the chamber where he behelde the stretched Corps of Cayme and where yet was the Emperour with a smal company who seing Mahometh although hee was surprysed with feare seeing hym in such array yet making a vertuâ— of necessitye comming to incounter with him sayth Ah Villayne sonne of a Villayne art thou yet liuing Yea sayth Mahometh I liue in despight of thy Menaces and false â—â—â—entions ready to send thee to all the diuils to serue for their pray trusting in God that he will geue me strength to reuenge vpon thee most disloyal of al disloyals the death of thy innocent parentes of whome thou haste bene the inhumayne bloodshedder In saying these wordes putting their handes to their â–ª weapons they ioyned togythers and although the Souldan defended himselfe alwayes veryâ— brauely yet the slaue a man very stroÌ„g braue hardy and always brought vp in warres and who for his good deede had the ayde and fauour of the God of that Coast acquyteth himselfe so well in lesse then an howe 〈◊〉 at the Tyraunt was able no longer to supporte the strength of the blowes of Mahometh but in the ende began to declyne towarde the earth the slaue by little and little became victoryous setting his shield vpon his throat to make him to yeelde himself which being done he causeth him to be streightly bound and deliuered vnto the people who sodaynly rente him into a hundred thousand peeces so that he was not esteemed to be the chyld of a good mother that had not done some iniury to the car cases of the miserable tyraunt O iust iudgemente of God he that tofore neuer thoughte himselfe ynough worshipped of his subiectes is now slayne by their sedicions handes to the ende that euerye one shoulde euidently perceyue that goods vniustly gotten alwayes geue the salary of their vniustice to the greedy desyrer the vyolater of right and of all religion After the death of the Souldan they made dilligent inquisytion of the complicis and executers of his cruell murders who being accused and conuicte were rygorously punished according to their lawes and ordinances The people perceyuing themselues so bound to Mahometh for that he had beene the deliuerer of all their Countrye and the punisher of such an offence which they dissembled by constraynt gaue vnto him the gouernment of the I le and woulde absolutelye haue inuested him in the seignory But the sage olde man knowing very wel both the inconstancy of fortune and the vndurable good will of a multitude and not ignorant also that he which vnder the tytle of good fayth occupyeth the goods of another cannot choose otherwyse then ingender the ruine of his successours and commonly giue cause of his infamy and totall dishonor therfore hauing set the affayres of the I le in good order hee causeth vpon a day all the estates of the countrey to be called in counsell before whome he made this Oration There is none of you my good Lords which are ignoraunt that I was borne in this your Iland and much lesse of the blood and race of them which ought to raygne ouer the people I haue bene brought vp and nourished as a slaue in the Court of the former Souldan father of this wicked parracyde of whome and vpon whome you haue taken condigne vengeance for his wickednesse I beseech you refer all that which I haue done or yet shal do to the honour and obedience of the vertuous deceased Lord and to the memory of those goods which I haue receyued of him and also to establish and pacifye the Signory to the yongest sonne of hym who as you know is fugitiue in the Mosque sith the day that his brother the Tyraunt made the horrible slaughter of them of his blood I therefore am of thys mynde if you also shall thinke it good that the successyon he being of the right ligne shoulde be by you rendered vnto him for I haue not at all purposed to vsurpe anye Lande from the sonne of him to whose name during my lyfe I haue borne such honour as the seruaunte to his mayster and the Vassall and subiecte to his Lorde Therefore I resygne and remyt into your handes the supremidence whiche of your good wils you haue giuen me both ouer you and ouer the Landes of my Lorde and your Prince vnto whome by your meanes I maye serue to gyue counsell in all his affayres by which if hee will gouerne himselfe I will assure you that you shall vnderstande you haue oâ—elye chaunged a man and not a vertuous and gentle Prince alwayes thanking you for the amitye and good affection which you haue borne me which if God gyue me lyfe I hope to satisfye by all kynde of humanitie and duety of a good friend and as an obedyent seruaunt of your commynaltye The people abashed of the vertue and continencie of the good olde man who forsaking the honours vnte which their election had called him louing better to lyue a pryuate lyfe then to enioye a whole countrey wythout hauing iust tytle of possessyon doe easily accorde to the counsell and sage opynyon of Mahometh So the yong Prince was fetched from the Temple and placed in the seate of his father wyth thys condicyon that hee should haue alwayes the olde man for assystaunte and counceller and by whose handes shoulde passe all the affayres of importaunce that might chaunce wythin the I le Beholde a notable and rare example of two great extremities in the vertue of one man the assuraunce and Magnaminitye to reuenge a publique iniurye vpon one that of him selfe was publique if by his vyce he had not made himselfe more abiect then the leaste of the common and popular multytude and the modestye conioyned wyth great reason and foresyghte to despyse that wherefore almoste all men at these dayes doe take and adresse for what occasyon soeuer it bee the bloody battayles profayning the sanctitude of Religyon