preache in other pulpitt then the hyghest theatrye within the castell of Chabrye whiche laste threates argued a more mortalitie by his terrible regardes of countenance with broken wordes in his mouthe declaring sufficientlie the vehemencie of his passion all which as they perswaded the ladie to dread a spedie execucion of his anger wherin her Tolonyo shold bée chieflie distressed so being voied of remedie in any feare shée cold preferr shée retired to the pollecie of femenine complaintes sekyng to moderate the furye of his iuste collor by certeine suborned teares and other dissembled argumētes of dollor wherwith shée seamed to fil eche synowe and vaine about her continuing some space in that sorowful contemplacion with her face vppon the grounde castynge duste and ashes vppon her head accordinge to the desperat Persyans when they receiued any lamentable newes and rysinge at last as oute of a qualme of heauye passions replied to thexclamacion of her son with thies or such like tearmes of counterfaite compassion were yt not that ynnocencie is a vertue sufficiēt of it selfe to aunswere all cōbats of vniust ymputacion I should sewer doubte of assystance in the defence of my cause and muche lesse bée hable too cleare the sentence of your synister conceite againste me neyther had I reason to argue with you and lesse cause to enter into tearmes to iustyfye my selfe yf in myne owne integretie appeared not thabsolute wronge you do to my presēt honor and yet do I féele my selfe indiffrentlye passioned betwene doute and feare for that your present coller Quarrelyngwith al offers of defence on my syde seameth also curious to admitt any creditt at all in what so euer I shall preferr to approue my guilteles lyfe for yf yt bée a vertue to bée credulus in euery reapport you haue reason to continue your grudge or yf the viewe of your owne eye had broughte you to the sighte of that wherein you presume a trothe but by ymagination you were suffycientlye absolued yf you hadd alredie performed the ende of your mortall enterprise but where your eyes argue agaynste you as partakers at no tyme of the likelyhodd of any suche euill you haue presently ymagined your selfe voied of other witnes thē thinformacion of your owne pertial conceite let straungers be iudges betwene the causes of your suspicion and the hard sentence you haue passed of myne honor and all the worlde that was pryuie to the course of my youthe when you were vnder the yoke and yeres of discrecion accuse the wronge you doo to the vertue of myne age whose hoarie haires crye out of your present crueltie Alas what is he that dare vndertake the defence of this desolate widowe yf myne owne children séeke to set abroache my dishonnor what state or degre may bée boolde to reappose creditt with assurance in myne honestie when the fruts congealed of the substance of my self seameth dowtefull of my vprighte dealinge what expectacion of faithe loyaltie or good opynion is in anye sorte of straungers when the blood and blossomes of our owne intralls enter into conspiracie againste vs oh miserable condicion and vnhappie secte of ours subiect moste as yt seameth to straunge wretchednes when wee accompte oure selues paste the feare and malice of fortune who now I sée beginneth her troblesome warr when wee reappose moste felicitie and assurance in reste yt is nowe alas that I fynde an experience of the common voice of the vulgare sorte cōfirmed also by consent of thauncient crewe of the learned that vertue is contynuallie assailed with spite enuie and false ymposicion of crymes neyther am I alone persecuted with the malice of all those myschieues althoughe I onlye am oppressed with a present villanye whereof I neuer thoughte and muche lesse performed any effect how longe alas my sonne haue you ioyned in opynion with that fonde secte whose rashenes in iudgement hathe made theme oftentimes repente the sentence of their follie synce when haue you bene so lightly perswaded of the reputacion constancie and vertue of dames of honor do you measure their dispocicion by the vanitie in your selfe and villanie of such as creditt only thinstinct of their malicius braine no no yt is not thindeuor of ladyes of my regarde to practise in sensualitie nor studye in the vaine delites of the fleshe and for my part me thinkes discrecion shold perswade you that the time and nomber of my yeares are not conuenient to the follies whereof I felte no mocion in the veraye flame and burninge sommer of my youthe you greue with the famyliaritie betwene Tolonyo and me but chieflye because we vse conference now and then in my chamber do not you knowe yt is he by whose counsell are guyded the whole affaires of the house or do you sée his libertie enlarged since the deathe of your father in whose time he practised in sorte as he doth nowe and yet was he neuer Ieleouse of his accesse hether at any hower had he not eyes to discerne as farr of as you and his eares weare as open to al reapportes as yours albeyt he vsed discrecion in iudgement neyther colde his harte I am sewer disgeste halfe the villenie you haue alledged yf hys sormise hadd bene confirmed with a trothe But here alas appere the pointes of my wretchednes to fall into the daunger of suspicion with hym in whom I haue reaposed y e quiet of my olde yeres and for thincrease of whose welth and patrymonie I am in contynuall traueile bothe of mynde and bodye wherein as the poore Tolonyo no lesse infortunate then I for that your grudge seameth moste haynous on his behalfe hathe equall care to aduance you by hys aduyse and trauelle So besides your abuse to me whom God and nature bindes you to honor with all dutie you do doble wrong to hys faith and zeleus intent towardes you in retornynge his honest care with threates of no lesse mortalitie thē shamefull and cruell deathe whyche yf yt come in question by your rashenes what dowte brynge you of hys honestye where now his name is of credytt with the beste of the contreye and for hys part yf you giue hym the leaste ynkling in the worlde of your displeasure I warrante you hys presence shall no more offende you in the house nor elswhere and then shall you knowe whether the fauour hée fyndes at my handes ymportes a meanyng for your proffit or to satisfye the pleasure of my vile and aged fleshe besides the order of your affaires bothe at hoame and in the senatt will trye the diffrence betwene the commoditie of his presence and hyndrance that is sewer too happen by hys restrainte of cominge hether when my sonne will also appere the care of your deare mother whose diligence alas deserueth better consideracion then to bee charged wyth the note of incontynencie whyche I proteste affore God wyth stretched handes and harte to the heauens to haue in no lesse contempte for the vilenes of the synne then I sée the
thoratour the faire and good are so conioyned together that the one glorifyenge in the other are confirmed both with equal estimation why shoulde I not pursue the loue of my deare CAMILLA whose exterior regardes argew a greater vertue then to refuse the offer of my simple and honest seruice supported with an intente of vnfayned loyaltie so longe as nature shall assiste me with one moment of tyme in this worlde But alas what reason hath she to graunte to that whiche I dare not demaunde or howe shoulde she satisfye my requeste beinge altogether ignoraunte of my meanynge and seynge by conceylinge my desyer my greefe is growen to an agrauacion of torment why staye I to disclose the cause to the ende I maye eyther receyue the soueraine CATAPLAME for my sore or els the laste and fatall syroppe whiche maye sende me to complaine mine euill in the other worlde wherin as he made here his plat to communicate his loue with his mistres so the veray presence of CAMILLA feare to offende her toke awaye theffect of that resolucion conuerlinge his complot into a misterie of some dreame or vision inuisible whereby what with the increase of his passion and feare to bewraye thoccasion his greefe grewe to a disease presentyng argumentes of debilitye and diminutioÌ„ of strength w t lose of auncieÌ„t colour in his face so far furth y t he seamed not the same LYVIO which earst was so welcome into all companies no lesse for hys grace and perfection of nature then his guifte of pleasante discourse seinge that nowe in so shorte a tyme he is so transposed into the habite and disposition of a malencolike and solitarie harmit that there appeared no lesse impossibilitie to haue hym assiste any assemblye accordynge to the commendable custome of nobilitie or youth of gentle discente throwe all the franchises in ITALY then to mortifye in one instante the furye of his solitary passion in suche sort that the young Ladyes and gentlewomen companyons to his syster began to deskande of his coye and religious trade of lyfe some of theim accusinge hym of folishe disdaine noted a sorte of sauage and hagarde disposition and some seinge as fare into his disease as the phizicion into his water referred the cause of this soddaine chaunge to the mortall and ineuitable woundes of the cruell son of the faire CYPRIS wherwith CORNELIA troubled withoute measure that the alteracion of her brother was the onely wonder of the multitude greuyng no lesse for her parte then the reste seamed amazed accoasted hym one mournyng in a close arbore or alleye of his gardin where he was recording his amarous coÌ„ceits and disposed her selfe tunderstande the cause vnder these termes I hope sayeth she my present coÌ„myng excedyng my ordinary custome will not moue you to conceytes of presumption against me chiefly for that I desier to coÌ„municate with you in that which your self ought to disclose to such as are deare vnto you to th ende that if the meane to restore you consiste in straungers the remedie may folow with expedicion but if a sleighte slaue may cure a slender sore that your gréefe is of no other coÌ„sequence then a passion of ymaginations why do you not take vp the vaine that fedes the humour of such fonde conceites of your selfe dismisse the darke cloudes of youre troubled fansie For I assure you the shame whiche I haue on the behalfe of your doing is nothyng inferiour to the panges you féele chiefly for that your solenme trade of life ringing in mine cares by a general reaporte of all men makes me not only refuse diuerse asseÌ„blies whiche I ought to visite but also loath the companie of my deare coÌ„panions who forget not to reproche me with imputacion of our change protesting vnto you that if you coÌ„firme it with any loÌ„ger time I wyl also assiste your solitarie trade and kepe my self so recluse that in forbearing to visite my frends abroade I wil also forbid thaccesss of any at home for what delit do I fynde in any coÌ„panye when al degrees salute me with your desolate order of liuyng and iudge you what pleasure I take that earst did glory w t the best in y e behauior of my brother most welcome aboue all men to euery estate now to heare you loaden with titles surnames of proude disdainful ful of faâ—â—ies with a thousand other imposicions of like reproch Wherfore for end if ther remaine in you any care of your owne estimation or respect to coÌ„tent me I besech you eftesones sticke not with me in so small a sute as y e discouerie of the cause and circumstaunce of your annoye assuring you for my part by the vertue of our parents decessed that my life shal refuse no peril to remoue your distres that with no lesse good will then I desier with my harte a spedie coÌ„uersion of your malencolike countenance into regardes of auncient ioye imparting by that meanes an vniuersal gladnes to al your freÌ„ds who are driuen to participat with you in sorow til they sée a restauracion of your former quiet wherwith LYVIO takyng thaduauntage of thaffected zeale of his syster who gaue him assuraunce of her promisse in that whiche he durste not demaunde knewe not at the firste what replye to preferre but that it was not against nature for a man to flitt from happye lyfe to heauye state neyther oughte it sayth he to seame a wonder to the people when we expose alteracion of complexion for suche are equall to angels or semblable to the brutall sorte with out sence that are priuiledged from passion or can kepe so temperate a meane in receyuyng and disgestyng thaccidents of this worlde which accordynge thoccurrance and euenem entes of tymes do expose argumentes of mirthe or sorow in the faces of them whome they possesse and albeit I confesse vnto you that as he beares his miserie beste that hides it moste so suche are worthye to haue the name of perfecte men who enconteringe their disaster with a constante magnanimitye of minde do dissimule their greefe afore the worlde to th ende they only may giue remedye to that which is common to none but theym selues wherin for my parte I coulde neuer enioye a participation of suche perfection neyther is thoccasion of my extremitie so easely couered but the drouping regardes in my face are readie to make declaration of my torment besides I haue no greate cause of shame of mine euill consideringe the same importes an enterprise of noble consequence albeit I make some conscience to discouer the principall cause But considering the roundnes of your offer and howe boldly one of vs maye participat wyth an other I am contente to imparte with you the circumstance of my passion wherin as you haue charged me with chaunge and alteracion of countenance debilitie and diminucion of the strongest partes in me with a sauage and hagarde order of lyuynge as you haue tearmed it
the same shee woulde coÌ„mitte it to a thousande morselles in her presence So if the readinge broughte cause of miscontentment she gaue her assurance to performe thuttermoste of her former promisse CORNELIA alledged ignoraunce in the matter onely sayth she I can thus far assure you that I haue not in charge to presente you wyth letter or message from any man for as I founde it this morninge vppon the steares goinge oute of my chamber so I hope you will neither enioyne me blame nor penaunce for the falte wherin myne ynnocencye is suficiente to cleare me Well well sayeth CAMILLA I will not sticke to giue you the readinge of these amarus lyues arguinge as small pleasure to hym that write theym as euill receiued of me to whom they are dressed wherwith she opened the pacquett and redd the roll from â—hone ende to thother wherin albeit she discouered in her faÌ„ce a singler pleasure begynning euen nowe to fele the motions of loue with in her tender breast and taste of the appetit of a desier which she durst not satisfy yet vsing her accustomed wisedome in conceylinge that she desired moste she couered the suspicion of affection with certeine tearmes of reproché which she bestowed vpon her simple companion in this sort I finde nowe sayeth shee that my pacience and facilitie in hearynge your reaportes do yelde you to muche fauor in furtheringe your fonde practise which you nede not go about to coollour with other enamell then the complection of your owne nature seinge that she wyth whom you haue to do can spie a flee in y e milke and giue iudgemente of thintente of these baites wyth theffecte of your meanyng desiering you for preuentyng a further inconuenience in your brother to seke to cure his disease as you may leaste in contynuinge his follie hee further a subuercion of that which is the beste parte in him for he hathe alreadye of me asmuch as he may hope for with assurance And for your part â–ª as you seame to reappose neither religion nor vertue in promisses for that the laste tyme we weare in tearmes of these follies you gaue me assurance to discontinue thenterprise So it is I that am readie to giue punyshmente to mine owne indiscretion and endure the penance of mine owne rashenes in depriuinge me of the companie wherin I tooke moste pleasure and contentmente biddinge you fare well till better occasions maye restore oure famyliar visitacions wherwith she put no difference betwen doing and sayinge fearing that if she had attended the replie of CORNELIA she had bene in daunger to yelde to the bargaine in openynge her eares to wide to the perswacions of her companion whome she left no lesse astonied then her selfe traunsed and full of diuerse ymagynacions beginnyng euen then to measure thaffection of â—IVIO and giue iudgement of his loyaltie by the contynuacion vehemencie of his passion with absolute resolucion for al her dissymuled disdayne to change purpose and admitt the offer of his frend shippe if she were eftsones required by hym or any in his be halfe blamynge her rashenes in reprochinge hys syster and crueltie more thenne conueniente to her brother who beganne euen nowe to take possession of her thoughtes and make hym selfe a secrete mediator in his owne cause wherein sewerly may be noted in experience of the fragilitie and inconstante disposition of man and specially in thaffaires of loue seynge that shee whiche earste detested euerye waye to be pertaker of suche ympression is now chaunged in a momente and broughte to laie her heade vnder the yoke of seruile affection makinge as it were a simple and plaine table of her harte to th ende to drawe thereupon a forme of thoughtes and ymagynacions in diuerse collours according to the direction of hym that thus hath gott the gouernement of her libertie with authoritie to dispose of her as hee thinkes good And yet I cannot but allowe her longe delaie and iudge her of greate wisedome to suspende her consente till she had wel considered of the matter seinge the dailie inconueniences happeninge to suche as neyther carefull of their honor nor curious of their quiet do admit indescretly the bargaine at the fyrste offer without knowinge the merite of the persones or examynynge the circum stancye of the future sequeile of theyr loue wherof are deriued so many examples of a nomber of miserable men endinge their liues by vnhappie dispaire whose wretchednes ought to warne vs to delibrate at large afore we put in execution and to vse a reasonable meane in our doinge I meane not to ron hedlonge into the golphe of affection leaste our daunger be equal to the peryl of y e infortunate ACARESTRYANS who because they were disfaudred of their ladyes entered into such conceites of mortall grefe that when they would willinglie haue retired and bene deliuered it was eyther ympossible or at least veraie hard to giue theym remedy to whych crew of desperate louers we may wel add the desaster of thys LIVIO who assured of thaunswere of his Ladie as well by hys sister as also by the regards of disdayne he noted in her farewell wheÌ„ she departed whereof he was partaker by shrowdinge hymselfe in a secrette corner of the chamber duringe the perley of the two maydes fel ymedyatelye into so strange a sickenes that aband onynge at the fyrst the desyer of slepe wyth the appetit of the stomacke he lefte the phizicions at th ende of their wittes who beynge voyde of skill to cure hys disease tolde hys frendes that if he woulde not receiue compfort of hym self his life was in hazarde for that hys euill proceded onely of passions and inwarde sorowe of the harte wherein they had reason seynge that the disease of loue is contrarye to the disposition of all other greues for as there is no distresse what extremitie so euer it importe but it maye be eyther cured or qualefied by certaine drogues and confections deuised by art to compforte the stomake and restore the hart to a gladnes so the pacient plunged in the passions of the mynde can neyther broke thassistance of Phizicke nor operacion of hearbes onely the presence or simple worde of hys mistres hath more power ouer hys euill then all the misticall or artificiall powders deuised by the moste experte phizicions that euer cam out of thuniuersity of PARIS or PADVA whereof thexperience apperes in this LIVIO who languishynge euery daye from euill to worse consumed by pecemeale with the force of his amarous fier no lesse then the snow lying vpon the syde of a mountaine yeldes and wastes with the heate of the son which also forced such inward grefe to his sorowefull sister together with dispaire of any meane to restore hym for that CAMILLA discontinued her repaire to vysitt her that she yelded tribute to his passion with a dysease of equall mortalitie impartynge suche alarams of dollor thorowe all the partes of her bodye that she was constrained to kepe
