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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
meritt with the cause of his vniuste tormeÌ„t vsynge with all thaduise of reason he hadde not seamed so symple in his owne blyndnes nor bene so sowne abused by y e foly of a folish girle his man dowting any further tattempt hym with perswacions for feare to procure thuttermost of hys displeasure was forced to an vnwillinge patience greuinge notwithstandynge on the behalfe of the misfortune of his maister who with his euill dyott and worse lodgyng quarrelyng both two with his former order of bringing vp was become so pale and hideuse of regarde that he rather resembled the dryed barke of a withered trée then the shapp of a man bearynge lyfe besides the course of continual teares and skorchyng syghes deriued from the bottome of his stomake had so drained the conduites and vaynes fedynge the partes of his bodie with naturall moisture that his eies sonke into his heade his bearde forked and growen oute of order the heares of his headd starynge lyke a forlorne man or one loathinge the vse of longer lyf hys skyn and face ful of forrowes and wrinkelles procedyng of â—retting thought argued him rather a wilde man borne and bredde vpp al the dayes of his lyfe in the wildernes then the valyante Diego whose fame exceded earste the whole compasse and Circuit of Spaine But here lett vs leaue our amarus hermitt ful of passioÌ„s in hys symple cloyster or cane vnder the earthe and see what followed the deliuery of his letters to his cruell Geniuera to whom the seruante the fourthe daye after his departure accordyng to his charge presented the letters not with oute a greate showe of dutie and reuerence who notwithstanding assone as she perceiued by the direction froÌ„ whence they cam forgatt not to retire into her aunciente disdaine and casting in greate anger the letters vppon the ground vouche safed not once to giue leaue to the messenger to declare the reste of his embassage wherwith her mother some what reprehendyng thinciuilitie of her doughter demaunded to sée the packett for saieth she I am perswaded of thonestie of Diego neyther do I doute any deceyte in his vertue nor you doughter for your parte oughte to seame so curious to tooche theym seynge that yf they ymporte anye poyson your beautie only is to be blamed whiche was the firste baite that infected the knighte and if he putt you in remembraunce of your rigour I sée no wronge he doth you considering the greatnes of his deserte and the slender care you haue of his due consideration in whyche meane tyme a page tooke vpp the letters and gaue theym to tholde Ladie who founde his complaynte in suche or semblable tearmes Seynge good madam myne Innocencie is denyed to worke theffecte of her vertue and iuste excuses confirmed with thautoritie of equitie and reason are altogether voyde of force to make a breach into your harte so hardned against me with vniuste disdaine that the simple remembrance of my name is no lesse hatefull vnto you then the offer of any tormente what tiranny so euer it ymporte I fynd the nexte acceptable seruice I can do you is in mortefyinge whollye the cause of your displeasure and with my punishment to yelde you contentemente to putt suche distance betwene vs that neyther you nor any other shall knowe the place of myne abode and muche lesse the pitte of fattal repose where in I entende to cowche my corrupte bones wherein albeit my contynuall passion procedyng of the viewe of your discourtesie hath bredd suche a generall debilitie thorowe all the â—aynes and places of force within me that I féele my self alredye fallen into the handes of the dreadefull messenger So affore theffecte or execution of the extreme hower I am thus holde hereby with the true toochestone or witnes of myne Innocentie to putt you in remembrance of your vnnaturall rigor not for that I meane to accuse you to the hier of your deserte but that the worlde beynge priuie to my case maie be thindifferent iudge betwene my integrity and your crueltie my loyall affection and the wronge you do to y e rewarde of my seruice assurynge my selfe notwithstandynge that the reaporte of my deathe will bringe a remorse to your conscience with a compassion albeit to late seynge the same shal be thequal ballance to paise my sincere and constante intente with your credulous and rashe iudgement in admittinge for trothe the false suggestion of suche as enuyed the vertue of our honeste loue with a suborned informacion of a frendshypp betwene me and the doughter of the Lorde of Sera yf you will make it good madam vnlawful for a gentleman