the sacred Byble and the hard passages of Scrypture expounded in vulgar Language that your common sorte howesoeuer youre Prealates lyue vnderstande wheather they erre or no in theyr Doctryne And synce the Subiectes of the Emperour Alexander Seuerus honoured theyr Soueraygnes vertues wyth these acclamations NOble Allexaunder wee praye the Goddes that they haue no lesse care of youre Maiestye then you haue of vs most happye bee wee that wee haue you among vs. Noble Alexander The Goddes preserue you the Goddes defende you proceede foorth in your purpose we ought to loue you as our Father too honour you as our Lorde and to admyre you as a God heare among vs. And thervnto added Noble Emperour take what you wyll of our Treasure and substance to accomplish your Purpose only for buylding of three Hospitalles to succour the sicke bodies of the poore By how much more zeale ought you the good Quéene of Englandes Subiectes adde to this Prerogatiue Do gratious Queene Elizabeth what shall seeme to you good for your most blessed nature cannot erre or do any thing amis that you purpose who by diuine inspiration hath vnlocked the fountaine of grace so that the thirstye soules both of her rich and poore subiectes may freelye drinke the water of lyfe Segnior PHILOXENVS so affected this spéech as ISMARITO coulde not but imagyne hys heart adiudged him a straunger to Grace and vnworthy lyfe that was her vassaile and sayd not therevnto Amen The end of Fryar Buiardos clawing Sermon broke off thys priuate talke and the Gentlewomen proude of the commendation of their pytifull sexe now wisshed that Doctor Mossenigo had ben vnpardoned his yesternightes trespasse towards women that the holy Frier might haue cited him before our Ladie of Loretto who the greatter parte of Dinner time left his victuelles to inlarge his Fe minine prayses In the ende tasting y e goodnesse of the meate he fownd prating verie vnsauerie and therfore to recouer his losses his lippes layde on loade which Falerio and some other of the pleasaunt company perceiuing assayed to reward the Fryar for his good Sermon with Tantalus dinner and to that end busied him with many questions which he euer aunsweared in a monisillable so that his tongue hyndred not his féeding As ê™ Faleâ—…io a question or two Master Fryer I pray saye quoth he who strikes wyth the sharpest rod God of all other who is must euill Deuill in distresse who deserueth most rueth Trueth who is charged with most cryme Tyme what houlds the worlde in most imprice â—…ice who is the greatest lyer Fryer Desier without flame what maketh the greatest fire Ire what sin is most accurst Lust what bread is best to eat Wheat what drink is worst for the eyne Wine When they could deuise no talke to put lyfe in y t Fryars tongue doctour Mossenigo demaunded why he was so bréefe in his aunsweares O quoth he Pauca sapienti Then ê™ the Doctor it is good taking awaye this plenty of meat for cloying Fryar Buiardoes wit The hole company hearing the Fryar beaten with hys owne sentence tourned into a coutrary sence burst out into suche an immoderate laughter as choller that rose to the very throat of y e Friar would not suffer him to swallowe one bitt more of meat in somuch as the boord was taken aâ—…aye and the Friar driuen to saye Benedicite with an emptye stomacke an intertaynment as fit for a flatterer as a reward for a faythful seruant The office of courteous reuerence fully discharged the company retyred towards the fyre to pause a little after their dinner obseruing therein an olde health rule After dynner talke a while After supper walke a mile Where the pittifull Gentlewomen moaned the dysgrace of their prayse Master the Fryar but murmured more that he was crossed without a blessing by theyr enemye the Doctor And to put them out of this matter Bargetto sayde merrily that the Fryar had taught hym such a cunning way to woo as to melt a womaÌ„ into pitty he woulde wish but the oportunitie of thrée howres two to loue and one to prayse the thing they lyke Yea quoth Franceschina Santa his Mistres since women are so mercyfull it is necessary to brydle the subtilty of men and to giue example I enioyne you these thrée dayes to speake no more of loue And questionlesse thys payne set vppon Bargettos head was no greater then his ouersight deserued for in doing of these thrée thinges is great daunger and smal discression to play with fire to striue with water and to giue a woman knowledge of our power therfore he that will discouer his owne secreat aduauntage is worthy to haue his heyre cutt wtth Sampson Quéene Aurelia by this time was reddy to walke into the drawing chamber to continue her established exercise and for the execution thereof shée called certayne of her chosen AttendaÌ„ts whose appearance being made to obserue her former course for auncient customs profitable are better then new lawes incertaine shee commaunded the Eunuk to set their witts in an order by the vertue of some swéete harmony who taking his Luâ—…e after a dutifull obaysaunce played and sunge this followinge Sâ—…nnet in Italon TO realish Loue I taste a sowrie sweete I finde Repose in Fancies fetters bounde Amyd the Skies my wysh I often meete And yet I lye fast staked to the grownde My eye sees Ioy my hart is grypde with payne I know my hurt and yet my good refrayne But how thease hang the faithfull Louer knowes And yet can geeue no reason for the cause The power of Loue mans reache so farre out goes As bownd perfore he yealdes to Cupids Lawes And yet we finde this Libertie in Loue As bard from Ioye Hope doth our griefes remooue Then Loue sitte crownd as Soueraigne of my thought And Fancie see thou other motions chace To do whose wyll Desire in me hath wrought A strength to ronne in Gyues sweete Pelops race And those to charme that studie me to staye It may suffise the wisest paaste my way The double effectes of this Sonet made them freshly to remember the doubtes they left yesterday vnresolued And to avoyde degression whiche rayseth many difficulties and resolueth few Quéene Aurelia caused a Repeticion of Platoes opinion of Mariage which was She was a Paradice on earth where her Statutes were kept and a Hell in the House where her lawes were broken Wherevpon ê™ Dondolo with the libertie of Quéene Aurelias fauour I demaunde the cause why that the Male and Female of bruite and wilde creatures loue cherish take comfort in one anothers companie onelie by the Impression of nature and man and woman that are beâ—…tified both with the vertues of nature and reason manie times matched together make a hell of this hotie institution By Quéene Aurelias commauÌ„dement to aunswere Sir ê™ Faliero The aduantage of reason with which you haue preuiledged man and woman is the onelie cause thereof no man will
Segnior Phyloxenus seasyng on his Club and laying him on therwith said As Phallaris dyd to Perillus die with the weapon thou preparst for other In Trumph of this glorious Uictorie Diana sent down the Nymphe Chlora to salute Quéene Aurelia with this Present which was a Shield wherin was quartred four seuerall Honours The first VERT A lookyng Glasse of Christall The second AZVRE a payre of Ballance Argent The thyrd OR a Pyller of Porphier The fourth Argent a standing Cup of Ruby Rock The Muses them selues came also downe and crowned her with a Garland of Roses parted perpale ARGENT and GVLIS and electing her for their Soueraign to comfort the fiue Knights that were discoÌ„forted by ENVY two two leading a Knight between theÌ„ daun ced a statly Almain of XV. which ended thei bestowed a fauor certain Latin verses vpoÌ„ euery one of the Knights returned vnto their Mount The Siluer Pen Verses deliuered by VRANIE to ISMARITO stand in the forefrunt of this Booke the rest for that they were proper vnto them selues impertinent for this matter I omit By this time the Cock was ready to sing his midnight song the company fully satisfied with pleasure departed vnto their lodgings to spende the rest of the night in Contemplation and sleepe FINIS A description of the dead of Winter Man by reson inlargeth the boundes of Nature within whose lymites euery other creture lyueth This was the Forrest of Rauenna in Italye for the most part of pine Apple trees This Pallace was 10. miles from Rauenna towardes the Riuer of Poo The custome of Christmas BOLLYTINE a warrant of health without which no man may trauell in Italy A liberall welcome Welcom and Bountie the Porters A couert description of desyre A ciuill foresight meete for a Gentleman A necessary regard for Trauelers The vertues of the Queenes Maiestie maketh the Iland of Eng lande famous through out the whole Worlde Vertue stoppeth the mou th of Enuye But fyreth her hart with mallyce The true Blazon of a noble mynd Tiuoly 12. miles from Rome where the Cardinall of Esta hath a most rare Garden Cardenal Fur nesaes pallace in Rome A necessarie obseruation for a Gentleman A worthye Custome He was a Pro testant Other straun gers arriued by the lyke aduenture A custome ge neraly vesd in Fraunce and in some places of Italy Heliogabalus a most volup tuous Emperor of Rome Courtisie vnto straungers is a marke of Gentilytie A diuision of their pleasurs Musick refresheth the wits Loue simplye is good The distinctions of loue Knowne euils are not to bee defeuded A necessarye note A contention whether Mariage or the single lyfe is the worthyer Argument decideth doubtes Wise scilence worketh mor regarde then foolish talke A fault in many trauellers Al vnmarried pass vnder the name of chast Defences of Marriage Defences of a single lyfe Defences of Mariadge The cause why the Clea gie are reueâ—…ensed Vnpollitick creatures reuerence mariadge Defences of a single lyfe Vertuous fame is an other lyfe The impatiencie of women will not be hidde Vaine glorious shewes bewicheth women ContentmeÌ„t neither followeth the greatest nor scorneth the meanest Sentence gyuen in the be halfe of Mariage Platoes opinion of Mariage Pleasant talâ—… is good physicke for sorrowe The extreme passions of 〈◊〉 woman A GVNDELO is a litle Boat like a wherie HIEN somtimes a man and somtimes a woman The intent of euyll is to be punished Pardon is to be vsed in ignoraunce and not in wilfull faultes The punishment of great offenders dooth most good in example Deuotion Grauitie Affabilitie Myrthe Subtiltie bea teth true mea ning with his owne sword A cunnynge aunswere taketh away the grace of a shrewd tale THYMON of Athens was the sworâ—… enemie of humanitie A dutiful sub iect is bound to obay his Princes wordes and not linger vpon the effect A fayned friend is better then a dan gerous open enimy A Discription of the Sunne risinge Pyrois and Phlegon fained to be two of the Sunnes Coche horses The Bed resemhleth the Graue Laureta com monly called Loreto the great pilgrimage of Italy where is a small Chappell sometymes made by the cunning of certaine Fryers and the consent of some of the Cittizens of RACANATI only to bring Trafficke to their Cittie destroyed by the Goathes and Vandals and in the night stole it out of the Towne and spread a rumoure that our Ladye by Aungells had brought it out of IVRY the mansion House wherin she ther liued whych Fable an nuÌ„ber hold for a trueth Ignoraunce Caue the hye waye to Hell Italians a most subtyle kinde of people Sinne cannot indure to here of Gods Iustice A tiranny ten tymes more Cruell then Dennis Bull. Alcaron a Lawe that for byddes the Turks to dispute of Mahomet A diuine bles singe A token of louinge Subiectes ReconciliatioÌ„ may take away reueÌ„ge but not grudge from enimies harts Questions aunswered by Monisillable A good reward for Flaterie A profitable Note Reason giueth man souerainty ouer al creatures There is diuersitie of coÌ„ dition ineuery kinde Reason findeth out the imperfection of nature Cause of misliking in manage Causes of comfort in mariage Experience is the best Iudge The forme deceiueth but the qualytie sheweth the creature The foresight of Parentes A reprehen sion of forced Mariage Loue vvill not be constrained The euil of rediousnes Reason and Loue are enemies An other reprehension of forcement in mariage Looue rooteth by Contemplation Aduise to a booteles purpose Looue yeelds neither to wyt strength nor learning An exstreame affection The title of Mariage maketh youthe arrogant Abuse of good things worke euill effectes That which is blessing to one may be a curse to an other Carlesnesse of the husband breedeth hate in the vvife Choller is soone quited but Forberaunce increaseth mallice The Dîucll is the Executioner of vengeasice An extreame passion of Loue. A naturall feare in a vvoman suppresseth many of their euill affections An example for Christian Subiectes Craft hath many times his will with an opinion of honestie Wilful faults deserue no pardon A fauour euil bestowed This Iudge is not parciall for fauor gain or feare The curses geuen vnto a Viper Breuitie is best in passionate matters and effectatioÌ„ in pleasaunt Sorrowes 〈◊〉 seth scilence We are bouÌ„d to showe aswell the cause as to punnish the euill Good morralitie is better then euil doctrine There is no trustinge of a reconcyled enemye The example of a naughtye nature A necessarie note A Caueller hath colours for euerie question WemeÌ„s loue is more great theÌ„ theyr hate WemeÌ„ do amis but men are the cause Beauty ouercommeth the wisest EVRIPIDES comparison betweene Beauty and Loue. sclaunder is generally hated A Gentleman is not to shoe his passions by his attyre Men in many cases are to be priuileadged for an others merrite Ventoie a Fan. The vncertaintie ofworldly thinges Both POMPEY and CESAR died violently SISIPHVS A commendation of
An Heptameron of Ciuill Discourses Containing The Christmasse Exercise of sundrie well Courted Gentlemen and Gentlewomen In whose behauiours the better sort may see a represētation of their own Vertues And the Inferiour may learne such Rules of Ciuil Gouernmēt as wil rase out the Blemish of their basenesse Wherin is Renowned the Vertues of a most Honourable and braue mynded Gentleman And herein also as it were in a Mirrour the Vnmaried may see the Defectes whiche Eclipse the Glorie of MARIAGE And the wel Maried as in a Table of Housholde Lawes may cull out needefull Preceptes to establysh their good Fortune A Worke intercoursed with Ciuyll Pleasure to reaue tediousnesse from the Reader and garnished with Morall Noates to make it profitable to the Regarder The Reporte of George Whetstone Gent. Formae nulla fides AT LONDON Printed by Richard Iones at the Signe of the Rose and the Crowne neare Holburne Bridge 3. Feb. 1582. Ad Mecoenatem in laudem Aucthoris CARMEN HEROICVM MEcoenas proceres inter celeberrime nostros Et Clario dilecte deo castisque Camaenis Accipe Pierios tibi quos sacrauit honores Troianouantaei vocalis Musa Georgij Non Apinas Tricasue canit sed conscia laudis Musa vacat studijs grauioribus arctaque iunctae Conditione pari commendat foedera vitae Coniugijque refert incommoda disparis Aucthor Nec solum haec sed vera ducis praeconia magni Pandit Aonio tollit super aethera plectro Diuisitque operis seriem per tempora miro Ordine iuditioque pari septemque dierum Iudice me certant cum Castilione labores Et quae tam paruo descripsit Nymphia libro Crede mihi tanto non sunt indigna Patrono IOAN BOTREVICVS To the right Honourable Sir Christopher Hatton Knight Captaine of the Queenes Maiesties Garde Vizchamberlaine to her Highnesse of her Maiesties moste Honourable Priuie Connsell GEORGE WHETSTONE wissheth long continuance of Honor Health and Happynesse RIght Honourable in the Interpretatiō of the wise PARRHASIVS in painting of INGRATITVDE and ENVIE like Feends rather performed a worke of Iudgement then Arte for so soyled with infamie are these passions as hell ought to be their harbour not the heart of man All other defeactes of the minde haue their cause of nature or colour frō reason PRIDE proceedeth from mans ouerweening of his owne excellencie the Sourse of AMBITION is the glory and reuerence giuen vnto Aucthoritie ANGER and reuenge groweth from the iniurie of others But these two yokefellowes INGRATITVDE and ENVIE doe degenerate from