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
expedicion for that wythin some xviii or xx dayes after VALPERGO had taken possession and entred the forte of the countesse there arryued at PAVYA SEIGNEVR SANSEVERINO earle of GAIAZO whose promptenes of wit and perfection of bodie and membres with a valyant corage of the harte as they made his name and renowme excede all other betwene that the mountes so thys desloyal Aleyne cruel Medea had no soner takē a simple view on him w t a flickering glance of her vncertein eye but she felt a mociō of vehemēt zeale sturr and kindle within her whiche within shorte tyme grewe to tearmes of suche certeine affection that she which earste had dalyed with all men becomes now to doate vppon this new earle and that in such sorte that yf fortune wold not award present compassion and loue lende her a spedie meane to recouer thobiect of her desier she seamed not only to enter the tormentes of dispair but also to make smal accompte of the vse of longer lyfe iudging by thexterior and outewarde promises of this younge Lorde that it was only he that seamed sufficient to quenche the thurste of her greedie appetit wherfore she began to dispatche her handes of her first frend Valpergo with whom from that instant she did not onlye refuse to speake but also shonninge all places of his presence and repaire wold not sticke sometime to shott her gates against hym whych he colde not disgest without certeine iniurious wordes and tearmes of reproche whereuppon she grounded a grudge of suche mortall enimitie and spite againste him that her mynd reteined a remembrance of the quarrell till her malice had procured his death wherof the discourse followeth in his place desiering as yt seamed thacquaintāce of therle Gainzo aswel for her assistāce in thexcucion of theffect of her presēt spite against Valpergo as for the respect of true affection wherein as she was whoattlye called vppon by ij earnest solicitours loue and reuenge the one sewinge for a consommacion of her wicked deuise the other prickyng her with desier to procure theffect of her newe affection wyth the seconde earle to whom albeyt she displayed suche manyfeste sygnes of good wyll as eyther the arte of loue coulde imagyne or her wanton and idle brayne deuise yet seynge so slender a replye on his parte withe an encrease of her burning appetite she thought it necessarie to put spurs to his dull disposicion makinge no conscience to become the shameles clyent in a cause wherin the most vile and simple woman that is suffreth her selfe to be sewed vnto with no small adoo wherein beinge voyde of meanes to vse mutuall conference she makes this litle letter the messenger of her vnseamelie request The respect of the place and estimacion whiche I holde syr I am sewer will putt you in some amaze at the firste viewe of theis lynes vndoubted messengers of my harte seing that in preferring the lewde suggestiō of my vnrulie fancie afore the due regarde and consideracion of modestie whiche oughte to accompanie all Ladies of honor I make requeste of that whose simple remembrance makes me blushe at so greate an abuse But yf you consider the commission of loue who sommoneth rather by commandement then requeste with suche a generall awe ouer all estates and peculiar authoritie to punishe vs women with vehemencye of affection in desyeringe the thinges whiche nature hath forbidden vs to attempte you will not onelye dispense with my rashe follye but dispose your selfe to take awaye or at leaste diminish the greatnes of my present passion whiche as it was founded at fyrst vppon the generall fame of your vertues so the often viewe of your rare perfection of person since your repaire to Pauya hath forced suche an increase of zeale with aggrauacion of my desyer that if my destenie denye me a spedye supplye of reléefe or fortune forbide you to come and visitt my longyng estate your crueltye shall mortifye my passion and giue ende to my lyfe together wherein seinge loue hath fauored you wyth the victorie and conqueste of her who earste had power to vanquishe all men showe your selfe no lesse willynge to embrace the benefytt then worthie of the glorye and deferr not syr to expose effectes of pitie on the behalfe of her who lyueth onely vnder the mercie of a simple hope whiche yf the retourne of your resolucion do make frustrate and conuerte my desyer into ayre the same shall also pronounce the fatall ende of the vnhappie and your moste loyall Blanche Maria. This embassage with further commission by the mouth of the bringer sturred vp no smal alteracion in the mynde of the younge earle chieflye for that he sawe hymselfe pursued with a franke offer of that whiche yf the affectioned zeale he bare to his deare frende and companion the Lorde Valpergo had not stayed thattempte he had soughts longe since to obteine And albeit he iudged it neyther tollerable by humanitie nor thoffice of a gentleman to supplant the pleasure of his frende and marche in the steppes of his praye yet being charmed as it were with the vehement wordes of the letter with opinion that the discurtesie