likewise loose my dearest friend he was content to desist but withall telling me that she did not doubt but the justnesse of my quarrell would make me able of my selfe to revenge such damned infidelity that though he knew Hatton to be sufficiently valiant yet his treachery would cowardize his soul and therefore I should not feare to attempt him single that he had for many yeares been an intimate friend of Hatton's but never knew him guilty of any falceness till now which he as well as I had the charity to believe proceeded rather from the inticements of Mariana's Unkle then his own spirit hardly had he finished to speak to me when Hatton stept into the Chamber but seeing me there before him retired with as much hast as he had entred with only saying as he past out that he wondred he had received no answer from me which I told him he should not much longer wait for nor did he for immediately I took Pen Ink and Paper and by Spencer's advice writ him as followeth For Mr. George Hatton SIR THough I am now become your enemy for what reasons I know not yet our former friendship might have engaged you to have declared in more civil language I know not what pretences you may have to the beauteous Mariana but you cannot but know that she is mine by Contract nor have I I think given you any occasion to believe that I will let what Heaven hath bestowed upon me be snatched away without indangering of my life or forcing that Person be he who he wil that shall treacherously endeavour to deprive me of my only Happinesse I shall not faile therefore Sir to meet you at the appointed place though without a second for I am unwilling to engage friends in a businesse in which none but my self is concerned though I could wish you would rather disclaime your unjust pursuite and let us meet as we used to doe friends Goodlake This having sealed I posted away to him by Mr. Spencer's Page who immediately returned with an answer that he was content to meet me single and withall brought along with him a Ribband which we guessed to be the length of his sword and I found it to be the just measure of mine That night Spencer engaged me by all the loves between us not to depart from him till the morning I went to fight so we passed away the most part of the night in discourses of Hatton's basenesse but concluding that the greatnesse of his estate had moved Mariana's Unkle to proffer her in marriage to him and that her beauty and riches had been the motives to make him accept of the proffer In the morning about five a clock I took a solemne leave of my deare friend not knowing but it might be the last though that misery was reserved to a more unfortunate hour who having poured forth his prayers for my good successe which sayes he I doe not doubt will attend the justnesse of your cause bid me adieu and I fearing least I had overslipped some minutes of the time made hast to the appointed place where I found my adversary ready to receive me We both without speaking began to strip of our Doublets and being now ready to encounter each other he first broke silence telling me that if I would resigne up to him my interest in the beauteous Mariana and set her free from all promises and contracts I might live otherwise his sword should force her from my heart to which I replyed That he could not but know that I prized the enjoyment of my deare Mariana for mine said I I will in despight of you call her far above my life and therefore any proposition of parting with her rather then may dearest blood was vaine and irrational that I might with more reason perswade him to relinquish pursuite of that to which he had nor could pretend any right to To this he made no other reply but that we came not then thither to talk but doe and therewith made a desperate passe at me but it was my fortune to put by his point and before he could recover himselfe to give him a mortal thrust into the right side at which he fell saying no more then goe now and enjoy the price of my blood they Mari-a-na I must confesse I was sorry when I saw him fall for I would not willingly have killed kim hoping he might yet have been perswaded to desist further pursuite of his love and have proved as true a friend as at first he had been but seeing that his wound was past remedy 't was in vaine for me to stay and lament him but rather study my own safety having therefore wrapped his body in his Cloake I took my Horse from the hedge where I had tyed him and with all speed galloped to tell Spencer what I had done he at first expressed a great deale of sorrow for the so suddaine death of one that was once his friend but you tell me no more sayes he then what I expected and think he deserved so that we have more reason to lament his folly then his death but however continued he the strict Lawes lately made against duelling will hardly admit of such defensory excuses and though he might fall justly by your sword yet the power of his friends will endanger your life let me therefore advise you to make all possible speed out of England and because I know not how your slender fortunes may have furnisht you let me beg of you to accept this taking down a little Cabinet from the Beds head and giving it me as token of my love which if I live and have the happinesse to know where you reside I shall be most highly obliged if you admit me to supply farther otherwise if I dye I shall dedicate some of my last breath to the remembrance of our friendship I could not tell what to answer to so noble and generous a friend but distilling some teares out of griefe that I was forced to