kinde and maske without visard of excuse The other pursue their enemies and seeke to breake but the barres of their aduauncemēt but the one of these woundeth his friend whom he ought to honour and the other reprocheth vertue whō the wicked reuerence And least Time the true exposer of Secrets reproche me as a Fosterer of both these dampnable vices Of Ingratitude in not acknowledging many receiued fauours of a Right noble Italian Gentleman Of Enuie in smouldring his most cleare vertues who with a zealous affection oftentimes in my hearing made his tongue an honorable Trumpet to sounde the bright renowne of her Maiesties excellencie as he sayd and I beleeue vppon earth the fountaine of grace and goodnes who vsed her sacred name with such a reuerent regard as in his behauiour I noted the full consideration of a dutifull subiect denized by the eternall fame of her Highnes deuine Grace So that desirous to erect some Memorial Monumēt of his worthines I haue takē vpō me to be the Secretarie of a few of many his precious vertues Which I humbly present vnto your honor with a hand redy to doe you effectuall seruice and a tongue confessing that you shall herein beholde the least part of those glorious giftes which eternize your name and binde the generall multitude to honour your Counterfet for whose benefite I haue likewise committed to memorie the ciuill disputations and speaches of sundry well Courted Gentlemen and Gentlewomen his Guestes during the time of my intertainment with Segnior Phyloxenus for so couertly I name him least in giuing him his true honorable Tytles in England I should make a passage for Enuie to iniurie him in Italy whose exercises if my penne hath not maimed them in the reporting may be a president of behauiours to the indifferent well qualited Gentleman and Gentlewoman Besides a true Anatomie of the inconueniences which eclypse of the vertues which expresse the glory of Marriage an estate both honorable and diuine honorable in that she is imbraced of all men diuine because in the last yeare of their life she in dispite of death maketh men to liue a new terme in their children and posteritie not vnlike to a leafe fallen Rose which in his stalke hath many tender buddes Which bare report of mine I reuerently protect vnder the Garde of your honors regarded vertues A bare report I Christen it for whatsoeuer is praise worthy in this Booke belongeth to Segnior Phyloxenus and his Courtly fauourers and what is worthlesse is the blame of my imperfect iudgement So that besides the protection I am humbly to craue that your Honor will receiue whatsome-euer is due to them with a fauorable countenance and to pardon the vnsufficiencie of their Trowchman with an imagination that his Present is the testimonie of a duetiful affection Who zealously prayeth that your vertues maye haue as full power ouer Enuie as they haue Aucthoritie to command the willing mindes of the best inclined dispositions Of which number it may please you of fauour though not of merit to account me ¶ Your Honors most bounden GEORGE WHETSTONS Vnto the friendly Reader Wealthe and welfare FRiendly Reader I present thee heere as I thinke a profitable vnpolyshed labour For he that is the Troucheman of a Straungers Tongue may well declare his meaning but yet shall marre the Grace of his Tale And therefore Themistocles the noble Captayne and Philosopher of Athens compareth suche forced Speaches to Tapistrie Hangings rowled vp which beyng open appeare beautifull and fowlded reserue their Uertue but lose their showe But I expect somwhat better euent then may an Interpreter that is bownd to a present Reporte for my Respit hath ben sufficient to cōsider of Segnior Phyloxenus and his honorable companies vertues and least by rash acquitall of their fauours I should do iniurie to their reputation I haue with well aduised Iudgement bethought mée of suche memorable Questions and Deuices as I heard and sawe presented in this most noble Italian Gentlemans Pallace the Christmas tweluemoneths past and aunswerable to my weake capassitie haue exposed y t same in such sort as if thou art not too curious may delight and content thée and if not too carelesse may directe and benefit thée And to satisfie thée wherin I giue thée friendly knowledge that Segnior Philoxenus reuerēt regard of the Quéenes Maiesties high Uertues is a President for thée with a dutiful and vnfained heart to
loue feare and obay her Highnesse from whome next vnder God thou receiuest such swéete blessinges as through the whole world her excellencie is renowned and thy prosperitie enuied By this noble Gentlemans ciuill intertainment of strangers thou mayste perceyue with what Garland Courtisie is principally crowned By the ciuill behauiours of Soranso Dondolo Bergetto and other Gentlemen herein named thou haste a President of gouernment which will commend thée and by well regarding their spéeches thou shalt finde a discréete methode of talke méete for a Gentleman The lyke benefit shall Gentlewomen receiue in Imitating of Madona Aurelia Quéene of y t Christmas pleasures Maria Belochi Lucia Bella Franceschina Santa and the rest of the wel qualited Gentlewomen Besides a number of other Morall documentes néedefull reprehensions and witty sayinges to perfect the commendation both of a Gentleman and Gentlewomā Courteous Reader thou haste heare the honorable institution of Marriage so perfectly Anatomed as a verye weake Iudgement may sée the causes which make Houshould quarrelles to resemble Hell Againe the mā which is willing to liue happily may here learne such directions and lawes as will chaunge his priuate house into a Paradice on earth If ciuill and Morall pleasures withall these benefites may make thée intertaine thys booke and report well of the Aucthor I assure thée thou shalt be pleased and I satisfied But if thou makest thy tongue enemie to thy owne reputation thou mayest detract but not reproche the worke Iniure but not hurt the writer for both will liue and laugh such Callumniators to scorne when either are readie to doe the discrete Reader seruice Some will perchaunce more of enuie to heare a stranger commended then of pittie to bemone my hard fortune or fowle vsage say I haue as iust cause to complaine of iniuries receiued at Roane Rome and Naples as to commend the vertues and good intertainment of Signior Philoxenus But to giue such Suggestioners a double good example both of patience and thankefulnesse I heare protest that as these iniuries begunne with my hard fortune so they ended no wayes in my discredite And as I forgeue the causes of my mishaps so scorne I to recount them to receiue amendes in a little pittie But for that they and all such as vew my Report may learne of me to bee gratefull for receiued benefites I make it knowen That this trauell is Segnior Philoxenus due And I still his debter and so shall remayne during my life reseruing a good affection to bestow on such as receiue his Uertues and my paynes to profite and cōmend them selues And in my opinion it is iust they doe so Wherfore to giue a disgrace to ceremonies gentle Reader I ende as I hope to finde thée mine Thine assured friend George Whetston T. W. Esquier In the commendation of the Aucthor and his needefull BOOKE EUen as the fruictfull Bee doth from a thousand Flowers Swéet Honie draine layes it vp to make the profit ours So Morall Whetstone to his Countrey doth impart A Worke of worth culd frō y t wise w t Iudgemēt wit art No Stage Toy he sets foorth or thundring of an Hoast But his rare Muse a passage makes twixt burnyng fier frost Suche Uertues as beséeme the worthy Gentles breast In proper colours he doth blaze by followyng of the best The Uertue is but rare and Uice not yet in vse That modestly he not commends or mildely shewes th'abuse Such matter in good wordes these few leaues doo reueale Unforst or strainde as y t it séemes a naturall common weale Of forced Marriage he dooth shew the foule euent When Parents ioyne the Childrens hands before their harts And how these fortunes eke in wedlock séeldom proue consēt Vnequall choice in birth in yéeres and Childrens hasty loue Yet he with learned prooffes this sacred state dooth raise As it deserues aboue the Skies in wordes of modest praise More euery Page héere dooth present the Readers eyes With such regardes as help the weake doo confirme y e wise Which néedelesse were to blase in prayses to allure The holy Bush may wel be sparde where as the Wine is pure Verses translated out of Latine and deliuered by VRANIE with a Siluer Pen to ISMARITO in a Deuice contayned in the seuenth daies Exercise placed in this Forefront for the excellencie of PANDORA THe mighty IOVE beholding from aboue The mistes of sinne which from the earth arose In angry moode sent IRIS downe to mooue Throughout the worlde the exercise of foes With vengeance armde who poured downe her Ire And with debates set Monarchies a fyre Whole Countries burnde did dim the Sun with smoke The Cannon noyse the Ayre with Thunder rent The wounded men with shrikes the Heauens shoke The Temples spoyld the'Townes to ruine went Vnwillyng yet to worke the worlds decay IOVE CYLLEN sent in part his wrath to staye Who hastes his charge with winges as swift as winde But comming to the Region next the grounde He could no way for clowdie darknes finde And fearing in the Ocean to be drownde He houered till in fine he did espie A PHAROS light which was a PHENIX eye Led by this Starre amaine he commeth downe And footing sets vppon a fruitfull Ile Where liu'd a Queene crownd with the worlds renowne Vpon whose rule Grace Peace and Wealth did smyle Her Senate graue her Citties Mansions weare For such as fled for persecutions feare To whom he gaue the tokens that were sent Faire PALLAS forme and VENVS louely face Sweete PITHOS tongue and DIANS chaste consent And of these giftes PANDORA nam'd her Grace And ioynes with all IOVES blessings to the same To make her liue in euerlasting fame These monsters fell which publike order breake Dissention Wrath and Tiranny he bounde This office done he thought as IOVE would leake To Heauen he hyes and blessed leaues the grounde Where this good Queene and Subiects quiet lyue When ciuill warres her neighbor kingdomes greeue Euen this is she whose sacred fame is knowne Through out the worlde in Enuie Feare and Loue Enui'd because she raignes in peace alone Feared in that she shielded is by IOVE Lou'd for desarte whose vertues shine as bright As twincking Stars do in the frome night This Siluer Pen meete for a Virgins praise VRANIE heere doth ISMARITO giue With charmed charge this Queenes renowne to raise As she in spight of Death and Time may liue Which right is hers the labour is but thine Then Iudging write as she may seeme deuyne Vaticinium VRANIES A breefe Summarie of the principall Argumentes handled in these seuen Dayes Pleasures 1 OF the difference betweene the Married state and the single lyfe 2 Of the inconueniences of forced Marriages 3 Of the inconueniences of rash Marriages 4 Of diuers speciall poyntes concerning Marriage in generall 5 Of the inconueniences of ouer loftye and too base Loue in the choyce of either Husband or Wyfe 6 Of the inconueniences of Marriages where there are inequalytie of yeares
7 Of the excellencie of Marriage with manye sounde Lawes and lawdable directions to continue Loue betweene the Married All which Principles are largely intercoursed with other Morall Conclusions of necessarie regarde FINIS The first Dayes exercise Chiefly contayning A ciuill Contention whyther the maryed or single lyfe is the more worthy And after many good Reasons alleadged on either parte Sentence is giuen in the behalfe of Mariage AT what tyme the Earth dismantled of her braue Attyre lamented the absence of Dame aestas company and that faire Phaebus in his Retrogradatiō entring the Tropique of Capricorne and mounting in the Zodiacke licensed naked Hyemps to powre down her wrath vpon the face of the whole worlde through dread of whose boysterous stormes euery lyuing creature by the direction of Nature retired himselfe vnto his safest succour as the Birde to his Nest the Beast to his Couert the Bée to his hyue the Serpent to his hole onely Man excepted who being beautified with a deuine spirite and armed with reason farre aboue the reache of Nature scorneth to be chayned vnto any place through the violence or iniurie of Tyme In this dead season suche were my Affayres that Necessytie sent me into a Countrey farre from home where as I was no lesse vnacquainted w t the people then ignorant of the wayes And hauing trauayled the great part of a Christmas Eue in a desart Forrest strayed out of knowledge I tooke me to a déepe beaten way which promised a likelyhood to finde out some spedie Harbour And after I had iornyed the space of an hower in a swéete Groaue of Pyne Apple trées mine eye fastened vpon a stately Pallace y e brightnes wherof glimmered through the Braunches of the younger woodde not vnlyke the Beames of the Sonne throughe the Crannelles of a walle assuryng then my selfe too receyue best Instructions of the better sort of people such was my haste as I soone arrtued at this sumptuous place but according to y e condition of time in Christmas sooner to fynde a friende feasting in the Hall then walkinge in the Féelde other then a few of ignoraunt peysauntes I could perceiue no person The delight I tooke to beholde the scituation and curious workmanship of this Pallace made mée so long forget the cause of my arriuall there as in the ende one of the well qualyted Seruaunts hauinge knowledge of my being without in a seruisable order came and presented mee with his Lordes curteous welcome and reuerently requested mée to alight and enter the Pallace I which imagined this entertainment to be but an Italion curtesie after thankes geuen by a modest excuse refused so great a fauour onely craued to be directed the rediest way to Rauenna the Seruaunt cunninglye replyed that I could not bee receiued into the Cittie without his Lordes Bollytyne and at this time hee sealed no mans safecundit without knowledge that his affayres requyred great haste in so muche as one with his importunities and ouercome with wearynesse of Trauell I commytted my Horse to the orderinge of my man and accompanied this officious Seruant towardes the Pallace and by the way ouer a lardge entraunce into a faire court I might read these two bréefes in Italion Pisano é Forresterio Entrate e ben venuto Which generall inuyting imboldned mée so far as I hardely marched towardes the great Hall the Skréene wherof was curiously fronted with clowdy Marble supported on euery side the passadges with stately Pillers of Geate and ouer the thrée Portalles stood the Images of two men the one of Allablaster Marble bare headed representing the vertue of welcome the other of blewe Marble attyred lyke a Cooke and by him were artifycially painted Pheasants Partriges Capons other costly Cates as the Figure of Bountie At the entry of this stately Hall I was receiued by the Lord of the Pallace accompanied with diuers Gentlemen of good quallytie with so ciulll and friendly intertaynment as his behauiour blazoned the true knowledge of Curtesie before we past any further I began to recount the Aduenture which brought me thither and craued his honourable fauour for my dispatch Why then quoth Segnior Phyloxenus for so for some cause I name y e Lord of y e Pallace I thanke your hard Fortune for arriuyng you here to do me this honour No hard but happy Fortune quoth I if I may liue to honouryou with my effectual seruice Well quoth he after your wéerie trauaile it is more néedeful to prouide for your repose then for a further Iorney and so lead me the way into a faire great Chamber richly hung with Tapistrie y e Roof wherof was Allablaster plaister embost w t many curious deuises in gold in sundrie places in proper colours was ingraued his deuise which was A Holly Tree full of red Beries in the same a sluttering MAVIS fast limed to the bowes with this posie in french Qui me nourit me destruit And in verie déed the beries of the trée féedeth this Bird and the barke maketh Lime to fetter her But I afterwardes learned Segnior Philoxenus vsed this Ensigne as a couert description of desire whose swéete torments nourisheth the minde but consumeth the bodie to the graue In this bewtifull place I imbraced the salutations of such a braue troupe of Gentlemen Gentlewomen as the honour of the householde might well giue enuie vnto some Princes Court. And least at my first cōming I might be abashed through small acquantance Segnior Philoxenus emboldened mee with a familiar communication and in the ende vppon a conuenient occasion demaunded of me the name of my Countrie I aunswered him I was a Gentleman of England voluntarily exiled with a burnyng desyre to sée the Monuments of other Countries the order of their gouernment and manners of the people And are you of that blessed Ile quoth he where the people liue in peace and prosperytie vnder the rule of a Mayden Quéene crowned with such deuine vertues as the whole world may hardly containe her fame Sir quoth I your good testimony of her worthynesse being a Straunger taketh all occasion from mée her dutiful subiect to inlardge her renowne O quoth he if Enuie durst detract her openly as she secretlye conspireth her ouerthrowe in these partes you should be driuen to stop your eares or endure a torment to a faithfull subiect more violent then Death But the vertue of her Shielde I meane her graue Senate hath returned the Dartes of Enuy so thick vpon her Souldiers as she hath no power to eclips her bright renowne whose vertue shineth in Enuies dispight as a Diamōd in an obscure place or as the Sunne through smal passadges into the bowels of the earth so that happy and thrice happye are you the Subiectes of the good Quéene of England whose gratious gouernement filleth your Coffers with wealth sealeth your dores with peace and planteth quietnesse in your Conscience so that
