to wait on him cloathed in mans apparel to satisfie his own lascivious lust and filthy appetite and charged me an innocent Virgin with all those abominable vices and wicked sins that he himself daily committed in his secret chamber he caused me seven dayes one after another to be led to the Iudgement Hall where there he sate himself and gave sentence upon me and caused me to be led to the Gallows shamefully to be burnt at a stake for crimes laid against me that I was innocent of Therefore most gracious Mother as you are the Empress of all the Eastern part of the world forasmuch as I will not own the general name till after your Decease and all you my Lords and Barons of the Prity Counsel and you also my grave and rederend Iudges whose power and authority requireth you to do justice according to the due administration of the Statutes of this Realm I do therefore demand justice upon the shameless Accuser at the Bar Radamentus and his Concubine through whose means I was in peril of my life and led seven times to the Gallows to he executed The Councels and Iudges hearing the words of the Empress were all astonisht to hear such wisdom from a woman then all the Iudges and Counsellours stood up and call'd Radamentus Radamentus your evil life and conversation is very apparent to the Court and your hellish conspiracies and notorious actions which here this day you are accus'd of are publick Evidences against you at the Bar and therefore according to Law we do all here with a general Vote pronounce Sentence against you and your Concubine that you shall be taken away from this place to the place from whence you came and from thence to be drawn at two horses tails throughout the City to the place of Execution which shall be under the common Gallows and there to be burnt to ashes The Empress having now out-lived her mortal Enemy old Radamentus she began a most happy and glorious Reign her own Mother estéem'd her as her onely joy the Nobles of the Land did honour her greatly for her excellent Learning and Wisdom the Subjects did almost adore her for the rarefy of her Iustice and the moderation of her Language her Crown then began to flourish upon her head and her Name began to spread over all the face of the earth and the longer she did reign the more her glory did shine her Mother the old Empress lived till she saw that what for her Beauty and what for her Learning the bordering Nations round about did almost give divine reverence unto her and in the heighth of this flourishing Peace the old Empress dyed and bequeathed her own Crown and Royal Scopter for to be put upon Sabrina's head in this world and a Crown of Glory in the world to come Sabrina after this did Celebrate her Funeral in the greatest Triumph which can be imaginable she also erected a most sumptuous Monument wherein she interred the body of her Mother with this Inscription written on it Within this Monument interr'd here lies The onely Mother of Sabrina the wise Who counsell'd was by Radamentus sway To take Sabrina's precious life away But time and fortune favour'd her at last Whose Life was sav'd and Radamentus lost Sabrina the young Empress having buried the old Empress in such state was commended above all her predecessors for never was such a Monument erected before Now Sabrina being Empress of all the Eauerne part of the World began to grow very potent and great for all people gave her reverence and did homage unto her Kings and Princes sent her rich presents and came from sarre Counteys to visit and complement her but more especially to hear her grave wisdom and to sée the excellency of her Arts and Sciences which bad so much spread over the whole world she was accounted the greatest Philosopher that was in those dayes in the world she continually keeping all sorts of Professours and Artificers that so she might thereby know the nature of all Vâ—gitables as Plants Hearbâ— Roots Leaves and Trées she kept four thousand Stables of Horses which were on purpose for her own Attendance there was no Nation at war and variance with her but onely one and they were the Tarters so that now to prevent their Incroachment upon her most rich and plentiful Dominions she chose a fifth man out of all her Empire to build a brazen Wall betwéen her and her Enemies about fiftéen hundred miles long and at every ten miles end she caused to be built a strong and famous Castle wherein she plac't ten thousand men for to keep guard against the said Tartars which were People inhabiting in a poor and barren Countrey for they fought not to revenge any quarrel or injury done to them but méerly for some of the Gold and Riches this glorious Sabrina had and to sée if they could get into any of her plentifull Countreys to inhabit for all her Countreys were golden Valleys both for profit and pleasure and though this brazen Wall was built and strongly made yet the fury of the Tartars was so iuraged that they broke over according to the old Proverb Hunger will break through stone walls and for thrée hours time there was a mortal Battle but the young Empress Sabrina had a Champion in her Army called Gorgon a Gyant you must conceive he was for he was