of Genowaies Megollo was inforced to giue him the lie but seethe other little moued the rewith his countrey dishonoured and the court laughing at him he sought his remedie at the Emperors hands from whom he could get no redresse in repaire of his honor For which cause Megollo hotlie discontent though for a purpose he smothered his displeasures a space a fewe daies after vpon a lawfull cause tooke occasion to craue the Emperours licence and departing to Genua altogither inflamed to reuenge he furnished himselfe by meanes of some parents and friends and rigging out two warlike Gallies he sailed with them into the great sea and there indeuored him selfe to spoile all the coast and ransacke euerie shippe belonging to the Emperour whomesoeuer hee tooke in waie of great disdaine he cut off their noses and eares and though there were manie ships set out against him yet in spight of all he neuer desisted from endangering him and this might he the better performe in that his ships were verie swifts and when he found himselfe at any disaduantage he coulde both leaue and take how and when it pleased him It chanced amongst manie other preparations that were set out to intrap him foure stout Gallies were rigged who vpon consultation as soone as they had discouered him deuided themselues apart thinking to inclose him in the midst of them so all at once to assaile him Megollo that quicklie perceiued their pollicie suddenlie fained to flie whom when their swiftest Gallie had long time pursued and ouer-wrought all hir consorts Megollo made hed againste them and slewe them and serued them all after the same sauce to the woonderfull amaze and discontent of the Emperor Amongest one of these Gallies there was an olde man wish his two sonnes whoe fearing the like fortune which had befalne others should light on him and his sonnes humblie prostrating himselfe at Megollos féet he humblie intreated him for mercie The old mannes teares were gratious and had such power ouer the generous mind of Megollo that he forgaue both him and his sonns with the rest that were aliue in his Gallie and sent him back vnto the Emperor with a vessell full of Eares and Noses willing the olde man to let the Emperor vnderstand that he would neuer cease to indemnifie him vntill such time as he hadde sent vnto him the man who had so disdainfullie and dishonorablie iniured him in his court The Emperor asserteined hereof determined with himselfe as the lesser euill to go himselfe in person vnto the sea and carrie with him as he did the yong man who had occasioned all this trouble Megollo hearing thereof thrust his Gallies néerer the shore when as the Emperor presently in a light boat sent him the yoong Noble with a rope about his necke whoe hauing his eies proude with teares humbled himselfe at Megollos féet beséeching mercy Megollo compassionate therewith bad him get him thence telling him that it was not the fashion of the Genowaies to tyrannize ouer effeminate milksops The parents of the yong man seeing him returne againe beyond their expectation receiued him wish great ioye diuers offers were made by the Emperor to Megollo who refusing them all returned this answer That he came thither not for desire of riches but for honors sake and to eternise the name of the Genowaies admitting no other couenantes but this that in memorie of those his actions a pallace shuld be reared in Trabisond for the commodity of the Genowaies wherein he would that by a curious hand and cunning work man those his actions shoulde be eternized which being afterwards fullie obserued by the Emperor they whoe traffiqued there followe their marchandize with more honor then they were accustomed Megollo after this worthie acte returned home to Genoua where he was receiued and gratified with great honors by the Cittizens The memorable deeds of Ualasca a Lady of Bohemia whoe causing all other Ladies to kill their husbands Brethren and sonnes raigned seuen yeares in Bohemia I Read in the Bohemian historie written by Pope Pius that this Valasca of whom I héere meane to intreate was a woman of great mind bolde in all attempts and highlie fauored by Fortune and to the end you may the better vnderstand hir historie I will first of all begin with hir cause of hatred You haue therefore to consider that Crocus second Duke of Bohemia dieng without issue male his daughter Libussa held in those daies in as great account as one of the Sibils with the fauour of the people and good liking of the better sort was placed in hir fathers seate and gouerned that Prouince manie yeares with the generall good liking of all men Finallie hauing giuen a iust sentence in right of certeine possessions against a mightie man in that countrey he being there with incensed prouoked vp the people against hir saieng that it was an oprobrious scandalous thing for such a people as they were and so great a Nobilitie as was resident in that place to suffer the kingdome causes of iustice to be vnder a woman Libussa hauing intreated silence at their hands for a time said vnto them that she knew their new desire and was not ignorant of their firme determination disabling her