peruerting the order of iudgementes redusyng and rendryng all thinges into wynd and adnychylatyng the charity that euery one oweth to hys Neighboure for wyth a huge heape of sinnes curses they aâ—tayn their Lordships and within a whyle they forget the effusyon of bloud of the good cittizens not appeasing the incursyoâ—s that in the end they ouerthrow themselues as is the flower by the heate of the Sonne in his full force and as was latelye seene in the tyrannous rule of the Myllinois of our tyme and once in the raygn of the Persians and Greekes the Monarchie of whome was lyke a flame that vanisheth away quickly as did their domynyons after their establishement FINIS ¶ The Marques of Ferraria without hauing regarde to fatherly loue caused his owne Sonne to be beheaded for that he was found in Adultery with his faire Mother in law who lykewyse lost her head in Pryson by his commaundement IN the lyfe of Phillip Vicont Duke of Millayne sonne of Iohn Galeas he y so often made warres against the Florentynes and their Lyne then
raigning in Fraunce Charles the seuenth that good King which chased the Englishe men out of Normandye the moste excellente and myghtye Prince Nicholas of East the thirde Marques of Ferraria he that for his singuler wysdome had bene sente so often as Arbitrator to determyne the controuersyes that chaunced amongest the Princes of Italy made warre agaynste hys owne Cosyn called Azzo of East which with the ayde of the Venetians Florenâ—ynes and Bolongnoys although he were a bastard did chese the sayd Azzo lawful and iust successour of the MarquisdoÌ„ out of Italy constrayned him to ende his dayes in exyle in the I le of Candy aunciently called Create he because Ferraria was obedyent vnto him as vnto an vniust vsurper doth gouern them so politickly and trayn the people so gently that neuer any of his predicessors liued more quyetly he being confyrmed in his estate espouseth in his fyrste maryage the daughter of the Lorde Frauncis of Cararya after y Lord of Padue by whom he had one sonne which at his christning was called Hugnes the bewty phisâ—omy of whom did promise some future dexterity excellency in him this is he of whom I intend most to intreate as chiefe cause of the discription of this history he was surnamed by the pleasure and wil of the Father the County of Rouigo and kept with such care dilligence study of them that had the charge ouer him as did appertain to the Chyld of such a Lord as be which commanded ouer Ferraria Certayne dayes after the birth of this yong Prince the Marchioues his mother departed this lyfe to y great greefe of her husband which loued her no lesse theÌ„ his own self â–ª to the displeasure of all his subiects that wholy had tryed such curtesy gentlnesse liberallity to be in her as whose lyke memorye hath not left ingrauen in the harts of y posterity this yong Prince as he growes in yeres giueth such testimony of his future vertue wisdome that a man should fynd a few Lordes of such a raxe in all Italy that did excell him so much are they in fault that suffer theÌ„selues to be ouercome if that fortune had not giuen him such a foile as the processe of his yeres did forbid it in him whych had giuen such a beginning to his honor But what if the affectyons of men doe ebbe and flow and neuer continue in one state as the vnquyet mouing of the sea it is no otherwyse of the iudgementes and ordinaunces of God whereof there is not one left vndone without coming to the end ordained by the presence of him for the ende of the county could not be euil as euery one thought by the coniecture of the vertue of his yong yeares but beholde the ende This Marques Nicholas being very yong lusty after the death of his wyfe deliberating with himselfe not to marry agayn beginning so well as he that had the euill will of none of his neighbours â–ª to take his ease and to passe his tyme in such delightes that euery nighte he chaungeth his pasture and continuing his wantonesse doth his indeuour so wel that the troupe of his Bastardes were not inferiour in number to them â–ª that were begotteÌ„ by the old Priam of Troy a litle before y Greeks did beseege it and to the end that the hystory shal not waÌ„t any thing which should serue for the succes of that I wil seâ— forth touching the misfortune of y county of 〈◊〉 the sonne of Nicolas There was remaining to y said Marques no other child to succede him lawfully begotteÌ„ but Lionel y eldest of the Bâ—â—cards after whoÌ„ was that famous and renowned Lord Borze the sonne of a Damsell Senoyis of the house of Tolomey This Borze for his vertue and for that he had done some seruice to the Romayne church was created and erected in the Dukedome of Ferraria by Paule the second of that name Bishop of Roome then raigning in France Lewis the leuenth and Frederick of Austryge holding the imperiall Crowne by whome afterwardes the sayde Borze was proclaymed and made Duke of Rege and Modena But retourning to our purpose the Marques hauing now long tyme lyued wythoute a lawfull wyfe was desyred as it myghte be of some of his subiectes to perswade himselfe to â—emarrye who practiseth so well that he taketh to Wyfe the Daughter of the Lorde Charles Maletest which because hee was puissaunt of great Lands might command ouer many Cittyes and Villages of the Marches and Romaynes who had the name to be one of the moste braue and sage Captaynes amongest all them that professe the Arte of war in Italy in his tyme A little after the Marques who although his wyfe were very â—ewtifull yonâ— eâ—elye of seuentâ—â—nâ— or eyghteene yeare olde lefte not to haunâ—e lighte women abroade that it was thoughte hee had taken a wyfe more to satisfye his