preferred to charge whiche he gouerned with so great discretion and still conducted with suche celeritie and sleight that who but Aramanthus and his companie had the onely name throughout the Turkes cāpe and where there was any attempt to bee giuen where valiancie should bee showne Aramanthus he must giue the charge and where any policie must be put in practise Aramanthus he must laie the platte that to be shorte he grewe into suche credite with the greate Turke hymself that Aramanthus onely gaue hym counsaill in all his affaires and there with all had so good successe that his practises still preuailed and came to happie end that the Turke by his aduise had doen wonderfull spoyles vpon the Christians and had taken from them many Cities Tounes and Prouinces And thus leauyng them in the warres for a season I will conuaie my tale againe to Isabell Queene and wife to Rodericke who was now the second time knowne to be with child whereat the Duke of Caria beeyng wonderfullie wrothe pretendyng to finde a quicke dispatche for all together he secretlie accused the Queene of Adulterie to the King his brother and with suche allegations and false witnesses as he had prouided so informed the King that his tale was credited and the rather for that the king knowing his Queene to be with child did thinke himself too farre spent in yeres to do suche a deede And yet the King was replenished with so greate pitee that he could not indure to heare of her death He therefore by a messenger commaunded her presentlie to depart the Court and in paine of her life neuer after to come in his presence These newes did wonderfullie amaze the Queene who with many piteous intercessions desired to knowe her accusers and that she might but speake for her self before his Maiestie and then as he should finde her to vse her according to her desertes But all in vaine for the Duke had so throughlie incensed the King that he would neither abide to see nor heare her The duke vnderstanding how matters had passed came to the Queene and semed muche to lament her case perswading her to hold her self contented for a little season not doubtyng but in tyme that he hymself would so perswade with his brother that she should bee heard to speake in her owne defence in the meane season if it pleased her to vse his house in the Countrie he would prouide for her all maner of necessaries what soeuer she should wante and for her better comforte if she had any assured freend whose companie she desired that she might secretelie sende for them to holde her fellowship and to passe the tyme and that he hymself would many tymes visite her and daiely informe her how matters did passe in her behalfe with the King his brother The poore Queene thinkyng all had to proceede of good will whiche this Traitor had proffered gaue him more then a thousand thankes reposing her self and the innocencie of her cause onely in this Iudas who practized nothyng els but her death and the death of that she went withall The next daie he prouided a couple of Ruffians suche as he knewe were for his purpose whiche should haue secretelie conueighed her to the Dukes houses as she had thought but as the Duke had willed them as thei rode ouer a Forest whē thei came to the side of a woode thei tooke her from her horse spoyled her of suche thynges as were aboute her and mynded to haue killed her and throwne her in some Bushe But it fell out that there were certaine banished menne in the Woode whiche liued in that desarte in maner of Outlawes and hearyng the piteous complainte of the Queene thei came to her rescue but the villaines that would haue slain her perceiuing them fledde and lefte the Queene where these Outlawes came vnto her vnto whom from poinct to poinct she declared euery thing how it was happened vnto her the Outlawes hauing greate compassion whē thei knewe her to be the Quene for that thei had euer heard her to bee Noblie reported on brought her with theim to their Caue where thei ministered suche releef to her distresse as menne might doe that were in their estates The Queene thinkyng that God had preserued her life to some better purpose contented her self for a season to remaine emongest theim Where she learned to plaie the Cooke and to dresse their meate suche as thei brought in or could prouide for in the Forest And thus leauyng the Quene with these Outlawes I will retourne againe to speake of Aramanthus who was now deuisyng to frame a plotte how he might betraie the Citee of Tolosia whereof his Father was Kyng as you haue heard For the Turke hauyng intelligence of the pleasauntnesse of this Citee and of the wonderfull wealthe and riches wherwith it did abounde and therewithall had learned that it was of suche force and inuinsible strengthe that there was no maner of hope how it might be subdued whereat the Turke was verie sorowfull and sadde But my yong Fisherman Aramanthus whose cunnyng neuer failed where courage could net help caused the Turke with his whole armie by sea to come before this Citee which is situate fast vpon the sea side and there to come to an anker where Aramanthus hymself as a messenger appoincted from the Turke came to the kyng of Tolosia to whom he told this tale That the Turke his Maister hauyng been in diues partes of Christendome where he had made warres a long space and vpon diuers considerations mindyng to departe with his Armie into his owne Countrey for a season and beyng vpon the Seas one night as he was liyng vpon his bedde behold a vision appeared vnto hym in a Dreame whiche shewed hym how greeuouslie he had offended the God of the Christians in the persecutyng spoilyng and the murtheryng of them as he had doen in this iourney and for that he should know that the Christian God was the moste high and Almightie God in deede whom with his tyrannie he had so displeased he should bee creepled of al◠his limmes from that tyme forthe till his diyng daie whiche should verie shortly followe with this he awaked and giuyng a piteous grone suche as was about hym commyng vnto hym found hym in a wonderfull maze and so benummed in all his partes that he was not able to stir hande nor foote The nexte daie callyng his Counsailers and Captaines about hym not able of hymself to come forthe emongst theim but as he was brought out of his Cabbin on mennes backes he declared vnto them the whole circumstaunce of the premisses and beyng striken with a wonderfull remorse in cōscience he determined to saile backe againe not mindyng to depart frō out those partes of Christendome till he had made satisfaction of all suche spoiles and outrages as he had committed against the Christians and hymself with his whole armie to become Christened and there to bee instructed in the true and perfect faith
continued in good liking for the space of one moneth at whiche time an other newe fashion was then come vp aswell in the attiryng of their heddes as also in the makyng of their Gounes Kirtelles and Stomachers Mistresse Mildred being now quite out of conceipt for that she had neuer a Goune to put on her backe but of a stale cut and the fashion at the least of a monethe olde who would blame the Gentlewoman though she tooke it verie greeuouslie alas her mind was so farre out of quiet that her meate almoste did her no maner of good Whiche sodaine alteration beeyng perceiued by her houseband he began to intreate her to shewe hym the cause of her conceiued greef the which wheÌ„ she had reueiled the good honest deuill her housband said well my deare wife although 〈◊〉 I satisfied your laste demaunde my conditions were 〈◊〉 you should neuer trouble me with any further requestes 〈◊〉 once againe to recomforte you aske of me what you will 〈…〉 graunt your desire but to cut you of all hope that hereâ—◠〈◊〉 his I will neuer bee troubled againe with newe fashion◠〈…〉 your self that this is the laste requeste that euer I 〈…〉 to graunt you Mistres Mildred giuyng hym twentie kisses for his kindâ—esse went again to her mother with these ioyfull newes and â—oncludyng as before thei brought the Deuill an Inuentorie 〈◊〉 newe fashions beginning with Cappes Caules Quaiues Ruffes Partlettes Sleeues Gounes â—irtelles Peticotes and there was no Stitche no Cutte no Lace no Garde nor no fashion that was then in vse but in this Inuentorie it was to bee founde and as before this bill was no soner presented but all thinges were in readinesse so well fitted and fashioned as if the moste cunningest woorkemen in Englande had been at the makyng But what should I saie Before an other moneth was expired there was a newe inuention for then came vp newe fashions in their Caps in their Hats in their Caules newe fashioned Shadowes then came vp Periwigges Frezelyng and Curlyng then came vp Dublettes Bombasting and Bolstering newe fashions in their Gounes â—irtells and Peticotes then thei beganne to weare Crimsm Carnation Greene and Yeallowe Stockynges To bee short there was suche alteration in womens apparell from the topp to the toe in a moneth that Mistres Mildred though her self now again to be cleane out of fashion the remembrance whereof brought her likewise to be quite out of countenaunce but when she remembred how she was prohibited from makyng any further demaundes it did so gaule her at the harte that now she beganne to froune lumpe and lowre at her housebande whiche when he perceiued he saied vnto her why how now my good Mildred I feare me thy hedde is troubled againe with newe fashions from whence commeth these sodaine fittes what is the matter that â—eedeth suche alteration in thy maners tell me I praie thee what is it that doeth offende thee The poore Gentlewoman not able to speake one worde for weepyng at the last burstyng out into these tearmes if quoth she I had made my choise of a housbande worthie of my self I should neuer haue giuen hym cause thus to wonder at me nor my self haue had occasion to complaine for suche a trifle for that I might haue doen as other women doe and haue followed euery fashion and euery newe deuise without 〈◊〉 grudgyng or restraint of my desire I should not their haâ—â— bin enioyued to such a kind of silence but I might haue made my housbande priuie to my wantes I should not then haue bin kept like Ione of the Countrie in a tyre of the old fashion deuised a moneth agoe While Mistres Mildred was proceeding in these speeches or suche other like the Deuill her housbande was stroke in suche a dumpe that not able any longer to indure her talke he not onely auoided hymself from her presence but also deuised with speede to flie the Countrie and commyng to Douer thinkyng to crosse the Seas findyng no shippyng readie he altered his course and gat hym into Scotlande neuer staiyng till he came to Edenbrough where the Kyng kept his Court and now forgettyng all humanitie whiche he had learned before in Englande he began againe a freshe to plaie the Deuil and so possessed the King of Scots himself with such strange and vnaquainted passions that by the coÌ„iecture of Phisitions and other learned men that were then assembled together to iudge the Kynges diseases thei all concluded that it must needes bee some Feende of Hell that so disturbde their Prince Wherevpon Proclimations were presently sent forthe that who soeuer could giue releef should haue a thousand crounes by the yere so long as he did liue The desire of these crounes caused many to attempt the matter but the furie of the Deuill was suche that no man could preuaile Now it fortuned that Persinus the father of Mistres Mildred at this present to bee at Edenbrough who by constraint of some extremitie was now compelled to practise Phisicke wherein he had some pretie sight but there with all so good successe that who but Persinus the Englishe Phisition had al the name through the whole Realme of Scotlande The fame of this Phisition