selfe to satisfie their expectations praieng them to assemble the next daie which according as she willed them they perfourmed The morning began noe sooner to pushe forth his blushinge beawties but the people repaired to the iudgement seat in great multitudes and as soone as the pallace was filled euerie waies by them Libussa began to speake vnto them on this maner You know Bohemians that to this present day I haue beene your peaceable and bountifull Ladie according to womens custome whoe are audatious in nothing but in offering curtesies Hitherto haue I not béene offensiue to any of you either chargeable by reason of Pompe shewing my selfe rather a mother vnto you then a mistresse but ingratefullie vnkind men as you are requite you my gouern ment But at these your actions woonder not I at all because you accustome your selues to the common fashions of men who are neuer content but are more skilfull to desire a iust and mercifull Lord then hauing him they haue knowledge to kéepe him As touching mine owne title I wholie surrender it into your hands and as you haue desired one who shal gouerne you and order your lawes as he list so am I contented you shall haue him Therefore go ye and take me a white horsse and bridle him with all his other apparell and ornamentes and afterwards lead him to such a plaine where he may take that waie which best likes him Which doone let him trot as he list and follow you him by his footsteps as he turnes so turne you and as he returneth so returne you finallie when you shall see him staie before a man that foedeâ—…h at an iron table then assure your selues he is the man forpointed to be my husband and your prince This his
for this inconuenience wherevnto the king easilie condiscended so that he likewise was authorized to redresse such enormities and both he and his fellowe Abbot were with manie princelie fauours dismissed Mounted thus vpon the whéele of Fortune which euerie waie sheweeth hir selfe as fickle as she is fauourable as ful of gall as she hath honie they both of them depart for London carrieng so high countenances as euerie one were amazed at their manners My lord Abbot first suted in his Pontificallbus called forth diuers officers purposing to examine their accounts taunting them with vntowarde languages and accompanieng threates with imprisonment But as the Giants that threatened the heauens were ouer throwne in their most hautinesse and as Phaeton vsurping his fathers seat was confounded for his ambitious pride by vntimelie death so the Abbot of Cadonence when he thoght to cauell at all accompts was called to accompt himselfe before she Tribunall iustice seat of God and died in midest of his iollitie But William who towred with the Phaenix to burne in the sunne and aduentured to crosse the troblesome seas of this world to perish with ouermuch wrastling in the same now began his pageant exhorting and stirringe the commons to loue and imbrace libertie to fight and labour for freedome brieflie to detest and blame the excesse and outrage of ritch men whoe as he tolde them reaped the sweet whilst they poore soules sweat for it Heerevnto wrested he manie stories of antiquitie First the Laconian state next the popular gouernement of Athens wherein peace neuer flourished better said he than when the Commons had fréedome of speech With these and such like honie spéech he so animated the multitude that like a second Hercules he drew them by the eares thorow the honie of his eloquence And to his words he annexed action vndertaking manie poore mens causes who were ouerborne by the rich handeling his matters with such pollicie as that he was held for a second God among the poore and for a long time esteemed for a good subiect by the Prince Yet notwithstanding this the mightie maligned him greatlie for that he had informed the king that by their meanes his Maiestie lost manie forfeits and â—…scheats which were due vnto him and for that his detested subtleties may be more apparant where through he cloked his succéeding treacheries I haue thought good to sette downe some one of them which may giue a taste to those tragike miseries which shall ensue How William with the long beard handled the cause of Peter Nowlay a Cobler who was iniuried by Robert Besant sometime Bailife of London DUring the time that William long beard flourished after this manner in all pompe and pleasure attended dailie and hourelie by hole troops of Citizens it fortuned that one Peter Nowlay a cobler a man of little capacitie liued in London whoe hauing gotten vppe by his owne handie labour and endeuour the summe of fortie marks and not knowing the meanes how to employ the same to his best commoditie solicited one Robert Besaunt sometimes Baylife of London to take the same money into his hands and to employ it to some good vse to the ende that after his decease his poore infants which were twoe in number might haue some succour and maintenance This money Robert Besaunt accepted hauing the vse thereof for the space of ten yeares accustoming poore Peter as these great men are wont to doo to a Sundaies dinner and swéet words which in these our daies is the verie