charging his Father and all his friends not to untye the string to read what it was till such time the Childe was able to read it himself destring them to kéep him at School very carefully whereby he may attain to that knowledge as to read the writing perfectly himself and thanking the Father for the favour done him took his leave and so departed When the Child 's was grown up and fit to be instructed he was put to School and very carefully attended till he was ten years of age at which time he was capable to read the writing that was about his neck and upon a time as he was by himself he took it off his neck and opened it and read it wherein he found his destiny written in these words My good Childe serve God and pray to him continually to pass this fate over thée else thy fortune is to be hanged When the Childe had read this he listed up his eyes to heaven and begg'd a blessing from the Lord and went home very sad and melancholly and destred of his Father to give him one new suit of clothes and a little money in his pocket and his blessing his Father asked him the reason of his request then said the Childe pray give it me for I will go seek my fortune his Father did according as the Childe required so he took leave of his friends and parted from his Father Well go said he and my blessing with thée so the Boy travelled into a strange Countrey still praying to God to acquit him of that unhappy fortune to which he was predicted to and at last he came to a Knights house and required a service the Knight asked him what he could do he said swéep your Hall draw Beer and run upon your Arands and what other service I am able to do The Knight saw him a hopeful boy and very willingly entertained him and he proved marvellous careful and diligent in whatsoever he took in hand and at all spare times he would be upon his knées at prayers desiring God to pass that unhappy fate over him The Knight observing this soon after plac'd him under Buttler and there he continued in the same ruse praying to God continually whereby the Knight had a great discerning eye on him In this place he had not been many years but the head Buttler dyed and he Knight put him in his place and being there he was obedient to his Master courteous to his fellow servants pleasing to all but the baker and the brewer murmured greatly saying how may this be yonder fellow was taken up as a poor beggar boy at the door but the other day and first he was under Buttler now he is head Buttler what will he come to but this past on he grew in favour still and being a Schollar his Master made him under Steward which place he discharged with great trust and faithfulness then his two adversaries murmured ten times more yet he grew in favour more still with the Knight till at last the head Steward dyed then he was prefer'd in that place and from that time forwards his adversaries sought his destruction yet when he was in this place he never waxed proud nor ambitious but alwayes trusty humble meek and lowly and when he had served in the place of head Stewardship the space of five years he had a minde to go sée his own Countrey and therefore delivered up all his accounts just and square he asked leave of the Knight who granted his request very willingly and lent him a Horse and gave him great store of money to go with saying Thou hast béen a just and faithful servant to me go and my best word with thée and when his horse was tyed at the door and he ready to depart there came to him the Baker and the Brewer deceitfully to take their leaves of him saying they must drink with him before parting and as he was drinking with one in the Cellar the other opened his Portmantle and put therein a great Gilt Bowl and so shut it again then he went and drank with him and so departed but he had not béen gone above a mile but these two fellows made inquisition for the Bowl and the Knight asked who should have it who should said they but your trusty friend and servant that is newly gone who hath béen as very a thief as ever breathed since he came to you and has robb'd you daily though you would not believe it therefore you will not believe this except you saw it therefore pray ride along with us and we 'l bring him back again and that you shall sée he has the Bowl so the Knight rid after him and overtook him and praid him to come back for he had a little business with him so when he came they searched his Portmantle and found the Bowl when the Knight saw that he admired it and said O thou wicked wretch I have béen told how thou hast rob'd me daily and impoverished my Estate but I would never believe it now I sée it plainly with my eyes for which fact thou shalt be hanged at the Gallows The young man stood up and said of this fact I am innocent and thou eternal God who holdeth the secrets of all men hearts in thy hands knows that I am guiltless send me justice now O great Lord of heaven and earth that thy everlasting truth may take place and this hidden treachery be brought to light And as they were leading him away to prison he said Well now I perceive that Fortune is a Fortune