came to the hearyng of the Kyng who sendyng for Persinus began to debate with hym of the straungâ—esse of his fittes profferyng large sommes of money if he could finde a remedie To whom Persinus aunswered that it 〈◊〉 farre his skill the Kyng notwithstandyng would not 〈◊〉 ouer but intreated Persinus to take in hande the cure 〈◊〉 when he still denaied did thinke it rather proceeded of stubbornesse then for want of experience wherefore he began to threaten hym swearyng that if he would not accomplishe his request it should cost hym his life Persinus seyng hymself so hardly besteade was contented to crie some parte of his cunnyng and the next daie when the Kyng was in his fitt he was brought in to see the maner how it helde hym Whom the Deuill perceiuing to come in at the doore speakyng to Persinus he saied in this maner My father Persinus I am glad I see you here but what winde hath driuen you hether to this place Why what arte thou quoth Persinus that callest me thy father Marie quoth the Deuill I am Balthaser that was once maried to your Daughter in deede a Deuill of Hell though you neuer knewe it before whom your Daughter weried so muche with her new fashions as I had rather be in Hell then maried to suche a wife And art thou then Balthaser quoth Persinus why then I praie thee good sonne departe the Kyng of Scots for he hath threatned me for thy cause to take awaie my life Marie quoth Balthaser euen so I would haue it it were some parte of aquitaunce for your Daughters kindnesse towardes me Persinus seeyng the disposition of the Deuill thought it not good to deale any farther with hym at that present but afterward when the Kyng was come to hymself he requested of hym but respete for one Moneth and against the daie that he should then take hym in hand again he deuised with the King that all the Ordnaunce in the Towne might be shot of all the 〈…〉 FINIS
farre as my honour maie permit me These two louers now groundyng themselues the one in the others fidelitie could not so cūning dissemble and cloke their affections but that it was easily perceiued by their secret glaunces and countenaunces conueighed from the one to the other and as wee haue a Prouerbe it is ill haltyng before a creeple so there were many about the Court that were so wel studied in the schoole of Loue that thei were able to haue cōmenced Maisters of Arte and could easily coniecture from whence those rowlyng lookes did proceed that being now assured of that whiche before was but suspected the brute was spread about the Court of the loue that was betweene Siluanus and Valeria that in the ende it came to the Duke her Fathers eare who takyng the matter very greeuously that his daughter to whom the inheritance of the Dukedome remained after his decease should so meanely bestowe her loue of a fondlyng founde in the Woodes And mindyng to finde a remedie for the matter willed Siluanus that in paine of his life within twentie daies he should departe the Courte and neuer after to be seen within the iurisdictions of the Dukedome of Vasconia Valeria now hauyng intelligence what had happened had no leasure to vexe or molest her self when tyme rather required a speedie remedie for the incounteryng of those mishaps deuised with Siiuanus to conueigh her self awaie contented rather to liue in the fellowship of an honest louing housband with whom she should hold faithful and loyal companie with what estate and Fortune so euer it might please GOD to appoincte then to liue without hym beautified with the graces and foolishe names of honour and preheminence Siluanus contented to satisfie her desire with the hazarde of his life yeelded to her request and before the twentie daies were expired so cleanely conueighed hym self and Valeria awaie that when thei were missyng the Duke wist not which waies to sende after them Wherefore in a great furie he spared not to sende out great companies whiche postyng euery waie made enquirie and searche after them but all in vaine for Siluanus had so disguised hymself and Valeria that without any maner of trouble thei quietly passed the Countrey and hauyng freede them selues from out the daunger of the Duke desiring that the daie of their Mariage might now be prefixed the whiche by mutuall consent was presently determined and by greate Fortune or rather conduction by the prouidence of God the◠happened to arriue in the Countrey Village where Duke Sappho y ◠was father to Siluanus had remained al this while Sexten of y ◠Parish In this Village because it was a place free from resorte whereby thei might remaine vnknowne and in the better safetie thei purposed aswel to celebrate their Mariage as for a tyme to make their aboade till matters were better quieted and that thei migh◠at leisure resolue what course were best for them to take Siluanus now hauyng conferred with the Prieste the Mariag◠daie was appoincted where the poore Belringer takyng the vewe of this newe maried couple fell in a great likyng of Siluanus not for that he knewe him to be his sonne for thereof he could haue no maner of suspition aswell for that he deemed he had been deuoured in the Woodes by some wilde beast as also because his name was chaunged but whether it were by the instigation or secresie of Nature or otherwise by the will and pleasure of God to bring to passe that which afterwards happened in effect this poore Sexten I say lead by the secret motion of his owne affections proffered Siluanus that if his seruice might any waies stande hym in steede for that he was a straunger in the place he should vse hym in any respect and should finde hym readie to stande hym in suche steade as his poore abilitie might any waies permit Siluanus in like case hauing forgotten his Father beeing separated from hym in his infancie yet nothyng despising his freendly offer craued his helpe for the hieryng of a Chamber for some reasonable rent till tyme that he might better prouide for hymself The Sexten very glad that he had so good oportunitie to pleasure him brought him with his wife to his owne house where he lodged hym in the best roome that he had profferyng not onely his house but all that was in it to be at their disposition and pleasure This newe Married couple now gladdyng and sporting themselues with all such sweete imbracementes as thei can better describe whiche haue been possessed with the like delightes but as some wil saie it is the mans parte to bee first wearied in those Venerall sportes so Siluanus hauyng now well feasted hymself with that sweete repaste had leisure to bethinke hym of his owne estate began inwardly to growe into great sorrowe and heauinesse not so muche for hymself as for his wife who for his sake had disposest her self from so greate honour abandonyng her freendes contented to yeeld her self a thrall to Fortune These cogitations did so nippe hym that he could not so well dissemble his greef but that his wife perceiued some disquietnesse in his mynde and therefore very greeuously she demaunded of hym to shew her the cause of his discontentment whiche by outward appearaunce seemed inwardly so muche to molest hym Siluanus hearyng his Ladies request aunswered in this wise my deare wife the sweetest companion that euer mā did possesse for so muche as you so earnestly desire to vnderstand what it is that so much withdraweth my delightes I will not let to bewraie the truthe whiche is this when I consider with my self of your present estate and condition who from the tip and height of dignitie haue not spared for my sake to surrender your self to become a subiect to all mishaps besieged on euery side with the future assaultes of ordinarie Fortune It maketh me therefore to haue the greater care by what meanes I might endeuour my self to maintaine continue your estate though not according to your worthinesse and calling yet according to your wel contentment and liking And herevpon conceiuing in my head diuers imaginations no meanes but one in my fancie seemeth best whiche is that I goe to the Court of the Emperour Claudius who at this present is leading a great bande to encounter the Turke at whose handes I doubt not but to receiue some good entertainment and besides the honour and reputation I maie gaine by good desert I maie likewise reape suche liuyng and good likyng of the Emperour that in despight of Fortunes teeth wee maie liue hereafter a quiet and honourable life to our greate ioye and comforte But when I did consider the beloued companie of you deare wife I feared to bewraie that whiche now I haue disclosed not knowyng in what parte you would take it that I should so sodainly departe Loe here the cause of my disquietnesse whiche you desire so instantly to knowe The Ladie whiche was wise perceiuyng
presence and sweete sight and although she sawe no maner of hope to attaine to that she most desired knowing Apolonius to be but a geste and readie to take the benefite of the next Winde and to departe into a straunge Countrey whereby she was bereued of all possibilitie euer to see hym againe and therefore striued with her self to leaue her fondenesse but all in vaine it would not be but like the foule which is once limed the more she striueth the faster she tieth her self So Silla was now constrained perforce her will to yeelde to loue wherefore from tyme to tyme she vsed so greate familiaritie with hym as her honour might well permit and fed him with suche amourous baites as the modestie of a maide could reasonably afforde whiche when she perceiued did take but small effect feelyng her self so muche out raged with the extreamitie of her passion by the onely countenaunce that she bestowed vpon Apolonius it might haue been well perceiued that the very eyes pleaded vnto him for pitie and remorse But Apolonius commyng but lately from out the fielde from the chasing of his enemies and his furie not yet throughly desolued nor purged from his stomacke gaue no regarde to those amourous entisementes which by reason of his youth he had not beene acquainted with all But his mynde ranne more to heare his Pilotes bryng newes of a merie winde to serue his turne to Constantinople whiche in the ende came very prosperously and giuyng Duke Pontus hartie thankes for his great entertainment takyng his leaue of hymself and the Ladie Silla his daughter departed with his companie and with a happie gaale ariued at his desired Porte Gentlewomen according to my promise I will heare for breuities sake omit to make repetition of the long and dolorous discourse recorded by Silla for this sodaine departure of her Apolonius knowing you to bee as tenderly harted as Silla her self whereby you maie the better coniecture the furie of her Feuer But Silla the further that she sawe her self bereued of all hope euer any more to see her beloued Apolonius so muche the more contagious were her passions and made the greater speede to execute that she had premeditated in her mynde whiche was this Amongest many seruauntes that did attend vppon her there was one whose name was Pedro who had a long tyme waited vpon her in her Chamber whereby she was well assured of his fidelitie and trust to that Pedro therefore she bewraied first the feruēcie of her loue borne to Apolonius coniuryng hym in the name of the Goddes of Loue her self and bindyng hym by the duetie that a seruaunt ought to haue that tendereth his Mistresse safetie and good likyng and desiryng hym with teares tricklyng doune her cheekes that he would giue his consent to aide and assist her in that she had determined whiche was for that she was fully resolued to goe to Constantinople where she might againe take the vewe of her beloued Apolonius that he accordyng to the trust she had reposed in hym would not refuse to giue his consent secretly to conuaie her from out her fathers Courte accordyng as she should giue