poison of this world in that time was no small pestilence At last pleased God to call the Cobler to his mercie where through his poore wife liued distressed his children complaine theyr miserie and all his neighbors considering the honestie of the man in his life were compassionate and pittied his Orphans after his death The poore mother seeing hir necessities increase and hir abilitie quite ouerthrowne separated apart from all companie began to wéepe verie tenderlie recommending hir poore babes to his mercy who had no doubt lent them hir to a better end than famishment Ahlas said she my God if the least Sparrow is not vncared for by thee what letteth me to trust my childrens helth vnto thée who hauing bestowed breath vpon them mayest likewise in fauour bestow bread vpon them Thou séest Lord their friend is taken from them and the mothers neastlings without thy helpe must become staruelings Woe is me would God I had forgon my life or forgotten loue oâ—… would my handes were as plentifull as my heart is pittifull Ah Pellican I must imitate thée and pierce mine owne breast to the end I may foster my babes otherwise the helpe is vaine which hope yéeldeth since charitie is cold which should feede hope Woe is me where should I begin to mourne that haue no end of mone Shall I lament my marriage no the heauens ordained it shall I complaine of Fortune no for then I suppose an enimie where there is none shall I blame my fruitfulnes how vaine were that since it is a felicitie to enioy babes What then shall I doo truelie put my whole trust and confidence in Gods mercie whoe being Lord of all plentie can best of all relieue necessities Scarsly bad she ended these words when as hir yoong ones the one imbracing hir necke cried for meate the other kissing hir hands moorninglie bewraied his wants whilst she like Mirrha hauing tears to bewail them no tresure to relieue them sung this wofull Lullabie vnto them whilst the musicke of hir voice enforced them to listen hir Lullabie Ah little Laddes Giue ceaselesse sorow end with lullabie Suck vp my teares That streame from out the fountaines of mine eie Feed feed on me whom no good hope or Fortune glads Oh set me free From those incessant and pursuing feares which waken vp my woes and kil my pleasure Lullabie Weepe weepe no more But let me weepe and weeping weepe life hence That whilst you want I may not see false Fortunes proud pretence When I am dead My God perhaps will send you store Oh smile in need Poore hungry babes let smiles be nothing scant I teares yow smiles both haue no better treasure To bring these woes exceeding meane or measure To Lullabie Noe sooner had she finished hir song but Robert Besaunt entered the house who though altogither giuen ouer to couetousnesse yet beholding the wofull estate of the poore wife and children he comforted them the best he might sending for some little sustenance to yéeld hir and hir little ones som succour and after some conference about hir husbands state his maner of death he desired colourablie to see hir writings to the ende he might couenablie conuaie out of her hands the bill of fortie marks which he had past vnto Peter hir husband in his time The sillie soule supposing his almes deeds was vnattended by trecherie drew out of an olde till certeine briefes which she had vsing these or such like terms Maister Besaunt
hammers readie to strike began to remember himselfe and his guiltie conscience which as the wise man saieth is a hundreth witnesses would not suffer him to walk with so great confidence yet least feare should be suspected in him whose good fortunes and life wholie depended on his courage hee oftentimes lookt abroad but attended by such a band of base companions as if it had béene the proude Changuis leading his legious of Tartars thorow Europe But when the day of his appearance came he was backt with such a number of mechanicall rebels that Hubert in stead of attempting him with vpbraids was faine to temper him with flattering persuasions yea the stoutest councellor though neuer so considerate were faine to intreat him whom they had resolued to threaten and imprison William séeing them abasht wared bold and in these wordds saluted them Honorable Fathers and graue Councellors according to your Honourable summons and the dutie of a subiect I present my self before you attended in this sort as you sée not to violate lawes by lewd insurrections but both to present my seruice to my Prince and your Honors and to drawe my friendes and wel willers to that dutie wherevnto in soule I am deuoted to this state If therefore you haue ought to command me or if my seruices in times past be any waie suspected I stand readie to satisfie you in the one or answre to the other Hubert that knew well that soft drops in time pierce harde stones and that the Diamond though not tainted by the hammer is tempered in strong vineger began to coulour where he might not command and flatter where he coulde not inforce and thus he said Being assured William that good subiects tied by no bountie to their prince yet yéelde him all obseruance wee cannot persuade our selues that you who haue béene