deadlie hate doubted whether shee shoulde vse force againste her selfe for the spite of the villainy he had don to her or persecute hym vnto deathe whose life shee vtterly detested and waueringe thus in contrarietie of opinions she soughte to appease somwhat the furye of her presente dolloure by recordynge her greete with these lamentable tearmes Alas saithe shée if this bée the rewarde of true loyaltie what assuraunce maye wee reappose in constancie or what meede to be exspected in the vertie of suche vnfained frendshippe as I professed to this vnthankeful and periured knighte haue I refused the seruice of so many gentlemenne offringe franklie to employe their times vnder the becke of my commaundemente to make my affection subiecte to one who hauinge alreadie called oute of me the frutes of his desyer smiles nowe at my simplicitie and laughes to sée mée languishe in dule Ah why were the eyes of my mynde so dymmed with the myste of fonde zeale that I colde not consider the common malice of menne now a dayes who preferring their humble seruice wyth all kinde of othes dienge a thousande times a daye for oure sakes yea offringe their lyues to all kynde of perill doo seame to remeine prisonners in the ward of oure good will vntill their fayned ymportunyties preuailyuge aboue the weake resistance of vs poore wretches do place theime in the possession of their desyer and beinge once made Lordes ouer that whyche onely colde commaunde theym afore God knowethe howe sone they reuolte torninge their seruente affection into a contempte of our fragilitie if I had as carefullie caste all argumentes of future disquiet as I was readie to open myne eares to the sugred breathe of his charmes I hadde eschewed the euill wyth the cause neyther hadde I stande as I do nowe readye to enter into the harde pennaunce of my former follie Ah moste vnthankefull PARTHONOPE howe canste thou soo easelye forgette her who was no nigarde in satysfyenge thy desyers and whose bewtie thou séemedeste earste to haue in no lesse admiracion thenne if I hadde béene sente frome aboue for thanlie solace of my lyfe hath thy presente crueltie preuailed whollie aboue the glorye of thyne aunciente vertue or haste thou vtterlie dismissed the remembraunce of thy othe and protestacion of faythe whyche oughte to call thy conscience to a remorse forcinge a performaunce of thy promisse whereof also sayeth shée castynge her waterie eyes downe to her bigge bellie thou hast lefte mée a pawne whyche witnessing no lesse thy disloyaltye agaynste mée thenne aduowching the frendeshippe thou haste founde at my hande oughte to knocke at the dore of thy conscience for some consideracion of pitie towardes her whome wythout cause thou doste shamefullie abuse Oh vnhappye and wretched Ladye that I am in what companye canne I showe my heade wherin the bignes of my bellie bringing the blodd of shame into my face will not accuse me of treason towardes my husbande beinge so longe tyme absente what wronge dothe the world to my wickednes if euery man salute me by the name of a common and arraunde strompette who defacingâ— her â—â—nciente honour and house wyth the lasciuidus exercise of adulterous abuse deserueth to be registred in the staunderous boke of black defame w t a crown of infamy for euer wherunto like as thy subtil practises Oh â—aytyâ—e knyghte hath aduaunced me so thy tyrany in y e end shal take awaye the life of those ii who ought to be farr more deare vnto the then thou seamest to accompte theim wherwith fallinge into alteracions of more furye she began a cruell warre with her faire haires printinge her nailes without respecte in the rosye dye of her faire face bedewinge her bossome and skirtes of outwarde garmentes with the droppes of teares distilling from her cristal eyes and entring thus into y e pageant of rage had here plaied the laste acte of the tragedie in executinge herselfe if the presence of FYNEA had not preuented the facte who stirringe vpp rather the appitit of reuenge in her mistrys then mynistringe perswacions to patience or moderacion in her dollor incensed her by al the wicked deuises shee colde ymagyne to wreake her iuste anger vppon the villanons bodye of him that so synisterlie procured her passion of vndeserued dule whereunto albeit PANDORA gaue diligent eare with desyer to put her aduise in execution yet hauinge not vtterlie drayned her stomake of all complaints renewed estsones her exclamacion in this sort Ah. sayeth she why was not I traded in the magicall sciences of the COLCHOSE MEDEA or thytalyan CIRCE whose conninge workinge meruailous in the like affaires hath left an ymortalitie to their names to al ages certainly if the heauens had reuealed vnto me any skil in the misterie of their artes eyther sholde PARTHONOPE be myne or els would I raine the shower of vengance vppon him and her that enioyeth the mede of my merite with such ympetuosytie that the sequeile of the world shold haue no lesse cause to cronicle my doings then they seame coÌ„monly to confirme and allowe thactes of the it former enchaunteresses And thou FYNEA sholâ—est haue me to forgett him in whose loue I doate although I wishe nothing so muche as his vtter destruction And now do I see the doe rewarde of my former vnchaste conuersacion for the seruente affection whiche I beare him doth now yelde me doble vsurâ—e of the want on libertie wherin I haue lyued hetherunto neyther shall I be enioyned to other penance for my falte then a loathesome dispaire which atteÌ„des if I do not recouer him whom I haue lost or haue spedie meanes to reueÌ„ge the wrong he hath don me to cut in sunder the strings of my life Wherfore beyng resolued in some parte to folowe thy aduise So muste I also vse thy traueile in th execution of my first attempte whiche is that thou goe furthwith to the vale of Cammonika in the contrey of Bressiant which as they saye is not without great stoare of conninge sorcerers amongest whom it is necessarie that thou learne what so euer it coste some enchauntement of so greate vertue that it maye not onely restore me eftesones to the frendship of hym whome I thynke hath vtterly forsaken me but by the coniuracion of theyr charme haue power to remoue the vaile of his affection from hys newe wyfe that makyng no more accompte of her he may from hensfurth dissolue the league of amytie betwene them for euer wherein if the effect of my desyer bée furthered by a successe of thy diligence assure thy selfe thy traueil shal be so thankefully imployed that chrystennynge the hensfurth by the name of my syster there shal be neither riches nor commoditye anye waye proper or due vnto me whiche shall not be common to vs both FINEA who was not so readie to obey her mystres in this deuelishe enterprise as gyuen of her selfe to bée a fyt minister of euill discending with expedicion into the vale of
made her body and other members the mynisters of her wil which God doth oftentymes suffer as wel for the due correction of heynous faults as also for an example and terror to all offenders in the like affayres I am lothe good Ladyes to passe any further in the pursute of this dolorous tragedye because your eyes alredy wearyed with wepinge methinke I see also your eares offer to close themselues against y e report of this PANDORA whose only offence had bene enough to staine your whole secte with per petual iâ—amie if y e pure chastitie of so many of you offred not to confute the slaunder by your vertue only neither caÌ„ y e impudente and wicked liffe of suche double curtalls as shee was impayre thestimacion of them that wyth thintente of pure integritie do rather giue suck to their honor w t y e milke of simplicytie then being Italyonated with all subteltyes trustinge onlye in the humor of their owne braine do fall at laste into the common slaunder of all the worlde for a famylyar profe wherof I leaue you to skanne the order and doinges of this PANDORA who waringe nowe somewhat colde in her former passions of frensye and rage began to be pinched with the panges Incydente comenlye to all women in the paynfull trauell of childe bearinge wherfor goinge to bed she caused certeyn baynes to be prouided wherin washinge her selfe the next daye beinge hallowed and a feaste of great solempnytye she was caryed in a rych coche to vysitt the companie of other Ladyes amongeste whome she was not worthye to kepe place being the shamefull bother of her own blood and wicked ennemy to the life of maÌ„ Herein is to be noted the destructiun of a woman banished the pallays of reason together with the due mede of their merytt who for the respect of a lyttell pleasure of no more contynuance then a moment do put their honour vpon tearmes of Infamye and there soules in hazard of euerlastinge tormente here the adulterers maye see howe iustelye God ponysheth their infydelytie breach of othes towardes their husbands let also the yong ladyes and lyttel girls learne to direct the cours of their youth by y e contrary of this example and beinge once registred in the boke of maryage let theim staÌ„d vpoÌ„ their guard for falling into y e like folies for ther is nothiÌ„g coÌ„mitted in secret but in y e end it bursts out to a coÌ„moÌ„ brute which our sauior Christ affyrmeth by the mouthe of y e prophet sainge y t what so euer is done in the darkest corner of the house shal be published in y e end in open audience And he who sekes most to conceile his faulte is not onlye by the permission of God the first opner of the same but also beares the badge of shame afore the face of y e world and standes in daunger of grace in the presence of him from whom no secret canne bee hydde FINIS The argument IT may seame to some that delighte in the reporte of other mens faltes with respectt rather to take occasion of synister exclamacioÌ„ then be warned by their euils to eschewe the like harmes in theÌ„ selues that I haue bene to prodigall in notinge the doinges and liues of diuerle ladies and gentlewomen declininge by misfortune from the path of vertue and honour only to sturre vp cause of reproche and leaue argument to confirme their fonde opinion Albeit as their errour appereth sufficiently in the integretye of my meaninge so I hope thindifferent sort will geue an other iudgement of my entente the rather for that I haue preferred these discourses both for the proffit of the present glorye of them that bee paste and instruction of suche as bee to come seing w c al they discouer more cause of rebuke and vices more heynous in men then any we finde committed by women and albeit the historye last recyted hath set fourthe in lyuely collours the furye and madd dispocition of a woman forced by disloyaltie yet if a man maye any waie excuse synne it maye in some sorte be dispensed with all or at leaste with more reason then the tyranous execution followinge committed by a man without occacion where a certaine Ielousye sprong of an vniuste myslyke as she thought is readie to couer the falte of Pandora for what is he so ignorante in the passions of loue that will not confesse that Ielosye is an euill excedinge all the tormentes of the worlde supplantinge oftentymes bothe wytt and reason in the moste wise that be specially when appeareth the lyke treason that Pandora perswaded her selfe to receiuely him that forsoke her but for thother how eaÌ„ he be acquited froÌ„ an humor of a frantike maÌ„ who without any cause of effence in the world committes cruel excution vpon his innocente wife no lesse fayre and fournished in al perfections then chast and verteous with oute comparison neyther is Ioylowsye the cause of morder considringe that the opynion is no sooner conceyued then there followeth as it were a distrust of the partye that thinkes to receiue the wronge with an indifferent desyer to theim both to stande vpon their gard in sort lyke ii enemyes workinge the mutuall destruction the one of the other wherof leauing the iudgement to theim that be of good stomake to disgest all kindes of meates or can carye a braine to â—â—kle with the fumes of euerye brothe that is offred theim I haue here to expose vnto you a myserable accident happening in our tyme whiche shall serue as a bloddye skaffolde or theaterye wherin are presented such as play no partes but in mortal and furious tragideies ⧠AN ALBANOYSE Capteine beinge at the poynte to dye kylled his wyfe because no man should enioye her beavvtie after his deathe ⧠˙ Ë™ DUringe the sege and miserable sacke of MODONA a Cytye of the mores confyning vpoÌ„ y e sea PELOPONESE not farr froÌ„ y e straite of YSTHMYON by y e whiche the venetians conueighe theire great traffique and trade of marchandise Baiazeth themperour of the turkes and great grandfather to SVLTAN SOLYMAN who this daye gouerneth the state of thoriente vsed so many sortes of inordinat cruelties in the persecution of those wretches whom fate with extreme forme of his warr had not onlye habandoned from the soyle of their ancient and naturall bode but also as people ful of desolation and voide of succour euery waye forced them to craue harbor of the lymytrophall townes adioyning their countrey to shroude ther weary bodyes bledinge still with the woundes of their late warre and ouercome besides wyth the violence of hungar and cold ii common enemies that neuer faile to followe the campe of miserie And as in a generall calamitie euerie man hath his fortune So amongest the vnhappie crewe of these fugitiues creatures full of care there was one gentleman no les noble by discente then worthelye reuowmed by the glorye of his own actes who accompting it a
chyefe and principal vertue to withstande the mallice of fortune with magnanimitie of mynd thought it not also the office of a noble hart to yeld to the sentence of aduersitie or geue any place to the iniurie of present time consideringe that in euerye distresse fortune bearethe the greateste swaighe whose mallice is neyther of perpetuitie nor yet to be feared of such as haue their harts armed with assurance in vertue for as she is no lesse vncertaine of her selfe then her doinges full of mutabilitie so accordinge to thaduice of the philosopher she is to be vsed with suche indifferencie of all estates that wee neade neyther laughe whē she smyles nor feare when she threates neither hathe she anye to followe the chariot of her victorie but the caityffe or Towarde and suche as are denied the assistaunce and benifet of trew vertue This gentleman whom mine author termeth by the name of PIERRO BARZO wearie euē nowe with drawinge the heauie yecke of harde erile left the rest of his contrymen and companions of care complaining their mutuall myseries together and retired to the rythe and populous Cytie of MANTVA where his cyuell gouernemente and prudent behauior accompanied with a singuler dexteritie in exploytes of armes and other exercises of the ualrye arguinge thunfayned noblenes of his mynde gaue suche a shewe of his vertue that he was not onlye in shorte tyme intertained of the marques and gouernour there but also made generall of the whole armie of footemen where enioyinge thus the benefyt of his vertue who commonly yeldes no lesse successe to such as imbrace her with true ymytacion and treade the pathe of her loare with semblable sinceretie of mynde he had there with him at the same instante his wyfe beinge also of MODONA deriued of no lesse nobilytie then he and nothinge inferiour in all gyftes of nature and ornamentes of vertue for touching her bewtie seaming of suche wonderfull perfection that it was thoughte nature was dryuen to the ende of her wittes in framinge a pece of so great excellencie they dowted not to geue her therby the tytle of the faire Helene of grece nether was she lesse meritorious for her vertues being blessed therwith so plentifully at the handes of thalmighty that it was doubted to the writers of that tyme whether god or nature deserued the greatest prayes in forminge so perfecte a creature If this were a consolation and singuler contentment of the pore MODONOYSE waighinge earste in the ballance of his vnhappye fortune denied anye more to enioye the fredome of his countrye dryuen by force from the auncient succours and solace of his frendes wandringe in wooddes and deserte places vnknowne and that whiche worse is lefte onely to the mercie of hunger and coulde with exspectation to fall eftesones into the handes of hys enemyes and nowe to bee taken from the malice of all theis myseries and restored to a place of a bode richesse and entertainement sufficient for sustentation to beare office and authoritie amongeste the best and rampierd besydes within thassured good will and opinion of the chiefe gouernor of a countrye I appeale to thopinions of those who earst haue changed their miserable condicion or state of aduersytie with the benefyt goodnes of the lyke fortune or if againe he had cause to reioyce and make sacrifice to his fortune that had gyuen hym a wyfe noted to be the odd Image of the worlde for beautye behauiour courtesey and vprighte dealyng constant wythout cause or argument of dishonesty and that whiche is the chiefest ornement and decoracion of the beautie of a woman to bee of disposition readye to obeye her husbande yeldinge hym suffraintye with a deutifull obedience with other vertues that made her an admiration to the whole multitude and her lyfe a spectacle to the Laoyes of our age to beholde Imitate the like vertues I leaue it to the Iudgemēt of that smal number of happy men who by a speciall grace from aboue are ordeined to enioye the benefyt of so rare and precious a gyfte This couple thus reioysinge the retourne of happy lyfe resigned with all their teares of auncient dule and embraced the gyfte of present time with intent to spend the remainder of their yeres in mutual cōsolacion contertement of mynde wherein they were assisted wyth a second blessyng of God who for the increase of theyr new comfort sent them a doughter who in beautye vertue and all other gyftes of grace dyd nothynge degenerate from the patterne and mould from whence she was deriued wherof she gaue great showes as nature seamed to increase her yeres and conferme her in discrecion But what assuraunce is ther in the pleasure of people seinge the worlde hit selfe is appointed his date whiche he can not passe or why shoulde we repofe a perpetuitye in our worldlye afaires seinge that both theyr continuance and confidence endes wyth the lengthe of tyme And fortune who is alwayes Ielouse of the ease of man and not content to let vs lyue longe in quiet is alwayes laying her ambushe deuisyng howe to interrupte oure felicitie and as she is blinde of her selfe and lesse certeintie in her doinges so she forgettes not to discouer her conspiracies when we leste thinke of her and invade vs when we accompte vs moste sewer of her frendshippe wherof she gaue a manifest declaration in the person of this faire Ladye from whome she toke her deare husband in the flower of his yeres and she not yet confermed in age and discretion hable to beare and withstande thordinarye assaultes of the worlde whiche she founde also of more vneasye tolleracion aswell for the feruent zeale and affiance whiche lawe of kynde dyd bynde her to beare to her late spouse and loyall husbande as also for that she sawe her selfe lefte amongest the handes of straungers farre from her parentes and frendes voyde of refuge in her owne countrye and with oute a heade to defende her from the malice of men whiche commonlye rageth wyth more extremytie againste weake and desolate widowes and pore fatherles orphanes then againste theim that are hable to withstande their malice and represse theyr violence wyth equall power And albeit she was left to her owne lybertye to lyue as she lyste as you haue harde and not yet felynge the burden of xx wynters an age fyt to engender susspicion of the euell diposed yet hauinge no lesse care to preuent the malice of slaunder then to kepe in entyer the small reuenue lefte vnto her by her husbande she toke order wyth her domesticall affaires according to her present fortune and so dismissing her ordinary traine of seruantes retyred to a brother of hers whiche dwelte also in the same towne wher after the funerals of her dead husbande were performed with sufficient teares and dueties appertaynynge she qualifieth somewhat her dule for him that was dead with the dayly view of her yong doughter the lyuelye ymage of her