hym direction and also to make himself pertaker of her iourney and to waite vpon her till she had seen the end of her determination Pedro perceiuyng with what vehemencie his Ladie and Mistresse had made request vnto hym albeeit he sawe many perilles and doubtes depending in her pretence notwithstandyng gaue his consent to be at her disposition promisyng her to further her with his best aduice and to bee readie to obeye whatsoeuer she would please to commaunde him The match beyng thus agreed vpon and all thynges prepared in a readinesse for their departure It happened there was a Gallie of Constantinople readie to departe whiche Pedro vnderstandyng came to the Captaine desiryng him to haue passage for hymself and for a poore Maide that was his Sister whiche were bounde to Constantinople vppon certaine vrgent affaires to whiche request the Captaine graunted willyng hym to prepare aborde with all speede because the Winde serued hym presently to departe Pedro now commyng to his Mistres and telling her how he had handeled the matter with the Captaine she likyng very well of the deuise disguisyng her self into very simple attire stole awate from out her fathers Courte and came with Pedro whom now she calleth Brother aboorde the Gallie where all thinges being in readinesse and the winde seruyng very well thei launched forthe with their Oores and set saile when thei were at the Sea the Captaine of the Galleye takyng the vewe of Silla perceiuyng her singular beautie he was better pleased in beholdyng of her face then in takyng the height either of the Sunne of Starre and thinkyng her by the homelinesse of her apparell to be but some simple maiden callyng her into his Cabin he beganne to breake with her after the Sea fashion desiryng her to vse his owne Cabin for her better ease and duryng the tyme that she remained at the Sea she should not want a bed and then whisperyng softly in her eare he saied that for want of a bedfellowe he hym self would supplie that rome Silla not being acquainted with any suche talke blusshed for shame but made hym no aunswere at all my Captaine feelyng suche a bickeryng within himself the like whereof he had neuer indured vpon the Sea was like to be taken prisoner aboorde his owne Shippe and forced to yeeld hymself a captiue without any Cannon shott wherefore to salue all sores and thinkyng it the readiest waie to speed he began to breake with Silla in the waie of mariage telling her how happie a voyage she had made to fall into the likyng of suche a one as hymself was who was able to keepe and maintaine her like a Gentlewoman for her sake would likewise take her brother into his fellowship whom he would by some meanes prefarre in suche sorte that bothe of them should haue good cause to thinke them selues thrise happie she to light of suche a housband and he to light of suche a brother But Silla nothyng pleased with these prefermentes desired hym to cease his talke for that she did thinke her self in deede to be too vnworthie suche a one as he was neither was she minded yet to marrie and therefore desired hym to fixe his fancie vpon some that were better worthie then her self was and that could better like of his curtesie then she could do the Captaine seyng hymself thus refused being in a great chafe he saied as followeth Then seeyng you make so little accompte of my curtesie proffered to one that is so farre vnworthie of it from henceforthe I will vse the office of my aucthoritie you shall knowe that I am the Captaine of this Shippe and haue power to commaunde and dispose of thinges at my pleasure and seyng you haue so scornfully reiected me to be your loiall housband I will now take you by force and vse you at my
that you haue saied for your Maister from henceforth either speake for your self or saie nothyng at all Silla abashed to heare these wordes began in her minde to accuse the blindnesse of Loue that Iulina neglecting the good will of so noble a Duke would preferre her loue vnto suche a one as Nature it self had denaied to recompence her likyng And now for a tyme leauyng matters dependyng as you haue heard it fel out that the right Siluio in deede whom you haue heard spoken of before the brother of Silla was come to his Fathers Courte into the Ile of Cypres where vnderstanding that his sister was departed in maner as you haue heard coniectured that the very occasion did proceed of some liking had betweene Pedro her man that was missing with her and her self but Siluio who loued his sister as dearly as his owne life and her rather for that as she was his naturall sister bothe by Father and Mother so the one of them was so like the other in countenaunce and fauour that there was no man able to descerne the one from the other by their faces sauyng by their apparell the one beyng a man the other a woman Siluio therefore vowed to his Father not onely to seeke but his sister Silla but also to reuenge the villanie whiche he conceiued in Sedro for the carriyng awaie of his sister and thus departyng hauyng trauailed through many Cities and Townes without hearyng any maner of newes of those he went to seeke for at the fast be arriued at Constantinople where as he was walking in an euenyng for his owne recreation on a pleasaunt greene yarde without the walles of the Citie he fortuned to meete with the Ladie Iulina who likewise had been abroade to take the aire and as she sodainly cast her eyes vppon Siluio thinkyng hym to bee her olde acquaintaunce by reason they were so like one an other as you haue heard before saied vnto hym sir Siluio if your haste be not the greater I praie you let me haue a little talke with you seyng I haue so luckely met you in this place Siluio wonderyng to heare hymself so rightly named beeyng but a straunger not of aboue two daies continuaunce in the Citie very courteously came towardes her desirous to heare what she would saie Iulina commaunding her traine something to stand backe saied as followeth Seyng my good will and freendly loue hath been the onely cause to make me so prodigal to offer that I see is so lightly reiected it maketh me to thinke that men be of this condition rather to desire those thinges whiche thei can not come by then to esteeme or value of that whiche both largely and liberally is offered vnto them but if the liberalitie of my proffer hath made to seme lesse the value of the thing that I ment to present it is but in your owne cōceipt considering how many noble men there hath been here before and be yet at this present whiche hath bothe serued sued and moste humbly intreated to attaine to that whiche to you of my self I haue freely offred and I perceiue is dispised or at the least very lightly regarded Siluio wonderyng at these woordes but more amazed that she could so rightly call hym by his name could not tell what to make of her speeches assuring hym self that she was deceiued and did mistake hym did thinke notwithstandyng it had been a poinct of greate simplicitie if he should forsake that whiche Fortune had so fauourably proffered vnto hym perceiuyng by her traine that she was some Ladie of greate honour and vewing the perfection of her beautie and the excellencie of her grace and countenaunce did thinke it vnpossible that she should be despised and therefore aunswered thus Madame if before this tyme I haue seemed to forget my self in neglecting your courtesie whiche so liberally you haue ment vnto me please it you to pardon what is past and from this daie forwardes Siluio remaineth readie prest to make suche reasonable amendes as his abilitie may any waies permit or as it shall please you to commaunde Iulina the gladdest woman that might bee to heare these ioyfull newes saied Then my Siluio see you faile not to Morowe at night to suppe with me at my owne house where I will discourse farther with you what amendes you shal make me to whiche request Siluio gaue his glad consent and thus thei departed very well pleased And as Iulina did thinke the tyme very long till she had reapt the fruite of her desire So Siluio he wisht for Haruest before Corne could growe thinkyng the tyme as long till he sawe how matters would fall out but not knowyng what Ladie she might bee he presently before Iulina was out of sight demaunded of one that was walkyng by what she was and how she was called who satisfied Siluio in euery poinct and also in what parte of the toune her house did stande whereby he might enquire it out Siluio thus departing to his lodging passed the night with very vnquiet sleapes and the next Mornyng his mynd ranne so muche of his Supper that he neuer cared neither for his Breakfast nor Dinner and the daie to his seemyng passed awaie so slowlie that he had thought the statelie Steedes had been tired that drawe the Chariot of the Sunne or els some other Iosua had commaunded them againe to stande and wished that Phaeton had been there with a whippe Iulina on the other side she had thought the Clocke setter had plaied the knaue the daie came no faster forwardes but sixe a clocke beyng once stroken recouered comforte to bothe parties and Siluio hastening himself to the Pallace of Iulina where by her he was frendly welcomed and a sumpteous supper beeyng made readie furnished with sondrie sortes of delicate dishes thei satte them doune passyng the Supper tyme with amourous lookes louyng countenaunces and secrete glaunces conueighed from the one to the other whiche did better satisfie them then the feedyng of their daintie dishes Supper tyme beeyng thus spent Iulina did thinke it very vnfitly if she should tourne Siluio to goe seeke his lodging in an euenyng desired him therefore that he would take a bedde in her house for that night and bryngyng hym vp into a faire Chamber that was very richly furnished she found such meanes that when all the rest of her housholde seruauntes were a bedde and quiet she came her self to beare Siluio companie where concludyng vpon conditions that were in question betweene them thei passed the night with suche ioy and contentation as might in that conuenient tyme bee wished for but onely that Iulina feedyng too muche of some one dishe aboue the rest receiued a surfett whereof she could not bee cured in fourtie weekes after a naturall inclination in all Women whiche are subiect to longyng and want the reason to vse a moderation in their diet but the mornyng approching Iulina tooke her leaue and conueighed her self into her owne chamber and when it was
