not touching on them till they should come to Faustinaes Street being resolved to wake no body but those who should be so unlucky as to have so ill Neighbours as these two Sisters were The Chariot beginning to move in solemn dump in the silence of the Night and being environ'd round with Torches its self filled with antick Persons and followed by others in a Mascarade dress might have been a spectacle worthy the loss of some sleep It got at last with much ado being drawn by 8. Coursiers called Porters to the entrance of Faustinaes Street where they had subject to think all their labour lost for the passage was strongly barricadoed the business was that a person of very great Quality being fallen sick in it had obtain'd leave of the Magistrate to plant some posts across the Street to hinder Coaches and Carts from passing and interrupting that little rest which his distemper would allow him to take Don Lucifugne having called a Council it was resolved not to go back but to force through this obstacle thereupon the posts were attaqu'd and in a trice thrown down every one having put to a helping hand the breach being wide enough the Machine entered and being come under Faustinaes Windows first gave her a Salve of the Serenade to prepare her attention to the rest but this so Diabolick a noise having put all the sick Lords house in an uproar out came his Master of the Horse to know what the matter was and to desire them to be gone Don Diego met him and with good words having a little quieted him promising to withdraw as soon as he had turned his back commanded the Dialogue to be begun but by this time the Lords family had by his Command taken Arms and the Coachmen Grooms Cooks and Scullions issued out with their respective Weapons Pitch-forks Spits Tonges c. and seeing that Chariot there still came furiously on to overthrow it and the Actors but on the other side Don Diego and his Camerades with Link-boys and Porters interposing there began a fray in which many a head was broke as well as the Peace on each side and at last after a pretty smart conflict each party well satisfied with their bangings retired carrying off their wounded Friends Faustina and Popaea who were come to their Windows and had perceived that all this tintamarr was for them had an exceeding joy to see it disappointed with an addition of revenge upon the Actors which they could never have hoped for but their transports were soon at an end for the next day the Lord their Neighbour being informed that they were the cause of these Night scandals caused them to be banished Madrid Some of the Combatants on each side were clapt up and came off for small fines Don Diego for his part got clear of the Lords pursuit by pleading his priviledge of being judged by an Ecclesiastical Court having also found favour in the Kings for bating his Nocturn Extravagancies he was a Man of most excellent Convensation and very VVitty Company Adventure the third Almanzor weary of Don Diego's extravagancies and almost out of Charity with himself for his indulgency in enduring them seeing him at last delivered from the pursuit of the Law and all its evil consequences resolved also to free himself from all the terrours and fears he was continually in for his Friends safety VVhereupon he told Don Diego that the greatest part of the blame of his inordinate life lighting upon him as one who had the greatest share in his education he could do no less than let the World see by his retreat that he did entirely dissent from all vicious courses and that not being able to hinder them he was at least resolved not to countenance them any longer Don Diego having heard him out answered very fairly that he was sorry things were come to that pitch as to necessitate a Rupture between them but that since his life was of so little conformity to his Friends inclinations it was best for them both to separate Almanzor was a little surprized to see himself taken at his word for it was not his intention to withdraw but did only hope by the severe reiteration of his admonitions and demonstrations to leave Don Diego so to perplex him as either to better his own condition in staying or make him resolve to live more regularly but however being thus answered he thought he could do no less for his honour than effectuate his parole which accordingly he did and retired into a private Lodging in the Town but at the end of a few dayes he found that his huffing cost him pretty dear for having never before had the experience of the trouble of living at his own charges he soon began to compare it with the pleasure of living cost-free upon anothers purse and found a vast difference between those two things but the value of things is never so well understood as when the enjoyment of them is past being weary of the inconveniencies of his new life he got some persons of Quality to interpose towards Don Diego and to mediate his return to him they found him well inclined in regard of their ancient friendship but to put an invincible obstacle to all future fallings out Don Diego fastned these Articles upon the favour of his re-admittance 1. That all authority of a Governour should be suppressed 2. That each of them should live according to his own fancy taking no notice of one anothers comportments 3. That for the better execution of this agreement Almanzor should live in that apartment which Don Diego did use to keep for his Friends This was accordingly executed and Don Diego vexy well pleased to see that he had at last shaken off the yoke of Almanzors pedantick jurisdiction the natural disposition which Don Diego had to play upon divers instruments and sing to them being followed with so great