let the world go how it will and his Master hearing him said what mean you by that and he said when my Mother was in Travail of me there was a strange Knight lodged in tha house and did foresée my destiny by his art in the Planets and at the request of my Father he was my God-father and then writ in a little piece of Parchment my sad fate in these words following My good childe serve God and pray continually that the sad fate may pass over thee for thy fortune is to hanged and he sealed it up in war and tyed it with a silk String and put it about my neck charging my Father that no one should read it till I was capable to read it my self wherefore I came to travel and also obeying the words and praying continually to God to escape it I sée it doth follow me undeserved as you now see The Knight hearing this demanded to sée the piece of writing which specified his destiny and he took the string from obout his neck and gave it the Knight who as soon as he saw it he said O the merry of the eternal God of Heaven whose love to his servants is incompréhensible this is my own hand-writing I writ thy destiny and I am thy God-farther O bring him back again let us examine the cause better then â—e called the two false accusers before him and strictly examined
before us so the Empress commanded Radamentus to appear with all his men who immediately came then said the Princess Most dear Mother behold the young Gentleman that standeth there in black who is favourite to Radamentus above all others command him to be stript before us all said the Empress that will be a shame to us nay said the Princess be the shame to these that deserve it and when be was unclothed he was known to be a woman to the admiration of all The Complaint of the Princess against Radamentus THen said the Princess to her Mother behold this Fornicator and this Whore who bath commonly lain with him in his bed committing the foul sin of fornication which thing he would also have committed with me in the Garden and because I would not consent to his filthy lust he ran out crying he had seen me lying with a man under the Fig tree and thereby complained unjustly against me seeking all possible means how to take my life away Therefore most gracious Mother give me leave to reprove him of all his grievous slanders and false accusations word by word and I beséech you to hear me patiently When you sent for 〈◊〉 at his request I beheld the Stars bâ— which I knew that if I should have spoken to you 〈◊〉 any other within seven dayes â—â—â—as heâ—â—eâ—h 〈◊〉 shâ—â—ld are a shameful death for which cause I did forbear to speak until this present When the Empress heard her Daughter so just and learnedly vindicate the tâ—uth she said to Radamentus O wicked wretch was not thy Concubine enough to 〈◊〉 â—hy faul and lecherous apposite but wouldst have had to do with my onely Daughter Then Radamentus fell to the groâ—nd and begg'd pardon but the Empress said O ungratsful Traytor thou dost 〈◊〉 mercy but thou shalt finde none for the law shall be upon thee even unto a shameful death as thou hast deserved Then said the Princess Most gracious Mother it was told you by this wretched Caitiff that I should by the help of my Mistrisses endeavour your destruction and assume the Government to my self Alas I should more rather use all the art and skill I have to help and support you in all your Government about your Empire and repute you my Sovereign since I have from you all my living and maintenance not to deprive you of your Dignity for in your honour do I glory Then said the Empress blessed be Almighty God that I have such a good and learned Daughter that I finde so expert in all Arts and Sciences therefore declare to me one example whereby I may understand thy wisdome perfectly then shall I have ioy of thee and my heart will be satisfied Then said the Princess Gracious Mother Command silence among the people that all may hear me and when I have ended oâ—â—e sentence according to law upon me and Radamentus When the Hall was silenced the Princess began as followeth The Example of Sabrina the Empress Daughter THere was a Queen which had but one Daughter whom she loved as she did her life therefore the Queen delivered her 〈◊〉 a Wise Mistris to be brought up and be instrâ—â—â—â—d in all vertuous Learning and Wisdom and when she had béen with her Mistris a certain while her Mother had a desire to see â—er and sent Letters to the Mistris to bring home her Daughter when she came she appeared to her Mother so expert in learning comely in behaviour and amiable unto all that the Queen rejoyced excéedingly and it happened on a time as she delivered a bowl of Wine to her Mother the Queen looked upon the wall and saw the shadow of a hand which wrote three lines in an unknown tongue and the Quéen began to fear greatly and said happy were that person which could interpret what that writing meant then her Daughter said if it may not offend the Quéen I could give the true interpretation thereof and the Quéen said speak on my good Daughter and the Childe said Most honoured Mother this writing doth