traded in the disciplines of ciuilitie to receiue the presentes of a Ladye or gentlewoman equall in degrée or honor to hym self wherein will you to consiste the pointes of humanitie howe can we glorie or séeme meritorious of the title of nobilitie yf it be an offence to he thaÌ„kefull to suche as do homage to our honour with thoffer of anye courtesie wherein notwithstandynge I was so curious to offende you that thâ—nly respect or feare of your displeasure forcinge me to abuse y e goodnes of myne owne inclination made me retorne the offer of her frendeshypp with a simple Gram mercy And for your parte if your hate hathe taken suche roote against me and your self so resolued to do wronge to the sacred pitie exspected in al women and shrowded commonly vnder the vaile of suche beautie as nature hathe paynted in your face that neyther the sacrefice whiche I haue made of the cause of your vniuste disdaine my languishing penance nor lawful excuses haue power to perswade you to the contrary of your synyster ymagynation I sée no other choyce then to yelde to the partiall sentence of your iudgemente whyche as an enemye to thequitie of my cause fauoreth wholly the iniustice of your conceite wherein seynge the spottes of your mortall displeasure can not be wiped awaie but by the blodd of my lyfe whyche showeth your contente mente to consiste wholly in my destruction I accompte it a dutie of reason to honour you with the sacrafise of my deathè aswell as I founde cause to auowe vnto you the seruice of my lyfe whiche also I am yet to performe so longe as my sowle dothe kepe her holde by the mortall thred and fraile fillett of my bodye fyndinge this one thynge to increase the miserye of my death passynge as the breath of a pleasant sighe whych shall haue power to dysmiss my soule vnder the sommonce of a softe and shorte pange that myne ynnocencye wil alwaies lyue to accuse you as a cruel mordresse of your moste constant and loyall seruant Dom Diego The tragicall contentes of this letter strick such soddaine dollor into the mynd of thold lady that she seamed to participate w t thaffliction of the pore forrestian hermit albeit dissimuling her passioÌ„ affore her howshold seruaÌ„tes retired into her chaÌ„ber with her doughter only whoÌ„ she failed not
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
but stretching further she is enioyned according to thaduise of Salomon to a straiter charge to assiste thindeuors of her people with the helpe and diligence of her owne bodye seynge her aduise is no lesse necessarie for y e perfection of the worke then her presence and help therein a speciall incitacion encoraginge the seruantes not to desiste from toile till their taske be performed and that to thexspectacion of her desier neither ought any degrée with be dispenced all from honest exercise seyng thymitacion of trauell is deryued from our sauior Christ who exposing his body to al toile grudged not to vndertake those painful endeuors which thappostells refused to endure leauing an example to al estates to ymitat honest toile which by the mouth of thappostell he dowteth not to terme a singuler vertue promising a rewarde of per petuytie with a contynuall reste in the bosom of Abraham to those that vnfeynedlye do folowe it But towchynge those delicate and wanton housewiues whiche thinke their estymacion ympaired if they but put their noses within the aire of painefull indeuor they I saye beyng hurtefull to a whole common wealthe oughte either to be vtterly weded out of the companie of the good sorte or ells traded vp in the shooles of contynuall trauell vntill the frutes of the same do adorne their estates whiche they accompte dymynished by thexercise of that most honest vertue wherein yf thauncient historians and fathers of knowledge beynge carefull to prouoke the youth of their tyme to the followyng of vertue dyd painte the office and dutie of a good houswife in the person of one Lucrecia whoÌ„ they haue neyther made a bablor or one that spendes her tyme in chattinge of vaine things ronnyng to feastes and banquettes gasinge oute of the windowes vppon euery stréete walker or masquyng in the nightes with couered face without regarde of honestye or honor of the house wherof of she cam but haue drawen her sitting in her chamber amongest her young damesels vsing the spindel and exercise of the nedell Euenso wée nede not me thynke doute also to admitt as a familiar myrroir for you coye gentlewomen of this age oure younge wydowe ZYLIA who deuiding the daye into howers and houers into mynutes wolde not suffer the leaste moment of tyme to eskape withoute some exercise