seven Cabits high the Club that he bore was like the mast of a Ship his Helmet was made of Brass weighing an hundred shekels of Iron this Gyant fought most courageously and made lanes through the Army of the Lartars that all dreaded and feared the place where he came And on on a time it happening that this Gyant was in the heat of the Battle and being extream hot he went to the main Ocean to drink and to refresh himself and in the vehemency of his draught he swallowed a Souldiers Knapsack full of Linnen which made it swim and he spate at it as if it had béen but a mote in his glass but finding himself not very well he sent for the Empress Physician who hearing the great Champion was not well made what expedition he could to disit him and seeing him in such a sad distemper he caused a Ladder for to be put down his Threat into his Belly which was a usual thing or custome in that Countrey especially to such men of such vaste and great stature and commanded his Man to go down the Ladder into his belly and there for to sée if he could finds and know by his skill and good discretion what was the cause of his grief and heaviness but his man would not venture to go down except he had a Link in his hand and thereupon he lighted a good blazing Torch and down he goes But he had not descended downe above two steps but the breath of the Gyant arising from his smoaking Gorge did very much dimnifle the light of his Link and to
thy unbraded Gold There my enfranchiz'd hand on every side Shall o're thy naked polisht Ivory slide No curtain there though of transparent Lawn Shall be before thy Virgin treasure drawn But the rich minde to the enquiring eye Expos'd shall ready still for mintage lye And we will coyn young Cupid there a bed Of Roses and fresh mirtles shall be spread Under the cooler shades of Cypress Groves Our pillows of the doun of Venus Doves Whereon our panting love we 'l gentle lay In the faint respites of our active play That so our slumbers may in dreams have leasure To tell the nimble fancy of our pleasure And so our souls that cannot be imbrac't Shall the imbraces of our bodies taste Mean while the publick stream shall drown the shore Th'inamour'd chirping wood-quire shall adore In varied Tunes the Deity of Love The gentle blasts of Western windes shall move The trembling leaves and through the close boughs breathe Still Musick whilst we rest our selves beneath Their dancing shades till a soft murmurre sent From souls intranc't in amorous languishment Rouze us and shoot into our eyes fresh fire Till we in their sweet extasie expire Then as they empty be that lately bore Into the common Treasure all her store Flyes'bout the painted fields with nimble Wing Deflowring the fresh Virgins of the spring So will I risâ—e all the sweets that dwell In my delicious paradise and swell My bag with honey drawn forth by the poâ—er Of fervent kisses from each spicy flower I 'le seize the Rose buds in their perfum'd bed The Violet Knots like curious Maces spread O're all the Garden taste the ripened Cherry The Apple Apricock and Coral Berry Then will I visit with a wandring kiss The Vale of Lillies and the Bower of Bliss And where the beauteous Region doth divide Into two milky wayes my lips shall slide Down those smooth Alleys wearing as I go A track for Lovers in the printed snow Thence climing o're thy swelling Appenine Retire into thy Grove of Eglantine Where I will all those ravisht sweets distil Through loves Alembique with chymick skill From the mixt Mass one sovereign balm derive And bring that great Elixure to thy hive Now in more subtle wreaths I will entwine My lovely Thighs my Legs and Arms with thine Thou like a sea of milk shalt lye display'd Whilst I the smooth qualm Ocean doth invade With such a Tempest as when Jove of old Fell down on Danae in a storm of Gold Yet my tall pine shall in the Cyprian strait Bide safe at Anchor and unlade her freight My rudder with thy bold hand like a try'd And skilful Pilot thou shalt steer and guide My Bark into loves Channel where it shall Dance as the bounding Waves doth rise and fall Then shall thy circling armes imbrace and clip My willing body and thy balmy lip Bathe me in juice of kisses whose perfume Like a Religious Incense shall consume And send up holy vapours to those powers That bless our Loves crown our sportful hours Now Wedlock bonds unwreath our twisted Loves We seek no midnight Arbours no dark Groves To hide our Kisses there the hated name Of Husband Wife lust modest chaste or shame Are vain and empty words whose very sound Was never heard in the Elizian ground All things are lawful there that may delight Nature or unrestrained appetite Like and enjoy to will and act is one We onely sue where loves rites are not done These and ten thousand such expressions this brave King Alexander did use towards his renowned Empress but fortune not willing to favour him did cast a cloud over this pattern of vertue for no sooner had he set his Kingdom of Egypt and arrived again in Epyrus but there came a Herauld at Armes from the King of Syra to challenge him to the Field that upon the happy success of one battle the whole universe lay on 