depart from him I let him by those silent showres know how much I prized his goodnesse and that the gratitude of my soule was greater then my tongue could expresse having therefore kissed him again and againe and poured forth ten thousand Prayers for his health as he did for my good successe we sorrowfully bid farewell and I taking Horse rid with all speed possible to the Sea Coast where finding a Ship going with fresh supplyes of provisions to the English-Souldiers in Holland I embarqued my selfe on her and in seven days we came to Vlishing whence I travel'd to the Hague and there changing my name to Love-ill listed my selfe a Souldier to recount to you Noble Spinola any passages of this war were but to give you a dark and blind repetition of a thing which your selfe already know most perfectly I confessed said Spinola I have from my Father and other friends besides some smal experience of my own received an exact relation of
those wars nor must I now forget that I have often heard him mention you as a Person who of all the English Captaines behaved your selfe with most courage and noblenesse I confesse continued Goodlake I was in a small time of being there more by the partiall favour of the English Generall then any desert of mine commissioned Captain of a Foot Compâ—ny and such a Company as had they had a Captaine equall either in Courage or experience to the meanest of them might have performed wonders But to return to my said story my deare Mariana sadly lamented my losse and absence and would her selfe had she not been so narrowly watched by her Uncle have adventured to have found me but yet was she not by reason of my absence so closely restrained from her liberty as formerly so that we found wayes by meanes of my dear friend Spencer to keep a correspondence for the generous Spencer still continued his noblenesse to me in that high degree that he not only seveveral times sent me supplyes of money but had expended great sums and spent his whole stock of Interest at Court in endeavouring to procure me a pardon from the Queen but it could not be blamed nor would such was the power of my adversaries friends ever have been granted had not my fortune and the resolution and courage of my Company rather then any personal valour of mine allotted me to be the first that upon storming the Brill entered the Cittadell I have said Spinola interrupting him heard many gallant Persons descant upon that action and they have generally concluded it an act rather of desperation then prudence there being little to be said in justification of it but only that it prospered I speak not this continued Spinola of your particular assault for that being pursuant to command demonstrated you truly valiant but to the action in general 'T is very true said Goodlake it was so esteemed by many understanding Souldiers but however it might be in it selfe sure I am it proved fortunate to me for by it I got that pardon which for so many years before I had sued for in vaine You may easily imagine my deare friend that I had after seven or eight yeares banishment a great desire to see again my native Country but a far greater to see my beloved Mariana who still for my sake continued a Virgin and my deare friend Spencer I therefore having with very small intreaty obtained leave of the Generall to passe over to England imbarqued my selfe at Rotterdam and Favente Neptuno arrived in two dayes at Dover where my earnest desire to see my friends made me stay no longer then I could provide my selfe with Horses to post towards them which diligent care soon found and unwearied speed made me the next day in the evening to arrive at the House of my generous and noble friend Spencer where without further Ceremonies I entred and surprized him in a sad and serious discourse with his Sister and some other Ladies but little did I think that that griefe which I saw had overshadowed their visages did so much concern me my deare Spencer immediately came running towards me and imbracing and kissing me ten thousand times congratulated my safe arrival at length to my Native soile and friends but yet me thought that his countenance was somewhat clouded and not so serene and complacent as I had formerly known it besides I observed that there were whilst I was renewing as it were my friendship with Spencer strange whisprings among the Ladies and that their former bemoanings were turned into a dumb silence me thought this boaded something extraordinary but what to think I could not tell nor did I at all imagine that it had so neerly concerned me till having saluted the Ladies I desired them to make me partaker of their sorrows by knowing the cause of them alas Sir said one of them our sorrow if there be any here whose lookes or other jesture may make you deem them sorrowful is no other then what is caused either by the dulnesse of the weather or some unknown reason which we cannot be sensible of Alas Madam said I your goodnesse must pardon me if I doe yet believe that so great a dejection of spirit as I perceive in this whole company must necessarily proceed from some greater occasion then the dulnesse of the weather which to me seemes pleasant unlesse said I I be that unknown reason from whence it doth proceed and turning thereupon to Mr. Spencer whose visage testified more discontent then any other I told him that he had not formerly used to receive me with such a show of griefe and sadnesse and therefore desired him to let me know the occasion for otherwise I should be inforced to believe that some malicious Person had scandalized me