capteine being one of the traine of the lord Iames TRIVOVLSE a great fauorer of the faction of GEBALYNO in Italye and at that tyme gouernor of the duchie of MILLAYNE vnder y e frenche kinge LOYS the thirde of that name whether it were to make a further proffe of the pacience of his wife or by absence to mortefie and forgett his fonde opinion conceiued without cause retired vpon a soddaine to Neweastel y e court and ordenarie place of abode of y e sayd Lord TRYVOVLSE which albeit was of hard disgestion to the ladie for a time yet beinge not vnaquainted with such chaunces and no pren tise in the practise of her husbande retired to her auncient patience and contentment by force dyssimuling with a new greefe and secrete sorowe this newe discourtesie to th ende that her waspishe husbande should take no excepcions to her in any respect but fynde her in this as the former stormes bent wholly to obey thappetit of his will and not to mislike with that whyche he fyndes necessarye to be don This TRIVOVLSE hadde not spente many monethes in fraunce but there was commenced informacion agaynste him to the king that he was reuolted from the frenche and become frend to the Swytzers and sworne to their seigneurye and faction wherewyth ymediatelye fame the common carier of tales filled all eares of MILAN and the prouince there about with this further â—ddicion that the king for that cause had seÌ„t him headles to his graue albeit as fame is rather a messenger of lyes then a treasure of truthe and ra her to be harde then beleued so this brute beinge not true in the laste did ymporte a certeine credit in the fyrste for TRYVOVLSE not liking to liue in the displeasure of his prince abandoned his charg and came into Lumbardy wher beinge sommoned by the messenger of deathe gaue place to nature and dyed who beinge the onelye maister and meynteynor of the ALBANOYSE capteine whilest bee liued colde not casely be forgotten of him after his death for after his departure was past the general doubte of the people and eche voice resolued that he was laide in hys graue Don Capitaino spado resolued whollye into teares seamed here to pass the mistery of a newe traunce whiche with the freshe remembraunce of his auncient harme and gréene wounde of vnworthie Ielowsye bledynge yet in his minde broughte hym in that case that he neyther desyred to liue nor doubted to die and yet in dispaire of theim both his solace of the daye was conuerted into teares and the howers of the night went awaye in vistons and hollowe dreames he loathed the companye of his frendes and hated the thynges that shoulde susteine nature neither was he contented with the presente nor cared for the chaunce of future tyme which sodaine alteracion in straunge maner driue his carefull wife into no lesse astonishement then she had cause and being ignoraunt of the occasion she was also voide of consolation which doubled her gréefe till tyme opened her at laste a meane to communicate familiarly with hym in this sorte Alas syr sayth she to what ende serue these pininge conceites forcing a generall debilytie thorow al your parts or why do you languishe in griefe without discoueryng the cause of youre sorowe to suche as holde your health no lesse deare then the swéete and pleasant taste of their owne lyfe from whence coÌ„mes this often chaÌ„ge of complexion accoÌ„panied with a dispositioÌ„ of malencolicke dompes arguing your inward fretting care of minde why staye you not in time y e source of your skorching sighes that haue alredye drayned your bodye of his wholsome humours appointed by nature to giue sucke to thintrals and inward partes of you and to what ende serueth this whole riuer of teares flowynge by such abundance froÌ„ your watery eyes almost worne awaye with wéeping is your gréefe growen great by coÌ„tinuance of time or haue you conceiued some mislike of newe Yf your house be out of order in any sorte or that wante of dutie or diligence in me procureth your grudge declare the cause to th ende the faulte maye be reformed in me and you restored to your auÌ„cieÌ„t order of quiet we both enioye a mutual traÌ„quillitie as apperteineth But he that labored of an other disease then is incideÌ„t coÌ„monly to men of good gouernemeÌ„t absolued her of all faultes or other mislikes he founde in the state of his house or other his affaires committed to her order lesse lacke of her diligence to make declaracion of her dutye to thutermoste but alas saith he with a depe sighe deriued of the â—retinge dolour of his minde and doubled twise or thrise within his stomacke afore he coulde vtter it what cause of comfort or consolation hath he to lyue in this world from whom the malice of destenie hath taken the chiefeste pillor of his life or to what ende serueth the fruicion or interest of longer yeres in this vale of vnquietnes when the bodie abhorreth alredie the longe date of his abode heare or why shold not this soma or masse of corrupcion which I receiued of the world bée dismissed to earth and my soule haue leaue to passe into the other worlde to shonne this double passion of present torment whiche I féele by the death of my deare frende Ah my deare Ladye and loyall wyfe my grief is so great that I dye to tell you the cause and yet the veray remembrance presents me with treble torments wherin I must confess vnto you that since the death of the late Lorde Ihon Tryuulso I haue had so lytle desyer to lyue that all my felicitie is in thinking to die neyther can ther be any thinge in the world more acceptable to me then death whose hower and time if they wer as certeine as himselfe is moste sewer to coÌ„me in the ende I could somwhat satisfye the greate desyer I haue to die moderate the rage of my passion in thinking of the shortnes of the dome that should giue ende to my dyeng ghost and vnrulye sorowes together besides waighing thinâ—inite miseries of our time accompanieng vs eueÌ„ from the wombe of concepcion with the reaste and reapose which dead men do finde And knowing withall how muche I am in the debte of him that is dead I can not wishe a more acceptable thinge then the spedie approche and ende of my dayes to th ende that being denied the viewe of his presence here I may folow him in thother world where participating indiferently such good and euil as falleth to his share I may witnes with what duetiful zeale affectioned harte I sought to honor and serue hym in all respectes But the Ladye that sawe as farre into the disease of her husbande as his phizicion into his vryne knowynge well enoughe that he dyd not languishe so muche for the desyer of hym that was dead as the ticklishe humour of Ielowsye troubled hym was content to admit his coollours
the rest haue made me strike saile of my former lybertie wyth franke resignacion of my harte and dearest parte in me to the disposicion of your mercye neyther haue I any cause at all to mislike the sentence of my fate or grudge wyth the lot of my present choice yf the respecte of my vnfained loue and sincere loyaltye maye moue you to paye the tribute of my seruice with an assuraunce of semblable affection wherein because both daunger and distaunce of our abodes denienge the tongue to do his office barreth vs also to vse the benefytt of mutuall conference I humbly craue good Madam an absolute resolution by your letters of that which the secret signes and messengers of loue do not only put me in hope but importes a warrantie of the conquest of your good wyll wherein yf I maye be assisted with the goodnes of the heauens and consent of fortune so farfurth as the same maye make me meritorious of your fauour and that the meritt of my seruice maye bée measured with a graunte of your good wil there shall no peril withstande the proffer of my lyfe to do you pleasure nor any occasion or chaunce whether it be accidental or proper haue power to breake the vowe which my harte hath alredie sworne to dye and lyue in the seruice and contemplacion of youre beautie neyther shal any Ladye in this corner of the world haue more cause to ioye in the choice of her seruaÌ„t then the Peragon Plaudina whose hande I kysse with greate humilitye and honour the remembrance of her name with no lesse sinceritie being absent then desyerous to yelde my homage with due adoracion to the presence of so faire a creature Yours more then his owne Cornelyo The Ladye being darted afore with the desyer of Cornelio and wold gladly haue entred the listes and gyuen the onset if it had not bene for the respect of her honour was nowe so wounded to the quicke that she fel into tearmes of commeÌ„dacion of her chaunce blissynge the goodnes of her fortune that had not onely planted her affection in so highe a place but yeldynge her rewarde wyth semblable glée hath made her the mystres of hym whom her hart had alredye chosen and admitted into vndoubted fauor whiche she confirmed eftesones with such tearmes of gratulation and arguments of present gladnes that yf the remorce of shame and reputacion of her honor hadde not bene impedimentes to the desyer of her harte cloasinge her mouth againste the present conceytes of ioye in this newe societie she had immediatlye dismissed the messenger with absolute assurance to performe the request of him that sent hym wherof albeit shame seamed to abridge the expedicion and offer causes of staye for the time yet wantynge force to mortifye altogether the humour of ragyng desyer the was driuen to gyue place to the prouocation of loue who deuestinge her of honest shamfastnes whiche oughte to be the chiefe habite and decoracion of the beautie of greate Ladyes willed her to deferre no lenger the thynge she had alredye vowed seynge y e iniurie of present tyme denied her to satisfye hym as she woulde at leaste to yelde hym suche contentement as she maye wherfore takynge pen ynke and paper she replied to his letter wyth this aunswere The circumstaunce of your present letter syr seames to argue an excepcion against the frendly lookes and glaunces of mine eyes wherin albeit I could note a great simplicitie want of discrecion in him that constreth the regardes of a Ladye cast at vnwares to the commoditye of hymselfe in wynninge the good will of her that meaneth nothing lesse then to make them the Ministers of loue yet beinge more ready to content you therin then curious of mine owne behauiour I am to acquite you of imputacion that waye and coÌ„uert y e note of y e follie to the ouersight of my selfe And albeit the pleasant encounter of mine eys seaming more liberal on your behalf with a familiaritie more theÌ„ ordinarie to al men may persuade a certein differeÌ„ce I haue put betwen the frendship of you respect of any other with desyer to embrace you aboue any one creature Yet was I of opinioÌ„ that your sondrye vertues reputation of honor would not suffer you to chalenge me for the firste faulte or to conuerte theis regardes of simple and colde fauor into suche consequence as to attempte the violation of that which mine honor grudgeth to lose and the vowe of faith to my husbande forbiddes me to depart withall notwithstanding I yelde you no lesse thankes for your curtesye then you seame to gyue commendacion to my beautye and other giftes you note in me accomptinge the same of greater price by the value and estimacion you make of them neither wil I refuse y e proffer of your present frendship which as I hope is voyde of intent to preiudice mine honor so let it suffise you that I am not only contented to admit you into fauor but also determined to hold you no lesse deare then the tendrest part of my selfe And because letters being incident to manye casualties are commonly the fyrst discloasers of the secretes of louers my aduise is that hensfurth you staye not only the diligence of your pen in sealing such great importance within a dissemblyng pece of paper but also be contented to commit the whole conueighe of our busines to the credit of this bringer who is to yelde you salutacion on the behalf of her who ioyeng no lesse in the vnitye of this frendship then hating the thing that maie seame hurteful to the coÌ„sommarioÌ„ of the same doth wishe your constancie of no longer continuance then you shal fynde cause of credit in the loyaltie of your vnfayned Plaudina The report of this letter preferred such a possibilitie likelihode of good lucke to the Myllanoys that dismissing euen now al argumeÌ„ts of former doubte he determined to accepte the offer of his fortune pursue y e benefit of present time wherin he was so furthered by the diligence of the minister and messenger of their loue that theare seamed to want for the fynall complote of theyr busynes but only the consent of conuenient tyme place which had folowed accordingly yf for the more assurance of the bargaine they had bryâ—ed the good wyll of the blinde goddesse whom as the Poetes haue chrtstened by the name of Dame Fortune gyuinge her charge ouer the change and alteracion of things so she is not so inconstant of her selfe as readye to manifest her mutabilitie when the wretches of the worlde seame to reapose mest assurance in her frendship And as the pleasant apple mustering with delicate glée vpoÌ„ the heyght of the highest spraise is blowen down with the least poffe of winde that breathes and so oppressed wyth the violence of the fal that the fruts is quyte taken awaye in the middest of his glory so the case and quiet of man is fauored
inconstancie neyther can a bodye of so rare perfection harbor suche dyssemblynge disposicion But as the desyerous harte is seldome at rest so the doubtefull mynde is dreadefull of deceite and quareliynge continuallye with his good hap or synister fortune is alwayes in ymaginacion what iudgement to resolue vppon the condition of his owne estate so my case is of no lesse perpleritie for wafting indifferētly betwene happie chaunce euil successe I fele my selfe double passioned somtime moued to reioice my good hap in beīg loued of so honest curteouse noble a gentlemā as Cornelio and by by driuen to inueighe againste my euill fortune that hath put suche distance and seperacion of oure bodies when we weare at point to performe the consommacion of our acquaintaunce And albeit the common chaunces of this worlde resemble a confection made of hony and gall and that the banquettes of loue beinge garnished with dishes of both sortes will vs to make choice wyth deliberacion alledgynge that the pleasure is not so great as the repentaunce penaunce of harde disgestion yet I thinke the vertue to performe the vowe of the hart takes awaye the greatnes and haynous disposicion of the faulte wherefore seing my hart hath made his choice and the reste of my partes resolued to performe the quest I wyll not onelye dismisse all doubtes of the assurance of his good wyll but studye to excede hym in affection deuisinge the meanes from hensfurth to make hym féele the force of my goodwill with the desyer I haue to knitt an indissoluble vnitye of the ij mindes whose bodies are forced to lyue in seperacion by the malice of the worlde and angrie dome of our fortune Here yf PLAVDINA inueighed onely vpon ij pointes of her desaster the one for the soddaine departure of her frende and the other for the doubte she seamed to put in the assuraunce of his loue it is to bée thoughte that CORNELIO had cause of treble complaint bothe to be driuen to saue his lyfe by cowardlye flighte to steale awaye in suche secret scilent maner as only his guide was pryuie to his goinge also to bée distressed with such shortnes of time that he was barred to seame thankeful to his Ladye with a simple farewel whiche was sufficient to sturre vp her Ielous humour againste hym but that whiche exceded the rest in greatnes of gréef was that he had no man of trust to carye her newes of his being and muche lesse durste he communicat his buysynes wyth any straunger neyther had he hope to be aduertised of the accurrantes of MYLLAN nor meane to make reaport of his owne estate at MANTVA for that he durst not discouer the place of his present abode there wherefore cryeng out of the constellation and clymat of his destynies he complained his vnhappie case in this sorte If my offence were as greate as my punyshmente is greuous I wolde thinke no submission worthie of place nor my falte meete to be dispensed withall or if I had as iustlye deserued this wronge as I am sewer to suffer the smarte I had no reason to commence cause of complaint agaynste the malice of y e world much lesse accuse the iniquitye of present tyme nor yet crye out of y e synister disposition of fortune to whom as the poetes seame to attribute some power ouer our worldly affaires bestowinge their indeuor therin I thinke rather to féede the time and ymagynacions of the people with a shape or figure of an vnconstante creature then wyth intente to perswade a credit in so senceles an ymage so I am also perswaded by the present experience of her inconstancie that she is not so liberall to geue as readye to take awaye a lesse hable to contynue the felicitie wherwyth she seames to flatter y e conceite of y e simple for whō she hath brought to beleue in her she makes manytimes more desirous of glory then hable to receiue it wherin who maye more iustely exclaime agaynst her mobylitie thē y e vnhappie CORNELIO whō being fauored w t y e offer of a reciprocal affection and at the pointe to be put in the possession of his desyer shee hath not only taken the praie out of my mouthe but comitted me wyth cruelty into the vale of extreme desolacion of what moment are y e greatnes of princes or to what end serues honor or highe callinge seinge bothe the one and the other are subiect to confucion and readye to yelde at the leaste poffe of winde that bloweth from a contrary shoare Yet if I were a simple cytisen or companion of meaner callinge thennemie wolde neyther watche my doings wyth so manye eyes nor pursewe my deathe by publike or pryuate inuacion and I suffered to liue as free from the troubles and tumultes of the worlde as farr from any care or accompte of the doings of great men where nowe alas thonly heighte of my estate tipped wyth the tytle of honor depryueth me of thuse of my contrey societie of my frendes and contemplacion of the thinge I holde no lesse deare thenne the healthe of my soule But if any thinge colde stoppe the couetous humor of man and euerye one contente wyth the lot of his porcion would cease to inuade the dominion of an other kinges shoulde sytt sewer in their troanes and the pallais of princes voide of suspicious feare and care and then myne owne PLAVDINA shoulde not I liue wythout the companie of the nor thou haue cause to doubt the firme constancie of thy seruant whose reputacion of honor and faythe towardes his prince denieth hym for the presente to honor the wyth the duetye whych thy vertues deserue and albeit it is no lesse follye then tyme loste to trauell in dispite of loue and fortune whyche bothe haue conspired my distruction and ioyned in confente to kepe mee frome enioyenge the fauor of her who merites the seruice of one more noble and worthie euery way then I and because no distāce shal dissolue my affection nor dymynishe the leaste braunche of good will nor yet time her selfe haue power to ouertreade the vertue of my faythe I will so dispose of the reste of my life as the same shall make absolute declaracion of the vnfained constancie of my mynd wyth the sincere vowe of loyaltie whiche I haue sworne and dedicated to the seruice of her deuyne bewtie euen vntill the laste and extreme seperacion of my soule and bodie wherin because aduersatie is rather subiect to many miseries then apte to admit any consolation and that the goodwill of fortune comes rather at vnwares then won by speciall sute I wyl perforce contente my selfe wyth the gyfte of presente time and vsinge the remembrance of my mistres as a speciall moderation of the hardnes of my exile so honor thymage and picture of her bewtie painted alreadie in thintralls of my harte that thonly remembrance and inward view of my deare PLAVDINA shall norishe the remeindor or my