't for they two governed all the other Kings in the world Alexander with a brave courageous spirit answered the Herauld I look't for the King of Syra in the Field long ago I wonder his Chariot Wheels are so heavy in driving and bid him meet upon the Downs of Opher where I will be in person to assail him and his ten Legions and presently commanded his Drums to beat and his Trumpets to sound with other Instruments of War and so marched out with his Army taking his leave of his Royal Princess and his two Sons with showres of tears betwixt them both so parted the one from the other with heavy hearts When brave King Alexander was arrived upon the Downs of Opher he plac't his men in Battle of Aray and began to admonish them in these words Most brave and warlike Souldiers both Epirians and Egyptians I exhort you this day to be of good courage and fight manfully your Cause is just and right for the Syrans are coming against us without cause and we are upon our defence and this great Battle is the Battle for the whole world in the very heat of Battle think to your selves that you do see the grave Senators of Epyrus bowing down their hoary heads praying for your good success think that you do hear the Prayers of your Fathers Mothers Wives and Children for you and know that whosoever intends to sée their friends again must this day ransome himself with his Sword think to your selves that if the Syrans doth vanquish us how that my head will be plac't upon a Poll and pitcht up in the Market place and my Quarters hung up two in Egypt and two in Epirus our Cities and Towns burnt and turned to ashes our Maidens and Virgins deflowred our Childrens brains dasht against the walls and our young men slain and murthered and the brand of scorn upon our Kingdoms for perpetuity And on the other side if we do get the day honour and renown shall be upon our heads and the glories of Syra shall come into Epirus Gold and Silver shall be your rewards and the favour of your Prince you shall have to eternity The Souldiers answered Most great King if the Gold of Opher will make you glorious if the Treasures of Syra will make you great and if the strength of our Army will make you considerable both at home and abroad be assured great King you are this day the Master of all the Universe for here is not a Souldier but at your command will cut his Fathers Throat and sheath his Sword in his Brothers Blood to rob the Gods and pull the Temples down all this will they do if you command them By this time there was but one Fields breadth between the two Armies all Rampiers Trees and Hedges were levelled even with the ground Lions and Bears were seen to come out of the Woods as of purpose to devour dead Carkasses Vultures which are ravening Birds did darken the Air Lightning and Thunder came down that did melt the heads of the Foot-mens Spears and singed the Hair on their Heads and the Horse Manes King Alexander divided his Army into four parts his right Wing consisted of ten thousand conducted by ten Kings the Forlorn-Hope were five thousand the left Wing were ten thousand conducted by ten Epirian Lords the main Body was led by brave Alexander himself the Battle began hot and sharp the Forlorn-Hope of the Epirians were driven back to thâ— main Body then advanced Alexander himself and the Battle began to be mortal the dispute old hold till twelve a Clock and there â—ell on both sides above eight thousand In the afternoon the Battle began again and the discomfiture fell upon the Epirians for in four hours time Alexander was fain to quit the Field being totally defeated and most of his men slain Alexander was fain to throw his Crown upon the ground because he would not be known and escaped by Sea in a poor Fishermans Boat and sailed into Epirus and at the Haven where he designed to Land there his Royal Empress was waiting when any Ship would come in with news and at last she espied in a poor Fishermans Boat King Alexander himself at which sight fear smote her to the heart that she swounâ—ed upon the thought that the King was utterly overthrown but Alexander took her up in his armes and kist her with a showre of tears bedewing their Princely Cheeks but there was no remedy for their Kingdoms was wrested from them and they forced to slye into an uninhabited Island wherein they spent the remnant of their dayes with three other petty Kings Soon after Alexander dyed and his Empress who in a Sepulchre which he hewed out himself they were both interred on which was written this following Epitaph Within this House of Stone here lyes The King of Egypt who was call'd the Wise Likewise that glorious and illustrious Queen Of the Epirians here is to be seen Who from all Right and Justice were debarr'd When Syrans King in Battle with him Warr'd FINIS