an excellency in that Art that most Masters did admire him made him very inquisitive after all that excelled that way so that at last he came to hear of a young Lady who was said to have attained so great a perfection in the same thing that she was talked of by all Madrid for her skill both in Composing Playing and Singing This was a great incitement to our Adventurer to be acquainted with her but her Beauty which was more Charming having at the first sight he had of her ' made deeper impressions in his Soul he never gave over till he got an opportunity of seeing her at a Kinswomans house there he omitted no sort of Courtship to win her inclinations but could not bring her to any greater condescendencies than such civilities and modest favours as might have been granted to indifferent Persons The Ladies Name was Sirena and she was Married to a person of quality but prodigiously jealous of her a great journey which he had made towards the remotest parts of Spain had given Don Diego all these opportunities of making
in the Chauncell a strange body it being a place which belonged only to the Lord of the Mannor the Curate appeased them and Don Diego coming up and being somewhat concerned that his dead man should not be able to find rest any where bethought himself of a stratagem to hinder their throwing him out of the Church and desired they would give him some dayes time in which he hoped to prove that his dead body had a relation to that of their Lord he did this only because he supposed the mourners would be gone the next day and so leave him the liberty of burying the Corps In the mean time the Parson having enquired into the cause of the sudden death of his Patron was told that it had proceeded from a great grief which he took for the loss of two thousand Ducats which some thieves at Madrid had rob'd him of in the Night four dayes ago This was the same robbery for the discovering of which the Alguasil which Don Diego had met with in his Inn was going post and indeed the diligence of the dead Lords Heirs was such that having dispatched people on all hands upon the inquiry some of them at last met at the entry of a Wood with a fellow whom for his suspicious looks they seised upon and searched they found his pockets full of pick-locks and such other instruments whereupon they immediately brought him before the Judge of the Village where Don Diego was there for fear of being rack'd he confessed all as followeth That he had been with seven more assistant at a great robbery committed at Madrid that to transport their prey the more securely they had disguised themselves like Monks and Mourners and had buried their prize in a hearse which they had loaded upon two Mules and attended it as if it had been a dead body that by the help of this invention they had passed all Guards and avoided all searches that they had rested themselves at a Village where he had unluckily taken too much Wine and was left a sleep by his Camerades who had taken his Mourning and given it to another whom they had hired that as soon as he was awake knowing the place they were going to he had followed them and that he was much surprized at his arrival to find two of them dead and the rest lye wounded upon the ground in little hopes of life that all that he could get from them was that during their conflict the Stranger whom they had hired was run away with their Mules and their booty and that he was taken by them as he was endeavouring to find out the trace of the Mules By this ample declaration the Judge came to know that that was the robbery which had precipitated the old Lord in to his Grave and immediately sent for the Curate and Don Diego to acquaint them with it great was their admiration they go immediately to the Chauncell where were the two bodies the one of the Lord and the other of his treasure it was opened in presence of witnesses and found entire they sent post to the Heir who came transported with joy to view the truth of so good tidings he forgave the poor thief who had revealed made the Jaylor let him make his escape The next effect of his gratitude was to Don Diego whom he would have presented very handsomly but he who was noble and generous refused all other testimonies of his kindness besides the honour of his Frindship After that he presented his Curate with the two Mules and so took leave carrying along with him the richest of the two dead bodies Don Diego after this would have taken leave of the Curate but could not get away his intreaties to stay being so cordial and his conversation so good he stayed with him eight day es discoursing with him of the vanities of the World and the Soveraign happiness or summum bonum of mankind which they setled in a tranquil contempt for the pleasures of this life The day of his depart came at last and though he would have excused himself with many Complements from taking one of the Mules which the Curate offered him it was not in his power to do it but engaged in requital to keep a perpetual correspondency with this honest Parson and divert his solitude sometimes with the news of the Court Our Adventurer having thus taken his leave was spurr'd with a desire of being at Madrid which made him infuse the like passion into his Mule whose legs were better than those of that other whose weariness had brought him into all this Adventure Adventure the ninth IT would have been very necessary for Don Diego to have stayed a little longer with this venerable Church-man for it may be his conversation in time might have reformed something of the extravagancy of his customs As soon as ever he came to Madrid he sent word of his arrival to all his Camerades desiring them to meet him