to commit mischieues of greateste detestacion for the whyche notwythstandynge the rewarde of mordore was thondered vppon her at laste wyth a shamefull and miserable ende to her selfe and vntymelye deathe of hym who as the fyrst companion and next neighbour to her follie wyth equall perticipacion of filthie pleasure reapposed to muche truste in the villenie of her who preferred vice afore vertue and toke pleasure in the deuise of bloddie affaires whereof you shall haue the discourse at large in the last act of this historie BLANCHE Marya seinge her so rempierd in the harte of Valpergo that her only worde was currant to commaunde hym determyned to prefer hym to thoffice of a morderer vppon the person of hym who earst refuced the charge wherin addinge an expedicion to her deuise one night beinge in bedd together after she had embrased and feasted him frankly wyth the filthie follies in loue wherein she had more then sufficient experience shee discontynued her kisses wyth a soddaine scilence and drawinge her traison a farr of tolde hym that it is longe since she had to present hym wyth one request of speciall fauour wherin because shee doubted eyther to moue hys displeasure or receiue a repulse she hathe not onely defferred to be ymportunate but stayed to declare the cause whyche sayth she althoughe it touche you no lesse then the sauegarde of your lyfe and vnworthie infamye to your deare Blanche Marya yet is the respecte of your fauor of such authoritie wyth me that I had rather vse scilence with your frendshipp and contentment then bee thawthor of the thinge that should incense you to anger He gaue her not only libertie to make her demaund but assurance for hys part to performe the effect at what price so euer it were for saith he if the matter ymport any perill to me it behoueth me to vse care of my lyfe but if the honor of you be abused or your selfe destressed you can not ymagyne the diligence I will put to the reuenge of your wronge and vndertake all your quarelles wherfore doubte not good Ladye to ymploye hym who lyuethe but to serue you and is readye to dye to doo you pleasure Here shee asked hym of the frendeshyype betwene therle GAIAZO and hym and what assuraunce hee hadde of hys loyaltie suche experiences saythe hee as nothinge is hable to dissolue our amytie for I woulde not stande to be intreated to offer my bodie to presente daunger to remoue hys perill nor hee I am sewer woulde make anye conscience to redéeme my extremetie wyth the hazarde of hys owne lyfe neyther doo wée vse other thenne a common conuersacion of all thinges betwene vs but nowe to the cause of youre question wherewyth the traitresse seynge sufficiente wordes passed in circumstance thought e nowe tyme to broach a vente for her poyson wherefore kissynge hym in more amarous sorte thenne euer hée felte hym selfe embrased afore tolde hym the poynies wherein hée was deceiued touchynge the truste hee seamed to reappose in hys frende for saythe shée you are not soo constante and assured on hys behalfe as hee full of villanyein dyssemblynge thée malice whyche hee hathe of longe hatched vnder the winge of hys deceytful harte And to vse a simple playnes in soo sewer a case you haue cause to geue uone other iudgemente of hym thenne as youre moste cruell and capitall ennemye in all the worlde wherein because I wyll not presse you to be credulous of a dreame nor moue you to beleue anye thynge whose Author is not of sufficiente authoritie yon shal vnderstande that hee aduowched noo lesse thenne I haue reapported by the breathe of hys owne mouthe at suche tyme as hee practysed wyth mee in youre late absence wyth thys addycion that hee shoulde neuer enioy a perfectte quiett of mynd nor taste of the benefite of assured reste or reappose til his hands had made morsells of your body and deuyded al your partes into small peces confirmynge at the same instaunte hys bloddye resolucion by othe of the honoure and lyfe of a gentlemanne that wythin the compasse of noo longe tyme hee woulde bydde you too suche a banquette that you shoulde not neede anye longer to bee carefull of the worlde nor myndefull to make loue to ladyes wherein hee seamed so resolute groūded in his malice that notwithstandyng all the persuacions I colde prefer I colde neuer wrest from him the originall or cause of this mortall grudge and albeit at that tyme I was entred into termes of collour agaynste you with more iustice to further his spite then reason to preuent your perill or showe fauor in the sauynge of your life yet the remembrance of our auncient loue as a vertue but halfe mortefied or dead in me moued me to suche a remorse on your behalfe that I dyd not onlye thuttermost of my indeuor to remoue the vaile of his entent but also desyered hym with teares to desyste from suche enterprise whilest I was in place where you abode for that I cold not endure the viewe of your iniury and much lesse see you distressed to death with out the spedie sacrafyce of myne owne lyfe whereunto he gaue not onely a deaff eare but bounde him eftesones to his former protestacion by a seconde othe that eyther hys dead carkasse in the place shold witnes hys good wil or els he wolde delyuer the world of the Lord Valpergo all which I had no meane as thē to imparte vnto you by reason of your absence and small accesse you had hether wherein sir seing since thē your felicitie hath defended you from daunger and consomacion of his intent so nowe I beseche you not only to stande vppon your garde in defending his malice but also to preuent his pernicius resolucion with an acte of equall curtesye for yt is more wysdome to take awaye the lyfe of your enemie then in giuinge place to his malice to comit your bodye to the mercie of his morderinge hande besides yt is no breache of vertue to requite thintent of iniurie with an effect of equall reuēge and your wisdom shold be of greater estimacion and his traison more haynous for that he hathe first abused and broken the lawe of frendshyp in dressinge suche mortall ambushes againste so deare a frende wherein for my part as I haue discouered the whole conspiracie vnder a franke reapport of an vnfained trueth so beinge no lesse carefull of your sauetie then curius of myne owne lyfe waghinge theim both in the ballance of indifferent zeale I wishe you to followe my aduise in preuentyng so ymmynent a daunger and for a more assurance of your sauetie to offer thassalte to hym that hathe alreadye sworne your destruction wherein also you shall performe the vertue of a valyant knyghte with full satisfaction of the desyer of her whom you can nott so amplie gratefye if you presented her with the fre gifte of the best Dukedome in Italye and nowe shall I see an effect of the
suspicion not refusynge diuerse tymes in the absence of the knighte to enter the bedd chamber and consulte wyth her vppon her pillowe wherein he exacted vppon the honest libertie giuen hym by the goodman for that one daye during hys absence the aduocatt vnder cooler to councell the Lady in certaine affaires touchynge the commoditie of her husbande came to her beddsyde where he behelde her in other sorte then he is wonte to vysytt the cases of lawe for her husbande neyther hadd age so altered her complexion but there appered follie in all partes of her face with other intisinge glées shrowded vnder the lyddes of her allurynge eyes whyche with his libertie of frée accesse and her contentement to admitt hys compaine forced the rather an affection in the proccurer in whome also as shée noted certaine dextereties no lesse hable to performe the buysynes of the bedd then to followe the processe of lawe so shée dyd not only allowe his amarus glauÌ„ces with interest of equal glée on her part but also as one whollie deuested of thattyre of shame made no conscience to discouer that part of the bodie whyche nature hathe forbidden to bée séene of anye and all women of honest parte oughte to kepe from the sighte and knowleadge of man whych shée accompained also with such lasciuius regardes of wanton countenance that the dymmest eyes that bée in loue myghte easelie discerne the pathe of her entent and iudge with what fethers her arrowes wolde slye wherein also TOLONYO no lesse experienced then the best forgat not to féede the humor of her meaning wyth speciall tearmes of reproche against the weakenes of tholde man condemnynge hym as moste vnworthie to enioye the benefytt of her beautie and muche lesse to taste in any sorte of the pleasure or delicatt proporcion of thys Alcyne who to further the forwardnes of her doctour added thiâ—s tearmes of complaint to the wordes of hys former reproche howe ryghtelye maye shée tryumphe with treble felicitie in this worlde who delytinge to embrace her husbande participateth indiffrentlie with the solace of outward ioye and pleasure of secrett contentement the remembraunce of whose happie state alas yeldes me double cause of exclamacion agaynste the debilitie of my aged knyghte bothe for that hys weaknes denyeth force to furnyshe the sportes of the bed and I in the heate of desyer to wyshe and not fynde the chiefeste pillor of my consolacion yf I hadd not earste Sipped of the cupp of sugred delite the desyer had dekaied because I hadd no taste of the pleasure where the viewe of former solace increaseth my present thurste and can not bée satysfyed or yf nature colde broache an other vessell of strengthe in my wythered husbande or restore a freshe heate to hys dekaied partes my loathesome life wold resume eftensones cause of perfect contentement I in the meane wile shold do wronge to accuse his present weaknes what is my passion thinke you Seigneur Tolonio prouyng perforce the wante of courage in my husbande with the extreme desyer in my selfe he hathe no other care then too momble hys mornyng prayers and Pater noster in the night whilest I poore sowle halfe starued attend a seconde froste or colde compfort in hym whyche rather mortefyeth my desyer then satisfyeth in any sorte the vehemencye of myne appetytt and yf sometime I séeke to force a mocion in hym with indeuour to gyue lyfe to his dead sprites I am aunswered with hollow groanes and excuses of age that alas my thurste is rather increased then desyer satisfyed I forced to féede of suche drye banquettes with no lesse grudge and gréeff of mynde then I shoulde take singler pleasure in the companye of one worthie of me and hable to furnyshe at full thappointement due in mariage all whyche the doctour was no lesse gladd to heare then desyerus to knowe the intent of the discourse whyche he pursewed in iestinge sorte saying I am content madame you make A tryal in this sort of my loyalty towards you your house albeit I am so persuaded of the corage of your husbande y t notw tstanding any impedimeÌ„t by age he is sufficieÌ„tly hable to dispatch y e affaires of the most likelye and lustie gentlewoman in your traine suche saith she as knowe nothing but by oponion imagination do commonly iudge at pleasure vpon matters of importance where they that haue felte the effectes and made an experience of euerye point maye resolue accordynge to a troth wherin your ignorance acquites you for this tyme of imputacioÌ„ touching the loftines of my husbande whoÌ„ as you at vnwares accoÌ„pte a chaÌ„pyon of suche courage y t there is no harnesse whiche he is not hable to pearce so the longe prooff I haue had of his worthines may warraunte you the contrarye of such conceites commendynge vnto you withall the compassion of my distresse with desyer to procure some spedie meane of delyuerye or release from this loathsome torment wherewith maister aduocat began to excuse hym of any entent to increase her griefe what construction so euer she made of his former wordes protestyng wythal that the offer of death should bée more acceptable vnto hym then the simple remeÌ„brance to do her the leaste euill in the worlde if she sorowed in the prooffe of a badd husband his gréefe was no lesse in the veraye viewe of her languishynge state that I wishe madame saith he that my indeuor might discharge you of paine or the spoile of my lyfe and all that I haue of the worlde confirme your quiet accordyng to the consent of your owne minde then should you sée whether your Tolonyo woulde put any difference betwene pleasant promises whiche euery man can make and assured effect whiche few men performe with this further experience yf it please you to employe me to excede euery one of your domesticall traine in yeldyng to the sommonce of your commaundement albeit it importe the sacrifice of my lyfe or dissolutioÌ„ of honor both which I accoÌ„pte happely preferred yf they end in the pursewte of your seruice wherewith he seased vpon one of her delicate handes whiche he forgat not to honor with the often printe of his mouth in sondry sortes of kysses whiche as they argued thuttermost of his further entent so she furthered an expedicion of thindifferent desyers of theim both in grasping his hand with no lesse affection theÌ„ he did amarus homage to al her tender parts with this shorte question in smylynge order yf the goodnes of your fortune Seigneur Tolonio the synister guide of my destines accompanied with the mocion of loue wold giue you as muche power ouer me as you seame desierous to enioye my fauor howe would you accompte of suche preferment or what iudgement woulde you set of her liberall offer who neyther respectyng life nor regard to honor is here to leaue you her harte in gage and her bodye to the vse of your pleasure Ah madame saith this amarous Cyuilyan howe
my vnworthynes makes me dispair euer to cooll the frute of so greate a gaine and the feare I féele to craue that I desyer moste yeldes me no lesse doubtefull of theffect of your offer albeit on thother part the honor and felicitye I ymagin in the preferment hath prickt me alredye so full of corage that the worlde hath nothyng of suche hardnes which I dare not attempte nor any thinge of so greate impossibilitye whiche wyll not appeare easye in the pursuete so that my trauell maye receiue his hyer at the haÌ„des of your bountye pardon me I beseche you in discoueryng that whiche almost I kepte secret from mine owne harte and yf my rashenes haue offended you it maye lyke you to do iustice vpon your selfe whose authoritie with the force of extreme passion hath forced me to a lauishenes in the thyng whiche I durste not determyne and muche lesse séeke to set abroche in déede Here the shameles Lady tolde him his last request had preuented her longe meaninge for saith she you haue hyt the marke whereat I thoughte to shoote wherein as I am coÌ„tented to imparte credit to your wordes w t persuacioÌ„ of sufficient assurauÌ„ce in your fidelitye so I praye you embrace mine offer of semblable curtesye w t addicioÌ„ that your desyer to enioye me is nothing in respect of the firme opinion I haue to be so wholly yours as your selfe shal deuise wherof I am heare to seale tharticles of assuraÌ„ce iÌ„ such sorte as you thinke good wherupon I thinke no sortes of kysses or follyes in loue were forgotten no kynde of crampe nor pinchyng by the lytle finger nor his hande layed softelye in her delicate dugge and she againe with her armes aboute his necke to yelde tribut to his curtesye was not vnmindefull I am sewer to coÌ„municate in this place the circumstance of her longe loue and howe often she had béene at point to make declaration of her zeale with the causes of restraint till that hower whiche yf she blessed accordynge to the greatnes of her felicitie he thought it a dutye to honor with treble thanke sgeuynge performing there their firste earnest of their vnhappye pleasure to thindifferent contentement of both thadulterous who there gaue order for the conueighe of the rest of their licencious sequele Here besides a consommacion and effect of detestable whordom wherein the one with impudencie obteineth a gloot of her insatiable luste and the other vnhappely yeldes to thâ—nbridled will of a deuelishe woman yet is the foundacioÌ„ laied betwene the ij wretches to encrease their offence with an acte of greater synne for besides the vice of contaminacion of an other mans bedd the wicked doctor aggréed to a mortall conspiracie and treason agaynste hym whoe was neither doutful of hys honestye nor suspicious of hys fayth and whose lyberallitye deserued a retourne of more credit then to weaue the webb of his distruction for that his chiefest meane of sustentation grewe by the fées and other assistance of the gentleman Ioseph the Hebrue abstained from like acte although he was assailed with semblable importunities in the hoÌ„use of the prince of Egypte desyeryng rather to proue thuttermuste rigour of hym who thoughte hym selfe offended then to synne haynously in the syghte of the great god from whose eyes no secrett is conceiled which in the end he doth not discloase w t no lesse iustice in punishing the faulte then he hath vsed longe pacience in tolleracion of the wickednes Let euery man beholde here an experience of the malice of those that vnder the vaile of good learnyng bolstered with a dissembled showe of a certeine vaine knowledge and skill to discerne the good from the euil and trye