the sentence of the last wherin my selfe will not feare to discharge thoffice of the fatall minister in embruyng my handes in the blood of her whose follie only causeth the death of one of my dearest frendes Thies threates dismayed nothing the malicious Geniuera nor abated any parte of her presumptuouse arrogancie for who had sene the fyerie regardes of her eyes the knittynge of her browes whettyng of her teethe closinge her delicate fingars withe other braueries excedynge farre the simplicitie of suche tender yeres vnexperienced asyett in thassaltes and malice of an aduerse fortune wolde haue sayed shée hadd rather procured terrour to Roderico then giuen place to his fearefull offer or somounce of loue or death defyenge also the rigour of his authoritie with thies tearmes Lyke as thowe kaitife knighte sayeth she he that is once thorough bathed in the suddes of ynnocente blodde is so fleshed and hardened in villenie that no acte of detestation seames any synne to hym So it is no merueile if thowe whyche haste committed vnnaturall slaughter of one whose true vertue exceded the flatterynge fame of thy renowne and gaue no place to the integretie of life arte not without feare to committ me to the same guide leaste in sufferynge me to liue thou couldest not auoyce the iustice whyche I am to procure vpon the iniury I haue receiued besides I am here readie to laye my heade vppon the blocke of execution rather then to giue the honour of my virginitie to any seinge the cursed handes haue depriued me of hym to whome bothe the trée and frute dyd only apperteine neyther do I tremble in the remembrance of the stroke of deathe howe cruell so euer it appere for that I shall the rather stande affore the troane from whence is graunted all vengaunce to suche wretches as thou arte ha God seing thou arte righteouse why doste thou not thonder iustice vpon the wronge which thies outlawes haue don thy ynnocente hande mayde Ah traitor Roderico perswade thy selfe that thou canste not offer me so cruell a deathe as I am moste readye to endure the tormente hopynge the same shall serue hereafter as the only cause and meane of thindifferent destructiou of thy selfe and hym for whom thou trauellest thus in vaine here her woman and page began to perswade her to pitie on the behalfe of the knighte that suffred such passion for her sake with consente to the honeste requestes of Roderico solicitynge her so frankelye towchynge thextremities of theym both that she entred into tearmes of reprehencion againste their honeste meanynge will you saieth she be eyther enchaunted with the fayned teares of this deloyall who passioneth hym selfe vppon creditt or stande in awe of the tyrannouse threates of thys morder or whose villanie wyth couered face hathe taken awaye the lyfe of youre mayster Ah vnhappye girle that I am it is nowe alas that I feele the heauie handes of fortune whose malyce hathe not onelye putte me béetwene the handes of hym whome I hate no lesse then I haue already experienced his dyssembled loue but also in doublynge my mishap assaileth me with the sinister perswacions of my seruants coÌ„panioÌ„s of care who ought rather to allowe my resolucion in death then prefer motion in any sort touchinge my consente to requests of no less corruption then theim selues be infected who solicite in so bad a caâ—e Ah loue I proue to late alas thinfydelytie of thy promise fyndinge so bad a recompense for so dutifull obedience to yelde at thy sommonce and so slender defence for suche as commit theim selues faythfullye to the gouernmente of thy lore why sholde nature be more curius to frame vs of a more delicate molde tempered with a mettel of fragilitie then careful to leaue vs armour of resistance agaynste thassaltes of fortune for if I had not had a perle of flattering affection painted in my face I had not tasted y e beginning of a pleasure whose dollorous farewell for euer brings more cause of gréeff then thapprehencion at the first engendred parfecte contentment for beinge alas vppon the point to Sipp of the sugred cup wyth exspectacion to féede of the frute of my pleasant attainte Lo how traiterus loue serueth me with dishes of mortal annoye and in place of the deynties which others finde in the ende of their longe hope it is I that am presented with the banquet of al bitter confections which makes me heare resigne and declare my fatal testament vpon thinconstancye of that pleasante follye whom as I leaue at libertie to make hys gaine of others aswell as he hath dallied with me so I reioyce in thexchaunge of so great an euil for so present a consolacion as deathe in whom I hope to fynd no lesse contentment and quiet then the other hath assailed me with diuersatie of passion Retire oh cursed mishap to th ende that dyenge by thy meanes I may liue without the in thother worlde wherein place of a thousand annoyes which yf I shold consente to longer life thou hast yet to thonder vpon me I shal be sewer of eternall reapose norished with thinuisible foode whych god ympartes to hys Angels and soules assistinge his heaueÌ„ly paradise Come deathe and do thyne office vpon thys wretched girle who attendes the sharpnes of thy darte to preuente the â—earcinge arrowes of myne aduersarye Ah poore harte deuoyde of hope am desperate touching the consommacion of thy desyers ceasse hensfurth to wishe the fruytion of longer tearme seinge destenie loue and lyf are determined to dysmisse me here hence to sewe for peace elswhere and embrase the ghost of hym whose lif was sacrafized to the deloyaltie of thys wretche who also for his parte not satisfyed with the blod of ynnocencye takes no compassion vpon my teares which I wishe to distyll by suche abundance that in ouerflowing the vital paxtes in me he might sée me perishe in his
thornaments of nature and giftes of grace and yelding hym besides suche honor and honest loue as was necessary for the state of mariage yet notwithstandinge was he so vnthankefull to all these benefites that after he had called the flower of her beautye and forced her to passe an assuraunce of her goods and lynynge to his vse hee committed secret execution washed his handes in the blod of thâ—infortunate Ladye contrarye to all ciuilytie or lawe of nature if he I saye seame iustly meritorious of reproche we maye worthely imparte treble prayse to a barbarous Turke and admirall of the countrey of Arabia who being ouerthrowen in y e bataile foughten in that countrey by Bandwin king of Ierusalem him selfe and wife prisoners with his treasure and municion of warre at the disposition of the sayde kinge and beinge dismissed frely without exaction or raunsom and his wife restored withoute violacion or force of her bodye iudged it a vertu not to be ouercome in magnificence and liberalitye and a mortal vice to beare the title of an vnthankefull Prince whereof he made declaracion for that not longe after the sayde Bawdwine beinge beseged of the infidels and by distresse of warre at point to fal into their mercy the sayde admyral not vumindefull of the compassion he showed vpon his misery brake into him by nighte and withe certeine assistantes of horsemen preuented his present perill and set him safelye vppon his waye from al offer or feare of daunger All whiche I haue coated in this introduction for that my historye importes ii examples of semblable substance the one exposinge a wonderfull effecte of frendshipp on the behalf of his ennemie and the other retorninge his liberalitye withe suche ample consideration that there is no degre in any Corner ofchristendom-but may se an experience of vertue in the doings of theÌ„ both Wherein I wishe chiefly a perticipacion of the fruite of such examples to all sortes of our contriemen in englande to th ende wee maye forme our lyues vpon y e verteous presedents of such strangers as preferringe vertue afore vice haue bene more curious to get a true renoume of reputacion then carefull of a vaine gloriouse or folyshe pomppe of the world A WONDERFVL VERtue in a gentlman of Syenna on the behalfe of his ennemye whoÌ„ he delyuered from Death and the other to retorne his courtesye vvith equall frendshyp presented him with his sister whom he knew hee loued entierlye IN the â—ecewles or Comentories of tuskan I find a special Remembraunce of a mortall grudge betwene ij of the moste noble houses in SYENNA called Salimbino and Montanino whereof as bothe the one and other were of semblable Reputation for honour and height of estate so were they of equall Rule authoritie in the gouernement of their publike weale whose parentes allbeit and predecessours were of singler commendation by the vertue of mutuall societye whiche appeared so entyer and indissoluble betwene theim by manye discentes that the writers in that age douted not to tearme theym no lesse true myrrroers patterns of perfect frendship then either HORESTES or PYLLADAS which y e Romain oratour Makes so famous by peculiar commendation yet according to the opinion of Aristotle as children commonly do Rather excede their fathers in vice then Resemble them in vertue so the posteretyes of these noble houses in place to perseuer in the vertue of their parentes or treade in the steppes of their aunciente amytie in the verie entrey of their florishing time when al men were in exspectacion of verteous frutes like to their fathers withe hope to confirme the league of their long frendeshippe they embrased sinister occasions of ciuil mutines grouÌ„ding great quarrels vpon slender or smal substance with a dispocition and equall desyre the one to pursewe the other wyth such fatal hate and vnnatural tyranny that as the one was almost brought euen to the brinke of vtter desolation of hys house and Reuenue so the other triumphing allbeit in the Conquest of his enemye escaped not only with out perentory perill of him selfe losse of A nomber of his deare kinsmen and Companions of Race but also was enioyned to so harde A penance that he lyued alwayes after in the contynuall grudge and desdaine of the people the viewe of whose malice preferring A wonderful remorce of conscience with Remembrance of the fowlenes of the facte passed pursewed hym with alarams of vnnaturall and frettinge disquiet of minde euen vntill the last separation of his soule and body And here if you conferre the quarrell with the cause and waighe in indiffrent ballance the mischiues morders with infinit inconueniences deriued of so small occassions you nede not doubt to ioyne in opinion with Paulus Iouius other writes worthy of no lesse Credyte then of greate fame for learning and skil who amongest other generall discriptioÌ„s of Italy geueth her this peculiar CommendacioÌ„ that beyng subiect to thinfluence of a crabbed Clymate and quarrelus coÌ„stellacion termes her to be of al the world the only store-house for percialites and Ciuill faccions and market place of Tumultes suborned trobles which I colde also iustefie by thautority of the warres betwene the florentynes and the Syennoys with other frée states in y e contreye besids the eiuil discencioÌ„ among the nobility w t vnnaturall persecutions of families kinreds sauing y t the discourse wold seame more tedius then necessarye and kepe me to longe from the principal points of my history which calles me now to perform my promisse and satisfye the expectacion of the rearder No man Douteth I am sewer that aswel antiquity as people of present being haue not had in general regard peculiar delyte the noble exercise of hunting diuers kynds of chases no lesse for the respect of pleasure then euitacioÌ„ of diuers disco modities happenyng oftentymes to the husbandmen by the wilde boare and wolfe with other beasts of equall fercenes and like annoye wherin albeit besides the contentment of the mynde ther is to be coolled a necessarye fruite of double commoditie the one to sturre vp the ydle crewe of delicate persons hauntyng the houses of great men to the exercise and ymitation of honest traueill the other representyng the very sleyghtes and pollecies in warre instructes the young gentlemen not hable as yet to endure the hardnes and experience of the fyelde to discerne the aduauntage of the place the subtelty in dressing his ambushe for beynge discouered his tyme to dysplaie the same to the disaduantage of the enemy the order howe and when to geue the charge with an enforcynge of corage to pursewe the chasse so farre as good gouernement wil giue leaue yet is not thys pleasaunt skirmishe and necessary recreation for youth wythout some agument of great and almoste absolute assurance of diuerse sortes of misfortunes for wee reade that MELEAGER loste his lyfe in killing the wilde boare of CALIDONA Cephale for the lyke respect kylled hys deare
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