friendes or to couer his wanton and effemynate will then for to chasten himself and to increase and multiplye his rase which was the cause that God for his punishment sent such a slander into his house worthy surely to be noted as well as it is strange possible if the memory thereof were not fresh it woulde seeme after incredible for the pacience of God is such that he attendeth the conuersyon of the synner but seeing hym indurate in his wickednesse doth punishe hym so sharpely that the generations ensuing doe beholde the sharpenesse of the punishmente and marke wherefore that good Christ second to none in pacience doth so dilligently set forth examples to shewe that there shal be no sinne lefte vnpunished in the presence of the Lorde for what greater ruine can come to the house of any Prince then the dishonour of him or his What greater sorrow theÌ„ to see the shedding of his owne bloud and it is alwayes the Iustyce of GOD to practise that vpon them whych contynue their disobedience accumylate euill vpon euill and prouoke the Lorde by their wyckednesse as did this Marques the wyfe of whome seeing herselfe so despysed as shee that presumed ouermuche of her bewtye could not so greatly command her constancy nor so well moderate her affections but that she did complayne her to a Damsell whome she had brought with her forth of her country and whome shee trusted very well who being one day in the chamber of her mistresse seeing that in secrete she was sad beyond measure that dayly shee waxeth worse worse was so bold to say these or lyke wordes vnto her Madame I beseech you think it not strange if the desyre that I haue to do you seruice doe make me so bold to demand of you the cause of so sodayn change that I perceyue in you whiche had wont to be the only solace of the anguishes sorrowes of my Lord your father by your plesantnes if perchance there happened vnto him any greefe now you do nothing but sorrow sigh complayn I beseech
perchauÌ„ce lacketh not here and there his imperfections so had God lent to the Authour longer lyfe would haue bene better poolyshed as voyde of faults and escapes in the prynting as his mynd was frée froÌ„ iustly giuing occasioÌ„ of offeÌ„ce to any Which courtesye if accordingly there appeare to remayne wythin thee then doubtlesse is his paynes fully rewarded and my expectation suffycyentlye satysfyed Farewell ¶ CERTAINE STRANGE and Lamentable Tragicall Historyes ¶ A iust Fact but to cruell of Iohn Maria Duke of Myllayne towarde a Priest extreme couetous IOhn Maria Vicont sonne of Iohn Galeas vnto whome the Emperour Ladisilaus gaue the tytle and name of Duke of Myllayne was he that succeeding in the estate and dignity of Duke made himselfe knowne and renowned before all the Princes of his tyme not in shewing himselfe more vertuous then they or in surpassing the good Fortune of that good Galeas his Father who I thinke neuer committed any other notable euill then that he lefte behynde him a plague so great and daungerous as his sonne the successyon of whome was no more fortunate for the Milinois then was once the Romayne Monarch of Marcus Aurelius leauing for the inheritour of the Empyre that Butcher â–ª and Sworde player Commodus a lyuelye example of creweltye and mischiefe and truelye hys Countrey myghte well haue coniectured their Misfortune in that Iohn Maria was called to the Dignitye of the Dukedome after that all Italye had seene the Orygynall of the Ciuill warres so often wrytten of by the Hystoryans whiche so muche weakened the strength of Italye and abased the glorye of those thinges whiche remayned to them as Reliques escaped from the handes of so manye Barbaryans and Straungers that hadde foyled with their feâ—te the honour of that Godlye Prouynce for it was after that the Guelfes and Gibilines had throughlye deuyded themselues leauyng no corner of Italye that was notte Dyed wyth the bloud of the poore Cittizens and was it not pittyfull to see the Nobillitye chased and wandring abroade there beyng no creature that felte not thys Tempeste and whyche perceyued not the vehemencye of a deuysyon so furyoâ—s so that all Natyons of Europe had their accesse to make their Rodes into Italye and there to pyll the Cittyes and Fertyle Fyeldes called into the country eyther by the one or the other of the Factions But this Duke was renowned for the moste cruell and inhumayne Tyraunte that euer was nouryshed in Christendome and I beleeue that Bucyrus Phalaris or that Thracian King which fostred his Horses with the bodyes of the dead did neuer surpasse him in crueltye and although his Predicessoures had bene Princes very mercifull and gentle and that by their modestye they had attayned to the place of suche Prehemynence yet this is he which forgetting the house wherof he came did degenerate from the bloud of his Ancestours being despightfull for that Fortune had bene otherwyse to him then she had bene towardes that excellent Iohn Galeas his Father and to Valentyne that was Wyfe to the Duke of Orleans shee whych was slayne at Paris by the Duke of Burgoyne his men doeth so accarnate hymselfe that hee caused to be deuoured in his presence by Mastyfes broughte vp to that ende those whyche for the leaste occasyon that hee fantasyed in his mynde dydde displease hym hauyng for the Mynyster of hys crueltye and in steade of Prouest Marshall a Gentleman named Squarce Gyrame as courteous as hys Lorde and who in the ende was also payde wyth the same paymente as was hys Mayster being both togyther as cruelly slayne as vnpittifull they had fleshed themselues vppon the myserable people of Millayne during the tyme then that this incorporate Deuill reioyseth himselfe and sheweth