the differeÌ„ce of the iuste from the vniuste do studie altogether the peruercion of iustice to seduce all good order honesty and abuse vnder coolour of honest faith the simplicitie of the good sorte whereof how many exaÌ„ples of iniquitie do we sée now a daies in diuerse our professours of learning whose vanitie procureth so many diuorcementes betwene the man wyf yet they affirme for the most part y e such actes are not tollerable neither by thordinance of God institution of men nor any authoritie in the Cyuilyâ—n skoole besides howe many are to be séene who puffed vp w t a litle smatteringe skil in eyther of the lawes which rather settes abroache the humour of their vanity then coÌ„firmes them in good order or integritie of iudgement or lyuing do trade only in corrupting the good sound partes of euery one indusing some to sedicioÌ„ other to thefte periurye false witnes bearing others to habaÌ„don their countrey parentes with the societie felowshipp of all their frendes yet who hath a better grace then they in preferryng an absolute puritye of lyfe a feare of the lawes obedience to theyr soueraignes reuerence to their parentes respecte to the league of loyal frindship yea our vnhappye world or rather the malice of our cursed tyme hath sturred vpp amongest vs suche store of skilfull clarkes or rather dyuinyng deuills who bolking out a false philosophie haue God amende it infected the whole worlde with the ayre of their corrupcion and not satisfyed in thabuse of the mortall wretches and seducyng the fragilitye of man wyth a flattering allurement of sensualitye and pleasures of the fleshe begyn by litle and lytle to dresse war againste God with opinion to conquere that inuincible power and first cause who laughing for a tyme at their follyes wil no doubte make theÌ„ féele in y e ende w t the due punishment and smart of their fond ymaginacions that neither maÌ„ nor his vaine knowledge is of any force against hym froÌ„ whose troane wee receaue thinspiracioÌ„ breath of all goodnes vertue wisdom wherin I am moued to such a playnenes touchynge the vanitie of diuerse our learned meÌ„ now a daies by the sinister succes diuersatie of rare matters happening amongest vs for that we se the most parts of christendom rather tormented by such as abuse y e vertue of true knowleadge with desier to inceÌ„se contrarietie of sectes theÌ„ inuaded with thincursions of the blasphemous infidells and ennemies of our religyon and trulye the domesticall seruant in credit or truste with his maister euil gyuen or affected towardes his Lord is more to be feared then a whole armye of ennemies standyng in battaile araye in the felde whereof the Lorde of CHABRY maie bée a familiar experience by the meanes of this pernicious aduocat who abusyng the Ladye and she comittyng lyke wronge on the behalfe of her husbande determyned bothe for the better conueighe of their abhomynable lyfe the death of the poore gentleman whereuntâ— they added thexecucion with more then an ordynarye spéede for this villanous lawyer practised ymediatlie with a knaue of hys owne disposicion who receiuynge some tj or itj. hundreth crownes with promysse of further rewarde consented to performe the meanyng of his bloddye request attendyng
so diligentlye thassistance of conuenient tyme and place that one mornyng he dogged the knighte who walkynge in the fatall pathe of hys mysfortune to a warreine of conies a good distance from hys castell was soddeinelye inuaded by the hyered ennemye to hys lyfe with one other of equall intent who had no soner performed their cursed charge on the vnhappie gentleman but they retired in suche secrett manner to the place where the morder was firste conspired that they were vnseene of euerie one and their doynges knowen to no man by which meanes they were neither taken and much lesse douted for any suche offence neyther wolde any haue entred into suspicion either against the Ladie or her proccurer Tolonio considering bothe their former credit with thinnocent nowe dead and also their present sleighte in coollorynge their late detestable traison for the dead knyght was no sooner discouered by certeine passengers that waye by chaunce but the counterfaite ymage his wyfe fayning a necligent care and desperacion of her selfe falleth without respecte vpon the disfigured and bleedinge bodye of her husbande rentynge her haire and garmentes wateringe his dead face with a whole riuer of fained teares and as one thoroulye instructed afore in the office of thypocrite forgat no sorte of feminine cryes sometyme wrynging her handes wyth a dollorous regarde to his dead bodye kissyng euery parte of hys senceles ghoste preferryng sometime a soddaine scilence forced as it were by her passion of secret sorowe retired at last to a broken voice with open exclamacion against the dolefull chaunce in this sorte Ah infortunate gentleman to whose vertuouse lyfe thy destenies haue don manifest wronge in takynge the awaye amyd the solace of thy olde yeares wyth abridgement of the reste and reapose exspected in age and that by a traine of mortall and bloddye treason wherin appeares thiniquitye of the fates yf not that in wreakynge theyr malyce of the innocent they dispence wyth the villenie of thowsandes more worthye of death then he that heare hath payed an vntimelye tribute to the fatall executioner that I woulde to God I mighte participate wyth hys fortune in embracyng in the graue the ghoaste of him whose remembrance and loue wyll neuer loase harbor in thintralls of my harte tyll my bodye lye shryned within the sheete that shroodes his dismembred corps Oh cruell morderer who so euer thow art what desolation am I brought vnto by thy wyckednes howe many flooddes of teares will neuer ceasse hensfurth to gushe and distill vpon the tombe of hym whom thou haste trayterouslye slayne what toarches what incense what sacrifice shall not ceasse to frye and burne vppon the alter that couereth his guiltles boanes yea the blood whiche I meane to spill in reuenge of his wronge shall accuse thy villenie and witnes my loyall harte in honorynge the shadowe of hym that is dead by seuer punishment of suche as committed the morder Ah deare harte saith she kissinge the disfigured carcasse of the knight yf they had béene acquainted with thy bountye thou hadst not tasted of their crueltie or yf they had had but half the experience of thy curteyse inclinacion as thou wast entierlye beloued of all suche as knewe the perfectly they had sewerlye refrained from slaughter and thou enioyed styll the societie of thy carefull Ladye who heare vppon her knees aduoweth a sharpp vengeance for the leaste dropp of blodd drayned out of thy bléedyng woundes vppon as many as were eyther maisters or ministers in the morderyng enterprise crauynge also with the teares of a desolate wydow that he that gaue the mortal blowe haue neuer power to escape the daunger of hym into whose handes God wyll put the sworde of reuenge of thaffliction of suche as I am Oh children why staye you your teares in the miserie of your mother and losse of so good a father who shall from hensfurth fauor your tender yeres with further sustentation or defend the weakenes of my widowhead agaynste the malice of the worlde What support haue wee lefte seyng the chiefe pillor of oure house is perished by the wickednes of others wherewith the doctor hauynge fylled all the contrey wyth hewe and crye to apprehende the traytours whom he lodged wythin his house was at her elbowe or she wiste and ioyeng not a lytle in her Artificiall skill in playinge that part of the tragedye whereof hymselfe performed the firste acte began to persuade her to consolation and not wythout thassistaunce of some suborned teares willed her not to sorowe for that whyche coulde not bee recouered for saith he seinge God hathe touched your husband with the messenger of hys wyll wee oughte not to resiste the iudgement of the highest and muche lesse argue againste the determinacion of the heauens neyther is there vertue in teares or complaintes to raise vpp hym that sléepeth in his fatall mowlde the beste is to expose frutes of patience and bée thankefull to his goodnes who by the example of this affliction warneth you and all the worlde of his royall power ouer all estates wyth a readye indeuor in your selfe to manifest your dutye to hym that is dead in the persecution of suche as shal be founde guiltye in the cause of your present heauines neyther let the viewe of his mangled carkasse restore you to encrease of dollor seing that as the earth chalengeth his boanes as firste framed out of her bellye and intralls so I wishe you to giue order for his buryall in sorte appertayning to his estat whereof the effect and expedicion followed accordynglye not without the greate sorowe of his subiectes who also gréeued in equall sorte on the behalfe of their Ladye who showing thuttermost of her connyng in craftie paintynge in the funerall hower coulde not bee holden from fallynge into the graue whiche she watered on euery syde wyth the teares of her eyes crauynge that she mighte make a sepulchre in her owne brest to shryne the bodye of her husbande or at leaste that it mighte be lawfull to boorne his boanes to th ende she mighte consume by peacemeale in drinkynge the ashes as Ariomesia did the skorched reliques and cendres of her deare Mansoll Oh deceite and deuelish hypocrisye of a woman What enchauntement so strongelye made of whome thy subteltie can not vndo the charme What armour of suche force that is not founde to weake to resiste the strengthe of thy malice What medecine of suche vertue which can preuaile aboue thy infection What traine What traison What mischiefe or morderynge crueltie is hable to compare wyth the villenie of a woman vnhappely deuested of thattire of reason and vertue whiche for the moste part are or ought to bee moste familiar with that secte wherin appeareth an euident prooffe of the venemous pollecie in a woman yf the outward aparance of an extreme sorow the hart reioysinge w c treble cōtentemēt within do not declare her deceitful disposiciō what hipocrisie is greater thē to suborne al sortes of teares
in the eyes wyth euery other signe of counterfeyte dule in the face when the ynner partes laughyng at suche fained showes are in the myddest of theyr banquet for pleasure what offence is it to plage theim in earnest who seke to blaire the eyes of all the worlds wyth charmes of painted substance or rather why shoulde they bee suffred to lyue whose villanous lyues and doynges were hable to deface the glory of the whole feminyne secte yf the vertue of so manye chaste Ladyes were not of force to aunswere the combat of all synister reproche and conquer the infamous chalengers of theyr renowme But now the funeralls performed to the dead Lorde of Chabrye the Ladye albeit she dismissed by lytle and lytle the greatnes of her dollor yet she ceassed not her diligence in the searche of the morderer nor forgat to promisse large hyer to suche as coulde bringe her the ministers of the fact there was publike informacion and secrett inquirye wyth euery point and circumstance so Syfted to the quicke that there lackte nothyng but the confession of him that was dead whiche was impossible to bée had or the testimonys of the bloddie parties whiche were the commissioners appointed to enquire of the morder whose handes smelled of the bloud of the dead innocent whereuppon the matter was husht for a tyme in whiche TOLONIO was not ydle to ransicke euery secret corner in the house not forgettynge I thynke to visytt the treasore he chiefly affected and for a simple pleasure of the whiche he had bene so prodigall of his conscience who yet not satisfyed with the sacrifyze of innocent lyfe stirred vp desyer of greater synne for this tyrannouse wyddow had iiij sonnes whereof as ij of theim were continuallye in the house so the eldest Ialowse not without cause of the famyliaritye betwene his mother and her doctor whose haunte he iudged to excede the compasse of his commission and lymittes of honor colde not so conceile nor disgeste the conceite of that whiche persuaded a staine of infamye in the forheade or forefronte of his house but that he thought to belonge to his dutie to ymparte vnto her y e cause of his suspicion with perswacion in humble sorte to be indiffrently carefull to kepe her former glorie of vertuous life and curious to defend the remeindor of her yeres from worthie cryme or spot of foule ymputacion wherein thincrease of amarus glée betwene the aduocat and her procured a more expediciō then he thought so that hauing one day thassistance of a fyt time and place in a gallerie voide of all company he preferred hys opinion in this sorte not wythout an indiffrent medley of shame and disdaine appearing in all partes of his face if it bée a thinge vnseamly that a kinge shoulde be disobeyed of his subiects it is no lesse necessarie in myne opynion that the prince avoyde oppression of his people by power for that a greate falte in the one is none offence at all by reason of his authoritie and the other sometime is exacted without iuste cause of blame but if it bée a vertue in the maiestie royall to be indiffrent betwene the force of his power geuen hym by god and the compleintes of righte in his vassalls why shoulde it be an offence that the maister or magistrate bée put in remembrance or made tunderstande the pointes wherein hée offendeth seing he hath no greater reason to yelde iustice to such as deserue punishmente then bounde in doble sort to a wōderful care of integretie in lyuing in himselfe so as hys authoritie effectes of vpright cōuersaciō may serue as a lyne to lead the meaner sort seruing vnder his awe to be in loué w c his vertues commended for semblable sinceretie and purytie of life But for my parte good Madame were it not the remorse of an equall respect to your reputacion and honor to al our house and that my conscience hereafter wold accuse me of want of corage and care to make good the vertuous renowme of my dead father I should hardely be forced to the tearmes of my present intent nor my beyng in thys place geue you such cause of amaze doubt of my meaninge for the dutie which nature bindeth me to owe to y e place you hold on my behalf and the law of obedience geuen by god to all chyldren towardes suche as made theyme the members of this worlde makes me as often cloase my mouthe against the discouerie of the longe grudge of my mynde as I haue greate reason to ympart the cause to your ladishipp who is tooched more neare then any other that I wolde too god the thinge wherof my mynde hath giuen a iudgement of assurance were as vntrue as I wishe yt bothe farre from myne opynion and voyde of a trothe then sewerlye sholde my hart rest discharged of disquiett and I dismyssed from thoffice of an oratour whiche also I wolde refuce to performe if thymportance of the cause did nor force my wil in that respect Albeit as the passions of the mynde bée free and the sprite of man howe so euer the bodie bée distressed with captiuitie hathe a pryuyledge of libertie touchyng opynyons or conceites so I hope your wisdome with the iustice of my cause and clearenes of entent are sufficient pillours too supporte that whyche the vertue of naturall zeale to your selfe and dutifull regarde to the honour of my auncestors moues me to communicate with you chieflye for that the best badge of your owne life and bloodd of your late Lorde and husbande my father bée distressed as I am perswaded by the secret haunte and vnsemelie glée of fauour betwene the proccurer Tolonio and you whome God and nature haue made a mother of suche children that neyther deserue suche lewde abuse in you nor can brooke his villany in corruptyng the noble blood wherewith they participate without vengance due to the greatnes of his poysoned malice wherein good madame as my deare affection to you wardes hathe made me so franke in warnynge you of the euill so yf you giue not order hensfurthe for the redresse of that whiche I accompte alredie past euerye cause of dowte you will come too shorte to couer that can bée no longer conceiled when also small compassion wilbée vsed in the reuenge of thiniurye neyther can you in any sort complaine rightelie of me in whose harte is alredye kindled a grudge of the wronge you haue don to y e nobilitie of vs al loathing with all the simple remēbrance of so foule a falte protesting vnto you for ende that yf herafter you become as careles of the honour of your children as heretofore you haue bene voiede of regarde to your owne reputation the worlde shall punishe the abuse of your old yeres with open exclamacion against your lasciuius order of lyfe deuesting you of all titles of highe degrée and thies handes onely shall sende maister doctor to visytt his processe in th infernall senatt