taken awaie no no it shall better content me to see a meane Gentleman beloued and praised of euery one for his vertues then to marie amiser possessed with all the goodes of the worlde hated and ill spoken of for his vices Feare not then Valeria to followe thy determination and to put in proofe what thou hast pretended Here withall staiyng her self she beganne to practise the meane in what maner she might bewray her loue to Siluanus seekyng for occasion and tyme meete for her purpose and although there remained in her a certaine naturall shamefastnesse wherwith maidens are commonly accompained which for a tyme did close her mouthe and made her to deferre the tyme of her desolued mynd yet in the ende throughly perswaded in her intent she sent one of her Maidens willyng Siluanus to come and speake with her about certaine affaires that she had to imploye hym The maide hauyng finished her message there could neuer more ioyfull newes happen to Siluanus who entryng the Chamber of Valeria with tremblyng harte after he had doen his reuerence with greate feare and bashfulnesse saied for that I vnderstande your Ladiship haâ—â— to employe me about certaine affaires I shall thinke my selâ— the moste happiest man in the worlde if my trauaile and diligence might any waies doe you seruice bee it that â—erein I should offer or sacrifice myne honour or life crauyng no greater benefite for the satisfaction of all my contentations receiued in this world then to serue obey and honour you so long as my life doeth last The Ladie now all rauished with ioye and contentation perceiuyng by his chaunge of colour the fault proceeded of vehement loue takyng hym aside into a windowe Loue had so closed vp her mouth that she knew not how to beginne her tale her mynd was so troubled her wits so farr out of course that her tongue failed to doe his office in suche wise that she was not able to speake one onely worde He likewise perplexed with the like Feuer was now astonied to see the alteration of his Ladie Thus these twoo Louers like twoo sencelesse Images stoode still beholdyng eche other without any maner of moouyng in the ende the Ladie takyng courage in her self with a tremblyng voyce ioyned with a maidenlike shamefastnesse began to saie as followeth Beyng assured my Siluanus of your discretion and wisedome whiche Nature hath not onely indued you withall but art hath also accomplished what Nature beganne to woorke I will therefore make no doubt at all to lette you knowe the hidden secretes of my harte neither will I goe aboute with circumstaunce to colour my woordes but being well perswaded that when you shall bothe heare and sauour my speeches and therewithall sound the deapth of my deuises you will easily coniecture that my enterprises bee none other then iust and that my alledged reasons are grouÌ„ded of good pretence I thinke sithence your ariuall here in the Court of the Duke my father you haue not seene me in any behauiour otherwise then vertue doeth permitte nor in any my demeanours exceedyng the boundes of modestie otherwise then becommeth a maiden of my callyng beyng descended of so worthie a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if this be a faulte that beyng prouoked by the purenesse of my harte and fidelitie of my good will who to keepe the same inuiolable doe voluntarily offer my self to the honest disposition of your iudgement as it shall please you to conceiue of me I haue then committed a fault in liking you too well but I trust nothyng at all offended God who knoweth the innocencie of my crime Think not Siluanus that I am the freend of Fortune and practise pleasure alone without vertue for it is modestie that commaundeth me and honestie is the guide of my conceiptes swearing and protesting by the Almightie God that neuer man shall touche Valeria except it be in Mariage and he that otherwise would assaile me I haue a harte that shall encourage my handes to sacrifice my life And now Siluanus if you will not thinke me more prodigall of my present then your fancie will serue you to take in good parte beholde it is you that I haue chosen for my Spouse and loyall housband And although I had determined to dissemble that whiche now I haue laied open vnto you yet reposing my self in your vertue and honestie I trust I shall not haue cause to repent me for any thyng that I haue either saied or doen. Siluanus whiche all this while hearing this heauenly harmonie with full assuraunce of that he moste wished for albeit he sawe no possibilitie how to bryng to passe this desired Mariage yet determined not to refuse so greate a preferment beyng so franke and liberally offered aunswered in this maner I knowe not Madame with what humilitie and reuerence I might receiue and accept this your greate bountie and noblenesse so graciously offered vnto me I do acknowledge my condition and state too base and that my loue may be thought to presume too farre beyonde the boundes of order consideryng that my ignobilitie and birth are no meete matches for suche a peerelesse Princes yet this I dare boldly affirme that if loue and entire affectioÌ„ borne to your Ladiship might serue to counteruaile that defect whiche by place of birthe the Destinies haue denaied me I dare vndertake I should as well deserue to bee receiued as he that is lineally descended from the greatest Monarchie of the world The whiche loue if till this tyme I haue delaied to open I beseeche you Madame impute it to the greatnesse of your estate and to the duetie of my callyng but now for as muche as by your owne motion grace courtesie and greate liberalitie the same is profered and that of your owne bountie it pleaseth you to accept me for yours I humbly beseeche you not to dispose of me as of a housbande but as of one whiche both is and shall be your seruaunt for euer Thus saied he takyng her by the hande kissed it with greate deuotion his tongue and wittes were so rapt and tied as the Ladie perfectly perceiued this alteration and seyng it to proceede of loue replied on this maner Then my Siluanus there needeth at this present no farther circumstaunce but for that I am well assured there are some that will be offended with my choice but especially the Duke my father who will conceiue some great displeasure against me there resteth then that this our contract bee kept very secrete vntill it please God to appoint the tyme that the rest of our determinations maie without daunger bee consummate and accomplished In the meane tyme trustyng that your desire is Godly and that the freendshipp you pretende to beare me is founded vpon vertue and to be concluded by Mariage receiue me for your Spouse and lawfull wife you shall haue suche parte in me as without any regarde to the obedience and duetie that I owe to my Parentes I am yours beeyng readie and disposed to obeye you so
faire daie light Siluio makyng hymself readie departed likewise about his affaires in the Toune debatyng with hymself how thynges had happened being well assured that Iulina had mistaken him and therefore for feare of further euilles determined to come no more there but tooke his iourney towardes other places in the partes of Grecia to see if he could learne any tidynges of his sister Silla The Duke Apolonius hauing made a long sute and neuer a whit the nerer of his purpose came to Iulina to craue her direct aunswere either to accept of him and of suche conditions as he proffered vnto her or els to giue him his last farewell Iulina as you haue heard had taken an earnest penie of an other whom she had thought had been Siluio the Dukes maÌ„ was at a controuersie in her self what she might do one while she thought seyng her occasion serued so fit to craue the Dukes good will for the mariyng of his man then againe she could not tell what displeasure the Duke would conceiue in that she should seeme to preferre his man before hymself did thinke it therefore best to conceale the matter till she might speake with Siluio to vse his opinioÌ„ how these matters should be handled herevpon resoluyng her self desiryng the Duke to pardon her speeches saied as followeth Sir Duke for that from this tyme forwardes I am no longer of my self hauing giuen my full power and authoritie ouer to an other whose wife I now remaine by faithfull vow and promise And albeeit I knowe the worlde will wonder when thei shall vnderstande the fondnesse of my choyce yet I trust you your self will nothyng deslike with me sithe I haue ment no other thing then the satisfiyng of mine owne contentation and likyng The Duke hearyng these wordes aunswered Madame I must then content my self although against my will hauyng the Lawe in your owne handes to like of whom you list and to make choise where it pleaseth you Iulina giuyng the Duke greate thankes that would content himself with suche pacience desired him likewise to giue his free consent and good wil to the partie whom she had chosen to be her housbande Naie surely Madame ê™ the Duke I will neuer giue my consent that any other man shall enioye you then my self I haue made too greate accompt of you then so lightly to passe you awaie with my good will But seyng it lieth not in me to let you hauyng as you saie made your owne choise so from hence forwardes I leaue you to your owne likyng alwaies willyng you well and thus will take my leaue The Duke departed towardes his owne house very sorrowfull that Iulina had thus serued hym but in the meane space that the Duke had remained in the house of Iulina some of his seruauntes fell into talke and conference with the seruaunts of Iulina where debatyng betweene them of the likelihood of the Marriage betwéene the Duke and the Ladie one of the seruantes of Iulina saied that he neuer sawe his Ladie and Mistres vse so good countenaunce to the Duke hymself as she had doen to Siluio his man and began to reporte with what familiaritie and courtesie she had receiued hym feasted hym and lodged hym and that in his opinion Siluio was like to speede before the Duke or any other that were suters This tale was quickly brought to the Duke himself who makyng better enquirie in the matter found it to be true that was reported and better consideryng of the wordes whiche Iulina had vsed towardes hymself was very well assured that it could bee no other then his owne man that had thrust his Nose so farre out of ioynt wherefore without any further respect caused hym to be thrust into a Dongeon where he was kept prisoner in a very pitifull plight Poore Siluio hauyng gott intelligence by some of his fellowes what was the cause that the Duke his Maister did beare suche displeasure vnto hym deuised all the meanes he could as well by meditation by his fellowes as otherwise by petitions and supplication to the Duke that he would suspende his Iudgement til perfect proofe werâ— had in the matter and then if any maner of thâ—ng did fall out against hym wherby the Duke had cause to take any greefe he would confesse hymself worthie not onely of imprisonment but also of moste vile and shamefull death with these petitions he daiely plied the Duke but all in vaine for the Duke thought he had made so good proofe that he was throughly confirmed in his opinion against his man But the Ladie Iulina wonderyng what made Siluio that he was so slacke in his visitation and why he absented himself so long from her presence beganne to thinke that all was not well but in the ende perceiuyng no decoction of her former surfette receiued as you haue heard and findyng in her self an vnwonted swellyng in her beallie assuryng her self to bee with childe fearyng to become quite banckroute of her honour did thinke it more then tyme to seeke out a Father and made suche secret searche and diligent enquirie that she learned the truth how Siluio was kept in prison by the Duke his Maister and mindyng to finde a present remedie as well for the loue she bare to Siluio as for the maintenaunce of her credite and estimation she speedily hasted to the Pallace of the Duke to whom she saied as followeth Sir Duke it maie bee that you will thinke my commyng to your house in this sorte doeth somethyng passe the limites of modestie the whiche I protest before GOD proceaded of this desire that the worlde should knowe how iustly I seeke meanes to maintaine my honour but to the ende I seeme not tedious with prolixitie of woordes nor to vse other then direct circumstaunces knowe sir that the loue I beare to my onely beloued Siluio whom I doe esteeme more then all the Iewelles in the world whose personage I regard more then my owne life is the onely cause of my attempted iourney beseechyng you that all the whole displeasure whiche I vnderstand you haue conceiued against hym maie be imputed vnto my charge that it would please you louyngly to deale with him whom of my self I haue chosen rather for the satisfaction of mine honest liking then for the vaine preheminences or honourable dignities looked after by ambicious myndes The Duke hauyng heard this discourse caused Siluio presently to be sent for and to be brought before hym to whom he saied Had it not been sufficient for thee when I had reposed my self in thy fidelitie and the trustinesse of thy seruice that thou shouldest so traiterously deale with me but since that time haste not spared stil to abuse me with so many forgeries and periured protestations not onely hatefull vnto me whose simplicitie thou thinkest to bee suche that by the plotte of thy pleasaunt tongue thou wouldest make me beleeue a manifest vntrothe but moste habominable bee thy doynges in the presence and sight of God