were to greate to abuse the liberal offer of so faire a Ladye gaue place to the sommonce and wente immediatlye to her house where fyndynge her voyede of all companie in her bedd chamber sawe small occasion to preferr halfe the circumstance and courtlike wooing wiche Seigneur Valpergo vsed for that both the one and the other after certeine intisinge kisses and other drawyng allurements performed on both partes disposed themselues tomake present sacrifyce to the goddesse of loue in putting an effect to the thyng which they both thirsted to accomplish with equalitye of desyer which amarous practise continued betwen them certeine monethes in such sorte that therle was so assotted became so ydolatrous on her behalfe that he performed no deuocion to other saint sauing the vnseamely shryne of his new mynion who also seing him stāde in water to the chin whollie subiect to the yoke of her awe determined to kepe a harde hande of the bridle with intent to make hym the bloddye executioner of her detestable deuise against her former louer Valpergo whose felicitie defended him eyther frō the peril of that imaginacion or els God wold not yet gyue leaue to her wickednes for that her hope was deceiued touching any help or assistance of her newe frend for Valpergo seing himself not onely dispossessed of the loue of his Ladye but dishonored by her mouthe wyth diuerse wordes of reproche in hys absence iudged it no grudge of conscience to mynister semblable reuenge on her behalfe the rather for that she was bothe the authour of the euyll euill first breaker of her faithe without cause and now the begyner of the quarrell of slaunder wherefore departynge from PAVIA he painted her dishonestie vppon euerie poste he passed by blasynge her armes with suche base and vile coollours and in suche
beautie of yours wyth an acte of more TYRRANNIE then euer hath bene noted in anye woman of former tyme or accompte you yt a vertue to kyll hym who dyethe euerye hower in the veray viewe and remembrance of the heauenlye perfection wherein you only excell al that euer haue bene called faire if you resolued haue my ruyne why stay you to do executiō abridge godd Ladye my lingringe torment with a presente dispatche and ende of lyfe deferr no longer the fatall ministers of your wyl seynge you are aggreed to performe the effect and suffer at laste my waterye eyes to stop the streames of their auncient sorowe deryued of the onelye viewe and remembrance of the mystrys of their contemplacions whereby my harte shall also supp the laste Syropp of desperate hope and my affections vanyshe with the dekaye of my bodye who is heare readie to become your fattall harbenger in the other worlde with hope to reape there the hyer of my present merytt The Ladye whether her anger woulde gyue no longer place to hys complaint or that she dowted a force or charme in the same to ouerthrow the fortresse of her chastetie gaue him the looke of a waspishe mynd reprehending his rashnes with theis or suche like tearmes of reproche Yf my pacience woulde yet giue leaue to your fonde discourse I see no wante of desyer in you to attempte me with requestes which neither is your parte to preferr to one of my condicion and callynge nor yet my honor can brooke to heare of the mouth of suche as soeke but to seduce the honestie of chaste Ladies wherein as you haue exacted vpon the frendshipp and facilitye in me to here the vttermost of your sute presumyng belike of my consent to depart wyth that whiche you can not restore me againe So besides that the present experience of your foule intent shall serue me hereafter as a warraunte againste the assaultes of suche offers eyther in your selfe or any other equal to you in disposictō I can giue no other aunswere to the tearmes of your requeste nor fauor to your fowle attempte but that from the instant you ceasse to solicite me eyther by your selfe or any embassador on your behalfe protestynge vnto you for my part neyther to be séene in the stréete nor other place of publike beinge so longe as you are in the countreye and muche lesse suffer thaccesse of anye Gentleman within my house onles he bée my neare parent or allye by whiche meanes your importunities onely shall punishe me wyth a sorowful restrainte and absence from the societie of my olde companions and frendes whiche laste resolucion seamed suche a mistery to the mynde of thinfortunat Virley that for the time he stoode as enchaunted or one newlye dropped fourth of the cloudes till at laste as one whollie conuerted into dispaire of further fauor at her hande he craued onelye for consideracion of his paynes paste and laste farewell of his loyall fayth to her a kysse which he sayed sholde satisfye his longynge at full and discharge her of further pursewete accordynge to her requeste The malicious Ladye notinge the fonde desyer of the knighte and wyth what small coste she mighte nowe rydd her of an importuante suter meanynge notwythstandyng to departe with so small a fauor but for a price of greate pennance to hym that soughte to buy it tolde hym that aswell to satisfye his present request as also