wrongefull conceyte of suche a villenie dothe troble you whyche shée forgatt no too accompanye with all sortes of syghes and sygnes of dollour entrermedled with suche regardes of dyssembled pitie in all partes of her face that albeyt he was paste all dowte touchynge the trothe of hys owne conceyte yet the teares of hys deceytefull mother moued hym to admitt her excuses with suche compassion of her sorowe that he seamed also to passe the panges of her present passion with protestacion vnder tearmes of greate humilitie that he greued no lesse in that he hadde sayd then shée hadd greate reason to complaine of the wronge he hadd donne to the renowne of her vertue albeyt saythe he wyth a countenance of repentance yf you measure the force of my affection with the cause of my late plaines your discrecion I hope will conster my woordes accordyng to the honeste intent of my hart with excuse to my rashenes whyche you shall sée hereafter so mortefyed in me that I will neyther bée so hastye to accuse nor suspect without better aduise for the whyche shée seamed thankefull vnto hym with a present appeasement from Anger attendyng the offer of oportunitie when she myghte preferr her sōne to a parte in the tragedye whyche her wickednes hadde alredye begon vppon hys late father for shée was doutefull styll of the youngeman and gaue lesse faythe to his wordes wherein certeinely appeareth an experience of an ordinarie custume in the wicked who payseth thinfydelitie of others in the ballance of their owne iniustice and wante of faithe for the tyrant dowteth to whose creditt to comitt the sauetie of himselfe because his crueltie is hated of all men neyther dothe he good to any yf not for the respect of profit or to performe some malicius attempte wherein as they consider thaffexcions of their people by the passions in theimselues soo in passynge theyr owne lyfe in continuall feare they procure lyke terror to suche as bée conuersant with theim makyng the disquiett of others equall to the miserie of theimselues lyke as thys new Megera or tyrannouse monster of oure tyme who no more satiffied with the blood of her husband then glutted or cloyed with y e continual pleasures in whoredome with her detestable Tolonyo determined to rydde the world of her innocent sonne to thend their villanous trade mighte passe with more assurance and lesse cause of feare or suspicion of any for th executiō wherof her wickednes deuised this spedy and necessarie meane There was within the castel a highe gallery borded vnderfote with certeine plankes fastned to rotten planchers where as y e young gentleman vsed his dailye recreacion in walkinge by reason of the delitefull ayre pleasant prospect vppon dyuerse feldes and gardyns so the Tygresse his mother reserued that place as a most chiefe mortal minister in the death of her son for she and her pernicius proccurer one euenyng knocked oute of either ende of diuerse of the plankes the nayles that kepte theime cloase to the plancher in suche sorte that the nexte that happened too make hys walke there shoulde haue no leasure to discouer the traison and much lesse lyue to bring reapport of the hardnes of the rockes growing in the diches vnder the sayd gallerie which chaunced vnhappelie to the sonne of this she wolffe who no more happie in a mother then his father fortunate in a wife renewed the next day his accustumed walkes in the valte wher he had not spent thre or foure tornes but his destynie brought hym to treade vppon the fatall bourd es who hauinge no holde nor staye to rest vpon disioyned theimselues wyth the wayght of thinfortunat gentleman who falling soddeinly vpon the rockes wyth hys heade forwarde was brused to peces beinge dead in dede almost so sone as he felte thapprehencion of death Who wold haue iudged such trayso in a mother to work such an end to her son or noted such wate of pitie in any of y e sect as to soe the séedes sprong in her owne flankes deformed and he wed in peces vpon the edge of sharppe and piked stoanes what mistortune to the sonne and villanie in a mother seinge the title of a sonne ought to be so deare and name of a mother is so delicate and of such vertue that no hart of what mettal soeuer it be made is not mollefyed and doth homage to that dignitie yea euerye one holdeth his blodde so deare that the beastes theimselues by a prouocacion of nature although other wayes insensible haue such affectioned regarde to their fawnes that they feare not to contend against euery peril of death to defende their youngons from daunger what greater felicity hath mā trauelling in the stormy sea of this worlde then to see as it were a regeneracion of hymselfe in hys children wyth a plentifull and gladsome encrease of his séede for whych cause chiefely god ordeyned the holye institucion of mariage not respecting altogether the mortefyeng of the ticklyshe instinctes of our declayning fleshe but rather of regarde as thappostel affirmeth to kepe the societie of man in order making it appear'e pure and aeceptable to the great monarke and syrst founder of so noble a worke But to retorne now to our historie this ympp of th infernall lake and hellish Lady beinge already dispoyled of all affection and dutie required in a woman towardes her husband detested also euery point of charitie and zeale whych nature chalenged in her to the frute flowered wythin the tender partes of her intralls whose fall and miserable deathe as you sée filled ymediatlie euerie corner of the castel with desolacion and teares some weping in the want of their brother other complayned the lacke and misfortune of ther kynsman the viewe of whose dysmembred bodye sturred vp also a freshe sorowe on the behalfe of their late Lorde but all their dollor was nothing to the howlinge and cries of the detestable mordress who entermedled her greffe wyth such argumentes of desperacion that her sorowe seamed sufficient to make the earth tremble and moue the heauens to teares neyther seamed she to make other accompte of the world then a place of most loathsome abode by which masqued semblance of outwarde heauines she couered an inward ioye at her hart and by this pollecie of painted dule she blaired the eyes of the simple multitude who after y e retire of the heate of theyr lamemtable stormes consulted vppon the buyrial wyth general consent in the ende that thinnocent striplinge should be laiede in the tombe of his infortunate father to thend he might participat with hym in the fatal pitt as he was equal to hym touching the malice of his mother And now as this bloddie Lady had in this sort discharged as she thought euery doubt and feare hereafter chiefly for that she stoode no more in awe of any Censor or spie to kepe a kalender of her faltes wherby she vsed lesse care in the conueigh of her beastly traffique wyth her
whych beinge drayned from the bottome of hys bellie ascended to the vppermost partes to fynd out their naturall issue to th ende that wyth the retire of these drayninge humors his life might also vanishe as in a slomber or quiet qualme whych moued such a pitie in his neighboure on the behalfe of his dollor that she was forced to kepe him company with semblable kindnes offeringe eftsones her helpe vnder these tearmes Albeit saith she the regarde of myne honestie with thestimacion of the place which I holde without blushinge amoÌ„gest the troupes of honor and dames of great calling in this Citie do forbidd mée the enterprise of any thinge that myne honor can not broâ—â—e yet the sorowefull sommonce of your last complainte tempred wyth so manye tunes of dolefull note hathe filled me so full of compassion on your behalfe that I will not dowt to laie my conscience to gage for the redresse of your present affliction wherein if you will giue me the charge of my commission tellinge mée what it is that I shall do for you you shall sée my endeuor shal be no lesse frankelye emploied for you then I knowe by the viewe of mine owne eyes that your passion is simple and withoute all dissimulation onely there restes that I know what she is to whom you haue auowed so large a deuotion for I promisse you to salute her so amplie with the reaport of your loyaltie and seruice whiche I knowe you owe to her that is the mistres of your harte that oneles her mouth be vtterlye out of taste and thappetit of curtesie cleane taken from her she shal not refuce thoffer of your good will which I thinke is without a seconde in any place of the worlde And trulye albeit diuerse women nowe a dayes haue good cause to inueighe by complaintes against the disloyaltye of men yet this Ladye whome you seme to honour so muche hathe neyther cause to mislike her choice nor reason to refuce the consent and offer of your seruice where of as the earthe semes a verye nigarde to brynge furthe and norishe so fewe of your disposition so it can not be chosen but pure loyaltye for lacke of harbor within the hartes of moste men muste retire and seke her a newe habitacion within the delicate intrailes of vs women who embracynge no lesse that vertue wyth deare affection then desyerous to expose vnfained frutes of the same are accompted to be cladde in the habite of crueltie yf we séeme to stande vppon our garde and expulse thassaulte of that friuolus and fleshelye crewe of vaine louers who profferinge theyr seruice vnder a masque of fayned teares sighes of double deceite with other courtelyke importunytyes do bende the pollecie of all their practises to none other ende then to abuse the fauor whiche they fynde at theyr handes that vnhappelye committe their honor to the kepinge of those Sycophantes and common enemies to the renowme of all Ladies Ah good madam sayth he although my lytle hablenes denies me sufficient meanes to measure the rewarde of your franke offer accordynge to the meritt of your great curtesie yet beholde heare a soldiour and gentleman bounde to be no lesse prodigall of his lyfe and spende the deareste dropp of his blodd in your seruice then you seme liberal of your estimation for the appeasyng of his greff and seyng your promisse is so farr past by wordes of confirmation to do your beste for me as the same ymportes an assured hope of spedie helpe to comme by our meanes the chiefest thyng that I committ to your frendshipp is to deliuer a letter froÌ„ me to Madame ZYLIA whose beautie hath alredye made suche a breache into my harte and brued the broth of the tormente which you sée I suffer that onelesse I be spedie releued I do not se but that y e thre fattals weary with drawing furthe the spindell of my lif will ymediatly cutt a sonder y e twiste whiche hanges onely by the hope of your succours in purchasyng me fauor with her that hath made me captiff in the prison of her commandement wherwith the faithfull burgoise beynge very sorie that so honeste a gentleman had sowen the séedes of his good will in a soile of so bad increase bringing furth but frutes of crueltie assaied to take the worme out of his nose in vsing perswacions to remoue his phaÌ„tasie but he that was alredie resolued in his mishap detested all councell and shoote his eares from the wholesome aduise of the wise matrone who doutyng that he wold conster her wordes contrarye to her meanyng in thinkinge that she inferred exhortacions to purchase a releace of her promisse willed hym to write his letter and she wolde not only deliuer it but also bring hym a reaporte of that which sholde be sente hym for aunswere whereby saieth she you shall see the litle gaine and lesse easse that will followe the meritt of your painefull trauell ymployed in the seruice of so vnthankful a woman with whom seynge I am thorowely acquainted and her disposicion no stranger vnto me I meane not to praâ—ise in any other sorte then to discharge y e part of a messeÌ„ger in deliuering your letter which yf you haue not alredie made I will attende your leasure to thend to performe my promisse wherewith he thanked her as apperteined and beynd alone in hys chamber sommoned all hys wittes together to deuise his letter which semed to be written in thies or like tearme Yf my dysease good madame were deryued eyther of the shaking or burnyng feuer Catterres Apoplexies or any other hurtefull influence incidente commonly to annoye the partes of mannes bodye I woulde reasorte too the councell of Phisicke and vse the discipline of wholsome dyot but wher my presente passion procedes only of the feruente affection I beare you thextremitie of the same denyes also to be cured by anye other remedie then the happye encounter of that which is thoriginall cause of my gréeff wherin albeit I halfe assure my selfe rather to receiue spedie ease and ende of my tormente by the fatall domme of death then abridgment of my dollors or consolacion in my distresse by any indeuour or affection reciprocall of you yet am I so lynked in the laborinth of loue that I am denied euery waye to take truce with my vnrulye desiers and lesse hable of my selfe to reuoke the vowe of my vnfayned deuocion to your rare and heauenle beautie in whome consistes the propper Cataplasma of my disease Alas vnder what crabbed constellacion was I conceiued or what cruell destenye directes the course of my yeres seing that in the glorie of my youthe and pryme time of myne age I am at one instante threatned of the heauens made subiecte to the malice of loue and readye to incurr the perilus daunger of dispaire for wante of hope to drawe furthe the length of my dayes to thuttermost date of my life whiche I thynke was formed first by nature and coÌ„tinued
enchauntement procedyng of the beautie of women bothe pleasant and hurtefull to men seames too bee typped with a certeine vertue of delite drawing the fondlinges of the worlde to bee in loue with the cause of their owne distruction So I am of oppinon also that yt is a kinde of punishemeÌ„t whiche God hath appointed to plage and torment vs for our offences that waye seynge that the most of vs now a dayes syppynge of the cupp of that infection do conuert the remembrance and care whiche wée oughte to haue of thestimacion of vertue into a speciall affection towardes oure fonde fancies séekinge our felicitie and quiet in the tombe wherein is shrowded the topp and roote of all our my shapps Besides vertuouse and chaste Ladyes are not so simple nor voide of discrecion but they beholde affarr of and are pryuye to the meanyng of thies franke offers of seruice and loyaltie sett out fynelie with diuerse coollours of fayned vertue not doutynge also that suche masqued louers disfer nothynge from the venemous skorpion whose poison lyeth altogether in her taile for that the ende of such loue argues a subuercion of the renowme and former vertues of a man whych of falleth out rightelie in y e sequeile of this Virey who thinking to haue made a greate conquest in the victorie of free conference with his vnkynde mistrys is nowe vppon the waye to her pallais or rather pathe of hys owne misfortune with more contentement I am sewer then hertofore he hathe receiued disquiett by his former torment And beinge now in the base courte of herl odgyng he found her in a lowe hal attended vppon with one gentlewoman only where after certeine cold gretinges entermedled with a countenance of counterfaite ioye on her parte she slented at his sicknes with thies tearmes yf euerye euill were as mortal in deède as yt is made by reapport a sleighte salue colde not so soone cure so great disease nor vnproued medecins worke suche meruelous operacions in so shorte a tyme speciallye vppon so daungerous a greeff as yours Seigneur Virley seamed to bée by the reaport of al men vnto me whiche shall serue me as an vndouted experience hereafter that the passions of men bée of no longer aboade then the subiect of their affectioÌ„ appeares before their eyes neyther bée they other thinges then certeine mirroiers or lookinge glasses wherein albeyt are represented the veray licknes or fygure of theime that beholde theime yet takyng awaye the obiect or cause and the forme vanisheth also as the poff of winde passinge along the straite of a plaine or déepe valleye Ah madame saith he how easye yt is to deuise of my disease and harde for me to hope for remedye at youre hande that doutes of the greatnes of my passion and easlye may he prefer either mirth or sorowe at hys pleasure whose mind is free from conceits of dout or dispayre where theharte truelye passioned dreades to make declaracion of eyther of theim least in excedyng in the one or seaminge to muche a nigard of the other the showe of eyther of theim bringe his sute or honest intent in Iâ—lewse suspicion with theym in whom onely resteth the Cataplama of his sore so that I accompte hym now the most infortunat man whose state is vnhapelye broughte vnder the awe of suche two mortal extremeties and for my parte yf I were as frée from thextreame pointes of affection as you seame farre from reason to doute of the greatnes of my gréeff I coulde with better will allowe your discreditt in the faythe and inconstancye of menne but alas hee that is caughte with the snares of true loue canne beholde no other figure nor make other liknes thenne of the true cause of hys affection the picture whereof remeyneth for euer within the sewrest part of the hart whiche in deede as you saye is the true mirroer wherein appereth not a fayned shadowe fadyng with the forme but a contynuall viewe and remeÌ„brance of her by whome wée lyue in suche heauenly contemplacioÌ„ in whych dyol or lokyng glasse I haue ympryn ted y e true effect of the thing which by vertue ofdue meritt ought to restore streÌ„gth to my preseÌ„t weaknes dealing so extreamelie w t me from the first tyme of this contemplacion that thonly offer of hope to restore in th ende my dekayed partes hathe hetherunto preuented theffect of vtter destruction to euery pece and member of my bodie And touching thargumentes of healthe whiche you note in me I am to yeld you alone all homage and honour for the same for that the fauor whiche I fynde in thys present appointement and conference with you hathe sturred vpp thys glee of good lykyng thorow all my partes with more contentement of the happy encounter theÌ„ my former gréeues gaue me cause of extreme dystresse and yet my martirdome hath neyther bene so small nor secrett but the whole worlde hathe witnessed my panges and you also myghte haue beleued theyme yf eyther the sorowe of my selfe or reapport of such as tooke pitie of me had bene of creditt with you whereof also I am yet to endure a more harde share yf yt maye bee ymagyned by any braine so that the same were hable to force a remorse in you on my behalfe for the greatest felicity I haue in this worlde is to haue the fauor of any coÌ„maundement at youre hande what perill soeuer yt ymportte to th ende my diligence and readie indeuor to do you seruice therein or other your affaires what so euer maye iustefye the vowe of my vnfained hacte towardes you like as also I perswade my selfe to bee reysed from a hundreth thousande deathes together when I ymagyn but a simple compassion in you touchynge the torment I suffer for youre beautie wherein yf euer I hadde reason to take pleasure by a delite whyche nature hathe wroughte in the thynge I am sewer alredie to haue hadd my parte of a thousande annoies by the regards of crueltie I haue found in you â—â—â—â—el at last good ladie the comission of former torments ceasse hensfurth to plage him that is readye in the place to comitt hys bodie to any sacrafy ce for the ransome of your fauour what moueth you alas to a discreditt or doute of my payne wyth opynion that my passion is dyssembled lett the sondrye sortes of teares heretofore distilled on the behalfe of youre discurtesye so many dayes broughte to end with continuall sorow and nyghtes drawen out at lengthe with drayninge sighes ye the present viewe of my pale and ghastelye ghost perswade you of the contrarye with assurance of my vndowted loyaltie for euer wherewith he behelde her not without a vente of soddayne teares trycklynge alonge hys cheekes and shee for her parte regarded the earthe wyth a face full of dysdaine as yt seamed whyche notwithstandynge he construed to a proffitt of hys sute pursewynge the same eftesones in this sorte Ah madame haue you the hart to deface the glorie of that deuyne