that hast not spared to blaspheeme his holy name by callyng hym to bee a witnesse to maintaine thy leasynges and so detestably wouldest forsweare thy self in a matter that is so openly knowne Poore Siluio whose innocencie was suche y t he might lawfully sweare seing Iulina to be there in place aunswered thus Moste noble Duke well vnderstandyng your conceiued greefe most humbly I beseeche you paciently to heare my excuse not mindyng thereby to aggrauate or heape vp your wrathe and displeasure protestyng before God that there is nothyng in the worlde whiche I regarde so muche or doe esteeme so deare as your good grace and fauour but desirous that your grace should know my innocencie and to cleare my self of suche impositions wherewith I knowe I am wrongfully accused whiche as I vnderstande should be in the practising of the Ladie Iulina who standeth here in place whose acquitance for my better discharge now I most humbly craue protesting before the almightie God that neither in thought worde nor deede I haue not otherwise vsed my self then accordyng to the bonde and duetie of a seruaunt that is bothe willyng and desirous to further his Maisters sutes which if I haue otherwise saied then that is true you Madame Iulina who can very well deside the depthes of all this doubt I most humbly beseeche you to certifie a troth if I haue in any thing missaied or haue otherwise spoken then is right and iust Iulina hauing heard this discourse which Siluio had made perceiuyng that he stoode in great awe of the Dukes displeasure aunswered thus Thinke not my Siluio that my commyng hether is to accuse you of any misdemeanour towards your Maister so I doe not denaie but in al suche Imbassages wherein towardes me you haue been imployed you haue vsed the office of a faithfull and trustie messenger neither am I ashamed to confesse that the first day that mine eyes did behold the singuler behauiour the notable curtesie and other innumerable giftes wherewith my Siluio is endued but that beyonde all measure my harte was so inflamed that impossible it was for me to quenche the feruent loue or extinguishe the least part of my conceiued torment before I had bewraied the same vnto hym and of my owne motion craued his promised faithe and loialtie of marriage and now is the tyme to manifest the same vnto the worlde whiche hath been doen before God and betweene our selues knowyng that it is not needefull to keepe secret that whiche is neither euill doen nor hurtfull to any persone therefore as I saied before Siluio is my housbande by plited faithe whom I hope to obtaine without offence or displeasure of any one trusting that there is no mā that will so farre forget hymself as to restraine that whiche God hath left at libertie for euery wight or that will seeke by crueltie to force Ladies to marrie otherwise then accordyng to their owne likyng Feare not then my Siluio to keepe your faith and promise whiche you haue made vnto me and as for the rest I doubt not thynges will so fall out as you shall haue no maner of cause to complaine Siluio amased to heare these woordes for that Iulina by her speeche seemed to confirme that whiche he most of all desired to be quite of saied Who would haue thought that a Ladie of so greate honour and reputation would her self bee the Embassadour of a thyng so preiudiciall and vncomely for her estate what plighted promises be these whiche be spoken of altogether ignoraunt vnto me whiche if it be otherwise then I haue saied you Sacred Gods consume me straight with flashyng flames of fire But what woordes might I vse to giue credite to the truth and innocencie of my cause Ah Madame Iulina I desire no other testimonie then your owne honestie and vertue thinkyng that you will not so muche blemishe the brightnesse of your honour knowyng that a woman is or should be the Image of curtesie continencie and shamefastnesse from the whiche so soone as she stoopeth and leaueth the office of her duetie and modestie besides the degraduation of her honour she thrusteth her self into the pitt of perpetuall infamie and as I can not thinke you would so farre forget your self by the refusall of a noble duke to dimme the light of your renowne and glorie whiche hetherto you haue maintained amongest the best and noblest Ladies by such a one as I know my self to be too farre vnworthie your degree and callyng so most humbly I beseeche you to confesse a trothe 〈…〉 those vowes and promises you speake of whiche spéeches bee so obscure vnto me as I knowe not for my life how I might vnderstande them Iulina somethyng nipped with these speeches saied and what is the matter that now you make so little accompt of your Iulina that beeyng my housbande in deede haue the face to denay me to whom thou art contracted by so many solemne othes what arte thou ashamed to haue me to thy wife how muche oughtest thou rather to bee ashamed to breake thy promised faithe and to haue despised the holie and dreadfull name of GOD but that tyme constraineth me to laie open that whiche shame rather willeth I should dissemble and keepe secret behold me then here Siluio whom thou hast gotten with childe who if thou be of suche honestie as I trust for al this I shall finde then the thing is doen without preiudice or any hurte to my conscience consideryng that by the professed faithe thou diddest accoumpt me for thy wife and I receiued thee for my spouse and loyall housbande swearing by the almightie God that no other then you haue made the cōquest and triumphe of my chastitie whereof I craue no other witnesse then your self and myne owne conscience I praie you Gentlewomen was not this a foule ouersight of Iulina that would so precisely sweare so great an othe that she was gotten with childe by one that was altogether vnfurnisht with implementes for suche a tourne For Gods loue take heede and let this be an example to you when you bee with childe how you sweare who is the father before you haue had good proofe and knowledge of the partie for men bee so subtill and full of sleight that God knoweth a woman maie quickly be deceiued But now to retourne to our Siluio who hearyng an othe sworne so deuinely that he had gotten a woman with childe was like to beleeue that it had bin true in very deede but remembryng his owne impediment thought it impossible that he should commit suche an acte and therefore halfe in a chafe he saied What lawe is able to restraine the foolishe indescretion of a woman that yeeldeth her self to her owne desires what shame is able to bridle or withdrawe her from her mynd and madnesse or with what snaffell is it possible to holde her backe from the execution of her filthinesse but what abhomination is this that a Ladie of such a house should so forget the greatnesse of
Ladies liuyng in pleasure and in the middest of delightes would so prodigally aduenture your self neither fearing mishapps nor misliking to take suche paines as I knowe you haue not been accustomed vnto O liberalitie neuer heard of before O facte that can neuer be sufficiently rewarded O true Loue most pure and vnfained Here with all sendyng for the most artificiall woorkmen he prouided for her sondrie sutes of sumpteous Apparell and the Marriage daie appointed whiche was celebrated with greate triumphe through the whole Citie of Constantinople euery one praising the noblenesse of the Duke but so many as did behold the excellent beautie of Silla gaue her the praise aboue all the rest of the Ladies in the troupe The matter seemed so wonderfull and straunge that the brute was spreade throughout all the partes of Grecia in so muche that it came to the hearyng of Siluio who as you haue heard remained in those partes to enquire of his sister he being the gladdest man in the worlde hasted to Constantinople where commyng to his Sister he was ioyfully receiued and moste louingly welcomed and entertained of the Duke his brother in Lawe After he had remained there two or three dayes the Duke reuealed vnto Siluio the whole discourse how it happened betwéene his sister and the Ladie Iulina and how his sister was chalenged for gettyng a woman with childe Siluio blushyng with these wordes was striken with great remorse to make Iulina amendes vnderstandyng her to be a noble Ladie and was left defamed to the worlde through his deâ—ault he therefore bewraied the whole circumstaunce to the Duke whereof y e Duke being very ioyful immediatly repaired with Siluio to the house of Iulina whom thei founde in her Chamber in greate lamentation and mournyng To whom the Duke saied take courage Madame for beholde here a Gentleman that will not sticke both to father your child and to take you for his wife no inferiour person but the sonne and heire of a noble Duke worthie of your estate and dignitie Iulina seing Siluio in place did know very well that he was the father of her childe and was for rauished with ioye that she knewe not whether she were awake or in some dreame Siluio imbracyng her in his armes crauyng forgiuenesse of all that past concluded with her the mariage daie which was presently accomplished with greate ioye and contentation to al parties And thus Siluio hauyng attained a noble wife and Silla his sister her desired housbande thei passed the residue of their daies with suche delight as those that haue accomplished the perfection of their felicities FINIS Of Nicander and Lucilla The Argument of the third Historie ¶ Lucilla a yong maiden endued with singuler beautie for want of a conuent dowrie was restrained from mariyng her beloued Nicander in the ende through the greate magnificence of the courteous yong prince Don Hercules the onely sonne and heire of Alfonso duke of Ferrara she was releeued with the somme of 2000 Crounes the whiche money beyng receiued by the father of Nicander the mariage was performed to the greate contentation of the noble yong prince but especially to the twoo yong louers Nicander and Lucilla IN the tyme that Alfonso firste 〈◊〉 that name and third Duke of Ferrara goutâ—â—ed that state there was in the Citee of Ferrara a gentle yong gentlewoman named Lucilla borne of a noble Familie but by the frowardnesse of blind Fortune reduced to great pouertie then her vertues did deserue whose beautie appeared to bee suche in the prime and flower of her yeres as it filled with meruaile all those that caste their eyes vpon her Of this Gentlewoman was feruently enamoured a gallant yong Gentleman whose name was Nicander and in like sort borne of noble blood And desired nothyng more then to bee ioyned with her in Matrimonie But she beyng as it is saied poore though of noble Parentage and endued with singular vertues The Father of the yong Gentleman disdained her who as for the moste part we see old men naturally enclined to coueâ—ise regarding rather the wealth that their daughters in lawe are to bring into their families then either birthe vertue or giftes of the minde could in no wise bee perswaded or intreated to content his sonne in that behalf and to suffer him to enioye his Loue by takyng her to wife alledgyng that the first thing that was to be considered in mariage was the dowrie and the woman For that the vertues of the women dooe not enriche the houses wherein thei came saied he but the qualitie of goodes and wealthe that thei brought with them The coueteous disposition of the father of Nicander was cause that these two yong folke languished in miserable loue For although