blessed aboue other Nations you liue abroad without suspition of daunger at home and at home fearelesse of enemies abrode Wherefore in honour of your Soueraigne whose fame armeth al true knights with an earnest desire to doo her seruice I am glad of the meane to bestow on you or any of hir nation y e affection of a friend Sir ê™ I the vertue of these honorable thoughts blaseth y e true magnanimity of a noble mind which measureth not your fauour by the desart of others but w t the ryaltie of your heart so binde thousands in recognisance of seruice among which debters I desire to bee inrolled although I can discharge but litle After we had bestowed a smal time in these like speches he coÌ„manded some of his seruantes to direct me vnto a lodging if I pleased to bee dispoiled of my riding attyre who straight waies brought mée into a Bed Chamber so well accommodated with euery necessarie pleasure as might haue serued for the repose of Cupid and his louer Ciches hauing a fayre prospect into a goodly Garden beautified with such rare deuises as deserued to be compared with the earthly Paradice of Tiuoly And to be bréefe this Pallace with all her conueiances as well necessarie as of pleasure fully mached the statelynesse of Cardinall Furnesaes Pallace buylded beautified with the ruinous Monumentes of Rome in her pride so that the curiousnesse there of was of power to haue inchaunted my eyes with an immodest gase had I not remembred that it belongeth vnto a GentlemaÌ„ to sée and not to stare vpon the straungest Nouell that is for bace is his mynde whose spirit hourely beholdeth not greater matters then eyther beautie buylding or brauerie And certertenly at this instant I delighted more to contemplate of Segnior Phyloxenus vertues then to regarde his sumptuous buyldings who as I learned of one of the Seruantes all the yéere opened his dores to euerie ciuill Gentleman and at Christmas inuited all commers as a customarie dutie so large was the prescription of his curtesie But which shined aboue the rest he was in his youth brought vp in the French Courte where by the grace of God and labour of some good fréend as his behauyours could not but winne many he learned to serue God with purenesse of heart and not with painted ceremonies as his superstitious Countrie meÌ„ do which was one chief cause why he spake so reuerently of the Quéenes maiestie whose vertues make her enemies dumbe for malice will not let them say well and shame forbids them to speake amis of her sacred lyfe by y t time I had talked awhile with one of the seruantes put my selfe in a more ciuill order then was necessarie for trauel Supper was in a redinesse whiche although it excéeded the common order of fasts yet it passed not far the bounds of auncient custome for my place at the Table I had the pryueledge of a Stranger set aboue my degrée and with the same intertainment were Frenchmen Almain Duch men and other Gentlemen Straungers intreated The Grand Maister of the feast in wordes gaue vs one welcome for all but not so few as a thousand in affable countenaunces Supper being ended according to the custome of the place a Cake was cut in péeces to the number of the Gentlemen and Gentlewomen present if the marked péece were allotted vnto a man he should be King if to a woman she should be Quéene of the Christmas pleasures for it was agréede there should be but one to commaund and all to obay Madona Aurelia Sister to the Lorde of the Pallace was crowned with the Lot whose worthynesse was such as herein it séemed Fortune obayed desert for there was no Gentlewoman in the trowpe that Aurelia excelled not in beautie singularity of wit nor no GentlemaÌ„ that her vertues inchaunted not with more admiraion then the Sirens swéete songes the wether weried Sayler so that of the one shee was crowned with Enuy and of the other with Honor. But in as much as this was but the fyrst night of her raigne she referred the Proclamation of her lawes vntill the next daye and so dismist the at tendaunce of her subiectes for that night which in sooth lasted me but a sléepe so soundly after trauell I imbraced mine ease The next Day no sooner appeared but the Trumpets sounded the honour of Christmas â—…vppon which Sommons the Companie rose and attired in their most sump tuous wéedes in the greate Chamber attended their Quéene Aurelia who about Seruice time with the Maiestie of a Goddesse presented her selfe on whome all the Trowpe waighted vnto the Chappell wheare the Seruice was not so ceremonious as in other Churches of Italy and yet more then agréed with Segnior Phyloxenus conscience onely to geue no offence to the superstitious reale of others The Seruice ended against the returne of the company the Tables were couered in a most stately Order and with the sownd of Trumpettes were furnished with so many seuerall daintie Disshes as the â—…ialtie of the Feaste might haue pleased Heliogabalus After Quéene Aurelia was set the rest tooke their accustomed places but God knowes the eyes of the greater parte were more hungrye then their stomackes for their appetites were dulled with the ouerplentie â—…eates and their desires quickened with the regarde of the faire Gentlewomen The Dinner euery solempne seruice ended Seg. Phyloxenus coÌ„mitted the company to the good intertainment of his Sister Aunelia and with a speciall sute recomended me vnto her fauour After â—…ewe was taken of the Attendantes certaine Gentlemen and Gentlewomen by the appoinctment of quéene Aurelia were addopted with the names of their Fortunes as occasion will manifest hereafter and for that I was a Traueler she calde mée Câ—…liero Ismarito in Englishe The wanding Knight whereuppon Madam quoth 〈◊〉 â—…ou haue christened â—…ée with the true name of my fortune for I was but late out of my way and now am straied out of my self where are you then quoth Aurelia at your only direction quoth I well quoth she since so cunningly you prefer your selfe I admitte you my seruant and as you deserue so will I reward Madam quoth I if I bee not loyall let me not lyue well quoth she I except the best The rest of the affaires set in good order the Harold proclaimed the lawes whereunto the Gentlemen and Gentlewomen were bounde with the penallties for the breach of them The Lawes of Queene Aurelia FIrst euerie Gentleman and Gentlewoman were coniured faithfully to execute all the charges and offices assigned by their Quéene Aurelia and that they should be attendant of her pleasure Item euery Gentleman was bound to serue some one Misterisse befor the next day at noone vppon paine to bée turned into the great Hall among the Countrie Trulles y e whole Christmas And euery Gentlewoman y t had not a Seruant was iudged vnworthye to bee courted for one
this sentence we wil haue you indited at Rome as an heretick for by the Popes CaÌ„nons Priests may not marry they haue a custom among them selues not to liue chast Well ê™ Franceschina if the Pope for this opinion burne mée as an heretick good men will cannonise mée for a vertuous Uirgin Thease Digressions quoth Quéene Aurelia are the meanes rather to worke a confusion of our memories then to conclude any beneficial matter for our instruction And therfore I hold it to greater purpose substantially to handle one Argument then sleightly to ouerrunne many causes where y e doubts we leaue vnresolued wyl be more daungerous vnto the hearer then the Counselles we vse profitable vnto the follower Madame quoth Fabritio I hold it good we obay your direction And for that Mariage is the most honourable euent of Loue and that a Single lyfe is the greatest testimanie of Chastytie A ciuill Contention to prooue which is the most worthy of the two would conclude much contentment For as Yron and Flynt beat together haue the vertue to smite fire so mens witâ—…s encountryng in doutful questioÌ„s openeth a passage for imprisoned Trueth Quéene Aurelia and the rest of the company lyked verie well of the Subieat and studing who weare the fittest to deale in this Controuersie Aurelia with a glaunsinge eye beheld that her seruant Ifmarito witsafed no greater Token that he tooke delight in thease actions then sometime the secrete bestowyng of a modest smile whervpon she forethought that as Floods when they are most hyest maketh least noise euen so perchaunce his styll tongue was gouerned by a flowyng witâ—… and desirous to sounde his sufficiencie she quickned him with this crosse surmise Seruant quoth she your sober lookes promiseth a hope that you will vndertake Dianaes quarrell but which wil serue in this question I feare me you coÌ„nâ—…aund Loue so much as you contempne Mariage And the greater is my suspicion in that you are a Tâ—…auayleri y e nature of which sort of people is to swell with a 〈◊〉 â—…isdayne of Mariage The reason is say they their Affections are poyioned with the knowledge of womens so haynous euyls as theâ—… dare not venter of that vocation But my opinion is they â—…learned so many â—…lties to deâ—… 〈◊〉 lesse wâ—… as dandled with the â—…ments of sundry Loues they forsweare Mariage who bindes them to one only wyfe And if you be infected w t the humour of thease sorte of Trauailers you may wel vndertake this charge for Venus though she loue not Diana yet is she the sworn enemie of Iuno And if you be sound from this infirmitie the little haste you make to marry witnesseth you honor Hymen with no great deuotion and therfore I coÌ„maund you too vse all your possyble proofes in the Defence of a Single lyfe and for your Assistaunce I do appoinâ—…t you Lucia Bella whom this Charge can not mislyke because as I vnderstand she meanes to be a professed Nun You are to encounter the opinions of many and therfore arme your selues with as good reasons as you may Madame quoth Ismarito I am so déepely bound vnto your commaundement as I am driuen to leaue youre suggestions not answeared and my owne inneâ—…ency vnexcused only attend y e incounter of him y t wil maintaine Marriage to be more worthy then a syngle life which vocation of Marriage though I reuerently honour yet I so zealously affect the other as I hope where the Iudges are indifferent to make the glory thereof to shine as the faire white aboue euery other colour Syr quoth Soranso though white be a fayre colour yet are the choyse of all other colours more rich and glorious so though Virginitie which is the fayrest flower of a single lyfe be precious in the sight of God and in the opinion of men yet is Marriage more precious in that it is a sacred institution of God and more honoured of men the Marryed are reuerently intertained when the vnmaryed are but familiarly saluted The Maried in assemblies are honoured with the hyghest places the vnmarryed humble them selues vnto the lowest To be short Virginitie is the handmayde of Marriage Then by how much the Master is greater then the seruaunt by so much Marriage is more worthy then is single lyfe I confesse quoth Ismarito Marriage is an honourable eâ—…ate instituted of God and embraced of men but wheron had she her beginning vpon this cause to kéepe men from a greater inconuenience as the Lawe was founded vppon this reason to punishe the trespasses of men But if no offence had ben giuen the Law had not néeded So if man had lyued within boundes of reason whiche before any commaundement geuen was vnto him a Law Marriage might haue ben spared and therefore in the hyest degrée is but a vertue vppon necessitie where Chastitie is a deuine vertue gouerned by the motions of the soule which is immortall and perticypating of the same vertue is alwaies fresh and gréene The euer-springing Baye is the Metamorphos of chast Daphnè whom Appollo although he weare a soueraign GOD could not allure to Mariadge which prooueth Chastitie a true spark of Diuinitie whose twinkling reflexions so daseleth the eyes of imagined Gods whose powers must néedes be more great then the greatest of men as they cannot sée an ende of their incontinent desires where as the beautie of Marriadge is many times blasted by fortune or the frailtie of the Married Therfore think I by how much deuyne thinges are of greater emprise then earthlye by so much the Single lyfe is more worthy then then the maryed And in aduauntage ê™ Lucia Bella where Soranso sayth that there is great honour done vnto the married and to the Single is giuen light regard I pray you whether are Baccus minions or the Muses most reuerensed Among men whose places are hyer then the Cleargies and amonge women whose greater then the religious Dames They haue not this preheminence ê™ Faliero because they professe a Single life but because their function is more sacred then other mens who if their prayers to GOD bee no more zealous then their vowes to chastytie are stedfast you flye to the authoritie of a company as spotted as Labans Shéepe But where Sir Ismarito saith y t Mariage is but a verfue vpon necessytie to restrayne man from a greater euyll I approoue it an estate set downe by Nature and that man hath but amplified it with certain Ceremonies to make perfect the determination of nature For we dayly sée in vnreasonable Creatures Mariage is in a sorte worshyp ped Fowles of the Ayre I meane the he and the she cupple together flie together féede together and neast together The Turtle is neuer merie after the death of her Mate and in many brute Beastes the lyke Constancie is fownd But generally there is neuer iarre nor mislykyng betwene the Male and Female of vnpollitique creatures and among the most