that advised you to let her live therefore great Lady I counsel you while it is time to cut her off and destroy her lest the curse of the Empire follow you Then said the Empress all that shall not happen for to morrow I shall sit in Iudgement and she shall dye without fail When the day was come the Empress sate in Iudgement and commanded her Officers to lead her away to be burnt at a stake and as we was led through the City in a long smock of Lawn and a branch of Rosemary in her hand and the Trumpets sounding her doleful Funeral all the people ran out and wept crying alas alas the onely Daughter of the Empress is leading to death Then came Debora the first Mistris passing by as the young Lady saw her she bowed der head as if she said remember me when you come before my Mother and when she came to the Empress and did reverence the Empress said unto her with a storn countenance Thou ungrateful and vile woman how hast thou tutozed my childs I delivered her to thee well and hopeful and now she is become the viceousest creature that ever a woman bare surely thou shalt dye as strange a death as may be thought on Then said the Mistris gracious Lady the cause why she speaketh not the divine powers know and without cause it is not and as for the sin of Fornication we all can testifie that for the space of these seven years we never saw the least motion neither in thought word nor déed therefore gracious Lady if you do put her to death onely for the accusation of Radamentus it will happen to you as it did unto the Queen of Syra who poisoned her husband through the perswaston of one wicked person Then said the Empress shew me that example Nay said the Mistris except you send for your Daughter back otherwise she may be dead before I make an end then will it be in vain upon which words the Empress sent for her Daughter again and committed her to prison then the Mistris began as followeth The Example of the first Mistriss In Syra lived a Quéen of great renown and of such excellent beauty that a fairer woman was not in all the world for which many Kings and Princes of Noble Blood came a suiting to her each man confident she should be his This Queen delighted much in seeing Iusts and Turneys therefore it was a day appointed and they all assembled together to shew their valour before the Quéen amongst whom was Crassus a most valiant Prince and of such incomparable features and beauty that his like was not among men Vpon this Prince the Queen fixed her eye all that part of the day in whose sight he did such worthy acts that deserved perpetual memory and to be brief he had the day of all the Kings Princes and Barons that were there whereby he came off the Field with Trumpets souning and victorious Trophies bore before him On the morrow after the Queen sent for him and when be came he kneeled before her to have kist her hand but she refused and in a comely deportment tendered her lips The Prince being somewhat bashful the Queen gave him farther encouragement so that by little and little they grew in a wonderful familiarity and soon after the Queen took him for her Husband and made him joynt King of Syra with her He was a wise and gracious Prince and beloved of all his Subjects all people joyed at his presence the whole land sorrowed in his absence never no Queen loved King better nor never was Queen more beloved of a King and it came to pass afterwards that the King of the Parthians lay very sick whose Son this King was and he received a Letter from his Father to make haste unto him that after his death he shâ—uld take possession of the Realm and after a while he was gone an evil Counsellour in his Court being in love with the Queen intercepted all the Kings Letters that passed betwéen him and his Queen and informed the Quéen he had married another Lady in his own Countrey which raised such jealousis in the Quéen that she tore the ornaments of her head wringing her hands saying O my dear Lord what evil have I done what word have I misplaâ—â— wherein have I offended you that another should reap the Consolation of your Love The King in the mean time wondering be could never receive any Letter from the Queen lamented saying O my Dear wherein have I offended I can never hear how you do nor how the affairs of our Kingdom standeth All this while the wicked Counsellor intercepted their Letters on both sides to work the destruction of the King and at last he indented a strong Person and carried the same to the Queen and told her it was of such a Vertue that if the would cause a King to be made hollow and put a little of this vertue in it and sond it to the King as a taken and as oft as ever the King old loâ—â— upon it â—would cause him to forsake all other women and haste home unto her so the Quéen believed his wicked counsel and was very glad and without the advice of any other she caused a King to be made as he had said and put therein this poison and sent it away to her Husband When the messenger came before him he did him reverence and presented the King to him the harmless King joyfully put it on saying â—was the swéetest present he ever received soon after his finger began to swell and he sent for his Physicians who said his finger was venomed with the strongest poyson in the world and said he must cut it off else 't would venome his whole body Then said the King cut it off which accordingly was done then his arm began to swell and in like manner that was cut off to preserve his life Then the good King groaned out this complaint O thou vile woman why hast thou done