they short of without eyther mache slint or pouder and of whose folyshe and vnshamful lyghtnes procedes the argument of so many comodies and Enterludes playd in open stage not so much to the confusion of them selues and parentes as open scandall to their husbands and houses for euer wherof the familyer example is to be noted in the sequel of this Pandora who was not only in short time vtterly detested of y t ROMAIN but also a commeniestinge stocke and pointed at by his meanes of al men for her rashe familiaritye vsed towards hym who not long after the fyrst foundatioÌ„ of this frendship was cald home from exile by Leo de Medicis their soueraigne vycar of the Sea of Rome perdonyng his offence and restoryng the vse of his former lybertye at whose departure vnloked for Pandora entred into no small passion of dolour not for any seruent affection or loue whiche she bare to her Romain frende but bycause his sodaine goinge awaye lefte her voyde of all lycours to quenche the burnynge flame of the gredy goote of her vnnatural concupiscens and chiefly because Monsieurle Page began also to ware cold in the combat whiche he had wonte to maintayne wyth suche courage But fortune here was so frendlye to the fulfyllynge of her licencious appetit that she styring vp a fresh supplie of her desire presented in the listes a yonge knyght of Myllan called Cesar Parthonope who by chaunce hyrynge the lodging of the late Romain succeded hym also in desyre and diligence for he at the fyrste vewe regardynge the flateringe beautye of this ALCYNE his neyghbour suffered himselfe vnaduisedly to flyppe into the snares of loue honoryng that in his hart with true sinceritie as a deare Iewel which his predecessour worthely hated wyth dewe detestacion And entrynge here into the pagant of loue his fyrst part was to gyue som outwarde arguments of his inward affection wherin he begaÌ„ to make many pale walkes afore her gate rouynge wyth his eyes at her chamber wyndowes accordyng to the amorous order of the vayne Spanyard vtterynge by the dolefull vewe of his troubled countenaunce the greate and secrete desyre quarelynge inwardlye wyth his vnrulye thoughts But what nede a man vse polycie wher slender sute wyll preuayle or who wyll bend his battery to that fortresse wherof the captayne demaundes partly and sues for composition And besides wheÌ„ the vaile of shame is once remoued from our eyes what let is there to staye the sensual cours of our bestly appetits And they that suffer the raine of reasoÌ„ to slacke or wholly to slip out of their hands semes as traÌ„sformed in a momeÌ„t so weakned touching the liuely mocions forces of the spirit y t the exterior prouocacions appetit of desyre preuaile wholy aboue the inwarde resistance accions of the soule lyke as this glotton impudent Pandora who seing her somtimes saluted with a pleasant eye of her new neighbour forgot not to requit him with such wanton glaunces of suche open vnderstandynge that the knyght doubtynge not of the successe of his interprise assured himselfe alredy of the victorye wherin he was somwhat holpen by the hand of fortune who prouiding a iorney for the husband of Pandora touchinge therecution of a commission in a forein countrye kept hym absent in those affaires the space of a yere or more wherein Parthonope forgot not to vse thoportunitye of so conuenient a time being ignorant with al of the great libertie of his mistres who drew him on al this whyle by fine traines to thend to make him more eager of bit had no waye to vnfold y e cause of his passion but by a letter which he made the messenger of his grefe and soliciter of his desyre in this sorte The curious Artificer coninge worke woman Dame Nature I sée wel good madame was not so careful to worke you in her semelie frame of all perfections as the powers deuine difposers of the daungerous loftye planets assisting her endeuour with certaine peculier ornaments of their speciall grace weare redye to open their golden vessell of precious treasur powring by great abuÌ„daÌ„ce their heauenly gifts vpoÌ„ you striuing as it semes whiche of theÌ„ for thencrease of his glory shold dispose himself most liberaliy on your behalf like as according to the Poets they contended of olde for the adoring by seueral ornameÌ„ts the late Pandora whom for all respects they agréed to be the odd ymage of the world but specially for beautie which if it dazeled y e eyes of the gods shining as a twinkling starr in thelemeÌ„ts aboue yours I thinke was reserued as a torch of glistring flame to giue light to y e creatures of the midel world wherof for my part vewing w t to ardent affectioÌ„ y e sundry celestial ornameÌ„ts imparted to you by the Gods w c the percinge beames of rare beautie gyuen you for your dowrie of Nature I doubt whether mine eyes duâ—med altogether w t admiracioÌ„ wil first crie out for y e losse of their former sight or my whole bodie plunged in the passion of affectioÌ„ wil accuse the heart with the rest of thinward senses consentinge so easely to the cause of their disquiet wherein my lyfe wayeth indiferentlye in the ballance of a thousand annoyes and mine auncient libertie in the meane whyle kept close in an extreme captiuitye Albeit measuring your heauely shape with thutwarde showe of singuler curtesye that semes to occupye al your partes I can not resolue of any crueltie to consiste in you neither canne I iudge by the argument of your beauty but y t my captiuitie shal be spedely caÌ„uerted a happie deliuerie like as also my hope half assureth me triumphinge with honor ouer the doubtfull obiect of my thought to tast at your hands of the pleasaunt frutes of the thinge I chiefly desyre which is in accepting me for your seruant secret frend to admit me into such place of pitye as the dewe merit of my vnfayned seruice deserues by Iustice wherin your act shal seme no lesse meritorious afore the throne of the hyghe goddesse then honorable wyth generall fame for euer in the worlde for releuynge him who without your assistance being wholy transformed to thappetite of your wyll fyndes the burden of lyfe of such vneasye tolleracioÌ„ that y e least repulse of his sute at your haÌ„ds iports his fatal summonce to resigne the tearme of his borowed ye res in this worlde Neither doth he desyre to haue the fruicion of his earthly dayes any lenger then to imploye the same withal humilitie in the seruice of you whome his hart hath alredy pronounced the souerein Ladye of his lyfe wherof you only maye dispose at your pleasure Your vnfayned Cesar Parthonopee Whiche letter he deliuered vnto his Page experienced alredye in the conueye of like affaires who accordinge to the sharp passioÌ„ of his maister vsed therpedicioÌ„ oftime in the dispatch of his charge whereupoÌ„
doares of his lodgynge tyll the deade tyme of the nyghte sommonynge all sortes of people to reste seamed to putt hym in Remembraunce of hys promisse and the thynge he chiefly desyered to perperforme so that arming himself only with sleues of male and a naked rapiour vnder his mantell he marched towards the pallais of PLAVDINA wyth more haste then good spéede and lesse assuraunce of sauetye then likelihod of good lucke for as he accompted hymselfe no lesse frée from all daungers then farre from any occasion or offer of perill so fortune displayinge the flagge of her malice encountred hym soddainely with a desaster excedynge his exspectation whereby she warned hym as it were of the ambushe of future euils whiche were readye to discouer themselues And albeit this first accident was nothinge in respect of the other straung mischiefes which she ceassed not to thonder vppon hym one in the necke of an other afore the ende of his enterprise yet it oughte to haue sufficed to haue reuoked and made hym cross saile from the pursute of so bad an aduenture seinge withal there appeared neyther reason in the attempt nor honestie in the victorye But who doubteth that the luste of the bodye is not the chiefest thinge that infecteth the minde wyth all syn and that the beautye of a woman dothe not onelye drawe and subdue the outwarde partes but also leuyeth suche sharpp assaultes to the in warde forces of the mynde not sewerly rampierd in vertue that they are not onely denyed to eschewe suche thinges as bée vndoubtedly hurtefull both to the bodye and soule but also drawen to desyer that which they ought not to ymagine and muche more abhorre to do as a thynge of greate detestation besides loue is of so venterous a disposicion sturryng vp such a corage in the hartes of those champions whome he possesseth that he makes theim not onely vnmindefull of all daungers but also to seame hable to passe the lymittes of the Son wyth power to excede the bondes of Hercules and Bacchus neyther makes he any thynge vnlawfull whiche he thinketh reasonable nor gyueth glorie to that enterprise whiche is not accompanied with infynitie of perills But as the wyse man wisheth all estates to deliberat at large afore the deuise bée put in execution yeldyng no difference of rewarde with a successe of semblable and equall effecte to hym that rashely crediteth thaduise of hymselfe and suche as committ theyr bodies and doinges to one stroake of fortune So are we warned by thauthoritye of the same principle to examyne the circumstaunce of our enterprises and caste the good and euil that maye happen wyth so sewer and steddye a iudgement that there can no daunger so soone appeare but we maye bee assisted wyth the choice of ij or iij. remedies to represse hym wherein if CORNELIO had bene as throwly instructed as he seamed altogether infected with the humour of follye he neded not haue fallen into suche daunger as he doubted least nor dispaire of that whiche he seamed to desyer moste and muche lesse assailed euen in the begynnynge and brunt of hys buysynes wyth that soddaine feare whiche earste he was not hable to ymagine and nowe as vnlykely and vnprouided to shâ—n for as he attended the comming of Ianiqueta to open the doare beholde there ronge in his eares a greate brute or noyse of the clatteringe of naked weapons and men in harneys seaminge as it was in déede a set fraye betwene ij enemies in the ende or corner of the same stréete which was so hoatlye pursued that one of the skirmishers beinge hurte to the death brake out of the presse and fleinge towardes the place where CORNELIO stoode fainted and fell downe dead at his féete euen as the maide opened the wicket to take hym in whiche was not so secretlye don but the eyes of certeine neighbours beholdynge the fraye oute of their windowes discouered the goinge in of CORNELIO with a nacked sworde in his hande wherevpon followed the alarame to the innocent louer as you shall heare herafter but beinge within the courte and the gates shotte againe he was léed by the litle Darioletta of their loue into a garderobe or inner gallery till the seruantes were retired to reste who for the most parte laye out of the house that night beinge busye in visiting the banquettes abroade accordynge to the Epicure order of sondrye countreys in christendome durynge the season of shrâ—â—tide when diuerse glottons delite in nothing but to do sacrifyce to their belly And hauing the reste sewerly locked in their chambers and all occasions of suspicion or feare eyther preuented or prouided for as they thought PLAVDINA sent for her seruant into her chamber thin king to worke theffect of both their desyers and plante the maried mans badge in the browes of her husband being absent But here they made their reckoning without their ost and were forced to rise from the banquet rather with increase of appetyt then satisfied with the delicat dishes they desyered to féede vpon for as they had newly begon the preamble to the part they ment to plaie and entred into thamarous exercise of kissinge and embrasinge eche other whereof neyther the one nor thother hadde earste made assaie together beinge at the pointe to laye their hands to the last indeuor and effect of loue which the frenchmanne calleth Ledon Damoreuse mercy they hard a greate noyse and horleyborley in the stréete of the garde and chiefe officers of y e watche who fyndynge the deade bodye at the doare of PLAVDINA began to make such inquisition of y e murthur wyth threatenyng charge to vnderstande the manner and cause of his deathe that amongest the neyghbours whyche behelde the fraie there was one affyrmed that at the same instant that the broyle was moste hoat hée sawe a tall yonge gentleman let in at the gates of PLAVDINA with a sworde in his hande armed on the armes wyth sleues of male whervpon the capteine of the watche beganne to bounce at the doare as thoughe his force hadde bene hable to beate downe the walls wyth suche a rowte and companye of frenchemenne assistynge hys angrye indeuor that bothe the one and the other of oure louers seamed indiffrentely passioned wyth semblable feare the one dowtyng thys soddayne sturre â—proare of the frenchmen to be rather a pryuye search to entrappe him then an Inquirendum for the murdor wherof he was no less ignorant then innocent the other dispairing no lesse of the delyuery of her frende yf he fell once vnhappelye into the handes of thennemye then doubtynge the dyscouerye of her owne dishonestie beynge knowen to conceile a stranger in the secret corners of her house wherein hauyng albeit but bad choice of meanes to auoyde suche ij threatenynge euills and lesse tyme to take councell of their present perill yet beyng of opynion that in the sauetie of the one consisted the sewertye of theym bothe shee vsed the pollecie of the wyse maryner or shypmaister