asswage A wytnesse that Vnkindnesse inlargeth Loue as the wracke of Winter dooth the beautie of Summer then although the Parents matche at first be without the fancie of the Children a reconciliation in fine will double their comforte Sir ê™ Soranso fauouring Falieros opinion you wrest the Adage is to a coÌ„trary meaning for it is to be vsed but where there hath béene sometyme perfect loue and where a grounded leue is although the Married menace with their tunges they malice not with their hartes on the contrarie parte looke what rule the Louer vseth in loue the Enemie obserueth in reuenge Therefore if the Maried abhorre before Marriage they may well desemble with their tounges but wyll neuer bée delighted in their harts and where there is such a deuision in the desires of the Married fayre fained semblaunce wil soone turne to flat fowle falling out their thrift goeth forwarde as the carriage drawen by two Oxen taile to taile the Husband wyll haue no delight to get nor the Wife desyre to saue Seruauntes with negligence will waste and hyrelinges with proloyning will winne and which is worst the continuaunce of mallice will custom them with mortall hatred hatred betwéene the Married bréedeth coÌ„tencion betwixt the parents coÌ„tencion betwixt the pareÌ„ts raiseth quarrels among the kindred quarrels amoÌ„g the kindred occupieth all the neighbours with slauÌ„der so y t for the most part these forced Mariages engendereth sorrowes for the Married disquietnesse to both their fréends kindâ—…ed but which still renueth gréefe the scandall of enemyes endeth in neyther of theyr wretchednesse This béeing said lyttle auayled the further prooffes of the contrary part so full was the crie Fye of forcement in Mariage so that to paint out the inconueniences therof in his proper coulours Quéene Aurelia coÌ„maunded Faliero to confirme his sufficient reasons with the discourse of some rare Historie Whose commaundement he willingly satisfied and reported as followeth The Historie in the reproche offorced Mariage reported by Faliero IN the famous Cittie of Cirene in Affrick dwelled sometimes a riche Marchaunt named Tryfo This Tryfo had a wealthy neighbour called Clearches who of long time entertained one an other with a neighborly affection Tryfo to inherite all his liuings had but one onely sonne named Sicheus and Clearches one onely Daughter called Elisa The Parents to establish as they imagined an euerlasting amitie betwéene theyr houses concluded a Mariage for theyr vnfortunate Children making no doubt but that they would as well inherite theyr affections as theyr liuings of which there was hope enough if the order had béene as good to establish theyr Loue as the haste great to sollemnize the Mariage for that in theyr persons appéered no signe of disagréement nor in theyr abilyties cause of exception but looue that behouldeth no more quicknesse in a Dyamond then in a dim Saphyre though he take impression by sight rooteth in contemplation which deuine exercise of the soule smally delighteth gréen Youthe who intertaine their thoughts with a thousand vaine fancies but to my purpose The Mariage day drew neare and as at the very push of Battell the wise Captaine animateth his Souldiers with some plausible Oration euen so the night before the Mariage Trâ—…fo scheeled his sonne Sicheus with this following aduertisement My good sonne quod he so great are the follyes of men and so cunning the deceits of women as the most especially the yonger sorte wyll credite theyr lookes without looking into their liues beléeue their woordes and lightly regard their workes delyght to recount theyr entertainements and disdaine to reclion theyr shrewde payments For as the sycke pacient comforted with the Phisitions words leaues to examine the quallities of his receites BueÌ„ so the wretched Louer cured with the yéelding of his beautifull Mistrisse with negligence bothe ouer lookes his owne benefit her behauiour Salomon was deceyued Sampson subdued Aristotle derided and Hercules murthered by the illusions of errant honest women Kinge Demetrius notwithstanding he was bothe wise and valiant was so bewitched with the wyles of the notorious strumpet Lamia as in open Schooles he raysed disputations whether the loue he bare Lamia or the Iewels he bestowed vpon her were the greater or whether her merrit excéeded them bothe or noe Yea when she died he caused her to be Intombed vnder his Bed Chamber windowe to the ende that with dayly teares he might worship her engraued bones who liuing was of him intirely belooued If the wisest and the worthyest be thus ouertaken in their affections what easie baites may beguile thée who in yeares art young of substaunce delicate and lustie and therefore apt to looue reddy in conceyt and of consideration vnperfect whot in desire and in discretion colde My sonne by experience I know and to preuent thy ouerlikely mischaunce in choyce I haue chosen thée a wife fayre to please theae ritche to continue looue her Parents my assured fréendes and she thy affected loouer loue her well beare with her in small faultes as a woman and the weaker bridle thy owne euill affections as a man her head and gouernour and in thus dooing God will multiply his blessings vpon you and make your aged Parents to dye in peace to sée you liue in prosperitie Young Sicheus regarded his Fathers tale as Schollers doo their Tutors who giuing them leaue to playe admonisheth them with all to kéepe good rule which they promise and performe the contrary With the like affection Sicheus embraced Mariage He was not so soone wearie of dallying with his Wife as he was ready to entertayne a Harlot so that in shorte space he became a common Louer and a carelesse Husband and withall grew as arrogant in defending his libertie as dissolute in his actions and behauiour If his friends did gently aduise him he was of age to counsell himselfe if his Parents did sharply reprehend him he would impudently aunswer he was past correction if his Wife found her selfe agréeued with his hard vsage she might well complaine but he would take no time to amend so that his dayly actions of euill tooke away all after hope of weldeeing in so much as he became odious vnto his friends that beheld his lewde inclination and a plague vnto his Wife who was dayly oppressed with his monstrous vices So that the ouercharge of sorrow made her many times passage for these and such like passions O vnhappie and ouer hastie Mariage which in the pride of my youthe with discontentments makest me resemble a fayre Fig Tree blasted with the after colde of an vntimely Spring but why blame I Mariage which is honourable alas because the abuse of good things worke euill effectes Roses vnaduisedly gathered pryck our hands Bees vngently vsed stinge our faces yet the one pleasaunt and the other profitable so that if their come any euil of that which is good our folly or fortune is cause thereof Aye me when I was married I was
Prosperytie and Pompey at the féete of Disgrace but being both dead vnto their Monumentes Writers adde this Opinion Cesar in his lyfe was more fortunate then Pompey and Pompey more honest then Cesar. A proofe that some Disgrace is the ground of Good Reporte and some good Fortune the Trumpe of Infamie therfore let no man yeld to Aduersitie nor affie too much in Pompe and painted Prosperytie for the one is but vexation the other vanitie and both in short time vanish A sodayne alteration as me thought made me to contemplate of these causes for that commynge out of my lodgyng somwhat tymely I entred the great Chamber with as strange a regarde as he y t coÌ„meth out of a House full of Torch and Taperlights into a darke and obscure Corner knowing that at midnight aboute whiche tyme I forsooke my company I lefte the place attyred lyke a seconde Paradice the earthly Goddesses in brightnesse resembled Heauenly Creatures whose Beauties daseled mennes eyes more then the Beames of the Sunne The swéet Musick recorded the Harmonie of Angels the straunge and curteus deuices in Maskers séemed as fygures of deuine Misteries And to be short the place was a verie Sympathie of an imagined Paradice And in the space of one slumbering sléepe to bee left lyke a desert wildernesse without any creature saue sundrie sauadge Beastes portrayed in the Tapestrie hanginges imprest suche a heauy passion in my minde as for the time I fared as one whose sences had forgot how to doo their bounden offices In the ende to recomfort my throbbing hart I tooke my Citterne and to a solempne Note sung this following Sonet which I a litle before composed vpon a quiet thought I possessed after my reading of Boetrus of the consolation of Philosophy translated into Italion by Cosimo Bartoli FArewell bright Golde thou glory of the worlde Faire is thy show but some thou mak'st the soule Farewell prowde Mynde in thousand Fancies twirld Thy pompe is lyke the Stone that still doth rowle ¶ Farewell sweete Loue thou wish of worldly ioy Thy wanton Cuppes are spiste with mortal sin Farewell dyre Hate thou doost thy selfe annoy Therefore my hart no place to harbour in ¶ Enuy farewel to all the world a foe Lyke DENNIS BVLL a torture to thy selfe Disdayne farewell though hye thy thoughts doe flow Death comes and throwes thy Sterne vpon a shelfe Flatterie farewell thy Fortune dooth not last Thy smoothest tales concludeth with thy shame Suspect farewell thy thoughts thy intrayles wast blame And fear'st to wounde the wight thou faine woul'dst Sclaunder farewell which pryest with LYNX his eyes And canst not see thy spots when all are done Care Care farewell which lyke the Cockatrice Doest make the Graue that al men fame would shun ¶ And farewell world since naught in thee I finde But vanytie my soule in Hell to drowne And welcombe Phylosophy who the mynde Doest with content and heauenly knowledge crowne During the time that my thoughtes swounded with the charme of my passionate Musick The Sun decked in his most gorgious Raies gaue a bon Giorno to the whole troupe and so many as were within the sownde of my Instrument were drawne with no lesse vertue then the Stéele vnto the Addamant In so much of the suddaine to beholde the statelynesse of the presence I was dryuen foorth of my muse with a starklyng admyration not vnlyke vnto him that sléeping ouer a dying brand is hastelye wakened with the lyghtenynge of a thousande sparcles The offices of Curtesie discharged on euery part Segnior Soranfo fayed the Poets fayned not without reason that Amphions Harp gaue fence vnto stone Walles For so deuine quoth hée are the operations and vertues of Musick As he that shall be bounde to declare her particuler Graces shall be no lesse troubled then the Paynter Zeuxes was in the countersettinge of Cupid Who after much trauell was driuen to draw him blynde for otherwise he had vnder taken Sisiphus taske because the twinckling reflections of Cupids eies threw a thousande Beauties vpon his face and shadowed the worke of the Paynter Thus through Ignoraunce Cupid hath euer since bin reputed blinde and for his owne perfection is honoured with y e title of the God of Loue. The name of Loue gaue a large occasion of discourse but for that an other tyme was appoynted for those disputations and the morninge was wholly dedicated vnto the seruice of God the question drowned in Soransos â—…nggestion and the whole company scylent in such affayres attended Quéene Aurelias comming who in chaunge of gorgious and rich apparrell kept her accustomed howre to go vnto the Chappel By that time seruice was ended and euery mans deuotion donne dinner was ready to be set vppon the Tables with such choyce of delicate Uiandes as vnto the bountie of the Feast there might nothing be added After that Quéene Aurelia and the rest had taken their ordinarye places euery one helped the disgestion of their meate either in inuenting some ciuill merriment or in hearinge it reported by an other Bergetto all this while was neither heard to speake nor séene to smyle Which perceiued by Franceschina Sancta his Mistres she moued with the spirit of compassion studied howe with Iustice shée might reuoke her sentence and vnstring her seruauntes tougue and to that ende shee demaunded how thrée good turnes might be vnrewardeÌ„d thrée offences pardened thrée iniuryes leaft vnreuenged and in euerye of these Iustice preserued This question passed through the table and retourned without his true resolution In the end quoth Segnior Philoxenus Monsier Bergetto what is your opinion Sir ê™ Bergetto my Mistresse hath locked the tongue that should pronounce it Why quoth Franceschina these be no questions of loue and therefore you haue libertie to speake No Lady quoth Bergetto but his vertue may appeare in the aunsweare Well quoth his Mystresse if you canne cleare your trespasse by one of these questions I must do no iniurie to Iustice and therefore saye your pleasure Uppon this warrant quoth Bergetto to your first thrée I aunsweare A Captayne maye betray his charge which is a benefit to the enemy but the betrayer is not to be receiued as a friende for he that will sell his countryman may not be held assured to a straunger Secondly a Théefe that peacheth his fellowes doeth good to the Common wealth yet deserueth no reward for he that may preuileadg his own theft in bewraying other mens will euermore steale vpon presumptioÌ„ Thirdly to win a mans money is a good turne yet the loser is not to be recompenced for his intent was to winne the winners To your second thrée questions a man maye offende through ignoraunce which is excused without a pardon for ignoraunce is without intent of euill therfore to be suffered though not to be cherished A man may offend through necessitie which commendeth Iustice with the vertue to forgiue for necessity is bound vnto no law and therefore
after I had prayed with great deuotion before his Image I behelde him in the Maiestie of an Angell fayre yonge lustie and in euery proportion like my selfe and nothyng at all like his meagre Cripple Image So that I was in doubt of beynge transfourmed out of my selfe tyll with a méeke voice he sayd Be not dismayde I am thy Maister Inganno and am come to bestow my blessinges vpon the good Appenine dames that for my sake cherish you my Disciples But with an especiall Affection I wil visite the good Dame Farina And for that her Feminine weakenes can not indure my Heauenly presence I wyll many times borrowe thy earthly shape and in my name go salute Farina and showe her that this night in that her Husbande is from home I meane to visite her wyll her to leaue open the Doores because I purpose to come as Fryer Inganno and not as Saint Fraunces This is his message therfore as I began I end blessed art thou among the Appenine countrie Dames The poore woman as apparant as this trecherie was had not the power to mistrust but gaue the Fryer a good almes for his newes and saide she would attende Saint Fraunces blessed will Away goeth the Fryer with a light hart and a heauy Cowle but God to punish his lewde intent to preserue her from sinnyng through ignoraunce so tyckled her hart with ioy of this blessinge at hande as to welcome Saint Fraunces shée must néedes haue the Belles roonge The Prieste of the Parrishe hearing the cause smelt out the Fryers counning and was glad to take one of those Beggers in a Pitfall that with glorious lyes had robbed him of his Parishioners deuotions and withall perswaded her with suche reasons as shee was fully resolued of the Fryers deceite And to bée adnenged by the Parsons direction shée caused Leayda to lye in her Bed a Mayde so ougly sluttish and deformed as thorough the Parish shée was called the Furie of Lothsomnesse Aboute ten of the Clocke findynge the Doores open Frier Inganno mountes into Farinas Chamber and without light or leaue leaps into her bed but hée had not blessed Leaydaes lyppes before the Priest Farina and others entred with Taper and Torchlighte singing Salue Saincte Francisce And knéeling about his Bed sides sung Sancte Francisce ora pro nobis The poore Fryer lyke a For in a grin being both intrapt and imbraste by a Hag of Hel cryed from his hart A dolore inferni libera me Dominè After the Prieste and the rest of the companye were wearye of laughinge and the Fryer almost dead with wéeping It is an office of Charitie quoth the Priest to put Saint Frances againe in his Tumbe for it is so long since hée was in the Worlde that he hath forgot the way backe into Heauen The Fryer learing lyke the Théefe that honge on the left side of Christe tooke all with patience for well hee wyst Prayer booted not Well for that night they bounde and stript him lyke a dead Coarse and in stead of swéete Flowers laid him in a bundell of Nettles The next mornyng the rude Countrie people who in reuenge are without ciuyllytie or order cruelly scourged the poore Fryer And setting hym the forenoone naked in the Sunne annoynted his bodie with Honey so that