at the old Club which was at a Tavern where the best Wine was sold Eight of this mad gang failed not at the assignation and there having renewed their acquaintance and confirmed their League by some Bachuick Ceremonies they all walked out with their Guittars after some Serenades given to their respective Mistresses they stopped before an Apothecaries door whom they resolved to make the subject of that Nights entertainment It was Don Diego that did bear him a spight ever since the great disease he had when Leander dyed and his Wife turned Nun for this Apothecary being Diego's Neighbour had out of malice seeing that our Adventurer did not make use of him caused his Prentices to make such a damnable noise upon two brass Mortars all day long that it was impossible for Don Diego to sleep his intreaties and prayers had signified nothing towards the silencing of the Mortars for he was still answered that he must follow his Trade and that Seignior Don Diego would not keep him and his family if they should neglect their vocation to let him enjoy his rest so that at last he was fain to fine for silence for a fortnight at a pretty round rate and that at the end of his disease too having suffered much before by that troublesome chiming All this considered and by our Adventurer related to the Company inflamed them who were already heated with Wine to a desire of revenge but Diego who was chiefly concerned resolved also to be the main actor and advancing to the door bounced at it as if he would have beat it down the Apothecary who was just got to bed was loath to rise but answering from his bed began the following Dialogue with Don Diego affecting still a little Latin in it to shew he had enough to understand the Doctors bill The Apothecary Who 's that that knocks so hastily ad Portam meam either they are insipid fellows or worshipfull Constable for none else durst be so bold at this time of the Night Don
Leanders VVife and be found besides with Fire-arms about him he might be laid hold of upon suspicion which would bring him into a great deal of trouble though according to his own opinion he thought himself far from having a hand in the matter But now let us return to Sirena whom we had left in Almanzors hands he having lighted a Candle and poured some drops of a Cordial down the Ladies throat had with much ado brought her to her self again as soon as she opened her eyes she was strangely surprized to finde her self in an unknown place in the power of a Stranger but still supposing that he was the Man who had preserved her from being killed Sir said she having already the obligation of my life to your valour I cannot expect lesse than the preservation of my honour from your generosity and therefore without informing your self farther who I am I desire you to cause me to be led to St. Jeroms Church door and there to be left to my own liberty alas the Gentleman you killed was my Husband and though he was even then preparing to make me breath my last yet can I not but be concerned at his misfortune and bemoan my destiny which could find no other way to deliver my innocency from his bloody attempt The astonishment of Almanzor was not inferiour to the surprize of the fair Lady but judging immediately that Don Diego was he who had killed her Husband he thought fit by all means to conceal from her the Author of her misfortunes and thereupon answering the Lady with great civility told her that her request should be granted provided she would condescend to one of his which was to give him leave to blind her eyes with a handkerchief and promise not to go about to unblind her self till he should leave her to her self before St Jeroms Church The Lady seeing her self at his mercy was forced to rely upon his discretion and give her self up to his conduct immediately Almanzor made a Cupid of this Venus and taking her by the hand led her out of the House at every step he made he would look behind him imagining still that the Officers of Justice were ready to seise upon him In these apprehensions he came before St. Jeroms Convent there taking leave of her he ran away as fast as his legs would carry him thinking himself very happy when once he had recovered Don Diego's house The Lady perceiving her self at liberty unblinded her eyes and finding her self before St. Jeroms Convent took her refuge in her Mothers house which was hard by Don Diego in the mean time came home almost as soon as Almanzor and finding him quite out of breath and scare able to speak by reason of his hasty course he could not choose but ask him the cause of the great alteration he saw in him the cause answered Almanzor grumbling is your inconsiderate and rash conduct which brings all those which concern themselves for your Life and Honour into eternal perplexities Thereupon he told him all that had passed between himself and the Lady and how he had conveyed her away with her eyes blinded for fear she should know the place she had been in and by consequent her Husbands murtherer whom she might it may be in a fit of vain-glory accuse before the Judges to purchase the reputation of an Heroick courage in loving her Husband so far as to prosecute him for killing him even one that had saved her own life Don Diego could not choose but admire his Friends prudence in the carriage of this so ticklish a business and gave him a thousand thanks and as many embraces for his friendly proceeding after this he related to him his love for Sirena and how he had been disappointed of his assignation Almanzor gave him prudent advice to desist from his passion lest it might bring him into some inconveniency worse than any he had hitherto undergone after this it being