this to him who thou wert as dear to as his own soul thou hast attempted that by poyson which the stoutest Champion durst not do by arms I that hath won thée the greatest glory that ever came to Syra hast thou now destroyed with inferiour poyson for which thou wilt gain reproach of all Nations and be reviled of all women for returning me malicious poyson for pure in flamed love but all as I can say is ingratitude is the grandest insolency in the world O woman why hast thou done this Thereupon he sunk down in his Chair and gave up the ghost The messenger hasted home and told the Queen what had happened by the King and that all the Counsellor had fold her of the King was false then the Quéen fell a wéeping and wringing her hands saying O what hade I done what have I done I have by the advice of an evil Counsellor slain my dear Husband the King O cursed Traytor would to God I had
chanced by the way to fall sick of a Feaver and lying in such a desperate condition without hopes of recovery he considered more the education of his young Daughter then the state and condition of his whole Empire in reference to the innocency and weakness of her age and therefore it induced him to write unto his Empress this following Letter Dear Lady my Journey hath proved very illsuccessful to me for by the way I am taken sick with a most sad and grievous Feaver therefore pray make haste unto me that we may provide for the education of our young Daughter Sabrina and the State and settlement of our Empire for I am without hopes of recovery and if you make not great speed you are never like to see me alive The messenger posted away to the Empress and finding her walking in the Garden expecting every hour news from her beloved husband he did reverence unto her and delivered the Letter the Empress broke it up and reading what condition her Lord was in fell in a swound to the astonishment of all her Ladies but as soon as she had recovered life she caused her Chariot and Horses to be made ready incontinent and halted both night and day till she came to her Lord the King who she found almost dead and she fell upon his breast and kissed his clay cold lips he rising half up in his bed with snowres of fears betwixt each face he to her spake thus O my dear Lady it joyes me that you are come where with you I may impart all my troubled minde I am possest withall since I may not escape this infirmity the natural love and care I bear unto you and your young Daughter Sabrina makes me sue unto you thus First that you cause her to be brought up with the best experienced and wisest Matron in all the Realm whereby she might be tutored and well educated in all Arts and Sciences befitting a Princess so nobly descended and after that she hath attained unto all those Vertues I will that you take her home to your Royal Palace and to have recourse to your honourable Councel whereby she may perfect her self in all State and Temporal Affairs And thirdly that after your decease she may enjoy the Empire and wear the Royal Diadem And you my dear Lady considering you are old add well stricken in years I will that you chuse by the advise of your Honourable Councel a wise and grave Senator to assist your Royal person in all things appertaining to the affairs of the Empire and Guardian to your young Daughter Sabrina till she come to Maturity The grieved Empress answered My dear Lord all these things shall be performed and done according to your will and request then kissing each other the King turned himself upon his Pillow and gave up the ghost afterwards conveighed into his own Countrey and his doleful Funeral solemnized he was honourably interred in his own Chappel Chap. 1. How the Empress and her Councel committed the charge of her Daughter Sabrina to seven Wise Mistrisses for her Education in all Arts and Sciences IT happened upon a time as the Empress was solitary walking in her Garden she bethought her solâ— of the death of her late Husband and musing in her heart of the words he spake unto her at his last breath concerning the State of his Empire and especially his young Daughter Sabrina whose onely delight in all the world she was muttered in her heart and said Now my dear Lord and Husband is dead and gone there is but one in the world whom I take pleasure in and that is my onely Daughter Sabrina the dory stower and glory of all other Virgins and but she alive to inherit my Realm after me it is good whiles she is yong that she be set unto some wise experienced Matron who is a bâ—ly and devout Virgin to learn understanding and to resolve Reasons when time might require her upon the Iudgement Seat Thereupon the Empress assembled all the Lords of her Councel before her and demanded every one his advice concerning her young daughter Sabrina and some of them gave their advice that the Empress should build a Tower within her own Câ—stle and cause to be put in there the young Lady with fide devout and wise Virgins to attend her and two Philosopers which then lived in Rome to instruct her in natural Philosophy and other arts and scices but the other Lords of the Councel would not agrée thereto and flood up and said to the Empress