authorised by your prince to counterchecke iniustice will be the pattern of iniurious insolence for which cause we haue called you not as condemners of your faith but commenders of your forwardnesse neither haue we so bad an opiniâ—…on of thâ—…se good men that follow you that either they would be drawne to violate iustice or you could be induced to violate and al ter their honest and christianlike duties Our onelie request to you in the kings behalfe is to cast off this Lordlie traine and suffer these poore men to follow their professions least being vnawares assailed by want they shall at laste desparatelie attempt wickednes As for these good fellows who in their lookes promise no losenesse I beséech them in his Maiesties name to kéepe their houses promising them in generall that if any one of them be wronged they shall haue remedie Nay we will haue remedie in spight of you said they as long as William liues And this said without all reuerence they departed the place carrieng with them their captaine commander scoffing at the fainthartednes of the Archbishop for full well was he assured that greater seueritie was concluded vpon then he there would insinuate for which cause he continuallie stood on his guard spoiling all such men as hee thought were abettors of the Bushop The Bailifes of London according to their authoritie séeing matters were growne to such extremitie kept diligent and strong watch drawing some of the commons from him by faire words and some by guifts This notwithstanding William was neuer vnattended The Councell who euerie waies were vigilant to roote out this viper from the common weale what they could not by proues they aduentured by pollicie animating diuers valiant men with huge promises to marke his manners and when the occasion was offered to apprehend him at such time as he little suspected But long was it yer they either could finde oportunitie or catch the Fore in his forme yet at last when he least suspected they caught him tardee in Breadstreat attended onlie by ten or twelue at which time they drawing their swordes assailed him valiantlie But he who in all conflicts of Fortune was both confident and couragious first animated his retinue to the fight and after that wresting himselfe by maine force out of their hands he tooke him to flight towards the hart of the Cittie and ranne intâ—… Cheapside They who were busâ—…ed against his poore followers séeing him fled gaue ouer fight and earnest lie pursued him By this time the cittie was in an vprore the poorer sort laboured to rescue William the Bailifs with the best Cittizens armed them to back the kings officers so that the cittie was altogither vp in armes William long beard séeing himselfe hotlie pursued and knowing no mean to escape stept to a poore Carpenter who staid in Cheape for worke and taking his Axe from him desperatlie assailed his pursuers and with his owne hands valiantlie siue some of them but when he perceiued the factions of his enimies to be great and his friends wel nigh tired he betooke himselfe at last into Bow church not for his sanctuarie but for a bulwarke of his safetie Thither repaired all the poore commons some with bats some with spittes and such weapons as they had driuing awaie all the kings officers in despight of their friendes and determining with themselues rather to dy than to lose their William Long beard amongst the rest Maudline his minion knowing that his wracke was hir ruine came vnto him where wéeping mild teares from hir immodest eies shee so mollified his marbell heart that as some testifie he was more moued therewith then with the threats and terrors of his greatest enimies but sée impietie where it preuaileth how it worketh That church which was sacred to praiers was now made a den of rebels those places which were reserued to holie vses were now soiled with dishonest abuses where before our Ladie was praied to lewdnesse was plaid withall But to bring these causes to their Catastophe sufficeth it that darknes for this time ended the discention and the comming on of the night wrought also the conclusion of the fight How William with the long beard after long trouble was taken by the kings officers and executed for his misdemeanors NO sooner gan the howers draw forth the brunisht chariot of the sun and the star that beau tifieth the morninges breake shut vppe her beames in the bowels of the hidden Hemisphere but Richard and his councell assertained of that which was happened comanded the Bailifes of the citie by expresse letters to ferret him out of his hole and cease the tumultes by their authorities for which cause â—…he Bailifes attended by a bolde troope of men in harnesse came into Cheape The eldest of whom being called Gerard de Antiloche handled himselfe with such grauitie and vsed so effectuall persuasions that the commons for the most part withdrew them to their owne houses and after assurance of pardon from his Maiestie bâ—…tooke them to their labour As for the rest in the Church when neyther persuations could allure them nor threats intenerate their harts the Bailifes fell to armes and