these tragicall and detestable actes of hys cruell lyfe this thing chaunced which I am now about to descrybe vnto you to the ende you may beholde the two great and extreame vyces the one of Auaryce in a Priest and the other of the crueltie of the Duke Iohn Maria ryding one day thorough his Cittye as commonly he did not onely for to beholde the faultes of his subiectes but more to search out if any one durst complayn of the detestable maners of his lyfe and the very hauty and tyrannical doings of his raygn to the end he might seeme to haue some reason to tormeÌ„t him that shoulde complayne without cause of his Lord that as yet had giuen him no occasyon Thus as he made these Iorneys he hard a farre of a great crye and the voyce of a woman complayning who clapping her hands did eleuate her voyce verye high thinking that GOD was deafe and that he will not heare our necessityes without such a sturre to whome he sent one of his seruaunts to know the cause of a crye so fearefull who found it at thedore of a pore woman whose husband was lately deceased that thus complayned as well for the losse of her companyon as also for that shee had not wherewith to bring him to the earth Alas sayth the woman half desperate whether may the pore haue their recourse syth the very Church hath denyde their duetyes to them vnto whome they be bounde to whome may I adresse my selfe not hauing wherewith to satisfye or glent the desyre of my vnsatiable Curat that is neyther content with the gayns which he hath suffring this body without life to remayne without Sepulture onely for the herytage of all the goods whiche he hath lefte me in this world for my comforte for if I wyll haue him interred of necessitye I must sell all my moueables and afterwards not knowing how to relieue my Infantes Ah false Pastor I beseech God to punish with some great persecution both thee and them which are of lyke condicions saying so with cryes teares sobs and sighes she pardoneth not her own cheekes and face but scratcheth the one she bepaynteth the others stryking herselfe vpon the stomack and shewing dyuers other sygnes of a woman distraught the Dukes man seeing her to shew such fashyons addrest him towardes her saying My friende what wrong is this that is done to you and wherefore shew you so great dule tell me because I may make the reporte to my Lord who hath sent me hyther to know the matter and assure your self if any one hath offended you he will extend such Iustice that you shall be contente and satisfyed and the authoures shall haue whereof to take example and withholden to doe iniurye to the poore in suche a Towne as thys where the Lorde wyll that Iustyce be done to euery one without respecte of estate The woman who knewe by his Lyuerye that hee was one of the Dukes Seruauntes whose presence although it were not verye agreeable vnto her in thynking that hee came there but onelye to seeke some praye yet not fearing anye worse aduenture then her owne nor anye Fortune more frowarde then the estate wherein shee was and also for that death to her woulde haue bene great solace ioying
desyres of our concupisence for otherwise it were great pitty to behold the faults which we commit euery houre This vnhappye man blynded in his sin forsaking God neyther acknowledged his Iustice nor his mercy experimēteth also the fruits of his infidelity wickednesse obstynacy leauing behynd him the memory of his deeds as wel for the aduertisemēt of al men as for the imitation deterring not only of the aged but of all ages to auoyde the plagues and diuilishnesse of whoredom which do bewytch and take away the sences of men the end whereof is death and punishment in the infernall lake The newes hereof were disperced incontynent throughout al the house so that the rybawd which had adrest this deuise hauing heard and seene the whole mooued by her owne offence the witnesse which her mynd did beare of her sinne fearing she should haue Iustyce if she dyd not immytate the illustryous fact of her detestable louer so that all afrayd she runneth to a pit into which she leapeth headlong and wherin shee was myserably drowned a death truly althogh it was furious yet to good for the punishment of the detestable mallice of a woman so wicked as shee was which merited to haue all the paynes togythers that euer were inuented by men for the scourge of euil liuers Thē there was word sent to Milain to y Maiestrate to inform him who hauing in examinatiō the chamber maid that was the ayder of the desperate Palyard made her to confesse all the facte wherefore she was hāged and her body giuen to be meat to the foules of the ayre and no lesse was done to the carcases of the two louers which agaynst all right both deuyne and humayne had vyolently come to their ende and as for the yong man he was buryed wyth such pompe as hys vertue did well deserue was bewayled of al estates for the modesty that did apeare in him by which he hath semed to immitate the Scipions and Fabions who once liuing with such temperance haue caused their glorious names to remayne euen to this daye So always the death of the well lyuer is fortunate for besides that he passeth to the lyfe whych hath no end and goeth to inioy the holy and Godly companye of the blessed soules hee doeth glorify his memory by the knowledge that the posteritye haue of his vertue which is so grauen and imprynted in the harts of their children that neyther Death nor tyme hath power to deface it Vppon the Tombe of this yong example of chastity some good Poet of that tyme made this Epitaph which insueth to show that such as he was ought to be praysed with such Eglogs and not any of them which haue defyled their lyues wyth a