ympartes a wonder full strength and constancie of mynd to suche as be chast in dede and the vertue of whom consisteth not only in thoutwarde argumentes but is sewerly ram pierd within the strongest part of their harte like as in the mynd of this to whom as you see thalmighty gaue force to vanquishe wyth mayne hande the wicked enemye of her honor FINIS The argument YF the wisemen of olde time founde cause of cohibicion in their vnruly children and ympes of wanton youthe I thinke we haue double reason in this age to vse a steddie eye bothe vpon our daughters and such as are geuen vs in socyetie of wedlock not for that I wish the one to be kepte vnder as seruants or seruile slaues nor to take awaye from the other the whole skoope of libertie appointed by the preferment of mariage but exposinge an Indifferent and honeste meane I wishe to eschewe the murmore of the world by cuttinge of suche infyuit occasions of infections as seme to offer them selues to corrupte and seduce the fragillitie of our youth chieflye seinge a dayly experience of so many assaltes and alarams of fylthye loue offered to our daughters and litle girles beinge yet in the firste flame of the fyre whiche nature kindleth in the hartes of such as accompt themselues most confirmed in the yeres of maturitie or discrecion neyther wolde I that either the maide or the maried woman shold refuse to haue a bridel put to her libertie coÌ„sideriÌ„gitis such a garde of her quiet and honest name wyth chiefe defence against the malice of the reprochefull worlde that it were better to be chayned in the bottom of a darke pryson then to enioye the benefit of the open ayer being noted of such spottes of infamy as coÌ„monly attendes vpon an inordynat libertie and lice nâ—ious life Wherein if the desolacion of so many parentes wepinge in the villanie of their wiues and daughters vtter ruine and subuercioÌ„ of so many houses presented in stage playes to feed the â—aine eyes of the reprochefull multitude argued not the nomber of inconuenience happening by a dissolute and libertines lif and y t in the persones of diuerse our great mens daughters now a daies wee nede not seame so curious in keping this continuall watche and garde but resigne such ceremonies to be practised in strang contries wher meÌ„ are Ielous of their owne shadow w t opinioÌ„ that their wiues or daughters are not able to resist the least and most simple attaynt y t can be offred But wher thexamples are more then manifest and the frutes of y e folly burst out in open shew let vs leaue to allow or assise the brutal opinion of such as perswade that awe is not necessary for youth or y e seuere correctioÌ„ or rather folysh pamperiÌ„g bredes a dolnes of wit w t impedimeÌ„t of y e dispositioÌ„ of y e mind or hinderance to thincrease of natural giftes The daughters of Rome lyued alwaies within the house of their fathers with no more libertie theÌ„ was measured vnto theim by y e eye of their mother and yet weâ— they vertuous matrons in their houses and so sufficently instructed in cyuilitie that I doubt y e most perfect courtier we haue at this day deserueth not comparison with y e least of their perfectioÌ„s for what other ciuilitie or exaÌ„ple of honest life caÌ„ y e maides of our time learn in any coÌ„pany now a dayes if not to seame eloqueÌ„t in pratlinge discourses of vaine filthie loue with words ful of vaine and filthy loue and intiâ—ing behauiors of an open curtisan somtime to make an experieÌ„ce of an act no lesse detestable in dede theÌ„ the remeÌ„brance ought to be hateful to al honest meÌ„ albeit as I wold not by this meanes procure a general inhibicioÌ„ of honest conference and coÌ„pany amongest the nobilitie of our coÌ„try with exercises tollerated by y e perscriptioÌ„ of libertie lefte vnto vs by our auncieÌ„ts So it is an indeuor most necessary in mine opinion to make a conteÌ„placioÌ„ or view of the maners or inclinacioÌ„ of wils with a discression to check such as be to froward make slack in some sort the raine of awful gouermente to them that seame of more tender disposicioÌ„ by y e assistaÌ„te of which polycie it cold not be chosen but vertue shold glyster as greatly in y e houses of great meÌ„ as rude behauior in the cabynet of y e paisaÌ„t or vnciuile trankeling who coÌ„moÌ„ly goeth more neare the discipline of thelders in norriture of their childreÌ„ theÌ„ such as vndertake to be maisters of art of exquisit skil toochiÌ„g y e educatioÌ„ of yongliÌ„ngs for which cause the wise Emperour Marcus Aure lius wold not haue his doughters brought vp in y e court for how caÌ„ the norce saith he he honest herself or ympart vertu to her rhild seing nothing but practises of euil and vniuersatie of y e disputacioÌ„ of loue with a thousaÌ„d vaine delites to with drawe her from wel doinge or to showe effectes of a godly lyfe but to auoide the imputacion or title of a rigorous iudge whiche some of oure ladies or gentlewomen maye peraduenture bestowe vppon me in prescribinge suche straite rules of their reformacioÌ„ I prefer for my only defeÌ„ce y t benefit of vertue who I am sewer wil alwaies appeare perfecte as she is both in bud braÌ„ch in what soile soeuer she be planted wherin aswel for mine owne excase as also to make more noble y e sinceritie of noble dames by thimpudeÌ„t life of y e slipperie sort of womeÌ„ I haue preferred this exaÌ„ple of an ItaliaÌ„ couÌ„tesse who so loÌ„g as her first husbaÌ„d not igno raÌ„t of y e humor of her inclinacion kept her within the blew of his eye seamed so curious of her reputacioÌ„ y t y e same only was hable to pleade against al thennemies of her renowme but y e vaile of this fre captiuitie was no soner takeÌ„ away by the death of her husband but God knoweth what valyant exploites she performed and your selues may be iudges what false bowndes she gaue to her owne honor with badges of infamie to hym that shold haue gouerned her in her second mariage if you wil use patience in readinge the discourse that followeth THE DISORDERED LYF of the countesse of Celant who liuynge long in adultery and after she had procured diuerse morders receaued the hier of her vvickednes by a shameful death IN thuttermoste partes of Pyemount is a percell of thinheritaunce of the Marques mountferrat called CASALIA where dwelte sometyme one Iames Scarpadon a manne more notorius in those partes by his treasure and abhomynable trade of vsurie and fylthie gaine then of anye reputacion elswhere by disceÌ„t of parentage or monument of any vertue or godly disposicion who marienge a grecian damefell of equal qualitie and calibre begat of her a dought ter more faire then vertuouse lesse honest then was necessarie and worse disposed then well
therle neither ignorant in the sollies of women nor voyde of experience to practise suche kinde of creatures preferred a wounderful pacience as his chiefest remedy against the rage of his wyf laying afore her notwithstaÌ„ding in gentle tearmes the dutie and indeuor of a wyfe towardes her husband how much in what sorte she ought to respect the honor of her self and reputacion of mariage and that as no woman oughte to putt in interest her honor or honest name so the greater she is in degrée the more haynous is her offence and a small faulte of a great Ladie is most mortall in the eye of y e multitude who lookes that the lyfe and vertue of greate Ladies shold serue as it were as a torche of cleare flame to gyue lighte to the lesser companions neither is the chastetie of y e mynde saith he sufficient to confirme the perfect renowme of a gentlewoman if the wordes and outewarde hehauior of the bodye do not followe thinwarde vertue of the hart thordynarye hawnte and exercise giue manifest declaracion of that whiche lieth hyd in the secretes of the stomacke and for my part I wolde be loathe to giue you cause of miscontentement seing that in the reapose of you consistes the rest of my self and you beynge oute of quiett I can not escape without greeff seynge that as the mutuall consent of our wills and affections with the like coniunction of mariage hath made you the one halfe and second part of my selfe so I exspect at your handes only a simple accomplishement of that which your publike othe affore God and man in the churche hath bounde you vnto like as also I am readye to performe vnto you thuttermost of any promisse or priuiledge where of at any tyme I haue made protestacion with full assurance froÌ„ this present of euerye part of the same so that you giue me the due respect of a husbande for as the head beyng the chief and principall part of the reste of the members hath as yt were a speciall authority by nature to gouerne the whole masse and remeynder of the bodye so the woman beynge thinferior part of her husbande is subiect to all dutifull obedience on his behalfe bounde to honor hym with no worse tearmes then by the name of Lord and maister for in omittinge your duty towards him you abuse the vertue of your vowe approued by sollemne othe and in inceÌ„sing his dishonor you are guâ—ltie of the violacion and breache of wedlocke one chief ouersighte I note in you is for that vppon smal causes you fordge great complaintes which argueth the rather the ydlenes of your brayne for the mynde that ys occupyed wyth vanitye is forgettfull of all thynges sauynge suche as thynstygacion of pleasure and folly do preferr to her remembraunce where on the contrarye part the sprite affected to vertue exposeth alwayes â—rutes accordynge to so great a gyfte dissimuling her passions with wordes of wisdome and in knowing-much giueth not withstandynge a showe of an honest and moderate ignorance she that laboreth in a passion of particular coÌ„ceites with detestacion of the due respecte of honor can not studie other workes then such as seame to fauor her follye nor open her eares to any voice if the same agrée not to the coÌ„plot and coÌ„tentement of her fancie wherein as I hope you will eyther pardoÌ„ me by iustice or at least excuse my simplicitie for that as you late tearmes of reproche haue forced me to suche a plaines so for ende if you will renounce your trade of former folly and fromhenâ—â—urth retire to an orderly confirmitie of life you shal not only procure a singler pleasure to me but cause an absolute contentement with continuall quiet to your selfe whereof bée careful as you thinke good Here the erle had great reason and double pollecie in seking to reforme thabuses in his wif without thassistance of crueltie or constraint for that suche disposicions are rather reduced by faire intreaity then reclaimed by feare or force of torments according to the nature of diuerse of thinsensible creatures for the fierce Elephant standes not in awe of his keaper by force of any stripes but is made tractable to bende his lardge bodie whilest he mounte vpon his backe by certeine familiar voices and stroakinges of his keper wherewith he ouercometh the naturall rudenes and crueltie of the beaste The Tygre will take foode at the handes of the wildman norished in the caues and desert habitacions amongest theim where no stripes nor other awe of man can moue any moderacton to his wodnes or cruell nature So likewise some women albeyt they are quite deuested of all honor or honestie yet are they founde to reteine some sparkes of ciuil humanitie beinge more easelye broughte to a reformacion by gentle order then reclaimed by the smart of any torture or crueltie wherein not withstandynge this countesse seamed to vse a more extremety and excede y e doinges of any that euer haue bene noted of disorder that waye for neither gentle perswacions colde allure her nor feare nor force reduce her to reconcilement or amendement of life but accordynge to the stone of Scylicia vppon whom the more you beate to bruse or breake yt in peces the greater hardnes is dryuen into it so the greater indeuor therle vsed to persuade his wyfe eyther by allurement or offer of correction the more peruersatie he founde in ber with lesse hope of amendement and as she vsed a malicious scilence during the discourse of his exhorâ—acion so she forced in her selfe for the present a wounderfull patience to th end that with the consent of a more conuenient time she might spitt oute the poyson whiche she shrowded secretly vnder the wynge of her venemous stomacke wherby for a first proofe of her conninge in the parte she mente to plaie she forgat not to dissimule her passion and conterfet the simple ypocrate in suche sorte as a wiser man then therle mighte easelye haue bene taken in the snare of her deceite whiche notwithstandynge she vsed in such couert manner that within shorte time she had not only remoued al conceites of euill from the head of her husband but also brought him to an opinion of a maruelons honesty and assured confidence in her in whyche good vaine for a more declaracion of his good mynde towardes her he obserued her fancie so farfurth as vpon a soddaine he brake vp house in Scauoye and went to Casaliae where laye her inheritance and chiefe possession Yf you marke wel the fetche of this womaÌ„ in procuring her husband to depart his coÌ„trey what a sodaine checke folowed to him with a false bound to y e honor of her selfe you may easely iudge that a woman once bent resolued to do euill hath a wit to ymagine al malice sorts of mischief to be ministers in therecucion of her wickednes that neither feare of punishement imputacion of shame perill nor daunger how
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
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