their flames were of equall force and heaâ—e yet the yong gentlewoman beyng of a verie honest minde nor the yong gentleman neuer thinking vpoÌ„ any other meanâ—â— then honestly to enioye his desire without touche or breache of her honor and the obstinate wilfulnesse of the old man beyng cast as a barre or blocke betweene the vnitie and concorde of their twoo mindes thei liued in greate tormente eche consumyng and as it wer melting awaie with desire for loue of eche other Whilest their mutuall loue continued in this sorte eche daie with lesse hope then other through the obstinacie of the â—ldâ—tarle it happened that Don Hercules the Dukes onely sonne and heire beyng then in the freshest time of his youth passing by the streate where this gentlewoman dwelt sawe her standing in her doore apparailed in White whiche kinde of attire encreased greatly her naturall beautie And considering somwhat curioustie the comelinesse and excellencie of her personage together with her perfectioÌ„ of beautie he receiued with suche force into his imagination the firste impression of them bothe that from thence forward her liuely Image semed continuallie to bee before his eyes by the consideration whereof he grewe by degrees to conceiue so vehement a desire to enioye the singularitie whiche he sawe in her that he thought it impossible for him to liue if he did not attaine it And ofte times discoursyng to himself thereof he would saie what iniurie hath Fortune dooen vnto this faire Gentlewoman that as Nature hath been liberall in bestowyng of beautie vpon her meete for any greate Princes she hath not likewise caused her to be borne of some king or mightie prince whiche if she were I would neuer cease till I had founde the meanes to gett her to bee my wife and so enioye her as myne owne with the safetie of her honour and with the satisfaction and contentment of my Father But in the ende although he sawe her degree to bee farre vnequall to his to wishe or to procure any suche matche Yet ceased he not by all the meanes he could to win her good will and now by one deuise and now by an other to induce her to loue him and to yeeld to his feruent desire But all in vaine For where
the cheef and Soueraigne Iudge your self she repliyng saied Seeing you haue constituted me to giue Sentence at my pleasure it is not thâ— office of a good Iusticer to be parciall in his owne cause and therefore this is the hope you shal looke for at my handes that if hereafter in your deedes I shall see as plaine proofe of perfecte good will as your woordes by pretence importe likelyhood of earnest Loue you shall finde me ready to render suche recompence as shall fall out to your owne contentation and likyng This comfortable aunswere very well pleased hym and within a very little space after he so handeled the matter that he had entered his action in her Common place Thus what betweene Maister Doctor on the one side who was still ministryng of Phisicke vnto her so long as there were any Drugges remainyng in his Storehouse and the Lawyer on the other side who sufficiently enstructed her with his Lawe thei vsed suche hauÌ„t vnto this Gentlewomans companie that the one beganne to growe suspicious on the other and eche of them desirous to haue her seuerall to hymself beganne in the ende to enuaigh the one against the other the Doctor against the Lawier and the Lawier against the Doctor and to tel her to her face what thei suspected the one against the other But Mistres Doritie beeyng very angrie with them bothe that would so narrowlie looke into her doynges did thinke it had been sufficient for reasonable men that she had receiued them into her fauor and as often as it had pleased them to come she welcomed them as themselues did desire and what can a man desire any more then to drinke so often as he shall be a thirst But with faire speeches she contented them bothe for a tyme but she thought in the end to finde a remedie for that mischief And thus it fell out that a Souldiour who was lately retourned from the warres I gesse aboute the same tyme that Kyng Henry the fift was retourned from the winnyng of Agincourt feelde this Souldiour I saie brauyng it out about the streates of the Citie as commonly the custome of Souldiours is to spend more in a moneth then thei get in a yere as he roomed to and fro and fortuned to espie this blasing starre lookyng out at a windowe was sodainly stroken into a great maze to seâ—â—his Lampe of light then euer he had been in the feelde to see the Ensignes of his enemies and was so farre euercharged with her loue that but for feare to haue been marked by the passers by he would haue stoode still gazyng and lookyng vpon her but learnyng in the ende that she was the Mistres of the house he began to deuise how he might make her vnderstande the feruencie of his Loue on whiche he determined to write vnto her But then he knewe not how to beginne his Letter because Souldiours are very seldome accustomed to endite especially any of these louyng lines And to speake vnto her he was likewise to learne how to vse his tearmes neither wiste he how to come into her presence but you shall see Fortune fauoured hym For in an Euenyng as he passed through the streate she was sittyng alone in her doore to take the aire and commyng vnto her not knowyng for his life how to begin his tale In the ende Mistres ê™ he I praie you is your housbande within No surely sir ê™ she he is abroade in the Toune but I knowe not where And I would gladly haue spoken with hym ê™ the Souldiour if he had bin within Beleeue me sir he is not within ê™ she but if it please you to leaue your arrande with me at his commyng home I will shew hym your minde In faith Mistres ê™ the soldiour my arrande is not greate I would but haue craued his helpe in chusyng me a wife because I perceiue he hath some experieÌ„ce in the facultie or els I think he could neuer haue chosen so well for hymself If your arrande be no other then this ê™ Mistres Doritie you may at your owne leisure come and doe it your self and as for my housbandes experience that you speake of although peraduenture it bee not fittyng to your fancie yet I am well assured that he hath made his choyce of suche a one as he himself very well liketh I beleue it wel ê™ the Souldiour and if without offence I might speake it I sweare so God help me I like his choise so wel that I would thinke my self more then a thousand times happie if I might bee his halfe or if my vnworthinesse deserued not so greate a pâ—â—â—on I would craue no more then your self would willingly bestowe on me accordingly as you should see me able to deserue it Why sir ê™ Mistres Doritie I doe not vnderstande wherevnto your speeches doeth tende neither what parte you would haue me to giue you when I haue alreadie bestowed of my housbande bothe my hande my harte my minde and good will Alas Gentlewoman ê™ the Souldiour these bee none of them that I would craue there is yet an ouerplus whiche you haue not yet spoken of whiche if you please to bestow of a Souldiour I should think my self the happiest man aliue whose loue and good likyng towards you is suche that I trust in tyme to come your self will iudge me worthie for my well deseruyng zeale to haue deserued hire Souldiours are seldome seene ê™ Mistres Doritie to marche vnder the banner of Venus but what so euer you bee doe you thinke to ouerthrowe my vertues with the assault of your wanton perswasions or would you make me beleeue that you loue me as you say wheÌ„ you haue no more respect to the hurt of my soule Gentlewoman ê™ the Souldiour I am not able to encounter you with wordes because it hath not been my profession nor trainyng vp but if you doubte of my loue and good likyng Please it you to make triall commaund any thyng that your self shall thinke requisite whiche if I doe not performe to the vttermost then esteeme my loue in deede to be but feined and where you thinke that I goe aboute to seeke the preiudice or hurte of your soule beleeue me I neuer ment it Mistres Doritie who had been wel acquainted before with many suiters had neuer been apposed with suche a rough hewen fellow that was so bluÌ„t and plaine aswell in his gesture as in his tearmes Began to think with her self that he might well be a Souldiour for she knewe that thei had little skill in the courting of Gentlewomen yet she perceiued by his countenaunce the vehemencie of his loue he bare vnto her and perceiuing his plainnesse she began to thinke him more fitter for her diet then either Maister Doctor or Maister Lawier that could not be contented the one with the other when she gaue them bothe so muche as thei could craue and therefore thinkyng with her self that to loose any longer tyme were but a poinct of folly takyng the
bestowe her vpon hym and thought that thei had in so doyng placed her very well But before the first yeare after their Marriage was fully expired Gonsales followyng his wonted humour and waxyng wearie of loue grewe to desire chaunge giuyng thereby a notable example for women to learne how little it is to their commoditie or quiet to matche thenâ—ise 〈…〉 that be rather riche then wise and how muche it were better for them to be married to men then to their goodes For beeyng come to soiourne in that Streate wherein he dwelt a notable Courtesane who to the outward shewe was very faire though inwardly she was moste foule as she that vnder a goodly personage did couer a wicked and dangerous minde corrupted with all vices as for the most parte al suche women doen. It was Gonsales chaunce to be one of the first that fell into those snares whiche she had sett for suche simple mens mindes as haunt after the exteriour apparance of those thinges whiche their senses make them to delight in and not considering the daunger wherevnto thei commit themselues by followyng of their disordinate appetites doe suffer them selues to be entrapped by suche leude Dames Among which this forsoothe was one that was of singuler skill to captiue mens mindes which by experience and by the naturall disposition of her mynde bent wholy to deceipt and naughtinesse had learned a thousand giles and artes whiche waie to allure men with the pleasauntnesse of her baites Wherefore after he was once entangled with her snares he fell so farre beyond all reason and past al beleef to dote vpon this Strumpet that he could finde no rest nor no contentment but so long as he was with her But she beeyng as dissolute a Dame as any liued in the world and as greedie likewise of gaine as euer any was of her profession would not content her self with Gonsales alone but yeelded vnto as many as list to enioye her if thei came with their handes full and spared for no cost to rewarde her liberally Whiche thyng was vnto hym that was so besotted on her so greeuous and so intollerable that nothyng could be more There was at that same tyme a Scholer in the Citie that studied in Phisicke with whom Gonsales had familiar acquaintance and the Scholler therby hauyng accesse and conuersation in his house began so feruently to bee in loue with Agatha his wife that he desired nothyng so earnestly in the worlde as to enioye her and to winne her good will Wherefore hauyng as I haue saied free accesse to her house and to â—eclare his affection vnto her without suspition he ceased not 〈◊〉 al the meanes he was able to deuise to sollicite and to procure her to yeeld vnto his desire With his endeuour and earnest suite although it were vnto Agatha noisome and displeasant as she that was disposed to keepe her self honest and that she could in that respect haue been very glad that he would forbeare to frequent her house Yet knowyng her housbande to be a man of no very great substance and but slenderly stuffed in the hedpeece and that he delighted greatly in the familiaritie of the