the Hornets Waspes and Flyes tormented him with the paynes of Hell In the afternoone with a hundred Torches Tapers and other waxen lyghtes this rustick multitude caryed seconde Saint Fraunces vnto his Tumbe and had not other Fryers vsed mylde plawsible requests in his behalf they would surely haue buried him aliue for threatning increaseth a tumult when faire wordes may peraduenture staye it The poore Fryer discharged from the handes of these vngentle people learned afterwardes to be more warie but for all this punishment was nothinge the honester For amonge men of his Habit remayneth an opynion that the faultes whiche the Worlde séeeth not GOD punnisheth not After the Company had wel laughed at Fryer Ingannoes pennaunce Quéene Aurelia axed maister Doctor the Archedetracter of Women how many suche stories he had read of the religious Dames None quoth hée that hath beene so sorely punished but of an number that haue as hyghly trespassed What quoth Helena Dulce by suche subtyll practises No ê™ the Doctor but through simple affection Well quoth Aluisa Vechio their euyls are written in their foreheades that slaunderous mens tongues may reade and inlarge them And your great euils are buried in the bottome of your hartes that vnlesse the Deuill meane to shame you the worlde knoweth not how to blame you This was the Gentlewomens day wherefore the ciuill Gentlemen would not offer to crosse them much so that following their aduantage Madam quoth Isabella with your fauour and patience I will reporte an Historie that shall open suche a haynous trecherie done by a man as shall take away all possibilytie from a woman to commit so impious an Act. Quéene Aurelia willed her to procéede and the whole company séemed to be attentiue whereupon Isabella reported as followeth The rare Historie of Promos and Cassandra reported by Madam ISABELLA AT what time CORVINVS the scourge of the Turkes rayned as Kinge of Bohemia for to well gouerne the frée Cities of his â—…ealme hée sent diuers worthy Maiestrates Among the rest he gaue the Lorde Promos the â—…auntship of 〈◊〉 who in the beginning of his gouernment purged the Cittie of many ancient vices and seuerely punished new offenders In this Cittie there was an olde custome by the suffering of some Maiestrates growne out of vse that what man so euer coÌ„mitted â—…e should lose his head And y e woman offender should euer after be infamously noted by the wearing of some disguised apparrell For the man was helde to bee the greatest offender and therefore had the seuerest punishment Lorde Promos with a rough execution reuiued this Statute and in the hyess degrée of iniurie brake it hymselfe as shall appeare by the sequell of Andrugioes aduentures This Andrugio by the yéelding fauour of fayre Polina trespassed against this ordinaunce who through enuie was accused and by Lorde Promos condemned to suffer execution The wofull Cassandra Andrugioes Sister prostrates her selfe at Lorde Promos Féete and with more teares then wordes thus pleaded for her Brothers lyse Most noble Lorde and worthy Iudge voutchsafe mée the fauour to speake whose case is so desperate as vnlesse you beholde mée with the eyes of mercie the frayle trespasse of condemned Andrugio my Brother will bée the death of sorrowfull Cassandra his innocent Sister I wil not presume to excuse his offence or reproche the Lawe of rigor for in the generall construction hee hath done most euill the Law hath iudged but what is right But reuerent Iudge pardon y t necessitie maketh mée here tel that your wisdome already knoweth The most Soueraigne Iustice is crowned with Laurell although
Iustice and PROMOS execution was spred abroad and by the songe of a Clowne was blowen into Andrugioes eates who tyll then lyued lyke an Outlawe in the Desart wooddes But vpon these Newes couertly in the Habyt of an Hermyt by the Diuine motion of the sowle who directes vs in thinges that be good and the Flesshe in Actions of euyll Andrugio goes to sée the Death of his Capitall enemie But on the other parte regardyng the sorrow of his Sister he wisshed him lyfe as a friende To conclude as well to geue terrour to the lewde as comfort to his good Subiectes the kyngâ—… personallie came to sée the execution of Promos who garded with Officers and strengthened with the comfortable perswasions of his Ghostly Fathers Among whom Andrugio was méekely offered his lyfe as a satisfaction for his offences which were many more then the Lawe tooke knowledge of And yet to say the trueth suche was his Repentance as the multitude did both forgeue and pittie him yea the King wondred that his lyfe was gouerned with no more vertue consideryng the grace he showed at his death Andrugio behouldyng this ruethfull Spectackle was so ouercome with loue towardes his Sister as to giue her comfort he franckly consented anew to emperill his own life And followinge this Resolution in his Hermyts wéede vpon his knées he humblye desired the Kinge too giue hym leaue to speake The Kyng gratiously graunted hym Audience Whervpon quoth he regarded Soueraigne if Lawe may possibly be satisfied Promos true Repentance meritteth pardon Good Father quoth the King he can not liue and the Lawe satisfied vnlesse by Miracle Andrugio be reuined Then quoth the Hermyt if Andrugio lyue the Law is satisfied and Promos discharged I quoth the King if your Praier can reuiue the one my mercie shall acquite the other I humbly thanke your Maiestie quoth Andrugio and discoueryng himselfe shewed the Prouidence of God and the meane of his escape and tendrynge his Sisters comfort aboue his owne safetie hee prostrated him selfe at his Maiesties Féete humblye to obay the sentence of his pleasure The Kinge vppon the reporte of this straunge Aduenture after good deliberation pardoned Promos to kéepe his worde and withall houldyng an opinyon that it was more benefitiall for the Citezens to be ruled by their olde euell gouernour new refourmed then to aduenture vppon an newe whose behauiours were vnknowne And to perfect Cassandras ioye he pardoned her Brother Andrugio with condition that he should marrie Polina Thus from betwéene y e téethe of daunger euerypartie was preserued and in the ende establyshed in their hartes dessre Madam quoth Soranso your good conclusion hath likewise preserued vs from a great daunger for had you ended with the sorrow you began wee had béene all like to haue bene drowned in teares Indéede quoth Katharina Trista you men had had cause sufficient of sorrowe by hearing your kynde reproched with such monstrous euils and we women frée passage to lament in behoulding none but crosse fortunes to succéede the good indeuours of a vertuous Ladie It is true quoth Fabritio but to participate of their ioye wee men haue learned out of Promos example of euil for feare of his likelie punishment of euil to doo well and you Women by example of Polinas vice and Cassandras vertue are both warned and incouraged to weldooing Indéede quoth Quéene Aurelia there are many Morall precepts in either Historie to be considered whiche I hope the company haue so regarded as there néedeth no repetition And further because I will not be to bould of the victorie ouer my late distemperature we will heare ende And therwith she rose retired into her Chamber with charge that the company should attende her in the same place vntil Supper who obaying intertained time euery one with their speciall fancy The Question that arose at Supper vpon the fourth Dayes exercise MAny prettie nyps passed betweene the retyred Companye this Night at Supper as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gentlewomens parte as of the Gentlemens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as presumyng vpon this Daies honour when the 〈◊〉 was readie to be taken away Aluisa vechio tooke vpon her to mayntaine a woman to be a creature euery way as execellent and perfeâ—… Man For naturall shape quoth she they are more 〈◊〉 tifull of a better temperature and complection then 〈◊〉 In valiaunt exploytes what difference was there 〈◊〉 twéene Semiramis and her Husbande Ninus betwâ—… the Amazon women and Alexender For constantnesse of mind did not Loadice imbrace deathe with lesse feare then Mithridates her Husband Asdruballes Wife then Asdrubal himselfe And what man hath kept a constant resolution of death so long as Lucretia In Morall vertues you men that reade Histories and Cronicles of all ages shall finde Women renowmed for learnyng Gouernment and pollycie In Mecanycall Artes there are Women lykewise experienced In the vertue of Deuining what man hath come neare the Sibels To bee shorte what Man hath bene so perfect in any vertue but Histories make mention of a woman as perfect Yea quoth Dondolo but there be so few of these women as an easy wit may remember them But it will cumber your Tong to report them quoth Katharina Trista The other Gentlemen although they were willlinge to giue place vnto the GentlewomeÌ„ in small matters yet this comparison of equal soueraignty netteled them a lytil In as much as Soranso aunswered Madam Aluisa you haue made a bould comparison and but a bare proofe Where you vaunte to be more excellent in shape and more delicate in substaunce then men It is an ouer ruled question that Women receiue perfection by men men imperfection by Women then by how much the vertue is of more emprise that is simplye of it selfe then that which is compounde of an other by so farre wée exceede you in this perfection Your honour of valyantnes died with your examples and although there hath bene Women learned and experienced in Mecanicall craftes yet to heare a Woman plead at the Barre preache in a Pulpit or to sée her build a House is a wonder and no example in vse How shorte your deuinyng Sybels come of the credit of the Prophets in the olde Testament is no question disputable For your constancie at deathe you knowe not how precious lyfe is which maketh you rash and not constant and in trueth what you haue frowardely determined you will not bee forbidden As shée that had her Tongue cut for callyng of her Husband Théefe woulde yet notwithstandinge make the signe of the Gallowse Well sir quoth Quéene Aurelia Epicarias oâ—…ynary who endured to bée rent in péeces before shée woulde confesse the conspyracie agaynst NERO would haue ben holdeÌ„ for a Uertue of staiednesse in a man And what say you of Leena that byt off her tonge and spit it in the Tirant Hippias face because she would not bewraye a conspiracy against him
Madame with your fauour quoth the Doctor had she not had this foresight it had ben lyke the Athenians shuld haue bene driuen to haue made a brasen Bell as a Monument of her talke rather then a tongueles Lionnesse as they did in honour of her silence for had she not mistrusted her imperfection she would neuer haue committed that tirannie vpon her selfe Had her tongue béene venomed with your mallice it is like quoth Quéene Aurelia that the Athenians had veryfied your slaunderous opinion here with she looked a skause vpon her fauoured seruaunts as who would saye I check the omission of your dutie in not defending of my right Upon which warning and espetially for the excellencie of this sexe quoth Ismarito a man may doo iustice vnto an other without iniurie to himselfe and sure without the reproche of men a man may commend the excellencie of Women in whose behalfe although I wyll not condemne Sir Soransos reasons yet in my opinion he erred in the first Article where he toucheth the perfection of Men and the imperfection of Women for neither of themselues are perfect nor may haue essentiall substauÌ„ce without the other But to dispute of this secret in nature at large were vnpleasing to their chaste eares and too bréefely to misticall for theyr vnderstandings But who so is so curious in searche let him reade the Philosophers Probleames with an vnpartiall indgement and he shall finde them in substaunce euery way as perfect as man And in the opinion of the eye of all the sences who is the moste perfect Iudge they farre excell man in purenes of complection Where exception is taken to the few in number of singulerly well qualyfed Women I affirme that it is not the quantity but the quallity that commends a little Salte relisheth more then a great deale of Sugar Iudeth with her owne hands atchieued a more honourable conquest then all the Cilisions besides Alexandra the wife of Alexander King of the Iewes when the vnciuill multitude were ready for his tiranie to make the intrailes of Dogges a Sepulture for his dead body yea and to be further auenged to murther his two Sonnes by her swéete behauiour so mollified theyr cruell hearts as losing theyr resolutions they gaue her husband an honourable buriall and prostrated themselues at her Childrens féete which pacification the strength nor wisdom of her counsel could not obtaine By what instrument did God first showe the vigor of his vengeaunce by a Woman And by what instrument did he showe the vertue of his mercie by a Woman Soueraigne Vertue is Feminine and I â—…sh to â—…ll it Yâ—… some Vice is Masculine The Ladies â—…ed out â—…ight to â—…eer 〈◊〉 â—…s differenco But Soranso â—…fe angrie aunswered that if Ismaritos countrimen were of his minde they might be ashamed that they were so effeminate Pardon me quoth Ismarito it is theyr commendation to 〈◊〉 to Women and to coâ—…r Men Tuâ—… 〈◊〉 quoth â—…ergetto to niâ—… himself by the nose Ismarito is to be pardoned for his â—…ine S. George is shacklâ—… in a Womans 〈◊〉 It is true quoth Ismarito but thus fettered he hath many times chased S. Michael to his Mounte Fabritio fearing that these crosses would turne to the Deuils blessing studyed how to accorde this contention and with that intent quoth he Ismarito you haue well deserued to kisse these Ladyes handes for your honourable commendation of theyr sexe But where you say Vertue is the Feminine and Vice the Masculine bothe Men and Women are vnderstood in either The old Diuines tooke Vertue to be God and Vice the Diuill and either to be bothe Feminine and Masculine Orpheus sayde that Iupiter and Pluto were bothe Male and Female It is also read in Scripture That God fashioned bothe Man and Woman to his owne likenesse Moreouer this worde Homo signifieth bothe kindes so that since Man and Woman are not simply of themselues but compounded one of an other I blame this vnnaturall contention for excellencie for neither can obtaine Soueraigne victorie without dooing iniurie vnto themselues The head among some is taken for the Man and the heart for the woman for bothe are of an indifferent gender and all the other members indifferently at their commaundement Quéene Aurelia with a smiling countenaunce aunswered that she was content that a Man should gouerne as the head women direct as the heart and because we will not doo iniurie vnto our naturall vertue of Modesty we wil giue place to you iâ—… contention for Souerainetyes and binde you to sâ—…rue vs for our â—…es and therewithall in rising she broke of this controuersie After Supper there was a little time bestowed in the hearing of swéete Musique but for that Quéene Aurelias late distemprature grew of ouer watching the company this night went vnto their lodging in a good howre FINIS The fift Daies Exercise Containing a breefe discourse touching the excellencie of Man and a large discouerie of the inconueniences of ouer lofty and too base Loue with other Morall notes needefull to be regarded THE last nights good howre of repose was the cause of the companies this daies early rising who by nine of the Clock entered the great Chamber armed for any lawdable exercise And after an accustomed duty of salutation discharged euery man be thought himselfe of some pleasing matter to entertaine the present time Soranso and Ismarito were seuered from the rest of the company vpon priuate discourse which béeing ended Soranso casting his eye aside beheld in the hangings the picture of Ixion heardled to his tormenting Whéele Sée yonder quoth he the worthy scourge of Ambition and withall reported the Fable of his presumptuous making of loue to Iuno Naye quoth Ismarito Ixion is rather the example of Vaine Glorie punished for Iupiter so well allowed of Ixions hie minde in that he represented his Image as he raysed him from Earthe to Heauen and because he should not perish in his affection he satisfied his desire with the embracement of a counterfeit Iuno and so sent him backe vnto the Earth where vaine glorious Ixion Proclaymed that he was the Minion of Iuno and had Acteoned Iupiter for which arrogancie Iupiter threw him to Hell with this pictured vengeaunce Questionlesse quoth Soranso this imagination of the Heathen Poet could not but be the trauell of a Diuine spirit it exposeth such néedefull matter for Christians to contemplate of You néede not doubt of your opinion quoth Ismarito for after God had created Adam after his owne Image he scattered the séede of Adam vppon the face of the whole world and where some euer the essentiall forme of Adam was there was also the Image of God which in the moste barberous and Heathen creature laboureth to bring out hye and excellent things I beséeche you quoth Soranso to inlarge this discourse I am not so simple to beléeue that we are like the Image of God