in vertue or more apte to fall then we neyther ought we do them that wronge in estemynge themlesse weake theÌ„ our selues or more subiect to syn theÌ„ the moste and beste assured of vs all seinge we fynde them longer in breath and vse more assurance in with standynge the sensuall prouocations of the fleshe then we haue reason to assaulte them with the like alarams and truly he geues more argument of his fragilitie weake resistaunce who at the first assaulte mocion of his wanton affections doth yelde himselfe prisoner to thappetit of his will with intent to pursue th end of his lasciuious desire then she that resisting of loÌ„g time the hoat alarams of his vehemeÌ„t requests is dryuen at laste vnwillyngly to resigne the keys of her for tresse more peraduenture to preuent the danger of dispaier in hym whome she séeth redye to die for her sake then for anye desire to content thappetite of her owne will and yet can not she escape the malice of suspicion nor merite the name of perfet coÌ„stancie that is ouercome with any enchantement howe strong so euer it be for that she can not beare the title of true vertue onles shee remaine inuincible to th eÌ„de waighiÌ„g her honor lyfe in indiffereÌ„t balauÌ„ce wherof al ladies may behold a familiar prof in this mirror Iemme of coÌ„stancy Iulya who the more shee was pressed courted with the pepered aluremeÌ„ts of y e valtaÌ„t souldior of loue the more did she rampire her selfe in assurance of vertue seaming valiant in the defence of a fort that was inexpugnable whiche ministrynge nothynge but a present dispaier to him to preualle by any pollicyes afore deuised driue him to resorte to thassistance of the pernicious coÌ„mon meane vsed ordinarily by the detestable palliard that can not other waies deceiue the symplicitie of honest maides and whiche as an infection worse then the ayr of the pestilence doth corrupte the gréenes of youth afore it be confirmed wyth experience and discrecion I meane a she bawde wherof Paris hath lesse wante then choise or store of honest women whiche coyffed with a visor or cloke of fained hollynes and masqued wholy with a mofler of Hypocricy seamyng to the worlde to mortifye her bodye with iij. or iiij solemne fastes in the weke watchinge in deuoute maner at the churche doare for the deuocion and aimes of the people and caryinge in her hande a baudy baskett rather to coolor her villanye then to serue her necessarye tourne becoms the collcaryour betwene the louer and his trol makyng a matche no lesse odyous in the eye of the worlde then detestable afore the throne of the highest becominge by this meanes the fyrst seducer of theÌ„ that afore the offer of her charmes of painted allurement were peraduenture no lesse voyde of suche ymaginacion then frée from intent euer to commit so foule an acte yet vse they suche secret sleight in the conueighe of their busines that the finest wittes can hardely espye them the best ties had néede of spectacles to discouer their trade but what is it that loue can not fynde out whose eies albeit be so percyng of them selues that they will penetrat fynd a whole to péepe out of the strongest closest tower in a countreye yet hath his arte suche a gyfte of reuelacion in this case that ther is no meane howe secret so euer it be but he geues informacion of it to him that traffiques in his affaires wyth intent to aduaunce theffect of his desier wherein this vallett of chamber forgetting neither rule nor instruction gat him in hast to this double doxye and solemne Hypocryte whom he knewe to be an ordinarye solyciâ—â—y in the lyke affaires and a redye phisicioÌ„ to cure all dise 〈◊〉 of his importance he first coniures her in any wyse to make councell of that whiche he ment to communicate vnto her then to assiste his gréef wyth the vttermost of her diligence wherwith she seinge euen nowe as farr into his disease as his phisicion did into his vrine castyng alredye in her head what marke the poore louer woulde shoot at began to prefer a certen difficultye to promise eyther the on or the other alledging that if his request shoulde tende to the hurte or disaduantage of her conscience his labor were lost any further to pursue the assistaunce of her god will for saith she I had rather dye wyth the note of honest name whiche hetherto I haue kepte then vpon the ende of my yeres do the thynge with my bodye that in the other worlde might bryng my soule in hazarde of grace afore him whome it behoues me not to offeÌ„de but the subtill louer who knew wel inough that her trade consisted in the conueighe of bawdye errandes and that the body and soules of suche filthes were no lesse subiecte to corrupcion then their hypocrisye and vaile of hollynes detestable brake with her in fewe wordes of the cause of his comming desyryng her in any wyse not to dissemble her indeuour on his behalf addinge for a further circomstaunce that she shoulde reape a thankefull rewarde of her trauaile wherin because he knewe that money was the nexte meane and only key to open the deuout harte of this moÌ„ster and that such she apes and goolphes of iniquitye haue no other God but the geine of their abhominable trade let fal into her lapp some iij. or iiij duckets whose first vewe preuailed so much had such power to conuert this painted Image that wythout further entreatie she remoued the vaile of her fyrst hardnes and aduowed her selfe the handmaide of his behest wyllynge hym to lyue in hope and repose him selfe wholly vppon her diligence wherof saieth she I doubt not to present the suche spedie effecte as within fewe daies the ioye y t thou shalt féele by the encounter of thy desyre shall farr excede the languishyng gréefe of thy 〈◊〉 passion and thusmuche I will promise the further 〈◊〉 if shée be but a woman nott possessed with any parte of a deuill as many of vs be I wil so coniure her withe charmes and enchauntmentes of my arte that of her selfe she shal offer thee the possession of that which heretofore thow couldest neuer wyn by power or pollicy but take head my sonne saith she that this be mom and my indeuor not discouered to any for as pytty more then other respecte hathe moued me to vndertake thusmuche for thy conteÌ„tacion beyng the first that euer brought me to practyse so badd a trade so I wold not for the price of all I haue that y e world shoulde vnderstand I were a broaker in a busynes so farre vnmete for myne honour and age tushe sayeth this fondlyng and cockney of FERRARA let not the feare of that be any ympediment to your diligence for I am no lesse carefull of your reputacion then desirous to see theffecte of your promise wherein I praye you forgett not to make expedicion your
possession of him that desired nothing so much as to enioye the pillage of so precious a praye albeit she fisshed afor the nete made her reckoning without her hoast for assone as shée comes to the cottage of Iulya and began to enter into the preamble of her embassage openynge with all the bore of her marchandise Iewels the mayde abhorring no lesse the company of y e bawde then lothing the sight of y e ministers of corrupciō could not so bridle her humor of iust anger but interrupting her bablyng discourse shée seased in hast vpon y e Iewls other presents which without respect of their valew she cast into the middest of the strete imparting the like curtesie to the lewde bringer whom shée toke by the sholders and thrust out of her house with threats that yf shée aduentred eftesones to come thither she would present her with her message affor the Ladye marquise who hated suche trolls and corrupters of youth as a pestilence or worse infectiō sayng besides y t he y t sent her gaue sufficiēt profe of his follie in seking to seduce her by money and presents y t toke no pittie of his teares former complaints of dolor neyther was he lesse vyle to thincke to buye her with money that ys not to be solde but by the price of vertue then she detestable afor God and the worlde that mesureth her honor by the price of her profit warnyng her as for all hensfurth to desist for feare of the reward of shame and he to rest contented with the wrong he had alredy don without pressing her any further to put his falte punishment in publicacion which last threates stroke such a feare into the hart of the olde hag with a present dispaier to preuaile any waie in the pursute of her quest that being only glad to escape so wel the danger of her deferuing she retired in hast to the seely Ferraroys to whome in place of good newes or plesant reporte of her successe she mynistred perswacions to correct hys fancye and forgett to loue suche one as makes no accompte of hys seruice willing him withal to plant hys affection in some better soyle vpon suche one as were not brutishe or voyd of reason to requyt the meryt of his seruice for saieth she thies beasts impes whithout wit or order of ciuilitie do also lack discresion to consider in cases of loue or yelde the due méede of true affection neither can they degenerat from the climat of their base discent or do other thinge then suche as the wilfull loare of their follie doth lead them vnto and beyng fauored as it were of nature with the gyfte of a certen beautie whiche bringes them in estimacion amongest men they are so assotted in the humor of selfe will that they seme rather to abuse the benefyte of so precious a Iewel then worthie to weare so rare an ornament and for this sayeth she that will not be moued with prayer nor present nor anye deuise serue to reclaime her haggard mynd seaming but to quarrel wyth all offers of curtesie I cannot thyncke but it ys some hard rocke conuerted in the shappe of a woman or fygure of beautie to become the tyrranouse tormenter of them that vnhappely are sommoned to serue her wherfore seing I am denied to assist you by my trauaile accordynge to my promyse I praye you lett me aduise you to stoppe the course of affection and choke the chanell of your loue affore yt ouerflowe the hope of recouery and cease any longer to féede the humor of your passion with the remembrance of her that semes to take pleasure in youre gryef well well sayth the dolorous louer I woulde I coulde as easely forget as you are apte to perswad or that you had thusmuch aduised me afore you gaue me assuraunce of relyef by youre dylygence but chyefly I wish that I hadd eschued the yll when I admitted the cause then had I reserued my lybertye liued free from passion voyd from vnacquainted ertremyties and not lamēt to late in thys sort myne owne disaster nor stande neadē to communicate wyth you who selleth youre aduise for money and makes youre trauayle the marchaunt of fylthye gaine albeyt seynge want of discresion hath styrred vp this error and the folly of youth preuayled aboue the force of wisdom I muste be dryuen to make of necessytye a lawe and geue place to y e sentēce of my presēt fortune greuing not withstādynge that the frendshyppe and vndouted zeale of affection which I bare her shold reape the fruts of rigour and receue the meryite of their vertue at the handes of crueltie at the least I wil not so dispair but that the argument of a future hope shall kepe me in breathe and expectyng the benefytt of a better time I wil comitt my selfe to the gouerment of pacience who as I haue harde is the onely tuche stone to trye a man that ys fallen into termes of affliction But here the galland semed rather to féede the tyme then bynd himselfe to performe theffecte of his owne wordes neyther mente he to suffer hys last resolution to passe for currant money muche lesse to content hym selfe with his cardes seyng he lyked not his game and seing he colde not preuaile by pollicye nor wyn the fort by somonce or offer of composicion he determined as his laste helpe to vse the vttermoste of hys forces and performe hys conquest what so euer yt cost him But thusmuch by the waye ther ys nogreate enterprice to what ende so euer it tende whether yt bée guided by vertue or conducted by vice whose effecte can aunswere therpectacion of thinuentour onlesse ther be a roumthe reserued for a thirde to perticipate therein aswel for the erpedicion of the cause as suer conueyghe of the mysterye soo thys vallet of chamber resolued absolutely in the pursuete of hys queste imparteth the discourse of hys loue passed hys synyster successe in the same hys dyuerse assalttes too the forte and hys fundrie and sharpe repulses too a dashbuckler of the bushops who made no more conscience to bee a minister of euil then y e outlawes of shooters hil vse curtesie in stripping our marchauntes and after send them to London with penyles budgettes he forgate not also to make him preuye to hys laste resolucion crauyng therein the assystaunce of hys fryndeshyppe in suche sorte as vppon thynstant he made hym aduowe the same to thuttermoste of his power onelye sayeth he deuise the waye and my diligence shall declare the zeale I bere thee with the desire I haue too place thée in the bosome of thy felicitie yt were a follie saieth this desperat louer to reiterate the order of my former deuises and to present her eftesones with offices of curtesie it were but time lost onlie there restes to offer her the racke I meane to oppresse her with force neyther doo I care what peny worths be made of my life so