for the space of foure houres continued a bloudie and desperate fight But when they perceiued the Traitors were desperate and the Church was sufficientlie strong to keep them out they at last found out this worthie pollicie They caused some chiefe men to bring them great store of straw which they fâ—…ered in diuers parts about the Church in euerie corner whereas the wind might worke the smoake anie entrance which so smothered and stifeled them in the Church that they were all of them for the libertie of a shorte time of life to submit themselues to the iudgement of succéeding death Herevpon after manie wofull plaints powred out on euerie side by William his Maudline and other malefactors they were all inforced to leaue the church and submit themselues to the hands of the Bailifes who according to the kings command picking out William with nine other his confederats committed them vnto warde for that time dismissing the rest vnder the kings generall pardon whoe certified hereof was not a little solaced For which cause he sent some of his Councel and Iudges the next day who ascending the iudgment seat called forth William with the Long beard with his confederates arraigning them of high treason against God the king and countrey Among all the rest William shewed himselfe most confident for neither did the taâ—…nts of the Iudges extennuate his courage neither could the bonds he was laden withall abash him any waies but that with a manlie looke and inticing eloquence he thus attempted the iustices You lords and Honorable Iudges though I knowe it a hard thing to striue against the obstinate or to extort pittie there where all compassion is extinguished yet will I speake vsing the officer of nature to worke you although I know I shall not win you I am here called and indighted before you for hie treason a hainous crime I confesse it and worthie punishement I denie it not but may it please you with patience to examine circumstances I haue imboldened the poorer sort to innonation to fight for libertie to impugne the rich a matter in the common weales of Greece highlie commended but héere accounted factions and whie there subiects made kings here kings maister subiectes and why not say you and whie not think I yet am I faultie vnder a good president and the ambition which hath intangled mee hath not beene without his profit To offend of obstinate will were brutish but vnder some limits of reason to defaulte can you my Lords but thinke it pardonable I haue raised one or two assemblies and what of this peace was not broken onely my safetie was assured and were it that the Law had béene iniured might not the righting of a hundred poore mens causes merit pardon for two vnlawfull assemblies But you will saie I haue animated subiects against their prince I confesse it but vnder a milder title I haue councelled them to compasse libertie which if nature might be equall iudge betwéene vs I knowe should not be so hainoustie misconstred For my last tumult I did nothing but in mine owne defence and what is lawfull if it be not permitted vs Vim vi repellere But whie pleade I excuses knowing the lawes of this Realme admit no one of my constructions If it be resolued I must die doo me this fauour my Lords to protract no time execute your iustice on my bodie and let it not pine long time in feare thorowe supposall of extreames For my soule since it is deriued from a more immortall essence I dare boast the libertie thereof knowing that eternitie is prepared for it and mercie may attend it But for these poore ones who haue defaulted thorough no malice but haue béen misled through vaine suggestions howe gratious a deede should your honnors do to exemplifie your mercie on them poore soules they haue offended in not offending and but to enthrone me haue ouerthrowne themselues for which cause if consideration of innocent guiltines guiltie innocence may any waies moue you grant them life and let me solie enact the tragedie who am confirmed against all Fortunes tyrannies These latter words were deliuered with so great vehemencie of spirit and attended with so quickening motions and actions of the bodie that euerie one pittied that so rare vertues should be rauished by vntimelie death or accustomed with so manie vngodlie practises The Iudges whoe were Socratical in all their spéeches shewing their Rhetorique in their vpright iudgements not quaint discourses after the examinations indictments verdicts of the Iurie and suche like at last gaue finall and fatall iudgement That William with the long beard with his confederates should the nexte daie be hanged drawne and quartered and so after some other worthie exhortations to the people to mainteine peace and that they should shew themselues more dutifull and after thanks to the Bailifes and good cittizen for their faithful and good seruice to his Maiestie the assemblie broke vp and the prisoners till the next daye were committed to the dungeon No sooner was the gaie mistresse of the daie break prepared in hir roseat coatch powdering the heauens with purple but the Bailifes repaired to the prison leading foorthe William and those his other confederates to their execution Then flocked