thousande mischiefes LOue and Ielosy the Vertue and the vyce This yong and tender lambe haue caused A fathers wrath vniustly for to feele By outwarde show of mallice false deceyued And eake who was by foolish raging yre And cruell daungerous vice of wilfulnesse procured Whose soule to Heauen and body to the graue To Heauen and earth are now by death assured Thus hath he chaunged his lyfe and is not dead But liueth with God reioycing in his glory That caused him the hauty Skyes t'assend And happy to haue before him of vertue the memory Thus being dead he lyueth without sorrow or greefe Therefore thou that passest by thy teares refrayne If enuye doe not cause thee to bewayle the ioy And happy state wherein the dead remayne ¶ Such is the ende commonly of them that louing vertue auoyde the contrarye syth the vycyous can haue no greater hart breach then to see one that will not bee infected with their unperfection Marke wherfore all wrytinges are so full of deceites addrest by the wicked agaynst the good but to the end the vertuous should know on whome to repose themselues which is the good God that will not suffer any of his to perrishe although for a certayne tyme he semeth to haue forgotten them wheron the contrary parte the wicked doe prosper and flourish as they desyre vntil the Lord wery of their wickednesse doth so ouerthrow their doinges that they which to fore appeared hauty prowde and stately is conuerted into derysyon and despysed or else so well weakened that the very tractes scarcely appeare FINIS ¶ A Mahometan slaue reuengeth the death of his Lord vpon his son that was the Homecyde and rendered the principalitie being chosen of the people to him to whome by righte of Lynage and succession it did appertayne ABout the yere of our saluatiō 1494. After that Christopher Colombe wyth the Nauye of the catholick King Ferdinand sonne of Iohn Aragon did dicouer the West Ilandes not before discouered that can bee founde remembered by the wryting of any Hystory eyther auncyent or new Lewys Bartheny Bolognois as he himself recoumpteth in the ij Boke of his Nauigations in coasting by this countrey for that he would haue knowledge of the naturall things the maner of the liuing of those straunge nations and also to get some profyte in passing by Ethiope he arested in an I le the Capytall town whereof is called Orme not distaunte from the forme Lande aboue twelue myles where he behelde this pittifull Hystory ensuing of an execrable sonne and of his crueltye agaynst his aged father and vpon his bretheren yet in their infancy in this citty Then a little before the sayd Bartheny came thyther the Soulden there was a Lord of the secte of Mahomet a man very vertuous and gentle for a More and Infydell almost an hundered yeares olde he besydes that he was rych in Golde and pearles syth in that quarter there were found the most exquysyth and fayre Pearles that one shoulde see esteemeth his age happye to see himselfe the Father of a leuen sonnes all lawfullye begotten the yongest wherof had better fortune by murther then good chaunce as you maye see by this which followeth for the eldest contrary to the rest was craftye subtle and malicyous the most dessembling Palyard that was in all the countrey who studyed wyth himselfe dyuers tymes how to become imperious ouer his bretheren after the decease of his father But the Souldan had two bondmen that were of that Land of that rich famous Monarch of the Indyans that mē cal Prester Iean these two Indian slaues were so well affectioned to the doings of their Lorde that he had made them as rich as any of his Vassals and they had so well got the good will of the people by their natyue bounty excellente vertue that euery one doth adorate and prayse them as much or more as the Prince himself thus they going about to do good to all men to displese none made no report to y Prince of that which afterwards was cause of the ruine of some of his subiectes these two by their prudence did keepe sylent the doinges of their ambicious yong Lorde not for that the Galland did thereby lose the
you Madame if euer I haue done any thing in your seruice that meriteth recompence to do me this pleasure honor to tel me y occasion of your disquietnes to the end that if this power that is in me may do any thing for your conteÌ„tment I wil imploy it with the life that I haue vowed so long time to be obedient to your commandments Alas my friend sayth the Marchiones I am ashamed being such a one as I am so to tormeÌ„t my self beholding me so conteÌ„ned of my Lord y Marques I assure thee that if the hope of some allegeance did not comfort me thou shouldst behold what sacryfyce I would make of my life to the crueltys of him that hath made more accoumpt of one of these common despised women then of me that am his wyfe not inferiour in bewty to any of them What Madame answereth y Damsell haue you no other cause to disquiet your self then the foolish loue of my Lord the Marques truly this is a very small occasyon a cause more then fryuolous to vex your selfe lay away al this from you assay to liue ioyfully with them that loue esteme you attending til time shal cole his ardeÌ„t desyres cause him change his affectioÌ„ take good heede that he haue no cause of miscoÌ„tentment for to quite him of his passions apprehensions vnsemely companyes in the meane time ioy you only of y which is yours not vsing such foly as to stain your honor by vnlawful acquaintance with any other then of him which is giuen you for Lord Espouse with shortning of your life for suche a foolishe mistrust proceeding of that euill â–ª Ielosy O God sayth the Marchyones all bedewed wyth teares howe true is that which euery one