thus Most Sovereign Lady this is not expedient that she should be in such a tower nor in such a way instructed for thrée things First if she be in such a tower your Nobles and Ladies that frequent your Palace by too often visiting her will make her minde more the pleasures of the Court then to practice in her learning Secondly Men tutors are not méet for such a Princess so incomparable in beauty as she is for through too much familiarity and weakness of her tender years great injuries may ensue and her Princely Vertues stained Thirdly for her Attendants being but five weak Ladies and consequently not over skilful might for hopes of future advancement to please the young Lady give her too much liberty in yielding to her fancies and thereby destroy the best time of her studience But gracious Lady there is living not far from this City in a fair and stately Cloister seven Wise Mistrisses most cunning and expert in wisdom answering all Reasons and Questions and for their famous skill and learning excelleth all women in the world the Empress hearing this accorded to their advice and sent her Letter of Summons unto them upon great penalties to appear before her Majesty They anon came and the Empress demanded the cause of their coming they answered we shall resolve you the cause for we have seen it in a dream which was this We saw a high and mighty trée whose branches covered all the Realm under whose leaves the beasts of the earth did shelter without number and in an instant we sawit fall dissolve that nothing but the roots remained obvious The Empress said shew me the meaning thereof they said the trée which we saw was our Sovereign Lord the King the sproading branches signified his power extending over all his Empire when the trée falling it signified our Lord died out of whose roots is sprung up a young Cien who shall rule the Empire with equity and honour whose learning and education you will commit to our charge You have said right answered the Empress for my Lord is dead and I have but one onely Daughter in all the world who I commit unto you to instruct and conform in all good wayes and vertues learning so that by your skill and wisdom she may attain to all good things appertaining to so great and noble a Patronage c. The first Mistris named Halicuja said great Lady commit the education of your
Daughter to me and I shall teach her as much wisdom Ecclesiastical and Civil in seven years as I and all my fellows can all dayes of our lives Then stood up the second Mistris named Mardula and said Great Lady I have tutored Emperors daughters and instructed Quéens both at home and abroad in all arts and sciences therefore if you please to deliver your Daughter to me I shall learn her as much natural Philosophy in six years as I and all my fellows have The third then addressed her self named Cicre and said gracious Lady I have been with you in strange Countreyes and shewed you by my Art and Skill in the Planets what noble Prince should wed ye and never asked any reward onely this if I may obtain that favour of ye as to vouchsafe me the tuition and instruction of your daughter I will inform her as much in five years as all the Mistrisses in Rome can The fourth Mistriss drew near the Empress who was called Penthisilia and said Great Lady I have been Governess to many Ladies and have served you in your infancy therefore if you will deliver your Daughter to me I will train her up in vertue and teach her as perfect in all arts and sciences in four years as I and all my fellows be The fifth Mistriss named Debora then addressed her self and said O honoured Lady I have by my skill and wisdom defended the City of Rome from dangerous and great invasions and many times called to the Senate house where they have profited much by my counsel yet the greatest thing I desire in the world is to have your Daughter to instruct and I will learn her to do as marvellous things in three years as I and all my fellow Students Then addressed the sixth named Dejanara and said Dread Lady if you commit the tuition of your Daughter to me I will teach her as much as all can do in two years And likewise the seventh Mistriss said Glorious Empress vouchsafe your Daughter me and I will learn her as much art and science in one year as is in all the world Then stood up the Empress and spake before them all I render unto you many thanks for as much as I am obliged unto you all but if I should commit the charge of my onely Daughter to one and not to another for her education the event would prove a great discord amongst you therefore do I commit her to the charge of you all joyntly together to teach and tutor in all learning vertue and wisdom as best fits a Princess in such Royal dignity The wise and learned Mistrisses hearing the noble and generous expression of the Empress knowing it to be but justice with a full and general accord they agreed together and with great joy returned thanks to the Empress so received her Daughter and led her away towards a sumptuous Pallace some four miles out of Rome and going on their way Baodicia said to her fellows if we should now instruct and teach this childe publickly and