assailed by the other who perswading her to scilence said her brauery was to great for one of her calling and that they came not thither to take pitty of her complaints neither shold she escape so good cheape as she thought she desired theÌ„ to abstein from violation of her body geue her what death they thought good they excused them selfes of any intent to do mordore only saye they we are com hither to bend you by force that will not bow by any entreatye wherefore if you thincke you haue any wronge referr the cause to the longe contynuance of your crueltie which is now at point to be reuenged pytty it was to heare the dolorous tunes of the poore maide with the miserable skrikes which she thrue vpp into the ayre to witnes her innocencye wherein shee contynued wythout any eccho of reschewe til y e detestable pallyard had spoyled the flower of her virginitie and then he begaÌ„ to perswade her to pacyeÌ„ce willing her her eafter not to become so curious of her chastitie nor refuce to admit y e offer of his freÌ„dshipp wherof he promised so largly that if she wold he wold take her from her father and kepe her at his charges presenting at thinstaÌ„t a purse ful of money willing her thensfurth to caste awaye all cause of care and dispose her selfe onlye to cherishe and make much of the rest of her life for the whiche saith he you shal fynde me as careful as you shal thinke conuenieÌ„t and if hereafter you haue a desyre to mary doubt not to repose your selfe therin vpon me for I wil so wel prouide and assiste you wyth so good a porcion that the same shal be plentifull inoughe to susteine you and releue the needfull condicion of your parentes but she no lesse loathing the offer of his filthy promise then detesting the villen that wold not cease yet to corrupt her hauinge by this time recouered her sences defyed him wyth his mynisters of infection saing that although his villeny force hath defiled the chastitie of her body and geuen him theffecte of his lasciuious desier yet shold he neuer be hable eyther wyth his money or other wayes to corrupt the sincerytie of her hart whose innocencye saith she wyl tryumphe ouer thy execrable acte afore him who is to yelde the the due hyer of thy trauaile is it in thy power to satisfie or leue me coÌ„tented y t froÌ„ me which al y t world caÌ„not eftsones restore me No no it is god of whoÌ„ I must claime satisfactioÌ„ in punishing y e two trayterous Borre ans and rauenous spoilers of y e virginitie of me pore wretch who was borne to abyde y e setence of my destinye y e galland thinckyng to appease thextremitie of her passion began to prefer perswacions of coÌ„fort which she defied with such spite and bitter termes of iust reproche against him that lothyng to suffer her eyes to féede vppon him that had infected all the partes of her body tolde him that the only veiwe of his villanous lookes made her forgett all order of pacience which he toke as a comission to depart fearyng withal y t the noyse of her coÌ„plaints might bechauÌ„ce com to y e eares of som that passed y e way who vnderstandyng the discourse of the rape wold make reporte to the bishop whose profession and othe is chefelye to punishe offendours in the like accydentes here the sorowful IVLIA being void of companie sauyng the doleful ecchoes of woodes and ryuers that answered her cryes wyth lyke complaint renewes the warre of her present desaster which tearing her heares without respecte and quarellyng with y e dowery that nature had gyuen her wold gladly haue touched her with ymputacion in makyng her incydent to so wretched a destenye in exclaiming still vppon the malice of her Fortune yf thabundaunce of teares accompayned wyth sighs of pytyfull disposicion hadd not so stopped the course of speche that for the time she was dryuen into scilence and beyng by litte and litle restored againe to the libertie of her tounge and the source of her sorrowe somewhat retyred she made a short inuocacion to God in this sorte oh heuenlye father sayeth she I sée that the rigour of thy iustice hath preuailed aboue the benefytt of thy mercie and that thou doste awarde me this harde penaunce for the punyshment of my faltes passed w t what face alas shal I behold my poore father whose compfort as it consisted in my wel doing so his gréefe wil be without comparison hering of the hard termes of my myschaunce in desolacion shal he knitt vpp the remeynder of his olde yeres that commyng into any place the remembrauÌ„ce of my falte drawing the blood of shame into his face will make him blushe and eschewe the companye wher afor he neded not haue douted to haue marched amoÌ„gest the best and shall I dissemble that whyche I entende not to hydd or kepe it secret that toucheth me so nere No no as thinâ—â—cencye of my mynde is recorded afore god so because the world shall also witnes how clere I was from consente I wil vse no other water to washe away so great a spott then the sacryfice of death which I will followe with no lesse expedicion then the treason of the villaine hath bene cruel in takinge from me that whyche made me to lyue wherwithe dismissing her complaint she ceassed also froÌ„ teares and put herselfe in order to go to the house of her father who by euill â—ucke was not then at home there she puts on the beste garment she had and attyring her self in order to go to some great méeting or banquet shittes the doare of her cotage and leading her yonger syster in her haÌ„d went furthwith to an awnt of hers who as one ouercharged with sicknes and yeres was not hable to sturr out of her bedd affore whome as she was in the middest of the repeticion of her chaunce reueiling the whole order and circumstance of the fact which she cold not do without great effusion of teares for that the very remembrance of the deede restored a freshe alaram of her sorowes she fel sodeinly into a qualme or passion of soundyng wherein she remayned traunced wythout all argument of lyfe til by the helpe of the assistaÌ„ce she was eftsones delyuered to thuse and libertie of her senses when quarelling stil w t the horror of the fact desire to be reuenged by death she seamed to rebuke her owne ymbecillitie and faintnes of corage saing what signe of vertu is this to seame to shrink when argumeÌ„ts of constancy ought chiefly tappere who wyll desire to lyue that hath lost the renoume of honor which ought to be the most precious Iewel and badge of the lyfe or what pleasure is it to possesse the presence of the body alredy spotted with infamye when the soule wery of her habytacioÌ„ is redy to resigne her auncyent aboade what felicitie haue they in lyfe that being
in the eyes wyth euery other signe of counterfeyte dule in the face when the ynner partes laughyng at suche fained showes are in the myddest of theyr banquet for pleasure what offence is it to plage theim in earnest who seke to blaire the eyes of all the worlds wyth charmes of painted substance or rather why shoulde they bee suffred to lyue whose villanous lyues and doynges were hable to deface the glory of the whole feminyne secte yf the vertue of so manye chaste Ladyes were not of force to aunswere the combat of all synister reproche and conquer the infamous chalengers of theyr renowme But now the funeralls performed to the dead Lorde of Chabrye the Ladye albeit she dismissed by lytle and lytle the greatnes of her dollor yet she ceassed not her diligence in the searche of the morderer nor forgat to promisse large hyer to suche as coulde bringe her the ministers of the fact there was publike informacion and secrett inquirye wyth euery point and circumstance so Syfted to the quicke that there lackte nothyng but the confession of him that was dead whiche was impossible to bée had or the testimonys of the bloddie parties whiche were the commissioners appointed to enquire of the morder whose handes smelled of the bloud of the dead innocent whereuppon the matter was husht for a tyme in whiche TOLONIO was not ydle to ransicke euery secret corner in the house not forgettynge I thynke to visytt the treasore he chiefly affected and for a simple pleasure of the whiche he had bene so prodigall of his conscience who yet not satisfyed with the sacrifyze of innocent lyfe stirred vp desyer of greater synne for this tyrannouse wyddow had iiij sonnes whereof as ij of theim were continuallye in the house so the eldest Ialowse not without cause of the famyliaritye betwene his mother and her doctor whose haunte he iudged to excede the compasse of his commission and lymittes of honor colde not so conceile nor disgeste the conceite of that whiche persuaded a staine of infamye in the forheade or forefronte of his house but that he thought to belonge to his dutie to ymparte vnto her y e cause of his suspicion with perswacion in humble sorte to be indiffrently carefull to kepe her former glorie of vertuous life and curious to defend the remeindor of her yeres from worthie cryme or spot of foule ymputacion wherein thincrease of amarus glée betwene the aduocat and her procured a more expediciō then he thought so that hauing one day thassistance of a fyt time and place in a gallerie voide of all company he preferred hys opinion in this sorte not wythout an indiffrent medley of shame and disdaine appearing in all partes of his face if it bée a thinge vnseamly that a kinge shoulde be disobeyed of his subiects it is no lesse necessarie in myne opynion that the prince avoyde oppression of his people by power for that a greate falte in the one is none offence at all by reason of his authoritie and the other sometime is exacted without iuste cause of blame but if it bée a vertue in the maiestie royall to be indiffrent betwene the force of his power geuen hym by god and the compleintes of righte in his vassalls why shoulde it be an offence that the maister or magistrate bée put in remembrance or made tunderstande the pointes wherein hée offendeth seing he hath no greater reason to yelde iustice to such as deserue punishmente then bounde in doble sort to a wōderful care of integretie in lyuing in himselfe so as hys authoritie effectes of vpright cōuersaciō may serue as a lyne to lead the meaner sort seruing vnder his awe to be in loué w c his vertues commended for semblable sinceretie and purytie of life But for my parte good Madame were it not the remorse of an equall respect to your reputacion and honor to al our house and that my conscience hereafter wold accuse me of want of corage and care to make good the vertuous renowme of my dead father I should hardely be forced to the tearmes of my present intent nor my beyng in thys place geue you such cause of amaze doubt of my meaninge for the dutie which nature bindeth me to owe to y e place you hold on my behalf and the law of obedience geuen by god to all chyldren towardes suche as made theyme the members of this worlde makes me as often cloase my mouthe against the discouerie of the longe grudge of my mynde as I haue greate reason to ympart the cause to your ladishipp who is tooched more neare then any other that I wolde too god the thinge wherof my mynde hath giuen a iudgement of assurance were as vntrue as I wishe yt bothe farre from myne opynion and voyde of a trothe then sewerlye sholde my hart rest discharged of disquiett and I dismyssed from thoffice of an oratour whiche also I wolde refuce to performe if thymportance of the cause did nor force my wil in that respect Albeit as the passions of the mynde bée free and the sprite of man howe so euer the bodie bée distressed with captiuitie hathe a pryuyledge of libertie touchyng opynyons or conceites so I hope your wisdome with the iustice of my cause and clearenes of entent are sufficient pillours too supporte that whyche the vertue of naturall zeale to your selfe and dutifull regarde to the honour of my auncestors moues me to communicate with you chieflye for that the best badge of your owne life and bloodd of your late Lorde and husbande my father bée distressed as I am perswaded by the secret haunte and vnsemelie glée of fauour betwene the proccurer Tolonio and you whome God and nature haue made a mother of suche children that neyther deserue suche lewde abuse in you nor can brooke his villany in corruptyng the noble blood wherewith they participate without vengance due to the greatnes of his poysoned malice wherein good madame as my deare affection to you wardes hathe made me so franke in warnynge you of the euill so yf you giue not order hensfurthe for the redresse of that whiche I accompte alredie past euerye cause of dowte you will come too shorte to couer that can bée no longer conceiled when also small compassion wilbée vsed in the reuenge of thiniurye neyther can you in any sort complaine rightelie of me in whose harte is alredye kindled a grudge of the wronge you haue don to y e nobilitie of vs al loathing with all the simple remēbrance of so foule a falte protesting vnto you for ende that yf herafter you become as careles of the honour of your children as heretofore you haue bene voiede of regarde to your owne reputation the worlde shall punishe the abuse of your old yeres with open exclamacion against your lasciuius order of lyfe deuesting you of all titles of highe degrée and thies handes onely shall sende maister doctor to visytt his processe in th infernall senatt
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