speaketh in a common Prouerbe the whole caÌ„ easily giue councel to them that be sick Ah my friend if you felt the disquietues that wil not suffer me to take any rest in my mynd the cause of the bitternesse y doeth bereue me of my sences I am assured that hauing pittye of me thou wouldest councell mee of an other sorte or else helpe to execute that which shoulde serue for the intyre solace and contentmente of my spirite the Marques hath led this lyfe a long tyme and it is vnpossible that hee shoulde chaunge but by death or extreme age and in the meane tyme I passe my tyme in vayn accompanyed without comforts that procures me to ouerpasse the night with teares in steede of rest and the daye agaynst my will I am merry to contente hym that shewes me no pleasure no not that which he oughte by the sacred rightes of those bands which haue coÌ„ioyned vs togyther would God death had takeÌ„ away my lyfe in the Cradle to the end that not remayning vnto this present I should not haue felt of what force is the despighte of an honest Ladye being deceyued by her husbande Alas howe happye are they of base condicion that may wythout great conscieÌ„ce inaculate their blood that doth redound but to the shame of a fewe Ah honor and Nobillitie howe tyrannously doe you brydle the Ladyes that how much the preferment is before men the estate of all should not be alyke to the end that the people should not shadow our brightnesse more then the reâ—own of the common sorte of men and women which dye with the memory of their deedes that are buryed in the same tombe wyth their bodyes or if the Lawes did as well punishe the disloyaltye of the husband as the symple women that by a naturall vyce are sometymes forced to forget themselues euen till they bee ouercome by the appetytes of the flesh how ioyfully woulde I reuenge my selfe of the iniury which that periured and vnlouing husband hath done to me because that euery couple should equallye receyue the payne and punishmente according to their demerites But after the Lawes were made they were Tyrauntes ouer vs the inquyetors of our rest and the common Ennymyes of oâ—â— perfectioÌ„ who did authoryse them without the â—yde helpe or consente of any of vs After that she exclaymeth as one halfe inraged saying wyth a voyce that declared the vehemencye of her torment and the mutacyon of her mynd But syth I must dye a thousand tymes if so be I let this paâ—se without punishmente I would he wel knew it that I intend not to lyue wyth such griefe and sorrow as he hath geuen me cause a good tyme and then let chaunce what may for this is a torment great ynough as I beleeue to abyde such a Tyranny and to feele the puissaunte prickes of loue the better whereof is no lesse to bee wyshed then death hauing sayde so the Marchiones holdeth her tongue attending the aunswere of the Damsell who hauing a long tyme bethought her selfe aunswereth in this sorte Madame as yet I neuer had experyence of what might the force of loue is and by that meanes I haue neuer felt what is the disdayn and sorrow of them that perceyue themselues deceyued of him of whome she oughte to bee the intyre and onely beloued yet I beleeue neuerthelesse that the passion both of the one and the other is so great and vnmeasurable that the surplusage of the alterations that trouble greeue the spirite are nothing in respect of this inexplicable distresse The argument of this I take of you Madame the Constaucye of whome is so troubled by the outrage and fury of Ielosy that heretofore hath â—â—uer giuen suspition of chaunge or miscontentmente of harte But O God I beholde and perceaue the imbecillity of humayn mynds how well they are disquyeted of dyuers vnlawfull desyres which take rest no more in the stomack thoughts â–ª then the sea Sandes instate with a whyrle wynde in an extreame hote daye Ah Madame where is the great Chastity y made you once renowned before al the Ladies of Italy I beseech you assay to contayn your selfe in that honest reputation wherin hytheâ—to you haue lyued to the great contente of your Parents friends What if reason haue so little force in you that you deliberate to followe the vyce of wantonesse and to search another for the accomplishment of your desyres then the Marques your husband by all meanes do the thing so secretly that the house wherof you are come receyue no dishonour and your selfe merite infamy greuous punishment The Marchiones answereth nothing to the sage admonition of the wyse Damsel beginning to think with herselfe not by what meanes she mighte wythdraw her husband from the disordered wanton lyfe that he led but rather howe shee might reuenge her selfe and with whome shee might giue him y counter change in punishing him by the same faulte But reason doeth not extend herselfe to this end that sinne and vertue should be placed alyke for vertue is the superlatiue aboue her contrary which is put vnder her as a subiect for the instruction of anye that knowes not what