as to perceiue they will iudge by their owne eyes and not by your hartes and so from shaddowes may growe euill effectes If there sight be so quick ê™ Franceschina Santa then If their sight be so quick quoth Franceschina Sancta then though by a negligent trespasse their wiues sometime giue them cause to sigh with a number of louing vsadges they will giue them daylye occasion of reioysinge I graunt as muche quoth Soranso but this will follow the Husband will turne his owne mistruste to hys Wiues sorrow and receaue her good vsage to his owne pryuate comfort Indeede quoth Aluisa Vechio the loue of a ielous husband is sawced with such frowarde motions as I had rather be matched with him that regardeth mée not at al then with him that loueth mée too muche for of the one though I am not beloued yet I shall not be much crossed of the other I being too much beloued I shall neuer be in quiet I am not of your mynde quoth Helena Dulce I had rather haue my Husbande ielous then carelesse for being carelesse no good vsage will reconcile him and being Ielous the Wife may studie out how to please him Yea but quoth Katharina Trista Men are so easye conceited that if they perceiue a woman studdieth how to please them they straight waies imagine she will lykewise studdie how to deceiue them and therefore God shéelde mée from a Ielous Housbande I haue heard the whightstreaked Carnation Giliflower was the Metamorphos of a Faire Gentlewoman beheaded by her husband vpon this Ielous thought that his wife beinge so faire could not but be beloued of the Gods although hée had no cause to suspect men And where haue yée a larger Example of Loue then the Aduenture of Orpheus who by extreame sorrow and sute recouered his Wife out of Hell and by ouer Ielous Loue sent her thither againe Doctor Mossenigo was smyling out a scoffe vpon this tale which Quéene Aurelia intercepted by ending of the Gentlewomens contention By your talke of Hell quoth she I sée we are out of the way to Platoes Parradice and therfore good we tourne backe agayne In déede Madame quoth Fabritio if we trauell styll to choose the leaste of Euylles it wyll be longe before we come to the Fountayne of Goodnesse Me thinkes quoth Isabella the Sonet which mooued the late Question directes a fayre way to happinesse in Mariage for it commendeth loftie Loue And if accordyng to the oulde Prouerbe The best is best cheape this Aduenture geueth Hope and promiseth good Fortune It is true quoth Soranso I dare vndertake to approoue it the happiest estate in Mariage Dondolo because he would not be disgraced by mariyng a Burgoys fayre Daughter of Rauenna offered to prooue the contrarie Quéene Aurelia licensed them to shew their reasons Whervpon quoth Soranso to geue great Ladies and Gentlewomen of calling their true right and honor who lightly marry not their Inferiours in reputation but for some especiall Uertue that doth commende their choice and cleareth the Bleamish of their Husbandes basenes I must confesse that he which rayseth his thought so hye vndertaketh no doubt a tedious sute his delayes wyll be gréeuons and his Solliciters wyll be well rewarded in what sort so euer he be regarded But what of this Quo quid difficilius eo pulchrius Perryll maketh honor perfect the styngyng of the Bée mendes the swéetenes of Honie Roses best refresheth our Sences when we prick our handes to reache them He that crackes the Nut thinkes the Kernell swéetest The reason is not for that the goodnesse of a thing is the better for the euil thervnto belonging but for that the remeÌ„brance of y t euyl maketh vs holde the good in more reputation especially in loue The Affection whiche is forced with teares wonne with sighes gaind with expence and compassed with sorow is held most pleasant most perfect of longest continuance Againe easie gotten good wyll becoÌ„meth in a while lothsome the cause is as I coÌ„ceiue for y t the pleasure was neuer seasoned w t paine Once a man in louing his better to encrease his passion shal lack no occasion both to séeke sue sigh serue yet to féede his hope he shal want neyther faire lookes good wordes nor possybilytie of fauour For for to obtain a great Ladie acquireth many circumstaunces not for that shee is precise to loue but for that shee is wise or woulde bee so thought in herprocéedinges But whether she loue or no Ouid saith there is no woman but wil indure the demaund she is contented with seruice to be courted in recoÌ„pence rewardeth with good countenance But which most sustaineth hope the exaÌ„ple is in coÌ„tinual vse that loue spareth no degrée transgresseth euery law bringeth y t mightiest in boÌ„dage to the meanest King Cofetua the Affrican became enamoured of a Begger faire Venus espoused yll fauoured Vulcan Pigmalion doted vpon an Image Narcissus was drowned in imbrasing his owne shadow mightie Ioue many times cast aside his diuinitie to dallie with simple country trulles then why shuld the affected how bace so euer his estate be dispaire to attempt a great Ladie wheÌ„ his warrant is signed with so large Aucthoryties But whether he spéede or faile be accepted or reiected well entertained or yll intreated the ymagination that time wil inuest his desire w t delight is to the Affected a Paradice farre exellyug the possession of equall loue But if in the end her affection or his good fortune concludeth his wish in desire her loue whiche can not choose but be great in that she marieth beneth her callyng And her Abylytie which allured at the first with his inhabylytie to realysh both can not but make the Husbande fortunate and the Wife well pleased for that in recompence of this aduancement she may presume somwhat to rule her Heade but which most contents she shal haue the satisfaction of her fancie a bed If a House were as soone bilded as the Plot is drawn quoth Dondolo Shepherds wold disdaine to liue in Co rages eueÌ„ so if euery maÌ„ could as soone coÌ„passe a Lady for himselfe as he can report the fortune of other there must be an Act to make Ladies or Lords must be glad of mean Women But admit by the example of other mens Aduauncements that the meanest may be raised by the yeelding fancye of the mightie I prophesie that such an vpstarte had more néede of ten Eyes to warde the mallice of his Wiues kindred then one tongue to moue her to kindnesse A woman cannot myslike affectionated profers because they procéede of loue But her kindred disdaineth his attempte for that the conclusion tendeth both to their and her dishonour A woman séeing her seruaunts passions cannot but sustaine him with pittie her Kindred séeinge him in good way to bee beloued will lye in waite for his lyfe For though she may dispose of her
louinge countenaunce repaire vnto her and in her bosome gently bestow his murthering Horne and sodainlye as one rauished with contentment hée fauleth a sléepe by which meanes he is slaine before he recouereth the vse of his force The Companie laughed well to heare this straunge Metamorphosis In the end ê™ Quéene Aurelia I would Maister Doctor had hard this Hystorie when hée so inuayed against Beautie perhaps he would haue bene affraide of her vengeaunce seeing her power able to conquere sauage wilde Beastes But the Doctor glad of this aduantage not vnlyke the tuÌ„ning Lawier that buyeth Robin hoodes penniworthes yet with some nice forfaitures threatneth the seller with continuall bondage many times bringeth backe his money and kéepeth his bargen not caring for his Concience so that hée haue a colour for his offence or as the wysest sorte of Atheistes that liue as though they hoped neyther after heauen nor feared Hel yet confesse God with their mouth hecause the contrarie woulde make them hated of men so he by this tale found out both a warrant to maintayne his former Blasphemie and to excuse his present Follie in Loue And to Aucthorize either Madame quoth he the inchaunted Beaste approoueth myne opinion of Beauties power and his Death is a greater witnesse of her crueltie then is Doctor Mossenigo who confesseth that men in vayne prescribe Remedies for the Affected or Receites to preserue men from the Infections of Beautie You are welcome vnder our Lée ê™ Aluisa Vechio But to take awaye all hope of good intertaynment quoth Katharina Trista no no Maister Doctor you deceyue your selfe Beautie neyther retaineth the power nor poyson which you speake of and with you Ouid and all the amorous Poets are mistaken who say Affection riseth from Beautie and not of the frée wyll of man But say yon all what you please good foresight wyll contrary your opinions There is no sore but hath his salue no griefe but hath his remedie nor no daunger but may be forstoode eyther by prayer or good indeuoure In déede quoth Faliero Socrates â—…altred his inclination by the Studie of Phylosophie The Nyniuites preserued their Cittie by prayer and Virbius dubled his life by mastering of his disposission Floradin bewitched with the loue of faire Persida his deare friend Pericles Wife wrote in a table Booke fye Floradin fye shée is thy friend Pericles Wife and so often as idlenes presented him with thys passyon he read his written remembraunce and by some honest exercise remooued his imagination This is not your day Maister Doctor quoth Soranso I beléeue there is some vnkindnes betwéene Saturne and Venus by the enuious aspeckt of some other Plannet this howre It maye be quoth the Doctor by the flatterie of Mercurie who is euermore enemie to the plainnes of trueth Well quoth Quéene Aurelia let vs leaue this bye matter and consider better of Ismaritos Metamorphosis me thinks it prophesieth muche mischaunce to an Dulde Wydowe whiche marteth a Yonge man and no greate pleasure to the yonge maried Bacheler O good Madam say not so quoth Soranso for in this fortune lyeth a yonger Brothers welfare and the cause that maketh happinesse accompanie olde wemen to their Graue It may well be to their Graue quoth the Doctor but it bryngeth sorow into their House and maketh their life more vnpleasant then death and if Soranso followe this Course perhappes his day wyll be no better then Doctor Mossenigos Quéene Aurelia smilinge saide shee feared this câ—…ntention woulde bring the companie to hell gates Yet quoth she In that I imagine the way will be pleasaunt I licence you to perseuer in your purpose Uppon which warrant quoth Soranso to maintaine that to be true which I haue alreadie alleadged in the commendation of this estate in marriage This further reason in my conceite you will neither disalowe nor the married couple shall haue cause to mislike which is where a fresh young Gentleman either of small liuing or farre spent with lustinesse lights of a rich olde widow for that both their desires in this fortune shall bee satisfied He shall haue plentie of Coyne the onelie Grace hee lacked and she the possession of a goodlie Parsonage the chéefest Iewel she loueth which exchaunge of Marchandise can not chuse but continue their liking and raise much coutentment Cleane contrarie ê™ the Doctor for y e follies of a yong maÌ„ is sufficiently punished by marrying an olde womaÌ„ 〈◊〉 y e sins of an olde widdow ar fully plagued in matching w t a yong man for that contrarie to your suggestion neither can inioye the cause of their Mariage without annoyance to their mindes for his lyking is fastned on her riches which she will not but by necessitie leaue her loue is setled on his person which for her pleasure he disdaineth to punish The vnfortunate yongman knowes not what gréefe hée ioynes to his gaine in matchinge with an olde widdow till that experience breakes them forth in sighes If his wife be ritche shee will looke to gouerne if shee bée poore he is plagued both with beggery and bondage If she be proude she will hide her abylytie to maintaine her pompe If she be testie he is forst to patience If she bee Ielous hée canne hardlye indure her rages And to conclude if the olde doting widdow be frée from one of thâ—…se faults she is tied to forty euils of lesse sufâ—…ce for if her Husbande commaunde her will shee straight waies sayeth her other Husband was more kinde If hée chance to dine from home she wyls him to â—…up with his harlots if he spend beyond her allowance thus she reuiles hym A Begger I fownd thee and so thou wylt leaue mee To chastice her talke setteth an edge of her tongue to suffer her in her rage maketh her raylynges irreuocable By your wordes Maister Doctor ê™ Lucia Bella the wife is the greatest cause of this contention and yet in common opinion the Husband is most blamed Madame you are too hastie in an aduauntage I ment no such parciallytie quoth the Doctor Yea Madame quoth Bargetto M. Doctor is now so conquered as his tong is the Trumpet of your pleasure It is so quoth the Doctor to sound out those thinges which are true and in trueth the yonge Husbande often tymes maketh the euilles good in déedes which the olde wyfe vseth but in wordes for no lenger then she féedeth him with Coyne shall she enioy his companie If she rob not her Children to inrich him she shall lack no froward lookes nor fowle vsage If she put him in possession of her lyuing he straight wayes dispossesseth her of his loue for hauing what he sought he wyl els where be enamoured And vprightly to speake she lacketh neither occasion too lament nor cause to be inraged for who is so patient as can dissemble her vnsufferable passions both to be spoyled of her lyuing and to be exyled