almost day they both retired and went to sleep They had not rested above two hours when they were both awakned by a very loud knocking at the Street door at first the desire they had to enjoy some repose made them neglect the noise but it redoubling caused Don Diego at last to rise thinking it might be some Officers who had made a discovery of the last Nights Adventures but coming to the door he found it was no body but a Boy who presented him with a Letter from Sirena the sound of that pleasing Name infused tranquility into his troubled Spirits he made the Messenger come in and opening his Letter found it contained these words The Letter of Sirena to Don Diego DOn Leander my Husband continually rack'd by his own jealous disposition but afresh tormented by the perfidious tales of my disloyal waiting-Woman did last Night plot a most horrid design against my life he desired me to go out with him to take the Air to which I having condescended he told me there was a Coach stayed for us at the corner of the Street he having so ordered it that he might avoid taking with him some Ladies of the Neighbour-hood who would have expected that civility from him if they had seen the Coach before our door we fetched so great a compass in the Town that it was very late when we came to the Prado where we found no Body the Company being all retired he desired me to take one turn with him and as soon as we were lighted he told me he would give me the diversion of hearing one of his Friends Pages sing and thereupon commanded the Coachman to go to such a place and fetch him As soon as we were alone Don Leander with a threatning voice began to reproach me with all those imaginary injuries which he fancied I had done him and without giving me any leisure or time to justifie my self pronounced the cruel sentence of my Death of which he made himself both Judge and Executor I seeing his bloody resolution endeavoured by my tears and supplications to mollifie his hard Heart but all in vain if Heaven which protects innocency had not raised me up a defensour one who appeared before us of a sudden and who with great valour in an instant overcame my perfidious Husband and left him dead upon the place his fall and deadly outcry joyned with the fright I was in before so prevailed upon my Spirits that they left me and I fell into a swoun as soon as I came to my self again I sound my self in an unknown house and in the hands of a stranger one of a different profession from that of armes I intreated him to convey me to the door of St. Jeroms Church which he did having first blinded me without giving me any reason for his procedure as soon as I was at the place I had desired he left me and vanished away so suddenly that I could not discern which way he took I first retired to my mothers and from thence
University and full of waggish tricks to undertake the business upon a false pretext telling them that I had a mind to try the Courage of one of my Friends who seemed to defie all apparitions of Spirits and Nocturnal Visions Thus instructed I led them to my house about mid-night there in a Hall designed for the piece I apparelled two of them like Mourners the third was a young Stripling almost the head and shoulders higher than the ordinary seize of Men very strong and active him I dressed in a Winding-sheet and made him lie down like a dead Man at the feet of the others who were sitting in two Chairs the Hall was hung with four Lamps one at each corner which yielded a certain gloomy light more horrid than darkness it self Things being thus disposed I told them that I would presently send them the Man I intended to fright and that as soon as he should come in they should ask him whether or no his Name were not Don Diego that then they should leave him alone with the dead Man who was to represent some body that he had killed for I had often heard him brag of the Duels he had fought and to desire satisfaction for his death by wrastling against him Besides all this I left them all freedom of invention and to adde any thing that the occasion should suggest to terrifie our Gentleman the more this done I went out intending to meet Don Diego for I knew where he was and to lay a wager against him that he durst not go into my house but unluckily I was disappointed of my end for not far from my House I heard the clashing of Swords and coming up I perceived two of my Friends desperately engaged with half a dozen Algouatils who would have taken them I presently drew in their behalf and with much ado got them off but we were so warmly pursu'd that it was all we could do by taking by-lanes and turnings to escape Before our fray was well ended and we in a place of surety it was day and so by consequent too late to seek out Don Diego so that I believe my three Scholars have sufficiently cursed me for making them sit all Night in that mimical dresse and posture While Antonio related this story Don Diego did by little and little come to know the cause of the misfortune happened to him by his own curiosity and the equivocal names of Don Diego having a little admired the singularity of the rencounter he could not chuse but tell Don Antonio smiling that he had hindred the Scholars from cursing him and that he could assure him Don Diego had been there by his means and that they had performed their parts rarely and almost frighted him out of his Wits Antonio transported with joy asked him how he came to know any thing of the Plot whereupon Don Diego related to him all his Adventure word for word Don Antonio after he had given great signs of his astonishment could not chuse but laugh though he were sorry that the effect of a Pageantry design'd for