about them diuers sorts of people some to sée those who were so much searched after others to lament him whom they had so loued at laste arriued at the place where they should finish their daies all stood to beholde their death William as principall in his life time of seditious practise was to enact the first and fatall part in the tragedie for which cause boldlie climing vp the ladder and hauing the rope fitlie cast about his neck after some priuate praiers he spake after this manner vnto the people My good countreymen you are repaired hither to sée a sorie spectacle to beholde the follie of life paid with the fruits of death to marke how sinister treasons ende with condigne torments if you applie what you here see and beholde to your owne profits I shall be glad whoe now euen at this my last hower desire rather you shuld reconcile your selues from all wickednes then be dismaied ormoued with my wretchednesse Oh my déere friends I now protest before God vowe before men that mine owne presumptuous climing hath béene the iust cause of my confusion I haue had more desire of glorie then respect of God more regard of dignitie then of dutie déeming it better to be a famous Traitor then a faithfull and true subiect For which my inestimable sinnes I crie God hartilie mercie I beseech his Maiestie to forgiue me and pray you all by your praiers to implore Gods grace for me Neither deserue I death only for the offence I haue made the king but my conscience accuseth me and I heere doo openlie confesse it that I was he who murthered Anthonie Browne in that he was a riuall in my most lewde loue This this if nought else my countreymen
him to bed he discouered vnto them howe the king had resolued to kill him for which cause Vnulfe winding him about the necke with the shéetes of the bedde and laieng the couerlet and a Beares skin vpon his backe leauing him without capp as if he were some rusticke or common drudging fellowe began to driue him out of the chamber dooing him manie iniuries and villannies so that he verie oftentimes fell to the ground Grimoalds guard whoe were appointed vnto the watch seeing al these outrages asked Vnulfe what he meant Why said he my maisters this rascal slauehath made me my bed in the chamber of that drunken palliard Partharithus which is so full of wine that he sléepeth as if he were dead without stirring and this is the cause whie I beat him and I praye you dooth he not deserue it They hearing these words and beléeuing them to be true did all of them laugh verie hartilie to heare the tidings and giuing both of them licence to depart Partaritus hasted to the cittie of Hasti and from thense went into France praising God for his happie deliuerie As soone as they were gotte awaie the faithfull page locked the door verie diligentlie remaining all that night alone in the chamber and when the messengers of the king came with commission to bring Partaritus to the pallace the nexte daie they knocked at the doore whome the page in humble maner saluted praieng them to haue patience for a while for saith he my Lord being wearie of his last iourney sleepeth now verie soundlie The messengers returning to Grimoald told him the pages answer who all inraged charged them presentlie to bring him to his presence who repairing againe to the chamber doore were in like sort once more solicited by the page to vse forbearance but they admitting no delaies cried out hastilie and hartilie tut tut the droonkard hath now slept enough and therevpon bearing the doore of the hinges they forceablie entered the chamber and sought Partaritus in his bed but found him not wherevpon they asked the page what was become of him who answered them that he was fled The messengers all amazed herewith furiouslie laieng hands on the childes bushie lock and buffeting him pitiouslie brought him to the pallace and conducting him to the presence of the king saide Mightie Prince Partharitus is fled and this caitife boy helpt to conuey him and for that cause meriteth death Grimoald commanded them to laie hands off him and willed him with a friendlie countenance to discouer vnto him the manner and meanes how his maister had escaped awaie The page told him euerie thing as it had past whose faithfulnes when the king had considered vpon he royallie offered him to make him one of his pages assuring the lad that if he would be as faithfull to him as he had shewed himselfe towards his old maister he should both be rewarded and regarded After this he made search for Vnulfe who being brought before his presence was pardoned by him and not only pardoned but commended But as where affection is rooted there no fauors can supplant it nor promises suppresse it so these two louing their maister Partarithus verie deerelie took no delight but onelie in desire they had to sée and serue him for which cause a few daies after they repaired to Grimoald beséeching him of license to séeke out their maister Whie my friends quoth he had you rather séeke out your necessities then liue with me héere in all pleasures By God replied Vnulfe I had rather die with Partharithus than liue in all other worldlie contents and