signifie that I shall become a mighty Princess and shall be honoured of all people especially my own Mother who shall bring me a Bowl of Wine and bow thrée times and knéel in the delivery of it and the Queen said Thou shalt never be honoured so of me nor have such service therefore she commanded her servants to take her into a Forest far from the Court and there slay her and bring her Heart to shew her that she may know the truth of her death so the servants took her away to the Forest and having compassion on so sweet a Childe said among themselves let us deceive the Queen in this bloody 〈◊〉 and save the Childe and we will put her in this hollow Tree and kill a Lamb of the Mountain and bring the Heart to the Queen which accordingly they did and the Queen believed it was the Heart of her Daughter saying Prophecies sometime prove not true And it chanced that on the morrow after a strange Knight hapned to hunt in the Forest where the Childe was to be slain and his Dogs beyed about the tree where the Queens Daughter was at last the Knight looked in the hollow of the tree and there he espied a young Girle of such incomparable beauty that his eyes never beheld a fairer which made him suspect that she was of some noble race and so he commanded his servants to be careful of her and to bring her into his own countrey where he did bring her up in all learned Arts and with royal attendants till at last her fame began to ring throughout the whole Kingdome for Vertue Beauty and Learning and the Emperour of that Land being very youthful came to that Knights house for so view her And no sooner did he behold her but he was smitten with the inflamation of Love and after dinner he danced with her and in the evening he married her and brought her in great triumph and solemnity home to his own Court. And after that the thrée Eastern Kings hearing of her fame came to see her beauty and to bring her presents thus for thrée years she lived with her husband the Emperour in all joy and happiness and then he dyed leaving the whole Empire unto she who was then called the great Empress of Blodermario When she was thus in the height of all her glory she viewed the Firmament and perceived by her skill in Astrology how her Mother that day was deposed by the Prince of Moravia of Crown and Kingdom and banished out of her countrey and laying to heart the distressed condition her mother was in had compassion on her for pure Nature will never fall away and therefore she raised a brave and mighty Army and marched towards her mothers Countrey which newes did slye before her that it was told the Queen her mother the great Empress of Blodermario was coming to her assistance which made the Queen to rejoyce and wonder greatly knowing
him all that happened and how the Lion had saved her life and was the greatest comfort she had in the Wilderness It chanced afterwards that as the Knight was going into his Wood to view his young Horses he met with a wilde Boar with whom he fell in combat with The Lion loved the old Knight and by accident walking under the pale side he sented the Boar and as the Lion ran towards the place where the Boar was the Steward espied him and he ran into the Palace and cryed out the Lion is running after my Master to destroy him Then the Lady sent after him ten of her servants who met the Lion with his mouth all bloody and they ran back and told the Lady the Lion had destroyad her aged Father Then said the Lady O woe is me that ever I was born that have brought a Lion from far to destroy my own Father therefore she commanded her servants to slay the Lion which no sooner was done but her Father come in and said O I have met with a wilde Boar with whom I sought and there came in the Lion to my aid and slew the Boar so saved my life else I had dyed by the Boar. When the Lady heard this O how she wept and wrung her hands saying For the words of a wicked Steward I have slain my good Lion who have saved both my life and my Fathers cursed be the time I was advised by him Then said the Mistriss understand you what I have said yes right well said the Empress you have shewed me a good example of a bad advise which caused the Lady to slay so good a Lion surely I 'le beware such bad advice my Daughter shall not dye this day The Mistris said if you do so you will do well therefore I commit you to God and stand obliged to your grace for saving your-Daughter this day for my sake The third Complaint of Radamentus WHen Radamentus perceived the young Princess was not dead he kept his Chamber and tore his hair grieving very much and saying the State of the Empire lies groaning under the scandal of all Nations and reputed as the very froth and scum of baseness and as he was thus complaining his attendants hearing him went and imparted it to the Empress and she went to him and asked the cause of his lamentation who answered O great Lady how can I other wise chuse knowing so great a crime that lyes upon the Empire through the deboist and lascivious actions of your graceless Daughter and yet cannot have Iustice executed upon her whereby we may wash