to make a further prooffe of his faith she wolde performe the full of hys last demaunde yf he wolde giue her assurance by the sayth of a gentleman to do one thinge wherein she was to require hym whiche the simple Vyrley did not onely promisse by all protestations of religion or othe but pawned also the maiestie of the highest for performyng euery such commandement as it pleased her to enioyne hym wherewith she seamed satisfyed touchyng th assurance of his consent and thervpon entred into theffect of her owne promisse embracinge and kissynge hym as yf it had bene the firste nighte of theyr mariage requiryng hym in like sorte to become the maister of his worde and aduouche the pointes of his late graunte The pore gentleman suspectynge no one thoughte of suche tyrannye in his mistrys and muche lesse that he shoulde buye his kisses at so deare a price tolde her he attended the only sommonee of her cōmaundement to th ende she mighte witnes his readye indeuor to obeye her she enioyned hym that from that hower till iij. yeres were expired he shoulde become muett without speakynge in any sorte to any creature lyuing how great so euer his occasion appeared in the true obseruynge whereof saith she shall appeare an experience of your faith whiche also maye force hereafter a further benefit for you where the contrarie wil not only discouer your villānte but be readye to accuse you of periurie on the behalfe of a Gentlewoman He thinkes I see the perplexed countenaunce of the pore knighte who hearinge the sentence of his hard pennaunce iudged as greate iniustice in her for taxing him at so cruell a rate as difficultie in him selfe to performe theffect of so strāge a charge albeit his hart was so greate and he so papisticall in performynge hys vowe that he began euen then to enter into the pointes of her commaundement declarynge by signes that she should bée obeyed wherewith he gaue her an humble reuerence and retyred immediatly to hys lodgynge faygnynge to suche as were aboute hym that the extremetie of a colde rhume distillynge from the partes of the braine had taken awaye the vse of his tounge And because his domnes shoulde not bee a gréeffe to his frendes nor they moue his disquiett in demaundynge the cause he determyned to bée a straunger to his countrey till the yeares of pennaunce were runne oute wherewith committynge the order of his affayres at Mountcall or els where in Pyemount to the creditt of suche as he thought méete to supplye the place of suche truste tooke twoo or thrée of his familyar companions to assiste his voyage whiche he directed rightelye into fraunce as a countreye moste méete for hys abode chiefly for the mortall warres as then betwen CHARLES the seuenth and the valyaunt Englishe men possessynge his countrey in the yeare 1451. And as the Kynge was then in campp in Gascoyne with intent to pursewe the goodnes of his fortune and delyuer his contrey altogether from thenglishe nacion he addressed hymselfe and force to the Duchye of Normandye where this Pyemountaine knight being in the campp was knowen by and by to diuerse of the chiefstaines aboute the kynge aswell by the notable seruice they had seene hym do in diuerse places as also greate creditt he hathe had afore wyth thearle of Pyemount who after became Duke of Scauoye where was greate repaire of the nobilitye of Fraunce for that he maryed Madame Iolante seconde doughter to CHARLES the seuenth after they hadde a whyle lamented his lacke of speache not knowynge for all they coulde
with notes of vuiuersall prayse in pillers of eternitie then to be buried without pompe in the tombe of darke obliuion Ah deare brother what is become of thy auncient generosity and vertue of minde whych heretofore thou hast exposed on the behalfe of the honest chast Ladies of thy kinred race haste thou conuerted that care and curious zeale whiche hythervnto all men haue noted in the on my behalfe into a present intent to take awaye my lif renowme after my death because thy peruersed fortune hath depriued the of the moste part of thy possessions liuinges wilt thou therfore that I make lyke sale of min honor whyche I haue kepte hethervnto with so greate watche and diligence wilte thou my deare brother that ANSEAMO do triumphe with more glory in the victorie of my virginity then if he had cōstrained the rest remeinder of our miserable race to passe by the edge of his mordrynge sworde Remember alas that the hurtes and diseases of the soule be farre more vehement and of a contrary disposition to them which afflict annoy the body And is it I vnhappie thryswretched girle that must do penaūce for thoffences of vs all is this the iustice of the gods or rigorous dome of my angry destinies if y e heauens haue resolued my ruine why do they not rather cōmitt me to fatal execution thē present me vpon the Alter of fylthie ymolacions or offrings to the deuouring goddesse of filthie lust and that to appease the appetit of a young man who peraduenture desiereth no other pray then y e spoiles of my honor How pappie was the noble VIRGINIA of Rome who was slaine by the hādes of her owne father