commendacion of our integritye to the remeinder of our race Doste not thou knowe my deare Maryone that in the swete and dewye mornynges of the spring there apperes certeine flowers no lesse delitefull to the beholders then yeldynge an odiferous smell with an inticynge desyer to be gathered so long as their fragrāt and freshe perfumes indures but when the heate of the son perching the gallāds of Aurora shall pearce thorowe bothe boodd and roote and mortifye the liuelye hewe of suche brickle creatures the flower is not only forgotten and loathed whiche earste was so much embraced but the desyer of all men taken awaye as though there neuer had bene any such like wise y e glistering apple growing vpon the high spraies in the pleasant lādes of Angeau semes a thing of great delectacion to the eye of no lesse pleasante taste so long as he is entyer and without corrupcion but after the worme hath eyther made a breach or his gréenes or pleasante maturitie lost his force and conuerted into a rotten ripenesse his bewtie dekaies wyth desier any longer to kepe hym Euen so a mayde what pouertie soeuer oppresse her so longe as she kepes vnspotted her surname and title of chastetie is not only admitted but also may chaleng place amongest the best of a countrye but when the caterpillor hath once cropped the leaffe and deuow red the boodd the trée doth not only die and perish with infamye but the remembrance of such stocke and frute remeines in the recordes of reproche to the opening of the greate booke of general accompt when al faltes shal be reueiled and punished according to their disposicion and qualitie And sewer it is better for a woman of what degrée soeuer she be to dy w t honor and buyrye the bourdē of honest renowm with her bodie in the graue then enioying the fruicion of life to be marked of the multitude with a note of generall rebuke whych as a moothe in a garment will not ceasse to eate and deuour her present estimacion and make notorious besides euery age of her succession by the desert of her disordred life loasing the only cause that makes me ioye in my selfe wyth so great desier to liue wherin because I may the rather per forme theffect of thys last resolucion I will firste wyth an vnfayned hart make inuocation to y e highest for thassistance of his grace to garde me frome thassaltes and peppered prouocations of the fleshe and then cut of all suche occasions as may eftesones aduance the suggestion of the same or seame any way an ympedimente to the vowe I haue presentlie made whych I doubt not wil be armes sufficient enough to repulse y e alarams of Signeur Luchyn raise y e siege which I sée he hath planted agaynst the fortresse of my chastetie wherin she omitted not th execution for from that instante shee kepte her selfe vnsene of anye but her frendes and kinsefolkes comminge lyttle or nothynge abroade and lesse willing to be spied out of windows or stand at the doore leauinge thereby an example worthye of ymitacion to all estates and sortes of women but specially suche gigges and pratlinge houswiues as can not contente theym selues with the ayre of the house nor giue one pricke with the nedle oneless she sit at the doare as though her exercyse were onelye to menteyne chatt wythe the streete walkers or keepe a standynge and make challenge agaynste all commers whyche is the thynge that you mothers and tutours of lytle girles oughte chyefly to respecte in the direction of youre tender charges I meane to bridle and brynge vpp youre pupilles and ympes that haue follye tyed on their backes in the awe of correction yf they transgress the order of good gouernement you must not forgett to offer theym the racke and tormentes of the rodde which you must minister vnto theim in the greenes of their yer es and affore the tendrenes of youthe with wante of discrection wil suffer theim to discerne their owne inclinacion for as the Philosopher tearmeth theym to bée a kinde of cattell more apte to declyne then any other reasonable creature so saith he yf they get once the bit betwene their téethe and crop of the hearbée of ryotus will it is harder to reclayme theym eyther hy awe feare compulsion or gentle intreatie then the wilde haggard or rammish falcon by any connynge or deuise of their keper besides as a maide is a Iewell of no lesse greate price then rarely to be founde so she is a vessell moste bryckle and easye to be broken and being once eyther crackte or corrupted she liueth in none other accompte then in comon wonder of the people and pointed at of all the worlde Wherefore you mothers that in the bringyng vpp of your doughters will giue ashowe of your owne vertue with no lesse care of the honor of your children must forgett to pamper youre younglines with presentes of their willes or dandle theym vppon the lapp of dame folly but féede theym rather with the discipline of good nouriture not sparing the order of due correction leaste you spill the future hope and expectation of their well doynge and better it is to haue a mayde smell of honest simplicitie vsing a temperate scilēce in her toungue and order of talke then ytalianated in legerdemaines of subteltye and pricked full of the fethers of foolyshe pride to haue the tounge of a popingaie bablinge without order or discrecion for that the one is a vertue of it selfe and the veray lyne to leade her to aduauncement and in practisinge the other she procures a discredit to her parentes for their necligence in her education and her selfe but laughte at in the companie of wise and discrete dames and that which worse is led by such guides into the botome les pit of euerlasting infamye Remember thaduise of Marcus Aurelius who writing of the slipper disposition of some women with instruction to abridge the perentory humour which nature hath giuen theim gyues this generall charge to all gouernours of nourceries tutors of litle girles that they stande so sewerly vppon the garde of thonnour of their charges that they neither be sene out of windowes stande as stales at the dore suffred to visit any place of thordynarie hawnte of men called to secrete conference without cōmission or companie of her keapor but also barde thaccesse and presence of all men for that saith he the ill can not be vtterly preuented onelesse the causes that maye procure it bée cleane taken awaie neither is it possibe for a Lady to kepe the reputacion of her honor that makes her selfe incidente to the hawnte of great companies with desier to be a comō feast maker and visit euery banquet and the more she is innested with honor and high callinge the more care is due to the preseruation of so great a title and lesse libertie or licēce is enioyned her to raunge a broade or séeke to satisfie thappetit of
hymself suche newe affections quarellynge wyth hys former quiet and all his bodie possessed of so vnruly a gueste that beinge at the ende of his wittes to ymagyn the cause was no lesse hable to withstaÌ„d the ill then moderate the furie of his new feuer but miserablye had lefte his life in gage if fortune her selfe had not become y e phizicion to his disease whereof you shal haue large relacion in the due place of this historie But duringe the time of the sermon and all the matutinall prayer our vnhappie Phillyberto waâ—ered in contrarietye of thoughtes reseruynge notwythstandyng his eyes assuredly and firmly fixed vpon her who makes no more accompte of theim that regarde her wyth suche greate admiration then they theim selues of their liues and libertye committynge rashelye twoo suche precious Iewels betwene the merciles handes of so cruell a woman of whose estate condicion trade and order of lyuynge this newe enamored Virley beinge comme from the churche to his lodging forgatt not to make diligent inquisition which as oyle to light his matche retourned vnto him a generall reaporte of her honestie wherein beinge confirmed by the mouth of euery man he made no conscience immediatlye to proclayme her the soueraine Ladye of his lyfe and thonly disposer of his secret thoughtes And yet amongste the sondrie commendacions gyuen to her vertues he was made tunderstande by secret information of some his deare familyar frendes of thinciuilitie wyth certeine vnsemelye pointes of vnnaturall discourtesie raignyng in her whiche albeit suspended his resolution for a tyme occupying his doubtfull mynde with varietye of cogitacions yet seinge his destynie had alredye enioyned him to be a thrall to her beautye for the whiche he had alredye put his lybertye as a pawne betwene the handes of hym who hauynge once gotten the hartes of men within the iurisdiction of his durance will not release their imprisonment nor restore their libertye so sone nor when they wishe it he determined to pursewe th ende of his enterprise committyng hym selfe to be guyded by the fauor of fortune and the successe of his indeuor to y e good wil of loue who leadyng hym thorowe the blynde vale of vaine hope and ticklynge hym by certeine argumentes or likelihodes of good spede to make hym mery for the tyme wyth the conceite of his owne phantasie willed hym to put hys intente vppon tearmes whereby and wyth the continuance of his long seruice he semed to assure him at last to wreste the good wil of the wydow to thappetite exspectation of his desyer wherein for his firste entrye into his laborinth of miserable toyle he committed thorder of his owne house at Virley and affaires of importance to the direction of others and determined his abode at Montcall to th ende that if in plaÌ„tyng his batterye nor with thassistance of thuttermost of his force he coulde make no reasonable breache into the forte whiche he ment to assaile in the wynnyng wherof him selfe was most in daunger to be first taken yet at the least he might recreat and solace hym selfe with the contemplacion of an ymage of so rare and excellente beautye the remembrance whereof seamyng rather to double his gréefe then giue moderacioÌ„ to his passion serued more to stirre vp the malice of that poisoned humour of loue then to repulse the furie of his newe feuer And lastely preferring absolute argumeÌ„ts of his perentorye destructioÌ„ offred diuers likelihodes of future disquiet for the latter remeinder residue of his yeres yet to coÌ„me And being now becoÌ„me a Citizen of Montcal he begaÌ„ to hauÌ„te the church aboue his ordinarie not so much peradueÌ„ture for any ferueÌ„t zeale he had to prayer or inuocation to god as for the amarus deuocioÌ„ he oughte to his newe saint whose presence albeit he could not enioye but in the body of y e church that in times of preaching publique seruice of the Lorde yet did he refraine to make the house of God a place to communicat his practis of loue persuading him self th offence to be to heynous to defile the sacred temples holly places dedicated to the highest with any spot of villanie and specially with attemptes of such folly being chieflye forbidden by the mouth of our sauiour Domus mea domus orationis vocabitur my house shal be called the house of praier not a den for adulterers or theues nor place to practise any iniquitie or synne wherein albeit the zeale of Religion forbadd hym to vse conference wyth her in the churche yet the pearcing stinge of affection openyng hym an other meane putt hym in remembrance to attende duelye her commynge out where with greate humilitye he offred his seruice often tyme in beynge her guyde to her lodgyng whiche as he forgat not to performe with al the curtesie and semly behauior he colde ymagyn so notwithstandinge al the vehement perswacions he colde inferre for thaccoÌ„mplishment of his desier yet reaped he thereby no more contentemente nor meanes to qualefie his greeffe then she tooke pleasure in hearinge the discourse and loyall offer of his vnfayned good will for she as a cruell enemye to curtesie faynyng not to vnderstande what he sayde replied to all his allegacions of loue wyth some conference of housewiuerye or housekepyng wherewith tornyng the carte against the horse he became no lesse amased at her ouerthwart reasons then she seamed to take pleasure in the teares of his complayntes whyche argewed not only colde compforte in the sute of the wooer but also ymynent occasion of hys owne destruction yf by thassistance of some other meane he auoyded not with expedicion the sondrie illes that threatned to thunder vpon him wherefore deuising certeinne banquettes and gossep metynges at hys lodging of diuers of the burgess wyues of that towne he entred thereby into the good opynion of certeine dames that were no lesse familiar with the rigerous ZILYA amongest whom he chused out one whose bossome he thoughte to make the regester of his secret with entente to impart with her both the cause of his dollor the meane to mitigate the same in bewrayinge hys gréeffe to her that was the fountaine and occasion of his presente passion to her then beyng his nexte neyghbor no lesse subtill of her owne inclynacion then well experienced in suche affaires neyther ignorante what dishe they féede vppon that sitt at the table of loue nor what bitter taste those brathes comonly haue which cupide brueth for his guests he addresseth him selfe coniunynge her in the firste place of his preamble too make councel of the cause of hys coÌ„plainte wherw t entring into the discourse of his loue conceiles nowithstandyng the name of his ladie vntill he hard the annswere of his neighbour who perceiuynge alredie the marke whyche he shott at offred him frankelie her helpe to thuttermoste of her power whereof she gaue hym assurance by promisses of large skope that inconsideracion of the honestie whiche she had noted in hym