your demaund ioyne with you in your ordinarie swéete exercise Perchaunce you haue ended all the inconueniences in the olde yeare and I may begin the New yeare in helping to bloome the blessings of Marriage Quéene Aurelia and the rest of the company affectionately thanked Signior Philoxenus for this hye fauour and so rose from the Table who after a little pawsing daunsing and deuising at theyr pleasures went vnto theyr lodginges FINIS The. vii Dayes Exercise Containing a Discourse of the excellencie of Marriage with many sound Lawes and directions to continue loue betweene the married with the rare Historie of Pyrigeus and Pieria reported by Segnior Phyloxenus And other good notes of regarde LIke as when the royall Armie lies incamped before a Towne of warre the sound of Trumpets noyse of Drums and neying of Horses dooth awake the Souldiors and Cittizens before Aurora be willing to leaue the swéete embracements of her husband Tithon so euen with the departure of the day Star in honour of the New yeare the Trumpets DruÌ„mes and Flutes sounded through euery small passage into the lodgings of Segnior Philoxenus Pallace such shrill salutations as the company enuying the confusion of night broade waking attended the Mornings light to apparell themselues who in theyr moste braue and sumptuous araye by nine of the clock made the great Chamber resemble a fayre Garden in Maye In the imbroderies of whose Garments Flowers and fancies were so naturally and artificially wrought some of Pearle some of golde some of Bugle euery one according to their one humour More ouer euery Gentlemans head was armed with his Mistrisses fauor and euery Gentlewomans hart was warmed with her seruaunts affectioÌ„ In the most soueraigne place of the great Chamber Ianus God of Time as the Poets faine was hung vp in the likenes of a Serpent winding his body into a circkle and holding his taile in his mouth expressing vnder this figure his reuolution who through his continuall motions enuâ—…oning and compasing the world retourneth into himselfe and endeth and beginneth in himselfe and in ioyfull token of the newe yeare he was garnished with many sweete flowers garlandes and deuices some artificiall liuelely counterfeited Segnior Philoxenus although he hated superstitious Ceremonies and shund them yet he honored auncient lawdable customes and kept them who according to the custome of the countrey presented euery one of his guests with a riche new years gifte which explayned some morrall vertue Among the reste he gaue his sister Quéene Aurelia a fayre plaine tablet which opened represented the picture of a faire Lady garnished with many precious stones couertly expressing thereby that gorgeous apparell was but base and counterfeit in respect of the braue vertues of the mynde This order the Italians vse the best giueth newe yeares giftes to his inferior freendes and in England cleane contrarie The Tennaunt giueth his Lord the meane Gentlemen to Knightes Knightes to Barrons Barrons to Earles Earles Marquises and Dukes to their soueraigne Prince but it séemeth the Englishmen obserue this custome more neere the originall then the Italians for the fouÌ„ders therof were the auÌ„cient Romaines who bounde theyr Knights the first day of Ianuarie in the Capitole to present theyr Newyeares giftes to Caesar Augustus were he absent or present but so many Countryes so many customes And to my purpose Segnior Philoxenus thus bountifully solemnized the vse of his owne Countrey This memorable curtesie perfourmed Segnior Phyloxenus with some of the grauer company went before vnto the Chappell and Quéene Aurelia and her attendantes followed with such a glyttering show as the Préests needed no other Tapers to sée to say seruice by then the 〈◊〉 â—…ons of the Gentlewomens eyes and the 〈◊〉 â—…nes they wore in theyr Iewels and in my 〈◊〉 God was better pleased and more honoured with the Brauerie of the companie then with the babling and Ceremonies of the Priest who in the honour of the New yeare sets forth his relikes to the best showe By that time Seruice was ended and the companie retourned the Tables were furnished with many daintie Disshes to wreake her hunger of some few wherof Quéene Aurelia tooke her Royall place and the rest of the companie as they pleased This Dinner was spent in Discourse of certain Ceremonies and olde Rites vsed in times past in the celebrating of God Ianus Feast too tedious and withall impertinent for this Discourse When Dinner and a little other pausyng talke was ended the companie arose and Quéene Aurelia with the reuerent Salutations of the whole troupe retyred into her owne Chamber tyll the howre of Disputation sownded About which time she with Segnior Phyloxenus and the rest of her Attendauntes entred into a moste delycate Banquetinge House where vppon the Walles in so good order and representation of Nature were painted all maneâ—… of Fruiâ—…es Flowers Uines Aâ—…ors and causes of Pleasure either in Drâ—…haed or Garden as a maÌ„ without blushing might haue adueÌ„tured to gather vpon the bare Walles a Pomegranate a Cluster of Grapes a Gyllyflower or suche lyke had not the dead of Winter reaued the likelyhoode that they should be pâ—…fect After Quéene Aurelia the rest of the companie had taken their places in this earthly Paradicâ—… Segnior Phy loxenus secretly wylled y e Eunuke to chaunt out the pray ses of Hymen who obaying this Charge tuned his Luâ—…e and to a swéete Noate sung this following â—…net EVen as the Vine that clasps the tender Elme beare Amonge greene leaues his purpled Grapes doth When wanting props himself doth onerwhelme And for the fire his Braunches doth prepare Soâ—… in one with Hymens â—…tes fast bound Of their sweete loue liue alwayes in the seede When Death or time the single doth confounde Which ruine of fame the barren thought doth breede Sweete Hymen then thy Godhead Indore And 〈◊〉 my selfe by thee to be controlde In foulded Armes my Spouse my eyes before Yeelds more content then Dymonds Pearle Gold In quiet home vncheckt to rule and â—…e What lyfe 〈◊〉 sweete what hartes â—…ase like to this Or through â—…e my mind when â—…are doth greene What Medicine is better then â—…kysse At â—…s â—…en by â—…ouyng wife O none nor state lyke to the married lyfe This 〈◊〉 ended and well considered Sir quoth Queene Aurelia to Sâ—…nion â—…xenus to be reuenged of the iniuriâ—… of our 〈◊〉 â—…tions who haue painted Marriage wiâ—…â—…nd iâ—…nueniences I beséeche you and binde you by your promise to blazon the blessinges and excellencie of this â—…ed Institution that she who is 〈◊〉 may â—…e her 〈◊〉 â—…ayses and we that are ignoâ—…t may knowe how to 〈◊〉 her benefites and with the same to honour her Madame quoth Segâ—… Philoxenus you charge me beyonde my promise and â—…de mée to an impossibilitie I promist but to ioyne with this quick witted Company in opinion which I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to accomplish To blaze the excellencie of Marriage is a worke of no great diffcultie because her
vertues illustreth the same through the whole worlde but to direct the maried is a laâ—…or of Arâ—… wit and expérience in the fyrst wherof I am ignoraunt in the second vnperfect and to the thirde a Strainger so that as I am sorry to iniurie your expectation so am I loth to expose my insufficient iudgement Sir quoth Quéene Aurelia if wée were not assured of a lyberal contentment in conteÌ„plating of your waightie Censure we would receiue your modest refusall for iust excuse But for that we haue all an intrest in your vertues you should be enemie to your owne honorable coÌ„mendation in kéeping of them close prisoners in your brâ—…t although you be Lord of the Pallace yet I as â—…oue raigne of the Ciuill Pleasures commaund you to giue Cerimonies a disgrace and sincerely to obay my will Madam quoth Segnior Philoxenus so stricht is your charge as I must aduenture of this waighty labour hoping that as by authoritie you commaund my opinion so by y e motion of some one of your vertues you wil pardon my errours Upon which incouragement to obay your wyll I say and approoue by sacred Authoritie that this holy Institution of Marriage was erected by God in the earthly Paradice before the transgression of Adam when he ioyned him to Eue with these wordes of blessing Increase multiply and replenish the earth Againe after Adams fall and the deluge to strengthen his fyrst institution God commaunded the good Patriarcke Noe to encrease and multiply the earth a new Moreouer God would haue no more women then men in his Ark to show there shoulde be a Sympathie in number as well as agréement in loue betwene man and wife for if the one might lawfullye haue many Wiues and the other many Husbandes how should this expresse Commaundement of God be vnuiolated You shall be two bodies in one flesh and no more Compare the Ioye honour and reuerence geuen vnto Mariage by the delight that procéedeth from any other cause and you shal sée her gleame lyke a blasyng Comet and the other but twinckle as an ordinarie Starre Gorgeous and rich Apparayle delighteth the Gasers eye and perhaps offendeth the wearers hart where Maryage in homely Attyre is euery where honored and reaueth vnquiet wandring thoughts from the Maried to abounde in riches is a glorious fortune but they charge men with a dubble care extreame in the getting and fearefull in the kéeping the married hath as great or greater ritches in their children When the stately Dames of Rome bragged of theyr Iuelles Cornelia boasted that hers excelled them all A Ladye of the company séeing her set forth with none that was precious demaunded where her Iuelles were Yonder quoth Cornelia and poynted to her children When certaine most rare and precious Iuelles of King Darius and his wiues were presented to Olympia Mother of Alexander the great she bestowed them vpon her Ladyes as to lowe prised for her wearing who was continually adorned with a Iuell in value as riche as Asia Affrica and Europa And sure Quéene Olympia and Ladye Cornelia gloried not in their Iuelles without reason for golde and precious stones set but a glose vppon beautie when vertuous children geueth a newe lyfe vnto their parentes The administration of Iustice and aucthoritie in a common weale are the proper offices of the married for that the care of wife children presupposeth them to be setled when the vnmarried though their wittes be good rayseth a suspition in the wise that their thoughtes are vagrant The vnmaried hath no agreable Companion to participate of his pleasure or to lessen his sorrowe The Maried hath a Companion of his owne flesh of his owne wyll and of his owne Spyryt so wrought to his owne Affection that betwéene them there is séene two bodies but one thought perceiued The Maried ioy alike sorrow alike are of one substaÌ„ce one concord one wealth one pouertie Companions at one Boorde in one Bed The loue we beare vnto our Parents is or ought to be reuerent and duetifull because they gaue vs lyfe Unto our Bréetherne naturall because of the priuitie in blood To our frendes affectionate by certaine Motions consents of the minde Notwithstanding that these Loues be thus greate yet are there diuers causes too lessen them But betwéene the married no mischaunce or infirme Fortune is cause sufficient of hatred for none gouerned by reason is so inhumaine as to mallice his owne fleshe Compare their seuerall affections by sorrow and you shal sée the weakenes of the one in regarde of the strength of the other The greatest mone we make for the death of our Father Brother or friend appeareth in sighes or most vehement in teares whereas if wée our selues are but a little wounded we crye outright so that by howe much we excéede in sorrowing our owne mischaunces aboue another mans by the same reason so much we loue our selues more then another The Rynge that is geuen by the Husbande and put on the Wiues finger ought to be of Gould to witnes that as gould is the most precious of Mettalles so the loue of the married excéedeth all other loues To which effecte Propertius sayth Omnis amor magnus sed aperto in coniugè maior moreouer the close Ioyning of the ringe is a figure of true vnitie of the married betwéene whom there should be no diuision in desire noâ—… difference in behauiour To honour this holy institution of God God would haue his onely begotten sonne to be borne of a Wife perfectly married saue that shée was not Carnally soyled Licurgus the good King of the Lacedemonians so reuerenced this sacred estate as he made a Lawe that what Lacedemonian soeuer were vnmarried after the age of thyrtie and eyght yeares should be chased and hissed out of all publique playes and assemblies as one vnworthy to be séene that in the cold winter he shuld naked indure the reproches of the people and withall was bounde to confesse how he iustly suffred y t punishment as a Mispriser of Religion a contemner of Lawes and an enemie to nature The Romaines were not so seuere but yet the Aged vnmaried were condempned accordyng to their abylytie to pay vnto the Treasurer for publique vse a good SuÌ„me of Money Plato in his Lawes enacted that the Unmaried shuld execute no honourable Office Estate nor dignytie in the Common wealth The good Emperour Alexander Seuerus although he maryed rather to geue ende to his Mother Mammeas Importunyties then as he thought to begin a more happie lyfe yet fayre Memmia his wyfe so naturally accorded with his disposition as when she died he would often renewe his Sorowe and remember her Uertues in these wordes So great a Treasure as I haue lost a man seldome findeth Death were gentle if he tooke nothyng but that whiche offendeth but oh he hath reaued
Mu sick A fayning how CVPID came to be called blinde A question to trye a quicke witt Three good turns may be receiued vnre warded Three offences may with Iustice be par doned Three iniuries may pas vnreuenged Olde men are bound by their grauitie to say no more then they vvill stand to The dashe of a Pen is more greeuous then the counterbuse of a Launce Free choise in Mariage defended Reproofe c. Defence c. Reproofe c. Reproofe c. Duties before Mariage Defence c. No man nor womaÌ„ but in some point deserue to be blamed and in some other to be praised Reproofe c. Their pennaunce is great that liue in incertaine hope An vngodly childe maketh an vnthriftie Father The seueral paines of offences Incontinency slaundereth an honest mans house Paynes for timerity in Marriage Defence c. A discriptioÌ„ of wealth abused The ioye of true loue Sundry famous Philosophers and Poets punished for their loues Cause of rashe Mariages An vnfortunate Mariage A Gentleman in his reuenge ought not to offend a ciuill company Vertue commendeth her selfe Beautie hâ—…lfe a â—…owrie in a woman The poore eke th to matche with wealthy A rash aunswer The wordes sheweth the wit of the â—…eporter but his gesture causeth atten tion in the hearer The nature of Pride Loue enioyneth vs to do what we kno is amis Au early mariage worketh a late repentaunce The rewarde of pryde is pouertie The commoÌ„ sorte Iudge as they affect The miserye of want Braue rye belongeth to Beautie PIATSO a market place or a place of assembly A necessarye note Courtesy don with an euill intent Disdaine haunteth desire The fyre of Loue. Phisicke cureth not loue The force of Goulde Hope comforteth but Loue cureth the Louer Marinos Present to his Mistrisse Suddaine ioy or sorrow dul leth our senses Gold maketh passage into difficulte places The venemous nature of Ielosye A shrewde sus pition Suspect is more cunnyng then Argus was warie Neapolitans are most seueare in reuenge A Iudas kisse A fit time to deceaue mistrust Death is too easie a scurge for a disloyal wyfe Haire the ornamentes of Chastytie The boundeÌ„ office of a Writer Iustice must not yeald to the teares of Trespassers God regardeth repentaunce A honorable fauour The true ensigne of sorrowe True repentaunce is to be receued in satisfaction of offences Perfect loue cannot be so iniuried but it will alwais retaine some affection A reparation of dishonour Feare of correction bride leth the affex cions of the e uill What hurteth one instuâ—…eth the other Breuitie is best for Table talke MountibaÌ„ks of Italie are in a maner as Englysh Pedlers The strange nature of a Womans tongue Defences for a chidynge wyfe In blaming mildnes is to be vsed Wit simply is imperfect Shift is vnprofitable for Maister and Seruaunt Cienta a venomous Herbe one sort wherof is supposed to be Hemlocke A needefull regarde for yonge GentlemeÌ„ An ill cause asketh a partiall Iudge The great impression True sorrovve is â—…novvsne rather by sighes then vvords The Pope hath begun and not yet finished a moste rare Gallerie Beautifull attires for a Gallerie An espetiall Booke of deuises Ismaritos deuise Pharos a Lanterne or light deuised by King Prolome surnamed Philadelphus for the benefit of Nauigation in those parts which cost 800. Tallents An honourable fauor A regard in straungers to teache Subiectes their dutie The Rose is the most glorious of Flovvers An vnexpected good nevves is double vvelcome Myrthe cureth as much as Medicine vvhere the malladie is not mortall A sumptuous Tapistrie Men may be deceiued vvith out the slaunder of simplycitie Curious sights please more then vnciuill people A lyttle sicknesse maketh an alteration in beautie One square breaketh no custome It is saide S. Frances subdued incontinent desires by tumbling naked in frost and Snowe A premiditated sinne The tricke of a knauish Seruaunt A gentle perswasion Ignoâ—…aunce heareth euery tale as trueth Flatterie eateth the bread of the Iust. A note of litle secreacy in a woman Enuy setteth hatred betweene fellowes of euery vocation An vnwelcome salutation Pleasure in o thers