to him and possessed him with such things as might make him think I had justly forfeited his former friendship which if so I desired to know my crime and accusers that I might confesse and crave pardon or right my selfe Hereupon with many vows he protested there was no such thing that I was as high in his good opinion and that he esteemed my friendship as much if not more as ever that his present melancholy aud dejectednesse proceeded from he knew not what inward cause which had likewise poured its influence upon the whole Company This though it little satisfied me yet I was forced to conform my humour to theirs for I could not perswade them from you and indeed I who had the most reason to be sad knew no cause for it till Bed-time being come my deare Spencer accompanying me to my Chamber I began more seriously to examine why he who was alwayes wont to be of a joviall temper had now so utterly banisht mirth from his soule especially at my arrivall Oh my deare friend said he fetching withall a deep sigh since I must tell you the cause which I would not doe did I not know you a Person who could absolutely command your passions know that the very sight of you encreased my sorrow for your sake did I first conceive it and you are the only Person in the World it most concernes I was somewhat startled to heare him say so and what is it said I in some passion can make me so miserable that you should thus have cause to grieve for me is Mariana turn'd inconstant and hath she now I am come home fraught with full hopes to enjoy her plighted her faith unto another It cannot sure be oh no replyed he she continued constant to you even to her last to her last said I and is she then dead oh Heavens what cursed stars was I born under thus to conspire to make me miserable for ever Well Mariana since after so many delayes I canâ—â—ot enjoy thee living I will follow thee to â—â—eath and therewith drew my sword intending to have peirced my bosome but was hindred by my too pittifull friend and what says he
one of the most sumptuous Chambers of it and sumptuous Chambers there were both for building and furuiture as any Court in Europe could boast of the square of the Palace it selfe being supported by one hundred and fifty Pillars of pure Carara Marble the Court Yard adorned with four most stately Fountains or Waterworks and the Palace every where imbellished by the great number of curious and ancient Statues But neither the statelinesse of the place the great care which was taken of him whereby he in short time recovered perfect health nor the daily conversation of Spinola who extreamly delighted in his company could at all divert the English Stranger from his melancholly thoughts which appeared more transparent every day then other to great wonder of the worthy Spinola who endeavoured by all means possible to banish from him his solitary pensivenesse by inventing new sports and pastimes to recreate both his body and mind but all his endeavours proved in vain for the more he strove to make him merry the sadder still grew insomuch that had not gratitude obliged him he would have shun'd the company of his preserver as his did that of all others Often had the good and generous Spinola desired his unknown Guest to impart unto him the cause of this his melancholly but was ever put off with excuses and desires that he would not put him to the remembrance of so dismal a story till at length they two being according to the custom walking in a private Garden Spinola more earnestly then ever pressed him to reveal that which could possesse him with so great a trouble and dejection of spirit protesting that as he had been instrumental once in the saving of his life so he would devote his life or what ever might be more dear to him to procuâ—â— a remedy for his solitary disease for whilst that continued he still seemed dead to him promising that in requital he would relate to him the story of his life which he would fâ—nd not to have been free from misfortunes though perhaps they were such as were not fit to be weighed in the scale with his The stranger endeavoured by all means possible to excuse the relation of his miseries but being again and again importuned by him to whom he owed his life as his preserver he could no longer deny to satisfie the desires of his generous friend and therefore retiring into a pleasant Arbour which stood at the end of the Walks he thus began The Loves of Capt. Goodlake AND MARIANA MOst Noble Friend and generous Preserver when you shall have heard through how many various changes and chances of fortune I have run you will think considering my age that every minute of my time my childhood only excepted had been a new distinct misfortune My birth you already know to have been in the Kingdom of England a Kingdom sufficiently famous throughout all the World both for its outward force and inward plenty which as you say has miraculously for so many years maintained a War against the most Potent Catholique King and still in all attempts made upon that mighty Monarch gained the upper hand but because this Kingdom is besides the annexion of Ireland and Wales in her selfe divided into severall Shires or Counties many of which have formerly been particular Kingdoms 't will be convenient to give you an account of the exact place of my Nativity Know then noble Sir that I was borne nigh unto the famous City of Sarum in the County of Sommerset in which Shire my Father enjoyed a yearly Revenue of neer fifteen hundred pounds per annum his name was Goodlake my Mothers Seymour which of the two I must