moderacion in his pleasures the tyran and morderor moued to compassion touching the cause of thin nocent and the vnthrift reclaymed to an honest staie of lif whiche makes me of opynion that this passion giuen vs by nature albeit it be an infection of it selfe yet it serues also as a contrepoison to driue out another venym according to the propertie of the Scorpion which of her selfe and in herself carieth the sting of mortal hurte and oyntmeÌ„t of spedie remedie thoccasioÌ„ of preseÌ„t death and meane to preserue life not meaning for all this to perswade that it is of necessitie we make our selues subiect altogether to this humor of good and euill disposicioÌ„ nor allow them that willingly incurr the perill of such fre ymprisonment but placinge it for this tyme amongest thinges of indifferent tolleracion because he neither seamed blind nor void of discrecioÌ„ on the behalf of those whose eraÌ„ples I meane to prefarr in this historie I maye boldlie aduoche that which we call affection to be a passion resembling in som respect the condicion of true amytie and yet not muche vnlike for the moste parte the generall euill whiche the Grecians â—al Philautia and we tearme by the title of loue or vaine flatterie of our selues chiefly when we see any so frently to his desiers that to satisfye the inordinat thruste or glot of his gredie appetit he forgettes hothe honor and honestie with the respect and duetie of his conscience besides what ymages of vertue curtesie or bowntiful dispocision soeuer our louers do ymagyn in theim whom they serue dymming the eyes of the worlde wyth a miste of dissembled substance as thoughe the cause of their liberall offer of seruice were deriued of an intent of honest frendshippe yet their trauailes that way concludes we se with other end for that they hunt only the chase of pleasure procedinge of the viewe of an exterior bewtie wherin their meaninge is sufficiently manifeste in the sugred oracions discourses of eloquent stile which those amarus orators seme to prefer when their mindes occupied whollie in the contemplacion of their mistresses do commit the praise of the perfection in their Ladies to the filed fordge of their fine tongue in which what other thing do they more chiefly commend then a deuyn misterie or conninge worke of nature painted with a dy of white or redd in her face A delicate tongue to dilate of matters of fancie an entysinge countenance with a grace and behauiour equal with the maiestie of a princes al which as they argewe the vanitie of him that reapose delite in such fondnes differinge altogether from the true ornamentes of the soule or pattorne wherby the perfectioÌ„ of vertue is discerned by thunfayned workes and absolute accion So dismissing this fond philosophie not coÌ„tending greatly whether loue be a natural corrupcion or a thing perticipating with vertue we may be bold to aduouche his power to preauile in things which seame of ympossibilitie to thother passions that be common vnto vs for what thinge can be of greater force in a man then that which constrainynge an alteracion of custome and breach of that which by contynuance hath taken rote within vs doth make as it were A new body and the mynd a meare straunger to her former cogitacions which I neither inferr without cause nor menteyne this argument without great reasoÌ„ for that as of al the vices which spot the lif of maÌ„ ther is none except y e excecrable syn of whoredom which makes vs soner forget god good order then the detestable exercise of vnlawful game neither are we so hardly reclaymed froÌ„ any thing as that cutthrote delite for that it is almost as possible to conuert the crueltie of a she wolffe or lyones into a present mekenes as to mortefie the desier of plaie in him which hath bene norrished and nozelled therin froÌ„ the beginning of his yeres Euen so notwithstanding the force of loue wrought such a misterie in an vnthrist of Naples that of the mo ste prodigall and ryotous spendor that hath bene noted in any age hee made a most staide and sparing gentlemaÌ„ that Italy hath brought furth of many yeres since or afore his time Albeit euen vpon the point and beginning of his new fondacion beinge redie w t all to expose frutes of his happye chang frome euill to good trade he was encowntred wyth the malice of his destinies which abridged hys felicytie and life in one moment wherof you maye discerne a manifeste profe in the sequeile of the historie folowing PERILLO SVFFRETH muche for the loue of Carmosyna and marienge her in the ende vvere both tvvo striken to deathe with a thonderbolte the firste nighte of their vnfortunat mariage IT happened not long synce in the riche and populus Citie of NAPLES who norrisheth ordinarylie an infinitie of youth of all degrees that amongest the rest of the wantons broughte vpp there at that tyme there was one named Anthonio Perillo who enioyenge a libertye more then was necessarye to one of so younge yeres and greene vnderstandyng made absolute declaracion affore the race of youthe did stopp in hym what it is to passe the yeres of correction without the awe of parentes tutour or controller for his father hauyng performed his Jornaye whiche nature appointed hym in this woorlde resigned hys bodie to earthe and his goodes and possessions to his sonne who fyndyng so manye golden cotters and chestes full of treasure to assiste his prodigal and wanton dispocision forgat not ymediatly to enter into the trade of a licencius life Wherein he founde no staye nor ympedyment to his will for that the necligence of his father had lefte hym withoute the awe or authoritie of any And albeit in the life of his father he was a continuall hawnter of the Berlea or common house of vnthriftie exercises where for wante of sufficient demers to furnishe his desier with skill in casting the three deceitfull companions of blacke and white vppon a square table he was forced often tymes to forbeare to playe and learne conynge in lokyng vppon yet tyme with his owne diligence made hym so artificiall that beyng but a cryer of awme there were fewe hable to excede his sleyghte in castinge twelue affore sixe of two dyce or tooke halfe so good accomte or regarde to the course of the cardes and yet notwithstanding he was not so wel grownded in the principles of his arte but often tymes his conyng beguilyng hym he was preuented with a contrarie sleighte and onelye his purse paide the charge of the whole companye whiche was not vnmarked of some two or three of the famyliars of hys father the respect of whose frendship and vertue with sondrie argumentes of ymynent destructioÌ„ to his sonne moued theym to enter into tearmes of admonicion layinge affore him the circumstance of his sondrie faltes but chiefly reprehendinge the greate wronge he did to his owne estimacion for that the waye to atteyne to renowne
peruersd destenie Oh lyues ay framd in mould of vvretchednes And borne to vveare the vvreath of miserie From all that earst haue felt distresse He is most cursd vvose state is so opprest That in his lyfe fyndes no one daye of rest Resigne your tearmes and tunes of auncient vvoo VVho earst haue vvept in teares of equall greeff No tvvo on lyue nor all that slepe belovve More loyall vveare aye vvantinge still relieff Then vve vvhose pictures here are placd in depe And shrovvded both vvithin the fatall sheete FINIS The argument THe tragicall chaunces happeninge toth infortunate sorte of this world albeit at the firste do present a certeine bitter tast with vnsauerye disgestion yet who Syfteth theym to the quicke construinge rightly euerye cause of their commyng and vertue in operacion wil not only iudge theim necessarie for some respectes but also discerne in theim an indifferent proffit and pleasure to all degrees of present being but specially to future posterities who may learne by the view of former illes to eschewe the like harmes in theim selues And because euery thinge is appointed his peculiar season and al actes cannot agre with euery time and al places I haue deuised that as I began my histories with a comiqual discourse So I intende to knit up with a tragicomiqual reaport treating chiefly vpon the selfe same subiect which the fonde do coÌ„monly prefer as a speciall couerture or sheelde of their faltes Thexperience is not straunge nowe a dayes what humor of rage doth directe our fraile youth gouerned by the planet of loue and what mortall inconuenience dothe and wold springe thereupon if reason serued not in some sorte as a moderacion of our follie euen from the cradle to the ful maturitie of our age quallefyeng besides by wholsom principles the heate of our wilfull appettites wherin like as amongest all the tyranous enemies which afflicte the bodie or mynde of man he only gloriethe of force to alter our propper nature what perfection so euer it ymporte conuerting our libertie into a disposicion of seruile thraldome guided only by the reyne of his discrecion So amon the nomber of authorities heretofore alledged for the profe of the same I haue thought good to preferr an example of ourtyme happening in a gentlemaÌ„ of Catalonia who declaringe in him selfe by his togreat constancie two extremyties of loue and follie hath also painted out the picture of a gentlewoman no lesse light and inconstante then loue and such as followe his loaâ—e be vaine seing the small vertue whiche assistes their sonde indeuor and slender commoditie growinge by their vncerteiue seruice A WONDERFVL CONstaÌ„cie in Dom Diego who for the respect of Geniuera la blonde vndertoke a harde Pennance vppon the mountes pyrenei where he ledd the lyfe of an hermytt till hèe was found out by chaunce by one of hys frendes by whose helpe he recouered both fauor and mariage of hys cruell mistres VPon the confynes of Catalonia deuydinge Barcellonia and the mountes liued not loÌ„g since an auncient Lady the wydowe and late wife of a knight of that contrey who left her only a daughter to supplie hym in succession and giue comforte to the desolacion and old yeres of her mother in whom appered rather a fonde zeale then awfull diligence in theducation of her childe for that she semed more willinge to flatter the vaine humor of her young yeres then careful to reprehend the argumentes of wanton dispocision apperinge in the younglinge who besides her curius shapp of body and lymmes with wonderful perfection of bewtie wherein nature gloreth yet of her conninge was assisted wyth so fayre a haire fallinge by deuyne arte in to crisped lockes deuidynge theym selues as it were by appointmente that the golde purifyed and tryed by the flame of the furnaise seamed but a darke metall in respecte of the glisteringe glee of her curled haire whereby shée was called of all men Geniuera la blonde not far from whose castell or place of a bode was y e dwelling of an other vertuouse wydow of noo lesse estimation for her riches large dominions then the other and of equall honour and renowme for honeste life who hauynge only the presence of a son to restore the remembrance of her deade husbande vsed no lesse care to brynge hym vpp in the discipline of euery vertue studie of good letters together with a participation in thexercise of all noble recreacions couenient for a gentleman of his condicion and calling then the faire Geniuera reapposed felicitie in the beautie of her glorious heare wherein to assiste the natural towardines of her son she sent him to Barcelonia the chefest citie of the contrey where fortune fauoured his diligence with suche dexteritie in all thynges that vppon the eyghtenth yeare of his age his perfection in learnyng with wonderfull sleyghte in exploytes of chiualrye gaue causes of shame to all gentlemen and other degrees what so euer norrished and bredd vpp in the lyke exercises whyche sturred vpp suche contentemente in the good Ladie hys mother that she knewe not with what countenance to couer the pleasure shee tooke in the felicitie of her sonne a falte familiar enoughe to a nomber of fonde menne and a vice moste common to all mothers who glorienge in the towardenes of their children do flatter theym selues with an vncerteine hope of their future vertue wherein they do indifferente wronge to their owne ymagination and aduauncement of theyr wilfull and wanton youth who blynded with vayne perswacion of creaditt of their parentes do thynke theym selues dispensed with all frome further diligence or to expose effectes of other dutie whereuppon followeth often tymes a nomber of indifferent myshappes to theym bothe with cause of equall rebuke to the one and the other and so pursewyng the queste of my hystorye it happened in the florishynge yeares of thys younge gentleman Dom Diego that Phillipp of Austriche onely heyre to hys father newlye deceased passynge thorowe Fraunce towardes Spaine to inueste hym selfe in the Seignories of hys late father gaue warnynge of hys comynge to the Citie of BARCELONIA who for their parts entred ymediatly into deuise touchinge the pompp and magnifisence wherewith they mighte do honor to the maiestie of so great a prince as y e son of the Emperour of the Romaines amongest other solemnities they dressed a riche and curious iust furnyshynge the listes onely with younge gentlemen here to fore not greatly exsperienced in the vse of armes wherof as Dom Diego was chosen chiefe of th one parte so the kyng for a more contentement to hys subiectes beynge vppon the skaffolde to iudge the loftie corage of thies younge gallandes had onely his eyes vpon the younge DIEGO with a wonderfull admiration of his force in so younge yeres arguyng an vndowted vertue with thincrease of further age to whome onelye he awarded the glorie of the féelde with protestation that in hys lyfe he hadd not séene a medly better performed seamynge rather a
was conuenient in a maide carefull of the garde of her honor wherein albeit her mother reaposyng indifferent credit in the vertue of theym both gaue leaue to her doughter to kepe hym companie yet as Aristotle affirmeth honesty doth not broke longe dalliance or wanton chatt in chast maydes w t the first that accoasteth theim w t conferēce in corners with any but suche as by consente of the church haue gott the power and possession of their bodie and is or oughte to be the one halfe or moytie of their mynde whiche albeit was thintente and desier of theis two louers yet y e simplicitie of their frendes deferring theffect wrought not only a breach of y e bargain but also sturred vp in her an humor of mortal spite against the sinceritie of her loyal seruāt who endewred y e reuēge of her vniust anger vnder a punishmēt of a most sharp long penance in deserts inhabitable vnknowē for in y e heate of this reciprocal loue betwene thies younglings it chaūced y t a meruellous faire and goodly gentle woman doughter of a greate lorde of the countrey called Forrando de la Sara vsyng familiarly the companie of Geniuera becam by that meanes extremely in loue with Dom Diego assayinge by publike and priuate meanes to imparte vnto hym what power and authoritye she woulde willingly giue hym ouer her harte yf for his part he would requite the sinceritie of her loue with semblable honor and affection wherein experiencynge the benefytt of all honest meanes seamyng any waye to fauour the effecte of her desyer considered at last that aboue all other exercises the knight tooke greatest pleasure in hawkes wherfore vnder coulor to make a breache into his fauour with assistyng the disposition of his delite she sente him one daye a tassell gentle as the chiefeste Iewell she had to presente hym withall excepte the offer of her owne good wyl wherein Dom Diego albeit he was wholly possessed by an other and with the losse of his libertie hadd also so departed wit his iudgement that he could not discerne thintente and honest zeale of the gentlewoman yet he accepted her presente and retorned the messenger with suche thankes as appertayned In the receiuing of this hawke appeared absolute showes of the euill fortune of the pore Diego which immediatly fayled not to thunder vppon hym without cōpassion for as he went often to visitt his mystres so he forgott not continually to cary this hawke vppon his fiste boastinge so farr vppon the goodnes of the birde that he chaunced in her presence to saye that it was one of the thinges in the worlde he helde moste deare Sewerly this wordes were sifted more nerely then there was cause and construed to other end then he mente them seinge that certeine dayes after in his absence deuising vppon his sondry vertues some commended his honeste and curteus behauior some gaue praise to his valyauntnes and dexteritie in armes some exalted in him the sondrye giftes of nature and passing further he was generallye preferred of all the companie for his sinceritie and constant dealynge in matters of loue sauing of one Graciano who rather enuyinge the vertue of the knight by malice then hable to deface y e leaste of his gyftes by reason ioyned with the reste in commendacion of his personage actiuitie and other dowries of nature but for his faith or care of promiss where loyaltye shoulde moste appere I accompte hym sayeth he so apte to dissemble and inconstante by nature that he vseth no difference of personnes in grounding his affections makynge no conscience to seame to languishe mortallye where he meaneth nothing lesse then firme constancie which touched Geniuera so neare that she coulde not giue place any longer to the sinister bable of Graciano desieringe hym to vse other tearmes touchinge the honestie of Dom Diego for saith she I am of opinion that he will rather passe vnder the sentence of any death then forfeyt the leaste pointe of his promise passed alreadie vnder the seale of his faith to a gentlewoman of this contrey besides his loue I knowe is so sincere and vpright that I dare pawne my lif on y e behalf of th assurāce There is the miste that dimmeth your eyes sayeth this cankarde ennemye of Diego for vnder the vaile of a periured loyaltie he abuseth the simplicitie of honeste Ladyes whereof I nede not go farr for a prooff nor you doubt much of the misterye if you conferr the circumstāce of his former profession towardes you with the presente ▪ league of frende shipp betwene him and the doughter of Dom ferrando de la Sara cōfirmed alredye by the gyfte of a tassell gentle which for her sake he estemeth aboue all the thinges in the world which last allegatiō restoring a remembrance of the words pronounced not longe ago by the knight touching the deare accompte he made of his hawke began to brede a suspicion of his constancie and an assured creditt in the information of thunhappie Graciano wherein swelling immediatly with her vniust collor incensed by a simple cold Ielowsie was forced to abandon the place retire into her chamber wher she gaue suche skoape to her synister conceite that she was vpon tearmes manye times to vse force againste her selfe whereunto she had added present dispatche if a hope to procure in time the reuenge of the wronge whiche she perswaded to haue receiued of her Diego had not staide th execution albeit she coulde not so gouerne her malicious disposition but the deadly hate conceiued in this moment against thinnocente gentleman did not onely supplante both stocke and roote of aunciente zeale on her parte but also grewe to suche mortalitie in her venemous stomake that she seamed not to delite so muche in the vse of her owne life as in desyer to take pleasure in the remembrance of the death of hym who no lesse innocent in the cause then ignorante of the grudge came the nexte mornynge as he was wonte to sée her hauing vppon his fiste by euill fortune the birde which bredd firste this mortall Ielowzye And as he satt deuisyng with her mother fyndinge a wante of thaccustomed companie of his mistres he asked where she was whereunto he was aunswered by one of her women that assone as she sawe hym enter the house she tooke her chamber all whiche he dissimuled by his wisdom imagininge the same to procede of some wanton fancie or coye conceite whereunto the most part of women are cōmonly incident so that when he sawe his time he tooke leaue of her mother departed meting by chaunce as he wente downe the steares of the hall one of the chambrieres or Gentlewomen of Geniuera whō he requested to kisse the hande of his mistres on his behalfe whiche she promised to performe hopinge to do a thinge no lesse acceptable to her mistres then to gaine thankes of him on whose behalfe she presented the curtesie Albeit as it is to