another had fallen upon his own intimate Friend But Lucifugne easily forgave him as being himself very glad to see that apparition to be but a fiction which he had taken for a reality After some further mirth Antonio invited his Friend to Supper resolving likewise to send for the three Scholars but when he came home he was met by two of them who came to give him an account of their success and to tell him withall that the third verily believing that the Man he had frighted was dead with fear had taken Sanctuary in an Ambassadors house to protect himself against all pursuits of the Law Immediately they sent him word that he might freely come out and that if he had a mind to be very merry he should come and Sup with them where he should hear a pleasant story he came accordingly and they were all as jovial as they had been sad the Night before The Supper ended Don Diego went home betimes to the great content of Almanzor who did begin to hope for a through reformation seeing such good beginnings Adventure the fifth THe Feasting and publick Solemnities of the Carnaval being over Lent made its solemn entry with an ugly aspect to those who from the excesses of the week before found themselves reduced to pickl'd Herrings and Ling. Don Diego contrary to Almanzor's expectations was not much troubled at its coming and whether it were that he was pleased with the variety of the Season or that he did really intend a reform helived very civilly and modestly the first weeks of Lent but perseverance the greatest of Virtues and that which Crowns them all was not at this time given to our Adventurer For no sooner did Easter draw near and the Spring begin to warm the Earth but Diego's blood receiving a new motion from this accession of heat made him seek out his old Camerades He soon found them and began again by little and little to anticipate upon the Night till at last he was come to the old passe and did seldom retire till Aurora with her tears had treated him like the Flowers and all bedewed him One day then or rather one Night about ten of the Clock taking his Sword he walked out into the Prado or Hide-park of Madrid every body knows that it is Venus Market and the Fair where the great trade of Love is driven between the Gallants and Ladies of Madrid Don Diego was just come into the Prado when he espyed a Coach which drave extream softly and in as great state as if it had been a Queens in the boot was a young Page who Sung very ill to a worse tuned Guittar The Coach stopâ—d in a circle of Gentlemen and Ladies who were sitting round a fountain and immediately the Page by his Masters order began to regale the company with an Atre but was interrupted with so many railleries that he was glad to hold his Tongue and his Master to make room for a Coach which followed In it was a young Lady of exceeding Beauty with another old one and she was singing divinely well to a Guittar which she touched as sweetly all the Company drew near at this so pleasant an Harmony and immediately the Coach was invironed by most of the Gallants of the Prado amongst them there was one who confidently leaning upon the boot took more liberty than any of the rest neither did either of the Ladies seem to take it ill there were by a great many others who would fain have done as much but wanting confidence durst not attempt it While they were all thus attentive to the Ladies Voice up comes one almost out of breath having followed the Coach from his Lodging he draws near and taking notice of the Ladies familiarity with the Gentleman that leaned upon the boot presently grew jealous of him and resolv'd to quarrel with him as he was thinking of a pretext up comes Don
Diego to him in hast being acquainted with him and desires him to keep his Guittar for him while he followed two of his Friends who by their words and actions did seem to him to be gone to fight Our Gentleman whose eyes were fixed upon the Lady in the Coach took only so much notice of Don Diego's words and actions as to take his Guittar and so let him go he had no sooner Don Diego's instrument in his hand but a string of that on which the Lady played broke immediately he advances very civilly to present the Lady with his that the Company might lose nothing of so fine a diversion but as he drew near to present it he was push'd back with scorn by him that leaned upon the boot immediately Don Diego's Friend resolving to chastise his insolencies replies with all his might with the Guittar upon the favourites head which was bare and before he could put himself in defence had redoubled the blow broke the Guittar into a thousand pieces as well as the Head in some places which run down with blood immediately they both drew and all the Company too The Serjeants who do ordinarily walk upon the Prado expecting some such fray came in at their appearance Don Diego's Friend slip'd away in the Croud the Coach for fear of being seized upon drave away as fast as four Mules could draw it and there remained no body there but the wounded Gentleman and the bruis'd Guittar In this very instant back comes Don Diego who had parted his Friends and was much astonished to find such a solitude where a little before he had left so great a croud he walks up and down and endeavours to find out his Friend the depositary of his Guittar but seeing it was in vain retires very disconsolate for the losse of his dear instrument which had been his faithfull Companion in most of his Adventures being come home he sends to the Gentlemans Lodging but answer was made that he was gone into the Country and that they did not know when he would come back The losse of the Guittar was the cause of Don Diego's keeping his Chamber