of comendacion or proffitt wherein she was so earnestly giuen that the hollydayes or seasons of solemnytie cold not discharge her bodye from labor or make her be sene in tyme of recreacion eyther in the stréetes gardynes or other conuenient places of resorte conuenient for honest assembly to recreat their weary bodyes and refreshe their spréetes dulled with trauell Which vertue if it bée to be honorred for the â—arietie in our dames now a daies yet had she another gifte of no lesse commendacion whiche she semed not to attaine vnto without the helpe of thegipcians theologie who resoluing vpon certeine honeste partes whiche ought to adorne the beautye of a vertuouse chast womaÌ„ haue drawen thimage of a womaÌ„ holding a keye affore her mouth and her féete vpon a whele notinge thereby that an honest womaÌ„ hath always her lippes locked her toung tyed to th end she vtter no wordes of vaine disposition nor speake not but in tyme and place conuenient her féete chayned to a whéele because they should not vse their libertie to wander as vacabondes no nor sturr out of the house onlesse it were for religion sake to visit the churches or places of prayer or nowe then to render dutie to theim of whome we tooke our beinge and came into this worlde wherein this wydowe exactinge vppon the straite pointes of those commendable customes was not so religious as supersticious or rather wholly giuen to rigour for she vsed her deuocion of prayer at suche secrett tymes that it was skarce possible to sée her when she wente to heare the diuine seruice of God and whether it were that she thought her self so faire that al men weare vnworthie to touche the precious brinke of her corrall mouth wyth a chast kisse or whether the renowme of her rare chastetye made her strange in condiscendinge to that whiche was tollerable and decente enough to be admitted yet was she suche a nigarde of her curtesie that she wolde make no conscience to denie to kisse any gentleman of what condicion so euer he were an aunciente ciuilitye vsed of longe tyme amongeste all estates and continued to this daye as a behauiour of tolleracion amongeste the dames of greate calling accomptyng it a chiefe kynde of humanitie to receiue welcome strangers commynge to visitt theim for good wyll wyth a chaste kisse accompanied wyth a countenaunce of semelye familiaritie But now as this wydowe had layde her husbande in his longe bedd of reste there to remeine vntill the generall resurrection of all fleshe the dollorous disposition of her funerall dule retired into obliuion and she whollye giuen to treade the path of painefull toile aswel for the sustentation of her selfe and her charge as increase of the patrimonie lefte to her litle sonne it chaunced that a gentleman of the moste estimacion of that contrey called Monsieur Phillibarto Virley whose house was nexte neyghbour to Montcall came vppon a holly daye or greate feaste to Montcall beinge in the churche there in place of occupyinge his minde with heaueÌ„ly cogitacions or recordynge with attentiue eare the infallible worde of God published that daye in the pulpitt by a preacher of the learned sorte he bestowed his deuocion in beholdynge the glymerynge saintes in the bodye of the churche amongeste whome hys vnfortunat eyes tooke to large a viewe of the exquisitt beautye of Zilya who hauinge alreadye remoued the vayle of dollor and because it was veray hott and that she woulde gyue her selfe large libertie to heare the ghostly father tooke awaye her Eskarfyon and other implementes incident to preserue the beautie of the face of the effeminate sorte and vnbared her cristall necke nothing differyng from the complexion of her face beinge bothe dipped in the Orient dye of the pure Allablaster tempered wyth certeine liuely streames of redd like vnto the incarnate rose springing vppon the brymme of the pleasante arbour in the dewishe mornynges of maye which pleasant glaunce and vnhappie encounter so daselled the eyes of the knight at the firste sighte that beinge not hable to wythdrawe his regardes from the viewe of so fayre a sainte was driuen at laste in makynge the ynner partes of his mynde a table wherevpon he drewe the curious picture of her beautie to admitte thinfection of that pleasant allurement into the bottom of his harte wherin beinge once harboured it began accordynge to the nature of a deadly poyson to worke by lytle and lytle vntyll the distillynge Iewste dropping from the pernicious humour of that perillous fountayne had drowned and gott the dominion ouer the beste partes within this vnfortunat patient who euen nowe felte suche straunge alteration in