grant her recourse to the pleasant Gardens it would prove a hinderance to her princely study Moreover the Egyptian Knights hearing of so great a beauty might by chance when we little think of it steal her away by force Then answered Mardula Let us put her in the brazen tower on which are seven locks and let every one of us keep a key and we will paint upon all Instruments of Musick The seven liberal Sciences that when ever she delights to play upon the Musick she might there behold her Doctrine thereon so that it may never be out of memory This saying pleased all well and being done accordingly the Mistrisses used their best skill and diligence in attending the young Lady for the space of seven years which being expired they appointed a day for to prove her experience in what she had learnt thereupon they all consented and for the trial thereof proposed three questions to her First what number of stars were fixed in the Firmament She answered that number first created Secondly when do the Planets begin to rise She answered after they go down Thirdly what knowledge made women wisest She answered the knowledge of good and evil The wise Mistrisses hearing these wise and accute answers said among themselves doubtless this Lady will be a famous woman and also will excel all her Progenitors Chap. 2. How the Empress by the advice of her Lords chose Radamentus her assistant in the Government of the Empire and also Guardian to her Daughter Sabrina NOw about this time the Princes of the Land with all the Barons assembled themselves together before the Empress in full Councel for the election of a grand Consul expert in the Laws and customs of the Empire for to assist the Empress in all Temporal Affairs according to the will of her late Husband the King and they chose one Radamentus who was Vncle to the late King a wise and cunning Politick and one whom the Empress reposed great confidence in that whatsoever he did enact or contrive she was ready to sign to which the Nobles of the Land gave their general consent for the better ease of the Queen and their own future trouble This Radamentus helding the Helm of the Empire in so great sway he grew haughty and ambitious to more honour and thinking to himself that the Empress was weak and sickly and if she did dye 't was probable he may take the sole Government to himself and rule as Lord and Emperour But understanding the Empress had a young Daughter and brought up in the School of the seven Wise Mistrisses and right heir to the Crown he thought when she came to maturity she would out-wit him and prove more craftier then himself therefore from that time he daily sought her destruction Now there was a Law at that time that whosoever was found in Fornication or Adultery were to dye by that Law without mercy so upon a day as the Empress and Radamentus were both walking in the Garden Radamentus seemed to be very melancholly and would not speak the Empress séeing him so heavy marvelled greatly and asked him the cause of his sadness who answered Now the Realm is in full peace and quietness there is but one thing I request of you the Empress said Ask what you will it shall be granted to the one half of my Prerogative Then said the Consul you have but one onely Daughter in the world and heiress to the Empire and she you cause to be detained between stone walls wherein she spends the flower of her years onely in thoughts and contemplations that what she as a Princess do there imagine within the variest wretch in the world do see it actually abroad therefore sand for her to Court that you may have consolation of her and she may see the practice thereof and have recourse to the Councel Then answexed the Empress I like your saying for it is seven years since I have seen
her thereupon she wrote Letters signed with her privy Signet and Messengers to the seven Wise Mistrisses for to hasten away to the Court of Rome again such a day and bring Sabrina the young Princess with them Chap. 3. How the seven Wise Mistrisses after sight of the Empress Letters by their powerful skill went to search the Planets by which they understood the Design of Radamentus WHen the Mistrisses had received the Empress Letter and understood the Contents thereof they fell to their books and fathomed their skill directing their Figures and marking the Planets if the cause of their going might be fortunate or no. And they found a great contageon among the signes from whence they did predict that when they presented the young Lady if she should answer any more words then one her enemies would have power over her to betray her to the shamefullest death that may be so they were very heavy and mourned all the day loâ—â— about the evening tide came down the young Lady Sabrina to delight her self upon the Musick and seeing all the seven Mistrisses very sâ—d she demanded the cause of their grief who answereâ—â— O Lady this mâ—rning we have received Letters from the Empress that we forthwith to â—aste to Court and bring you along with us and we have seen a Star that your journey will prove fatal if you speak any more words then one which is Justice that you shall say and no more for the