for some dayes where we will leave him and see what became of the wounded favourite Whether it were the disgrace of having been beaten before his Mistress or really the hurts he had received that made him so ill is unknown to this day but so much we have that he grew worse and worse every day and fell at last into a very violent feaver insomuch that the Physitians and Chirurgions did scarce hope for life in the mean time the criminal Judge did use all possible means to discover the person that had brought him into this case and to that end had consign'd the broken Guittar into one of his Catchpoles hands who never left poring upon it till he had by putting all the pieces together discovered at last the name of the workman that made it presently thinking he had made a happy discovery he goes to him and asks him if he knew that Guittar he answered yes and that he had made it for a Gentleman called Don Diego the Serjeant not content with his naked testimony asks his journeymen who confirming their Masters words he summons them all immediately to come and depose the same upon Oath before the Judge They not daring to refuse go and justifie what they had said to be true the Judge forbids them as they would answer it at their perill to give any notice of their deposition to Don Diego But no sooner were they out of his sight but reflecting upon the injury they had unwarily done to a Gentleman their customer they went unanimously and gave him information of the danger he was in Don Diego who was very innocent fell into a great rage against the malicious Catchpole he by the advice of Almanzor immediately secured all his goods in an Ambassadours House hard by his having got acquainted before with his Secretary then he retired thither himself and kept close for a matter of three weeks or thereabouts during that time the great care that was taken of the sick man who was a person of condition had good success and he recovered so well as to be out of danger upon that some propositions of agreement and tender of satisfaction were made which by the mediation of the Lady for whom the quarrel had hapned were after some dispute accepted and the Gentleman Don Diego's Friend came back and shewed himself again he presented Don Diego with a very fine new Guittar and all was well But Don Diego who was of a very vindicative nature being not at all satisfied that the malicious Catchpole who had laid him up so long should go away Scot-free at last never left contriving till he had bethought himself of some piece of revenge where neither he nor his Friends might run any hazard and at last after much study and labour he was delivered of the following design During his stay at the Ambassadours House he had got acquaintance with some witty young Men who had taken shelter there as well as himself One day then he invited them to Supper where be spared no cost to put them in good humour The first health they drank was the Ambassadours who afforded them the protection of his House the second was the magnificent Don Diego's at whose cost and charges they were then so merry the third was the Lawyers and Attornies who did protect them with their eloquence and shifts against the severity of the Law the fourth was to the Brokers who did buy of them and so industriously alter the Cloaks they did use to nim in the Night the fifth was to the Vintners who did often give them credit and by that means afforded them the occasion of bubling a young Whelp thus they went on till they were all pretty well gone Then Don Diego having proposed to them his intention they all consented to it and four of the most determined amongst them undertook it They cloathed themselves in black Serge from top to toe putting upon their heads great horns and behind them great tails of two yards long which Don Diego had provided in this equipage as like Devils as they could make themselves they marched out and getting over the wall of the yard where the Sergeants house stood they broke into it and with a horrid noise running up Stairs dragged him out of his bed from his Wife there they whipped him so long till they had used all the bundels of rods they had brought with them and drawn so much blood of him as cast the poor man into a Swoun but they resolved to leave him in his senses that he might remember his punishment and so continued on clawing of him till out of the extremity of pain they brought him to himself again the first word he said when he opened his eyes was Jesus at the sound of that Name they all forsook him and vanishing immediately confirmed
OF Belphegor An ITALIAN Novel Translated from Machiavel IT is recorded in the ancient Chronicles of Florence that a certain holy Person whose life was the admiration of that age falling one day into a Trance had a very strange apparition It seem'd to him that the Souls of Married Men that came trooping in great numbers to Hell cried out all of them as they pass'd that their Marriage was the cause of their Misery and their Wives the occasion of their coming thither Minos Radamanth and the whole infernal Privy-Council were amazed at the clamour at first they could not believe there was any thing in the business but at last observing the same complaints continually multiplyed they thought it fit to make Pluto acquainted Pluto understanding the report without imparting any thing to his Wife who had taken Physick that Week and kept her Chamber resolv'd the matter should be accurately examin'd and such course be taken as was likeliest to make the speediest discovery of the truth He issu'd out his Writs immediately and assembled his Courts his Princes Dukes Counts and Barons were all present never was Senate so