to auoyde violaciō of her bodye by y e lasciuious Emprour APPIVS the cōmon enemie to the honor reputacion of al honest Ladies alas why staith my brother to purchasse like renowme by performing semblable execution vpō me rather then of his owne mind to become the infamous minister of my life readye to abide the daunger of dishoneste force if God become not the protectour of his seruant take my cause into his hande why dothe death deferre to do his dutie or staye to dip the end of his venemous dart in the congeiled blod of my dieng sprit dispatch me with spede to visit the shadowes of my happy predecessours who vnderstanding my present distresse can not be voyde I am sewer of passion on y e behalfe of my wretched extremety why did not God nature giue power to the midwyf to smother me at thinstant that her cursed handes receiued me from the wombe of my mother rather then in preseruyng my lyfe with the milke of tender norriture to make my youth subiect to sondry sortes of affliction now in the age exspectation of quiet to present me the choice of ij of the most mortall euils in the world what councel haue I to assiste me in so doubtefull a case or whiche waye can I tourne me where I am not indifferently assailed with remorse on the behalf of my brothers request shame with desperacion in the simple remembrance of the fact Alas shall I loase him whom nature and law of kinde haue named the one halfe of my selfe and to cōmit theffect of his demande is no lesse dampnable afore God then if I did violence force against my selfe with mine own handes neyther haue I remedie or reason to eschew either of theis euils but by thassistance of the oh cruel Attropos whom I besech with the laste teares of this complaint to whet thy fatall knif and shred in sonder with spede y e twyst of my wretched daies least in preuentinge thy slacknes or slender haste theis handes of mine vndertake to supplie thine office with vnnaturall reuenge of my present sorow wherewith her teares sighes ceassed vpon a sodaine and her tounge foltering in her mouth her complexion of face was also conuerted into a pale ghastlye regard in suche sorte as the passion of this traunce stopping the conduites and course of her breath she seamed to haue as litle féeling or show of lyfe as the seat wheron she sat which when CHARLES behelde with resolution that the misterie conteined neither vision nor dreame nor charme of deceit but that his syster had bene as vtterly without hope of recouery as she seamed senceles and without breath ouercome with dolor and dispair to lyue after her whome he onely had preferred to so wretched a death fel vpon a sodaine from the place wher he sat vpon the grounde without mouing either hand or foote the noise of whose fal restored ANGELIQVA to some litle rebalation and vse of breath recouerynge in like sorte the opening of her eyes with a general mocion and féelyng in al her parts being thus at libertie of frée consideracion her eyes disclosed immediatly the piteous estat of her brother whom she iudged now to haue deliuered her of further care to performe his requeste wherein seing a generall retire of all his sences and onelye viewe of his deade bodie remeynynge to encrease her doloure she stoode at the point to vse the same reuenge of her selfe that THIS BE dyd when she founde her frende dead but finding his bodye warme wyth some argument of recouerye she forgat not the vse of any medecine wherin she iudged vertu to reclaime life and falling with all flat vpon the body of her deade brother shée began to curse her fortune and accuse the starres of crucltie inueighing withal against the slēder frendship of her selfe towardes hym who made no cōscience to offer to dye to preserue his patriimonie and inheritaunce only for her sustentation in the ende by thapplicatiō of certeine medecines and odoriferous smels somtime sprinkling colde water vpō his face dropping viniger into his mouth and somtime rubbynge his temples and pulses wyth other sleightes to reuoke hym that is but halfe dead she brake the bed of his traunce openyng a vent to vtter the course of his breath wherewith also his eys disclosed and chalenged their wonted lyght beholdinge with dolefull regardes his desolate syster who seinge all his partes replenished eftsones with vital mocions that he was in case to vnderstand and gyue iudgement of her wordes sayed vnto hym seinge my mishap is so great that she will admit no dispense of her malice thou deare brother so whollie resolued in thy wilful imagination that I must yelde to thy somance become the minister of the sentence of thy harte more prodigall and bountiful then is conuenient by the consent of raison I am content to become thankefull accordyng to thy desyer and more readye to performe thy requeste then thou haste raison to eracte so muche vppon me wherefore do awaye thy desperat regardes and lookes not vnliket o him that is plunged in a passion of tremblyng feare receyuynge with gladnes the present offer of thy carefull syster who here presentes herselfe the handemaide of
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