whych beinge drayned from the bottome of hys bellie ascended to the vppermost partes to fynd out their naturall issue to th ende that wyth the retire of these drayninge humors his life might also vanishe as in a slomber or quiet qualme whych moued such a pitie in his neighboure on the behalfe of his dollor that she was forced to kepe him company with semblable kindnes offeringe eftsones her helpe vnder these tearmes Albeit saith she the regarde of myne honestie with thestimacion of the place which I holde without blushinge amoÌ„gest the troupes of honor and dames of great calling in this Citie do forbidd mée the enterprise of any thinge that myne honor can not broâ—â—e yet the sorowefull sommonce of your last complainte tempred wyth so manye tunes of dolefull note hathe filled me so full of compassion on your behalfe that I will not dowt to laie my conscience to gage for the redresse of your present affliction wherein if you will giue me the charge of my commission tellinge mée what it is that I shall do for you you shall sée my endeuor shal be no lesse frankelye emploied for you then I knowe by the viewe of mine owne eyes that your passion is simple and withoute all dissimulation onely there restes that I know what she is to whom you haue auowed so large a deuotion for I promisse you to salute her so amplie with the reaport of your loyaltie and seruice whiche I knowe you owe to her that is the mistres of your harte that oneles her mouth be vtterlye out of taste and thappetit of curtesie cleane taken from her she shal not refuce thoffer of your good will which I thinke is without a seconde in any place of the worlde And trulye albeit diuerse women nowe a dayes haue good cause to inueighe by complaintes against the disloyaltye of men yet this Ladye whome you seme to honour so muche hathe neyther cause to mislike her choice nor reason to refuce the consent and offer of your seruice where of as the earthe semes a verye nigarde to brynge furthe and norishe so fewe of your disposition so it can not be chosen but pure loyaltye for lacke of harbor within the hartes of moste men muste retire and seke her a newe habitacion within the delicate intrailes of vs women who embracynge no lesse that vertue wyth deare affection then desyerous to expose vnfained frutes of the same are accompted to be cladde in the habite of crueltie yf we séeme to stande vppon our garde and expulse thassaulte of that friuolus and fleshelye crewe of vaine louers who profferinge theyr seruice vnder a masque of fayned teares sighes of double deceite with other courtelyke importunytyes do bende the pollecie of all their practises to none other ende then to abuse the fauor whiche they fynde at theyr handes that vnhappelye committe their honor to the kepinge of those Sycophantes and common enemies to the renowme of all Ladies Ah good madam sayth he although my lytle hablenes denies me sufficient meanes to measure the rewarde of your franke offer accordynge to the meritt of your great curtesie yet beholde heare a soldiour and gentleman bounde to be no lesse prodigall of his lyfe and spende the deareste dropp of his blodd in your seruice then you seme liberal of your estimation for the appeasyng of his greff and seyng your promisse is so farr past by wordes of confirmation to do your beste for me as the same ymportes an assured hope of spedie helpe to comme by our meanes the chiefest thyng that I committ to your frendshipp is to deliuer a letter froÌ„ me to Madame ZYLIA whose beautie hath alredye made suche a breache into my harte and brued the broth of the tormente which you sée I suffer that onelesse I be spedie releued I do not se but that y e thre fattals weary with drawing furthe the spindell of my lif will ymediatly cutt a sonder y e twiste whiche hanges onely by the hope of your succours in purchasyng me fauor with her that hath made me captiff in the prison of her commandement wherwith the faithfull burgoise beynge very sorie that so honeste a gentleman had sowen the séedes of his good will in a soile of so bad increase bringing furth but frutes of crueltie assaied to take the worme out of his nose in vsing perswacions to remoue his phaÌ„tasie but he that was alredie resolued in his mishap detested all councell and shoote his eares from the wholesome aduise of the wise matrone who doutyng that he wold conster her wordes contrarye to her meanyng in thinkinge that she inferred exhortacions to purchase a releace of her promisse willed hym to write his letter and she wolde not only deliuer it but also bring hym a reaporte of that which sholde be sente hym for aunswere whereby saieth she you shall see the litle gaine and lesse easse that will followe the meritt of your painefull trauell ymployed in the seruice of so vnthankful a woman with whom seynge I am thorowely acquainted and her disposicion no stranger vnto me I meane not to praâ—ise in any other sorte then to discharge y e part of a messeÌ„ger in deliuering your letter which yf you haue not alredie made I will attende your leasure to thend to performe my promisse wherewith he thanked her as apperteined and beynd alone in hys chamber sommoned all hys wittes together to deuise his letter which semed to be written in thies or like tearme Yf my dysease good madame were deryued eyther of the shaking or burnyng feuer Catterres Apoplexies or any other hurtefull influence incidente commonly to annoye the partes of mannes bodye I woulde reasorte too the councell of Phisicke and vse the discipline of wholsome dyot but wher my presente passion procedes only of the feruente affection I beare you thextremitie of the same denyes also to be cured by anye other remedie then the happye encounter of that which is thoriginall cause of my gréeff wherin albeit I halfe assure my selfe rather to receiue spedie ease and ende of my tormente by the fatall domme of death then abridgment of my dollors or consolacion in my distresse by any indeuour or affection reciprocall of you yet am I so lynked in the laborinth of loue that I am denied euery waye to take truce with my vnrulye desiers and lesse hable of my selfe to reuoke the vowe of my vnfayned deuocion to your rare and heauenle beautie in whome consistes the propper Cataplasma of my disease Alas vnder what crabbed constellacion was I conceiued or what cruell destenye directes the course of my yeres seing that in the glorie of my youthe and pryme time of myne age I am at one instante threatned of the heauens made subiecte to the malice of loue and readye to incurr the perilus daunger of dispaire for wante of hope to drawe furthe the length of my dayes to thuttermost date of my life whiche I thynke was formed first by nature and coÌ„tinued
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
doo the cause of suche disease they presented hym afore the Maiestye wyth suche commendacyon of hys vertue and valyauntnes in armes as was necessarye for the worthynes of the same whyche forced a greate lykynge in the Kynge towardes hym alalbeit his outwarde apparaunce argued infficiently his inwarde dexteritie that way whych also he confyrmed in pub licke view in an assalte which the kinge gaue to the english men within Roan the chiefe and only bool warke of the whole country of Normandy where Signeur Philibarto gaue suche effecces of his forwardnes that he was the first that was séene vpon the walles making waye to the souldiours to enter the breache and towne wherein not longe affore the Duke of Sommerset had burned the counterfait prophet of Fraunce called La Pucelle leane whome some pratinge frenchmen do affirme to haue wrought merueiles in armes during those warrs but chiefly that vnder the conduite of her our countryemen lost Orleance w c diuerse other holdes in those partes and for a memory of that forged ydoll they kepe yet amongest other relikes in the abbay of S. Denys whych I sawe in May last a great roostie sworde wherwith they are not ashamed to aduowche that shee performed diuerse expedicions and victories againste thinglishe nacion whych seames as true as that which they are a shamed to put in a chronicle of credit touching their saint Denys whom they affirme was erecuted at Parys and came from thence with his heade in his hand which he buyried in the abbaye albeit they saye he rested foure tymes by the way where they haue founded iiii crosses with the headles ymage of saint Denys holding a stonye skalpe in his hande but nowe to oure Dom Philiberto whose forwardnes and fortune in the last assalte being wel noted of the kinge began to kindle a credit in the mynde of the maiestie towards hym in such sorte as besydes speciall praises giuen to his worthynes in the hearing of all his capteines he presented hym wyth the state of a gentleman of his chamber with pension sufficient to menteyne the port of that place promisinge besydes an encrease of his bowntye as he saw a contynuance of hys good seruice for the whyche the mute knighte gaue the kynge humble thankes by signes lyfting hys handes towards heauen as a witnes of y e faithe he promised to kepe without spot to hys prince wher of he gaue good declaracion not long after in a skirmishe procured by the frenche agaynst the Englishe soldiours vnder the guide of the onlye flower of chyualrye of that tyme and valyant Captcine the Lorde Talbot whose vertue made hym so famons in those warrs that the verye remembrance of hys name procureth a terror to the stowtest frencheman that thys daye lyueth ther in this skirmish if a mā may credit a french bragge the Pyemontoyse and Talbot met and vnhorssed eche other wherupon the kynge in consideracion of hys present seruice and encrease of further corage to contynue his souldiour made hym Capteyne of diuerse holdes with charge of fyftie men at armes wyth promisse in the word of a prince y t her eafter he shold find in more ample ma ner in what sorte princes oughte to consider the seruice of suche whose vertue broughte soccours to the necessitie of hym and his people wherein truely a prince hath greate reason not only to bestowe rewardes vpon such as deserue well but embrase that whyche carieth a licknes of hys owne nobylitie seinge that vertue in what place soeuer shee take roote can not but bring furthe good frutes the vse and effect wherof ought to appeare vpon such as approche or resemble the place where the first séedes were sowen neyther doth any degrée of men according to thopinion of Plyny deserue so well of hys prince as the souldiour in whose woundes sayth he are inclosed the sauetie of the whole countrey and quiet of the seat royal neyther doth he shrinke to aduenture hys bodye agaynst thennemye to establish the reapose of his neyghbour at hoame who to requite his many daungers in y e felde or releue hys maymed lymmes cōsumed w c y e warrs comittes hym at hys retorne to the rigour of iustice and that most cōmonly wythout cause of iust offence wherof I think no one contry of christendom is hable to furnish so many examples of that miserie as the state of Englande where as god be praysed hath benn no greate occasion of warr since the happie raigne of oure moste blessed Quene that nowe gouerneth so the Lorde and her maiestie amend it it is a pitye to sée how slenderly soldiours be prouided for and how tyranouslye they are persecuted by the malice of caterpillors in Cyties and franklinges in the countrye wherof I wishe some suche as I coulde name to mooster in the mowthe of a trenche or stande in the face of a breache to th ende they might both witnes the daunger and be partakers of the perill of warr which I doubt not wolde force in the moste of theim a compassion touching the souldiour whom also they wolde defende from beinge deuowred of the gallowes by their malice Thus muche on the behalfe of souldiours towardes whom I wishe as indiffrent a care in tyme of peace as they are readie and most sewer to abide al daunger when it pleaseth the prince and realme to call theym to seruice and now to oure dome knighte who embrased of the kyng wyth honor of all his Capteines was assisted with a second meane of further credit with hys prince for that ymedyatlie after the heate of the warrs in fraunce and the countrey resolued to a quiet staie it pleased the kinge for the solace of hymselfe and generall contentinente of hys Capteynes to call a torney royall on horsebacke where Seigneur Virley enioyeng y e benefyt of his former fortune wan only y e glorye of y e tryumphe which gaue such encrease to y e good opiniō of the king y t he entred into councell to cure his dome disease greuinge not a litle that so valyant a gentleman colde not declare his deuise whych seamed to argue no lesse wisedom for the direction of a cōmon welthe or contrey then the force and agilitye of his body had sufficientlie approued his vertue in diuerse exploites during tha◠war wherfore he dispatched generall letters thorowout his owne Realme with speciall requestes to the countreys adioyninge hys kingdome that who colde giue remedye to his euill and conuert his present scilence into a liberty of frée speche should haue ten thowsande frankes for rewarde then mighte a man sée suche a mooster of phizisions Chirurgions with their appoticaries carienge their bagges and boxes of all confections that their rowte seamed rather a newe supplie of power to assiste the kinge against his ennemies then a conuocation of gownesmen to consulte of the disease who began also to make such war with the ten thousande frankes skirmishinge one with an other not