full nor never was affair of that importance before it The holy Father that beheld all affirms positively that Pluto delivered himself in this manner Right Trusty and well-Beloved Though our Kingdom was assigned us from Heaven and the fatal decree has anciently determined our Dominion Though that sentence be irrevocable and above the cognisance of any Humane Power yet seeing his prudence is most safe that is dictated by Laws and his judgement most solid that is fortified with others We are resolvd to take your Counsels along with us which way we are to steer in an affair that otherwise may prove in time of great dishonour to our Government The Souls of married Men that are continually flocking into our Dominions do unanimously exclaim against their Wives as the only persons that send them tumbling hither to us it seems impossible yet for as much as a peremptory and determinate sentence upon their bare allegations would not suit with our Satanical Mercy so a careless pretermission on the other side could not be without reflection on our Justice That matters of such importance therefore may have their due disquisition and Our administration be defended from obloquy or scandal that no inconvenieny may follow for want of deliberation and that some better expedient may be found out than our selves have happily thought on We have thought good to call you together being confident and assured by the assistance of your Counsels the Honour and Reputation of our Empire will be continued as unquestionable for the future as it has been preserved hitherto by our own proper care solicitude There was not one present but acknowledged it a business of importance and well worthy an exact consideration It was the opinion of the whole Board that all imaginable means was to be used to find out the truth but what means that was could not be agreed on some were of opinion a single person was to be dispatcht into this World and no more others judged it better to send several and that the discovery would be more certain from the experience of many than of one a third sort more brisk and severe in their Counsels thought that clutter unnecessary and that clapping good store of them together upon the rack would be enough doubtless to extort a confession However it was at last carried by the plurality of Voices that a single person only should be sent and in this resolution the whole Company acquiesc'd Nevertheless there being no body found that would voluntarily undertake the imployment it was concluded the election should be by lot and at the same time having made their billets and shuffled them the lot fell upon Belphegor One may say and say true that fortune never decided any thing so justly for Belphegor was no ordinary Devil and Pluto having made him formerly Generalissimo of his Armies 't is to be presumed he was no Novice for all this he had a Months mind to be quit of his embassie but the order being unalterable he was forc'd to submit and accept these conditions that were solemnly decreed That a hundred thousand Ducats should be paid him immediately to defray the expences of his journey That he should assume the shape of a Man That he should take a Woman to his wedded Wife and live with her if possible ten years that at the end of the term pretending to die he should give her the slip repair immediately to his old quarters and make affidavit upon his own experience of all the pleasures and calamities of Matrimony It was declared to him also that during this Metamorphosis he was to be subject to the pains and misfortunes of Humanity as sickness imprisonment and poverty But that if by his cunning or dexterity he could disintangle himself it should be allowed him and not imputed as any scandal or reproach Belphegor accepts the conditions receives his Ducats and having drawn a spruce party of horse out of his Guards and furnish'd himself with Pages and Footmen good store he set out immediately for this World and arrived at Florence in a very fair equipage He chose that place above all other for the conveniency of improving his Moneys and putting it to interest with greater advantage He called himself Don Roderick of Castile he took a very noble House in the Fauxburg of All-Saints and that his quality might be undiscovered he gave out that he was a Spaniard that being young he took a Voyage into Syria that he had dwelt some time in Aleppo where he had got most part of his Estate but being weary there he was come into Italy as a Country more agreeable with his humour with intention if any fair opportunity was offered to Marry Don Roderick seemed to be a very handsome Man about thirty years of age and in short time after his arrival he made it evident enough that he was rich and by his liberality that he knew how to make the best use of them insomuch as several Gentlemen of Florence that had more Daughters than Money took all possible pains to insinuate how welcome he should be into their Alliance Don Roderick that had choice of Mistresses preferr'd one that was transcendently handsome before them all the story sayes she was called Honesta and was the Daughter of Americ Donati who had three more also to Marry and three Sons between twenty or twenty five years of age But though Seignur Americ was of one of the noblest Families of Florence yet he was look'd upon as down the winde and one that was overlaid with too many Children and the unavoidable charges of his Nobility But Don Roderick took an order for that defraying the whole expence of his Wedding out of his own purse managing all things with that splendor and magnificence that there was nothing omitted that was desirable upon such an occasion It was mentioned