increaseth sorrow in the afflicted Enuy and rude people are not passifyed with praiers of the afflicted Rude people extreame revengers The best way to win the communaltie Men offende subtilly and women simply Wâ—…s euyls are wâ—…yt in their forheds Mens faultes lye hydde in their hartes A ciuill curtesie in a Gen telman This Historie for rarenes therof is liuely set out in a CoÌ„medie by the Reporter of the whole worke but yet neuer presented vpoÌ„ stage A hard Lawe forâ—…ncontinent persons Lawe adiudgeth by the generall offence Iustice ismoâ—…s renowned by lenytie then seueritie A good cause to mooue pytie Loue fauoureth no degre Princes Prerogatiue are aboue Lawe The true intent of the Lawe A good turne vpon an euyl cause Aucthorytie in euyll Maiestrates is aâ—… Scourge vnto the good A monstrous request Vâ—…lesse they be reprobate good Examples may refourme the wicked A hard choice of two euyls The force of Necessytie The force of Loue. A hard Fortune Death is to be preferred before dishonâ—…rable lyfe The venemous nature of Enuy. The vertuous are assured of many enemies and incertaine of any friendes A cause that may excuse the breach of honour A faint hope A louyng kys A good consideration in Cassandra A damnablâ—… offence A villanous Ingratitude An especiall prouidence of God A signe of an honest nature An vnwelcome present A mischiefe well preuented A noble ffauour A necessarie pollye A Ryal grace The clamors of the poore and the consciences of the rich like Hell Sorrowe and Shame the Attendantes of Cassandra An vnusual place for a Iudge A necessarie regarde in a Prince Princes beres the blamr or euyll Officsrr extortion A iust Iudgement The good protect the lewde The duetie of a wyfe truely showen The comon weale is to be regarded before priuate aâ—… our Siue bonum fiue malum Fama est Good motions proâ—… fiâ—… the 〈◊〉 and euâ—… the flesh A gratefull parte Murther asketh death and no other Satisfaction Princes are bounde to their word Oâ—… two the least euill is least daungerous Ruthfullâ—… tales raiseth remorce in the hearers By example of euill the euill are feared By example of the good the good are strengthned Good order is to bee kept among such as â—…aue bene laâ—…e sick men Cauclers neuer answere directly A disgrace in honour a Gentleman may not beare with Aristotles pro bleames Extraordinarie thinges are not to be coÌ„pared with ordinarie Life is pretious Epicaria in the trembling passage of death was con stant PLIN. lib. 34 Cap 2. â—…n enuious Suggestion A man may praise a Woman without reproching a man Chaste talk ought espetially to be vsed in the presence of VVomen Aris. Prob. The quallity and not the quantity commends Eaue Our Lady Where an iniurie in words may be reuenged in words a Gentleman is not bouÌ„d to his sword Discreete standers
by pacifieth contentions Vertue and vice bothe Feminine and Masculine Note Modesty an naturall vertue in a Woman The Fable of Ixion To be proude in vertues is commendable The scorge of vaine glory The soule traueleth to bring forth Diuine monuments in the heathen A discreete exordium for yong men that argue The excellencie of maÌ„ through the vertue of the soule Three dignities of the soule Man is formed straight because he should behold heauen and coÌ„template one great matters Three euils or defects of the body Three remedies against the three euils of the body The originall of all Artes and Sciences Theorique Practise Mecanicall craftes Curtesie is commendable but super fluous sauours of flatterrie The euyll of Ielousie Harde is the difference be tweene a care lesse and a ielous Husbande Ouid. Meta. lib. 10. Eurydice Preuent a Scoffer and he becoÌ„meth a Sotte A CommendatioÌ„ of lofty Loue. The euyll of a thyng com mendeth the goodnesse Loue spareth no degre Hope to com passe great matters com forteth more then the possession of tryfles Reproofe of loftie Loue One kinsman hath an Interest in an others honor An inhumain parte Defence c. Reproofe c. A womaÌ„ that abaseth her selfe in Mariage in Law loseth her reputation but not in curtesie The naturall desires of a woman Iudgement in repoofof lofty loue Men must haue regarde how they blame least they byte themselues Defence of bace loue A riche Dowrie with a woman Reproofe c Kytte wyll to kynde The fall of Maria Bianca is written by the Aucthor in his Booke intituld The Rocke of Râ—… garde Aucthoryties for amorous Histories Defence Reproofe c A confession is a prety Iudgement 1. Inconstancie 2. Dissimulation 3. Ignorance 4. Chastytie 5. A Dicer 6. Enuie 7. Will. 8. Hope 9. Beautie 10. Ingratitude 11. Ielosie 12. Couotousnesse 13. Pride Vertue is coÌ„mended by vice Tamberlaine the Great in the beginniÌ„g a Pesaunt He is not alone that hath good Bookes A Gentleman tooke aduantage of a worde to praise the good as to check the euyll A most famous librarie in the Dukes Pallace at Florence lest by Cosmos de Medicis It belongeth to a Gentleman to be sene in many things Diuinitie Phisyck Lawe Art Militarie Moralitie Cosmographie Hystoriografie Armorie Segnior Philoxenus a perfect Cour 〈◊〉 Weâ—…en are to pitifull to be Iudges A scoffer is many times smiten with his owne 〈◊〉 pon Italions are wise but euiâ—… condicioned Enuy euermore quarre leth with those that are fauoured Quarrelers seeke their owne mischiefe A wise foresight in a Gentleman Palmestrie a pretye idle quallitie for a Gentleman A necessarie note for a Gentleman Defences where an old man marrieth a yonge woman Reproofe c Defence c. Reproofe c The mischaunces of an oulde man yongly maryed A yong wyfe is death to an old 〈◊〉 An honest woman is lightly slauudered by the imperfections of her Husband Repentanâ—… to late The wife are warned by the mischaun ces of other A Rhinocerot The Metamorphose of Rinautus a Gentleman of Naples Euyll men care not for the conscience so they haue a colour for their offences The force of Beautie No Affliction but hath his remedie Examples to be regarded Idlenes â—…oorisheth and exercise remedieth loue Flatterie the enemies of prueth Mariage com mended betwene an olde woman and a yong man Reproofe c Defence c. A good exchanâ—… of Marchandice The euylles in an olde wydowe PLATOES Hell in Mariage A great cause of ImpatieÌ„ce Defence c. A most wicked pollysie Senecas opinion that Children were better to be dead borne then ignoraunt of good letters Thinges that are beast esteemed Reproofe c. A hard extremitie An honorable custome of Spaine Meete husbandes for aged widdowes Experience is a iudge ment it selfe A worthie lawe made by Laertius It is no stâ—…iung against the streame The thriuing vnthrift proues the the best husband The yeare endeth and beginneth in it selfe Ancient customs are to be kepte The vertues of the minde are more glorious then any outward garment Custome in Italye in giuing of new yeares giftes contrarie to the custome of England The originall of nevv yeares giftes Segnior Philoxenus ban queting hous Among the iust promise is kept To praise or blame is qua litie of wit but to direct is a worke of iudgement We haue interest in an other mans vertues Princes commandements must be obay ed. Of the exelencie of mariage Mariage instituted before the fall of Adam by God in the earthly Paradice A confirmation of the fyrst institution by God Man and wife are two bodies and but one flesh The ioye of of marriage shineth aboue al other delightes Children are the most rich Iuelles in the worlde This Iuell was her sonne Alexander The blessing of Children is a duble life Offices of Ius tice apartaine to the maried The sweete Sympathie be tweene the married Loue to our Parents â—…ue rent Loue to our Bretheren naturall Loue to our Friendes affectionated Loue betwen the married irreuocable A good mean to trye the loue of the married The rynge a triall of the loue betwene the married An other sygure of the rynge Christ was borne of a married woman Licurgus law for the vnmaried The Lawe of the Romains for the vnmar ried Platos lawes for the vnma ried Alexander Seuerus loue to Memmia his wife Paulinas rare loue to her Husbande Seneca The precious loue of king Darius to his wife The deuine loue of king Admetus Wife The exceeding loue of Tiberius Graccus towards his wife The wonder full loue of Queene Arti mesia towards her husbande Mausolus One of the seuen wonders of the worlde Aâ—…l Gel. in lib de nocti atti The Lawe is a scourge to the euill and comforte to the good Marriage con sistes as well in foresight as free choyce Equallity in yeares Equallity in manners Consent in religion Free choise in satisfaction of Fancie A mans house is a pettie common weale The office of the Wife The husbandes care apperraineth to thinges abroade The wiues chatge is huswiuery within doore Morall Philosophit to be learned by women Laciuious talke to be shunned of the husband The wife ought to be nice in cause of suspition Comelye apparell the husband should giue his wife Cleane lynnen commendable in a vvife The husbaÌ„d must bevvare of sollomnes The vvife must be amyable tovvardes her husband A lavve for a younge vvomans olde husband A regarde for an olde mans young vvyfe A regarde for an olde vvomans younge husband A regard for a young mans olde vvife Modest familiaritie not to be forbidden the Wife Light company to be shunned of the Wife The vengeaunce of Warre The blessings of peace The vertue of Peace The power of vertuous Loue. Enuy is murdered with his owne wepon
to young to be a wife and therefore haue no reason to exclayme on folly But Fortune fowle falle thée which crossest me with cursses in possessing me with those things which others holde for blessings Wealth that bestoweth pleasures on many is the orriginall of my woe Mariage which giueth lybertye to many inlargeth my Fetters and demaundeth death for my raunsome Beautie that aduaunseth many is to me a disgrace for that inioying her forme I am of Sicheus not fantasied of whom euery foule and common Trull is belooued But therein Fortune thou doost me no wronge for my hate towards him ouerâ—…ayseth his light regarde of me O but my hart is continually afflicted with his euill and his finger neuer akes with my mallice Yea but Forberaunce edgeth the sword of Reuenge when Choller though it often strikes it woundes not muche Raine falleth euery where yet beateth but the leaues the thunder Bowlt lighteth in one place but yet teareth vp the rootes so though I dissemble tyll oportunitie Sicheus shall féele my hate to death and though I endure a space I will redéeme my dying life and perseuering in this resolution Elisaes thoughts that were lately drowned in sorrow now flamed with desyre of Reuenge and the Deuill who is the Executioner of Vengeance presented her foorthwith this vngratious meane A Yonge Gentleman named Chion among a troupe of other Ladyes and Gentlewomen beheld fayre Elisae with such a burning affection as he foorthwith dispossessed his owne hart to make his bosome the seate of her imagined Image so that his soule that continually eyed her beautie and his heart at the direction of his Mistresse gaue such a heate to his desire that had he béene sure to haue receiued Ixions torments for his ambitious attempting of Iunoes loue he could neither haue left to loue nor haue forborne to séeke for grace so that follow what would he foorthwith presented his affections in this ensuing Letter ⧠Chions Letter to Elisae FAyre Mistresse had I vertue to perswade you to ruthe as you haue power to make me loue the discouerie of my blasing affections would melt you were you a Mountaine of Ice to pitty But for that Loue is more vehement in the heart then in the tongue I appeale to your owne motions for grace if you haue euer loued if not I hope for such iustice at Venus handes as you shall loue and yet thus much I saye although I affye nothing in my perswations because they be but wordes I presume of my indeuours for that I haue vowed my life to death to do you seruice of which you can haue no better assuraunce then imployement nor I a hyer fauor then to be imployed Good Madame martir me not with ordinary doubts in that my affections are not ordinary For as your beautye excelleth all other Dames as the fayre Rose eache Garden Flower euen so the full power of loue hath made me in the estate of flaming flaxe that is presently to receiue grace or in a moment to perish Thus longing for your sweete aunswer I somewhat succour my torments with the imagination that I kisse your gratious hand No more his owne Chion This Letter sealed and subscribed was delyuered to so cunning a Messenger as néeded no instructions in Chions behalfe The Letter presented and aduisedly reade by Elysa surprised her with an vnmeasurable ioye not so much for that she had purchased her self a faithfull Loouer as procured her Husband a mortall enemy of which Chions Letter gaue her not so great assuraunce as the disposition of his countenaunces in a former regarde and thervppon pursuing Sicheus with more hate then minding Chion with affection she mused vppon an number of mischéefes inuented by desyre to be reuenged and suppressed by feare to be defamed In fine remembring that she had read Loue quickeneth a mans wit although it burieth Reason To trie if he could define what Seruice she desired she retourned Chion a Briefe wherin he had a light to mischiefe and yet might be read without bleamysh of her honour the Effect wherof was this Whyle CICHEVS doth lyue ELISA can not loue CHION receyued this Scrowle But yet before he presumed to reade the Contents he kissed and rekissed the same houldyng an opinion that commyng from his Mistresses handes it deserued suche honour althoughe it contayned Sentence of his death not vnlyke the foolishe Mahometians who vpon their Emperours Commaundementes are ready Executioners of their owne lyues But to my purpose when Chion had throughly pervsed this strange Aunswere weare it Cicheus his heauy Destinie or a iust Scourge for his fore trespasses accursed that he was he became too iust an Executioner of Elisaes wicked wil but yet with this interpretation that the loue she bare her Husband directed her in this answer In so much as ouercom with a furious hate towards Cicheus as the Barre of his welfare lyke a Lyon that bites the Iron grate which houlds him from his pray sodenly with this salutation he sheathed his Sword in Cicheus intrayles CICHEVS shall not lyue To hinder CHIONS loue The fact was so fowle and withall so publique as the Officers of Iustice immediatly seased vpoÌ„ Chion for y t his bloodie sword was a witnes of the trespas there was no Plea to saue him for wilfull faultes may be pitied but deserueth no pardon and to say trueth neither did he desire to lyue because ELISA the vertue of his lyfe by the charge of Lawe was bownd to sue him to death who followed the processe with an apparance of sorrow suche as if her Conscience had bene without scruple of guiltinesse or her harte a thowsande degrées from ioye when God knowes she was puffed with the one and the other so that the wonder at her dissimulation equalled the reproche of her notorious hatred To be shorte this was the Iudges sentence Chyon should be beheaded as amends for Cicheus death and the Widdow should be endowed with his goods for the dammage done vnto her but God which knoweth our seacret faultes when Iudges though they rule as Gods know but what they heare and sée as men not willynge to hide such an haynous offence First amased all the hearers with an vnknow voice Elisaes harte is as Gyltie as Chions hand and therewithal thundred this following vengeance vppon the cleared malefactor The Infant in Eysaes wombe as it were engendred of the Parents malyce at the verie instaunt not obeying the course of Nature so tyrannised her Intrailes as with very agony she dyed and with all remayneth an opinyon that the Husband Wife and Sonne by the appointment of the Gods were Metamorphosed into Vipers whiche venimous Beastes are thrall to these curses The female after shee hath engeÌ„dred murdreth the Male because she wil not be ruled as an inferiour and the yong eate themselues forth of their Dams Intrailes because they wil not be bound to the obedience of Nature