needs confesse is the more noble and ancient name my Father had besides my selfe three Sons and two Daughters of all which I was the youngest and so like to enjoy the least part of my Fathers wealth though during his life he was not at all sparing in giving me as liberal education as my Brothers of whom he took so great care that he thought it not sufficient to have them endowed with learning except they were likewise adorned with all qualities necessary to make a perfect and compleat Gentleman such he thought Fencing riding the great Horse and other active Exercises which might make them fit upon occasion to serve their Country nor was he sparing in his cost to learn them Dancing singing and other lesse usefull exercises as things fitting to distinguish them from the vulgar My Father died about that time that I arrived to seventeen years of age leaving me besides those Gentleman-like qualities that might make me fit to gain a livelyhood and honour in forreign Countries but a small parcell of his estate yet such as with moderation I might have lived upon but it was hard for me who had been highly bred during my fathers life to conform my self now to a pension and so small a one too as threescore Marks a year was so that before two years were expired I was indebted twice as much as my annuity came to which made me begin to perceive that whilst I took those courses I headlong pursued my ruine my debts begun to be dayly called for which if I paid I must leave my selfe uncapable to subsist and if not run the hazzard of being imprisoned Feare of this last made me finding delayes to increase the danger on a suddain to make a contract with my elder Brother and to sell him my annuity whereby I not only paid my debts but had a considerable sum of money in my purse with which I was resolved to prove my utmost fortunes And hoping that I might have the same good hap which oftentimes befals younger Brothers who have nothing but their gentility to maintain them that is by gaining the favours of yong Ladies whose plentifull portions might better be given to supply the wants of such persons whom the ill Laws or rather the ill customes of England had made poor then added to the better fortunes of those who already abounded with superfluity of worldly riches I put on a resolution to cast in my lot among others and cloathing my self in a garb much above my slender fortunes by degrees I got into the acquaintance of many Ladies among whom I resolved to choose one both of whose Person and portion I could approve and in short time pitched upon the beauteous Mariana Joynt heiress with her Sister of the great estate of Sir Robert Mollineaux a Family famous in the Western parts of England I confesse at first the greatnesse of her beauty parts and riches did somewhat daunt me who knew my self so far beneath her in all At those words the worthy Spinola interrupted him by saying noble friend though by what your self report I dare believe your estate much inferiour to that of your beauteous Mistresse yet I must needs say that I find this by that small experience I have had of your conversation that no Woman could be
formerly thought fables of the antient Hero's might be truths and that some of their noble souls might be transmugrated into this mans body Heavens how did our best Commanders yield up their souls when ever his sword was pleased to command them the valiant Lorenzo that famous soldier Petruchio Horatio Alonzo and the too young and too valiant Schiarra were all made dead Trophies of his living valor And is Schiarra then dead said Spinola interrupting him he is said the messenger and with him dead all our hopes of courage or goodness He was indeed a person said Spinola turning to Captain Goodlake to whom the graces seem'd to strive which should be most prodigal of their bounties a youth beloved both of Gods and men affable courteous noble generous valiant and no way deserving so hard a fate but how did the noble Duke escape said he to the messenger or is he dead or rather fallen into the hands of his triumphantenemies tell us that we may hear all our miseries together The Gods have yet preserved the noble Duke replied the messenger yet to trie the fortune of another day if he can but again rally up his scattered forces which we have some hopes may be done for as yet the whole left wing of our horse remains entire who onely now watch an opportunity to joyn again to the rest of his scattered Army and though the slaughter was great on our side yet was not the victory cheap on the enemies for the greatest part of their right wing was cut off or taken prisoners and no small number fell in their Main battel our Musters at present in Mirandola amounnt to about seven thousand foot and two thousand horse so that were your Army joyned with ours and our left wing come up we might presume notwithstanding their conjunction with the Savoyards again to take the field At these words there came in one of the Scouts to acquaint the General that the Savoyards strengthened with two thousand Ferrarese were now within three leagues of him and made all possible speed to arrive him before night whereupon laying aside all other affairs he immediately called a Counsel of War to consult what was fittest to be done some advised that the best course was to make a swift retreat to the Castle of the Flaminii and there strongly encamp themselves till they could get relief it being impossible that with half the number of their enemies for they were no more they should be able to stand out an encounter but both the generous Spinola