be thoughte that Geniuera enioyed litle quiet and lesse contentemente in this meane while solicited I can not tell by what desyer to defye whollye the remembrance of Diego wherein she was the rather forthered by an information that he bare still the tarssell of hys fyste whyche she iudged to be done onely in despite of her So when her woman offred to presente thimbassage of the knighte she fell into suche tearmes of frenzie that the simple brute or name of Dom Diego sturred vp such hainous alterations within her that to her former wroth was added a present wodnes in such sorte that she seamed for the tyme to labor indifferently betwene thextreme panges of death and vse of longer lif albeit restored at laste by the greate diligence of her woman she coulde not so wholly dismisse her furie but she imparted the passion of her anger to her eyes who after they had some what eased her inwarde greef by a nomber of dollorous teares put her eâ—tesones in the possession of her former speache whiche she witnessed in theis exclamations Ah traitor and disloyall knighte vnworthie euery waye to participat with the breathe of the common ayre and no lesse meritorious of the honor or bare title of knighthodde hath the coÌ„stant honest loue I haue borne the deserued this vnhoneste recompense is it a vertue to pretende loyaltye vnder a masqued vyserne of detestable deceite if theis be the frutes of thy fayth purifyed thorowe so many othes what exspectatioÌ„ of assurance is there in the promisse of any man Is it I that must fele the stynge of thy infectioÌ„ What cause haue I giuen the to imagin the spoile of mine honor and imparte the praye to an other vnworthie euery waye of iust comparison to me Yf not in louynge the more then was conuenient to thy inconstante and dissemblinge disposition I haue embased mine honor to aduaunce thy renowme howe couldest thou without blushing attempte the offer of my good will hauing thy conscience poysened wyth so many spotes of abhominable traison howe dareste thow presente me the baise les â—ains by the mouth of a messenger seinge thy whole bodye is alredie vowed to the seruice of an other no no seinge God hath reueiled the vnto me afore thy villanye put effecte to the ruine of mine honor I doubte not only to defende me hereafter from the force of thy deceitfull charmes but also sweare vnto the by the eternall maiestie of the higheste that albeit force makes me the treasores of thye wickednes yet assure thy selfe from hensfurth at my handes of such fauor as thou maist exspect of the most mortall enemy thou hast in the world wherwith to giue the last farewel to the pore Diego she writ ymediatly certeine lynes and deliuered theym sealed to her page with commissyon that the nexte daye hee shoulde méete the knyghte on the waye commynge thether and delyuer the letter wyth Instruction besydes that affore hee came to the house hee shoulde reade the contentes and performe the effecte whereof the page beinge made to the string fayled not of any point for the next day hée met Dom Diego a quarter of a league frome the house presentynge hym the letter wyth hys commission by mouth who kissinge the paper of his mistres in honor of her that sent it opened the packet and founde that whych foloweth Albeit the coutynuall complaynt of my gréeffe ymportes no dispence of my dollor yet in exclayming against the wroÌ„g thou haste don me I shal so desypher thy villanye that the whole world shall fynde cause not onely to proclayme open shame vpon the but also by my misfortune beware of thin fections of thy detestable traison whereunto if I haue added more credit then ther was cause on thy side the remeÌ„braÌ„ce of that whyche is past preferring a contynuall view of thy periured trothe is to defende mée hereafter from the offer of semblable perill neyther wyll I liue hensfurthe in feare of future euyl or stand in awe eftsones to be infected by the for that I haue not onely banished the remembraunce of Diego oute of euery corner of my mynde but also am of intente to performe such vengance and punishmente of my selfe that if I fele any vaine member or other parte in me bente neuer so little to fauor the or sewe for grace on thy be halfe to vse no lesse crueltie in tearinge the same from the reste then thy disloyaltie hath sturred vp suche iuste cause of vnsemely tyranny in me And for thy parte O periured knight sith it is thy only trade to beate euery bushe where thou thinkeste to bée eyther birde or neste goo pitche thy nettes where thou art sewer of praye and baite thy hookes with tearmes of deceite to entrapp her whose late presente is of more force wyth the then the honeste and chaste loue which vertue began in vs both for seing abirde hath made y t more lighte then the winde that supportes her in the ayre God forbid that Geniuera eyther admit thy excuses or allowe thy iustifycacion and muche lesse wishe the other good then to sée the torne in peces wyth the moste extreme tormentes that euer martired any traitor whych is the laste fauor thou hast to hope for of me who lyueth not but to worke the spite aboue any enemye thou hast in the world Geniuera la blonde He had no soner redd these sorowfull newes but liftynge hys eyes to heauen he called God to witnes of hys innocencye who onely beyng priuye to thynteggretie of hys mind colde also iustefye hys loyall meanynge towardes her who vniustly abused the sincere vertue of hys vnmouable affection and as he ment ther to prefer some discourseâ—n hys purgacion the page who was not so amplie instructed of hys mistres as mortall enemye to Dom Diego staide thintente of hys meaninge by the reaporte of that whyche he hadde in charge by mouth saying that he colde do no greater pleasure to Geniuera then to shon all places of her repaire seing saith he that as the frendshipp you haue vowed to the doughter of the Lord Sero hath discouered your vntroth towardes her So she hath geuen iudgement agaynst youre vertue for fedyng two simple gentlewomen indifferently with the foode of one vncerteine hope wherewith he departed leauinge the knight in lesse care thenne affore for that conferringe her grudge with the cause he thought the small occasion founded also vpon an vntrothe wold in shorte tyme take awaye the force of her collor albeit hee colde not so whollie dismisse the remembrance of her displeasure nor gouerne his owne passion but retorning to his castell aboue an ordynary pase went to hys chamber wher pulling the poore hawke from the pearche committed her presentlye to a thousande morsels and cursing her that sent her wyth his owne follie in receiuing so vile a thinge enchaunted as he thought by some furye or magicall charme determyned ymediatlye to presente hys mistres with the sacrafize of
studie of solytarie philosophie vpon the wilde and riche mountes Pireney was reliued and restored when he was leaste in opinion or hope of succour For as you haue hard he had a neyghbour and deare frende called Dom Roderico who aboue the rest lameÌ„ted chiefly thaâ—sence and misfortune of Diego It chaunced within twenty and two monethes after the pilgrim began his voyage that this Roderico hauyng bene in Gascoyne to dispatche certeine necessary affaires there in his retorne to Barcelonia whether he had missed the path of his righte waye or that the sprite of god as it was moste lyke guided hym was or he wyste vpon the caryre that ledd him directly to that place of the mouÌ„tes where was thordinary residence of his great frende Diego who grew so fast into declynation and debilitie of hys body that if y e clemency of the highest had not ouer shadowed him he had wroughte the wretched effecte of that which he chiefly desired that is with the losse of life to giue ende to his harde pennance Dom Roderico wandring thus in the wildernes of y e mountes dispercing his traine to discouer some places of habitacion was aduertised by one of his people being within tweluescore yardes of the hermits caue of a tracke steppes of men not without some merueile notwithstandyng for that thinfertillety of y e place showed no aboad nor repaire for ciuil people wherupoÌ„ as they debated were in deuise to appoint one of the companie to follow the trace somwhat further they sawe one enter the mouth of the caue which was Dom Diego who came from the top of the hill affore mencioned wher he had newly performed his morninge coÌ„plaint with his face directly toward the cost where he iudged was thoracle of the saint to whoÌ„ he dressed his deuocions y e knight sente one of his valletts to approche the caue know what they were y t liued so solitarily and withall to demaunde the highe waye to Barcelonia but he discouering a far the scituacion of the hoale so wel fortefied rampierd with stones and blockes cowched in the forme of a trenche fearing the same to be the receptacle or forte of some that kept house by the highe waie side liuing of large reuenue durst neither come nere it nor aske the way as he was coÌ„manded by his maister to whom as he retorned with more fear of his shadow then true reaporte of that he had in charge so the valiant knight of more courage then his cowardly seruant put spurres to his horsse gallopyng to the veraye dore of the caue where he ceased not to call and knocke till he sawe comme owte a maÌ„ so disfigured with leannes of his face other exterior deformotie of his bodye that his veraye regard moued compassion to Roderico who asking what he was demauÌ„ded also the coÌ„mon waye to Barcelonia this was the seruant of Diego who aunswered that he could yelde him no reason of y e waye to Barcelonya and lesse instructe him touchinge the costes of the contrey for that saieth he not without some sighes other doleful regardes we are two pore brethern whom the aduenture of fortune hath brought hether to do pennance mortifie our present age for the synnes and offences of our youth passed which wordes of two pore bretherne broughte thether as strangers by the guide of fortune with the presente remembrance of Diego his seruante argued such suspicion to Roderico that he alighted not for that he thoughte to encounter him whom he most desired to embrase but to sée only the singularities of the rocke and the mistery of the closse castel builded in the bellye of the earth where finding hym whom he serched without knowing notwithstaÌ„dynge what he was entered into conference together of the difference betwen the felicitie of the solitary lif miseries which they fynde that participate with the wretched follies of this worlde for sayeth he the mynde withdrawen froÌ„ y e viewe of worldly vanities takes his only pleasure in the contemplacioÌ„ of heaueÌ„ly thinges being alwaies more apte to obserue the coÌ„mandements of God with a sincere reuerence to their maker then those whiche haunte the coÌ„mon conuersation of men Wherin truely when all is said continuall frequentâ—cioÌ„ one with an other delites ambicious couetousnes superfluities of all vices whiche we finde in this confused amassâ— corrupte worlde do cause vs to mistake our selues forget our dutie towardes our creator fall into a perillous disdaine of pitie charitie some time to diuerte the sinceritie of the true religion abuse thintegritie vndoubted interpretation of the gospell which I leaue to be debated at large by y e theologiaÌ„s to whoÌ„ such charge doth cheifly apperteine As y e vnknowen hermit the knight Roderico were in deuises certeine of his seruantes visitinge euery cell and celler of the caue founde in the toppe of a vawlte framed of certeine sparres of wood rammed in y e earthie wal at both endes two saddells the one wherof seamynge to haue serued heretofore some faire Ienett was couered with crimsyn veluett fringed rounde aboute wyth siluer throme stodded with nailes of sondrie enameyle and armed wyth plates of steile wrought curiouslye vppon with certeine rayes and streames of pure golde which albeit the rouste had defaced the stéele loste nothinge of his entyer and beautye and as one of the companie offred to buye theym seing neyther horsse nor moyle worthie to weare such furniture y e knight hauing ended his discourse with y e maister hermitt souÌ„ded to horsse with intent to leaue the poore men in peace and searche some other meane to fynde out the high waye whereuppon he that was desyerous to buy the saddels presented theym to his maister who as he behelde theym felte a seconde motion or remembrance of his frende Diego wherwith searchinge the harneys euery pendell of the sadle he founde this inscription written in spanishe vppon the crooper Quebratare la fe es cosa muy fea which is in englishe to breake thy faith is a detestable thinge This deuise restored cause of newe astonishmente for that it agreed wyth thordynary stampp whiche Dom Diego bare alwaies in his armour which the rather confirmed him in opinion that without doubte the sadle apperteined to the one of the two pilgrims whom as he began to beholde with a more percinge regarde then afore without discerninge in either of theim any signe or marke of knowledge by reason of their hideus and disfigured hewe So Dom Diego seinge the diligence of his frende with desier he hadd to discouer him began to labor of a passioÌ„ of trembling feare with such Ielewse doubte of him selfe that the blodd moued in thinner parts and ascended maugre his resistance into the face and other places of discouery bewrayed thinward alteratioÌ„ of his minde which with the vncerteine regard of his eyes showed to Roderico an absolute assurance of that which earst he durste not suspecte
presence drowned wyth thinundacion of vndeserued sorow proceding by his wickednes wherewith her eyes performed her desier with such plentie of teares that there was not one of the companie voyed of compassion on the hehalfe of the dollor whych tormented her not ceassing notwithstanding to perswade her to pitie towarde that poore Diego who beynge newely recouered by the diligence of thassistance sprinkling fresh water of the fountayne vpon his face dyd no soner lift vp his sorowfull lyddes beholdinge the lamentable passion of hys mistres with certeine likelehodes he espied showing an encrease of her disdayne towardes hym but he retired to his former debilitie fallinge downe dead betwene the armes of suche as suported hym and albeit hée was eftsones restored yet the force of hys passion assailed hym stil wyth thrée or foure mortal panges one in the necke of an other in such sorte as the whole company gaue iudgment of hys death amongest the whych Roderico was not the leaste amased who greuing indifferently with thobstinate crueltie of Geniuera and present perill of hys deare freÌ„d Diego was in long debate what pollecie to vse to qualifie the one and preuent the daunger of the other he perswaded that if he killed the willful Geniuera he shold also giue ende to the dayes of Diego for that vpon the viewe and remembrauce of the one depended the life of the other and so in doinge no good to any he sholde commit doble offence to god and the world both in spottinge his soule with vnciuill morder and also to become the author of his death in whose lyfe he reaposed his most worldly felycitie on thother side y e vntowardnes of the girle argued her intractable in suche sorte as hee desiered which confirmed the continuall martirdom of hys frend whose distresse as it moued hym to suche inwarde remorce that to procure his deliuerye he made no conscience to lighte a candle afore the deuill so he gaue a newe charge vppon the good will of Geniuera with gentle perswacions lainge afore her what vertue ought to appere in suche tender and delicate yeres and how greatly the vice of ingratitude defaced the renowme of a gentlewoman assisted wyth crueltie without reason wherein gaininge no lesse then if he had neuer put the deuise in execution he retired to thextremitie of his former threates and last pollecie swearinge that she shoulde fynde no difference betwene the sommonce and effecte seing that by her death he should giue ende to her disdayne and desolate state of hys frende whom as he doubted not woulde deserne in tyme what commoditie it were to purge the ayre of suche contagiouse filthes of ingratefull arrogancie so he was also of opynion that tyme wold yelde commendacion to his fact chiefly for that in preseruinge y e honour of a familie he thought it more expediente to exterminat the two principall offenders then to reserue the lyfe of eyther of them for an vtter extinction of the glorye of the whole house wherefore regarding the rest of his traine hee commanded to laye handes of the obstinate gentlewoman with her two companions with charge to vse no lesse mercy in their seuerall executions then the chiefeste of the three extended pitie to the amarus knighte whyche he thoughte wold yelde vp the ghost afore her The Ladye hearinge the sentence diffinitiue of her life escrâ—ed the morder with open mouthe as yf she had exspected some succour to defende her from deathe wherein her hope was frustrate for the deserte fostred no other companye but suche as were readye in the place to commit execution The page and poore Chambriere helde vpp their handes for mercie to Roderico who fainyng an ympedimente in hys hearyng made a signe to his men to put effecte to his commandement Geniuera entreating for the liues of her page and woman desiered that their ynnocentie mighte not do pennance for the offence whych she had don crauyng with great humilitie that the punishement myght be performed vppon her froÌ„ whom the falte yf it be a matter meritorious of blame sayeth she for a womaÌ„ to kepe her fayth to her husbande is deriued and yeld iustice to thies infortunat wretches least th execution of their ynnocentiâ— increase your detestable offence oh saieth she with her handes and eyes beholdyng the heauens thou my most deare and lawfull husbande whose soule I see walkyng in the middest of the loyal louers what better proffe canste thou haue of the sinceritie of my loue then to see me laye my body vppon thalter of ymmolation to vntymely death for thy sake neyther shalte thou for thy parte oh boocher and mortall morderour of my carkasse to whose crueltie my destenie hathe consented in quenching thy thurste with the blodd of a pure mayde glorifie hereafter to haue forced the harte of a simple gentlewoman and muche lesse made a breache into her honor eyther by terrible threates or sugred perswations vpoÌ„ which laste wordes notwithstandyng attended suche argumentes of terrour that a man wolde haue thoughte that the veraye remembrance of death hadd somewhat quallified her vehemency and mortified the greatest part of her former furies Dom Diego by this tyme came to hym selfe and seynge the discourse of the tragedye readye to presente hys laste acte with the death of his faire mistres Geniuera la blonde was driuen to force hym selfe to speake for the lyfe of her whose crueltie hadde committed hym allmoste to the panges of extreme daunger wherefore staynge the diligence of suche as had the charge of execution he addressed hym to Roderico with this requeste My lorde and great frende the present experience of your rare frendshypp hath made so lyberall a prooff of youre vndoubted meanyng towardes me that if I sholde liue the age of a whole worlde I shoulde not be hable to discharge the bondes of your desert So considering the cause of this misfortune procedes only of the malice of mine owne destenie and that it is a vanitie to contende with the thynges which the heauens haue determined vpon vs I beseche you by the vertue of your honor for a confirmation of all the good tornes you haue done me to graunte me yet one requeste whiche is that in pardonning the life of this gentlewoman and her companie you will retourne theim to the place from whence you broughte theim with no lesse assuraunce and saffetie then yf you guided your miserable Dom Diego for my parte being fullie resolued not to kepe warre with my destenies I am perswaded to a contentement touchinge my lot assurynge you for the reste that the sorowe whiche I sée she suffreth giueth me more cause of passion then y e gréef which I endure by her meanes troubleth me let her liue in peace and me in exspectation to receiue ende of my tormentes by the deuouring knif which is ordeyned to cut in sonder the fillet whereuppon dependes the fatall course of my cursed yeres till whiche tyme I haue sworne to kepe resideÌ„ce in