space of seven dayes and this is the thing which grieves us that since we have nourished you for so many years should now at the last be reduced to such a hazard Then said the young Lady being full of vertuous learning I have viewed the Firmament my self and marked the motions of the lesser Stars and found your saying true but if you will hear my counsel and receive my advice without doubt my vertue shall overtop their vice and my cunning wisdom shall excéed their crafty treachery Then said the Mistrisses speak on your doctrine we will hearken to it and she said I shall be accus'd of an evil person and unjustly condemned but if every of you seven can speak to my mother the Empress each one her day for seven dayes together in my behalf I shall escape my life the Mistrisses hearing this they all accorded in a joyful harmony and said among themselves what joy is come to us surely she will be an Empress of great fame and wisdom so they cloathed her 〈◊〉 cloth of gold and rich ornaments and provided a Chariot of Azure colour drawn by four white Stéeds who gently pac'c the ground like as they trod by some directed steps in the air so with a train of pure Virgins she was accompanied to the Empress Chap. 4. How the Empress hearing her Daughter was coming on the way rode in great triumph with all her Princes and Barons to meet her WHen the Empress heard that the seven wise Mistrisses of Rome were coming with her young Daughter Sabrina she caused all her Chariots to be made ready and with her Heraulds Trophies and Banners accompanied with all her Nobles rode on the way to meet them but said the Mistrisses to Sabrina it were good for us to depart and go into the City some other way and diligently watch the Planets in their several motions for the safeguard of your life and the preservation of us to this the young Lady willingly condescended but remember me in my necessity she said so they departed and the young Lady rode on her way but when the Empress saw her she took her in her arms and kissed her saying O my dear Daughter the onely delight I have in the world whom God doth preserve for future blessings how is it with you now I hope you will be to me the flower of my external happiness being conformed in all vertues learning the fitter to sit upon my Iudgement Seat after me the young Lady bowed and did reverence unto the Empress but spake not a word When the Empress saw this for blushed with very fear some evil had befallen her that she spak◠〈◊〉 and yet she thought in her self that being out of the Countrey so many years learning strange Arts she might forget her natural language and a thousand other things came in her minde And anon she asked her again what she had learnt so many years with the wise Mistrisses of Rome she answered Justice so bowed her self and spake not one word more Then the Empress acquainted her Lords how and in what condidition her daughter was in and said for the evil the Mistrisses had wrought with her they should dye the most shameful death that could be thought of and when she came to the Palace she took her by the hand and led her into the great Hall out of thence into the Garden and plac'd her by her in the Arbour upon her own seat and said My good Daughter declare unto me the reason by some certain sign why you will not speak or else here is a pen and paper write to me your minde she took the pen in her hand and wrote these lines Through Learning which doth me adorn I very plainly see The Star where under I was born proves fatal now to me And I in bed have lately dream'd what after will ensue That I three times shall be condemn'd in Judgement-seat by you When the Empress saw these lines she was astonisht and wondered greatly for she knew not the meaning thereof how that she should give Iudgement thrée times on her own Daughter she wrung her hands and mourned greatly then came Radamentus the great Consul and said unto the Empress is this your Daughter which hath béen brought up with the seven wise Mistrisses of Rome the Empress answered this is my Daughter and onely Heir to the Empire but she now has no expression with her tongue Radamentus stood still and beheld her and saw her countenance so pleasant and of such incomparable beauty that the like was not in all the world he burned inwardly with lust and deceitfully said to the Empress deliver her to me and by often perswasion without doubt I le make her declare to me her whole studience this did he not onely for love and honour he bore to her but rather to satisfie his insatiate lustful appetite and after conspire her destruction which was the main thing ho aimed at but God infused in the heart of the Princess not to go with him Chap. 5. How Radamentus watched his opportunity how he might surprize the Princess in the Garden and how he conspired to take away her life RAdamentus after this being in his chamber window espied the Princess going into the Garden to walk under the Sickamore-trees without any body with her and it happened that she left the key in the door on the inside and forgot to shut it The old Consul came down and entered the Garden locking the door and taking the key out he came to the