and Captain Goodlake were of a contrary judgement and rather inclined to fight them which opinion of theirs being seconded by the valiant soldiery who filled the skies with loud exclamations that they would never flie them were they thrice as many that they would never doubt of victory whilest their valiant General and Lieutenant General were with them and that therefore they should not stay their coming but advance these Ecchoes I say of the soldiers to the votes of Spinola and Goodlake made those who before were for a retreat quickly change their mindes and consent to a battel so the Army dislodged and about the time that the Sun had made two hours descent towards the Western Ocean attacqued their enemies who confident in their numbers and looking upon this encounter of the Genoueses as an act rather of furie and desperation then wisdom and valor assured themselves of an absolute victory and had already divided among themselves the Genouese Nobles and proportioned their Ransoms but had they not been so confident of a conquest they might perhaps have conquered whilest their thoughts of its certainty utterly lost it for both the Commanders and common Soldiers assured in their numbers neglecting their orders ran themselves into inevitable ruine which yet they perceived not till they saw themselves utterly deserted by their horse whom the valiant Goodlake on the one side and the Illustrious Pallavicini on the other for the gallant Iustiniano lost his life at the first charge had utterly routed when the main body of Infantry drew up closer together resolving either to gain the victory or to sell their lives at a dear rate in recompence of their folly this last indeed they effected for they maintained the fight till near Sun-set though galled on both sides by the enemies horse with an infinite slaughter of their enemies to whose swords they were no less made sacrifices till at length wearied out and hemmed in on all sides tow thousand three hundred the remains of four thousand Infantry yielded themselves to the mercy of the Conquerors This Victory put the Mantuan affairs again into a gallant posture the news of it much rejoiced the Duke who was then anew compleating his before-broken Army at Mirandola but more was he rejoiced at the arrival of the generous Spinola there whom he received withal imaginable pomp and splendor and he having first presented the prisoners taken in the last conflict next recommended unto him his valiant Lieutenant General Goodlake as a person to whom though a stranger he ought all his present happiness the Duke amazed at his great Obligations to one whom he had never yet seen immediately sent for him and he as readily obeyed his summons when being come into the presence where the Duke sat in his Chair of Estate having made his obeisance he kneeled down but his Highness not permitting that Ceremony fit onely for Subjects to one to whom he acknowledged himself beholding both for his life and Dukedom rising from his Chair and taking him into his embraces told him that he understood by the generous Spinola that he was the person to whose gallantry he was indebted for all his good Fortunes that his Obligations were so much the greater by how much they proceeded from a person whom he had no way obliged that for the future he would endeavor with all possible address to quit the score of his debts which were so many and so great that it was impossible that a short time should finde out a proportionable recompence that he would therefore make it his future study and that now he did not doubt to vie Forces and valor to his enemy of Ferrara since as well as he had a Stranger and a valiant Stranger to be his Champion Captain Goodlake endeavored to return a suitable answer to his over-civil reception of him for so he stiled it by telling him that the Noble Spinola had wronged both himself and him the first by robbing himself of that honor which was onely due to his worth and the second by attributing to him things far above his deserts that if he had done any acceptable service to his Highness 't was sufficiently recompenced in being accepted that he should alwayes account it the greatest honor could accrue to him to spend his life in so just a cause as his Many complements of the like nature passed till such time as the Duke thought it fit time to conduct these two
Magnâ—nimous Maid of the Christian faith I should believe him a god on earth but let this action however so celebrate his fame that he may be an eternall patterne to future Kings to account it a greater glory to be conquerours of themselves then of the greatest Empire Many other words passed to the like purport and so the company for the present withdrew to the Kings Pallace where shortly after all imaginable preparations were made for the Solemnization of the Nuptials of these two English lovers but my occasions mighty Duke calling me from thence I could not stay to see the marriage solemnized though I afterwards heard that it was performed with wonderful state and since your Highness tells me that she was cast by shipwrack into your countrey I have reason to beleive that great sorrow which at present overshadowes that nature which used to be civil courteous and debonair is for the loss of her husband who undoubtedly perisht in the all devouring sea The Duke was extreamly delighted with this relation of the Merchant but especially with the hopes he had of the worthy Spencers loss for he thought that might facilitate the enjoyment of his beautious Mistress which he resolved to leave no way unattempted to attain