away the stain that rests upon your honour my reputation the world knowing I am your assistant in the Government seeing there is no more respect and observing of the Laws then there is I have just cause to leave your Realm and suffer you to plunge your self in this deluge of ignorance but that the love I bear to you and your good Subjects doth prohibit me from it and you know great Lady if I should depart and leave you to your self through your weakness in believing old fabulous stories it would fend to your utter ruine and destruction Then said the Empress Most grave Lord and Councellour pass by your sorrow and lamentation at this time and I shall never fail you of your request hereafter but be advised by you Then said Radamentus pray God you may else I fear it will happen to you as it did to the Lady and her Cat in the Kingdome of Utergo who tendered her Cat as she did her own life till at last the Cat cut her Ladies throat I pray 〈◊〉 said the Empress shew me that Example that I shall gladly do said Radamentus for the furtherance of your knowledge and it is this as followeth The third Example of Radamentus IN the Kingdome of Utergo there lived a Lady who had but one onely Daughter whom she loved above her own eyes and hearing there was a very learned woman and one of great repute lived not far from her own Court to whom she put her Daughter to be brought up and instructed in all Arts and learning and it proved that this learned woman was very skilful indèed for she was the greatest Magician in all that Land though unknown to the Lady so that instead of teaching the childe natural Philosophy she taught her all the whole art of Necromancy and at the end of seven years she learnt her how to transform her self into the likeness of a Cat and upon a time the Lady sent for this learned woman to come to her and bring her Daughter with her for to see how she had improved her self in learning and being come the Lady asked her Daughter three questions First what was most prone to nature when it was satizfied she answered ease for when the belly is full the bones destreth rest Secondly how far it was to the bottom of the Sea she answered a stones throw Thirdly she â—sked her how long the Sun and Moon were going round the world she answered sower and twenty hours then said the Lady you have answered me well doubtless thou wilt prove a cunning woman then she walked in her Parlour and shewed the Mistriss what a delicate and fine Cat she had and the Mistriss said of a truth it is a brave Cat but after I return home I will present you with the finest Cat that ever was seen for she will wait at the Table and can interpret Riddles resolving Answers and Questions so that there is not the like of her in all the world Then said the Lady pray ye let me have that Cat that I shall not do said she except you suffer your Daughter to be with me one seven years more then shall I present you with the Cat the Lady very willingly gave consent thereto rendring great thanks so the learned woman took leave and away departed with her young Disciple and when she came home she told her that if she would act her part she would teach her how she might enjoy all the pleasure the world did afford and none was more ready to learn then she was Then said the Magician you must transform your self to the likeness of a Cat and I will present you to your Mother to which they both accorded then the Magician took her and hasted away to the Lady and presented her the Cat being of four distinct colours black red green and yellow Then said the Lady this is the finest Cat that ever I saw and took it into her lap feeding it with white bread and milk and would never sit down to meat but her Cat must be at her elbow so the Magician took her leave again and the Lady gave her great thanks so departed soon after this the Cat began to play her pranks for there was a maid living in the house whose carriage was civil and conversation honest and a faithful servant all dayes of her life this Cat had power to
open any lock and shut it again so she would open the Ladies Cabinet and take out money and lay it in the way where the maid should finde it some time in the Garden some time in the Stréet and the Lady still missing her money and having no suspicion on the Maid in the least wondered what should become of it at last she lost her Bracelet out of her Closet which the Cat had took and laid a mile from the house where the Maid should come along so the Maid when she found it little thought of her Ladies Bracelet which oftentimes had béen inquired for she put it up in her Trunck and after upon a time as the Maid was taking out clothes her Lady stood by her and it chanced that the Bracelet fell beside the Trunck and the Cat snapt it up in her paws and leapt upon the Ladies lap when the Lady saw it she cryed out O thou graceless creature I bless the Lord I have found thée out have I kept thee for so many years and intrusted thee with all I had in the world and never had the least suspicion of thee God knows what thou hast robb'd me of in thy time O thou wicked wretch