moderacion in his pleasures the tyran and morderor moued to compassion touching the cause of thin nocent and the vnthrift reclaymed to an honest staie of lif whiche makes me of opynion that this passion giuen vs by nature albeit it be an infection of it selfe yet it serues also as a contrepoison to driue out another venym according to the propertie of the Scorpion which of her selfe and in herself carieth the sting of mortal hurte and oyntmeÌ„t of spedie remedie thoccasioÌ„ of preseÌ„t death and meane to preserue life not meaning for all this to perswade that it is of necessitie we make our selues subiect altogether to this humor of good and euill disposicioÌ„ nor allow them that willingly incurr the perill of such fre ymprisonment but placinge it for this tyme amongest thinges of indifferent tolleracion because he neither seamed blind nor void of discrecioÌ„ on the behalf of those whose eraÌ„ples I meane to prefarr in this historie I maye boldlie aduoche that which we call affection to be a passion resembling in som respect the condicion of true amytie and yet not muche vnlike for the moste parte the generall euill whiche the Grecians â—al Philautia and we tearme by the title of loue or vaine flatterie of our selues chiefly when we see any so frently to his desiers that to satisfye the inordinat thruste or glot of his gredie appetit he forgettes hothe honor and honestie with the respect and duetie of his conscience besides what ymages of vertue curtesie or bowntiful dispocision soeuer our louers do ymagyn in theim whom they serue dymming the eyes of the worlde wyth a miste of dissembled substance as thoughe the cause of their liberall offer of seruice were deriued of an intent of honest frendshippe yet their trauailes that way concludes we se with other end for that they hunt only the chase of pleasure procedinge of the viewe of an exterior bewtie wherin their meaninge is sufficiently manifeste in the sugred oracions discourses of eloquent stile which those amarus orators seme to prefer when their mindes occupied whollie in the contemplacion of their mistresses do commit the praise of the perfection in their Ladies to the filed fordge of their fine tongue in which what other thing do they more chiefly commend then a deuyn misterie or conninge worke of nature painted with a dy of white or redd in her face A delicate tongue to dilate of matters of fancie an entysinge countenance with a grace and behauiour equal with the maiestie of a princes al which as they argewe the vanitie of him that reapose delite in such fondnes differinge altogether from the true ornamentes of the soule or pattorne wherby the perfectioÌ„ of vertue is discerned by thunfayned workes and absolute accion So dismissing this fond philosophie not coÌ„tending greatly whether loue be a natural corrupcion or a thing perticipating with vertue we may be bold to aduouche his power to preauile in things which seame of ympossibilitie to thother passions that be common vnto vs for what thinge can be of greater force in a man then that which constrainynge an alteracion of custome and breach of that which by contynuance hath taken rote within vs doth make as it were A new body and the mynd a meare straunger to her former cogitacions which I neither inferr without cause nor menteyne this argument without great reasoÌ„ for that as of al the vices which spot the lif of maÌ„ ther is none except y e excecrable syn of whoredom which makes vs soner forget god good order then the detestable exercise of vnlawful game neither are we so hardly reclaymed froÌ„ any thing as that cutthrote delite for that it is almost as possible to conuert the crueltie of a she wolffe or lyones into a present mekenes as to mortefie the desier of plaie in him which hath bene norrished and nozelled therin froÌ„ the beginning of his yeres Euen so notwithstanding the force of loue wrought such a misterie in an vnthrist of Naples that of the mo ste prodigall and ryotous spendor that hath bene noted in any age hee made a most staide and sparing gentlemaÌ„ that Italy hath brought furth of many yeres since or afore his time Albeit euen vpon the point and beginning of his new fondacion beinge redie w t all to expose frutes of his happye chang frome euill to good trade he was encowntred wyth the malice of his destinies which abridged hys felicytie and life in one moment wherof you maye discerne a manifeste profe in the sequeile of the historie folowing PERILLO SVFFRETH muche for the loue of Carmosyna and marienge her in the ende vvere both tvvo striken to deathe with a thonderbolte the firste nighte of their vnfortunat mariage IT happened not long synce in the riche and populus Citie of NAPLES who norrisheth ordinarylie an infinitie of youth of all degrees that amongest the rest of the wantons broughte vpp there at that tyme there was one named Anthonio Perillo who enioyenge a libertye more then was necessarye to one of so younge yeres and greene vnderstandyng made absolute declaracion affore the race of youthe did stopp in hym what it is to passe the yeres of correction without the awe of parentes tutour or controller for his father hauyng performed his Jornaye whiche nature appointed hym in this woorlde resigned hys bodie to earthe and his goodes and possessions to his sonne who fyndyng so manye golden cotters and chestes full of treasure to assiste his prodigal and wanton dispocision forgat not ymediatly to enter into the trade of a licencius life Wherein he founde no staye nor ympedyment to his will for that the necligence of his father had lefte hym withoute the awe or authoritie of any And albeit in the life of his father he was a continuall hawnter of the Berlea or common house of vnthriftie exercises where for wante of sufficient demers to furnishe his desier with skill in casting the three deceitfull companions of blacke and white vppon a square table he was forced often tymes to forbeare to playe and learne conynge in lokyng vppon yet tyme with his owne diligence made hym so artificiall that beyng but a cryer of awme there were fewe hable to excede his sleyghte in castinge twelue affore sixe of two dyce or tooke halfe so good accomte or regarde to the course of the cardes and yet notwithstanding he was not so wel grownded in the principles of his arte but often tymes his conyng beguilyng hym he was preuented with a contrarie sleighte and onelye his purse paide the charge of the whole companye whiche was not vnmarked of some two or three of the famyliars of hys father the respect of whose frendship and vertue with sondrie argumentes of ymynent destructioÌ„ to his sonne moued theym to enter into tearmes of admonicion layinge affore him the circumstance of his sondrie faltes but chiefly reprehendinge the greate wronge he did to his owne estimacion for that the waye to atteyne to renowne
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
presence drowned wyth thinundacion of vndeserued sorow proceding by his wickednes wherewith her eyes performed her desier with such plentie of teares that there was not one of the companie voyed of compassion on the hehalfe of the dollor whych tormented her not ceassing notwithstanding to perswade her to pitie towarde that poore Diego who beynge newely recouered by the diligence of thassistance sprinkling fresh water of the fountayne vpon his face dyd no soner lift vp his sorowfull lyddes beholdinge the lamentable passion of hys mistres with certeine likelehodes he espied showing an encrease of her disdayne towardes hym but he retired to his former debilitie fallinge downe dead betwene the armes of suche as suported hym and albeit hée was eftsones restored yet the force of hys passion assailed hym stil wyth thrée or foure mortal panges one in the necke of an other in such sorte as the whole company gaue iudgment of hys death amongest the whych Roderico was not the leaste amased who greuing indifferently with thobstinate crueltie of Geniuera and present perill of hys deare freÌ„d Diego was in long debate what pollecie to vse to qualifie the one and preuent the daunger of the other he perswaded that if he killed the willful Geniuera he shold also giue ende to the dayes of Diego for that vpon the viewe and remembrauce of the one depended the life of the other and so in doinge no good to any he sholde commit doble offence to god and the world both in spottinge his soule with vnciuill morder and also to become the author of his death in whose lyfe he reaposed his most worldly felycitie on thother side y e vntowardnes of the girle argued her intractable in suche sorte as hee desiered which confirmed the continuall martirdom of hys frend whose distresse as it moued hym to suche inwarde remorce that to procure his deliuerye he made no conscience to lighte a candle afore the deuill so he gaue a newe charge vppon the good will of Geniuera with gentle perswacions lainge afore her what vertue ought to appere in suche tender and delicate yeres and how greatly the vice of ingratitude defaced the renowme of a gentlewoman assisted wyth crueltie without reason wherein gaininge no lesse then if he had neuer put the deuise in execution he retired to thextremitie of his former threates and last pollecie swearinge that she shoulde fynde no difference betwene the sommonce and effecte seing that by her death he should giue ende to her disdayne and desolate state of hys frende whom as he doubted not woulde deserne in tyme what commoditie it were to purge the ayre of suche contagiouse filthes of ingratefull arrogancie so he was also of opynion that tyme wold yelde commendacion to his fact chiefly for that in preseruinge y e honour of a familie he thought it more expediente to exterminat the two principall offenders then to reserue the lyfe of eyther of them for an vtter extinction of the glorye of the whole house wherefore regarding the rest of his traine hee commanded to laye handes of the obstinate gentlewoman with her two companions with charge to vse no lesse mercy in their seuerall executions then the chiefeste of the three extended pitie to the amarus knighte whyche he thoughte wold yelde vp the ghost afore her The Ladye hearinge the sentence diffinitiue of her life escrâ—ed the morder with open mouthe as yf she had exspected some succour to defende her from deathe wherein her hope was frustrate for the deserte fostred no other companye but suche as were readye in the place to commit execution The page and poore Chambriere helde vpp their handes for mercie to Roderico who fainyng an ympedimente in hys hearyng made a signe to his men to put effecte to his commandement Geniuera entreating for the liues of her page and woman desiered that their ynnocentie mighte not do pennance for the offence whych she had don crauyng with great humilitie that the punishement myght be performed vppon her froÌ„ whom the falte yf it be a matter meritorious of blame sayeth she for a womaÌ„ to kepe her fayth to her husbande is deriued and yeld iustice to thies infortunat wretches least th execution of their ynnocentiâ— increase your detestable offence oh saieth she with her handes and eyes beholdyng the heauens thou my most deare and lawfull husbande whose soule I see walkyng in the middest of the loyal louers what better proffe canste thou haue of the sinceritie of my loue then to see me laye my body vppon thalter of ymmolation to vntymely death for thy sake neyther shalte thou for thy parte oh boocher and mortall morderour of my carkasse to whose crueltie my destenie hathe consented in quenching thy thurste with the blodd of a pure mayde glorifie hereafter to haue forced the harte of a simple gentlewoman and muche lesse made a breache into her honor eyther by terrible threates or sugred perswations vpoÌ„ which laste wordes notwithstandyng attended suche argumentes of terrour that a man wolde haue thoughte that the veraye remembrance of death hadd somewhat quallified her vehemency and mortified the greatest part of her former furies Dom Diego by this tyme came to hym selfe and seynge the discourse of the tragedye readye to presente hys laste acte with the death of his faire mistres Geniuera la blonde was driuen to force hym selfe to speake for the lyfe of her whose crueltie hadde committed hym allmoste to the panges of extreme daunger wherefore staynge the diligence of suche as had the charge of execution he addressed hym to Roderico with this requeste My lorde and great frende the present experience of your rare frendshypp hath made so lyberall a prooff of youre vndoubted meanyng towardes me that if I sholde liue the age of a whole worlde I shoulde not be hable to discharge the bondes of your desert So considering the cause of this misfortune procedes only of the malice of mine owne destenie and that it is a vanitie to contende with the thynges which the heauens haue determined vpon vs I beseche you by the vertue of your honor for a confirmation of all the good tornes you haue done me to graunte me yet one requeste whiche is that in pardonning the life of this gentlewoman and her companie you will retourne theim to the place from whence you broughte theim with no lesse assuraunce and saffetie then yf you guided your miserable Dom Diego for my parte being fullie resolued not to kepe warre with my destenies I am perswaded to a contentement touchinge my lot assurynge you for the reste that the sorowe whiche I sée she suffreth giueth me more cause of passion then y e gréef which I endure by her meanes troubleth me let her liue in peace and me in exspectation to receiue ende of my tormentes by the deuouring knif which is ordeyned to cut in sonder the fillet whereuppon dependes the fatall course of my cursed yeres till whiche tyme I haue sworne to kepe resideÌ„ce in