and therefore commanded the Merchant to go and present her with own of his riâ—hest Jewels valued at ten thousand Crowns knowing how much gifts do prevail over the soft and easie natures of women but though her civility taught her to accept the Dukes Jewel yet her honour inclined her to a resolution that not a whole Dukedome should tempt her to a violation of her chastity Scarce was Sig. Iacomo Bonaventuro departed to offer up his rich present to the fair hands of the fairest guest but a messenger arrived to acquaint the Grand Duke of Florence that after the long continued bloody warrs between the two Dukes of Mantua and Ferrara they had concluded a firme and lasting league and were resolved within two daies to visit Florence to make his Highness and his whole Court and Countrey a witness of their late concluded amity The Duke received the Messenger with all honour due to one who came as agent from two such Princes returning them thanks suitable to the honour done him by such a visit and withal giving order that his Court should be made to shine with Gold and Pearls for their more sumptuous entertainment Two daies after the two Princes arrived being met by the grand Duke with an infinite train of Nobility on horseback three miles without the City and so with inexpressible state conducted to the Royal Palace where the Tuscan being seated on his Throne and the two Princes on each side of it he endeavoured to make their welcome grateful by telling of them that the honour they had done him in leaving their Courts to visit him should be recorded as an everlafting Trophy of their loves and an eternal monument of a firm and perfect amity with them both They returned an address suitable to his civility by telling him that having happily composed their two long lasting differences they thought themselves oblieged to make a tender of their united league to his Highness as to greatest and most renowned Prince of Italy selecting him as a Royal witness of their blest union Nor must we continued the Duke of Mantua forget to present unto your Highness this pair of Heroick Englishmen who as they defended us severally with their Armes so they united us in their friendship I have heard indeed long since answered the Tuscan Duke of their Noble deeds of Armes loud fame having blazoned it into most Courts of Christendome but that they have been happy in reconciling two Princes and stopping that issue of blood would in time have overflowed their Countries makes them more glorious then all their acts of Chivalry and herewith he Rose from his chair to salute the two English strangers whom he perceived made their addresses to kiss his hand which he would by no means permit but affectionately embracing them told them that persons of such great worth were not to be received as Subjects but Companions to Princes and though he knew no way to do it according to their deserts yet he should study to find one out they humbly on their knees returned thanks to the Duke for his Noble reception excusing themselves as not deserving any such favour at his hands Your fame hath already sufficiently spoken your deserts answered the grand Duke but if any of these Noble personages will do me the honour to inform me of some of the latter passages of that war I doubt not but your actions will best speak your character 'T was a kind of a pleasant strife to see how the two Dukes hastened which should first satisfie the Thuscan and do right to their Champions which at length being conceded to the Duke of Mantua Ferrara being retired he thus began The continuation of the story of the two Worthies Spencer and Goodlake AFter the fortunate armes of the Duke of Ferrara assisted as himself confesses chiefly by that noble English Gentleman pointing to the gallant Spencer who had hitherâ—o conâ—ealed his name to whom I think deservedly he attributes his whole success had gained that signal victory over my forces on the Plams of Merandola I retreated with a small remainder of my Army unto that strong fortress there to endeavour again to reâ—â—â—ire my shaâ—reted Bâ—igâ—es though with little hopes ever to appear again in the field had not the invinâ—ible arms of the generous Spinola and thrice valient Goodlake forced a victory from the Savoyards and Ferraresses and joyned their forces to mine whereby I not only gained their assistance but other of my Subjects having their hopes revived by their victory came flocking in to offer their service in assistance of my cause which they now accounted nothing less then desparate But the Duke of Ferrara having advice of the great supply which dayly came into my Army as he was incamped before my Metrapolitan City of Mantua thought it the better policy to raise his seige then to be raised from it and I suppose it was then debated in his counsel of War that every delay did but add more strength to my forces that the City was yet well provided with all sorts of provision strengthned with a strong Garrison and therefore not likely to be surrendred or forced in a short time that if he could once more give a general defeat to my forces the City would of it self come in without any resistance that therefore the Duke should immediately raise his seige and if possible provoke me to a battel This last conclusion was made a resolve and such was their expedition in advancing towards us or the negligence of my Scouts that the whole Army of the Duke of Ferrara was scarce half a daies march distant ere I had any advice of their motion which put me at first into some distraction but finding all delays to be so