Scholler she forced her self to endure with pacience the importunate molestation whiche he still wearied her withall Takyng from hym neuerthelesse all hope to obtaine at any tyme any fauour at her handes and cuttyng hym shorte from all occasions as muche as she could whereby he might haue cause to molest her or to looke for any thyng to proceede from her that were lesse then honest The Scholler perceiuyng that his owne trauaile to win her affection was but labour lost thought best to trie if by the allurement or perswasion of any other he might happly moue her to shew her self more courteous and fauourable vnto him Wherefore hauyng founde out an olde Mother Elenour a disciple of the Spanishe Celestina suche a one as was moste cunnyng and skilfull in mollifiyng of womens myndes to worke them afterwarde to receiue the impressions of their louers he caused her to take acquaintaunce of Agatha and by degrees as though she had been moued with pittie and compassion of case to declare vnto her the loue whiche her housebande bare vnto the Courtisanâ— and to shew her how vnworthie he was that she should be true vnto hym And in the ende passing from one speech to an other she saied plainly vnto her that it was a great follie since her housband did take his pleasures abroade with other women to stand to his allowances and to take the leauyng of his Strumpets and therewith to bee content and that if she were in her case and had a housebande that would strike with the sworde she would vndoubtedly requite hym and strike with the scabberde so she counselled her to doe likewise Agatha beyng a very discrete Gentlewoman and louyng her housbande as an honest woman ought to doe saied to her in aunswere of her talke that she would bee right glad to see her housbande to be suche a man as she wished hym to be and as he ought to be But that since she sawe it would not be and that he could not frame hym self thereto she would not take from hym or barre hym of that libertie whiche either the custome of the corrupted worlde or the priuiledge that men had vsurped vnto themselues had giuen vnto them And that she would neuer for her parte violate or breake that faithe whiche she had giuen hym nor slacke or neglect that care and regard of her honour whiche all women by kinde and nature ought to haue as the thyng that maketh them to be moste commended throughout the world let her housbande doe what he list and like and loue as many other women as pleased hym And that she thought her self so muche the rather bounde so to doe because he did not in the rest misuse her any waie or suffer her to want any thing that reasonably she could desire or craue at his handes and for that she had not brought hym in effect any other dowrie worthie to bee accompted of then her honestie Wherefore she was fully resolued neuer to varie from that constant resolution And finally shewyng her self somewhat moued and stirred with Choler she tolde her that she maruailed at her not a little that beyng a woman of those yeres that she should rather reprehend and chide yong folke if she should see them so bent then encourage them to euil mused muche she could finde in her harte to giue her suche counsell whiche she assured her was so displeasant and so vngratefull as if froÌ„ hence forthe she durst presume to speake thereof any more she would make her vnderstande perchaunce to her smarte how ill she could awaie with suche pandarly practises This olde Hag hauyng had her head washed thus without sope departed from Agatha and came vnto the Scholler and tolde hym in breefe how ill she had sped and in what sorte the honest Gentlewoman had closed her
mouth whereof the scholer was very sorie yet for all this he thought he would not giue ouer his 〈◊〉 imagining that there is no hart so hard or fiintie but by long loue by perseuerance praier and teares maie in the ende be mollified and wrought to be tender In this meane season Gonsales still continuyng his olde familiaritie with the Scholler and hauyng made hym priuie of the loue he bare vnto the Courtisane and what a greefe it was vnto him to see her enioyed by any other then by himself one daie among other talke betweene them of that matter he saied bnto the Sholler that it neuer grieued him so muche to haue a wife as it did then for that if he had bin vnmaried he would haue taken Aselgia for so was the Courtisane named to be his wife without whom he could finde no rest nor quiete in mynde and so long as euery man hath a share with him in her he accompted himself as il as if he had had no parte in her at all And thereto saied further that assuredly if it were not for feare of the Lawe he would ease hymself of that burden by riddyng of Agatha out of the worlde Thereunto replied the Scholler saiyng that in deede it was a greeuous thyng for a Gentleman to be combred with a wife whō he could not finde in his harte to loue and that in suche a case he that did seeke the best waie he could to deliuer himself of that yoke was not altogether vnexcusable though the rigor of Iustice had appoincted seuere punishementes for suche as violentlie should attempt or execute any suche thing But that men that were wise could well enough finde out the meanes whiche waie to woorke their intentes without incurryng any daunger of the Lawe for the matter Whiche language in deede he vsed vnto hym but to feede his humour and to see wherevnto that talke in fine would tende And according to his desire before it was long Gonsales hauing vsed the like speeches twoo or three times and still findyng him to soothe his saiyng tooke one daie a good harte vnto him and brake his minde vnto the Scholer at large and in plaine termes to this effect Alonso for that was the Scholers name I doe assure my self and make full accoumpt that thou art my faste freend as I am thyne and I doubte not but that the freendship whiche is betweene vs doeth make thee no lesse sorie then my self to see me greeue with this continuall trouble of minde wherein I liue because I can not compasse to take this woman whom I loue so dearelie to bee my wife and by that meanes come to haue the full possession of her vnto my self whiche is the thing I doe desire aboue all other thinges in the worlde And for as muche as I dooe perswade my self that by thy meanes and with the helpe of thy profession I maie happ to finde some remedie for my greef I haue thought good to tell thee a conceit whiche I haue thought on oftentimes wherein I meane to vse thee and thy assistaunce for the better accomplishing of my purpose in that behalfe Assuring my self that thou wilte not refuse or denie me any furtheraunce that thy skill maie aforde me or shrinke and drawe backe from the performyng of any freendlie offer whereby I maie come by to finde some ease of minde and bee deliuered of that intollerable tormente of spirite wherewith I am oppressed for the loue of this Aselgia in whom I haue fixed and set all my ioyes and delightes Thou shalte therefore vnderstande that I am determined as sone as I can possible to ridde my handes of Agatha my wife and by one meane or other to cause her to dye And I haue been a good while aboute the execution of this my intent but because I could neuer yet deuise the beste waie to performe it so that her death might not bee laied vnto my charge I haue delaied it hetherto and perforce contente to beare the heauie burthen of my greeued minde till now whiche hence forward I am resolued to beare no longer if thou wilte accordyng to my trust in thee and as the freendship whiche is betweene vs doeth require graunt me thy furtheraunce and helping hand Wherefore knowing that through thy long studie in Phisick thou haste attained so greate knowledge that thou canste deuise a nomber of secretes whereof any one might be sufficient to bryng my purpose to effect I doe require thee to fulfill my desire in that behalfe and to giue me thy helpe to bryng this my desire to passe Whiche if thou dooe I will acknowledge my self so long as I shall liue to be so muche bound vnto thee that thou shalt commaunde me and all that I haue in any occasion of thine as freelie and as boldlie as thou maiest now any thing that is thine owne The Scholer when he had heard Gonsales and his demaunde stoode stil awhile as musing vpon the request and in the meane while discoursed with himself how by the occasion of his intent and resolution of Gonsales he might perhappes finde out a waie to come by the possession of Agatha and to haue her in his handes and at his deuotion But keepyng secrete his thoughtes and meanyng he made hym aunswere That true it was that he wanted not secret composissions to make folke die with poison so as it could neuer bee discerned by any Phisition or other whether the cause were violent or no but that for twoo respectes he thought it not good to yeeld vnto his requeste The one for that Phisicke and Phisitions were appointed in the worlde not to bereue men of their liues but to preserue them and to cure them of suche diseases as were daungerous and perillous vnto them The other because he did foresee in what ieoperdie he should put his owne life whensoeuer he should dispose himself to worke any suche practise considering how seuerelie the lawes haue prescribed punishmentes for suche offences And that it might fall out how warelie so euer the thing were wrought that by some seldome or vnlooked for accident the matter might bee discouered as for the moste parte it semeth that God will haue it in whiche case he were like to incurre no lesse danger then Gonsales and bothe assured without remission to lose their liues And that therefore he would not for the first respect take vppon hym to doe that whiche was contrarie to his profession◠nor for the seconde hazard his life to so certaine a daunger for so hatefull a thing as those practizes are to all the worlde Gonsales verie sorie to heare his deniall told hym that the Lawes and dueties of freendship doeth dispence well enough with a manne though for his freende he straine sometyme his conscience And therefore he hoped that he would not forsake hym in a cause that cōcerne him so waightily as that did And that neither of those twoo respectes if thei were well considered ought to be able