delights What saied the king to the page wilt thou also rather séeke out a bannished man then serue a king I my Lorde saide he for they are bad seruants that will leaue their maisters in miserie Grimoald wondering at their confidence praising both their faithes dismissed both of them with all fauour giuing them both horsse and money to furnish and further them on theyr iourney The two faithfull seruants humblie thanking the kinge tooke their waie into France hoping to finde their maister in that place according as was appointed But Partaritus fearing least by reason of a peace latlie capitulated betwixt Dogobert kinge of France and Grimoald he shoulde be there surprised suddenlie by some sinister subtletie tooke shipping for England and hauing alreadie sailed from the shore the voice of a man was heard among the rocks which asked for Partaritus and whither he were in that ship Whereto when answer was made that there he was the voice replied Then will him presentlie repaire vnto his countrey for Grimoald a three daies hence is departed this life Partaritus suddenly returned backe commanding the marriners to reenter the harbour and as soon as he was landed he diligently sought out the messenger that had thus informed him but finding him by no meanes possible he supposed it to be some messuage sent from God For which cause poasting towards his countrey and arriuing amongst the confines of Italie hee found there a great number of Lombards who expected him with whom he entered Pauia and driuing out a little son of Grimoalds from the kingdome he was by generall consent created kinge of Lombardie thrée monethes after the death of Grimoald For which cause he presentlie sent vnto Beneuent for his wife Rhodolinde and his sonne Cunibert And being a godlie Catholike and iust man a liberall patron of the poore and father of the innocent as soone as he hadde quiet possession of the kingdome in that place from whence he fled which is on the other side of of Tesinus he buil ded a monasterie to the honor and glorie of God his sauiour and onelie defender wherein there were diuers Nunnes inclosed whom he alwaies enriched with manie very goodlie possessions The Quéene likewise builded a church in honour of our Ladie without the cittie wals adorning it with maruelous rich ornaments his page and trustie seruant returning to his court as soon as they had tidinges of his establishment were by him fauourablie intertained and richlie rewarded Finallie after he had reigned eighteene yeares he departed this life not without the generall lament and teares of the whole inhabitants of Lombardie The wonderfull dreame of Aspatia the daughter of Hermotimus the Phocencian a verie poore man who afterwards thorow hir wonderful vertues became the wife of Cyrus king of Percia and was afterwards married to Artaxerxes ASpatia was the daughter of Hermotimus of Phocis who after the death of hir mother was brought vp and nourished in great pouertie yet was not hir pouertie so gréeuous as her continencie was gratious in her infanâ—…ie she had vnder hir chin a great swelling which disâ—…igured hir face and was a great disgrace to hir fairenesse For which cause hir father desirous to haue hir cured carried hir to a physitian who promised to heale hir for a certeine summe of money The good olde man hauing no money tolde the Physitian of his little meanes beséeching him
to stand fauourable vnto his child but the greedie wretch which was too well learned in no pennie no Pater noster told him that then he had no medicine for him for which cause the poore Hermotimus and his sicklie daughter repared home without succors Aspatia being thus ill bested entered hir chamber and setting hir glasse betwéene hir legges she gased so long intentiuelie on hir imperfection and with so manie tender teares bemoned hir wants till at last she fell asléepe where vpon a suddaine she beholde a doue changed suddenlie into a woman which saied vnto hir Be of good chéere and leaue these drug-maisters and goe vnto the dried crowne of Roses vpon Venus head and taking some of them beate thou them to powder and then doo thou but strew them vpon thy gréeuous sore Aspatia hauing performed no lesse then was commanded hir in hir vision was healed and 〈◊〉 â—…ie faire and so manie were the graces â—…erwith â—…he â—…hed that no man could either compare or equall them She had hir haires glorious and goldlike golden somewhat daintilie curled hir eies fierie and christalline hir nose hooked hir eares little and the coulour of hir face like vnto Roses washed in milke hir lippes crimosin hir teeth more white than snow hir voice was delicious sweete and musicall hir delightes were estranged from all effeminaâ—…e newfanglenesse shée studied not to be rich in apparell which is but the verie surfet of substancâ—… bâ—…cause being nourished in pouertie shee could not nor would not in anie wise yéelde any art to her beawtie wanting both the meanes and the manner It chanced that this maiden amongest a great manie others was bought by a Baron who belonged to king Cyrus who séeing that she was beawtifull and faire brought hir after a verie solemne and