things went with the guyde eueÌ„ to the place where he saw the act playde that afterward was the death of the chiefe persoÌ„s in the Tragedy then sayth the spye vnto the Marques I beseeche you my Lord to contemplate a little through this creuise what lyfe they leade in your absence that sith you are present the disloyalty of theÌ„ that be most 〈◊〉 vnto you is so euidently shown The good Marques had no sooner looked through the 〈◊〉 then he spyed his sonne interlased â—â—foldeÌ„ about the neck of the Marchiones and the wantontoyes of the Ladye towardes the County the Father of whome was so constant that hee attended to what ende these imbrasementes and toyes wouldâ— come but when hee sawe the Game woulde redounde to his disaduantage and to the perpetual infamye of hys hoase with great payne he obserued himselfe from being ouercome wyth rage and that he had not broke open the dore of the Chamber vpon the Campe where were these couple of infortunate Louers to haue caused them to dye vpon the very fact alwayes the passyon of his mynde was so penetrable that he coulde not by a good space remooue from thence but remayned there wholy troubled and confused in teares running downe along hys bearde that now beginneth to waxe white in the end euaporating the order of hys harte he began to say Alas vnhappy olde man that I nowe shall be that notwythstanding the flower of thyne Age arte dishonoured by thyne owne bloud and the substaunce of thyne entrayles what is it the onely sonne amongest them that bee lawfull which hath vnlawfullye abused thy Spouse shal I be both the witnesse Party and Iudge in this cause and in executing of this iudgement that I must needes do both by law and iust displeasure I shall put to death two persons that I loue beste in this worlde No no the amitie of Maryage shaâ— ende here towards her that hath put oute the lighte of my honour and hath blotted the reputation common to vs both and the charitye of the father towardes the sonne shall lose his force in me syth the chylde in vsurping the Bed of the Father hath geuen coniecture of his will to take awaye the lyfe of hym of whome he had his owne and of whome hee hath stayned the honour What if once a Romaine Captayne hath punished as it might be to seuerelye hys sonne in that hee had surpassed his commandemente touching a certayne expedition in deedes of Armes whereof although hee had gloryously attayned the wyshed end of his desyres then what shall I doe beholding my self so vyly betrayed and so euill dishonoured by him whyche oughte to bee the reuenger of the cryme whereof my eyes haue seene the execution I beseech God that pytty may not moue my harte to pardon him of this fault or to dissemble this great and extreme hartebreache that lyuing causeth my death and so reuengyng a pryuate iniurye I shall punish the most abhomynable synne that a man can thinke Then for the quyetnesse of my mynde and example of Iustyce to the posteritye my sonne shall dye wyth the vnshamefast loue whiche was cause of all thys and by whych meanes I shall depart from my only lawfull begotten sonne and from my honour whych is more dere then chyldren riches or lyfe The sorrowfull and inraged father with this deliberation seekyng to execute his deuyse his sonne departed into the base Court of the Castle wythout thinking of the perrill or ruyne that hys mysfortune dyd prepare for him and their bandes the Ball with the GentlemeÌ„ of his age where was greater companye of people to see the playe then were there of long tyme before for I think that some coniecture of the future Spectacle had broughte thyther thys route to the ende that wyth more shame the County and hys incestyous Louer shoulde be imprysoned Also these be the Menaces wherewyth God threatneth the wycked that their pryuye sinnes committed in the obscurity of the night shall be one day punished openly and to the sighte of all the people duryng this then that the vnfortunate Prynce more braue and ioyfull then accustomed did contynue hys playe behold there comes the keeper of the Castle wyth a good troupe of Archers wel appoynted he in the presence and hearing of euery one addressing him to the Countye sayeth vnto him O Prince it is nowe full tyme that you make ready your selfe to come before other then these be where you must aunswere to the coniurations Fellonyes conspiracies facts agaynst the person of my Lord the Marques your Father by whose commandement sayth he putting his hand to his coller I make and coÌ„stitute you his Prisoner I am sorry for your misfortune more sorrowful that it should bee I that must keepe you in pryson always trust in your great simplicitie likewyse if it please you excuse that whych I doe being constrayned by him which hath power both ouer mee and you O extreme force and rygor of the conscience which moueste so lyuely the hartes of them that feele themselues guilty of any fault that the blast of euery wynd that blowes by the wagging of euery lefe that they see moue they thinke they behold before their eyes a torment and a contynuall punishment that wyll neuer suffer them to take any rest whereof comes the great griefe and the smal assurance that they haue of themselues whych are so troubled by the very interyour iudgemente of their owne spirite that they gyue sure wytnes of that thing whych as it might haue chaunced otherwyse had bene in doubte so the pore Countye seeing himselfe sommoned to go espouse and defyle another bed then that wherin heretofore he had receiued so much contentment fayled not then to thynke of the accrosyng of hys euils and the small hope that hee might or could haue to be delyuered therefore halfe attached wyth dispayre hee sayeth vnto the Prouest Go forward Captain whether it shall seeme good vnto you for of long tyme I haue attended no other intreaty of him then that whyche I now see prepared for me No no my Lord sayth the Prouest haue a good harte God is able to ayde you puissaunt to make euery one to know y right of your cause also my Lorde the Marques wyll doe nothing agaynst you without the couÌ„sel of y most wise and learned men of his house whych oughte to cause you to hope of some better hap then you thinke of then he conducteth the Prince into the great Tower of the Castle which standeth iust agaynst the Porte Delyon And duryng this tyme there were some gone in lyke sorte and by lyke commandment to seeke the Marchyones as they had done the Countye who then was amongest her Gentlewomen playing this song as the Prognostication of her misfortune and the Prophecy of the common Buryall that vnyted after their death the executed body both of her and the Countye THe man by councell of the Gods In this