conceiued in your good Nature hath made me thus boldly to speake vnto you desiryng but to heare your opinion with indifferencie whether you thinke I haue good cause to coÌ„plain or naie and then peraduenture I will saie farther vnto you in a matter that doeth concerne your owne behoofe Brisilla hearyng this pitifull complaint verie sorrowfull in her behalfe saied would to God I were as well able to minister releef vnto your distresse accordyng to your owne contentment as I am hartely sorie to consider your greef and do well perceiue the iuste occasion you haue to complaine Ah my Brisilla saied Philerno I am as hartely sorie in your behalf and peraduenture doe vnderstande somethyng whiche your self dooe not yet knowe of whiche will greeue you verie sore But first Brisilla let me aske you this question dooe you knowe my father or naie No sure quoth Brisilla I haue no maner of knowledge of hym neither did I knowe whether you had any father a liue or naie but now by your owne reporte and as straunge it was to me to heare the wordes whiche my Father vsed to me this daie when he brought you home for that I neuer vnderstoode before that he went about a wife Philerno was verie glad to heare these newes because it serued so muche the better for his purpose and therefore saied as followeth This tale that I minde to tell you my Brisilla will seeme more straunge then all the reste and yet assure your self it is nothyng so straunge as true and therefore giue eare to that I mynde to saie Doe you not thinke it verie straunge in deede that the one of vs should bee made bothe mother and daughter to the other and that our fathers whiche be now so diescrepit and olde should bee so ouer haled with the furie of their fonde and vnbrideled affections that to serue their owne appetites thei force not with what clogges of care thei comber vs that be their louyng daughters but haue concluded betwene them selues a crosse Marriage and so in deede it maie well be tearmed that will fall out so ouerthwarte to our behoofes who beyng now in our yong and tender yeres and should bothe of vs bee made the dearlynges of twoo old men that seekes to preferre their owne lust before their childrens loue and measure their fierie flames of youth by the ded coles of age as though thei were able with their cold and rare imbracementes to delaie the forces of the fleshe whose flames doeth excede in these our grene and tender yeres and as muche possible for vs to coÌ„tinue in likyng as flowers are seen to agree with Froste but in plaine tearmes my Brisilla and to discipher a verie trothe it is contracted betweene our aged parentes that your father as you see should first take me to his wife whiche weddyng beyng once performed then my Father in like maner should chalenge you accordyng as it is concluded betweene them Alas ê™ Brisilla these newes bee straunge in deede and it should seem by your woordes so fullie resolued on that there is no hope of redresse to be had in the matter None in the worlde ê™ Philerno but thus betweene our selues the one of vs to comfort the other A colde comforte ê™ Brisilla wee shall finde in that but oh pitilesse parentes that will preferre your own pleasures with your childrens paine your owne likyng with your childrens loathyng your owne gaine with your childrens greefe your owne sporte with your childrens spoile your owne delight with your childrens despight O how muche more happie had it been that we had neuer been borne Alas my Brisilla ê™ Philerno tormente not your self with suche extreame anguishe for if that would haue serued for redresse the matter had been remedied and that long sithence But I would to God my Brisilla that I were a man for your only sake and hauing so good leisure as thus beyng together by our selues we should so handle the matter that our fathers should seeke newe wiues Alas ê™ Brisilla suche wishes are but waste and vnpossible it is that any suche thing should happen Impossible quoth Philerno naie surely Brisilla there is nothing impossible but I haue knowne as greate matters as these haue been wrought Doe we not read that the Goddesse Venus transformed an Iuorie Image to a liuely and perfect woman at the onelie request of Pygmalion Diana likewise conuerted Acteon to a Harte Narcissus for his pride was turned to a flower Archane to a Spider with a greate number of others haue bin transformed some into Beastes some into Foules and some into Fishes but amongst the rest of the miracles that haue bin wrought by the Goddesse this storie falleth out moste meâ—te and fittyng to our purpose There was sometime remainyng in the Countrey of Phestos a maried couple the housbande called by the name of Lictus the wife Telethusa who beyng with childe was willed by her housbande so sone as she should be deliuered if it were not a lad that the childe should presently be slaine his wife beyng deliuered at her appointed tyme brought forthe a girle and yet notwithstandyng her housbandes commaundement brought vp the childe makyng her housebande beleeue it was a boye and called it by the name of Iphis and thus as it grew in yeares was apparelled like a lad and beeyng after by his father assured to a wife called by the name of Ianthe a young Maiden and the daughter of one Telest dwellyng in Dictis Telethusa the mother of Iphis fearyng her deceipt would bee knowne deferred of the Marriage daie so long as she could sometymes fainyng tokens of ill successe sometimes faining sicknesse sometymes one thyng sometymes an other but when all her shiftes were driuen to an ende and the Mariage daie at hande Telethusa comming to the Temple of the Goddesse Isis with her heire scattered aboute her eares where before the Aulter of Isis she made her humble supplications and the gentle Goddesse hauing compassion transformed Iphis to a man Loe here Brisilla as greate a matter brought to passe as any wee haue spoken of yet and the Goddesse bee of as greate force and might in these daies as euer thei were in times past we want but the same zeale and faith to demaunde it and sure in my opinion if either of vs made our request to the Goddes who commonly bee still assistant to helpe distressed wightes thei would neuer refuse to graunt our reasonable requestes and I will aduenture on it my self and that without any farther circumstaunce And here with all he seemed with many piteous sighes throwyng vp his handes to the heauens to mumble forth many woordes in secrete as though he had beene in some greate contemplation and sodainly without any maner of stirryng either of hande or foote did lye still as it had been a thyng immouable whereat Brisilla beganne for to muse and in the end spake to hym but Phylerno made no maner of aunswere but seemed as though he had bin in some
of this that as I wil not maintaine my child in any thing that is euill so I will not see her take a manifest wrong Doe you thinke this to be good then quoth Phylotus that your daughter should bestowe suche hansell on her housband as she hath alreadie bestowed vpon me and then pointyng to his face he saied See here your daughters handie woorke how thinke you is this requisite to be borne with all that you stande so muche in your daughters defence Alberto seeyng his face all swolne and the skinne scratched of perceiued that Phylotus was at a fraie and had good cause to complaine And wonderyng that his daughter was so sodainly become a shrewe saied If this bee my daughters handie woorke I can neither beare withall neither will I allowe it in her so to vse her housebande And therefore I praie you lette me heare the matter debated betweene you and I doubte not but to take suche order as there shall no more any suche rule happen betweene you I am contented you shall debate what you will ê™ Philotus so it maie be doen with quietnesse but I will neuer more contende with her for the maisterie while I liue she hath alredie wonne it I am contented she shall weare it I praie you then quoth Alberto that you wil goe home to your owne house and I will goe fetche my daughter and will come vnto you straight waie and I doubt not but to take suche order betweene you as shall fall out to bothe your likinges I praie God you maie ê™ Philotus and I will goe home and there will staie your commyng Alberto likewise went to his owne house and callyng Emelia saied neuer a woorde to her but willed her to followe hym and commyng to the house of Philotus whom he founde within tariyng his commyng And it fortuned at the same 〈◊〉 Philerno and Brisilla bothe were gone into the Toune to buye certaine thynges that thei had neede of And Alberto beginnyng first to rebuke his Daughter that would seme in suche maner to abuse her housebande and with a long discourse he preached vnto her with what duetie and obedience women ought to vse their housebandes withall and not to take vpon them like Maisters to correcte and chastice theim Emelia denaied not onelie the facte but also she denaied Philotus to be her housebande What haue wee here to dooe quoth the Father how canst thou shamelesse queane denaie that whiche within these fower daies was performed in the face of the whole worlde Emelia standyng stiffe to her tackelyng would in nowise confesse that euer she was Married Then her Father beganne to charge her with her owne woordes whiche he had vsed to her before how she had disguised her self in mannes apparell and so stolne awaie forthe of doores the which Emelia neuer denaied Why then quoth her father did not I meete thee in the streates and at the requeste of thy housebande here presente did forgiue thee thy faulte to whom I then deliuered thee and with whom thou haste euer sithence remained Emelia made flat deniall of any of all these saiynges to bee true Alberto in a greate furie would haue taken witnesse of Philotus in the matter but Philotus fearyng an other banket at night when he should goe to bedde durste not in any wise seeme to contrarie Emelia In the ende after greate fendyng and prouyng had in the matter Emelia from poinct to poincte discoursed to her Father how she firste fell into the likyng of Flanius and by his practise so conueighed her self awaie in his Pages apparell and had with hym remained all this while till now he had tourned her awaie Her father would in nowise allowe this tale to be true but Flanius beeyng well knowne to bee a courteous Gentleman Alberto deuised to sende for hym who presently at his gentle intreatie came to the house of Philotus where he spared not to confesse a truth that onely for the loue that he bare to Emelia he deuised to steale her awaie and there came one vnto him in the likenesse of Emelia and in the same apparell that he had prouided for her whom he verie charely kept vntill suche tyme as he sawe with his owne eyes that Emelia was Married in the Churche to Philotus and then assuryng hym self that he had been deceiued by some Spirite that had taken vppon the similitude and likenesse of Emelia he presently came home and tourned her awaie and what was become of her he could neuer learne Alberto muche amazed to heare this tale saied Seignior Flanius doe you knowe your Emelia again if you see her and then poinctyng to his daughter he saied Is not this the same Emelia that you speake of whiche you haue tourned awaie I knowe not ê™ Flanius the one from the other but sure I sawe with myne eyes twoo Emelias so like that the one of theÌ„ of force must needes bee the Deuill There is no question ê™ Philotus but that is my wife if there bee euer a Deuill of them bothe I knowe it is she Out alas that euer I was borne what shall I now dooe I knowe I haue Married the Deuill And by fortune as Alberto chaunced to looke forthe of thâ— windowe he espied Philerno and Brisilla in the Streate commyng homewardes Peace ê™ Alberto here commeth the other Emelia wee shall now trie whiche of them is the Deuill I thinke before we departe By this Philerno was come in and hearyng how matters had been debated and were falne out againe knowing Alberto to be his Father and what preiudice his sister Emelia was like to sustaine if she should be forsaken by her freende and louer Flanius confessed the whole matter humblie desiryng his Father to forgiue hym When he had a while wondered at the circumstaunce and the truthe of euery thyng laied open and come to light all parties were well pleased and contented sauyng Philotus for when he remembred first the losse of his loue Emelia then how Philerno had heaten hym what a bedfellowe he had prouided hym while he hym self went and laie with his Daughter these thinges put all together made hym in suche a chafe that he was like to runne out of his wittes But when he had regarded a good while and sawe how little helpe it did preuaile hym he was contented in the ende that his Daughter Brisilla should Marrie with Philerno and Flanius verie ioyfully receiued againe his Emelia when he knewe she was no Deuill and bothe the Marriages consummate in one daie And so I praie God giue them ioye and euery old dotarde so good successe as had Philotus FINIS The Conclusion GEntle Reader now thou hast perused these Histories to the ende I doubt not but thou wilte deeme of theÌ„ as thei worthily deserue and thinke suche vanities more fitter to be presented on a stage as some of them haue been then to bee published in Printe as till now thei haue neuer been but to excuse my self of the follie that here might