sumptuous supper into the presence of Cyrus accompanied with thrée other Grecian maids who were tricked and attired by courtlie dames before hâ—…ide to the end they might know how to entertaine and delight the king onlie Aspatia would not admit any foile for hir faire but after many refusals at last consented to put on a sumptuous habit wherein she stâ—…de so melancholie and blushinglie as if she thought all lookers on vnworthie to beholde hir beawtie and firing hir fiery eies vpon the ground she wept bitterlie before Cyrus who commanded the thrée other Uirgins to sit downe by him who were obsequious to his will but Aspatia fained as though she heard him not when he called hir vntill the Baron who bought hir enforced hir to sit by his maiestie Cyrus dallieng and beholding the thrée other virgines commended their countenances and condemned not their behauiour But hauing but touched Aspatia with the the tip of his finger she suddenlie cried out telling him that shee should be punished if she vsed such licentiousnesse This her behauior pleased the king whoe afterward offered to dallie with hir paps she presentlie flung from him and offered to depart for which cause Cyrus maruelling at the great mind of Aspatia farre against the custome of Percia said vnto him that had bought hir Thou hast onelie brought this mayden vnto me frée sincere and without spot these others are but counterfeits in their customes and their beawties are but borrowed not naturall Here vpon Cyrus affected by this meanes and earnestlie fixed his loue vpon Aspatia so that he forgat all other fancies addicting himselfe onlie to hir bed and beawtie Not longe after Aspatia called to hir mind the doome she had séen in hir dreame and the spéeches which were vsed and in regarde of those benefits she had receiued she erected a â—…atue of golde in honor of Uenus and annexed therevnto a doue beawtified with costlie gems offering daielie sacriâ—…ces to remunerate the Goddesse kindnesse She likewise sent vnto her father manie rich Iewels and made him a man of great authoritie A few daies after a faire and curious Carkanet was sent out of Theslaly in present to king Cyrus who reioicing greatlie at the same and finding his Aspatia one daie asléepe laid him downe by hir and after some amorous embracings drewe the carcanet out of a casket and saied vnto hir How saiest thou my loue dooth not this iewell become either the daughter or mother of a king yes my liege saide she whie then my loue it shall be thine quoth he discouer therefore thy neck and put it on Aspatia little respecting the rich guift reuerentlie sagelie replied thus how should I be so bold to submit my necke vnto that gift which is a present more conuenient for Parisatides thy mother Giue it hir my Lorde and I am readie to shew you my neck without any such ornaments Cyrus reioysing at hir answer kissed hir and hauing written all the manner of discourse which had past twixt him and Aspatia he sent the same with the carcanet vnto his mother Parisatide no lesse delighted with the letter than the carcanet renumerated Aspatia with rich gifts and royall presents and conceiuing a gratious opinion in that Aspatia gaue hir place shee euer after loued hir and presented hir both with the carcanet and much other treasure Aspatia humblie receiuing hir inestimable curtesies sent both the iewell and treasure to Cyrus with this message These for a time will helpe thee and for that thou art mine ornament meseemeâ—…h I haue obtayned a great gift if as I both should and woulde I heartelie loue thee Cyrus was amazed at this deed and not without reason because this woman had no meane minde but the courage of a great and magnificent princesse But when Cyrus was slaine in the warre which he waged againste his brother Aspatia remained prisoner notwithstandinge sought out and at the last found by the noble Artaxerxes she was deliuered of hir bonds such as had captiuated hir were committed themselues Finallie being richlie apparailed like a Princesse although by reason of the deth of Cyrus she made great resistance Artaxerxes being vehementlie enamored of her beawtie after long intreatie and comforts at last won her consent and married hir yet as some writers testifie the in tire affection she bare hir last husband was neuer extinguished vntill she died A wonderous reuenge executed by Megallo Lercato of Genoua vpon the mightie Emperour of Trabisonda AT such time as the Genowaies weare Lords of certeine citties in the LeuaÌ„t it chanced that amongest other Cittizens whoe traffiqued in Caffa were most familiar with the Emperour of Trabisond there was one called Megollo Lercato whoe by reason of his rare quallities was excéedinglie fauoured by him for which cause he was gréeuouslie enuied and hated by the principall courteors whoe ceased not continuallie to inuent new meanes waies whereby they might bring him in disgrace It fortuned that sporting himselfe one daie at the game of chesse with a yoong Noble man who was greatlie beloued by the Emperor they fell at wordes and bitter vpbraides amongst all others the yong Noble vttering certeine speeches in contempt of the name