hearing the sentence of his death hee began to say weeping very tenderly Ah vnhappye flesh and fylthye desyres it is for thy pleasures that I must dye this daye O vnhappye wretche that I am not for that I dye but because I am the procurer of his choler cause of his dule for that I haue set such trouble in his house as shall not so well so sone be forgotten as I would wysh Alas my Lord father pardon this detestable offeÌ„ce of him that hath vsed himself otherwise toward you then the chyld ought towards y father I coÌ„fesse I am the most myserable that euer was born of a mother the most detestable that the Sunne shyneth on this daye Alas good Lorde suffer not my soule to be punished seruing for the pasture of that vyle serpent deuouring Lyon that doth nothing but go about to deceiue and invyron vs cause vs to fall into his lake O Lord haue mercy haue mercy on me suffer not the bloud of thy sonne to be shed in vayne for me Alas I must dye not for the confessing of the fayth and glorifying of thy name before men but for my owne wickednesse the multitude of my demerites that which next after the great wickednesse committed against thy dyuyne maiesty doth greeue me most is the sorrowe of him that doth and will redounde to my mischiefe dishonour But O my God I beseech thee to comfort him giue me streÌ„gth pacientlye to abyde this infamous cruell punishment that I see euen redy before my eyes The Counseller seeing the repentaunce of the Prince moued with coÌ„passyon begaÌ„ to wepe departed out of the pryson went to make report thereof to the Marques who aunswered him it is not now time to become a good christyan syth he caÌ„not escape the iust vengeance of God by the mynister of his humain iustyce and I beseech God that hee will pardon hys synnes receyue him amongst the number of his elect saying so left of not able to beare the sorrow which did greeue him for the remembraunce of the approching death of his sonne wherfore it was ordayned that they should be quickly dispatched one in the sight of the other and this was done for that the Marques would here no admonition for he heard the sentence was extended as well vppon the Countye as vpon her that had made no sute for her lyfe because she saw they had coÌ„demned the county then in the end seing she had done the faulte she appoynteth with her self to receyue death in as good part as she could which was giueÌ„ to euery of them in their tower within a mynute of an houre not without an infynite nuÌ„ber of teares shead and besprent as well by the Marques which could not dissemble hys affection as by al theÌ„ of his house that vniuersally loued the fayre couple of infortunate Louers y vertue of whom this vlot except could well haue no comparison but a lyttle Leuen as sayeth the Apostle doth easyly rayse season and sower a great peece of dow likewyse a vyce so slaunderous doeth obfuscate all the brightnesse of the former vertues and impoysoneth the good sauour of all the forpassed life These two Patients being executed whylst men were preparing of rych and accustomable Funerals they were broughte into the base Court of the Pallas to the ende all the world should see and beholde the cause of their death that yet renewed the teares and complaynts of men as well for the one as for the other bewayling the one for hys worthynesse the other for her curtesye and them both for their great bewtye and youth wherein they were for as yet the more aged of them had not attayned the age of two and twenty yeares After this the Marques caused to bee prepared a rych and sumptuous furnyture for their funerals and with such pompe as their greatnesse did requyre their bodyes were broughte to be buryed in the couent of Saynt Frances and there was erected a Tomb to be the common bed of the bodyes of them whose hartes had bene surely conioyned togythers when they were alyue so these two myserable creatures had a small ease for the induring of so great a punishment and for all the contentment and satisfaction of their desyres they had this only good that by one kynd of death they both should ende and haue their bones enioy one Sepulcure togither Here it is good to be aduysed how and wyth what counsels men ought to forsee thinges and their accurrenses before they be executed here maye you gather also what is the nature and condition of synne which once ingrafted in the harts of men spreadeth his rootes so broade that by great payne it cannot be exterped but by the disolucyon and death of the subiect whereby they are cheefe cause of their owne ruyne A good example certaynelye for the youth of this age which without aduysement of the daungers that the flesh the Prynce of this worlde doe prepare for them to their great shame vse pryuate companye wyth them that be of their kyndred wythout aduysemente that the moste sage haue once fayled in these doinges and haue perpetrated the thinges that are vnworthy to be thought and punishable only by death in them that commytte them FINIS A cruell custome of the Duke of Millayne Horâ—â—ble waâ—â—â—ease vpon dead bodyes The Hystory of whome is already set forth excellently by Mayster Fenton A monsterous and most cruell 〈◊〉 The wyckâ—d Tyrauntes alwayes in feare full of suspicion God the reuenger of al wrong and iniquitie The Oration of Mahometh ⧠IMPRINTED AT London in Fleetestreate beneath the Conduite at the Sygne of S. Iohn Euaungelist by Hugh Iackson Anno. 1577.