now thou shalt dye the shamefullest death as may be thought on Then said the Maid what have I done I never offended you in thought word nor deed neither ever wronged you in all my life hitherto O villain said the Lady is not this my Bracelet I have lost for above this half year and hore I have found it in thy Trunk God knows what thou hast rob'd me of besides for I have lost a great deal of money then she call'd more company in and searched her Trunk further and found many péeces of money which she knew by the marks and when they saw that they apprehended her and sent her to prison for all dayes of her life so the Lady continued her love towards the Cat and would never eat of any dainties at her Table before she had cut her Cat the first bit at last it happened that she sate at Dinner and forgot to carve first to her Cat wherefore she leapt to the Ladies face and catcht her by the throat that had it not béen for the help of some at the Table the Cat had kill'd her Then said the Lady I le kéep this Cat no longer then it is good said her friends to destroy her No said she for the sake of the learned Mistris which gave her me then she returned her back from whence she came and destred to have her Daughter home when her Daughter came she took her in her arms and kissed her and caused her to lye in bed with her every night and in token of a motherly love to a child she gave her a King of her finger out of love to wear which King she had kept for many years and it happened after that this Daughter procéeded in her wicked art of witchcraft still and could not break from it So there was a Mill of the Ladies not far from the house and every night this Daughter when her mother was asléep would go with others of her rabble and at dead time of the night set the Mill a going ripping the bags and throwing all the Corn about the flour at which the Miller wondered greatly and complained on the morrow to the Lady and many others saying his Mill was haunted by evill spirits doing great mischief that he was like to be undone and they counselled him to watch up one night with a good sword and a light to sée what it was and about midnight there came in at the window a great Cat to his thinking by and by another and another till they were half a dozen spitting and wawling like devils and their eyes shining like coles of fire then the Miller struck at them and they slew at his face and in short time destroy'd him On the morrow the Lady sent to the Mill to sée how the Miller fared and they found him dead with his face and throat tore all to pieces the next night another watcht and on the morrow they went to sée how he sped and they found him in the same condition then they all marvelled greatly so that none would live in that Mill. At last there came a stout fellow and he would undertake to lye in the Mill all night if the Lady would give him the Mill she consented and away goes the fellow with a great Sword and Candle and entered the Mill so about the old hour he heard the Mill at work to the purpose so he took his Sword and Candle in his hand and went damn out of his Chamber to sée what guests he had got and when he came into the Mill he saw nothing but the Mill stood still and as soon as he had entered his Chamber the Mill was at it again as hard as 't was before then he ran back again with his sword drawn and there he beheld six great Cats and one little one with such sparkling eyes glearing upon him that he ne're saw the like before whereupon he struck at them and they leapt at his face and on every side of him that he was fain to lay about him lustily to defend himself at last he worsted two and they fled through the window and the rest fought so furiously that they put him almost out of breath but in the end they all fled through the window and he following close smote the last and cut off her fore-foot and so when day came he went to look for the foot and it proved to be a hand with a fair King upon the finger when he saw that then he knew they were Witches so took on him little and went home to the Lady who asked him how it fared with him He said he was never so hard put to it in his life how so said the Lady why said he there came seven Cats and set the Mill to work as well as I could and if I had not defended my self stoutly I had béen slain by them but in the end I made them flye and as the last went through the window I cut off her fore-foot look here it is When the Lady saw that she knew the hand by the Ring and she remembred that night when she awak't she felt her daughter come in the bed all in a sweat and very cold with this thought she was stricken with a fear that the drops of sweat trickled down her face so she went to the bed-side and asked her daughter how she did who said I am not well pray let me alone her mother said let me féel your hand how your pulses beat and she gave her the right hand kéeping the other arm in the bed and her mother said give me the other hand and she would not then her mother went to sée by force and there was no hand then her mother knew what Cat she had kept before and said thou